Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance reader's copy of the book. This was an interesting book, not my usual. It was well written and I did have a desire to read it quickly to find out what happens next. However I didn't care for the main adult character and the constant reference of gaining points, even the oldest girl child mentions she has to gain points, it left a kind of sour taste in my reading. The good sea monsters were interesting and I liked them.

NetGalley pub 1/28/25

This is a sci-fi/fantasy/romance mash up. The storyline was unique. I've never read anything quite like this.

Jenn and her 2 children are spending the summer on the island where Jenn grew up. Jenn is trying to escape a bitter divorce and her husband. Things take a weird turn when sea monsters show up, along with a childhood friend of Jenn's that went missing years ago. I liked how Jenn became a "go with the flow" type of person as the story progressed. And the amount of candy she and her children eat throughout is kind of amazing. This was a fun story to read.

I had a lot of fun On Earth As It Is on Television and I was really excited to dig into this one as soon as the lovely @emilyjane.author sent it my way. There are ample mentions of Pokemon along with sea monsters, and her writing is quirky and full of humor. The characters are flawed but personable and easy to root for. I loved the chaos and absurdism in this one and all the weird ways losing control as a parent manifested. The setting also screams summer, and I can see this being a very entertaining vacation read if romcoms aren’t your thing.

While fun and explorative, this book takes on more than it can chew.
The writing is strong and solid. There's no doubt that Jane is a fantastic writer and explores several elements of craft well. However, I am not sure this book is her best intro to her work.

The synopsis is what drew me to the request on Netgalley, and while I'm glad for the reading experience, I'm not sure this book is for me. I loved the children's POV and Dax's but I wasn't a big fan of Jenni's, and she is the main POV of the book. I think this is because, throughout the whole book, there is a wall between readers and the characters. It's very detached, emotionally, and there's some big emotional issues happening throughout the book. It didn't really give me anything to chew on. Everything was presented matter-of-factly and then moved on to the next crisis. I think this book is trying to do too much genre-wise to dive into anything too heavy. It's speculative science fiction, it's woman's fiction, and it's romance, and they all fight for center stage so none take center stage. It's hard to pinpoint which genre this book fits under.

Don't get me wrong, I have read some books this year that blend genres and have loved them. This one, not so much.

Thank you, NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for a honest review.

As a child, Jenni's summertime best friend disappears into the ocean while standing in fairly shallow water next to her. Thirty years later she ends up back at her hometown beach with her two children for the summer. Jenn is trying to escape her ending marriage and reconnect with her internet addicted children. When her presumed dead BFF emerges from the ocean as the same 10 year old boy, she starts to question her sanity. Even more unexplained things begin happening, including some unusual sea creatures who are obsessed with sugar, and Jenni has to not only keep her kids from danger, but find herself along the way.

Much like the squidoodles, this story was equal parts strange and cute. As a sometimes overwhelmed mom worried about screen time and tired of being tired, I could easily relate to parts of it. Also, much like her children I appreciate some good Pokemon references so that was a plus. I loved the bit of sci-fi mixed in with the humor, such a fun cross over of genres. It was fun to see Jenn's relationship with her kids evolve as the story progressed, that's where much of the heart and humor in the story are found. I read through this book so quickly, it kept me engaged and I wanted to see what happened next. We do switch POVs a few times, and there are "excerpts" from the romance books her character writes and the self-help guru her husband is obsessed with.

Overall this was an entertaining read, it's got a bit of something for everyone, but would definitely be appreciated most by people who enjoy sci-fi and sea monsters. That being said this book is perfectly quirky. I look forward to reading more from this author! I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley for my opinions.

I was excited to see this ARC available on netgally because I recently finished Emily Jane’s debut, “On Earth As It Is On Television,” which I liked a lot. That book was quirky, this book looked quirky, I liked her writing style, and so I requested it. This book is about an over achieving adventure romance writer who is getting divorced and absconds with her children to her childhood hometown that is experiencing a little sea monster problem. Her childhood best friend had disappeared when she was 10 years old and he returns out of the sea. It’s a completely ridiculous premise. Perfectly quirky. The book “quotes” from chapters of her writing and a self help book that has influenced her ex. I’m not sure how necessary that was. And the main character fantasizes about a sexy contractor during what should be some pretty terrifying moments in her life, but otherwise I enjoyed it. There are some long battle scenes inspired by Pokémon that also could probably do with some editing down. Otherwise, it was a fast read, the main character is flawed and grows some, and there are weirdo sea creatures obsessed with candy. So in general a pretty good time. Thank you to netgally for the ARC.

