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Hearts Out of Water #1
All the Tales We Tell
"... a darkly romantic beginning to what promises to be an unusual contemporary YA fantasy series."
- Serena Chase, USA Today
When Cora’s mother whisks the family away for the summer, Cora must decide between forging her future in the glimmering world of second homes where her parents belong, or getting lost in the bewitching world of the locals and the mystery surrounding a lonely old woman who claims to be a selkie creature—and who probably needs Cora more than anyone else.
Through the fantastical tales and anguished stories of the batty Mrs. O’Leary, as well as the company of a particularly gorgeous local boy called Ronan, Cora finds an escape from the reality of planning her life after high school. But will it come at the cost of alienating Cora’s mother, who struggles with her own tragic memories?
As the summer wanes, it becomes apparent that Ronan just may hold the answer to Mrs. O’Leary’s tragic past—and Cora’s future.
(Note: This book was formerly published under the title "Learning to Swim.")
- Serena Chase, USA Today
When Cora’s mother whisks the family away for the summer, Cora must decide between forging her future in the glimmering world of second homes where her parents belong, or getting lost in the bewitching world of the locals and the mystery surrounding a lonely old woman who claims to be a selkie creature—and who probably needs Cora more than anyone else.
Through the fantastical tales and anguished stories of the batty Mrs. O’Leary, as well as the company of a particularly gorgeous local boy called Ronan, Cora finds an escape from the reality of planning her life after high school. But will it come at the cost of alienating Cora’s mother, who struggles with her own tragic memories?
As the summer wanes, it becomes apparent that Ronan just may hold the answer to Mrs. O’Leary’s tragic past—and Cora’s future.
(Note: This book was formerly published under the title "Learning to Swim.")
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First published March 1, 2013
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About the author
Annie Cosby
11 books120 followersAnnie is a short, dog-obsessed, ketchup-loving romantic who splits her days—and her wardrobe—between her hometown, St. Louis, and her adopted love, Galway, Ireland.
Her first book was the start of the USA Today-recommended Hearts Out of Water series followed by the Amazon chart-soaring novella series, The Hummingbird Saga.
When she's not writing, she's usually reading, editing for awesome YA author clients, and walking Lucy, the rottie mix.
Her first book was the start of the USA Today-recommended Hearts Out of Water series followed by the Amazon chart-soaring novella series, The Hummingbird Saga.
When she's not writing, she's usually reading, editing for awesome YA author clients, and walking Lucy, the rottie mix.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
March 1, 2014
Review: First, a HUGE THANK YOU to the lovely Annie Cosby for providing me with this ARC for review.
Characters: I went back and forth with how I felt towards the main character, Cora. Sometimes I liked her, and then at other times, she really annoyed me. The moments where Cora annoyed me were generally under circumstances where her stereotypical rich-girl characteristics came out. Cora grew up not with complete and total wealth, but she never did have to worry about money. I felt like her problems were a lot more petty compared to say, conflicts that her friend Rory encountered. However, there were times when I found Cora to be a logical and respectable teenage girl. For someone who had just graduated from high school, Cora wasn't a big party girl, and she didn't fool around with guys. For this, I gave Cora a lot of respect. She is a protagonist that you will (mostly) root for. And then there's Rory, Cora's love interest in this novel.
Sweet, handsome, athletic, smart and hardworking? YES PLEASE. I adored Rory! I definitely want to see more of his story in the books in the Hearts Out of Water series.
Storyline/Plot: Learning to Swim moved at a pretty good pace. I really enjoyed reading about Cora's new life on the small island, and while some parts were in danger of being mundane, it never did reach that point. Unlike many other novels, I did not find myself skimming through the pages, and at one point, I just couldn't put it down! I only wish that Annie could have added MORE of this Irish-folklore aspect! There were hints of it throughout, but at the end.. BAM. Watch out, you won't know what's coming for you! Learning to Swim ends on a great cliffhanger, and I have high expectations for the next book.
Writing: The writing and dialogue in this book is just adorable! Annie did a really good job with the descriptions, and making the dialogue sound realistic. I think Annie is definitely a very talented writer, and I look forward to seeing her talent grow as she writes more and more.
Characters: I went back and forth with how I felt towards the main character, Cora. Sometimes I liked her, and then at other times, she really annoyed me. The moments where Cora annoyed me were generally under circumstances where her stereotypical rich-girl characteristics came out. Cora grew up not with complete and total wealth, but she never did have to worry about money. I felt like her problems were a lot more petty compared to say, conflicts that her friend Rory encountered. However, there were times when I found Cora to be a logical and respectable teenage girl. For someone who had just graduated from high school, Cora wasn't a big party girl, and she didn't fool around with guys. For this, I gave Cora a lot of respect. She is a protagonist that you will (mostly) root for. And then there's Rory, Cora's love interest in this novel.
Sweet, handsome, athletic, smart and hardworking? YES PLEASE. I adored Rory! I definitely want to see more of his story in the books in the Hearts Out of Water series.
Storyline/Plot: Learning to Swim moved at a pretty good pace. I really enjoyed reading about Cora's new life on the small island, and while some parts were in danger of being mundane, it never did reach that point. Unlike many other novels, I did not find myself skimming through the pages, and at one point, I just couldn't put it down! I only wish that Annie could have added MORE of this Irish-folklore aspect! There were hints of it throughout, but at the end.. BAM. Watch out, you won't know what's coming for you! Learning to Swim ends on a great cliffhanger, and I have high expectations for the next book.
Writing: The writing and dialogue in this book is just adorable! Annie did a really good job with the descriptions, and making the dialogue sound realistic. I think Annie is definitely a very talented writer, and I look forward to seeing her talent grow as she writes more and more.
March 21, 2016
Copy provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Cora is stuck in an overly pink house for the summer. It’s not exactly her dream summer. There is a beach nearby, but she can’t swim, so no plus points for that. Cora spends her summer hanging out with snobby kids her age and talking to a strange old woman.
I didn’t like any of the kids Cora spent her time with. They were all full of themselves and clueless. Cora wasn’t clueless, she was just confused. Her parents (mostly her mother) have plans for her future, but she had other plans. I understood her need to take a break before going to college, but I understood her parents as well. They were just worried, and they wanted a future that was secure for her.
I really liked Rory. He was presumptuous of Cora’s personality at first, but he redeemed himself. I couldn’t blame him either, because all of the kids who lived within Cora’s vicinity weren’t exactly some of the nicest people.
I really liked the feel of this book. They lived near the beach, and I felt relaxed while reading it. There were secrets uncovered that led to Cora making decisions that I didn’t agree with. I hope everything will be fixed in the next book!
Cora is stuck in an overly pink house for the summer. It’s not exactly her dream summer. There is a beach nearby, but she can’t swim, so no plus points for that. Cora spends her summer hanging out with snobby kids her age and talking to a strange old woman.
I didn’t like any of the kids Cora spent her time with. They were all full of themselves and clueless. Cora wasn’t clueless, she was just confused. Her parents (mostly her mother) have plans for her future, but she had other plans. I understood her need to take a break before going to college, but I understood her parents as well. They were just worried, and they wanted a future that was secure for her.
I really liked Rory. He was presumptuous of Cora’s personality at first, but he redeemed himself. I couldn’t blame him either, because all of the kids who lived within Cora’s vicinity weren’t exactly some of the nicest people.
