I really enjoyed this! Alex was a fun character and the sailing aspect was all really interesting. Loved the setting too. I found it to be a very fast read for the first half or so, but then it felt a bit overlong in the middle... to me, it didn't need the romance aspect as well as the fantasy/merpeople one.

I have to start this review by saying that I REALLY want to tell you what happens in this story. I won't...because I don't do that, but this book really isn't what I was expecting at all. The blurb, doesn't lie, it is about a girl called Alex fininshing her last year of High School in a small Queensland country town. She does have trouble fittng in, she does buy a boat, and she does meet a boy...and then....a whole storyline I can't mention.


The descriptive language in this book was great. I could see the landscapes, and the 'action' scenes when Alex was sailing were great too. It was the 'voice' of Alex that was off for me, she seemed very young, and it makes me question who this book is written for? The main character Alex, is in her last year of High School, and for me that would normally mean the book is aimed at readers 14+, but his book seems to be written for a much younger audience, I would be OK with an 11-12 year old reading this book. There is some boy/girl love interest in the story, but it's very innocent (I think the characters kiss twice)


I didn't love this book, but I didn't hate it either...I think I just felt a bit tricked because I thought I was reading one thing and then it turned into a completely different book...for me anyway.


I would be very interested to see what other readers have to say.

This novel, fell a little flat for me, that being said, it will be popular with younger readers. The writing is fantastic as are the characters. There just was something missing for me with this one.

** spoiler alert ** Despite a slow start, I really enjoyed this book. I didn't expect it to have a fantasy element which is merpeople, a plot twist. The setting was a little sketched out, but it still gave a realistic feel and something familiar - home. I liked the characters even though I didn't feel that connected to them. The merpeople and history parts were what kept me reading. I also enjoyed the Little Mermaid influence in that a curse would fall on a human in love with a merperson.

While that drove much of the plot, the boat Indigo Blue and the MC Alex using her sailing skills played major roles as much as her forbidden romance did. I thought that was refreshing since I haven't read much books on boats and sailing in a contemporary setting much.

If you're looking for a contemporary with mermaids or merpeople, then I recommend Indigo Blue.

Jessica Watson is an Australian sailor, who, at just 16 years of age, completed a solo circumnavigation of the southern hemisphere; now Watson has added bestselling author to her already incredible resume. Indigo Blue is her first YA novel (the other being an autobiography), and features her first-class knowledge of sailing and boat matinence, as well as a combination of fascinating Australia history, magical realism, and romance.

Indigo Blue is a lovely novel that kept a smile on my face from start to finish. By far my favourite element of the book is the mystical storyline, which develops slowly and intrigingly. Indigo Blue comes across as a standard contemporary YA book: girl moves to a small town, meets a hot guy, falls for him, etc. - which is a story we are all very familiar with - but it most definitely is not. Indigo Blue is more like a magical realism book, but also filled with local folklore, Aussie history, and vivid descriptions of coastal Australia. 

Alex was a very plain protagonist, but for the most part I liked her. While I was quite shocked by Watson's choice to write this book in third person - and indeed maintain it would have been much better off in first person - there is much to love from Alex, namely her confidence, intelligence, and the strong head she has on her shoulders. There were a few occasions Alex dealt with sexism within the boating world, and you just know that that was inspired by situations Watson would have undoubtedly dealt with herself during her sailing career, and I was very impressed by Alex's response to it. 

I simply adored the budding relationship between Alex and Sam, the strange boy she meets when she moves to Boreen Point. At first, I thought their relationship would follow that terrible insta-love trope and was so happy when it didn't. Alex is intrigued by him a little too quickly and unrealistically in my opinion, but the development of their friendship was written to perfection, even as the reader can tell there is something more than friendship between them. I love the jokes between the two, how respectful Sam is of her friends, how he helps Alex with her boat ... just everything between them was simply wonderful. I really applaud Watson for her fantastic representation of a sweet and healthy young adult relationship. 

While I found the writing easy to read and thought it flowed naturally, I was a little put off by the use of first person. Although the novel isn't technically a contemporary, it still has those elements and it's not often you would come across a contemporary YA novel that utilises third person narrative. This meant that it was a little difficult for me to become invested in the novel during the early chapters, and in fact, it was only when Alex and Sam become close and she learns about his secret that I started properly enjoying the novel. Third persons narrative choice just felt awkward to me. However, this is very much a personal choice and those who don't mind genre conventions being played around with might not mind. 

All in all, I really enjoyed Indigo Blue. I thought it a lovely, refreshing Australian YA book that successfully combined history, sailing and magical realism, set in beautiful coastal Australia. I highly recommend this book if you're looking for a sweet and fascinating YA read that has a hint of romance.

