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Head Above Water
Two teenage girls at a private school somehow find themselves falling in love...
Zoe Davis and Ryan Astor are nothing alike on the outside. Blonde and unpolished, Zoe struggles to fit in with the high-caliber rich crowd at Brentwood High. A scholarship honey, her athletics carry her far. Ryan Astor, on the other hand, has all the money and all the brains, but she can't seem to overcome her emotional struggles after a brutal year of disappointments and a disastrous summer away.
When a random party lands Ryan in Zoe's lap, Zoe can't seem to shake her new addiction to the somewhat shy and obviously beautiful girl.
Zoe Davis and Ryan Astor are nothing alike on the outside. Blonde and unpolished, Zoe struggles to fit in with the high-caliber rich crowd at Brentwood High. A scholarship honey, her athletics carry her far. Ryan Astor, on the other hand, has all the money and all the brains, but she can't seem to overcome her emotional struggles after a brutal year of disappointments and a disastrous summer away.
When a random party lands Ryan in Zoe's lap, Zoe can't seem to shake her new addiction to the somewhat shy and obviously beautiful girl.
762 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 19, 2020
209 people are currently reading
85 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
February 5, 2021
Not my cup of tea at all - not really sure why on my list. Sorry.
December 12, 2020
I really wanted to like this book, but I couldn’t get into it. There was so much drama and insecurity that never ended, even to the last page of the book. I felt like it added to the story a little in the beginning, but I wanted there to be a point where it finally stopped and they got to just be happy. There wasn’t enough of that for me.
I did enjoy that the viewpoint shifted back and forth. It was good to get to see both of the characters progress throughout the story.
I did enjoy that the viewpoint shifted back and forth. It was good to get to see both of the characters progress throughout the story.
March 9, 2021
Teen Drama That’s Unfinished and Cliched. . .
Sorry but nope just couldn’t like it. The characters lacked depth, the drama was forced and not really explored. I’ve seriously gotten into the author’s Paper Dolls Series, but this book is like they took that series : the setting, characters, drama, and put in in a shaker, shook it up and then poured it out into this book to make a quasi new book but forgot to add in real dialogue and a finished ending.
The main characters had their struggles but never had a chance to fully address their issues, even to each other. Ryan (who was accidentally referred to as Olivia BTW) is insecure about herself and a loner and you never fully know why, she just implies all the time about her mental breakdown but never fully tells us her story cause she doesn’t want to think about last year. Meanwhile, Zoe literally just lives away from her home cause her parents hate her and no one seems to really care but her one friend and now her depressed girlfriend Ryan. Even their ending is like a happily for now than a HEA.
I could go on with a few issues and I’m sure there’s other reviews that hit on them better buuut I will say the one thing that practically had me stop reading after a few chapters was the way the characters talked. It was supposed to be endearing or flirting but it was dull and repetitive with nonstop ‘your cute’ ‘no your cute’ ‘your sweet’ ‘no your sweet’ Like I thought they were gonna be 18 yr olds not 12. Idk again why I read this book mostly because I was on a paper dolls binge and I just sad this book wasn’t on par.
Sorry but nope just couldn’t like it. The characters lacked depth, the drama was forced and not really explored. I’ve seriously gotten into the author’s Paper Dolls Series, but this book is like they took that series : the setting, characters, drama, and put in in a shaker, shook it up and then poured it out into this book to make a quasi new book but forgot to add in real dialogue and a finished ending.
The main characters had their struggles but never had a chance to fully address their issues, even to each other. Ryan (who was accidentally referred to as Olivia BTW) is insecure about herself and a loner and you never fully know why, she just implies all the time about her mental breakdown but never fully tells us her story cause she doesn’t want to think about last year. Meanwhile, Zoe literally just lives away from her home cause her parents hate her and no one seems to really care but her one friend and now her depressed girlfriend Ryan. Even their ending is like a happily for now than a HEA.
I could go on with a few issues and I’m sure there’s other reviews that hit on them better buuut I will say the one thing that practically had me stop reading after a few chapters was the way the characters talked. It was supposed to be endearing or flirting but it was dull and repetitive with nonstop ‘your cute’ ‘no your cute’ ‘your sweet’ ‘no your sweet’ Like I thought they were gonna be 18 yr olds not 12. Idk again why I read this book mostly because I was on a paper dolls binge and I just sad this book wasn’t on par.
