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An Expanse of Blue
Fans of The Poet X will fall for this powerful, romantic debut novel-in-verse about a Native Hawaiian girl's fight to find belonging in a fracturing family, sharing a message of love with resounding emotional truth.
Aouli Elizabeth Smith is unheard at home and an unbeliever at church, fighting her sister and losing her best friend. Overflowing with feeling, she pours her secrets and herself into her song journal when the world threatens to sweep her away. The one place she feels tied down to earth is at her Aunty Ehu’s house. Those joyous Saturdays with her extended Native Hawaiian community living in Western Washington are precious to her. Under the maple trees, the fragments of her life fit together, if only for an afternoon.
Then, an unspeakable truth about her father shatters this one perfect corner of her life.
As Aouli’s world constricts around what others wish she could be, language fails her. But when a new boy, Nalu, turns up with eyes that seem to pierce right into her soul, maybe it’s love that can give her the words to set herself free.
Aouli Elizabeth Smith is unheard at home and an unbeliever at church, fighting her sister and losing her best friend. Overflowing with feeling, she pours her secrets and herself into her song journal when the world threatens to sweep her away. The one place she feels tied down to earth is at her Aunty Ehu’s house. Those joyous Saturdays with her extended Native Hawaiian community living in Western Washington are precious to her. Under the maple trees, the fragments of her life fit together, if only for an afternoon.
Then, an unspeakable truth about her father shatters this one perfect corner of her life.
As Aouli’s world constricts around what others wish she could be, language fails her. But when a new boy, Nalu, turns up with eyes that seem to pierce right into her soul, maybe it’s love that can give her the words to set herself free.
464 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 19, 2026
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May 3, 2024From the rights:
“A debut YA novel in verse about a diasporic Native Hawaiian teenager and her struggle to find herself in the wake of a heartbreaking discovery about her family and first love.”
coming summer 2026
“A debut YA novel in verse about a diasporic Native Hawaiian teenager and her struggle to find herself in the wake of a heartbreaking discovery about her family and first love.”
coming summer 2026
May 30, 2024
I was lucky enough to read this book before it was published. And yall? Hold on to your hats. Kaua’s poetics, masterfully crafted characters, and compelling plot will blow you away.
Want to Read
October 2, 2024LITERALLY CANNOT WAIT FOR THIS!!!!!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I picked this book up because I saw this comped to The Poet X and was read by the author, which are two pluses in my book. And the comp was right on the money with the exploration of a young girl from Washington with Hawaiian heritage discovering romance and navigating her faith and fractured family. Aouli is a teen who’s struggling with her faith and has a messy family life and putting her thoughts in her special song journal. And when I say messy family life, it’s MESSY. I understood big time the pressure she’s under from her father to be perfect, and her frayed relationship with her sister. She’s feeling stuck, struggling to find her voice and exploring defiance, with mixed results.
Like The Poet X, this book has an element of exploring and examining a teen girl’s connection to Catholicism and while it doesn’t condemn it, shows that it’s not as black and white as it might seem. It also explores Aouli’s Hawaiian heritage and mythology. There’s a romance and some sexually based violations, and both are explored a bit. The characters are fleshed out and complicated, just like in real life, and their connections with Aouli change throughout the story.
I love the visceral and lyrical prose, and having the author do the audiobook was a great plus. By the end, I got to the point where I was mumbling “Gina” over and over, and love the part where she was describing her mother flipping the channels as “flip flip flip” over and over. It gave a cadence to the story and felt like an extra layer of immersion I didn’t expect to feel. The story doesn’t have a clean ending, but it’s part of the point to see that she is continuing with her life despite the changes and stronger for the experiences. Good news for audiobook listeners, there’s a supplement of the glossary. This is HIGHLY recommended, especially if you are a fan of in-verse novels.
