Touching the Surface

by Kimberly Sabatini

Experience the afterlife in this lyrical, paranormal debut novel that will send your heart soaring.

When Elliot finds herself dead for the third time, she knows she must have messed up, big-time. She doesn't remember how she landed in the afterlife again, but she knows this is her last chance to get things right. Elliot just wants to move on, but first she will be forced to face her past and delve into the painful memories she'd rather keep buried. Memories of people she's hurt, people she's betrayed and people she's killed.

As she pieces together the secrets and mistakes of her past, Elliot must find a way to earn the forgiveness of the person she's hurt most, and reveal the truth about herself to the two boys she loves, even if it means losing them both forever.

Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy, Paranormal, Romance, Ghosts, Contemporary, Fiction

336 pages, Paperback

First published October 30, 2012

About the author

Kimberly Sabatini is a former Special Education Teacher who is now a domestic engineer. After her dad passed away in 2005, she used writing as a way to make sense of the experience and discovered that she’s full of questions that need to be answered. She lives in New York’s Hudson Valley with her husband and three boys. Kimberly writes Young Adult fiction and is represented by Michelle Wolfson of Wolfson Literary Agency. She is thrilled to be part of the "Wolf Pack." TOUCHING THE SURFACE is her debut novel. (Simon Pulse - Simon & Schuster, October 30, 2012)

*Author photo by Dawn Sela Photography-
www.dawnsela.com

Reviews

[Ela]

Tee hee.



This book will be published on my birthday. I'm so lame, cracking up about things that don't matter....

[Jamison · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like this book because I think the author thought it out very well and it has a good story behind it. I like how the book flowed. It wasn't confusing at all. I really liked the concept of how you could create things in mid-air. My favorite character was the main character, Elliot. I'm glad that she wasn't too dramatic because I hate that. I really liked the origami cranes in the story and I also think that all of the characters were well thought out. I think that it's really cool that my mom made this book.

[Gina · Rating 5 out of 5]

TOUCHING THE SURFACE by Kimberly Sabatini (Simon Pulse - 9/4/12)

I am the lucky first from the Class of 2k12 debut writers group to read this beautifully written, highly anticipated ARC of Kimberly Sabatini’s TOUCHING THE SURFACE, about a teenage girl named Elliot’s death and her experience in the afterlife. Anyone’s death gives us cause to think about life, but the death of a teenager is especially tragic. I got this ARC in the mail a week ago, one day after I learned of the sudden death of an eleven year old girl in our town. This child left so many questions that we’ll never know the answers to, questions that were heavy in my mind when I started reading TOUCHING THE SURFACE.

Kimberly Sabatini has created a rich, thoughtful afterlife setting where souls are sent to delve through their past memories to find answers to questions we all struggle with … relationships, inner turmoil, ‘what ifs’ – all the obstacles to our own happiness and what’s worse for some, how our decisions, actions and mistakes affect the lives of others. In Sabatini’s afterlife, a soul gets three chances to get it right, but then what? Conventional wisdom would dictate that they are immediately shuffled off to heaven or hell, but what does that mean? Elliot has a lot to learn about souls she's incarnated with and decisions she's made, both in her past lives and here in the afterlife, and there are plenty of obstacles in her way, including Trevor, Oliver and best friend Julia. Such heavy themes are balanced by Sabatini’s incandescent voice – it’s obvious to me that so much love and thought went into this book, and the message she brings to readers is truly a gift! Keep your tissues handy!! This is the song I've had on loop all week, and it would make a perfect theme song for TOUCHING THE SURFACE. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TdN5Gy...

[Erica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Touching the Surface by Kimberly Sabatini was one of the most touching, beautiful books I have ever had the chance to read. It was marvelous in just about every way, and was a perfect debut from Kimberly Sabatini.

I loved Kimberly Sabatini's take on the afterlife. It was refreshing and new. Kimberly Sabatini managed to create this perfect balance in Touching the Surface - there were just the right amount of funny scenes to balance out the more serious, and it was such a treat to read. Kimberly Sabatini addresses so many issues in Touching the Surfance - the idea of death and the afterlife, love, what the true meaning of friendship is and much more. I really loved the message she was sending.

Trevor's t-shirts were so funny. He had a different phrase on them in every scene ranging from things like "I reject your reality and substitute my own" to "I don't discriminate. I hate everyone". Touching the Surface had some of the most adorable scenes I have read in a very long time. I seriously had to reread some of them, while I sat there smiling to myself.

Kimberly Sabatini's prose is gorgeous. I sat there staring at the words on the page in awe, and felt the urge to write down so many phrases as the entire book was so quotable.

The characters were all so diverse from one another, and I just loved them all. Oliver, Trevor, Elliot, Mel, the whole gang was just great. I loved watching them all grow throughout the book, as they worked to find their paths. Trevor and Elliot were so interesting - as they started out as slightly unlikable characters. By the end, I adored both of them so much, and was sad to see their story end. Freddie and Mel were my other favorite characters of the book. Something about them was just so warm and nice.

Touching the Surface is the kind of book I can press into everyone's hands, and regardless of their genre preference, know they will enjoy. While it has fantastical elements, it reads like a contemporary, and the characters create some of the most touching bonds of friendship throughout the course of the novel. Beautiful and enchanting, Touching the Surface by Kimberly Sabatini is a book that will charm its way into your life and you won’t be able to put it down. I really cannot wait for another book from Kimberly Sabatini.

Also, can I please just say that Touching the Surface's cover is just about my favorite cover ever. It is so pretty AND I was so happy to discover it ties in really well with the book :)

[Michelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm pretty sure I just didn't get this book. It wasn't poorly written, it was an interesting concept, but I hated the main character and couldn't get around it, even when she figures things out. It didn't help that the phrase touching the surface is said several times in different ways. I wanted to put it down, but the glowing reviews made me think that it would just click at some point and i didnt want to give up so soon. I should have. Sorry, it just wasn't for me.

