Jean Reynolds.

The summer before eighth grade is heating up, and Alice McKinley's entire friend group is spending almost every single day at Mark Stedmeister's swimming pool. It sounds like the perfect summer vacation, except for one massive problem: Alice is absolutely terrified of deep water. While her friends are diving off the board and swimming laps, Alice is stuck sitting at the shallow end, making up endless excuses about why she cannot join them. She has managed to keep her phobia a secret even from her two best friends, Pamela and Elizabeth. But hiding the truth is becoming exhausting, and Alice knows that if everyone finds out she is too scared to leave the shallow end, it will be beyond embarrassing. Life is changing fast, and Alice realizes that she cannot spend the rest of her life sitting on the sidelines. It is officially sink or swim time. Join Alice as she discovers that true bravery does not mean you are never afraid it means taking small, courageous steps to face your fears head-on. You will cheer for Alice as she learns to dive into the deep end of the pool, and the deep end of growing up.

The summer before college is finally here, and Alice McKinley knows that everything in her life is about to change. Soon, she will be sleeping in a dorm room, navigating a new campus, and living far away from the tight-knit group of friends she has relied on for years. Determined to make their final months together unforgettable, Alice and her best girlfriends take on the ultimate summer job: working as staff on a Chesapeake Bay cruise ship. Trading their usual summer routines for the open water, the girls expect a season filled with sunshine, easy shifts, and endless fun. But life on board a cruise ship is not always smooth sailing. From demanding passengers and exhausting work hours to unexpected personal drama, Alice quickly realizes she will need more than just sunblock to survive the trip. As she weathers the unpredictable storms of friendship and responsibility, Alice discovers that this challenging summer job might just be the perfect training ground for her biggest adventure yet.