*I received an ARC from Netgalley and Heartdrum. All opinions are my own.*
Like The Poet X, this book has an element of exploring and examining a teen girl’s connection to Catholicism and while it doesn’t condemn it, shows that it’s not as black and white as it might seem. It also explores Aouli’s Hawaiian heritage and mythology. There’s a romance and some sexually based violations, and both are explored a bit. The characters are fleshed out and complicated, just like in real life, and their connections with Aouli change throughout the story.
I love the visceral and lyrical prose, and having the author do the audiobook was a great plus. By the end, I got to the point where I was mumbling “Gina” over and over, and love the part where she was describing her mother flipping the channels as “flip flip flip” over and over. It gave a cadence to the story and felt like an extra layer of immersion I didn’t expect to feel. The story doesn’t have a clean ending, but it’s part of the point to see that she is continuing with her life despite the changes and stronger for the experiences. Good news for audiobook listeners, there’s a supplement of the glossary. This is HIGHLY recommended, especially if you are a fan of in-verse novels.
*I received an ARC from Netgalley and Heartdrum. All opinions are my own.*
May 3, 2026
For fans of:
Novels in verse
Complex family dynamics
Finding your voice
Diverse reads
Romance
This was such a quick, easy read since it’s written in verse, but don’t let that fool you, it still hits hard.
The writing is beautiful. Like actually beautiful. The poetry flows so well and really pulls you into the story.
I loved how much this focused on the diaspora experience, feeling like a different person in a place that isn’t home. That part really hit for me. I related a lot to Auoli, especially the frustration of being a teenager trying to understand why your parents made certain choices. One moment that really stood out (no spoilers) was around her name and people constantly mispronouncing it.
Overall, this is such a thoughtful, emotional read. Super accessible but still meaningful, especially if you’re trying to get back into reading.
Novels in verse
Complex family dynamics
Finding your voice
Diverse reads
Romance
This was such a quick, easy read since it’s written in verse, but don’t let that fool you, it still hits hard.
The writing is beautiful. Like actually beautiful. The poetry flows so well and really pulls you into the story.
I loved how much this focused on the diaspora experience, feeling like a different person in a place that isn’t home. That part really hit for me. I related a lot to Auoli, especially the frustration of being a teenager trying to understand why your parents made certain choices. One moment that really stood out (no spoilers) was around her name and people constantly mispronouncing it.
Overall, this is such a thoughtful, emotional read. Super accessible but still meaningful, especially if you’re trying to get back into reading.
May 20, 2026
*3.5 stars
What a wonderful story told in verse! I loved the Hawaiian representation and how Aouli's acceptance of and love for her identity largely affected her process of learning to spread her wings! Aouli received guidance through her answers in the form of dreams, which was insightful and gave me perspective on why Hawaiian culture is centralized around listening to and respecting elders and ancestors. I loved reading about the strong connection Aouli developed with her extended family; even when she struggled to connect with her immediate family, her extended family always gave her a soft place to land!
The romance was so sweet, I loved Nalu and how he encouraged Aouli to express herself and stand up for herself! He, unlike most of Aouli's friends, understood why her culture was so important to her and never told her that she didn't look or act "Hawaiian enough". Their chemistry was evident, and I loved how their relationship revolved around deep conversations and emotional connections rather than physical touch alone!
I liked how realistically Aouli's relationships with those in her life were portrayed, nothing was sugarcoated and even in the end, many conflicts were not completely resolved. This left much room for imagination and contemplation on the part of the reader, which surprisingly added to the impact rather than taking away from it! (Especially after reading the author's note on why this ending was chosen.)
One thing I didn't love was how the author implied that Nalu himself caused the spreading of Aouli's wings. I understand that he played a big part in helping her discover herself, but the unfurling of her wings occurred in a romantic moment rather than an empowering one. I would have liked to see Aouli take flight at a stronger point in the story so it wasn't implied that a romantic relationship marks the start of your resilience.
