Review: The Lifeguard by Deborah Blumenthal

The Lifeguard

by Deborah Blumenthal 

Published: March 1st 2012 

Publisher: Albert Whitman & Company

Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository

*ebook provided by publisher for an honest review.

Synopsis via Goodreads:

It's an unsettled summer for Sirena. Back in Texas, her family's splitting apart, but here in Rhode Island, at the cottage of her free-spirited aunt, it's a different world. There are long days at the beach and intriguing encounters with him. Pilot. He's the lifeguard with shamanic skills. He both saves her and makes her feel lost at sea. Sirena explores her obsession with Pilot and discovers his mysterious--almost magical--gifts.

~My Review~

This had the potential to be perfect, and while I did enjoy the book, it was in fact not that great. The Lifeguard is one of those stories that you like from start or stop reading from the first chapter. It really left me with a lot of mixed emotions. The plot was interesting and fresh, but it took forever to get to the purpose. 

Sirena was a likeable character but there were times where I got so annoyed with her complaining and ever moping over her sad situation. Indeed, it was horrible that her parents were getting a divorce and her family was falling apart but she stressed entirely too much on it. I get it, girl. Other than that, she was alright. I liked the fact that she volunteered, though at the beginning she was apprehensive due to her inner torments. But eventually she utilizes her time well by helping out and through the experience gained a new outlook on life.

The romantic wasn't exactly instant, which is good, but then it sort of dragged a bit. It turned out to be rather unfeeling for me. I really didn't get pulled in and maybe it's because Pilot wasn't actually apart of the story as much as he should've. That fact makes the synopsis and the title misleading, doesn't it? I mean, most of the story depicted Sirena's troubles and her dealing with change in her family structure. And whenever Pilot appeared, both physically and in memory, Sirena would drool over him, obsessively. Then again, maybe it's just me. Pilot was a nice character, though, whenever he showed up.

The writing was quick but there were times the story seemed as if it was going off course. Other than that, I liked the beach setting, incorporating art, and the overall mystery of the story. The supernatural kicks in from start to give that otherworldly vibe but most of the times I thought I was reading contemporary. It was a good book, but as I've mentioned before, it wasn't great. 

About the Author

Deborah Blumenthal is an award-winning journalist and nutritionist who now divides her time between writing children's books and adult novels. She has been a regular contributor to The New York Times (including four years as the Sunday New York Times Magazine beauty columnist), and a home design columnist for Long Island Newsday. Her health, fitness, beauty, travel, and feature stories have appeared widely in many other newspapers and national magazines including New York’s Daily News, The Washington Post, The Los Angeles Times, Bazaar, Cosmopolitan, Woman's Day, Family Circle, Self, and Vogue. 

http://www.deborahblumenthal.com