e-ALC, 05:30:00
Narrated by: Kauakanilehua Māhoe Adams
Release Date: May 19, 2026
Published by: Heartdrum
Read from: April 24-28, 2026
Stand-alone
Source: Netgalley (I received this ALC free from the publisher and Netgalley. I also received a hardcover copy of this book that I read as I listened. This did nothing to influence my review.)
Content Warning: Child Abuse, Emotional Abuse, Infidelity, Cursing, Death, Toxic Friendship
For Readers of: Audio, Coming of Age, Sparkly Cover, Most Anticipated, Racial/Ethnic Diversity, Realistic Fiction, Religious, Romance, Verse Novel, YAFans of The Poet X will fall for this powerful, romantic debut novel-in-verse about a Native Hawaiian girl’s fight to find belonging in a fracturing family, sharing a message of love with resounding emotional truth.
Aouli Elizabeth Smith is adrift: unheard at home and an unbeliever at church, fighting her sister and losing her best friend. Overflowing with feeling, she pours her secrets and herself into her song journal when the world threatens to sweep her away. The one place she feels tied down to earth is at her Aunty Ehu’s house. Those joyous Saturdays with her extended Native Hawaiian community living in Western Washington are precious to her. Under the maple trees, the fragments of her life fit together, if only for an afternoon.
Then, an unspeakable truth about her father shatters this one perfect corner of her life.
As Aouli’s world constricts around what others wish she could be, language fails her. But when a new boy, Nalu, turns up with eyes that seem to pierce right into her soul, maybe it’s love that can give her the words to set herself free.
*MY THOUGHTS*
This is one book I can truthfully say I have been waiting on ever since I knew about it. I had never read anything with Native Hawaiian rep, so this became one of my most anticipated. And for me, it did not disappoint.
Ok so the main thing I wanted to talk about was her relationship with her family and friends. I felt for her so bad. It has to suck to be the only person in your family who isn’t on the same page as everyone else. And to be the only one who isn’t like lying to herself or to everyone else. I felt so sad for her. She had to have felt so lonely. To keep going the way she did and the only thing she lost was the religion? Yeah I was impressed.
The religion played a heavy part in this book. She was being forced into purity culture, but she made sure not to go quietly. She went to church and never took any of it serious. She just didn’t get how she was supposed to take what it serious when her father was sinning in so many ways but his were somehow ok because no one ever talked about them. I was happy that she was able to still find peace in herself when she learned about the gods and lore that her aunt prayed to.
I do wish there was more culture in this. But then again, they did live in Washington. Which I know is also a part of the culture, but I wanted more of the language and the lore and the gods her aunt prayed to. But I also know I can’t make this this book’s problem. It’s not their fault that publishing is just now picking up books with Native Hawaiian rep. I can’t fault this one for giving just a bite of the culture. I hope everyone who reads this is just like me and goes on to do some research and find out more about Native Hawaiians and the gods and lore and the disappearing language.
The romance was cute. I loved seeing him fall for her. She deserved someone who would put her first and see HER for her. She was a little rough around the edges and didn’t get it at first, but she came around. And I was happy for her. She deserved that.
This was a coming of age story that I enjoyed a lot. This was a really beautiful book. From the cover to the story itself. I hope Adams has some more ready for us! I need more!
Overall, I give this
