AN OCEAN APART

A poor girl sneaks onto a dating show in hopes of winning a cash prize.

Nine years ago, Hurricane Leopold destroyed Miami and sent the wealthy people who ruined the environment to live aboard luxury ocean liners. Now, Eden Lowell, 18, lives with the family of her best friend and crush, Henry Turner, scalping drones to afford the ever-increasing prices for clean Aquadictum drinking water. Theo Desjardins, the Aquadictum heir, is starring in a dating reality show in which wealthy young women compete for his love—and 500,000 credits. A tragic accident forces a desperate Eden to turn to local rebel leader the Ringmaster for help in crashing the show. Her plan? Make Theo fall for her—and then steal the prize for her family and impoverished community. But once she’s on the show, she starts having second thoughts. Theo’s different than she imagined, and breaking his heart just might break her own. Climate fiction meets Kiera Cass’ The Selection in this quick and appealing read. Tew sets up a world that at times feels eerily possible, while still delivering a romance with a healthy dose of drama and longing. The pacing feels off, particularly within scenes, but readers who become invested in the story likely won’t notice. Fans of light dystopian novels and environmental stories will find much to enjoy. Eden and Theo read Black, Henry and his family present white, and there’s diversity among the supporting cast.

Entertaining and romantic.