Ana Hartnett Reichardt’s Comes in Waves is a tender, evocative tale of first love, loss, and rediscovery set against the backdrop of a small coastal town that mirrors the emotional tides of its characters. With a narrative that weaves together themes of queer love, community, and the complexities of growing up, the book stands out as a poignant exploration of how deeply first loves can affect us, even after years of separation.

The story introduces us to Tanya Brees, a local of Coral Bay, a tight-knit fishing community threatened by the creeping forces of development. Tanya's childhood is filled with sun-soaked memories of adventure and a close group of friends. But when Juliette Peralta arrives in Coral Bay, her presence turns Tanya's world upside down. Over the summers, the two girls form a deep bond that eventually blossoms into first love. However, the looming presence of Juliette's family, with their plans to transform the town with high-rise developments, introduces a tension between the two. Despite their feelings, Tanya can’t reconcile her love for Juliette with the future her family is bringing to Coral Bay. The heartbreak of their separation lingers into adulthood.

Hartnett Reichardt’s portrayal of Tanya’s internal conflict—caught between her love for Juliette and her loyalty to her hometown—is masterful. It captures the weight of first love, the bitterness of growing apart, and the deep-rooted emotional connections that never truly fade, even with time and distance. Tanya’s journey feels authentic, as she grapples not only with her feelings for Juliette but also with the changing identity of her hometown, which serves as a reflection of the changes in her own life.

When Juliette returns to Coral Bay after years of absence, the story takes on a new dimension. The circumstances that bring them back together—a hurricane devastating the town—are symbolic of the emotional storm that brews between them. The unresolved feelings between Tanya and Juliette, and the larger issues of community, identity, and family, come crashing together in a way that feels both inevitable and deeply satisfying.

The strength of Comes in Waves lies in its richly developed setting and characters. Coral Bay is more than just a backdrop; it’s a character in its own right. The town’s struggle to maintain its identity in the face of encroaching development mirrors Tanya's own struggle to hold on to her past while facing her future. Hartnett Reichardt beautifully conveys the charm and the challenges of small-town life, grounding the story’s emotional beats in a place that feels alive and real.

The romance itself is layered with complexity. Tanya and Juliette’s connection is undeniable, but the years and circumstances that have kept them apart add a bittersweet edge to their reunion. Their love story feels genuine, with all the messy complications of real life. The book also touches on important themes like class divide, gentrification, and the tension between personal desires and communal responsibilities, making it a thoughtful and layered narrative.

Final Thoughts:
Comes in Waves is a beautifully written story about first love and second chances. Ana Hartnett Reichardt captures the emotional push and pull of relationships with nuance and heart. Readers looking for a tender, heartfelt exploration of queer love, set against the backdrop of a community grappling with change, will find this book deeply moving. It’s a story about the past's lingering presence, the pull of home, and the complexities of love that remains, even when it feels like everything else has changed.

First of all, very thankful to Netgalley and Bold Strokes Books Inc. for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Short summary of the plot:
Comes in Waves presents us the story of two girls from very different worlds over the span of about 20 years. We meet Breezy, local of Coral Bay, who is working at the town's restaurant when she meets Juliette and her parent, a rich family from Atlanta. Although these type of rich turists spend money in town, which helps better locals living wages, they can also be a great danger of creating wishes to monopolize this beautiful coastal town. However, this does not stop Breezy from absolutely falling for Juliette from the first moment. They start being pen pals, spend time together when Juliette comes during summer, and then... they have something else. And Juliette completely disappears for many years. The reason why this happens and if these two girls end up being together or even keeping a friendship after all these years and betrayals is for you to find out.

Review:
This book surprised me in the best way it could have done. I did not know a thing about the author, the writing style or anything, and I still loved every bit. The writing is very light, very easy to follow and pages and pages go by without you even being aware of reading so much. There were some plot choices which I did not completely agree with, mostly in two cases when I thought they were there only for the sake of creating a conflict. However, one action happens when they are teenagers, and we all know how many bad decisions we've made at that age; and the other was just the very long skip in time we encounter in the middle of the book almost. Sixteen years sound like way too many, even though Juliette needed to go to uni and take more active part in the family's business. Ten or even less were more than enough, in two years she finishes high school, in other four years you've finished business school, and you do not need other ten for... nothing really? I don't know this was my biggest pet peeve in this book, I really do feel like sixteen years was an excessive number to use.

