Book Review - Ride The Wave by Katherine Reilly

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Title: Ride The Wave

Author: Katharine Reilly

Format reviewed: Paperback

Source: Publisher supplied copy

Publisher: Aria

Publication Date: 19th June 2025

Rating: 5 Stars

In surfing, everyone's chasing the perfect ride...

Twelve years ago, Leo Silva was a world champion surfer-until reckless partying and tabloid scandals ended his career. After a mysteriously sudden and early retirement, Leo retreated to a sleepy seaside village in Portugal, where he's remained out of the spotlight ever since. But when he receives a surprise invitation to compete in Australia's legendary Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach contest, the news of his comeback sends shockwaves through the surf world.

Enter Iris Gray, an ambitious sports journalist from London. Her editor wants her to make Leo and his comeback the topic of glossy Studio magazine's next big feature, but there's one small catch – he happens to be the son of TV star and media proprietor Michelle Martin, the owner of Studio. With a lot of pressure riding on this project and Iris's career hanging in the balance, there's simply no room for mistakes.

When Iris flies to Portugal, she expects to uncover the truth behind Leo's infamous past, but she is unprepared for his stubbornness-or the undeniable chemistry that simmers between them. But as her interviewee and the boss's son, Leo is strictly off-limits...

With a fierce rival threatening to derail Leo's comeback and the competition fast approaching, can they stay focused on their goals, or will love pull them under?

No matter what sort of romance Katherine Reilly turns her hands to (I say that having read her books under other pen names), I am always impressed and I greatly enjoyed Ride The Wave. 

I can't recall the last time I read a book that featured Surfing as it's main attraction, and not just any old surfing big time competitive surfing, and a surfer who is on the comeback trail. Leo has reluctantly agreed to be interviewed, for one of his mother's publications. 

The interviewer assigned to the job is sports journalist Isla, who is amazingly skilled at trying to draw information out of a person without them realising.  She also normally totally immerses herself in the sport of her subject.  Just one snag in this instance she is terrified of the water. 

Set in a small town in the Algarve, I fell for the community there, and really loved Leo's support system. And as Leo starts to open up, I fell for him too.  And the scenes where he helps Isla with her fear really melted my heart. 

And the actual competitive surfing action was definitely well researched, it matched up to my understanding of the sport from watching the coverage for both the 2020 and 2024 Olympics. 

I read this book on a nice sunny afternoon in the garden, and into the evening, and devoured it. I couldn't get enough of the characters and enjoyed every last second of it. 

I really need to get around to reading this author's other sports romances that I do have copies of.  I can't wait to see what she does with Tennis and Polo, given how much I loved her surfing writing. 

Thank you to Aria for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.