June 3, 2025
Had potential
It was very clearly a first draft that the author never read through after finishing. Has a lot of potential to be a good book, but needs serious tlc.
It was very clearly a first draft that the author never read through after finishing. Has a lot of potential to be a good book, but needs serious tlc.
January 8, 2021
If Olivia & Avery actually took longer than a week to fall in love
“It made me cry how much I wanted her. It made me scared. Like no matter what I did, I was going to lose her.”
“It was easier to talk like this. In my own bed, in the dark. Secrets were easier to say when things felt like a dream.”
“I wanted to belong to her like all her dreams and all her secret memories.”
+ • + • + • +
This book is shadowed by the presence of the "Paper Dolls" series. It's what the story would've been if Olivia & Avery actually took longer than a week to fall in love & the story was all about them two & not the depraved & abusive teacher. (Though the creepy swim coach just happens to be named Mr. Bradford too… just not Ben—nor as psycho!)
Definitely got me missing & longing for my all-time favorite series all over again!!
“It made me cry how much I wanted her. It made me scared. Like no matter what I did, I was going to lose her.”
“It was easier to talk like this. In my own bed, in the dark. Secrets were easier to say when things felt like a dream.”
“I wanted to belong to her like all her dreams and all her secret memories.”
+ • + • + • +
This book is shadowed by the presence of the "Paper Dolls" series. It's what the story would've been if Olivia & Avery actually took longer than a week to fall in love & the story was all about them two & not the depraved & abusive teacher. (Though the creepy swim coach just happens to be named Mr. Bradford too… just not Ben—nor as psycho!)
Definitely got me missing & longing for my all-time favorite series all over again!!
January 23, 2023
Zoe and Ryan are students at a private high school in California. Zoe is on scholarship and is the star swimmer. She is openly gay and isn't getting much love and attention at home. She spends most of her time staying with her best friend. Ryan is wealthy and is suffering from a number of anxieties plus depression. While she's close with her mother, her parents are divorced and her father has turned his back on her. She's also having a romantic relationship with the school's swimming coach and is dating one of the school's most popular boys.
Zoe and Ryan's meeting leads to an immediate close friendship, with Zoe developing feelings but thinking Ryan is straight and uninterested. Ryan is always worried that people want one thing from her and will then dump her.
This very long book consists mostly of long conversations between the two main characters as they grow closer and navigate their insecurities and other relationships. The author has given us two really interesting characters, but except for the progress of their relationship, there's no arc for either one. The book ends with Ryan still ridden with her challenges and Zoe still dealing with unresolved family stuff. I stayed with the book til the end but I was disappointed. The ending was just basically a cut off point. I wanted more. These two interesting characters deserved it.
Zoe and Ryan's meeting leads to an immediate close friendship, with Zoe developing feelings but thinking Ryan is straight and uninterested. Ryan is always worried that people want one thing from her and will then dump her.
This very long book consists mostly of long conversations between the two main characters as they grow closer and navigate their insecurities and other relationships. The author has given us two really interesting characters, but except for the progress of their relationship, there's no arc for either one. The book ends with Ryan still ridden with her challenges and Zoe still dealing with unresolved family stuff. I stayed with the book til the end but I was disappointed. The ending was just basically a cut off point. I wanted more. These two interesting characters deserved it.