Talking about the characters, I love how the bond between all of the townie's is very beatifully portrayed. Breezy's and Oscar's friendship is so well constructed, MILD SPOILERS!!! they've tried dating because they match perfectly together... just not in that way; and that dailed dating stage did not try their friendship not even a bit because they kept being present and understanding each other the best. It is very noticeable, very cute and very well build. Not only with Oscar but also with Breezy and her aunt and uncle, and Austin and Benny.

I feel lilke Juliette could have been so much more developed as a character, she is not flat at all because we get to know her and her struggles, how she feels about certain topics and how much it affects her mentally. But it is something she says, not something we see in her. This is mainly because we only have Breezy's point of view, and we meet Juliette through her eyes, so whenever they aren't spending time together, we get the reported version of the matters in their conversations.

However, Breezy is represented as such a relatable character, mostly now that we are at the peak of tourism and the loss and destruction of many gorgeous towns is happening everyday. Locals being relocated because their homes are being turned into tourist apartments, nature and wildlife ruined because hotels need to be constructed... That is Breezy's biggest fear and it shows. And it is so. fucking. real. Her fear is shown in every decision she has to make, she is a momma bear to Coral Bay and she may have gone into the overprotective zone; something which ends up being understandable as you suffer alongside her through the book.

Overall, I would completely recommend this book as a summer read, it is a perfect book to read while being at the beach while reflecting on topics like discovering your own queerness, tourism destroying towns and the foundation friendships need to still be going strong after a lifetime. It also contains some sexual scenes, so take that into account too, just in case you would want to gift it to minors. Very great read, I am excited of finding out more works from this author.

"Comes in Waves" is a delightful read that draws you in from the very first page. The opening is strong and sets a captivating tone for the story ahead.
One of the highlights of this book is the development of the two main characters. Their connection is beautifully portrayed, bridging social and geographical divides in a way that feels genuine and relatable. Reichardt does a fantastic job of exploring the nuances of their relationship, making it easy to fall for them throughout their journey.
While the second conflict might feel a bit contrived at times, it ultimately serves to emphasize the strength of their bond. The ending is sweet and satisfying, though it leaves you wishing for a bit more depth to fully explore their story.
Overall, "Comes in Waves" is a charming read that combines emotion and warmth, making it a perfect choice for anyone looking for a heartfelt sapphic romance.

This was a fun summer afternoon read!. I like knowing about what happened from the past for the story to play out and how it connects and comes together into the present. I really like second chance romances where there's history between the main characters Love stories like this between the main characters are always a unit to read.! My only complaint is that it felt a little fast to me for forgiveness and reconnection, I would have added to the story made it a bit longer for them to earn back trust. But, I really enjoyed this book and I felt I knew the town, the main characters, and the supporting characters were well written and helped make this an even better story.! I would definitely recommend this book to my friends and family and I look forward to what's next from this author.

This was a short read and cute enough. I liked the small-town setting and the city and townie pairing. My main issue was that I didn't get super invested in the pairing, the time jump was pretty abrupt and Breezy let Jules back in wayy too easily.

I don't think Jules should be crucified for a decision she made at seventeen. Still, she was not apologetic enough when she came back, particularly considering her later actions. She knows how protective Breezy is of the town yet she pursues a relationship with her again without being fully honest on what she's doing back in town. She knows Breezy will react poorly to the news she wants to build right next to her property so she keeps this from her while continuing to sleep with her.

And then there's Oscar, while his heart was in the right place when it comes to saving the town the fact that he scammed his best friend into signing a contract by lying to her about the actual plans was just so gross. Again he didn't seem that apologetic about it and Breezy forgives him straight away.

She was just too much a pushover and everyone around her took advantage of that instead of just, having an actual conversation with her? Considering she was always pretty easy to talk around anyway.

Thank you to Netgalley and Bold Strokes Books, Inc. for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

*Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book for review, all opinions are my own*

2.5 stars

I thought I would like this book more, but unfortunately that wasn't the case.
The romance didn't captivate me, and since it's a romance book...
I don't think the author managed to develop the romance in a way that made me root for the characters to get together. In fact, I only didn't give the story a lower score because I thought the author did a good job building the world and the conflicts around it. For me, she only failed in building the main characters and their romance, unfortunately.

