This is one of those books that I loved so much I don't know how to write a review about it. I think all I really need to say is that it's a queer latinx story with a genderqueer love interest and is beautiful and precious and definitely made me cry. There are so many good things about this. The MC casually realizes she's bi and it's not a huge deal and the MC is not only confident about her body, but also recognizes that different kinds of bodies are beautiful in different ways. There are just some lovely messages in this and the romance itself is beautiful and I highly recommend this read. ( )

Literary Merit: Good
Characterization: Great
Recommended: Yes
Reading Level: Gr. 9-12

Like Water follows Vanni, a Latina living in a small New Mexico town. Here, either people get out after graduation or they end up stuck there forever. Vanni has aspirations of getting out, but finds herself unable to break away from her family, namely her father who was diagnosed with Huntington's disease a few years ago. Instead, she gets a job as a mermaid in a local water park, and spends her free time fooling around with guys. Until she meets Leigh.

Leigh just moved to the neighborhood and is the complete opposite of Vanni. The two are drawn toward each other and fall in love.

This story has strong themes of finding yourself and learning that doing so is a process, something that takes time and self-acceptance. I really appreciate the care the author takes in exploring sexuality, gender, and the spectrum that these exist on. Unitalicized Spanish is interlaced, adding depth to the setting. Vanni also comes to terms with the possibility that she herself may have the crippling disease that plagues her father and makes the hard choice of learning her status.

A great coming of age story that does a wonderful job of representing the LGBTQ+ community. There are suggestive sequences of sexual interactions, although not explicit. Some strong language. ( )

I think I now have a tie for favorite book of 2017. ( )

Savannah's (Vanni) plan to exit her tiny town of La Trampa is, at best, put on hold, at worst, cancelled, when her father is diagnosed with Huntington's Disease and she is needed to assist with the family restaurant. As his disease progresses, he will need more attention from Vanni and her mother.

To dull the pain, she hooks up with various boys in meaningless entanglements. While it may momentarily distract her, it does no long-term good.

All that changes when she meets Leigh, sister of a lifeguard Vanni was trying to attract. As they spend more time together, they become closer. There is a physical as well as emotional attraction. But, where Vanni is the (relatively) good girl, Leigh has issues and acts out at times. But Vanni feels more for Leigh than she has for any guy.

Of course (without spoiler), there's the inevitable breakup.

Author Podos does a nice job of both demonstrating Vanni's frustration at being stuck at home and having a dad whose illness will only progress and appreciating the one good thing in her life as her relationship with Leigh deepens. However, something is brought up at the end which I didn't see the need for, thus dropping the stars from 4 to 3 1/2. Maybe, looking back, I could have predicted it, but I think it detracted from the story, not added to it.

Like Water is totally enjoyable. I recommend it. ( )