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Angel Island #1
Waiting for the Storm
After the death of her mother, the last thing seventeen-year-old Charlotte O'Dell wants to do is spend the summer on Angel Island with her family. Her younger sister hates her, and her dad is lost in his own little world. It's a recipe for a disastrous summer on the island...until Ezra Rhodes walks into her life.
The boy next door helps Charlotte forget her almost paralyzing fear of really living her life. After taking care of her mother in her last months, Charlotte is drowning, numb to everything but her own grief and anger. With Ezra, she feels something again, and as he repairs her family's summer home, she dares to think he might actually be fixing her, too. Ezra challenges Charlotte to leave her comfort zone, and as their friendship slowly blossoms into more, Charlotte begins to come alive again.
But Ezra has secrets...secrets he isn't sharing with Charlotte. Between that and the growing tension with her family, Charlotte can't help but feel there's a storm on the horizon. And she isn't sure if they can weather it unscathed.
The boy next door helps Charlotte forget her almost paralyzing fear of really living her life. After taking care of her mother in her last months, Charlotte is drowning, numb to everything but her own grief and anger. With Ezra, she feels something again, and as he repairs her family's summer home, she dares to think he might actually be fixing her, too. Ezra challenges Charlotte to leave her comfort zone, and as their friendship slowly blossoms into more, Charlotte begins to come alive again.
But Ezra has secrets...secrets he isn't sharing with Charlotte. Between that and the growing tension with her family, Charlotte can't help but feel there's a storm on the horizon. And she isn't sure if they can weather it unscathed.
ebook
First published April 2, 2013
1 person is currently reading
709 people want to read
About the author
Marie Landry
28 books907 followersMarie Landry lives and writes in a cozy apartment in Ontario, Canada, surrounded by books and Funko Pops. An avid reader from a young age, she loves getting lost in characters’ worlds, whether they’re of her own making or someone else’s. She particularly loves stories with as much of an emphasis on self-discovery and friendship as on romance...but don’t leave out the romance!
When not doing bookish things, you can often find her taking pictures, cooking, scrolling Instagram (find her at @marielandry.author), daydreaming about frolicking through the Scottish Highlands, or listening to the same music she's loved since the '90s. She's an unapologetic nerd and fangirl, and that, along with her mental health advocacy, is often woven into her books.
Stay up to date with new releases, sales, promos, and other news by signing up for Marie's newsletter and be sure to follow her on BookBub so you never miss a new release!
When not doing bookish things, you can often find her taking pictures, cooking, scrolling Instagram (find her at @marielandry.author), daydreaming about frolicking through the Scottish Highlands, or listening to the same music she's loved since the '90s. She's an unapologetic nerd and fangirl, and that, along with her mental health advocacy, is often woven into her books.
Stay up to date with new releases, sales, promos, and other news by signing up for Marie's newsletter and be sure to follow her on BookBub so you never miss a new release!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews
June 12, 2013
I read an early version of this as a beta reader for Marie, and from that alone, I can say it's her BEST work to date. Everyone prepare for an incredibly poignant, sweet, heart-melting story! Marie knows how to write swoon-worthy boys for sure, and I can't wait to get my hands on the final version of WAITING FOR THE STORM!
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Final review:
I was a beta reader for Waiting for the Storm, and even in those early stages, I had a special connection to this book. I created a playlist for it while I read, and something about reading such a powerful, emotional story and choosing music for it just...endeared me to Marie's third book. Charlotte and Ezra's story is very special to me, even more so than Nicholas and Emma in Blue Sky Days, Marie's debut novel - which I adored.
Right away, I felt a kinship with Charlotte O'Dell. Reeling from her mother's death, my heart just went out to her. Charlotte is a great example of the sort of main character YA literature - and all fiction literature - needs. She's strong, but knows she needs to do some growing. She's self-aware, but still has all these idiosyncrasies that make her seem so relatable. I spent most of Waiting for the Storm so darned PROUD of Charlotte, although there were times when she broke my heart.
Charlotte isn't the only strong character. Immediately after meeting Ezra, I knew I was going to fall for him just as hard as I had Charlotte. Marie has a way of writing these swoon-worthy male characters that PERFECTLY stride that linen between being awesome, and being too good to be true. Ezra is Charlotte's antithesis in so many ways, ways that end up being really, really good for her. I loved watching their friendship blossom, and my heart melted SO many times during the course of their relationship. The slow progression from friends to more felt totally natural - no cheesy insta-love here! Ezra and Charlotte are so strong together, and I liked that they made one another better.
Waiting for the Storm is Marie's best novel so far. I said it reading an early version, and I'll say it now. She just keeps surprising me. The pacing was amazing in Waiting for the Storm - ebbing and flowing like the ocean Charlotte was staying near during the summer. The secondary characters, even those that didn't have too many appearances, were developed (MAJOR points from me for that,) and the plot tugged at my heart so hard at times. I had some words for Charlotte's sister, who's a terrific antagonist, and a really interesting foil to Charlotte. But even that was slowly, meticulously, yet organically brought to maturation. Marie takes her time with her plots and revelations, yet does so in a way that makes you feel like it's all arriving right on time.
Final Thoughts: Waiting for the Storm is a shining example of why I love YA contemporary novels. It's a story about learning to live again, and a story about having hope that you'll meet whatever life holds for you. From the characters, to the romance, I FELT so much, and that's why I'll continue to read Marie's books.
___
Final review:
I was a beta reader for Waiting for the Storm, and even in those early stages, I had a special connection to this book. I created a playlist for it while I read, and something about reading such a powerful, emotional story and choosing music for it just...endeared me to Marie's third book. Charlotte and Ezra's story is very special to me, even more so than Nicholas and Emma in Blue Sky Days, Marie's debut novel - which I adored.
Right away, I felt a kinship with Charlotte O'Dell. Reeling from her mother's death, my heart just went out to her. Charlotte is a great example of the sort of main character YA literature - and all fiction literature - needs. She's strong, but knows she needs to do some growing. She's self-aware, but still has all these idiosyncrasies that make her seem so relatable. I spent most of Waiting for the Storm so darned PROUD of Charlotte, although there were times when she broke my heart.
Charlotte isn't the only strong character. Immediately after meeting Ezra, I knew I was going to fall for him just as hard as I had Charlotte. Marie has a way of writing these swoon-worthy male characters that PERFECTLY stride that linen between being awesome, and being too good to be true. Ezra is Charlotte's antithesis in so many ways, ways that end up being really, really good for her. I loved watching their friendship blossom, and my heart melted SO many times during the course of their relationship. The slow progression from friends to more felt totally natural - no cheesy insta-love here! Ezra and Charlotte are so strong together, and I liked that they made one another better.
Waiting for the Storm is Marie's best novel so far. I said it reading an early version, and I'll say it now. She just keeps surprising me. The pacing was amazing in Waiting for the Storm - ebbing and flowing like the ocean Charlotte was staying near during the summer. The secondary characters, even those that didn't have too many appearances, were developed (MAJOR points from me for that,) and the plot tugged at my heart so hard at times. I had some words for Charlotte's sister, who's a terrific antagonist, and a really interesting foil to Charlotte. But even that was slowly, meticulously, yet organically brought to maturation. Marie takes her time with her plots and revelations, yet does so in a way that makes you feel like it's all arriving right on time.
Final Thoughts: Waiting for the Storm is a shining example of why I love YA contemporary novels. It's a story about learning to live again, and a story about having hope that you'll meet whatever life holds for you. From the characters, to the romance, I FELT so much, and that's why I'll continue to read Marie's books.
July 18, 2013
*Copy of the book was received as a part of book tour in exchange for honest opinion*
Before reading Waiting for the Storm, I wasn’t really sure if I was going to like it. I do like Romance novels but really can’t stand the cheesy conversations and endless sappy love. But this book really impressed me. It was well-written, realistic, sweet and deep story that did made me cry couple of times. It’s a book about two tourtured souls finding each other and overcoming those fears and stepping out of your shell to find happiness.
Charlotte O’Dell’s summer was starting out terrible. After taking care of her sick mother, she passed away and the family was tearing apart. Her sister Ella, or as she was now preferred to be called Gabriella, hated her and had nothing to do with Charlotte. Her dad went into deep depression and was getting worse by the day.
Since her mother’s last wish was for them to go away to Angel Island, they decided to pack and take some time to deal with her death. Charlotte found herself alone, with no desire to socialize or do anything with her life. That is until she meets Ezra, her next door neighbor and a great handyman, who understands her better than anyone. But Ezra holds his own secrets and it might be hard to open him up.
Ahhhhhh. This book was amazing and there have been many times where it made me cry. And it wasn’t because it was sad or something terrible happened. No. I cried simply because author was able to express emotions through the words that were so sincere, they were really able to touch my heart. Charlotte’s pain and grief were so strong in that book that it made me feel bad, especially since she was a sweetheart!
Waiting for the Strom is a MUST read this summer! & for us, book bloggers – yes! Charlotte was able to turn to books to help her with her feelings. Here’s a quote from her blog post that really made me love this character:
Before reading Waiting for the Storm, I wasn’t really sure if I was going to like it. I do like Romance novels but really can’t stand the cheesy conversations and endless sappy love. But this book really impressed me. It was well-written, realistic, sweet and deep story that did made me cry couple of times. It’s a book about two tourtured souls finding each other and overcoming those fears and stepping out of your shell to find happiness.
Charlotte O’Dell’s summer was starting out terrible. After taking care of her sick mother, she passed away and the family was tearing apart. Her sister Ella, or as she was now preferred to be called Gabriella, hated her and had nothing to do with Charlotte. Her dad went into deep depression and was getting worse by the day.
Since her mother’s last wish was for them to go away to Angel Island, they decided to pack and take some time to deal with her death. Charlotte found herself alone, with no desire to socialize or do anything with her life. That is until she meets Ezra, her next door neighbor and a great handyman, who understands her better than anyone. But Ezra holds his own secrets and it might be hard to open him up.
Ahhhhhh. This book was amazing and there have been many times where it made me cry. And it wasn’t because it was sad or something terrible happened. No. I cried simply because author was able to express emotions through the words that were so sincere, they were really able to touch my heart. Charlotte’s pain and grief were so strong in that book that it made me feel bad, especially since she was a sweetheart!
