if you know me at all, you know i am deeply nostalgic. not to get too maudlin, but i think nostalgia is a hard emotion to capture perfectly -- for me, it's a blend of wistfulness, sadness, joy, and an unnameable something that leaves me feeling off. NIGHT SWIMMING doesn't get all of it, but i think it's a great encapsulation of the desperation of nostalgia, the overwhelming desire to freeze time and preserve the moments you felt most alive, forever in vibrant color. the book is atmospheric, weird, and feels like a sleepless summer night. i wish the plot had moved more, but i think NIGHT SWIMMING excels in evoking a specific feeling and a specific era of life. for what it is, an emotion pressed between pages, i think it's worth a read.

A rather interesting read. Beautiful cover. Loved the concept and the time period as it brought me back to a lot of things or experienced I had when growing up. The idea of the book was very unique and interesting. I was not a fan of how they immediately dumped all of the characters in the beginning and just ran through everything and he definitely over explained and talked about things that were relevant. I hate that it felt like there was obsession over the girl instead of a good mix of the plot and the love story. It did enjoy the ending and what came of the situation. The long paragraphs could have been spaced out better and some paragraphs could be taken out to simply make room for more of a plot.

A dreamy, atmospheric tale that feels both intimate and expansive. Starmer’s storytelling is poetic and immersive—this one lingers long after the final page.

This book feels like a 90's fever dream but the ending was a bit ambiguous and left me wanting more! The nostalgia factor was lovely but I think I just wanted more in general out of the story. Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this book!

Pitch perfect story of a group of kids navigating the summer right after their high school graduation in 1994. Deeply nostalgic, not only for the 90’s references, but also how well the author captures the emotions of that memorable and pivotal point in time. It’s a time of freedom mixed with anxiety. A desperate desire to hold on to the known, and to the people we care about, existing alongside the knowledge that change is inevitable. This book is labeled YA – and while that audience can find value in this story, I think this novel is a true gift to adults who have already gone through this experience – particularly Gen X. I loved the creative storytelling, the relatability, and the emotional impact of this novel. This is one of those books that I will think about again.

Aw, the 90's. what a time to be alive. This book gave me all the nostalgia and then some.
It kept me on my toes, kept me guessing and second guessing.
I hadn't read anything by this author before, but they are definitely on my radar now.

It was fun but also not in the most engaging way. I wish it had invoked more emotion from me. I did like the themes that were expressed. There wasn't anything really wrong with the book, just that I was mostly bored/muted with it. Not extremely excited which is what I look for with books.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This one had a lot of potential, but it fell a little flat for me. I feel like Night Swimming relied heavily on vibes and nostalgia, which left the plot a little stilted and the pacing off. There were unique elements to this book, but ultimately, I don't think I was the target demographic for this particular work.

Their last summer before college, Trevor and Sarah make a secret plan to swim in all the pools in town, under the cover of night. Trevor may use the swim to finally tell Sarah how he feels.

Toward the end of their challenge, some of their friends find out about the swims and sneak into one last backyard pool. To their surprise, they're caught. Not only does the owner not care, she tells them about one last swimming hole. At first, it's like a dream, then strange things begin to happen.

I have recommended this book to a few students and others that I know like young adult romance books.

I was given the opportunity to read this book by NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

Night Swimming covers that summer before college / adult life, right after graduation. While it seems like it would be a good young adult, it's actually great for adults, too. There's something mysterious but strangely relatable about wanting to stay in certain moments, with certain people for forever that anyone can understand.

I didn't love the ending. I liked the ambiguity of it, but I could see young readers really struggling with it (hence maybe not YA). This book is thoughtful and weird. It's not a fun, easy read. It's quick (or it was for me), but it's contemplative and strange and uneasy and easy all at once.

This was so captivating, I was fully immersed in this world & read the book in a day. The writing transported me back to the simultaneous carefree & anxiety-ridden time after high school graduation, and had me reliving the excitement and fear of the future/uncertainty about what it would hold.