I really liked the feel of this book. They lived near the beach, and I felt relaxed while reading it. There were secrets uncovered that led to Cora making decisions that I didn’t agree with. I hope everything will be fixed in the next book!
July 26, 2016
It Happened One Summer...
1st, as always let me say, I read / listened to this book in audio format via audible.com. I love audio books & get them whenever I can. Audiobooks offer proper pronunciations & tons of excitement with all the voices. I tend to absorb audio better & the stories stay with me.
OMG, What a great story! Annie Cosby drew me into this story from the very beginning. What looked like a summer with a bunch of rich kids turned in to a folk tale. I loved this story. I wouldn't have guessed the ending, not in a million years. All thru the story, with all the different twists, I thought by a crazy woman, turned out to be real! She wasn't crazy after all.
A Young Adult Romance / Folk Tale. The narrator in the audio version, Wendy Pitts did a great job too! The voices of the teens were spot on! I loved Mrs O'Leary's voice & Cora's voice. Good job ladies! This book was so good, I listened to it all in one sitting!
1st, as always let me say, I read / listened to this book in audio format via audible.com. I love audio books & get them whenever I can. Audiobooks offer proper pronunciations & tons of excitement with all the voices. I tend to absorb audio better & the stories stay with me.
OMG, What a great story! Annie Cosby drew me into this story from the very beginning. What looked like a summer with a bunch of rich kids turned in to a folk tale. I loved this story. I wouldn't have guessed the ending, not in a million years. All thru the story, with all the different twists, I thought by a crazy woman, turned out to be real! She wasn't crazy after all.
A Young Adult Romance / Folk Tale. The narrator in the audio version, Wendy Pitts did a great job too! The voices of the teens were spot on! I loved Mrs O'Leary's voice & Cora's voice. Good job ladies! This book was so good, I listened to it all in one sitting!
December 28, 2017
Five Words: Awesome, magical, lovely, lessons, relationships.
February 9, 2017
5 Stars
Cora is dragged along by her parents to a summer of big houses and rich parties so the family can do some healing, but Cora doesn’t think big houses and parties are a way to solve their problems. Will Cora come around and finally accept her future as a college student at the fancy school her parents picked for her, or will she be smitten by the locals and opt for the life of travel she’s been dying to pursue. Will the batty old Mrs. O’Leary help guide her life in the direction it should take, or is she just a crazy woman spinning crazy tales about Irish folklore and selkies? And, what’s up with the local boy with the beautiful brown eyes, Rory? How are him and Mrs. O’Leary connected?
I was provided with a free copy of this book for an honest review.
This story grabbed me from the start, yet, at the same time, it took me a little while to get into. I think it’s because I had to read this on my computer, and I’m not a huge fan of reading books on a computer screen. Still, once I got to 48%, I went on a binge and stayed up to finish the book until the early morning.
Where should I start with it then? I guess I’ll start with Cora. I really liked her character. I did find her to be a bit whiney and constantly woe-is-me at times, but I honestly thought that worked. She’s a young adult trying to figure out what she wants to do with her life and is in a constant battle with her parents over it. Her angst made sense. Plus, I loved her humor. This book caused me to laugh out loud a few times.
She was definitely the character I thought that had the development. I could have a used a bit more on everyone else, except Mrs. O’Leary. She was tackled pretty well too. One of my favorite aspects was that there was no real distinction between the rich and locals in Cora’s speech. I liked that, even though Cora recognized the difference, being one of the other didn’t make anyone automatically a bad person. Cosby did a good job of portraying the idea that people are people and it’s their words and actions that make them unpleasant and not the amount of money in their pockets.
This book also made me cringe a few times…in a good way! There was a lot of tension in this story, and I found myself eager to find out what was going to happen next. And, there was tons of horribly uncomfortable tension between Cora and Rory that I was loving it. Those two were definitely giving me some feels.
I also loved the premise. I wanted a little bit more of the lore and folktales, as I’m pretty unfamiliar with what the legends were. Cosby’s writing was wonderfully descriptive to the point that I could clearly imagine what was going on, but I wanted more background on the legends–mainly because I found it all so fascinating. I’m hoping the second book will touch more on all of that.
And, that cliffhanger made me itching to continue the story. The ending was a little confusing, but mostly just intriguing and open for possibility. Anything could happen at this point.
A couple other things that I haven’t already mentioned, however, kept me from rating this 5 stars. There were a few minor grammatical errors scattered throughout the story. They weren’t that distracting, though and didn’t take anything away from the story. However, there were a few times that the plot didn’t connect, so that’s the main reason for the 4-star rating. These inconsistencies were nothing terribly damaging to the plot and were pretty easy to ignore, but a few bothered me a little more than I can brush under the rug. They were small and could have easily been fixed with another round of proofing.
Regardless of these minor complaints, I did really enjoy this story and am planning on reading the next book in the series as well as checking out Cosby’s other series.
I definitely recommend checking out this book if YA Paranormal Romance is something that interests you. I also recommend it if you’re intrigued by Irish folklore. This book was fun to read, and kept me hooked until the last page. It was never boring and always enjoyable
Review originally published on my Wordpress blog Dreaming Through Literature.
Cora is dragged along by her parents to a summer of big houses and rich parties so the family can do some healing, but Cora doesn’t think big houses and parties are a way to solve their problems. Will Cora come around and finally accept her future as a college student at the fancy school her parents picked for her, or will she be smitten by the locals and opt for the life of travel she’s been dying to pursue. Will the batty old Mrs. O’Leary help guide her life in the direction it should take, or is she just a crazy woman spinning crazy tales about Irish folklore and selkies? And, what’s up with the local boy with the beautiful brown eyes, Rory? How are him and Mrs. O’Leary connected?
I was provided with a free copy of this book for an honest review.
This story grabbed me from the start, yet, at the same time, it took me a little while to get into. I think it’s because I had to read this on my computer, and I’m not a huge fan of reading books on a computer screen. Still, once I got to 48%, I went on a binge and stayed up to finish the book until the early morning.
Where should I start with it then? I guess I’ll start with Cora. I really liked her character. I did find her to be a bit whiney and constantly woe-is-me at times, but I honestly thought that worked. She’s a young adult trying to figure out what she wants to do with her life and is in a constant battle with her parents over it. Her angst made sense. Plus, I loved her humor. This book caused me to laugh out loud a few times.
She was definitely the character I thought that had the development. I could have a used a bit more on everyone else, except Mrs. O’Leary. She was tackled pretty well too. One of my favorite aspects was that there was no real distinction between the rich and locals in Cora’s speech. I liked that, even though Cora recognized the difference, being one of the other didn’t make anyone automatically a bad person. Cosby did a good job of portraying the idea that people are people and it’s their words and actions that make them unpleasant and not the amount of money in their pockets.
This book also made me cringe a few times…in a good way! There was a lot of tension in this story, and I found myself eager to find out what was going to happen next. And, there was tons of horribly uncomfortable tension between Cora and Rory that I was loving it. Those two were definitely giving me some feels.
I also loved the premise. I wanted a little bit more of the lore and folktales, as I’m pretty unfamiliar with what the legends were. Cosby’s writing was wonderfully descriptive to the point that I could clearly imagine what was going on, but I wanted more background on the legends–mainly because I found it all so fascinating. I’m hoping the second book will touch more on all of that.
