Boat Girl

by Elizabeth Foscue

Fifteen-year-old Caitlin Davies’s life is challenging enough. She’s short. She’s scrawny. She prefers Evernote to SnapChat. She’s two years younger than everyone else in her grade. And now her parents are taking the family to the British Virgin Islands (BVI) . . . for a year. To live on a derelict sailboat, bought sight-unseen from navigationally-impaired cigar smugglers. So when her best—and only—friend suggests she use the move as a chance to reinvent herself, Caitlin has nothing to lose.

And it works. People (plural!) in the BVI actually like her, and not only because of the interesting stuff she found beneath her new home’s splintery floorboards. Even Tristan, the cutest guy on the island, is beguiled by her easygoing air and artfully padded bikini top. She just can’t help wondering, though, if New Caitlin and the real Caitlin have anything in common. And when the sailboat’s former owners come looking for their forgotten contraband, she wonders if she’ll ever get the chance to find out.

With a fresh style and perspective, and bursting with humor and charm, Boat Girl is a quirky and fast-paced YA coming-of-age story that will leave you breathless and wanting more.

Genres: Book Club

219 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 27, 2023

About the author

Elizabeth Foscue grew up in a house on a Florida bay and on a boat in the Caribbean Sea. A hurricane got the house, but the boat has fared better. She earned a B.A. in Linguistics from the University of Florida then a J.D. and LL.M. from Georgetown University Law Center, and in the midst of all that got married in a church on a hill in the British Virgin Islands. A hurricane got the church, but the marriage has fared better. Elizabeth lives in Santa Barbara, California with her husband and two awesome kiddos.

Reviews

[Emma Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m of two minds about this book. Boat Girl is written in a breezy, conversational style, and when it works, it’s genuinely funny. When it doesn’t, it veers into how-do-you-do-fellow-kids territory. (I’m sorry, but no Gen Z 15-year-old on earth has ever unironically called a guy “snacky.”)

Beyond the writing, though, I tend to dislike when a book turns the main character into the butt of the joke, effectively making them an outsider in their own story. Caitlin is naive, and she often makes mistakes that we as the reader are (probably?) supposed to laugh at: She thinks a Malibu Coke is an actual flavor of Coke, for instance, and gets horribly, horribly drunk. She finally realizes what’s going on the next day when she wakes up with a hangover.

I don’t have any problem with her naïveté as a character trait, but I wish it were presented in a way that didn’t feel so cutesy and condescending. Like, she could have not given us the name “Malibu Coke” in narration, leaving us to wonder just as much as she did where the alcohol came from—and then we could find out that the drink was a Malibu Coke later.

Still, I did enjoy this quick coming-of-age story, and the Caribbean setting is sharply drawn. Like I said, I’m of two minds. Your mileage may vary.

[Rhyan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who wouldn't want to live in the BVI on a sailboat? Apparently, Caitlin. She is a young 15-year-old gal who faces many teenage challenges through her story. It is a lighthearted story that has ups and downs. I was a smidge uninterested in the religious undertones because I think they are boring, but that subsides after the first couple of chapters.

I have feelings about some of the characters ie Shelby, and Tristian mostly.


Shelby drove me nuts. She seemed like a toxic friend that Caitlin was so dependent on. It seemed like "new" Caitlin was just a puppet for Shelby. I didn't like her one bit she seemed like a bad friend. I hope if there is a series, either Shelby becomes the uncool one, or their friendship ends.

Tristian. NO BIG NO. I was so disappointed that Tristian was just a stoner instead of a pirate! Tristan gave me a big ick from the start, and I wasn't sure what she saw in him, besides his eyes. I mean I guess good eyes could get ya. Her accidentally drinking Malibu Coke had me CRACKING UP. But also Tristian was supposed to get her water and he LEFT HER THERE!? And she had the audacity to still like him afterward AND think it was her fault!? NO.

Disclaimer: I read this book because I am on a pirate kick, so I am looking for huge pirate themes, lolz. I would rate this book as subtly pirate themed.

I do hope there is another book after this, the ending could conclude it or there could be more.

[Andrea Dearborn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley, Turner Publishing Company, Keylight Books for this awesome ARC! All opinions are my own.

First of all, I hope this book leads into a series! Elizabeth Foscue, I need it now! I have not loved a YA novel like this since I binge-read about six of The Princess Diaries books. This is not a want—this is a need.

Boat Girl tells the story of 15-year-old, Caitlin Davies, whose family picks up their life to move to the British Virgin Islands for a year. We only get the month of August though—my theory of an upcoming series holds strong—and it is hectic enough for one book. Their boat is anything but picture perfect, and the people Caitlin meets are anything but normal, but Caitlin is determined to become the main character in her own story—completely unlike who she was back home in Annapolis, Maryland.