Waiting for the Strom is a MUST read this summer! & for us, book bloggers – yes! Charlotte was able to turn to books to help her with her feelings. Here’s a quote from her blog post that really made me love this character:
Sometimes, if you’re lucky, a book will change you. It will make you look at the world a little differently, hold your loved ones a little closer, and realize that when love is standing in front of you and staring you in the face, you have to grab it with both hands and hold on tight.
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October 26, 2018April 9th, 2013:
I wrote WAITING FOR THE STORM last summer. Little bits and pieces of it had been floating around in my mind, and all of a sudden it came together with perfect clarity, and when I sat down, the words poured out of me. It took me exactly three weeks to write the first draft of this book. It was the easiest - and the hardest - book I'd ever written. It left me emotionally drained, but also satisfied, because I knew it was the best thing I had written yet.
My beloved Grama died a little less than a year before I wrote this book, and the grief was almost crippling. I'd experienced grief before - if you've read BLUE SKY DAYS, you might know that my dad died of leukemia when I was ten - but this...this was all-consuming. My Grama was one of my best friends, and losing her was like losing a part of myself. She was my biggest fan and biggest supporter, so I took that grief and turned it into something positive: a story that I poured my heart and soul into, and that I hoped would touch other people.
I love this book, and I am so proud of it. I sincerely hope that there will be many people who are willing to open their hearts to Charlotte's story and to feel her sorrow and her fears, but also her hopes, dreams, and triumphs.
Now...I hope she won't mind me sharing this, but since she posted it in the comments on my blog, I somehow don't think she will. I feel like she says it better than I can anyway...a beautiful letter from my amazing friend Molli from Once Upon a Prologue:
Dear Marie,
Today is your book birthday for WAITING FOR THE STORM. Soon, people everywhere will be downloading it, and discovering for themselves the touching, emotional story within. They'll meet Charlotte, Ezra, Ella, and others, and my wish for them is that they feel the depth of the words and the story that I felt when I read WAITING.
Every once in awhile - not very often - a book comes along that worms its way into your heart, and sticks with you. Those books are incredibly powerful, and incredibly special, for their rarity, and their ability to leave a mark on you. They're powerful, and the words in them aren't ordinary. I believe they are a kind of magic - as much magic as exists in this plain, mundane world from day to day. And WAITING FOR THE STORM is one of those books.
(Lordy, look at me, I'm tearing up. I promised myself I wouldn't cry.)
Thank you so much for writing this book. It's honest and raw, and hard to read at times, but WORTH IT. Charlotte's journey really spoke to me, and I hope with all my heart that it speaks to others, as well. There's so much wisdom in those pages, so much hope and heart, and joy, and grief that needs to be experienced.
You have a special, amazing talent, my friend. I am so so glad to see you putting it to use, and I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for letting me be a beta reader and helping you (in some teensy way) craft WAITING FOR THE STORM into your best book yet.
I know your Grama is cheering you on, wherever she is. Gramas are special, (crying again), and they are a kind of magic, just like your book is. I know she was a big supporter of yours, and I bet if you could see her now, she'd have a big smile on her face for you.
Wishing you ALL the success that you deserve,
Love,
Molli
I wrote WAITING FOR THE STORM last summer. Little bits and pieces of it had been floating around in my mind, and all of a sudden it came together with perfect clarity, and when I sat down, the words poured out of me. It took me exactly three weeks to write the first draft of this book. It was the easiest - and the hardest - book I'd ever written. It left me emotionally drained, but also satisfied, because I knew it was the best thing I had written yet.
My beloved Grama died a little less than a year before I wrote this book, and the grief was almost crippling. I'd experienced grief before - if you've read BLUE SKY DAYS, you might know that my dad died of leukemia when I was ten - but this...this was all-consuming. My Grama was one of my best friends, and losing her was like losing a part of myself. She was my biggest fan and biggest supporter, so I took that grief and turned it into something positive: a story that I poured my heart and soul into, and that I hoped would touch other people.
I love this book, and I am so proud of it. I sincerely hope that there will be many people who are willing to open their hearts to Charlotte's story and to feel her sorrow and her fears, but also her hopes, dreams, and triumphs.
Now...I hope she won't mind me sharing this, but since she posted it in the comments on my blog, I somehow don't think she will. I feel like she says it better than I can anyway...a beautiful letter from my amazing friend Molli from Once Upon a Prologue:
Dear Marie,
Today is your book birthday for WAITING FOR THE STORM. Soon, people everywhere will be downloading it, and discovering for themselves the touching, emotional story within. They'll meet Charlotte, Ezra, Ella, and others, and my wish for them is that they feel the depth of the words and the story that I felt when I read WAITING.
Every once in awhile - not very often - a book comes along that worms its way into your heart, and sticks with you. Those books are incredibly powerful, and incredibly special, for their rarity, and their ability to leave a mark on you. They're powerful, and the words in them aren't ordinary. I believe they are a kind of magic - as much magic as exists in this plain, mundane world from day to day. And WAITING FOR THE STORM is one of those books.
(Lordy, look at me, I'm tearing up. I promised myself I wouldn't cry.)
Thank you so much for writing this book. It's honest and raw, and hard to read at times, but WORTH IT. Charlotte's journey really spoke to me, and I hope with all my heart that it speaks to others, as well. There's so much wisdom in those pages, so much hope and heart, and joy, and grief that needs to be experienced.
You have a special, amazing talent, my friend. I am so so glad to see you putting it to use, and I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for letting me be a beta reader and helping you (in some teensy way) craft WAITING FOR THE STORM into your best book yet.
I know your Grama is cheering you on, wherever she is. Gramas are special, (crying again), and they are a kind of magic, just like your book is. I know she was a big supporter of yours, and I bet if you could see her now, she'd have a big smile on her face for you.
Wishing you ALL the success that you deserve,
Love,
Molli
September 16, 2014
I received a complimentary copy of this book for my review.
Ok, so to be completely honest I was a little skeptical of this book going into it. It sounded like it could be great, but I was worried that it was going to take the cheesy and predictable route that I'm so accustomed to seeing these days. I'm so happy to say that I was completely wrong! This book was perfect.
Charlotte O'Dell is honestly.. a mess. She has been taking care of her terminally ill mother for the last year and since her passing, her family is in shambles. Her dad is a walking zombie, and her sister Ella is coping by turning into someone else completely.. and not for the good. They move to Angel Island for the summer because it was their mother's dying wish for them to visit where she had some of her best memories, but it doesn't seem to be doing any good for any of them, especially Charlotte. She doesn't really know how to be a normal human because she's been in a caretaker purgatory for so long. What are friends? What do I do with all this time I have to myself now? What is life anymore?
UNTIL EZRA FREAKIN RHODES COMES INTO THE PICTURE.
Ezra is (literally) the boy next door, local handyman, and fabulous human being in my opinion. He has some issues of his own and definitely some skeletons in his closet, but I think that just makes him all the more perfect. (As you can tell, I'm kind of obsessed with him.)
The author made you feel the characters' emotions through her perfectly strung together words flawlessly. It was all incredibly sincere and raw, never coming across over exaggerated or dramatic. Since perfect seems to be my word of choice throughout this review, it was just simply perfect.
This is a beautiful story of a family just trying to put the pieces back together again after the center of their world dies. It's very realistic and so sweet. This could easily be your family's life, your neighbor's life, your friend's life. It's so relatable that you actually feel that you're living it too. This is also a story about love, in many shapes and forms. It's beautiful. A must read.
Ok, so to be completely honest I was a little skeptical of this book going into it. It sounded like it could be great, but I was worried that it was going to take the cheesy and predictable route that I'm so accustomed to seeing these days. I'm so happy to say that I was completely wrong! This book was perfect.
Charlotte O'Dell is honestly.. a mess. She has been taking care of her terminally ill mother for the last year and since her passing, her family is in shambles. Her dad is a walking zombie, and her sister Ella is coping by turning into someone else completely.. and not for the good. They move to Angel Island for the summer because it was their mother's dying wish for them to visit where she had some of her best memories, but it doesn't seem to be doing any good for any of them, especially Charlotte. She doesn't really know how to be a normal human because she's been in a caretaker purgatory for so long. What are friends? What do I do with all this time I have to myself now? What is life anymore?
UNTIL EZRA FREAKIN RHODES COMES INTO THE PICTURE.
Ezra is (literally) the boy next door, local handyman, and fabulous human being in my opinion. He has some issues of his own and definitely some skeletons in his closet, but I think that just makes him all the more perfect. (As you can tell, I'm kind of obsessed with him.)
The author made you feel the characters' emotions through her perfectly strung together words flawlessly. It was all incredibly sincere and raw, never coming across over exaggerated or dramatic. Since perfect seems to be my word of choice throughout this review, it was just simply perfect.
This is a beautiful story of a family just trying to put the pieces back together again after the center of their world dies. It's very realistic and so sweet. This could easily be your family's life, your neighbor's life, your friend's life. It's so relatable that you actually feel that you're living it too. This is also a story about love, in many shapes and forms. It's beautiful. A must read.
September 29, 2017
Waiting for the Storm is a beautiful and emotional read. When we first meet up with Charlotte, she has just finished high school. She should be on top of the world, but instead is grieving for the loss of her mother. The last thing Charlotte wants to do is spend her summer on Angel Island. Her family is falling apart and is attempting to fulfill her mother’s last wish all at the same time. One thing she never saw coming was Ezra. Not only is he the boy next door, but he reminds Charlotte of what it is to live. He takes her out of her comfort zone and makes her feel emotions that she’s long forgotten. But, even Ezra has his own secrets and it will only be a matter of time for when the other shoe will drop…
Waiting for the Storm is a beautifully written and compelling story. From the moment you meet Charlotte, you can’t help but get caught up in her story. Her emotions are deep and extremely palpable. I thought her character exhibited a lot of strength in a time that most would fail. I found Charlotte extremely easy to relate to and her story definitely tugged at my heart. Before I knew I found myself quickly devouring the pages. I was not at all prepared for the incredible journey this book was going to take my emotions on.
Waiting for the Storm is a bit of a different read for me, as it is YA, but that doesn’t change the fact that it is a beautiful story. I think this story can be enjoyed by all ages and is a story about love, family, friendship, loss and overcoming that undeniable grief. I finished Waiting for the Storm in just one sitting and am certainly glad I decided to check it out.
