“The Maui Effect” by Sara Ackerman

Title: The Maui Effect
Author: Sara Ackerman
Publisher: Mira
Year: 2024    
Genre(s): romance
Part of a Series: No

Why I read it: Once Upon a Book Club pick.

Summary: ‘Iwa feels a special bond with the nature of Maui and is dedicated to protecting it, especially the beautiful rainforests that are under threat from developers trying to build more hotels. Dane has always answered the call of the ocean and is a renowned surfer. When these two meet, can someone so connected to the land and someone so connected to the sea fall in lasting love?

Rating: 

Review: I enjoyed this story for the most part but I felt like ‘Iwa and her plot got overshadowed by Dane’s story and his relationship with ‘Iwa.

Like on one hand, I can tell the author was passionate about ‘Iwa’s fight to protect the rainforest but it felt like she forgot about it for long stretches before it got shoehorned in there again. I think if it had been included more than ‘Iwa also would’ve gotten some more character development as well.

Because this ultimately felt like Dane’s story rather than ‘Iwa’s. He really went on a journey, learning how to be vulnerable and getting the healing he needed for his heart as well as his body.

Dane was a fun and likeable character, which makes me wonder if Ackerman preferred writing him over ‘Iwa. That isn’t to say that ‘Iwa isn’t a good or likeable character – because she is. I just know that sometimes writers gravitate to one character over the other and wonder if that happened here.

What really shone, though, was Dane’s and ‘Iwa’s relationship. It really carried this book, like a good romance should, and I found myself invested in them.

Ackerman knows a lot about surfing. That was clear in her writing as well. She wrote about Dane’s love of surfing and described the surfing competitions very well. I could see and feel the ocean with how she wrote about it – whether it was the Pacific or the Atlantic.

But the same was true when she wrote about the rainforest – especially ‘Iwa’s waterfall. All in all, Ackerman was very good about making the surroundings come to life on the page.

So if you need a little escape and some romance, definitely pick up this book.

Bottom line: A good romance set in beautiful places.

Sex: Yes and some descriptive.

Moonlight Musing

Have you ever gone surfing? Do you ever want to try?