{Review} Blue by Lisa Glass

Posted by Donna
Release Date: May 29th, 2014
Finished Date: June 22nd, 2014

Publishers: Quercus
Genre: YA Contemporary, Romance
Source: For Review
Format: Paperback

Pages: 375

Buy: Amazon UK / Amazon US / The Book Depo

Surfing is sixteen-year-old Iris’s world, and when the ultra-talented Zeke walks into her life, it soon becomes her passion.

Over one amazing summer, as she is drawn into his sphere, she experiences love, new friendships, but also loss, with an intensity she never dreamed of.

But is Zeke all he seems? What hides beneath his glamorous and mysterious past? When Iris decides to try for her own surfing success, just as her ex-boyfriend comes back into her life, she will test her talent, and her feelings for Zeke, to the limit…

The Review: Fun, light and refreshing, Blue is an enjoyable summer read that will make you want to head straight out to the sea to surf!

Sixteen-year-old Iris is struggling to get over her ex-boyfriend who cheated on her with one of her best friends. Looking for a way to forget, she tries Yoga class to try and open her up to new experiences. It’s there she meets gorgeous surfer boy Zeke and it’s Zeke who finally manages to get Iris to start living life to the max and start taking chances. Zeke seems like the perfect guy and together they have so much fun, but is Zeke really what he seems? All Iris can do is take their new found relationship day by day, even if it means in the long run she could get hurt once again. 

Pegged as this year’s summer romance, it’s safe to say I went into Blue with very high hopes. And while I enjoyed it and found it a fun read, it definitely was lacking something. But first I’ll tell you what I did like.

Throughout this whole book I could imagine the film Blue Crush starring Kate Bosworth and because of watching the film, it definitely helped me imagine some of the scenes that are in this book, mostly when Zeke or Iris is surfing, and surfing totally rocks. I loved reading about the rules to surfing, the different words they used to describe certain things and of course, I loved reading about the actual surfing. At times I seriously felt like I was there. Lisa Glass nailed the description and really took her time to make it so as a reader, I didn’t miss a thing. I also came away from this book thinking, “I want to go surfing.” Newquay has always been a place I’d love to visit and I really should being the UK myself, but now I want to go even more. I’ve got to see this place!

I thought both Iris and Zeke were likable characters. I liked that their story wasn’t just a fluffy romance but they had a few hardship to overcome because it made it all the more real. I loved Zeke’s family, they were a great addition to the story and I even think one of two of them could have their own stories.

As for the issues had with the story, I easily could have rated it 4 stars, however the lack of chemistry between Iris and Zeke was a major issue for me. At first I thought it’s going to slowly creep up on me, but the more I read the more I noticed that there was in fact hardly any chemistry. Iris’ and Zeke’s relationship was just there, just words but nothing screamed at me, I wasn’t swooning over it either and I was left disappointed. And I’m honestly not sure the story warrants a sequel, but I’d probably read it just see what happens next in the story

In all, I wouldn’t say Blue is this year’s summer romance but it’s still a summer read that should be read this year! 

Thank you to Quercus for giving me the opportunity to review this book in exchange for an honest review.