An Ocean Apart follows Eden Lowell, a young woman from the flooded Marshes of what used to be Miami. Day in and day out, she tries to survive in a land that was ruined and abandoned by the Cruisers, a group of people who live on large luxury ships on the sea, free from the ecological disaster that they helped cause. So, when she finds out that they are holding a televised dating competition for one of the Cruisers’ darlings, Theo Desjardins, she decides to infiltrate it with the help of a political agitator known as the Ringmaster and steal all their money. With feelings for her best friend Henry, who she grew up with in the Marshes, and a growing affection for Theo during her time on the ship, Eden finds herself struggling to choose between her two identities, and her two desires.

I truly loved this story. All of the characters were dynamic and interesting, and I loved watching Eden interact with each of the Cruisers over the course of the book. The narration was easy to read, and full of personality, and the banter was strong. All of the relationships in this book felt realistic, and I loved learning about each one. Tew did a wonderful job of creating an enticing world, filled with an enjoyable plot and characters, all while refusing to shy away from the reality of the class divisions present in the novel, and exploring the way that privilege and hate can blind us to truth. This was a fun dystopian journey that has kept me thinking since I finished it.

I was a bit concerned on how the love triangle would be handled, but I think the choices that were made, and the resolution of the relationships, was one that felt true to the characters, and left me feeling all warm inside! The connections to her previous novel, The Dividing Sky, were also fun to see.

I can't wait to see what else the Tewniverse holds!

Three is generous for this YA novel that epitomizes the "the olds are very stupid and out to ruin everything" trope. There are optical scanners as door locks but not background checks. Someone needed to find a super secret terrorist organization and found them in the first place she looked. She made up an entire family history for a reality TV show and no one from the actual family pointed out that they didn't know her. She infiltrated a completely different social strata with no training in etiquette or...I could go on and on.

YA dystopian queen Jill Tew— she balanced dystopian with a cozy romance in a way that balanced perfectly.

What happens when the CEOs of the largest corporations run the government departments and a dating competition for the son of a CEO’s hand and grand prize is brought into the mix?

For fans that loved The Hunger Games growing up (or still love it like myself) I think you’ll enjoy this one.

I loved the character development we got and the relatable challenges that our FMC faced along her journey.

This was a great read between an epic fantasy and romantasy read. The pacing was great and I found myself wanting to keep reading.

Thank you to Jill Tew and Joy Revolutjon for the gifted earc from NetGalley. This was one of my anticipated reads after meeting Jill at a book festival. I ran to go hype it up in Jill’s DMs before finishing my review.

I wanted to start off my review with the fact I had an advanced reader copy.  I saw the author at a panel at YALLWEST back in May and was intrigued by this book.  I was glad I got approved for it, because I ended up loving it!

It is action-paced and fast-paced, and I think part of it is because the book is pretty short.  Well, it seemed short to me, but maybe that's because I really enjoyed it and because there is a lot that happens.  It's a stand-alone, which is actually refreshing for dystopian novels, but there is part of me that wishes we had another book.  I kind of wish we had a little more time to sit with some of the things going on in Eden's world, but overall, it works well as a stand-alone.

The book reminded me of The Selection and The Hunger Games but on a cruise ship in a world ravaged by climate change.  You definitely see the differences between the wealthy (or cruisers) and those living in the Marshes (the ruins of Miami) after a pretty destructive hurricane.  Eden warms up to the cruisers pretty fast, realizing they're not all bad.  Especially Theo, one of the love interests we see in the book.  I'm not sure how I feel about the love triangle and I thought her choice was pretty obvious.  I admit that I have mixed feelings about love triangles, so I am not necessarily the best person to talk about that.  If you're a fan of love triangles, I think you'll love this one!  Theo and Henry represent two very different futures for Eden, not just romantically, but for life in general.

This world is not too different than the one we're currently living in.  We're in a world where the gap between the wealthy and poor is growing wider and wider, the things we'll do for money, and how much social media can control our lives.  There's a lot about the environment in this book too, and I liked seeing how those elements came together.

