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Kellye Abernathy is a former business executive, happily transformed into a yoga teacher and practical life skills advocate for trauma survivors. She believes in creatively building unique and supportive communities, one relationship at a time. A graduate of the University of Kansas, she holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Secondary English Education. She lives in landlocked Plano, Texas, dreaming of her next trip to the sea. The Aquamarine Surfboard is her first novel. Find her at kellyeabernathy.com.
Reviewed by Kristine Zimmerman for Readers' Favorite
The Aquamarine Surfboard by Kellye Abernathy deals with themes of love and loss, both personal and communal. Condi and her grandmother live in the beach town of Dipitous Cove. It's a surfer's paradise, and Condi has hopes of one day being able to surf with the rest of the kids in her town. Condi meets the new boy in town, Trustin, who happens to be a champion surfer. Meeting Trustin was not a coincidence; they will impact each other's lives in deep and meaningful ways. The Aquamarine Surfboard is filled with twists and turns against the backdrop of the ever-present ocean. Condi learns that despite loss and hardship, love is a powerful force that can overcome evil.
Much like the ocean, The Aquamarine Surfboard has many hidden depths to it. On the surface, it's about a beach town and a young girl learning to deal with the challenges life brings. As the story progresses, we learn more about the hidden lives of others and how their histories impact the town. Abernathy has populated Dipitous Cove with rich and colorful characters. The Beachlings, a group of women who live in caves on the beach, are resilient yet fragile. And just like the hidden depths of the ocean, there are mysteries in life that only reveal themselves in time. The Aquamarine Surfboard is an addictive read. I was immersed in the characters and was swept up in the mysteries that unfolded on each page. Kellye Abernathy has written an outstanding first novel with an empowering message of perseverance and hope.
