Underwater by Marisa Reichardt

Underwater, source : Goodreads

Underwater

Author : Marisa Reichardt

Year Published : 2017

Language   : English

Pages : 282 (Kindl Edition)

Genre : Young Adult

***

On October fifteenth, everything changed. That was the day that Morgan tried to do something kind―and inadvertently played a role in a deadly tragedy.

Before, Morgan loved the beach and the smell of the ocean breeze. Before, Morgan competed on the school swim team and savored the rush she would get from being underwater.

Now, Morgan can’t move on. She is unable to even move beyond the front door of the apartment she shares with her mother and little brother. Morgan feels like she’s underwater, unable to surface. Unable to see her friends. Unable to go to school.

The only person she interacts with besides her family is Brenda, her psychologist. “Breathe,” Brenda tells her, but Morgan doesn’t feel like she can.

Before Morgan can step outside, she must find the courage to forgive--first someone who did something that might be unforgivable, and finally herself.

***

2019 almost ends but my reading list is still a long queue. Most likely, I won't meet my Read Target this year for 30 books a year. 

Since I did a lot of traveling last month, I'd prefer to read the Kindle Edition to kill time at the airport or flight. 

I encountered Underwater due to the recommendation of Amazon from my last purchase. Underwater is Young Adult genre that contemplating a story about a high school girl, Morgan. 

Morgan used to be a very active student, She was listed in the swimming team and won a medal. She has a normal teenage life, best friends and boyfriend, but that before October 15th. 

Now Morgan barely goes outside her Apartment. She chose to take online classes instead of going to school. She stays at the apartment for the whole day and only opens the door for her family and counselor twice a week.  

The World outside her apartment is no longer safe, from her perspective. She even no longer swimming, the one thing that she loves the most.

It has lasted for several months, and Morgan doing okay. She can manage her panic attack but suddenly she got a new neighbor. A beautiful boy with his shiny personality. He lives with her mother and attends the same school as Morgan's previous school.

Of course, that boy barged into Morgan's 'peaceful' life with his glowing personality. Slowly, Morgan changes her routines at the apartment. She eventually becomes attentive to the sight outside the window, or just hearing the thud sounds from the next door. 

But her personality is rusty. She is grumpy and reserved. She doesn't know or prepare how to meet other 'object' from the outside world. Sometimes, it means good when she needs to be brave and assertive. But is she ready enough?

What happened on October 15 is slowly revealed. The reason why Morgan no longer trusts her judgment and dare to challenge the world. Meanwhile, Evan (ah! I forgot to mention the shiny boy name) is closely related to that even, more than what Morgan knows. 

Just like any other Young Adult read like All the Bright Places or One of Us, Underwater is a psychology thriller conform to YA standard, easy to read without losing the feeling of sorrow. 

Morgan's character is understandable, her anger or sudden shut down due to the sorrow and loss in her feeling didn't make her hateful character. My bit concern is how fast all it solved and ended. It would be okay if the climax is prolonged like another 20 pages haha.

But for a debut novel, this book has it all. All character and links are sewed tightly, there is no loophole. Just like I said the only cons is too fast for me to finish it.