Learning to Swim by Shayla Dugan is a heartwarming and poignant family drama about second chances, healing, and the bonds that hold us together. Gabrielle returns to her estranged mother Ida’s Arizona home, hoping for a fresh start after leaving behind her marriage and life in turmoil. Alongside her teenage daughter Juniper, Gabrielle faces the complexity of their fractured family, while Ida, an aging Olympic swimmer, grapples with her health and the regret of unfulfilled legacies. The novel beautifully explores themes of resilience, love, and the power of overcoming personal struggles, as Ida sets out to teach Juniper how to swim—a symbolic act of transformation for all three women. The compelling characters and tender moments make this an uplifting and thoughtful read.

The relationship between mother and daughter is often a complicated one and exactly the focus of this quick read. After Gabby’s marriage meets its end she decides to pack up her 13 year old daughter and move back to Arizona to help her mother through her upcoming heart surgery. Their reunion challenges both women to reflect on their relationship with each other and the teenager brought along for the ride.

Overall this was a fast read with a good amount of heart and humor mixed in. I think the plot was somewhat predictable at times but I think the author’s focused was more on the character development than the actual storyline in some ways. Would I rush out to buy this, probably not but if you see it at the library go ahead and give it a read.

Learning to swim is a heartwarming story of mother-daughter relationships. It’s also about growing up and navigating life….learning to swim. Chapters alternate between Gabby, 13yr old Juniper, and Gabby’s mother Ida. Things move slowly until Gabby and Juniper arrive at Ida’s home in Arizona. (Painfully slow because they are driving in Gabby’s car that has no a/c.) I enjoyed Ida’s chapters most because of her wit and wisdom. She was on a personal journey of her own after having heart surgery followed by a stroke.

There is humor in the book, but it’s not really necessary—the story stands on its own.

Advanced reader copy courtesy of the publishers at NetGalley for review.

I love a good multi generational story. A story of love, forgiveness and of course swimming. It was a easy read and kept me entertained the whole time.

This novel was right up my swimming lane.

What’s not to love? Swimming brings together three generations of women who have never found a way to fully connect.
Gabrielle walks away from what she realizes is a loveless marriage, cobbles together all her cash to buy an air-conditionerless car and packs away her few possessions and her teenage daughter, Juniper, to drive down from Indiana to Arizona, where they will live with and care for Gabrielle’s aging mother following heart surgery.

While thirteen-year-old Juniper is happy to escape a tense household and witnessing a collapsing marriage, this isn’t at all what she signed up for. She goes from being one of the most popular girls in school to being a social outcast in her new school. Her mom is busy with her new job and leaves Juniper to care for the grandmother she doesn’t even know.

Ida is an opinionated, driven woman. A competitive swimmer in her youth, she won an Olympic gold medal through sheer will and determination, and she demands the same discipline and drive from those around her – including a daughter she’s always suspected lacked a backbone.

When Ida discovers her granddaughter never learned to swim, she moves to rectify this error. The separate stories of these individual women begins to merge as they slowly mend their fractured relationship and gain a deeper insight into all the thoughts and emotions that are too often not expressed. This was a beautifully written novel, told through the perspectives of these three women. I loved the interesting, multifaceted characters and following along on this multigenerational coming-of-age tale.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy - all thoughts are my own.

In "Learning to Swim," Gabby, amidst a divorce, journeys with her 13-year-old daughter to look after her spirited elderly mother post-open heart surgery. The book delves into the intricate mother-daughter dynamic, portraying Gabby's dual roles of seeking her mother's approval whilst navigating her own challenges as a mother to a teenager. It highlights how roles can shift during difficult times.

The sentiment "She likes you Gabrielle. She just doesn’t understand you," resonates with the universal struggle between mothers and daughters. This relatability encouraged reflection on personal relationships, evoking moments of recognition in readers.

While the book didn't captivate me throughout, I found its essence more appealing post-reading. Although not glued to the storyline, I appreciated the relatable themes and the fitting conclusion. Despite some contrived elements, like the odd dynamic between Gabby and Mark, the conclusion felt genuinely satisfying.