And, that cliffhanger made me itching to continue the story. The ending was a little confusing, but mostly just intriguing and open for possibility. Anything could happen at this point.
A couple other things that I haven’t already mentioned, however, kept me from rating this 5 stars. There were a few minor grammatical errors scattered throughout the story. They weren’t that distracting, though and didn’t take anything away from the story. However, there were a few times that the plot didn’t connect, so that’s the main reason for the 4-star rating. These inconsistencies were nothing terribly damaging to the plot and were pretty easy to ignore, but a few bothered me a little more than I can brush under the rug. They were small and could have easily been fixed with another round of proofing.
Regardless of these minor complaints, I did really enjoy this story and am planning on reading the next book in the series as well as checking out Cosby’s other series.
I definitely recommend checking out this book if YA Paranormal Romance is something that interests you. I also recommend it if you’re intrigued by Irish folklore. This book was fun to read, and kept me hooked until the last page. It was never boring and always enjoyable
Review originally published on my Wordpress blog Dreaming Through Literature.
March 15, 2014
Love this book. so so sweet. Love Rory. I know that Owen was trying to be a nice guy but you seriously became a total douche. Rory though was perfect. At first his hangups over class took over but as he and Cora got to know each other they were so perfect together. I beg you please Ms. Cosby please...let them be together in the end of this series.
A light fun sweet read in which the plot and the writing will keep you entranced as you learn about love, loss, life and such fantastical things like selkies. Cora is brought to the ocean for the summer. Her mom trying to get over a daughter's death has kept Cora on a short leash and has tried to manipulate her life to protect her. Her dad is trying to give her a life of ease and comfort while keeping up with the Joneses. Cora wants none of this. The problem is she doesn't know what she wants and she does know she wants to figure it out. Too afraid to stand up to her parents she goes along with what they want.
that is all about to change as she wanders on the beach and meets Mrs. O'leary. A lonely woman with fantastical tales and deep insight into others. A women ready to go but where I cannot tell you because it will take away from the story. Each day she regals Cora with stories of the ocean. As they embark on a friendship Cora also meets Rory who Mrs. O'leary calls Ronan which means little seal. Rory is the working class boy who loves to swim. He challenges Cora to see herself and look at herself and find what she is and who she wishes to be. He also turns out to be Cora's first love and I believe her match made in heaven. Rory i think thinks that as well. They come from different worlds but help each other find peace and harmony. Each finds a meaning for love and who they are. Rory though is off to Ireland and Cora is off to wherever her parents what her to be.
Cora does begin to find herself and stand up to her parents but that doesn't mean she will get what she wants. she turns from a spoiled princess to a young woman with the help of Mrs. O'leary and Rory. Rory learns about love and life through Cora and vice versa. The two fall for each other but with them both leaving what will happen is anyone's guess especially with the secret Cora holds.
A sweet love story that shows discovery of one's self and that sometimes love means letting go and hoping you find one another again. I hope these two do. Look forward to the next chapter in their story.
December 15, 2013
I received a copy from Netgalley.
I came across this title while browsing through Netgalley, and it sounded interesting, though I've not had good experience with YA books based on water creature mythology. I started reading this one as soon as I received the approval email...and loved it right off.
Even from the first 10% I knew this would be a five starer. The writing was vivid, the characters engaging and fascinating, I loved Cora right from the start, so easy for me to identify with and understand where she's coming from. All the characters were well put together and fleshed out. Even the ones I didn't like.
There was an intriguing little mystery in the plot, even though I figured out where that bit of the story was going before half way through it didn't matter because the story telling was so good. I have a weakness for small towns by the sea setting, and this one captured that setting perfectly.
Excellently written and very emotional through out. A fantastic story, very touching, and even made me cry.
So a huge thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for granting my request to view this title. I loved it and can't wait for the second in the series.
I came across this title while browsing through Netgalley, and it sounded interesting, though I've not had good experience with YA books based on water creature mythology. I started reading this one as soon as I received the approval email...and loved it right off.
Even from the first 10% I knew this would be a five starer. The writing was vivid, the characters engaging and fascinating, I loved Cora right from the start, so easy for me to identify with and understand where she's coming from. All the characters were well put together and fleshed out. Even the ones I didn't like.
There was an intriguing little mystery in the plot, even though I figured out where that bit of the story was going before half way through it didn't matter because the story telling was so good. I have a weakness for small towns by the sea setting, and this one captured that setting perfectly.
Excellently written and very emotional through out. A fantastic story, very touching, and even made me cry.
So a huge thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for granting my request to view this title. I loved it and can't wait for the second in the series.
March 3, 2014
Sissy says: Learning to Swim has layers of backstory, memories, and tragedies, and it was quite engaging--I read it in a couple of days and was kept up at night trying to make sure I had everything straight in my head. My favorite character was Mrs. O'Leary. She is a complex individual who cannot be labeled as good or bad. The Irish folklore she introduces is fascinating, but full of riddles and hidden meanings. Mrs. O'Leary, known as Lia (short for Cordelia) by the townfolk, has episodes of warmth and lucidity mixed with outright lunacy.
Bubby says: I had a hard time getting into the story of Learning to Swim. It came off as the typical YA summer romance novel. There was some teenage drinking among the rich and fabulous set, some Romeo and Juliet-type issues with the rich girl and the "townie" boy and all the accompanying angst that one would expect. However. The story started dragging me in. Before I knew it, I actually cared about these people and their lives. The thing that pulled me in most was Mrs. O'Leary and her stories. I figured out who (or should I say what) she was pretty early on and it just got better from there. Read full review at www.bubblebathbooks.net
March 5, 2014
First off, thank you soooo much to Annie Cosby, who sent me this copy to read!
This was an interesting read. On the one hand, I thought I had it totally all figured out, and I knew exactly what was going to happen, and on the other hand, I didn't trust myself, and had to keep reading rather feverishly to find out if I was right. That is a good mix. I like that the book sort of fed me little clues, but I didn't put everything together the right way, not until I had already reached the end. I liked that it surprised me, even though the end of the book was one of the possibilities I had predicted. It was a cosy sort of ending, one that I felt I had moved toward without knowing.
The characters were well developed, the main ones developed the best of course. I would have liked a little bit more depth into Owen, as he was a character that really interested me. But the main character was completely believable. And I want more details on Rory/Ronan!!
All in all, a very good read, and one that I will be keeping on the shelf while I wait for the sequel. HURRY UP ANNIE! Just joking!
This was an interesting read. On the one hand, I thought I had it totally all figured out, and I knew exactly what was going to happen, and on the other hand, I didn't trust myself, and had to keep reading rather feverishly to find out if I was right. That is a good mix. I like that the book sort of fed me little clues, but I didn't put everything together the right way, not until I had already reached the end. I liked that it surprised me, even though the end of the book was one of the possibilities I had predicted. It was a cosy sort of ending, one that I felt I had moved toward without knowing.
The characters were well developed, the main ones developed the best of course. I would have liked a little bit more depth into Owen, as he was a character that really interested me. But the main character was completely believable. And I want more details on Rory/Ronan!!
All in all, a very good read, and one that I will be keeping on the shelf while I wait for the sequel. HURRY UP ANNIE! Just joking!
March 11, 2014
I started reading. It had no action, and was slow. Taking it's time to set up the story. For us to know the characters well. Then I got distracted, didn't even think of it, didn't rush back like I usually do. I picked it up again because I needed something to do.
Like I said it was just introducing the characters. But bits here and there gave some action. Not until past the halfway mark. I guess that happens in a series but this is the first series I felt that, this slow.
At halfway and after is when the relationships really started to form and give the action I wanted in a story.
I can relate to her sensitivity. I love her bravery. Her want to travel. I don't like Owen but I do love her relationship with Rory. And the mystery of the old lady that's unfolding? I love how she (Cora) finally found her way to her mom and vise versa. Then the old lady died! I want to read the next book to find out about it and more about Rory.
Like I said it was just introducing the characters. But bits here and there gave some action. Not until past the halfway mark. I guess that happens in a series but this is the first series I felt that, this slow.
At halfway and after is when the relationships really started to form and give the action I wanted in a story.
I can relate to her sensitivity. I love her bravery. Her want to travel. I don't like Owen but I do love her relationship with Rory. And the mystery of the old lady that's unfolding? I love how she (Cora) finally found her way to her mom and vise versa. Then the old lady died! I want to read the next book to find out about it and more about Rory.
March 5, 2014
OMG GUYS. READ. THIS. BOOK. it catches your attention because, well, there's nothing really like it out there. with a cliff hanger that leaves you begging for the next one to be out already, you find yourself rereading everything to make sure you have it down. cosby write with a sort of.....Madeline L' Engle feel and definitely does not dissapoint. reread factor of 100000000000000 out of 5
August 12, 2014
This was a fabulous beginning to a new Young Adult fantasy series! The legends are old, but the content is brand new and fascinating.
Read full review in the 2014 August issue of InD’tale Magazine.
Read full review in the 2014 August issue of InD’tale Magazine.
March 6, 2016
Thanks to the author for sending me a copy in exchange for a honest review!
4 stars. I really enjoyed this. Like a lot. This book was such a breath of fresh air and I thought it was a lot of fun. It's a light and cute story of self discovery.
The writing was really good, very easy to get into and the setting was drew me in immediately. From the very first time that Cora goes to Mrs. O'Leary's house I was drawn in.
The family dynamics in this was one of my favorite things because it felt so real. While Cora's family was nowhere near being a perfect family, they did really love each other despite the issues they went through and I appreciated that. I also loved the Irish folklore that was incorporated into this, it gave the novel a different feel and tone and I thought that was fun. It was unlike anything I'd read and kept me intrigued. The whole thing with Selkies was just really fascinating to me. I also grew to really like our main protagonist, Cora along with the other characters.
Cora started off as someone I just could not stand. She was selfish and whiny and overall just annoying but by the end of the novel she had gone through such a great character development that I found myself rooting for her. I liked that through the people she met she became a better person and also found the courage to tell her parents that she wanted to just live her life her way. Her friendship with Mrs. O'Leary was so wonderful and was the highlight of the novel for me because Mrs. O'Leary was a really great character and was my favorite.
Rory was great. He started off as a bit of a jerk but by the end of the book I had grown to care for him as well. I think my only thing about him is that I feel like there is still so much I don't know about him and with that ending I'm interested to see what it is.
Overall, this was a lot of fun and I'm really glad that I read it. Plus, that ending was a good cliffhanger. I'd definitely recommend it if you're looking for something a little bit out of the norm.
4 stars. I really enjoyed this. Like a lot. This book was such a breath of fresh air and I thought it was a lot of fun. It's a light and cute story of self discovery.
The writing was really good, very easy to get into and the setting was drew me in immediately. From the very first time that Cora goes to Mrs. O'Leary's house I was drawn in.
The family dynamics in this was one of my favorite things because it felt so real. While Cora's family was nowhere near being a perfect family, they did really love each other despite the issues they went through and I appreciated that. I also loved the Irish folklore that was incorporated into this, it gave the novel a different feel and tone and I thought that was fun. It was unlike anything I'd read and kept me intrigued. The whole thing with Selkies was just really fascinating to me. I also grew to really like our main protagonist, Cora along with the other characters.
Cora started off as someone I just could not stand. She was selfish and whiny and overall just annoying but by the end of the novel she had gone through such a great character development that I found myself rooting for her. I liked that through the people she met she became a better person and also found the courage to tell her parents that she wanted to just live her life her way. Her friendship with Mrs. O'Leary was so wonderful and was the highlight of the novel for me because Mrs. O'Leary was a really great character and was my favorite.
Rory was great. He started off as a bit of a jerk but by the end of the book I had grown to care for him as well. I think my only thing about him is that I feel like there is still so much I don't know about him and with that ending I'm interested to see what it is.
Overall, this was a lot of fun and I'm really glad that I read it. Plus, that ending was a good cliffhanger. I'd definitely recommend it if you're looking for something a little bit out of the norm.
April 9, 2014
**Originally written for Book Bliss book blog. I received a copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased and honest review**
Review: 4 stars
General: This book was wonderfully engaging from the first page to the last. It is filled with not only a strong backstory in mystery and plenty of heartache and attention grabbing plot elements that sucked me in from the start. I love that it was about Selkie's as it's not as done now and allowed for many original concepts. My only real compliant was the characters felt very stock. I still loved the book and will get into why but felt in this instance the I would have loved characters that I haven't seen in many other YA book or movie.
This was a beautiful coming of age story at it's roots and it was wonderfully done. I connected quickly with Cora and found myself curious about the Selkies almost more than she was at some points. I love being that drawn in. The story was well written and the plot itself was perfectly paced. The descriptions were light and easy and took you right into the story from the first page to the last.
Characters: Cora- Cora was the traditional YA heroine and for that I would have liked a little something extra from her. She's still believable of course and easy to connect with I just like a unique heroine. She's independent (almost wreckless but it works), caring and very teen in her reactions to things such as the summer announcement and many interactions with Mrs. O'Leary.
Ronan- Ronan is a mystery more than anything else at this point. Which I respect because it drew me in more but it's also often done in the YA world so for that point it seemed overdone. His relationship with Cora was sweet to watch form. He was caring and you could really sense his feelings for her.
Review: 4 stars
General: This book was wonderfully engaging from the first page to the last. It is filled with not only a strong backstory in mystery and plenty of heartache and attention grabbing plot elements that sucked me in from the start. I love that it was about Selkie's as it's not as done now and allowed for many original concepts. My only real compliant was the characters felt very stock. I still loved the book and will get into why but felt in this instance the I would have loved characters that I haven't seen in many other YA book or movie.
This was a beautiful coming of age story at it's roots and it was wonderfully done. I connected quickly with Cora and found myself curious about the Selkies almost more than she was at some points. I love being that drawn in. The story was well written and the plot itself was perfectly paced. The descriptions were light and easy and took you right into the story from the first page to the last.
Characters: Cora- Cora was the traditional YA heroine and for that I would have liked a little something extra from her. She's still believable of course and easy to connect with I just like a unique heroine. She's independent (almost wreckless but it works), caring and very teen in her reactions to things such as the summer announcement and many interactions with Mrs. O'Leary.
Ronan- Ronan is a mystery more than anything else at this point. Which I respect because it drew me in more but it's also often done in the YA world so for that point it seemed overdone. His relationship with Cora was sweet to watch form. He was caring and you could really sense his feelings for her.
March 22, 2014
Book Review originally published here: http://www.iheartreading.net/book-tou...
Learning to Swim is the first book in a new series, and it’s off to a good start.
