Goldfish: A Novel

Girl out of Water #1

by Nat Luurtsema

I am Lou Brown:

Social outcast, precocious failure, 5'10" and still growing.

I was on the fast track to the Olympic superstardom.

Now, I'm training boys too cool to talk to me. In a sport I just made up. In a fish tank.

My life has quickly become very weird.

Nat Luurtsema's YA debut is side-splittingly funny and painfully true to anyone who's just trying to figure out how they fit into the world.

Genres: Young Adult, Sports, Contemporary, Realistic Fiction, Humor, Friendship, Romance

240 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 7, 2016

About the author

Nat Luurtsema is a BAFTA-nominated screenwriter, a BAFTA Rocliffe alumni, stand-up comic, author, actor and a third of sketch group Jigsaw.

She has just finished directing WYRDOES, a comedy feminist ‘Macbeth’, with backing from Film London, Film4 and the British Arts Council. It will be a part of the Shakespeare Lives worldwide tour, which will play to an audience of 500 million.

Nat plays Tallulah Bankhead in FLORENCE FOSTER JENKINS, directed by Stephen Frears.

Nat is developing two feature films and adapting the novel Spilt Milk Black Coffee by Helen Cross, for Mighty Atom Entertainment.

Nat’s latest book is a Young Adult novel – GIRL OUT OF WATER – to be published June 2016 in the UK, Germany, France and Italy. It will simultaneously publish as GOLDFISH in USA.

Reviews

[Kai Spellmeier · Rating 4 out of 5]

“You swim no one's race but your own.”

This is one of the funniest books of 2016. I honestly could not stop laughing, which, to be honest, was a bit embarrassing since I was reading in public. I gave my best but Nat Luurtsema is just too hilarious. 100% laugh out loud guarantee.

I'm glad the author decided to write a YA novel. She's got talent for quick, light-hearted stories and unintentionally funny characters.
I loved the main characters' family. The parents were loving but not too perfect, the sister just the right kind of annoying but protective that we know from our own siblings. All in all, it was very relatable.
Another thing that made me immensely happy, is the Harry Potter references. I mean, Lou's sister is called Lavender Brown. Duh.

So why am I not giving this 5 stars? Because only my absolute favourite books deserve this honour. And while I had the most fun time reading this, it didn't have enough depth to be entirely perfect. It was close though. I really hope Nat Luurtsema keeps writing books. Sometimes all you need is a perfect summer read. And if you do, go and pick Girl Out of Water/Goldfish.

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[Aj the Ravenous Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

A laugh-out-loud coming off age story about the tall, awkward and lanky Lou who didn’t make it to the High Performance Training Camp for swimmers and ended up fending for herself back at her school without Hannah, her best friend .Of course, she has to go through each day friendless and alone until she unexpectedly gets involved with three of the most popular guys in school and her life gets upturned in the most unusual and hilarious way.

I don’t want to give much of the plot away because that’s one of the funniest elements of the story aside from the adorable British humor that of course includes super relatable self-deprecation.

“I don’t want to die just before I get pretty, with everyone at my funeral saying, “Such a shame. She finally grew into that nose.”” So much Lol!

I would definitely recommend this book for anyone looking for a light, funny and entertaining read. A movie version would surely be a delight to see.

[Valerie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Before I get into this review, I have to mention that I'm probably incredibly biased. You see, talking about Goldfish made me remember my swimming career. From ages 11-14, I thrived in the swimming world. My times were always improving, I qualified for a number of swim meets, I had many friends, and I had great times. Unfortunately, once I hit 15 years old, it all went down from there. My body stopped growing, my peers in high school were faster than I was, and my personal records stayed the same. I grew to hate the meets and the practices and I had no friends among my new team. For me, everything sucked.

Goldfish made me remember all of that. And more importantly, it made me miss swimming. Or at least the time I was 11-14.

Because you see, Lou is in the same exact position as I was. Instead of an outstanding race, Lou fails at making the cut-offs for a qualifying swim camp. But her best friend does. Because of this, Lou is incredibly heartbroken and decides to quit swimming, because how can you go back to a team that expected more from you?

As a 15 year old, this is huge. This is the time in your career where you either find out you have a talent in swimming, or you suck (that was the latter for me). Because of the meet, she feels like everyone will shun her, like her swim coach (which she does, that bitch). Plus, with Hannah at swim camp, she has no other friends.

That is, until she forms a group with a couple of guys who want to learn synchronized swimming for some talent show. With time, and planning and research, she ends up becoming friends with the three of them, despite everyone else on her original swim team looking down on her.

I'm going to go ahead and point out that I know nothing about synchronized swimming. I don't know whether the events in the novel are accurate, or whether it really is that simple to audition for a talent show (and bring in a tank for that matter). Or whether it really is that original for synchronized swimming to be a talent, especially when it's a couple of guys and Lou, neither of whom are trained in this sort of thing. What really made this novel for me, is that you CAN move on and be BETTER at other things. Just because you failed at one thing, doesn't mean you will at others. Ever since I have quit swimming, this is what I've been doing everyday. Discovering my other passions.

Overall, I thought this novel was a fun, light read. Even though the main character is a little young, younger than we see in most YA, I felt that it had to be this age because as I mentioned before, this is when decide whether to quit or continue. I think I would recommend this more to readers that used to be, or still are, swimmers, just because it's easier to connect with Lou (Like me!)

I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review. Quotes taken from ARC may or may not be in the published edition.

[Eileen (BookCatPin) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Goldfish is an oldie but a goodie. It's exactly the type of story to read when you need a breather. The book is quick, fun and easy to read.

Lou was a lot younger than I expected and it showed in her voice. The triple speed inner monologues, her always panicky thoughts were all indicators on how much growing up she needed to do. I liked Lou. Despite her whiny nature and lack of confidence she was never pretentious and had sass at times. Lou Brown was generally a good person.

The boys were fun to get to know. They may not have been the friendliest to Lou (in the beginning) but their dedication had me moved. I loved seeing how serious they were on making it onto the reality show BHT. No amount of obstacles was going to stop them and trust me when I say they encountered quite a few roadblocks. In various shapes and sizes (literally).

There was the tiniest bit of romance which was cute and a whole lot of family and friendship in Goldfish. Lou's family was hilarious. They're odd, not the most showy affectionate bunch but always supportive. It was touching to see the literal distance they went for Lou and her best friend. Even the boys helped out.

Goldfish served up what the synopsis said it would. With a quirky main character and bizarre but realistic occasions I recommend picking this one up whenever you need a break from heavier stories.

[Stace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lou Brown has only one goal in life, to become an Olympic swimmer, along with her one and only friend, Hannah who is a swimmer too.

But when Lou fails to make it in the heats to get into the prestigious high-performance training camp, and Hannah does, she is left with no swimming lessons, no best friend to hand around with, and no purpose to her life.

Things get doubly hard for her at school without Hannah, as Lou is classed as a social outcast, and no-one wants to sit with her, let alone talk to her. So why is it that three of the cool boys are trying to get her attention, and what on earth are they trying to do in the swimming pool?

Girl out of Water is a hilarious account of one young girl’s life. Lou is extremely funny and witty and had me crying with laughter, at and with her, throughout the book.

Her life is completely bizarre, from an older sister who pretends that she doesn’t even know her, to a divorced mum and dad that live together, whilst her mum goes on dates with other men, and her out of work dad goes out everyday in his suit, pretending to go to job interviews. Plus there is also her friend Hannah, who seems to be losing the plot whilst she is away at camp, making for a daring rescue mission.

The cool boys, Gabriel, Roman and Pete, want to win the Britain’s Hidden Talent contest, and they want to do it with a sort of synchronised swimming, underwater dancing show. They have already failed one audition and now they need Lou to teach them everything she knows and to train them up, so that they can win. The boys are complete individuals, personality-wise, yet they are all just as wacky as Lou. Over time you start to notice a friendship occurring between the outcast and the cool kids.

The plot had me hooked right from the opening chapter and I read the book in two sittings, on a return train journey. I had many strange looks at times as I actually did laugh out loud on the train in front of lots of strangers – oops!

If you are looking for a book that will give you a happiness-boost and lighten your mood, then this is the one. Whether you are 8 or 80, you will love this book.

Reviewed by Stacey at www.whisperingstories.com

[Kelly (Diva Booknerd) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Girl Out Of Water was an absolute delight. Following the storyline of Lou, awkward, lumbering and clumsy. As she treads water, Lou is a vision of grace but after coming in last to qualify for the Performance Training Camp, she now faces the prospect of life beyond the water. Lou is by far one of my favourite fictional characters, she's intelligent, hilarious and incredibly entertaining. Her inner monologue often refers to how awkward she feels as a young woman with an athletic body, she's not particularly self conscious, but aware that she's towering and muscular. But Lou also uses humour in awkward situations, which only endeared me to her character further.
It's fine. If I ever get a boyfriend, I can carry him around when he's tired.

She wobbles away on her monstrous shoes. She looks like a baby gazelle. I can't imagine how dumb I look when I clump along behind her. Gazelle and the mammoth, off on their adventures.
With older sister Laverne, the Brown household is an usual family situation. After losing his job, her father has moved back into the family home, while her mother is experimenting with dating often with disastrous results. In what is an unusual role reversal for young adult novels, it's their father who is the homemaker, while her mother's specialty dish is food poisoning. Lou's parents are incredibly supportive, they understand her devastation but encourage the fifteen year old to spread her wings and concentrate on her studies. The only problem Lou faces now is a life without swimming and discovering who she is without best friend Hannah, a girl who Lou has always been content to stand in her shadow.

Pete, Roman and Gabe have been practicing as an amateur dance troupe, but having already filled their quota, are refused entry into the Britain's Hidden Talent competition and need to find a niche to enter with a new routine and employ Lou's assistance.

It was incredibly charming, not to mention laugh out loud funny. It also touched on series issues such as realistic body image and the pressure teens face often from parental influences. While Lou's family is incredibly supportive, her best friend Hannah is the daughter of two parents who push the young teen to her limits. She's spent, suffering from low self esteem and yet her voice isn't heard until another adult speaks for her. Between both Lou and Hannah's characters, teens will find a relatable medium they can champion.

I absolutely loved it. Never a dull moment, Lou's character hooked me from he very first page and reduced me to big, honking, incredibly unattractive laughing. A brilliantly entertaining read and a feel great experience!
http://www.divabooknerd.com/2016/07/g...

[Alice-Elizabeth (Prolific Reader Alice) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 out of 5 stars!

I would like to thank Maximum Pop Books, Walker Books and the author Nat Luurtsema for sending me a copy of Girl Out Of Water in exchange for an honest review.

For any fans of Louise Rennison, this book is perfect for you! It's heartwarming humor makes for a great teen read full of mishaps and mischief. Lou is a fifteen year old trying out for Team GB and the national swimming camp but when she fails to qualify and her best friend Hannah makes it, she finds herself friendless and coachless all in one go. She tries to make friends but on making friends with three handsome boys (Pete, Roman, Gabe), trying to coach them in synchro swimming turns into a disaster-filled roller-coaster of a ride.

I really like Nat's writing style and how the story wrapped up towards the end, I was giggling at the thought of synchro swimming going wrong throughout. This story definitely made me smile and I would recommend to girls age 12+. I had no major issues with the story and felt that Lou was a quirky but caring character.

[Dahlia]

This was fun! A really cute premise and a voice that had sporadic hints of hilarity. If you liked sports-themed YAs, add this one to your TBR.

[T.J. Burns · Rating 5 out of 5]

TJ's Time Travel Tips
https://tjtimetraveltips.wordpress.co...

Goldfish was not at all what I expected when I started reading. I expected Lou to come out of her shell a bit, I expected her to make a friend or two, and even meet a boy. But the rest? No frickin’ way! This story was amazing! So creative, so interesting – at so many levels. And exciting!

The brilliance lies in the narrative – the inner thoughts of Lou Brown. There is such a huge contrast between Lou’s thoughts (witty, original, and creative to the extreme!) and her words to anyone outside of her family or best friend (awkward, insecure, or nonexistent).

As an extrovert, it was fascinating to watch. My father, an introvert, was constantly telling me of the witty and utterly brilliant retorts that he… came up with after the fact or thought but never uttered.

Lou, 15-years-old, insecure, self-conscious, and very much an introvert, has been sailing through life in the shadow of her extroverted best friend, Hannah. Suddenly finding herself separated from Hannah, Lou doesn’t know how to interact outside of her family. The one aspect of her life that had given her an element of self-confidence, competitive swimming, was also ripped from her. She is like a fish out of water. A goldfish out of water.

There are enough excitement and plot twists, as well as witty dialogue, in this book to make a wonderful movie! Absent, of course, would be Lou’s inner dialogue (unless Lou narrated her thoughts, which I would recommend – they are just too clever to leave out). But once Lou finally started speaking her clever thoughts out loud, and found a friend, who understood and shared her wit, Gabe, the two of them had me laughing out loud! Literally. I laughed so hard I cried at one point.

The story also has depth. It deals with eating disorders, healthy body images, teen angst, driving competitiveness, the role of the family in a teen’s development, and the deeper meaning of friendship. This book is brilliant. I highly recommend it to anyone at any age! 5 stars!

I received a copy of this book from Macmillan Children's Publishing Group via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Nadja · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this young adult contemporary. It's a perfect summer read! I looooved Lou. Her humour is simply brilliant. I can't give five stars because in the end it got a bit too over the top for me but I will read the sequel for sure and I need to check out Nat Luurtsema's other books as well.

[Shannon Miz]

I loved this book. I have a lot of emotions right now, for personal reasons, and I am really thankful that in nearly 2 decades of swimming, I never had a "Debs". This book means a lot to me for a lot of reasons, and I will be writing a review soon that hopefully does it justice, as well as sharing some feelings about all the other stuff.

But until then? Add this to your TBR, basically.

[Rupali · Rating 3 out of 5]

"You swim no one's race, but your own."

Entertaining, and quite funny. Very enjoyable.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Girl Out of Water has been on my hit list since I first heard the author read an excerpt from it at a blogger event last year so you can imagine my excitement when this book finally arrived in the post. I dropped everything to read it, and this review has been sitting for weeks waiting to be published. I could not even think about putting off the reading to a later date.

Lou and her friend try out for a High Performance Training Camp, which is the stepping stones to getting into Team GB. However, Lou doesn't quite make the cut, and she finds herself at a loss, no best friend in school, and large amounts of free time in her hands. All her hours spent training wasted.

I sometimes used to wonder what I was missing as I pounded out the lengths in the pool. Now I know: NOTHING.

At a loss and missing the water, Lou finds herself spending time at the pool, and bumps into an unlikely trio, Pete, Gabriel, and Roman. who want to try out for Britain's Hidden Talent, after they were rejected on thier first attempt, they want Lou to coach them in a different form of dance.

Girl Out of Water was an hilarious read, and I devoured every single page. I loved seeing Lou change through the book, from a swimmer, to a girl, and all the troubles that come with it, including boys. Her crazy family and sister try thier best but mostly just annoy her. I have honestly not laughed so much as I did reading this book, and I did not want it to end. The antics that Lou and the boys get up to are unbelievable, and do lead to disastrous events, but you really can't help but laugh.

I don't want to say too much about Girl Out of Water as I'm trying not to spoil it for you, and I want you to see how it all ends. I want you to take this journey with Lou, and follow the ups, downs, and everything in between with her. I want you to love Lou just as much as I did, and then demand more.

Final Verdict
Girl Out of Water is a laugh out loud read, it's like my favourite books were thrown into a blender, and Girl Out of Water is the baby. It's perfect for fans of Geek Girl and The It Girl.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve never really been one to pick up contemporary YA books, even during my actual teenage years; I’m not suggesting that they aren’t worth reading (although judging by some of the comments I’ve seen here on Goodreads, the genre might not be in the best state), it’s just that I prefer more ‘adult’ fiction, like my beloved dystopian classics and historical novels. Ordinarily I wouldn’t have chosen this, since it’s quite obviously marketed for girls in their early teens and uses a lot of YA clichés, such as the awkward protagonist who doesn’t fit in, so it fits seamlessly into the genre and makes the story itself almost familiar, in a way. You all know the score: A socially awkward girl who might be going through a rough patch makes some unexpected new friends, and despite all the family and relationship drama going on around her (and of course the machinations of the school’s mean Queen Bee), manages to reach a happy ending (and maybe even get her first boyfriend!)

So it is with Luurtsema’s novel. 15-year-old Lou Brown has spent most of her life in the company of her best friend, Hannah, and together they hope to be entered into an elite training camp for future members of the British Olympic swimming team. However, her dreams are crushed when she fails to qualify, and she faces the daunting prospect of returning to school, trying to make new friends and coming to terms with the fact that she might not, after all, be cut out for the world of competitive sport. But when she is approached by three of the school’s most popular boys – snarky Pete, drop-dead-gorgeous Roman, and Roman’s sweet-natured brother, Gabe – who, wanting to earn a spot on a national talent show, hope that she can teach them the ins and outs of synchronised swimming, Lou’s apparently ordinary life will change in ways she never could have expected.

Despite its rather basic YA formula, it’s the meat on the bones of Luurtsema’s plot that makes Girl Out of Water stand out from the crowd. With its focus on the often harsh reality of the sporting world and the ways in which it affects both Lou and Hannah (with some nicely-handled hints at eating disorders and issues with body image in Hannah’s character), their believable reactions to the situations they now find themselves in, the hilarious, accident-filled path of Lou and the boys towards possible stardom, Lou’s kind of complicated family situation (her parents are divorced, but her dad has been forced to move back in with them until he can find another job), the gradual romance that forms between Lou and Gabe... I could go on and on about the aspects of this book that really made it work for me.

I’m actually glad that Luurtsema didn’t write the sort of ending that I was expecting. Instead of topping off their rise to online stardom with a victory over the popular girls on Britain’s Hidden Talent, a malfunction with their equipment turns the gang’s audition into a complete disaster – and though they’re understandably annoyed by it, they quickly move on, which gives out a really positive message of friendship over fame.

The characters are also very well-drawn (the protagonists, anyway), and while they’re clearly designed to fill certain roles, such as the gorgeous, boy-crazy sister of the protagonist (Lav), they’ve been given nuances that allow them to go beyond stereotypes. For example, Lav turns out to actually be quite caring and supportive, despite the first impressions we get of her; Gabe might be designated as the love interest, but his struggle with ME and his determination to carry on with everyday life even with this condition makes him more than just your cut-and-paste nice guy. Meanwhile some of the antagonists, like Cammie – the book’s answer to Mean Girls’ Regina George – and Hannah’s pushy parents, seem to be more functional and act as a way of adding colour to the setting, rather than being completely fleshed-out.

The fact that the romance didn’t take over the entire plot was a major positive for me. It’s built up gradually, and even when the readers can see the chemistry (and the characters themselves acknowledge it in really subtle ways), Lou and Gabe never lose sight of their main goal or exclude any of the others in favour of their new-found crush. Indeed, all three of the boys, with their background as an amateur street dance crew and endearing mixture of sweetness and sass, passed as good characters in my opinion.

It might be a bit exaggerated, but Luurtsema knows her teen and pop culture. While references to Harry Potter, Doctor Who and the like are peppered throughout, and Lou is plagued by typical teen worries of losing her best friend, wondering if she’ll ever get a boyfriend, and being unceremoniously removed from her former swim team’s WhatsApp group, there are some elements that make Girl Out of Water like a sort of sitcom – result being that I lost count of the amount of times I laughed. When the Brown family isn’t accidentally gatecrashing someone else’s funeral – not Uncle Hector, or Hamish, or Hagrid’s... whatever he was called! – Lav is on hand with a (not always appropriate) joke or two about her latest boyfriend, or Lou is in such a hurry to get to class that she trips, and half a packet of tampons fall out of her bag. I won’t say any more, but rest assured that this book is a guaranteed giggle, if nothing else.

One thing that did irk me a little was the use of several Americanisms in the proof, such as ‘mall’ and ‘try-out’. I’m not sure if this is because it’s being published under different names in the US and UK, or if it just needs these to reach that wider audience, but they didn’t seem to fit that well with the British setting. Not a major niggle, though, and it didn’t detract from my enjoyment of the book!

Overall...
A sweet, quirky and hilarious teen read, I would definitely recommend this if you like YA contemporary and are looking for something a bit different (whether you’re technically in its target audience or not!) 4.5 stars.

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read for Goodreads 2018 Summer Reading Challenge, Expert Level.
Sports-a-holic: Read a book that features a popular summer sport

A book about a summer sport, huh? Ummm...what DO people do in summer? Me? I sit around in the air conditioning and read. But if I did decide to leave my artificially cooled environment to brave too triple digit temperatures summer brings to southern California, I would be heading for the water. Ah, yes. Swimming. The perfect summer sport. Hence this book.

And this book. Oh. My. Word. It made me laugh so hard that I couldn't keep reading because my eyes were watering and I couldn't breathe. It was so bad that my coworker came into the break room to make sure I wasn't dying. The funeral scene. Oh, my. That scene alone is worth reading this book. No joke.

Actually, this book made me laugh several times, and I found Lou's commentaries on life to be refreshing and absolutely hilarious. And I love her dad. Actually, I was pleased to find that I liked pretty much everyone in this book. Are they perfect? Not even close. But neither are actual humans. So while, yes, the characters were clichéd, they also felt like they could be real people. And the family relationships were wonderful.

The story itself was unique and turned out not to be anything like I had expected. In fact, it was BETTER than I had expected, and that's not something I can say very often. So while I normally reserve five-star reviews for books that are life changing, I'm giving this one full marks. Why? Because it was basically a perfect younger YA novel. Fun, wholesome literature with a vital message that teens need to hear. Besides, any book that can make me laugh so hard that the whole building hears me gets a star boost for sure. Kudos to the author. Highly recommended.

[Bee · Rating 5 out of 5]

A surprisingly funny, uplifting book that came out of nowhere! It had been sitting on my to-read shelf for more than 2 years and it never really caught my eye. And then when I started reading it, I pretty much finished it in one day.

The main character, Lou, is refreshingly unique, and although the book follows a pretty standard plot, it has so many laugh out loud moments that I can’t help but give it five stars. Having said that, the plot is actually quite unique as well. Yes, it’s a girl-overcomes-her-issues / girl-meets-boy type of book, but it’s also... not? It has so many unique characters, witty moments, and down right absurdity that I can’t actually call it a straightforward plot.

It reminds me so much of Louise Rennison!

[ReginLaRadiosa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mia sorella ha un sacco di ragazzi che le chiedono di uscire mentre io ho soltanto una squadra di nuoto sincronizzato parecchio polemica.

Questa è la storia della quindicenne Lou Brown, una giovane nuotatrice che, insieme alla sua migliore amica Hannah, gareggia per entrare a far parte della squadra olimpica inglese. Lou è in forma e agguerrita, porta il suo corpo allo stremo delle forze ma non riesce a vincere la gara.. a differenza di Hannah che si qualifica vittoriosa.
Nonostante l’affetto che le lega, dentro di sé Lou è anche un po’ invidiosa ma proseguendo la lettura scopriamo che Hannah è una figura molto più importante di una “semplice” migliore amica: è un’alleata e una spalla su cui contare sempre; sono una squadra composta da due quindicenni unite da una passione che nessun altro comprende.
Lou al di fuori del suo elemento e senza il supporto di Hannah è veramente come un pesce fuor d’acqua e ne combina di tutti i colori!

Tornare a scuola non sarebbe un problema se anche lei non fosse passata. Potremmo affrontarla insieme, magari insinuando che la gara fosse un complotto; che siamo andate troppo veloci, costituendo una minaccia per le relazioni internazionali alle prossime Olimpiadi, quando avremmo stracciato tutti con i nostri record strabilianti.
[..] Non assomigliamo alle principesse delle favole, ma ai rampicanti incantati che ricoprono il suo castello da centinaia di anni.
E’ sempre stato rassicurante avere una migliore amica strana quanto me. E non ci è mai importato, perchè avevamo il nuoto, avevamo la nostra passione. Ora la mia passione se n’è andata e anche la mia amica.

Se inizialmente il suo timore era di venire derisa per aver perso, ben presto capisce che a nessun interessa del suo fallimento, del nuoto e soprattutto di lei; tenta anche più volte l'”Operazione Amici” ma senza grandi risultati, ahimè.

La svolta avviene quando tre bellissimi ragazzi che frequentano la sua scuola le chiedono aiuto per un talent show e Lou, inspiegabilmente, accetta.



“Una ragazza fuor d’acqua” è una vera rivelazione per me: l’ho adorato alla follia!

La narrazione è in prima persona: Lou è la protagonista indiscussa e conquista l’animo del lettore con le sue battute taglienti, la sua timidezza e le sue immancabili paranoie!

E’ una ragazza che ha sempre vissuto nell’ombra della sua migliore amica e ora che Hannah è lontana si ritrova sola e sperduta. L’entrata in scena di Pete, Gabe e Roman non è tutta rosa e fiori ma sono rimasta affascinata dai loro battibecchi e dall’affetto che poi nasce nel gruppo.

Questo romanzo è dedicato a un pubblico giovane ma che, sono certa, saprebbe conquistare anche il cuore di un adulto.

Nat Luurtsema racconta dell’adolescenza con uno stile fluido, semplice e schietto. I temi che tratta sono nascosti tra le righe eppure per un occhio attento risaltano con estrema facilità perchè riesce a trattare degli argomenti importanti in modo molto delicato e talvolta anche ironico e simpatico.

Il Battello a Vapore mi ha accompagnata per tanti anni della mia adolescenza e ora sto riscoprendo dei romanzi che meritano davvero un’attenzione in più.

Grazie alla sua semplicità e dolcezza, “Una ragazza fuor d’acqua” scala la mia personale classifica dei libri più belli del 2016.

Regalatelo a Natale, leggetelo per voi stessi, per i vostri figli.. quello che preferite, ma non lasciatevelo assolutamente scappare!

[Clarabel · Rating 5 out of 5]

J'ai adoré du début à la fin, je voulais me fondre dans la vie de Louisa Brown, et celle de ses proches, pour retenir ce vent de folie douce qui chamboule à ravir leur routine. C'est frais, pétillant et complètement délirant. Un roman à l'humour anglais extrêmement savoureux. J'en veux encore !

http://blogclarabel.canalblog.com/arc...

[Laura.125Pages · Rating 3 out of 5]

This review was originally posted on www.125pages.com Goldfish by Nat Luurtsema was a cute story that offered some really great moments. It also offered some moments where I was super frustrated with the narrator. Lou had everything going for her. A great best friend, a possible Olympic level swimming career, a coach who believed in her. So going into the qualifiers for a prestigious training camp should have been the best day of her life. Instead, it changes everything. Lou’s path has changed and the support she thought she had is gone. Now left with time on her hands she runs across a group of three boys with a plan to get on Britain’s Got Talent. A plan that involves her, a synchronized swimming routine and an aquarium.

The plot of Goldfish was unique. It’s not often you think of a YA story that involves a televised talent show, viral videos, choreographed male swimmers and shattered dreams all combined. I enjoyed the writing of Nat Luurtsema. She was able to combine so very disparate elements and make them all work together in a very cohesive manner. The pacing had a few issues. There were a few bumpy transitions and odd time jumps. The world built was good, but not great. We saw everything through the eyes of the fifteen-year-old narrator and she was so lost in her emotions most of the time that we never saw where she was. There were a lot of emotions in the read, but most of them turned me off. Lou was whiny and so wrapped up in herself that she bled negativity. I got very tired of her saying how ugly and worthless she was. It was draining as a reader. I did really enjoy the three young men in the story, they provided some nice comic relief and I really enjoyed their bond.

Goldfish had some really great moments and them some not so good ones. There was an odd side plot at almost the end of the book with Lou's best friend that seemed just thrown in, and some “mean girls” who were not really mean. But the majority of the tale was very well done and I did enjoy the book as a whole. This was Nat Luurtsema's YA debut, and while there were a few bumps, overall it was a success.

Favorite lines - So this summer I stopped swimming and I met our postman. And I finally got all that crying done that I’ve been meaning to do for ages, so that’s good, isn’t it? Plus I really explored the concept of Lying in Bed All Day Feeling Nothing but Despair. A summer lived right to the edges.

