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Caught Inside
Maddie Fong is painfully aware of being the outsider at her new Southern California high school. Teased for being different, she does her best to adapt to her new life. Raised by a single mom, Maddie retreats by burying herself in books and dreaming of a different life. But one day she and her mother meet an intriguing man from Hawaii who introduces Maddie to surfing-which ignites in her the sense of new and exciting possibilities.
But can Maddie overcome her intense fear of water to ride the waves? And if she summons up the courage to learn to surf, will it help her win the attention of a sweet girl from school named Ally Flores? Once Maddie adjusts to life in a beachside town and starts college, she learns that love and bravery might not be enough for her to reach her dreams and find happiness. When she encounters unexpected obstacles that could change the course of her life forever, Maddie faces tough decisions as she has to choose what's most important to her. But she is determined to never give up-no matter what it takes.
But can Maddie overcome her intense fear of water to ride the waves? And if she summons up the courage to learn to surf, will it help her win the attention of a sweet girl from school named Ally Flores? Once Maddie adjusts to life in a beachside town and starts college, she learns that love and bravery might not be enough for her to reach her dreams and find happiness. When she encounters unexpected obstacles that could change the course of her life forever, Maddie faces tough decisions as she has to choose what's most important to her. But she is determined to never give up-no matter what it takes.
217 pages, Paperback
Published July 1, 2022
2 people are currently reading
30 people want to read
About the author
Lynnette Beers
4 books6 followersLynnette Beers has been telling stories ever since she was a child, but it was not until adulthood that she realized she wanted to pursue a career in writing and literature. After earning degrees in English and film studies, she went on to get an MA in literature and an MFA in fiction writing. She has been a professor of creative writing and British literature for several years.
Her first novel Just Beyond the Shining River was her MFA thesis and is the product of extensive research and time spent in England. Three study abroad trips gave her the opportunity to live as a Londoner and to get an ear for British dialect and nuances. As a longstanding member of the International Virginia Woolf Society, she has presented papers at conferences in the US and the UK. Her stories and essays have appeared in a number of publications.
When not writing or grading papers, Lynnette enjoys mountain biking, hiking, and ocean swimming. She does much of her revising and editing while sitting in a shady park or on the beach. She's married and lives in a small coastal town in Southern California.
Her first novel Just Beyond the Shining River was her MFA thesis and is the product of extensive research and time spent in England. Three study abroad trips gave her the opportunity to live as a Londoner and to get an ear for British dialect and nuances. As a longstanding member of the International Virginia Woolf Society, she has presented papers at conferences in the US and the UK. Her stories and essays have appeared in a number of publications.
When not writing or grading papers, Lynnette enjoys mountain biking, hiking, and ocean swimming. She does much of her revising and editing while sitting in a shady park or on the beach. She's married and lives in a small coastal town in Southern California.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
June 19, 2022
I thought this would be a sexy romance about surfing. I was wrong. So wrong.
Like the crashing turns of the surf, this book took us from a scared girl who only wants to find herself to a young woman on the verge of embarking on the most amazing journey of her life. This could be a spoiler, but the end is the most hopeful coming full-circle that leaves a wonderful hope for the future in a way I totally did not expect.
We follow Maddie Fong through her awkward new-teen years where finding her identity is more than just sexual preference, more than just balancing her Chinese and American heritage, more than just the call of the waves to her moment of acceptance of herself and what she truly desires. It’s her journey as a woman, as a minority in many ways, and ultimately as a person.
The characters in this novel are real, they are flawed, they are strong, and they are all beautiful on their own ways (except for Brian Fluss he can take a long walk off a short pier, okay?! Loser). I especially love Kai, with his inner peace and accepting nature that will not hesitate to kick ass when needed. He is a driving force in Maddie’s life and a powerful ally.
I really love how Beers brings the scene to life, whether it is the inside of an immigrant-run Chinese restaurant in California, hilariously awkward clothing-optional beaches, or the alcohol-fueled turn-of-the-century wonderland of SoHo lesbian bars There is a gripping reality that takes this novel out of the romance genre and elevates it to the level of human discovery.
And discover Maddie does. Keep your mind open as you follow Maddie on her journey to her true self. Yes, she makes mistakes and yes, they do have permanent repercussions but never does she blame others or drown in self-pity. She is an active force in her own life and the threads of classic literature echo this journey.
This is a powerful read that will have you wavering between judgement and forgiveness, a read that will make you think deeply about your own life path. This is not a book to be taken lightly. I highly recommend it for its pure humanity and never ending hope that everything is really, truly going to be all right.
My rating: five of the biggest, brightest stars shining in the night sky.
ARC received from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Like the crashing turns of the surf, this book took us from a scared girl who only wants to find herself to a young woman on the verge of embarking on the most amazing journey of her life. This could be a spoiler, but the end is the most hopeful coming full-circle that leaves a wonderful hope for the future in a way I totally did not expect.
We follow Maddie Fong through her awkward new-teen years where finding her identity is more than just sexual preference, more than just balancing her Chinese and American heritage, more than just the call of the waves to her moment of acceptance of herself and what she truly desires. It’s her journey as a woman, as a minority in many ways, and ultimately as a person.
The characters in this novel are real, they are flawed, they are strong, and they are all beautiful on their own ways (except for Brian Fluss he can take a long walk off a short pier, okay?! Loser). I especially love Kai, with his inner peace and accepting nature that will not hesitate to kick ass when needed. He is a driving force in Maddie’s life and a powerful ally.
I really love how Beers brings the scene to life, whether it is the inside of an immigrant-run Chinese restaurant in California, hilariously awkward clothing-optional beaches, or the alcohol-fueled turn-of-the-century wonderland of SoHo lesbian bars There is a gripping reality that takes this novel out of the romance genre and elevates it to the level of human discovery.
And discover Maddie does. Keep your mind open as you follow Maddie on her journey to her true self. Yes, she makes mistakes and yes, they do have permanent repercussions but never does she blame others or drown in self-pity. She is an active force in her own life and the threads of classic literature echo this journey.
This is a powerful read that will have you wavering between judgement and forgiveness, a read that will make you think deeply about your own life path. This is not a book to be taken lightly. I highly recommend it for its pure humanity and never ending hope that everything is really, truly going to be all right.
My rating: five of the biggest, brightest stars shining in the night sky.
ARC received from the author in exchange for an honest review.
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March 3, 2023since the blurb is missing in Goodreads, here it is for your convenience:
Maddie Fong is painfully aware of being the outsider at her new Southern California high school. Teased for being different, she does her best to adapt to her new life. Raised by a single mom, Maddie retreats by burying herself in books and dreaming of a different life. But one day she and her mother meet an intriguing man from Hawaii who introduces Maddie to surfing—which ignites in her the sense of new and exciting possibilities.
But can Maddie overcome her intense fear of water to ride the waves? And if she summons up the courage to learn to surf, will it help her win the attention of a sweet girl from school named Ally Flores? Once Maddie adjusts to life in a beachside town and starts college, she learns that love and bravery might not be enough for her to reach her dreams and find happiness. When she encounters unexpected obstacles that could change the course of her life forever, Maddie faces tough decisions as she has to choose what’s most important to her. But she is determined to never give up—no matter what it takes.
August 5, 2022
I love that this book spans only six years yet so many significant chapters of Maddie’s life. The novel can skip over months at a time but never feels as if any story is missing. What a remarkable feat of writing—what appears on the page and what is absent from the page somehow enhance each other. Beautifully done!
July 23, 2022
More than the run of the mill YA story. Caught Inside is multilayered and complex. You can’t help but root for the main character and want her and her first love to find their way back to each other.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews