This was a strange book, and I'm not quite sure if it was for me. What pulled me in was the description of nostalgia, but I did not feel this book pull at those heart strings for me, even though I have beloved memories of the 90s. I think at times this was confusing and that may have impacted my expereince with it.

3.5 ⭐

The summer after graduating high school and before college starts is this weird kind of limbo for teens in the transitional period on the brink of the next major stage in their lives. It's a time period where they're nervous to move forward into something entirely different than the lives they've lived so far, but at the same time it's filled with such promise. The narrative does an effective job at filling that uncertainty with just enough teenage recklessness as the summer slips by so quickly. When the end of summer inches closer the magical realism portion of the story becomes the central focus and it really leans into the idea of wanting your last summer as a kid to never end. A summer filled with pool hopping concluding in the ultimate pool is especially interesting when you intertwine it with the idea of water being cleansing. Easing their minds and escaping reality for awhile feels like the dream, until it's not anymore.

While the writing style took me some getting used to, the premise was intriguing enough to push through this book in one sitting, which is unheard of for me. I do wish that the relationships, both platonic and romantic, were developed more so that the emotional beats and stark gravity of their situation would've hit more. The interludes between chapters fascinated me the most, but I did also find them frustrating. It took me about halfway through the book to even understand what was going on in them and I didn't realize whose pov it was until the very end, prompting two rereads of them. The idea and themes of this novel are where it shines brightest, I just wish that the execution was more effective.

A philosophical story of two graduates thinking of the future , last summer fun. When they go to a pool in a forest their lives and being changes forever .

This book was very strange to me. I had a hard time connecting to the characters but I was drawn to the magical realism elements of the story. It was a quick read which was nice. It’s the perfect book to bring on a lake trip this summer.

There is something about the summer between high school and college, love how the book took me back. Not something I would have picked up but with only 240 pages I took a chance, glad I did. Nice surprise supernatural theme to it.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC of Night Swimming by Aaron Starmer.

Unfortunately, I made it about 50% until I finally put it down.

Others may enjoy it, the chapters are broken up with interesting poetic verses, kind of poetic. I just couldn't get around the fact that that the plot just doesn't move. I kept reading hoping that it would ramp up to something significant, but after enough time, I just stopped trying.

This felt so nostalgic, and I loved it. Full review to come! Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced copy of this story in exchange for an honest review. I am currently working through my ARC backlog and will be posting full reviews momentarily for books that have been completed!

This was such a nostalgic, atmospheric read. While I really enjoyed the characters and the story as a whole, I felt like the delivery was just edging on something better? The ending I just felt wasn't as punchy as it could have been. But I overall adored this read!

Ah man, this one took me right back to reflecting on my experiences at this age, in the difficult and exciting transitions we encounter in life. Devoured it, and made me feel things like I love to!

Possibly the best book I've read so far this year. Starmer does such a fantastic job of capturing the feeling of the unavoidable transition between high school and what comes after in a way that's not apparent. I loved this feeling of something being off mixed with nostalgia and existential dread. 10/10

I absolutely devoured this book in a day. I loved the nostalgic feel of the summer after high school before everyone goes off to college. The feeling that our entire lives are ahead of us, but the fear of what we are leaving behind. Night Swimming follows a group of friends who decided to spend their last summer together by swimming in every pool in their town. They hear about a natural pool in a forest and decided to go check it out. What happens when that pool is magical? Gosh I loved this book, and even shed a few tears for my younger self. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants a quick hit of 90's nostalgia. Thanks to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP for this eARC.

(3.5 / 5)

After graduating high school in 1994, Sarah and Trevor decide to swim every pool in their small town, without permission, in an effort to make the last summer before they move on with their lives last as long as they can. Then they hear about a natural pool in the woods that they know they need to check out. And what they discover there might just turn their dream of making the summer last into a reality.

The premise of this book was fairly vague but intriguing, so at only around 240 pages, I decided to give it a try. The book is fairly straight-forward for a while—Trevor likes Sarah, but she has an on-again-off-again boyfriend and keeps him at arm's length. He goes along with her plan to swim all of the pools as a way of spending time with her, though he understandably begins to get annoyed with her flirtation, since she's not ready to let go of her boyfriend yet. Then when they get to the mysterious pool in the woods, the story takes a turn. It becomes more of an introspection on life, romance, youth, and moving on. It's a little slow overall, a little bizarre, and has an odd, yet not unsatisfying, ending. It's interesting, but I don't really feel like it added a lot of value to my life, especially since there's a fair amount of emphasis on alcohol, drugs, and sex as normal parts of life for teenagers (even in the 90s). I am not sure what kind of reader to recommend this to, so I'd just say that if the premise sounds interesting to you, by all means check it out.

Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Young Readers Group for providing me a copy of this book to review.

This novel was odd. It wasn't bad; it just wasn't the novel for me. Much of the novel deals with high school angst; the characters have all just graduated from high school, and are spending the summer preparing to move on. Sarah and Trevor are friends who never quite got together, but they're going to spend the summer on Sarah's quest: to swim in every pool in their town. When they're nearly done, they encounter the owner of a pool, who suggests a pool they've never known existed, so in the inimitable way of young adults everywhere, they go in search - and they find it. Then things go sideways. What happens next is full of introspection and self-discovery, in a setting that is just strange. The twist at the end - which was supposed to be a surprise - didn't particularly surprise me. This novel is well written, and I'm sure there will be people who truly enjoy it; it simply wasn't a good fit for me.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book provided by Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Based on the description of the novel, I could not wait to read NIGHT SWIMMING by Aaron Starmer. It sounded like the perfect summer read for high school students, especially those looking forward to graduation. However, the character development was so poor and the story so thinly written, I can't recommend it. The descriptions are scant. The overall arc and emotional stakes are very slight. This had so much potential, but did not deliver.

4.5 stars
This book was a trip down memory lane—full of mixed tapes, big-screen viewings of Speed, and a major crush on Keanu Reeves. This is a young adult novel with some heavy, raw emotion. Being a teenager standing on the edge of adulthood is never easy, you want to be an adult but not sure what that really means. Aaron Starmer easily creates a clear picture of what the summer of 1994 looked. He takes the reader into the universal feeling of being lost, but then found; and finding pieces of yourself amidst the search. This is a melancholic yet hopeful story with lots of feelings. Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of Night Swimming.

This is such a unique twist on the "summer after high school" trope! These guys are a little older than me, but it still made me feel very nostalgic for my own summer after high school. Honestly, if you told me I could spend forever swimming with my friends (and crush!) I'd have jumped at the chance back then, as I shared so many of those same worries about what comes next. So to say, no matter when your final year of "childhood" was or will be, you will be able to relate to these emotions and feelings. (Though please don't break into strangers' pools, especially in today's very litigious society!)

So beyond having all the emotions, I was also very eager to find out what would happen to this group of friends. I definitely related the most to Trevor, and would likely be the Trevor in this situation. But I also understood the motives for everyone else, and they felt well fleshed out.

I will say, I don't think I fully "got" the ending? And while I think it probably fit tonally, I wanted a little more because that is how my brain works.

As a whole, I really enjoyed this fresh spin, loved the speculative parts, and especially loved all the relationship dynamics at play among the characters, as well as the journeys of self discovery.

This one was only so-so for me. While I appreciated the twist of the magical pool, I didn't feel particularly attached to any of the characters. Definitely more plot-driven than character-driven. So those who like a supernatural mystery plot, this would be an enjoyable read.

Night Swimming by Aaron Starmer is a beautifully written and haunting story that lingers with you long after the final page. Starmer captures a surreal blend of darkness and wonder, diving into themes of identity, friendship, and self-discovery through an atmosphere that feels almost dreamlike.

The story follows its protagonist as they navigate both internal struggles and the mysteries of the night, making each scene feel like an exploration of hidden fears and desires. Starmer’s writing is lyrical yet concise, painting vivid images that bring the setting and characters to life in an almost cinematic way. The plot balances the strange and the heartfelt, blending suspense with moments of quiet introspection that add depth to the narrative.

One of the things I loved about Night Swimming is its ability to capture the confusion and intensity of adolescence when every experience can feel like both an adventure and a potential danger. Starmer has an incredible talent for creating tension without relying on outright horror, letting the weight of the unknown and the power of suggestion fuel the suspense.

Overall, Night Swimming is a captivating, moody tale that resonates with the complexities of growing up. It’s a must-read for anyone looking for a story that is both eerie, emotionally rich and full of memorable characters

DNF @52%

I was just so uninterested in what little there was happening in this book. The female character seemed very pick me and it felt like she was leading the main character on.

Night Swimming is a beautifully strange and thought-provoking read. It is equal parts surreal, emotional, and darkly funny. Aaron Starmer has a unique voice, and this book really showcases his ability to weave the weird and the heartfelt together in unexpected ways.

The story explores grief, identity, and the absurdities of growing up, all with a dreamlike quality that keeps you slightly off-balance (in the best way). The characters are quirky and layered, and the writing is sharp, smart, and occasionally laugh-out-loud funny.

It’s not your typical coming-of-age novel, but that’s what makes it stand out. If you’re drawn to books that mix the surreal with emotional resonance, Night Swimming is well worth diving into.