Review: A Map for Wrecked Girls by Jessica Taylor

A Map for Wrecked Girls by Jessica Taylor

Expected publication: August 15th 2017

We sat at the edge of the ocean—my sister Henri and I—inches apart but not touching at all. We’d been so sure someone would find us by now.

Emma had always orbited Henri, her fierce, magnetic queen bee of an older sister, and the two had always been best friends. Until something happened that wrecked them.

I’d trusted Henri more than I’d trusted myself. Wherever she told me to go, I’d follow.

Then the unthinkable occurs—a watery nightmare off the dazzling coast. The girls wash up on shore, stranded. Their only companion is Alex, a troubled boy agonizing over his own secrets. Trapped in this gorgeous hell, Emma and Alex fall together as Emma and Henri fall catastrophically apart.

For the first time, I was afraid we’d die on this shore.

To find their way home, the sisters must find their way back to each other. But there’s no map for this—or anything. Can they survive the unearthing of the past and the upheaval of the present?

I was sent an ARC of this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review

I wanted to love this book, I really did, but there was a few things that I just couldn’t overlook.
The first thing I didn’t like was how dependent Emma was on her sister, Henri. It was so unhealthy and concerning. It was also extremely annoying. Emma was obsessed with her sister and couldn’t think for herself. All she ever thought about was her sister.
The second thing I didn’t like was Alex. I personally don’t think he should have been included in the story. He was so unnecessary and was only there for the sake of romance. I think having the story being about just Emma and Henri would have been much better.
The third and final thing that I didn’t like was how Alex was not written diverse. The opportunity was there and he was written as a white character. He was from Puerto Rico and wasn’t Latino and I think that was very poor on the author. Alex could have been a diverse character so easily and he would have given representation to people who don’t have much representation in media as it is.

I did like the concept of the plot and the writing style a lot though.

Overall, I think this book could have been a lot more enjoyable if better choices had been made about the white washing of Alex and the unhealthy relationship between the sisters. As much as I liked the concept, I couldn’t overlook the things that just weren’t okay.