I loved Eden, and I was rooting for her the whole time.  I found it interesting that she saw that not all of the Cruisers were terrible, though she warmed up to them pretty quickly, considering the huge differences between Eden and everyone around her.  At the same time, I also understood why she joined the competition.  She really was just trying to survive and take care of her loved ones, while taking her revenge on those responsible.

My Rating: This is a 5 star read!  Eden's world reminded me of the our world so much, and it's a fast-paced, thought-provoking read.

This book was EVERYTHING!!! A deeply moving and beautifully written story, this novel explores themes of connection, distance, and the enduring power of human bonds across time and space.

The characters are incredibly real, and their journeys are filled with both heartache and hope. A truly poignant and unforgettable read that resonates long after you finish. I’m going to be buying this when it comes out so I can experience reading it in physical form!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for a temporary e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Perfect for fans of The Hunger Games, this book has a dystopian American setting with a climate crisis and capitalism gone wrong, a highly relevant sci-fi tale for our time.

It’s also a lot like The Selection, with a romance with an elite heir and a contest for his hand. Then there’s the Gale-like childhood friend from back home.

The setting was interesting, as were the characters. It did read a little young for me, but I was still intrigued.

An Ocean Apart by Jill Tew

As part of the Ballgowns and Betrayal Street Team, I was lucky enough to not only receive an e-arc of Gilded in Vengeance by @lsmittywrites but also the competing book An Ocean Apart by @jtewwrites! I can see why these two authors paired up because their books have a similar vibe and deliver quality YA stories with a punch.

This book is a fantastic dystopian novel - a world that is mostly underwater and a teen who is determined to bring down the corporations responsible. What better way to do that than to enter a dating game for the heir to the controlling drinking water company?

This story was an easy escape. A love triangle, a ton of twists and sneaky escapades, and a unique new world to explore. I would definitely recommend it to any YA loving readers. It was an excellent blend of adventure and romance, and I loved the character development.

Loved reading this on my quick trip to Las Vegas! It makes an excellent poolside or beachside read.

Honestly, what I really liked about this book is the cover art and the story. But, it’s not my favorite because it didn’t meet my expectations. The characters are awesome.

An Ocean Apart follows Eden Lowell, a teenager struggling in the flooded Marshes of former Miami. Her entire existence centers around survival. And there’s only one group to blame: the Cruisers, corporate elite who thrive on their yachts and ignore the suffering on land at their hand. When a dating competition is announced to marry a Cruiser heir, Eden falsifies her identity and enters. But her situation becomes vastly more complicated when she realizes Theo isn’t a horrible person and she might just have feelings for him.

This was such a fun dystopian romance that reminded me a lot of The Selection. I loved the setting and the gorgeous descriptions. It was a really interesting world the author imagined, and I’d love to read more stories set this in this fictional future. The worldbuilding was really straight-forward and the entire book was really gripping and easy to fly through. There’s also a lot of political intrigue that makes things interesting.

Eden was a great main character. I loved how fiercely she loved her home and family and how she’d do anything to protect them. She’s so strong and clever. I really enjoyed reading from her perspective and seeing her growth throughout the novel. There is a love triangle between Eden’s childhood best friend and the heir. While I enjoyed Henry’s character, I did prefer Theo and the romance between Eden and Theo was really sweet. There’s a lot of humorous side characters too!

If you love dystopians, The Selection, or The Bachelor I’d definitely recommend this one!

Thank you to Penguin Teen CA and Netgalley for the arc!

Jill Tew wrote yet another romantic, suspenseful dystopian! I adored this story about a girl in the not-so-distant future struggling to survive in "The Marshes" what is left of Miami, after multiple climate disasters. The concept of the Cruisers is incredible and sadly realistic, and I adored the premise of Eden having to go on a dating show in order to make the money to help her family survive. The romantic tension was incredibly well done, to the point where I found myself not sure which boy I was rooting for. 5 stars!

AN OCEAN APART by Jill Tew is a standalone Young Adult Dystopian novel set in the Miami area after it's been ravaged by environmental collapse brought on by greedy corporations. This book had so many tropes I adore, and kept me guessing about what would happen next. The characters were relatable, complicated, and so, so well-crafted in this excellent read. Before I gush on more, let me tell you what AN OCEAN APART is about.

Eden lives with her found family in the Marshes where they all barely earn enough to survive. Together with her best friend (and maybe more), Henry, she hunts drones to sell for parts to pay for the overly expensive rations of water. Wanting to fight back against the evil corporation who is threatening the Marshes, Eden partners with the mysterious rebel the Ringmaster to enter a Bachelorette-esque contest to win the hand of Theo, the son of the woman whose corporation is threatening the Marshes. Eden's plan: Win Theo's heart, win the money that goes along with winning Theo, then break said heart and take the money for the Marshes. Things don't exactly go according to plan.

What I loved most about this book:
- The dystopian setting was both beautiful and chilling since environmental threats to our Earth are very real
- Eden was so easy to cheer for. She's suffered so much, and it makes sense she'd want to exact revenge and make the Cruisers pay
- The romance sizzled, and while love triangles sometimes frustrate me, this one didn't. The relationships felt genuine and the evolution of how the characters related to each other really worked for me.
- Tropes that I inwardly squealed about: competition for a boy's heart, ball gowns, dystopian setting, found family, twisty ending
- The secondary characters: I'm looking at you, Turner family, and you, Ramón and Remmy, and you, Natalia.
- The well-written villain(s) with clear motivations, and seeing them eventually get their comeuppance, but not necessarily how I expected
- The world-building was top notch. Expressions like "Dusting", and the forced watching of propaganda for compensation

What didn't work:
- I honestly can't think of anything that didn't work. I had a little trouble keeping track of the other contestants, but I think that's a me thing.

AN OCEAN APART is an enjoyable read with twists, romance, and tension with a well-crafted dystopian world and fantastic characters you can't help but cheer for. I highly recommend it. Run, don't walk, to pre-order!

Thank you to NetGalley, Joy Revolution, and the author for providing me with an eARC of this book for my honest feedback.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-ARC of this book!

An Ocean Apart is described as a dystopian romance, which is an apt label. The book takes place in Florida and the Caribbean after catastrophic flooding and climate change have wiped out most of the land. The Marshers are surviving on what's left and the Cruisers are tucked safely away on giant cruise ships. Eden is a Marshers who manages to sneak onto a Cruiser's ship and join a Bachelor-style competition for the heart of the son of the woman who controls the world's fresh water supply. Her goal is to steal his heart and all the prize money.

The writing in this book is so vivid--I found myself thinking how easily it could translate to the movie screen on almost every page. The characters are definitely ones you will love or hate and while I don't find the comparisons of the book to The Hunger Games (in reviews) to be accurate at all, it does definitely make the reader think about the impacts of climate change and how resources will be handled in the future. There are competitions once the dating "show" gets going, but they are not dangerous or intense at all like The Hunger Games.

This is one I will definitely be adding to my classroom shelves and I am not off to find my copy of The Dividing Sky to read that!

Current rating: can't decide on 3.75 or just 4 stars ngl

Firstly, I loved the premise. The way the dating-show-on-a-cruise plot was interwoven with important issues such as capitalism, greed, and classism was well done, and I liked how the book explored the layers of it in this dystopian world. The writing style also made it easy to get invested into the book, especially with the setting and nature descriptions. Though there weren't enough pages for the side characters to get more fleshed out, I was fine with the little we knew of them and generally thought that they did feel like real people.

Romance section has some spoilers so quick overview I knew who she would choose but there was one part where I was a little unsure! I'm happy with who she ended up with since that was also the connection I preferred. Spoilers below:

The romance/love triangle reminded me a lot of the one from The Selection. It's been forever since I read that series, but I do remember not rlly caring for the first love, and the same goes here (sorry), despite me understanding where Henry was coming from. Fortunately, I did like the sweet romance that grew between Eden and Theo, even as Eden started out pretending to be someone else. It was just so cute and I loved them together.

