It should have been the endless summer of sun, sand, surf and sex. But Nick Andrews doesn't feel like celebrating. His mother is dead and he's never met his father. He lives with his older sister Julia, and the only other important people in life are his best friend Sean and his girlfriend Yansi-and they hate each other. With money in short supply, Nick's plans for a carefree summer are over. But when Julia rents a room to Marcus, Nick is tempted by a different way of life. Marcus lives for women, weed and good times, but most of all to surf. And he lives by an alternative set of rules. As Nick's relationship with Yansi deepens, his lifelong friendship with Sean is tested. Does Marcus offer a solution, or is he just part of the problem? Set against the backdrop of the Florida coast, small-town life clashes with the pull of the footloose traveler. Torn between two different worlds, Nick has important choices to make. But during the dying days of summer, the threads of Nick's life start to pull loose ... with a shattering conclusion. * * * A coming-of-age novel.