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HERE BESIDE THE RISING TIDE


EMILY JANE

Not yet published
Expected 28 jan. 25

3.79
97 ratings67 reviews

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A romance author takes a trip to her childhood beach home, but her summer is
upended by the startling return of a deceased childhood friend, newfound love,
and . . . sea monsters?

The USA Today bestselling author of On Earth as It Is on Television returns with
an earnest, humorous novel on the pressures of adult life, the magic of
childhood, and what swims in between.

As a lonely ten-year-old resident of Pearl Island, Jenni Farrow befriends Timmy
Caruso and together they enjoy a glorious summer of swimming, fireworks, and
carnival rides. (Not to mention rescuing a strange sea creature from a
tidepool). Then, one late summer day, Timmy disappears.

Thirty years later, Jenni—now Jenn Lanaro, bestselling author of the Philipia
Bay action-romance series—is desperate to escape the fatigue of her career and
her soon-to-be-ex-husband. With her Pokémon-obsessed children in tow, Jenn rents
a summer house on Pearl Island. But shortly after she arrives, a boy emerges
from the nighttime sea. His name, he says, is Timmy Caruso. He’s ten years old.
And he’s on a mission to save the world.

In the days that follow, Jenn grapples with work deadlines, her own spirited
children, the mysterious boy-from-the-sea, and her burgeoning interest in a very
sexy contractor. But when alarming events unfold along the coast—shark attacks,
tidal waves, a proliferation of sugar-addicted sea creatures, and a terror out
in the deeper water—she wonders if just maybe the young boy knows what he’s
doing after all?
Show more
GenresFictionFantasyScience Fiction


400 pages, Paperback

Expected publication January 28, 2025

Book details & editions

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16 people are currently reading
10.9k people want to read

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

EMILY JANE

2 books227 followers
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Emily Jane grew up in Boise, Boulder, and San Francisco. She earned her B.A. in
psychology from the University of San Francisco and her J.D. from the University
of California, Hastings College of the Law. She lives on an urban farm in
Cincinnati, Ohio with her husband, Steve; their two children; their cat, Scully;
and their husky Nymeria. On Earth as It Is on Television is her debut novel.


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COMMUNITY REVIEWS

3.79
97 ratings67 reviews
5 stars

25 (25%)
4 stars

35 (36%)
3 stars

31 (31%)
2 stars

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews
Emily
111 reviews
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October 27, 2024
I found Emily Jane’s second novel to be similar in tone to her first - whimsical
with a hint of sci-fi, but rooted in great characterization with meaningful
on-page relationships. Her characterization really shines through the
friendships, family relationship, and romantic relationships that she showcases
and develops along the way.

The plot is a bit ridiculous, but in a fun and magical way - a sea monster off
the coast of a small beach town, where everything is otherwise as you might
expect it (apart from the squidoodle, of course). The main character, Jenni, is
a mom who’s about to go through divorce, and dealing with a lot of complicated
emotions. It turns out to be a very heartwarming tale about growth and evolving
into new versions of yourself.

The sci-fi in this is not too strong, so don’t expect complicated
world-building, or a lot of definitive detail regarding the other entities in
this book. The focus is definitely on Jenni’s family and relationships, and her
kids are hilarious. The side characters definitely carry the plot along and make
it a well-rounded cast! The beginning does drag a bit, but the second half makes
up for it in action and fun.

With a bit of romance, action, and many heartfelt moments, this was definitely
an enjoyable read! Thanks to NetGalley, Hyperion Avenue, and Emily Jane for the
eARC! I was so excited to receive this as my first ARC, since I found her first
novel to be so much fun.
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netgalley


8 likes
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Stephen Smith
3 reviews4 followers
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July 17, 2024
Loved this book so much! Blends Jane’s style and sci-fi sensibilities from On
Earth as it is on Television with a dash of horror and romance! Fast paced and
at times action packed but with a heart and soul and plenty of humor. Lots to
love here! Will particularly appeal to fans of Jane’s debut as well as those who
enjoy jam bands, Pokémon, kaiju, and romance. I know it’s a lot to unpack, but
if you enjoy it half as much as I did you won’t regret it!

science-fiction


8 likes
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Michelle Kimber
93 reviews13 followers
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December 21, 2024
This was a great, whimsical read. I was drawn into the story right away. The
characters came alive for me. The author's writing was great. I look forward to
reading more by her. If you want a fun read, check it out.


7 likes
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Mo Holub
106 reviews1 follower
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September 25, 2024
A mystery from the past, a crumbling present, and a threat to the future collide
in Jane's sophomore novel, and it is beautiful in the most humorous and
heartfelt of ways. I am in love with every word. 10 out of 10 recommend reading
this one while on the beach of a small coastal island for the full immersive
experience.

2024-top-ten


6 likes
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emily *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ
141 reviews14 followers
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December 29, 2024
3.5 ⭐️
this was definitely an interesting sci-fi romance(ish) book and i thought it was
good just not necessarily for me. when jenn is a child growing up on pearl
island her mother is a single mother so she spends a lot of time by herself. one
summer she befriends a boy named timmy and after a tragic accident that summer
timmy drowns. fast forward 30 years jenn is going through a messy separation and
in an impulsive attempt at control she takes her children to pearl island.
freaky things start happening and there are odd sea creatures and a sea monster
that is out for blood. overall super interesting just not really my cup of tea.

thank you to the publishers and netgalley for the ARC!
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5 likes
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Jaci Gonzales
2 reviews2 followers
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August 28, 2024
Wow! This author has an amazing imagination, but she roots every wacky idea in
something true. I loved the take on aging and motherhood in this day and age. I
was happily along for this wild ride. This book is incredibly unique, and I
can’t wait to read all the future Emily Jane novels.


5 likes
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Kate Mock
37 reviews
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October 3, 2024
Another imaginative and moving work by Emily Jane. She has a distinct flair for
blending genres so that those of us who are not usually fans of alien action
stories are still won over by the detailed characters and their deeply human
emotional journeys. The story is reminiscent of “A Wrinkle in Time” with quirky
children battling an unearthly evil, and it has a similarly immense scope
without ever leaving this planet. At the same time, her prose reminds this
reader of Frederik Backman, taking simple descriptions of daily life and letting
them sit heavy with deeper implications about humanity and the meaning of our
existence. Woven through it all is Jane’s trademark humor and clear love for
life and all its ups and downs. Suspense, action, romance, giggles—this story
has it all, plus enough beauty and heart that this reader wept in the airport
terminal while finishing the book. Highly recommend.
Disclosure: reviewer was provided an ARC.
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Matt
95 reviews1 follower
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August 24, 2024
I loved Emily Jane’s first book and this has a lot of the same
off-the-beaten-path quirky storytelling but was a bit more congested with fewer
moments of levity but still an incredibly fun and different book. Still
recommend but read On Earth as It Is on Television first.


3 likes
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ReneeReads
937 reviews77 followers
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November 13, 2024
This book was interesting and definitely different and I think many readers will
love this one! Personally, this was not my favorite book but there is no doubt
it's a good story. The fact that Jenn just up and left with her kids did put me
off a bit and I don't know if that was the best decision but it does make a good
setup for the plot.

Thank you NetGalley and Hyperion Avenue for access to the ARC in exchange for an
honest review.
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2 likes
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Sherwestonstec
829 reviews
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December 9, 2024
Quirky, strange, fun, weird, some romance, squidoodles at the beach that evolve
like Pokemon. A mother getting divorced takes her two kids ages 10 and 7 to the
beach for some fun. Then the fun begins. Her best friend who was 10 when he
disappeared 30 years ago returns, he is still 10. The book jacket does warn you
“love, fun, sun, and sea monsters?” I think this is the quirkiest book I have
read this year and I did enjoy it. I do want to read her first book now. The
ending makes you smile.



2 likes
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Stephanie Neher
38 reviews4 followers
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October 21, 2024
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

This was such a fun ride! A real genre bender of a novel and one of the most
unique I've ever read. It really had everything you could ask for: humor,
action, family drama, romance, adorable squid creatures, and mild eldritch
horror. As a fan of Pokémon I also appreciated those references. I've never read
Emily Jane before, but I'll be certain to grab any books I see going forward!
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kella ౨ৎ
67 reviews44 followers
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August 21, 2024
this book was different from anything i've read before. the story was intriguing
and at times somewhat ridiculous but in a good way. i love that the author
embraces the weird and absurd.
i also appreciated the found family aspect and the message of being able to
"evolve."
ps: this was my first arc read so that's exciting :)

thank you to Hyperion Avenue, NetGalley, and Emily Jane for the ARC!

arcs


3 likes
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Diane O'Brian
1 review
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August 27, 2024
Is there a such thing as a Fantasy summer read genre? If not let Emily Jane's
book be the beginning of one! On one hand it feels like a summer beach read, a
mom taking her kids to the home she grew up in on the beach developing feelings
for the hot contractor, and on the other is this wild fantasy element with sea
creatures and the possibility of earth's destruction. Somehow she melds it all
together as you manage to suspend reality and get pulled into the story.


2 likes
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Julia
1,492 reviews25 followers
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January 1, 2025
NetGalley pub 1/28/25

This is a sci-fi/fantasy/romance mash up. The storyline was unique. I've never
read anything quite like this.

Jenn and her 2 children are spending the summer on the island where Jenn grew
up. Jenn is trying to escape a bitter divorce and her husband. Things take a
weird turn when sea monsters show up, along with a childhood friend of Jenn's
that went missing years ago. I liked how Jenn became a "go with the flow" type
of person as the story progressed. And the amount of candy she and her children
eat throughout is kind of amazing. This was a fun story to read.
Show more
fiction netgalley


2 likes
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Cierra Buchholz
13 reviews
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December 30, 2024
First of all - I just want to say this book is going to be incredibly special to
me, as it is the first ARC I have ever received! Wohoo!

I really enjoyed the writing style and multiple perspectives and interjecting
chapters of ‘Philippa Bay’. I fell in love with Jenns character, she felt so
true and real to me. Overall, this book to me is about growing pains (even at
stages of life where we are supposed to have it “figured out” - spoiler alert! -
we don’t), dealing with loss and how it shapes us, and the complexity of mother
hood. I found it to be very beautiful.

My only problem with the book is that the ending seemed to drag on with a bit of
repetition. But that doesn’t take away from how strong the overall story was.

Look for my full review on the “Kelp Journal” if you’re interested in hearing
more about this book!

Some of my favorite quotes…
- “Its just that,well, people change over time. I'm not the same me. Dad's not
the same Dad. And sometimes when people change, they grow in different
directions. They don't fit together anymore. And there's nothing anyone can do
to change that. But it's not anyone's fault. It's just a thing that happens."
-“Life was a losing battle, really. Everything else out there in the vast beyond
was so lifeless and empty. Mostly, a person had to look away. But there came a
moment, or many moments, when a person had to extract their proverbial head from
the sand and set aside their screens and remove their headphones and stand
witness.”
-“sometimes love wasn't enough. Sometimes things didn't turn out the way they
should.”
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on-my-bookshelf


1 like
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Larissa Distler
243 reviews16 followers
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December 19, 2024
This book is hilarious and stressful and relatable and weird and fun. From the
description I expected a typical piece of upmarket fiction with a metaphorical
sea monsters. What I got was something else entirely. Jenn grapples with
childhood through an adult lens against the backdrop of an ever-increasingly
insane situation. She struggles with the cynicism of adulthood, the death of her
mother, divorce, and coming to terms with her mistakes. Meanwhile there's a long
lost boy, a hot contractor, and a squidoodle to contend with, not to mention the
very real monster lurking in the sea.

Thank you to Netgalley and Hyperion for this ARC!
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1 like
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Erica
174 reviews8 followers
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December 16, 2024
A boy who’s been missing for 30 years walks out of the ocean just when his
childhood friend returns to the area, and things get really weird from there.
This a fun and fast paced story that had some very light romance and a lot of
interesting ideas. The characters felt like real people that kept even the
craziest parts of this from feeling too unbelievable.