I also struggled with the repetition of certain words. While I do see that the author repeated certain words for the sake of sending a stronger and more memorable message, the repetition at several points grew excessive. On certain pages, a word or phrase was repeated more than 50 times with no other words in between. I couldn't help but imagine how painful it might be to listen to the audiobook and hear the same word over and over until it loses meaning entirely, which would completely defeat the purpose of repeating the word in the first place. So in other words, I understand why the author included repetition, but I think it would have held a similar amount of impact if it had been shortened, even if only slightly.
The final thing I struggled with was how certain scenes were cut too short for my liking. There were several moments where Aouli was finally opening up and was engaging in deep conversation, but the story quickly moved on and left out the reactions of those she was speaking to. I think hearing the positive reactions of others would have strengthened the message of not being afraid of expressing yourself and would also have fueled my love for Aouli's relationships even more.
But overall, I'm so glad I picked this one up! I'm always looking for impactful books with diverse representation, so if that's what you're looking for, I would recommend this!
What a wonderful story told in verse! I loved the Hawaiian representation and how Aouli's acceptance of and love for her identity largely affected her process of learning to spread her wings! Aouli received guidance through her answers in the form of dreams, which was insightful and gave me perspective on why Hawaiian culture is centralized around listening to and respecting elders and ancestors. I loved reading about the strong connection Aouli developed with her extended family; even when she struggled to connect with her immediate family, her extended family always gave her a soft place to land!
The romance was so sweet, I loved Nalu and how he encouraged Aouli to express herself and stand up for herself! He, unlike most of Aouli's friends, understood why her culture was so important to her and never told her that she didn't look or act "Hawaiian enough". Their chemistry was evident, and I loved how their relationship revolved around deep conversations and emotional connections rather than physical touch alone!
I liked how realistically Aouli's relationships with those in her life were portrayed, nothing was sugarcoated and even in the end, many conflicts were not completely resolved. This left much room for imagination and contemplation on the part of the reader, which surprisingly added to the impact rather than taking away from it! (Especially after reading the author's note on why this ending was chosen.)
One thing I didn't love was how the author implied that Nalu himself caused the spreading of Aouli's wings. I understand that he played a big part in helping her discover herself, but the unfurling of her wings occurred in a romantic moment rather than an empowering one. I would have liked to see Aouli take flight at a stronger point in the story so it wasn't implied that a romantic relationship marks the start of your resilience.
I also struggled with the repetition of certain words. While I do see that the author repeated certain words for the sake of sending a stronger and more memorable message, the repetition at several points grew excessive. On certain pages, a word or phrase was repeated more than 50 times with no other words in between. I couldn't help but imagine how painful it might be to listen to the audiobook and hear the same word over and over until it loses meaning entirely, which would completely defeat the purpose of repeating the word in the first place. So in other words, I understand why the author included repetition, but I think it would have held a similar amount of impact if it had been shortened, even if only slightly.
The final thing I struggled with was how certain scenes were cut too short for my liking. There were several moments where Aouli was finally opening up and was engaging in deep conversation, but the story quickly moved on and left out the reactions of those she was speaking to. I think hearing the positive reactions of others would have strengthened the message of not being afraid of expressing yourself and would also have fueled my love for Aouli's relationships even more.
But overall, I'm so glad I picked this one up! I'm always looking for impactful books with diverse representation, so if that's what you're looking for, I would recommend this!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4 stars
Sometimes, it feels like EVERY YA verse novel gets an automatic comparison to _The Poet X_ simply by virtue of the format, but this one actually comes through with some strongly connected motifs AND a match in genre and audience. Critically, there are also some clear distinctions that help this book shine independently, so folks will feel a real sense of something new here, too.
Aouli, the protagonist of this debut, is Native Hawaiian and lives with her parents and sister in Washington state. Like some other YA heroines we all know and love, Aouli has a religious family, but her relationship to this system is a bit challenged. Her family's devotion to this structure also highlights their individual hypocrisies and short comings in various areas. Aouli grapples with a lot of challenges on this front with each of her family members for entirely different reasons, and many readers in the target audience will find her experiences deeply relatable (and painful). This family goes through their share of suffering, and the healthy and less healthy ways they manage will also be useful for young readers who may be navigating similarly complex challenges of their own.