While reading, I was a little worried that the ending would be super rushed, but I would say I was satisfied with how it concluded! That epilogue will rlly hit different if you've read The Dividing Sky. No spoilers, but after reading, I rushed to grab my copy of TDS and just sat with the realization that I had become aware of. I already do this on the daily, but this book made me think (even more) about the state of our world and how scary + real the effects of climate change and capitalism are.

Thank you to Jill Tew, the publisher, and Netgalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Jill Tew does it again! From page one of AN OCEAN APART, her beautifully immersive writing pulls you into the world. Eden was a strong, voicey character that felt incredibly real. The dystopian world, the bachelor-esque reality show, the tech-infused ballgowns, the love triangle, not to mention The Dividing Sky Easter eggs…I loved it all!

A fun ride from start to finish! The setting is innovative and smart, and the character dynamics are fun and complicated. I hoped to dig a bit deeper with some of the characters, but the well-paced and engaging plot made up for it.

Jill Tew has proven again how wonderful an author she is. An Ocean Apart is a breath of fresh air when it comes to dystopian novels with a beautiful setting that makes you want to travel the world just to find something like it. Her book is incredibly engaging and had me reading through the night and in my classes. Her characters are written well and make you feel like you truly know them; even the supporting characters feel full and alive. I recommend this book to anyone in a slump, just getting started, or just looking for their new favorite read.

I enjoyed reading The Dividing Sky by Jill Tew and knew I had to read An Ocean Apart. An Ocean Apart did not disappoint. The book is the Bachelor/the Selection meets Hunger Games. The world building in the book was great. There were some twists in the book. Eden, Henry and Theo...the tension who will she choose. I enjoyed all of the other female characters in the book during the competition of the book. The ballgowns in the book were amazing. Jill Tew will be an auto read for me. If you are looking for a YA dystopian book with diverse characters this is the book for you.

Jill Tew is quickly establishing herself as a FORCE in dystopian YA storytelling. AN OCEAN APART grabs you from the very first chapter and never lets you go. It's giving THE HUNGER GAMES on the high seas, and I loved EVERY MINUTE OF IT! Not only is the plot compelling and FUN, but Jill also hits when it comes to delivering poignant social commentary that reflects our current times. Also, Eden, Theo and Henry present a love triangle for the ages! Like she did with THE DIVIDING SKY, Jill Tew swung big on a sweeping dystopian romance, and she DID. NOT. MISS.

She will be a YA Queen in just a few years. Mark my words!

An Ocean Apart is reminiscent of The Selection series; however, it's a stand-alone book that adds in an eco-warrior element. Eden, the protagonist, is a Marsher who is trying to survive the harsh climate left behind in Miami after a devastating hurricane ravages the already savaged area. After a devastating accident threatens her adopted family's existence, Eden decides to join with The Ringleader, a mysterious rebel, to take on the Cruisers, the rich business people who live on cruise ships as a way to avoid the harsh mainland environments caused by the Cruisers' own mishandling of the land. Eden joins seven other young women who are all vying for the hand of Theo Desjardins, the son of one of the most powerful business people. As a Floridian who has endured multiple hurricane strikes, I felt the authenticity in the descriptions of the area and the ravages of the hurricane on the environment. I thought that this book did a good job with the enemies to lovers trope and that there were unexpected twists and turns. I look forward to adding this title to my high school library.

This was a solid story! Eden was a very likable MC and I found myself rooting for her instantly. The pacing of the story was fast paced and nice, although I think some of the characters could have been fleshed out more.

This story covers such important topics like billionaires causing harm to communities and the environment, obsession with social media, and selling yourself for corporations out of necessity (like with the ad watching).

I think two points that made me wanting more/something different is 1) I wish Henry was just Eden’s best friend and not a love interest. I felt the love triangle cheapened the plot and the characters. That leads me to 2) Eden became trusting of Theo and the cruisers way too quickly in my opinion. She has suffered because of them for most of her life and it just takes a month for her to think they’re “not all bad” ? I can appreciate the nuance but it wasn’t very believable to me. I also don’t like how Henry and the marshers were villainized for fighting back. Henry was treated as more in the wrong than Theo and his mother, by Eden. That perspective makes me uncomfortable when the marshers are being exploited and oppressed by the cruisers.