So I really enjoyed this story! As many of you know, I have a pretty hardcore swimming background, and I get giddy excited for a swimming book! In Breath Like Water, the story is a swimming one for sure, but it also deals a lot with mental health and just growing up in general. So let me tell you all the great stuff about it, and maybe the one thing I had some issues with!

What I Loved:

► Swimming, swimming, so much swimming! I adore swimming books! And the author did get quite a bit of the feelings part down! It's such a different kind of sport, and I think the author does that justice. It occupies such a huge part of Susannah's life, which is so accurate for any serious swimmer. You don't see the sunlight in the winters, basically, which the author even mentions! And I appreciated seeing Susannah's commitment to it, because there is just not enough of that in books, especially books with women characters.

► Talking about body change impact. This never impacted me personally, but I know so many female athletes who struggled with this, especially in swimming. I was never long nor lean, and at 37 I still have no actual "womanly curves" to speak of, but so many swimmers in their youth have the long, lithe frame that is so easy to get through the water. And as they grow older, things change. And try as they may, their bodies just don't react the same way they used to. This is a huge thing for Susannah, and I loved that the author not only addresses it, but the steps to overcoming it. There's also talk about injury and pushing our bodies too hard, which is a big thing as well.

►Sometimes you need to throw the whole coach away. I have said it before, and I'll say it again: I am so, so lucky to have had incredible youth coaches. My age group, high school, and summer coaches were some of the most incredible human beings I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. My college coach was... problematic. Much less problematic than Susannah's coach, but when I look back at why I didn't do as well in college as in high school, it's not a big shock as to part of the problem. Susannah thinks she needs this guy at first, can't be a champion without him, and the trajectory the story takes is quite positive in that regard.

►Susannah's family is so supportive! They can clash at times because they don't really understand why Susannah is so all-in to swimming. And this frustrates Susannah, which is understandable. But I couldn't help but think about the flip side- when your parents are over-involved and even though they're coming from a good place, it's stifling. So I really enjoyed seeing this other side of the coin! But they have sacrificed over and over to help Susannah's career, and they are always 100% in her corner, which is kind of the best part. I also love how close she is with her mom!

►Big focus on mental health, and being a good support. Susannah's boyfriend is going through some really rough stuff, and I thought the author handled it very delicately and appropriately. This storyline also illustrates how to be a good support system for someone who needs you to be there for them at a low point, and I think that is a lesson many more people need to hear.

The One Thing I Had Issues With:

►Oddly enough... the swimming! Not that it was a huge focal point, goodness no! And look- I will say upfront that if you didn't live and die by the water, you're probably not going to notice or care about this whatsoever. But I'd be lying if I said it didn't bug me a bit. I also did read an uncorrected proof, so my hope is that it IS corrected, and this is moot! But since I cannot leave my house to check... here we are. Susannah's main event is the 200 and 400 I.M. Which is the 200/400 (yards or meters, depending on the pool/event) Individual Medley. The book, however, keeps calling it an "Intermediate Medley" and that is just not a thing. It also calls the Medley Relay an "I.M Relay" which isn't a thing because by definition, the I.M. is Individual. Then Susannah says "one thing I refuse to do is grow out my leg hair for the ritual shave before big meets". Okay first of all, that isn't why you do it. It's the whole regular season drag versus reduced drag and increased skin sensitivity taper meet Second, it isn't optional! Especially for an Olympic-caliber athlete. My high school coach made us sign a straight up contract that we would abide by this stuff. Also you cannot put bubbles in a pool, you will ruin the filter. This I know from personally watching some incredibly uninformed people using shampoo in the pool when the showers broke. Just... you can't.

Bottom Line: A lovely story about perseverance, hope, and discovering who we are and who we want to be, I definitely recommend!

Susannah has been swimming for most of her life and finally got the world championship. Her dream to go to the Olympics is close. Or used to be until her body changed and now she keeps losing speed in the water. Maybe the whole way she views the pool needs to change as well, so she can readapt. That's when she meets Harry, the new swimmer who simply refuses to take it too seriously.

3.5 rounded up.

There was no way not to round up when this story is followed by so many details about being a swimmer on her way to the Olympic Trials. The descriptions are beautiful and during the competitions made me feel like I had to wait each second to find out who won. I'm sure writing like that took an enormous effort.

