Warning! You need a box of tissues for this one!
Head Above Water by CE Ricci is really a book about the struggles of keeping your head above water when the going gets rough.
Summary
When Cannon’s dad marries Easton’s mom when they are still young, it doesn’t take long for the two to start disliking each other.
But then again, the dislike is not quite two sided, Easton started falling for Cannon at some point.
However, when Cannon moves cross-country, cutting ties with the family he never wanted to be a part of, Easton has to let go of these pesky feelings.
That is until a sudden stroke of bad luck brings him back. But now he is engaged. To a woman. He is straight as they come. Or is he?
Will they sink or swim together?
Tropes
Except for the obvious stepbrother, taboo vibe, there is also haters-to-lovers.
Like, expect crazy high friction, messy feelings and severe emotional push and pull.
While not strictly second chance, there is the idea of reconnection after a long time apart.
This is a comfort read, that is if you find heart wrenching stories that stitch your heart back together comforting.
Also, it is dual POV. 🥳
Trope Warning
I don’t like the cheating element. It usually is a hard no for me, but in this book I, weirdly, did not mind it.
However, I know that it is a make or break point for many people, so I just thought that I should put that out there.
Grief and Healing as the Central Theme
In this book, you will feel the numbness, anger and need for an anchor that the characters feel with them.
Neither of the characters go merely skin deep. There is so much more to them. They are real, not perfect book boyfriends.
To me the most beautiful part of this story is the messy healing and the way that they make decisions that aren’t perfect, because they are human.
Yes, I read for escapism and I love a good book boyfriend, but in Head Above Water it is exactly those imperfections that make the story.
Is the Stepbrother Thing Just for Drama or is it Purposeful?
I really feel that the stepbrother trope was used in an intentional way. It didn’t just contribute to the spice, it contributed to the story.
The friction brought upon the fact that they are supposedly family, but they don’t really get along adds to the vibe that is being set.
I think it is also a thing of family is who you choose and that sometimes circumstances can change who you choose.
How Messy is the Relationship?
Really damn messy.
But that is what real grief does, it muddies the water and influences how we approach life. And inevitably, it messes things up. Most frequently our relationships.
How Prominent is the Cheating Element?
As I mentioned earlier, an important part of the story is infidelity. As a hater of this trope I can really say that it was done well in this book.
I didn’t find it too in your face and if you want you can really just cut it out for the most part. I don’t think that it ruined the book and it is still a gazillion times worth the read.
The Healing Arcs
This book is seriously beautiful. It is such a real example of how grief works. It shows that it isn’t a linear thing.
Grief comes in waves. One moment you are okay and the next you are having the emotional breakdown of your life.
But it also shows that it is shit now, but it gets better. You just have to find your anchor and keep swimming until the storm passes.
Leave a Reply