I actually really loved this book. I loved Ess, even though the name was silly. She was bad ass, powerful and loyal. I loved the banter between Hito and Yori, it reminded me of actual siblings rivalry.

I didn't realize this book was written in the future "2038" so not too far up but so many differences. I liked reading about the other parts of the world and what was going on there, I loved that I didn't get any background news either. So I didn't even realize I was reading about the future until about 25% into the book.

I really loved Ess, and really enjoyed watching her grow, into a better version of herself. I really loved this book

3.5 stars!

There was wayyyy too much content about sailing and not enough thrilling or mysterious elements. I did think it had an extremely strong ending, but the process to get there was slow and monotonous.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review

Waking up on a boat with absolutely no memory of how you got there is pretty terrifying. That’s exactly what happens to our main character Ess. She knows about sailing and she has money. But she has no idea why.
The mystery was intriguing and I wanted to keep reading to find out exactly how Ess ended up on the boat.
The climate change aspect of the book was an interesting addition and solidified the point of how our actions have consequences. Parts were kind of slow and dragged a bit and the book overall was just ok.

Imagine awaking on a sailboat with no clue who you are, where you are or how you got there. That's exactly what happens to our protagonist, Ess.

Overall the story is interesting but I don't know that I would call it a thriller. It takes place in the not so far off future (of 2039) and real world problems are some of its key focal points (immigration, refugees and climate control.)

Ess is determined to figure out who she is and just how she ended up on this boat. She is also be followed...who are they and why on earth is she worth being followed? Sometimes it's simply safer to not know the truth. Ultimately Ess will need to decide if knowing is truly worth it or if she should just take advantage of a second chance.

As always thanks to the publisher and netgalley for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publishing house and the author for the opportunity to read a complimentary copy of this book in return for a review based uon my honest opinion.

Our main character wakes up adrift in a boat with no knowledge of who she is; she finds id and notes that tell her who she is and that she must stay hidden and stay safe. Sarah the ID says, she doesn;t feel like a Sarah and decides to go by the name, Ess. As we follow Ess on her discovery of who she is and what has happened to her, there are some twists and turns and she wonders who she can rely on, if anyone. I don't know if I loved the overall storyline, but I really enjoyed Ess' and her journey.

This story caught me right away and kept me involved through Ess’s search for answers to her amnesia and her past and to her acceptance. Set in a not faraway future, it was still basically the present with some modifications and changes. It was suspenseful, and smart. Look forward to more from this author.

Unfortunately a DNF for me, I got about 40% in and wasn't interested in what was going to happen next. There wasn't enough suspense build up for me to keep reading. Would recommend if you're into near-future books that are a little thrillery but this wasn't for me.

I would classify this as a psychological mystery/suspense. I loved the amnesia mystery- when Ess wakes up on a sailboat with no clue who she is or how she got there- with only a note that tells her not to ask any questions or her life would be at risk.

I think the explanation as to why there were amnesiacs could have been a little more developed- at the end of the book I still had questions.

This was such a unique book. I loved the side characters. Ess’ friendship with Yuri was cute and entertaining. It seemed that there would have been more of a romantic element with Hito, but that clearly wasn’t the focus of the book.

This would be a great mini-series.

I really wanted to love this book. With such a cool premise, and a focus on the effects of climate change, it definitely seemed like my type of read. While there was lots of potential, I felt like Adrift was missing a few pieces that kept me from really enjoying it.

There is no doubt that Lisa Brideau is a talented writer. Adrift was well written, had an opening scene that absolutely grabbed me, and the inclusion of a not-so-distant future stricken by climate change was moving and thought-provoking. Unfortunately, the plot really dragged and it took me several attempts to finish the book. Until the last few chapters it felt like nothing was happening. Had I been interested in the characters, I might have felt more compelled to continue, but they all felt very flat to me. Perhaps part of the problem was that I was expecting more of a thriller, but I would say this read more like a drama.

Although this wasn’t a favourite of mine I’d love to give Lisa Brideau’s writing another try, especially if she continues to write climate fiction.

Thank you so much to Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for providing me with a complementary copy in exchange for an honest review.

Such a fun thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat. A one night read, Thank you to the publisher for the ARC.

DNF
Made it to about 50% and just could not finish this. I started to feel myself not caring the more and more i read. the story felt so dry and dull to me. The writing was easy to follow, however, I did not care about Ess or the story at all.

This was so well written. I was engrossed from the first page and it ticked all the boxes of my expectations. The character development was excellent. I would definitely recommend to others, a must read!

If you are looking for a book that operates in the gray area and isn’t strictly black and white then give Adrift a chance. I would classify this book as a physiological mystery and if you liked the book The Last Thing He Told Me than this book is definitely right up your alley.