December 20, 2020
for a lesfic book this is extremly long, but for the rest of it i enjoyed the strory even though i got infuriated several times mainly with ryans self doud and insequraties even when zoe had told her constantly that ryan had her and she would never leave her, i did fall heaverly in love with ryan' my hatread of emely (zoe's ex) was peaqct mostly becouse of her threats to ryan and then susecquantly i started to fall for her as well, and the birthday surprise from zoe to ryan was inough to bring tears to my eyes,
i did begin to feel very close to zoe when it became obveures that she was taking her time with ryan and waiting untill ryan was ready to go the whole way,
the fact that the two girls ages was a mistery was ofputting, austin the coach who i beleave was having a pedafilic relationship with ryan even if it never got to having full penatritive sex their closeness and the way he touched her and the affection he showered on her was abuse of his coaching
of the school swim team, and becopuse of ryans mental state of at least a year she was convinced they were just good friend,
the fact that ryan kept falling asleep made me worried for her as i have been the same before i was diagnosed with biabetes and this was never delt with,
i did begin to feel very close to zoe when it became obveures that she was taking her time with ryan and waiting untill ryan was ready to go the whole way,
the fact that the two girls ages was a mistery was ofputting, austin the coach who i beleave was having a pedafilic relationship with ryan even if it never got to having full penatritive sex their closeness and the way he touched her and the affection he showered on her was abuse of his coaching
of the school swim team, and becopuse of ryans mental state of at least a year she was convinced they were just good friend,
the fact that ryan kept falling asleep made me worried for her as i have been the same before i was diagnosed with biabetes and this was never delt with,
October 19, 2024
Long. Slow. Confusing.
First off. The author needs an editor and a proof reader.
Second off, the book is just 2 characters having the same 3 conversations over and over and over and over and over and over.
In a toss off comment in the first few pages of the book, one of the main characters admits that she let her brother die. This is never brought up again.
Multiple times throughout the book, the other main character alludes to some sort of illness. She also mentions a best friendship that she ruined.
The characters are poorly described. They say things about themselves that are never confirmed nor alluded to by other characters. One MC spends the entire book saying ‘she’s broken’, while talking about how everyone hates her.
But no one ever acts in any way towards her other than a group of popular girls who ignore her. Ooh. So hateful.
The second MC, Ryan is incredibly melodramatic and wishy washy. “I want her more than anything, but she’s just going to hurt me. I don’t want her to hurt herself. Why is she upset that an adult is statutory raping me?”
Seriously this book is obnoxious. 4/10, will not read again.
First off. The author needs an editor and a proof reader.
Second off, the book is just 2 characters having the same 3 conversations over and over and over and over and over and over.
In a toss off comment in the first few pages of the book, one of the main characters admits that she let her brother die. This is never brought up again.
Multiple times throughout the book, the other main character alludes to some sort of illness. She also mentions a best friendship that she ruined.
The characters are poorly described. They say things about themselves that are never confirmed nor alluded to by other characters. One MC spends the entire book saying ‘she’s broken’, while talking about how everyone hates her.
But no one ever acts in any way towards her other than a group of popular girls who ignore her. Ooh. So hateful.
The second MC, Ryan is incredibly melodramatic and wishy washy. “I want her more than anything, but she’s just going to hurt me. I don’t want her to hurt herself. Why is she upset that an adult is statutory raping me?”
Seriously this book is obnoxious. 4/10, will not read again.
January 15, 2021
Good, but not perfect
Don't get me wrong, I did find some enjoyment in reading this book, but there were issues with it for me. Better proof reading would have helped enormously as there were many spelling and grammatical errors that really should not have occurred and were quite jarring. The repeated words and phrases spoken by the characters began to grate on me very quickly (I lost count of the amount of times the two girls called each other sweet or cute for example). I also found that there was a lot of angst (hand wringing and soul searching aplenty) but no real reason for why, which made it difficult to like both of the girls central to the tale. I know they're teenagers but it was a little too much for me to believe in and was often irritating instead of pulling me in.
All in all, I felt the book could have been a lot shorter whilst still saying essentially the same things.
Don't get me wrong, I did find some enjoyment in reading this book, but there were issues with it for me. Better proof reading would have helped enormously as there were many spelling and grammatical errors that really should not have occurred and were quite jarring. The repeated words and phrases spoken by the characters began to grate on me very quickly (I lost count of the amount of times the two girls called each other sweet or cute for example). I also found that there was a lot of angst (hand wringing and soul searching aplenty) but no real reason for why, which made it difficult to like both of the girls central to the tale. I know they're teenagers but it was a little too much for me to believe in and was often irritating instead of pulling me in.
All in all, I felt the book could have been a lot shorter whilst still saying essentially the same things.
September 19, 2021
2.5 stars
While reading I felt, more than once, that this is a parallel world to the paper girl series, a what if story.
I enjoyed reading it, but not as I hope I will.
The relationship between Zoe and Ryan develops slowly and there are obstacles which is alright, same as life, but sometimes I felt that the book is too long, because whole chapters pass without anything really happening there.