When Cora’s mother forces her to go on summer holiday, Cora thinks her summer is doomed. Her parents belong in a world of parties, wealth, and the elite. While Cora spends half the time in that world, she also takes some time to visit the world of the locals on her holiday, and to discover more abot mythology and folklore than she ever thought possible, thanks to the batty Mrs. O’Leary. But Mrs. O’Leary isn’t the only local Cora meets. There’s also Ronan, a gorgeous and mysterious boy. But Cora’s world is miles away from Ronan’s, and even the magic of summer may not succeed in bringing them together.
Cora was an okay character. She had a mind of her own, but she was also thoughtful and considerate, at least in as far as a teenager can be any of those things. Ronan was fun too, everything one would look for in a summer fling. But the character that really intrigued me was Mrs. O’Leary. Her story were amazing. I loved the folklore, the mystery, the ancient mythology, all mixed together. And of course, Mrs. O’Leary’s personality was entertaining as well.
The writing was great. Dialogue and descriptions were spot on. While the story had a slow start, the pacing picked up after a few chapters, and I was impressed by how endaring the story was, and how much I began to like the characters.
Learning to Swim is the first book in a new series, and it’s off to a good start.
When Cora’s mother forces her to go on summer holiday, Cora thinks her summer is doomed. Her parents belong in a world of parties, wealth, and the elite. While Cora spends half the time in that world, she also takes some time to visit the world of the locals on her holiday, and to discover more abot mythology and folklore than she ever thought possible, thanks to the batty Mrs. O’Leary. But Mrs. O’Leary isn’t the only local Cora meets. There’s also Ronan, a gorgeous and mysterious boy. But Cora’s world is miles away from Ronan’s, and even the magic of summer may not succeed in bringing them together.
Cora was an okay character. She had a mind of her own, but she was also thoughtful and considerate, at least in as far as a teenager can be any of those things. Ronan was fun too, everything one would look for in a summer fling. But the character that really intrigued me was Mrs. O’Leary. Her story were amazing. I loved the folklore, the mystery, the ancient mythology, all mixed together. And of course, Mrs. O’Leary’s personality was entertaining as well.
The writing was great. Dialogue and descriptions were spot on. While the story had a slow start, the pacing picked up after a few chapters, and I was impressed by how endaring the story was, and how much I began to like the characters.
March 20, 2014
**ARC provided by publisher via NetGalley in exchange of a honest review
Actual Rating: 2.5
Hmmm. The book is not bad but it's not that great either. It's totally forgettable but I would not deny the fact that I earned few laughs while reading this.
I don't know what to feel about Cora, the heroine, actually. You know the feeling when somebody forbids you to do something and you want to do it because you want to feel in control? Cora is on the rebellious stage of her life. I find her annoying sometimes because she complains so much about her parents just because they want her to go to college. She rather wants to travel the world! Uhm. Okay. It's not like everybody have what she have. But she was funny, too. I liked her sarcasm.
Rory, the male lead, was a douche. Seriously. I'm having conflicting feelings about him. I liked him sometimes and other times, not so much. He basically acted like a jerk when he found out that Cora lives in the "big houses" (which means she's filthy rich) without even getting to know her.
I actually forgot that this book is a part of a series while reading. The ending made me remember it. Seriously. When does cliffhangers became popular? They're like everywhere now! Sorry if my ramblings are annoying.
This is an okay read but I got bored in some parts. I will definitely pick up the next book if I have time though so I can see what happens from here. :)
Actual Rating: 2.5
Hmmm. The book is not bad but it's not that great either. It's totally forgettable but I would not deny the fact that I earned few laughs while reading this.
I don't know what to feel about Cora, the heroine, actually. You know the feeling when somebody forbids you to do something and you want to do it because you want to feel in control? Cora is on the rebellious stage of her life. I find her annoying sometimes because she complains so much about her parents just because they want her to go to college. She rather wants to travel the world! Uhm. Okay. It's not like everybody have what she have. But she was funny, too. I liked her sarcasm.
Rory, the male lead, was a douche. Seriously. I'm having conflicting feelings about him. I liked him sometimes and other times, not so much. He basically acted like a jerk when he found out that Cora lives in the "big houses" (which means she's filthy rich) without even getting to know her.
I actually forgot that this book is a part of a series while reading. The ending made me remember it. Seriously. When does cliffhangers became popular? They're like everywhere now! Sorry if my ramblings are annoying.
This is an okay read but I got bored in some parts. I will definitely pick up the next book if I have time though so I can see what happens from here. :)
August 22, 2016
Book received for free by the author via YA Insider for an honest review
Not having heard of LEARNING TO SWIM before going in, I had little to no expectations. I think this is both a good thing, yet a bad thing, considering there were times when I couldn't make heads or tails of the genre of the book, and the direction of the story. Is it contemporary? Fantasy? Is it something in between?
That being said, this read more of a coming of age story to me. With the main character, Cora, figuring some things out with her future, boys & school and also learning some hard facts about herself, her "friends" and family and where she comes from. All the while, we have stories of selkies and other folklore. I thought these stories were woven into real life lessons and the metaphors were brilliant. I loved the scenes with Ms. O'leary.
As far as the romance goes, Rory was hard to like at first. It's one of those situations where a person accuses someone of doing the thing they are doing and it's frustrating. However, the few scenes that Rory and Cora had together were rather sweet, and I loved how they got to know each other.
Now the ending left me slightly confused. It ended on quite the cliffhanger, yet it felt incomplete. Still, i am curious to see how the ending will affect Rory and Cora's future, both together and individually.
All in all, Learning to Swim was a cute read!
Not having heard of LEARNING TO SWIM before going in, I had little to no expectations. I think this is both a good thing, yet a bad thing, considering there were times when I couldn't make heads or tails of the genre of the book, and the direction of the story. Is it contemporary? Fantasy? Is it something in between?
That being said, this read more of a coming of age story to me. With the main character, Cora, figuring some things out with her future, boys & school and also learning some hard facts about herself, her "friends" and family and where she comes from. All the while, we have stories of selkies and other folklore. I thought these stories were woven into real life lessons and the metaphors were brilliant. I loved the scenes with Ms. O'leary.
As far as the romance goes, Rory was hard to like at first. It's one of those situations where a person accuses someone of doing the thing they are doing and it's frustrating. However, the few scenes that Rory and Cora had together were rather sweet, and I loved how they got to know each other.
Now the ending left me slightly confused. It ended on quite the cliffhanger, yet it felt incomplete. Still, i am curious to see how the ending will affect Rory and Cora's future, both together and individually.
All in all, Learning to Swim was a cute read!
April 6, 2014
Thanks to annie cosby for letting me R2R this book.
This book follows cora an 18 year old girl born into a wealthy family. After the tragic death of her sister her mum & dad have kept her on a very short leash. They all go away for the summer, where all the wealthy familys go to stay in the 'big houses'.
Cora starts to rebel in this book and she meets an old lady called mrs o'leary who tells tales of sea creatures. There she also meets ronan/rory & I loved this romance. It was not insta love and they actually seemed to dislike each other at first but it ends up so cute.
Obviously there is a rich boy owen who coras parents try to set her up with & he starts off nice but seems to turn into a douche!
I found this book quite slow to start with as its more character building & cora finding herself.
