Review: The Lifeboat Clique by Kathy Parks

Title: The Lifeboat Clique 

Author:  Kathy Parks and Kathy 
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books

Publishing Date: March 1st 2016

Pages: 336
Genre: YA Adventure/Survival/Humor

Series: Stand Alone
Source: ARC

 

Some people might say that Denver had a death wish. Why else would she have dared to sneak into a Malibu beach party where she’d be surrounded by enemies, namely including her ex-BFF Abigail?

Oh yeah. Croix. Denver never thought in a million years he’d ask her out, but who was she to question this miracle of fate? Well, that wasn’t the only surprise fate had in store.

During the party a tsunami hit the coast of California, wiping out everything in its path. Denver and a handful of others escaped death by holding onto the roof of the house and were swept out to sea. Of course, one of her fellow castaways was none other than Abigail, who could barely stand the sight of her.

Now that she’s floating in the ocean, stuck on a small boat with the most popular kids in school and waiting to be rescued, Denver wonders what might kill her first-dehydration, sunstroke, or the girl she used to think of as a sister?

A hilariously dark and twisted story that sparkles with a remarkably fresh voice, The Lifeboat Clique is Kathy Park’s irreverent yet insightful novel about how to survive in the most unthinkable circumstances.

I liked this book. It was not at all what I had expected but I did enjoy it very much. This book was a very quick read, a kind of twisted read. Full of dark humor. If you like dark humor, this is a good book for you. I do  like dark humor so I really enjoyed it.  

So this book is a survival story. A survival story that starts after a huge tsunami takes out part of the west coast and Abigail and her not so friends happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. They end up on a boat together. Which is funny because Denver and Abigail hate each other guts. So this is the story of Denver and Abigail and a few others that hate each, used to be friends and now are not, thrown together, to survive in the ocean, on a small boat, with no food,water, or sunscreen. 

I really wasn't prepared for the book I was about to read. I really don't know what I expected. I did expect some funny, which I did get. I was prepared for survival, and that was there. What I wasn't prepared for was a but of journey of growth. There was that too. So all together, it was a well rounded read for me. I like my funny with my serious. 

The characters and the story together make this book a great read for me. The characters were pretty awesome and not always likeable. I will start with the star of the show, Denver. For the most part. I really liked Denver, witty, smart, snarky, she stood out and I liked her. She was the only one of the group that seemed to have some kind of brain. She had her moments of maybe not the best comments to throw out there but she was a survivor. 

Abigail was a real witch. Didn't like her but loved her character and what that character brought to the story. Typical mean girl with two loyal followers. She was once best friends with Denver and now she hated her. From the very beginning I didn't like her. In the flashbacks I didn't like her In the end I really still didn't like her but she was tolerable. She was the antagonist and she did it well. 

The other three on the boat. More likable than Abigail but only by a bit. The each had their redeeming moments and added some fluff to the story but  weren't really needed. 

There were three points to the story that kept me interested.. the survival aspect.. which Denver rocked... the mystery and back story of what happened between the girls, and the growth of Denver and Abigail. So three things I like in my story and I thought they were done well. 

The story flipped between past and present and I do like books that do that, when done well. These type of storytelling really keep me invested because I never get too much at one time. I can't wait to start the next chapter just to be left wanting more... but I can wait because the other part of the story continues from where it left me hanging last. It's like two stories in one. I don't get bored with either because I only get snid bits at a time. Really good for those ADD readers. 

The ending was a bit sappy but just a bit and it wrapped everything up nicely with a pretty but damaged bow. I was satisfied and smiling so it was a winner for me. The only thing that kept it from being a 5 star read for me.. I was a bit predictable with the girls, it was a bit cliche from the high school aspect, it was bit corny in end.... but those were minor. The writing was supurb and the main character was pretty awesome. The story was the icing on the cake. 

If you like twisted humor, snarky characters, and a good survival story. Try this one. I throughly enjoyed it. 

Hi, I’m Kathy Parks, author of The Lifeboat Clique. (Katherine Tegen Books, March 1 2016)
It’s about Denver Reynolds, an outcast at her high school, who ends up in a lifeboat with the popular kids who hate her.
It’s Mean Girls meets Life of Pi!
I live near the beach in Carpinteria, California with my husband and two cats.
I love questions and meeting other authors.
Hope you’ll check out The Lifeboat Clique!