“Float” follows 17-year-old Waverly, who has just been shipped to Florida from Alaska to stay with her aunt — a result of her parent’s indecision over who she should spend the summer with. When Waverly first arrives, she meets Blake, the attractive boy next door. He graciously takes her under his wing by introducing her to his friends and teaching her how to swim. As the summer unfolds, she spends her days working at the local bookstore, having an ongoing battle with the ocean and drooling over Blake. Waverly comes to realize that she doesn’t want her summer, or her new life, to end.

The premise is a bit juvenile, but aren’t all young adult novels? To be blunt, yes, but this one lacks nuance. In “Float,” the titular plot inconsistency, which the story is supposed to revolve around, left a bad impression on me. Blake volunteers to teach Waverly how to swim, but she only needs two lessons. I’m only assuming because, on the page, that’s all we see. Similarly, Waverly lies to her new friends about not being able to swim. She’s 17 and it could be seen as embarrassing — I get that. In the end, her lies have no real consequences; her friendships remain intact even though she cannot swim. But the senseless nature of the story is what got to me. Waverly and Blake’s romantic endeavors (or lack thereof) aren’t satisfying, and the sole reason Waverly likes Blake is that he is conventionally attractive, or in Wattpad Books terms, “built like a Greek god.” Otherwise, he is often rude to Waverly for no reason — he has his own issues — and he treats her like a child during their swim lessons. Not to mention, Waverly herself is a one-dimensional character because her excessive self-deprecation leaves little room for any character growth. She doesn’t learn anything at the end of the story, which again, left me unsatisfied.

I read “Float” when it was originally on Wattpad and loved it, so it was very nostalgic to re-read. I’ll re-read other books I loved when I was younger and most of them still hold up, in part because nostalgia makes me love them even more. My favorite contemporary young adult novels go past the superficial and dive into the real angst that comes with being a teenager. “Float” just wades into the superficial. Sure, it explores themes of friendship and found family, but with very minimal emotional impact. I guess time or being traditionally published didn’t improve the story.

Thank you to #NetGalley, Kate Marchant, and the publisher for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Waverly has never felt like she fits at home especially now as her parents are divorcing, so she heads off to Florida to spend time with her aunt. Going from icy cold Alaska to Florida isn't exactly Waverly's idea of fun but as she makes friends she learns to adjust.
Soon, next door neighbor Blake enters and Waverly realizes Florida may not be so bad! Soon she's making friends and may even get a boyfriend. Two things that Waverly has never had before.

I thought this was a great YA and will definitely recommend it to others! I liked the realness of all the characters and definitely think it presented the characters with real issues that teens face today.

This was a bit of a classic fish out of water/new girl read. Nothing was wrong per se but it also didn't necessarily feel very unique. I do love the cover and the characters weren't bad. It also read very quick. Just nothing earth shattering or very memorable. You may have better luck!

Float comes out next week on February 22, 2022 and you can purchase HERE.

Blake's hands shot off of me like he'd been burned, and he spun on his heels and grabbed the front end of his surfboard. I watched his back muscles go tense, and knew I'd lost him. Whatever he'd been about to say--or do-- was forgotten.

And I was going to die having never kissed a boy.

this was such a great book! I’m usually not a fan of YA but there was something about the blurb which caught my eye and I decided to give it a go and I’m so glad I did!!!

Kate surely knows how to write characters! I loved how relatable they were and how I could feel their emotions which points to the amazing writing. I love how this wasn’t just a feel-good summer romance but rather it showed depth too!

I can’t wait to read more by the author cause I loved this one<33

If I had to describe this book in one word, it would be…Heartwarming.

This book is one of only a few YA books I’ve read and its been by far one of the best ones, if not the one. We have a summer love in a small town along the coast.This book reminded me of my childhood summers growing up on an island. I didn’t even realize missing it until I read this book. I loved it, such a fast read, heartwarming, we get great friendships and family. I just simply want to take this book and recommend it to all my cousin’s that live on the island I grew up in.

I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher, via NetGalley. This in no way impacted on my view.

After discovering that her divorced parents have decided she won't be joining either of them on their research trips, Waverly Lyons finds herself in Holden, Florida for the summer. It's a very different experience to her usual life in Alaska, and that's not just the weather. With an aunt who is truly welcoming, and making friends for the first time ever, Waverly might just have the perfect summer. However, the hot next door neighbour, Blake, seems to dislike her, and the fact she can't swim either, is set to put a spanner in the works. When the sparks start to fly, will Waverly be able to keep afloat?

I was really pleasantly surprised by this book. I thought it would be a cutesy summer romance - and it was - but there was substance there, and I really liked the characters. I started off feeling really sorry for Waverly, who's super smart parents were a mess, and she was always held up to higher standards and expectations, doomed to disappoint, and when she saw how loving and welcoming her aunt was, it nearly made me cry. Okay, yes, she was stupid to go into the ocean when she couldn't swim, worried that her new friends wouldn't like her, but I can sort of understand it. She really grew over the course of the book, and definitely for the better. The secondary characters, from Blake, to Alissa, Lena, and Jesse, all had faults, but that made them real, and seemed true to today's teens. A really fantastic debut!

This was a cute read about a girl with divorced parents who moves from Alaska to Florida for the summer where she meets a hot guy and falls for him but realizes that summer is ending. I love cute summer romance reads and this one didn't disappoint. It would have been so much better if it was released in the summer because it's perfect for the season. The pacing was fast and the storyline was greatly written.

Waverly is the main character of the book and I enjoyed her character development. She was stuck between her parent's divorce and moving is hard, especially from a cold place to a very hot area. Seeing her development and fall in love with things she didn't expect was nice to see. Blake is the boy next door who has family issues but I fell in love with him instantly. There are many side characters involved with the book like Waverly's aunt and Alissa. This book had great themes of friendship and also love. The romance was cute with the whole boy next door trope and it's one of those romances where you will have a fuzzy feeling in your stomach.

I do have to say that the ending was a little too quick and could have ended off slower so it was more subtle. Overall this was such an amazing read as it just reminds you of a summer vacation you kind of want to have. This was a well written book with a minor problem but it was still an enjoyable read. I totally recommend reading this book if you love romances that take place close to the beach. Plus this book is turning into a movie so read it before watching it!

I enjoyed this book and the story generally. The characters were well developed and the plot was realistic for the most part, although the summer romance was certainly accelerated. I did find it a little ridiculous that Waverley would show up in Florida without any clothing suitable for the weather, but maybe that's how the teen mind works. My teen would never do that, as she researches the weather before we go anywhere. I also cringed a number of times at the risk that they took like bringing a baby to a party and then driving home with the same toddler basically sitting in a lap. If you can look past some of those things which are probably (again) consistent with how some teens think, then it's an enjoyable read for sure. And there really isn't insta-love which is nice, because the "I loved him from the minute I saw him" makes me cringe.

The secondary characters are fleshed out well enough too. I felt like this was close to a Sarah Dessen in terms of the small town, new girl, etc. feel. But the writing didn't quite have the same emotional kick. I am excited to see the movie based on the book, and I'm trying to figure out if Robbie Amell is cast as Blake and, if so, how he'll pull off being a teenager again. I know, movie magic, but he's in his 30s now which is a fair bit older than when he was in DUFF. Very glad I read the book though, before seeing anything to do with the movie.

Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a lovely YA novel, and that is what you need to know before reading it. Some people still have the NEED to read books that might not be the right choice for them, and if YA romances are not the kind of books of your taste, well I don't think that this book will change your mind but if that is your kind of book you are going to get addicted to this novel.

Excited to see how this is going to be adapted to a film, and see the changes, like the age, that might even help the story (especially if you are over teens dumb decisions.)

Float is a sweet summer romance that drew me in from the start. This book was full of humor and a cute love story. I think this story will appeal to younger readers

I remember waiting for new chapters of Float to release on Wattpad and desperately holding my breath waiting to read what would happen next. As a fan of Marchant’s story in its Wattpad days, I feel lucky to be able to read the published version of this book in its entirety.

Float is the story of 17-year-old Waverly, whose divorced, academic, parents have shipped her off to Holden, Florida to spend most of the summer with her artsy aunt, Rachel. While in Holden, Waverly learns how to stay afloat, literally and figuratively, and about the value of friendship and family.

Like before, my experience reading Float was overall positive. I felt like I could see the setting. There were lots of great visual details! The dialogue was engaging and well done and the plot was very sweet. I felt like Holden’s cast of characters extended beyond the pages. They lived and breathed before the story began and after it ended. However, I found myself questioning Waverly’s life before and whether or not it was overall realistic to me. Her life preceding the first words of the book fell a bit flat for me, personally. But, nevertheless, I enjoyed the relationships she formed with her aunt, her new friends, and Blake, specifically. Waverly’s story seemed to begin on page 1 and continue after the final words of the book.

Blake’s own story, learning to trust his stepmom, Chloe, was a great addition to Waverly’s own plotline. I thought Blake seemed real, and when he breaks down, I admired the emotional vulnerability that Marchant wrote for him. I also really enjoyed the other characters and Waverly’s eventual friends; Lena, Jesse, and Alissa. Waverly’s aunt Rachel was also a positive character for me. She teaches Waverly about family, love, and acceptance.

My one major complaint with this book was the pacing. The time frame of the novel is about a month, 28 days specifically, and this means that the events within the novel must occur rather quickly. As a result of this time frame, Waverly’s story, and her budding relationship with Blake, feel rushed. I feel like the story would have developed more naturally over the span of a whole summer, maybe a 3-month timeline from June to August, allowing Waverly more time to get to know Blake and her friends. I also would have liked to see more of the swimming lessons! I thought that piece of the plot was absolutely adorable.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book! I finished it pretty fast because I was just hooked on the storyline. I would give it a rating of 3.75 stars! This would be a great book for younger, maybe high-school-age readers in the YA demographic. It’s also a perfect summertime read!

Thank you to Wattpad Books for sending the digital ARC through Netgalley for an honest review!

I loved the Sarah Dessen vacation/ coming of age vibes in this. I thought the characters were really interesting and I loved how they seemed to act like teens in this. I thought the romance was a sweet, slow burn and it kept me interested. I thought the end seemed a tad rushed, especially with the character's parents and compared to the pace of the rest of the book. I still binged this one in a day and would recommend to YA romance readers.

This is a beautiful middle grade/YA tale about fitting in and finding your people - it follows the protagonist from one part of the US to another, which may as well be another planet. The story explores a teenage summer, with intense friendships and first romances and big secrets. It is well written and had me in tears at the end, which to me is the sign of a good book!

First of all, thank you to Netgalley for gifting me this book in exchange for an honest review!

This story commences in typical YA fashion. An “uncool” girl from Alaska is sent off to stay with her aunt in the polar-opposite state of Florida. The dramatic shift in climate inspires our protagonist Waverly to live a new life and identity.

It’s not long until we meet one of the neighbours sons’ Blake, who Waverly figures is the most “beautiful boy she’s ever seen in real life.” The story begins to pan out as typically as you would expect.

Blake teaches Waverly how to swim, there’s a dramatic Summer love story, and pretty much you’re watching a boulder roll down a hill for the rest. You know all that’s going to happen.

Now don’t let my review scare you away! This book would have been exactly what 13 year old me wanted — this book actually had it’s starting life on Wattpad, by an author who was 15 at the time. I think it’s amazing that the website is supporting its authors like this, as for the most part this book shows that it’s author is a talented writer. I just wish the story had more to it for folks like me (late twenties!) that picked it up for review. It is a bit one-dimensional, but I will be buying my baby sister a copy when this book hits the shelves as it’s a great little Summer story for teenagers.

Float is sweet and simple. As someone who doesn't actively read young-adult anymore, this was just enough to pass the time with. The writing was adequate, I didn't necessarily have the biggest expectations. The characterizations and pacing were what one would typically expect from young-adult. If I were younger and still in my Sarah Dessen phase, I would've likely adored this.