This is an outstanding debut for many reasons, and fans of well constructed YA, mindful representation, and verse enhanced motifs will find a lot to love here. I am looking forward to recommending this one to students and to reading much more from this promising new voice.
*Special thanks to NetGalley and Heartdrum for this arc and alc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
Sometimes, it feels like EVERY YA verse novel gets an automatic comparison to _The Poet X_ simply by virtue of the format, but this one actually comes through with some strongly connected motifs AND a match in genre and audience. Critically, there are also some clear distinctions that help this book shine independently, so folks will feel a real sense of something new here, too.
Aouli, the protagonist of this debut, is Native Hawaiian and lives with her parents and sister in Washington state. Like some other YA heroines we all know and love, Aouli has a religious family, but her relationship to this system is a bit challenged. Her family's devotion to this structure also highlights their individual hypocrisies and short comings in various areas. Aouli grapples with a lot of challenges on this front with each of her family members for entirely different reasons, and many readers in the target audience will find her experiences deeply relatable (and painful). This family goes through their share of suffering, and the healthy and less healthy ways they manage will also be useful for young readers who may be navigating similarly complex challenges of their own.
This is an outstanding debut for many reasons, and fans of well constructed YA, mindful representation, and verse enhanced motifs will find a lot to love here. I am looking forward to recommending this one to students and to reading much more from this promising new voice.
*Special thanks to NetGalley and Heartdrum for this arc and alc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you HarperCollins, Heartdrum Books and NetGalley for a chance to read this ARC!
Aouli feels caged underneath her father's oppressive anger and demands, her mother's silence, and her sister's perfection. While reeling from discovering a dark secret about her father, Aouli finds herself drawn to a new boy in her church class and her song lyrics journal for some release. Yet the longer she holds in her voice, the harder it gets to reach out to those that may help her the most...
Once I got to Act 2, I couldn't stop reading! After Aouli tries to gain some freedom from her father, only to get herself injured. From there the secrets she keeps hiding to her evolving relationships-all complicated. With such beautiful language, Aouli is able to finally make a stand against her father while being able to reach out to those who truly care while being able to leave some long over due relationships behind.
The characters are strong, like I can easily see all of this novel happening in real life, with the added effect of poetry really enhancing the emotions.
In the end, it's a bittersweet tale, while not having answers to all of the problems in her life. Aouli is able to find her voice in order to find the ones she truly loves in her life. I highly recommend for those that love novels in verse, diaspora folks finding comfort in one another, and complicated relationships.
Aouli feels caged underneath her father's oppressive anger and demands, her mother's silence, and her sister's perfection. While reeling from discovering a dark secret about her father, Aouli finds herself drawn to a new boy in her church class and her song lyrics journal for some release. Yet the longer she holds in her voice, the harder it gets to reach out to those that may help her the most...
Once I got to Act 2, I couldn't stop reading! After Aouli tries to gain some freedom from her father, only to get herself injured. From there the secrets she keeps hiding to her evolving relationships-all complicated. With such beautiful language, Aouli is able to finally make a stand against her father while being able to reach out to those who truly care while being able to leave some long over due relationships behind.
The characters are strong, like I can easily see all of this novel happening in real life, with the added effect of poetry really enhancing the emotions.
In the end, it's a bittersweet tale, while not having answers to all of the problems in her life. Aouli is able to find her voice in order to find the ones she truly loves in her life. I highly recommend for those that love novels in verse, diaspora folks finding comfort in one another, and complicated relationships.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Oh my goodness this book! First off, an immense thank you to Harper Collin’s Children’s Books and NetGalley for this ARC.
