A mother’s dying wish. A son in search of answers. A fifteen-day surf trip with the California Girl who will dare him to rethink everything. Alone after his mother’s unexpected death, seventeen-year-old Shep leaves Texas to crash with his uncle’s family in Malibu. Before he can hang his cowboy hat, Shep learns something that blows his mind–in her youth, his hard-working single mom was a … hard-working single mom was a gifted surfer on her way to international fame. And her dying wish was for him to recreate the surf tour she completed when she was eighteen–the summer she got pregnant with him.
Along with his cousin Carmen (the red-blooded competitive surfer) and her best friend Samantha (the opinionated and mildly annoying beach goddess), Shep hits the road for a surf trip up and down Pacific Coast Highway. Armed with his mother’s ashes and fifteen sealed envelopes–each containing a page from her high school diary–Shep will discover a new side of the complex woman he’d only thought of as Mom, and might finally learn the identity of a man he’s never met–his father.
But each time he paddles out into the waves, a nagging question haunts him–the one he may not be ready to answer: Is he learning to surf because he wants to honor his mother’s dying wish, or running from the real reason he can’t go back to Texas–his own terrible mistake?
more
*Some Spoilers*
Shep has packed up all his belongings and travels from Houston to L.A. for a new life after his Mother’s death.
After arriving at his Uncles home, he is given an envelope with pages of his Mothers diary and vials of her ashes with a letter outlining where he is to travel to and what body of water the ashes are to be released into.
With his cousin Carmen and her best friend Samantha, Shep sets of on a journey that will give him an insight into a time in his Mothers life before she had Shep, a life where she could have become a pro surfer and which Shep had no idea about.
At the end of this journey Shep will not just learn about his Mother, but will learn so much more about himself, his beliefs, the two wonderful young women who accompany him on this journey and maybe a Father he only ever dreamt of.
Thanks to Booksprout for the opportunity to read and review this book.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is my first read from this itbornand I enjoyed it very much. I felt like I was on the adventure with Shep, Carmen and Sam. I loved very minuted of it. I just wished there was an epilogue.
One minute will change his life, in 15 days he will find himself.
Emotional and beautiful journey.
Shep just lost his mom to cancer and was pretty lost. He doesn’t know his father and now he needs answers .
Him, his cousin and her friend are on road trip that retraced his mom’s past, and maybe find the answers.
The lessons he learns and his journey is amazing.
I really really enjoyed reading this amazing book.
I received a free copy of this book and this is my volunteer review.
15 Days With You is a loving sucker punch that Shep feels time and time again as he’s traveling the California PCH with his mother’s memories. Her dying wish was for him to visit the places that were so special to her and to discover more about the girl she was and, possibly, the boy she loved. I had to take some breaks to compose myself when I’d be hit by one of those sucker punches that carried the weight of pure love and amazement. As Shep, Samantha and Carmen find his mother’s favorite places, he learns that she was an aspiring surfing champion. Who was this woman he called Mom? Ara speaks with an eloquent and expressive voice that touches our hearts and fills our minds with possibilities. Ara Grigorian has written a wonderful book that creates and holds its mood, pace and form from the first page to the last. Stunning!
ABSOLUTELY PHENOMENAL!!!
Surf’s up! Ara did an absolutely beautiful job bringing out all of my swirling emotions in this heartwarming and gut-wretching little gem. So many things to happen in just a short time. Grab your tissue when you pick up your copy cause trust me, you’re going to cry. No way around it. The characters were awe inspiring and full of life after having difficult issues and heartbreak to deal with. I really loved following the characters along witnessing their personalities bloom and blend together with such love and devotion. Yes, I cried. I’m not ashamed to admit it. Just don’t tell my kids. Just kidding. The scenes were so detailed and vivid it was easy to get lost in the whole adventure. I felt like one of the characters following along. I was hooked from the start and my focus glued on the pages. I couldn’t put it down. Such a great read. I’m still a little emotional so forgive me if I mess up a little. Awesome job Ara, thanks for sharing this remarkable jewel with us.
I wasn’t sure what to expect but I was blown away and sucked into this book right away. Shep is forced to go live with his Aunt and Uncle in California. He is grieving the death of his mother, and hiding from his past in Texas. He is shocked to find out that his mother was not who he thought she was. Her dying wish was for him to recreate the the things she did the last time she was in California. His cousin Carmen and her best friend Samantha head out with him on the 15 day journey. It is a journey that gives him insight into his mother, raises questions about his father, and slowly learns to open up an love. Fabulous story, loved the characters, loved the book!
Wow this read was just great the love was just hot off the charts hot I loved the characters it was just so heart felt and amazing I couldn’t get enough
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I liked the cover and the blurb but I had never heard of the author, so I decided to read this. Man! Best decision ever!
This story is well written, the characters and the plot very developed.
Shep grows from boy to man in 15 days spending time re-doing a tour his mom did at his very same age, years ago. He learns about his mother’s past as well as learns new things about himself.
Ara Grigorian has now been added to my list of good authors. I would read this book over again, the story is that good.
When Shep’s mother died, he left Texas to go to live with his aunt and uncle in California. He takes a journey with his cousin and her friend, a journey that his mother had planned out for him. Along the way, he find out things about her that she never shared when she was alive, learns about his father, and gets an amazing dose of self-realization. This was an incredible book to read, a very heartwarming story. (Hint – need tissues!) The author made me feel like I was there every step of the way.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This was a book that was wonderfully written and it gave me the feels with the great character and storyline development! This was a book that stayed with me long after the last page was read! I look forward to reading more from this author!
Truth in lending, I don’t read romances. Except when they’re well written. This one is very well written! Ara has created a wonderful journey of discovery. Seth, a young man coming of age amidst serious challenges, not the least of which is the loss of his mother, embarks on a final journey at her request. Along the way, he finds out who his mother really was, friendship and love, and who he himself is. Ara may have spent a great deal of time researching the technical details of surfing, but the magic is purely of his own creation, and he nails it! Seth rides a roller coast of grief, moving from anger to sadness to confusion and back as he discovers how much his mother loved him and what she sacrificed for him. There were many passages that caused sand storms to form around me; why else would my eyes be wet if not sand in them? OK, I admit it, i teared up. Ara’s prose is lean and to the point, and hammers at your heartstrings, making you feel both for and with his characters. Well done, sir! *SPOILER* I am especially grateful for the last chapter; I needed the closure!
This was such a moving story. 15 days to find pieces of himself he didn’t realize were missing, 15 days to reconnect with his mom whom had just passed away, 15 days to find answers to the question lurking int he back of his mind about the trouble at his old school. Shep is looking for a fresh start, especially after his mom death and the case against some of his past teammates. When his mother last wish is for him to travel the path she took 17 years earlier, a path in which her surfing career ended and his life began. A surfing past he knew nothing about. With an RV, his cousin and her friend Samantha both angels on the waves. This journey will be one not to be forgotten.
I loved the way the author wrote and had us connect to the water, it made me want to get out and learn to surf as well. |It did make me google a lot of surfing terms and heroes too.
It lost half a star because i felt unfulfilled with answers of what was waiting for him back at his last school.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Shep moves in with his uncle after losing his mother. He is given a 15 day planned trip to learn about his mother, that turns into a journey of self discovery.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Possible Spoilers
15 Days with you is a great coming of age story! We get to go with Shep on a journey to learn a little more about his late mother and to possibly find answers to questions that have always plagued him. And more importantly to help him navigate the waters of his own life.
I really enjoyed this lighthearted story, being a child who lost a parent at a young age this story tugged at my heart strings. What I wouldn’t give to have a journey like this.
I would have liked to see more of a connection with Sam and see the relationship develop a little further.
I would also like to see more from the characters, possibly a series.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.