Girl Underwater

By: Claire Kells

Narrated by: Julia Whelan

An adventurous debut novel that cross cuts between a competitive college swimmer's harrowing days in the Rocky Mountains after a major airline disaster and her recovery supported by the two men who love her - only one of whom knows what really happened in the wilderness.

Nineteen-year-old Avery Delacorte loves the water. Growing up in Brookline, Massachusetts, she took swim lessons at her community pool and captained the local team; in high school she raced across bays and sprawling North American lakes. Now a sophomore on her university's nationally ranked team, she struggles under the weight of new expectations, but life is otherwise pretty good. Perfect, really.

That all changes when Avery's red-eye home for Thanksgiving makes a ditch landing in a mountain lake in the Colorado Rockies. She is one of only five survivors, which includes three little boys and Colin Shea, who happens to be her teammate. Colin is also the only person in Avery's college life who challenged her to swim her own events, to be her own person - something she refused to do. Instead she's avoided him since the first day of freshman year. But now, faced with subzero temperatures, minimal supplies, and the dangers of a forbidding nowhere, Avery and Colin must rely on each other in ways they never could've imagined.

In the wilderness the concept of survival is clear cut. Simple. In the real world, it's anything but.

©2015 Claire Kells (P)2015 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

"Your first must-read beach book of the summer." (Oprah.com)

"The riveting drama is sure to keep readers up into the night devouring each and every twist and harrowing scene." (RT Reviews)

"A romantic thriller full of raw and conflicting emotions…a roller coaster full of frustrating, exciting, heartwarming and heart-wrenching moments that leave surprises at every turn." (Deseret News)

GREAT story!

Many times I didn't want to get out of the car. I loved the ending!

Great debut!

Would you consider the audio edition of Girl Underwater to be better than the print version?

The narrator was excellent but then I've listened to her before and she is a favorite.

What other book might you compare Girl Underwater to and why?

Well, any good listen that leaves you with a "book hangover", you know, you can't listen to another for a few days because nothing would be that good... this was that book.

What does Julia Whelan bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I liked her voices for the "little boys" and Colin too.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Absolutely - I had to know what was going to happen next - for once I was thankful for a ton of laundry that needed done!

Any additional comments?

I rarely review but this was such an unexpected story - it had its rough spots but overall was a great story with great narration - what a concept this was!

Romantic story of strength and survival

Girl Underwater is a beautifully written, well paced debut novel and I loved it from the opening chapter to the ending chapter plus everything in between. When college student Avery's red-eye flight from San Francisco to Boston crashes in the Rockies, she and swim teammate Colin must work together to survive until they can be rescued. The chapters alternate between Avery's struggle to return to her life after the crash, and her story of surviving in the wilderness with Colin. The author weaves these story lines together perfectly so that the reader gradually comes to understand the relationship between Avery and Colin, and why Avery is so traumatized and withdrawn in the months following the crash.
The book is romantic, suspenseful, and never gratuitously gory or sappy. I loved how realistic the main characters were, from Avery's father to the child, Tim. The word choices, the metaphors and descriptive paragraphs in the novel were a pleasure to read. Claire Kells is hugely talented in her ability to make the reader feel exactly what it's like to dive into a pool of water, go running on a frigidly cold Boston morning or fight tears due to insecurities- the reader effortless sinks into Avery's world. I loved loved loved this book!!
Oh, and Julia Whelan, my favorite female narrator, was brilliant again. Her Boston accent and Hawaiin accent were subtle yet believable.

Loved this book

I loved the emotional ups and downs and personal growth through this book!
I think it's great for all ages!

Sounded like a true story

This is my first review of a book although I've been listening to Audible for over 10 years.

I listened to it over a weekend and found many reasons I should get in my car to listen (my favorite place for books). The narrator was so earnest and I felt like she was telling her own story. I'm familiar with the coast locations but not the one where most of the book took place.

I loved the children's voices and those of the major male characters. The story was kept interesting also by repeatedly going from the past to near present.

I highly recommend this book.

One I will never forget...

I have never been touched by a story as I have been by Girl Underwater, I have never been touched by fictional characters as I have been in Girl Underwater...
An emotional , raw and beautiful journey through life at its hardest.

The accuracy of Julia Whelan’s performance is simply amazing.

I fell in love with this book...♡

Great story

This story was so well written I felt I was there. Her descriptions of even the airport made me smile with total recognition. The cold and snow I felt in my bones. Excellent story with great narration. Thank you.

Amazing story. Slight disappointment

This was a great story but after being pulled along the survivor aspect of the story and experiencing g Avery's rescue, was very disappointed nothing was written about Collins and the boys' rescue. Otherwise this was beautifully written.

Excellent book...wish it was longer!

I really liked this book. The only part tht was kinda frustrating was when Avery left to go back to Boston and her relationship with Colin, for me, was left on a WTF status!
I loved the different voices tht Julia W. provided (especially the Boston ones) .
i also wish tht the book could have been longer...

Like a story that should be in the 50's

Reminded me of the cat and mouse games girls used to play with boys.... We had a name for them.... The story kept you going.... Wanting to more about what happened out there.... In the meantime a semi romance novel.... Didn't think it was going to be a chik flik novel but it was worth the read driving to and from work which is sort of chasing the black line.... narrator excellent!!!!