Not enough books written by locals.

As a avid reader born and raised in Hawaii, its harder than you think to find books actually written by locals. Lot's of people who visit and then write a story though that lens. So, this was a refreshing change and a new to me author. I liked that this book was centered on two things. 'Iwa and Dane's relationship and environmentalism to protect the land and endangered species of Maui. As a surfer, it made me miss surfing and I did appreciate the environmental aspect greatly.
Recommend.

Thank you NetGalley, MIRA and Sara Ackerman for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 ⭐️

I have to acknowledge the stunning cover art. That is what pulled me to this book.

I loved all the inside knowledge and terms of Hawaiian culture, the rainforest and surfing. I enjoy picking up information in my books but at the same time this unfortunately took me out of the book a bit due to the amount of terms, locations, phrases I wasn’t familiar with. It is clear the author has a deep love for Hawaii which is beautiful to experience from her words.

I enjoyed the story but didn’t feel compelled to pick up the book every chance I got.

I was drawn to this book initially because it is one of the prettiest covers I’ve ever seen. So, I guess sometimes you can judge a book by its cover! I haven’t read very many books set in Hawaii or about surfing so it was interesting to me to learn about both. This was the first book I’ve read by Sara Ackerman, but I loved her writing and definitely plan to read her earlier books.

The Maui Effect, while a decent beach read, fell a bit short of expectations. While the setting of Maui was picturesque and the characters were likable enough, the plot felt a bit underdeveloped. The story, a blend of romance and environmental activism, struggled to find a balance between the two, often feeling rushed or disjointed. While it's a sweet and enjoyable read, it lacks the depth and complexity to truly captivate the reader.

Thank you Netgalley for providing me this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This was my first book by Sara Ackerman, but it won't be the last. She immediately drew me in with her opening description of Dane waiting for and riding the big wave at Peʻahi, one of the islands' most incredible surfing spots. I could feel Dane's excitement at the wave's strength and his respect for the ocean. It gave an excellent first impression of his identity and what drives him.

'Iwa is a field biologist, born and raised on the island. Her job is to track and protect the flora and fauna of the island. That also includes going up against a developer of an "eco-resort," which is anything but that. Her love and passion for the land leaped off the page. Spending time in the forest also brings back memories of her time with her late mother.

Dane and 'Iwa meet when Dane and the other surfers come into 'Iwa's dad's restaurant. They are immediately drawn to each other, but 'Iwa has a rule of no surfers and no off-islanders, having been burned in previous relationships. Dane is persistent in wanting to get to know 'Iwa better and finds a way by appealing to her love of nature.

I enjoyed seeing the slow build of Dane and 'Iwa's relationship. 'Iwa is wary of getting involved with another surfer whose goal is always the next big wave. But there is more to Dane than just the thrill, and I loved seeing them connect through their love of nature. There were some terrific scenes of them showing each other what was unique about each of their lives. Dane's appreciation of 'Iwa's work and his support of her efforts to protect the land went a long way toward softening her initial wariness. I especially enjoyed the scene at the waterfall. As a surfer herself, 'Iwa has a deeper understanding of Dane's fascination, almost obsession, with searching out the biggest waves. I enjoyed watching her support him, from Maui to California to Portugal.

However, some obstacles must be overcome to have a chance at a future together. A surfing event that goes wrong strains their relationship by stirring up insecurities on both sides. Dane and 'Iwa need to deal with their pasts before moving forward. Both journeys were intensely emotional, and I loved the realistic way they were depicted. The ending was terrific, and I loved seeing how it all worked out.

The secondary characters were fantastic. Dane's surfing friends, Kama, Yeti, and Hope, played significant roles in the story, from surfing to giving advice Dane didn't always appreciate. 'Iwa's friend Winston was a big part of her life, from being her musical partner to another warrior in the fight against unwanted development. However, the most important secondary character is Mother Nature herself. The vivid descriptions of the oceans as Dane and the others surfed made me feel as though I was there. The depth of the author's love for Hawaii was evident in the descriptions of the forests and animals. Seeing a rare endangered bird made my heart beat faster, just as it did for 'Iwa.

The surfing scenes and the background were fascinating to read about. I looked up surfing big waves at Peʻahi and Navare on youtube and gained a deeper appreciation for Dane's abilities.

This story dives into the world of surfing (especially the chase for XXL waves), and the beautiful of the natural environments in Hawaii. A little romance is thrown in as star surfer Dane falls for a Hawaiian woman named 'Iwa. 'Iwa is currently devoting her energy to stopping a developer from building a resort in her favorite area of the rainforest. Her passion for the land shines through in her character. Dane appreciates her passion, and also balances his passion of chasing the big waves.

This story is great for understanding surfing a bit more, and also appreciating the beauty of the land in Hawaii. I thought the book could have been a little bit more concise in places.