3.5 stars

This book is really perfect for any young adult who maybe isn’t sure what they’re gonna go with their lives, or if they’re feeling pressure from one area of their lives or another- it gives them a reminder to just.. dive in. I feel like this book is the perfect graduation gift to any senior that loves reading, because it deals a lot with the uncertainty of the future past high school, and it showcases people that maybe aren’t 100% sure what they’re gonna do with their lives.

Night swimming is a fast read, with many twists and turns. The format of the book reminded me of the TV show LOST. It keeps you thinking and engaged throughout the book. A good read for those that like to be kept on their toes.

I enjoyed Night Swimming - it was one of those books you can read in one sitting if you try. As a ‘90s teen and music lover, I had high hopes that the REM-inspired title meant music would play a bigger role in the story, but it ended up being more of a subtle nod than a full theme. That said, the book did a nice job capturing the nostalgia of growing up during that time, and I loved the references that brought me back to my teenage years.

The first half of the book is fantastic at setting up a classic summer adventure—full of humor, friendship, and the sense of possibility that comes with being young. But, after all that buildup, the ending felt a bit rushed and left me wanting just a little more closure. All in all, though, it’s a fun read, and perfect for anyone who loves a bit of ’90s nostalgia mixed into a coming-of-age story.

This was a delightfully quirky YA book. A group of high school friends stumble upon a magical grotto outside their town with a hot springs in it. Within this hot springs, time moves differently. The friends, about to leave for high school and their separate lives around the world, are able to take a break from worrying about their futures, their relationships, medical concerns, and what the end of high school means for each of them.

As the students come to terms with their choices and pathways, they learn more about their mysterious setting. I was curious what was happening and made all kinds of theories about the sentience of the springs. In the end, this book didn't blow me away, but it did make me happy. I'm glad I read it.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for my review.

Interesting enough premise, teens getting caught in a timeslip, but the ending is just not my cup of tea. Excellent sense of place and decent character development, but the resolution doesn't hold my suspension of disbelief.

Night Swimming captures that quintessential feeling of ending high school and entering adulthood, through a 90’s time lens. In other words, it took me right back to that very hazy, spectacularly exciting and terrifying, time in my own life; the summer before I started college. We all desperately wanted to get on to the next thing but also wanted to freeze time for the last bit of freedom with our friends before responsibility and life took the reins. This was atmospheric, poetic, creative, magical, sentimental, and heartfelt. Where it lost me was the middle and the lack of complexity in our characters. It meanders and repeats, and our characters were all one note. I wanted more of Trevor’s insecurity and fear of the future. I wanted more of Sarah’s uncertainty and complexity. They were all mentioned, but we never got into the reeds. Overall, I enjoyed it for its originality and creativity. But I wanted more.
3 stars
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an eArc in exchange for an honest review.

This nostalgic dive into 90s young aduldhood takes all the hopes and fears of a high school graduate to their bitter conclusions. Will anyone remember me? Can't this summer last forever? Am I enjoying my youth? Why does everything have to change? What should I do before our time runs out?

Our narrator, Trevor, lingers the longest in a moment he never wants to end. The temptation to grasp the sand with a tight fist as its grains flow through your fingers. He knows they're going to different colleges, that ultimately they aren't right for each other, that their paths don't cross again. That this summer is a glitch, yet made no less beautiful by cruel reality.

Everyone has, at some point, clung harder than they should've to a stage of life, a relationship, a feeling of security. Night Swimming just dares to ask, "What if you could stay? It doesn't make a strong argument one way or another, and seems content to float on the dreamy edge. Hazy and wistful, it's light on the palate and heavy on the atmosphere.

Thank you to Penguin Group for the e-ARC.

90s nostalgia is on full display. I thought the premise was really interesting but the idea that her friend is secretly trying to interfere in her relationship because he wants to be with her felt icky in general. I did like the magic realism but the book just felt like wanting to give vibes and not really knowing how to get the plot on board.

I know I shouldn’t go into books with my own expectations, but unfortunately I did with this one, and it didn’t meet them at all. I did enjoy the 90s nostalgia, as I seem to always be chasing that feeling. But the magical element didn’t quite work, in my opinion. I had an ok time reading this.