I also liked how the relationships were built. Not only hers and Harry, but Susannah's with her family, who'd been doing everything to support her, even to face her scary trainer. The trainer who was over the top from the start but it will take our main character a lot strengthening to even see that. The friends, some more supportive, others a little mean. I feel this side of the book was very solid.

And so was the work on the characters' psyche. For those who may feel triggered, we have one character (not Susannah) diagnosed with bipolarity, and there's also a scene involving cutting. Please, refrain getting this read if you feel this will affect you. I think it was mild, definitely not just for the shock, nor for the drama, and accompanied with a lot of information, but triggers are triggers.

My big problem with this book, though, was the romance. Harry isn't a bad boy, he's actually a good kid; he's a book boyfriend I do approve of. Nevertheless, I didn't feel the sparkles. Moreover, they get together early on, so there's something that isn't for me either. Not only I wasn't that into Harry (not his fault, though), but I'm also not that into established relationship stories.Luckily, the romance wasn't all there was to the book.

One last issue, I found it wordy. I liked that the descriptions set a good pace during the competitions, but we had long, long paragraphs with nothing much happening all through the book too. I think editing out a bit would have made it more enjoyable. Of course, there are readers who like that kind of writing, so this could be for you if you're among them.

In all, this wasn't that big of an innovation story-wise, but there are many other merits, especially how well built the relationships were and how much of the swimming information sound to be true. It really feels like I've been to the Trials and swam in that pool. This is a great pick for those who like taking their time and appreciating details, which is a rare feat in the genre.


Honest review based on an ARC provided for the book tour through Netgalley. Many thanks to the publisher for this opportunity.

This is a touching story about dreams, determination, failure, mental health and sacrifices. I typically steer clear of sports related novels, but this one kept me intrigued. I found it a little too similar to All The Bright places, so if you didn’t like that one, I don’t know how you’d feel about this one. Overall, it was a great message and I appreciated the inclusion of mental health resources at the end.

TW: self-harm, alcohol abuse

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

Susannah Ramos is a swimmer, and not just a standout in her high school — she became world champion at the tender age of 14. So her life isn’t the typical high school student’s: She gets up early, goes to the pool to swim, attends classes and does her schoolwork, and then practices and trains more, weekends included. She hasn’t really dated and certainly never had a boyfriend; there simply isn’t time, and boys aren’t worth even the possibility of losing out on her dream of making it onto the Olympic team.

But two years after her world triumph, she’s added inches and pounds and is still trying to adjust to a different body, and her often-demeaning longtime coach seems to have written her off. Susannah is frustrated but determined, working ever harder to make her body into a machine capable of getting her to the Olympics and proving to her coach that she’s still worth his time.

Then a new boy shows up at her swim club, transferring in from a different one, and he somehow manages to catch her attention. Harry is handsome, sure, but he works hard to get past her defenses to get to know her, and as Susannah realizes he understands her, she can’t help but fall for him. The two have a deep connection, and they spend any spare time they have together.

But Harry has some defenses of his own for an ongoing challenge he faces, and Susannah is trying to figure out whether she wants to try a different approach to training with a new assistant coach at her club. The stakes are high for these two young people, and they face more than the usual heartbreak common in adolescence. There’s a lot on the line: physical and mental health, beating the odds to achieve dreams beyond what most people even imagine, future schooling and careers.

Breath Like Water is an intense dive into a life of competition, laser focus and dedication few people will ever experience. Focusing solely on one activity and giving so much of your life to it means much of “normal” life others experience simply falls by the wayside. But it does mean for a select few the opportunity to reach heights others will never know or fathom. These characters are striving for greatness, but Susannah also is acutely aware that as a Mexican, she is still truly a minority in the world of high-level competitive swimming, and she has to work harder. Harry has talent and has worked hard but has an illness he’ll have to deal with his whole life and that supersedes his swimming or any of his “normal” life sometimes. And while the two have something special together, their relationship may not be able to sustain them at their age and stage of life and with the challenges they face.

I enjoyed the book and appreciated the view into what that kind of competitive life is like, with all its pros and cons and trade-offs; I felt deeply for the characters and hoped for the best for them even while knowing they were invariably going to have some deep disappointments and small chances for “success,” depending on how that would be defined. I appreciated the window into mental illness that Harry’s story provided, with all its complexity. Anna Jarzab wove a lot into one book that is meaningful and worth exploring.

Disclaimer: I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing, Netgalley, and Inkyard Press for this free copy. All quotes in this review are taken from the Advanced Reader Copy and may change in final publication.

You know how some people think that jocks are just airheads that only care about their sports careers and don’t have any other problems other than getting the gold, or whatever the highest ranking is?

Well maybe that’s not the full thought but that’s definitely something that I used to believe before I became an athlete myself, and before I came to terms with the fact that there is always more to someone’s story than just what they choose to show on the surface. And this book shows this in such a powerful and emotional way that I feel like it would give a different look into the lives of some high school athletes.

When I think about Susannah and how much time and effort she put into honing her craft, building up her skill in swimming and for it to just fall like that really hurt to read. I could imagine feeling things couldn’t possibly get any better somehow, or that there’s no way to fully recover from the events that happened to her, and even though people may try to tell her that time will heal everything, it’s not always easy to see. It makes sense that not only is she dealing with a physical fight for her career again but a mental and emotional one. Which one is worse, you can make that decision when you read it.

Then we have Harry, and boy I am so glad that they started off as friends in this novel before moving on to a romantic relationship. Personally, I would have liked if they remained friends, that just really loved each other as soul mates without the romantic aspect, but that’s just my weird self that can’t seem to get over romance lately. Either way, I loved the development of the relationship between Susannah and Harry in this novel, and seeing how they were able to learn how to help one another float in life again.

This was just a beautiful story, well written and I’m glad that I had the opportunity to read this.

"The best way I’ve come up with to describe how Harry kisses is that he does it with joy."

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. My thoughts and opinions are my own. Any quotes I use are from an unpublished copy and may not reflect the finished product.

Breath Like Water wasn't the story I was expecting, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. Susannah was a wonderful character that I could easily relate to, and her determination was enviable. She struggled to make time for the important things in her life, but failed to sometimes see what was right in front of her face. She was so focused on her swimming, and making it to the Olympics, that she let other relationships and responsibilities slide.

Susannah was a selfish character, but not in an obnoxious way. She was dedicated to her dream, despite the many setbacks and obstacles she had to overcome. Winning a medal once doesn't guarantee it will happen again, and her body's normal changes have made her feel heavy in the water. She's unaccustomed to maneuvering her new shape in an effective way, and struggles to swim the times needed for success. However, Susannah still pushes herself every practice. She doesn't quit or give up, and she takes all of the crap her coach throws at her because she wants to be better. She believes her condescending, hurtful, rude, and general ass of a coach is what she needs to succeed.

I really hated how much Susannah tolerated from her coach, and really wanted to punch him in the throat. No one disagrees with him, because he "trains champions," and they all want to make it to the Olympics. His methods are traditional, and not suited for everyone on the team, and he only pays attention to the people he thinks stand a chance. When Beth comes into the picture as an assistant coach, Susannah is hesitant at first, but soon realizes that Beth has more to offer than she first thought. She's compassionate and understanding, molds workouts that are suited to Susannah and her teammates on an individual level, and she doesn't curse at them or throw temper tantrums.

Dave went out of his way to be hurtful, and to make the team feel like they were worthless without him. He made them swim against each other, forced them to work tirelessly, and even stuck his nose in their relationships with they didn't suit him. It was horrible, and I hate that he was able to get away with so much. Yes, he shared a kind word with Susannah here and there, but his sole focus was himself. He wanted to look good, and he wanted people to think he was important. HATED. HIM.

Susannah wasn't perfect–not by a longshot–and her stubbornness wasn't always endearing. Oftentimes it was annoying and irritating, because she pushed people away for no reason at all. She ignored family and friends in pursuit of her dream, and blamed them when things didn't go her way. She was quick to apologize and make amends, but you can't always undo the damage words alone can cause, which brings me to Harry.

Easy-going, fun-loving Harry was one of the highlights for me, and I adored him from the start. His grand gestures and enthusiasm were contagious, and he never failed to make me smile. He makes his feelings known from the beginning, and is patient while Susannah figures out what she wants from their relationship. Eventually, he tells her they need to define what they have, because hanging out in limbo was hurting him. Thankfully, Susannah decides to give in to her romantic feelings, but while their relationship was a whirlwind of fun and new love, it was also filled with strife. They are both dealing with personal struggles, which I won't get into here, but that largely affects their relationship. I will say that this book addresses bipolar disorder, and the impact it can have on people's lives.

