Girl Submerged took me to a bouyant place. Of sun and sand yes, but also to a story of personal and relationship enlightenment. The writing style of Avara's feels like it is written from some subconscious state - it dances and floats so effortlessly. It feels like a good friend was sitting next to me regaling the stories of her travels, and explaining all the highs and lows in a way that only a great friend would be told. All the insecurities alongside the orgasms! I was there in the ocean, in the yoga room and in the bed. I enjoyed the reminder of the cultural sensitivities of an Asian country but also the temptations of New York. Yet this story isn't all rainbows and butterflies - it unveils the secrets of dark pasts and of unexplored trauma in a way that is sensitive and supportive. I read without stopping - except on the occasion of needing to roll over and take a cold shower. I read furiously and with abandon. As that is what the story asks of the reader. To bring your best, truest self to the occasion of life.

What a great read! I'm not normally the "romance" genre type, but Girl Submerged, by Avara Yaron is such a compelling and well written book, it supercedes the category of romance. In this compelling story, Ms Yaron tells the story of Sirena, a woman trying to figure out her place in a tumultuous world. Between her confused feelings for a current boyfriend, her not so great job prospects, her past with murky connotations of abuse, she tries to free her spirit towards a potential future with a handsome stranger. And what a stranger! Ricardo is a former model/yoga instructor who cooks! We hear a bit about his difficult past, but I'm hoping we learn more in the next book in the series.

Ms Yaron navigates many different emotional worlds, as well as the different physical worlds Sirena inhabits, like a seasoned pro. It's hard to believe this is a first novel, but I am looking forward to the sequels and the continuation and evolution of the story. As I read this book, the virtual pages flew by and left me hungry (in a raw food sort of way - spoiler alert) for more. Brava, Ms Yaron and please keep writing.

Girl Submerged rocked my world! There was a potent life-force in each character, delicious and descriptive atmospheres, culture interwoven, heart-wrenching struggles brought to the surface, and many deep transformations! I was able to feel present with Sirena's pain and yet charmed by the woman she begins to understand and realize. Truly a discovery of lifetimes within a life! Thought provoking and written with a style which brings depth and yearning, passion and a lust-for-life breaths through the pages. I love the way the author captured my imagination in every way, visceral and spirited. I cannot wait to get my hands on the whole trilogy!

Girl Submerged is a gorgeous read. The main character, Sirena, is entirely relatable. As you follow her path from some really difficult moments in the beginning through a health scare which she takes on as a call to heal childhood sexual abuse, the feeling that you want to spend more time with this amazing woman grows. I definitely wished I could join her underwater explorations and dancing meditation. On the path of self-discovery, she pursues a deeply moving spiritual, emotional and physical connection with a beautiful man. The sexual healing scenes are incredible sensual, intense and brave. I received an advance reading copy of the book for an objective review and highly recommend it. I can’t wait to read the sequel.

Avara Yaron has written a courageous and ecstatically beautiful first novel. A mermaid creature herself, she has explored with us the obscured underwater world of a woman’s soul in all its mystery and loveliness. After reading this book, the characters and the story have lingered in my mind and heart. It is a story for now, that I think will be relevant for many years to come.

Exquisitely painted as if by Gauguin or Van Gogh in words, colors, sounds, tastes and smells. Delightfully sensual, deeply spiritual and damn sexy. I just wish that Volume II were already available so I could find out what happens next. Love it!

Avara Yaron has written a real page turner. I went through it literally in one go. With her precise and beautiful language she takes you on a journey that sounds to good to be true but feels so realistic. The island experience of Sirena in Indonesia reflects so well the unusual combination of actors, nature and spirituality that you can find in islands like Bali. The journey that Sirena makes is one that few of us get to make and therefor all the more interesting. I love this woman who leaves the conditioned beliefs and learned moral codes behind to find her own rules. And of course it doesn’t hurt to have a highly attractive male lead. Healing and the role of sexuality for the wholistic well being of women is an area that needs more attention. The author has integrated these aspects beautifully without the usual coarseness or obviousness. I hope the follow up will launch soon. Can’t wait to read the next chapter for Sirena.

Avara Yaron’s Girl Submerged is psychologically thrilling as well as romantic beyond dreams. The interweaving of each character’s challenges within the growing connection between Sirena and Ricardo elevated the intimacy by exposing their vulnerabilities and penetrating the origins of their elemental wounds. And this was not the only thrilling, exposing, and penetrating going on in this novel! This is a romance story that respects women deeply in this tumultuous time of Me Too and Enough. Ricardo’s generous sensitivity to Sirena’s emotional palette makes him all the more desirable to her and to the reader. The trust and the lust build together. It’s a quick and satisfying read.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book!
Avara Yaron has written a beautiful story that unfolds with a gentle fluidity, while conveying deep feelings, soulful impressions, and spiritual insights with a subtle gravity. Somehow, as I read, I became Sirena on her healing journey, with all of my senses fully engaged and immersed in color as she encountered her luscious truth on each page. It’s energy lingers. What a compelling adventure; I couldn’t put it down! I very much look forward to the next book so I can see what happens.

In the beginning, I felt the deep sense of depression and darkness, protagonist, Sirena was experiencing. As her life takes a sudden powerful turn towards deep inner transformation, healing and love, when she travels to exotic Indonesia, I felt vibrant color and light as Sirena awakens to new life. Avara Yaron writes with depth and potent sensory imagery which kept me turning the pages and wanting to read it in one sitting. This powerful story is of how love and open, vulnerable, raw connection seves as a potent balm for recovery and reintegration back to self. The book is highly erotic and so beautiful to experience two people love deeply and open fully to one another- physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually.

Girl submerged is a intriguing, provocative and powerful book that propelled me into a new dimension of self discovery, healing and yearning. The writing style was a delight to read with such intricate details that took me to the places in the book as if I were witnessing it first hand.

I absolutely loved every bit of descriptive writings, erotic, sexy, and earth shattering ways of story telling. The characters were colorful, and I felt I was traveling with Sirena through her life’s twists and travels. Avara Yaron’s writing is juicy and eloquent to taste and feel in my whole being! Her book is a page turner and I’m already excited for the next one!