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It Comes in Waves
For competitive surfer Claire "Pepper" Patton, the waves of South Carolina’s Folly Beach once held the promise of a loving future and a bright career—until her fiance, Foster, broke the news that he and Claire's best friend, Jill, were in love.
Eighteen years later, now forty-two and a struggling single parent to a rebellious teenage daughter, Claire has put miles between that betrayal and that coast. But when ESPN invites her back to Folly Beach for a documentary on women in surfing, Claire decides it might be the chance she needs to regain control of her life and reacquaint herself with the unsinkable young woman she once was.
But not everything in Folly Beach is as Claire remembers it, most especially her ex-best friend, Jill, who is now widowed and raising her and Foster’s teenage son. An unexpected reunion with Claire will uncover a guilt that Jill has worked hard to bury—and bring to the surface years of unspoken blame.
When Claire crosses paths with a sexy pro-surfer who is as determined to get Claire back on a board as he is to get her in his bed, a chance for healing might not be far behind—or is it too late for two estranged friends to find forgiveness in the place that was once their coastal paradise, where life was spent barefoot and love was as dizzying as the perfect wave...
CONVERSATION GUIDE INCLUDED
Eighteen years later, now forty-two and a struggling single parent to a rebellious teenage daughter, Claire has put miles between that betrayal and that coast. But when ESPN invites her back to Folly Beach for a documentary on women in surfing, Claire decides it might be the chance she needs to regain control of her life and reacquaint herself with the unsinkable young woman she once was.
But not everything in Folly Beach is as Claire remembers it, most especially her ex-best friend, Jill, who is now widowed and raising her and Foster’s teenage son. An unexpected reunion with Claire will uncover a guilt that Jill has worked hard to bury—and bring to the surface years of unspoken blame.
When Claire crosses paths with a sexy pro-surfer who is as determined to get Claire back on a board as he is to get her in his bed, a chance for healing might not be far behind—or is it too late for two estranged friends to find forgiveness in the place that was once their coastal paradise, where life was spent barefoot and love was as dizzying as the perfect wave...
CONVERSATION GUIDE INCLUDED
369 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 2014
13 people are currently reading
1086 people want to read
About the author
Erika Marks
18 books219 followersHello, fellow reader! I am the NAL author of women's fiction set by the sea. My fifth novel, THE LAST TREASURE, follows the love triangle between three treasure hunters searching for a mysterious shipwreck on the Outer Banks, and comes ashore on August 2, 2016. I love meeting with book clubs via Skype--so stop by my website to learn how we can set up a chat!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
August 17, 2014
I’ve never before been in a situation where I’ve been reading THE perfect book while I was immersed IN the book’s setting. But with Erika’s fourth novel, IT COMES IN WAVES, I was actually reading her novel while I was on or near the beaches of South Carolina. It was a real treat to read about places I’d visited or seen the exits for along the highway: Folly Beach, Kiawah, Edisto, Charleston. And it was even more fun to be among the flora and fauna described in the book. (Of pelicans, Marks writes: Standing at the balcony railing, Claire watched the five big-billed birds sail across the sky. She’d forgotten how wonderful they were, the curious grace in their otherwise clumsy mass). Yes! Such a perfect description … and many more like this throughout the novel.
So I can say, wholeheartedly, that this is the perfect beach read: the story of a once-competitive female surfer who, at age 42, revisits the waves of her past – in more ways than one – when she is invited back to Folly Beach for a documentary about women in surfing. I was struck, too, by the truth of the main character, Claire’s, realization that things really do change when you ‘come back home.’ (Having also been to my hometown on this recent trip, I had the same sense of same-but-different).
The book is much more than beach fun (though there is plenty of that). IT COMES IN WAVES includes themes about parent-child relationships, about home, acceptance, forgiveness, and taking ownership of one’s life even when events happen that are out of one’s control. As is the case with all of Erika’s books, setting and language flow from the page effortlessly. The sentences drip with description, active verbs make sentences pop – and before I knew it, I’d breezed through the entire book. It was also refreshing to learn more about surfing.
I’m always impressed by this author’s ability to portray the ebb and flow of relationships with such realism. In this novel, I am still awed at how she made me, the reader, empathize with BOTH Claire and Jill, when I clearly went into the story with a sense of who was the ‘good’ guy and who was the bad ‘guy.’ This is the mark of true talent: to show (not tell) the reader just how complicated human relationships are, and that there are always two sides to the same story. Erika is a master at illuminating the gray areas that often cloud relationships.
This flavor of women's fiction was the perfect ending to my summer trip. It was a fast, delicious read: dessert, but only better … with cherries and whipped cream on top (the author tempts, as usual, with sumptuous food descriptions). AND – the best part … I was able to meet the author in person (we’ve been corresponding on social media for four years).
As always, I look forward to the next book. And maybe I’ll have to purposely plan a vacation around its setting. Though unplanned this time around, that "reading in the location of the setting" added yet another dimension to the book and worked so well!
So I can say, wholeheartedly, that this is the perfect beach read: the story of a once-competitive female surfer who, at age 42, revisits the waves of her past – in more ways than one – when she is invited back to Folly Beach for a documentary about women in surfing. I was struck, too, by the truth of the main character, Claire’s, realization that things really do change when you ‘come back home.’ (Having also been to my hometown on this recent trip, I had the same sense of same-but-different).
The book is much more than beach fun (though there is plenty of that). IT COMES IN WAVES includes themes about parent-child relationships, about home, acceptance, forgiveness, and taking ownership of one’s life even when events happen that are out of one’s control. As is the case with all of Erika’s books, setting and language flow from the page effortlessly. The sentences drip with description, active verbs make sentences pop – and before I knew it, I’d breezed through the entire book. It was also refreshing to learn more about surfing.
I’m always impressed by this author’s ability to portray the ebb and flow of relationships with such realism. In this novel, I am still awed at how she made me, the reader, empathize with BOTH Claire and Jill, when I clearly went into the story with a sense of who was the ‘good’ guy and who was the bad ‘guy.’ This is the mark of true talent: to show (not tell) the reader just how complicated human relationships are, and that there are always two sides to the same story. Erika is a master at illuminating the gray areas that often cloud relationships.
This flavor of women's fiction was the perfect ending to my summer trip. It was a fast, delicious read: dessert, but only better … with cherries and whipped cream on top (the author tempts, as usual, with sumptuous food descriptions). AND – the best part … I was able to meet the author in person (we’ve been corresponding on social media for four years).
As always, I look forward to the next book. And maybe I’ll have to purposely plan a vacation around its setting. Though unplanned this time around, that "reading in the location of the setting" added yet another dimension to the book and worked so well!
July 2, 2014
Review originally posted: Traveling With T
This book was sent to Traveling With T in exchange for a fair review.
It Comes In Waves
For Claire “Pepper” Patton, life has changed drastically since she was in her 20′s. When she was in her 20′s- she was in love with Foster, a fantastic surfer and thought life could get no better than living on Folly Beach- surfing as much as she could, drinking and loving with Foster, and hanging out with Jill and Shep. One night, though, changes everything- and Claire finds out that the happy life she envisioned would not be her and Foster- it would be Foster and Jill. Heartbroken and questioning everything- Claire leaves Folly Beach and tries to make sense of life- of what her next step is to be. When Claire finds herself moving to Colorado (far away from where could surf) she feels a new Claire happening- one that is meant to be a grown-up, to be married and raise a family.
At 42, though, Claire is unsure who she is supposed to be- she’s a teacher, she’s divorced and she has a 15 year old daughter- who she is struggling to have a relationship with. When ESPN calls her one day and asks her to come back to Folly Beach, back to where she was the hottest surfer- at first, Claire balks. Her life is so different now. But, then she decides to accept- it could be a bonding trip for Claire and Lizzie. The only problem is that after the betrayal she suffered at Folly Beach, she didn’t think would ever return.
When Claire returns to Folly Beach- she finds that most things are the same- and begins to feel at home. Seeing Jill again, though, brings back memories- and feelings of pain and resentment. Can Claire and Jill move beyond the betrayal of that summer?
After meeting a sexy surf shop owner who is trying to convince Claire to get back on the board, she begins to wonder about how and why she gave up surfing so easily- and what that says about her life and relationships.
Told in current time and flashbacks- IT COMES IN WAVES is sure to delight.
Traveling With T’s Thoughts:
I adore Erika Marks. Simple ADORE. From the first book she wrote (LITTLE GALE GUMBO) she had a fan in me. So, it was no surprise that I would enjoy IT COMES IN WAVES.
I felt Claire’s pain- her pain at losing her love, losing what made her “her” and then figuring out life- only to have that not work out. I felt the pain she was feeling with the relationship she was having her with her daughter- how she had longed for a different type of relationship than she had with her mother.
Erika takes a story of heartbreak, of being brave enough to walk away from parent’s dreams and search for her own and creates a story that is readable and relatable- one that should be in your “To Be Read” pile.
This, on the surface, can be taken as a light read; but with themes of mother/daughter relationships, family drama, and learning to let go- it can be a heavier read. Perfect for book clubs that want something easy to read, but with substance to discuss!
*This book was sent to Traveling With T by the author in exchange for a fair and honest review. All thoughts and opinions are mine alone.
Happy Reading and Bookishly Yours,
T @ Traveling With T
This book was sent to Traveling With T in exchange for a fair review.
It Comes In Waves
For Claire “Pepper” Patton, life has changed drastically since she was in her 20′s. When she was in her 20′s- she was in love with Foster, a fantastic surfer and thought life could get no better than living on Folly Beach- surfing as much as she could, drinking and loving with Foster, and hanging out with Jill and Shep. One night, though, changes everything- and Claire finds out that the happy life she envisioned would not be her and Foster- it would be Foster and Jill. Heartbroken and questioning everything- Claire leaves Folly Beach and tries to make sense of life- of what her next step is to be. When Claire finds herself moving to Colorado (far away from where could surf) she feels a new Claire happening- one that is meant to be a grown-up, to be married and raise a family.
At 42, though, Claire is unsure who she is supposed to be- she’s a teacher, she’s divorced and she has a 15 year old daughter- who she is struggling to have a relationship with. When ESPN calls her one day and asks her to come back to Folly Beach, back to where she was the hottest surfer- at first, Claire balks. Her life is so different now. But, then she decides to accept- it could be a bonding trip for Claire and Lizzie. The only problem is that after the betrayal she suffered at Folly Beach, she didn’t think would ever return.
When Claire returns to Folly Beach- she finds that most things are the same- and begins to feel at home. Seeing Jill again, though, brings back memories- and feelings of pain and resentment. Can Claire and Jill move beyond the betrayal of that summer?
After meeting a sexy surf shop owner who is trying to convince Claire to get back on the board, she begins to wonder about how and why she gave up surfing so easily- and what that says about her life and relationships.
Told in current time and flashbacks- IT COMES IN WAVES is sure to delight.
Traveling With T’s Thoughts:
I adore Erika Marks. Simple ADORE. From the first book she wrote (LITTLE GALE GUMBO) she had a fan in me. So, it was no surprise that I would enjoy IT COMES IN WAVES.
I felt Claire’s pain- her pain at losing her love, losing what made her “her” and then figuring out life- only to have that not work out. I felt the pain she was feeling with the relationship she was having her with her daughter- how she had longed for a different type of relationship than she had with her mother.
Erika takes a story of heartbreak, of being brave enough to walk away from parent’s dreams and search for her own and creates a story that is readable and relatable- one that should be in your “To Be Read” pile.
This, on the surface, can be taken as a light read; but with themes of mother/daughter relationships, family drama, and learning to let go- it can be a heavier read. Perfect for book clubs that want something easy to read, but with substance to discuss!
*This book was sent to Traveling With T by the author in exchange for a fair and honest review. All thoughts and opinions are mine alone.
Happy Reading and Bookishly Yours,
T @ Traveling With T
August 25, 2016
This book challenges friendship, love, and reality. I thought it was a great book seeing as it was written from a middle-aged woman's third person point of view ( I usually root for first person point of view books). So happy to have received the book for free through Goodreads First Reads, I was hooked from the first page!!!!!
June 26, 2014
Good beach read exploring betrayal, parenting, and the self-inflicted damage of burying dreams. Despite some heavy themes, Marks writes with quick pacing that keeps the story moving and deftly switches between past and present.
June 26, 2014
I won this book in a Goodreads Giveaway, and I loved it! Such a good story of friendship, betrayal, forgiveness, acceptance and healing; this one has it all. Readers of Kristin Hannah, Karen White, or Adriana Trigiani will love Erika Marks. I will definitely be picking up more of her books!
July 7, 2014
Erika Marks’ IT COMES IN WAVES, a riveting story of friendship, betrayal, forgiveness, mother and daughter dynamics, and starting over even at age 42. (Love the front cover!)
Claire Patton’s life is about to change when she receives a phone call from ESPN, requesting an interview with her on Folly Beach, SC. You see, Claire, now a divorced teacher and mother of a teenage daughter, was a former surfer, and had her life planned out until everything changed.
Her daughter does not even know about her former life. When Claire was in her early 20s, she was in love with Foster and friends with Jill and Shep. One night their lives changed and Claire left Folly Beach and moved to Colorado. She left her surfer days behind, or so she thought until the call from ESPN.
She decides to take them up on the offer as a free trip for some relaxation time. However, seeing Jill brings back all the painful memories. Claire has to deal with her relationship with her daughter and also her former friend, Jill. In the midst of the turmoil, she meets a sexy pro-surfer who may be able to get her back on a surf board, plus much more; while she learns to live with her life and put the past behind.
Fans of Mary Alice Monroe, Patti Callahan Henry, Joanne DeMaio, Kristin Hannah, Karen White, and Shelley Noble will appreciate Erika Marks’ style, as she flashes back and forth from past to present for a relaxing summer beach read, where every wave tells a story of love lost, and found!
If you loved The Guest House, you will enjoy IT COMES IN WAVES-- We all know life starts at age 40!
http://judithdcollins.booklikes.com/p...
Claire Patton’s life is about to change when she receives a phone call from ESPN, requesting an interview with her on Folly Beach, SC. You see, Claire, now a divorced teacher and mother of a teenage daughter, was a former surfer, and had her life planned out until everything changed.
Her daughter does not even know about her former life. When Claire was in her early 20s, she was in love with Foster and friends with Jill and Shep. One night their lives changed and Claire left Folly Beach and moved to Colorado. She left her surfer days behind, or so she thought until the call from ESPN.
She decides to take them up on the offer as a free trip for some relaxation time. However, seeing Jill brings back all the painful memories. Claire has to deal with her relationship with her daughter and also her former friend, Jill. In the midst of the turmoil, she meets a sexy pro-surfer who may be able to get her back on a surf board, plus much more; while she learns to live with her life and put the past behind.
Fans of Mary Alice Monroe, Patti Callahan Henry, Joanne DeMaio, Kristin Hannah, Karen White, and Shelley Noble will appreciate Erika Marks’ style, as she flashes back and forth from past to present for a relaxing summer beach read, where every wave tells a story of love lost, and found!
If you loved The Guest House, you will enjoy IT COMES IN WAVES-- We all know life starts at age 40!
http://judithdcollins.booklikes.com/p...
October 12, 2017
I actually had brought this book away on vacation and was excited to read it on the beach as I thought it would help set the feeling of the story, teens, summer love, surf, kick ass girl. Boy, oh boy was I not ready for the rollercoaster of emotions the story brought forth. I went in this book thinking it was gonna be about self discovery and emancipation and I guess it is about it, in a really twisted way, but it did end up focusing a lot more on the betrayal and the broken aspect of the different relationships of the story.
And.... I spent the rest of the day angry reading the book, to me unfortunately, it was such a downer, what could have been a beautiful story about friendship and growth ended up muddled. I felt personally betrayed. I enjoyed all the parts where it's about Pepper coming to term with who she was and what she wanted and I'm not sure I would have finished the book without these.
I obviously seem to be an exception opinion wise now that I'm reading other reviews but I guess the theme of it was too frustrating for me to get over it.
And.... I spent the rest of the day angry reading the book, to me unfortunately, it was such a downer, what could have been a beautiful story about friendship and growth ended up muddled. I felt personally betrayed. I enjoyed all the parts where it's about Pepper coming to term with who she was and what she wanted and I'm not sure I would have finished the book without these.
I obviously seem to be an exception opinion wise now that I'm reading other reviews but I guess the theme of it was too frustrating for me to get over it.
July 12, 2014
It Comes in Waves is a good beach read. I read this book in one day. The author brought the characters to life in this story. It was like I was there in Folly Beach. I really liked Claire. I could slowly see the feisty "Pepper" attitude come out of her again as the story moved along. Jill was nice too but because I felt that she took things harder, it took me a little longer to warm up to her. Which surprised me as I thought that I would take a while to warm up to both women as they had emotional baggage.
This book was more than just about surfing. It was about friendship, love, loss, second chances, and happy endings. Although, after reading this book the author does make me want to try surf lessons. I have seen it on television and it does look like fun. Something to add to my bucket list. I am sad that Claire did not find her happy ending with Foster but she did have and would always have his heart. It was evident and confirmed by the end of the story.
This book was more than just about surfing. It was about friendship, love, loss, second chances, and happy endings. Although, after reading this book the author does make me want to try surf lessons. I have seen it on television and it does look like fun. Something to add to my bucket list. I am sad that Claire did not find her happy ending with Foster but she did have and would always have his heart. It was evident and confirmed by the end of the story.
July 14, 2014
This is an emotional, fast-paced, deeply satisfying novel for any woman who has ever been betrayed by a friend, lost the love of her life, struggled with parenthood and mid-life disappointments, or longed for adventure—in short, this is a novel every woman will enjoy. Surprisingly tender and funny by turns, reading IT COMES IN WAVES reminds you that life is a lot like surfing, in that you're always watching and waiting for that perfect swell, hoping for an exhilarating ride that won't dump you in an embarrassing face plant on the beach. And, if you do get dumped, you hope you'll have the courage to stand up and risk another ride, just for the joy of the journey.
July 20, 2014
I read a lot of Southern Fiction but this was a new author for me. If you enjoy authors like Patti Callahan Henry and Mary Alice Monroe, you will like this book. 18 years after Claire leaves Folly Beach and surfing behind because her boyfriend and best friend fall in love she receives a call from ESPN asking her to return to Folly Beach for a program they are doing on surfers. Her teenage daughter knows nothing of her mom's earlier life, and Claire decides that it will be a good chance to bond with her daughter by taking her to Folly Beach. The novel is a story of love and redemption and of friendship and forgiveness. I really enjoyed it and would highly recommend it.
July 19, 2014
IT COMES IN WAVES sucked me in like a rip current, and didn't let me go until the end. Erika Marks' exploration of relationships—friendship, parent-child, and romantic—is honest, realistic, and sensitive. Moving back and forth between the present and the past, Marks reveals more layers with each passing wave, nuances shifting like the sand on the shore, ultimately leaving the reader with a full and satisfying picture of interwoven lives.
Some books are wonderful one-time reads; others invite return visits. I can already tell I'll be surfing these pages again.
Some books are wonderful one-time reads; others invite return visits. I can already tell I'll be surfing these pages again.
August 4, 2016
FANTASTIC!!!!!!!!
one of the BEST works i've ever read. it is a MUST read. interesting, deep, emotional, story just flows naturally, loved different POVs, everything is so very well connected... it sucks you in and it doesn't let go until the very end. it will wake up a whole range of emotions inside of a reader & you'll empathize with everyone. very touching - it makes you THINK. it changes your perspective! the characters are very well portrayed and the story is just so fantastically told that it almost made me thought it was an autobiography...
A - MUST - READ.
five stars.
July 7, 2014
It Comes In Waves is the ideal summer read... a perfect blend of beachy setting, flawed but likable characters, and REAL WORLD dilemmas, all wrapped up in prose that positively sparkles. Marks has delivered a story and characters that felt so real I found myself slowing down as I neared the end of the book... because, like summer, I didn't want the story to end.
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July 25, 2014Erika Marks's books just keep getting better. Read my full review of It Comes In Waves on SouthernSpines.com: http://bit.ly/1qOtnB3
wish-list
March 19, 2015This looks like a perfect one for me when I book into my annual beach house holiday. Can't wait!
September 30, 2020
I have mixed feelings about this book. I liked the romanticism because of the pictures Erika paints, but at the same time the dialogue lends itself to what the author's view of romantic is, not necessarily what the main character's view is. I found myself questioning how a character that blames everyone for her shortcomings could, at the same time, so easily let go of what should be most important in her life for the sake of memories.
I love coastal life and surf culture, but occasionally, I felt the author was trying too hard to paint 'that' picture - like you had to 'be' her to 'get' it. It pulled me out of the book a couple of times making me ask myself 'am I missing something'? Causing me to leave the book is never a good thing. I kept giving the book more of a chance because of the unique way she intersperses memories with current day and from different character perspectives.
I wanted to like this book more than I did. The book didn't surprise and I could feel the storyline sweeping up after itself. Not always a bad thing, but in this case...
I love coastal life and surf culture, but occasionally, I felt the author was trying too hard to paint 'that' picture - like you had to 'be' her to 'get' it. It pulled me out of the book a couple of times making me ask myself 'am I missing something'? Causing me to leave the book is never a good thing. I kept giving the book more of a chance because of the unique way she intersperses memories with current day and from different character perspectives.
I wanted to like this book more than I did. The book didn't surprise and I could feel the storyline sweeping up after itself. Not always a bad thing, but in this case...
October 15, 2020
Nice descriptions of beach life, not a great deal about surfing. Claire’s rich mother staying together for money, appearance. Ivy knowing money is not everything. Couldn’t understand why love of surfing was never conveyed to her family. Foster loved her for her surfing abilities knowing that could not sustain him when surfing wasn’t his whole life anymore. Jill was only a teenage friendship. Butting into Ivy’s wishes to keep shop was selfish knowing she never stayed in touch.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 22, 2019
I enjoyed this book for what it was. Just a simple read. Maybe a I missed it but (without spoiling anything) there were several story lines that just didn’t go into enough detail and I felt like I never understood what had really happened.
December 15, 2020
My first read for the month of December. I don't have much to say about this book. This is one's actually a perfect beach read, since it'a fast-paced book. You can actually finish this in one sitting. Except when you're a kind of reader like me who happen to read multiple books at a time.
September 12, 2021
I feel like the ending may have been left open to a sequel?!? Otherwise decent quick good summer read.I’ve had this book on my bookshelf forever and recently found it. Getting around to my backlog of purchased physical copies of books!
March 14, 2023
Story was too simplistic for me with a predictable ending. Maybe I am too old (60's) for this type of story, but it was just so-so for me. I couldn't connect with any of the characters, so I just plodded through. (I never give up on a book!). Good book for an easy beach read.
February 16, 2020
Very light.
September 16, 2021
Typical plot. Teenage love lost because of betrayal but healing and new love found later in life. It was my choice for a light summer read. No profanity or anything inappropriate.
January 9, 2022
Oh wow, this was a pretty solid read. I enjoyed the story and teared up quite a bit.
July 27, 2023
Honestly, it was a fine book. I loved the overall theme of the book but I wanted another ending. I wanted more romance and a chance of good news.
August 6, 2014
It Comes in Waves is by Erika Marks. This book is about surfing, being a teenager’s mom, being a teenager/young adult, and breaking out on your own. It is also about betrayal and breaking up. It is an easy read ; but a good one. It takes place at Folly Beach near Charleston, South Carolina.
Claire Patton is a divorced history teacher and now single mother. Her ex-husband is a professor at the nearby college. Although they share custody of their daughter Lizzie, she lives with Claire. Claire is concerned with the boy Lizzie is going with. Colin Jefferson is bad news. He constantly skips school and does not take the consequences of his own actions. From the text messages she read on Lizzie’s phone, Claire is afraid Lizzie will run off with Colin. She is doing her best to break them up much to Lizzie’s embarrassment. While waiting for Lizzie to come home from a forbidden time with Colin (she had skipped school), Claire gets a phone call from Adam Williams of ESPN’s show To the Extreme about pioneering women in sports. They are doing a documentary about women surfers and want Claire to be in it. Filming will take place in Folly Beach and they will pay all her expenses. To get them off the phone, Claire agrees. Later she uses this as an excuse to get out of town with Lizzie. Claire really does not want to return to Folly Beach.
Claire had come to Folly Beach with her parents to visit some friends of theirs. Later, Claire was to learn that her father and the wife of the couple they were visiting had been having an affair for years. Both spouses knew about it and did nothing which blew Claire’s mind. Her father was so controlling and so concerned with appearance that she was amazed he would endanger this with an affair. However, he did. While the couples were visiting, Claire went down to the beach where she ran into Foster King. Foster talked to her about surfing and she had learned to surf without her parents’ knowledge the summer before. He took her to his mother’s surf shot, In the Curl, got her a suit and a board and they hit the waves. Claire was awesome. She would go on to win many trophies for her surfing. Foster would win trophies himself. However, this day, they surfed, went to eat, and she met his friends Shep Carven and Jill Weber. They decided Claire would come down next summer, room with Jill, and get a job as well as teach surfing. She would spend the summer with Foster, Shep, and Jill. Soon Jill and Shep became engaged and Claire hoped she and Foster would be next.
That was not to be. It seems that one evening Jill fixed a special dinner for Shep and he went surfing instead. Foster stopped by the house to get a sweater for Claire. He stayed for dinner and something blossomed between the two of them. Eventually they ended up in bed with each other. Shortly after, she broke up with Shep telling him she was pregnant with Foster’s child and that they were in love. At the same time, Foster told Claire he was in love with Jill. Claire was crushed and after talking to Shep, she left Folly for good. Jill and Foster married and had a son, Luke. After eight years of marriage, Foster drowned. Claire did not attend the funeral for many reasons.
Now, Claire is coming back to Folly Beach to make the documentary. She hopes having time together away from home will help her relationship with Lizzie. She also hopes to put her past life in Folly Beach to rest. She wants to see Ivy, Foster’s mother. She doesn’t intend to see Luke, Jill, or Shep. She also, at the insistence of her daughter, does not plan to surf. Will she manage to save her relationship with Lizzie? Can she put her past to rest? Is having her surf part of what they want for the documentary? Can she ever forgive Foster and Jill?
Claire Patton is a divorced history teacher and now single mother. Her ex-husband is a professor at the nearby college. Although they share custody of their daughter Lizzie, she lives with Claire. Claire is concerned with the boy Lizzie is going with. Colin Jefferson is bad news. He constantly skips school and does not take the consequences of his own actions. From the text messages she read on Lizzie’s phone, Claire is afraid Lizzie will run off with Colin. She is doing her best to break them up much to Lizzie’s embarrassment. While waiting for Lizzie to come home from a forbidden time with Colin (she had skipped school), Claire gets a phone call from Adam Williams of ESPN’s show To the Extreme about pioneering women in sports. They are doing a documentary about women surfers and want Claire to be in it. Filming will take place in Folly Beach and they will pay all her expenses. To get them off the phone, Claire agrees. Later she uses this as an excuse to get out of town with Lizzie. Claire really does not want to return to Folly Beach.
Claire had come to Folly Beach with her parents to visit some friends of theirs. Later, Claire was to learn that her father and the wife of the couple they were visiting had been having an affair for years. Both spouses knew about it and did nothing which blew Claire’s mind. Her father was so controlling and so concerned with appearance that she was amazed he would endanger this with an affair. However, he did. While the couples were visiting, Claire went down to the beach where she ran into Foster King. Foster talked to her about surfing and she had learned to surf without her parents’ knowledge the summer before. He took her to his mother’s surf shot, In the Curl, got her a suit and a board and they hit the waves. Claire was awesome. She would go on to win many trophies for her surfing. Foster would win trophies himself. However, this day, they surfed, went to eat, and she met his friends Shep Carven and Jill Weber. They decided Claire would come down next summer, room with Jill, and get a job as well as teach surfing. She would spend the summer with Foster, Shep, and Jill. Soon Jill and Shep became engaged and Claire hoped she and Foster would be next.
That was not to be. It seems that one evening Jill fixed a special dinner for Shep and he went surfing instead. Foster stopped by the house to get a sweater for Claire. He stayed for dinner and something blossomed between the two of them. Eventually they ended up in bed with each other. Shortly after, she broke up with Shep telling him she was pregnant with Foster’s child and that they were in love. At the same time, Foster told Claire he was in love with Jill. Claire was crushed and after talking to Shep, she left Folly for good. Jill and Foster married and had a son, Luke. After eight years of marriage, Foster drowned. Claire did not attend the funeral for many reasons.
Now, Claire is coming back to Folly Beach to make the documentary. She hopes having time together away from home will help her relationship with Lizzie. She also hopes to put her past life in Folly Beach to rest. She wants to see Ivy, Foster’s mother. She doesn’t intend to see Luke, Jill, or Shep. She also, at the insistence of her daughter, does not plan to surf. Will she manage to save her relationship with Lizzie? Can she put her past to rest? Is having her surf part of what they want for the documentary? Can she ever forgive Foster and Jill?
October 4, 2014
Hands down one of the best summer reads out there this year! It has surf, sand, and the beach but most importantly it focuses on forgiveness. This is the story of Claire and how a documentary about her surfing past takes her back to where she spent her best years at Folly Beach. We learn of her greatest love Foster and how he broke her heart so much she never surfed again.
What I loved most of all was the telling of her past, how she came to know Foster, Jill and Shep. Also how she came to Folly Beach in the first place and her relationship with her parents. Claire was a natural at surfing and that’s what brought her and Foster closer together. They spend summers surfing the days away and fell completely in love. Claire envisioned they would always be together until Jill her good friend and roommate ended up in love and pregnant with Foster’s baby. She left Folly Beach never to return again and eventually never surfing again in the process. She was crushed and her love for everything just fell to the wayside.
While this is a book about surfing and the beach it isn’t the main focus here. It’s all about forgiving. Sometimes it isn’t enough to try to forget things; they will always come boiling back to the surface in time. We have to try to forgive not necessarily for the benefit of others but for ourselves. It’s not a good thing to harbor bad feelings it only hurts us in the end. I loved how once Claire deals with and releases the past everything in her present life seemed to fall into place. Sometimes it’s good to revisit the past in order to make our present come alive. This is one read I highly recommend.
What I loved most of all was the telling of her past, how she came to know Foster, Jill and Shep. Also how she came to Folly Beach in the first place and her relationship with her parents. Claire was a natural at surfing and that’s what brought her and Foster closer together. They spend summers surfing the days away and fell completely in love. Claire envisioned they would always be together until Jill her good friend and roommate ended up in love and pregnant with Foster’s baby. She left Folly Beach never to return again and eventually never surfing again in the process. She was crushed and her love for everything just fell to the wayside.
While this is a book about surfing and the beach it isn’t the main focus here. It’s all about forgiving. Sometimes it isn’t enough to try to forget things; they will always come boiling back to the surface in time. We have to try to forgive not necessarily for the benefit of others but for ourselves. It’s not a good thing to harbor bad feelings it only hurts us in the end. I loved how once Claire deals with and releases the past everything in her present life seemed to fall into place. Sometimes it’s good to revisit the past in order to make our present come alive. This is one read I highly recommend.
September 16, 2014
Pepper Patton grew up in a family who kept secrets and she never wanted it for herself. Her first summer in Folly Beach – becoming a competitive surfer and falling in love showed her what she thought was the perfect life. Until the day it all came crashing down around her ears when her fiancé and first love Foster told her he and her best friend, Jill, were in love. Pepper left Folly Beach thinking she’d never return. When ESPN invites Pepper, now going by her given name – Claire, back to Folly Beach for a special on female surfers she accepts. Claire has a failed marriage under her belt and a teenager who wants nothing to do with her. Perhaps revisiting Folly Beach will give Claire the much needed closure on the past. Not everyone is happy to see Claire – especially not Jill, widowed by Foster and raising his son.
IT COMES IN WAVES is a hauntingly beautiful and heart-shattering novel. Readers feel every bit of the characters’ feelings along with them, viscerally. My heart ached for Claire, and even for Jill. IT COMES IN WAVES masterfully shows the complexity of female friendships and the relationships between mothers and daughters. The author has created a novel every woman can relate it in one way or another. You’ll need a box of tissues next to you when reading about the aftermath from the destruction of the perfect summer. IT COMES IN WAVES shows how you must sometimes revisit the place of your greatest pain to be able to move past it. An excellent novel which I highly recommend!
IT COMES IN WAVES is a hauntingly beautiful and heart-shattering novel. Readers feel every bit of the characters’ feelings along with them, viscerally. My heart ached for Claire, and even for Jill. IT COMES IN WAVES masterfully shows the complexity of female friendships and the relationships between mothers and daughters. The author has created a novel every woman can relate it in one way or another. You’ll need a box of tissues next to you when reading about the aftermath from the destruction of the perfect summer. IT COMES IN WAVES shows how you must sometimes revisit the place of your greatest pain to be able to move past it. An excellent novel which I highly recommend!
August 7, 2019
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I’m going to start my review off with a confession: I went into this book thinking I wasn’t going to like it, for whatever reason. Truly, I don’t know what made me think I wasn’t going to like it, the summary on the book was solid and intriguing and the cover art is gorgeous. And let me tell you, I’ve been shaking my head and rolling my eyes at myself for weeks now for my initial concerns.
It Comes In Waves was a delight to read. Pure and simple, it was a delight. It is told within various time frames, switching between present day and the life that Claire, or Pepper as some would call her, had once upon a time in her youth. If that is a turn off for you when it comes to storytelling, as it is for many, I don’t know if this book will end up being for you. As for anyone else…
I would definitely suggest you take a look into this book.
I’m going to start my review off with a confession: I went into this book thinking I wasn’t going to like it, for whatever reason. Truly, I don’t know what made me think I wasn’t going to like it, the summary on the book was solid and intriguing and the cover art is gorgeous. And let me tell you, I’ve been shaking my head and rolling my eyes at myself for weeks now for my initial concerns.
It Comes In Waves was a delight to read. Pure and simple, it was a delight. It is told within various time frames, switching between present day and the life that Claire, or Pepper as some would call her, had once upon a time in her youth. If that is a turn off for you when it comes to storytelling, as it is for many, I don’t know if this book will end up being for you. As for anyone else…
I would definitely suggest you take a look into this book.
August 2, 2014
This book was fine for what it is...a light, easy, beach read. I thought the storyline was interesting even if it was a little predictable. The main reason I'm giving it only three stars is that I don't care for the writing style of the author. She has a bad habit of clarifying which character is thinking or talking even though it's obvious. Like she thinks the reader is too dense to keep up. Here's an example: "For all her trying, Claire hadn't managed to have a better relationship with Lizzie than she, Claire, had had with her own mother. But it wasn't too late. Despite her mother's advice, Claire was going to do things differently with her daughter. She, Claire, wouldn't let her daughter drift away." Aaaack, I find that annoying! And once I noticed it, it bothered me the whole way through the book.
The only other thing I didn't care for was how fast the book ended. I felt like everything we'd been building up to through the whole book was just wrapped up in a few paragraphs.
Overall, I still enjoyed the book and do not regret reading it. It's just not a story that will stick with me. It was a fun way to spend a few hours at the beach!
The only other thing I didn't care for was how fast the book ended. I felt like everything we'd been building up to through the whole book was just wrapped up in a few paragraphs.
Overall, I still enjoyed the book and do not regret reading it. It's just not a story that will stick with me. It was a fun way to spend a few hours at the beach!
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