I don’t know what I was expecting when I requested this ARC on NetGalley, but it certainly wasn’t this. It was hilarious through and through—literally unwavering. I needed something bright after the last couple of books I’ve read. I loved every single character, especially Caitlin—and her brother, Finn, who was hilariously psychotic as all normal 5-year-olds are (haha). This book is filled with so many genius moments of comedy, but I just devoured them all. Of course, I am an adult reading about the misadventures of a 15-year-old, but I can see myself in Caitlin when I was her age. I was that short kid who didn’t know how to talk to people, didn’t listen to the right type of music—I despise that question, too—and lacking in life experience. I think Caitlin would be a great role model for young girls—after they got through to the end of the book, of course—to teach them to be the captain of their own ships, even if it’s a sunken ship.

Love love loved this book! Best book I've read this year—so far!

[Susanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the author, Keylight Books and NetGalley, for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I loved the cover of this YA book, and could not put it down once I started it. The voice of Caitlin, the 15-year old female protagonist, awkward and desperate to be one of the popular girls, is very funny, while also being so true to life. She describes the year her family picked up and moved to the Caribbean, with the plan to live on a sailboat - and everything that goes spectacularly wrong with that plan. At the same time, the move provides Caitlin with an opportunity to re-invent herself - and the book describes the successes and failures of her efforts in that regard. The moral of the story, about staying true to oneself, is packaged so neatly that you don't realize you've swallowed it hook, line and sinker until you put this book down with a satisfied sigh. I need more Caitlin please!

[Caroline Schley · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took me a few chapters to get into the voice and plot of this novel, but I'm super glad I stuck with it and finished it! The author has crafted a thoughtful story with a memorable main character (15-year-old Caitlin Davis) and storyline (the MC is forced by her parents to move to BVI and live aboard a sailboat). All the details of boat life were very interesting and well-written and there are just enough loose ends that I would love to see a sequel! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for access to an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Julian Vaca · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the great honor and privilege of blurbing Elizabeth's terrific book. It's a hilarious, read-in-one-sitting kind of book that has so much to say. Order this book today, friends.

“Elizabeth Foscue’s sophomore novel is pure delight. A hilarious, engaging fish-out-of-water story that’s full of charm, wit, and laugh-out-loud moments to spare. Boat Girl sees Foscue at her absolute best.”

[Tracy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story walked the line between a fun misadventure and serious issues. I couldn't decide whether to be appalled or amused. If you take it as a fun misadventure, there are a lot of instances where everything is so absurd you can't help but laugh. But if you look at a 15 year old girl dealing with some of these issues, then it gets serious pretty fast.
I haven't decided which side I'm on.
You will have to decide for yourself.
Enjoy!

[BrynIsReading · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this by the pool on a recent girls weekend and my friends kept asking me why I was laughing so hard. Absolutely hilarious!

[Elizabeth Foscue · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second best book I've ever written!

[Tracy Bui · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars simply for lack of memorability. I didn't particularly find myself looking for to reading this good and therefore I kind of dumped the info on it as soon as I finished it.

[Maya Armatys · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 STARS

I honestly liked this book a lot more than I thought would which is always a good thing! I didn’t really know what it was about at first, I thought it was going to be about Caitlyn’s whole year abroad sailing around the world and it wasn’t that at all. It was just a girl moving someplace new and finding herself and realizing she doesn’t actually have to change to fit in this new place. It obviously wasn’t a life changing read but I can say I enjoyed it.

[Aimee Sarchet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute. Read for a book club, and would definitely read more if it became a series.

[Jennifer ~ TarHeelReader · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am not a regular reader of young adult fiction, but when I do, I want it to have a strong voice, like that of Caitlin Davies in Boat Girl. This is her coming-of-age story, aboard the sailboat with her family in the British Virgin Islands. With her family on this boat is not where she wants to be. It would help if the boat were not in disrepair. She’s going to be away from everything that’s comfortable for a year.

Her best friend tells her this is her shot to become someone new, and she does. Where before she struggled socially, now, people seem to like her. She has a boy in her sights, and life is good. Then, it starts to sink in that she’s not really sure who she is anymore: the new version she’s developed into, or the person she left back at home.

Boat Girl has bright humor, and Caitlin is a fabulously memorable character. There’s so much to relate to in her experience, and it took me right back to being a teen. I love a travel story, something with a sense of adventure, and this has that in spades. It made wish I could live on a boat for a year or more. I would love it.

I received a gifted copy.

Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader

[Ali Murphy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fifteen year old Caitlin’s family moves from Annapolis to the BVIs. Caitlin takes the opportunity of a move to change herself and try to become the cool girl. She makes friends with Tess, Jonas, Lucas and Enzo and falls for the bad boy Tristan. While working on the family’s sailboat they bought to live in she encounters smuggled drugs. Drama ensues that leads to her finding out Tristan isn’t all he’s cracked up to be and someone else might be the boy she’s been looking for. This book is definitely YA and almost seemed a little younger than YA. It was totally cute but Caitlin’s character was definitely juvenile and the outcome of teenagers dealing with drug smugglers was pretty innocently portrayed. Overall the story could have been a bit more developed and detailed. It felt like there was a lot of build up in the beginning and then the excitement of the second half was rushed to reach the conclusion of the story. Definitely a cute read and gave me sort of ‘The Outerbanks’ vibes.