*I was provided an ARC copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review*
Waiting for the Storm is a beautifully written and compelling story. From the moment you meet Charlotte, you can’t help but get caught up in her story. Her emotions are deep and extremely palpable. I thought her character exhibited a lot of strength in a time that most would fail. I found Charlotte extremely easy to relate to and her story definitely tugged at my heart. Before I knew I found myself quickly devouring the pages. I was not at all prepared for the incredible journey this book was going to take my emotions on.
Waiting for the Storm is a bit of a different read for me, as it is YA, but that doesn’t change the fact that it is a beautiful story. I think this story can be enjoyed by all ages and is a story about love, family, friendship, loss and overcoming that undeniable grief. I finished Waiting for the Storm in just one sitting and am certainly glad I decided to check it out.
*I was provided an ARC copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review*
October 5, 2013
WOW! I wasn't prepared to love this book as much as I did. Waiting For the Storm was quite the the emotional read for me personally, as what Marie Landry wrote hit home in a powerful way. In the story, we see Charlotte, a recent high school graduate, coping with the death of her mother after she spent the last year of high school caring for her. Not only does Charlotte have to learn to handle her own grief, she tries to keep her family from falling apart. She has an emotionally numb father, as well as a bitter younger sister. Her mothers dying wish was that they spend the summer after her death at a beach house on Angel Island - a place where she had wonderful childhood memories. While at the summer house Charlotte meets Ezra, literally the boy next door, and they find they have a lot in common.
The raw emotions when Charlotte describes what she has been feeling had me swallowing lumps in my throat several times. I went through something similar with caring for my terminally ill mother in law and I was crying that somebody actually expressed so many of my own emotions. The love story that develops between Charlotte and Ezra was perfect and believable - not the "insta-love" I have come to roll my eyes at lately. It develops slowly, but powerfully and it was such a sweet relationship. I wanted the story to continue!!
I highly recommend this book!
The raw emotions when Charlotte describes what she has been feeling had me swallowing lumps in my throat several times. I went through something similar with caring for my terminally ill mother in law and I was crying that somebody actually expressed so many of my own emotions. The love story that develops between Charlotte and Ezra was perfect and believable - not the "insta-love" I have come to roll my eyes at lately. It develops slowly, but powerfully and it was such a sweet relationship. I wanted the story to continue!!
I highly recommend this book!
October 8, 2013
I am impressed when authors can make a story so profound and captivating with only just a few chapters. This is the case for Waiting for the Storm by Marie Landry. Just when you think this family is being engulfed beyond help with their grief, in walks great people into their life when they arrive at the island. The family is able to pull together as a family and get through some rough times together. I loved this book from start to finish. Charlotte was a great girl not spoiled, whiny, just trying to keep her family together.
I couldn't help but love Erza. I am always a sucker for the guy who is patient and waits for things.
Charlotte had great friends and a great family. I was happy when she was able to get close to her sister Gabriella and that she helped her when she needed her.
I was able to connect with this story a lot emotionally. I understand the anger and fears that were faced by Charlotte. I am looking forward to what the author does next in her writing. I received this copy to review in exchange for an honest review.
I couldn't help but love Erza. I am always a sucker for the guy who is patient and waits for things.
Charlotte had great friends and a great family. I was happy when she was able to get close to her sister Gabriella and that she helped her when she needed her.
I was able to connect with this story a lot emotionally. I understand the anger and fears that were faced by Charlotte. I am looking forward to what the author does next in her writing. I received this copy to review in exchange for an honest review.
May 30, 2014
Originally posted at Geeky Chiquitas
Reviewed by: Beryl
It is really hard for me to express how much I love this book. To be creative and also for a change I will list down an A-Z list of adjectives that best describe this book, and beside it, I will be writing a brief explanation of why I think the book is to be described as such.
A-mazing - I guess this is pretty much self-explanatory, very few books could achieve such an amazing content. Since I gave this book a 5-star rating, it seems like it's speaking by itself. "Read me, you'll be amazed."
B-eautiful - When I finished reading this book, all I can think about is how beautiful it is. This is actually the first word that came to my mind when I hit the last word.
C-aptivating - This book did not get me hooked when I started reading it, but when I finished reading it I was attached and captivated with such a beautiful story.
D-imensional - I felt that I was inside the book and watching everyone and everything from a near distance. There were just a few characters in the story, but all of them felt real.
E-motional - There were really times when I got teary-eyed by reading this. To be honest, that is very rare for me since I don't cry a lot when I read books or watch movies. This book just makes me emotional.
F-lawless - Again it is very unusual that there is nothing wrong with a book, but I promise this book was flawless for me. From the title to acknowledgements, I can't find anything wrong.
G-enuine - I have read some books where I feel that relationships move too fast, and you won't feel how genuine the two character's love for each other is. In this book, Ezra and Charlotte did not rush into anything. They just enjoyed themselves.
H-eartfelt - The story went right into my heart!
I-maginative - Marie created a book that was a bit cliche but you can definitely see the creativity in Waiting for the Storm. Maybe it was her writing style that I liked, it was written in Charlotte's POV, and I can feel the depth of the words while I was reading it.
J-oy - Even though, I was very emotional while reading this book, it gave me joy and made me smile as if I was the one in the happy ending.
K-iller - The book is a killer! It is incredibly powerful, and it will really stick to you. Might not be on the very beginning, but it slowly clings to you.
L-ove - Just as I said in Genuine, both Ezra and Charlotte did not rush into things. They waited for the perfect time when they were absolutely sure that they do not just like each other but love each other.
M-oving - I love stories like this when both main characters aren't perfect. They might look gorgeous on the outside, but on the inside they are full of sadness and their lives aren't perfect. They were able to work it all out because they were both able to easily relate their feelings. That is what made this book moving.
N-oteworthy - There is so much wisdom in every page Marie made, and I believe that this is her talent she needs to continue.
O-ne - This book was the first book I've read of Marie's and I would definitely read more of her works.
P-erfect - Since I said that the book is flawless, then that means it's perfect!
Q-uotable - There were so many lines from the book that I wanted to grab and quote, but here's some that I really love:
"What a cool name. Where'd you get it?"
"I've always had it."
"If this is a break-up speech, stop right there. I know you have to leave next week, but I told you we'd find a way. I'm not letting you-"
R-are - Waiting for the Storm contains a very rare love story and rare situations to put characters in. This is one of the main reasons why I love and enjoyed this book.
S-ad - The first word that came to my mind after reading this book was beautiful, but it was a sad kind of beautiful. The good thing is I was contented with how the book ended. The ending have worked out, and everyone was happy. They all know that there is a lot more in store for them.
T-ouching - If I could summarize the whole book in one word, it would be 'touching'.
U-nforgettable - I don't think I will ever forget this book.
V-ivid - Everything that happened was clear and made perfect sense. There was never a part where I doubted something.
W-orthy - There were totally no regrets reading this book. It was totally worth it. Who wouldn't want to read a story that is very inspirational and will break your heart but will soon leave a smile on your face. That is what literally happened to me.
X-enodochial - I looked up the meaning of this word and it's definition is 'friendly to strangers'. I would definitely recommend this book to all those who just started giving YA a try. This book can make you love YA, and definitely love reading more books.
Y-oung - The book started off with Charlotte's mother death, and basically her family is falling apart. On the other hand, Ezra is a boy who is full of secrets. Both of them have a lot of similarities and as their relationship grow, it's not just a young puppy love but something a lot more.
Z-esty - Since I can't think of any more adjectives starting with Z. I thought of one that partly describes the book. The book isn't lively, but it's very pleasing.
That's it! Those are 26 adjectives that I think best describes the book and what I feel about it.
Reviewed by: Beryl
It is really hard for me to express how much I love this book. To be creative and also for a change I will list down an A-Z list of adjectives that best describe this book, and beside it, I will be writing a brief explanation of why I think the book is to be described as such.
A-mazing - I guess this is pretty much self-explanatory, very few books could achieve such an amazing content. Since I gave this book a 5-star rating, it seems like it's speaking by itself. "Read me, you'll be amazed."
B-eautiful - When I finished reading this book, all I can think about is how beautiful it is. This is actually the first word that came to my mind when I hit the last word.
C-aptivating - This book did not get me hooked when I started reading it, but when I finished reading it I was attached and captivated with such a beautiful story.
D-imensional - I felt that I was inside the book and watching everyone and everything from a near distance. There were just a few characters in the story, but all of them felt real.
E-motional - There were really times when I got teary-eyed by reading this. To be honest, that is very rare for me since I don't cry a lot when I read books or watch movies. This book just makes me emotional.
F-lawless - Again it is very unusual that there is nothing wrong with a book, but I promise this book was flawless for me. From the title to acknowledgements, I can't find anything wrong.
G-enuine - I have read some books where I feel that relationships move too fast, and you won't feel how genuine the two character's love for each other is. In this book, Ezra and Charlotte did not rush into anything. They just enjoyed themselves.
H-eartfelt - The story went right into my heart!
I-maginative - Marie created a book that was a bit cliche but you can definitely see the creativity in Waiting for the Storm. Maybe it was her writing style that I liked, it was written in Charlotte's POV, and I can feel the depth of the words while I was reading it.
J-oy - Even though, I was very emotional while reading this book, it gave me joy and made me smile as if I was the one in the happy ending.
K-iller - The book is a killer! It is incredibly powerful, and it will really stick to you. Might not be on the very beginning, but it slowly clings to you.
L-ove - Just as I said in Genuine, both Ezra and Charlotte did not rush into things. They waited for the perfect time when they were absolutely sure that they do not just like each other but love each other.
M-oving - I love stories like this when both main characters aren't perfect. They might look gorgeous on the outside, but on the inside they are full of sadness and their lives aren't perfect. They were able to work it all out because they were both able to easily relate their feelings. That is what made this book moving.
N-oteworthy - There is so much wisdom in every page Marie made, and I believe that this is her talent she needs to continue.
O-ne - This book was the first book I've read of Marie's and I would definitely read more of her works.
P-erfect - Since I said that the book is flawless, then that means it's perfect!
Q-uotable - There were so many lines from the book that I wanted to grab and quote, but here's some that I really love:
"What a cool name. Where'd you get it?"
"I've always had it."
"If this is a break-up speech, stop right there. I know you have to leave next week, but I told you we'd find a way. I'm not letting you-"
R-are - Waiting for the Storm contains a very rare love story and rare situations to put characters in. This is one of the main reasons why I love and enjoyed this book.
S-ad - The first word that came to my mind after reading this book was beautiful, but it was a sad kind of beautiful. The good thing is I was contented with how the book ended. The ending have worked out, and everyone was happy. They all know that there is a lot more in store for them.
T-ouching - If I could summarize the whole book in one word, it would be 'touching'.
U-nforgettable - I don't think I will ever forget this book.
V-ivid - Everything that happened was clear and made perfect sense. There was never a part where I doubted something.
W-orthy - There were totally no regrets reading this book. It was totally worth it. Who wouldn't want to read a story that is very inspirational and will break your heart but will soon leave a smile on your face. That is what literally happened to me.
X-enodochial - I looked up the meaning of this word and it's definition is 'friendly to strangers'. I would definitely recommend this book to all those who just started giving YA a try. This book can make you love YA, and definitely love reading more books.
Y-oung - The book started off with Charlotte's mother death, and basically her family is falling apart. On the other hand, Ezra is a boy who is full of secrets. Both of them have a lot of similarities and as their relationship grow, it's not just a young puppy love but something a lot more.
Z-esty - Since I can't think of any more adjectives starting with Z. I thought of one that partly describes the book. The book isn't lively, but it's very pleasing.
That's it! Those are 26 adjectives that I think best describes the book and what I feel about it.
April 28, 2014
It is really hard for me to express how much I love this book. To be creative and also for a change I will list down an A-Z list of adjectives that best describe this book, and beside it, I will be writing a brief explanation of why I think the book is to be described as such.
A-mazing - I guess this is pretty much self-explanatory, very few books could achieve such an amazing content. Since I gave this book a 5-star rating, it seems like it's speaking by itself. "Read me, you'll be amazed."
B-eautiful - When I finished reading this book, all I can think about is how beautiful it is. This is actually the first word that came to my mind when I hit the last word.
C-aptivating - This book did not get me hooked when I started reading it, but when I finished reading it I was attached and captivated with such a beautiful story.
D-imensional - I felt that I was inside the book and watching everyone and everything from a near distance. There were just a few characters in the story, but all of them felt real.
E-motional - There were really times when I got teary-eyed by reading this. To be honest, that is very rare for me since I don't cry a lot when I read books or watch movies. This book just makes me emotional.
F-lawless - Again it is very unusual that there is nothing wrong with a book, but I promise this book was flawless for me. From the title to acknowledgements, I can't find anything wrong.
G-enuine - I have read some books where I feel that relationships move too fast, and you won't feel how genuine the two character's love for each other is. In this book, Ezra and Charlotte did not rush into anything. They just enjoyed themselves.
H-eartfelt - The story went right into my heart!
I-maginative - Marie created a book that was a bit cliche but you can definitely see the creativity in Waiting for the Storm. Maybe it was her writing style that I liked, it was written in Charlotte's POV, and I can feel the depth of the words while I was reading it.
J-oy - Even though, I was very emotional while reading this book, it gave me joy and made me smile as if I was the one in the happy ending.
K-iller - The book is a killer! It is incredibly powerful, and it will really stick to you. Might not be on the very beginning, but it slowly clings to you.
L-ove - Just as I said in Genuine, both Ezra and Charlotte did not rush into things. They waited for the perfect time when they were absolutely sure that they do not just like each other but love each other.
M-oving - I love stories like this when both main characters aren't perfect. They might look gorgeous on the outside, but on the inside they are full of sadness and their lives aren't perfect. They were able to work it all out because they were both able to easily relate their feelings. That is what made this book moving.
N-oteworthy - There is so much wisdom in every page Marie made, and I believe that this is her talent she needs to continue.
O-ne - This book was the first book I've read of Marie's and I would definitely read more of her works.
P-erfect - Since I said that the book is flawless, then that means it's perfect!
Q-uotable - There were so many lines from the book that I wanted to grab and quote, but here's some that I really love:
"What a cool name. Where'd you get it?"
"I've always had it."
"If this is a break-up speech, stop right there. I know you have to leave next week, but I told you we'd find a way. I'm not letting you-"
R-are - Waiting for the Storm contains a very rare love story and rare situations to put characters in. This is one of the main reasons why I love and enjoyed this book.
S-ad - The first word that came to my mind after reading this book was beautiful, but it was a sad kind of beautiful. The good thing is I was contented with how the book ended. The ending have worked out, and everyone was happy. They all know that there is a lot more in store for them.
T-ouching - If I could summarize the whole book in one word, it would be 'touching'.
U-nforgettable - I don't think I will ever forget this book.
V-ivid - Everything that happened was clear and made perfect sense. There was never a part where I doubted something.
W-orthy - There were totally no regrets reading this book. It was totally worth it. Who wouldn't want to read a story that is very inspirational and will break your heart but will soon leave a smile on your face. That is what literally happened to me.
X-enodochial - I looked up the meaning of this word and it's definition is 'friendly to strangers'. I would definitely recommend this book to all those who just started giving YA a try. This book can make you love YA, and definitely love reading more books.
Y-oung - The book started off with Charlotte's mother death, and basically her family is falling apart. On the other hand, Ezra is a boy who is full of secrets. Both of them have a lot of similarities and as their relationship grow, it's not just a young puppy love but something a lot more.
Z-esty - Since I can't think of any more adjectives starting with Z. I thought of one that partly describes the book. The book isn't lively, but it's very pleasing.
That's it! Those are 26 adjectives that I think best describes the book and what I feel about it.
A-mazing - I guess this is pretty much self-explanatory, very few books could achieve such an amazing content. Since I gave this book a 5-star rating, it seems like it's speaking by itself. "Read me, you'll be amazed."
B-eautiful - When I finished reading this book, all I can think about is how beautiful it is. This is actually the first word that came to my mind when I hit the last word.
C-aptivating - This book did not get me hooked when I started reading it, but when I finished reading it I was attached and captivated with such a beautiful story.
D-imensional - I felt that I was inside the book and watching everyone and everything from a near distance. There were just a few characters in the story, but all of them felt real.
E-motional - There were really times when I got teary-eyed by reading this. To be honest, that is very rare for me since I don't cry a lot when I read books or watch movies. This book just makes me emotional.
F-lawless - Again it is very unusual that there is nothing wrong with a book, but I promise this book was flawless for me. From the title to acknowledgements, I can't find anything wrong.
G-enuine - I have read some books where I feel that relationships move too fast, and you won't feel how genuine the two character's love for each other is. In this book, Ezra and Charlotte did not rush into anything. They just enjoyed themselves.
H-eartfelt - The story went right into my heart!
I-maginative - Marie created a book that was a bit cliche but you can definitely see the creativity in Waiting for the Storm. Maybe it was her writing style that I liked, it was written in Charlotte's POV, and I can feel the depth of the words while I was reading it.
J-oy - Even though, I was very emotional while reading this book, it gave me joy and made me smile as if I was the one in the happy ending.
K-iller - The book is a killer! It is incredibly powerful, and it will really stick to you. Might not be on the very beginning, but it slowly clings to you.
L-ove - Just as I said in Genuine, both Ezra and Charlotte did not rush into things. They waited for the perfect time when they were absolutely sure that they do not just like each other but love each other.
M-oving - I love stories like this when both main characters aren't perfect. They might look gorgeous on the outside, but on the inside they are full of sadness and their lives aren't perfect. They were able to work it all out because they were both able to easily relate their feelings. That is what made this book moving.
N-oteworthy - There is so much wisdom in every page Marie made, and I believe that this is her talent she needs to continue.
O-ne - This book was the first book I've read of Marie's and I would definitely read more of her works.
P-erfect - Since I said that the book is flawless, then that means it's perfect!
Q-uotable - There were so many lines from the book that I wanted to grab and quote, but here's some that I really love:
"What a cool name. Where'd you get it?"
"I've always had it."
"If this is a break-up speech, stop right there. I know you have to leave next week, but I told you we'd find a way. I'm not letting you-"
R-are - Waiting for the Storm contains a very rare love story and rare situations to put characters in. This is one of the main reasons why I love and enjoyed this book.
S-ad - The first word that came to my mind after reading this book was beautiful, but it was a sad kind of beautiful. The good thing is I was contented with how the book ended. The ending have worked out, and everyone was happy. They all know that there is a lot more in store for them.
T-ouching - If I could summarize the whole book in one word, it would be 'touching'.
U-nforgettable - I don't think I will ever forget this book.
V-ivid - Everything that happened was clear and made perfect sense. There was never a part where I doubted something.
W-orthy - There were totally no regrets reading this book. It was totally worth it. Who wouldn't want to read a story that is very inspirational and will break your heart but will soon leave a smile on your face. That is what literally happened to me.
X-enodochial - I looked up the meaning of this word and it's definition is 'friendly to strangers'. I would definitely recommend this book to all those who just started giving YA a try. This book can make you love YA, and definitely love reading more books.
Y-oung - The book started off with Charlotte's mother death, and basically her family is falling apart. On the other hand, Ezra is a boy who is full of secrets. Both of them have a lot of similarities and as their relationship grow, it's not just a young puppy love but something a lot more.
Z-esty - Since I can't think of any more adjectives starting with Z. I thought of one that partly describes the book. The book isn't lively, but it's very pleasing.
That's it! Those are 26 adjectives that I think best describes the book and what I feel about it.
July 31, 2013
*ARC received from Author for Honest Review*
Charlotte has had the year from hell. Her mother was horribly sick and she was left to care for her while her father and sister checked out. Giving up her senior year in high school was a no-brainer and Charlotte has dedicated her every waking moment to making sure her mother’s last moments were the best they could be. Once she passes, Charlotte and her father/sister travel to the island where memories of her mother and her mother’s childhood are all around.
I really really loved this story. Charlotte is such a strong character giving up her life at 17 to care for her mother while everyone else went on with their lives ignoring the fact. Her father has basically given up, simply waking up in the morning and sleeping at night. Her sister has taken being a bitch to the furthest extreme and though she harbors guilt and pain over her mother’s loss, it is extremely difficult to feel anything for her except extreme hatred.
The island offers up a retreat from the clouds of death that hang over their house back home. Charlotte needed so badly to escape from her self-imposed cell and return to a place that held great and wonderful memories from her mother’s childhood that she can now connect with. Parties, drinking and boys are not something high on Charlotte’s list of priorities. Even when other kids her age invite her to late night beach parties, Charlotte is hesitant to attend after being sheltered so long. Instead she prefers to sit on the sidelines and reminisce over the time she was once popular before her mother was ill. She doesn’t miss it at all and watching her sister succumb to the conceit and superiority that comes with popularity does nothing but reaffirm Charlotte’s decision to give it up.
Charlotte strikes up a friendship of her own with her neighbor, Ezra, who is also the islands Mr. Fix It. The two bond over their need for privacy and seclusion finding they share more in common than they imagined. Ezra encourages Charlotte to start living again and slowly she does, still never regretting being able to spend as much time with her mother as she did. The two are so cute together, calling each other their sidekick and just understanding each other without even speaking.
Overall Waiting for the Storm was a great read. Charlotte was a strong, emotional character that was easy to connect to. Sometimes I wish she had a bit more anger in her, specifically directed at her sister, but she never ceases to amaze me after all she’s been through. Even after being the only one to care for her mother, rather than give in to her pain and grief, she continues trying to help others, particularly her father and sister. I loved watching the love between her and Ezra grow. There is no insta-love here and it makes their journey that much stronger. The two bond over shared pain and offer light in spite of each other’s darkness. I would definitely recommend Waiting for the Storm, it is definitely classified as a YA novel and it will not disappoint.
Charlotte has had the year from hell. Her mother was horribly sick and she was left to care for her while her father and sister checked out. Giving up her senior year in high school was a no-brainer and Charlotte has dedicated her every waking moment to making sure her mother’s last moments were the best they could be. Once she passes, Charlotte and her father/sister travel to the island where memories of her mother and her mother’s childhood are all around.
I really really loved this story. Charlotte is such a strong character giving up her life at 17 to care for her mother while everyone else went on with their lives ignoring the fact. Her father has basically given up, simply waking up in the morning and sleeping at night. Her sister has taken being a bitch to the furthest extreme and though she harbors guilt and pain over her mother’s loss, it is extremely difficult to feel anything for her except extreme hatred.
The island offers up a retreat from the clouds of death that hang over their house back home. Charlotte needed so badly to escape from her self-imposed cell and return to a place that held great and wonderful memories from her mother’s childhood that she can now connect with. Parties, drinking and boys are not something high on Charlotte’s list of priorities. Even when other kids her age invite her to late night beach parties, Charlotte is hesitant to attend after being sheltered so long. Instead she prefers to sit on the sidelines and reminisce over the time she was once popular before her mother was ill. She doesn’t miss it at all and watching her sister succumb to the conceit and superiority that comes with popularity does nothing but reaffirm Charlotte’s decision to give it up.
Charlotte strikes up a friendship of her own with her neighbor, Ezra, who is also the islands Mr. Fix It. The two bond over their need for privacy and seclusion finding they share more in common than they imagined. Ezra encourages Charlotte to start living again and slowly she does, still never regretting being able to spend as much time with her mother as she did. The two are so cute together, calling each other their sidekick and just understanding each other without even speaking.
Overall Waiting for the Storm was a great read. Charlotte was a strong, emotional character that was easy to connect to. Sometimes I wish she had a bit more anger in her, specifically directed at her sister, but she never ceases to amaze me after all she’s been through. Even after being the only one to care for her mother, rather than give in to her pain and grief, she continues trying to help others, particularly her father and sister. I loved watching the love between her and Ezra grow. There is no insta-love here and it makes their journey that much stronger. The two bond over shared pain and offer light in spite of each other’s darkness. I would definitely recommend Waiting for the Storm, it is definitely classified as a YA novel and it will not disappoint.
August 1, 2013
*eARC provided for blog tour*
When I came across the sign-up for this blog tour, I jumped at the chance and crossed my fingers that I would get selected, and when I perhaps squealed a little bit when I got the email that I was on the tour! I have been following Marie for a while now (though she may not know, and no it is not stalking when they are authors.....I don't think lol), and I have been waiting for this book to come out for various reasons, but a couple of them being that she is so sweet on social media, and she is CANADIAN!!!! A little bit of Canadian pride coming out there, and not only Canadian, but from around my area, extra bonus! Okay, so really enough about this on with the review......
This book was exactly what I needed right now, it is warm and fuzzy with a touch of family drama. I read it in one sitting because I could not get enough, and I needed to know what happened in the end. Marie's writing came off very similar in nature to me as someone like Sarah Dessen, there are major subjects tackled, but in a way that don't leave you heavy feeling or depressed in the end.
My favourite character was Ezra by far, he is that person that you always want in your life, he has his own issues and secrets for sure, but he is always there for his friends, and is willing to help with anything they need, even if it is just an ear to listen. And it also doesn't hurt that he is goodlooking of course. When we do learn what his secrets are it made me go "awww", which is what I was hoping for, I guarantee you will too!
I also really like Charlotte, she has and is still going through a lot at home, and is very much doing it alone, her Dad has shut off since her Mom got sick, and her sister is nowhere to be found. I very much disliked her sister through most of this novel, and really could not understand how she could possibly be acting the way she is at a time like that, however, when we learn what her reasoning is, I could almost explain away her actions (not all of them). Charlotte is taking care of her Dad when he should be the one taking care of her, and I can see how that could happen in this type of situation, but it really made me sad for her.
The relationship between Charlotte and Ezra is something that starts slow, just chatting, and then they become friends before anything happens, and I liked how it was like this because I think that Charlotte needed a friend more than anything else at that point, and so did Ezra in fact. Nothing in this novel felt rushed to me, the characters and their development were done really well as this story takes place over the span of months. Some may think even months is a little quick, but when they are on an island away from everything and are able to truly take the time to sit and think and start to mourn, I think it is a perfect pace.
If you are looking for a great contemporary novel, I highly suggest this one, I would say that it is almost hitting the New Adult genre just because of the age and maturity of the characters, but it doesn't have any of the "sexy times" that a lot of the New Adult has, and I for one appreciate that, sometimes I just want a warm fuzzy read, and I definitely will be coming back to this one time and time again, I give it a 5/5 if you had not guessed yet, I really hope you go out and get a copy soon, you will not be disappointed.
When I came across the sign-up for this blog tour, I jumped at the chance and crossed my fingers that I would get selected, and when I perhaps squealed a little bit when I got the email that I was on the tour! I have been following Marie for a while now (though she may not know, and no it is not stalking when they are authors.....I don't think lol), and I have been waiting for this book to come out for various reasons, but a couple of them being that she is so sweet on social media, and she is CANADIAN!!!! A little bit of Canadian pride coming out there, and not only Canadian, but from around my area, extra bonus! Okay, so really enough about this on with the review......
This book was exactly what I needed right now, it is warm and fuzzy with a touch of family drama. I read it in one sitting because I could not get enough, and I needed to know what happened in the end. Marie's writing came off very similar in nature to me as someone like Sarah Dessen, there are major subjects tackled, but in a way that don't leave you heavy feeling or depressed in the end.
My favourite character was Ezra by far, he is that person that you always want in your life, he has his own issues and secrets for sure, but he is always there for his friends, and is willing to help with anything they need, even if it is just an ear to listen. And it also doesn't hurt that he is goodlooking of course. When we do learn what his secrets are it made me go "awww", which is what I was hoping for, I guarantee you will too!
I also really like Charlotte, she has and is still going through a lot at home, and is very much doing it alone, her Dad has shut off since her Mom got sick, and her sister is nowhere to be found. I very much disliked her sister through most of this novel, and really could not understand how she could possibly be acting the way she is at a time like that, however, when we learn what her reasoning is, I could almost explain away her actions (not all of them). Charlotte is taking care of her Dad when he should be the one taking care of her, and I can see how that could happen in this type of situation, but it really made me sad for her.
The relationship between Charlotte and Ezra is something that starts slow, just chatting, and then they become friends before anything happens, and I liked how it was like this because I think that Charlotte needed a friend more than anything else at that point, and so did Ezra in fact. Nothing in this novel felt rushed to me, the characters and their development were done really well as this story takes place over the span of months. Some may think even months is a little quick, but when they are on an island away from everything and are able to truly take the time to sit and think and start to mourn, I think it is a perfect pace.
If you are looking for a great contemporary novel, I highly suggest this one, I would say that it is almost hitting the New Adult genre just because of the age and maturity of the characters, but it doesn't have any of the "sexy times" that a lot of the New Adult has, and I for one appreciate that, sometimes I just want a warm fuzzy read, and I definitely will be coming back to this one time and time again, I give it a 5/5 if you had not guessed yet, I really hope you go out and get a copy soon, you will not be disappointed.
July 29, 2013
I received an ebook copy as part of the tour in exchange for an honest review.
If you're looking for an awesome summertime contemporary read, this is the book for you! You get to dive into the summer after Charlotte's mom has passed away. Grief ridden and a family that could not be more distant, the O'Dell's venture to a small island that used to be Charlotte's mom's summer vacation home. Not anticipating anything exciting to happen and almost certain that there is no repair for her damaged family, Charlotte meets the one boy who may just understand everything she's going through. They may even be two peas in a pod.
I knew from the moment I read the summary that I was going to love this book. First of all, the cover is gorgeous and after reading the story, it's PERFECT. It depicts one of the pivotal scenes in the novel to a "t." I loved, loved Charlotte. She is the backbone of the family, the girl who is willing to give up her senior year of high school and her friends to take care of her ailing mother while her dad works overtime and her younger sister goes off the deep end trying to become popular. She remains so strong for that family, it's sort of really heartbreaking. She needs someone to take care of her for once. She's so extremely selfless and I loved that about her. She only broke down by herself and as saddening as it was, it made me appreciate her character even more.
Oh my, the boy next door. What is there not to love about the boy next door. I fell in love with Ezra the minute he stepped onto the scene. He's exactly everything that a girl loves about a boy: charming, funny, sensitive, and always putting Charlotte first. Every time he sheepishly grinned or a smile played on the corner of his lips, I melted into a puddle. I can't even tell you how many times I had this huge goofy grin on my face when he started talking. He may have some secrets of his own but once they are revealed, they make you love him even more. He and Charlotte really are two peas in a pod and I'm sort of jealous of their relationship. I want one like that!
I smiled, I cried, I felt grief, I felt happiness, I felt everything in between. This book, ladies and gentleman, is a wonderful YA contemporary that you are going to stay up all night reading. The heartache and pain will make you cry and appreciate your family just a little bit more. The budding relationship between Charlotte and Ezra will make you root for them to heal each other and make things even more perfect than they already are between them. You truly feel a deep connection between them. You'll also be rooting for Charlotte's family to learn to cope with their missing family member. I loved this book and can easily see myself reading this again in the future!
This review can be found at: The Bookish Daydreamer
If you're looking for an awesome summertime contemporary read, this is the book for you! You get to dive into the summer after Charlotte's mom has passed away. Grief ridden and a family that could not be more distant, the O'Dell's venture to a small island that used to be Charlotte's mom's summer vacation home. Not anticipating anything exciting to happen and almost certain that there is no repair for her damaged family, Charlotte meets the one boy who may just understand everything she's going through. They may even be two peas in a pod.
I knew from the moment I read the summary that I was going to love this book. First of all, the cover is gorgeous and after reading the story, it's PERFECT. It depicts one of the pivotal scenes in the novel to a "t." I loved, loved Charlotte. She is the backbone of the family, the girl who is willing to give up her senior year of high school and her friends to take care of her ailing mother while her dad works overtime and her younger sister goes off the deep end trying to become popular. She remains so strong for that family, it's sort of really heartbreaking. She needs someone to take care of her for once. She's so extremely selfless and I loved that about her. She only broke down by herself and as saddening as it was, it made me appreciate her character even more.
Oh my, the boy next door. What is there not to love about the boy next door. I fell in love with Ezra the minute he stepped onto the scene. He's exactly everything that a girl loves about a boy: charming, funny, sensitive, and always putting Charlotte first. Every time he sheepishly grinned or a smile played on the corner of his lips, I melted into a puddle. I can't even tell you how many times I had this huge goofy grin on my face when he started talking. He may have some secrets of his own but once they are revealed, they make you love him even more. He and Charlotte really are two peas in a pod and I'm sort of jealous of their relationship. I want one like that!
I smiled, I cried, I felt grief, I felt happiness, I felt everything in between. This book, ladies and gentleman, is a wonderful YA contemporary that you are going to stay up all night reading. The heartache and pain will make you cry and appreciate your family just a little bit more. The budding relationship between Charlotte and Ezra will make you root for them to heal each other and make things even more perfect than they already are between them. You truly feel a deep connection between them. You'll also be rooting for Charlotte's family to learn to cope with their missing family member. I loved this book and can easily see myself reading this again in the future!
This review can be found at: The Bookish Daydreamer
November 18, 2013
Did I enjoy this book: I did enjoy this book. I read it yesterday. It took less than a day to get through and I wanted to read every free chance I had.
I was invested in this story from the very beginning. Charlotte, Ella, and their father suffered a tragic loss and I felt for them. I could only imagine their grief. I wanted them to survive as a family. I wanted them to move on but not forget. I wanted them to stay together as a family.
Truly, this is Charlotte’s story. She was the rock of this family. I couldn’t imagine being a senior in high school and giving up everything to stay at home and care for my dying mother. That was admirable, amazing, and awe-inspiring. Did she have a few immature moments? Absolutely. Charlotte is 18 and is allowed a few immature moments and thoughts. Some of those thoughts made me chuckle. Her blog post for the library at the end of the book was fantastic. I loved it, as would any book blogger, I think. I do wish, however, that there was more about her reading and blogging in this story. It played a big-ish role at the end. I would have liked to have seen that throughout the book. But the post was great.
Ezra was a wonderful match for Charlotte. You could tell he was hiding something throughout the story. I kind of guessed at what it was but I wasn’t sure. And it wasn’t exactly what I had expected. I was glad he opened up slowly to Charlotte. If it had been instantaneous, it would have felt fake. Ezra was a good kid. I liked his character a lot. He was the real deal.
Waiting for the Storm had a lot of emotion in it. A lot more emotion and dealing with grief than most of the YA books that I have read. I felt many things for Charlotte, Ella, and their father. I felt a lot for Ezra as well. I just kept shaking my head thinking “I can’t imagine what they are going through.” And there was no sex. I was happy about that. Not because I’m a prude or anything like that, but because there was no place for it in this book.
Would I recommend it: I would recommend this book. It was a good YA book without sex but a lot of emotion.
Will I read it again: I don’t think I will. But you never know.
(I received a copy of this book for review purposes.)
http://everyfreechance.com/2013/08/bl...
I was invested in this story from the very beginning. Charlotte, Ella, and their father suffered a tragic loss and I felt for them. I could only imagine their grief. I wanted them to survive as a family. I wanted them to move on but not forget. I wanted them to stay together as a family.
Truly, this is Charlotte’s story. She was the rock of this family. I couldn’t imagine being a senior in high school and giving up everything to stay at home and care for my dying mother. That was admirable, amazing, and awe-inspiring. Did she have a few immature moments? Absolutely. Charlotte is 18 and is allowed a few immature moments and thoughts. Some of those thoughts made me chuckle. Her blog post for the library at the end of the book was fantastic. I loved it, as would any book blogger, I think. I do wish, however, that there was more about her reading and blogging in this story. It played a big-ish role at the end. I would have liked to have seen that throughout the book. But the post was great.
Ezra was a wonderful match for Charlotte. You could tell he was hiding something throughout the story. I kind of guessed at what it was but I wasn’t sure. And it wasn’t exactly what I had expected. I was glad he opened up slowly to Charlotte. If it had been instantaneous, it would have felt fake. Ezra was a good kid. I liked his character a lot. He was the real deal.
Waiting for the Storm had a lot of emotion in it. A lot more emotion and dealing with grief than most of the YA books that I have read. I felt many things for Charlotte, Ella, and their father. I felt a lot for Ezra as well. I just kept shaking my head thinking “I can’t imagine what they are going through.” And there was no sex. I was happy about that. Not because I’m a prude or anything like that, but because there was no place for it in this book.
Would I recommend it: I would recommend this book. It was a good YA book without sex but a lot of emotion.
Will I read it again: I don’t think I will. But you never know.
(I received a copy of this book for review purposes.)
http://everyfreechance.com/2013/08/bl...
July 10, 2014
See more of my reviews on my blog Thoughts At One In The Morning.
My Thoughts:
Where to start..... where to start..... This story. This story has everything a good story needs: a love that goes deeper than the surface, backstories that touch your heart, and the surprises that draw you closer to the characters to the point where you believe they are real. And could I expect any less from Marie?
No, I couldn't. Because she delivered so much more. As always.
Charlotte was a character you couldn't help but relate to on so many levels: dealing with her grief and learning to live again. When one is thrown into the position Charlotte was in, taking care of her mom for so long, a lot of things end up being put on the back burner. That can really throw a person off balance, and could keep them off balance if they don't make the effort to spread their wings and fly again. Charlotte was terrified of the world, but she wanted to do more.
Not only that but she wanted to help her family through this time. Her father was so lost and it became very hard for him to get a grip on reality. Ella is the quintessential sister that is acting out. You can sense that who she was is still in there but she is fighting it. But why is she fighting it? Charlotte tries to pull that part of her back to reality.
All the while Charlotte starts to spend time with Ezra, who is literally the boy next door. He makes her swoon, not only by how gorgeous he is but also by his kindness. He made me swoon as well (as you can tell from my Tweet here: https://twitter.com/Jess_Sankiewicz/s...) with his humor and his words. Oh... just thinking about it is too much. And the two of them together? Absolute perfection. They are made for each other.
Waiting For The Storm is a beautiful story. It has the right mix of humor and life and love. By the time you reach the end, you're just swelling with this unimaginable joy. Marie Landry made me fall in love with yet another story of hers. If you want a compelling and sweet contemporary read, I say go for this story. It is brilliant and you WILL enjoy it. A LOT.
My Rating: Exceptional
My Thoughts:
Where to start..... where to start..... This story. This story has everything a good story needs: a love that goes deeper than the surface, backstories that touch your heart, and the surprises that draw you closer to the characters to the point where you believe they are real. And could I expect any less from Marie?
No, I couldn't. Because she delivered so much more. As always.
Charlotte was a character you couldn't help but relate to on so many levels: dealing with her grief and learning to live again. When one is thrown into the position Charlotte was in, taking care of her mom for so long, a lot of things end up being put on the back burner. That can really throw a person off balance, and could keep them off balance if they don't make the effort to spread their wings and fly again. Charlotte was terrified of the world, but she wanted to do more.
Not only that but she wanted to help her family through this time. Her father was so lost and it became very hard for him to get a grip on reality. Ella is the quintessential sister that is acting out. You can sense that who she was is still in there but she is fighting it. But why is she fighting it? Charlotte tries to pull that part of her back to reality.
All the while Charlotte starts to spend time with Ezra, who is literally the boy next door. He makes her swoon, not only by how gorgeous he is but also by his kindness. He made me swoon as well (as you can tell from my Tweet here: https://twitter.com/Jess_Sankiewicz/s...) with his humor and his words. Oh... just thinking about it is too much. And the two of them together? Absolute perfection. They are made for each other.
Waiting For The Storm is a beautiful story. It has the right mix of humor and life and love. By the time you reach the end, you're just swelling with this unimaginable joy. Marie Landry made me fall in love with yet another story of hers. If you want a compelling and sweet contemporary read, I say go for this story. It is brilliant and you WILL enjoy it. A LOT.
My Rating: Exceptional
July 30, 2013
When someone important to you dies,you know you will never be the same.When you took care of that person until his/hers last breath that is something you'll never forget.The memories remain and life goes on.That's what Charlotte O'Dell learned after one year of taking care of her sick mother.
Charlotte's life changed after she found out her mother was sick.She did everything she could to take care of her,but after one year her mother died.Charlotte and her family decide to fulfill her mother's last wish,something that turns out to be the best thing they could have done.
This one of those books who will make you want to know more-to know what will happen with Charlotte or her family.It wasn't easy and there were a lot of hard moments,but the way the author wrote about Charlotte's feeling -how she did everything she could help her father and sister,that she was strong enough to move on even if she was afraid of a lot of things.She was strong and that's why admired her the most.Painful,but that's how life works.
Charlotte was strong and i liked that,in a way i understand perfectly what she's been through,but when she met Ezra everything changed .And i really,really,really liked the way things turned out.It was perfect.Mainly because Ezra was such a nice guy and he was perfect for Charlotte.
Sometimes you need help to realize that what you're doing is wrong or good.Sometimes you have to let someone help you,someone who can open your eyes and make you believe that you've done everything you could and that you have to move on.That someone for Charlotte was Ezra.
This book was about a family whom are trying to recover after losing someone important.Step by step,but it wasn't easy.What i hated the most was how Ella treated Charlotte,like everything that happened was Charlotte's fault.And it wasn't.All Charlotte tried to do was help and because of her everything was better.
Honestly,i liked the book.I liked how Charlotte slowly started to heal,to have fun again-to live again.I liked the scene when Ella realized that she was wrong.And when Charlotte's father started to be a father again.But what i like the most was how Ezra and Charlotte were when they were together.Perfect.
This is a must read!You have to read this book!
Charlotte's life changed after she found out her mother was sick.She did everything she could to take care of her,but after one year her mother died.Charlotte and her family decide to fulfill her mother's last wish,something that turns out to be the best thing they could have done.
This one of those books who will make you want to know more-to know what will happen with Charlotte or her family.It wasn't easy and there were a lot of hard moments,but the way the author wrote about Charlotte's feeling -how she did everything she could help her father and sister,that she was strong enough to move on even if she was afraid of a lot of things.She was strong and that's why admired her the most.Painful,but that's how life works.
Charlotte was strong and i liked that,in a way i understand perfectly what she's been through,but when she met Ezra everything changed .And i really,really,really liked the way things turned out.It was perfect.Mainly because Ezra was such a nice guy and he was perfect for Charlotte.
Sometimes you need help to realize that what you're doing is wrong or good.Sometimes you have to let someone help you,someone who can open your eyes and make you believe that you've done everything you could and that you have to move on.That someone for Charlotte was Ezra.
This book was about a family whom are trying to recover after losing someone important.Step by step,but it wasn't easy.What i hated the most was how Ella treated Charlotte,like everything that happened was Charlotte's fault.And it wasn't.All Charlotte tried to do was help and because of her everything was better.
Honestly,i liked the book.I liked how Charlotte slowly started to heal,to have fun again-to live again.I liked the scene when Ella realized that she was wrong.And when Charlotte's father started to be a father again.But what i like the most was how Ezra and Charlotte were when they were together.Perfect.
This is a must read!You have to read this book!
June 19, 2013
Have you ever read a book that stayed with you minutes and hours after you finish it? This book is of that caliber. I finished it several hours ago and yet it still sits with me. I think of certain parts of the book and I get emotional all over again.That's the mark of an amazing book.One that can give you so many feelings throughout it. One that can make you smile, laugh and yes, even cry.
Charlotte was a relatable character.It made sense to me that she had lost sight of who she was during the later part of her mother's illness.Ella's response made sense too.Grief comes in many forms. Some people soldier on,determined to take care of the family that are left.Some fall off the wagon so to speak and do things they wouldn't ordinarily do. And still others sink so far down in their grief that they struggle to see the light.All three O'Dell's could fit those three separate descriptions.
Ezra, Ezra, Ezra.There's not much I can say about this young man.Except I fell totally in love with him.I loved how there was a lot of depth to him. That's something that is usually lacking in books like this.What he did not only for his mother but also for the kids that lived on the island.He was flawed which is something that I look for in a book.No person is perfect. Everyone has flaws or have had crappy things happen to them in the past. No one's life is perfect.
It wasn't the aggravating love story that I have seen come from Young Adult books lately.It was gradual,which I loved.Ezra wasn't the type of guy to push Charlotte which made me adore him all the more.Charlotte needed him to be gradual and cautious as she worked to re-emerge back into the world.And Ezra happily obliged.I made the comment while reading,that Charlotte & Ezra were swoon-worthy and it's completely true.
This book was a perfect summer read and I just couldn't put it down for very long except when my eyes were closing in protest late at night.I am giving this book 5 stars.It has everything a person could want in a book.I really need to read more of Marie's books if all of her books are as amazing as this one.
Charlotte was a relatable character.It made sense to me that she had lost sight of who she was during the later part of her mother's illness.Ella's response made sense too.Grief comes in many forms. Some people soldier on,determined to take care of the family that are left.Some fall off the wagon so to speak and do things they wouldn't ordinarily do. And still others sink so far down in their grief that they struggle to see the light.All three O'Dell's could fit those three separate descriptions.
Ezra, Ezra, Ezra.There's not much I can say about this young man.Except I fell totally in love with him.I loved how there was a lot of depth to him. That's something that is usually lacking in books like this.What he did not only for his mother but also for the kids that lived on the island.He was flawed which is something that I look for in a book.No person is perfect. Everyone has flaws or have had crappy things happen to them in the past. No one's life is perfect.
It wasn't the aggravating love story that I have seen come from Young Adult books lately.It was gradual,which I loved.Ezra wasn't the type of guy to push Charlotte which made me adore him all the more.Charlotte needed him to be gradual and cautious as she worked to re-emerge back into the world.And Ezra happily obliged.I made the comment while reading,that Charlotte & Ezra were swoon-worthy and it's completely true.
This book was a perfect summer read and I just couldn't put it down for very long except when my eyes were closing in protest late at night.I am giving this book 5 stars.It has everything a person could want in a book.I really need to read more of Marie's books if all of her books are as amazing as this one.
August 3, 2013
*I was provided with a free copy of this book for the blog tour. Thank you!*
I…I…I freaking loved this book!! I can’t find the right words to describe it! It’s brilliant! A lot better than I expected!!
I fell in love with Marie’s book immediately after I started it. It has an incredible atmoshpere and just the right amount of drama to keep you reading. It has great characters, sad but oh-so-beautiful story and a fast paced action. In less words, it has everything you need to enjoy a book.
Marie is an amazing author! I loved her writing style and the fact that there are no rushed scenes! Her writing style and the characters are the best things about ‘Waiting for the storm’!
The story is touching, powerful and one hell of an emotional rollercoaster. I laughed, I cried, I got angry with Ella. Speaking about Ella, part of me knew that she was grieving her mother’s death, but part of me wanted to just high five her face. Multiple times.With a tire.
This is one of those stories that in the beginning, it’s sad. And depressing. And you are reading while eating ice cream. But as the story goes on and you go further in the book, it starts to become more light and it just warmes your heart and it melts your heart. I was incredibly happy with the ending. It was just… perfect!
Ezra was a mystery for me from the beginning. He is not like every male character out there. He is sexy, indeed, but he doesn’t use this to win Charlotte. He is smart, funny, caring and loving. The kind of character that everyone loves.
The romance between Ezra and Charlotte…well, it’s the kind of relationship I’d like to have. First, they are best friends. But step by step, they become lovers. Their relationship is built with baby steps and it’s based on trust and on their friendship.
This is the kind of book that you read on the beach with your best friend. Is a book about forgiving, about a second chance, about love, about going on and about friendship. I will always smile when I’ll hear the title of this book .
I really hope that this book will get tons of reads, because it’s amazing! I highly recommend it!
5 stars out of 5.
I…I…I freaking loved this book!! I can’t find the right words to describe it! It’s brilliant! A lot better than I expected!!
I fell in love with Marie’s book immediately after I started it. It has an incredible atmoshpere and just the right amount of drama to keep you reading. It has great characters, sad but oh-so-beautiful story and a fast paced action. In less words, it has everything you need to enjoy a book.
Marie is an amazing author! I loved her writing style and the fact that there are no rushed scenes! Her writing style and the characters are the best things about ‘Waiting for the storm’!
The story is touching, powerful and one hell of an emotional rollercoaster. I laughed, I cried, I got angry with Ella. Speaking about Ella, part of me knew that she was grieving her mother’s death, but part of me wanted to just high five her face. Multiple times.With a tire.
This is one of those stories that in the beginning, it’s sad. And depressing. And you are reading while eating ice cream. But as the story goes on and you go further in the book, it starts to become more light and it just warmes your heart and it melts your heart. I was incredibly happy with the ending. It was just… perfect!
Ezra was a mystery for me from the beginning. He is not like every male character out there. He is sexy, indeed, but he doesn’t use this to win Charlotte. He is smart, funny, caring and loving. The kind of character that everyone loves.
The romance between Ezra and Charlotte…well, it’s the kind of relationship I’d like to have. First, they are best friends. But step by step, they become lovers. Their relationship is built with baby steps and it’s based on trust and on their friendship.
This is the kind of book that you read on the beach with your best friend. Is a book about forgiving, about a second chance, about love, about going on and about friendship. I will always smile when I’ll hear the title of this book .
I really hope that this book will get tons of reads, because it’s amazing! I highly recommend it!
5 stars out of 5.
August 18, 2014
‘Waiting for the Storm’ is a quiet book; it’s an emotional story about grieving, about love, and about change. The book is the day to day tale of Charlotte and her family the summer right after her mother’s death. Charlotte is dealing with the loss, but she’s very much a changed person from before. When Charlotte meets the boy next door, Ezra, she connects with him automatically.
I loved Charlotte’s narrative voice and her story. Charlotte loves books and she starts blogging for the island’s library. Charlotte is in a very isolated position, and yet just from her voice you can see the good person she is and what a good friend she would be. Ezra, meanwhile, is a quiet and mysterious character with secrets of his own, but he’s also sweet and he listens to Charlotte. More than that, he understands her. I really can’t describe how much I loved the scenes with Charlotte and Ezra. Their relationship was so sweet, full of butterfly feelings and sweet kisses, but I loved how they also had the deeper connection of friendship and sharing secrets.
Marie Landry did a fabulous job of combining romance with family issues. All the characters and relationships here are layered. Charlotte’s sister Ella is lashing out, while their Dad is falling into a depression. These things are big parts of the story, and each of them is resolved, or at least dealt with, by the end of the book. I felt the ending was a tiny bit wish fulfillment, in that it likely wouldn't work out so perfectly in real life, but I still loved it. I mean, who wouldn't want a happy and hopeful ending (or beginning, really) for characters they've grown to care for?
The reason why I liked ‘Waiting for the Storm’ so much is because of the emotions it made me feel. This book is just so beautiful and meaningful, and the characters felt like real people. The book also features a Canadian setting relatively close to me, so I knew the cities and schools mentioned, which is always a cool feeling. YA contemp fans, look no further for your next read: ‘Waiting for the Storm’ is not one to miss.