[Liviania · Rating 4 out of 5]

There's something particularly fascinating about books set in the afterlife. It's a purely unknowable world, yet at the same time one that might actually exist. In Kimberly Sabatini's afterlife - the Obmil - you get three chances to examine your past and complete your life's journey next time. Elliot Turner is a Third Timer and knows this is her last chance to get it right. It's time to go past the surface.

Elliot's journey to self-discovery is complicated by two things. One, her best friend (who she's shared every life with) has suddenly decided to stay away from her. Two, there are two guys with whom she feels an instant connection - one intense and broody, the other cheerful and loving. As it turns out, both boys were pivotal to Elliot's most recent life.

I found the beginning of TOUCHING THE SURFACE somewhat confusing. The characters Delve into their memories and the first several Delves were rather abrupt. The content of the Delves was supposed to be somewhat mysterious, considering Elliot doesn't entirely remember what happened, but it took me awhile to get into the rhythm of when she'd switch between past and present.

But once I got into TOUCHING THE SURFACE, I loved it. Sabatini sets up some predictable elements, but she managed to make them play out in an unpredictable way. I particularly enjoyed TOUCHING THE SURFACE's treatment of love. Sabatini doesn't give short shrift to any of its forms. It can be romantic, platonic, familial, or friendly. And love in all its forms is important to living.

TOUCHING THE SURFACE is a terrific debut. Sabatini has shown that she can handle big ideas in an individual, human manner. I also liked the little glimpses into the journeys other people are making at the Obmil. This is Elliot's story, but she's in a world where everyone is struggling with their own story. It's an intriguing take on life after death. TOUCHING THE SURFACE might be a good novel to introduce contemporary fans to something more fantastical. It's also a good choice for speculative fiction fans tired of monsters and dystopias and looking for something a little quieter, if no less dramatic.

[Tanja (Tanychy) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review also posted at Ja čitam, a ti?

While many books try to explain different mysteries of life, mostly my favorites are the ones that have the eventual setting but don't focus on it, but on characters. For that reason after reading it you realize that it doesn't matter where you end but how did you live.

Touching the Surface stars like that, when Elliot bursts from the lake into the surface of a well-know place to her. For the third time she is back to Obmil. You have no idea what is that? Doesn't matter, as it's a beauty of this story. It actually doesn't focus on explaining the afterlife to you but the author builds the world beautifully so that you discover everything piece by piece. In the meantime you are trying to understand Elliot. When you get to meet her for the first time your words to describe her would be selfish, brat and other not such lovely words, but by the end of the book you'll want to hold her and be there for her.

We all make mistakes, that's understandable, but the key is in forgiving and compassion, the things that the author captures remarkably. While being lost Elliot hurts one that she cares for the most and as she doesn't know her past she cannot understand her present. With two more characters, Oliver and Trevor, to add to her confusion Elliot is lost.

It's hard to point out what I like the most here - the beautiful writing, the uniqueness to the story, the characters and their development so that you'll love every single one of them by the end of the book, or the way the would builds around you easily for you to imagine it but at the same time your focus is always on the characters and the plot. There is also a nice balance between seriousness and entertainment. Everything here seems to be nicely balanced.

[Jessie Harrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow - talk about a book that makes you think. Elliot gets to look back on her life and suddenly all the selfish, thoughtless things she did are apparent. But they weren't when she was living them. Made me think about all the things we take for granted in life and how we can be selfish without even knowing we are doing it.
I really enjoyed how the story alternates between Elliot's life and afterlife. How we get to put the pieces back together right along with her. How we see her over-react and grow. And I loved that Elliot found a way to forgive herself (in both life and afterlife), because sometimes that's one of the hardest things to do in life.
While the publisher may call this book paranormal, it reads far more like a contemporary novel. You've got a girl who has been through a horrific life experience, but has just begun to find her way again, when she dies. Although it's Otherworldly in the sense that Elliot is now in an awesome version of the afterlife, there are no ghost or creepy-crawlies here. You get reflection and introspection; growth and love.
Bottom line: I loved this book.
Disclosure: Kimberly is one of my writing friends and was kind enough to include me in the acknowledgments in the back. That doesn't mean I'm biased, however. We met at a conference and I was immediately drawn to her writing then. I knew she would create a masterpiece of a novel way back then and she certainly has.

[A.C. Gaughen · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are books that I enjoy profoundly as an adult, and then there are books that give me this yawning ache in my chest because I wish, I wish they had been around when I was a teenager, and hurting, and lonely, and thinking about all these questions of life, love, death, forgiveness, and this strange notion of forgiving yourself.

TOUCHING THE SURFACE is both of those books. I loved it--a lush fantasy (seems like the wrong word for it, but still) world of ever changing dimensions, Elliot finds herself in the Obmil, the physical space of the afterlife. She has to rediscover her past life, and find a way to heal herself and learn her lesson before she moves on.

Throw in Trevor, troubled hottie with an undeniable connection to Elliot--and the mystery of dying moments after her--and the ride becomes breathless, and romantic, and AWESOME. I loved "delving", which is like watching--WITH the character--as they experience TV episodes of their past life. How cool--to be able to unveil secrets to the character and the reader at the same time!

The writing was tight and fast paced, and had me hooked about 20 pages in. It's a beautiful, unique book.

[Alison · Rating 5 out of 5]

I normally don't read paranormal type books, but I knew I had to read a book written by Kim Sabatini. The book was beautifully written. It took me awhile to understand the whole afterlife part, since I normally don't read those types of books, but after I got the understanding of it, I was absorbed by it. Excellent book Kim!!!!!!!!!!!! Can't wait to read another.

