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In the Same Boat
Sadie Scofield is just a few days away from the race of a lifetime. The Texas River Odyssey may be 260 miles and multiple days of arduous canoeing where every turn of the river reveals new dangers-downed trees, alligators, pitch black night-but those dangers pale in comparison to going another year knowing that her father is ashamed of her.
Last year, Sadie caused a disastrous wreck that ended her father's twenty year streak of finishes, and he's never looked at her the same. Now, she knows that finishing the race with her brother, Tanner, is her one shot to redeem herself. She's ready for anything...except Tanner ditching her for another team at the last minute.
Sadie grits her teeth and accepts that she has to team up with Cully, her former best friend turned worst enemy. It's irritating enough that he grew up to be so attractive, but once they're on the river it turns out he's ill-prepared for such a dangerous race. But as the miles pass, the pain of the race builds, they uncover the truth about their feuding families, and Sadie's feelings for Cully begin to shift. Could this race change her life more than she ever could have imagined?
Last year, Sadie caused a disastrous wreck that ended her father's twenty year streak of finishes, and he's never looked at her the same. Now, she knows that finishing the race with her brother, Tanner, is her one shot to redeem herself. She's ready for anything...except Tanner ditching her for another team at the last minute.
Sadie grits her teeth and accepts that she has to team up with Cully, her former best friend turned worst enemy. It's irritating enough that he grew up to be so attractive, but once they're on the river it turns out he's ill-prepared for such a dangerous race. But as the miles pass, the pain of the race builds, they uncover the truth about their feuding families, and Sadie's feelings for Cully begin to shift. Could this race change her life more than she ever could have imagined?
368 pages, Hardcover
First published July 20, 2021
23 people are currently reading
2911 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 148 reviews
September 8, 2021
This was a book that hooked me from the start and I struggled when I had to put it down and couldn’t wait to pick it back up again. Still managed to finish it in one day though.
The writing flowed well and was easy to read.
The h was relatable and gutsy. I didn’t really connect with the H though. I think having his POV might have helped.
The supporting characters could have been fleshed out a little more and I would have loved an epilogue. Instead we got a HFN and who knows what the future holds.
The book opens with the h in a 265 mile boat race, similar to the Texas Water Safari, with her dad. She is 16. She admires her dad’s win at all costs attitude and has been raised on it. However, she’s almost spent and she’s scared (it’s night time) and she asks to quit. Her dad doesn’t acknowledge this. A short time later the boat hits a rock and she is hurt. Her dad gets her back in the boat, not knowing how badly she’s injured and she’s not volunteering that info. Her mum checks her out at the next check in and insists on taking her to the hospital and pulls the team from the race. The dad is devastated and the h feels like she let him down. His first non finish in 19 races. Her brother goes on to complete the race in his solo boat.
The next chapter has the h getting ready a year later to compete with her brother in the race. They’ve been training for 6 months. She wants to win back her dad’s love and respect (which she feels that she’s lost after the non finish race).
They don’t have the number her dad has always had because her ex childhood best friend took it for his boat, that he’s racing in with his cousin. A fight breaks out between the cousin and the h’s brother’s friend and as a result, the cousin and the friend are booted from the race. This leaves spots empty in boats and the h finds herself without her brother and the spot is filled by her ex best friend-the H.
The h begins the race like her dad was. Relentless and no room for any weakness. Each pit stop, her friend and the H’s friend look after them and force the h to slow down and think of her health and safety and that of the H. Little wins along the way help her to see that there are more things important than a relentless approach.
For a book told primarily on a boat on a race for miles and miles-it is done well. It was an entertaining and engaging read. We revisit the past when the h and the H were the best of friends. The H’s dad and h’s dad used to race together until one race that they fought and stopped being friends. This trickled down to the kids who stopped being friends too. Well, the h pulled away due to loyalty to her dad. The H’s dad seemed terrible to him as a kid and as an adult. No one ever seemed to challenge him on this, except for child h.
By the end of the book, he’s still an awful dad.
The book has a happy note race wise and the h and H are on track to rebonding-it’s left open ended where they will end up and what’s to happen in their future. One can hope it’s all good!
The writing flowed well and was easy to read.
The h was relatable and gutsy. I didn’t really connect with the H though. I think having his POV might have helped.
The supporting characters could have been fleshed out a little more and I would have loved an epilogue. Instead we got a HFN and who knows what the future holds.
The book opens with the h in a 265 mile boat race, similar to the Texas Water Safari, with her dad. She is 16. She admires her dad’s win at all costs attitude and has been raised on it. However, she’s almost spent and she’s scared (it’s night time) and she asks to quit. Her dad doesn’t acknowledge this. A short time later the boat hits a rock and she is hurt. Her dad gets her back in the boat, not knowing how badly she’s injured and she’s not volunteering that info. Her mum checks her out at the next check in and insists on taking her to the hospital and pulls the team from the race. The dad is devastated and the h feels like she let him down. His first non finish in 19 races. Her brother goes on to complete the race in his solo boat.
The next chapter has the h getting ready a year later to compete with her brother in the race. They’ve been training for 6 months. She wants to win back her dad’s love and respect (which she feels that she’s lost after the non finish race).
They don’t have the number her dad has always had because her ex childhood best friend took it for his boat, that he’s racing in with his cousin. A fight breaks out between the cousin and the h’s brother’s friend and as a result, the cousin and the friend are booted from the race. This leaves spots empty in boats and the h finds herself without her brother and the spot is filled by her ex best friend-the H.
The h begins the race like her dad was. Relentless and no room for any weakness. Each pit stop, her friend and the H’s friend look after them and force the h to slow down and think of her health and safety and that of the H. Little wins along the way help her to see that there are more things important than a relentless approach.
For a book told primarily on a boat on a race for miles and miles-it is done well. It was an entertaining and engaging read. We revisit the past when the h and the H were the best of friends. The H’s dad and h’s dad used to race together until one race that they fought and stopped being friends. This trickled down to the kids who stopped being friends too. Well, the h pulled away due to loyalty to her dad. The H’s dad seemed terrible to him as a kid and as an adult. No one ever seemed to challenge him on this, except for child h.
By the end of the book, he’s still an awful dad.
The book has a happy note race wise and the h and H are on track to rebonding-it’s left open ended where they will end up and what’s to happen in their future. One can hope it’s all good!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 1, 2021
I was so wrapped up in this book. I love watching adventure racing but even so, I wasn’t sure how the author could maintain interest over 265 miles of a canoe race. Not only did the challenges and triumphs of the actual race keep me on the edge of my seat - so many great details that made me feel like I was right in it - the relationships (romantic, friendships and family were equally compelling) that built so beautifully throughout the whole book made me stay up way too late reading this and I finished it in only a couple of days.
It was so much more than an adventure book or a romantic novel - I was truly invested in all the characters and had several moments that made me teary, which is not the norm for me while reading. Love, love, loved this book!!! I can’t believe it’s a debut novel.
It was so much more than an adventure book or a romantic novel - I was truly invested in all the characters and had several moments that made me teary, which is not the norm for me while reading. Love, love, loved this book!!! I can’t believe it’s a debut novel.
September 17, 2025
I read this book in 12 hours flat, and omg ot was so good! I loved every bit of it, and I will recommend it to my friends
Update: I read it again and I'm still in LOVE with this book.
update: holly green cooked when she wrote this. still love it
Update: I read it again and I'm still in LOVE with this book.
update: holly green cooked when she wrote this. still love it
March 2, 2021
I have done some endurance events myself, and the raw grit, determination, and questionable sanity in this book were spot on. Sadie is determined to prove herself to her father and brother by completing a multi-day canoe race. In the end, she gets much more out of it than she ever expected.
I especially loved the descriptions of several places I have visited, and the visceral descriptions of the Texas bugs. This book made me laugh, made me cringe, and made me learn what a gunnel is. Well done, Holly!
I especially loved the descriptions of several places I have visited, and the visceral descriptions of the Texas bugs. This book made me laugh, made me cringe, and made me learn what a gunnel is. Well done, Holly!
June 26, 2021
I ADORED this book. It's funny and heartfelt, action-packed and feminist, sporty and romantic. It's like if Sarah Dessen wrote the Hunger Games but it was set on a canoe in a grueling two-hundred+ mile race. I mean, don’t you want to read that book?? So so so good.
May 7, 2023
3 ⭐️
this book was a super cute quick read. the characters went through a lot of development and i really love how the author retold events through their perspectives (like the sadie bears incident). reading about sadie and cully's relationship during the race was super entertaining and it really helped me fly through the book. however, the actual race part of it wasn't really for me. I'm not into racing terminology and stuff but i think the author explained it all really well. plus the race felt super real. i also think the ending fell a little flat for me (at least in the tanner sense. how could he not even apologize after everything he did to her??), but the last page gives me a lot of hope for sadie and cully. it makes me kind of sad that they wasted sm time not speaking, and now he's going off to college and we'll never FULLY know what's going to happen between them- so that's kind of a let down. (unless there's another book coming 😏) was it the most memorable book ever, though? not really.
but as a first ever book this was good. I'm glad i read it and i liked reading about how sadie finally found her place in the family through the race and through so much more than that, too.
songs: lots of britney spears
this book was a super cute quick read. the characters went through a lot of development and i really love how the author retold events through their perspectives (like the sadie bears incident). reading about sadie and cully's relationship during the race was super entertaining and it really helped me fly through the book. however, the actual race part of it wasn't really for me. I'm not into racing terminology and stuff but i think the author explained it all really well. plus the race felt super real. i also think the ending fell a little flat for me (at least in the tanner sense. how could he not even apologize after everything he did to her??), but the last page gives me a lot of hope for sadie and cully. it makes me kind of sad that they wasted sm time not speaking, and now he's going off to college and we'll never FULLY know what's going to happen between them- so that's kind of a let down. (unless there's another book coming 😏) was it the most memorable book ever, though? not really.
but as a first ever book this was good. I'm glad i read it and i liked reading about how sadie finally found her place in the family through the race and through so much more than that, too.
songs: lots of britney spears
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 5, 2021
I loved journeying through Texas on a canoe with Sadie. Almost made me want to try it, but I think it would be hard to find a teammate as good and as cute as hers.
This story is so well crafted and fun, I can't wait to force all my friends to read it.
This story is so well crafted and fun, I can't wait to force all my friends to read it.
September 28, 2020
Fantastic story based on a real-life famous multi-day canoe race told with humor and grace. The characters are vivid and real, and the story will keep you hooked til the last page.
February 26, 2022
I picked In The Same Boat up because kayaking is one of my favorite outdoor activities, and upon recently purchasing my very own boat, I wanted to celebrate by reading a book featuring a kayaker. I haven’t found one yet, but In the Same Boat features a female canoeist and so I figured that would be close enough for me for now, especially since I sometimes canoe too. Plus I love racing stories and outdoor tales so this book checked those boxes too! Thankfully, despite not having high expectations for this book or knowing much about it, I ended up really enjoying it.
In the Same Boat follows a teenage girl named Sadie who lives in Texas. Each year her father and family friends compete in the Texas River Odyssey, a 265 mile canoe race down a river through to the Gulf of Mexico. It’s a grueling and highly competitive event. Her first year racing with her father, they end up having to quit before finishing because Sadie ends up getting injured. This changes her relationship with her father and he becomes a lot more distant towards her. Determined to prove herself, she decides to train hard with her brother for next year’s race. But unfortunately, at the last minute her brother backs out and she’s forced to canoe with her former best friend turned enemy, the good looking Cully. Complications arise, and as she races, she has to figure out what she’s willing to do to prove herself and how to get along with Cully.
I honestly feel like this was a great girl power book. It deals with how we often treat daughters differently than sons, and it is very apparent in how Sadie’s family treats her over her brother. Her brother is a jerk, her father is even worse, and her mom doesn’t really step in either. There is definitely a huge amount of sexism occuring, but it’s the more subtle kind. Sadie is very driven and determined at times and is a bit reckless in trying to win the race. At the beginning she is a bit intolerable and single minded. At one point she wants to keep canoeing even during a thunderstorm with lightning close by, which horrified my Wilderness First Responder trained self. She also treats Cully pretty poorly and it’s pretty clear she’s in the wrong about him.
However she grows throughout the novel and becomes a much more likable character as the story progresses. This character arc was very important and I loved seeing it. She doesn’t become weaker, she remains determined to win but she just becomes a bit kinder and realizes what’s truly important about the race. By the end of the book she is very likable and it was great rooting for her. Seeing her overcome obstacles and
The race itself was also so compelling to read about. The details really fleshed it out and it made me want to participate in it. This book was well written with a great description of what was happening and where. I really felt like I was riding along with Sadie and Cully as they traveled all those miles under the hot Texas sun on a mosquito infested raging river. The romance wasn’t bad either. I was more interested in seeing them reconnect as friends but there wasn’t any instalove or anything cheesy or distracting. As long as romance doesn’t detract from the story then I don’t mind it and this story it didn’t detract at all. The focus was still on the race the whole time and I appreciated it a lot. The ending wrapped up a bit quickly, but at the same time it was super satisfying. I love it when a-hole characters get humbled and proven wrong because of another character simply proving themselves to be the better person. It’s awesome.
Overall this was a solid debut novel and one I’m very pleased I picked up. I recommend this book to anyone outdoorsy, fans of racing or competition stories, readers who like their romance stories to have other elements to them, and people who like reading about adventurous girls.
In the Same Boat follows a teenage girl named Sadie who lives in Texas. Each year her father and family friends compete in the Texas River Odyssey, a 265 mile canoe race down a river through to the Gulf of Mexico. It’s a grueling and highly competitive event. Her first year racing with her father, they end up having to quit before finishing because Sadie ends up getting injured. This changes her relationship with her father and he becomes a lot more distant towards her. Determined to prove herself, she decides to train hard with her brother for next year’s race. But unfortunately, at the last minute her brother backs out and she’s forced to canoe with her former best friend turned enemy, the good looking Cully. Complications arise, and as she races, she has to figure out what she’s willing to do to prove herself and how to get along with Cully.
I honestly feel like this was a great girl power book. It deals with how we often treat daughters differently than sons, and it is very apparent in how Sadie’s family treats her over her brother. Her brother is a jerk, her father is even worse, and her mom doesn’t really step in either. There is definitely a huge amount of sexism occuring, but it’s the more subtle kind. Sadie is very driven and determined at times and is a bit reckless in trying to win the race. At the beginning she is a bit intolerable and single minded. At one point she wants to keep canoeing even during a thunderstorm with lightning close by, which horrified my Wilderness First Responder trained self. She also treats Cully pretty poorly and it’s pretty clear she’s in the wrong about him.
However she grows throughout the novel and becomes a much more likable character as the story progresses. This character arc was very important and I loved seeing it. She doesn’t become weaker, she remains determined to win but she just becomes a bit kinder and realizes what’s truly important about the race. By the end of the book she is very likable and it was great rooting for her. Seeing her overcome obstacles and
The race itself was also so compelling to read about. The details really fleshed it out and it made me want to participate in it. This book was well written with a great description of what was happening and where. I really felt like I was riding along with Sadie and Cully as they traveled all those miles under the hot Texas sun on a mosquito infested raging river. The romance wasn’t bad either. I was more interested in seeing them reconnect as friends but there wasn’t any instalove or anything cheesy or distracting. As long as romance doesn’t detract from the story then I don’t mind it and this story it didn’t detract at all. The focus was still on the race the whole time and I appreciated it a lot. The ending wrapped up a bit quickly, but at the same time it was super satisfying. I love it when a-hole characters get humbled and proven wrong because of another character simply proving themselves to be the better person. It’s awesome.
Overall this was a solid debut novel and one I’m very pleased I picked up. I recommend this book to anyone outdoorsy, fans of racing or competition stories, readers who like their romance stories to have other elements to them, and people who like reading about adventurous girls.
August 2, 2021
Sadie had something to prove. After DNFing the Texas River Odyssey the previous year, Sadie was determined to finish the race and mend her strained relationship with her father. When her brother bailed on her, she found herself needing a new partner. She never imagined her former best friend would volunteer for the job. What started out as a way to redeem herself, turned into a journey of healing and self-discovery.
I am awed and dumbfounded every time I read a book where the characters voluntarily put themselves through the wringer. The danger! The pain! And it’s supposed to be fun? Needless to say, you won’t find me volunteering for anything like this, but I was absolutely captivated as I took this 265 mile trip with Sadie and Cully.
FIVE THINGS I LOVED ABOUT THIS BOOK!
1. This was a thrilling journey! Seriously, I found myself engrossed in all the details and planning. It’s amazing what went into this adventure. And there were quite a few precarious moments along the way. My heart was pumping out of my chest a few times as I mimed rowing along with Cully and Sadie.
2. I loved learning about Cully and Sadie’s past. Green picked some really wonderful and meaningful moments from their history to share with us. They endeared themselves to me via those memories and made me root even harder for them to mend their friendship.
3. Green did a beautiful job using flashbacks to move the plot forward. Those glimpses of the past were utilized so well. I loved seeing the blanks slowly filled in as my understanding of what happened to destroy this friendship became clearer and clearer.
4. This was an emotional journey. Sadie was struggling with the shame of quitting the previous race. Being part of a River Odyssey kingdom was not easy. It pained me that she felt so much shame, and that a race put so much distance between her and her father. It was especially satisfying for me to see Sadie come to terms with that fallout while she also figured out a whole bunch of other important things about herself.
5. I found myself shipping this couple really early on. It was obvious they belonged to each other in a soulmate sort of way. The more I learned about them, the more I mourned the years they lost together. There was this part, where Cully tells Sadie, “I’m still holding on,” and I was shattered. The tears are flowing right now! It’s a reference to a moment from their past, and it was such a powerful line for me. There were many other beautiful moments between these two as they found forgiveness and a future together.
It was a pleasure cheering for Cully and Sadie. I was rooting for them to finish the race, to prove people wrong, and to find their way back to each other. And the tears just starting flowing when I read that last line. Loved it!
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
BLOG | INSTAGRAM |TWITTER | BLOGLOVIN | FRIEND ME ON GOODREADS
I am awed and dumbfounded every time I read a book where the characters voluntarily put themselves through the wringer. The danger! The pain! And it’s supposed to be fun? Needless to say, you won’t find me volunteering for anything like this, but I was absolutely captivated as I took this 265 mile trip with Sadie and Cully.
FIVE THINGS I LOVED ABOUT THIS BOOK!
1. This was a thrilling journey! Seriously, I found myself engrossed in all the details and planning. It’s amazing what went into this adventure. And there were quite a few precarious moments along the way. My heart was pumping out of my chest a few times as I mimed rowing along with Cully and Sadie.
2. I loved learning about Cully and Sadie’s past. Green picked some really wonderful and meaningful moments from their history to share with us. They endeared themselves to me via those memories and made me root even harder for them to mend their friendship.
3. Green did a beautiful job using flashbacks to move the plot forward. Those glimpses of the past were utilized so well. I loved seeing the blanks slowly filled in as my understanding of what happened to destroy this friendship became clearer and clearer.
4. This was an emotional journey. Sadie was struggling with the shame of quitting the previous race. Being part of a River Odyssey kingdom was not easy. It pained me that she felt so much shame, and that a race put so much distance between her and her father. It was especially satisfying for me to see Sadie come to terms with that fallout while she also figured out a whole bunch of other important things about herself.
5. I found myself shipping this couple really early on. It was obvious they belonged to each other in a soulmate sort of way. The more I learned about them, the more I mourned the years they lost together. There was this part, where Cully tells Sadie, “I’m still holding on,” and I was shattered. The tears are flowing right now! It’s a reference to a moment from their past, and it was such a powerful line for me. There were many other beautiful moments between these two as they found forgiveness and a future together.
It was a pleasure cheering for Cully and Sadie. I was rooting for them to finish the race, to prove people wrong, and to find their way back to each other. And the tears just starting flowing when I read that last line. Loved it!
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
BLOG | INSTAGRAM |TWITTER | BLOGLOVIN | FRIEND ME ON GOODREADS
January 10, 2022
I really enjoyed this book!! I have never heard of a 265 mile canoe race in Texas, and so I loved learning something new :)
January 8, 2022
Just spent the last 3.5 hours finishing this. It was so good! An epic canoe race, full of adventure while still being character driven, this book had it all. I think someone at the Winnipeg public library had rec’d this on a blog post and I am so glad they did! I needed a book like this right now.
July 31, 2021
It's a beast of a race: 260 miles through Texas riverways, navigating logjams and dams and rapids, alligators and dehydration, thunderstorms and exhaustion-induced hallucinations. Sadie has something to prove: she had to drop out of the race last year, breaking a multigenerational family tradition, and this year she wants to not just succeed but excel. But she also has an enormous wrench thrown in her plan: her brother, who has completed the race twice and with whom she has planned all year to compete, abandons her at the last minute for a different team. Sadie's out of the running—until her ex-best friend proposes they join forces.
I love a good outdoors-adventure story, and this is a fun one. Sadie knows what she's doing—she's been around boats all her life, and most of her family is hypercompetitive about this race—but she can't always control what happens. It's also nice to see Sadie's arc throughout: early on, she can only see one way to succeed (that is: push hard, don't rest, take no prisoners, stay laser-focussed on beating the competitors), but as time passes and exhaustion sets in and tempers fray, she has to learn that there's more than one way to succeed.
One thing I didn't love:
I love a good outdoors-adventure story, and this is a fun one. Sadie knows what she's doing—she's been around boats all her life, and most of her family is hypercompetitive about this race—but she can't always control what happens. It's also nice to see Sadie's arc throughout: early on, she can only see one way to succeed (that is: push hard, don't rest, take no prisoners, stay laser-focussed on beating the competitors), but as time passes and exhaustion sets in and tempers fray, she has to learn that there's more than one way to succeed.
One thing I didn't love:
June 23, 2021
I do so enjoy a good, lighthearted realistic YA novel with best friends falling in love, but with an enemies to lovers twist, and some really heartbreaking family drama. In The Same Boat ticks all those boxes, along with being a really epic story of strength, survival and athleticism. Let me just say I am never, ever getting in a canoe and paddling for 265 miles. Ever. I can’t even understand why someone would want to. Nope. But, I can appreciate a good story about a character who has the determination to do just that. And that’s exactly what In The Same Boat captures.
For Sadie, all her family members have finished the Texas River Odyssey. But when she and her dad partnered for her first race it was a disaster, with her being injured and her dad not finishing the race for the first time in 20 years. After a year of tension between them, Sadie knows finishing the Odyssey is the only way to fix her relationship with her dad. But when her brother abandons her to join another crew right at the last second, Sadie must partner with her ex-best friend or pull out altogether. 3 days, 2 nights in the same canoe as the boy who hates her in the toughest race of their lives. What could possibly go wrong?
Sadie is tough. Not just physically, because duh, but mentally. Sometimes a bit too rough. But after living with her father and brother, who can blame her. She learns a lot in her time in the canoe with John Cullen. She also learns more about why their friendship fell apart and the truth behind the relationship between their families.
This is a great book about adventure and survival and despite the mud, log jams, mosquitoes and tension between the two characters, it's a really enjoyable book.
I also want to say how much I love the cover. It perfectly captures the hard work and joy of this book. Also, Sadie is clearly carrying the heavy part of the canoe, which is exactly what happens in the story. Love it.
The publishers provided an advanced readers copy of this book for reviewing purposes. All opinions are my own.
Find more reviews, reading age guides, content advisory, and recommendations on my blog Madison's Library
For Sadie, all her family members have finished the Texas River Odyssey. But when she and her dad partnered for her first race it was a disaster, with her being injured and her dad not finishing the race for the first time in 20 years. After a year of tension between them, Sadie knows finishing the Odyssey is the only way to fix her relationship with her dad. But when her brother abandons her to join another crew right at the last second, Sadie must partner with her ex-best friend or pull out altogether. 3 days, 2 nights in the same canoe as the boy who hates her in the toughest race of their lives. What could possibly go wrong?
Sadie is tough. Not just physically, because duh, but mentally. Sometimes a bit too rough. But after living with her father and brother, who can blame her. She learns a lot in her time in the canoe with John Cullen. She also learns more about why their friendship fell apart and the truth behind the relationship between their families.
This is a great book about adventure and survival and despite the mud, log jams, mosquitoes and tension between the two characters, it's a really enjoyable book.
I also want to say how much I love the cover. It perfectly captures the hard work and joy of this book. Also, Sadie is clearly carrying the heavy part of the canoe, which is exactly what happens in the story. Love it.
The publishers provided an advanced readers copy of this book for reviewing purposes. All opinions are my own.
Find more reviews, reading age guides, content advisory, and recommendations on my blog Madison's Library
Want to read
September 17, 2020I had the privilege of listening to the author read a scene from this novel and it is the most I've ever laughed during a reading. I CANNOT WAIT to read the rest.
March 7, 2024
a cute book with writing that's easy to follow and characters you can root for 😄
so why 3 stars? Well, there's nothing wrong with this book, it's just that the race theme wasn't interesting to me and all the sport talk was sometimes boring to read about. It's completely personal preference, I can't even call it a "con."
I really liked Sadie, she was pretty determined and a hard-working person. Cully was the same, they both put a lot of effort into the race. Sadie even got carried away a bit, which is a part of her personality and she has lots of reasons for trying extra hard to win. During the course of the race, both Cully and Sadie grow a lot and learn more about each other even though they are childhood best friends turned enemies.
Their interactions were slightly repetitive at the beginning and only started to turn around after 60%. Actually, the whole story is repetitive. They are in a boat, paddling, avoiding branches and trees, paddling some more, arguing, paddling, etc. It gets a bit...mundane. Some people will enjoy reading about their routine, but I'm more of an action girly, so I got bored 😂
In the end, I still find this book to be quite enjoyable. It's got a different theme than most contemporaries and the characters were interesting as well. I wouldn't call this a romance novel because almost no "romantic scenes" happen at all. Also, I wish we got to learn more about side characters, especially Gonzo and Erica. I kinda wanted to see Tanner apologize as well...The book ended with some loose strings, at least for me 🤷♀️
so why 3 stars? Well, there's nothing wrong with this book, it's just that the race theme wasn't interesting to me and all the sport talk was sometimes boring to read about. It's completely personal preference, I can't even call it a "con."
I really liked Sadie, she was pretty determined and a hard-working person. Cully was the same, they both put a lot of effort into the race. Sadie even got carried away a bit, which is a part of her personality and she has lots of reasons for trying extra hard to win. During the course of the race, both Cully and Sadie grow a lot and learn more about each other even though they are childhood best friends turned enemies.
Their interactions were slightly repetitive at the beginning and only started to turn around after 60%. Actually, the whole story is repetitive. They are in a boat, paddling, avoiding branches and trees, paddling some more, arguing, paddling, etc. It gets a bit...mundane. Some people will enjoy reading about their routine, but I'm more of an action girly, so I got bored 😂
In the end, I still find this book to be quite enjoyable. It's got a different theme than most contemporaries and the characters were interesting as well. I wouldn't call this a romance novel because almost no "romantic scenes" happen at all. Also, I wish we got to learn more about side characters, especially Gonzo and Erica. I kinda wanted to see Tanner apologize as well...The book ended with some loose strings, at least for me 🤷♀️
January 19, 2022
I'm so happy I purchased this exciting book! I love sports and competitions and when authors make athletics an integral part of a plot, it adds to my enjoyment. This story is not only about a race, but it's also all about friendship, sacrifice, family, and forgiveness. Every evening I couldn't wait to get back to reading and continue the journey down the river with Sadie and Cully.
August 12, 2021
4.5
This type of book is what I love about YA. Subject matter I have never heard of/no knowledge of. But make it a super interesting adventure story. Include some family drama. An enemies to friends (and maybe more) storyline. A redemption arc. A big middle finger salute to some jackass side characters. This was just a really great surprise.
This type of book is what I love about YA. Subject matter I have never heard of/no knowledge of. But make it a super interesting adventure story. Include some family drama. An enemies to friends (and maybe more) storyline. A redemption arc. A big middle finger salute to some jackass side characters. This was just a really great surprise.
May 24, 2021
A heartwarming story with a poignant journey for the characters & the reader. It was a joy to read & cannot wait to see where the author takes us next!
May 23, 2021
Couldn’t put it down! A great read from cover to cover. My book club was raving about it.
April 14, 2021
Y’all, I gobbled this book up. In The Same Boat is an incredible canoeing adventure with emotional grit and a tough, badass female lead.
Sadie Scofield NEEDS to complete the hardcore 60-hour, no-sleep canoe challenge to prove her worth to her family, who have all proudly completed the Odyssey and wear their completion badges with pride. As Sadie and her partner Cully journey through the treacherous terrain of Texas rivers in the same long canoe, she reflects on and delves into unresolved tensions in her and Cully’s past.
The romantic element unfolds beautifully, in true enemies-to-lovers style. The writing is perfection, and there were so many moments when I felt the dangers of being on the dangerous Texas rivers at night (and in the day) grabbing me by the throat. Between crocodiles, venomous snakes, deadly rapids, dehydration, fire ants, and more, will Sadie and Cully manage to make it to the finish line? Or will issues from their past and constant bickering make completing the Odyssey impossible?
I am the least sporty person ever, but In The Same Boat made me actually want to embark on a grueling, mettle-testing canoe trip. Holly Green has crafted an awesome, gripping YA read that I highly recommend!
Sadie Scofield NEEDS to complete the hardcore 60-hour, no-sleep canoe challenge to prove her worth to her family, who have all proudly completed the Odyssey and wear their completion badges with pride. As Sadie and her partner Cully journey through the treacherous terrain of Texas rivers in the same long canoe, she reflects on and delves into unresolved tensions in her and Cully’s past.
The romantic element unfolds beautifully, in true enemies-to-lovers style. The writing is perfection, and there were so many moments when I felt the dangers of being on the dangerous Texas rivers at night (and in the day) grabbing me by the throat. Between crocodiles, venomous snakes, deadly rapids, dehydration, fire ants, and more, will Sadie and Cully manage to make it to the finish line? Or will issues from their past and constant bickering make completing the Odyssey impossible?
I am the least sporty person ever, but In The Same Boat made me actually want to embark on a grueling, mettle-testing canoe trip. Holly Green has crafted an awesome, gripping YA read that I highly recommend!
January 18, 2022
I was so irritated with the characters in the first third of this book because they were all so pig headed. Her father was so focused on his goal he lost sight of his daughter. Her brother was so focused on himself that he lost sight of integrity (although he was a horrible human and maybe never had any to begin with). She herself was so focused that she lost sight of the people around her. Her mother was the only person who could see outside of her own life and I wished she would smack the rest of them a few times in their pig headed heads.
Listen, I’ve done endurance events before and I know you have to get into your headspace and block out the desire to quit. But when you block out important people and spread a swath of damage behind you, you need to stop. Makes me thankful for my own dad who intentionally puts people before things.
Also, why does the only redheaded person have to have a fierce temper? Why do redheads get such a bad rap?
Then the book progressed and dealt with the wrecking-people-as-you-pursue-your-goal issue and I felt much better. It also kinda dealt with the redhead temper, but not really.
Listen, I’ve done endurance events before and I know you have to get into your headspace and block out the desire to quit. But when you block out important people and spread a swath of damage behind you, you need to stop. Makes me thankful for my own dad who intentionally puts people before things.
Also, why does the only redheaded person have to have a fierce temper? Why do redheads get such a bad rap?
Then the book progressed and dealt with the wrecking-people-as-you-pursue-your-goal issue and I felt much better. It also kinda dealt with the redhead temper, but not really.
August 12, 2021
As someone that has raced and finished the Texas Water Safari and been on the banks for years as my husband and friends raced I had to get this and check it out. I think it's technically classified as a teen book but since it was about the TWS and wanting to support the racing community I ordered it and have to say for teens or not, I enjoyed the read. I could feel my feet stuck in the mud and the dang alligator gar trying to knock you out of your boat. I finished it in two days staying up way later than I should have just to finish and I haven't done that in a long time. It's a great summer beach read. I'd be interested to see what those that have never heard of the Texas Water Safari think.
July 6, 2021
4 Stars!
*Thank you Edelweiss for providing a free e-arc in return for an honest opinion.
In the Same Boat is a debut novel about a fictionalized River Odyssey. The book follows seventeen-year-old Sadie Scofield as she sets out to prove to her family that she can complete the 265-mile boat race after getting severely injured the previous year and causing her and her dad to exit the race before the finish line. She has spent the previous year training for this year’s race and wants this moment more than anything else, but the day before the big race, her older brother ditches her for a different (and better) team leaving her all alone. Because she’s not quite 18 she’s not allowed to race alone, and her dad won’t race with her again after the embarrassment from the year before. So, she is left with paring up with Cully Hinks; her once childhood best-friend turned enemy. These once inseparable childhood friends now haven’t spoken to each other in over 6 years after the same race split the families apart. Both Sadie and Cully are desperate to show their families exactly what they are made of and both need a partner, so they decide to pair up for one wild, thrilling, and dangerous race.
This book is told from Sadie’s point of view and is told in first person narration. The reader follows not only her physical journey down the river, but we also uncover the emotional story behind her and Cully’s friendship breakup. There are flashbacks to when they were 11 and how they did everything together as friends. The book only being told from one point of view, instead of alternating points of view, seemed to work, but I was a bit worried about the single point of view when I first started reading it this since Sadie isn’t the most likable character towards the beginning of the book. I thought it was going to be hard to stay only in her mind during the book because although she is extremely determined, hardworking, and fierce, she also will do whatever it takes to win. But because of the character’s growth over the 265-mile race, the decision of keeping it with Sadie’s point of view paid off after you hit the 30% mark and the character growth starts to develop. It also kept Cully a bit of a mystery, so when the reader did finally learn something about him and his past it was more of a pleasant surprise.
Another risky decision was to have majority of the story take place in the same setting. Because the two characters were in a boat for majority of the story, the setting didn’t really get to change. However, the author did keep everything fresh with adding new hazards they would have to get through such as: alligators, canoes capsizing, running out of food and water, rowing in the pitch dark, fire ants, lack of sleep, treacherous storms and terrains, sickness, and plenty of other rough events the two of them had to get through together. Some of the things the duo had to get through did start to feel a little repetitive, (like getting sick, falling out of the boat, rookie mistakes at every stop) but it was quickly refocused on the flashbacks and the enemies to lovers romance that was starting to bloom, which shifted the pace back to a forward momentum.
Speaking of momentum, I couldn’t stop reading this book. It was extremely addicting, and I think young readers will love this story because it has romance, friendship, family drama, and a lot of adventure. The chapters were incredibly short, so it was easy to say, “just one more chapter…” but then 100 pages later, you realize you’re still reading. Young readers will have no issues reading this book. I saw somewhere that an age recommendation was for 14 or 15 and older, but I wouldn’t have any issues with my middle school kids (and students) reading this book.
It was easy to root for Sadie and Cully not only in the race, but also for their friendship to be rekindled. But be prepared to not like any of the other family characters. Majority of family members are pretty terrible people, which added to the overall story, but they are jerks. I wish we could have gotten to know the friends of Cully and Sadie a bit more because they seemed to add a cool layer to the story, but their scenes were so short that we really never got to know them. If you’re hoping for a large cast of likable characters, this might not be for you. But if you’re looking for a book that focuses on a light romance between TWO characters with some decent character growth, then you’ll absolutely love this book.
Like I said before, I surprised how quickly I flew through this book. I don’t know anything about canoeing or racing, but I still found myself wanting to know more about what happened between these families. The ending wraps up a little quick for my tastes, and I found the end of the race to be a little anti-climactic, to be honest. I don’t know what I was expecting, but the ending didn’t knock it out of the park for me. It wasn’t bad by any means, (it was still good) and I usually don’t mind a somewhat open ending to a book, but I think this one might have been better with an epilogue. There were quite a few plot holes (college plans, families maybe reconciling, etc.) and I think this could have been wrapped up a little more nicely with an epilogue 4-6 months down the road. But I’m also okay with allowing the readers to picture their own epilogue.
Overall, I thought this was a very strong debut novel, and I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it. I would continue to read more by this author, and I think younger readers would enjoy this book.
*Thank you Edelweiss for providing a free e-arc in return for an honest opinion.
In the Same Boat is a debut novel about a fictionalized River Odyssey. The book follows seventeen-year-old Sadie Scofield as she sets out to prove to her family that she can complete the 265-mile boat race after getting severely injured the previous year and causing her and her dad to exit the race before the finish line. She has spent the previous year training for this year’s race and wants this moment more than anything else, but the day before the big race, her older brother ditches her for a different (and better) team leaving her all alone. Because she’s not quite 18 she’s not allowed to race alone, and her dad won’t race with her again after the embarrassment from the year before. So, she is left with paring up with Cully Hinks; her once childhood best-friend turned enemy. These once inseparable childhood friends now haven’t spoken to each other in over 6 years after the same race split the families apart. Both Sadie and Cully are desperate to show their families exactly what they are made of and both need a partner, so they decide to pair up for one wild, thrilling, and dangerous race.
This book is told from Sadie’s point of view and is told in first person narration. The reader follows not only her physical journey down the river, but we also uncover the emotional story behind her and Cully’s friendship breakup. There are flashbacks to when they were 11 and how they did everything together as friends. The book only being told from one point of view, instead of alternating points of view, seemed to work, but I was a bit worried about the single point of view when I first started reading it this since Sadie isn’t the most likable character towards the beginning of the book. I thought it was going to be hard to stay only in her mind during the book because although she is extremely determined, hardworking, and fierce, she also will do whatever it takes to win. But because of the character’s growth over the 265-mile race, the decision of keeping it with Sadie’s point of view paid off after you hit the 30% mark and the character growth starts to develop. It also kept Cully a bit of a mystery, so when the reader did finally learn something about him and his past it was more of a pleasant surprise.
Another risky decision was to have majority of the story take place in the same setting. Because the two characters were in a boat for majority of the story, the setting didn’t really get to change. However, the author did keep everything fresh with adding new hazards they would have to get through such as: alligators, canoes capsizing, running out of food and water, rowing in the pitch dark, fire ants, lack of sleep, treacherous storms and terrains, sickness, and plenty of other rough events the two of them had to get through together. Some of the things the duo had to get through did start to feel a little repetitive, (like getting sick, falling out of the boat, rookie mistakes at every stop) but it was quickly refocused on the flashbacks and the enemies to lovers romance that was starting to bloom, which shifted the pace back to a forward momentum.
Speaking of momentum, I couldn’t stop reading this book. It was extremely addicting, and I think young readers will love this story because it has romance, friendship, family drama, and a lot of adventure. The chapters were incredibly short, so it was easy to say, “just one more chapter…” but then 100 pages later, you realize you’re still reading. Young readers will have no issues reading this book. I saw somewhere that an age recommendation was for 14 or 15 and older, but I wouldn’t have any issues with my middle school kids (and students) reading this book.
It was easy to root for Sadie and Cully not only in the race, but also for their friendship to be rekindled. But be prepared to not like any of the other family characters. Majority of family members are pretty terrible people, which added to the overall story, but they are jerks. I wish we could have gotten to know the friends of Cully and Sadie a bit more because they seemed to add a cool layer to the story, but their scenes were so short that we really never got to know them. If you’re hoping for a large cast of likable characters, this might not be for you. But if you’re looking for a book that focuses on a light romance between TWO characters with some decent character growth, then you’ll absolutely love this book.
Like I said before, I surprised how quickly I flew through this book. I don’t know anything about canoeing or racing, but I still found myself wanting to know more about what happened between these families. The ending wraps up a little quick for my tastes, and I found the end of the race to be a little anti-climactic, to be honest. I don’t know what I was expecting, but the ending didn’t knock it out of the park for me. It wasn’t bad by any means, (it was still good) and I usually don’t mind a somewhat open ending to a book, but I think this one might have been better with an epilogue. There were quite a few plot holes (college plans, families maybe reconciling, etc.) and I think this could have been wrapped up a little more nicely with an epilogue 4-6 months down the road. But I’m also okay with allowing the readers to picture their own epilogue.
Overall, I thought this was a very strong debut novel, and I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it. I would continue to read more by this author, and I think younger readers would enjoy this book.
July 30, 2021
Not going to lie, I thought it is going to be a lighthearted romcom. Its not. Its full of feelings and angst. It tugged on my heartstrings. I know like zero thing about canoe except we move them using paddles (lol sorry) but that didn't stop me to enjoy this book!
Its so wholesome and talked about a lot of things. Unsaid things. Earning forgiveness. The value of friendship. How to remind ourselves that there is always something more to live than achieving our goal. I love, love this story a lot for that... and all the delish angst :))
Its so wholesome and talked about a lot of things. Unsaid things. Earning forgiveness. The value of friendship. How to remind ourselves that there is always something more to live than achieving our goal. I love, love this story a lot for that... and all the delish angst :))
January 11, 2021
So so good! Utterly enjoyed it.
May 22, 2022
2.5 stars, rounded down
Unfortunately, my first summer read of the year was a bit of a letdown. I just got into canoeing (for fun, not competitively or anything like that) recently, and since this is about a 265 mile canoe race, I was interested in it. Add in an enemies to lovers, forced proximity romance on said canoe and I was even more excited about it.
However, I did not find the characters to be terribly likable. The main character Sadie was an absolute SNOT to Cully for most of the book. She was very bossy (granted she did have more experience canoeing but she could have told him what to do in a nicer manner) but then at the same time when he would come to her for guidance, she would get mad at him. The father was awful for most of the book (though he did redeem himself at the end), and the brother was worse (and also didn’t redeem himself).
I also found the book to require a pretty strong understanding of both canoes and canoe races. I’m new to canoes and know nothing about canoe racing, so I was fairly confused at points.
The romance was fairly lackluster and she seemed to change her mind about how horrible Cully was at the drop of a hat.
Unfortunately, my first summer read of the year was a bit of a letdown. I just got into canoeing (for fun, not competitively or anything like that) recently, and since this is about a 265 mile canoe race, I was interested in it. Add in an enemies to lovers, forced proximity romance on said canoe and I was even more excited about it.
However, I did not find the characters to be terribly likable. The main character Sadie was an absolute SNOT to Cully for most of the book. She was very bossy (granted she did have more experience canoeing but she could have told him what to do in a nicer manner) but then at the same time when he would come to her for guidance, she would get mad at him. The father was awful for most of the book (though he did redeem himself at the end), and the brother was worse (and also didn’t redeem himself).
I also found the book to require a pretty strong understanding of both canoes and canoe races. I’m new to canoes and know nothing about canoe racing, so I was fairly confused at points.
The romance was fairly lackluster and she seemed to change her mind about how horrible Cully was at the drop of a hat.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 25, 2021
If you're looking for a read to complement your Olympics watching, this may be it. The story features competitive canoeing, something I've never read about before. It may be a little over-focused on the race at its core, but the story offers lots of interesting details about canoeing and the canoeing community, which helps bring the setting to vivid life. Although a lot of unfamiliar terms are used in the novel, sometimes making it tough for me to picture exactly what was happening, I got the drift enough to become engaged in the story. It's got plenty of action, tension, and conflict to keep the reader burning through the pages. While I'm not a competitive person and really can't understand the kind of drive that would make people do things like run an exhausting, dangerous river race, Green created convincing motivations for the main characters so I got while they were all in. Sadie and Cully are both sympathetic and determined, which made me root for them, even though I didn't really love the former. All in all, though, I enjoyed this book. It's a quick, entertaining read that teaches some good lessons about friendship, family, being enough, and working to accomplish one's goals.
September 30, 2021
I don't usually gravitate towards YA nor stories with sports backdrops, but this story grabbed me anyway. I started it one morning and found myself finishing it that same evening; the pacing was excellent. Though the race was 265 miles along a river in Texas, the setting never really dragged, which is saying a lot. While I was never as popular in high school (esp. with dating) as the main character here, I found myself remembering certain aspects of that age that rang true, and I appreciated the details that really set the stage for this woman vs. herself/woman vs. nature story with a dose of romance. For those of us who aren't naturally interested in endurance events, I have to say this story helps explain their allure (and the challenges!) in a way I hadn't thought about before. There is also a lot of family drama (including drama between two families), which also rang true for me. LOL. I would recommend this book.
August 23, 2021
So...tough as nails heroine with something to prove? Childhood best friend turned enemy who she has to work with to accomplish her goal? Three day canoe race with the main rule being "don't get dead"? I was so in, and this book exceeded every expectation I had.
I don't think I can emphasize enough just how much I loved and adored this book. I've been a very moody reader this summer, picking things up and putting them back down after a few chapters or grimly gritting my way through something I wasn't loving just for the sake of seeing it through. But this book--what a gift. Every page was such a pleasure, and I kept wishing it was longer so it wouldn't have to end. I read it on my dock by the lake, and it was perfect, but I think it would be just as amazing in any other reading location as well.
The sense of setting is amazing. I truly felt like I was in this canoe paddling down the river. I had no idea that canoe adventure racing was even a thing, and now I feel like I know all about it and am equally in awe of it and terrified. I loved Sadie and the journey she went on in this book to understand what racing meant to her in the context of her place in her family, but also what it meant to her on her own. All the family relationships were so beautifully done and realistic, and the romance was so sweet and amazing. My only critique is that I wanted more! Holly, if you read this, we at least need a novella a year into the future! I would happily read another five books about this race.
I don't think I can emphasize enough just how much I loved and adored this book. I've been a very moody reader this summer, picking things up and putting them back down after a few chapters or grimly gritting my way through something I wasn't loving just for the sake of seeing it through. But this book--what a gift. Every page was such a pleasure, and I kept wishing it was longer so it wouldn't have to end. I read it on my dock by the lake, and it was perfect, but I think it would be just as amazing in any other reading location as well.
The sense of setting is amazing. I truly felt like I was in this canoe paddling down the river. I had no idea that canoe adventure racing was even a thing, and now I feel like I know all about it and am equally in awe of it and terrified. I loved Sadie and the journey she went on in this book to understand what racing meant to her in the context of her place in her family, but also what it meant to her on her own. All the family relationships were so beautifully done and realistic, and the romance was so sweet and amazing. My only critique is that I wanted more! Holly, if you read this, we at least need a novella a year into the future! I would happily read another five books about this race.
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