The writing was alright and the story developed nicely most of the time but I had problems with hole in the story. Both Zoe and Ryan have baggage from the past, for Zoe it is the death of the younger brother yet, it is not clear how it effected her and her family and for Ryan something that happened the year before but we never learn what was it.
I didn't mean to read this book, but it was on promotion and I decided to give it a try. It was a nice read but nothing more.
While reading I felt, more than once, that this is a parallel world to the paper girl series, a what if story.
I enjoyed reading it, but not as I hope I will.
The relationship between Zoe and Ryan develops slowly and there are obstacles which is alright, same as life, but sometimes I felt that the book is too long, because whole chapters pass without anything really happening there.
The writing was alright and the story developed nicely most of the time but I had problems with hole in the story. Both Zoe and Ryan have baggage from the past, for Zoe it is the death of the younger brother yet, it is not clear how it effected her and her family and for Ryan something that happened the year before but we never learn what was it.
I didn't mean to read this book, but it was on promotion and I decided to give it a try. It was a nice read but nothing more.
March 1, 2022
From strangers to lovers, with feelings
The cover illustration sets expectations and the authors delivered a tale of two people's journey of exploration fraught with unexpected twists and turns with plenty of bumps along the way, exceeding this reader's expectations. The emotional growth of the narrator characters as they travel along is handled with sensitivity and aplomb.
The use of alternating points of view increases understanding and appreciation of the complexity of the development of feelings of the MCs. It would be entrancing to befriend them in real life and most welcome to read a next volume following their trials and tribulations. For example, consider the possibilities for angst and confusion for Zoe passing through the highly competitive world of top level swimming trials.
The cover illustration sets expectations and the authors delivered a tale of two people's journey of exploration fraught with unexpected twists and turns with plenty of bumps along the way, exceeding this reader's expectations. The emotional growth of the narrator characters as they travel along is handled with sensitivity and aplomb.
The use of alternating points of view increases understanding and appreciation of the complexity of the development of feelings of the MCs. It would be entrancing to befriend them in real life and most welcome to read a next volume following their trials and tribulations. For example, consider the possibilities for angst and confusion for Zoe passing through the highly competitive world of top level swimming trials.
April 13, 2022
When first saw this book I was excited - a LONG FF novel, should be plenty if time to develop characters and storylines. But what a disappointment, fully 90% of the novel was whining and bitching. The two points of views did not work as the characters were so similar.
No one in this book is likeable especially the creepy swim coach also I did wonder if there were a few chapters from Emily's point of view would we have a different take on the story
Read it by all means but do be prepared to be bored senseless by endless repetition, no answers to what the hell is wrong with Ryan and ..... well everything.
No one in this book is likeable especially the creepy swim coach also I did wonder if there were a few chapters from Emily's point of view would we have a different take on the story
Read it by all means but do be prepared to be bored senseless by endless repetition, no answers to what the hell is wrong with Ryan and ..... well everything.
December 18, 2020
Love above water.
I like everything about this book and how Zoe and Ryan meet at a party. Ryan was outside sipping on her drink when Zoe came walking in and didn't see her than they got too talking and her drink was spilled when her friend Jonathan came stumbling up and almost spill his drink too so he offer too get her a next drink. Afterwards Zoe and Ryan started hanging out too together and she notice that Ryan was on the swimming team and ask too coach her and that's when they go together.
I like everything about this book and how Zoe and Ryan meet at a party. Ryan was outside sipping on her drink when Zoe came walking in and didn't see her than they got too talking and her drink was spilled when her friend Jonathan came stumbling up and almost spill his drink too so he offer too get her a next drink. Afterwards Zoe and Ryan started hanging out too together and she notice that Ryan was on the swimming team and ask too coach her and that's when they go together.
May 12, 2025
Overall this was not bad, I appreciated the best friend and thought it was very mature for a young adult. I realize that some relationships are complicated and we do not know all the ins and outs but the coach's relationship Ryan was difficult for me to not see a wrong no matter what. The trauma that can scar us for life is amazing and one that I feel is under played but would have liked Ryan to have allowed her mom to get her counseling. What can I say about the grandma' ... you go gma! I would have liked a bit more of the ending but for what it was, it was not bad.