Note: ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest
review


1 like
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taylor
80 reviews3 followers
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December 4, 2024
such a fun and unique read!! this would be so much fun to read on the beach. it
was so whimsical and crazy and quirky and full of childlike wonder. I loved that
it was so easy to fall in love with the characters. A perfect blend of mystery,
motherhood, romance, sci fi, and probably more. I’m so happy I got to read this,
thank you netgalley for the early copy!!


1 like
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Sarah
35 reviews
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December 17, 2024
This was a fun, quirky book. I liked that it felt like a fresh and unique
concept. I also really liked the humour and the Mom’s internal dialogue.

Unfortunately, about halfway in, it was really dragging for me. I ended up
having a hard time getting through this. That being said, I would definitely try
something else by this author. I just wish this one wasn’t quite as long.

Thank you to Hyperion Avenue and NetGalley for the advanced copy.
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1 like
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Estee
534 reviews
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December 18, 2024
3.5 stars but I’m rounding it up to 4 for creativity.

If you are looking for a serious book about ____________ (insert any topic here)
this is not the book for you.

If nothing else, this book will entertain you and force your brain to create
images of sea monsters not yet known to mankind. There is something for everyone
in this book. Squidoodles, dinosaurs, a tentageddon and even a hot carpenter.
(Looking at you Sharon. I told you there was something for everyone!)

This pretty much sums it up: ”life is absurd. We have to revel in the
absurdity.”

Team Wave Blast all the way.

Thank you to Hyperion Avenue and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book.
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arc


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Emily Chamberlin
47 reviews
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November 8, 2024
Cute, quick fantasy-esque read.

A young boy goes missing when the MC is a young child. As a “boring adult” and
author, she goes back with her kids, where the missing boy reappears.

The story is a fun-filled journey of evolving made up Pokémon, imagination and
sea monsters.


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Erica Ruth
107 reviews3 followers
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November 28, 2024
Okay, I absolutely loved this bizarro book! Time travel! Sea monsters! Summers
at the beach! Fans of rom-coms, mom-coms, sci-fi, Harlequin romances, and
Pokémon, specifically, will eat this book up, but I think almost anyone can take
something away from it.

“They were all just insignificant humans clinging to life on their big hunk of
space rock, making it up as they went along…”

And all references to the “Chuck-sized dent” had me reeling 😂
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Jessica Koczera
26 reviews
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November 30, 2024
This was a surprisingly great read! Different than anything I have ever read
before. Had some humor, sci-fi, adventure, catastrophe, etc. Couldn't put it
down. Highly recommend!


1 like
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Lourdes B
24 reviews
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December 15, 2024
Before you read my review, you must know
I usually write my review while reading the book, once i finished it, i will say
if i liked it or not.

Here we go…

A traumatic opening
Cute little story with a sad ending
But then i got on philipa bay story

Are supposed to be different stories along the book? Or im just not getting it?

First day of summer break•
Makes no sense at all, i don’t know what are they talking about until 2 pages
later
-

Jennifer seems like a selfish person and a disconnected mom.

She is like her mother, always working never with her kids but when the husband
asks for divorce and wants custody , she doesn’t want to give it, when the
husband has been the stay at home dad, it does make sense the children living
with him.
-
I still don’t get the mid stories
Are they supposed to add something to the story?

-
May
I still don’t like Jennifer,
Clearly the kids don’t like her, why does she insist on taking them?
But i hope to see some character development

I don’t know if their trying to make Chuck look bad but honestly i’m kinda on
his side.

-
I like how a chapter is about Evie and Mason’s perspective
-
So i think i get it now
Philipia is Jennifer’s character on her books
Which she compared herself alot

And Timmy apparently is a ghost stuck on Pearl Island.
-
I dont think philipia stories bring something to the novel
I feel like i can skip them and I won’t miss any special detail.

-
It’s betsy an important character? If not, no need to be in this books

-
June 3 evening

It feels like alot happened since the last chapter and i skipper a few pages, i
don’t know what’s going on at this point.
She feels “distracted “ by the contrator which they only had one well two
encounters together.

But the story about Timmy is actually very interesting.
-
Time travel and sea monsters, i still don’t get very well the story but it’s
interesting
But what I still don’t understand are the philipia storyline, i hope through the
book I’ll find the plot.

-
So Evie’s missing and Jen is thinking about a contrator ass and her sex life
with her ex husband?
Like what the f*??
I hated that scene
Honestly at this point Jennifer is my least favorite character on this book !

-
Female lead irresponsable, immature.
-
I just can’t seem to get into this story, is so random
Doesn’t have a plot, or the “mission” timmy’s supposed to have.

-
Now a chapter about the Editor
I don’t think this author knew what she wanted to write.
Lots of ideas, lots of characters and no storyline
-
This books seems endless…
-
The battle was kinda interesting
-
I didn’t like the end, it was disappointing

The sea monster just disappeared??
And why did the mom show up in the future? I thought it was going to be so Jen
would do some kick ass stuff but not
It was useless

Honestly i wouldn’t read another book in case it got a sequel…

Thank you all for the exchange of the book for my honest review !

This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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Kristi Lamont
1,894 reviews63 followers
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September 21, 2024
BOOK REPORT
Received a complimentary copy of Here Beside the Rising Tide, by Emily Jane,
from Hyperion Avenue/NetGalley, for which I am appreciative, in exchange for a
fair and honest review. Scroll past the BOOK REPORT section for a cut-and-paste
of the DESCRIPTION of it from them if you want to read my thoughts on the book
in the context of that summary.

I was so excited to get a chance to do an early read of this book—I loved Emily
Jane’s first one (On Earth as It Is on Television), so had super-high hopes.

Alas, Ms Jane did not hit the same high-water mark this go around, resorting to
what felt like forced whimsy to me. And this book went on too long.

All that said, it was still a lot of escapist fun, and I would not hesitate for
a minute to read her next book, if she writes one.

Which I hope she does.

DESCRIPTION
A romance author takes a trip to her childhood beach home, but her summer is
upended by the startling return of a deceased childhood friend, newfound love,
and . . . sea monsters?

"Unique and utterly heartwarming" – Ruby Dixon

"Emily Jane is a storyteller unbound by genre" – Rebekah Bergman

From the author of On Earth as It Is on Television.

At age ten, Jenni Farrow and her new best friend, Timmy Caruso, enjoy a glorious
summer on Pearl Island filled with fireworks, beach days, and carnival rides
(not to mention that strange sea creature they rescue from a tide pool). Then,
one late summer day, Timmy disappears.

Thirty years later, Jenni—now Jenn Lanaro, bestselling author of the Philipia
Bay action-romance series—is desperate to escape the fatigue of her career and
her soon-to-be-ex-husband. With her Pokémon-obsessed kids in tow, Jenn rents a
summer house on Pearl Island. But shortly after she arrives, a boy emerges from
the nighttime sea. His name, he says, is Timmy Caruso. He’s ten years old. He’s
on a mission to save the world, and he needs her help.

In the days that follow, as Jenn grapples with work deadlines, spirited
children, and her burgeoning interest in a very sexy contractor, alarming and
mysterious events unfold along the coast. And when a terror appears in the
deeper waters, Jenn begins to wonder if, just maybe, Timmy is onto something.

This second book by the author of On Earth as It Is on Television continues her
voice-driven, genre-bending multiverse of fiction that is just flat-out fun.


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Debra Gaynor
567 reviews5 followers
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July 24, 2024
Here Beside the Rising Tide
Emily Jane
I love this book. I was not familiar with the author Emily Jane until I read
Here Beside the Rising Tide. Her name will stick with me. This is a unique read,
funny, bizarre, tender. In this tale we meet Jenni Farrow. The ten-year-old
lived on Pearl Island. She and Timmy Caruso spend the summer together, swimming,
visiting the carnival, riding the rides, and sharing in the celebration by
watching the fireworks. They had fun and their friendship was important and then
Timmy disappeared.
It’s been thirty years since Jenni Farrow aka Jenn Lanaro stepped foot on Pearl
Island. Her book Philipia Bay, a romance action series is on the Best Seller
list. She is exhausted from the pressure of her career and the emotional fatigue
from dealing with her soon to be ex-husband. She rents a house for the summer,
packs up her children and heads to Pearl Island. Shortly after they arrived, she
sees a ten-year-old boy, he comes out of the sea at night. He says his name is
Timmy Caruso and he is there to perform an important quest; he must save the
world. Impossible Timmy Caruso if he was alive would be forty years old.
Life goes on as Jenn attempts to meet her writing deadlines, care for her
children, deal with the odd boy from the sea and spend time with the sexy
contractor that has caught her interest. Suddenly things begin to happen,
“sharks are attacking, tidal waves, increase of sugar-addicted sea creatures,
and a terror in the deeper water.” Could the young boy from the sea be right?
Was he really there to save the world?
OMG what a book. I know the plot sounds strange to say the least but take my
word for it, you want, need and must read this book. We all try to hold on to
the puzzle pieces of our life. But there are monsters trying to steal the puzzle
pieces. We want to hold on to the past, the precious memories of our childhood,
of running through the sand, chasing the waves as they rush to shore, feeding
the sea gulls, catching your first fish, playing with your new puppy and any of
the other memories that make you smile. Suddenly, when you least expect it, it
smacks you up the side of the face and you realize that it’s all in the past,
its gone,
Thank you, Emily Jane, for writing this book. Thank you NetGalley for providing
me with a review copy.

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Trevin Sandlin
233 reviews
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December 31, 2024
A whimsical Pokemon-fueled sea monster story? I don't know how exactly this book
manages to work - I love it, tolerated it, and maybe don't understand it all at
the same time.

Let's get to the positives first. There is a real love and understanding of kids
here as well as the world of a beach town (particularly one on a barrier
island). Kids on vacation (both in the past and today) are a particular breed
and I feld that the author really captured what it is like to make friends on
vacation and the peculiar alchemy that happens then. She also seems to capture
the feel of mother and kids - something I could only guess at (being a
dude/dad), but it felt real. And the whole "Pokemon-ness" of modern kids
certainly is captured very very well. That's a world I barely understand, but I
know enough to have had a feel for where things were going with all of that. It
worked well for me. So did the Philipia Bay excerpts - mostly. There were times
where I could have used less, but they mostly worked.

What didn't work? The whole thing with Chuck made a certain amount of sense, but
the part of the "underminstances" just...didn't. I felt like it could have
worked, but it wasn't really explored. The exceprts from Danz Landry REALLY
didn't work for me. They took you out of the story and they might have worked
better if that aspect had been explored more, but it was thrown in as a sort of
nudge-nudge male rights nonsense that just wasn't explored enough to justify it
in the book. Likewise, the romance REALLY didn't work for me. The two people
barely know each other, have almost nothing in common with one another but
suddenly they're into each other? It was unnecessary and a distraction. I ended
the book thinking it would have been better if it had been hinted at as a future
possibility rather than the more direct thing that happened.

The plot...just...don't look too close. It doesn't make a ton of sense. Then
again, as Dax says late in the book: "But life is absurd. We have to revel in
the absurdity." The alchemy shouldn't work here. You'd think from the above
paragraph that I didn't like this - I truly did. But maybe I just didn't
understand it. But I don't have to understand everything to enjoy it.

3.75 stars, rounded up to 4. Thank you to NetGalley and Hyperion Avenue for an
advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review
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Jennifer
Author 8 books34 followers
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November 30, 2024
This book is bonkers, and I mean that as a complement. There is A LOT going on
in here, which for some readers may be off-putting. But I really enjoyed the
ride (though the tonal shifts were a bit chunky... not sure what purpose the
editor's POV served.) Basically a 4.5 for me.

There's a bit of romance (our hero, Jenn is a romance writer), there's a bit of
family drama (parenting struggles, the death of a mother, an impending divorce),
there's a light bit of Sci-Fi (a mysterious boy from the past who reappears/a
bit of an ET vibe) and then there's HEAVY Sci-Fi (a giant monster in the sea!)

Does it all go together? Mostly, yes. Particularly if you are the sort who is
comfortable with things taking a swerve into the surreal (*raises hand*). And I
thought it was a great analogy for parenting in the modern world. As Jenn thinks
to herself at one point, "Scared was a permanent feature of being sentient in a
volatile universe."

I though Jenn was a believable character, and I liked that she was not a great
parent, not a great wife...just this woman who is thrust into a crazy situation
and tries to do her best. (But gosh is there a lot of screen time for those
kids!) Nothing about the craziness is ever explained, (WHY is this monster thing
happening? Who knows? Climate change? It is a metaphor?) But I was OK with that,
because it seems like that how horrific things happen in life too-suddenly and
without reason.

Heads-up...there is SO MUCH CANDY in this book. It plays an integral part of the
story. So you might want to get a handful of gummy worms before you crack this
open.

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for granting me the opportunity to read
this in exchange for an honest review.
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Jenny B (RhinoAGoodBook)
110 reviews4 followers
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December 23, 2024
As a child, Jenni's summertime best friend disappears into the ocean while
standing in fairly shallow water next to her. Thirty years later she ends up
back at her hometown beach with her two children for the summer. Jenn is trying
to escape her ending marriage and reconnect with her internet addicted children.
When her presumed dead BFF emerges from the ocean as the same 10 year old boy,
she starts to question her sanity. Even more unexplained things begin happening,
including some unusual sea creatures who are obsessed with sugar, and Jenni has
to not only keep her kids from danger, but find herself along the way.

Much like the squidoodles, this story was equal parts strange and cute. As a
sometimes overwhelmed mom worried about screen time and tired of being tired, I
could easily relate to parts of it. Also, much like her children I appreciate
some good Pokemon references so that was a plus. I loved the bit of sci-fi mixed
in with the humor, such a fun cross over of genres. It was fun to see Jenn's
relationship with her kids evolve as the story progressed, that's where much of
the heart and humor in the story are found. I read through this book so quickly,
it kept me engaged and I wanted to see what happened next. We do switch POVs a
few times, and there are "excerpts" from the romance books her character writes
and the self-help guru her husband is obsessed with.

Overall this was an entertaining read, it's got a bit of something for everyone,
but would definitely be appreciated most by people who enjoy sci-fi and sea
monsters. That being said this book is perfectly quirky. I look forward to
reading more from this author! I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley for
my opinions.
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Jan
4,814 reviews82 followers
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January 1, 2025
This was an interesting, quirky, fantastical story of a summer at the beach for
mom Jenni, a romance author, and her two Pokemon obsessed children, as she's
trying to deal with her impending divorce. She rents a beach house near her
Mom's dilapidated property, with the intent of finally dealing with the family
property after her Mom's death.

Thirty years previously, Jenni had been at the same beach on Pearl Island,
playing with her 10 year old friend Timmy Caruso, when Timmy disappeared into
the ocean. Assumed drowned in a riptide, his body was never found.

Until... a 10 year old boy calling himself Timmy Caruso appears on the beach,
and he recognizes Jenni. Jenni's children befriend Timmy, and together they
discover magical creatures, the squidoodles, in the tide pools. It soon becomes
obvious that Timmy has returned to help the world fight a previously unknown sea
monster, with the help of the children and the squidoodles.

While the plot is totally fantastic, and unbelievable, it exposes some deep
seated truths and emotions. It highlights the way parents 'evolve' from the
children they were, and how they need to grow to into the people they need to
become. It questions friendships and what it takes to 'fight' difficult
situations. Jenni learns how to deal with the adults around her, and how to
handle the job she no longer enjoys.

This book was not what I expected, and was more fantasy that I typically read,
but it was enjoyable. For someone who's kids grew up on Pokemon, there was
surprisingly a lot I could relate to.
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