Sixteen-year-old Kailani Azunna is ready to forget.
Forget her ex — the beloved, toxic son of the town’s millionaire mayor.
Forget the lies she told herself to stay in that relationship.
Forget the version of herself that settled for less.
But when the charming new boy, Hadrian Kimura, moves to their sleepy coastal town — eyes full of things he can’t say — forgetting gets complicated.
Their striking connection is impossible to ignore, but when a rift driven by old loyalties and long-buried secrets threatens to tear them apart, Kailani finds herself pulled into a past that doesn’t belong to her — one that raises questions no one seems willing to answer.
Set against crashing waves and whispered lies, The Tide Always Comes Back is about first loves, second chances, and the subtle unraveling of a perfect town.
Kaeto Valentina Nnamani is a full-time medical student by day, author by night, and somewhere in between, a content creator on YouTube and BookTok.
When she's not procrastinating studying, you can find her typing away at her laptop or getting lost in the endless books on her TBR. Writing has always been her way of expressing the things she can’t say. She started writing her debut novel at 16, and five years later, she could not be more excited to share it with the world.
I absolutely loved this book!! As soon as the weather picked up I chose to read this and I was totally right, this is THE summer romance read of 2026 I’m not sure if my other romance books I have in store can beat it, no pressure lol
Usually I’m not a fan of beaches, but if I ended up at one this would be my only beach pick!! Kaeto did an amazing job with her characterisation, with the way that the characters were fleshed out it had me reacting in every way (it was hard to keep myself composed with how much Finn annoyed me)
The mystery??? I was overly gagged actually, so much so that I came up with many theories (all wrong) and ran to Kaeto’s DMs to crash out over everything happening (i’m sure it made for an interesting read haha)
I still can’t get over that this was a debut, you would seriously think that Kaeto’s been an author for ages (yes I still need that 7 book series pls and thank ya)
This books was indescribable. The story was beautiful, the story resembles truth and the writing flowed like poetry. It was so beautiful. To be honest, I don't know where to start in this review.
Anyway...
I'm always a sucker for a shy, reserved girl who meets a boy that brings her out her shell and pour into her the way nobody else does. He taught her love, pain, growth all whilst revealing her character to her. Before Hadrian, Kailani would orbit everyone else's system, forgetting she's a system herself. After she met him, she learn to stand on her own two feet and confront the people who kept infantilizing her and diminishing her self worth.
I truly enjoyed the story. It was easy to follow and it ran fluidly. It felt like an authentic experience of a situation where memories were being recounted. Hadrian being an enigma who recently moved to town for reasons unknown was intriguing. I kept wondering what he was hiding and who was he really. I made so many guesses and had even more theories.
Kailani went through so much but I truly believe it was necessary for her growth. She spent her life placing people above her. She presented herself as a fixer, with no regard for herself and struggled to understand her worth. She placed Finn on a pedestal and her sanity depended on him being her compass. Finn exhausted her and broke her down. Her character reflects the plethora of people within existence who struggle to stand up for themselves and are unable to doubt the lies they've been told. Her character was testament of growth, resilience, and strength.
I loved Hardian. He was a breath of fresh air. He was constantly pining, yearning and protecting Kailani. He encouraged her to do new things, took an interest into her hobbies, and really understood her.His interest in Kailani didn't feel abrupt and I love that. Their connection was so sweet. They were mutually interested and displayed it very overtly. I loved that he annotated her book with her and he remembered the quotes from it. He was an active listener and he pushed Kailani to do things she was terrified to do.
I loved the story and its premise but I wish it leaned a little bit more into the mystery side of the novel. That had me intrigued!
This story was definitely a comfort read for me. It was beautiful and in a way poetic. I love how descriptive the book was. It really set the scene and I could easily visualize the setting. Some of things said in the book was truly so touching and powerful. One of my favorite quotes was: “Fear kept people trapped in cages, imagining it’s safer than being free.”
Kai is recovering from an emotionally abusive and toxic relationship when one day her attention is held captive by the mysterious surfer boy who she’s never seen before, despite living in a town where everyone knows everyone. The two of them build a bond and connect in a way she didn’t possibly see coming and couldn’t fight against if she tried. The only problem is the more time she spends with him, the less she feels like she actually knows about him.
I loved Kai. She was an adorable character and I love how witty she was. She went through so much at a young age and it was sad how it dimmed her light. Although I give her grace because she’s young and her first boyfriend was emotionally abusive , I didn’t really care for the negative self talk and how she allowed the guys she liked to dictate her happiness. It was good to see her growth throughout the story and how she finally chose to put her own feelings above everyone else’s.
Hade is truly the best boy. I love how down bad he was for his Kailani. He was a true yearner.
I love the friendships and family relationships in this book. The side characters (aside from Finn and his minions) were all adorable. Finn was the devil spawn and Shawn might’ve been even worst. The mayor is also VERY suspicious.
I loved the banter between Kai and Hade. Their relationship was so cute and I love how they built a friendship first. They truly got to know the ins and out of each other and it was beautiful to witness. Them sharing a book and writing notes about each other was the cutest thing ever !
I enjoyed this book. I will say the pace was slow. I also wanted to know why Kaeto seems to think low of herself and disposable even before Finn became horrible to her.
All in all this was a great book. Job well done Kaeto. Thank you for the early arc in exchange for a honest review.
I would give this story 6 stars if I could. I loved everything about it. There is so much heart and love put into this story you could feel it come to life.
I particularly loved how Kai had valuable friendships and relationships outside of her love interest. In a lot of romances the FMC gets dialed down to make room for only the MMC, but the opposite applies here. It made me admire her that much more.
Although it is a love story set in high school, there is nothing juvenile about it. Kaeto has done a brilliant job of handling extremely sensitive topics with such grace. She really brought to the story to life I could physically feel myself go through the rollercoaster of emotions that the FMC experienced.
At the beginning of the story Kai was a shell of the girl she once was, but towards the end we see her transform into the person we always knew she could be. She finally put herself and her needs first, and as a result she flourished.
I could not think of a more fitting title to this story 'The Tide Always Comes Back'. The story really solidified how we can only run away from our pain and past for so long before it catches up to us. Like the tide, it will always come back. We can choose to process our past and then the tide will be just a small wave, just another part of our daily lives. But if we keep running away, it will get bigger and bigger every time until it reaches the size of a tsunami and we are forced to face it. That is a lesson I will never forget from this story. Kai and Hade will live as a part of me forever, reminding me not to be ashamed of my past, but to embrace the experiences that have made me who I am.
I would recommend that everyone read this story as we all have something to learn. The book was short but the story was so complete in a way that truly warms my heart. I finished the last chapter with tears on my cheeks and love in my heart.
This story truly has a special place in my heart, one I will never forget. Thank you Kai and Hade for letting me be a witness to a chapter in your lives. Thank you Kaeto for bringing this beautiful story to life. It's a testament to your meticulous nature that your debut novel was incredibly done. I can only imagine what brilliant stories are coming next!
On the foggiest of mornings and on the snowiest of nights… the tide always comes back.
This hits about ten times differently when you’re someone who has been FOLLOWING THIS AUTHOR SINCE DECEMBER OF LAST YEAR WAITING (NOT SO PATIENTLY) FOR JULY 21ST😭😭😭❤️❤️❤️
I genuinely don’t even know where to start. What a beautiful amazing book. I feel so passionate about every single character involved, like it genuinely feels like I WAS UP IN THAT FRIEND GROUP!!! I WAS CURSING FINN OUT TOO!!! (the dude nobody invited)
The amount of plot twists??? I WAS GAGGED EVERY CHAPTER IT JUST WOULDN’T END LIKE
Automatically I’m going to have so much love for a black fmc, but Kailani is so perfectly written 😭😭😭 For her to know her worth… like she’s comfortable with herself, she has the ability to hold herself accountable and she’s so… AWARE(?) of herself in the best way possible. I dunno how to explain it but I very very much aspire to be like her!!!
I originally took this as like… a summer book, but actually you can read this whenever!!! I feel it would so perfectly fit any time of year, it’s genuinely such a cozy easy FUN READ. Like I literally planned to read this in chunks, but I picked it up today… and genuinely couldn’t put it down LIKE YOU GET SUCKED INAAGAHSVSJ
Okay, we get it, this was amazing. I need a Hadrien in my life. I desperately aspire to be like Kailani. And also…?👀👀DEON👀👀👀 I need that. I need that immediately. LMAOOOOOO and you know what… J-squared too… let me find out if they’re open minded…HELP
This being a debut novel is … actually insane. Best believe I’ll be hoppin onto whatever comes in the future !!!!!!!
yea this is gonna be one of my comfort read that i reread every once in a while. Ms Kateo thank you my darling girl for writing such a beautiful, thoughtful romance book- dealing with topics such self identity, falling in love as an avoidant, healing after trauma. Kalani character was perfectly imperfect and i adored reading about her.
First of all i might need to book a day trip to Cornwall because what business do i have not living my Hampton point dreams like these beautiful characters… ugh what a dream. And if i was to talk about this character and how the author gave everyone their spotlight and attention thank youuu- sometimes in book side characters are so forgettable and i feel gaslight into believing that they are some found family like NOO but the author made every character (except Finn and his weird minions) so lovable.
Now the mystery side plot has be genuinely tweaking outttt because let me find out that Hadrian family has been suffering for no reason i am going mental!!! I am telling you there is something weird with that mayor- praying, begging, screaming that we get a second book so we find out what happened fr fr
Overall for a debut novel i think this was such a cutie of a book and deffo the book i needed after my exam season. BOOK OF THE SUMMER IM TELLING YA
Pleasingly surprised by this fantastic debut novel from this author!
Kailani, the FMC, has been through a traumatic breakup with her ex and hasn’t told anyone what truly happened, so she’s holding onto all these insecurities and emotional abuse she's been through at such a young age that I felt for her so much.
Enter Hadrian, the MMC; he’s newly moved into town with his mum, and the first time he and Kailani meet is when he’s surfing on the beach. They form an emotional connection through their similar interests. What I loved most about this book was how their relationship is built off genuine friendship and understanding at the young age of 16 years old.
