OUTER BANKS

Making a spring break trip to the Graveyard of the Atlantic, the nickname given to Frying Pan Shoals due to all the ships it’s claimed, is probably not the best idea.

But that’s exactly what best friends JJ and John B do. JJ needs to escape from his abusive father, and John B needs a break from searching for his. When these two self-described Pogues, or working-class townies, living on the Outer Banks of North Carolina decide to escape their unsatisfying home lives by going on a fishing trip, they soon learn how dangerous the open water can be. When a large storm hits Frying Pan Shoals, the two boys and daredevil Savannah, a beautiful Kook (wealthy nonlocal) girl, get stranded on a deserted island with a dilapidated lighthouse while waiting out the storm. When a team of smugglers also seek refuge on the island, the unlikely trio discover they will have to fight for their lives. While touching on some serious subjects like abuse and ethics and narrowly missing a tired love-triangle trope, this lukewarm thriller is a familiar story of ill-conceived adventures, morally gray bad guys, and star-crossed lovers. Based on the Netflix drama, this plot-driven book serves as a fun companion to Outer Banks and will appeal to fans of the show. Main characters default to White.

Though light on substance, this is an enjoyable, quick read.