Undertow

By: Elizabeth O'Roark

Narrated by: Stephanie Wyles

Length: 9 hrs and 18 mins

Publisher's summary

Maura Pierce seems to have everything - a bright future, a trust fund, and a boyfriend who can't wait to settle down. It almost seems like enough, until Nate Sullivan comes home.

Nate - her childhood best friend, her first love. The boy who left without a trace one night and broke her heart. When their attraction threatens the future she and her parents have so carefully crafted, loyalties will be tested and secrets will be uncovered.

Giving in may cost her everything. But how do you resist the only thing you've ever really wanted?

Contains mature themes.

©2013 Elizabeth O’Roark (P)2018 Tantor

Emotional second chance romance

𝐔𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐨𝐰 by Elizabeth O’Roark is an emotional second chance romance for Maura and Nate. Maura is a woman who seems to have it all— an ambitious future, a trust fund, and a stable boyfriend that her family likes who is ready to settle down. The problem is, Maura can’t stop thinking about the boy from the opposite side of the tracks who broke her heart… her best friend, her first love, first everything, and he just came back to town. The attraction between Nate and Maura is undeniable, and it threatens long-held family loyalties. However, this story is full of secrets that have the power to destroy everything. Will Maura be pulled under by the undertow of family expectations, or will she finally fight for what she’s always wanted?

I went back and listened to an older release by Elizabeth O’Roark, narrated by Stephanie Wyles. To be honest, I’m torn. I loved the way it flowed, and the way the flashbacks were utilized to draw the reader into Nate and Maura’s connection, and I love Nate. However, I just could not connect with Maura. She was so wishy-washy and lacked a backbone for way too much of the book, to the point that I felt sorry for Nate. The twists and turns of the story were interesting, but some of Maura’s decisions continued to leave me flabbergasted. Finding out the things she did, and there were no huge confrontations for everyone involved? I’m just not used to feeling so conflicted about an FMC.🫣😂 But, when she and Nate are together, it’s clear they are meant to be, and I love the way it finally turned out.

The narrator did a fantastic job convey all the angst, tension, emotion, drama, and love surrounding this couple, including the straight-up hostility from Maura’s family. It was quite a complex story with the flashbacks and everything going on for one narrator to tackle, but she did an extraordinary job, and truly saved the experience for me during the moments when I was frustrated!!

Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

So love this!

Fantastic! This is my second time with this title, read it first last year and have never forgotten it. Decided to try the audio version when i saw it here and finished it while i was doing my chores all day.

Loved the setting of this story, it seemed so idyllic. Was fun to read about the MCs too, who i both liked very much, and the complications they find as they grew older.

The narration was spot on!

Timeless Romance

I loved this story. It’s a timeless romance. Lots of angst. Love love love it.

I loved it

I think young readers will totally enjoy the angst & the pros characters were well written & totally relatable

I wanted to slap multiple people.

There were a few times I seriously considered just stopping the book. The lead female is so insipid and spineless. The author put a lot into giving the reader reasons to despise the family but left the end somewhat unfinished.

Amazing summer romance

Great emotional romance about childhood friends. Summer vibes, rich / poor families, angst, good plot twists. Loved it! Gave me all the feels!

Poor Narrator

The narrator ruined the story. Only made it through 3 chapters. Story line was good.

Too repetitive

Chapter 1. He wants to make her jelous, she wants to make him jelous. Chapter 39. they finally have an adult conversation and admit they like each other and always have. misunderstandings are resolved. the end.

this was so dragged out... the heroine is so dumb and the hero only knows how to be pissed off.