This book is hilarious and stressful and relatable and weird and fun. From the description I expected a typical piece of upmarket fiction with a metaphorical sea monsters. What I got was something else entirely. Jenn grapples with childhood through an adult lens against the backdrop of an ever-increasingly insane situation. She struggles with the cynicism of adulthood, the death of her mother, divorce, and coming to terms with her mistakes. Meanwhile there's a long lost boy, a hot contractor, and a squidoodle to contend with, not to mention the very real monster lurking in the sea.

Thank you to Netgalley and Hyperion for this ARC!

Interesting book, but strange. It's definitely a science fiction, which I did not expect. I didn't really get into the characters. The action moves pretty quickly and Jenn does improve, but I can't say I liked it.

I really enjoyed this book. It kept me engaged and it only took a few days to read. I think this is going to be a good book club option for several clubs. I plan recommending to my book friends and I look forward to reading more by this author.

3.5 stars but I’m rounding it up to 4 for creativity.

If you are looking for a serious book about ____________ (insert any topic here) this is not the book for you.

If nothing else, this book will entertain you and force your brain to create images of sea monsters not yet known to mankind. There is something for everyone in this book. Squidoodles, dinosaurs, a tentageddon and even a hot carpenter. (Looking at you Sharon. I told you there was something for everyone!)

This pretty much sums it up:”life is absurd. We have to revel in the absurdity.”

Team Wave Blast all the way.

Thank you to Hyperion Avenue and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book.

This was a fun, quirky book. I liked that it felt like a fresh and unique concept. I also really liked the humour and the Mom’s internal dialogue.

Unfortunately, about halfway in, it was really dragging for me. I ended up having a hard time getting through this. That being said, I would definitely try something else by this author. I just wish this one wasn’t quite as long.

Thank you to Hyperion Avenue and NetGalley for the advanced copy.

A boy who’s been missing for 30 years walks out of the ocean just when his childhood friend returns to the area, and things get really weird from there. This a fun and fast paced story that had some very light romance and a lot of interesting ideas. The characters felt like real people that kept even the craziest parts of this from feeling too unbelievable.

Note: ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

this was definitely an interesting sci-fi romance(ish) book and i thought it was good just not necessarily for me. when jenn is a child growing up on pearl island her mother is a single mother so she spends a lot of time by herself. one summer she befriends a boy named timmy and after a tragic accident that summer timmy drowns. fast forward 30 years jenn is good through a messy separation and in an impulsive attempt at control she takes her children to pearl island. freaky things start happening and there are odd sea creatures and a sea monster that is out for blood. overall super interesting just not really my cup of tea.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for providing a free audio arc of this book.

This was a very...interesting book. I did like it, and it kind of reminded me of Emily Habeck's Shark Heart in a way, but more sci-fi, especially towards the end.

It is fast-paced and definitely action-packed at times. However, sometimes I felt like the story jumped around a little all over the place, but it came together at the end.

The main character Jenni is going through a divorce and dealing with complex emotions with that while also dealing with a friend from her childhood who supposedly drowned comes back from the dead to "save the world" with the help of Jenni and her children. You see how she evolves throughout the book to become a better version of herself for herself and her children.

The constant pop culture references throughout the book really brought charm into the story, especially all of the pokemon references, which were hilarious! It really is hard to describe this book as it is just something you have to experience for yourself, which I recommend as I think you'll at least be a little entertained.

Under the guise of clearing out her late mothers' house and finishing her latest novel, (but mostly to get away from her responsibilities and her soon-to-be-exhusband), boring, burned out, middle-aged novelist Jen impulsively takes her 2 kids and their dog to the beach island where she grew up. Pretty mundane life stuff.
Shortly after they arrive, Jen's best friend from age 10 walks out of the ocean. Missing and presumed drowned for 30 years, Timmy remains 10 years old, unchanged and un-aged. And that's when things start getting weird.

