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Breathing Under Water
Nineteen minutes and eleven seconds separated us at birth. On the official documentation, he is older . . . Although it really has nothing to do with age. What it really means is that I am, and have always been, second.
Ben and Grace Walker are twins. Growing up in a sleepy coastal town it was inevitable they'd surf. Always close, they hung out more than most brothers and sisters, surfing together for hours as the sun melted into the sea. At seventeen, Ben is a rising surf star, the golden son and the boy all the girls fall in love with. Beside him, Grace feels like she is a mere reflection of his light. In their last year of school, the world beckons, full of possibility. For Grace, finishing exams and kissing Harley Matthews is just the beginning.
Then, one day, the unthinkable. The sun sets at noon and suddenly everything that was safe and predictable is lost. And everything unravels.
Breathing Under Water is a lyrical and emotionally powerful novel about life, death and learning to breathe in between.
Ben and Grace Walker are twins. Growing up in a sleepy coastal town it was inevitable they'd surf. Always close, they hung out more than most brothers and sisters, surfing together for hours as the sun melted into the sea. At seventeen, Ben is a rising surf star, the golden son and the boy all the girls fall in love with. Beside him, Grace feels like she is a mere reflection of his light. In their last year of school, the world beckons, full of possibility. For Grace, finishing exams and kissing Harley Matthews is just the beginning.
Then, one day, the unthinkable. The sun sets at noon and suddenly everything that was safe and predictable is lost. And everything unravels.
Breathing Under Water is a lyrical and emotionally powerful novel about life, death and learning to breathe in between.
310 pages, Paperback
First published July 12, 2016
27 people are currently reading
2876 people want to read
About the author
Sophie Hardcastle
5 books168 followersSophie Hardcastle is now known at Dylin Hardcastle. They are an author, artist, screenwriter and scholar.
They are the author of Below Deck (2020), Breathing Under Water (2016) and Running like China (2015). They are the co-writer, co-director and co-creator of Cloudy River, which premiered at Mardi Gras Film Festival in 2020 and was acquired by SBS On Demand.
You can find their new novel, A Language of Limbs under their new author Goodreads profile - Dylin Hardcastle
They are the author of Below Deck (2020), Breathing Under Water (2016) and Running like China (2015). They are the co-writer, co-director and co-creator of Cloudy River, which premiered at Mardi Gras Film Festival in 2020 and was acquired by SBS On Demand.
You can find their new novel, A Language of Limbs under their new author Goodreads profile - Dylin Hardcastle
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 195 reviews
August 10, 2016
Breathing Under Water was immaculate. An emotional journey of teen grief, familial despair and those left behind. Grace has always lived within twin Ben's shadow, content in the role of Ben's sister, while Ben is on the verge of a professional surfing career. Ben and Grace share a tender and loving sibling connection and although Ben is popular and free spirited, he ensures Grace is never left behind. But the time has come for Grace to forge her own path into the world and when Harley Matthews returns to town, this may be the opportunity Grace needs to begin her life in the sunshine, rather than being protected by Ben's shadow.
But before Grace's life can begin, tragedy strikes and threatens to tear her family apart.
The aftermath of bereavement and loss is always confronting, especially within young adult reads as characters are often still forging their own paths in life. My heart ached for the Walker family. While Grace's mother becomes a shadow of her former self, her father throws himself into his work to avoid spending time with his family. Harley begins to isolate himself from Grace, leaving Grace to rely on emotionally absent parents, the ever growing divide between herself and best friend Mia and Jake, Ben's best friend who is content to ride a downward spiral into alcohol and drug abuse, taking Grace along for the ride.
I found Grace's method of coping confronting, but entirely realistic. She's enabled by Jake who is content to drown his sorrows in a cocktail of alcohol and recreational drugs. She feels that no one other than Jake understands the sorrow in her life and cannot see past her own grief as she spirals out of control. As the Walker family unit begins to break down, it's Grace's best friend Mia who is isolated, abused by Grace herself when lashing out all whilst dealing with a drunken sexual assault in which her perpetrator was never held to account. It also highlighted how females who have been sexually assaulted or victims of rape, fail to report the assault to the authorities. I had hoped the friends in Mia's life would have addressed the issue, beyond Ben defending her honour with a show of male dominance. Seeing Mia's light extinguished, her once vibrant persona now withdrawn and I desperately wanted justice for her.
Set within a quintessential Australian coastal town, Sophie Hardcastle weaves a beautifully poignant story of loss, losing your way and how tragedy threatens to drown those left behind. The writing was delicate and lyrical, captivating from the very first page. Sophie Hardcastle is a phenomenal author, who will no doubt become an Australian favourite with teens for many generations to come.
But before Grace's life can begin, tragedy strikes and threatens to tear her family apart.
The aftermath of bereavement and loss is always confronting, especially within young adult reads as characters are often still forging their own paths in life. My heart ached for the Walker family. While Grace's mother becomes a shadow of her former self, her father throws himself into his work to avoid spending time with his family. Harley begins to isolate himself from Grace, leaving Grace to rely on emotionally absent parents, the ever growing divide between herself and best friend Mia and Jake, Ben's best friend who is content to ride a downward spiral into alcohol and drug abuse, taking Grace along for the ride.
I found Grace's method of coping confronting, but entirely realistic. She's enabled by Jake who is content to drown his sorrows in a cocktail of alcohol and recreational drugs. She feels that no one other than Jake understands the sorrow in her life and cannot see past her own grief as she spirals out of control. As the Walker family unit begins to break down, it's Grace's best friend Mia who is isolated, abused by Grace herself when lashing out all whilst dealing with a drunken sexual assault in which her perpetrator was never held to account. It also highlighted how females who have been sexually assaulted or victims of rape, fail to report the assault to the authorities. I had hoped the friends in Mia's life would have addressed the issue, beyond Ben defending her honour with a show of male dominance. Seeing Mia's light extinguished, her once vibrant persona now withdrawn and I desperately wanted justice for her.
Set within a quintessential Australian coastal town, Sophie Hardcastle weaves a beautifully poignant story of loss, losing your way and how tragedy threatens to drown those left behind. The writing was delicate and lyrical, captivating from the very first page. Sophie Hardcastle is a phenomenal author, who will no doubt become an Australian favourite with teens for many generations to come.
