This book grabbed me, put a big lump into my throat, and let me spill my tears like no other. I found the connection between these two deeply emotional and loved how they both grew up but never really grew out of their feelings for each other. I loved every word and would everyone recommend this book, who wants to ugly cry, and deeply moving story.

Endlich mal wieder ein Buch, dass ich ohne Rücksicht auf Verluste bis tief in die Nacht nicht weglegen konnte. Ich habe es so vermisst. Das Buch hat mich an jeder Ecke überrascht, viele Sachen habe ich einfach nicht kommen sehen, besonders im ersten Drittel hat es mit jedem Klischee gebrochen. Die Lovestory ist super schön, aber auch dramatisch und mein Mann hat mich öfter verwirrt angesehen, wenn ich mal wieder „Nein, Nein, nein!“ vor mich hin gemurmelt habe. Aber auch abseits davon hat das Buch einen sehr ernsten Tenor. Es geht um Verlust, Trauer und Heilung, super intensiv und interessant. Ich habe jede Seite dieses Buches geliebt. Mein einziger Kritikpunkt ist nur das mal wieder völlig langweilige und unnötige Bonuskapitel. Ich habe noch nie eins gelesen, das mal wirklich interessant war.

A lot has already been written about the content by others. For me, C.E. Ricci has a great writing style, very emotional, compassionate, and descriptive. I felt like I was right in the middle of it and couldn't help either of them. Despite the trigger warning, I underestimated the book for myself. It triggered many emotions and memories in me. At first, I hesitated to read the book because I always listen to the audiobook at the same time. Unfortunately, I didn't like Michael Dean as the narrator in another book. I overcame my fear and haven't regretted it! Both narrators were great. I also listened to the playlist. That drew me into the book even more. Now I let what I've read sink in and reread individual passages.

Reading this book felt like swimming in the ocean. Being afloat one moment happy and free to feeling the brutal force of life crashing down on you like a tidal wave. I personally know the grief which is written so clearly and honest. And I can only hope to experience the love that manages to seep through the pages one day.

Trigger warning! This book has parents lost in it, so please don't read it if it's a topic you're sensitive off! I loved everything from that book! It has everything you're looking for in a good MM Romance book! The feelings, the tension, the plots, the romance, the smut... It's such a good and underrated book, I dont understand how it isn't more popular. I really recommend it for all Stepbrother romance fans out there!

⚠️achtung, ganz ohne Spoiler geht es hier nicht⚠️ Head above water war mit Sicherheit eines der schönsten aber auch ganz sicher eines der traurigsten, wenn nicht das traurigste Buch überhaupt, dass ich je gelesen hab. Grundlage der Story ist hier, auf der einen Seite die wachsende Liebe der Stiefbrüder, die sich nach 7 Jahren das erste mal wieder sehen, aber auch der Unfalltod der Eltern und die dadurch resultierende Wiedervereinigung der beiden Jungs. Zu bestimmen müssen, ob Geräte abgeschaltet werden, wann der Zeitpunkt dafür da ist, Trauer zuzulassen, das alles ist kaum zu ertragen gewesen, aber da war der Halt, den sie sich gegenseitig geben konnten, und das war wahnsinnig emotional. Dazu kam die Sache, die Cannon seit 7 Jahren mit sich rumschleppt, von der Easton nichts weiß, die aber seine Sicht auf etwas verändern könnte, und es Cannon nicht erlaubt, so zu trauern wie er eigentlich sollte. Zu lesen, dass unüberlegte Entscheidungen, unausgesprochene Worte, ein Leben so sehr beeinflussen, lässt einen echt nachdenken. Nicht immer lässt sich alles perfekt auflösen, und eigentlich finde ich das richtig gut. Es macht das ganze noch mehr authentisch, denn im Leben läuft nicht immer alles auf ein perfektes Ende hinaus. Aber Cannon muss damit lernen zu leben, Easton ist ihm eine sehr große Hilfe, und zum Glück hat CE Ricci noch eine Lösung gefunden, mit der man als Leser trotzdem noch gut schlafen kann. Ganz große Liebe für dieses Buch. Es war sehr sehr emotional, und das mehr bergab und bergauf aber doch mit einem HEA. Ricci ist echt eine Meisterin darin, Bücher fesselnd zu schreiben.

This book is just incredible. It was way less toxic than I've initially expected, you could feel the love between the MCs so much, and they cared for each other in the cutest ways. I'm not extremly bothered by cheating in books, it's not my favorite thing to read about, but it doesn't ruin the story for me. Same here. I kind of get the necessarity in this case but I was still a bit annoyed because Cannon was so not a cheater, coming from his character. Easton mentions that too, and Cannon eventually realizes that he should've handled a few things differently, so I don't really get why he was cheating in the first place when it's not only for the sake of the plot. Anyways. I tend to always find something in a great book which I do not like but yeah. There was so much more good to it. The quotes about grief were beautiful, the feelings converted really well. I didn't cry, which is a bit weird considering I cry every second book, but I felt everything nevertheless. Also, I'm glad that grief wasn't the only emotion, would've been a bit hard to read. I don't think I ever wanted to scream that much at the characters like while reading the last few pages of part 3. Literally. I love them, and that scene was so painful arrggh. But I still love them. I think I could go on writing down what made the book that great for an hour or something, but when you read the book by yourself, you'll experience it anyways. And you should do this. okay, last comment: The cutest thing ever is the scene which DYD and this book share. I read Don't You Dare directly before Head above Water and Keene and Aspen are definitely part of my favorite characters ever so reading about them again when I didn't expected it at all...of course it's a 5 star read.

„For the first time in weeks, I feel alive again. I might still be drowning, but not only in grief anymore.“ man this book! it was the first book i read by ce ricci and i was completely hooked from the prologue onwards. an authentic story telling, well written with so many heartbreaking emotions, passion & love. I felt like i’d go through the same pain and happiness as easton & cannon. especially cannons pov pulled all my heartstrings! Amazing read, I highly recommend!

This book is just incredible. It was way less toxic than I've initially expected, you could feel the love between the MCs so much, and they cared for each other in the cutest ways. I'm not extremly bothered by cheating in books, it's not my favorite thing to read about, but it doesn't ruin the story for me. Same here. I kind of get the necessarity in this case but I was still a bit annoyed because Cannon was so not a cheater, coming from his character. Easton mentions that too, and Cannon eventually realizes that he should've handled a few things differently, so I don't really get why he was cheating in the first place when it's not only for the sake of the plot. Anyways. I tend to always find something in a great book which I do not like but yeah. There was so much more good to it. The quotes about grief were beautiful, the feelings converted really well. I didn't cry, which is a bit weird considering I cry every second book, but I felt everything nevertheless. Also, I'm glad that grief wasn't the only emotion, would've been a bit hard to read. I don't think I ever wanted to scream that much at the characters like while reading the last few pages of part 3. Literally. I love them, and that scene was so painful arrggh. But I still love them. I think I could go on writing down what made the book that great for an hour or something, but when you read the book by yourself, you'll experience it anyways. And you should do this. okay, last comment: The cutest thing ever is the scene which DYD and this book share. I read Don't You Dare directly before Head above Water and Keene and Aspen are definitely part of my favorite characters ever so reading about them again when I didn't expected it at all...of course it's a 5 star read.