Thirty-years ago, 10 year old Jenni watches as her best friend Timmy Caruso disappears while swimming near her beachfront home. Present day, Jen is an accomplished author on the verge of a divorce, and she takes her kids back to her beachfront home after her mother’s passing when a young boy appears on the shore, claiming his name is Timmy Caruso, and Timmy states he’s on a mission to save the world. Here Beside The Rising Tide is a mashup of sci-fi/horror/fantasy genres, with some humor thrown in the mix. The plot is a bit of stretch, which includes sea monsters, time travel and weather anomalies. The book reads like a YA novel at times, and the dialogue among the children can be maddeningly juvenile and was a major distraction that spoiled most of the story for me, and unfortunately was too large a part of the novel. Was hoping for more sci-fi and less YA. I received an ARC of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to NETGALLEY and Hyperion Avenue for eARC

Plot: 3 (Concept is a 5, hence my ARC request)
Characters: 4
Writing Style: 3.5
Cover: 5 (I fucky love it)
Enjoyment: At first, 5, but then it lost steam and went to a 3ish. At one point, I wanted to read King's "Finders Keepers" more, despite the deadline. Sadge.

& that's a low 3, mind.

This sci-fi romance action book is told through third person POV, mainly from our MC, Jenni, though sometimes from the children or other side characters, coupled with excerpts from books within "(T)he Rising Tide" world. Quick-paced, humorous, cozy setting (until it's not, of course), non-linear timeline. The dialogue, though, it's awkward more often than not, even if it works in certain situations. It honestly came down to. There being. Too many. Short sentences. Distracting. Coupled with the overabundance of action words -- "SQUELCH SQUELCH SQUELCH" & "bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang", etc it dissolved into a push to finish, which was a bummer, considering how hard it started off. I loved the book at first. And then that underwhelming battle conclusion... sigh. IDK what happened, sorry.

SPOILER CREATURE REVEAL, MAYBE? BELOW!




P.S. Uhhhhh, you can't just, um, have 🦕 left in modern day. Just sayin'.

This book was not what I was expecting. Nail biter, page turner, could not put down. Loved that there were second chances and battles. Different but good book. Highly recommend!

This was alllll over the place, kind of in a good way and kind of in a bad way. I like the weird and fantastical, but I feel like there was almost not enough weird and fantastical in this, or maybe just not executed in a very organized fashion. I enjoyed the aspect of self discovery and reconnecting with yourself and your childhood self, but the plot and execution were a little strangely executed. Most definitely unique, I have not ever read anything like it before! I liked the differing points of view, I almost wished the switched more often or in a more organized way. Overall, if you’re looking for something different and love sea monsters, I would give this a try.

Thank you to Hyperion Avenue and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review

Here Beside the Rising Tide from Emily Jane is story with a fantastical plot involving a beachside town and a sea monster.

Jenni, a romance author, is going through the opposite of romance i.e. divorce when she returns to Pearl Island with her children. Jenni grew up in Pearl Island and had one glorious summer with her friend Timmy Caruso. They spent the entire summer swimming, running on the boardwalk, and enjoying all the benefits of summer. Then, Timmy disappeared.

Now, her Pokémon-obsessed children in tow, she's trying to find herself again. Then....late one night, a boy comes out of the sea. He says he's Timmy Caruso and he's 10 years old.

Jenn rents a summer house on Pearl Island. But shortly after she arrives, a boy emerges from the nighttime sea. His name, he says, is Timmy Caruso. He’s ten years old. And he’s on a mission to save the world. While dealing with her hilarious children, "Timmy" and a too-hot-to-handle contractor, Jenni tries to manage everything. Then, shark attaches, sea-creatures addicted to sugar, and tidal waves start occurring, Jenni has to wonder if "Timmy" was telling the truth.
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This isn't a deep story. It's lighthearted and does show growth and change. The location helped immensely, as who doesn't want to spend a summer at a beach town.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.