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Fish Out of Water
Mika Arlington was supposed to spend the summer after her junior year shadowing her marine biologist parents at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, but when her estranged grandmother randomly shows up on the doorstep one day, those plans are derailed. Because Grandma Betty isn't here to play nice—she is cranky, intolerant of Mika's mixed-race-couple parents, and oh yeah she has Alzheimer's and is out of money. While Mika's family would rather not deal with Grandma Betty, they don't have much choice. And despite Mika's protests, she is roped into caring for a person that seems impossible to have compassion for. And if that wasn't hard enough, Mika must train the new guy at her pet shop job who wants to be anywhere else, and help a friend through her own family crisis. Something's gotta a give, but whichever ball Mika drops means losing someone she loves. Not exactly a recipe for Best Summer Ever—or is it?
322 pages, Paperback
First published February 5, 2015
7 people are currently reading
915 people want to read
About the author
Natalie Whipple
13 books247 followersNatalie Whipple, sadly, does not have any cool mutations like her characters. Unless you count the ability to watch anime and Korean dramas for hours on end. Or her uncanny knack for sushi consumption.
She grew up in the Bay Area and relocated to Utah for high school, which was quite the culture shock for her anime-loving teen self. But the Rocky Mountains eventually won her over, and she stuck around to earn her degree in English linguistics at BYU. Natalie still lives in Utah with her husband and three kids, and keeps the local Asian market in business with all her attempts to cook Thai curry, Pho, and “real” ramen.
She grew up in the Bay Area and relocated to Utah for high school, which was quite the culture shock for her anime-loving teen self. But the Rocky Mountains eventually won her over, and she stuck around to earn her degree in English linguistics at BYU. Natalie still lives in Utah with her husband and three kids, and keeps the local Asian market in business with all her attempts to cook Thai curry, Pho, and “real” ramen.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 93 reviews
June 15, 2020
This is such a pleasant surprise. It's a light read even though it did tackle several serious issues, it's diverse and at the same time a fun summer read. I like how invested Mika is in her job at the pet shop and her aspiration to be just like her parents who are marine biologists. I admire her passion for fishes, yes fishes because it’s not just goldfish she adores and I could imagine their home surrounded by aquariums filled with those beautiful and colorful aquatic creatures.
It's also noteworthy, her peculiar talent on sand sculpture which she shares with her best friend, Shreya. I like that she can hold her own when pitted against mean, condescending girls like London and that she can be snarky when necessary.
But despite Mika's awesome qualities, I also appreciate that she isn't perfect. She could be selfish and immature especially upon the arrival of her grandmother suffering from Alzheimer's and her insufferable co-worker, Dylan, who also happens to be her boss' nephew messing up her perfect summer plans.
Overall, it was enjoyable, sometimes also touching, and quite swoony too. It wouldn't hurt to see a movie version. ☺️
It's also noteworthy, her peculiar talent on sand sculpture which she shares with her best friend, Shreya. I like that she can hold her own when pitted against mean, condescending girls like London and that she can be snarky when necessary.
But despite Mika's awesome qualities, I also appreciate that she isn't perfect. She could be selfish and immature especially upon the arrival of her grandmother suffering from Alzheimer's and her insufferable co-worker, Dylan, who also happens to be her boss' nephew messing up her perfect summer plans.
Overall, it was enjoyable, sometimes also touching, and quite swoony too. It wouldn't hurt to see a movie version. ☺️
October 20, 2015
L'histoire de Mika qui voit son été ruiné quand sa grand-mère raciste et atteinte d'Alzheimer débarque chez elle et qu'elle doit s'en occuper en plus de devoir former un jeune riche je-m'en-foutiste à son travail.
Encore un YA qui a su me séduire et que j'ai adoré !
Déjà par les personnages : Mika qui est une héroïne intelligente, un peu sarcastique, qui est sérieuse mais n'a pas honte de l'être. Dylan qui est un héros super couinant et plus profond qu'il n'y parait et enfin les personnages secondaires comme Joel, Betty et les meilleures amies qui sont eux aussi réussis même s'ils ne sont pas tous approfondis.
L'histoire est bien menée, mignonne, assez touchante avec des personnages qui font des erreurs et agissent des fois selon leur âge mais qui sont aussi atypiques et attachants. On sourit, on couine, on tourne les pages sans les voir défiler...
Je regrette deux trois réactions de Mika et Dylan vers la fin mais cela ne m'a pas empêché de passer un excellent moment !
December 2, 2015
Extremely enjoyable, conquering themes like race and mental illness. Filled with all my favourite cliches within a book, the most primary one being the fake boyfriend/girlfriend turning into something more than just appearances! What stood out in this book was the balance between friend, family and boyfriend relationships. 100% would recommend!
June 13, 2014
THIS BOOK IS DELIGHTFUL.
May 23, 2015
This was an adorable book about how people change, about love and how it's hard and kindness. It fell into some cliches (the 'bad boy' and misunderstanding ones) but I generally loved it!
Mika is a really appealing character. She has a goal- to become a marine biologist- and works at a pet store. When- all in the same day- a sullen boy becomes her co worker and her grandmother with Alzheimers moves in (meaning that she loses her internship) she is understandably upset. I loved that I could related to Mika all the way through her journey. She felt very strong emotions, but Natalie's writing is precise and fun. I really got into Mika's head. Her friends were awesome, and I was glad that she didn't abandon her friends as she got a romantic relationship. I shipped her and Dylan pretty hard- they were adorable- but it was how her relationship with her grandmother evolved that really amazed me. The sensitivity and thoughtfulness of the writing, the way that Natalie handled a sensitive topic- it was all done so well. Mika's finacial situation was also shown really well. And I loved Shreya. As an Indian myself, I really empathized with her situation (also the food was great) but luckily my parents are NOTHING like that. Also I loved that she rode a bike.
Dylan was a really awesome character to. I mean, the romance part of the plot wasn't subtle, but it was fun. And he wasn't just a generic boyfriend, he had interests and was really well fleshed out on his own.
Friendships and family relationships mean a lot in this book. I am a mixed race person, so I get where Mika is coming from. Olivia and Shrey where awesome. I liked that they didn't let Mika abandon them for Dylan, but were still really supportive and willing to ask for support. Mika's parents are hilarious. They weren't as big of a deal as the grandma Betty, but they were still kind and thoughtful and cool.
The plot was at first centred around Mika and Dylan getting together and then on their relationship problems and Mika's family problems.It kept moving. It was a good plot. It wasn't really unique- really quite predictable- though Granma Betty sort of threw a curveball at them. I liked the happiness and the cuteness and the summeriness.
So in conclusion, this was a characters centric novel with a fun plot and romance and friendship and diversity. If you like cute romances and contemporaries, you should go and read it
*shanti out*
Mika is a really appealing character. She has a goal- to become a marine biologist- and works at a pet store. When- all in the same day- a sullen boy becomes her co worker and her grandmother with Alzheimers moves in (meaning that she loses her internship) she is understandably upset. I loved that I could related to Mika all the way through her journey. She felt very strong emotions, but Natalie's writing is precise and fun. I really got into Mika's head. Her friends were awesome, and I was glad that she didn't abandon her friends as she got a romantic relationship. I shipped her and Dylan pretty hard- they were adorable- but it was how her relationship with her grandmother evolved that really amazed me. The sensitivity and thoughtfulness of the writing, the way that Natalie handled a sensitive topic- it was all done so well. Mika's finacial situation was also shown really well. And I loved Shreya. As an Indian myself, I really empathized with her situation (also the food was great) but luckily my parents are NOTHING like that. Also I loved that she rode a bike.
Dylan was a really awesome character to. I mean, the romance part of the plot wasn't subtle, but it was fun. And he wasn't just a generic boyfriend, he had interests and was really well fleshed out on his own.
Friendships and family relationships mean a lot in this book. I am a mixed race person, so I get where Mika is coming from. Olivia and Shrey where awesome. I liked that they didn't let Mika abandon them for Dylan, but were still really supportive and willing to ask for support. Mika's parents are hilarious. They weren't as big of a deal as the grandma Betty, but they were still kind and thoughtful and cool.
The plot was at first centred around Mika and Dylan getting together and then on their relationship problems and Mika's family problems.It kept moving. It was a good plot. It wasn't really unique- really quite predictable- though Granma Betty sort of threw a curveball at them. I liked the happiness and the cuteness and the summeriness.
So in conclusion, this was a characters centric novel with a fun plot and romance and friendship and diversity. If you like cute romances and contemporaries, you should go and read it
*shanti out*
November 28, 2015
Um.. WoW.. And then WoW again.. WoW one more time.
I was hooked on the first page.
I love and Cherish Natalie's witty and fun writing!!
This book was fantastic and enjoyable. Fast paced , Witty , and Emotional all at once. I read it in two days.
I hope she writes more Contemporary because I absolutely adored this book.
to sum it up . when this book is out find it and buy it and read and then read it again!!!
More detailed Review will be up on my blog - abbeysbooksandmore.blogspot.com
I was hooked on the first page.
I love and Cherish Natalie's witty and fun writing!!
This book was fantastic and enjoyable. Fast paced , Witty , and Emotional all at once. I read it in two days.
I hope she writes more Contemporary because I absolutely adored this book.
to sum it up . when this book is out find it and buy it and read and then read it again!!!
More detailed Review will be up on my blog - abbeysbooksandmore.blogspot.com
May 10, 2019
this is the first book i’ve ever reread in my entire book. the first time i finished it - which was 4 years ago - i reread the book the very next day.
one of my gr friends added it to their tbr and that’s when i remembered how much i love it!!
READ THIS BOOK
one of my gr friends added it to their tbr and that’s when i remembered how much i love it!!
READ THIS BOOK
January 6, 2019
Trigger warnings: racism, homophobia, shitty parenting.
3.5 stars.
I've read Natalie Whipple's sci-fi books and thoroughly enjoyed them, so I was really interested to see what she could do with a contemporary story. And for the most part, I enjoyed this. I liked Mika as a character. Her friendships were delightful. Her struggles to deal with her newly discovered grandmother were utterly understandable and watching her slow realisation of why her grandmother was the way that she was? Yeah, it was pretty damned solid.
All of that being said, I didn't love the romantic side of things. But that's probably just me.
3.5 stars.
I've read Natalie Whipple's sci-fi books and thoroughly enjoyed them, so I was really interested to see what she could do with a contemporary story. And for the most part, I enjoyed this. I liked Mika as a character. Her friendships were delightful. Her struggles to deal with her newly discovered grandmother were utterly understandable and watching her slow realisation of why her grandmother was the way that she was? Yeah, it was pretty damned solid.
All of that being said, I didn't love the romantic side of things. But that's probably just me.
February 18, 2015
*Also posted at Oops! I Read A Book Again*
Thank you to Natalie Whipple for the eARC! Having received a review copy did not affect my views of the novel.
I'll clue you in with the most obvious assurance that Fish Out of Water is a great read, especially for contemporary YA lovers: it is blurbed by Kasie West. THE Kasie West, who made me swear I'll name my hypothetical son Alexander with Xander as a nickname because of how much I loved The Distance Between Us. Dude, if Kasie West says it's "fun and flirty but also heartfelt", believe her because IT IS, OKAY?
And because this book is the kind where all I can do is squeal, I'll do a list review to lend some coherence to this. So, let's do this!
Four Reasons Why I Love FISH OUT OF WATER
1. THAT COVER. Let's just get over the most superficial thing on this list and that is a book's cover. I mean, a gorgeous cover is SO IMPORTANT to a book because anyone who says they don't judge a book by its cover is a massive hypocrite. Uhm, guys. I LOVE THIS COVER SO MUCH. The cute fishes that look so in love with each other, the typography, the understated colors, the graphics, EVERYTHING ABOUT IT IS PERFECT, OKAY? And it is so apt for the book. I really want it on my shelf so I'll be getting the hardcover NO MATTER HOW. I will. I will be all mafia don about this.
Now, let's get to the nitty-gritty...
2. Characters. I tried typing this sentence 628164 times but I kept on deleting it because I don't know how to properly describe the characters in this book that will encapsulate their whole being. And that's a great thing, right? People are complex and Natalie Whipple sure knows how to write these wonderful teens. Let me try again. Mika: biracial (Japanese mother and an American father but born in the USA *sings an off-key Bruce Springsteen*), only child of two marine biologists, works at the pet shop AnimalZone, very passionate and knowledgeable about fishes. Dylan: entitled, rich boy forced to work for his uncle, trying to change, learning the ropes, and by the end. Grandma Betty: racist, has Alzheimer's, left by her loved ones repeatedly.
Then we have Yumi (Mika's mother), Stan (Mika's father), Clark (Dylan's uncle), Joel (the caregiver), and Shreya and Olivia (Mika's best friends). I am absolutely in awe how Natalie Whipple crammed so much plot into this novel but without forsaking its readability. True story: I was so busy when I read this book but I still finished it quite fast because I just can't stop reading it! It was so addicting and I was so invested in Mika as a character that I went wherever the story took me. Not only that but our secondary characters also had their own mini plot arcs and they were not boring and B-plots. Everyone's story intertwined with Mika's, which makes the reader invested in them equally. I bow down to Natalie Whipple.
3. Themes. Fish Out of Water doesn't shy away from tackling issues usually glossed over or just presented. In here, racism is faced head-on because we got Grandma Betty who disapproved of Mika's parents marriage because Yumi is Japanese and she doesn't approve of mixing of races. Couple that with her Alzheimer's where she throws things, says hurtful words, and loses all sense of respect, and this book just established itself as a book that DEALS and TACKLES these issues.
This is my first time reading a book about dealing with a family member who has Alzheimer's. For one, I can't even call Betty a loved on because pretty much everyone hates her. But like what Joel the caregiver said, getting to spend time with Betty gave us a whole new outlook on her. Sure, she's racist through and through but as she unconsciously shares her life story, we get to know what happened to her early on. It doesn't excuse her behavior, as Dylan points out, but what can you do but try to understand someone you love who's sick?
I was so astounded by how Natalie Whipple tackled Alzheimer's and when I reached the acknowledgments of the book, she paid homage to her own grandmother, who she loved. Natalie was telling a story from the heart. Dealing with Alzheimer's is hard, both for the patient and for his/her family.
Fish Out of Water also got into arranged marriages (Shreya's strict Indian family), friendships, learning the value of money, how money can't buy happiness, how everybody can change their ways, being in a serious relationship for the first time, giving your heart away completely and irrevocably to someone you love, death, abandoment, and so much more BUT NEVER BEING PREACHY ABOUT IT. This novel is so jampacked yet I want more!
Guys, really, this novel is gold.
4. Romance. Oi, try not to be giddy and to smile from ear to ear while reading this book, I dare you. It is physically impossible, I tell you. It was so fun to read Mika and Dylan be irritated with each other. THE BANTER, GUYS. Oh yes, have I mentioned that this is a hate-to-love romance? EEEEKKK, I know, right? Dolphin squeals right here. Then, have I also mentioned that it starts with a PRETEND RELATIONSHIP? COME ON. If you're still not convinced that you HAVE to read this book then I give up. (Not. I will still hound y'all to read this.) Then we get to read Mika and Dylan flirt with each other and deal with the usual teenage romance problems and concerns without too much drama and angst and I AM IN YA ROMANCE HEAVEN.