The last few chapters kept me hooked I really wanted to know what happened next so just had to keep reading and ohmy I cant wait for the next one it ended on a cliffhanger that didnt disapoint me & I want to know what happens so will be picking up the next one
This book follows cora an 18 year old girl born into a wealthy family. After the tragic death of her sister her mum & dad have kept her on a very short leash. They all go away for the summer, where all the wealthy familys go to stay in the 'big houses'.
Cora starts to rebel in this book and she meets an old lady called mrs o'leary who tells tales of sea creatures. There she also meets ronan/rory & I loved this romance. It was not insta love and they actually seemed to dislike each other at first but it ends up so cute.
Obviously there is a rich boy owen who coras parents try to set her up with & he starts off nice but seems to turn into a douche!
I found this book quite slow to start with as its more character building & cora finding herself.
The last few chapters kept me hooked I really wanted to know what happened next so just had to keep reading and ohmy I cant wait for the next one it ended on a cliffhanger that didnt disapoint me & I want to know what happens so will be picking up the next one
March 9, 2014
Learning to Swim is a story full of folklores, riddles and hidden meanings.
Actually, it was so far on how I was expecting this book would come out. Instead of having a summery feel into it the majority of the book was filled with mysteries and eerie stuffs. I actually had a hard time getting into the story of Learning To Swim and it actually took me three days to finish this one. It started as a typical Young Adult Story where the heroine will be spending the summer on the coast with her parents then the weird parts starts to roll in.
Cora has a very distinctive voice to the story and she's okay. Rory/Ronan was also okay. The story has a complex layer of back story about Irish folklores, sea tragedies and old memories courtesy of Mrs. O' Leary.
It was an okay read for me but it didn’t really capture my interest. I got lost with all the mysteries and folklores and just find it a bit dragging for me.
*ARC kindly provided by author thru Netgalley.*
Actually, it was so far on how I was expecting this book would come out. Instead of having a summery feel into it the majority of the book was filled with mysteries and eerie stuffs. I actually had a hard time getting into the story of Learning To Swim and it actually took me three days to finish this one. It started as a typical Young Adult Story where the heroine will be spending the summer on the coast with her parents then the weird parts starts to roll in.
Cora has a very distinctive voice to the story and she's okay. Rory/Ronan was also okay. The story has a complex layer of back story about Irish folklores, sea tragedies and old memories courtesy of Mrs. O' Leary.
It was an okay read for me but it didn’t really capture my interest. I got lost with all the mysteries and folklores and just find it a bit dragging for me.
*ARC kindly provided by author thru Netgalley.*
March 29, 2015
I want to start out by saying thank you Annie for sending out your copying to me and others. It was a privilege to get a chance to read it. In the beginning I wasn't too fond of the main character. I felt like she should have been a little stronger and stood up to her mom but then again I sympathized with her since I've been in her place before. As the story unfolds I finally get to see her get stronger and takes her life in her own hands. Overall it was a great read. I was obsessed with the whole idea of a selkie and its interesting backstory. This is the first fantasy that revolved around it. I would love to see a sequel in the near future to catch up with the main character. Even though I liked the story there was some parts that didn't catch my fancy but because of that I give it four stars.
April 22, 2014
While Learning to Swim is not my usual genre of books I found that it was a great distraction to my usual fare. Ms. Cosby’s characters are engaging, interesting, and well developed. The story line was intriguing and kept me reading, wondering how things would resolve themselves. I can honestly say that I don’t think I have ever read anything about the Celtic folk lore of Selkies. This in and of itself is extremely interesting and I hope that the author doesn’t abandon that story line, I find myself curious to know more about them. All in all this is a great first novel. I look forward to the next installment and watching this author grow.
I was gifted a copy of this novel by the author for an honest review.
I was gifted a copy of this novel by the author for an honest review.
June 20, 2014
Such a wonderful story. I just couldn't put the book down! I'd definitely recommend it and I'm going to give my copy to all my friends to read. I'm sure the sequel will be just as good! Can't wait to read it. "Learning to Swim", 5 stars.
October 14, 2024
This book is perfect for summer reads and more perfect if you’re traveling or on a vacation.
The story is light. not too slow, not to fast, it’s more on a contemporary reads and less on fantasy.
But really cute!
The story is light. not too slow, not to fast, it’s more on a contemporary reads and less on fantasy.
But really cute!
October 27, 2016
Summary:
Cora's summer in Oyster Beach at the Pink Palace (think Pepto Bismal), with her parents might just be an excuse to run away and act like the memory of a sister (daughter) is not haunting them anymore. Cora feels like she is living two lives, hers and the one her parents planned for her. When Cora meets the mysterious Mrs. O'Leary, Cora realizes from this summer on she is living one life hers. Which might also included the very handsome Rory O'Brien. Oyster Beach might turn out to be just the summer Cora and her family needed.
Characters:
Cora, wants to stop living in her parents shadows and start living for herself.
Rory, handsome handyman falls in love with Cora
Owen, typical handsome guy, who thinks good looks are everything.
blondie, does not like to think for herself.
Lousia , realizes Owen and gang are jerks.
Rosie, Cora's friend from back home.
Mrs. O'Leary, Mysterious, and know how to tell really good stories.
Quote:
This was magical. (the first time Rory grabbed Cora's hand)
Final Thoughts:
Cora is so relatable after high school it is hard to know who you are and what you want. I love Mrs. O'Leary's stories of ashrays and selkies, I could listen to those all the time. Now Rory vs. Owen: One side a hard working, has a job, loves to swim, good looking, and the other side Owen comes from money and is good looking. Hands down the winner is RORY. Great start to a trilogy.
Cora's summer in Oyster Beach at the Pink Palace (think Pepto Bismal), with her parents might just be an excuse to run away and act like the memory of a sister (daughter) is not haunting them anymore. Cora feels like she is living two lives, hers and the one her parents planned for her. When Cora meets the mysterious Mrs. O'Leary, Cora realizes from this summer on she is living one life hers. Which might also included the very handsome Rory O'Brien. Oyster Beach might turn out to be just the summer Cora and her family needed.
Characters:
Cora, wants to stop living in her parents shadows and start living for herself.
Rory, handsome handyman falls in love with Cora
Owen, typical handsome guy, who thinks good looks are everything.
blondie, does not like to think for herself.
Lousia , realizes Owen and gang are jerks.
Rosie, Cora's friend from back home.
Mrs. O'Leary, Mysterious, and know how to tell really good stories.
Quote:
This was magical. (the first time Rory grabbed Cora's hand)
Final Thoughts:
Cora is so relatable after high school it is hard to know who you are and what you want. I love Mrs. O'Leary's stories of ashrays and selkies, I could listen to those all the time. Now Rory vs. Owen: One side a hard working, has a job, loves to swim, good looking, and the other side Owen comes from money and is good looking. Hands down the winner is RORY. Great start to a trilogy.
April 9, 2024
I found this to be fairly predictable, but it still was able to drum up some intrigue for me. The main character is quite well done. An oblivious and heartsick teen, illustrated to a T. She's both sympathetic and a bit annoying, which feels quite real. For some reason, I was surprised by how much of the book was focused on the romance - this seems silly to me now, though, since the series name is literally "Hearts Out of Water". Also, there is a kiss on the cover. So that is my bad. I was hoping for a little more of the mystic element to be present, but it was easy to read and I enjoyed it enough to move on to the next book in the series.
