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Wavehouse
Sixteen year-old Anna Dugan is a super surfer who feels most at home when taking off on a ten-foot wave. But surf culture bores Anna big time. While other surfers follow trends and speak the lingo, Anna harbors a secret desire to be an artist, drawing houses made of waves. It’s not the most practical dream for the daughter of a single mom living in Kendall’s Watch, a beach town where most kids are so surf-centric they think ‘Current Events’ have something to do with ocean tides.
Anna is not only the best surfer in Kendall’s, she’s also the shyest. When a surf scout comes to town to gage her talent, Anna freaks out and refuses to let him watch her. To protect herself from the pressure and the panic, Anna decides to only surf at her private break, Secretspot, for the rest of the summer. But Secretspot becomes treacherous in ways Anna never imagined, and the danger has nothing to do with waves. When a gorgeous stranger paddles out, smiling a bewitching smile and surfing like a god, their chemistry is impossible to ignore. A series of events are set in motion that will change Anna’s life forever; events that raise difficult questions about love, honesty, betrayal and family ties.
In the end, is it worth it? Dive in to Wavehouse, life-preserver recommended, and the decision is yours.
Anna is not only the best surfer in Kendall’s, she’s also the shyest. When a surf scout comes to town to gage her talent, Anna freaks out and refuses to let him watch her. To protect herself from the pressure and the panic, Anna decides to only surf at her private break, Secretspot, for the rest of the summer. But Secretspot becomes treacherous in ways Anna never imagined, and the danger has nothing to do with waves. When a gorgeous stranger paddles out, smiling a bewitching smile and surfing like a god, their chemistry is impossible to ignore. A series of events are set in motion that will change Anna’s life forever; events that raise difficult questions about love, honesty, betrayal and family ties.
In the end, is it worth it? Dive in to Wavehouse, life-preserver recommended, and the decision is yours.
289 pages, Hardcover
Published June 15, 2018
1 person is currently reading
218 people want to read
About the author
Alice Kaltman
9 books43 followersAs a young girl Alice longed to be a mermaid. Her idol sat demurely on the Chicken of the Sea tuna fish cans. She peeled labels off to save her image. Every night before bedtime Alice squeezed both legs in to one side of her pajama bottoms and shuffled around the house pretending she was as beautiful as the tuna fish mermaid.
Real mermaid-hood proved elusive, so Alice became a modern dancer instead. For over twenty years she worked with brilliant choreographers and performed in amazing places. And while she’s still paid to do the occasional pirouette, Alice also works as a Parenting Coach/Writer helping out moms and dads, and talking to kids also, about their (often annoying) parents.
But Alice is most at home when upside down and underwater. She’s been swimming her entire life, and surfing for the better part of adulthood. It’s no surprise that Wavehouse her forthcoming novel from Fitzroy Books is about a surfer. And maybe it is a bit about Alice, too.
Alice also writes fiction for adults. Her story collection Staggerwing is filled with oddballs and odd events. Her work appears in numerous journals including Hobart, Whiskey Paper, Joyland, and BULL: Men’s Fiction, and in the anthologies The Pleasure You Suffer and On Montauk. Most recently her story ‘Maid Service’ was selected as a semi-finalist for Best Small Fictions of 2017.
Alice splits her time between Brooklyn and Montauk, New York where she lives with her husband and daughter. She now wears her pajamas regular style.
Real mermaid-hood proved elusive, so Alice became a modern dancer instead. For over twenty years she worked with brilliant choreographers and performed in amazing places. And while she’s still paid to do the occasional pirouette, Alice also works as a Parenting Coach/Writer helping out moms and dads, and talking to kids also, about their (often annoying) parents.
But Alice is most at home when upside down and underwater. She’s been swimming her entire life, and surfing for the better part of adulthood. It’s no surprise that Wavehouse her forthcoming novel from Fitzroy Books is about a surfer. And maybe it is a bit about Alice, too.
Alice also writes fiction for adults. Her story collection Staggerwing is filled with oddballs and odd events. Her work appears in numerous journals including Hobart, Whiskey Paper, Joyland, and BULL: Men’s Fiction, and in the anthologies The Pleasure You Suffer and On Montauk. Most recently her story ‘Maid Service’ was selected as a semi-finalist for Best Small Fictions of 2017.
