Wave After Wave: A Coastal Love Story

by Halle Li

When rising documentarian Nia Washington is sent to Malibu to film a retired pro surfer’s long-shot comeback, she expects a few good waves and a clean storyline—not Ryder West, the golden retriever in human form who nearly drowned in the same water that once made him famous.

Five years after an almost career-ending accident, Ryder’s quietly rebuilding a life away from the spotlight. He’s not looking for redemption—or romance.

But from the moment Nia shows up with her camera, questions, and a fiercely guarded heart, the tide begins to shift.

What starts as a summer project turns into something deeper as the two begin to trust the rhythm they’re building—on and off camera. As the competition approaches and the footage rolls, Nia and Ryder must is this just a wave they’re riding... or the start of forever?

Full of heart, heat, and humor, Wave After Wave is a sun-soaked love story about finding peace where you least expect it—and choosing love when it asks you to stay.

245 pages, Paperback

Published May 1, 2026

Reviews

[Abbey Madrid]

This book was so adorable and I loved the characters. Such a fun summer book for sure. I’m so glad the Nia snd Ryder ended up together.