A sweeping surfing romance that moves between Maui and other surf locations to allow Iwa and Dane to tell their story. She's a scientist who is documenting flora and fauna and hoping to stop a hotel development while he's travelled the world surfing. This is nicely atmospheric with regard to Maui, its forests, waterfalls, and surf. I liked the characters, not just Dane and Iwa but also Dane's friends and Iwa's father. What I was less happy with was the overemphasis on the surfing. Those who surf will not doubt enjoy the pages of descriptions of the big waves but I'd had enough about halfway through. And Iwa's efforts to stop the hotel don't get much attention until after the (no spoilers) other crisis. This isn't especially steamy - there's more longing than action-but Ackerman has created good chemistry on the page. Thanks to the publisher for the ARc. A good read.

Iwa is a Maui native and field biologist whose goal is to keep Hawaii’s wild land remaining public and wild and out of the hands of developers. Dane is a surfer whose goal in life is to follow the most amazing waves around the world. Dane respects the ocean and the natural world that goes with it, but Iwa doesn’t want anything to do with him (or any surfer) until he proves his love of nature and that he will help her with preventing a new hotel from building on the preserved land. The two fall deeply in love but life, like the oceans, deals them some large waves that they have to navigate through.

I have now read two of Sara Ackerman’s novels and loved them both - besides the way she describes Hawaii (which makes you feel like you are there - and gives you that itch to travel there), I loved the characters and their different passions. Even though this novel is in many ways an ode to environmental conservation it never felt like a preachy book, I simply felt like I was learning how to love the natural world of Hawaii. After reading this, I still have no desire to surf but I can appreciate those who do even more (I watched the Olympic surfing this year, it was amazing). All of the characters had depth (even the ancillary ones) and I loved living with them while I read the novel.

4.25 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Mira for the ARC to review

I've enjoyed Sara Ackerman's historical fiction novels in the past, so it's easy to understand why I ended up giving this contemporary romance partly set in Hawaii a chance. This author does always such a fantastic job describing the setting, and I've been looking forward to visit Maui. The premise of The Maui Effect sounded intriguing as well with the rainforest/biology angle as well as the surfing... And while I confess that I do prefer her historical fiction stories, as a whole The Maui Effect was still a great read.

Like I said before, Sara Ackerman has a way of making the Hawaiian setting truly shine, and this newest story is no exception to that rule. The descriptions of Maui are both thorough and vivid, and I loved that we got to learn more about both the rainforest and the coast. This division between mountains and sea comes through in both setting and characters, and I liked what it represented. The story travels to other places as well, and especially the descriptions of the Portuguese setting stood out.

The story uses a dual POV structure, switching between 'Iwa and Dane as we get to know them better and learn what makes them tick. I think I preferred 'Iwa's POV despite the fact that she could be very stubborn, mostly because I loved the descriptions of the Maui mountains and the focus on the fight to protect the forest. Dane's POV involves a LOT of surfing, and while initially I found the many descriptions interesting, it was a bit too much technical talk for someone who has no clue about surfing and a lot went over my head.

The romance itself is probably one of my least favorite parts of the story, mostly because it was overshadowed by the other elements. I just never felt the real chemistry between 'Iwa and Dane, and it went from zero to 100 too fast. The amount of sexy scenes didn't really help either... But the worst part was probably the cheating angle, and 'Iwa's sudden change of heart in the end. It's hard to explain without giving everything away, but it just wasn't credible for me that she ended up going back on her decision, and especially with so little atonement from her counterpart.

The Maui Effect definitely isn't a happy read, and it includes topics such as death, cheating, serious injury, addiction and family issues. There are lighter moments to be found along the way though, and I actually liked the side characters more than the two main characters. I do think that this story tried to do too much, and it would have worked better with either just the focus on the surfing or on the forest conservation... As it is, the plot pulled me in too many different directions. I was still invested enough to keep reading though.

Sara Ackerman, the Author of “The Maui Effect” has written a captivating and intriguing story. The author vividly captures the essence of nature and the Universe through her descriptions of the varied colors of blue in the oceans and the intensity of the waves, the dangers and beauty of the rocks, and the images provided of the Maui rainforest , the flora, extinct birds, fish, and other living things. In this well written novel, the author visually describes the strength, perseverance, and courage of her colorful and dramatic characters. I love that Sara Ackerman has also included dogs with personalities .The Genres for this novel are contemporary, adventure, fiction, sports, and romance.

Iwa Young is a field biologist, who enjoys waterfalls, trees and birds. Her happiest memories are of her late mother exploring nature together. Now, she is in the biggest fight of her life to protect the fragile eco-systems from the developers of a huge hotel who want the land to build and expand. Iwa loves to sing.

Dane Parsons is a big wave rider, loves the ocean, the challenges and the danger. He is loyal to a group of friends with the same mindset. When Dane meets Iwa, sparks fly. There are twists and turns, suspense, danger, and fighting for survival. I appreciate that the author discusses how the eco-systems need to be protected, the importance of family, friends, love and hope. I highly recommend this memorable novel.