February 7, 2017
I received a free copy of this book and voluntarily chose to review.
This was a great YA romance. The story was engaging and the characters were well developed. I'm looking forward to the next book in this wonderful series.
This was a great YA romance. The story was engaging and the characters were well developed. I'm looking forward to the next book in this wonderful series.
October 17, 2016
I really enjoyed reading this book. The author successfully made you believe you was in Cora,s head, seeing and feeling as she did. I must admit I felt like shaking her at times though! To me Cora was the main character. The story seemed to be about a young lady trying to find her place in the world, with added pressure around her, trying to steer her in different directions. It had magic, tears, guilt, love and romance. There was some other great characters I would love to to learn more about. I do wish the book had given Cora & Rory more time together, hopefully this will be explored more in book 2. I would defiantly recommend this book if you like Intrigue, Romance, and Mystical Tales. This is the first book I have read by Annie Cosby, she has made my list of favourite Authors, and I look forward to continuing this series and following her other books
May 22, 2016
Thank you to author Annie Cosby for providing me with an e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
Find this review and more on my blog The Rest Is Still Unwritten!
Learning to Swim by Annie Cosby is a delightful contemporary read with a paranormal undertone that will sweep you up on a summer adventure set in a pleasing coastal town.
Cora Manchester is just trying to figure out what she wants to do with her future when her mother whisks the family away to spend the summer in the small town of Oyster Beach, hoping to re-connect. Staying in a horrendously pink house and spending time with other vacationing families much like her own, Cora seeks an escape with the town’s locals. Quickly striking up a friendship with Mrs O’Leary, a kind but lonely old woman who tells tales of mythological creatures and who struggles to see the line between fantasy and reality, Cora spends her days near the ocean, learning of magical creatures within the sea. Until she meets Ronan, a local boy who makes her heart race like never before and whose connection to Mrs O’Leary is one Cora never could have expected……
Learning to Swim was one of those books that really was just a delight to read. The novel was well written and flows nicely. It’s not the fastest paced novel I’ve ever read but rather flows at a steady pace. Learning to Swim was easy to read and it seemed effortless to follow the likable characters and steadily learn about their lives and their stories. Annie Cosby weaves some Celtic and Gaelic history into the tale and throws us the perfect hint of paranormal to compliment the story. Tales of mythology and paranormal creatures litter the book thanks to fantastical Mrs O’Leary, but as the reader you’re never sure whether the stories are just that; stories….or maybe hints at something more?
Filled with different characters with plenty of personality, Learning to Swim follows a decent main character in Cora. Cora is your typical teenage girl on the brink of adulthood, and as such Cosby writes her that way. Spoilt and given everything by her parents—bar her freedom—Cora will at times frustrate and baffle you, but there’s no doubt in my mind that Cora is a character who grows a lot and ultimately learns in this novel.
Annie Cosby gives Cora a love interest in the form of Ronan, who really isn’t who he seems. I quite liked the attraction that simmered between her and Rory that saw them bicker in the beginning and then slowly bond with their friendship with Mrs. O’Leary. Cora and Rory were a sweet couple and I appreciated the way Cosby wrote them.
Learning to Swim sees Cora learn some interesting truths about the world around her, but it’s not until the very final chapter that the biggest revelation and development comes to light. Personally there were certain things I put together early on, but that only made me more excited when Cora finally finds out herself.
Ending with a cliffhanger at a big moment, Learning to Swim will leave you without a doubt raring to dive into the next book to discover what happens to Cora and Rory next!
Find this review and more on my blog The Rest Is Still Unwritten!
Learning to Swim by Annie Cosby is a delightful contemporary read with a paranormal undertone that will sweep you up on a summer adventure set in a pleasing coastal town.
Cora Manchester is just trying to figure out what she wants to do with her future when her mother whisks the family away to spend the summer in the small town of Oyster Beach, hoping to re-connect. Staying in a horrendously pink house and spending time with other vacationing families much like her own, Cora seeks an escape with the town’s locals. Quickly striking up a friendship with Mrs O’Leary, a kind but lonely old woman who tells tales of mythological creatures and who struggles to see the line between fantasy and reality, Cora spends her days near the ocean, learning of magical creatures within the sea. Until she meets Ronan, a local boy who makes her heart race like never before and whose connection to Mrs O’Leary is one Cora never could have expected……
Learning to Swim was one of those books that really was just a delight to read. The novel was well written and flows nicely. It’s not the fastest paced novel I’ve ever read but rather flows at a steady pace. Learning to Swim was easy to read and it seemed effortless to follow the likable characters and steadily learn about their lives and their stories. Annie Cosby weaves some Celtic and Gaelic history into the tale and throws us the perfect hint of paranormal to compliment the story. Tales of mythology and paranormal creatures litter the book thanks to fantastical Mrs O’Leary, but as the reader you’re never sure whether the stories are just that; stories….or maybe hints at something more?
Filled with different characters with plenty of personality, Learning to Swim follows a decent main character in Cora. Cora is your typical teenage girl on the brink of adulthood, and as such Cosby writes her that way. Spoilt and given everything by her parents—bar her freedom—Cora will at times frustrate and baffle you, but there’s no doubt in my mind that Cora is a character who grows a lot and ultimately learns in this novel.
Annie Cosby gives Cora a love interest in the form of Ronan, who really isn’t who he seems. I quite liked the attraction that simmered between her and Rory that saw them bicker in the beginning and then slowly bond with their friendship with Mrs. O’Leary. Cora and Rory were a sweet couple and I appreciated the way Cosby wrote them.
Learning to Swim sees Cora learn some interesting truths about the world around her, but it’s not until the very final chapter that the biggest revelation and development comes to light. Personally there were certain things I put together early on, but that only made me more excited when Cora finally finds out herself.
Ending with a cliffhanger at a big moment, Learning to Swim will leave you without a doubt raring to dive into the next book to discover what happens to Cora and Rory next!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 17, 2016
Actual Rating 2.5 stars
Review:
Protagonist: Cora's family decides to spend their summer at Oyster beach, there Cora meets new people that change her life in significant ways, well, sort of. For most of the book Cora acts like an immature fourteen or fifteen year old rich brat and not the eighteen year old young woman she is. Honestly if she was only immature for a little bit, or even a good size portion of the book before developing into someone more mature I wouldn't have minded all that much. It's the fact that there are times when she feels like a very different and wise character that I got really frustrated with her because sooner or later she'd turn around and do something that she wouldn't have done a few seconds ago.
Romance: So while I'd say that the romance in this book was fairly well written, I'd only be half telling the truth because it took quite a bit for me to get on board with the romance. Ronan, is a great character, and while he does act a bit immature as well, usually during the times when Cora is acting mature, there are these times when you see just what a great character he is, but for quite a lot of the book I never felt a bond with the couple or really felt all that much chemistry between them, when they do finally start to put their feelings for each other first was when I started rooting for them, although I do have to say that there's still a part of me that just doesn't connect with it.
World-Building: So going into this story I was expecting this interesting paranormal romance full of magic and adventure, but sadly there isn't all that much magic in this book. It's there but not until pretty much the end of the book. I'm not sure if the next book will feature it more heavily or not, but I still felt disappointed that this book ended up feeling more like a contemporary novel with tales of the supernatural, rather than a novel chock full of paranormal creatures and adventure.