A great sapphic summer read with characters that are relatable. Overall, a light and enjoyable read.

Thank you NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books.

2.75⭐️
For the first third, this was a guaranteed 5 star read for me. I loved the coming-of-age story of Breezy and her friends, her growing love for Jules, their life in a small town. I truly loved everything about it: the writing, the characters, the pacing.
But the second third of the book was not my favourite, I’m afraid. I felt that the characters were mis-connected from their younger selves. The pacing wasn’t great — too many “issues” were dealt with in almost no time whatsoever. Important side characters felt mostly flat.
I would’ve loved to read more about teenage Breezy, Oscar, Benny, Austin, Jules — their growing up and having to choose between what they love and their responsibilities was so well written, I felt like I was there with them. So overall this is rounded up 3 stars but the first third: a very well-deserved 5 stars.

After a promising beginning, things took a weird turn. I was puzzled by Jules's abrupt departure, and then suddenly sixteen years had flown by. And just like that, they were back together!

Ana Hartnett Reichardt I don't know how you do it. Every new book you write tugs at my heartstrings and opens me to new heights in romance. Comes in Waves is a second-chance, childhood friends to lovers, journey that completely takes you over just like the wildest wave at the beach. I can't recommend this book enough. A definite fav of the year!

Thank you to Bold Strokes Books, Inc. | BSB genre and NetGalley for providing an eARC for a honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

This was a very fast paced romance! It was set in a beach town, so I loved the atmosphere. I could relate to Breezy and loving the ocean as much as she did. I wouldn’t want to leave either if I lived there!

I love reading about women in their 30s. It is always refreshing to see characters around that age as I get older.

I liked that it was a quick and easy read, but it was almost a little too quick. Things happened so fast. Jules met Breezy and it was basically love at first sight. We were told that the two of them got really close and became close with Benny, Austin and Oscar, but we didn’t really see that happen. I would have liked to see the relationships develop, then just telling us they were super close.

I liked the side characters like Marge, Aunt Pat and Uncle Trevor. I thought the side plot with Breezy’s mom wasn’t needed. It could have been mentioned she wasn’t in her life once so we knew why she lived with her aunt and uncle, but it was repeated a lot with no real payoff. Maybe it helped to explain why Breezy was the way she was, but I still feel like it could have been left out.

Breezy was funny, but she did act kind of childish even when she was 33 years old. Which is fine, I’m not saying she had to be a stick in the mud just because she was in her 30s, but sometimes how she reacted to the things that was happening to her seemed like she was still 17.

The relationship was a bit cheesy, but I liked them together so it was cute.

This had quite a bit of spice, so if you’re looking for that in a novel, it definitely has it! It was a little much for my personal taste, but I didn’t think it was badly written.

She forgave Jules a little too quickly in my opinion, which goes back to this book was too fast paced. When there was conflict it happened super abruptly, but it also was resolved pretty quickly. I like short books, but I wouldn’t have minded if this was longer to get a more fleshed out plot.

The beginning of this book really reminded me of the songs “No Time To Die” and “Wildflower” by Billie Eilish so I listened to those a lot while reading!

Overall, this was cute. I could have used more, but it is a really quick summer read. So, if you’re looking for something with light angst, a beachy setting and a fluffy romance, this would be the book for you!

This book made me feel like I had a crush again 😍

This book is the PERFECT beach read and so well written— I’m surprised I haven’t heard more about it on bookstagram this summer!

Tanya and Juliette completely stole my heart in this story and made me feel it all! Their young love was so heart fluttering, and their older selves were just as beautiful. The tension, my goodness! 🥵 I loved the easy transition from 13-years-old to 30-something in the beach town that felt so old and nostalgic. Kinda of reminded me of the show Outer Banks— living that beachy coastal life all year round with your best friends.

Sometimes I read romance books purely for the romance and kind of end up missing the life lesson that can come out of a story. But this one felt very realistic and so eye opening in the way that life goes by faster than we think until we’re looking back, but that change in life can be a good thing. It reminded me that you can let go and go with the flow like the tides, and make sure to listen to your heart so life doesn’t pass you by with regret.

