I was originally attracted to this book because of the cover and the title. However, I felt the story to be... well, just okay. I hated the ending.

I received this book in exchange for my honest review. Thank you netgalley for my copy of this book.

An interesting book about a great topic of overcoming setbacks. I did find the book a little repetitive however. The plot could have been sped along a little and it did feel a little disjointed.

Breath Like Water was at times heart breaking, uncomfortable, and awkward. But it was also enjoyable, entertaining, and inspiring the whole time. It brings up so many issues relevant to today's young adults. It is an excellent YA Sports Romance themed book with the opportunity to change the narrative on the way we think about mental health and the strive for perfection in sport. 5 Wonderful Stars!

Even though the two main characters were young this was a very complex, emotional-driven book. I can completely empathize with the pressures on your life and wanting/needing to succeed and add being a professional athlete in top of that, it can be too much. I loved the complexity of the story and that Susie and Harry became close because of their same drive and fairs, but that is also what created a wedge between them.

This is not what I expected but I am so glad I read this. It was a book you couldn't put down because you were rooting for Susie to succeed at swimming and to make it to the Olympics; but also for her relationship with Harry to succeed as well. This was a very real book for a work of fiction.

Thanks to Netgalley, author and publisher for ARC in exchange for an honest review

I admired how driven the characters were, and I enjoyed seeing how they worked through the various issues that arose. I loved what budded between Susannah and Harry and how they could rely on one another.

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I requested this book on NetGalley. I have never heard of the author but the title of the book “Breath Like Water” and the cover caught my attention. I love to swim and having grown up surrounded by water I was intrigued.

This delightful, challenging, complex at times poignant book shows the angst of competitive swim or any sports, the challenges of giving it your all and still falling short but most of all the strength to continue. It depicts first love, the struggles of falling in love at a young age, the struggles of living with a disability and the importance of strong family bond. At times I felt sad for Susannah and Harry and wish I could both a hug.

I was a bit disappointed by the last chapter and the epilogue. Although the epilogue reminds me of the saying “If you love something let it go. If it comes back to you it is yours forever. If not, it was never meant to be”, I wanted more information. Basically, I wanted to continue reading and wish for a look into your eyes reunion.

I highly recommend this book! I received an ARC from NetGalley for an honest review

I thought this book was pretty good for what it was supposed to be. However, it felt very slow paced and because of that, it lost my interest very early on. I think if the plot has thickened faster, I would’ve given this book a 4 star instead of a 3.

I enjoyed this multi-faceted book about pursuing dreams and first love. Susannah's push to go to the Olympics was very compelling even to me as a non-athlete, though I didn't always relate to that particular kind of drive. Her romance with Harry was more relatable as the experience of falling for someone for the first time, and their connection felt deep and authentic. Beautiful prose throughout and an emotional story, I think this will be good for fans of Jandy Nelson or Nicola Yoon.

This felt like two stories going on at the same time.

The first story was about Susannah and her struggles to make the Olympic trials. I loved how dedicated she was, and I saw how much everyone had to sacrifice --not just Susannah but her family. I loved the personal growth that she showed throughout the story.

The second story was the romance. Harry was the perfect friend turned boyfriend....until we realized he had his own struggles. I loved the relationship between them and how they supported each other.

This was a very cute story and I want to thank the publisher and net galley for the ARC, which did not impact my review.

Interesting how on the cover Susannah seems to be rescuing Harry, but for much of the text, the help seems to be mutual or going the other way. Harry comes off as a typical YA perfect boyfriend, until he discloses his psychiatric diagnosis. The love story between the two is a co-star in this sports novel, though. Susannah won a swimming championship (national or world, I forget which) a little over a year ago, when she was 15, and before she had a growth spurt that turned her body into an alien.

She spends all her time in the pool, driven by an ogre of a coach, trying to get to the Olympics. Along the way, she meets a guy. He calls her Susie, which tbh annoyed me because the nickname seems diminuating and dominating, but whatever. That might be what Susannah likes, given her devotion to the ogre, Dave.

Susannah never lets up--or lets her guard down, until the combination of Harry and a coach with a different style come into her life. It's a believable and affecting story of the sacrifices a person and their family make in order for the person to strive for their goal.