Within the romance of this book, there's also a mysterious subplot that revolves around Hadrian’s past, which kept me on edge, wanting to know more and kept me reading in one sitting. I can't wait to read more from the second book that I hope is coming soon!
Overall, an emotionally compelling read on young love.
I don't usually read romance book but this book was a breath of fresh air, I was able to fall into the story quickly and really envelop myself in Kailani's life. As a 17 year old it felt quite realistic to how it feels to be in love in this generous and wanting a good guy swell as the hardships that come. I really enjoyed the family dynamics in the book, it added another tone of realism. Kailani is one of those characters you just want to protect, it feels like talking to your friend who loves fast and loves hard. You can't help but fall in love with every character in this book from her parents to the teacher to her friends to the relationship between Hadrian and Kai. All any wants in this world especially as a teenage girl is a boy who chooses them and wants to protect them and that's what Hadrian is. Hadrian Kimura you may have become my number 1 book boyfriend congratulations.
The Tide Always Comes Back is the perfect cozy romance 🥰 When I applied to be an ARC reader, it was only after seeing Kaeto post two videos about it. And now having read it, I am glad I did it. Kaeto weaves an intricate story set in this little coastal town, which you can’t help but feel you’re a part of right away. The love story between Hadrian and Kailani unravels so naturally, It felt I was right there with them, experiencing it all. Kailani is such a compelling character, I felt for her so many times while reading. And Hadrian. Oh, Hadrian. My poor boy. The love they have for each other is so palpable, it made me giggle and swoon and kick my feet so many times. I cannot wait to have a physical copy of this book!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
This book was AMAZING!!! As someone who was in a huge reading slump, and also as someone who has never read a beach themed book, this book has definitely helped me come out of that slump and want to read more coastal setting books!
I loved every second of this book, but when i say that it was a roller coaster of emotions, i mean it was seriously a roller coaster of emotions!! From relating deeply to Kailani, then to being disgusted and frustrated at Finn, then to giggling and kicking my feet when almost any interaction happened between Hadrian and Kailani, and experiencing many more emotions besides those!
Overall, this book was an amazing book that i rate 5 stars!! I cant wait for more people to read it when it gets released!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I had the pleasureeeeeeee of reading this book before its publication and fell in love with it instantly. The vibes it provided me with the perfect uk summer soundtrack (from the movie Angus thongs and perfect snogging- iykyk) to listen to it with.
It gave 2016 summer beach vibes and was just so beautiful. By the time I realised the book was ending I needed more! The romance, the yearning, the storyline was all there and a perfect way to start the summer. Great book and super proud of the author 💕💕💕
First, I want to thank Kaeto for giving us this book.
Second, I need Kaeto to release another one immediately.
I was in the biggest reading slump before picking this up, and somehow it pulled me right out of it. Every page made me want to keep reading, and by the end I wasn’t ready to leave. I fell in love not only with the characters, but with the entire world Kaeto created.
If you have a free day, do yourself a favor: grab a cozy blanket, make your favorite drink, and spend it reading this book. You won’t regret it.
This book has truly warmed my heart. First of all, congrats to this beautiful, talented author for allowing us to read such a wonderful piece of art. It is inspiring to see a story with such diverse, main characters. The romance was beyond exciting and had me giggling and imagining myself as Kai. The mystery had me hooked and every single line was wonderfully written. Literally the first book I've read in one week. It is now my favourite book ever and I can't wait to read what Kaeto comes out with next!!
P.S. This needs to be turned into a movie/show asap
I received it as an arc from the author and doesn't affect my review in anyway.
4.3 ⭐️
Kailaini's distrust in herself when it comes to being a relationship broke my heart a bit. Reading her story and understanding her reaction, I was able to sympathise with her.
Although I didn't like the overexplaining in her pov. I also wish we got to see more of Kailaini through Hadrian's eyes.
I loved that we get to see as Kailani gets her spark back. She deserved it after everything she went through.
This book was nothing but a 5 star read!!! It was deep but also heartwarming and the way the MMC loved the MFC is something I dream about for myself. The MFC is for all the black women who always blame themselves, have to always be perfect, and are always doubting themselves. The MMC made sure every negative thought she had about herself was extremely wrong and reassured that she was nothing but extraordinary. I can’t wait for more people to read this masterpiece of a book!!!!
I DO NOT KNOW HOW THIS BOOK HASN'T GOT THE FULL FIVE STARS IT DESERVES. I HAVE JUST FINISHED THIS, AND I WANT TO START IT ALL OVER AGAIN. I HATE FINN. I LOVED THE BOOK. I AM AFRAID I AM UNABLE TO ARTICULATE MYSELF AS ELOQUENTLY AS HADRIAN, KAILANI AND KAETO, BUT PLEASE READ THIS BOOK - 125,000% RECOMMEND!!!
ALSO WHO HAS GIVEN THIS A ONE STAR REVIEW, I WOULD LOVE AN INSIGHT INTO WHY -__-
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
loved every second in Hampton Point <3 I see shards of my high school self in Kailani and I just want to give her a big hug 🫂 I think every girl can relate to this story of healing