#BookReview: Swimming Sideways (Cantos Chronicles #1) by C.L. Walters

Synopsis: What do you do when your world has fallen apart, and there doesn’t seem to be a way to put it back together?

Abby Kaiāulu (Kaw ee aw oo loo) gets the chance to start over when her family relocates from Hawai'i to a small town on the Oregon coast.

But she’s hiding a secret. 

Leaving the past and the cultural lessons of her Hawaiian grandfather behind, Abby redefines who she is to hide it. There’s Good Abby - she makes and follows the rules - and there’s Bad Abby - she always questions them. But both leave Abby wondering: which one is she really? 

Her road of self-discovery takes her on a journey where she must discover the truth of who she is as a daughter, a sister, a woman, a Hawaiian and as a friend. 

But just when she thinks her world might be coming back together, it falls apart all over again.


Goodreads | Amazon

Rating: ★★★★★
My Review: When I started this one I wasn't to sure what I was going into.  I knew I loved the cover and I was excited for the story but I really didn't know what it was about as usual.  I loved the idea of a Good Abby and Bad Abby.  I think it gave us a real look at how Abby was thinking and processing everything in here life.  Switching schools is never easy but after the backlash of cyber bulling and just everything going on in her life this made her seem very real.  I have to say that a lot of Abby's life I felt a connection with as growing up I moved around a lot.  Switching schools is something I know a lot about.  The other aspect is cyber bullying which I have also been the talk of the town about.  So those two things really resinated with me.  

The pacing of the story was a little slow at the start but, I think that that it worked out pretty well for this story.  It does pick up quickly though and stays pretty fast throughout the rest of the story.   

Overall, I really enjoyed this story and what the author was trying to do.  I can not wait to read book two and three!! 

Review

"Swimming Sideways is one of those awe-inspiring reads that can draw you into another world with action and punch, yet at the same time gives you a feeling of warmth and nostalgia. Walters has worked magic in bringing us this saga." -Natalie Banks, best-selling author of The Canary's Song

"Well-written and nuanced, Swimming Sideways brought me back to those turbulent teenage years I am now far removed from with vivid clarity." -Sydney Mann, author of The Dark Wood

Did you know that comments are DELICIOUS? Well they are and if you comment on any of these posts you could win some awesome goodies! 

Don't forget to check out our Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and out other social media found on the side bar! 

 Disclaimer: "All opinions are 100% honest and my own."  Thanks to Goodreads and Amazon for the book cover, about the book, and author information. Buying via these links allows my site to get a % of the sale at no cost to you. 

FTC Guidelines: In accordance with FTC guidelines regarding endorsements and testimonials for bloggers, I would like my readers to know that many of the books I review are provided to me for free by the publisher or author of the book in exchange for an honest review. If am compensated for any reviews on this site I will state that post has been sponsored. 

Posted in: 5 Stars, Indie Published, Review, Young Adult