Ess wakes up on a boat with no recollection of who she is and how she got here and all she has to go on is a note. What seems like a simple case of amnesia turns into something almost sinister when more strange consequences arise. With the help of new people and a mysterious shadow, Ess searches for answers but she begins to wonder if finding them is worth the hassle.



Thank you @bookmarked and @netgalley for this eARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

“Even if you know the odds are astronomically against you, when everything else is dark, a tiny spark of hope has immense power.”

"This is the only way out alive. Start over. Don’t make yourself known. Don’t look back.....You want answers, but this has been done to keep you from them."

"The old ways weren’t working anymore, but people were desperate to stick to what had once made them prosperous and they stubbornly refused to adapt. Refused to change."

"Something had snapped. She felt detached. Rudderless. Entirely adrift."

Blurb: 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?

My thoughts: You guys, this one we intriguing, and I couldn't put it down because I had the "what the heck is happening??" vibe! I loved the setting (freaking love all things boats!) The storyline, the plot and the characters. The ending was pretty predictable and wrapped up with a bow, and I think with this type of story it could've been more drastic (CLIMATE CHANGE KILLS EVERYONE!! THE END!) but it was still good! You guys should pick this one up!

This is such a unique and thought provoking concept! The book started off a little slow for me but it really picked up about halfway through, and I loved how it ended.

Waking up on a boat, unsure of her surroundings, "Sarah" finds a note telling her not to look for her past. Sarah has no memories. She can still function and knows how to do things, she just has no memories of who she is. She's got a sailboat, identification, and a bank account in a foreign country. How would you react to that type of news? You don't know if you have family, a job, a partner, or even your true name. Sarah is determined to find out anything she can about herself, despite the warning note.

This book was very thought provoking. It's impossible to think how you would feel at having no memories at all. It started off slowly, but built up into an amazing, beautiful story of human connection. There is a bit of suspense too and obviously Sarah doesn't know that she can trust anyone. I really enjoyed the story once it picked up a bit.

This was such a unique and interesting book. I felt it was more of a slow burn mystery than a thriller. I was intrigued from the beginning and I liked how the pace kept ramping up. I loved the premise and it didn’t feel like anything I had ever read before

What happens when you wake up alone...on a sailboat,..on the open water...and have no idea who or where you are? She finds a notes that says "Start over. Don't make yourself known. Don't look back." This is where we meet Ess.

I really enjoyed this book, though it was a bit slower of a burn than I usually prefer. The story was good and the characters were very vivid. The dilemma: do you choose safety or the desire to know who you are?

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Adrift by Lisa Brideau: ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
Format: ebook courtesy of Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley

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

The year is 2038. The effects of climate change are live and in stereo. Hundreds of millions of people have been displaced by rising sea levels and inhospitable conditions. But those major problems are only the background when Ess wakes up on a sailboat in the Pacific ocean with no memory of who she is or how she got there, only the ominous warning: Don't make yourself known. Don't look back.

This excerpt from the novel’s blurb puts it best: 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?

I can’t think of another climate change science fiction-dystopian book that I’ve read… ever. Though the setting affects much of the plot, the story is really about the mystery behind Ess’ identity. The blurb for this book is fantastic, and the cover is stunning- but I did not enjoy this book quite as much as I thought I would. Many of the questions are left unanswered by design, and though I can appreciate the author’s decision, that is not a choice that will please everyone. Some of the MCs decision making logic seemed flawed or confusing, and so little is known about her or the world that I had a very hard time getting past 25% and almost DNFd. If this wasn’t a NetGalley read and I didn't want to take the percentage hit, I probably would have given up.

Things did get a bit better in the second half when Ess gets to Nanaimo and forges real relationships with other people and more information is laid out, but it takes a while to get there and then there are still lots unanswered by the end. Also, there is weirdly a LOT of vomiting.

You know those Thrillers where the MC wakes up with memory loss and the whole story is about finding out who they are and why they can’t remember? And it usually has something to do with the husband? Yea, I hate those stories! It’s like rinse and repeat for me. Every one I’ve ever read has been a carbon copy of the first one I read. <<Yawn>>

Except this one! This one is u like any memory loss story I’ve ever read.

Not gonna lie, I almost didn’t pick this one up when I saw it was a memory loss theme. But the Climate Change and Pacific Northwest theme had me take a second look… and I’m really so glad it did.

I really loved this story and actually could not put it down!

Great, different type of characters, unique settings and the dystopian type feel to the story gave this a fresh new perspective.

Full of action and suspense, this one is definitely worth the read!