This is a beautifully written mother-daughter story set amidst the 1960s California surf culture. Mindy and Ginger's mother, Carole, puts her surfing ahead of the girls, often leaving them to fend for themselves. As the girls begin to grow up, often neglected and wondering when their mother is going to leave for good, they make separate and vastly different decisions for their lives. We also flash back to Carole's earlier life during World War II as she watches her dreams for the future shatter.
.
This is as much or more of a story of decisions, consequences, and regret as it is of surfing. The characters are real and flawed, and the reader is drawn into the story. The description is vivid and effective, for example: "If the sand was sugar, then gumballs and peppermint drops dotted the sky in the form of beach balls." The effect on the girls of their mother's abandonment and neglect shows on every page. There comes a time too, when the girls have to make decisions about what kind of mothers they want to be, and the story comes full circle.

This is a beautiful, heartbreaking story that will keep the reader spellbound. Those interested in stories about mothers and daughters will want to pick this one up.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.