Deepa’s Reviews > Above Water: A One Night Stand Surf Romance > Status Update

3.8 rounded up This is a good romance. That just needs to have fun more expressively earlier on. Sans that I’m so curious for Leonor’s story.

Overall, this is a promising new author to me. I love good conflicts I think Locatelli does too. I think that’s her anchor point for her stories. I have the Salacia Project loaded and so I will know more confidently if I’m right or just spewing nonsense. Once we hit 80% that flow just hit. So that’ what I would say a slow patient characterization that takes time to reel you in but holds you to a very moving portrait

The romance itself was alright but far from where I wanted it because not enough dialogues between our leads and the right shared scene and writing in a way that was acting out the scene.I like them.

I liked the Welsh context quite a bit. It seemed detailed which I liked a lot.

I feel like we needed more surf knowledge and context. I was drawn to this book because of the promise of main characters as professional surfer. So what I wanted most was details around that. I thought it didn’t veer enough into that experience.

I do like untangling all the love triangles in the air. I do think employing the word selfish was honest for the position that character who said it was honest. I’m glad for it.

Mean angry belligerent under pressure but still beloved from Asma. That’s fun for me. I like Leif alot for pushing for the sabbatical. It wouldn’t make life easier for him but Callum needed it.

1) I love Alejandra’s conflict. Being afraid of ocean, bodily fear/trauma and dual guilt as a provider. Afraid to be in love and be loved. Ruin/disappointing your partner

2) Callum he’s falling in love. He’s away from the person he loves because he doesn’t want to express too much too soon and one pt had no hope of reconciliation because it was just supposed to be a fling . # Burning out # Taid + Bio Dad

I think the Alzheimers and father storyline was a huge turning point for the story. I think I started to really like the story from 80% on. That’s a solid 4 stars at that marker. Now outside of that marker: I would say I see strong potential. A world, setting, job, relationships, and conflicts that I like but pacing, and melding of their worlds needed attuning but it was there so for that I would give it 3.5 stars

I started reading 2 sessions ago and then really locked in today to finish.

Locatelli is a new author for me. I very slowly branch out when it comes to romance authors especially. But I loved the concept and the pitch and couldn’t wait for a chance to read this.

The cover art definitely impressed me too.