October 19, 2021
Hate Austin
When I started reading this I was leaning towards a 4/5 review. Zoe was my BB favorite character and reading about how badly she is treated by Ryan pissed me off. Ryan was a hypocrite about Emily, she was
doing the same thing with Austin. Having to read about Zoe apologizing to Ryan really when she was right about her and Austin. I started at the beginning liking both characters and by the end I hated Ryan, because Zoe decerves better.
When I started reading this I was leaning towards a 4/5 review. Zoe was my BB favorite character and reading about how badly she is treated by Ryan pissed me off. Ryan was a hypocrite about Emily, she was
doing the same thing with Austin. Having to read about Zoe apologizing to Ryan really when she was right about her and Austin. I started at the beginning liking both characters and by the end I hated Ryan, because Zoe decerves better.
July 6, 2024
loveeeeeee
It was a slow burn love story a friends to lovers(my absolute fav)
They flirt a lot and it’s so cute how in love they are with each other and it’s so fun to read. There is a little spice scene but not too bad as some are. lol it was a amazing book and I’ve read it more then once plssss do yourself a huge favor and read the whole book btw you may cry😝
It was a slow burn love story a friends to lovers(my absolute fav)
They flirt a lot and it’s so cute how in love they are with each other and it’s so fun to read. There is a little spice scene but not too bad as some are. lol it was a amazing book and I’ve read it more then once plssss do yourself a huge favor and read the whole book btw you may cry😝
January 6, 2021
Could not finish the book
Couldn't finish reading this novella. Too repetitive and not my usual genre. Two young girls maybe in love but dating other people. This caused confusion which I believe was the author's intention. Boring, just couldn't go past chapter ten.
Couldn't finish reading this novella. Too repetitive and not my usual genre. Two young girls maybe in love but dating other people. This caused confusion which I believe was the author's intention. Boring, just couldn't go past chapter ten.
February 20, 2021
Good book
I really liked this book. I liked how they liked each other but they never admitted it right away. I loved how they always want to be there for each and in the end they finally said they loved each other.
I really liked this book. I liked how they liked each other but they never admitted it right away. I loved how they always want to be there for each and in the end they finally said they loved each other.
September 21, 2022
More action would be better!
It would have been far more enjoyable if not made to wait until more than 80% of f the book before any thing happened! All the way through the book there were small hints that things would take place at some point, last couple of pages, hoo_rayl
It would have been far more enjoyable if not made to wait until more than 80% of f the book before any thing happened! All the way through the book there were small hints that things would take place at some point, last couple of pages, hoo_rayl
March 21, 2023
Head Above! Wmater
I love reading books or novels that Interest me . If it camping attention I will read . I enjoy these one its good , it didn't take me long to read I would read in between work and chore haha! That good
I love reading books or novels that Interest me . If it camping attention I will read . I enjoy these one its good , it didn't take me long to read I would read in between work and chore haha! That good
November 20, 2020
Ryan is damaged and complicated, and I couldn't help falling for her!
December 1, 2020
A wonderful read. Can't wait to read more like this one.
December 23, 2020
The building up and slow burn was AMAZING I loved how they got closer and stuff.... but after they became a couple they were so annoying and insecure all the time.
April 23, 2021
Great
Took 2 days to read and was well impressed
was well worth reading and would read again
Am happy .
Took 2 days to read and was well impressed
was well worth reading and would read again
Am happy .
August 16, 2021
The use of the word sweet was diabetic inducing.
It was quite juvenile. If it were a drinking game, one would be knocked out by the amount of the word sweet.
It was quite juvenile. If it were a drinking game, one would be knocked out by the amount of the word sweet.
February 14, 2023
fantastic book!!
The fact that it was a longer book gave time to really fall in love with the characters. One of my favorite reads.
The fact that it was a longer book gave time to really fall in love with the characters. One of my favorite reads.
July 25, 2021
I could relate a lot to the insecurities and constant checking in having friendships and dating people who experience clinical depression. I understand it may have been frustrating to read, but I felt it was accurate to some of my experiences. As a result, this book made me reflect a lot.
The sexual tension was great. I wished they banged more.
The sexual tension was great. I wished they banged more.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews