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Sneaker Wave
Four mismatched teens. One act of violence. One nod by each of them to agree it never happened. This raucous yet poignant story of friendship, loss and long-denied regret springs to life in the dying days of high school in a seaside Pacific Northwest town. A popular resident is critically injured while confronting seventeen-year-old Brady Joseph and three friends who have broken into an abandoned house to party. Luke, a seething runaway, is suspected of attacking the man, while Sam, a gentle, imperiling opportunist, and Sarah, Brady's wildly irrepressible girlfriend, are accused of helping Brady cover up the crime. The teens? code of silence keeps them out of jail, yet for Brady their duplicity is not so easily accepted, especially as their lives and those of others begin unraveling in a dizzying plunge, leaving him with two choices, each one tragic. This is a story about teens doggedly pursued into adulthood by suspicion that lingers long after the media moves on to the next crime du jour. It's a haunting journey into the gaps between right and wrong, between harmless half-truths and disastrous self-deception.
- GenresComing Of Age
436 pages, Paperback
First published October 30, 2013
About the author
Jeff Beamish
3 books7 followersJeff Beamish is a fiction writer, former journalist and author of the new award-winning novel, No, You're Crazy. His first novel, Sneaker Wave, was shortlisted in 2014 for a national fiction award in Canada. His second novel, No, You’re Crazy, is the 2023 New York City Big Book Award winner for visionary fiction, the 2023 Hollywood Book Festival Award runner-up for general fiction and the 2023 Beach Book Festival Award runner-up for general fiction. He has had short fiction published in four literary journals, The Nonconformist Magazine, Consequence Forum, Litbreak Magazine and Free Radicals Magazine. He enjoys writing psychological suspense, dark literary fiction, neurodiversity fiction, existential thrillers, visionary fiction, and stories about coming of age and family trauma.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
November 1, 2013
I've been waiting for this book to come out for awhile, and it didn't let me down! The story always kept me anticipating what was going to happen next. Just when I thought I knew what was going to happen there was a new twist that shattered the character's world. I fell in love with many characters in the book especially Brady. I felt like I was in the book experiencing life with him!
It was truly a great read, great work Jeff!!
It was truly a great read, great work Jeff!!
January 14, 2014
Very good book review now in the Vancouver Sun Newspaper: http://www.vancouversun.com/entertain...
So glad I found this book!! It was a excellent read and I really loved it. Jeff Beamish did a great job of keeping me engaged throughout the entire book. I felt like I was there in the book going through the journey that Brady (the main character) was going through. I felt his happiness and love, as well as pain and regret. The book had me going from smiling to laughing to being in tears.
I recommend this book for anyone looking to support a new author and who wants a really great read. You will not be disappointed!!
So glad I found this book!! It was a excellent read and I really loved it. Jeff Beamish did a great job of keeping me engaged throughout the entire book. I felt like I was there in the book going through the journey that Brady (the main character) was going through. I felt his happiness and love, as well as pain and regret. The book had me going from smiling to laughing to being in tears.
I recommend this book for anyone looking to support a new author and who wants a really great read. You will not be disappointed!!
December 22, 2013
Sneaker Wave is a read full of suspense with a totally unpredictable plot line. Just when you think you know where the story is going, surprise... . Perhaps the ending offers up the biggest surprise of all. It is here that Beamish shows that we can be incredibly forgiving, as well as do the right thing, but for the most part this novel takes us on a suspense filled trek that keeps us wanting more. I am looking forward to this promising authors next work.
March 9, 2014
I won this book from a contest on Goodreads.
When Brady Joseph was just a young child, he witnessed his father's suicide. Now he is 17 years old and still lives in the same dilapidated house with his Mother, who he believes lives only to embarrass her only son. He lives in Deception Path and is friends with 'bad boy' Luke Newell and 'just as crazy' Sam Simpson and his girlfriend Sarah Roberts whose father would like nothing more than have his daughter date someone else within his class and not a low life like Brady. As the four were nearing their high school graduation, Sarah suggests throwing a party at her neighbor's abandoned house. Around 12:30 am with the party in full swing, a neighbor Tom Opal, came to get Sarah and take her to her house in the garage away from the noise, and speak with her. Opal didn't know that Luke, Brady and Sam had followed them in the garage and just as quickly Tom was rushed to the hospital with a blow to the head and was in a coma. He later died due to his injuries. Since the police knew of these boys, they arrested Luke with assault and the other three were charged with criminal conspiracy. With little evidence and none of the teens talking, all four were granted bail and they walked. But the people in town continued to harass the four and Sarah, although she had already been accepted into University was suddenly rejected due to budget cuts, etc. But they all knew it was because they were branded 'murderers'. Brady moved on with his life, became a firefighter and married and had twin girls, but the guilt of his and his friends' past was never far from his mind. Brady's one huge obstacle in his life was to try and get past it and forget. But how?
Author, Jeff Beamish, did an expert job of putting Brady Joseph's feelings on paper for the reader to feel his pain. An incredible feat and a terrific read!
When Brady Joseph was just a young child, he witnessed his father's suicide. Now he is 17 years old and still lives in the same dilapidated house with his Mother, who he believes lives only to embarrass her only son. He lives in Deception Path and is friends with 'bad boy' Luke Newell and 'just as crazy' Sam Simpson and his girlfriend Sarah Roberts whose father would like nothing more than have his daughter date someone else within his class and not a low life like Brady. As the four were nearing their high school graduation, Sarah suggests throwing a party at her neighbor's abandoned house. Around 12:30 am with the party in full swing, a neighbor Tom Opal, came to get Sarah and take her to her house in the garage away from the noise, and speak with her. Opal didn't know that Luke, Brady and Sam had followed them in the garage and just as quickly Tom was rushed to the hospital with a blow to the head and was in a coma. He later died due to his injuries. Since the police knew of these boys, they arrested Luke with assault and the other three were charged with criminal conspiracy. With little evidence and none of the teens talking, all four were granted bail and they walked. But the people in town continued to harass the four and Sarah, although she had already been accepted into University was suddenly rejected due to budget cuts, etc. But they all knew it was because they were branded 'murderers'. Brady moved on with his life, became a firefighter and married and had twin girls, but the guilt of his and his friends' past was never far from his mind. Brady's one huge obstacle in his life was to try and get past it and forget. But how?
Author, Jeff Beamish, did an expert job of putting Brady Joseph's feelings on paper for the reader to feel his pain. An incredible feat and a terrific read!
January 10, 2014
In Sneaker Wave, Jeff Beamish does a fabulous job of captivating the readers. I honestly could not put down the book, so I ended up almost finishing it the day I started! The book follows the lives of four teenagers, whom have many different obstacles thrown at them. Anyone who reads this will fall in love with Brady, the main character. He is relatable as he goes through struggles that many people face. For example, doing the right thing even though it is hard. Many times throughout this book I cried and felt my heart ripped out of my chest. However, there were also moments of love and happiness where I couldn’t stop smiling. I can’t recommend this book enough. Sneaker Wave shows how tragedy can shape someone’s life, and how mistakes can haunt you for the rest of your life.
February 26, 2014
Not sure which is more accurate: Sneaker Wave is a beautiful, character-driven literary novel that explores the difficult choices we sometimes face and the consequences for making the wrong one. Or. Sneaker Wave is a taut, plot-driven mainstream novel that knocks you off-balance in the first chapter and keeps you hanging on for dear life until the ride is over. Either way, this story of regret and redemption is as bewitching and thought-provoking as it is unpredictable and electrifying.
March 24, 2014
an amazing story. awesome characters. ....
May 2, 2026
Sneaker Wave is the kind of story that lingers long after you turn the final page. It begins with a single moment, one decision, one act of violence, and then slowly unravels the lasting consequences of that moment in a way that feels both raw and deeply انسانی.
At its core, this novel is not just about what happened in that abandoned house, but about what happens after. The silence. The guilt. The way a single shared secret can bind people together while quietly tearing them apart. The idea that four teenagers can agree to pretend something never happened is simple on the surface, yet the emotional weight of that decision becomes heavier with every chapter.
Each character brings a different energy to the story. Brady stands at the center, carrying not just the burden of the event but also the psychological fallout that follows. His internal conflict feels real and uncomfortable in the best way. Luke, with his anger and instability, adds tension and unpredictability. Sam feels more complex than he first appears, someone trying to navigate survival in his own way. Sarah brings a chaotic, almost defiant presence, but beneath that there are hints of vulnerability.
What makes this book especially powerful is how it explores the long shadow of consequences. The legal system may not catch up with them, but life does. Suspicion, rumor, and memory follow them into adulthood, shaping their identities in ways they cannot escape. It raises an unsettling question. Even if you avoid punishment, can you ever truly move on?
The setting adds another layer to the story. The coastal Pacific Northwest feels both beautiful and isolating, almost like a silent witness to everything that unfolds. There is a sense of distance from the rest of the world, which mirrors the emotional isolation the characters experience.
The pacing is deliberate, allowing the tension to build gradually rather than relying on constant action. This may not appeal to readers looking for a fast thriller, but for those who enjoy character-driven narratives, it works well. The story gives you time to sit with the discomfort, to understand each character’s perspective, and to feel the weight of their choices.
One of the strongest aspects of the book is its honesty. It does not try to offer easy answers or neat resolutions. Instead, it presents a messy, complicated reality where actions have consequences that cannot simply be undone. That realism is what makes the story so haunting.
If there is any criticism, it might be that the emotional heaviness can feel overwhelming at times. The story does not give much relief, and that intensity might not be for everyone. However, for readers who appreciate depth and psychological complexity, this is exactly what makes the book memorable.
Overall, Sneaker Wave is a powerful exploration of guilt, friendship, and the lasting impact of choices made in youth. It is not just a story about a crime, but about the echoes of that crime and how they shape lives over time. It is a thoughtful and unsettling read that stays with you, quietly asking what you would have done in their place.
At its core, this novel is not just about what happened in that abandoned house, but about what happens after. The silence. The guilt. The way a single shared secret can bind people together while quietly tearing them apart. The idea that four teenagers can agree to pretend something never happened is simple on the surface, yet the emotional weight of that decision becomes heavier with every chapter.
Each character brings a different energy to the story. Brady stands at the center, carrying not just the burden of the event but also the psychological fallout that follows. His internal conflict feels real and uncomfortable in the best way. Luke, with his anger and instability, adds tension and unpredictability. Sam feels more complex than he first appears, someone trying to navigate survival in his own way. Sarah brings a chaotic, almost defiant presence, but beneath that there are hints of vulnerability.
What makes this book especially powerful is how it explores the long shadow of consequences. The legal system may not catch up with them, but life does. Suspicion, rumor, and memory follow them into adulthood, shaping their identities in ways they cannot escape. It raises an unsettling question. Even if you avoid punishment, can you ever truly move on?
The setting adds another layer to the story. The coastal Pacific Northwest feels both beautiful and isolating, almost like a silent witness to everything that unfolds. There is a sense of distance from the rest of the world, which mirrors the emotional isolation the characters experience.
The pacing is deliberate, allowing the tension to build gradually rather than relying on constant action. This may not appeal to readers looking for a fast thriller, but for those who enjoy character-driven narratives, it works well. The story gives you time to sit with the discomfort, to understand each character’s perspective, and to feel the weight of their choices.
One of the strongest aspects of the book is its honesty. It does not try to offer easy answers or neat resolutions. Instead, it presents a messy, complicated reality where actions have consequences that cannot simply be undone. That realism is what makes the story so haunting.
If there is any criticism, it might be that the emotional heaviness can feel overwhelming at times. The story does not give much relief, and that intensity might not be for everyone. However, for readers who appreciate depth and psychological complexity, this is exactly what makes the book memorable.
Overall, Sneaker Wave is a powerful exploration of guilt, friendship, and the lasting impact of choices made in youth. It is not just a story about a crime, but about the echoes of that crime and how they shape lives over time. It is a thoughtful and unsettling read that stays with you, quietly asking what you would have done in their place.
February 13, 2018
I've waited a long time to read this as it is always ridiculously expensive. This book kept on twisting and turning and took me to unexpected places. A really good book but a little slow for my liking but good.
September 4, 2014
4.5 stars for this fantastic read. How one act can alter so many lives for so many years in such tragic ways. Stunning to read. A fantastic first novel Mr. Beamish. Looking forward to many more! Thank you ever so much to Oolichan Books for sending this - it sat on my shelf, for what I feel was too long now before I finally picked it up.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews