Kook by Chris Vick- Review

This is a book review for an upcoming YA release called Kook. I would like to thank the Twitter account Maximum Pop Books, HarperCollins Publishers and the author Chris Vick for giving me a copy of the novel for read and review.

Kook blurb:

A heart-pounding love story that grips like a riptide, and doesn’t let go…

Fifteen-year old Sam has moved from the big city to the coast – stuck there with his mum and sister on the edge of nowhere.

Then he meets beautiful but damaged surfer-girl Jade. Soon he’s in love with her, and with surfing itself. But Jade is driven by an obsession: finding and riding a legendary huge wave no one has ever ridden.

As the weeks wear on, their relationship barrels forward with the force of a deep-water wave – into a storm, to danger … and to heartbreak.

First of all, the cover is gorgeous as well as exciting. It sets the tone for the novel which revolves around a group of young people surfing on the Cornish coast. I’ve been to Cornwall hundreds of times for holidays and love the county a lot. It is quite difficult to find a novel for teens that revolves around surfing. The book itself was a good length, I managed to read it within a couple of hours.

What gripped me the most was when Sam and Jade started surfing the waves off the coast, the descriptions of how they rode the waves I felt gave an accurate and detailed portrayal into both the excitement and danger of surfing.

At times within the novel, I felt a little uncomfortable with the drinking/drug scenes. I’ve never ever been involved in things like that. I felt that for the potential reader, there should be a warning on the back cover or in the front few pages of the book warning about those scenes so that it doesn’t make any readers feel uncomfortable.

The plot was refreshing and caused me quite a lot of excitement. Jade’s dangerous obsession thrown together with new boy Sam creates a story that I will remember long after reading Kook. The ending I found emotional and I did feel a few tears prickling in my eyes. I don’t want to spoil things but one important lesson that I will take with me after reading Kook will be cherish the people and the things you love because you never know what just might happen to you.

I would read another book by this author, I am excited for when Kook is released in stores. I feel that teen readers looking for a reading escape from well-used plotlines will pick up this one.

Once again, I would like to thank Maximum Pop Books for sending a copy of the novel to me, the first one I’ve ever won!

Overall rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars.

Would I recommend to others?- Yes.