The only “bad” thing I have to say about the book is that there was a lot of references to alcohol, and as a non drinker, just seemed excessive. Everything revolved around grabbing a drink or relaxing with a drink. It was a weird focal point is all lol.

A charming beach town in dire need of some modernization is the backdrop of this addictive best friends to rivals to lovers tale. Dive in and ride the waves!

I received an advance copy from Netgalley for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Tanya ‘Breezy’ Brees has lived in the quaint tourist town Coral Bay since birth and she never wants to leave. She has a three guys for best friends and they hang out like all kids do in a small town. Doing all sorts of odd jobs in the tourist industry while growing up, she meets Juliette Peralta for the first time at 13. Sitting at a table of the restaurant between her business minded parents, Juliette is stunning and Breezy is hooked immediately. Of course she agrees to becoming Juliette’s penpal for a schoolproject. Every summer Juliette and her parents come back to Coral Bay, the Peralta development business is slowly buying more property in town to turn into tourist businesses. Breezy hates seeing her beloved hometown change, but she knows it’s not Juliette’s fault.

Juliette. The girl that spikes all sorts of confusing feelings over the years. At 17, Juliette is on the brink of starting college and knows her life will change forever. Breezy is thrilled that Juliette admits that she is in love with Breezy. But after one night of sharing their love, Juliette leaves Coral Bay, never to return. Cut to sixteen years later. Breezy is the owner of the Inn and restaurant where she worked as a teen. A hurricane has damaged a lot of businesses in Coral Bay, including the Peralta’s hotel. That’s when Juliette strolls right back in to town. But she will not capture Breezy’s heart again. Nope, she will not.

It is hard not to love Breezy and Coral Bay from the very first page. She is fierce and soft all at once. Her instant connection to Juliette is thrilling. Her figuring out her feelings for a girl is not a big deal in the story and I love that. Being gay is not an issue, how refreshing! Breezy loves her town and she’ll do anything to stop the Peraltas from turning it into a commercial tourist town.

Breezy held onto her anger towards Juliette for sixteen years. When she rolls back into town Breezy is not about to forgive her at all. She is such a strong woman, protecting what she loves and of course her own heart. The quarreling between the two women is witty and hilarious, but Breezy can’t deny the magnetic pull that is Juliette for long. Especially when Juliette explains why she left that last time.

It is very hard not to want them to get together at last. And it wouldn’t be a sapphic romance if there wasn’t an HEA. The way Hartnett gets to it is very enticing and it is extremely hard to put down this book once you’ve started. I’ve read most of Hartnett’s other books and let me just say, her work gets better and better. It would be a shame if you didn’t give this one a try!

In life, change is inevitable. But when do we know when to fight it, and when to let the tide take us where it may lead? In Comes in Waves, a novel by Ana Hartnett, we get to explore this question as it pertains to family, love, and home. Thank you to Ana and Bold Strokes Books for the ARC copy of this compelling novel.

Tanya Brees - “Breezy” to her friends - has lived her whole life in Coral Bay, a coastal tourist town that she loves about as much as her aunt and uncle who have raised her there. When Juliette Peralta and her lock eyes, though, she can’t help but want to get to know the non-townie in a way she’s still trying to understand. Through years of exchanged letters and brief visits they become closer until they’re torn apart by life. Over ten years later they reconnect, but Tanya doesn’t know how to let go of the pain - especially when their reunion is marred with the knowledge that Juliette will change Coral Bay forever.

Telling its story over two decades, I loved watching the characters both grow and stay stagnant in ways indicative of reality. The supporting cast of friends and family brought a lot of depth to Comes in Waves, and I loved seeing Tanya constantly of two minds about herself, struggling with whether to hold grudges or let herself be swept up in Juliette once again.

At times I found character choices frustrating, though I can’t say they’re far from a realistic set of decisions. I can see people making those same choices, and always appreciate an honest novel. I will say that I feel Juliette’s major life decision towards the end was a bit hard for me to believe, but I’m glad she did it all the same.

If you’re looking for a fun summer read that will take you on a journey, Comes in Waves is a fantastic choice. Thank you again to Ana and Bold Strokes Books for the ARC, and make sure to pick up a copy!

