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Fish Out of Water (The Girl Without a Phone, #1)

Jennifer Sommersby (Goodreads Author),

Young Actors Project (Contributor)

4.45 · Rating details · 22 ratings · 15 reviews

Be who you were born to be …

Marina Andersen’s structured life is ruled by the Three S’s: Swim. Study. Succeed. But all this routine and order leaves little time for what she really wants to do: SING. Try telling that to her overbearing father, a former rock legend whose personal demons keep Marina’s extraordinary musical talents behind closed doors.

After a chance performan ...more

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ebook, 272 pages

Published December 20th 2019 by Young Actors Project

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· 22 ratings · 15 reviews

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Feb 12, 2020 Leelynn (Sometimes Leelynn Reads) ❤ rated it really liked it

Disclaimer: I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to Reedsy Discovery, and Young Actors Project for this free copy. All quotes in this review are taken from the Advanced Reader Copy and may change in final publication.

This is the first novel that I picked to review after getting accepted to be a reviewer for Reedsy Discovery. I would say it reminds me of BookSirens – which reminds me I still have to catch up on some books t Disclaimer: I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to Reedsy Discovery, and Young Actors Project for this free copy. All quotes in this review are taken from the Advanced Reader Copy and may change in final publication.

This is the first novel that I picked to review after getting accepted to be a reviewer for Reedsy Discovery. I would say it reminds me of BookSirens – which reminds me I still have to catch up on some books there, I know – and there are so many other books that I’ve never heard of from there that I get to read. Seeing that this was pitched as a little mermaid story somehow really made me want to read it because of the mermaid aspect, but I may have been a little off. Despite not having actual mermaids in this novel, I still really enjoyed this novel.

First of all, I was really sad at what happened with Marina’s mom, and how much grief the dad was in because of it. It sucked because I don’t really think that the dad’s grieving process was all that healthy, and the way that it affected Marina in the aftermath was even worse. Marina’s dad was a freaking rock star, and growing up surrounded by music and performers and all that jazz, it’s honestly no wonder that Marina loves to sing and is freaking great at it. So when her dad basically forbids her from singing – like she can’t even sing at school????? – she feels like she’s missing a part of herself. Which I totally freaking get because that’s something that she’s actually passionate about, you know?

The fact that she legit has to hide the fact that her friends want to take her to see a live freaking band one night is ridiculous. She can’t even go listen to a BAND play. She’s not the one singing in the band. She’s just in the audience. That’s how strict her dad is, and to make matters worse her keeps drilling this whole swimming career into her mind and it’s stressing her the heck out. I just feel terrible for Marina when I think about her having to deal with her dad and that kind of stuff that he puts her through.

I was reading another review when I made the decision to read and review this one, and someone mentioned that Marina’s friends were part of a book from this series that came out before? But this is supposed to be the first novel in this series? So I was confused about that, but either way I really liked the friendship they had with Marina, and even though they did get her to disobey her father sometimes, I still think that they were really there for her when she needed that friendship and just some time to decompress. Sometimes a little rebellion is needed in order to grow up, and I feel like it worked out in Marina’s favor a little bit here.

...more

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Dec 16, 2019 Yellowjacket Nest rated it it was amazing

An awesome book!!! Literally could not stop reading!!! I loved how it was all written out and way the characters were so realistic!! And especially the fact that Lily and Sierra from the first "Girl Without a Phone" series were there too!! Big thanks to YAP for giving me the chance to be one of the first to read it !! Definitely an all time favorite. Would love to see this in movie format!!!😉 ...more

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Dec 09, 2019 Ava Wortel rated it it was amazing

I really enjoyed the book! It was inspiring, fun, and kinda sad! It was very well written. This was the type of book where you don't want to stop reading. I definitely recommend this book! 100% worth reading twice! ...more

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Dec 15, 2019 Lj Ducharme added it

Thank you to the author(s) and publisher for this free copy, in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this story of Marina. It was so refreshing to read about a teenager who acted like a teenager. A teenager with a lot going on on her plate, but she (and her friends) was consistent with her feelings and actions for her age.

I felt helpless for Marina as she tries to negotiate a grieving father, and a life path not of her choosing. She didn't turn into a teenage superhero who conquers tal ...more

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Jan 24, 2020 Dara rated it really liked it

I will admit I had never heard of the YouTube series The Girl Without a Phone, but I am a huge Little Mermaid fan! This story about a teenager with dreams who is held back by her controlling father was a quick and sweet read. Marina has inherited her singing talent from both of her parents, but after her mother died in a car accident, her father blamed the music industry and doesn’t want Marina anywhere near it. Instead, he pushes her extremely hard to excel in both school and in swimming, which ...more

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Dec 28, 2019 A Book Vacation rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

WOW!

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Jan 26, 2020 Becky rated it really liked it

Shelves: arc, contemporary, inspired-by-classic-lit, ya-na

Reviewed on my blog, Becky on Books, on 1/27/2020.

This was really cute!

I knew nothing about the Young Actors Project before I picked this one up--all I had was the (mostly) fond memory of watching the cartoon version of The Little Mermaid over and over and OVER again with the next door neighbor I was babysitting for the summer, and thought, why not? I enjoy fairy tale retellings...

I'm glad I gave it a chance!

The fairy tale retelling aspect is very loosely done--the characters are mostly there, Reviewed on my blog, Becky on Books, on 1/27/2020.

This was really cute!

I knew nothing about the Young Actors Project before I picked this one up--all I had was the (mostly) fond memory of watching the cartoon version of The Little Mermaid over and over and OVER again with the next door neighbor I was babysitting for the summer, and thought, why not? I enjoy fairy tale retellings...

I'm glad I gave it a chance!

The fairy tale retelling aspect is very loosely done--the characters are mostly there, but the plot is quite different. The characters have a running joke that Marina's (the main character) life parallels the Disney story (which it is closer to than the original tale, at least--thank goodness!) but it's really just inspired by the story rather than a true retelling. The main character is a competitive swimmer instead of a mermaid, but singing is her true calling. Her voice isn't really stolen (or signed away, depending on your viewpoint) but she does kind of make a deal with it--you'll have to read the book to see what I mean. There isn't a Prince Eric, but there is a cute guy, and he behaves in a rather princely fashion, at least most of the time. And Marina's pet is an oversized (and trained to do tricks) goldfish! He's definitely not named Flounder, though.

The grumpy, overprotective dad? He's definitely there--even if his name isn't Triton.

At times it almost seemed like more of a Rapunzel or Cinderella story--Marina's dad's insistence that she focus on his "3 S's" (swim, study, and succeed) and give up singing leads him to try to control more and more of her life, isolating her from her friends and the others who would want to help her to nurture her other, non-swimming talents. Fortunately, she has some wonderfully supportive people in her corner and with their help finds a way to be true to herself and repair her relationship with her father at the same time.

Eventually, anyway--on the way there are almost as many heartbreaking bits as there are heartwarming, but the ending makes up for most of the angst that came before. I kind of wish there were a soundtrack, though...hint, hint... ;)

Rating: 4 stars / B+

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book. ...more

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Jan 22, 2020 Kari rated it it was amazing

FISH OUT OF WATER
By Jessica Sommersby

Well let me tell you this was not what I was expecting! I absolutely fell in love with this book and could relate to this YA Fiction Novel based on my past life experiences growing up with the most strictest of parents. To some that have not experienced this type of upbringing of having a controlling parent/parents; it may seem far fetched or not quite believable, but I’m living proof that there is parenting that borderlines on that of child abuse.

I fully re ...more

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Jan 26, 2020 BreeAnn (She Just Loves Books) rated it it was amazing

Shelves: ya, romance, contemporary

What I Loved:
Fish Out of Water was so real. I loved that this teenager felt like a real teenager. She had problems and sadness and unattainable expectations from her father. It was written so well and captured such a real-feel. The writing was beautiful.

How I Felt:
The Plot in Fish Out of water was heartbreaking, but wonderful at the same time. I was cheering for Marina to go for her dreams and not live the life her father wants her to live. I loved watching her struggle to be able to do what she ...more

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Jan 29, 2020 I go by 'Jo' now rated it really liked it

As posted on my blog - Descendant of Poseidon Reads

From the very first chapter of this book, I find it really cute and funny. Though, the middle part goes bad and blue. Still, this is a wonderful book inspired by ‘A Little Mermaid’ story which isn’t true retelling (the characters and such) yet resemble how the original fairytale has been. You’ll be going to notice some reenactment once you read this book. The counterpart of Ursula and the stolen voice (for the sake of not spoiling, ‘stolen voice ...more

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Jan 31, 2020 Jenn rated it it was amazing

As someone who grew up with Disney’s Little Mermaid, I was super excited about this book. Jennifer Sommersby has done a great job of capturing the feeling of displacement from the original fairy tale, but has brought it into a modern setting. The characters are very relatable and the pressure from their parents to abandon dreams for a “practical job” (that isn’t in the Arts) feels SO REAL. I especially loved the tongue-in-cheek way the characters poke fun at “Magic” and “Fairy Tales” for being m ...more

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Jan 29, 2020 Katrin Bartas rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Fish Out of Water came as a huge surprise to me. I expected an easy, cutesy fairytale but what I got was so much more! Plenty of emotions, a few tears, relatable teenage experiences, and an incredibly enjoyable journey. My only complaint? I wish that it was longer because the characters were easy to fall in love with! I loved it so much, so you should definitely check it out ❤️

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Mar 06, 2020 Leslie Wibberley rated it it was amazing

Ms. Sommersby has written another stellar YA story. A perfect YA voice, a protagonist you will fall in love with and cheer for, a dad who needs a good swift kick, a swoon-worthy love interest, music—so much music, the challenging world of competitive swimming that will ring true for any elite athlete. There is just so much to love about this story.

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Nov 27, 2020 Anna Sanford rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites

It was very good. I recommend it! I will say I suggest to watch the YAP videos on youtube if you really liked it.

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Jan 02, 2021 Big rated it really liked it

Shelves: emotional-drama, family, friendship, high-school-drama, sports, romance

Chapter 36 was missing the last page. The last page of the chapter ends with spoon. That wasn't good considering it's a crucial moment in the story. ...more

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About Jennifer Sommersby

Jennifer Sommersby

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I am a writer, copy/line editor, bibliophile, and mom of four living in the Great White North.

Represented by Stacey Kondla of The Rights Factory.

Romantic comedies under Eliza Gordon.

Website: www.jennsommersby.com
Facebook: Jennifer Sommersby
Instagram: @jennsommersbyauthor
Twitter: @JennSommersby ...more