First published 2023
Michael Tougias and Adam Gamble cast their lines from the deck of the Scout, watching the ocean stretch endlessly before them. Both men carry the weight of recent disasters. Divorce papers, empty bank accounts, and career failures have left them adrift. Michael battles addiction while Adam faces his own upheaval. Their suburban lives with wives and children seem like distant memories now. But out on the water, something shifts. The two friends speak with raw honesty about their mistakes and fears. They share techniques for catching striped bass and discover they are also learning to catch hope. Each fishing trip becomes a lesson in resilience. The ocean teaches them patience while their friendship offers courage. Slowly, they begin to envision futures they never thought possible. Their conversations move from survival to dreams, from managing crisis to pursuing ambitious goals.
Genres: fiction, friendship, self-help, contemporary, personal-development
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family
Setting: Scout
256 pages · Hardcover · Lyons Press
Content warnings: addiction, depression