Ben and Grace Walker grew up surfing in an Australian coastal town. While Ben rode the all the way to surf sponsorships, Grace was always overshadowed by her twin.That is, until a wave comes crashing down on both of them, and Grace is left to wade in the ocean alone.

Breathing Under Water is unequivocally Australian. Sophie Hardcastle perfectly captures life on the coast and shows how the ocean is engraved into a whole community. The town feels like somewhere I’ve been on holiday. The high school felt like my own. It simply felt like home.

The plot unfolds predictably but without too many clichés. Hardcastle doesn’t follow the standard rules. For example, while the blurb and the opening chapters make it seem as if there will be a grand romance, there is in fact no love at first sight. It’s just an awkward teenage romance in which life gets in the way and feelings are misinterpreted.

While the ending is obvious, Breathing Under Water uses a great deal of suspense, which kept me intrigued. This suspense, however, is a bit overused and becomes tiresome. Some characters, particularly Grace, tended to repeat the same decisions and consequently there was a long period with little character or plot development.

But even when the plot seems to stagnate, Hardcastle’s writing exerts a power that keeps the pages turning. There’s a lyricism and simplicity to her writing that make this story appealing. Grace is not always likeable, but Hardcastle has created an authentic character. There wasn’t one moment of Grace’s story that didn’t resonate with me. I cried when Grace cried. I was happy when Grace was.

Family and loss lie at the core of Breathing Under Water. It’s a spectacular blend of grief and salvation and truly a beautiful read.