Predictability: This book was wildly predictable. Not everything was as simple to predict from the beginning, but after a little while there was foreshadowing that was laid on super thick. While I'm not necessarily upset but it's predictability, I did think that things would have been done a bit better. Although with how two-sided some of the characters in this book are, some things are still a bit unpredictable.
Ending: The end of this book is very bizarre. When things really start to heat up during the final climax and all of the paranormal stuff starts to look real, the book sort of just ends. It doesn't end in the way a typical book would, there's no plateaued end, no wrap up, and while there technically is a cliffhanger it's the most awkward one I've ever read. There's no pay off with it and it just felt like the book ended mid-conversation or mid-sentence.
Rating:
So this book isn't necessarily bad, there was a lot that I enjoyed about it, but I couldn't find sympathy or a connection with the protagonist and when I did find some sort of connection with the romance it was too late for it to have all that much of an impact.
Review:
Protagonist: Cora's family decides to spend their summer at Oyster beach, there Cora meets new people that change her life in significant ways, well, sort of. For most of the book Cora acts like an immature fourteen or fifteen year old rich brat and not the eighteen year old young woman she is. Honestly if she was only immature for a little bit, or even a good size portion of the book before developing into someone more mature I wouldn't have minded all that much. It's the fact that there are times when she feels like a very different and wise character that I got really frustrated with her because sooner or later she'd turn around and do something that she wouldn't have done a few seconds ago.
Romance: So while I'd say that the romance in this book was fairly well written, I'd only be half telling the truth because it took quite a bit for me to get on board with the romance. Ronan, is a great character, and while he does act a bit immature as well, usually during the times when Cora is acting mature, there are these times when you see just what a great character he is, but for quite a lot of the book I never felt a bond with the couple or really felt all that much chemistry between them, when they do finally start to put their feelings for each other first was when I started rooting for them, although I do have to say that there's still a part of me that just doesn't connect with it.
World-Building: So going into this story I was expecting this interesting paranormal romance full of magic and adventure, but sadly there isn't all that much magic in this book. It's there but not until pretty much the end of the book. I'm not sure if the next book will feature it more heavily or not, but I still felt disappointed that this book ended up feeling more like a contemporary novel with tales of the supernatural, rather than a novel chock full of paranormal creatures and adventure.
Predictability: This book was wildly predictable. Not everything was as simple to predict from the beginning, but after a little while there was foreshadowing that was laid on super thick. While I'm not necessarily upset but it's predictability, I did think that things would have been done a bit better. Although with how two-sided some of the characters in this book are, some things are still a bit unpredictable.
Ending: The end of this book is very bizarre. When things really start to heat up during the final climax and all of the paranormal stuff starts to look real, the book sort of just ends. It doesn't end in the way a typical book would, there's no plateaued end, no wrap up, and while there technically is a cliffhanger it's the most awkward one I've ever read. There's no pay off with it and it just felt like the book ended mid-conversation or mid-sentence.
Rating:
So this book isn't necessarily bad, there was a lot that I enjoyed about it, but I couldn't find sympathy or a connection with the protagonist and when I did find some sort of connection with the romance it was too late for it to have all that much of an impact.
February 27, 2016
I was contacted by the author to review this book and I'm glad I was because I loved it. I was nervous, but excited to see what the book would include and, rather surprisingly, I was in no way disappointed.
I knew there was magical realism involved in this book as well as Celtic mythology, they were the things that made me agree to read and review this book, but I still don't think I was prepared for the story I got. I hadn’t really thought about the summary too much, I literally knew that there was Celtic mythology and that this was more about the characters than any strict genre. I’m glad I knew so little going in because it made this book utterly enchanting.
As the book begins you learn the main character, Cora, has quite a privileged upbringing and I thought I wouldn’t like her. I was fully prepared to roll my eyes and think ‘not another rich girl’, but that never happened. Instead, I found Cora really interesting. She was rich, but she didn’t want to conform to the life which was expected of her. This entire book was about Cora trying to figure out her future, her family, and herself. Sure, her romance with Rory was intriguing and insanely fun, especially with their butting of heads at the beginning, but that wasn't the true focus of this book. All I really cared about was Cora figuring things out for herself. Discovering what she planned for her future and what she wanted from life outside of her parents expectations. She grew as a person and discovered new things about herself and I loved it in so many ways.
Another character I loved was that of Mrs O’Leary. I think I liked her even before Cora did. The first scene she was in she came across as a lonely, but very crazy, old woman talking to a stranger, it was sweet. As time went on and Cora visited her more often I began to love her tales of mythology just as much as Cora did. Sure, I felt the Celtic myths made the story itself blindingly obvious for me, but I don’t mind being able to predict a storyline when it’s written well, and this book was.
My only complaint? The fact that I need to read the second book to get some story resolution. I need to know what happens after the ending of this book. Cora has had some shocking realisation and I want to know what happens Next. Learning to Live will definitely be a book I purchase soon because this book keeps niggling at the back of my mind.
Overall, this book was great. It was a quick and easy read, I finished it in a few hours on Sunday night and immediately had to type out all my thoughts on it. This isn’t a ground-breaking read, but I didn’t want that from it anyway. Instead, it’s a book which follows the growth of a girl freshly graduated from high school and the connections she makes with people in a small coastal town. It’s great, with some really interesting myths included which will definitely make you want to get Googling things. I recommend it for fans of YA and magical realism.
I knew there was magical realism involved in this book as well as Celtic mythology, they were the things that made me agree to read and review this book, but I still don't think I was prepared for the story I got. I hadn’t really thought about the summary too much, I literally knew that there was Celtic mythology and that this was more about the characters than any strict genre. I’m glad I knew so little going in because it made this book utterly enchanting.
As the book begins you learn the main character, Cora, has quite a privileged upbringing and I thought I wouldn’t like her. I was fully prepared to roll my eyes and think ‘not another rich girl’, but that never happened. Instead, I found Cora really interesting. She was rich, but she didn’t want to conform to the life which was expected of her. This entire book was about Cora trying to figure out her future, her family, and herself. Sure, her romance with Rory was intriguing and insanely fun, especially with their butting of heads at the beginning, but that wasn't the true focus of this book. All I really cared about was Cora figuring things out for herself. Discovering what she planned for her future and what she wanted from life outside of her parents expectations. She grew as a person and discovered new things about herself and I loved it in so many ways.
Another character I loved was that of Mrs O’Leary. I think I liked her even before Cora did. The first scene she was in she came across as a lonely, but very crazy, old woman talking to a stranger, it was sweet. As time went on and Cora visited her more often I began to love her tales of mythology just as much as Cora did. Sure, I felt the Celtic myths made the story itself blindingly obvious for me, but I don’t mind being able to predict a storyline when it’s written well, and this book was.
My only complaint? The fact that I need to read the second book to get some story resolution. I need to know what happens after the ending of this book. Cora has had some shocking realisation and I want to know what happens Next. Learning to Live will definitely be a book I purchase soon because this book keeps niggling at the back of my mind.
Overall, this book was great. It was a quick and easy read, I finished it in a few hours on Sunday night and immediately had to type out all my thoughts on it. This isn’t a ground-breaking read, but I didn’t want that from it anyway. Instead, it’s a book which follows the growth of a girl freshly graduated from high school and the connections she makes with people in a small coastal town. It’s great, with some really interesting myths included which will definitely make you want to get Googling things. I recommend it for fans of YA and magical realism.
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