Sent to spend the summer with her aunt in Florida, seventeen-year-old Waverly is in for a rude awakening. She's from Alaska and doesn't know how to swim. The recipe for a perfect summer.

That is, until her next door neighbor Blake introduces her to his world. Suddenly, she has a life she never had in Alaska filled with friends, a part-time job, and a potential new boyfriend? When Blake offers to teach her how to swim, they form a quick friendship that slowly turns into more. As her time in Florida comes to an end, so does her hope for any future that comes close to how she feels in Florida.

It's obvious this is a reformed Wattpad story: the writing, the plot, the cliches. It was a quick, easy, and enjoyable read, but it was hard to take seriously.

Float focuses on a girl who moves to cross-country to live with her Aunt for the summer. The town, like most stereotypical American towns written in YA, focuses on surfing, and swimming. The main character, however, cannot swim and begins to have lessons from a broody neighbour. If you don't know what happens from my summary, I worry for you.

From the get-go I felt like the main character is a very generalised stereotype of the YA female character. Don't ask me how or why, MC is just giving me that vibe.

The writing is mediocre, the characters even more-so. The plot, at surface value, is good, but it doesn't go any deeper. This book does give me The Summer I Turned Pretty, and Love Lucas vibes so if you enjoyed those books, you'll probably enjoy this too.

Frankly, I didn't finish this book. I only got a third of the way through, if that. However, 14-year-old me would have loved this, and so will a lot of younger readers so don't let my cynicism put you off.

Rated: 1.5 stars

Thank you to netgallery for allowing me to read this book, in exchange for a very bluntly honest review

Thank you to Wattpad Books + NetGalley for giving me an ARC for Float!

This was a trip of nostalgia for me as a former user of Wattpad in the early 2010s. The writing throughout the novel still keeps that original charm of self-published young adult contemporary while being much more polished. I can't even imagine how excited Kate Marchant must be to finally have a copy of all her hard work in her hands after so long!

Based in a small beach front town in Florida, Float is your typical summer young adult contemporary romance. The charm of the main character Waverly is that she does not know how to swim which proves rather troublesome considering the plot of the novel! The slight elements of grumpy vs. sunshine with Blake and Waverly made my heart sing and when they finally had that magical moment? It felt like the build up paid off perfectly.

Though the plot could be cheesy at times, it was still majorly enjoyable. Float is one of those books written to feel like you'd read it in one sitting during a day at the beach or camping. The flow of how Kate writes is easy to follow and easy to digest so you're not finding yourself accidentally rereading a line multiple times. I found this extremely enjoyable as someone who often struggles with that issue during reads of denser, prose-heavy books (such as fantasy).

Overall, I'm giving Float a solid 4/5 stars. Very enjoyable and nostalgic while still feeling like a fresh novel in my mind with its new polished state. Highly recommend if anyone is looking for a light, fluffy read to be devoured in one sitting or a short period of time.

I was pleasantly surprised by this book. If I'm being honest, I don't have the highest of expectations when I pick up a published Wattpad book. That isn't to say that Wattpad books are inherently bad, but they usually include a style of writing that separates them for me. This book, however, was great. I loved the writing style and the characters. It had a stereotypical plot, but I still thought it was done well, and I loved all the different relationships, friendships, and families shown in it. I also thought the main relationship was very cute. This got me very excited for the upcoming movie adaptation! This is a super easy, quick, and cute summery read.

**Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC copy**

I'm not usually one to pick up a sugary YA novel but this one spoke to me initially due to the pretty cover. I was so pleasantly surprised by how engrossed I became in this story. I was taken back to my own late-teens and experienced every embarrassing and heartbreaking moment - as well as every excitement and anticipation - from that viewpoint. The character development was great and I felt like I really got to know the main characters very well. The only thing that I would have changed was the very, very ending. It felt like one big, long build up only to have a very short ending, ultimately. Nevertheless, I would recommend this to teens and adults alike as a fun read!