Seriously. Guys. You need to get on with this book. A fishily cute summer romance mixed in with heavier matters such as racism and dealing with a family member with Alzheimer's, Fish Out of Water just blew existing contemporary YA novels out of the water with the masterful way Natalie Whipple balanced the fun with the deep. I highly recommend this to EVERYONE but especially to fans of Kasie West and contemporary YA romances because !!!!! (Really, coherence is not my strongest suit.)
Thank you to Natalie Whipple for the eARC! Having received a review copy did not affect my views of the novel.
I'll clue you in with the most obvious assurance that Fish Out of Water is a great read, especially for contemporary YA lovers: it is blurbed by Kasie West. THE Kasie West, who made me swear I'll name my hypothetical son Alexander with Xander as a nickname because of how much I loved The Distance Between Us. Dude, if Kasie West says it's "fun and flirty but also heartfelt", believe her because IT IS, OKAY?
And because this book is the kind where all I can do is squeal, I'll do a list review to lend some coherence to this. So, let's do this!
Four Reasons Why I Love FISH OUT OF WATER
1. THAT COVER. Let's just get over the most superficial thing on this list and that is a book's cover. I mean, a gorgeous cover is SO IMPORTANT to a book because anyone who says they don't judge a book by its cover is a massive hypocrite. Uhm, guys. I LOVE THIS COVER SO MUCH. The cute fishes that look so in love with each other, the typography, the understated colors, the graphics, EVERYTHING ABOUT IT IS PERFECT, OKAY? And it is so apt for the book. I really want it on my shelf so I'll be getting the hardcover NO MATTER HOW. I will. I will be all mafia don about this.
Now, let's get to the nitty-gritty...
2. Characters. I tried typing this sentence 628164 times but I kept on deleting it because I don't know how to properly describe the characters in this book that will encapsulate their whole being. And that's a great thing, right? People are complex and Natalie Whipple sure knows how to write these wonderful teens. Let me try again. Mika: biracial (Japanese mother and an American father but born in the USA *sings an off-key Bruce Springsteen*), only child of two marine biologists, works at the pet shop AnimalZone, very passionate and knowledgeable about fishes. Dylan: entitled, rich boy forced to work for his uncle, trying to change, learning the ropes, and by the end. Grandma Betty: racist, has Alzheimer's, left by her loved ones repeatedly.
Then we have Yumi (Mika's mother), Stan (Mika's father), Clark (Dylan's uncle), Joel (the caregiver), and Shreya and Olivia (Mika's best friends). I am absolutely in awe how Natalie Whipple crammed so much plot into this novel but without forsaking its readability. True story: I was so busy when I read this book but I still finished it quite fast because I just can't stop reading it! It was so addicting and I was so invested in Mika as a character that I went wherever the story took me. Not only that but our secondary characters also had their own mini plot arcs and they were not boring and B-plots. Everyone's story intertwined with Mika's, which makes the reader invested in them equally. I bow down to Natalie Whipple.
3. Themes. Fish Out of Water doesn't shy away from tackling issues usually glossed over or just presented. In here, racism is faced head-on because we got Grandma Betty who disapproved of Mika's parents marriage because Yumi is Japanese and she doesn't approve of mixing of races. Couple that with her Alzheimer's where she throws things, says hurtful words, and loses all sense of respect, and this book just established itself as a book that DEALS and TACKLES these issues.
This is my first time reading a book about dealing with a family member who has Alzheimer's. For one, I can't even call Betty a loved on because pretty much everyone hates her. But like what Joel the caregiver said, getting to spend time with Betty gave us a whole new outlook on her. Sure, she's racist through and through but as she unconsciously shares her life story, we get to know what happened to her early on. It doesn't excuse her behavior, as Dylan points out, but what can you do but try to understand someone you love who's sick?
I was so astounded by how Natalie Whipple tackled Alzheimer's and when I reached the acknowledgments of the book, she paid homage to her own grandmother, who she loved. Natalie was telling a story from the heart. Dealing with Alzheimer's is hard, both for the patient and for his/her family.
Fish Out of Water also got into arranged marriages (Shreya's strict Indian family), friendships, learning the value of money, how money can't buy happiness, how everybody can change their ways, being in a serious relationship for the first time, giving your heart away completely and irrevocably to someone you love, death, abandoment, and so much more BUT NEVER BEING PREACHY ABOUT IT. This novel is so jampacked yet I want more!
Guys, really, this novel is gold.
4. Romance. Oi, try not to be giddy and to smile from ear to ear while reading this book, I dare you. It is physically impossible, I tell you. It was so fun to read Mika and Dylan be irritated with each other. THE BANTER, GUYS. Oh yes, have I mentioned that this is a hate-to-love romance? EEEEKKK, I know, right? Dolphin squeals right here. Then, have I also mentioned that it starts with a PRETEND RELATIONSHIP? COME ON. If you're still not convinced that you HAVE to read this book then I give up. (Not. I will still hound y'all to read this.) Then we get to read Mika and Dylan flirt with each other and deal with the usual teenage romance problems and concerns without too much drama and angst and I AM IN YA ROMANCE HEAVEN.
Seriously. Guys. You need to get on with this book. A fishily cute summer romance mixed in with heavier matters such as racism and dealing with a family member with Alzheimer's, Fish Out of Water just blew existing contemporary YA novels out of the water with the masterful way Natalie Whipple balanced the fun with the deep. I highly recommend this to EVERYONE but especially to fans of Kasie West and contemporary YA romances because !!!!! (Really, coherence is not my strongest suit.)
February 11, 2015
This review (and others) can be seen in all its proper formatting glory on my blog Beauty and the Bookshelf.
Bordering on 4.5 stars, I think.
Fish Out of Water was the first book I read by Natalie Whipple, and it most certainly will not be my last. I absolutely adored this book and loved reading it. I went into it expecting a story about a girl and a boy who work at a pet store and fall for each other, and instead got a story that deals with racism, Alzheimer's, and has a stinking cute romance. This book? You want it.
Mika works at AnimalZone--where's she a pro at all things fish-related--and is planning to spend her summer doing an awesome internship of her dreams where her parents work at Monterey Bay Aquarium...until some lady shows up at her door, and apparently, she's good ol' grandma Betty. For the most part, Mika's dad has been estranged from his mother, who had a complete and utter freak out when her son decided to marry a Japanese woman. But now Grandma is heading down the road of Alzheimer's and has nowhere else to go, so Mika's giving up her internship and getting to know her grandmother.
Of course, there are a lot of issues with having Grandma in town. Her and Mika's mom don't get along too well, and she makes comments toward Mika, who's part Japanese. Add in the dementia she gets from Alzheimer's and a bunch of outbursts, and life with Grandma isn't too easy. Fortunately, Mika finds comfort and release (I was so tempted to make a fish pun and say "catch and release," just so you know) with all her fish, and a few humans: her best friends Shreya and Olivia, and her boss's son and newest coworker Dylan. Olivia's on vacation for the majority of the novel, but Shreya's more prominent. Mika and Shreya hang out while eating curry from Shreya's family's Indian restaurant, and spend their Saturdays making intricate and SUPER COOL sand sculpture's on the beach. And then there's Dylan, aka the counterpart to the stinking cute romance, who's a rich kid cut off from Mommy and Daddy's money and is living with his uncle.
Really, nothing in Fish Out of Water is perfect. This is a tale of all kinds of relationships: between families, friends, and those of the romantic variety. Throughout the book, these relationships have all sorts of issues, and some are resolved while others are not. But seriously, this book was really, really good. Reading it wasn't boring or uninteresting; it's one of those books you read and don't really want to put down. Was it perfect? No. I had a few issues with it, and there were some things that happened that I was kind of iffy on, but at the core, this was a good book. Natalie Whipple's writing was great, and like I said before, I will so totally be reading more (aka all) of her books after this.
