Book Review: You, Me, and the Sea by Meg Donohue

Pages: 368

Genre: Adult Fiction

Pub. Date:  May 7, 2019
Publisher: William Morrow
Source: Publisher for review
Other Books By Author: All the Summer Girls
My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Goodreads says, "To find her way, she must abandon everything she loves…  As a child, Merrow Shawe believes she is born of the sea: strong, joyous, and wild. Her beloved home is Horseshoe Cliff, a small farm on the coast of Northern California where she spends her days exploring fog-cloaked bluffs, swimming in the cove, and basking in the light of golden sunsets as her father entertains her with fantastical stories. It is an enchanting childhood, but it is not without hardship—the mystery of Merrow’s mother’s death haunts her, as does the increasingly senseless cruelty of her older brother, Bear.   Then, like sea glass carried from a distant land, Amir arrives in Merrow’s life. He’s been tossed about from India to New York City and now to Horseshoe Cliff, to stay with her family. Merrow is immediately drawn to his spirit, his passion, and his resilience in the face of Bear’s viciousness. Together they embrace their love of the sea, and their growing love for each other.  But the ocean holds secrets in its darkest depths. When tragedy strikes, Merrow is forced to question whether Amir is really the person she believed him to be. In order to escape the danger she finds herself in and find her own path forward, she must let go of the only home she’s ever known, and the only boy she’s ever loved.... 

Merrow lives in a remote coastal area of Northern California along with her father and her brother.  They live on a dilapidated farm and it barely yields enough crops for them to get by.  Her older brother, Bear, doesn't look out for her in the very least as he is a disturbed individual and treats her very cruelly.  One day her father brings home an orphan, Amir.  Amir is the son of his deceased wife's best friend, so he can't just let him go into foster care again.  This thrills Merrow completely as she has wanted a friend and a playmate practically her whole life.  Merrow and Amir spend blissful days exploring Horseshoe Bluff, the farm, swimming in the ocean, and avoiding Bear at all costs.  As they get older, Amir slowly changes from being her best friend to something more while they both weather the many storms of that come into their lives.  Meg Donohue's You, Me, and the Sea is a heartfelt story about family, friendship, the call of the ocean, and star-crossed love. 

Merrow is truly a memorable character in You, Me, and the Sea. Her childhood at idyllic Horseshoe Cliff should be magical, and it is at times, but there is a dark cloud that follows her wherever she goes and that ominous cloud is Bear. He is a cruel and horrible person that not only abuses Merrow physically at times, but also emotionally.  Her father doesn't always catch his misdeeds, as he has many troubles of his own and is often away, so Merrow must really learn to fend for herself.  Thankfully, Amir enters her life and she not only has a sidekick, but she also has someone to count on, which becomes even more important later in the story.  Her friendship with Amir truly tugged on my heartstrings and I was rooting for them to overcome all the obstacles in their way, especially when it came to dealing with Bear. He was infuriating!

I don't want to give too much of the plot away, but if you are familiar with Wuthering Heights, then you will enjoy this modern retelling.  A lot happens to Amir and Merrow as they get older and I was completely invested in Merrow's story and hoping for the best for both her and Amir.

The idyllic setting of Horseshoe Cliff in You, Me, and the Sea is so memorable and it made this delightful story perfect for summertime.  Morrow's love of the ocean and her appreciation of it is felt throughout the entire story. 

You, Me, and the Sea isn't your usual beach read; it is smart and has so much heart! So much so that it made me cry and I haven't cried over a book in ages. You'll want to throw in in your beach bag this summer!