I'm grateful to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. Overall, while not a standout for me, I would likely recommend it to others.

Gabby and her daughter Juniper are moving to Arizona to help Gabby's mom Ida who has to have heart surgery. The story is told in triple point of view from each main character.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book it had relatable characters and a believable storyline. I felt empathy for each woman as they struggled with life's problems and came out stronger in the end.
If you like family stories featuring different generations this book should be on your TBR.

The mother-daughter duo was starting over after a divorce in an entirely different state while taking care of a sick mother who was due for heart surgery. In the process, grandma wanted to teach her granddaughter how to swim as she was an Olympic swimmer in early years.

I wasn't really invested in the story but I loved the resounding message to live and to know oneself. Mistakes were made, relationships attempted, but at the end it all came down to what was best for everyone all around.

Thank you to Netgalley and Publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was an interesting story line.

Mothers and daughters, dysfunction, family life, dealing with tough life situations, aka it seems like a peer through someone else's window kind of read.

The characters were okay, there wasn't much energy in this book, and overall it was slightly boring for me. It felt like I was honestly reading an outline of someone's book or paper, than a novel. If there was a bit more complexity or depth to the characters this would have been better.

Thank you NetGalley and Egret Lake Books Publishing for my DRC in exchange for my honest review.

This book covers a lot of emotional ground, most of it with sensitivity and humour. It tells the story of three generations of women and the struggles they are facing at their life stages. Each of them are trying to do their best - even if they sometimes fall short. The struggles and emotions are shared with a light hand and a wry smile.
There were a couple of things I felt could have been done better - Chad (the brother) is bad just plain bad. We are told that, and expected to believe it, but it doesn't fit in with his actions prior to the books opening. The thing with Gabby's boss, I kept wondering if it was meant to be romance or harassment.

The ending was lovely. It teetered on overblown and sentimental, but fell back to affirming and delightful.

I thank NetGalley and the publishers, who gave me this book in exchange for an honest review.

"Learning to Swim" by Shayla Dugan is a heartwarming tale of family, resilience, and the power of second chances.

Gabrielle Malone's arrival on her mother Ida's doorstep in Arizona marks the beginning of a journey towards healing and reconciliation. With her teenage daughter Juniper in tow, Gabrielle hopes to forge a new bond with her estranged mother and build a better life for themselves. Dugan expertly captures the complexities of family dynamics as three generations come together under one roof, each grappling with their own struggles and insecurities.

At the heart of the novel is Ida, a former Olympic swimmer whose fierce independence and stubbornness mask her vulnerability. Despite facing health challenges, Ida refuses to let her spirit be dampened, determined to pass on her love of swimming to her granddaughter Juniper. As she navigates the murky waters of aging and illness, Ida discovers that sometimes the greatest strength lies in vulnerability and the willingness to open oneself up to love and connection.

Dugan's prose is both poignant and humorous, drawing readers into the lives of the Malone family with its richly drawn characters and authentic dialogue. Through moments of laughter and tears, triumphs and setbacks, "Learning to Swim" reminds us of the resilience of the human spirit and the transformative power of love.

With its relatable characters, heartfelt storytelling, and uplifting message, "Learning to Swim" is a novel that will resonate with readers of all ages. Dugan's poignant exploration of family bonds and the importance of forgiveness makes this a must-read for anyone searching for hope and redemption in the midst of life's challenges.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for an advanced copy to review for my honest opinion.

This just didn’t work for me. The characters were all terrible in their own way. Gabby and her brother and mother were all completely dysfunctional. The reader is left not feeling bad about her marriage breakdown at all. The whole plot with her marriage breakdown starting because she’s too proud to admit she stupidly bought a brand new car with no AC was ridiculous. So was driving a car with no AC to live in…Arizona. Gabby felt like more of a teenager than her own teen daughter. Oh and one more thing, it felt off to have a mother and 13 year old daughter going skinny dipping together.