Now, I know this review makes this book seem like a little guppy instead of a big, beautiful goldfish. That's because this review is an inaccurate display of how I feel about this book, and I was a bad blogger who read this book a couple months ago and am only writing my review now. (Oopsie oops, bad Rachel, bad.) So let me tell you why you should read Fish Out of Water.
For starters, there's a strong protagonist who's POV isn't obnoxious. And we get to see her character develop in numerous ways, which is a bonus. There is a SHIP, which is fitting for a fishy, watery novel. Dylan is not just any love interest, but a flawed one who makes mistakes and is far from perfect (not that Mika is Miss Perfect herself, either). Aside from the romance, there are other strong ships, which are found in Mika's friends and family. There are fun little fishy facts and references. And, yeah, there are a few mentions of The Princess Bride if you like that sort of thing. (I hate that movie, so.) And then there's Betty, who is a strong character I don't see a lot of in books: she's older, she's sweet and sour, and she's losing her memory and, well, falling apart.
Please, swim on over to your bookstore or web browser and buy this book. Fish Out of Water is a wave-making, super adorable, excellent little contemporary that deals with some tough subjects and has its seriousness but is, at the whole of sea, a read that's pure enjoyment. Read it. Enjoy it. Love it. Then maybe get a pet goldfish because you're going to really want one.
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review, and that in no way sways my opinion of the book.
Bordering on 4.5 stars, I think.
Fish Out of Water was the first book I read by Natalie Whipple, and it most certainly will not be my last. I absolutely adored this book and loved reading it. I went into it expecting a story about a girl and a boy who work at a pet store and fall for each other, and instead got a story that deals with racism, Alzheimer's, and has a stinking cute romance. This book? You want it.
Mika works at AnimalZone--where's she a pro at all things fish-related--and is planning to spend her summer doing an awesome internship of her dreams where her parents work at Monterey Bay Aquarium...until some lady shows up at her door, and apparently, she's good ol' grandma Betty. For the most part, Mika's dad has been estranged from his mother, who had a complete and utter freak out when her son decided to marry a Japanese woman. But now Grandma is heading down the road of Alzheimer's and has nowhere else to go, so Mika's giving up her internship and getting to know her grandmother.
Of course, there are a lot of issues with having Grandma in town. Her and Mika's mom don't get along too well, and she makes comments toward Mika, who's part Japanese. Add in the dementia she gets from Alzheimer's and a bunch of outbursts, and life with Grandma isn't too easy. Fortunately, Mika finds comfort and release (I was so tempted to make a fish pun and say "catch and release," just so you know) with all her fish, and a few humans: her best friends Shreya and Olivia, and her boss's son and newest coworker Dylan. Olivia's on vacation for the majority of the novel, but Shreya's more prominent. Mika and Shreya hang out while eating curry from Shreya's family's Indian restaurant, and spend their Saturdays making intricate and SUPER COOL sand sculpture's on the beach. And then there's Dylan, aka the counterpart to the stinking cute romance, who's a rich kid cut off from Mommy and Daddy's money and is living with his uncle.
Really, nothing in Fish Out of Water is perfect. This is a tale of all kinds of relationships: between families, friends, and those of the romantic variety. Throughout the book, these relationships have all sorts of issues, and some are resolved while others are not. But seriously, this book was really, really good. Reading it wasn't boring or uninteresting; it's one of those books you read and don't really want to put down. Was it perfect? No. I had a few issues with it, and there were some things that happened that I was kind of iffy on, but at the core, this was a good book. Natalie Whipple's writing was great, and like I said before, I will so totally be reading more (aka all) of her books after this.
Now, I know this review makes this book seem like a little guppy instead of a big, beautiful goldfish. That's because this review is an inaccurate display of how I feel about this book, and I was a bad blogger who read this book a couple months ago and am only writing my review now. (Oopsie oops, bad Rachel, bad.) So let me tell you why you should read Fish Out of Water.
For starters, there's a strong protagonist who's POV isn't obnoxious. And we get to see her character develop in numerous ways, which is a bonus. There is a SHIP, which is fitting for a fishy, watery novel. Dylan is not just any love interest, but a flawed one who makes mistakes and is far from perfect (not that Mika is Miss Perfect herself, either). Aside from the romance, there are other strong ships, which are found in Mika's friends and family. There are fun little fishy facts and references. And, yeah, there are a few mentions of The Princess Bride if you like that sort of thing. (I hate that movie, so.) And then there's Betty, who is a strong character I don't see a lot of in books: she's older, she's sweet and sour, and she's losing her memory and, well, falling apart.
Please, swim on over to your bookstore or web browser and buy this book. Fish Out of Water is a wave-making, super adorable, excellent little contemporary that deals with some tough subjects and has its seriousness but is, at the whole of sea, a read that's pure enjoyment. Read it. Enjoy it. Love it. Then maybe get a pet goldfish because you're going to really want one.
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review, and that in no way sways my opinion of the book.
April 15, 2015
Natalie Whipple's Fish Out of Water rather caught me by surprise. I’d been interested in the book based on the publisher’s marketing copy, so I requested a review copy and I’d expected to be at least entertained by the book. What I hadn't expected, was that the book drew me in to the extent that I actually stayed up until half three to finish it. (Thank you Wiebe for pulling morning duty and let me catch up on sleep the next day—well, later that day.) Mika's summer was completely engrossing and I just had to know how it would end.
Mika is just a wonderful character. Her relationship with her parents is warm and loving, but not without conflict. Mika’s father is American and her mother is Japanese and her mixed heritage definitely affects Mika’s childhood and upbringing. While the conflict between Mika and her parents is seemingly due to Mika feeling cheated out off her perfect summer plans – and more – due to her parents’ decision to take in her grandmother, even here racial issues are indirectly responsible for the tense situation that arises. I like that Whipple clearly communicates the difficulties facing people of mixed race. She doesn't sugar-coat it and especially once Mika's grandmother Betty is added to the mix it becomes a clear theme in the book. Betty's open bigotry, which is hard to miss and is the more familiar depiction of what a racist is, is reflected by the reactions of Dylan's friends and family when they realise he and Mika are a couple. Far less 'in your face 'about their judgements as Betty, they represent the far more insidious problem of systemic racism, which is so ingrained in society that it's not as easy to spot as Betty's loudly proclaimed slurs.
Mika's reactions to these prejudices and (micro) aggressions are a mixture of teeth-gnashing resignation, hurt, and anger. Mika is a far better person than I in the way she moves past her grandmother’s horrible behaviour and words; not letting the Alzheimer’s excuse Betty's behaviour, but softening the impact, and by finding out what lies behind her grandmother's animosity and racism coming to a place of love and forgiveness. Though while Mika seems able to forgive, those around her still stand up for her, something I thought was really important and how Whipple wrote those particular scenes was quite touching.
The trouble and opposition facing interracial, and even inter-cultural, relationships is furthermore explored through the story arc of Mika’s best friend Shreya, daughter of immigrant parents from India, who have held closely to their traditions and who plan traditional futures for their children. They even go as far as disowning one of their children and shunning them when they bring home a white partner, threatening to do the same to their other children if they contact their ostracised sibling. Shreya’s fear, hurt, and inner conflict about how to proceed are heart-breaking. Shreya was perhaps my favourite character after Mika and I loved her story arc.