This is the first book I have read by Sara Ackerman I believe. What a absolutely delightful story. I have visited Maui a few times now and this was such a love letter to the island. This story gave me lots of nostalgia and many of the locations I could picture in my mind. 'Iwa and Dane were cute. I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about the surfing aspect of this book, but I enjoyed it! Sara has a great handle on painting the scene in your mind. Overall this was a great story and I will be checking out some of Sara's other books in the future! Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for a copy of this story in exchange for a honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

4.5 stars:
This book is a love story between two characters, but also a love story between humans and Mother Earth. It focuses on two characters who have found their own ways to commune with nature and protect it for future generations. I didn’t know anything about surfing before picking this up, but I was able to follow along with that plot line just fine. Hawaii felt like a character instead of a setting, and I feel called to visit and witness her sacred beauty after reading this book. Read when you want to feel immersed in a place and culture that isn’t your own.

Thank you to @htpbooks @htp_hive and @saraackermanbooks for the gifted e-book.

This enchanting book tells the heartfelt love story between Dane and 'Iwa, set against the stunning backdrop of Hawaii and the thrilling world of surfing. The vivid descriptions of Maui’s majestic waterfalls, lush rainforests, and scenic trails are truly breathtaking, showcasing the author's deep affection for her island home. Additionally, the extensive research on big wave surfing in Hawaii, California, and Portugal adds authenticity and depth to the narrative. The evolving romance between Dane and 'Iwa is both sweet and genuine. I couldn’t put this book down, finishing it in a single sitting, and I absolutely loved every moment.

I wholeheartedly recommend this captivating read to anyone who enjoys a blend of surfing and romance. Mark your calendar for November 19 when it hits the shelves!

I have mixed reviews on this story. I really wanted to like it. But it just fell flat for me. I was confused during half because I have no clue on surfing and that usually doesn't bother me and I can get through a story but I couldn't this one. I think that it takes on something deep like addiction. It is a huge struggle for people and we saw how it affected Dane and Iwa. I just didn't feel much love for these two. I feel the romance lacked and when things ended we never really could tell how they felt either. Maybe a little more with Dane but it still lacked. All in all I did like this author and would definitely read more from her.
Thank You Netgalley for the Arc in exchange for an honest review.

I was going to DNF this story, but there were still things I appreciated about the writing and I LOVE the descriptions of Hawaii. The hard part for me came in the middle, the plot seemed to drag a bit and I didn’t see the love story as much as I would have liked. It felt the presentation of this synopsis misled just a bit and that’s my main complaint. I really appreciated the writing style, just don’t think the plot did it for me here!

As someone that grew up in Hawaii, I always love a story set there. This was a true story about the beauty of the island and the preservation of the beauty and the lure of riding the perfect wave.

We meet Iwa who is passionate about the island and is fighting the develop of more resorts on Maui. She meets Dane through mutual friends and tries to resist dating a haole surfer but their connection is just too irresistible.

I enjoyed seeing them together and the tension of Iwa wanting to stay on the island to take on the developers while Dane travels the world for the big waves.

The secondary characters played a great part in the story making me totally homesick.

Thank you to @_mira_books_ @netgalley for a copy of this book.

I enjoyed Iwa & Dane’s story. It was so easy to be swept away with these characters and their world. I loved watching their love story unfold.

I voluntarily reviewed this book.

This is the 2nd book I read written by Sara and although both were set in Hawaii both were different and beautiful in their own way. I loved how the characters lead through this story and how Maui and the Hawaiian culture was reflected especially in and through ‘Iwa. Reading the author’s note at the end of the book I got the impression that this is a quite personal book for Sara, which makes the reading experience even more special in my view. I loved the backstory of big wave surfing and environmental conservation and activism. This is a romance that has so much more story and backstory to offer than a pure love story. I loved the book.
What made this book really great in my view was the characters. The female lead of the book is ‘Iwa and she is how I would imagine a Hawaiian would be. She cares deeply for her island of Maui and the nature surrounding her. I loved how she had, at least in my view, an almost spiritual connection with the places she loves. The male main character Dane is a big wave surfer and lives the surfer life. I loved to read about his passion of surfing and it almost came off the page for me, very tangible. His conflict between his love for ‘Iwa and surfing comes across as quit genuine.
All in all, again, I loved the book and it gets a warm recommendation from me to everyone.

(A review will be posted on Nov 13 on my instagram and Goodreads channels)

The Maui Effect takes the reader on a magical journey from the rainforest of Maui to California. Iwa meets Dane and wants nothing to do with him, at first. A great read for sure.

Thank you Net Galley and MIRA for this arc.

This book takes place in Hawaii - mostly centered around surfing! Dane is always seeking the Big Wave and ‘Iwa is determined not to fall for another surfer. The two navigate thru some tough times, personal struggles, miscommunication, but they find their way back to each other.