Book Review: It Comes in Waves

By Amy Bromberg

For competitive surfer Claire "Pepper" Patton, the waves of South Carolina’s Folly Beach once held the promise of a loving future and a bright career—until her fiance, Foster, broke the news that he and Claire's best friend, Jill, were in love.

Eighteen years later, now forty-two and a struggling single parent to a rebellious teenage daughter, Claire has put miles between that betrayal and that coast. But when ESPN invites her back to Folly Beach for a documentary on women in surfing, Claire decides it might be the chance she needs to regain control of her life and reacquaint herself with the unsinkable young woman she once was.

But not everything in Folly Beach is as Claire remembers it, most especially her ex-best friend, Jill, who is now widowed and raising her and Foster’s teenage son. An unexpected reunion with Claire will uncover a guilt that Jill has worked hard to bury—and bring to the surface years of unspoken blame.

When Claire crosses paths with a sexy pro-surfer who is as determined to get Claire back on a board as he is to get her in his bed, a chance for healing might not be far behind—or is it too late for two estranged friends to find forgiveness in the place that was once their coastal paradise, where life was spent barefoot and love was as dizzying as the perfect wave... (Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads.)

Erika Marks explores several relationships in her multi-dimensional novel, It Comes in Waves. There's the long standing friendship between Claire and Jill, the mother daughter relationship between Claire and Lizzie and a romantic one between Claire and Gus. Even though what Jill did to Claire was horrible and wrong, it’s been many years since they saw each other, so maybe it’s time to move on and start fresh. This is what I wish I could have said to them.

I can relate to how Lizzie felt about how her mother was smothering and didn’t let her have her own life. This is exactly how my mother was growing up. I have a feeling that’s because Lizzie and I are both the only child in our families. What can I say about Claire and Gus…they just sizzled right from the very beginning. I would have liked to have known what was in store for them in the future. Wish the book was a little longer in this respect.

I felt like I was right in Folly Beach, and actually surfing with Claire. I’m actually now interested in learning how to surf…only as long as I have a handsome man like Gus teaching me. I’m surprised I wasn’t interested before because I love anything having to do with water, be it swimming, going to the beach, a pool, water park, etc. Speaking of the beach, I LOVE the color of the water on the front cover. The two most beautiful beaches I’ve been to are Aruba and Maui.

As you all know I very much enjoy novels where the author alternates between the past and present. I appreciate how well Erika accomplished this. To me this makes a book that much more appealing.

For anyone who’s looking for a fast-paced relaxing beach read, where the story actually takes place on the beach, then I suggest you get this book now!

Thanks to Penguin for the book in exchange for an honest review.

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