Of course, Fish Out of Water is not just about family, prejudices, and friendships, there is romance as well; quite an adorable one at that too. I really liked how Whipple developed the rapport between Mika and Dylan. This certainly wasn’t love at first sight and perhaps not even at thirtieth. They both have baggage and need to do some growing up, but I liked how they were real with each other from the start even if they didn’t share everything about their lives from the get go, which only made it more realistic to me. And it made the ending even sweeter. Dylan, like Mika and Shreya has an interesting development throughout the novel, one that I really enjoyed as well.
Fish Out of Water was a highly entertaining story, but one that touched on hard themes as well and did so with grace. Mika’s story shows the importance of family, by blood or by choice, and that loving them and being loved by them isn’t always easy. Fish Out of Water was my first Natalie Whipple book, but hopefully it won’t be my last.
This book was provided for review by the publisher.
Mika is just a wonderful character. Her relationship with her parents is warm and loving, but not without conflict. Mika’s father is American and her mother is Japanese and her mixed heritage definitely affects Mika’s childhood and upbringing. While the conflict between Mika and her parents is seemingly due to Mika feeling cheated out off her perfect summer plans – and more – due to her parents’ decision to take in her grandmother, even here racial issues are indirectly responsible for the tense situation that arises. I like that Whipple clearly communicates the difficulties facing people of mixed race. She doesn't sugar-coat it and especially once Mika's grandmother Betty is added to the mix it becomes a clear theme in the book. Betty's open bigotry, which is hard to miss and is the more familiar depiction of what a racist is, is reflected by the reactions of Dylan's friends and family when they realise he and Mika are a couple. Far less 'in your face 'about their judgements as Betty, they represent the far more insidious problem of systemic racism, which is so ingrained in society that it's not as easy to spot as Betty's loudly proclaimed slurs.
Mika's reactions to these prejudices and (micro) aggressions are a mixture of teeth-gnashing resignation, hurt, and anger. Mika is a far better person than I in the way she moves past her grandmother’s horrible behaviour and words; not letting the Alzheimer’s excuse Betty's behaviour, but softening the impact, and by finding out what lies behind her grandmother's animosity and racism coming to a place of love and forgiveness. Though while Mika seems able to forgive, those around her still stand up for her, something I thought was really important and how Whipple wrote those particular scenes was quite touching.
The trouble and opposition facing interracial, and even inter-cultural, relationships is furthermore explored through the story arc of Mika’s best friend Shreya, daughter of immigrant parents from India, who have held closely to their traditions and who plan traditional futures for their children. They even go as far as disowning one of their children and shunning them when they bring home a white partner, threatening to do the same to their other children if they contact their ostracised sibling. Shreya’s fear, hurt, and inner conflict about how to proceed are heart-breaking. Shreya was perhaps my favourite character after Mika and I loved her story arc.
Of course, Fish Out of Water is not just about family, prejudices, and friendships, there is romance as well; quite an adorable one at that too. I really liked how Whipple developed the rapport between Mika and Dylan. This certainly wasn’t love at first sight and perhaps not even at thirtieth. They both have baggage and need to do some growing up, but I liked how they were real with each other from the start even if they didn’t share everything about their lives from the get go, which only made it more realistic to me. And it made the ending even sweeter. Dylan, like Mika and Shreya has an interesting development throughout the novel, one that I really enjoyed as well.
Fish Out of Water was a highly entertaining story, but one that touched on hard themes as well and did so with grace. Mika’s story shows the importance of family, by blood or by choice, and that loving them and being loved by them isn’t always easy. Fish Out of Water was my first Natalie Whipple book, but hopefully it won’t be my last.
This book was provided for review by the publisher.
February 20, 2015
http://www.pagetostagereviews.com/201...
After reading a series of poignant but mentally draining adult novels around terminal illness, I was ready to be distracted by a light and fluffy read and Fish Out of Water perfectly fitted that bill. I admit that the cover initially did make this book come across a bit childish, but when I read the blurb I realised that rather than a middle grade read this was the young adult romance I needed to lift my spirits.
Mika Arlington is the daughter of two marine biologists and it shows; obsessed with sea life she not only works in a pet store during the holidays, but her entire summer will be revolving around her coveted internship at the aquarium. However, when Mika's grandmother Betty appears on their doorstep it seems that her amazing summer is over before it has even truly began.
Betty has Alzheimer's and with no money to take care of herself she has decided to move in with her son, Mika's father, and his family. The thing is, Betty doesn't get along with her son and Mika has not even met her until now – and for good reason too. Betty was horrible after her son fell in love with a Japanese woman, her racist profanities fractioning their relationship for what seemed beyond repair. And in her current muddled mental state, she hasn't gotten any better.
Suddenly Mika's summer revolves around taking care of her difficult grandmother instead of the fish at the aquarium. And to make matters worse, her sanctuary at the pet store is thrown in uproar too when the owner's nephew Dylan starts working there as well, who is, if possible even more stubborn than her grandmother.
Fish Out of Water was an utterly delightful read; the perfect pick-me-up after a hectic work week. Once again I was reminded to not judge a book by its cover (which, by the way, would've looked fantastic displaying just the title without actually visualising the fish) but instead let the blurb guide me, which was a much better indication of the brilliant story hiding within its pages.
Protagonist Mika was an instantly likeable and quirky character, one that as a reader you cannot help but fall in love with, even when perhaps at times she gets a little too caught up in her own issues to pay proper attention to her friends. It's not very nice, but it is very realistic in the life of a teenager – they tend to believe the universe revolves around them, after all.
Predictably, but not any less exciting because of it, romantic sparks soon started to fly back and forth between her and Dylan and even though I haven't been a teenager for a very long time, the descriptions of the bad boy made even me fall in love with him, and my heart fluttered for the blossoming romance between the two.
For the most part this was a charming book to dream away with, but author Natalie Whipple didn't shy away from covering some heavy issues that sadly still prevail in today's day and age, including racism, prejudice and social classes, to name but a few. It's harrowing that people still face such horrible judgements simply for where they were born and how much money they have access to, oftentimes not because of anything they did themselves, and I hope that excellent novels such as this one shining a light on the issues will urge people to be more accepting. After all, we're all the same on the inside.
Fish Out of Water is the perfect young adult treat for fans of the sweet romance novels from Jennifer E. Smith, with the added quirkiness of Rainbow Rowell and the emotional punch of John Green – so basically a triple whammy of all that is brilliant in YA fiction right now.
After reading a series of poignant but mentally draining adult novels around terminal illness, I was ready to be distracted by a light and fluffy read and Fish Out of Water perfectly fitted that bill. I admit that the cover initially did make this book come across a bit childish, but when I read the blurb I realised that rather than a middle grade read this was the young adult romance I needed to lift my spirits.
Mika Arlington is the daughter of two marine biologists and it shows; obsessed with sea life she not only works in a pet store during the holidays, but her entire summer will be revolving around her coveted internship at the aquarium. However, when Mika's grandmother Betty appears on their doorstep it seems that her amazing summer is over before it has even truly began.
Betty has Alzheimer's and with no money to take care of herself she has decided to move in with her son, Mika's father, and his family. The thing is, Betty doesn't get along with her son and Mika has not even met her until now – and for good reason too. Betty was horrible after her son fell in love with a Japanese woman, her racist profanities fractioning their relationship for what seemed beyond repair. And in her current muddled mental state, she hasn't gotten any better.
Suddenly Mika's summer revolves around taking care of her difficult grandmother instead of the fish at the aquarium. And to make matters worse, her sanctuary at the pet store is thrown in uproar too when the owner's nephew Dylan starts working there as well, who is, if possible even more stubborn than her grandmother.
Fish Out of Water was an utterly delightful read; the perfect pick-me-up after a hectic work week. Once again I was reminded to not judge a book by its cover (which, by the way, would've looked fantastic displaying just the title without actually visualising the fish) but instead let the blurb guide me, which was a much better indication of the brilliant story hiding within its pages.