Gazing at the splinters of a life once lived, I finally come to see life for all that it is. We breathe, for a while, and then we come to rest. We become the earth, the clouds and the deep sea currents, the summer swells and the winter tides.
August 3, 2016
Sophie Hardcastle is a young author to watch. In this, her debut novel, she has been compared to John Green and other YA heavy-hitters, but I think she has written this novel with a level of authenticity that completely outshines them. Her characters talk, think and act like the 17/18 year olds that they are meant to be. It's very refreshing. She also writes beautifully. And although this is an Australian story it has an international feel, which I think should successfully translate to other markets. It's just the frequent references to Tim Tams and the occasional mention of a kookaburra that give it away!
Grace and Ben Walker are twins, living in a sleepy coastal town, and completing Year 12 at their local school. Surfing is a big part of their life - Ben a champion in the making - and their dad even owns a surfboard factory. Their idyllic life of surfing, hanging out with a small group of close friends, and nurturing their bodies with all the amazing, healthy food their mum prepares for them (how does she, a full-time teacher, do it????), is shattered by a senseless tragedy. Everyone grieves in their own way, and Grace in particular seems to be on quite a downward spiral. But by the end of the novel, those left behind are beginning to see the sun shine once more.
After finishing this I was reading a synopsis of Sophie Hardcastle's 2015 memoir, Running like China, and a few things clicked into place for me. A big part of why this novel glows with authenticity, is because Hardcastle knows what she is talking about!
Highly recommended.
Grace and Ben Walker are twins, living in a sleepy coastal town, and completing Year 12 at their local school. Surfing is a big part of their life - Ben a champion in the making - and their dad even owns a surfboard factory. Their idyllic life of surfing, hanging out with a small group of close friends, and nurturing their bodies with all the amazing, healthy food their mum prepares for them (how does she, a full-time teacher, do it????), is shattered by a senseless tragedy. Everyone grieves in their own way, and Grace in particular seems to be on quite a downward spiral. But by the end of the novel, those left behind are beginning to see the sun shine once more.
After finishing this I was reading a synopsis of Sophie Hardcastle's 2015 memoir, Running like China, and a few things clicked into place for me. A big part of why this novel glows with authenticity, is because Hardcastle knows what she is talking about!
Highly recommended.
July 15, 2016
Ben and Grace are close, they share everything, a love of surfing, their friends with most of their time being spent together. Ben is the sun and Grace is the moon, Ben is the light and Grace the shadow. Through the book you meet their parents and close friends, another major character for me is the surf itself, it is a beautiful, intense and looming character through the book.
From the blurb you know something is going to happen that there will be some trauma, I got to about 30% of the way through the book and was like its coming now isn't it, there was a teaser where i thought oh god this is it.. But nothing and then when I had just started to relax BOOM it hit me. There was much weeping though the book for me once the tumult had happened and you see the impact that grief has on a family and friends. The way each person deals with it and they ways they try to escape it, I just wanted to give Mia a big hug again and again, and wanted to shake some of the adults and go, remember her, that beautiful girl you still have, lover her and take care of her.
The book, Mia and her family make it to where they need to be, it felt natural and as it should be. The last part of the book really lifted and healed my spirits, no spoilers here but I felt much lighter by the end of the book. The style of the writing is beautiful, it is lyrical and wonderful and it was such a pleasure to read.
Thank you to the publisher Hachette for the advanced copy, I'm so happy I could give you my honest review of the book.
Original review posted on my blog https://missmichellemck.blogspot.com....
From the blurb you know something is going to happen that there will be some trauma, I got to about 30% of the way through the book and was like its coming now isn't it, there was a teaser where i thought oh god this is it.. But nothing and then when I had just started to relax BOOM it hit me. There was much weeping though the book for me once the tumult had happened and you see the impact that grief has on a family and friends. The way each person deals with it and they ways they try to escape it, I just wanted to give Mia a big hug again and again, and wanted to shake some of the adults and go, remember her, that beautiful girl you still have, lover her and take care of her.
The book, Mia and her family make it to where they need to be, it felt natural and as it should be. The last part of the book really lifted and healed my spirits, no spoilers here but I felt much lighter by the end of the book. The style of the writing is beautiful, it is lyrical and wonderful and it was such a pleasure to read.
Thank you to the publisher Hachette for the advanced copy, I'm so happy I could give you my honest review of the book.
Original review posted on my blog https://missmichellemck.blogspot.com....
July 11, 2018
This is a book of grief, depression and regret. Most of time I felt like I was underwater.
Sophie Hardcastle has a talent for writing. Sometimes it the flowery descriptions feel a little forced, but for the most part I think her style is quite beautiful. It is just that her chosen subject matter (although possibly cathartic for her) is so very sad that it is quite difficult to read a whole book enveloped in sadness.
The cover claims that if you love Rainbow Rowell, John Green, or Melina Marchetta than you'll love this book, but I don't think that is true. She can write probably as well as those three, but the difference is that those 3 writers find the light in the dark, and humour where there may not otherwise be, in order to buoy the reader to care about the characters and laugh and cry along with them. I think Sophie Hardcastle may learn that skill in time, but it didn't appear in this book.
Sophie Hardcastle has a talent for writing. Sometimes it the flowery descriptions feel a little forced, but for the most part I think her style is quite beautiful. It is just that her chosen subject matter (although possibly cathartic for her) is so very sad that it is quite difficult to read a whole book enveloped in sadness.
The cover claims that if you love Rainbow Rowell, John Green, or Melina Marchetta than you'll love this book, but I don't think that is true. She can write probably as well as those three, but the difference is that those 3 writers find the light in the dark, and humour where there may not otherwise be, in order to buoy the reader to care about the characters and laugh and cry along with them. I think Sophie Hardcastle may learn that skill in time, but it didn't appear in this book.
August 25, 2016
actual rating: 4.5
this book was another surprise for me it was sad, beautiful and emotionally powerful i have a found new love for this book and its becoming one of my best books of 2016. I feel broken and sadden after reading this book but the author did her job very well.
Things at the beginning of the story are peaceful and a picture perfect life for the walker family and those around them until a tragic events strikes them and all of there lives are changed forever. Grace becomes lost, her dad hides himself in his work, her mother becomes a shadow of her former self, but the walker family isnt the only people effect by the lost of there oldest son ben its also most of the town even those who didn't even know him personally. Mia Grace's best friend to me becomes distant towards her friend and Harley also becomes very distant to Grace. This leaves grace with hardly any options of who to turn to and help her deal with the death of her brother.