An offer to help a shy classmate with a history assignment leads to a curious discovery and the beginnings of a friendship ... and his mysterious ways

Alex has just moved in with her eccentric aunt in small lakeside town, Boreen Point. Bracing herself for a lonely year, Alex spends her life savings on a rundown yacht. But the help to restore the boat from a new friend and an interesting history assignment at school leads Alex to learn more than she ever anticipated.

*Guys understand the glee when the book is set 45 minutes from my hometown!


This book was just so delightful and fantastical and lovely easy read. Indigo Blue is the debut YA novel from renowned young Australian sailor, Jessica Watson. Her experience in sailing and her love of the water and it's mysteries shine through in this story as you venture with Alex through the smaller coastal towns of Queensland, Australia.

I will freely admit up front that I am bias - this is so close to where I grew up that I couldn't help but be overwhelmingly joyous reading about places of nostalgic family trips.

I also loved the tidbits about local history thrown into the story. Make sure you read the notes Watson adds after the story which clarifies the history without the fictional input*. I can't help but adore when authors go to the effort to include details like this in their creations.

*Please note that I read this as an ARC + this may differ in the published work


The story was fun and nice and truly enjoyable. The plot, part contemporary and part fantastical, was well put together as a whole. The entire story WAS fairly predictable and there wasn't much guessing or wondering as the reader. However, I do fully appreciate a particular scene in which Alex becomes a tough, I-can-do-it-myself young woman when I was falling expecting a damsel in distress situation.

The story did lack depth in many areas though. The setting was set as a sleepy small Aussie town near the water. While there were historical elements inserted into the story that was key for the story's plot, the present day parts of the story lacked depth and complexity.

Side characters were also developed in a very minimal way. Alex's best friend has some of her own issues come up part way through the main plot, but even this seemed to have the barest attention. Even Sam, who becomes a main focus of the story, was developed little.

My thoughts on the MC? She was fine, likable, okay. But apart from a single scene (yes the same one mentioned above) I was never gunning for her or feeling sympathy or attached in the slightest.

I didn't feel any attachment to the characters - if they had been swallowed by the ocean I wouldn't have blinked an eye.

The ending didn't add anything for me either. It was nice but I mean I saw it coming from miles away. Like I'm standing on Mount Doom and the ending was in the tallest astrology tower at Hogwarts and I could still see it.

But there was something just super nice and enjoyable for me in this book. Maybe it was the simplicity worked. Maybe this is beginning of some really great books from Watson. I will definitely check out any more upcoming YA from the young sailor.

If you have a quiet vacation booked or a weekend free for the hammock or even (most definitely) some sort of water-based activity in the near future* I do recommend you pick this up for a delightful little read.

Indigo blue is the fiction debut from renown Australian sailor, Jessica Watson. Along with her excellent knowledge of sailing, Jessica brings to this fun and quirky story an obvious familiarity with the landscape and history of the coastal setting. Indigo Blue seamlessly combines sailing, friendship, and romance with magical realism.

When Alex is forced to move to the tiny coastal town of Boreen Point when her father moves oversea, she expects boredom. But an old sailing boat in need of repair and new school friendships quickly fill her time. And then there is the mysterious sail-repair apprentice, Sam. As Alex discovers a piece of local history she also begins to untangle the mystery that surrounds Sam and what makes him so different.

Indigo Blue reads like a contemporary novel, but as events unfold there is no doubt it fits into the magical realism genre. As someone who is very familiar with the setting of this novel, it was fun to compare the descriptions to the real thing. I believe Jessica Watson did a fantastic job of conveying the beauty of the landscape, the treachery of the water in some areas, and the history of the area.

Alex is a simple character, but highly relatable. Her love of sailing, the ocean, and being outdoors is refreshing, as is her self-confidence. While not overt, she is comfortable in her skin and her choices. Her friendship with Sam feels so natural and the pleasure she takes from repairing Indigo Blue, her boat, gives this book a peaceful feeling. But all is not smooth sailing (sorry, couldn't help adding that pun), as Alex pushes her sailing abilities and wrestles with the discovery she makes about Sam.

As the fantastical features of this novel became clear, my interest and enjoyment of the story increased. While at first I was shocked and a little skeptical, the magical aspects of this book really work, adding to the creativity and action of the story. I won't give any spoilers here about what Sam's big secret is, but if you really want to know scroll to the themes listed in my blog review for more details. The explanations and descriptions of the magical elements in the book make sense, balancing magic with science and even history. The sweet romance is interwoven with the themes of friendship and magic and is handled delicately.

My favourite part of this novel were the descriptions of the landscape, the ocean, sailing and coastal lifestyle, deftly woven into the story. The writing is evocative and refreshing, bringing to life the story and characters.

I enjoyed reading this novel. Jessica Watson has done a fantastic job of researching this novel and mixing reality with fantasy, adventure and history, friendship and a touch of romance.

The publishers provided an advanced readers copy of this book for reviewing purposes. All opinions are my own.