The Lifeguard by Deborah Blumenthal

This is not the summer that Sirena wanted. Her parents are divorcing, her best friend is away at camp, and she's been sent off to spend the summer with her aunt. Sure, her aunt lives near a beautiful beach, but her house is haunted, and there's not much to do. Then Sirena catches a glimpse of the lifeguard who works on the beach...and she can't get him out of her mind. He's not like an ordinary guy; there's something different about him, and Sirena is determined to figure out what it is.

I'll be honest: one of the reasons that I was drawn to reading this book was because of the cover. White sand beach, beautiful blue water, and a very fit half-naked man? I imagine that it will make for an eye-catching display in stores. But now to what's on the inside. One of the things that Deborah Blumenthal really nailed was the self-absorption of a teenager. Sirena is quite wrapped up in her own drama (and at the beginning of the book I thought that she was much younger than in her late teens because of the lack of perspective she was showing about her parents' divorce). Her emotions change in an instant, she can be reckless, and she doesn't always think about the consequences of her actions. Themes of healing, spirituality and the supernatural give this book a deeper grounding than being just a light teen beach read, and that could resonate with readers who are looking for something with a bit more going on.

Learn more about author Deborah Blumenthal at her website.

I received a review copy from NetGalley courtesy of Albert Whitman and Company; the eBook is being published by Open Road Media.

Find it at IndieBound.

Read it with:
The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han
Fat Camp by Deborah Blumenthal
What Men Want by Deborah Blumenthal