[Lil · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ladies and gentlemen, buckle up because this is going to be one long review. Why, you may ask, is this going to be an exceptionally long review? Well, the answer is actually quite simple. This book made me feel so many different emotions. I loved it, then I hated it, then I loved it even more, but I went back to hating it. It's so wonderfully complex that I didn't know what to feel. And it took an insane amount of deliberation for me to decide on a rating that I think it rightfully deserves. But to write a normal length review explaining my journey with this novel would not suffice. It would not help to detail why I came to love it so much despite the rocky path we traveled together. And, in the end, I think a more detailed review will help make you understand why this book is such a hidden gem in young adult literature. I was not expecting it to hit me just as hard as it did.

The novel started off with Elliot emerging in the Ombil. The Ombil is a type of limbo--har, har, see the spelling?--where souls go when they haven't quite figured out how to grow from their experiences and where to continue on in life. So, pretty much, the book starts immediately after Elliot dies for the third time, but we don't know how she died. And it's not like some weird resurrection thing where she dies, this is more or less a cycle of reincarnation. When you complete your journey in the Ombil and learn how you can improve yourself and learn from the mistakes of your past life, you go and you're reincarnated into a life, and when you die in that life you head back to the Ombil where you have to work to regain your memories again to learn once more, but the people most important to you in the Ombil will always be known to you upon your return. You learn about yourself in a process called Delving where you open up your memories to the people around you in order to remember your past repressed life and learn from your mistakes. Complicated, but really easy to pick up on and certainly a unique and fascinating concept. It's made all the more better by the fact that this is the first afterlife book I have ever come across that excluded religion entirely. There was a conversation questioning the existence of Heaven and Hell, but there was not one religious reference, and I loved that. I praise Sabatini for giving us not only a really unique interpretation of the afterlife, but one that does not use such a novel as a way to force religion down ones throat. Such a thing is my biggest worry whenever I delve into a novel pertaining to the afterlife, and this is one of the many reasons that I think this book stands out.

But, back to the point, my biggest issue with the beginning of this story was that I really didn't like any of the characters, especially Elliot. Elliot was extremely self-serving and selfish. I have no other way to describe it. Someone tells her she needs space because Elliott is really controlling and it's all about her, only for Elliott to go off and rant about something inconsequential but it has to be super important because it's Elliott's belief. Oh, and at least twice in the novel, she literally said "Grrrrrr." I can't comment about that.Yeah, she's one of those. But as the book progressed, it became obvious to me that such characterization was entirely intentional. The purpose of this novel is to accept ones flaws and ones past mistakes and to grow with them. She wasn't mean to be likable in the beginning because she has yet to grow and as she grew, I really began to like her. This aspect of the story was meant to illustrate the point that if people let their flaws flourish, it makes them ugly. Elliott's disregard for others, her controlling nature, and her desire to always fish for pity and sympathies painted a really ugly portrait in the very beginning of the novel, but by the end of the book we went from seeing a ton of red dots across our vision to a beautiful storyline that had our hearts beating fast.

It did not help that the beginning of the novel was basically controlled by extreme emotions. These people just died. Trevor died minutes after Elliott did and he hated her upon his immediate arrival. These two went at it in the way that kindergarteners trapped in seventeen year old bodies only could. And it was slightly annoying because I felt there was no justification for any of it. It was all ruled by immediate emotional connections. And then, as I thought about it, I realized that these people just died. All they can do is operate off of first impressions and gut feelings. If these people had strong connections in their past lives, then they're going to feel strong connections in their afterlife's. However, the line between love and hate is thin when one can remember absolutely nothing about their past--so those two passionate emotions can be skewed and misinterpreted because of how powerful they are. Once I had this epiphany and realized that the emotional outbursts were attributed to unknown connections from the past being re-forged, I became really curious. But prior to that epiphany, I found myself gritting my teeth once or twice. In truth, I think that what the beginning of this novel is lacking is more of a back-plot. They died, I know, and I think that's a great place to start off, but I think more or less a back-plot to forging relationships in the Obmil and how the past can haunt you there instead of a variety of explanations about the Obmil itself would have been more interesting for me as a reader in the beginning of the novel. It would have given me a sense of clarity and an easier launching point for this story.

But, as I said before in my quick character analysis of Elliott, the story was very easy to adapt to once all the irrationality was thrown out of the window and bonds began to be forged correctly. Luckily, it did not take long for such a thing to happen, but if you ask me it took long enough. For example, I began liking Trevor long before I began liking our main character, Elliott. I'll go as far to say that I love Trevor's complexity and huge heart and just like Elliott because her emotions are still a bit too easily provoked for me. Trevor's one of the love interests in the story. He knew that he was connected to Elliott because they entered the Obmil so close to each other. They're both third-timers trying to get their lives in check. While he is admittedly frustrating, he's very charming as well. I found it easy to warm up to him for reasons that are still unknown to me. We'll put it this way, while he can flip from serious and angry to light and serene within a nanosecond, he always went back to his humble roots. He provided some form of comic relief via the sayings that would appear on his t-shirts, often there to antagonize Elliott, and this sort of playful-bullying made me like him even more. He reminds me greatly of the way I would interact with my male friends. Except, well, he's a love interest and I wouldn't kiss any of my guy friends. Ever.

With that in mind, I also want to point something out. From the synopsis above, I was under the impression that this story may have a love triangle in it. And everyone reading this knows how much I struggle with those unless they're done right. I'm happy to report that there isn't really a love triangle. There's a complicated web of love that allows us to explore familial love, friendly love, brotherly love, and true love. And while Elliott struggles to decipher this plethora of relationships and clearly identify the emotions that come hand-in-hand with each new form of love, there is only one true love. And while their story is definitely unconventional, I was rooting for these two so hard. So, so hard. Sabatini found a way to capture my attention and hold it until the very last page when the first hints of this romance began to crop up. While deliciously complicated and unique, it fits the complexity of both respective characters perfectly. The exploration of new forms of love was a nice touch, in my opinion.

The fact that there's symbolism everywhere in this novel was rather superb as well. Magnificent, really, the amount of symbolism that can be found with birds. I can't say I will ever look at an eagle or a crane (even one made out of paper) as if it was just a bird ever again. These two creatures symbolize so much more than I would have originally imagined, and they're used in ways to dictate ideals about life to us that can continue on into the real world once we leave the Obmil that Sabatini created with us in mind.

But what truly made this novel was so worthwhile is that it makes you think. You are constantly questioning things about the afterlife, about love, about living, about making mistakes. Literally, everything you can possibly think of questioning that'll leave you staring up at your ceiling contemplating life and your very existence into the late hours of the night are in this novel. They're obvious, they're hidden, but they're there. And they sneak up on you so quickly that you're easily overwhelmed with the expertise necessary to pull it all together. I never expected this novel to make me feel as much as it did, and while it did not drag tears out of me, it sure as hell made me feel. Sorrow, victory, redemption, anger, disappointment, loneliness, happiness, and most of all, it taught me that there's always hope for everyone. It made me realize that everyone, no matter how lowly they think of themselves, deserves to have hope.

With that being said, I have to say that I loved this novel. Once I began to like the characters because they got past the overemotional stage of death, I really started kicking myself for all of my feelings from the beginning. I went from wondering how I was going to write this review positively to realizing that I have to explain the torturous emotional process this book took me on to properly show how much the redemption of these characters eventually meant to me--including my misguided thoughts around the odd behavioral patterns in the beginning of the novel. While I'll openly admit it was not my favorite part, I will also admit that I understand the behaviors necessity now. For those of you wanting to read this, I'd recommend going in with an open attitude to emotional people instead of having them turn you off the way I did. If you do, this could seriously turn out to be a five star book for you.

I strongly urge many to check this out. If you like books that make you think and question a lot of things, read this book. If you like unique interpreations of the afterlife that aren't that religious, read this book. If you like a romance that is quirky and strange, but beautifully written and emotional, read this book. And if you like to be taken on an unbelievable journey of self-discovery, read this book. However, know that there is mentions of suicide and the occasional cuss word in here.

This book is just...so, so worth it.

[Eli · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was incredible! I loved it! Congratulations Kim on getting published! I am so glad to finally have gotten to read this, since my sister stole it from me... LOL. I loved nearly every aspect of the novel, from the writing to the setting- I mean, who couldn't be interested by the Obmil?- to the CHARACTERS to the plot as a whole. I actually wasn't sure how much I liked Elliot at first, and I definitely wasn't sure about puppy-dog Oliver, but as the book progressed I grew to love and understand both of these characters. The story drew me in from the first page. The way the afterlife (the "Obmil") is portrayed in this novel is so unusual and fascinating! The idea that you can travel with certain souls throughout different lives and then must "delve" into your memories and seek a greater understanding of life was so intriguing. I loved the way that the plot unfolded, gently but rapidly at the same time, and how every piece of the plot fit perfectly into place, which is certainly difficult to accomplish. I loved the bird symbolism everywhere... the eagles, the paper cranes, the feather Elliot wore around her neck. AND THE SONG PARALLELISM I mean how can you not love parallelism? Maybe I'm weird. But I adore parallelism, I feel like it makes the reader nostalgic and can bring about a number of emotions in the reader.

Anyway, these are all of the disorganized thoughts I have at the moment, spoiler-free for the most part. I am definitely going to be recommending (demanding my friends read) this book to all of my friends. What a great book! Congrats again, Kim. I hope that you continue to be a successful writer in the future. :D

One more thing. You're not supposed to judge a book by its cover, but the cover is gorgeous and fits the book so well. Plus, it matches my room. LOL

[blondie ♡]

Can't wait for this one! I have such a thing for dark and snarky guys :)

[Tamara Stone · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully told story about the importance of forgiveness and self-discovery.

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written and thought provoking. Can't wait for another book from this author! She is definitely in my top favorite authors. ;)

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read all my reviews at http://www.flyleafreview.com

4.5/ 5 Stars

Touching the Surface is an unusual book. The entire book takes place in the Obmil, or Limbo, the place between Heaven and Hell. The characters that we meet, protagonist Elliot, her ex-best friend, Julia, Mel, a counselor at the Obmil, Trevor and Oliver and the rest are not exactly people, but souls. Souls that have wound up back at the Obmil, which is, as you might surmise, a holding area of sorts. The place a soul goes after "death", and before the soul moves on to it's next "life." The quotation marks are because saying a soul lives or dies doesn't sound accurate, does it? It's difficult to explain and difficult to describe. But one thing you should know is that although this book deals with religious themes, souls, heaven, hell, reincarnation, limbo, it is not a preachy book. It's not a Christian book or a Buddhist book, it's sort of a universally spiritual book. Different aspects of different religious belief systems are mashed up together. I like this, I like that Sabatini picks and chooses certain things from these different belief systems and creates a uniquely spiritual story all its own.

Elliot is a 'third timer', she's a soul that has lived three lives and has once again returned to the Obmil. This is significant because the "rules" seem to state that a soul should reach enlightenment before three lifetimes. I'm not sure if this is the way the story goes in Buddhist doctrine or if this is Sabatini's invention, but Elliot is back as is her best friend Julia, the soul she has been closest to in two of her past three lives. When Elliot and other souls return to the Obmil, they do not instantly remember their past lives. The Obmil is portrayed as one big group therapy session of sorts (which I think is so VERY cool.) The soul must 'delve '(or witness others 'delving') which essentially means reaching back into their memories and subconscious mind to figure what went wrong in their past life and what they need to do to make changes so that their mistakes won't be repeated in their next life and they will move on to enlightenment. In Touching the Surface, the reader watches as Elliot, Julia, Oliver and Trevor go through this delving and remembering process.

Elliot has connections to the souls Oliver, Trevor, and Julia, connections from her recent past life, and in Julia's case, even more, but she doesn't remember the boys and she doesn't remember why Julia, who has been her best friend in her past three lives, is now upset with her and doesn't want to continue their friendship. Much of Touching the Surface is about each of these souls remembering their connections to each other and healing from the trauma of their past existences.

This book was a truly original and fascinating read. I don't think I have ever experienced anything like it. Everyone wonders what happens when we die. Life's greatest mystery is explored in this work and I really admire Sabatini's creativity. The characters in this book are all beautifully crafted. I was frustrated and enamored with each and every one. I was pulled right into the drama, wanting to find out what happened to all of these souls to make them so hurt and so angry. I loved the way every character, big or small, had a compelling story to tell and I loved the surprises that came when I realized they were all interconnected and linked somehow.

Elliot is an awesome MC, she is strong and stubborn, generous and selfish, frightened and brave. It was amazing to witness her character grow and develop over the course of the book. It was wonderful to watch her journey of self discovery, a journey that left me feeling hopeful and upbeat.

I loved Trevor, who was so closed off and harsh in the beginning but was an amazing character. I think I loved learning his story most of all. And Oliver. Oliver is probably the most heart warming, generous, put-a-smile-on-your-face-that-never-wears-off character I have ever read. "Sunshine in your pocket" type of thing.

"It's not so bad," I shouted out. "The separation, I mean." I felt dumb after I said it, but Oliver nodded his head in agreement.

"It's because I'm full," he called back.

"Of pizza?"

"No-full of you."

"Huh?"

"When I first saw you, I felt like I was running on empty. As if I'd been away from you for far too long. I needed an Elliot fix." He grinned.
"But now I'm feeling fully charged again. I've got a full tank." He patted his heart twice. "Now I can venture out, safe in the knowledge that I know where to find you should I need to replenish my reserves."

I LOVE me some Oliver. And he's that awesome throughout most of the book. Really, where can I get an Oliver of my very own?

There is definitely a romance in Touching the Surface. And when you start meeting the different characters you think there may be a love triangle too. But there isn't. I can't go into too many details but just trust me, those of you who shudder over triangles (LJ, I'm thinking of you!) do not let this keep you from reading this book. Even with romance being factored in, the relationships found within the pages of Touching the Surface transcend romance. There are friendships and there are family ties but there is this loving bond and connection between each of the souls, a higher form of love, if you will, that is the core of the story. It is really difficult to explain, you just have to read it to understand.

I have to talk a bit about the writing. For a story so unique and unusual, Sabatini somehow found a way to write it in a very easy to comprehend way. It's smooth and seamless even when some of concepts are hard to wrap your head around. The dreamy descriptions of the Obmil are particularly lovely, and Sabatini gets major kudos for managing to build a world that is so much more than white halls and and puffy clouds. What do you think of when you imagine Limbo? I'll be it's not half as beautiful as what Sabatini presents in this book.

In closing, Touching the Surface is one of those rare books that makes you ponder the big questions, and it's a book that I continue to think about even a couple months after reading it. It is an astonishing debut and I am now an official fan of Kimberly Sabatini. As far as I am aware, Touching the Surface is a standalone (yay! for standalones!) so I will anxiously await Sabatini's next project.

If you like books that have religious and spiritual undertones without coming off as preachy or biased; if you like books that have psychological elements included; if you like books that deal with the concepts of the afterlife and souls; if you like books that deal with not only romantic love, but deeper bonds and connections as well; and if you like original storylines and beautiful writing you must check out Touching the Surface. I do not think you will be disappointed.

4.5/5 Stars

[Christina (A Reader of Fictions) · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my very favorite subgenres of fiction deals with stories about the afterlife. I spend a rather indecent amount of time considering what life after death might consist of and my only completed work of fiction dealt with that topic. Touching the Surface has been on my radar because of its subject matter, its beautiful cover (which looks like the work of my friend Annie and fits the book perfectly), and the author's participation in the Apocalypsies. As ever when embarking upon a book with high hopes, I dreaded disappointment, but instead found a beautiful, quirky, emotional, clever, sweet, dark, magical read.

Sabatini's vision of the afterlife enthralled my imagination completely. She combines familiar concepts into something fresh and compelling. The concept of reincarnation has always called to me far more than most religious ideas, so I loved that Sabatini included that. She also put her own spin on it with the idea that, on a soul's third failure to reach some sort of enlightenment and whatever next step that brings, the soul's memories are wiped. This forces delving, a slow recapturing of the previous life's memories that allows for deeper reflection and analysis, removing preconceptions and errors kept in ordinary memory. Delving is also a group experience, not just a personal one, so that others can try to help the Third Timers figure out what has kept them from moving on.

Another fascinating element of this is the bodiless nature of the characters. They are all technically embodied throughout the book, but they have not always worn that body. In her first life, Elliot and her best friend Julia were twin brothers named Arty and Jim. The souls simply continue to wear the body and use the name of their last life until they reenter the stream to a new one. The souls can idenitfy one another by their scent that remains constant from body to body. Though she occasionally comments on appearances, the personality obviously factors in much more in how others seem to her.

The other main delightful quirk about the afterlife is the ability to manifest the mind's landscape physically. Thoughts can be created, from a lake to a mountain to a book the soul wants to read. Within the Obmil, this afterlife, the body cannot be injured and seems to have so much power. Not gonna lie, I would want to stay there and would try to get my friends to stay too. Of course, when you have a bad day, you literally will be stuck in a storm cloud of your own devising, but that's a small price to pay for the perks.

Alright, now that I'm done fangirling over the world building, I should probably discuss the plot a bit, shouldn't I? At the outset, I was a bit concerned that the book was heading for a stereotypical romance plot line: a rift between two best friends, a beautiful boy she feels inextricably drawn to (Oliver), a hot, angry boy who also seems to be part of her past (Trevor), and a love square between the four. Thankfully, this got cleared up pretty quickly and the characters did what was right for them, rather than conforming to tropes. Though the emotions become intense alarmingly quickly, it helped set the scene and conveyed the confusion Elliot felt being confronted with people who remembered her that she could not yet recall.

Elliot is a great character. She doesn't kick butt. She's sometimes weak. She's selfish, and sometimes a bully. All of that makes her who she is, and, even at her worst, I still felt for her and got her motivations. She manages to feel utterly real, especially in her struggle to find a sense of self, and her blithe unawareness of how she can steamroll others. Elliot wants to move on, hates having come back as a Third Timer, but she fears delving into her memories. Obviously, death in one's teen years doesn't signify a happy story.

The book alternates between the fantasy lanscape of Obmil and flashbacks to the characters' memories of their previous lives. This allows Sabatini to confront both gritty real life issues and psychological struggles. The flashbacks also explain why the characters feel the way they do about one another in the beginning, often for reasons even they don't know. This storytelling method adds a lot of tension to the tale and kept me flipping pages.

I dearly love Trevor. Oliver may be the nice one, though he shows some darker moods too (which I like), but I always have been drawn to the moody ones. Watching Trevor open up is delightful and he definitely puts hummingbirds in my stomach, let me tell you. What I love best is the way he changes the slogan on his t-shirt to match his emotions, generally with a smartass comment.

Ending books about the afterlife is generally pretty tricky, more so than with other genres perhaps. Sabatini's ending worked perfectly, I felt. I didn't anticipate quite the direction it would go in, and I really appreciated that. Nothing's wrapped up exactly, but it feels complete.

Kimberly Sabatini's debut blew me away and I know Touching the Surface is a book that I will be rereading. For a book with similar themes that does some wholly different things, check out Level 2 by fellow Apocalypsie Lenore Appelhans.

Read more of my reviews at A Reader of Fictions.

[Laurie Treacy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read a lot of paranormal and I can honestly say I haven't read anything quite like Kimberly Sabatini's Touching the Surface (and that's a very good thing). This YA touches upon the afterlife in such a cool and unique way that after I finished reading questions and thoughts inspired by the story kept bubbling around my brain. Elliot has died for the third time and winds back at the Obmil. She's expecting to reconnect with her best friend, Emma, but her friend has other ideas. The world the author creates is incredibly picturesque, with a touch of mystical with the way the dead that are there temporarily can change its landscapes. There's a cast of characters who are present at the Obmil the same time as Elliot. There's the dreamy Oliver with his unconditional love for Elliot, Trevor who shares a special connection with her, and her old friend, Emma, who is now called Julia.

What really struck me about the story was the ease in which I fell into reading it. Only after a few pages I felt I knew these characters and wanted to spend time with them. The writing is poignant and creates such lush visual landscapes. As Trevor tells Elliot she's the one changing the landscape, I couldn't help but think of the Robin Williams' movie What Dreams May Come. That movie boasts some beautiful imagery and so does Touching the Surface.

I loved the symbolism of the birds from eagles to hummingbirds to the origami cranes and the idea of freedom, of flight. There was such a surreal feel to the story created by the lyrical prose. I never regarded the afterlife as something like the Obmil but I now wouldn't mind landing there when my time is up. The idea of going someplace and being able to figure out your life plan, what you did wrong, sounds so sensible and right. The idea of reincarnation and being given the gift of having the opportunity to invoke change in your next existence is such an appealing concept and explored here. The streams of life and how Elliot watched one man preparing to enter one stream gave me goosebumps.

What I also enjoyed, immensely, was the mysterious aspects of Elliot's story. Told in first person, Elliot's tale takes place in the Obmil and in flashbacks called the Delves. One quick fangirl moment: the Delves were incredible! I found myself looking forward to each one. Each time Elliot or Trevor sank into a delve, my heart sped up waiting to see what connection in life was divulged next.

I won't give any spoilers so I will move on and mention Elliot. Although I liked all of the characters, Elliot is my favorite character. She's sassy, awkward, timid at times and other times overbearing, and she is so real. Her doubts and confusion over her feelings and attractions to Oliver (Star Wars fan boy, oh yeah) and Trevor makes her endearing and her fear over her actions in her past life made me want to hug her. I also developed a fondness for the moody Trevor with the gorgeous eyes and cool t-shirts with changing slogans (a cotton billboard of interchanging emotions complete with snark--every teen should have one).

Touching the Surface is not only thought provoking, it's moving. As Elliot and Trevor return to see snippets of their past, the mystery deepens, and I waited anxiously. Kimberly Sabatini is a gifted writer and has quite an exquisite imagination, yet approaches the heavy subject matter of the afterlife with a gentle, artistic approach. The story is compelling and needs to be made into a movie. I know the author from my local SCBWI meetings and I can happily confess how impressed I am by her writing and this incredible book.
(from http://www.readergirlsblog.com/2013/0...)

[Lisseth (Read-a-holicZ) · Rating 5 out of 5]

**Originally on Read-A-holicZ, HERE!**

Going into this book I was a bit worry, because i didn't know how things would turn out. I had read a few afterlife books that left me confused and uninterested after a few pages BUT OH.MY.GOD!!! This is one of THE best afterlife books i have EVER READ SO FAR!!! [my reaction is below @ finding this great read!]

The author created a place that was warm, creative, unique and captivating. I was literally speeding through this every time i picked it up. I got this feeling of meeting an old friend because the writing is just fun and inviting, and i don't always feel that way about a book BUT this one just wraps you in a warm hug. Maybe because it deals with what happens after death.