Protagonist Mika was an instantly likeable and quirky character, one that as a reader you cannot help but fall in love with, even when perhaps at times she gets a little too caught up in her own issues to pay proper attention to her friends. It's not very nice, but it is very realistic in the life of a teenager – they tend to believe the universe revolves around them, after all.
Predictably, but not any less exciting because of it, romantic sparks soon started to fly back and forth between her and Dylan and even though I haven't been a teenager for a very long time, the descriptions of the bad boy made even me fall in love with him, and my heart fluttered for the blossoming romance between the two.
For the most part this was a charming book to dream away with, but author Natalie Whipple didn't shy away from covering some heavy issues that sadly still prevail in today's day and age, including racism, prejudice and social classes, to name but a few. It's harrowing that people still face such horrible judgements simply for where they were born and how much money they have access to, oftentimes not because of anything they did themselves, and I hope that excellent novels such as this one shining a light on the issues will urge people to be more accepting. After all, we're all the same on the inside.
Fish Out of Water is the perfect young adult treat for fans of the sweet romance novels from Jennifer E. Smith, with the added quirkiness of Rainbow Rowell and the emotional punch of John Green – so basically a triple whammy of all that is brilliant in YA fiction right now.
December 25, 2014
When Natalie put the call out looking for early reviews I did not hesitate in completing the form, and crossing my fingers that UK entries were accepted. A few weeks later I got an email with a copy of Fish Out of Water for review, and I wanted to drop everything to make a start on it.
Fish Out of Water follows Mika as she spends her summer dealing with a new employee at her work, an absent grandmother who has dementia, and to top it all off, her best friend moving.
Mika Works at AnimalZone's Aquatics, and had plans to join her parents during the summer, and work at Monterey Bay Aquarium, however the arrival of her Grandmother puts a halt to these plans, and Mika find herself being a babysitter for her Grandmother who she has never met before, and who is extremely racist. Not only is Mika having to deal with her Grandmother, she also has an arrogant co-worker, the nephew of her boss, to deal with too.
When I began reading Fish Out of Water I wondered what the book was about, and obviously with the whole marine biologist as parents, and the slight obsession with fish, you can see how this title links with the story. However as the book progressed I actually got the meaning of the book. Mika literally feels like a fish out of water in a lot of ways, with her relationship with her Grandmother and her illness, with her friends and feeling abandoned by them, and also with Dylan and their budding friendship, even more so when she finds out where he came from.
Fish Out of Water tackles a lot of issues within the pages, and I found it easy to become emotionally invested in Mika and really feel for what she has to deal with. My heart broke for the verbal abuse she received off her Grandmother, for feeling like her parents didn't really understand her, and for never really knowing where she stood with Dylan most of the time, although I really did want to kick his ass for some of the ways he treats Mika. We also see incidents of racism in various forms, one of Mika's best friends is Indian, and her parents refuse to acknowledge her or her brother over having a non-Indian girlfriend.
Mika is a strong, resilient person, she is smart, and is a fish expert (I love how she rescues one to take home), and is genuinely a nice person. and even though she does get worked up and upset over things, she doesn't let it stop her, and even the people she doesn't really like much end up finding a place in her heart.
Fish Out of Water was a refreshing change to my current reading habits and I thoroughly enjoyed every page, I even need to get a copy once it's released for my shelves. Whether your a fish person or not, you need to read this book.
Fish Out of Water follows Mika as she spends her summer dealing with a new employee at her work, an absent grandmother who has dementia, and to top it all off, her best friend moving.
Mika Works at AnimalZone's Aquatics, and had plans to join her parents during the summer, and work at Monterey Bay Aquarium, however the arrival of her Grandmother puts a halt to these plans, and Mika find herself being a babysitter for her Grandmother who she has never met before, and who is extremely racist. Not only is Mika having to deal with her Grandmother, she also has an arrogant co-worker, the nephew of her boss, to deal with too.
When I began reading Fish Out of Water I wondered what the book was about, and obviously with the whole marine biologist as parents, and the slight obsession with fish, you can see how this title links with the story. However as the book progressed I actually got the meaning of the book. Mika literally feels like a fish out of water in a lot of ways, with her relationship with her Grandmother and her illness, with her friends and feeling abandoned by them, and also with Dylan and their budding friendship, even more so when she finds out where he came from.
Fish Out of Water tackles a lot of issues within the pages, and I found it easy to become emotionally invested in Mika and really feel for what she has to deal with. My heart broke for the verbal abuse she received off her Grandmother, for feeling like her parents didn't really understand her, and for never really knowing where she stood with Dylan most of the time, although I really did want to kick his ass for some of the ways he treats Mika. We also see incidents of racism in various forms, one of Mika's best friends is Indian, and her parents refuse to acknowledge her or her brother over having a non-Indian girlfriend.
Mika is a strong, resilient person, she is smart, and is a fish expert (I love how she rescues one to take home), and is genuinely a nice person. and even though she does get worked up and upset over things, she doesn't let it stop her, and even the people she doesn't really like much end up finding a place in her heart.
Fish Out of Water was a refreshing change to my current reading habits and I thoroughly enjoyed every page, I even need to get a copy once it's released for my shelves. Whether your a fish person or not, you need to read this book.
February 6, 2015
Originally posted on:> http://lauraslittlebookblog.blogspot....
I blooming loved Fish Out of Water! This is the first book I have read my Natalie Whipple and she is a writing genius. Fish Out of Water refused to let me go, I was completely involved in Mika's story; I just could not get enough! Also how cute is the cover?! It got quite a few looks whilst I was reading it on the train. It really catches your eye (excuse the pun).
Mika's summer is all planned out; it's going to be perfect, but the arrival of her never before seen Grandmother and grumpy Dylan at work mean that her summer is not going to go quite the way she had envisaged.
So much is packed into this story, it deals with the issues of prejudice, relationships, illness, family drama, different cultures and more, but at the same time it is a really cute, really happy, lighthearted story that melted my heart.
I grinned like a loon when I read that Mika is a fish fanatic as my boyfriend loves his fish and he was pleased to hear that I learnt a little bit about them in this, and I understand his love for them a bit better now. Mika is an instantly likeable character. She can hold her own and just seems happy and upbeat most of the time, but also has real life weaknesses, like we all do. Her best friends Shreya and Olivia are the ultimate best friends and her Mum and Dad are pretty kool parents, who are also marine biologists and partly where Mia gets her love of fish from. The title also obviously clearly relates to how we all at some time feel like a fish out of water, like we don't quite fit in, but we find our way in the end.
Natalie tackles the themes of pride and prejudice really well in this book, it goes between race, social status and living up to people's expectations. Mika, who is half Japanese gets a lot of comments about her being exotic and people asking her where she is from, things that are actually in what people call the grey areas of racism, but they are still racist. She also has to deal with a lot of very nasty comments from her own Grandmother! It was definitely an area addressed really well by Natalie.
I particularly enjoyed Mika and Dylan's love-hate relationship. It made for some fun reading, but it was so blooming clear that they had crazy chemistry! I could actually really relate to some of it and this is what is so great about this book as it is realistic and relatable in so many areas.
I've heard a few people say they weren't that happy about the ending, but I loved it. It made my heart swell with happiness as to me it was the perfect happy ending.
An absolutely brilliant, happy, uplifting story that you 100% need to read!
I blooming loved Fish Out of Water! This is the first book I have read my Natalie Whipple and she is a writing genius. Fish Out of Water refused to let me go, I was completely involved in Mika's story; I just could not get enough! Also how cute is the cover?! It got quite a few looks whilst I was reading it on the train. It really catches your eye (excuse the pun).