Alice splits her time between Brooklyn and Montauk, New York where she lives with her husband and daughter. She now wears her pajamas regular style.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
May 2, 2018
Wow. Just wow. I was excited to read this book because the premise sounded so fun: a surfing novel! What a great, light summer read. As soon as I started though, I was completely taken aback (in the best possible way!) by how layered this novel is. It is SO much more than a novel about surfing. Anna is a complex and layered protagonist, and I love the way Kaltman weaves in subplots about Anna’s relationship with her mother, troubles with her best friend Myra, and an exciting and complicated romance… The novel is perfectly paced, the writing is gorgeous, and I couldn’t stop turning pages to get to the end. This novel will appeal to all YA readers but especially fans of books like Margo Rabb’s Kissing in America. I can’t wait to read it again!
April 26, 2018
You might live miles from the beach and never even seen a surfboard in real life (forget "Gidget"), but after reading Alice Kaltman's delightful new young adult novel, WAVEHOUSE, you may be tempted to grab a board and paddle out beyond the break in order to experience first-hand the lyrical world and ambiance of surfing she describes so eloquently in rich, powerful language. The settings are detailed and vivid; she obviously knows whereof she writes. The voice of the narrator, Anna, is spot-on for a shy, artistic teenager who feels surfing is her way to joy and contentment, as opposed to what awaits her on land, except for her architectural drawings of wavehouses. Anna says, "Waves were my watery companions occupying the deepest and most special pocket." Anna's humorous, self-deprecating voice, all of the characterizations, and the enjoyable plot threads are subtly and thoroughly developed at a perfect pace. Readers who enjoy coming-of-age novels, wit and humor in writing, and YouTube-worthy descriptions of the ocean and surfing in all its glory will definitely enjoy this wonderful read. I was sorry to have to say goodbye to all the characters I had come to care about deeply. Well-done, Ms. Kaltman! Surf's up!
April 25, 2018
Cinderella on a surfboard!
It’s impossible not to fall in love with Anna when her first words are a completely relatable explanation of what she calls the disease of shyness. But Anna is more than just a shy girl - she’s also a tough girl. Even though she doesn’t like being watched, and even though her mother makes it difficult, Anna loves the water and her passion for surfing permeates each scene, but never in a way that is alienating to non-surfers.With a well-developed cast of characters, a vivid setting, and plenty of drama, Kaltman’s debut is perfect for fans of Miranda Kenneally and anyone who likes their romances with a side of heart and determination.
(Also, I can’t wait to see some fan art of the wavehouses!!)
It’s impossible not to fall in love with Anna when her first words are a completely relatable explanation of what she calls the disease of shyness. But Anna is more than just a shy girl - she’s also a tough girl. Even though she doesn’t like being watched, and even though her mother makes it difficult, Anna loves the water and her passion for surfing permeates each scene, but never in a way that is alienating to non-surfers.With a well-developed cast of characters, a vivid setting, and plenty of drama, Kaltman’s debut is perfect for fans of Miranda Kenneally and anyone who likes their romances with a side of heart and determination.
(Also, I can’t wait to see some fan art of the wavehouses!!)
April 22, 2018
I was totally drawn into this novel with not only the fantastic sporty scenes describing surfing and surf culture, but also the very authentic issues poor Anna found herself in - angst with her mum, her best friend, then issues with trust and first love and first kiss, and deciding on her future, plus getting through performance anxiety and a terminally shy personality trait. The writing style was excellent too, and the pace was fast, so that I read it in almost one sitting, unable to stop at the end of each chapter. If you love YA, issue and character driven books, with a bit of sport action thrown in, then this book is for you.
April 19, 2018
I’m so glad I was able to get hold of an early copy of Wavehouse—such a great read! Although it was a cold and rainy week, it was easy to forget my surroundings as I became completely immersed in the sandy warmth of this coastal setting. The descriptions and character developments were spot on. I especially enjoyed the poignant mother/daughter relationship between Anna and her young, single mom, Sara. Anna’s shyness, hesitant dip into first love, and reluctance to let her skills shine were believable traits that kept me rooting for her as she slowly emerged into her true self. Previously, I knew nothing about surfing, but I sure do now—what an exhilarating breath of fresh air. Great beach read for teens and up!
June 16, 2018
A super shy teen surfer braves ten foot waves, a stormy relationship with her single mom and the tumultuous tides of first love in this poignant debut YA coming-of-age story. I cheered for Anna aka The Surfing Siren and readers will too as she faces down her inner demons and overcomes her fears to let her gifts as an athlete and artist shine. (You'll want to draw your own Wavehouse too.) A stirring exploration of the sustaining power of a young girl’s growing trust in herself, her friendships, and her unconventional family portrayed with honesty, wit and true grit. Bravo! Highly recommended for summer reading and beyond.
June 27, 2018
This is one of those books that give you a certain feeling while reading it, that general feeling that a reader gets when opening a book for the first time (before going into the story). The timing for this blog tour was perfect! I’m getting ready for a short vacation at the sea so this is the perfect book to prepare myself for exactly that. Because it made me feel so relaxed, it made me thing of waves and how they sound. I could smell the sand and warmth.
With this opening, I will get into the actual story. The story centers on young Anna, who’s trying to keep a low profile and practice surfing in her own private space. She does not like attention and has her own issues to deal with. However, her tranquility is somehow disturbed when a young man comes around. This guy manages to crack her shyness and thus she feels the comfort she longs for. But is the sea always serene?
Anna’s voice is so well created, all characters feel so real. I can definitely say that from writing perspective, the author did an amazing job. We don’t have the perfect couple, perfect heroine, perfect family or friends. But there are no enemies either. Everybody is as real as you’d get them. No one is perfect and that makes the book so much interesting.
We see her grow, we see her develop and interact with others. Most of the book is centered on her reactions and her feelings. Anna and her mom are one of the best examples of dealing with parental issues, or solving things as a family. Friendship and love are not to be missed either and all these themes blend together beautifully.
So pick up this book! Grab your copy take a ride on the biggest wave around. Learn about surfers, about Anna Dugan and her passions. I felt so refreshed after reading this. I loved it and I am so happy to be part of this blog tour!
With this opening, I will get into the actual story. The story centers on young Anna, who’s trying to keep a low profile and practice surfing in her own private space. She does not like attention and has her own issues to deal with. However, her tranquility is somehow disturbed when a young man comes around. This guy manages to crack her shyness and thus she feels the comfort she longs for. But is the sea always serene?
Anna’s voice is so well created, all characters feel so real. I can definitely say that from writing perspective, the author did an amazing job. We don’t have the perfect couple, perfect heroine, perfect family or friends. But there are no enemies either. Everybody is as real as you’d get them. No one is perfect and that makes the book so much interesting.
We see her grow, we see her develop and interact with others. Most of the book is centered on her reactions and her feelings. Anna and her mom are one of the best examples of dealing with parental issues, or solving things as a family. Friendship and love are not to be missed either and all these themes blend together beautifully.
So pick up this book! Grab your copy take a ride on the biggest wave around. Learn about surfers, about Anna Dugan and her passions. I felt so refreshed after reading this. I loved it and I am so happy to be part of this blog tour!
June 28, 2018
Thank you to Alice Kaltman and Fitzroy Books for providing collabookation with an ARC for review.
Warehouse is the epitome of a perfect summer read ~ a budding romance, some family and friendship struggles, and an evolving main character.
Anna is painfully shy, and happy to occupy a very small space in the world. But the world has more in store for her, and Wavehouse is the wonderful tale of her meeting her future. For a girl who has grown up watching her mom, a serial monogamist, get her heart broken over and over, love has no allure. Until she meets a stranger surfing in the cove only she frequents. Anna is forced to face her shyness head on, and when she does, she has lots of decisions to make.
In addition to this new relationship, Anna’s best friend may be moving, her mother is unreliable, and her grandparents are struggling with health issues. But most important of all, Anna has to decide if she wants to start surfing competitively.
I loved Wavehouse for lots of reasons. Anna is a smart protagonist with a good head on her shoulders, but her shyness is a definite impediment for future plans. As much as she loves living in Kendall’s Watch, she doesn't want to follow in her mother’s footsteps. The mother-daughter relationship was an interesting one.
I enjoyed the budding romance, one that Anna is very reluctant to get lost in. Her best friend is a great supporting character, and any time Anna spent with Myra was enjoyable as well. But most of all, I loved the surf culture! Having never touched a surfboard, I was definitely living vicariously through Anna. Wavehouse presented a whole new world to me, and I could stay there for a long time!
Wavehouse is YA, so I'll recommend to students in grade 9 or older.
Warehouse is the epitome of a perfect summer read ~ a budding romance, some family and friendship struggles, and an evolving main character.
Anna is painfully shy, and happy to occupy a very small space in the world. But the world has more in store for her, and Wavehouse is the wonderful tale of her meeting her future. For a girl who has grown up watching her mom, a serial monogamist, get her heart broken over and over, love has no allure. Until she meets a stranger surfing in the cove only she frequents. Anna is forced to face her shyness head on, and when she does, she has lots of decisions to make.
In addition to this new relationship, Anna’s best friend may be moving, her mother is unreliable, and her grandparents are struggling with health issues. But most important of all, Anna has to decide if she wants to start surfing competitively.
I loved Wavehouse for lots of reasons. Anna is a smart protagonist with a good head on her shoulders, but her shyness is a definite impediment for future plans. As much as she loves living in Kendall’s Watch, she doesn't want to follow in her mother’s footsteps. The mother-daughter relationship was an interesting one.
I enjoyed the budding romance, one that Anna is very reluctant to get lost in. Her best friend is a great supporting character, and any time Anna spent with Myra was enjoyable as well. But most of all, I loved the surf culture! Having never touched a surfboard, I was definitely living vicariously through Anna. Wavehouse presented a whole new world to me, and I could stay there for a long time!
Wavehouse is YA, so I'll recommend to students in grade 9 or older.
January 29, 2019
JUDGE THIS BOOK BY ITS GORGEOUS COVER! I knew Kaltman had written an irresistible novel when my (then) 12 year old son picked up my copy fresh from her launch and devoured it in 24 hours. For good reason: this is one immersive read. Kaltman -- whom up to this point I'd admired for her wonderful, adult short fiction -- showcases her range with this YA story of Anna Dugan and her cast of family and friends in the beach town of Kendall's Watch. Read it for the compelling characters, read it for the coming of age tale of first love and individual triumph, for the insider surfer scoop, read it so you're in the know once it makes it to the silver screen.
Seriously. The screen play could write itself. Filmmakers: If you liked Dumplin', adapt WAVEHOUSE for your next big hit.
Seriously. The screen play could write itself. Filmmakers: If you liked Dumplin', adapt WAVEHOUSE for your next big hit.
September 4, 2020
What a fun, summertime, YA read! I want a sequel!
June 22, 2018
The perfect YA novel- characters I truly cared about, a story line that had a good number of unexpected twists, and a terrific read that kept me up far too late two nights in succession because I just couldn't put it down. I particularly loved watching our young female athlete come into her own. Grab this book, throw it in your bag, and get ye to a beach!
June 23, 2018
"The world is your oyster, and don’t you forget it."
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June 20, 2018
What a fun and compelling YA read, a much-needed story about girls in sports. I read this in one day. Well, really in one evening. It sucked me in and I couldn't put it down. I learned so much about the world of surfing. Every character was fleshy and perfectly drawn and appealing. Anna was a great heroine. Just all-around wonderful book!
September 23, 2018
I loved Wavehouse! It was everything I look for in a YA book. It had a really unique main character I adored, but who sometimes ticked me off. (Just like the people I love in real life.) It also had an interesting romance with a sexy surfer, but without allowing the love affair to take over the plot and overshadow Anna’s personal challenges. There was a fascinating family standing behind Anna, who were all flawed but extremely beloved. And it had a wonderful female friendship between Anna and her best friend Myra. It also had sports! Surfing to be specific, which I like to imagine would be my sport of choice, if I’d been raised in Cali (or apparently Montauk) and not afraid of the ocean.
First, Anna was so relateable. I don’t even think it was because we’re both painfully shy, which we are. I think I’d have understood and related to her even if I were an extrovert. There was something about her that felt so honest. She wasn’t perfect, and sometimes I hated how easy it was for her to villainize people, but we all have flaws and her heart and spirit were beautiful. I loved how Wavehouse never veered from Anna’s emotional growth and self-esteem being the focus of the story, even when there were so many other great characters and relationships worth writing about.
I think my favorite relationship in Wavehouse was the relationship between Anna and her mother. Sometimes authors rely too heavily on the ‘bad’ parent vs ‘good’ parent trope, when in reality we’re all somewhere more in the middle. In this story the parental relationship was more of a gray one, and it was perfectly executed. In fact, I think it was the most fleshed out relationship in the entire story. Anna’s issues with her mother were the antithesis from the moment Wavehouse started, through to the beautiful ending. Anna’s love interest Chris, her best friend Myra, and her grandparents all came secondary and I think that’s the main reason I loved this book so much.
Yes, there’s a romance. Yes, there’s a positive female friendship. Those were secondary, and in a sea of YA books that focus on friendship and love first, that is what makes Wavehouse standout and why I’m giving it 5 stars and counting it as one of my newest favorites.
Thank you to Fitzroy Books and Rockstar Book Tours for providing a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Like this review? Read more like it on Birdie Bookworm!
First, Anna was so relateable. I don’t even think it was because we’re both painfully shy, which we are. I think I’d have understood and related to her even if I were an extrovert. There was something about her that felt so honest. She wasn’t perfect, and sometimes I hated how easy it was for her to villainize people, but we all have flaws and her heart and spirit were beautiful. I loved how Wavehouse never veered from Anna’s emotional growth and self-esteem being the focus of the story, even when there were so many other great characters and relationships worth writing about.
I think my favorite relationship in Wavehouse was the relationship between Anna and her mother. Sometimes authors rely too heavily on the ‘bad’ parent vs ‘good’ parent trope, when in reality we’re all somewhere more in the middle. In this story the parental relationship was more of a gray one, and it was perfectly executed. In fact, I think it was the most fleshed out relationship in the entire story. Anna’s issues with her mother were the antithesis from the moment Wavehouse started, through to the beautiful ending. Anna’s love interest Chris, her best friend Myra, and her grandparents all came secondary and I think that’s the main reason I loved this book so much.
Yes, there’s a romance. Yes, there’s a positive female friendship. Those were secondary, and in a sea of YA books that focus on friendship and love first, that is what makes Wavehouse standout and why I’m giving it 5 stars and counting it as one of my newest favorites.
Thank you to Fitzroy Books and Rockstar Book Tours for providing a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Like this review? Read more like it on Birdie Bookworm!
August 8, 2018
This is a fantastic story...loved the surfer culture, the relationship between Anna and her BFF and also with her grandfather. Finished this one in 1 day! A perfect summer read. Rec'd for Grades 9 and up.
July 30, 2018
Loved this YA novel complete with a compelling, complex protagonist, a budding summer romance, and unexpected plot twists. I couldn't put it down! A perfect summer read.
lost-interest
May 5, 2021| Reader Fox Blog |
I think my decision to add Alice Kaltman's Wavehouse to my lost interest shelf lies largely in the fact that I'm positive it'll be one I ultimately find unmemorable. Contemporary stories can often be hit or miss for me. And while I can wager this tells an interesting story, it has the feel of dullness for me. I don't imagine myself falling in love with the plot at all. And perhaps the characters could save it, but I think for now I'd rather read something else.
| Reader Fox Links |
I think my decision to add Alice Kaltman's Wavehouse to my lost interest shelf lies largely in the fact that I'm positive it'll be one I ultimately find unmemorable. Contemporary stories can often be hit or miss for me. And while I can wager this tells an interesting story, it has the feel of dullness for me. I don't imagine myself falling in love with the plot at all. And perhaps the characters could save it, but I think for now I'd rather read something else.
| Reader Fox Links |
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews