DNF

The writing is stilted. And it drags.
Nope. Not suffering through this. ( )

Tai and Ollie met when they were 13 years old, became best friends and were inseparable. After Ollie's mom died, when he was 18, they moved into a beach house, with Ollie's kid brother and two of their friends.



They struggled to make ends meet, but they were happy nonetheless. When Ollie got a chance to tour and compete with the best surfers in the world, he did his best to get in the circuit.

He decided to take his best friend/maker-of-best-handcrafted-surfboards with him. While on that trip, Ollie realized he wanted something more from Tai. It wasn't a dramatic, oh-shit-why-do-I-want-him realization, but it was kinda sudden. He saw Tai in a new light.



Given that - in my opinion - Ollie was asexual, or at least demi, he didn't feel comfortable with touching and crowds, and didn't let anyone close to him. Tai was different, he knew and understood his boundaries. So things happened on that trip, which complicated things when the tour was over, and they had to go back home.

I love when authors get so invested in a story, that they do a lot of research, so it can be accurate. And not just that but putting the feelings behind it too.

I honestly thought it would be harder to get used to the writing style, but for me it wasn't. The ending was a bit too convenient, too easy. But overall I loved this book.


Also, why do I find frotting so much hotter, than anything else? Rhetorical question, don't answer it! ;) ( )

Twenty-somethings Ollie, a champion surfer, and Kai, who shapes the boards on which Ollie competes, live on the edge of the ocean in Hawaii, mere steps from the surf. With their parents out of the picture, they have created their own family of sorts in the haven of the"Blue House." It is in this idyllic setting that their long friendship begins to become something more. Their hopes and insecurities are realistically explored, complicated by responsibilities for younger members of the house as well as the trials of dealing with an uncertain future. The ocean's presence is palpable and reading Into the Blue reminded me of why the ocean is such a magnet for so many. I love Pene's writing and her sensitive portrayal of a diverse cast of characters. ( )