(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.

I loved the 90s vibe and the nostalgia of that summer between high school and college which, at this point, is hazy in my mind as best so it was nice to poke at those memories through this book. And a little magical realism never hurt anyone, I've not read a book like it. I wish more time was spent on the friend group dynamic. Definitely reads YA, as that's what it is. Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Funky book. Funky concept. Funky group of friends.

I expected one thing of this book, and got something entirely different. That's not bad at all, just surprising.

This book makes you think, and then think again. When you think you're done thinking, you're really not.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Night Swimming was a great coming of age story with an interesting twist that I enjoyed very much.
I thought the character development was good and it kept me interested through the entire story! It is a Young Adult book but parents would be wise to read it first as there are some mature themes, it should be fine for older teens.
It could make for a good movie.

This felt remarkable to read, in so many ways.

NIGHT SWIMMING is that feeling of experiencing love, long summer nights, and the feeling of endless possibilities when you're a teenager. Aaron Starmer was able to capture that feeling that feels like a distance past for so many adults.

Sarah and Trevor were both fantastic characters. I found myself able to enjoy their relationship and personal growths. What I didn't expect was the story went in a different direction that I wasn't expecting, but I LOVED it! It was a fantastic little surprise in the middle of an already great story.

“Night Swimming” is a faced paced young adult novel exploring themes of summer teen romance and not wanting to grow up. The main character, Trevor, graduates high school in a few days and is trying to spend as much time with his crush Sarah before they both leave for college. What seems like unrequited love leads to the start of something when Sarah invites Trevor to join her in ‘pool-hopping’ all of the pools in backyards of their small town, Sutton, after she saw them from an aerial view on a plane. The two grow closer and closer until they hit their last pool, where an enigmatic woman in purple tells them of a pool in a local forest. The natural pool nestled in the woods carries secrets, but how long will it be until the duo finally figures them out? I received an advanced copy of this novel on NetGalley so thank you to Penguin Random House and the author for allowing me to read this. For readers who remember how their high school glory days were, and the fear of not wanting to grow up and go to college and lose that part of yourself, this is a wonderful book to read that cause you to create your own reflections of your time in high school.

I was hooked from the beginning!!
It was amazing and engaging.
I was instantly sucked in by the atmosphere and writing style.
The characters were all very well developed .
The writing is exceptional and I was hooked after the first sentence.

As a person who gre up in the 90s I had high expectations going in. Unfortunately i had time getting into this (I've made several attempts), and eventually dnf.

Trevor has just graduated high school. He has a crush on Sarah, who happens to be dating someone else. Thinking their lives are over when they head off to college, they decide to make the best of the summer. Trevor and Sarah have a secret plan -- swim in all the pools in their hometown. Trevor agrees so he can get closer to Sarah, but ends up telling the rest of the group about what they are doing. Even though Sarah isn't thrilled about that, she goes along, especially on their last "pool" that they didn't even know existed.

Here's where things get interesting and a little paranormal. I'm not going to elaborate, you should read it and find out for yourself. There's a nice level of anxious tension here as the group enjoys the pool in the woods, while lamenting the end of high school and fear their future.

I will admit there were elements of the ending that I didn't get. Things do wrap up quickly when they start moving. I wasn't always sure about the narrator of the bits between chapters, but that was all okay. This book has a definite feeling to it -- and I liked that very much. It left me thinking about high school and the promises of youth and the excitement of the future, and that was very satisfying about this book. I hadn't read this author before, so I'm always happy to find someone new. The concept of the pool was quite interesting and left me with lots to think about. The book was also the right size for the content to avoid repetition.

Overall, an interesting new adult story about friendship, moving forward, and realizing how what we think of one year is no where near where things really do end up. Enjoyed this.

Freshly graduated from high school, best friends Sarah and Trevor take on a challenge of trying to take a dip in every pool in their neighborhood. They are nearly finished with their quest when they are given advice of a natural pool that wasn’t on their list and upon entering are exposed to the magical realism plot of the story.

I generally enjoyed this reading experience. It’s set in the 90s and was very nostalgic, the feelings of a lot of these teens felt very relatable for me at one point or another in my teens, and the short chapters helped my fly through the book. However, I don’t think the first POV character in between the chapters made any sense to me til the end (which I get that’s the point but it felt like wasted words throughout), and I really just can’t wrap my head around the ending.

I'm a little torn about this book. On the plus side, it's infinitely readable. I got into the rhythm of the narrator's voice immediately and found the book hard to put down. The supernatural element came in a bit late for me--especially since we spend most of the remainder of the book there. I also wasn't terribly invested in the secondary characters, and then suddenly we're spending 2/3 of the book with them, witnessing as they figure themselves out. Ultimately, the pay off to the existential experience all the characters had fell flat for me, which was a bummer. I wanted to like this book more than I did. I'd for sure read another book by this author though, because, again, his voice is incredibly engaging.

4.5 stars

This book had all the nostalgia vibes; 90’s in between high school and college with your friend group one last time. It gets slightly weird, but I wish it sort of went there even more. This book had the unique ability to really make me feel back in time. Gorgeous cover, intriguing plot, and a bit magical.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an advanced copy to form opinions from.