**Book Review: *Comes in Waves* by Ana Hartnett Reichardt**

Ana Hartnett Reichardt’s *Comes in Waves* is a poignant exploration of enduring first love set against the backdrop of a charming coastal town. The novel follows Tanya Brees, who relishes her adventurous childhood in Coral Bay until her idyllic life is disrupted by the arrival of Juliette Peralta. Their burgeoning romance, which begins in the innocence of their teenage years, is marked by a deep and genuine connection, but is also overshadowed by the challenges of differing family values and the inevitable distance that separates them. Reichardt masterfully captures the intensity and complexity of first love with both warmth and nostalgia.

The novel's narrative takes a compelling turn when a hurricane forces Juliette to return to Coral Bay, reuniting her with Tanya. Reichardt skillfully explores the emotional turbulence of rekindled feelings, weaving a story that delves into themes of love, loss, and the struggle to reconcile past and present selves. The tension between Tanya's desire to hold on to her first love and the reality of Juliette’s changing circumstances creates a gripping and emotionally charged atmosphere that keeps readers invested.

*Comes in Waves* is a beautifully written testament to the power of love and the impact of place. Reichardt’s vivid portrayal of Coral Bay not only serves as a nostalgic backdrop but also enhances the story’s emotional depth. The novel’s exploration of how love can resurface and transform, despite the challenges and changes that life brings, makes it a touching and memorable read for anyone who has ever experienced the complexities of enduring affection.

I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review

Breezy aka Tanya and Juliette meet when they were teens and form an instant connection and every summer when Juliette visit with her family that connection is still strong but it’s becomes more but Juliette have obligations that her parents have set and leaves Coral Bay. Years later Tanya runs a restaurant she inherited that she work at as teen and Juliette is returning to run her parents hotels that been developed in town as they get thrown together thoses feelings they had return or never really gone in the first place. It was cute read a second chance at a love that never got to start.

I thought this was fine romance for the most part. Because of the way it’s written we miss a lot of the actual romance. Therefore, it lacks depth on that front for me. Otherwise, it was fine and I was enjoying it for what it was.

The reason for the low rating is because Breezy’s best friend, Oscar, and her love interest, Jules, intentionally get her to sign a contract under false pretenses. This deception is excused because she “never would’ve agreed otherwise” and is basically laughed off and ignored for the rest of the book. And it was even worse with how easily she did agree once they explained things. I just couldn’t get past that and stopped rooting for the romance after that.

It comes in waves is a second chance, friends to lovers sapphic romance that starts when the main characters Breezy (Tanya) and Juliette are 13 years old. Breezy is a townie she has lived in Coral Bay her whole life and Juliette is a tourist her and her parents visit Coral Bay on vacation during the summer. When the two first meet there is an immediate connection between them and they become friends. Every summer they are together brings them closer and closer together until their feelings for each other start to change into something more. But Juliette is under a lot of pressure from her parents and she leaves Coral Bay suddenly and they lose contact. This story takes place over many years, the first half when they are tee

Everything you could want for a summer read! I buzzed through Breezy and Jules 2nd chance romance in a couple of days. These two come from opposite worlds but quickly mesh together to fall apart again. I loved Breezy and you could feel every emotion she was going through over the years. Jules and Breezy had great banter and chemistry. This is a wonderful read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for the ARC and I am leaving a voluntary review

Tanya and Juliette are the main characters in this book. Tanya is a life long resident of Coral Bay. When she meets Juliette, there is an instant connection. Juliette's parents are interested in building hotels on Coral Bay, The two become pen pals when Juliette has to leave with her parents. When Juliette comes back, she, Tanya and their friends play truth or dare. Tanya is dared to kiss Juliette, which she runs from. Juliette follows her and they do kiss and more.
Juliette leaves Coral Bay and writes a note to Tanya to not contact her anymore.
Fast forward 10 years, Tanya has inherited the restaurant she worked at when she met Juliette. Tanya finds out that Juliette is going to be back in town because her parents have put her in charge of the hotels that are there and having walkways built. The two have been thrown together to participate in the Coral Bay festival. The more that these two spend time together, Tanya is not as mad at Juliette for the way she left. Juliette tells her that her parents were going to disinherit her if she kept spending time with Tanya. The two continue to spend more time together and realize that they were meant to be together.
I would recommend.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.