Adrift

A Novel

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Pub Date 09 May 2023 | Archive Date 13 May 2023
SOURCEBOOKS Landmark | Sourcebooks Landmark

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Description

The truth doesn't always set you free...

Ess wakes up alone on a sailboat in the remote Pacific Northwest with no memory of who she is or how she got there. She finds a note, but it's more warning than comfort: Start over. Don't make yourself known. Don't look back.

Ess must have answers. She sails over a turbulent ocean to a town hundreds of miles away that, she hopes, might offer insight. The chilling clues she uncovers point to a desperate attempt at erasing her former life. But why? And someone is watching her...someone who knows she must never learn her truth.

In Ess's world, the earth is precariously balanced at a climate tipping point, and she is perched at the edge of a choice: which life does she want? The one taken from her―and the dangerous secret that was buried―or the new one she can make for herself?

A galvanizing riddle that is just as unmooring as it seems, this sharp character-driven odyssey explores a future challenged by our quickly changing world and the choices we must make to save what matters most.

The truth doesn't always set you free...

Ess wakes up alone on a sailboat in the remote Pacific Northwest with no memory of who she is or how she got there. She finds a note, but it's more warning...


Advance Praise

"It's rare for a book to be a taut page-turning thriller and also be the kind of story that makes you think about the nature of self, but Lisa Brideau has managed to do just that. Full of apocalyptic tension, tempered by warm human connection, this is a book that will stay in my memory for life." ―Marissa Levien, author of The World Gives Way

"It's rare for a book to be a taut page-turning thriller and also be the kind of story that makes you think about the nature of self, but Lisa Brideau has managed to do just that. Full of apocalyptic...


Available Editions

EDITION Paperback
ISBN 9781728265681
PRICE $16.99 (USD)
PAGES 352

Available on NetGalley

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Average rating from 200 members


Featured Reviews

Thanks to NetGalley, Lisa Brideau, and the publisher for allowing me to read and review this debut author’s book.

As a thriller, it was strongly encompassing. It was different in that the story was set in the future and the main character’s role was markedly different from other novels. It is about knowing yourself and what is important to you as an individual. It combines mystery with emotional and seriously physical conflict and puts the heroine in some unbelievable situations. It’s a great read from this debut author.

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I was sent this ARC for review and I am so glad because I had a blast reading ADRIFT. I finished it over 2 days as I could not put it down. While it is a thriller, there does have a slight medical sci fi feel to it given that it takes place 2030/40s and the mystery surrounding the memory loss. The beginning kind of reminded me of another favorite Project Hail Mary as they both wake up with no memories. The stories definitely take a much different turn of course. I did enjoy reading the medical aspects of the novel as I also have a medical background. It was effortless to read and engaging. I would definitely read more from this author!

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Super cool premise! ESS (Sarah) Awakens on a boat, all alone with a note that advises her to move forward and not look back. She has a selective amnesia and cannot remember if Ess is her name, or where she is from or why she is on the boat, When she learns that other amnesia refugees are turning up, she decides to hide her knowledge until she learns more.
What transpires next is thrilling - especially adding in the stormy seas.
If you like a great thriller (somewhat speculative), a stormy adventure, or just ready for a questionable heroine to root for, then ADRIFT is for you! #Sourcbooks

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This realistic eco fiction made my week. It was sad and hopeful and I connected with our protagonist. She was so cool.
I absolutely loved the Sea Dragon. I love it when a home becomes a character in their own right.
Thank you so much for the ARC.

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A superb fast paced thriller. I absolutely loved the story and couldn’t stop reading it. It’s perfect for all readers, especially thriller lovers.

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This book was a page turner from beginning to end. A woman wakes up on a boat. She cannot remember anything about her life at all. She has a note with instructions. But. Who is she? Where did she come from? Is she in danger? And the pages keep turning in anticipation from there. Highly recommend. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

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This book was a great read. Solidly in the speculative thriller genre, leaning toward women’s fiction for less suspense than expected. But don’t get me wrong, it was enjoyable.

Sarah wakes up alone on a sailboat on the Pacific Coast and has no memory of anything that’s come before. She has to piece together her story, and decide whether knowing her past is more important than making a future.

I really liked getting to see how Ess figured life out as an amnesiac. How she saw what was important, how she made judgments, how she used the resources available to her, and how she approached personal relationships. Her first sailing excursion after she woke up had me terrified for her!

Solid read that made me a little worried about boat trips…

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Adrift is a compelling speculative thriller that reckons with the climate crisis in a deeply human way. The story follows Ess, who wakes up on a sailboat up the coast of British Columbia having lost her memory. As she fights to understand herself and her place in a Canada that is much changed by a climate-driven refugee crisis, we're pulled through a gutsy mystery about identity and the role it might plays in a post-apocalyptic future.

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I got this eARC from #NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.I saw this book mentioned in 2022 and put it on my TBR for my most wanted to read in 2023. It did not disappoint me one bit.It is a fast paced thriller. I loved the story and couldn’t stop reading it.Thank you for the chance to read it before the May 9,2023 publishing date.

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What a fantastic, action packed debut!! High praise to Brideau who has written a superb high stakes, edge of your seat cli fi thriller!

The story follows Ess, a woman who wakes on a boat with no memory. The only thing she has is a note telling her to not search for her previous life, ID in the name of Sarah Song and some cash. What follows, of course, is a story of Ess trying to figure out her past life and the dangers that lurk there! This story is also rooted in climate change disaster and climate refugees. There is non stop action combined with a whole load of mystery that prevented me from putting this book down!!

I LOVED the characters - Hito and Yori were just the best. The relationships that built between them and Ess were just fantastic and you really couldn't help but root for them.

I really hope this book gets all the attention it deserves! Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for my review arc.

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Wow! What a read. I loved that it was set in the near future. I was absolutely compelled by the story and could not put it down. Fantastic book, 5 stars!

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Speculative thrillers are where it's at!! I couldn't put this one down and thought it was a very strong debut novel. Not only was this a page-turning thriller, but I loved the way it managed to look at deeper topics of immigration, refugees and climate change with excellent characters. Thank you so much Sourcebooks Landmark for the ARC of this excellent novel!

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