I loved Graces way of dealing with the death of her twin brother it for me felt very real and the way she dealt with it felt pretty realistic. I thought Grace would be the one to shut herself up and isolate herself but it was her best friend Mia who was the one to isolate herself. Grace does begin to lash out and do things as her family is slowly falling apart around her.
I was surprised the way Mia's assault was handled in her town it seems like the person who did it was never held accountable for his actions. The only person who seem to care enough for Mia was ben himself standing up for her after it happened. I feel that Mia's friends could have done something more to help her deal with this traumatic event. Mia also should have reported the incident but i feel this happens to often in these cases because a women feels to scared or becomes withdrawn to do something about it. I was hoping for some justice for Mia but this never happened for her which i was disappointed.
i felt each character sounded real and read real for me because thats a hard thing to find in most contemporary novels but Sophie knows whats she's talking about so it translated very well on the page. I knew something was coming in the book but nothing would have prepared for me for what i would read next it was just emotional.
This story was an emotional roller coaster, with its ups and downs it was a real page turner and i felt like i really went on the journey with each character.
this book was another surprise for me it was sad, beautiful and emotionally powerful i have a found new love for this book and its becoming one of my best books of 2016. I feel broken and sadden after reading this book but the author did her job very well.
Things at the beginning of the story are peaceful and a picture perfect life for the walker family and those around them until a tragic events strikes them and all of there lives are changed forever. Grace becomes lost, her dad hides himself in his work, her mother becomes a shadow of her former self, but the walker family isnt the only people effect by the lost of there oldest son ben its also most of the town even those who didn't even know him personally. Mia Grace's best friend to me becomes distant towards her friend and Harley also becomes very distant to Grace. This leaves grace with hardly any options of who to turn to and help her deal with the death of her brother.
I loved Graces way of dealing with the death of her twin brother it for me felt very real and the way she dealt with it felt pretty realistic. I thought Grace would be the one to shut herself up and isolate herself but it was her best friend Mia who was the one to isolate herself. Grace does begin to lash out and do things as her family is slowly falling apart around her.
I was surprised the way Mia's assault was handled in her town it seems like the person who did it was never held accountable for his actions. The only person who seem to care enough for Mia was ben himself standing up for her after it happened. I feel that Mia's friends could have done something more to help her deal with this traumatic event. Mia also should have reported the incident but i feel this happens to often in these cases because a women feels to scared or becomes withdrawn to do something about it. I was hoping for some justice for Mia but this never happened for her which i was disappointed.
i felt each character sounded real and read real for me because thats a hard thing to find in most contemporary novels but Sophie knows whats she's talking about so it translated very well on the page. I knew something was coming in the book but nothing would have prepared for me for what i would read next it was just emotional.
This story was an emotional roller coaster, with its ups and downs it was a real page turner and i felt like i really went on the journey with each character.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 22, 2016
This book is beautifully written, the surfing scenes give the great Tim Winton a run for his money, gorgeous and evocative. The grief is so exquisitely written, Ben and Gracie had become important to me, and then, the disaster happened. This author has nailed the way that teenagers behave after a terrible death, the risk taking, the loneliness, the isolation. This is beautiful and lovely book. I'm looking forward to reading more from this author.
I'm imagining that some people will have real issues with risky behaviour in the book, and some school librarians will avoid it, Gracie and Jake really do push the limits, but in the context of what is happening to them, I think it is totally understandable and is vital to the 'realness' of the story. Don't avoid buying it for school libraries, grief needs to be spoken of, teenagers behaving normally need to be read about by their peers in my opinion.
Thanks to Netgalley for an advance copy of this lovely book.
I'm imagining that some people will have real issues with risky behaviour in the book, and some school librarians will avoid it, Gracie and Jake really do push the limits, but in the context of what is happening to them, I think it is totally understandable and is vital to the 'realness' of the story. Don't avoid buying it for school libraries, grief needs to be spoken of, teenagers behaving normally need to be read about by their peers in my opinion.
Thanks to Netgalley for an advance copy of this lovely book.
May 8, 2018
Breathing Under Water is so pure and heartwarming,that one feels it pass by like the soft touch of the ocean.It was like a song that smoothly moves from one tune to another,more like a symphony with highs,lows and the absence of it.
The book is rich with intricate details of the tiniest of events and it is absolutely beautiful for anyone who understands the literature of nature.
I can't give a summary of this book,because no summary can do it's symphony justice.You have to read it to know.
The book is rich with intricate details of the tiniest of events and it is absolutely beautiful for anyone who understands the literature of nature.
I can't give a summary of this book,because no summary can do it's symphony justice.You have to read it to know.
December 14, 2017
This book! Spectacular from any angle.
Full review to come
Full review to come
December 21, 2016
This review appears on Happy Indulgence. Check it out for more reviews.
Thanks to Hachette Australia for providing a review copy of the book.
Breathing Under Water is an Aussie debut YA novel about tragedy and dealing with grief. I really enjoyed the first third of the book and the ending but the middle section left me feeling cold and I was unable to connect with the story or the main character.
The novel begins with a glimpse into our main character, Grace’s, life with her twin brother and their group of friends. An old friend, Harley, has returned to the area and has joined their group. Together, they surf and hang out at parties, until one day when tragedy hits. Grace and her friends are left struggling as they try to come to terms with what has happened. I’m not sure if the death in the book is meant to be big plot point that I’m not meant to spoil but I thought it was pretty clear from the synopsis exactly who was going to die. And I spent most of the first section of the book waiting for it to happen. Because of this, I wasn’t particularly shocked and I didn’t really feel the emotion of the situation. I just wasn’t able to connect with it and it didn’t have the impact on me that I thought it would. Having said that, I really enjoyed the first part of the book before the tragic accident and it was definitely my favourite section of the novel. I felt that the story went downhill for me from that point on and I think I have a pretty clear idea of why that happened.
