Every Wave After by Kristi Ayers
I was so excited to dive back into Sam’s world, and Every Wave After did not disappoint! This continuation picks up beautifully, following Sam as she adjusts to her new life in South Carolina and navigates high school alongside Noah. Things seem to be falling into place… until Ledger reappears and stirs the waters.
I loved every moment of this book! Sam continues to shine with fierce determination and authenticity. She’s a character who doesn’t take crap, for lack of a better word, from anyone, and I adore that about her. Her growth felt natural and powerful, and it was exciting to see her continue to find her footing, emotionally and socially.
We also meet several new characters… some I loved immediately, and a few I loved to hate, but each one added depth and momentum to the story. One of my favorite elements this time around was the expanded POVs. Getting inside the heads of other characters brought a richer understanding of motivations and conflicts, and I think it made the emotional beats hit even harder.
This YA coastal beach town love triangle was filled with emotion, tension, and hope. The character arcs were so well-developed, and the ending wrapped up in a way that felt both satisfying and true to the journey. Thank you to Kristi Ayers and Ashley Cherneski for the amazing eARC! All thoughts are my own, and I highly recommend this heartfelt, sweet, and beautifully written sequel.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐️
Blurb:
The turbulence of ocean waves is something Sam has experience with on the surfboard, always one to ride it out or gracefully fall and try again. Giving up is never an option in her world, so now that she is settling down in her South Carolina home, attending the local high school with her boyfriend, who happens to also be her housemate, and working part time at the sea turtle rehabilitation center, she feels her life is coasting on an easy swell. That is, until she gets the shock of a lifetime that not only makes her fall off the sweet ride, but also rips her heart in two.
Ledger, struggling at college under the overbearing eye of his father, returns to South Carolina when his world is pulled out from under him after a tragic event involving the man who dictated his every step in life. Returning to the sunny coastal fishing town and cheerful beach house is supposed to be a reprieve, but he can’t relax or even begin to heal when open wounds sting worse there because he never got over Sam. It was never his idea to leave her, but his father’s direct order. Now he has to watch her with his brother, and it’s proving to be nothing but saltwater splashed on the gash in his chest.
Can Sam and Ledger find common ground to walk on, and will Noah allow it? Or will a mistake change the trajectory of all three of their lives?
Tropes:
– YA Love triangle
– Coastal Beach Town
– Enemies to Friends to….
– Close Proximity
– Feuding Brothers
– Perceived Betrayal
– He Falls Again
– No Nonsense FMC
XOXO,
Jessica 💋
Every Wave After by Kristi Ayers
Published: June 3, 2025
Genres: YA, Second Chance Romance
Pages: 321
Rating: 5 Stars
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