This was a funny and relatable read! It is told through the lens of three generations of women: grandmother, mother, and daughter. As they all spend a summer together and in doing so learn more about themselves, love, and of course how to swim.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Three generations of women learning how to love and live through grief and changes. The oldest dealing with health issues while her daughter gives up her life in the midst of a divorce to help out. All while the granddaughter is trying to figure out why love is conditional. They all bond over swimming. My only complaint is the granddaughter’s schooling storyline seemed rush.

I didn’t expect that I would love this story like I did. This was such a beautiful heartwarming story. Highly recommend
Thank you NetGalley and Egret Lake Books for this arc

Three generations of women, each with their own stress and upheavals, are brought together when the grandmother, Ida, needs heart surgery. Ida still sees herself as the Olympic butterfly swimmer that she once was, despite the need for oxygen. (I did the research for you: the Butterfly was first swum in the 1956 Olympics.) Gabby, in the middle of the sandwich generation, is close to finalizing her divorce and really just lost. How is she going to take care of her mother when she thinks the woman doesn't even like her? And then Juniper who is forced to change states and schools 3 weeks before the end of the school year. There is a lot going on in this book and Ms. Dugan weaves together all the stories, emotions, and relationship history so very well! Each character has their own unique voice and as the point of view shifts, I could feel myself relate to the narrator only to have the same thing happen when it shifted again! I will admit the resolution was a bit sappy for me, but not eye-rolling sappy. And, honestly, it fit the story instead of feeling forced. This will be a great beach or lazy afternoon read! I look forward to reading more from Ms. Dugan!

4.5 stars

Touching, thought provoking and heartwarming, Learning to Swim truly was a rollercoaster of emotions.

After separating from her husband, Gabrielle moves back home to look after her mother, Ida, who has to undergo heart surgery, taking her thirteen-years-old daughter, Juniper, with her.

From the very first chapter, I was hooked into the story and I could not put this book down; there just was something so special and so beautiful in watching the relationship between the three characters blossom. Ida, Gabrielle and Juniper each brought in such interesting perspectives and reflections through their thoughts.

The authenticity in the portrayal of the ups and downs in the mothers-and-daughters relationships is something I particularly loved, and it was so interesting to witness it within different generations. I felt very connected to Juniper, and saw a lot of myself in her and her situation, and also related to many aspects of Gabrielle's story. Ida was such a strong, fun character, and I really loved her arc.

While the story did feel a bit rushed to me, it was something I could very easily overlook. I genuinely went through a whirlwind of emotions; I laughed just as much as I cried, and these characters and their story gained a little spot in my heart, where I'll be happy to keep them for the foreseeable future.

I could not recommend this book more, it being a debut blows my mind, and I will surely be keeping an eye out for the author's future work.

Huge thanks to BookBuzz & Netgalley for allowing me an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Gabby gets divorced and moves her and her daughter, Juniper, to Arizona to care for her mother, Ida, after heart surgery. Ida is a former Olympic swimming gold medalist and one feisty woman. Gabby is apprehensive about being around her mother again and Juniper is apprehensive about starting over at a new school in a new place. When Ida learns that Juniper can’t swim she makes it a goal to teach her after her surgery. Things don’t go according to plan but the lesson leads to a change in Ida and in Juniper and the relationships between all three woman are positively effected.
This was a heartwarming book about repairing relationships and finding oneself. Ida and Gabby had years of misunderstanding each other to address, Gabby and Juniper were struggling with pre-teen emotions mixed in with a divorce and moving, and Juniper and Ida had a relationship to build since Ida had never really been a part of Juniper’s life. Seeing the development of each relationship was uplifting. I also really enjoyed reading about Gabby’s journey to figure out who she was on her own. Her mother’s words that “she hadn’t learned to do it alone” were so powerful and it was delightful to see Gabby take those words to heart and head down a path to find herself. This book dealt with complicated relationships and grief and I really enjoyed how the story was told.

Absolutely loved this tender, funny novel. I enjoyed the writing as well as the endearing characters. Ida, Gabby and Juni show us how to love oneself and each other while accepting and embracing life’s challenges.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

A lovely book about family, loss, hope and learning to swim.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book finding it beautifully written. The story primarily focuses on the relationships between Ida/Gabrielle/Juniper but is so much more than that.

Thanks Netgalley for the advance copy.