This book is full of emotion and gives all the feelings. The struggles, the loss, the tragedy will all pull at your heart strings and draw you in. The character development is great. And even wraps up nicely - maybe a little too good. ( )

Merrow lives in a remote coastal area of Northern California along with her father and her brother. They live on a dilapidated farm and it barely yields enough crops for them to get by. Her older brother, Bear, doesn't look out for her in the very least as he is a disturbed individual and treats her very cruelly. One day her father brings home an orphan, Amir. Amir is the son of his deceased wife's best friend, so he can't just let him go into foster care again. This thrills Merrow completely as she has wanted a friend and a playmate practically her whole life. Merrow and Amir spend blissful days exploring Horseshoe Bluff, the farm, swimming in the ocean, and avoiding Bear at all costs. As they get older, Amir slowly changes from being her best friend to something more while they both weather the many storms of that come into their lives. Meg Donohue's You, Me and the Sea is a heartfelt story about family, friendship, the call of the ocean, and star-crossed love.

Merrow is truly a memorable character in You, Me and the Sea. Her childhood at idyllic Horseshoe Cliff should be magical, and it is at times, but there is a dark cloud that follows her wherever she goes and that ominous cloud is Bear. He is a cruel and horrible person that not only abuses Merrow physically at times, but also emotionally. Her father doesn't always catch his misdeeds, as he has many troubles of his own and is often away, so Merrow must really learn to fend for herself. Thankfully, Amir enters her life and she not only has a sidekick, but she also has someone to count on, which becomes even more important later in the story. Her friendship with Amir truly tugged on my heartstrings and I was rooting for them to overcome all the obstacles in their way, especially when it came to dealing with Bear. He was infuriating!

I don't want to give too much of the plot away, but if you are familiar with Wuthering Heights, then you will enjoy this modern retelling. A lot happens to Amir and Merrow as they get older and I was completely invested in Merrow's story and hoping for the best for both her and Amir.

The idyllic setting of Horseshoe Cliff in You, Me and the Sea is so memorable and it made this delightful story perfect for summertime. Morrow's love of the ocean and her appreciation of it is felt throughout the entire story.

You, Me and the Sea isn't your usual beach read; it is smart and has so much heart! So much so that it made me cry and I haven't cried over a book in ages. You'll want to throw in in your beach bag this summer! ( )

This story was quickly engrossing and beautifully written. I love the way Meg writes with so much detail, I swear I could feel the ocean air on my face.
I definitely recommend this book- it would be great to take on a plan ride or to the beach! ( )

I loved Merrow's story. I can only imagine what life was like on Horseshoe Cliff and despite her childhood, it sounds like a beautiful piece of land to live. This was a book I took on vacation and found myself devouring it on the plane and at the beach. It is a great summer read that isn't too fluffy but thought provoking and you'll be rooting for Merrow! Thank you to LibraryThing Early Reviewers and William Morrow books for a copy of this book. ( )

Thank you to Library Thing for an advance copy of this book for review. All opinions are my own. You, Me, and the Sea tells the story of Merrow, who grew up on the mysterious Horseshoe Cliff. The characters are well written, lovable and interesting. I have read that this book was inspired by Wuthering Heights. Although I haven't read Wuthering Heights, after reading You, Me and the Sea I would like to pick it up to see the comparisons. This is a great summer read that will keep the reader thinking about the characters long after the story is over. ( )