The Lifeboat Clique by Kathy Parks

The Lifeboat Clique by Kathy Parks
Genre: Contemporary
Release Date: March 1, 2016
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
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Some people might say that Denver had a death wish. Why else would she have dared to sneak into a Malibu beach party where she’d be surrounded by enemies, namely including her ex-BFF Abigail?

Oh yeah. Croix. Denver never thought in a million years he’d ask her out, but who was she to question this miracle of fate? Well, that wasn’t the only surprise fate had in store.

During the party a tsunami hit the coast of California, wiping out everything in its path. Denver and a handful of others escaped death by holding onto the roof of the house and were swept out to sea. Of course, one of her fellow castaways was none other than Abigail, who could barely stand the sight of her.

Now that she’s floating in the ocean, stuck on a small boat with the most popular kids in school and waiting to be rescued, Denver wonders what might kill her first-dehydration, sunstroke, or the girl she used to think of as a sister?

I read The Lifeboat Clique in just a couple of hours back in August. I wanted a quick read, and it was sitting there staring at me so I picked it up. I got exactly what I was expecting: a fast read without much emotional connection.

The plot of The Lifeboat Clique is what initially drew me in. There is an earthquake off the coast of California, which results in a tsunami, which results in a teenagers’ house party being ruined and several of them being killed or dragged out to sea. Our main character, Denver, is an outcast and is stuck on a lifeboat with a bunch of mean girls.

I really enjoyed the narrative of this book. The satirical and dark humour was amusing, and it kept me going even though I felt little-to-no connection with Denver at all. It reminded me a bit of Beauty Queens by Libba Bray, but less over the top and just all round better.

I was thoroughly enjoying the story until a scene towards the end, in which the main character eats raw eggs to stay alive. Raw, fertlised eggs, since they didn’t have access to chickens or a farmyard. It was a stupid plot point, and it feels stupid to get caught up on it, but it pulled me out of the story. a) the eggs were FERTILISED, and b) are they not worried about food poisoning, which could result in sickness, and thus dehydration, and thus DEATH?

But anyway, The Lifeboat Clique was fairly enjoyable, to a point. I wouldn’t go crazy for it, though.