I thought the author handled the effects of being bipolar with skill and compassion. Jarzab explains it in a way that is thorough and understandable, without making me feel like she was info-dumping. The facts and revelations happened naturally, and in a manner that conveyed its complexities without making it a focal point of the story. It was a prominent part of a character's life, but it didn't define them. It was simply a part of them, like their hair color, or shoe size. I really loved the way it was addressed and that it wasn't over-simplified for the sake of the story.

There is a large family focus, which I also loved. Both of the main characters have parents that really care about them, and want what's best for their children. Susannah's parents have sacrificed over the years to make her dreams a reality, but they don't begrudge the money or time spent on their daughter (or having to wake up before dawn nearly every morning to take her to practice). They were supportive, but also quick to point out when she wasn't being kind, or failed to notice what was happening around her. Harry's parents are also supportive and understanding, and clearly wanted the world for their son.

Somehow the author made the relationship between Susannah and Harry feel like it was an insta-love, but also a slow-burn romance. Susannah knows what she feels for Harry, but isn't sure she wants to act on those feelings. Harry has been clear about what he wants from the start, but he patiently follows Susannah's lead and lets her decide how much she's willing to give. Again, she's a little selfish here (wanting his affection, but not willing to allow herself to be distracted), and I hated that it felt like she was stringing him along for a while.

Finally, if you're looking for a sweet HEA, that's not what this is. Their road is a hard one, and it will definitely make your heart hurt, but you'll also understand what they're going through and want what's best for everyone. It's complicated doesn't even begin to describe what this book is, but it's messy in some of the best ways. I was so invested in their lives, and really wanted them both to be happy and successful. Breath Like Water will break your heart, make you feel a wide range of emotions, but ultimately satisfy you in the end. Susannah and Harry might live in a world full of uncertainty, but there was always hope. (★★★★☆)

Title: Breath Like Water
Author: Anna Jarzab
Genre: YA
Rating: 5 out of 5

Susannah Ramos has always loved the water. A swimmer whose early talent made her a world champion, Susannah was poised for greatness in a sport that demands so much of its young. But an inexplicable slowdown has put her Olympic dream in jeopardy, and Susannah is fighting to keep her career afloat when two important people enter her life: a new coach with a revolutionary training strategy, and a charming fellow swimmer named Harry Matthews.

As Susannah begins her long and painful climb back to the top, her friendship with Harry blossoms into passionate and supportive love. But Harry is facing challenges of his own, and even as their bond draws them closer together, other forces work to tear them apart. As she struggles to balance her needs with those of the people who matter most to her, Susannah will learn the cost--and the beauty--of trying to achieve something extraordinary.

This was a fantastic read! Susannah is strong and determined, but she’s struggling. The walls she’s built around her emotions are impenetrable—until she meets Harry, who sees her, not an elite swimmer struggling to recapture former glory. Susannah has to be truly broken before she can rise again, and this novel captures all the anguish of her struggles and her search to find what she truly wants.

Then there’s Harry. He’s got walls of his own, walls he tries to hide behind humor and pranks, but he’s just as vulnerable as Susannah is—and he’s struggling with things that are just as overwhelming as Susannah’s opponents.

Anna Jarzab is a Midwesterner turned New Yorker. Breath Like Water is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of Harlequin Teen/Inkyard Press in exchange for an honest review.)

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Teen for. an advance reader copy of book for an honest review.

What a pleasant surprise this books was !

Susanna is a young girl ( of Mexican heritage) training for the Olympic trials in swimming. The book focuses on her struggles to stay competitive as her body changes, as she falls in love and deals with the difficult choices she has to make as she follows her dreams,
One of the characters in the book is also struggling with mental health issues and I though this was handled very well by the author.


4.5 ⭐️

4 stars

This was book was such a pleasant surprise! I went in to this book thinking that it would be a cute romance revolving around swimming, but it was way deeper than that. In "Breath Like Water" we follow Susannah. She has been swimming competitively for almost her entire life. After becoming a world champion, her progress has slowed down, and she become frustrated with herself. Her times have not improved, and with the Olympic Trails coming up she is determined to do what it takes to become an Olympian. She soon gets the help from a new coach and their revolutionary new methods, and a new teammate, Harry.

This book delved a lot into the world of competitive swimming, which I found fascinating because I always love watching all the swimming events during the Olympics. There was also a very cute romance in this book, that I thought was portrayed in a very realistic and believable way. But this book was so much more than just a romance with some swimming on the side. This book dealt a lot with the importance of friendship and family. We have a very supportive family surrounding our main characters, which is refreshing to see in YA contemporary. We also saw the way friendships change when different changes and stressors come into one's life.