Biggest cliché - I'm ugly, that's why my life sucks.

 Have you read Goldfish, or added it to your TBR?This book was most likely received free from the publisher/author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

[Sophie · Rating 5 out of 5]

NetGalley copy in exchange of an honest review.

Lou had it all planned in her head: at 15, she is the fastest swimmer in her county, and if she wins that very particular race, she might go to the Olympics. That’s the plan, that’s her dream.

But she finishes last in the race and her life changes completely, as she has to re-think everything through, and, most of all, overcome her shame and disappointment.

That first step is going back to a “normal” life.

And it’s not easy.

After a few trials and errors, a group of young boys approaches her to ask for her to become their trainer. They want to try and audition for Britain’s Hidden Talent.

Could life get any weirder?

***

I. LOVED. THIS. BOOK.

That was a wild ride, from start to finish, but one thing is sure: I couldn’t put it down, and I didn’t even want to.

Let’s try and be organised.

The story. LOVED IT. I love that concept of a younger girl coaching older boys, and the whole setting of it, by the pool, in water, was very refreshing, because I don’t read a lot of books like that, especially these days. It was very entertaining, fast-paced, extremely enjoyable.

The characters. I know I LOVED the story but I think I LOVE the characters even more, which says a lot. I liked each and every one of them, because they all felt very human and very real. I can’t stress how important that is, to me. I wish I could give hugs to Lou, because that poor girl needed them at times! I especially liked her family, who is both weird and nice, supportive and cautious. I liked how real (again) it felt. Reading from Lou’s point of view was extremely funny, too. The humour is a big part of the realness of it all, in my opinion.

My three favourite characters (in case you want to know): Lou, her dad, Gabriel.

The writing. I thought it was very easy to read, enjoyable and entertaining. Again, the humour is clever and witty, I like sarcasm, so it was right up my ally on this one.

In the end, it’s about finding yourself, being confident in who you are, and truly this books shows that the journey is more important that the outcome.

In short: I LOVED IT, BE A FRIEND AND GO READ IT!

[megan (soshibooks) · Rating 3 out of 5]

DISCLAIMER: I received a free eARC via NetGalley. This doesn't affect my opinions in any way.

3 stars.

I'm not too sure how I feel about this book or how to organize this review, so I'm just going to talk about what I liked and disliked about the characters and the plot.

CHARACTERS: Lou was hard for me to connect to, and I feel like we saw a lot of her personality which I enjoyed. However, I really disliked how she sort of just ignored Hannah at certain points in the book because she was jealous when Hannah was so obviously in distress. Other than Lou, we never really got to know any of the characters, and in a way, I feel like I only knew Lou at face level. Most of the characters were described with one or two characteristics, so they all felt very 2D. They felt like real people, but like people that you may hear about from the friends of your friends at school. It was a little distant, especially considering how present most of the side characters (especially the boys) were. I feel like all the characters besides Lou were just used as plot devices to further the story and provide minor conflicts for the main character. However, Lou's dad was definitely my favorite character, I thought he brought a lot of humor and personality to the story.

PLOT: I really liked the premise of this book, it was very bizarre and refreshing to read a book about synchronized swimming. I thought the pacing was pretty consistent up until maybe 85% of the way through because suddenly the plot just ended and all the characters lived happily ever after. I think that this book could've been extended a bit more to have a solid resolution. I didn't feel the chemistry between the two characters that began dating at the end, and their relationship just felt very sudden and random. I honestly don't think the romance was necessary because it was never really a part of the book.

Overall, this was a fun, quick read, but there wasn't much substance and fell flat for me.

[Aneesa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book free in an exchange for an honest review, thanks to Maximum Pop

OH GOD!!! This book was soooooo good! I loved reading every minute of it! Lou's character is so funny, I loved reading about all crazy and wildest thoughts! There was definitely some scenes were all you could do was laugh out loud! Like literally!

I feel like this book was close to another favourite by Sophie Kinsella, where the audience is constantly captivated and humoured by the main character!

I loved Lou, she was so funny, incredibly tall and just trying to find her place in school. Some of the dialogue she comes out with is so funny (have I already stressed out how funny she is?), she is also very clumsy (which are some of the best scenes in the book). Her outlook of life is certainly very peculiar, I like how it describes how she does one thing and in reality does something entirely different. Her relationship with her family and sister Lav are very real like, it makes it very easy to bond and relate with her. But most of all, it was good to see her stop being obsessed with herself and actually realise there is more to life; her character grew from someone who is insecure to someone who accepts their flaws with confidence.

Gabe, Roman and Pete are fun, loving trio. They are you typical, average guys in high school. I love books who show there is more to the character that meets the eye, which is the case with Pete and Roman who want to do something with their lives and be better.

If you love light reading, comedy and fun loving books then this is the book for you


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[Dani (Dani Reviews Things) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

There are funny books, and there are laugh out loud until your sanity is questioned books; this was the latter. Lou was extremely relatable in her awkwardness. The family dynamics were realistic and amusing, and when things got heavy, everyone was very supportive of each other. I want Lou’s sister. And her parents. Actually, let me just join her family. The romance was very sweet, and I loved that the love interest was a Nice Guy, but he wasn’t the stereotypical Mr. Perfect™. The slow build of the side story, showing the dangers of competitive sport, was very eerie, especially the moment I realised what was happening.

Biggest takeaways: you shouldn’t expect to have your life sorted at 16, and dreams can change.

Read if you love TV talent shows like Britain’s Got Talent!

See this review in its natural environment, Dani Reviews Things.

You can find me on Twitter and Instagram.

[Madeline · Rating 4 out of 5]

{Many thanks to NetGalley for sending me an eARC of The Goldfish in exchange for an honest review. Find more reviews at www.plantohappy.com.}

Sometimes it's fun to just read a story. No gimmicks, no lofty concepts, and no inscrutable motivations. The reading experience of Nat Luurtsema's Goldfish was just that - a wonderful storytelling experience.

In the first few pages, we learn that Lou Brown is on her way to the Olympics, until she isn't. Her best friend heads off to swim for Team Great Britain while Lou heads back to school on her own, without any friends and with muscles she no longer has use for.

This novel is chock full of witty observations of teenage life - like spending hours making the perfect playlist to be cool, without actually acting like you're trying to be cool. Oh, the memories!

I laughed out loud several times and cringed for Lou several times, as well. The story didn't head in the direction I thought it would and what a gift that is! Give this one a read if you're in the mood for something lovely, sweet, and witty.

[Kara · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was okay. I really loved the author's sense of humor, and in turn, the sense of humor of the protagonist. But the writing style. Good lord, the comma splices and sentence flow was atrocious. And it really felt like the swimming plot was a bit forced and hard to believe. I don't actually think synchronized swimmers could audition for Britain's Got Talent. I just don't. The story arc wasn't strong enough. I really did like the main character though, and I connected with her struggle, so that's why the 3 star rating. But really, all the technical mechanics were NOT there. The story execution was not there. I'll have to think on this one some more.

[Trisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Snort-inducing fun from a narrator who is witty, yet troubled. Her antics with her secret coaching duties are explored alongside a number of other teenager concerns.

A terrific bunch of secondary characters, with decent (ie non stereotypical) adults. A relief.

Such a pleasure to read.

[ChesLea · Rating 4 out of 5]

actually decent.

uses "srsly" instead of "seriously" once, so i had to dock some points.

[gala ❀ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so cute, like a ray of sunshine in a book. I loved it! Honestly it was short and very fast paced, and I was really entertained the whole time. The romance was MUAH * chef’s kiss * 👩‍🍳💋🤌 and it was close-door romance. The author built so many amazing characters that I just wanted to keep reading about. Loved it ! 4.5 maybe / 5 ⭐️, maybe 5 ⭐️ THIS BOOK WAS A SLAY 😍 . The metaphors and life lessons in this book were so beautiful and refreshing to read about. It changed my perspective on failure and finding your own path. “ You swim no one’s race but your own “. Lou, the main character, finds herself and happiness in this book and it was just so sweet to read about. It was funny, adorable, amazing friend groups and characters , and had so many cool adventures. The book had many unique things in it that were so fun to read about. Their adventures together were so fun ! All the characters, expect the ones we don’t like , are so lovable and made the book amazing 🫶💗 ! Gabe , Lav and Roman have my heart 💘. A very memorable book , filled with memorable characters and adventures ! I really enjoyed this book and totally recommend to read . This book has now a special place in my heart, definitely a comfort book !

[Eve L-A Witherington · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this book we meet Lou an avid swimmer until she doesn't beat her record and fails to make her swim camp dream come true to possibly compete in the Olympics one day.



She fights off jealousy as her best friend and only friend from her school, Hannah makes the team and thus leaves her behind even though they keep in touch during the novel via text as Lou tries to make new friends and Hannah starts to suffer with mental and physical health and raises alarm bells on Lou.



As Lou awkwardly tries to make friends she finds herself helping out three guys in her school who want to enter Britain Has Talent as synchronised swimmers.



Lou is a fun protagonist and a friend you could dream to have as shows her caring nature over her friend and family. I had heard a lot about this book, all good and I have to say I agree it is a great read as not many teen fiction books focus on swimming as a passion usually it's a lot of love and growing up topics instead of the love of a hobby which added a great soon on this novel.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

For a book that opens with a life-altering, depression-inducing failure, this ends up being a whole lot of snarky, larky fun. It has excellent humor throughout and a few most unexpected, outrageous adventures, with enough seriousness to give it weight and some nicely drawn characters who grow. Most enjoyable.