Mika's summer is all planned out; it's going to be perfect, but the arrival of her never before seen Grandmother and grumpy Dylan at work mean that her summer is not going to go quite the way she had envisaged.
So much is packed into this story, it deals with the issues of prejudice, relationships, illness, family drama, different cultures and more, but at the same time it is a really cute, really happy, lighthearted story that melted my heart.
I grinned like a loon when I read that Mika is a fish fanatic as my boyfriend loves his fish and he was pleased to hear that I learnt a little bit about them in this, and I understand his love for them a bit better now. Mika is an instantly likeable character. She can hold her own and just seems happy and upbeat most of the time, but also has real life weaknesses, like we all do. Her best friends Shreya and Olivia are the ultimate best friends and her Mum and Dad are pretty kool parents, who are also marine biologists and partly where Mia gets her love of fish from. The title also obviously clearly relates to how we all at some time feel like a fish out of water, like we don't quite fit in, but we find our way in the end.
Natalie tackles the themes of pride and prejudice really well in this book, it goes between race, social status and living up to people's expectations. Mika, who is half Japanese gets a lot of comments about her being exotic and people asking her where she is from, things that are actually in what people call the grey areas of racism, but they are still racist. She also has to deal with a lot of very nasty comments from her own Grandmother! It was definitely an area addressed really well by Natalie.
I particularly enjoyed Mika and Dylan's love-hate relationship. It made for some fun reading, but it was so blooming clear that they had crazy chemistry! I could actually really relate to some of it and this is what is so great about this book as it is realistic and relatable in so many areas.
I've heard a few people say they weren't that happy about the ending, but I loved it. It made my heart swell with happiness as to me it was the perfect happy ending.
An absolutely brilliant, happy, uplifting story that you 100% need to read!
September 28, 2015
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
FISH OUT OF WATER was a breath of fresh air. The characters were diverse, the difficulty in being accepted when BEING diverse was addressed (many times), there was compassion, frustration, girlfriend fun, a hot guy, great food, and a gorgeous location (Monterey, California, and the surrounding areas, which Natalie wrote so perfectly that I felt like I was there again, walking down Cannery Row as a local, not a tourist).
The more I try to figure out what to say about FOoW, the less words I can find to do so. Along with the whole diversity/acceptance thing, I guess I'd say it's about learning that, sometimes, you end up needing and falling in love with people you never even knew you needed (or were afraid to need); and that, when your heart's involved in this process, there's no telling how you're going to respond.
Love love loved it, all of the characters (Betty especially), and the fishy facts as well. Oh, and I almost forgot the perfect love for The Princess Bride. How can you not like a character who loves that movie?
This book's a keeper, guys, and well worth getting your (ahem) fins on.
*Note: I'd say this is higher YA due to sex and swearing.
FISH OUT OF WATER was a breath of fresh air. The characters were diverse, the difficulty in being accepted when BEING diverse was addressed (many times), there was compassion, frustration, girlfriend fun, a hot guy, great food, and a gorgeous location (Monterey, California, and the surrounding areas, which Natalie wrote so perfectly that I felt like I was there again, walking down Cannery Row as a local, not a tourist).
The more I try to figure out what to say about FOoW, the less words I can find to do so. Along with the whole diversity/acceptance thing, I guess I'd say it's about learning that, sometimes, you end up needing and falling in love with people you never even knew you needed (or were afraid to need); and that, when your heart's involved in this process, there's no telling how you're going to respond.
Love love loved it, all of the characters (Betty especially), and the fishy facts as well. Oh, and I almost forgot the perfect love for The Princess Bride. How can you not like a character who loves that movie?
This book's a keeper, guys, and well worth getting your (ahem) fins on.
*Note: I'd say this is higher YA due to sex and swearing.
December 8, 2015
3.5*
The publisher kindly provided me with a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
This was a fun and very quick read, an enjoyable, summery romance, ideal to read either in summer, or, like I did, on one of the first sunny days of the year, just when the rays of the sun start to warm you up a bit. I really liked the main character and I enjoyed the more serious storyline with the grandmother that's added to the romance. The romance itself was okay, although I'm still not quite sure what to make of Dylan despite the ending :D
The publisher kindly provided me with a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
This was a fun and very quick read, an enjoyable, summery romance, ideal to read either in summer, or, like I did, on one of the first sunny days of the year, just when the rays of the sun start to warm you up a bit. I really liked the main character and I enjoyed the more serious storyline with the grandmother that's added to the romance. The romance itself was okay, although I'm still not quite sure what to make of Dylan despite the ending :D
July 10, 2015
We are fight or flight creatures. It might not be the best way to cope, but sometimes it's the easiest."
This is a tough story. It's all about love and all it's forms. Best friends, parents to children, children to parents, relationships and everything in between. It's a great, real reflection of actual life.
but because of that, it's tough. I'm not 100% sold that every message in the book is true - or true to every circumstance. But the story was interesting and I did like the two main characters.
This is a tough story. It's all about love and all it's forms. Best friends, parents to children, children to parents, relationships and everything in between. It's a great, real reflection of actual life.
but because of that, it's tough. I'm not 100% sold that every message in the book is true - or true to every circumstance. But the story was interesting and I did like the two main characters.
February 10, 2015
FISH OUT OF WATER is a story about a Japanese-American girl whose summer turns to shambles when her racist, Alzheimer’s, grandmother shows up on her doorstep and a spoiled rich-kid named Dylan invades her pet store work place.
This is a love story. But the premise is so three deminsional that the reader is faced with a myriad of conflicts that all lead to the same, well-crafted point. Love is diverse and sometimes hurtful, but worth it in the end.
This is a love story. But the premise is so three deminsional that the reader is faced with a myriad of conflicts that all lead to the same, well-crafted point. Love is diverse and sometimes hurtful, but worth it in the end.
January 15, 2015
I sat down to start reading this book, and 5 hours later I was done without even realizing it. I just HAD to find out how things turned out for Mika. I enjoyed the story line, and the comparison Whipple made between the goldfish and Alzheimers. Watching Mika grow and change as she was facing the different obstacles that came into her life had me wishing for the best for her.
March 26, 2022
I really REALLY LOVED this book. It is ABSOLUTELY AMAZING. Fish out of water put my heart on a roller coaster ride. I love ever single bit/word/letter/everything about it. 9.9/10!!!
It is very good-AWESOME actually. READ IT!!!!!!!
It is very good-AWESOME actually. READ IT!!!!!!!
Read
August 19, 2023
Trigger & Content Warnings
Racism
Homomisia
Grandparent with Alzheimer's Disease
Context: The protagonist's grandmother didn't 'approve' of her parent's mixed-race marriage. Her mother is Japanese and her father is white.
Racism
Homomisia
Grandparent with Alzheimer's Disease
Context: The protagonist's grandmother didn't 'approve' of her parent's mixed-race marriage. Her mother is Japanese and her father is white.
August 13, 2016
Idk I'm so conflicted :/
May 29, 2015
This was pretty adorable, actually. Review soon! But I definitely recommend it.
February 6, 2017
Natalie whipple managed to totally reel me in…
January 3, 2019
I loved this story. It was cute, and fun, and may have been fluffy but it totally worked. I loved the characters, and the diversity, and the setting, and how perfectly everything was portrayed.
Our main character is Mika. Mika loves fish. Her parents are marine biologists at the Aquarium, where she is hoping to get an internship over the summer, in addition to her job at the pet shop. But suddenly, her perfect summer ends up not-so-perfect. Her grandmother Betty shows up. The grandmother Mika has never seen because she's racist against Mika's Japanese mother. The grandmother who now has Alzheimer's and oh, guess who gets to watch her during the summer? To make matters worse, her boss's nephew is working at the pet shop, and he's more than kind of a jerk.
