Shop Ani- May
Kindle Unlimited
Unlimited reading. Over 4 million titles. Learn more
Read and Listen for Free
OR
$3.99 with 73 percent savings
Print List Price: $14.95

Promotions apply when you purchase

These promotions will be applied to this item:

Some promotions may be combined; others are not eligible to be combined with other offers. For details, please see the Terms & Conditions associated with these promotions.

Sold by Amazon.com Services LLC.

Audiobook Price: $21.88

Save: $19.89 (91%)

Read with our free app
You've subscribed to ! We will preorder your items within 24 hours of when they become available. When new books are released, we'll charge your default payment method for the lowest price available during the pre-order period.
Update your device or payment method, cancel individual pre-orders or your subscription at
Your Memberships & Subscriptions
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Follow the author

Jennifer Gold
Follow
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

Keep Me Afloat Kindle Edition

by Jennifer Gold (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.4 out of 5 stars 1,835 ratings

From the author of The Ingredients of Us comes a moving story about true love and heartbreak, mistakes and redemption, forgiveness and second chances.

Five years ago, marine biologist Abby Fisher made a mistake that cost her everything. Rather than face the consequences, she fled home to start anew—and built the career she’d always dreamed of. But when her research program runs out of funding, she’s adrift once again and decides to return to the safe harbor of her family and friends.

Except nothing at home is how she remembered.

Her friendships are strained, her normally affectionate parents seem distant, and her once-great love story is now just a painful memory. What’s worse, she keeps running into the people she hurt years ago—and they aren’t ready to forgive her.

Abby is determined to atone for her mistakes, but she can’t seem to move beyond her guilt for a chance of future happiness. Can Abby learn to sail through the storm, or will she remain lost at sea?

Poignant and heartfelt, Keep Me Afloat asks the question: How can you expect forgiveness from others if you can’t even forgive yourself?

Read more
Previous slide of product details
  1. Print length
    383 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Lake Union Publishing
  4. Accessibility
    Learn more
  5. Publication date
    March 3, 2020
  6. File size
    2.9 MB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
Next slide of product details
Unwell Hydration from Alex Cooper
Hydrate & focus with every sip Shop now

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Achingly beautiful and emotionally rich, Keep Me Afloat explores the heartache of stifling self to put family first. When a marine biologist—broke, jobless, alone—drifts home with a U-Haul of guilt, her past and present merge to reveal her truth in unexpected ways. A stunning novel of love, redemption, and whales.” —Barbara Claypole White, bestselling author of The Perfect Son and The Promise Between Us

“Keep Me Afloat is a rich ebb and flow of human emotion, offering an intimate look at a young marine biologist’s journey to finding herself. Set against the extraordinary backdrop of the Pacific Northwest coastline, this engaging story will leave readers buoyant with hope.” —Nicole Meier, author of The Second Chance Supper Club

About the Author

Jennifer Gold believes love is sweet and life is messy, which is probably why she has a passion for writing about the relationships of career-focused women. Having grown up on the Olympic Peninsula of Washington, Gold has a deep appreciation for the orcas, humpbacks, seals, and other marine wildlife that inhabit the Puget Sound and beyond. When she’s not writing books, Gold can be found cleaning horse stalls, drinking coffee, and spending time with her husband and two cats. Find out more at http://jennifergoldauthor.com.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07TWMBBV1
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Lake Union Publishing
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ March 3, 2020
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2.9 MB
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 383 pages
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1542015820
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 out of 5 stars 1,835 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Jennifer Gold

Jennifer Gold

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Jennifer Gold writes discussable book club fiction about love, second chances, and self-discovery. She’s the multiaward-winning author of The Ingredients of Us, Keep Me Afloat, Halfway to You, and Polite Calamities.

When she’s not writing, Gold can be found traveling, enjoying the outdoors, or curled up with a book. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and two cats.

To hear first about Jenni’s upcoming novels, receive bonus content and sneak peeks, and chat with Gold directly, join her monthly newsletter. You can also connect with Jenni on Instagram: @jennifergoldauthor.

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
1,835 global ratings

Review this product

Share your thoughts with other customers
Write a customer review

Customers say

Customers find the book engaging and well-written, with emotional depth that explores themes of love, forgiveness, and self-forgiveness. Moreover, they appreciate the educational content about whales, with one customer highlighting the ethical dilemmas of whalewatching. Additionally, the book features relatable characters and strong friendships, with one review specifically mentioning the wonderful bond between Abby and Chrissy.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Select to learn more

37 customers mention "Readability"37 positive0 negative

Customers find the book to be a wonderful read with excellent writing that keeps readers engaged.

"...This is a beautifully written story that gave me a huge lump in my throat when I realised what had happened previously...." Read more

"...The novel unfolds on two parallel tracks, past and present, telling the life and relationships of Abby, a marine biologist who left her home and..." Read more

"...One good thing was she had a great friend in Chrissy. Good book." Read more

"...the strengths of this book is the way the author allows the reader an opportunity to "feel" the story...." Read more

14 customers mention "Emotion level"11 positive3 negative

Customers appreciate the emotional depth of the book, with its blend of happy and sad moments, and its themes of self-forgiveness and forgiving others.

"...There are strong emotions, dealing with grief and forgiveness and putting one step in front of each other to gain some healing...." Read more

"...Along with all the entertaining romantic entanglements, just like her first novel, “The Ingredients of Us,” there’s a wonderfully strong friendship..." Read more

"...book, because I felt I was there every moment, from the happy moments to the sad ones...." Read more

"...This book will not disappoint. A love story on a different take that made me cry towards the end!" Read more

8 customers mention "Learning material"8 positive0 negative

Customers find the book educational, particularly about whales, with one customer highlighting the ethical dilemmas of whalewatching.

"...the best possible sense, the characters relatable and the backdrop of the rich marine life of Puget Sound irresistible...." Read more

"...And the whale sightings and expeditions, and life in Abby's quirky, artsy, Port Townsend, were vivid “you are there” experiences for the reader...." Read more

"...What I also loved was the focus on marine life, and without preaching, educating us on how we can help whales and other marine life...." Read more

"...I really enjoyed the character's friendships. Worth the read. Learned more about whales...." Read more

7 customers mention "Character relatability"7 positive0 negative

Customers find the characters relatable, with one customer particularly enjoying their friendships.

"...The book is a pageturner in the best possible sense, the characters relatable and the backdrop of the rich marine life of Puget Sound irresistible...." Read more

"...Such a good mix of flawed, but likable, characters...." Read more

"I really liked the characters portrayed in the book and how I felt attached to their stories along with the main character & her links to them...." Read more

"...Loved all the characters 🥰..." Read more

4 customers mention "Friendship"4 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the friendships in the book, with one highlighting the strong bond between Abby and Chrissy, while another mentions enjoying getting to know the characters.

"...One good thing was she had a great friend in Chrissy. Good book." Read more

"...novel, “The Ingredients of Us,” there’s a wonderfully strong friendship between Abby and Chrissy. This was as interesting to me as the romances...." Read more

"I enjoyed getting to know the people, their lives, their loves, their heartbreak. I cried - this book touched me deeply." Read more

"...oceanic life as well as a good story of love, family life and romantic relationships." Read more

Keep Me Afloat
4 out of 5 stars
Keep Me Afloat
This is a story that pulls at your heart strings! We know that something life altering happened in Abby Fisher's life five years ago, but we don't know what and that's what kept me reading. I will say every guess I had about what happened was wrong. This book alternates between 2008 to 2018. Abby follows her dreams to Alaska where she has a once in a lifetime research opportunity. Before she left, Abby had started a relationship with Dennis, a boy she knew from high school. One night while in Alaska she gets a phone call that Dennis is in the hospital and needs heart surgery. Thus the spiraling of Abby's career begins. She never went back to Alaska. I felt bad for Abby because she wanted to be in Alaska, but also with Dennis. She chose Dennis and ends up working at a bank. A job she never thought she would be doing. Then she meets Eli. I don't want to spoil anything so I'll leave it there! This is a new to me author, and I can't wait to see what she writes next. Grab your copy on today! Happy Pub Day! Book Rating: 4/5 For the grand finale this would pair nicely with a Shannon Reserve Chardonnay 2016.
Hide
Thank you for your feedback
Sorry, there was an error
Sorry we couldn't load the review

Top reviews from the United States

  • Donna
    5.0 out of 5 stars Wow read
    Reviewed in the United States on July 17, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    Abby is a 30-something marine biologist who has been working on a research project in San Diego. The project runs out of funding and she decides to return to her childhood home in the Pacific North West.

    The story is told in the present day with flashbacks to the time when she was at school and met her husband Dennis one night after a teenage car crash, then met up with him again at random times before finally connecting when she had finished her studies in Alaska and returned home.

    When they married, she couldn’t find work in her field and she starts working as a bank teller. It ends up destroying her soul and affecting her marriage.

    As the story unfolds and the truth of what happened five years ago is revealed, Abby is starting to come to terms with the events of the past and her part in them. Only when she is able to forgive herself, is she able to move on.

    You realise that until now she hasn’t been able to deal with things as they are just too overwhelming. This is a beautifully written story that gave me a huge lump in my throat when I realised what had happened previously.

    There are strong emotions, dealing with grief and forgiveness and putting one step in front of each other to gain some healing. The story comes together in the sweetest way at the end. A wow read! ❤️📚❤️
    4 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Elisa M
    4.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful pageturner with a compelling plot, relatable characters and incredible backdrop
    Reviewed in the United States on September 5, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    If you're lucky enough to live in the Puget Sound area, as I am, I suggest combining this book with a visit to artsy, beautiful Port Townsend, where the book takes place. Maybe even add in a whalewatching cruise, which is a central piece of the novel. The novel unfolds on two parallel tracks, past and present, telling the life and relationships of Abby, a marine biologist who left her home and marriage several years ago, and is now returning to rebuild her life. The book is a pageturner in the best possible sense, the characters relatable and the backdrop of the rich marine life of Puget Sound irresistible. As a bonus, you'll learn quite a bit about whales and the ethical dilemmas of whalewatching. Highly recommend!
    3 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Graced
    5.0 out of 5 stars Holding it together..
    Reviewed in the United States on June 26, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    As always we have a lot of questions about the main character. Abby. For someone so smart she appears to be so timid and weak. Then at the same time she's a loyal friend. She loves her parents but didn't really know what was going on in their lives but was she really self-centered? She didn't seem to be sure of her relationship with Dennis. She loved him but she didn't know how to express her unhappiness to him about how unhappy she was with the way her life was going. She was drawn to Eli but didn't really want to be unfaithful. She should've just told Jackie to mind her own business and stay out her and Dennis relationship. One good thing was she had a great friend in Chrissy. Good book.
    One person found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • snomml
    5.0 out of 5 stars Orca baby dies
    Reviewed in the United States on April 3, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    One of the strengths of this book is the way the author allows the reader an opportunity to "feel" the story. I could imagine myself as Abby as she faces life altering experiences. Abby has several times in her life when she must make a crucial decision. The choices she makes feel real and authentic. Sometimes she chooses wrong and you actually feel those same emotions.
    You don't and can't guess what her actual decisions are in advance. The ending is not what you might imagine. Thus it is a good read until the end.
    Helpful
     Report
  • Tee
    4.0 out of 5 stars Would be a 5 if I didn't hate the protagonist
    Reviewed in the United States on September 6, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    This is my first book by Jennifer Gold. I thought the writing was great. I'm a writer's reader, so details and minutiae propel me into the world their words create.

    But I hated the protagonist, which is why this isn't a 5. She was self-centered and weak. I found myself not rooting for her at all. I just didn't care about her enough. Like other books in which I hate the protagonist, I start skimming the pages and focusing on the other characters.

    Near the end, I actually found myself crying, which I haven't done in a while. But I wasn't crying for HER.

    By the way, she's nothing like her mom.

    I don't know if it was the writer's intention to have an unlikable protagonist, but once I got to the crying part, I was done with the book. I didn't even finish it -- and I'm one who usually feels obligated to finish a book I don't like.
    One person found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Steve Gillard
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great Storytelling!
    Reviewed in the United States on March 8, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    Another great story from a great storyteller. I was compelled to keep on reading UNTIL I KNOW WHAT THIS WOMAN IS GOING TO DO. :-) Along with all the entertaining romantic entanglements, just like her first novel, “The Ingredients of Us,” there’s a wonderfully strong friendship between Abby and Chrissy. This was as interesting to me as the romances. Such a good mix of flawed, but likable, characters. And the whale sightings and expeditions, and life in Abby's quirky, artsy, Port Townsend, were vivid “you are there” experiences for the reader. Not to mention: I learned things. :-)
    11 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • SM
    3.0 out of 5 stars Decent read
    Reviewed in the United States on May 8, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    It started a little slow, but got much better; the characters were complicated as people are. Abby’s struggles will resonate with most readers.
    Helpful
     Report
  • CPL
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book
    Reviewed in the United States on July 6, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    Loved this book. I loved how the author wrote this book, because I felt I was there every moment, from the happy moments to the sad ones. I would love to do some whale and orca watching after reading this book.
    Helpful
     Report

Top reviews from other countries

  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars such a great and at times heart breaking read
    Reviewed in Australia on September 29, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    Loved all of the characters and the ebbs and flows of the story. Kept me up n my toes - a great read
    Report
  • Kindle Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Love Life & Moving forward
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 25, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    A rollercoaster ride through the trials and tribulations of life. Love lust trust and being honest with yourself. Not sugar coated but deep truths that we can all identify with. I loved this book
    Report
  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars The Pacific Northwest and Southern Resident Orcas
    Reviewed in Canada on April 21, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    I. Loved this novel. Great story lines. I was able to revisit 30+ years of my life in this novel. I grieved and I rejoiced.
    I could smell the ocean and hear the birds.
    I could taste the coffee
    Report
  • Polka Dots
    4.0 out of 5 stars it was a slow start
    Reviewed in Australia on February 8, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Characters that are just human and flawed. No perfect people living perfect lives.

    I figured the ending at the beginning of the book but still enjoyed the story. It dragged at times but it was worth it.

    The ending left me thinking of Abby and her decisions, and what would have happened if she had done things differently.
    Report
  • Mrs P
    5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting novel featuring marine life
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 12, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    The book was very well written although primarily for a younger age group than mine. It is full of interest about the wonders of marine life.
    Report

Report an issue


Does this item contain inappropriate content?
Report
Do you believe that this item violates a copyright?
Report
Does this item contain quality or formatting issues?
Report