The plot line I was most surprised by, and not in a bad way, was the mental health focus of this book. Our main character, Susannah, is dealing with the intense pressures of her sport, trying to improve herself, and a chronic injury that she has been dealing with for a long time. This obviously takes quite the toll on her psyche, but throughout the story we see her learn to deal with all of this in a more healthy way. Harry also has his own mental health struggles, and it was portrayed in such a raw and really well. He went through a lot in the span of this book, and his struggles and worries about being seen as "crazy" seemed very authentic and real, I couldn't help but feel for him. I really appreciated the way the author handled all the mental health struggles that these characters went through without making it the main focal point of the story. Both these characters went through such character growth in this novel in a very natural and organic way, and it didn't seem rush or forced.

Overall, this was a really heartfelt story about swimming, relationships, and the importance of having someone you can rely on.

Anna Jarzab's latest release puts the reader in the world of the elite athlete. Susannah Ramos is a swimmer. As the book opens, she's won a gold medal at Worlds. But puberty hits, her body changes, and swimming isn't as golden as her medal.

Breath Like Water takes the reader along Susannah's journey to learn to swim competitively in the body she now has, which doesn't perform the way her prepubescent body does. Her coach is a bully, her body isn't working with her, and Susannah suffers guilt at the cost accrued by her working-class family so she can train and compete as an elite athlete.

Things start to change when her coach hires a new assistant, Beth, whose training methods are different and under whose coaching Susannah finds herself improving. But there's a complication now, too, in the form of a new male swimmer on her team, Harry, with whom Susannah is developing a relationship.

Susannah has to endure setbacks - a shoulder injury jeopardizes her belief she can make it to the Olympic trials - and complications before she can find herself. Another complication is a secret Harry was keeping from her - and in the avoidance of spoilers, you, the reader, will have to find out Harry's secret for yourself.

This is a really good book, giving a glimpse into the grueling world of a competitive athlete, with a side of romance tossed in. Well worth the read!

I don't read a lot in the young adult genre, particularly when it centers around teenagers. Most of that is because with teens in the house, the last thing I need is more teen angst and drama. That said, something about this one grabbed hold and I thought it might make a good buddy read with my daughter. As it turns out, we read it together and it gave us plenty of topics for conversation as we moved through the story. The beginning of this one was more her thing than mine, and I worried that we were getting just another teen romance, but the further we read, the more this one developed into such a poignant read. There were so many elements to this one as these characters developed, and I love that they so freely discussed some sometimes hard topics. This is one of those books that makes you ponder, that leaves you thinking about the characters and their lives far beyond that last page. It's well written and these characters will certainly get inside your head and heart.

Failure is out of the question, especially for Susannah, who is an olympic swimmer, an overachiever, she is just perfection, I don't blame her, her parents have made a lot of sacrifices, and she doesn't want to disappoint them, or herself. She is getting older and she feels that she can't swim as fast or be as good as when she was getting all her amazing medals.

She meets a new guy Harry, and I will tell you? I feel like they are perfect for each other. He helps her just calm down and let go, to take the sport serious of course but not to push yourself to exhaustion, he helps her let loose.

This book even though I really like it, it has taught me a lot about the sport, things I didn't know, and I love a book that does that. Aside from that, the book has little triggers, which can be disturbing to some, it was disturbing for me. I loved how Anna Jarzab created amazing supportive characters, during those times, and it makes me root for Harry and Susannah even more.

They both find themselves in this book, they go through a lot, together and apart with their own lives but this book was very enlightening to me, it was informative, and very sappy at times, especially with Beth, Harry mentor, and also her own mother, which is super sweet.

Thank you NetGalley and Anna Jarzab, and Ink Yard Press for giving me the opportunity to read this YA gem.

“…failure is an intersection. You have the option to move forward, to try again, but you can also turn and follow a new path.” -Bob (the Priest)

A huge thank you to NetGalley, Anna Jarzab, Harlequin TEEN, and Inkyard Press for the opportunity to not only review Breath Like Water in exchange for an honest review, but to have been invited to be a part of the blog tour for this book!

My Review: First and foremost, I absolutely adored this book; Breath Like Water is a heart-wrenching page-turner that is impossible to put down.
One of the unique aspects of this book is that it is a YA novel specifically revolving around the sport of swimming. Sports novels for a young adult audience feel very sparse, like there really aren’t that many out there, let alone ones about swimming, so that in itself already makes this book stand out.

