The Summer of Chasing Mermaids by Sarah Ockler

Book Summery (Via Goodreads): The youngest of six talented sisters, Elyse d’Abreau was destined for stardom—until a boating accident took everything from her. Now, the most beautiful singer in Tobago can’t sing. She can’t even speak.
Seeking quiet solitude, Elyse accepts a friend’s invitation to Atargatis Cove. Named for the mythical first mermaid, the Oregon seaside town is everything Elyse’s home in the Caribbean isn’t: An ocean too cold for swimming, parties too tame for singing, and people too polite to pry—except for one.
Christian Kane is a notorious playboy—insolent, arrogant, and completely charming. He’s also the only person in Atargatis Cove who doesn’t treat Elyse like a glass statue. He challenges her to express herself, and he admires the way she treats his younger brother Sebastian, who believes Elyse is the legendary mermaid come to life.
When Christian needs a first mate for the Cove’s high-stakes Pirate Regatta, Elyse reluctantly stows her fear of the sea and climbs aboard. The ocean isn’t the only thing making waves, though—swept up in Christian’s seductive tide and entranced by the Cove’s charms, Elyse begins to wonder if a life of solitude isn’t what she needs. But changing course again means facing her past. It means finding her inner voice. And scariest of all, it means opening her heart to a boy who’s best known for breaking them . . .

Book Review:
I had high hopes for this book. I really did. Sarah Ockler is one of my favorite authors, hands down. The Book of Broken Hearts is one of my all time favorite books. So I was really excited to get a review copy of her new book The Summer of Chasing Mermaids. Unfortunately, I did not enjoy it as much as I had anticipated. Here's the breakdown:
The PROs:

• I love that the main character is a woman of color with a rich background story. LOVE IT!
• The way Elyse interacts with other characters despite losing her voice.
• Elyse's ability to move past her tragic past.
• Sebastian, the love interest's little brother. Adorable!
• How supportive the secondary characters were. They seemed like genuinely nice people.

The CONs:

• Typical YA love story. It could have used some spicing up.
• Typical main love interest...a bad boy that just isn't understood.
• The pacing. It took me quite a while to get through the story.
• In the beginning the story seemed a little confusing. There was a lot of back and forth between places and timelines. Perhaps because this was an uncorrected proof?
• The ending. It left the whole story arc unfinished...I was a little let down.

Obviously, as you can see, despite some issues, there were several things about this novel that I enjoyed. I don't think this contemporary YA is for everyone, though I can see that it appeals to some.

Thanks to Simon & Schuster for this copy.
Published June 2nd 2015
This is my honest review.

Cover Art Commentary:
I love this cover! I love the beach-y feel! The setting is essential to the story.

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