{ARC Review} The Lifeguard by Deborah Blumenthal

Title: The Lifeguard
Author: Deborah Blumenthal
Publisher: Albert Whitman and Company
Release Date: March 1, 2012
Source: NetGalley

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Synopsis:

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 aunt, it's a different world. There are long days at the beach and intriguing encounters with Pilot, the lifeguard with shamanic skills. Sirena explores her obsession with Pilot and discovers his mysterious--almost magical--gifts.

The Lifeguard by Deborah Blumenthal is unique within the YA Genre. It had a touch of philosophy written into a semi-paranormal romance...which is why I hoped I would love it. I do love anything philosophical, but love this novel, I didn't and I am deeply saddened. I felt like this book had a lot of potential...it just didn't quite get there. It fell short in the world-building department for me. The story never swept me off my feet like I hoped it would.

Sirena's parents are getting a divorce so they ship her off to Rhode Island to stay with her aunt for the summer. She spends most of her time on the beach...sometimes drawing and painting, sometimes enjoying the view of the on duty lifeguard but always thinking about her parents. Now...while some will say that Sirena's and Pilot's relationship was insta-love...and maybe on Sirena's part it was...but honestly, I thought it moved a little slow on Pilot's part. 

Pilot was a tad bit annoying. Usually when I feel a character is annoying, I can overlook it because I feel like they have a reason to keep secrets or try to dissuade the significant other from falling for them. I do believe these were Pilot's intentions, but in the end, it didn't seem like he had all that much to hide. And his relationship with his ex-girlfriend turned sister-like-friend bothered me. For something that was supposed to be completely platonic (at this stage), they were often caught in seemingly compromising situations.

I loved Antonio...the mysterious friend of Sirena's aunt who turned out to be much more. He is the gatekeeper, so to speak. He is the fountain of knowledge...the one Sirena can ask about the ghosts residing in her aunt's attic. Antonio is also the answer to Sirena's questions about Pilot and his uncanny sense of timing. 

It takes a tragic event for Sirena to realize that her parents' divorce will not be the end of the world. Once this happens, the story speeds up and becomes more interesting...only to lead to an unsatisfying end...at least in my opinion.

I truly had high hopes for this book. I mean, who doesn't want to love a book with a hot guy on a beach for the cover. And I loved the name Pilot...how hot is that? Don't get me wrong...there were definitely good points in this book...but overall...it was simply average.

*I was provided a free and uncorrected e-copy of The Lifeguard  by NetGalley and Albert Whitman in return for my honest review.