The world in Touching the Surface was UNIQUE. I mean duh there's an afterlife BUT in this book it was so different. You get chances to right wrongs in your life BUT with a twist because your NOT YOU, but someone else you. O_O Kinda complex to understand if you haven't read the book. Well, there's an entire school to " delving ", going back through memories to examine mistakes. PLUS it feels like ur actually alive since you can eat, live, and sleep...I would like to live there when i died...WHEN i die.

I LOVED the story & characters SO MUCH! Elliot, as she is called NOW, but was actually an 80 something year old in her first life O_O, yeah weird but not as much as you would think. She is strong yet confused because she had a minor memory loss & every time her afterlife took a turn I was like, "NO WAY! @_@ How is that POSSIBLE!!" Some really intense flashback memories...cuz you know it feels like your actually reliving it!

The guys, OLIVER & TREVOR . They are connected in more ways than one and have some HUGE issues to Unravel and fix. AND there both HOT & complex . Believe me they are NOT what you would expect...I DIDN't and you can't pick just one you love, so Elliot can't either. They're both different, as light and dark and they got into some EXPLOSIVE fights. [beleive me they bring new levels to GUILT] Don't worry everything gets resolved in the end and this book does have a "happy ending" sorta...cuz you know they're DEAD.

Overall, this book was EPIC! I LOVED that it gave us another "nicer" concept of the Afterlife and gave you a LOVE story too! I am going to run and buy myself a finished copy & SO SHOULD YOU!! It is a MUST READ for October!!So 5/5 EPIC GOLD STARS!!!!

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Touching the Surface, from it's original storyline to the beautiful cover was a book I loved reading. Elliot's transition into the afterlife was at times poignant and bittersweet as she tried to come to terms with her life, her death, and the value of her soul. This is a story about connection, growth, and, of course, love.

The setting was fascinating. Touching the Surface is set in a place called the Obmil where those who have died "delve" into their memories to try to understand what lessons they may need to learn in order to move on. Have you ever watched the 1991 Meryl Streep movie Defending your life? Touching the Surface reminded me of a YA version of that movie which is a GREAT thing since I love that movie. While the concept and setting is similar to this movie, it is definitely it's own original feel. I love the way that the scenery, even their clothing, changes both by the characters will and inadvertently by their emotions, so an angry character might find themselves sitting in a stark landscape with thunderclouds above their head and getting rained on while someone happier, just feet away may be in a lush forest setting.

The only gripes I have with Touching the Surface is that it did become a bit love trianglish which, you know, is one of my pet peeves. But I was enjoying the story so much that this didn't take TOO much away from the story. Also, I wish I would have been able to connect more with Julia, Elliot's best friend and their relationship with one another. It was very much ON the surface and I would have liked it to have gone deeper making it feel more genuine.

Otherwise, Touching the Surface was a lovely story with a premise that's a refreshing departure from what's commonly found in YA recently. The writing was engaging, the dialog easy to follow, and the story had a relaxed evenly paced flow. It was an overall enjoyable and entertaining read. I look forward to enjoying future titles from this author. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys stories that take place in the afterlife and YA romance.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an absolutely beautiful book. The concept of the afterlife, heaven, limbo, hell, etc., was flawless and a refreshing take. You always hear of hell being demons and fire, but this had a new spin.

Basically, Elliot has lived three lives, and when she dies, she always ends up back in Obmil, which is Sabatini's view of purgatory, or limbo. Each soul that ends up in Obmil has to go through a workshop to help them relive their memories. The overall goal is to learn from the past mistakes and be able to live your next life to the fullest.

There are a number of well-written characters in the book, and you're able to basically live a little bit of each of their pasts. The main character is Elliot, a 17-year-old girl. There's also Trevor, Oliver, Julia, Mel, and David. Of course there are other characters supporting the book, but these are the catalysts.

In the beginning, I thought the main love interest was going to be Oliver. I was surprised when this wasn't the case. I also thought Trevor was going to be a complete asshole, but he got over that really quickly. I absolutely love who she chose to be with, and think it was the perfect choice. Trevor's feelings for Elliot are some of the rawest, and most intense scenes I've read in quite a while.

There were a lot of moments where I started to tear up. Sabatini did an amazing job on the emotions in the book. It's really heart wrenching in parts, and incredibly well-written. Not only were the characters alive, but the scenarios are logical and could actually happen to young people.

Overall, I completely adored this book! I really recommend it to anyone who wants to sit down and have a damn emotional read. :)

[S.J. Pajonas · Rating 5 out of 5]

You know how sometimes you pick up a book that you have preconceived notions about, but then you read it, and it changes you? That's what happened here. I thought I knew what I was going to read before I even opened the book, but I should have known better. Ha! The author, Kim, and I go back several years, to the time we were at a wedding together and she said she was a YA author looking for an agent. My, how times have changed! Kim never ceases to amaze me with her creativity, honesty, and enthusiasm, and all of those qualities are not lost in TOUCHING THE SURFACE.

Over time, I heard about this book from little side conversations, but I didn't know what it was truly about. It was lumped into a category I considered to be "afterlife books", and so many of these have a dystopian feel to them. Instead, TOUCHING THE SURFACE, is an exploration of connections between people and how they last through time and space. Whether you believe in heaven or not, past lives, karma, or nothing at all, you'll still read this and look at your significant other or best friend and wonder how they've managed to mean everything to you. It's mind-blowing.

I read this slowly, enjoying all of Kim's descriptions, and wondering what would come next. I'm glad I got to spend that time with Elliot, Trevor, Mel, and the rest of the Obmil crew. Thanks for a beautiful book, Kim.

[T Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Touching the Surface is a story of love and surviving pain to come to a place of understanding. It is deceptively entertaining, but from the start helps us grapple with universal questions regarding the purpose of our lives and how to live them. The main characters are passionate young souls who have suffered in their all-too brief lives. They end up in a dream-like place where they must continue to learn and grow or repeat their mistakes. Each time they Delve, reliving memories, we get another piece of the mystery that brought them all together. This is a wonderful book for everyone who has loved or lost or who wonders deeply about meaning.