After the death occurs in novel, Grace goes on a bit of a downward spiral where she begins to smoke, take drugs, skip school and act in inappropriate ways around people who she should be showing more respect. And I think it was all of those things that turned me off the novel. I am not a fan of drugs in books, and the drug use in this book is definitely more than what we typically see in the average YA contemporary. However, it wasn’t just the drug use and spinning out of control that made me dislike the book. It was the fact that all of these things made Grace a very dislikeable and unemotional character. I get that different people grieve in different ways and it doesn’t always have to be a hopeful and inspirational kind of story. But there wasn’t a point in the book where her grief actually came across to me and I felt very disconnected from the emotion that I was supposed to be feeling from the story. I just was not a big fan of the 150 pages that followed the tragic death. However, I thought the book redeemed itself in the last 50 pages. I liked how the story was resolved and I’m glad that I made it all the way to the end.
Even though I found Grace to be extremely dislikeable, there were plenty of other characters that I loved. I loved Grace’s twin, Ben, and the way that he was portrayed. I loved that he was a great cook and a wonderful brother and friend. I particularly loved that he made fairy bread sandwiches. Where do I find a Ben?! I also absolutely loved Harley and the fact that he was also a great cook. I enjoyed his caring and gentle side and the fact that he was there for Grace in the background without being the solution to all her problems. I also enjoyed the role that Grace’s family played in the book. In short, I loved almost all of the characters in the book, except Grace, which is a shame.
I thought the writing of the book was quite nice. However, at times, I found the writing to be a bit too flowery. There were some strange metaphors in the book that I found a bit excessive and took me out of the story. But I thought the flow of the writing was good overall and it was easy to read. There were a couple of times when things seemed to come out of nowhere without being set up and I wished some things had been less subtle.
Breathing Under Water is a book that had a great concept. However, the emotion of the book didn’t come across to me and I don’t think the novel reached its full potential. I wasn’t a fan of the main character but I enjoyed reading about all the other characters in the book.
Thanks to Hachette Australia for providing a review copy of the book.
Breathing Under Water is an Aussie debut YA novel about tragedy and dealing with grief. I really enjoyed the first third of the book and the ending but the middle section left me feeling cold and I was unable to connect with the story or the main character.
The novel begins with a glimpse into our main character, Grace’s, life with her twin brother and their group of friends. An old friend, Harley, has returned to the area and has joined their group. Together, they surf and hang out at parties, until one day when tragedy hits. Grace and her friends are left struggling as they try to come to terms with what has happened. I’m not sure if the death in the book is meant to be big plot point that I’m not meant to spoil but I thought it was pretty clear from the synopsis exactly who was going to die. And I spent most of the first section of the book waiting for it to happen. Because of this, I wasn’t particularly shocked and I didn’t really feel the emotion of the situation. I just wasn’t able to connect with it and it didn’t have the impact on me that I thought it would. Having said that, I really enjoyed the first part of the book before the tragic accident and it was definitely my favourite section of the novel. I felt that the story went downhill for me from that point on and I think I have a pretty clear idea of why that happened.
After the death occurs in novel, Grace goes on a bit of a downward spiral where she begins to smoke, take drugs, skip school and act in inappropriate ways around people who she should be showing more respect. And I think it was all of those things that turned me off the novel. I am not a fan of drugs in books, and the drug use in this book is definitely more than what we typically see in the average YA contemporary. However, it wasn’t just the drug use and spinning out of control that made me dislike the book. It was the fact that all of these things made Grace a very dislikeable and unemotional character. I get that different people grieve in different ways and it doesn’t always have to be a hopeful and inspirational kind of story. But there wasn’t a point in the book where her grief actually came across to me and I felt very disconnected from the emotion that I was supposed to be feeling from the story. I just was not a big fan of the 150 pages that followed the tragic death. However, I thought the book redeemed itself in the last 50 pages. I liked how the story was resolved and I’m glad that I made it all the way to the end.
Even though I found Grace to be extremely dislikeable, there were plenty of other characters that I loved. I loved Grace’s twin, Ben, and the way that he was portrayed. I loved that he was a great cook and a wonderful brother and friend. I particularly loved that he made fairy bread sandwiches. Where do I find a Ben?! I also absolutely loved Harley and the fact that he was also a great cook. I enjoyed his caring and gentle side and the fact that he was there for Grace in the background without being the solution to all her problems. I also enjoyed the role that Grace’s family played in the book. In short, I loved almost all of the characters in the book, except Grace, which is a shame.
I thought the writing of the book was quite nice. However, at times, I found the writing to be a bit too flowery. There were some strange metaphors in the book that I found a bit excessive and took me out of the story. But I thought the flow of the writing was good overall and it was easy to read. There were a couple of times when things seemed to come out of nowhere without being set up and I wished some things had been less subtle.
Breathing Under Water is a book that had a great concept. However, the emotion of the book didn’t come across to me and I don’t think the novel reached its full potential. I wasn’t a fan of the main character but I enjoyed reading about all the other characters in the book.
September 12, 2016
"Breathing Under Water" is a beautifully written, lyrically told tale that takes a tragic and heartbreaking turn. The language is rich and poetic, immersing the reader until they too, drown in the story. I was with Grace as she began her dark, downward spiral, dealing with her grief in a manner that was both destructive to her and the relationships and lives of those she cared for. I was her conscience, wishing she would see what she was doing to herself, wishing that someone would step in and say, "Enough!"
Grace was born 12 minutes after her brother and for her whole life she has felt to be living in his shadow. He was always the golden child, the poster boy surfer, the glint of pride in his father's eye. But not only that, he was also the spirit, the heart of the family, the spark that kept them all together. So, when tragedy strikes, everything begins to fall apart, starting with Grace...
With its strong Australian vibes, and the passion the prose shows for the ocean, this is sure to strike a chord with teenagers "Downunder". It is emotionally powerful, eloquently written and deeply immersive. For teenagers, I believe, it is important to see how shattered one's life can become - but how it is still possibly to begin to pick up the pieces, mend the cracks and seek renewal. It is a story of grief, and how we deal with it. It is a story of love, and what challenges it. And it is a story of humanity.
It is at times wild, and does feature drugs and sexual references (although those are fairly subtle), as well as some pretty dark themes. As such is more fitting to a somewhat-mature teen audience - but fans of John Green and Melina Marchetta should devour it greedily. The writing style, likewise, takes a little getting used to - at times it is more poetry than prose - but I found it an evocative and compelling read.
Grace was born 12 minutes after her brother and for her whole life she has felt to be living in his shadow. He was always the golden child, the poster boy surfer, the glint of pride in his father's eye. But not only that, he was also the spirit, the heart of the family, the spark that kept them all together. So, when tragedy strikes, everything begins to fall apart, starting with Grace...
With its strong Australian vibes, and the passion the prose shows for the ocean, this is sure to strike a chord with teenagers "Downunder". It is emotionally powerful, eloquently written and deeply immersive. For teenagers, I believe, it is important to see how shattered one's life can become - but how it is still possibly to begin to pick up the pieces, mend the cracks and seek renewal. It is a story of grief, and how we deal with it. It is a story of love, and what challenges it. And it is a story of humanity.
It is at times wild, and does feature drugs and sexual references (although those are fairly subtle), as well as some pretty dark themes. As such is more fitting to a somewhat-mature teen audience - but fans of John Green and Melina Marchetta should devour it greedily. The writing style, likewise, takes a little getting used to - at times it is more poetry than prose - but I found it an evocative and compelling read.
March 10, 2017
Breathing underwater
Grace the protagonist of this book is a teenage girl living in a very ‘sleepy’ coastal area. The sea is very inviting to her and she has always loved the ocean and surfing. Her twin brother Ben is a professional surfer and is known around the area. Surfed together till the sun had set under the sea and the moon had risen. The twins are in their last year of school and the possibilities are endless.
Grace and her family have a street named after them. Their dad is a surf coach and helps them with their surfing. Grace is a very quiet but energetic girl that loves her brother ben so much. Ben is a very popular guy in the school and grace looks up to him so does everyone at the high school. Graces friend Mia is a rebel and loves getting in trouble and influences grace to come and join her. Harley the new kid in town is a very shy person and doesn’t go out much. The bakery is a very sentimental place for the characters and especially because Mia and Grace have a job there. Jake Ben’s best friend and he come to visit them all the time.
The main idea of this book is to say to the reader that even if you lose a loved one you should still move on with your life. When everyone’s against you don’t give up, fight.
I recommend this book to people that like drama and a bit of humour and sadness in a book. I enjoyed this book because it was like the protagonist was talking to me.
Grace the protagonist of this book is a teenage girl living in a very ‘sleepy’ coastal area. The sea is very inviting to her and she has always loved the ocean and surfing. Her twin brother Ben is a professional surfer and is known around the area. Surfed together till the sun had set under the sea and the moon had risen. The twins are in their last year of school and the possibilities are endless.
Grace and her family have a street named after them. Their dad is a surf coach and helps them with their surfing. Grace is a very quiet but energetic girl that loves her brother ben so much. Ben is a very popular guy in the school and grace looks up to him so does everyone at the high school. Graces friend Mia is a rebel and loves getting in trouble and influences grace to come and join her. Harley the new kid in town is a very shy person and doesn’t go out much. The bakery is a very sentimental place for the characters and especially because Mia and Grace have a job there. Jake Ben’s best friend and he come to visit them all the time.
The main idea of this book is to say to the reader that even if you lose a loved one you should still move on with your life. When everyone’s against you don’t give up, fight.
I recommend this book to people that like drama and a bit of humour and sadness in a book. I enjoyed this book because it was like the protagonist was talking to me.
February 5, 2018
i'm not emotionally ready to talk about this. it has destroyed me
July 13, 2018
I find it hard to rate this book as there were parts I really enjoyed and parts I really disliked. The writing was good and it flowed very well, some of the descriptions almost lyrical but at the same time, it all felt a bit jumbled sometimes, just a series of scenes one after the other, jumping hours or days when it wasn't always clear.
The story itself was sad, very sad. The jumping from scene to scene, missing (for me) important details of interpersonal relationships and events, made me feel like the plot had gone missing somewhere around the middle, but at the same time, in hindsight, it makes sense in an odd kind of way. Though that didn't make it easier to read.
What bugged me though were the characters. Not because they weren't developped (despite a lot of things missing or finally being hinted at only towards the end) but their (re)actions most of all. The parents, in short, were terrible. Parenting skills were at the bottom of the scale and it's something that, personally, rubs me the wrong way. And the very Hollywood ending. I love a good/happy ending, don't get me wrong, but I am not overly fond of Hollywood endings, especially not when the story, for the most part, is depressing.
All in all, I did enjoy this book. Sometimes sad and depressing books can be lovely in their own right.
The story itself was sad, very sad. The jumping from scene to scene, missing (for me) important details of interpersonal relationships and events, made me feel like the plot had gone missing somewhere around the middle, but at the same time, in hindsight, it makes sense in an odd kind of way. Though that didn't make it easier to read.
What bugged me though were the characters. Not because they weren't developped (despite a lot of things missing or finally being hinted at only towards the end) but their (re)actions most of all. The parents, in short, were terrible. Parenting skills were at the bottom of the scale and it's something that, personally, rubs me the wrong way. And the very Hollywood ending. I love a good/happy ending, don't get me wrong, but I am not overly fond of Hollywood endings, especially not when the story, for the most part, is depressing.
All in all, I did enjoy this book. Sometimes sad and depressing books can be lovely in their own right.
February 27, 2019
"The sun, radiant and alive.
The moon, a mere reflection of his light."
This book was sad, beautiful and emotional all at once. I really loved all the characters and from the very beginning of the book I felt super attached to them. I can't say much without spoiling this book, but just wow, it was actually such an amazing book.
One thing that really stood out to me in this book was the way Grace compared herself to her twin, Ben; him being the sun and herself being the moon. She didn't feel like she was anything or had any worth without him, and I just felt like this was so sad but beautiful at the same time.
Anyway, I definitely recommend this book as it's so beautifully written and just an emotional roller coaster from beginning to end.
The moon, a mere reflection of his light."
This book was sad, beautiful and emotional all at once. I really loved all the characters and from the very beginning of the book I felt super attached to them. I can't say much without spoiling this book, but just wow, it was actually such an amazing book.
One thing that really stood out to me in this book was the way Grace compared herself to her twin, Ben; him being the sun and herself being the moon. She didn't feel like she was anything or had any worth without him, and I just felt like this was so sad but beautiful at the same time.
Anyway, I definitely recommend this book as it's so beautifully written and just an emotional roller coaster from beginning to end.
April 25, 2020
I don't read a lot of Fiction but this was such a beautifully written book it has encouraged me to read more like it.
The storyline and the rollercoaster of emotions and different reactions experienced by each character that follows is so real and heartwarming, you really do create such empathy for the characters and it also gives you quite a different perspective of what people may go through in such hard times.
Beautiful book!
The storyline and the rollercoaster of emotions and different reactions experienced by each character that follows is so real and heartwarming, you really do create such empathy for the characters and it also gives you quite a different perspective of what people may go through in such hard times.
Beautiful book!
July 24, 2022
It's everything and nothing ... It's like the absent moment between night and day.
I got pulled into this book, nearly cried!
Then it was a bit weird in some places, and some things I'm going that doesn't really make sense.
2/5 stars
I got pulled into this book, nearly cried!
Then it was a bit weird in some places, and some things I'm going that doesn't really make sense.
2/5 stars
February 6, 2018
this just didn’t hit the mark for me. while i enjoyed the writing style, i didn’t like the characters and, due to the lack of plot, didn’t enjoy the book. it felt messy and confusing at times, and i didn’t always agree with the characters’ actions.
June 25, 2016
I received a lovely ARC of this book from Hachette Australia, and got stuck into it this week.
Grace and Ben Walker are twins. They live on the coast and are very close. The twins also love the ocean. Both of them are great surfers, but Ben is so good he's got sponsors and wins competitions. Grace has always lived in his shadow, coasted while he shone like a star.
When the new boy in school catches her eye, she can't believe someone isn't blinded by Ben's charisma and sees more in her than a small, skinny girl. After an awful incident happens to her best friend and seems to bring the group together, a horrifying tragedy strikes. Something that darkens Grace's world so much she loses herself when she was supposed to be concentrating on her last year of high school.
The fallout affects everyone, and threatens to drown all of them...
Wow. This book is heavy. It's written in a unique lyrical style, and I particularly loved the way the Australian way of life is captured so well you can pretty much feel it. The surfing scenes were also exciting, fun and very vivid. Oh, and be prepared to get hungry while reading this book because the Walker family makes some delicious meals.
This isn't an easy book to read because it starts out like an average YA--a group of friends who hang out together, love to joke around and are in their last year of school. Then before you realise what's happening, everything gets turned upside down and the reader totally wipes out.
I also have to admit that while I really liked Grace at the beginning, I had a hard time liking her as she loses total control of her life and does some very stupid things with drugs, alcohol and boys. But having said that, of course it made sense. Grace loses everything that made her life awesome, so not caring about anything or anyone makes total sense.
Breathing Under Water is such an emotional and heartbreaking book. It introduces the reader to happy, laidback teenage twins whose life shatters much too early. It's also a journey into how one teenager handles grief, while watching those she loves collapse around her. And how she needs to drown in sadness before being able to find even a glimmer of hope on the horizon.
I really enjoyed this story. And don't forget: breakfast is the most important meal of the day. ;)
Grace and Ben Walker are twins. They live on the coast and are very close. The twins also love the ocean. Both of them are great surfers, but Ben is so good he's got sponsors and wins competitions. Grace has always lived in his shadow, coasted while he shone like a star.
When the new boy in school catches her eye, she can't believe someone isn't blinded by Ben's charisma and sees more in her than a small, skinny girl. After an awful incident happens to her best friend and seems to bring the group together, a horrifying tragedy strikes. Something that darkens Grace's world so much she loses herself when she was supposed to be concentrating on her last year of high school.
The fallout affects everyone, and threatens to drown all of them...
Wow. This book is heavy. It's written in a unique lyrical style, and I particularly loved the way the Australian way of life is captured so well you can pretty much feel it. The surfing scenes were also exciting, fun and very vivid. Oh, and be prepared to get hungry while reading this book because the Walker family makes some delicious meals.
This isn't an easy book to read because it starts out like an average YA--a group of friends who hang out together, love to joke around and are in their last year of school. Then before you realise what's happening, everything gets turned upside down and the reader totally wipes out.
I also have to admit that while I really liked Grace at the beginning, I had a hard time liking her as she loses total control of her life and does some very stupid things with drugs, alcohol and boys. But having said that, of course it made sense. Grace loses everything that made her life awesome, so not caring about anything or anyone makes total sense.
Breathing Under Water is such an emotional and heartbreaking book. It introduces the reader to happy, laidback teenage twins whose life shatters much too early. It's also a journey into how one teenager handles grief, while watching those she loves collapse around her. And how she needs to drown in sadness before being able to find even a glimmer of hope on the horizon.
I really enjoyed this story. And don't forget: breakfast is the most important meal of the day. ;)
October 5, 2016
I received a copy of Breathing Under Water from Hachette New Zealand in exchange for an honest review.
When I read the publicity release of this book it said that fans of John Green and Rainbow Rowell would love this book. That’s not the only reason I requested it because I’ve only really liked The Fault in Our Stars and two of Rainbow Rowell’s books. I haven’t read all of their books though. But it did give me an idea if I’d like this book and I did.
Grace’s world is torn apart when something horrible happens to her family. But she isn’t the only one that starts to unravel. There’s not a lot that Grace cares about for a while until one day she realises this isn’t the life she wants.
I liked Grace. She did kind of annoy me when she started drinking and doing drugs but I
can kind of understand what she was going through and I could definitely see why Grace was ‘acting out.’ That sounds so clichéd but I don’t really have any other words for it. She was obviously hurting and this is the way she chose to take her mind off everything and everyone. Grief affects us all differently and I don’t think I can judge her decisions, I’ve never been through anything like that.
Breathing Under Water is set in Australia and written by an Australian author. I haven’t read a lot of books set in Australia even though I’ve lived there twice. I’m not a very beachy person but this book had me wanting to go to a beach. Unfortunately the weather is really crap here and the beaches I was picturing from the book are not the same as my local beach, it has black sand…
I can’t say that I liked the journey that Grace went on in this book because it was a horrible thing to go through but I did like that Grace came out the other side of it a stronger person. It’s an emotional read full of grief, familial dispair and what happens to those left behind. I really enjoyed Breathing Under Water and I would definitely recommend it to fans of Rainbow Rowell and John Green.