I loved Mika. Mika has her passion, and she doesn't care if anyone else thinks it's weird. I also found her pretty smart and mature for her age. Her schpiel about how "if it's true goldfish have such a short memory, shouldn't we make every memory a good one?" and how she later learned to apply that to her grandmother really stuck with me. Yeah, Mika has her moments of acting out, of overreacting, of basically being a dumb teenager. But she also realizes it, and tries to keep it from happening again. And I mean, she's pretty entitled to her feeling. Between her grandmother and Dylan, she's dealing with a lot.
Once Dylan gets over his entitlement and arrogance, he was a pretty decent guy. He makes mistakes, but he also learns from them. I do tend to like my hate-then-love romances, and this one was done pretty well. I wasn't particularily swooned by him, although he was still pretty hot.
But this is more than just a romance. I mentioned the diversity, and this one deals with it so well. Not just having diverse characters, but showcasing what it's like, and also the issues that still go on, even though we like to think they don't. From Mika and her mom dealing with racism from her own grandmother, to her friend Shreya and her Indian parents' old-fashioned ways. (I mean, duh I have a little more love for Indian characters, I'm biased after all. But also, so much food! I was hungry by the end of it. Seriously. Raging for some butter chicken and naan right now.)
Mika also deals with the big issues, like her grandmother's Alzheimer's and how to care for someone like that. It's hard, but I admire Mika and how she dealt with that.
Sure, you have some of your typical romance cliches, especially at the end but I was totally sucked in to the story by this point. If you love contemporary, then this is the book for you. But don't be fooled: while it might seem like a fluffy romance, it deals with so much more than that. I loved it.
I received an eARC from the author, this did not affect my honest opinion.
This review first appears on The NerdHerd Reads
Our main character is Mika. Mika loves fish. Her parents are marine biologists at the Aquarium, where she is hoping to get an internship over the summer, in addition to her job at the pet shop. But suddenly, her perfect summer ends up not-so-perfect. Her grandmother Betty shows up. The grandmother Mika has never seen because she's racist against Mika's Japanese mother. The grandmother who now has Alzheimer's and oh, guess who gets to watch her during the summer? To make matters worse, her boss's nephew is working at the pet shop, and he's more than kind of a jerk.
I loved Mika. Mika has her passion, and she doesn't care if anyone else thinks it's weird. I also found her pretty smart and mature for her age. Her schpiel about how "if it's true goldfish have such a short memory, shouldn't we make every memory a good one?" and how she later learned to apply that to her grandmother really stuck with me. Yeah, Mika has her moments of acting out, of overreacting, of basically being a dumb teenager. But she also realizes it, and tries to keep it from happening again. And I mean, she's pretty entitled to her feeling. Between her grandmother and Dylan, she's dealing with a lot.
Once Dylan gets over his entitlement and arrogance, he was a pretty decent guy. He makes mistakes, but he also learns from them. I do tend to like my hate-then-love romances, and this one was done pretty well. I wasn't particularily swooned by him, although he was still pretty hot.
But this is more than just a romance. I mentioned the diversity, and this one deals with it so well. Not just having diverse characters, but showcasing what it's like, and also the issues that still go on, even though we like to think they don't. From Mika and her mom dealing with racism from her own grandmother, to her friend Shreya and her Indian parents' old-fashioned ways. (I mean, duh I have a little more love for Indian characters, I'm biased after all. But also, so much food! I was hungry by the end of it. Seriously. Raging for some butter chicken and naan right now.)
Mika also deals with the big issues, like her grandmother's Alzheimer's and how to care for someone like that. It's hard, but I admire Mika and how she dealt with that.
Sure, you have some of your typical romance cliches, especially at the end but I was totally sucked in to the story by this point. If you love contemporary, then this is the book for you. But don't be fooled: while it might seem like a fluffy romance, it deals with so much more than that. I loved it.
I received an eARC from the author, this did not affect my honest opinion.
This review first appears on The NerdHerd Reads
May 9, 2018
Lovely little book, teen romance and dealing with racism and cultural issues. A cute easy read.
My only dislike is towards the end..... so Mika is pissed as Dylan goes AWOL the day after sleeping together, when he explains himself he’s then the hurt party. It come on what did he expect, a nite left with his uncle and no contact for 5 days?! What else was she to think. Poor excuse “internet was down” “lost my phone” - could have text when left, saying I will be back, could have got in the damn car and driven back to tell her, ring her or your uncle from landline ? Or animal zone? Or the aquarium ? All numbers he could get by calling directory enquiries. So I was annoyed he made Mika feel bad..... glad all got sorted, but still.
My only dislike is towards the end..... so Mika is pissed as Dylan goes AWOL the day after sleeping together, when he explains himself he’s then the hurt party. It come on what did he expect, a nite left with his uncle and no contact for 5 days?! What else was she to think. Poor excuse “internet was down” “lost my phone” - could have text when left, saying I will be back, could have got in the damn car and driven back to tell her, ring her or your uncle from landline ? Or animal zone? Or the aquarium ? All numbers he could get by calling directory enquiries. So I was annoyed he made Mika feel bad..... glad all got sorted, but still.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 1, 2018
There were loads of things that I liked about this book. I thought our MC was strong and sassy, I enjoyed the friendships and the parent relationships, I liked how the swoony romance was not the focus of this book and it was more about all kinds of relationships. But something just kept me from giving it four stars...I can't put my finger on what it was. This is a really great summer read though since it is a summer book.
The book has thoughtful swearing, meaning I thought when it did have language, it worked. And although it isn't too graphic with any sexual situations, it did go farther than I hoped it would with these particular characters. In the end though the way it is all done, I would let my teenage daughter read this if I had a teenage daughter...
The book has thoughtful swearing, meaning I thought when it did have language, it worked. And although it isn't too graphic with any sexual situations, it did go farther than I hoped it would with these particular characters. In the end though the way it is all done, I would let my teenage daughter read this if I had a teenage daughter...
October 27, 2020
Mika is looking forward to a perfect summer working alongside her parents at Monterey Bay Aquarium, but things turn upside down when her racist grandmother with Alzheimer's shows up. To make things worse, her work sanctuary has been invaded by the pompous rich boy Dylan. However, Mika learns to love those she thought were unlovable.
I am not a huge fan of contemporary novels, and I didn't particularly enjoy this one. A lot of the problems in the story seemed superficial. However, there were some good themes. For someone who is a fan of teen romance contemporary books, I would recommend this book. Otherwise, I'd say skip it.
Content Warning:
-Sexual Content
-Strong Language
-Mockery of Race (stereotypes)
-Abuse (emotional)
I am not a huge fan of contemporary novels, and I didn't particularly enjoy this one. A lot of the problems in the story seemed superficial. However, there were some good themes. For someone who is a fan of teen romance contemporary books, I would recommend this book. Otherwise, I'd say skip it.
Content Warning:
-Sexual Content
-Strong Language
-Mockery of Race (stereotypes)
-Abuse (emotional)
June 10, 2023
A fast-paced read. I read it in one day because it was that fun. Mika has summer plans to join her parents in a summer internship at the aquarium, but plans have a way of going astray when her grandmother arrives diagnosed with dementia and Mika is tasked with teaching her boss's nephew the ropes at her part-time job at a pet store. Can things get any worse? Yes! But it's funny, heartfelt and inspiring all at once.
July 28, 2024
This was such a disappointment! I expected a cute, sweet story, and instead it was the opposite. I thought there would be more from the grandma and her past to show a development between their relationship, but it went from hate to love way too quickly.. same with the relationship with Mika and Dylan. Then they’re having sex and the mom doesn’t even bat an eye! Unnecessary swearing too. The idea had such potential. Never again for this author!
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