I did not read the description close enough when I requested this book. I was intrigued by the description and the cover. I did not realize it was YA and YA is a genre I steer clear of. I'm not sure why because I love this book! The story hooked me from the beginning and it was such a fun palate cleansing read.

Aaron Starmer’s "Night Swimming" is a cleverly written story that has a heartfelt plot and a surprising twist. What starts as a seemingly straightforward tale quickly transforms into a mind-bending exploration of time, memory, and the choices that define us.

Full of 90's nostalgia and cute quips, the has a surprising magical realism element to it that opens the door for a more reflective and emotional look at teen years and the journey that takes us on.

If you enjoy stories that challenge your perception of reality while delivering a rich emotional payoff, Night Swimming is an absolute must-read. It’s a testament to Aaron Starmer’s talent that a book so playful in structure can also be so deeply moving.

Thank you, NetGalley for the ARC!

What did I just read??? This book is going to forever haunt me. I started reading it and was getting NightSwim (the movie) vibes then immediately thought we were going to more of a Manifest (the TV show) vibe and then from there I realized this was not going to be like either of those. This book is in its own world and I can’t even begin to explain how it left me feeling. I couldn’t put it down because I kept trying to figure it out. The only way I can truly describe this is as a FEVER DREAM. This book left me with just as many questions as answers and I don’t know how to feel about that.

*I received a free ARC from NetGalley*

I really wanted to love this book but I just didn't enjoy it like I thought I would. The writing was beautiful but I just didn't get a grasp on the main characters and I couldn't connect with them enough to care about the plot.

Night Swimming promised me a dose of '90s nostalgia and a soundtrack of the era's iconic music, and while the story certainly delivers nostalgic touches, it’s so much more than that. This novel is a reflection on youth, friendship, love, and the complexities of growing up — all set against the backdrop of a seemingly endless summer.

Told from the perspective of our MMC Trevor, we follow him and his group of recently graduated friends during their final summer before life pulls them in different directions. At the story's heart is Trevor’s unspoken affection for his friend Sarah and his internal struggle over what their (and his) future might look like. The duo makes a pact to swim in every pool in their hometown of Sutton before summer’s end, a lighthearted quest that becomes more profound as the story unfolds.

But when the rest of the gang discover this pact, one split decision leads them to discover the existence of a hidden natural spring pool. It is at this point, their journey takes an unexpected turn. What begins as a playful adventure soon transforms into a poignant exploration of the fears, desires, and emotions that shape their lives. It’s a story about the delicate balance between holding on to the past and stepping into an unknown future.

At its core, Night Swimming isn’t just about the joy of friendship or the thrill of first love. It’s about the universal longing to freeze time — to experience a moment forever without the pressure of what comes next. The novel explores what it would be like to have an endless night, free from the constraints of time and responsibility, where every choice can be made without regret.

This is not your typical "YA romance" or coming-of-age story. While romance plays a role, the themes of fear, change, and self-discovery are what truly drive the narrative. It’s a book that invites you to reflect on your own experiences with youth, love, and the inevitable passage of time.

I highly recommend going into Night Swimming blind as it is a journey best experienced with an open mind, and you may find yourself taking away more from this story than you anticipated.

This book was great, it really sucked me in. It had such a unique writing style which I enjoy from time to time, and the plot was unlike anything I’ve read before. This is one where you want to go in blind and just be along for the ride.

I loved how short it was. I enjoyed the tone and mood of the story and was very interested in figuring out what had happened and the characters. I was a little confused at times and left the book with multiple questions, though not unhappily. Seemed like it would be appealing to teens.

Lois McMaster Bujold did a great job in writing this book, it had that element that I wanted from Spontaneous and was written in a way that worked overall. The characters were everything that I wanted and enjoyed the overall concept of them in this. It was everything that I was looking for and enjoyed the plot and writing.

Night Swimming by Aaron Starmer is an entrancing novel that beautifully captures the emotional complexities of friendship, love, and growing up. This book is a rich blend of realism and surrealism, where Starmer’s lyrical prose takes readers on a journey both enchanting and heartbreaking.