The characters in the book feel like real people, dynamic, which really drives this tale home in the heart of the reader. Susannah can be selfish, but only one thing has ever driven her: swimming. She wants to qualify for the Olympics. That is all she has ever wanted or knows, with the loving support of her family. When she meets Harry and starts to fall in love with him, she must keep her feelings and a possible relationship at bay, or everything she has worked for in swimming might be jeopardized. But she’s only human, so she gives Harry a chance.

On top of that, the swimming coach she has, Dave, is a complete asshole and seems to try to dampen Susanna’s spirits any chance he gets. When new assistant coach Beth arrives on the scene, Susannah is skeptical at first, saying only Dave can get her to the Olympics. After working with Beth and Harry both, Susannah learns there are people in her life who might just be better for her when it comes to supporting her goals.

As Susannah and Harry test out their relationship, she worries that something strange might be going on with him, based on something she heard from one of his prior girlfriends. This won’t stop Susannah. For a sixteen-year-old girl, this love is more than just a crush, and Harry feels the same, and together they agree: “When you win, I win.” Despite what seems to be the most fated romance in the world, the forces of the universe threaten to tear the two apart.

“Our relationship was one of the most important things in my life, not in a way that hurt my swimming but in a way that enhanced it.” -Susannah Ramos

One of the aspects I love about this book is the educational aspect of swimming and the Olympics. This is a fun way to learn about the sport. This book also explores bipolar disorder in an educational way, demonstrating to young readers how bipolar can affect someone’s life, and what the disorder looks like to those who may not know. What seems like a happy-go-lucky sort of book takes a dark twist as it explores many of the issues young people are faced with, and the way it is presented is deeply real.

“Be like the water. Arms like water, hips like water, legs like water, breath like water.” -Susannah Ramos

This is just a phenomenal book that I would recommend to anyone, absolutely anyone. I am not an easy person to bring to tears when it comes to reading, but there were at least three chapters straight where I could hardly read through the tears. How many books can hit their reader in the pathos like that?

I loved this! I loved Susannah and Harry's relationship. I loved Susannah's physical therapist, Joan, and her inability to put up with nonsense. I was so happy to see how Susannah grew and how her relationship with swimming changed, became more healthy.

The Quick Cut: A young teen swimming phenom struggles to get back to success she once had. Chaos ensues when she finds love in a fellow teammate. 
A Real Review: Thank you to Inkyard Press for providing the ARC in exchange for an honest review.     
 Everyone has talents and skills, but there are a rare few who have such an abundance of it that it makes them one of the best in the world. However, having such raw and powerful talent isn't enough alone to be successful. There are so many things you give up in order to be the best in your field. Are you willing to give up a life for the special talent you were born with? This is the struggle for Susannah. 
 Susannah Ramos is a rare talent. She has always had a love for swimming and being in the water. When she was 14, she put herself on the map by winning at the World Championships. However, after her big win, puberty kicked in and her body completely changed - leaving her struggling to figure out how to function in the pool. Then, a new teammate showed up on the team named Harry and she feels a connection to him. Will she get distracted by a guy who can only cause problems? Or will she find that what she wants isn't at all what she thinks? 
 This book is a long one at 400+ pages, but its pages well worth it. There are so many moving parts in Savannah's story that it takes length to service them all, but they work together beautifully. While the story focuses on her swimming career and how a romance throws a wrench in her plans, the true story is much deeper than that. This book is a tale about how essential it is to have the right support structure, no matter what your situation. 
 Susannah is a lead character who struggles in an arena that many can't quite relate to. She's an Olympic level swimmer. Even though its a struggle that not many can understand, she does it well by showcasing that everyone deals with pains and setbacks. Her struggle to find her footing where she once had success shows how sometimes those that bring you short term success aren't the ones who can bring out the best in you. Just because that's the way its been done forever doesn't mean its the right way to do it now. 
 Harry, Susannah's love interest, also brings an interesting aspect to this story with his bi-polar disorder. I love that this story involves someone having a mental disorder who can still find successes. Harry is a great addition to this story because he shows how difficult life can be when you have an invisible battle, but that you can still find a way to make something of yourself with it. His story may not be perfect or happy, but it is an important one. Just because you have a disability doesn't mean it has to mean your aspirations are dead. 
  The relationship between the two coaches, Dave and Beth, show an important distinction between healthy relationships and unhealthy ones. The relationship that Susannah has with Dave is about as unhealthy as it gets. He berates and puts people down in order to pull out their stronger results. However, having someone abuse you verbally will never result in continued success. Susannah has always worked with Dave and he has a track record for success, but having Beth come in and show her a new way changes her perspective (and on more than just in the pool). That showdown between Dave and Susannah? Well worth it once everything starts to unravel. I was so emotionally invested I couldn't help but tear up a little. 
 A powerful tale about knowing what support you need.  
My rating: 5 out of 5

