Review: Float Plan by Trish Doller
“I walk out of my life on Thanksgiving Day.”
The Basics
Title: Float Plan
Author: Trish Doller
Published: March 2, 2021
Note: I received an e-ARC from NetGalley and St. Martin’s Griffin in exchange for an honest review.
Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin – Macmillan
Pages: 272
Format: E-book
Genres: Fiction — Contemporary fiction, Romance, Contemporary romance
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Book Synopsis
Following the loss of her fiancé, Ben, to suicide, Anna decides to go on the sailing trip to the Caribbean that the two of them had been planning. After nearly crashing the sailboat during the first leg of the journey, however, Anna realizes that she cannot do this trip by herself, so she decides to hire Keane, an experienced sailor, to help her navigate the boat to Puerto Rico, the most difficult stretch of her planned route. The two become fast friends, but as they spend more and more time together, Anna finds her feelings for Keane growing beyond friendship. Doubt, however, begins to creep into her mind about whether it is too soon to be feeling this way about another man. But perhaps she can find a way to continue loving Ben while also opening her heart to Keane.
My Review & Overall Thoughts
TLDR: A sweet, touching read.
The first third of Float Plan is a bit rough around the edges, with the story moving from one scene to the next without much having happened. The book, however, corrects itself shortly thereafter, and the scenes transform from overly succinct to appropriately lengthed and paced. At this point, the book becomes enjoyable, and you begin to feel invested in the characters, eager to see what turns their stories will take.
Anna’s story, in addition to being the central one of the book, is the most impactful. Hers is a story of grief, resilience, and ultimately, hope – hope for a better tomorrow, hope for happiness, and hope for love. Her story is also laudable for its accurate portrayal of the complex, nonlinear nature of grief. As with actual people dealing with grief, Anna has both good and not-so-good days, and even on days that start off fine, grief can unexpectedly creep up on her, triggered by something seemingly unrelated.
The romance between Anna and Keane is very sweet and touching. They have a wonderful dynamic, with the two of them supporting and caring for one another from the onset of their relationship. Keane has a way of gently nudging and encouraging Anna to move forward, as well as challenge herself, and Anna fosters Keane’s self-confidence and perception of worth. The fact that Keane is charming, handsome, and funny certainly doesn’t hurt either. You can’t help but root for them, and when uncertainty over the fate of their relationship is raised, you – like me – will be speed reading to see if they find their way back to one another.
With regard to the writing style, the book is written in the first person and present tense, which creates an immersive, engaging reading experience. You are experiencing everything in real time through Anna’s eyes, which allows you to more easily imagine yourself as Anna. The writing itself is easy to read and comprehend – no flowery descriptions or antiquated terms. The book is also fairly short, so it can be read quite quickly. Due to its potential triggers (suicide, death, and depression), however, I would not necessarily say that it is an easy read.
The not so good
There is a lot of sailing terminology thrown around, so if you are like me and have never set foot on a sailboat, you’ll be frequently reaching for the dictionary. The ending is also somewhat predictable, but in a romance such as this, that is not necessarily a bad thing. Sometimes, you want a tidy, happy ending.
Overall
Float Plan is a charming, heartwarming story about finding oneself and discovering happiness in the aftermath of loss. You’ll be smiling by the end of this book and wishing that you too could set sail for the Caribbean.
