The characters are fun, with a good dynamic. They seem very well-suited to the 1990s, almost like the cast of characters you’d find in movies like “American Pie” or “Can’t Hardly Wait.” Trevor and Sarah have a solid relationship and a “will they/won’t they” vibe, although I did feel in places that she was defined more by her relationships to male characters than as a character in her own right. The other characters provide good foils for them.

This was a very strange experience, but I loved it. A coming-of-age, nostalgic tickle, fever dream. The story did not go where I was expecting it to when I picked this book up, but I enjoyed it much more this way. I think that the ending was a little rushed feeling, but overall I really enjoyed the story!

What a strange and interesting little book. The first third of the book was so slow to me and I just wanted to get through it. But then it took a turn and really grabbed me. I think it’s best to go into this book without knowing what it’s about. Very thought-provoking.

Thank you Net Galley for this Arc. Although I enjoyed the nostalgia aspect of this book, it took me awhile to get through it. I cldnt get into or keep my interest in it. I got so confused in parts, I don’t know if it was me, or if it just wasn’t explained well enough. At first it was like the main characters were in love with each other, but both afraid to admit it, but then i didn’t have that feeling, and then it was there again. Certain parts I just didn’t understand. Please read this book if you wish, just cause it wasn’t for me, it may be the perfect read for you!

very well written. i found the transition into part 2 a little weirdly done and i felt that at points it was DEFINITELY not what i expected, but i liked it. 4 stars. tysm for the arc.

This book felt like a trip down memory lane for an elder millennial. I love when a story can give me a feeling of nostalgia even though the characters, plot, and author are completely new to me. Any time I read about mixed tapes, and old movies like Speed, I feel like I am revisiting my younger years, so I absolutely adored the setting of this story. Something that I find completely relevant to real life is the fears about the future ahead, and the feelings and emotions that come with the "Coming of age" trope. I feel like the author did a lovely job portraying all the aspects of growing up, such as love, disappointment, societal expectations, sadness, friendship, and the unknown and fear of becoming an adult when there is so much uncertainty.

I felt like I was truly living in the summer of 1994, Aaron Starmer created such a realistic and amazing atmosphere. He did a wonderful job capturing the vulnerability and burden of being young and reckless and going on a journey of self discovery. To make it even better, there were elements of magical realism that kept the story fresh and whimsical. I especially loved the chapter endings, they kept me wanting more and I flew through this story, I could not put it down. I found myself saying, "Just one more chapter." many times.

I found it a bit difficult to get into, and couldn’t fully connect with the characters. Probably the writing didn’t fully work for me

I devoured this book in a single day! It was such a captivating coming of age story about the limbo that exists between childhood and adulthood, when you want to simultaneously forge ahead with life and stay right where you are, frozen in time.

Sarah and Trevor, and all their friends and acquaintances, represent everyone who has wanted to find their own way in their own time. Each character has something about them that is relatable, whether it's that you see yourself in them, or someone close to you.

The story gave me John Green vibes if he were to dabble in magical realism. The author's voice is mesmerizing and hooked me into the story immediately. And once I was hooked I was there for the rollercoaster ride.

In addition, it was a very nostalgic read for because being set in 1994, it was reminiscent of my own journey around that same time. I was a fairly new college student at that time, and could not only relate to the themes, but also to the cultural references of the time. Many of the chapters were song titles that were the soundtrack of my coming of age story (Nightswimming, Cannonball, Waiting Room and more). I also appreciated the shout outs to Umbros, Binaca, babydoll dresses and Bennigan's restaurant.

I think it's safe to say that I will be thinking about this book for a long time. It's just so thought-provoking, relatable and beautifully written.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this book.

Had a difficult time connecting with the characters in this one. Not sure why. Maybe it is just me, but the book didn't hold my interest for an extended period of time .

Took me a while to get through this one.

You may find it more to your liking.

I'm honestly not sure how to feel about this one. I understand what the author was trying to convey through the story, but I think it was a little too "dreamy" for me. It's a quick YA read and it honestly becomes parable-like in it's execution in the second half of the story. I would say that if you're looking for something that isn't your typical read then this one is worth picking up.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Title: Night Swimmer
Author: Aaron Starmer
Genre: YA/Teen
Publisher: Penguin Group, Penguin Young Readers Group/Dutton Books for Young Readers
Pub Date: April 29, 2025
My Rating: 3.3 Stars
Pages: 242

The summer of 1994 and Trevor graduated high school but not yet excited about heading off to college.
Sarah a classmate approaches Trevor with a mission of swimming in all the pools in the neighborhood. Since Trevor has a major crush on Sarah, he agrees yet knows she has a boyfriend at college.

They had heard about a natural pool hidden in the woods and know they need to check it out in order to complete their mission.
However one they try it they find it has a curious hold on them, and then something strange happens.

This sure seemed liked my kids would do and perhaps I would have done it as well but it went different than I expected.

Want to thank NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP, Penguin Readers Group/Dutton Books for Young Readers for this uncorrected eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for April 29, 2025.

this book was well written and definitely gave the 90’s nostalgic feedback. the cover is so pretty but i thought this was an m/m read so that was disappointing.

interesting story.......not really for me, but i did finish..... ending seemed very rushed. i liked some of the interaction between characters, but just couldn't get into it . i appreciate the advanced copy though , thank you

As Sarah and Trevor embark on a mission to swim every pool in their town, they're also trying to figure out their futures and desires. Their initially-private project becomes less secret when Trevor tells some of their other friends about it, and as a group they take to the night to swim. But one pool, hidden in the woods, is very different, existing in its own time and space. As the various members of the group try to figure out what's going on and how to leave, emotions run high and relationships change in unpredictable ways. A solid SFFH novel with elements of philosophy.

“Night Swimming” is a poignant exploration a group of high school graduates on the cusp of adulthood. Trevor and Sarah decide that they will swim every swimming pool in their home town before the end of the summer. Their friends get wind of the plan and join in, and it nearly succeeds…until a meeting with a mysterious person leads them to a relatively unknown and little-used swimming hole that holds a mysterious and seductive power. There, the group must really look within for answers as to why they are there and how they will escape.

The story is novel. I enjoyed the off-the-wall decision by the main characters to swim every pool in town - it’s the type of goal that is both silly/meaningless in the long term, but endlessly meaningful if you’re caught up in the space between the moments of childhood and adulthood. I think I would have liked more on that part of their quest as they went through it since the majority of it felt glossed over to make room for the characters’ encounter with the mysterious swimming hole. The latter part of the book centers on this mysterious swimming spot, and I appreciated the premise. It gives of strong “Twilight Zone” vibes in a good way.

The characters are fun, with a good dynamic. They seem very well-suited to the 1990s, almost like the cast of characters you’d find in movies like “American Pie” or “Can’t Hardly Wait.” Trevor and Sarah have a solid relationship and a “will they/won’t they” vibe, although I did feel in places that she was defined more by her relationships to male characters than as a character in her own right. The other characters provide good foils for them.

Overall, a solid story exploring the possibilities and terrors offered by abandoning childhood and leaping headlong into adulthood.

I received this book for free via NetGalley

I enjoyed this book. I think mainly because it was "my time". I loved reading about about all the things I grew up with and just had forgotten. That made for a fun setting. I think the book was well written and they characters developed. Enjoyable read.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC! My inner teen enjoyed the 90s setting. Adult teacher me liked the appeal for teens. Although this book was definitely out there, I thought it had enough creep and novelty to stick out from the same old same old books. The ending was strange, and I don’t really understand the connection with the lady who sent them to the pool and why she shared this info or even knew it, but it definitely kept my interest. I kind of wish I knew what went in with each character in the end, the mystery around all of it was good, too. I’d recommend this one to HS kids, not MS. FYI profanity, talk of sex, underage drinking and drug use

I read this book as an ARC. I loved the feeling it gave me of being back in high school and the nostalgia of being a senior in high school again. It was hard to put this book down as I was reading it.

A fever dream of a book, and like a dream, it doesn't give you much to grasp on to. It's nostalgic and atmospheric, but much of that effect is created through a spare, detached writing style, at the expense of deeper character development or more compelling exploration of the scenario playing out. (I'm intentionally staying vague here because discovering that scenario is half the fun!) Overall, it's a quick, short read, but never captivating enough that I found myself itching to pick it up again—in fact, at times, I forgot I was reading it until I opened my Kindle app and saw the cover.

If you're considering reading, a tip: The book mentions John Cheever's amazing short story "The Swimmer." If you've never read it before, this is NOT a case where you need to go rush off and look up the story before continuing—in fact, I would personally recommend reading it AFTER you've finished "Night Swimming." I'm sure there's not a right or a wrong answer, of course, but personally, I would have preferred to have gone into the reading experience without any familiarity with "The Swimmer"!

Book:
NIGHT SWIMMING by Aaron Starmer
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the Earc (April 29)

Review:
2⭐
Trevor and Sarah make a pack to swim in all the pools in their town before the end of summer. When doing so, they learn of one last one---one that leads to confusion and weirdness.
I'm not sure how to review this because what did I just read??? It was weird and über confusing---and I still don't know what happened. Like I felt like I couldn't follow, especially the little povs at the end of the chapters and the ending. It was all out confusing. The mystery of the swimming hole, getting stuck there, leaving, and what happens after. The phenomenon made zero sense to me. Don't get me wrong, this wasn't a bad book, it just wasn't something that I would want to read again.