I’ve read a couple other novel-in-verse but this one is by far the best. This book is probably moving into my top five, all time. The artistry of the story told in this format was MAGICAL. There were times I simply felt myself tearing up from the beauty of the words and craft. And there were other times when I bawled.
I think so many of us can relate to being teenagers and having parents who don’t understand us, but what about when that involves religion, lies and deceit, verbal abuse…
I could go on and on. I want to share this book with everyone. And more importantly, I lived for the imagery created through Hawaiian culture. The cover and knowing this was a story from within a marginalized group was all I needed to pick it up, but everything inside was so much more than I could have anticipated.
If you love art, words, an emotional story, reflection, a BEAUTIFUL young romance, just read this book.
I’ve read a couple other novel-in-verse but this one is by far the best. This book is probably moving into my top five, all time. The artistry of the story told in this format was MAGICAL. There were times I simply felt myself tearing up from the beauty of the words and craft. And there were other times when I bawled.
I think so many of us can relate to being teenagers and having parents who don’t understand us, but what about when that involves religion, lies and deceit, verbal abuse…
I could go on and on. I want to share this book with everyone. And more importantly, I lived for the imagery created through Hawaiian culture. The cover and knowing this was a story from within a marginalized group was all I needed to pick it up, but everything inside was so much more than I could have anticipated.
If you love art, words, an emotional story, reflection, a BEAUTIFUL young romance, just read this book.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
📚 A beautifully written, deeply open and emotional story about a Hawaiian teen living in the PNW, who keeps searching for a place to be herself.
She is grows up feeling alone in an ultra controlling, strict, religious household - with emotionally immature parents. In school she walks the line of outcast and popular, trying not to draw too much attention to herself because she has never felt enough.
🎧 The narration by the author was just lovely, she emoted everything, it felt like I was embedded in each scene and emotional note.
📓🌺🌊🛐🎶🏕️🪽🌧️
I can't wait to get a visual copy to do an immersive read and mark each line that stuck out. Some of the highlights are:
🗯️”The longer you hold it in, the louder it will scream to get out”
🗯️“Maybe I just want the freedom to make the choice for myself”
🗯️“There should be no limits on joy”
🗯️“Maybe I was never meant to be something expected, maybe I was meant to be something more”
🗯️”My heart is made of only sharp edges - Fashioned to cut from the inside out”
She is grows up feeling alone in an ultra controlling, strict, religious household - with emotionally immature parents. In school she walks the line of outcast and popular, trying not to draw too much attention to herself because she has never felt enough.
🎧 The narration by the author was just lovely, she emoted everything, it felt like I was embedded in each scene and emotional note.
📓🌺🌊🛐🎶🏕️🪽🌧️
I can't wait to get a visual copy to do an immersive read and mark each line that stuck out. Some of the highlights are:
🗯️”The longer you hold it in, the louder it will scream to get out”
🗯️“Maybe I just want the freedom to make the choice for myself”
🗯️“There should be no limits on joy”
🗯️“Maybe I was never meant to be something expected, maybe I was meant to be something more”
🗯️”My heart is made of only sharp edges - Fashioned to cut from the inside out”
May 22, 2026
🌊✨ An Expanse of Blue by Kanakanilehua Mähoe Adams is a beautifully written coming-of-age story told entirely in verse that completely flows like a song. 💙📖
We follow Aouli, a Hawaiian teen living in Washington State, as she navigates family, friendship drama, identity, faith, and first feelings of romance. Through her eyes, we get a heartfelt look into both Hawaiian and Catholic culture, while she uncovers family secrets that force her to figure out where she truly belongs.
What I loved most was how deeply connected Aouli becomes to her ancestors and heritage, discovering her own courage and strength along the way. The verse style gives this story such an emotional rhythm that makes every moment feel intimate and powerful. 🌺🌊✨
If you love:
💙 novels in verse
💙 emotional coming-of-age stories
💙 family secrets & self-discovery
💙 rich cultural representation
💙 soft romance sprinkled throughout
…this one is definitely worth picking up!
⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ 3.5 stars
Thank you to NetGalley, Harper Audio Children’s and Kanakanilehua Mähoe Adams for the ALC.
We follow Aouli, a Hawaiian teen living in Washington State, as she navigates family, friendship drama, identity, faith, and first feelings of romance. Through her eyes, we get a heartfelt look into both Hawaiian and Catholic culture, while she uncovers family secrets that force her to figure out where she truly belongs.
What I loved most was how deeply connected Aouli becomes to her ancestors and heritage, discovering her own courage and strength along the way. The verse style gives this story such an emotional rhythm that makes every moment feel intimate and powerful. 🌺🌊✨
If you love:
💙 novels in verse
💙 emotional coming-of-age stories
💙 family secrets & self-discovery
💙 rich cultural representation
💙 soft romance sprinkled throughout
…this one is definitely worth picking up!
⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ 3.5 stars
Thank you to NetGalley, Harper Audio Children’s and Kanakanilehua Mähoe Adams for the ALC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This is a emotional coming of age story about a native Hawaiian girl named Aouli as she navigates being the outsider in a predominately white community. It is told in novel-in-verse format which I believe makes the story that much more impactful.
Aouli is being raised in a devout religious family by her overprotective father. However, when she discovers a secret that her father is hiding, she starts to wonder if she can be something more than the controlled life that her father wants her to live. This is expressed with repeated naratives about breaking free of the figurative cages around her and being able to use her wings to fly.
It was a quick listen and I was entranced by the story and the narrator that I ended up finishing the book in 1 day. As a mother now who grew up with a more conservative father, I felt that I could relate to the main character. I would recommend this book for mature late middle grade or for high school aged listeners.
Thank you Harper Audio Childrens and Kauakanilehua Mahoe Adams for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Aouli is being raised in a devout religious family by her overprotective father. However, when she discovers a secret that her father is hiding, she starts to wonder if she can be something more than the controlled life that her father wants her to live. This is expressed with repeated naratives about breaking free of the figurative cages around her and being able to use her wings to fly.
It was a quick listen and I was entranced by the story and the narrator that I ended up finishing the book in 1 day. As a mother now who grew up with a more conservative father, I felt that I could relate to the main character. I would recommend this book for mature late middle grade or for high school aged listeners.
Thank you Harper Audio Childrens and Kauakanilehua Mahoe Adams for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
May 21, 2026
This was so beautiful. I don’t even really have the words to explain the feelings this book made me feel. This was such a beautiful exploration of grief, family, and love in all its forms. Aouli overcomes and discovers much about herself as things around her begin to change. The way hard things are tackled in this book are just so well done. And it warmed my heart to read Hawaiian words, to be brought back to my culture through this story. It was also nice to know that my experience being a Hawaiian in the mainland is not unique and I felt very connected to Aouli, her sister, and Nalu and his sister in that way.
I feel extremely blessed to have read this book.
Thank you so much to Harper Collins for a free arc copy of An Expanse of Blue in exchange for my review.
I feel extremely blessed to have read this book.
Thank you so much to Harper Collins for a free arc copy of An Expanse of Blue in exchange for my review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Read this lyrical novel throughout Lent/Easter (aligned with the timeline of the book), and it was such a heavenly experience to dive into this piece of art. The author’s cadence and also natural/genuine voice when it comes to Hawaiian Pidgin English was something I thoroughly enjoyed and really grounded me in similar feelings of home. Family relationships gave me such a rollercoaster of emotions. Beautiful message about ancestor support. Such vividly-crafted scenes that I felt like this could do well with a page-to-screen deal.
Thank you HarperCollins and NetGalley for the e-ARC. Need more literature written by kanaka like Kauakanilehua.
