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The Last True Poets of the Sea

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The Last True Poets of the Sea

By: Julia Drake
Narrated by: Tavia Gilbert
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From a stunning new voice in YA literature comes an epic, utterly unforgettable contemporary novel about a lost shipwreck, a missing piece of family history, and weathering the storms of life.

The Larkin family isn't just lucky - they persevere. At least that's what Violet and her younger brother, Sam, were always told. When the Lyric sank off the coast of Maine, their great-great-great grandmother didn't drown like the rest of the passengers. No, Fidelia swam to shore, fell in love, and founded Lyric, Maine, the town Violet and Sam returned to every summer.

But wrecks seem to run in the family: Tall, funny, musical Violet can't stop partying with the wrong people. And, one beautiful summer day, brilliant, sensitive Sam attempts to take his own life.

Shipped back to Lyric while Sam is in treatment, Violet is haunted by her family's missing piece - the lost shipwreck she and Sam dreamed of discovering when they were children. Desperate to make amends, Violet embarks on a wildly ambitious mission: locate the Lyric, lain hidden in a watery grave for over a century.

She finds a fellow wreck hunter in Liv Stone, an amateur local historian whose sparkling intelligence and guarded gray eyes make Violet ache in an exhilarating new way. Whether or not they find the Lyric, the journey Violet takes - and the bridges she builds along the way - may be the start of something like survival.

Epic, funny, and sweepingly romantic, The Last True Poets of the Sea is an astonishing debut about the strength it takes to swim up from a wreck.

©2019 Julia Drake (P)2019 Blackstone Audio, Inc.
Depression & Mental Health Difficult Situations Emotions & Feelings Family & Relationships LGBTQ+ Literature & Fiction Mental Health Romance Funny Maine
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there's not much I can say other than it's an alright YA novel. I love a good LGBTQ+ story line so that's always a plus. yeah, it's just OK

alright

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”The last true poets of the sea, he calls them. People for whom discovery—like, the concept of the journey—is the treasure itself.”

This was a heavy one, and for the most part it kept my attention. Not much happened in general. This book is about our MC’s journey to coming to terms with herself - in my opinion, though, there wasn’t enough character development, or at times it felt like the complete opposite: there was too much character development for the few things that happen.

The idea behind the book was unique, though, as far as I know. So I appreciated that. The writing was good despite the strange ocean metaphors that didn’t always make sense but didn’t hinder my reading experience either. The ending wasn’t the best; it felt like there was still more story to be told.

With all that said, it was an enjoyable read overall. I’m glad I finally got around to it.

PS. I highly recommend the audiobook. The narrator is excellent!

Discovery is the treasure itself

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The story was a bit slow and predictable but it was enjoyable overall. Would be good for a younger adult or teen.

A little slow but sweet

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I loved the entirety of this book. it's in-dept look on sibling love is not something I thought I needed, but struck me to my core and I wish, more than ever in my life, that I could visit my younger teen brothers and hold them until the dawn of time. The queer content of a young woman juggling her life in a familiar town, her brother's suicide attempt and feeling shunned by her family for "turning on the romance channel" while at the hospital for her brother, and falling for a girl she didn't think she would in a time she had sworn she wouldn't, sat deep with me.
Overall, the family love, unconditional love between siblings, new romantic sapphic love, love for adventure and shipwreck-hunting - is everything I've ever wanted in a book and I feel so privileged to have read it. Thank you.

this book made me feel like alive

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One of the best YA books I've listened too. One of the best books I've listened too full stop. As a disabled person not able to hold a book for long, I've listened to A LOT, so that's not faint praise. Beautifully written, complex, moving and deals deftly and poetically with many deep human experiences. impeccably and empatheticslly acted as well. Can't wait for the next one. Though if this is the only book the author ever writes she's done herself proud.

Amazing!

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