Adrift by Paul Griffin

Adrift
Written by Paul Griffin
Contemporary, Survival, Thriller
Published July 29th 2015
240 Pages
Thank you to Text Publishing
RATING ★★★☆
Five of us went out on the water that night.
None of us came back whole, and not all of us came back.

Best friends Matt and John are spending the summer working. Matt to save money for college, John to kill time before trade school. On the beach, the beautiful Driana stops Matt in his tracks. Dri, Stef and JoJo invite the boys to a party at Dri's Hamptons mansion, and Matt drags John along.

When Stef decides it’s a beautiful night to go windsurfing, the others race out on the water to make sure she’s safe. But with no land in sight and a broken boat engine, it’s not just Stef they have to worry about. And as the hours turn into days, the prospect of rescue seems further and further away...
Matt is going places. While saving for his college education, he and best friend John work the beach during the summer months, changing tourists inflated prices for sweets and treats along the Hamptons shoreline. That's when Matt first sees the exotic Driana, rich, charismatic and along with Brazilian friends Stef and JoJo, invite the boys to the party of the summer. That's where their lives begin to unravel. When Stef decides to take the windsurfer out at midnight and finds herself in trouble, the group are forced to borrow a small boat in order to retrieve her from the water. But Stef's injuries are far worse than they'd first realised and heading back to shore to seek treatment looks unlikely when the motor splutters and fails to start. With Stef bleeding, the group are forced to wait until morning for rescue. 

Only rescue doesn't arrive.

Throughout the night, the group have drifted out to sea. With no land in sight and only each other for company, each day becomes a fight for survival. Not just for the injured Stef, but for themselves and from each other.

MY THOUGHTS

Adrift was terrifying. A psychological thriller and fight for survival. Imagine being stranded at sea, no land in sight and with strangers you had only met hours prior. That's what faces the both Matt and John, best friends who neither are strangers to violence. Dri is a Manhattan girl, but cousin Stef and her boyfriend JoJo are Brazilian nationals, enjoying the summer before it all begins to fall apart. Told from Matt's point of view who has limited medical knowledge, Dri who had basic survival skills and John, with his calm exterior that has him dubbed the Iceman. JoJo spends most of his time fawning over the heavily injured Stef, her arm torn to pieces and the limb now turning grey. It's eerie. Between the group of five, it seems inevitable that one is on the verge of snapping.

As they started to turn on one another, I found myself incredibly anxious. With a hammer and makeshift harpoon as potential weapons, the storyline has a dangerous undercurrent of unpredictability and I loved every moment. My only real issues were how the group came to be out there in the first place. An idiotic snap decision when there seemed to be no real danger at the time, yet there were no safety checks on the boat and no one, even the stoic John, showed any real common sense. Although superbly written, it lacked emotion sadly. The thriller aspect was pure perfection, but the quieter moments between the characters, especially Matt and Dri fell flat. Matt was still coming to terms with a horrific incident that he and John were involved in three years prior, but even as their story emerged, I felt emotionally disconnected to them both. I really enjoyed it. I loved the thriller aspect and survival story, but it needed a little more emotion within it's characters and their plight. It's the only difference from it being a good read into an incredible read.

THE VERDICT

Adrift was an enthralling thriller that simmers along, leaving readers anxious and defenseless. Well written and a unique tale of survival in the most desolate of conditions. Thoroughly enjoyed it.

37 comments

  1. Wow...this one definitely sounds like one I need to pick up soon! I really enjoyed Paul Griffin’s BURNING BLUE (which was also really thriller-y) and so I’m glad you enjoyed this one and this one is pretty terrifying–I love books that can shake you to your core :P Great review!!

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    1. It certainly did Rabiah. Burning Blue sounds like an awesome read, will need to check it out. This one is pretty brutal and kept me on the edge of my seat.

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  2. Okay, I definitely want to read this! The cover looks like something straight out of a movie, and I love how the story follows that trend as well. If the only issue with Adrift is that the characters lacked emotional connections, then I'm most likely going to pick this up. (I've been reading worse books, so this is nothing to me lol) Amazing review as usual Kelly, you have this gift that makes me want to go broke every time I'm on your blog lol.

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    1. The cover is incredible isn't it and an awesome indication of how incredible the storyline is. I just didn't feel that connection, where you might be the opposite. Still a brilliant read nonetheless. Looking forward to seeing what you think of it.

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  3. Oh gosh. I hate reading books that make me feel as desperate as the characters. And what could be more desperate than a group of people adrift in the open ocean? Whelp.

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    1. The premise is frightening. Even more so what happens while they're out there. I'll be thinking twice before ever going out into open water again.

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  4. OMGG WE ARE ABSOLUTELY TWINS ON THIS.!! That's exactly how I felt! Like I was chewing my fingernails with nerves, but the emotion was so not there. And the boat. ERGH. Whyyy?! I'd get it if they were all super drunk, but they didn't seem to be? It was pure stupidity, tbh. STILL. I enjoyed this one!

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    1. Too many idiotic decisions that caused them to be adrift in the first place, which really didn't impact on the storyline for me, but the lack of emotion did. I think when it comes to thrillers, I need that emotional connection with the characters, and the style of writing was a little too monotone for me. I really enjoyed it regardless though too.

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  5. Hmm, I like the idea of the story and the thriller aspect but if I can't connect to the characters I'm probably not going to enjoy the book too much. But I think I would definitely be biting my nails if I ever did read this!

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    1. Oh, it's definitely still enjoyable Alise, but for me I needed to feel a greater emotional connection to really immerse myself. Well worth the read, frightening stuff.

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  6. I don't know if I'll enjoy the book if the emotions are lacking but the survival/thriller aspect sounds wonderful. I also love the vibes the cover is giving, huhu.

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    1. It's a great read Naban. That lack of connection may have just been me, but it's worth giving it a go just for that survival aspect. I can't recall having read anything like it.

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  7. Books like this one always freak me out, but I also really enjoy reading them because of the suspense aspect. This one sounds pretty good although I know I will most likely struggle with the lack of emotional connection with any of the characters. That's always a requirement for me to enjoy a story. Still though, I want to see how this all ends.
    Fantastic review, Kelly!

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    1. Nick, it'll probably blow your socks off. There are parts in this, even without having that connection, the vivid images is paints will leave you on the verge of peeing yourself. It'll make you think twice before getting on a boat. Ever again. Looking forward to seeing what you think of it.

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  8. THIS BOOK LOOKS AWESOME!!! I'm totally digging the cover! And the plot sounds so thrilling and suspenseful!! (I'm kind of spooked out by the fact that the one girl's arm was torn to pieces. (Oh, goodness) but other than that.... I'm buying it!!

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    1. The arm is really the least of their worries Keionda, it gets much much worse from there. My goodness, it was terrifying in parts, completely surprised me how incredible the thriller aspect was. I thought it would have been more so survival. Can't wait to see what you think of it, it's a great read.

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  9. Woah, this one sounds like it was a really intense read Kelly! I love my thrillers, so I think I'll enjoy going into this one. Thanks for the review Kelly!

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    1. Intense is the perfect way to describe it Jeann. Some of the scenes are so incredibly vivid that you'll read peaking through your fingers. Really looking forward to seeing your thoughts.

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  10. OHMYGOD THIS SOUNDS REALLY GOOD. Mainly because thrillers that keep me on the edge of my seat, er, bed, YES PLEASE. Awh, I feel ya on the emotion thing, and I can see how it would be a problem :/ But overall this sounds great, and lovely review as always <3

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    1. Thanks Nirvana. It's still well worth the read, even if you find you couldn't connect to the characters. Just for the thriller aspect alone.

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  11. This sounds really awesome! I've only read one other book by Paul Griffin, so this at least tells me I won't be let down when I read Adrift for myself. Fabulous review, Kelly!

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    1. Thanks Sophia. Ooh, I must check out his other titles, so happy to hear you enjoyed it.

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  12. You know what a big fan I am of mysteries and thrillers Kelly, so this sounds right up my alley. It's a shame that, while the thrill and the action were wonderfully written, that the characterization and the emotions of the story just weren't there. Definitely going to have to consider giving this a try depending on the other reviews I see of it. Thanks for sharing Kelly and, as always, fabulous review! ♥

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    1. Thanks Zoe. It's definitely well worth the read. Other readers might connect with the characters more than I did, but it didn't impact too much on how great this one was.

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  13. Oh, this sounds great. I usually enjoy whodunnit type thrillers more than race through the jungle / struggle on the high-seas kinda thrillers but I'm adding this to my list!

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    1. I don't mind either actually, as long as it's well written. With Adrift, it flows along, telling the characters stories and you also see snippets of what's going on on the mainland too. The twists you don't see coming, like walking down a quiet street and having someone jump out at you, even more so for teens reading this.

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  14. Look at that book cover though! My thoughts immediately went to The Perfect Storm, have you seen that movie? I have to say, your review of this survival thriller sure made me giddy. I just received a survival thriller to read myself! Who knows? I may run to this one should the one I have live up to my expectations ;)

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    1. I love that movie! And it reminded me of that one too as soon as I'd seen in. I love thrillers, and even though I didn't feel that emotional connection, the storyline still kept me riveted. Good luck with your thriller Claudia, looking forward to seeing your review.

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  15. Okay, my heart was beating so fast just reading your review, omg. This is terrifying, but I want to read it. Daaaaaamn. :o

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    1. YES! YOU DO! It's such a thrill ride Blessie, and downright scary in parts. Even the thought of being stranded at sea makes me nervous. Looking forward to seeing what you think of it.

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  16. I got this one for review as well and look forward to reading it. Though I read the blurb for some reason it didn't click that it was a thriller. I'm not the biggest thriller fan so I'm not sure how much I'll enjoy it. At least I'm going into it with my eyes a bit more opened. Great review.

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    1. It's a pretty mild thriller, more creepy anticipation than anything Rochelle. The psychological aspects were so well written and really looking forward to seeing what you think of it.

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  17. Kelly, your review has made this book sound simply amazing. I'm a lover of thrillers and survival stories. This one would suite me just fine. Gahh! You've made me want to read it so bad! Loved your review c:

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    1. Thanks poppet. It really was eerie. Imagine being stuck at sea, no land in sight with complete strangers and a best friend who seems to be turning on you as well. It's superbly creepy.

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  18. I have seen this one on a few blogs today and my curiosity finally got the best of me so I checked out your review. I've never been very good with thrillers, they scare me a lot. So I'm torn with this one, because the story totally intrigues me, but it is the exact kind of book that if turned into a film I would spend the entire time watching it from behind a cushion! I think I may borrow this one or get it out the library rather then spend money on it, just in case it's too scary and I can't read it! :)

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    1. That's a great idea and if they don't have it, perhaps ask them to get it in for you. It's not scary as such, but more that eerie anticipation of not knowing what's coming. Hopefully they can get you in a copy, I'd love to see what you think of it.

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  19. I am VERY curious about this one. Although being stranded at sea is actually my idea of hell and I think reading about it would freak me out. I have a fear of water I can't see the bottom of, mostly because I then have no idea what's lurking in it and waiting to eat me. This book will probably freak me out, but that will also make reading it more interesting.

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