Thank you HarperCollins and NetGalley for the e-ARC. Need more literature written by kanaka like Kauakanilehua.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
Suburban Seattle is a huge cultural distance from Hawai’i, and pronouncing “Aouli” seems too complicated for her friends who call her “Lily.” Though they don’t go to Catholic school, Aouli and slightly older sister Kaia must center their social life around church and youth group according to their controlling father. Family secrets are tearing Aouli apart; she finds solace in writing lyrics, in her dreams, and in what she is learning about the beliefs of her Hawai’ian ancestors. Vivid characters, a verse style that incorporates concrete poems to showcase a strong narrative voice. Earc from Edelweiss/
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
High school student Aouli struggles with being the perfect daughter her verbally abusive father wants her to be. She finds refuge in her song book, and despite so many obstacles, including a best friend who deserts her and her older sister who shuns her, Aouli somehow finds the will to keep fighting for herself.
I love a book in verse–the fluffy words are left out and the reader gets the heart and soul served directly to them. This book is raw and real, and immediately the reader connects to Aouli and feels for her. This is a quick but emotional read and is highly recommended for high school students.
I love a book in verse–the fluffy words are left out and the reader gets the heart and soul served directly to them. This book is raw and real, and immediately the reader connects to Aouli and feels for her. This is a quick but emotional read and is highly recommended for high school students.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Kauakanilehua Mahoe Adams for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for An Expanse of Blue coming out May 19, 2026. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.
May is the perfect month for this book by a Hawaiian author! I’m half Samoan, so I could relate to some of the cultural aspects of the book. I loved that the author narrated it, so I could get a feel for the tone of the book. I think the story was really interesting. I’m not into the repetition poetry as much, but overall I really enjoyed the story. I would check out more books by this author.
May is the perfect month for this book by a Hawaiian author! I’m half Samoan, so I could relate to some of the cultural aspects of the book. I loved that the author narrated it, so I could get a feel for the tone of the book. I think the story was really interesting. I’m not into the repetition poetry as much, but overall I really enjoyed the story. I would check out more books by this author.
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
A lyrical novel-in-verse about family, friendship, love, loss, belief and belonging, and of finding yourself, from the point of view of a teenage girl who is dealing with a lot in the various aspects of her life. I didn't love it at first, but as the story progressed, I found myself enjoying it more and more, and I also enjoyed the format that flowed nicely and moved along quickly. This felt like reading Aouli's diary as she navigated all of these things going on in her life, in a quest to finally find her wings.
This review is of an ARE I won in a Goodreads giveaway.
This review is of an ARE I won in a Goodreads giveaway.
April 13, 2026
An Expanse of Blue by Kauakanilehua Mahoe Adams
4.5 stars
Rated: PG for some language
This novel in a verse was a unique take on sharing the deep love and grief a family can experience. The stark white on the pages allows for slower reading and deeper thought.
I actually loved how this was set up and I feel that it made the words more impactful because of it.
It’s a story about sibling rivalary and love, the undercurrents of family, and about finding yourself in a complicated world.
Thank you Epic Reads for the advanced copy. This review includes my honest thoughts and opinions.
4.5 stars
Rated: PG for some language
This novel in a verse was a unique take on sharing the deep love and grief a family can experience. The stark white on the pages allows for slower reading and deeper thought.
I actually loved how this was set up and I feel that it made the words more impactful because of it.
It’s a story about sibling rivalary and love, the undercurrents of family, and about finding yourself in a complicated world.
Thank you Epic Reads for the advanced copy. This review includes my honest thoughts and opinions.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Aouli lives with her parents and older sister in Washington state. They attend a Catholic church every week, where Aouli doesn't like mixing with the rich kids who go to the Catholic high school. They also go to her aunt's house every week to get together with the other Polynesian families in the area. This novel-in-verse is a look at religion, navigating high school friendships/relationships, grief, and finding out who your family really is. It's a quick read with lots to think about. ARC courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Thank you to EpicReads Insiders for this arc!
