Catch some waves at the Desperation Reef!

This is my very first audiobook from this author. Jen Stonebreaker is preparing to re-enter the big-wave surfing competition that took her husband twenty-five years ago. She is accompanied by her twin sons, Casey and Brock, who are also competitive surfers. Casey faces danger from illegal poachers due to his activism, while Brock faces threats to his church and rescue mission. As the competition approaches, Jen fears for the safety of herself and her sons...

Desperation Reef is a promising book with a unique premise that delves into the world of surfing. Despite some cliches and cultural stereotypes, the author's detailed research on the sport is impressive. However, the story falls short due to a romance storyline that some readers may find distracting.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC audiobook. I am leaving review voluntarily.

DESPERATION REEF was unfortunately a miss for me. I was expecting more thriller (like THE SWELL!) and less politics. I really enjoyed the suspense of the surfing scenes, but was disappointed by the lackluster reveal of Jen's big secret. I also enjoyed Casey's beef with the pirates, the fallout from it, and the hint of romance.

I definitely didn't like the religious parts. They detracted from the suspense storylines. I'm not sure if the author was trying to make a point (honestly I fast forwarded through them) but performative religion gives me the ick and it's never something I want to read about.

In general this falls under the category of "not for me", but I'm sure there are people who will love it!

Very glad I listened to an audiobook so I could speed it up and fast forward where necessary.

Jen does it all. She is athletic, beautiful, smart, successful but her life has not been easy. After becoming a widow when she was barely twenty years old, raising twin boys on her own and running a restaurant, she needs a nip of vodka and some pills to help her sleep. She is haunted by dreams of the surfing accident that took her husband over twenty years ago since she and her sons have registered to compete in this same competition and the date of the event is looming.

If that is not bad enough, her family is being taunted by modern day pirates that sell shark fins and kidnap her son's beloved dog. When her restaurant is torched by an arsonist, of course the pirates are the immediate suspects. But could there be others with a vendetta against her?

Jen's two sons are surfers with other skills, one with compassion and a heart for ministry, and the other an entrepreneur with a solid social media following. They are both loyal and supportive of their mother and highly competitive. Who will be able to capture the victory in the competition that took their father's life, and will they be able to maintain their mother's safety and their family's legacy.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC (in audiobook format).

I wasn't a fan of the narration of this audiobook - it made the story seem even more lightweight somehow, the high pitched female voice, ear slitting sharp, and Casey's voice, with a lack of solidity somehow.

In the vast ocean of thrillers, T. Jefferson Parker’s “Desperation Reef” offers a ride through the high-stakes world of big-wave surfing and the tumultuous waters of family bonds.

The novel plunges us into the life of Jen Stonebreaker, a woman who has navigated the treacherous currents of grief and guilt since the tragic death of her husband at the Monsters of the Mavericks competition. After a hiatus of twenty-five years, she’s ready to face the monstrous waves again—this time with her twin sons, Casey and Brock, by her side.

Casey, the charismatic surfer and social media sensation, finds himself in choppy waters as he confronts illegal poachers threatening the marine sanctuary he cherishes. Meanwhile, Brock, the founder of Breath of Life, a church and rescue mission, grapples with the undercurrents of hostility from those who oppose his altruistic endeavors.

Parker masterfully weaves these narratives together, building a swell of suspense that crests as the Stonebreaker family confronts their fears and adversaries at the fateful surf competition. The author’s prose is as crisp and invigorating as the sea spray, with each subplot unfurling like a wave, drawing us deeper into the Stonebreakers’ world.

“Desperation Reef” is a gripping tale that rides the wave of family drama to deliver a story as powerful and unpredictable story.

Wasn't my favorite by this talented author, but if you are a surfing fan, might be just your cuppa.

This review will be posted on Instagram on June 13, 2024.
This book originally got my attention because my brother and I used to watch surfing and we always wanted to go watch the Mavericks, but we never made it.
I enjoyed the parts about Jen, John and their family, and could do with less about the pirates. Other parts I enjoyed were the references to Laird Hamilton and Garrett McNamara - two surfers I have enjoyed watching on TV, the travel to find the waves, going through grief, rebuilding a life by moving forward. The family connection and how they supported each other was nice to see, as was Jen's acceptance that although John was her world, he wasn't perfect.
The mystery and crime were not that difficult to figure out, but I still couldn't stop listening because I had to find out if I was right.
Being a California native, I loved everything about all the beaches as well. If you are interested in surfing, I highly recommend the HBO series 100 Foot Wave featuring Garrett McNamara and his travel to find the waves.

The narrators did NOT do it for me. I felt like they were very robotic and the accents were borderline offensive if I’m being completely honest. I tried to power through, messed with the reading speed and waited for the story to drag me in but it didn’t happen. I got to 30% and realized I was zoning out and wasting my time half listening to something I wasn’t interested in at all. I was hoping this would be a good summer thriller but for me, it didn’t make the cut, I really had to struggle through it.

The mom was frustrating to me, listening to her POV was annoying and I hoped getting into her son’s POV would make me want to continue on but alas, it did not. This might be someone’s cup of tea if they’re more into surfing and… fishing drama? But, I couldn’t get myself to care.

Thank you so much to netgalley and tor for the arc of this one in exchange for an honest review!

Unfortunately, this book was not for me. I’m not into surfing and this one was just so much about that and I couldn’t get into it. I just couldn’t get into it or connect to the characters.

I liked the audiobook but couldn’t get into the story.

I hope others love this one.

T. Jefferson Parker's "Desperation Reef" sets up a thrilling scenario with a family of surfers confronting the competition that claimed their father's life years ago. The characters, from the social media savvy Casey to the disaster relief leader Brock, all have intriguing conflicts. While the synopsis suggests a high-stakes story, it focuses on building suspense through character development rather than immediate action. The detailed descriptions of surfing and the dangers it presents hint that the author has a deep understanding of the sport, which may be a draw for surfing enthusiasts but could leave readers seeking a fast-paced thriller wanting more. (This was a DNF for me I fear)

A heartwarming story Jen, her twin sons and the fatal death of her surfer husband. Family, loss, illegal activities and secrets are abound. The twins are very different. As the boys are also surfers, can Jen overcome her fears and compete again?

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
I had a hard time sticking with this one and finishing it. It really wasn’t much of a thriller or mystery really to me. This just wasn’t what I was expecting.
Narrators were decent. So that helped me finish it.

In this novel, Jen Stonebreaker confronts her past by returning to the treacherous big-wave surfing competition that claimed her husband's life 25 years ago. Now, she and her twin sons, both skilled surfers, are set to compete. However, danger lurks beyond the waves: one son faces threats from a criminal syndicate, while the other grapples with threats against his disaster relief mission. As a massive swell approaches, the competition and their personal lives collide, raising fears for their safety and forcing them to confront their demons.

While the novel delves into the world of surfing and family dynamics, it lacks the suspenseful elements of a traditional thriller. The focus lies more on the characters' emotional journeys, particularly Casey. However, his naivety and quick forgiveness, likely stemming from strong religious beliefs, felt less than believable. The religious themes themselves weren't for me, but I thoroughly enjoyed learning about surfing culture and the lives of surfers. The dynamic between Jen, Brock, and Casey was also a highlight. The two narrators of this audiobook were easy to understand and very engaging.

I feel like I wasted a bit of my time with this one. So glad it was a listen while I clean read and not an actual read. Not trying to be rude. Just really didn’t care for the storyline, the characters, or the unnecessary politics. Not for me.
Thank you netgalley for the AAC

I loved this book! The characters were great and I loved the storyline. It was a great listen! Highly recommend