[Katie Carroll · Rating 5 out of 5]

Touching the Surface is as much as about how to live life as it is about what happens after you die. Although Elliot, the main character, isn't always the most likable person, Kimberly Sabatini managed to write her in a way that made me root for Elliot the whole story. There was enough mystery in Elliot's journey that I wanted to read as fast as I could to the end, but the beautiful writing and images made me slow down and savor the language. A wonderful debut novel!

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have had the pleasure of watching this book grow! I have read her manuscripts three different times and can not wait until I have the publish copy in my hand! Thank you Kim for allowing me to be part of this journey with you!

[Stacy Mozer · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is impossible for the reader of this book to only "touch the surface." Each character has so many levels of emotional depth, some that can be guessed, but most that are slowly revealed through visits to the characters former lives. Well done!

[Riya · Rating 5 out of 5]

OH EMM GEE! I AM SO EXCITED FOR THIS BOOK I CAN BARELY CONTROL MYSELF! I love you Kimberly Sabatini!!

[Caitlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn't sure how I felt about this story for the first half, but the second half definitely won me over. It had so many great, thought provoking messages and it's one of those books that makes you feel like life isn't as serious and harsh and absolute as it feels sometimes - it's all about your mindset. Everyday life makes it really easy to lose sight of the bigger picture of reality, and it's really important to realign your viewpoint from time to time so that you don't get stuck in the rut of hopelessness. The ending of this book has me feeling very zen, centered, and just all around comfortable with myself and comfortable with the knowledge that no matter how much you think you can screw your life up, it's really all just a matter of perspective, forgiveness, and moving forward.

[Leanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! I powered through this book and enjoyed its unique take on the afterlife. It reminded me a little of Gabrielle Zevin's Elsewhere, but with less emphasis on technical details and more on emotion and "delving" into relationships - past and present. Elliot is imperfect and likeable - the best kind of heroine.

[Amanda Thai · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars.
Delving into your memories is more painful than it sounds.

Elliot Turner has died...again. When she finds herself in the afterlife for the third time, she knows she has to up her game as this is her last chance to reach enlightenment. Elliot must 'Delve' into the memories of her past life, the ones full of hurt, pain and sorrow. As Elliot starts to put the puzzle together, she realises that she and her friends might have a connection that could make or break their chance to move on.

Touching the Surface wasn't quite as touching as I was expecting but it was beautiful all the same. I could relate to it and it contains many themes that create a very wide appeal. I struggle to see someone who wouldn't find somewhat of a connection to this novel.

Elliot is a protagonist many people will be able to relate to. She isn't overly perfect or in total control of her emotions. She's just as real and raw as anyone you'd meet in real life. She faces confusion, pain, and hatred as well as love and happiness.

You first see Trevor as an angsty, angry, emo boy. AS the story progresses, you come to love him along with Elliot. He has troubles in his past too, intertwined with Elliot's. He was also quite witty, and had all these slogans on his t-shirt with phrases like "Let's complicate things." I really loved his and Elliot's relationship. It was realistic but still had the little cheeky, funny parts that you can only get in books.

At the start (before Trevor opens up), Oliver is Trevor's complete polar opposite. He is bright, bouncy and happy as a ball of sunshine. His Star Wars references were quite funny, even though I've never seen Star Wars before.

Julia is Elliot's best friend who has turned away from her, even after they spent two lives together. I love how she made paper cranes for Elliot and how the are represented on the cover.

There were several major themes in this novel but one of the most prominent was love. It's not just the romantic love between Trevor, Elliot and Oliver. There's also familial love, friendship love, respect love, all kinds of love. It's a very strong message throughout.

This book is set in the Obmil, Sabatini's vision of the afterlife. The most interesting thing about the Obmil is the process of Delving. This is where souls 'delve' into their past memories, reliving them and trying to learn from them. As a Third Timer, Elliot barely remembers anything of her past life. This is where Delving comes in. The Delving was much like a flashback scene, only Elliot would make comments at some points.

Kimberly Sabatini's writing is very lyrical and beautiful. She is incredibly good at describing emotions in a way that makes you feel them along with the characters. I loved the constant mystery of not knowing how Elliot and Trevor died. It keeps you turning pages to find out more.

The plot is rather slow-paced however. This bothered me a fair bit in the beginning as I wasn't up to the gritty parts of Elliot's past yet. When those came around though, I was happy to have the slow pacing, allowing the characters emotions to fully sink in and giving me time to process what had happened in the latest Delve. I understand that this book is driven by the characters and wherever their emotions take them. Unfortunately, it took them to the same places over and over again until I became quite bored of it. Like the amount of times Elliot walked the halls of the Haven or dawdled in her room, that sort of thing.

Her dialogue was a tad bit unrealistic however, as the characters speak much more like adults than teenagers. Their words seem a bit too choreographed and scripted to be real.

I was also confused at times, especially at the start. As I kept reading I realised that, with Sabatini's storytelling, you have to go with the flow and things will be explained in a few pages. At the end, I was so overwhelmed with awesome quotes and fancy phrasing, I didn't really understand what Elliot was saying. Flip the page, and Trevor clarifies her point in simpler words.

The book was extremely quotable. I think that everyone could read this book and come away with a quote to live by. I like many of the quotes but my favourite quote would have to be:
"Maybe heaven was innocence, limbo was ignorance, and hell was fiery illumination." - p.49

But on a whole, I felt like it lacked some oomph. I felt like I was on the same level the entire book; my emotions weren't going out to the characters and jumping up and down the scale. I will still recommend this to my friends, and look out for Sabatini's next work. For some, Touching the Surface will be a deeply moving tomb of emotion. But even if you don't have a connection, you will still be able to learn something from Touching the Surface.