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.

This isn't my usual read but I wanted to explore the family dynamics and I found it a really heart-warming and easy read overall.

This was a great little book about three generations of women and them learning about themselves and each other over a summer.
Gabby is recently divorced. When she learns her mother, Ida, needs to have open heart surgery, she decides to take her 13 year old daughter, Juniper to live with Ida and start anew.
Ida and Gabby have always had a strained relationship. Ida is a former gold medal swimmer and over the summer she has goals to achieve with relationships with both her daughter and granddaughter.
This was a delightful quick read.

This book felt more like an outline than a full story. I enjoyed the Ida's character arc, but it felt rushed. The collateral characters didn't really contribute much to the story in a substantial way. I feel like the bones were there, but I needed more depth and complexity in these relationships to really become invested in them.

*I receieved this book as an ARC, and agreed to provide an honest review*

I usually love family drama but this one was a but boring. I didn't hate it but I didn't love it. Plot and character development lacking.

This is a story about mothers and daughters - their love, their failures, their healing, and their journey to be everything to each other while still being their true self.

Learning to Swim follows 3 generations of ladies in the midst of personal strife. Gabby, a late thirties soon-to-be divorcee who has decided to move across the country with her teenage daughter to care for her ailing mother. Ida, a strong willed former Olympic swimmer who struggles to connect with her daughter and hopes not to repeat the cycle with her granddaughter. Juniper, a teenager caught in the aftermath of adult choices who has her entire life uprooted. These three women must band together to support Ida during her heart surgery, Juniper through starting at a new school, and Gabby as she tries to handle it all while suffering emotionally.

While I enjoyed Learning to Swim and think it’s a poignant novel about the sacrifices and triumphs of being a mother and a child as well as the strength of female bonds, I didn’t necessarily love it. Beyond them being a family and dealing with some tough life situations, it was a bit of a boring read. Even when major events happened they felt subdued and had the same energy as mundane moments. I enjoyed Ida’s feistiness and Juniper’s coming of age woes but felt Gabby was underdeveloped. This is a very quick read though and has some lovely imagery. 3 out of 5 stars. Thank you netgalley for the ARC!

I loved it. It is a very well written, moving and heartwarming story of three strong women who happen to be the three generations of a family. I love reading about the complexities of the mother-daughter relationship and I also love older characters in books. This novel gave me all that and much more. I was really sorry when itended and I had to say goodbye to Ida, Gabrielle and Juniper. I will look out for the next books of the author. I can recommend it to everyone. You are in for a treat.

Gabby and her daughter Jubiper 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.