Review: Totally worth the wait!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 08 19, 2013
I am going to attempt to write a coherent review without either a) drooling on my keyboard and b) flailing around like a cracked out squirrel.This book...what can I say without giving the whole thing away?! It was amazing and the way Jenn wrote it was brilliant. She has a real talent for writing as if she's really and truly a teenage girl and even more interestingly (and in my opinion awesome) a teenage boy.After a turbulent and surprising ending to The Other Fish in the Sea Shark Out of Water picks right back up.  In true Jenn Cooksey fashion answers are revealed in round-about ways and if you pay close attention to the breadcrumbs you may just piece together some vital information before the curtains are actually drawn.But what do I really love about this series? Like I've raved about time and time again in both my Shark Bait and The Other Fish in the Sea reviews...the characters make this series what it is. These eight guys and girls are awesome...sometimes awesomely frustrating...but awesome nonetheless.This time around we really get to see a more "human" side of Jillian. She's not just the mistress of dark that many perceive her to be. Behind that mask of so-called sociopathic tendencies, Jillian does instead show us she has a heart and is willing to use it when the time arises. Jillian in the best and for a 13-year-old she's pretty wise and down to earth. So if anyone ever says she's a sociopath again... I have the written word to fight you with. ;) As for Kate, Melissa, and Camie - each has to deal with their own struggles in dealing with heartache, tragedy, jealousy, and insecurity. What I love about these girls is that they may not always handle things with the utmost grace and tact but they eventually find their way and give me reason to keep rooting for and loving them.Now onto the boys. In SOoW we truly see Tristan's not just a gorgeous behemoth with no emotion or moral code. In fact, he spends a lot of the book evolving into a man and developing said code. There is way more to Tristan than meets the eye. Since he is a much beloved book boyfriend I was happy to get a little more of him, as always.Dear Jeff! I love him. I will always love him. I had all kinds of feelings for him at the end of TOFitS. Pride, sympathy, love. He's such a great guy. Even though he had some questionable moments in this book, they were no unexpected nor necessarily unwarranted given his situation. Pete and Brandon also showed their true colors. Both had been sort of quiet but deadly in the previous books. In SOoW both Pete and Brandon are given their time to shine and provide many opportunities for wisdom and hilarity. I love all four of these boys so much!Shark Out of Water is a difficult but enjoyable read. Jenn Cooksey is not afraid to create challenges for her that challenge not only them but the readers. However the ride is well worth it and I highly encourage people who love a more mature YA to read this series. I freaking love it and the characters and it is among my favorites.