When I read the publicity release of this book it said that fans of John Green and Rainbow Rowell would love this book. That’s not the only reason I requested it because I’ve only really liked The Fault in Our Stars and two of Rainbow Rowell’s books. I haven’t read all of their books though. But it did give me an idea if I’d like this book and I did.
Grace’s world is torn apart when something horrible happens to her family. But she isn’t the only one that starts to unravel. There’s not a lot that Grace cares about for a while until one day she realises this isn’t the life she wants.
I liked Grace. She did kind of annoy me when she started drinking and doing drugs but I
can kind of understand what she was going through and I could definitely see why Grace was ‘acting out.’ That sounds so clichéd but I don’t really have any other words for it. She was obviously hurting and this is the way she chose to take her mind off everything and everyone. Grief affects us all differently and I don’t think I can judge her decisions, I’ve never been through anything like that.
Breathing Under Water is set in Australia and written by an Australian author. I haven’t read a lot of books set in Australia even though I’ve lived there twice. I’m not a very beachy person but this book had me wanting to go to a beach. Unfortunately the weather is really crap here and the beaches I was picturing from the book are not the same as my local beach, it has black sand…
I can’t say that I liked the journey that Grace went on in this book because it was a horrible thing to go through but I did like that Grace came out the other side of it a stronger person. It’s an emotional read full of grief, familial dispair and what happens to those left behind. I really enjoyed Breathing Under Water and I would definitely recommend it to fans of Rainbow Rowell and John Green.
July 11, 2017
Seriously, this book made me feel.
I've been so busy over the last week that I haven't really had a chance to properly sit down and read this in one go, which is what I think you should do. I made the mistake of reading it slowly, mostly over the last three nights, and have gone to bed each night with tears seeping out of my closed eyelids. I was an emotional wreck through that whole second half basically. I almost dreaded picking it up each evening because I knew I was going to start crying at some point.
There is something really beautiful about Sophie's writing, it's wonderfully lyrical and mesmerising. Quite a few gems of quotes hidden in there. After reading her memoir and now this I can't wait to see what else she comes up with.
The only thing I really had an issue with were some of the reactions from other characters. Mainly Harley. Don't get me wrong he's a sweetheart, but also he left Grace to grieve alone because it "wasn't his place" and "she needed space". Like hell! If someone you care about is falling apart from grief you don't decide to let them deal with it on their own because they're the only person who can fix themselves. I just thought it was a really selfish attitude, a kind of only there for the sunny days type thing.
Then there was the whole rape thing with Mia. I'm so on the fence about whether it needed to be included. On the one hand it felt a little like a way to drive the plot forward and get Mia and Ben to "realise" their feelings for each other. On the other hand, maybe it's representative of how common rape at parties is, that it doesn't really even get a reaction beyond a couple of chapters and a brief mention of the police? I don't know, I don't think it really added anything.
Despite those two complaints, I really think this is a beautiful, heartbreaking book that I highly recommend.
I've been so busy over the last week that I haven't really had a chance to properly sit down and read this in one go, which is what I think you should do. I made the mistake of reading it slowly, mostly over the last three nights, and have gone to bed each night with tears seeping out of my closed eyelids. I was an emotional wreck through that whole second half basically. I almost dreaded picking it up each evening because I knew I was going to start crying at some point.
There is something really beautiful about Sophie's writing, it's wonderfully lyrical and mesmerising. Quite a few gems of quotes hidden in there. After reading her memoir and now this I can't wait to see what else she comes up with.
The only thing I really had an issue with were some of the reactions from other characters. Mainly Harley. Don't get me wrong he's a sweetheart, but also he left Grace to grieve alone because it "wasn't his place" and "she needed space". Like hell! If someone you care about is falling apart from grief you don't decide to let them deal with it on their own because they're the only person who can fix themselves. I just thought it was a really selfish attitude, a kind of only there for the sunny days type thing.
Then there was the whole rape thing with Mia. I'm so on the fence about whether it needed to be included. On the one hand it felt a little like a way to drive the plot forward and get Mia and Ben to "realise" their feelings for each other. On the other hand, maybe it's representative of how common rape at parties is, that it doesn't really even get a reaction beyond a couple of chapters and a brief mention of the police? I don't know, I don't think it really added anything.
Despite those two complaints, I really think this is a beautiful, heartbreaking book that I highly recommend.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 2, 2016
Sophie Hardcastle’s debut YA contemporary novel is both beautifully written and compelling. It’s definitely one of my top picks for the year!
“I stroke up to the line-up, weak with jelly limbs, sit up on my board and wipe matted hair from my skin. My feet dangle from my board, swaying with the gentle currents. Tonight a crescent moon rests on dark water.”
The story begins centred on Grace and Ben, twins who love to surf; though Grace seems to be obscured by her brother’s success. Their relationship is a complex one, and Hardcastle has captured their personalities and the different characters in their family so well. But this is a story which has so many more dimensions to it. There’s a depth of insight into how people are affected by grief, and friendships are tested when the unthinkable happens. When reading it, you can’t help but be inextricably drawn into the lives of the Walker family and those around them. There is a warmth to this narrative, which flows with an emotional tide leading to a heartfelt end. In all, I’d definitely recommend Breathing Under Water, especially for fans of [Book: One] by Sarah Crossan and I’ll Give You The Sun by Jandy Nelson. - Eugenia, QBD Miranda
“I stroke up to the line-up, weak with jelly limbs, sit up on my board and wipe matted hair from my skin. My feet dangle from my board, swaying with the gentle currents. Tonight a crescent moon rests on dark water.”
The story begins centred on Grace and Ben, twins who love to surf; though Grace seems to be obscured by her brother’s success. Their relationship is a complex one, and Hardcastle has captured their personalities and the different characters in their family so well. But this is a story which has so many more dimensions to it. There’s a depth of insight into how people are affected by grief, and friendships are tested when the unthinkable happens. When reading it, you can’t help but be inextricably drawn into the lives of the Walker family and those around them. There is a warmth to this narrative, which flows with an emotional tide leading to a heartfelt end. In all, I’d definitely recommend Breathing Under Water, especially for fans of [Book: One] by Sarah Crossan and I’ll Give You The Sun by Jandy Nelson. - Eugenia, QBD Miranda
December 7, 2017
5 beautiful stars
Nothing I will write can do this book justice. Immediately after finishing this book there were tears streaming down my face.