The story centers on the lives of two teenagers who form an intense bond over their mutual love of late-night swims and deep conversations under the stars. The nocturnal escapades and reflective musings shared by the main characters serve as a vehicle for exploring themes of identity, freedom, and the search for meaning. As they navigate adolescence, they face emotional and existential dilemmas that will resonate deeply with readers who’ve wrestled with similar coming-of-age struggles.

One of the novel’s strongest points is Starmer’s evocative, almost poetic, writing style. He skillfully conjures a dreamlike atmosphere, creating a feeling that each night swim is a dive into not only water but also the mysteries of the heart and mind. His characters are multidimensional, flawed, and endearing, each struggling with their own inner conflicts while yearning for connection and understanding.

The progression of *Night Swimming* balances between introspective moments and plot developments that keep the story moving forward. Starmer weaves in subtle elements of magical realism that elevate the story’s exploration of memory, loss, and the elusive nature of time, ultimately leaving readers with questions and reflections that linger long after the last page.

In summary, *Night Swimming* is a captivating and reflective novel that will appeal to readers who enjoy coming-of-age stories with emotional depth and poetic writing. Aaron Starmer has created a memorable piece of fiction that captures the beauty and pain of growing up, making *Night Swimming* a must-read for anyone seeking a profound and thought-provoking journey through adolescence.

I was initially drawn to this book because I thought that it had a pretty cool cover and a fun synopsis. Upon reading it, I think the story had so much potential in terms of plot and setting and nostalgia, etc. However, I wish the writing was more emotion driven than action driven because not much happens in the story in terms of action. I almost wish the author would have switched Trevor’s pov to first person instead to give us more insight on who he is as a character beyond his infatuation with Sarah, which seems to be the only defining characteristic about him. Anyway, to focus on more positive aspects of the book, I think the friend group’s dynamic was really fun and I liked the way they each had to work through something in order to move on. Again, I wish there was a bit more focus on the friends’ struggles and emotions, but overall I thought it was fun and I liked the message, even if I’m not entirely sure I understood it!

Night Swimming, I completed this book late last night but had to sleep on that ending.
This book completely threw me for a loop, in a good way.
It starts with being introduced to a group of seniors that are weeks away from graduating.
A small rural town where everyone knows each other’s business.
There’s a weird dynamic or vibe that I got with this group, almost like a few of them are friends out of convenience.
Since most of them will be leaving for college a couple of them make a pact to sneak into people’s yards at night and swim in their pools. Harmless enough but the story behind it makes it more meaningful.
Word gets out and at the last pool on their map they end up getting caught, instead of calling the police the resident tells them about this secret swimming hole that they just can’t pass up.
The story really begins when this group of friends arrives at this hidden swimming hole.
To compare it to a Twilight Zone episode doesn’t give it Justice.
There is so much meaning behind Night Swimming, I was reading into the night because I had to find out how it all came together and ended.
This isn’t a light read, the story seems like it will be but the ending had me closing the book and sitting there dissecting it.
I’m actually going to reread it now that I know how it ends so I can pay better attention to the subtext.

Aaron Starmer’s Night Swimming is a captivating and eerie journey that weaves elements of mystery, friendship, and self-discovery. Starmer crafts a story that’s as darkly atmospheric as it is introspective, making it a compelling read that invites you to question what’s real and what’s imagined.

At its heart, Night Swimming is a story about a young protagonist grappling with the emotional tides of adolescence, set against a backdrop that feels almost otherworldly. Starmer’s vivid descriptions immerse you in a world where night itself becomes a character, and where the boundaries between reality and dreams blur. Each chapter unravels like a secret, keeping the reader guessing about what lurks beneath the surface.

What makes this book particularly powerful is its ability to capture the uncertainty and thrill of those in-between moments in life—when friendships are tested, identities shift, and nothing feels quite as it seems. Starmer’s prose is both haunting and poetic, offering an almost cinematic experience that is both intimate and expansive.

If you’re drawn to stories with a touch of the surreal and enjoy character-driven narratives, Night Swimming is a fantastic pick. It’s a memorable, unsettling tale that lingers, reminding you of the beauty and mystery hidden in the unknown.

Night Swimming by Aaron Starmer is set in 1994 and follows Trevor and Sarah as they graduate from high school. Their friendship is a bit strained as Trevor has a huge crush on Sarah, who has a boyfriend. They have been accepted to different colleges and plan to make the most of their summer by swimming in every pool in their hometown, sneaking into yards and in-ground pools each night. As they get close to the end, things get a little weird.

I loved the nostalgia this story evoked in me. The summers between semesters, when the only thing I had to worry about was finishing a paper or making sure I wasn’t late meeting up with friends. The story was a quick and interesting read.

I love everything this author writes!! This book was no different. Perfect pacing and the storyline was soooo good! Thanks for the ARC!

This one took me back to my senior year in high school. It’s set in 1994 and I graduated in 1993. It was a trip down memory lane. It’s well written and I’m not the biggest fan of time travel but I couldn’t stop reading this.

It begins with a senior Trevor who is just graduating high school and is trying to spend time with his crush named Sara. Sara comes up with an idea to swim all of the pools in the city they live in. Trevor just wants to be with Sara so he goes along with it. Everything is going fine until they learn about a pool in the forest.

There is also a separate story going along with the main story. You don’t know who the narrator of that story.

I enjoyed this book. It’s well written and really just a takes me back. I’m reminded of the music and the clothes, dr martens. I would definitely recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin for providing me this digital review copy in exchange for my honest review.

This is a fascinating book that blends fantasy and reality, and while I'm not a fan of fantasy, this book made me feel like I was right there with these young people who yearn for adventure. Trevor and Sarah have a plan to swim in all the pools in their small town and they go late at night when no one will hear or see them. But when a seemingly crazy purple-haired woman tells them about a "natural pool" in the woods, they are intrigued enough to invite several of their friends to go as well. And then things get dicey....The pool has a different effect on each of them....As a swimmer myself, I was intrigued until I read this book and now know I will never swim in a forest, but stick only to pools I know!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

I absolutely adored this book. I sat down, picked it up and didn't move until I had finished. I have not been so excited to read a book and been so drawn into a book so quickly. It was the perfect reminder of those fun teenage adventures I've experienced and made me feel so nostalgic. I truly did not expect the twist at all but couldn't get enough. I can not wait to get my hands on a physical copy. Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to experience such a fun new read.

I got my first book from NetGalley to read early and review, so I started Night Swimming with an open mind. I was expecting a typical YA/NA storyline of growing up and finding love, which it starts out as. But as you get further in, between some chapters a secondary storyline is going, that you’re trying to piece who is narrating the whole time. As more unfolds otherworldly things start happening and I felt like I was pushed onto the island from Lost or another show/movie about time moving differently in different locations. When movies, books or tv shows get too into time travel/ other timelines etc. I check out. My brain doesn’t compute. But I kept on because I enjoyed the characters and their progress in their conundrums. The writing was good. The pacing wasn’t so slow I’m skipping paragraphs.

I’ve always wished I could have experienced the 90s as a teenager and this gave me that vibe I needed!

Trevor and his friend, Sarah, make a summer pact to swim in every pool in their neighborhood. When their friends join them, they end up getting busted by a woman who tells them of a secret pool in the woods. Curious, they go to investigate and get more than they bargained for.

This was not at all what I expected and I absolutely recommend going in as blind as possible. It’s hard to write a review that doesn’t give everything away, but I’ll try. This was intriguing, unique and one of the strangest books I’ve ever read. I loved the premise of the whole thing. I do have unanswered questions though that will eat at me.

Overall, this book was magical and had me hooked almost immediately!

This was an ARC from NetGalley. Reading the description, I thought I was heading into a YA novel learning heavily into the millennial nostalgia for all things 90s. Boy was I wrong. I don't want to spoil anything, but if you are looking for a book that involves a strong WTF did I just read, this is for you. Neither good or bad, just completely unique. The saving grace was this was a very short read, and longer, and the plot would have gotten very repetitive. #netgalley #nightswimming #90snostalgia #leavingouryouthbehind #whatdidijustread