I loved Charlotte’s narrative voice and her story. Charlotte loves books and she starts blogging for the island’s library. Charlotte is in a very isolated position, and yet just from her voice you can see the good person she is and what a good friend she would be. Ezra, meanwhile, is a quiet and mysterious character with secrets of his own, but he’s also sweet and he listens to Charlotte. More than that, he understands her. I really can’t describe how much I loved the scenes with Charlotte and Ezra. Their relationship was so sweet, full of butterfly feelings and sweet kisses, but I loved how they also had the deeper connection of friendship and sharing secrets.
Marie Landry did a fabulous job of combining romance with family issues. All the characters and relationships here are layered. Charlotte’s sister Ella is lashing out, while their Dad is falling into a depression. These things are big parts of the story, and each of them is resolved, or at least dealt with, by the end of the book. I felt the ending was a tiny bit wish fulfillment, in that it likely wouldn't work out so perfectly in real life, but I still loved it. I mean, who wouldn't want a happy and hopeful ending (or beginning, really) for characters they've grown to care for?
The reason why I liked ‘Waiting for the Storm’ so much is because of the emotions it made me feel. This book is just so beautiful and meaningful, and the characters felt like real people. The book also features a Canadian setting relatively close to me, so I knew the cities and schools mentioned, which is always a cool feeling. YA contemp fans, look no further for your next read: ‘Waiting for the Storm’ is not one to miss.
July 30, 2013
Waiting For The Storm is such an emotional read that I found myself crying and laughing all at once. It is a story about loss and new love and new found happiness. Even in the midst of the storm there is happiness to be found. I have never lost a parent but I thought I did when 9/11 happened. My father worked right down by the twin towers and when I could not reach him for days I panicked. It felt like the walls were closing in on me and when I was finally able to get a hold of my father I was so happy. So I can't imagine at 17 years old watching my mother die for a year but that is what happens to Charlotte.
Charlotte's mother has died and her sister hates her and her father has checked out. Her father and sister are not handling her mother's death well. Charlotte is holding it all in and she has one more thing she has to do because she promised her mother that she would go back to their summer house on Angel Island and spend the summer there healing. But she is not so sure her family can heal after the death of the matriarch but Charlotte is willing to give it a go.
Once they get to the island Charlotte meets her new neighbor Ezra. Ezra is a great guy that listens to Charlotte and challenges her to do things she would not normally do. He wants her to think outside the box and do things to make her happy again. As they build a friendship something happens between them and their friendship grows into love. But Charlotte is still worrying about her family. She wants her father back and she wants her sister back but what will happen is anyone's guess.
What will Charlotte do? Will her family come back together and will Charlotte get the love she deserves?
Charlotte's mother has died and her sister hates her and her father has checked out. Her father and sister are not handling her mother's death well. Charlotte is holding it all in and she has one more thing she has to do because she promised her mother that she would go back to their summer house on Angel Island and spend the summer there healing. But she is not so sure her family can heal after the death of the matriarch but Charlotte is willing to give it a go.
Once they get to the island Charlotte meets her new neighbor Ezra. Ezra is a great guy that listens to Charlotte and challenges her to do things she would not normally do. He wants her to think outside the box and do things to make her happy again. As they build a friendship something happens between them and their friendship grows into love. But Charlotte is still worrying about her family. She wants her father back and she wants her sister back but what will happen is anyone's guess.
What will Charlotte do? Will her family come back together and will Charlotte get the love she deserves?
April 19, 2013
Powerful, emotional, moving, and unforgettable!
As soon as I saw the gorgeous cover, I knew I had to read this book. When I read the description, I knew I had to read it right now! And I’m so happy to say that it totally lived up to my expectations – in fact, it was even better than I expected! The whole book is beautifully written and tells a story that will stay with me for a very long time.
The story deals with grief and family issues. It’s easy to tell that Marie knows what she’s talking about with these things and you can feel that she put a lot of herself into telling this story. I related to Charlotte so much, and wished I had an Ezra of my own! Marie has the perfect balance of charm and mystery in creating his character and I felt exactly what Charlotte felt as his secrets were gradually revealed!
The setting is gorgeous and described so well that you can picture every scene.
The characters are amazingly well-written and feel like real people. I looked forward to getting back to them every night and I actually feel sad now because when I pick up my Kindle tonight, I won’t have anymore of Charlotte and Ezra’s story to read!
Honestly, I’m struggling to find the right words for just how much I enjoyed this. It made me cry multiple times and made me smile and laugh and want to cheer for and scream at the characters in equal measure!
Definitely the best book I’ve read in a long time!
As soon as I saw the gorgeous cover, I knew I had to read this book. When I read the description, I knew I had to read it right now! And I’m so happy to say that it totally lived up to my expectations – in fact, it was even better than I expected! The whole book is beautifully written and tells a story that will stay with me for a very long time.
The story deals with grief and family issues. It’s easy to tell that Marie knows what she’s talking about with these things and you can feel that she put a lot of herself into telling this story. I related to Charlotte so much, and wished I had an Ezra of my own! Marie has the perfect balance of charm and mystery in creating his character and I felt exactly what Charlotte felt as his secrets were gradually revealed!
The setting is gorgeous and described so well that you can picture every scene.
The characters are amazingly well-written and feel like real people. I looked forward to getting back to them every night and I actually feel sad now because when I pick up my Kindle tonight, I won’t have anymore of Charlotte and Ezra’s story to read!
Honestly, I’m struggling to find the right words for just how much I enjoyed this. It made me cry multiple times and made me smile and laugh and want to cheer for and scream at the characters in equal measure!
Definitely the best book I’ve read in a long time!
July 26, 2013
As I began this book, it made me want to cry. When you first meet Charlotte, we find her at her mother’s funeral immersed in pain. Not just because she lost her mother but because in a way she has lost everything that went along with being a teenager.
Each of the characters in this book are trying to deal with death, loss and emotions they can’t seem to fully get a handle on. When Charlotte first meets Ezra she is feeling completely and totally lost and alone, unbeknown to her, so is Ezra. Through their connection, they both begin to deal with the pain and wade through their own fears.
I love the way Marie connected each of the focal characters to Charlotte. As relationships are pushed to the limit, Charlotte is able to mend what she was beginning to think was inerrably broken.
At the end of the day Waiting For the Storm is a beautiful story about confronting your fears and the pain life tends to throw at you. I found the mixture of pain, loss, humor, love and family a beautiful balance for a coming of age story.
I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a sweet and compelling contemporary read. This is for a reader who is not afraid for a book that will make you cry, laugh and by the end give you hope that even in the worst situations, good things can push their way through.
Each of the characters in this book are trying to deal with death, loss and emotions they can’t seem to fully get a handle on. When Charlotte first meets Ezra she is feeling completely and totally lost and alone, unbeknown to her, so is Ezra. Through their connection, they both begin to deal with the pain and wade through their own fears.
I love the way Marie connected each of the focal characters to Charlotte. As relationships are pushed to the limit, Charlotte is able to mend what she was beginning to think was inerrably broken.
At the end of the day Waiting For the Storm is a beautiful story about confronting your fears and the pain life tends to throw at you. I found the mixture of pain, loss, humor, love and family a beautiful balance for a coming of age story.
I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a sweet and compelling contemporary read. This is for a reader who is not afraid for a book that will make you cry, laugh and by the end give you hope that even in the worst situations, good things can push their way through.
April 11, 2013
It's always a joy to read Marie's novels. I must say that I always need a box of tissue handy. I felt every ounce of pain and loneliness that Charolette felt since her mother's death, and in a way she kind of had to rely on herself emotionally. Ella was frustrating a lot of the time, but in her eyes Charolette was always the the "favorite" of the two daughters. My heart broke for her father. Ezra, what an absolute sweetheart. There could not have been a better man for Charolette. What a great read!
October 10, 2013
I'll be honest, I didn't expect this book to be as amazing as it was! Charlotte was such a relatable character as well as her situation. The raw emotions she conveyed as well as the rest of her family was excellently written. And I absolutely loved Ezra and Charlotte together! Usually in the beginning I am skeptical of the guy, but with Ezra I automatically loved him! All the characters were relatable and like able, even Ella (towards the end). And I loved finding a character that loves reading, like me. Everything about this book is so realistic! I would recommend this book to everyone!
October 23, 2013
I really enjoyed reading this! I liked right away that this wasn't a book I had to think too hard about. The story flowed nicely and the characters continued to develope throughout the entire book. There wasn't much about this book that was shocking or that went against what you'd expect from a typical YA Romance, but for me, that's what made it so great. It wasn't some poorly written, overly dramatic story with an obnoxious main character. It was a well thought out, well developed story that was just perfect for that "in between series" break.
August 8, 2013
Seriously!! A new favorite read for me! I truly loved charlotte & Ezra's story. Waiting for the storm is so well written it has me wanting to read more. I wished the book never ended! I will be doing a full review on my book blog July 30th please be sure to check it out!! :)
http://two-tall-tales.blogspot.com
Update
Find the full review here---> http://two-tall-tales.blogspot.com/20...
http://two-tall-tales.blogspot.com
Update
Find the full review here---> http://two-tall-tales.blogspot.com/20...
April 14, 2016
Wowzer!!! I got this as a review copy and it was truly amazing. You feel Charlotte's pain throughout the book and that she has dealt with enough tragedy. Her family has been no help with her dad distraught over her mothers death and her sister being a royal B word, but Charlotte finds hope thanks to Ezra. I love how Ezra and Charlotte were both likable characters. Great job Marie I want to say more but feel like I'll spoil it. Enjoy guys this is well worth it.
October 6, 2013
Amazing! I can't say too many good things about this book. Beautifully written, honest, and heartbreaking, I became fully immersed in Charlotte's life. This story portrays many of the facets of grief, how people deal with it, and the raw emotions that come with losing a loved one. This is a book I will not forget. I highly recommend this book! I received this book for free for my honest review.
September 2, 2014
This book was just freaking wow! So unbelievably raw... The pain that radiates off of every character in this book was enough to make my own heart hurt. Charlotte and Ezra were pretty much made for each other. They have an understanding for each others situations and offer the best possible support, even though there is some delay in the communication department. I can't wait to read book two!
July 24, 2016
Absolutely loved this book. Very emotional for every character. It was interesting to see how everyone deals with loss and hard times differently. Some how they all find the strength and courage to get through it.Full video review on YouTube channel Adventures-IN-Print check it out. https://youtu.be/i_k6F-DteQw
April 24, 2013
Landry's best book to date. Emotional, heartfelt, and beautifully written. I loved it and will definitely be reading it again.
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