Pros:
-Realistic depiction of teen’s struggles/relationships
-Very unique story? I haven’t read a book quite like this, ever

Cons:
-So much water/swimming wordplay, I see you, Anna Jarzab (wait is this even a con)

Plot 5/5
There’s a good balance between Susannah’s time in and out of the pool, so we get to really experience the two lives she’s juggling. Her struggles felt realistic too- it’s nice to actually see a female character that puts her career over her love interest (and the love interest does the same).

Pacing 5/5
Each chapter starts with the number of days left until the Olympic Trials, and I thought that was a nice touch as it really puts readers in the head of Susannah. We’re so focused on this one goal along with her that sometimes it would seem easy to dismiss everything else that is happening, but each moment in this book seems important. I literally could not put this book down.

Characters 6/5
I love everyone to pieces and I just want them to be happy. Susannah is so driven towards her goal that she’s willing to put everything else aside, and her family supports her decisions. Harry is just...so precious. Must be protected at all costs. The two of them grow so much over the span of the book and I found myself grinning like an idiot seeing how much they’d changed by the epilogue.

Overall Thoughts:
I loved this so, so much, y’all have no idea. I don’t usually read contemporaries, but like...this book was just so beautiful. Susannah and Harry’s relationship felt very realistic for two teenagers, none of that insta-love, burn down the world together nonsense. ALSO this book had the rawest lines like

“How do you even begin to mourn the death of a dream?”

The cover is also amazing and I want it framed on my wall.

I would recommend for:
-People looking for a deep (get it) contemporary read
-Fans of Gayle Forman

[The review will be posted to my blog, but closer to the release date,]

This book was breathtaking. Anna Jarzab tackled Mental illness, first loves, and self doubt with grace. The verbal abuse Susannah endured by someone she trusted was heartbreaking. I felt drawn to this story because I was a swimmer in High School so this had a special place in my heart. Not to mention the in depth look at how the pressures of such a competitive sport has an effect on a teenagers mental state. I instantly loved Harry and my heart broke for him and Susanna a little bit. I am so happy with Susanna’s character growth and positive mental changes towards the end. This book was just.. Wow. Not to mention at times the writing and descriptions flowed like a wave over you. I wish I would have read this when I was the character's age. This is a book teenagers need in the world right now!

Thank you @inkyardpress for this ARC in exchange for an honest review! Publishes May 19th!

I love YA that compliment and bring awareness to mental health. It's important for this age group to be aware of the mental strength it takes to be happy, and figure out who you are. First of all, I liked to this journey of two young people fight against the psychical and mental struggles in their life, working their ass off to be successful, become golden metal athletes at Olympics. Too much pressure, lack of money, isolated from close relations and the path they chose is so demanding, stressful, depressing because they don’t have time for socializing, building friendships, living careless and free. Their each step is planned and they have a compelling, challenging schedule to work on.

Breath Like Water by Anna Jarzab is, to put it simply, astonishing.

It's a tender exploration of first love. Of determination in the face of adversity. And of the ripple effects of mental illness.

Its beautiful prose is the perfect complement to the strength of the characters. I was stunned by the unexpected twists, by the quiet moments, by the ebb and flow of Susannah’s story.

Susannah Ramos loves swimming. At 14, she was a world champion. But changes in her body have slowed her down. She’s filled with self-doubt and feeling awkward in her own skin. But a new coach and a boy who quickly becomes a friend show her that she’s stronger than she knew.

I read it one day, almost one sitting. (I had to feed my family dinner.) It’s breathtaking. Five stars.

C/TW: alcohol and substance abuse, self-harm, bipolar diagnosis, verbal abuse

This book was beautiful! I could not stop reading it, and when I had to put it down, I kept thinking about it. The writing was lovely and lyrical. The characters were so fully realized I felt like I knew them. It made me laugh, cry, and then cry a great deal more. I can not recommend this book enough!