Amazing Ben! A true beacon of light. A caring and protective brother. A character you wish existed in real life for he would be a pleasure to meet. Always having fun and not letting anything define him.
Grace Walker. I connected with her from the first page. I felt like she was a real person and not fictional.
Grace’s grief was painful and raw. Hard to imagine but Hardcastle really portraits grief the way it is. Everybody experiences grief in a different way and has their own coping mechanisms. Grace’s was smoking, sometimes drugs, warping in and out of reality and seeing her brother as a ghost. Grace spent a long time suffering. As a reader you sympathise with Grace no matter her troubles and this causes an immediate connection and relationship between the character and the reader.
Hardcastle writes in a simple and delicate way. I am always aware of the characters surrounding, thoughts and actions. Not many authors can really transport you somewhere else, where you have no outside thoughts and you are truly in the character’s world.
I live in Australia and this book is set in NSW. Hardcastle does justice to the Australian landscape and lifestyle. Grace and Ben grew up in a small town by the sea. A modest home with incredible views. I felt a connection to the character’s immediately as I live in NSW and the beach is a short drive away.
This book is emotionally powerful and I can not recommend it enough. Do yourself a favour and pick it up.
Nothing I will write can do this book justice. Immediately after finishing this book there were tears streaming down my face.
Amazing Ben! A true beacon of light. A caring and protective brother. A character you wish existed in real life for he would be a pleasure to meet. Always having fun and not letting anything define him.
Grace Walker. I connected with her from the first page. I felt like she was a real person and not fictional.
Grace’s grief was painful and raw. Hard to imagine but Hardcastle really portraits grief the way it is. Everybody experiences grief in a different way and has their own coping mechanisms. Grace’s was smoking, sometimes drugs, warping in and out of reality and seeing her brother as a ghost. Grace spent a long time suffering. As a reader you sympathise with Grace no matter her troubles and this causes an immediate connection and relationship between the character and the reader.
Hardcastle writes in a simple and delicate way. I am always aware of the characters surrounding, thoughts and actions. Not many authors can really transport you somewhere else, where you have no outside thoughts and you are truly in the character’s world.
I live in Australia and this book is set in NSW. Hardcastle does justice to the Australian landscape and lifestyle. Grace and Ben grew up in a small town by the sea. A modest home with incredible views. I felt a connection to the character’s immediately as I live in NSW and the beach is a short drive away.
This book is emotionally powerful and I can not recommend it enough. Do yourself a favour and pick it up.
July 20, 2016
A Heartbreaking and incredibly amazing book
May 18, 2017
This book hit me right in the feels! I don't know if it's because I have a twin, or because I've been so focussed on uni work that I found it really easy to get completely absorbed by the story, or because I haven't got super emotional about a book in a while, but I was a wreck for at least the last quarter of this book. Even though some plot points or characters annoyed me, and sometimes the writing was a bit flowery, I still really enjoyed this story because it felt so authentic. I read Sophie's memoir, and some of the overlaps (the chamomile tea in the counsellors office, the descriptive, poetic musings about the ocean etc) made the whole story a bit more real for me, like this story really came from Sophie's heart. It also made me cry a lot, which in a sad/hopeful book is what I like, (I don't like feeling like I should be sad because of the subject matter but remaining unaffected because the writing doesn't connect me emotionally to the story), and my heart just really broke for Grace. The comments about her body at the beginning got a bit much, because I feel like she could have been portrayed as insecure without constantly referencing her lack of boobs, and as I mentioned before, some of the writing was too flowery and pushing the limit between poetic and irritating. Despite some little issues, I realky dud love this book. I liked Ben, the golden boy, I liked Jake, the wild party boy, I liked the strength Mia showed. Harley was a bit flat as a romantic interest, I felt like there wasn't a heap of depth behind him. I really related to the character of Grace for some reason, especially when she used drinking and partying to try to deal with her pain, because I've been there. I just really wanted to see her start to heal and be okay again, and I could not put the book down until she did!
September 23, 2019
Grace and Ben are twins; surfing is their life. Especially for Ben, up and coming star, recipient of endless sponsorship deals, winner of nearly every surfing competition. Grace always feels like she’s in Ben’s shadow, but can’t imagine life any other way - until she has to.
Quite a slow moving book. Hardly anything of note happens in the first half, and a lot of the second half follows Grace’s journey into very messy despair. Despite this, the book grew on me and I really wanted things to work out for Grace. It’s not as sparky as John Green’s books or as wistful as All the Bright Places, but it’s definitely got something. Australian small-town coastal life is portrayed so well; descriptions are evocative and you feel like you are right there. Will probably appeal to fans of the books mentioned, as well as those who like Sara Barnard’s books. Definitely not for younger readers.
Quite a slow moving book. Hardly anything of note happens in the first half, and a lot of the second half follows Grace’s journey into very messy despair. Despite this, the book grew on me and I really wanted things to work out for Grace. It’s not as sparky as John Green’s books or as wistful as All the Bright Places, but it’s definitely got something. Australian small-town coastal life is portrayed so well; descriptions are evocative and you feel like you are right there. Will probably appeal to fans of the books mentioned, as well as those who like Sara Barnard’s books. Definitely not for younger readers.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 3, 2018
I really loved this book! It was so sad when Grace lost her brother Ben so tragically. It was so emotional, but she and her family got through it and Grace found love.
I would recommend this book to everyone who loves to read YA. The author done good with this book and it was amazing. Keep up the good work Sophie! Keep on writing great books like this!
I would recommend this book to everyone who loves to read YA. The author done good with this book and it was amazing. Keep up the good work Sophie! Keep on writing great books like this!
February 13, 2021
RATING: 4.5
This book was beautifully written. The first page had me hooked, and once I finished this book I felt a little broken and wanted more but I think it ended perfectly. I definitely recommend this book, It's an easy read and i was able to finish it quite quickly.
This book was beautifully written. The first page had me hooked, and once I finished this book I felt a little broken and wanted more but I think it ended perfectly. I definitely recommend this book, It's an easy read and i was able to finish it quite quickly.
November 29, 2022
Childhood favourite!!
October 8, 2018
New to me Australian author. Very colourful language, a tale of almost adults and having to deal with the good and the bad life throws at them. Grace and Ben are twins. This is Grace’s story. Very moving and thought provoking.
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