While this was a good book to read for various reasons, and I appreciated picking up some poetry, as I haven’t done this in awhile, it didn’t personally affect me. I believe this is because I am no longer the target audience of a book steeped in high school. Yet, I do think it is an important book to read, and I would’ve loved it if I were younger because of the discussion with religion. It reminds me of The Poet X, in that way. And if I hadn’t already read that numerous times, perhaps I would’ve found this to be more impactful.
While this was a good book to read for various reasons, and I appreciated picking up some poetry, as I haven’t done this in awhile, it didn’t personally affect me. I believe this is because I am no longer the target audience of a book steeped in high school. Yet, I do think it is an important book to read, and I would’ve loved it if I were younger because of the discussion with religion. It reminds me of The Poet X, in that way. And if I hadn’t already read that numerous times, perhaps I would’ve found this to be more impactful.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A beautiful debut YA novel in verse about a young native Hawaiian teen girl struggling to be the good Catholic girl her family wants her to be. Moving and heartfelt, it's great on audio with an important author's note at the end and is perfect for fans of books like Poet X and The Lesbiana's guide to Catholic school. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio copy in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is a powerful and lyrical novel-in-verse that covers such a broad range of emotions, perfectly relatable for teen readers. Narrated by the author in the audiobook really elevated the story to a whole other level.
I read this in one sitting because I was entranced and invested. I love Aouli's journey and the strength she finds. Absolutely recommend for older teenagers!
Thank you to Heartdrum for the opportunity to read and review.
I read this in one sitting because I was entranced and invested. I love Aouli's journey and the strength she finds. Absolutely recommend for older teenagers!
Thank you to Heartdrum for the opportunity to read and review.
May 20, 2026
I thought it was a beautiful coming of age story about a young Hawaiian girl by the name of Aouli! The writing style was quite new to me, but it was easy to acclimate. The style also made for a quick read, but also adds an expressive element to the story which I thoroughly enjoyed.
The Story follows her life in west Washington (my home too:)) and her family dynamics with her sister Kaia and her parents, and the experiences of loss, and first loves, and teenage drama.
The Story follows her life in west Washington (my home too:)) and her family dynamics with her sister Kaia and her parents, and the experiences of loss, and first loves, and teenage drama.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
There's something about a teen verse novel that I just really seem to love. This one is beautifully written and had me rooting so hard for Aouli to find her wings. It is a quick read- both because of the way it's written and because I didn't want to stop once I started! There is so much emotion packed into Adams' words and I could feel Aouli's heartbreak and pain and joy on every page.
Review of advance copy
I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would at first. It took me a bit to get used to the "verse" format, but once I did the story flowed very nicely. The story was one that many can relate to on feeling trapped and needing to "find your wings". I would have loved this even more as a teenager who experienced a similar lifestyle.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A powerful exploration of dysfunctional family dynamics, of trying to hold things together, of the ways that friendships and alliances can shift during our high school years. While Nalu is a little too practically-perfect-in-every-way, it makes for a sweet romance as Aouli learns to trust.
Thank you to Heartdrum and NetGalley for the e-ARC.
Thank you to Heartdrum and NetGalley for the e-ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This book was quite good. It is a story of a young girl trying to fit in. Trying to fit in at home, trying to fit in at school, and trying to fit in with her friends. It is a very relatable read.
5 stars
Many thanks to Net Galley and HarperAudio Children’s for an audio ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
5 stars
Many thanks to Net Galley and HarperAudio Children’s for an audio ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I wish there was a disclaimer or trigger warning that came at the beginning of this book especially because it is a YA. The story was poetically written carving a beautifully told story. There were a few parts of the book where the main character repeats words more than i felt necessary which at times made the word used obsolete.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I enjoyed this. I do wish there was more Hawaiian lore, but I also do understand this is a novel in verse and that wasn't the main part of the plot. I hope to learn more as I look up those things they mentioned later on. Real review to come to my blog.
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