The beginning of this books as out of this world! I loved the idea of everyone having this dream of the world coming to an end and Mott and Lyd making decisions to leave what they know behind and enjoy whatever is to come was really great.

Loved having that weird controlling Father, that was chasing them down. It made an interesting and thrilling counterpart to the story. However, towards the middle it kind of fell off and felt unrealistic.

I think there were some very interesting and good parts to this book and other times Im not even sure what I just read.

I wasn't sure how it all was going to end but I think the author did a good job in the last couple chapters wrapping everything up that made sense.

No. No, no, no, I personally feel this book had a lot of potential if the author didn’t scramble to put the actual good stuff in the last chapter. Literally LAST CHAPTER. Aghhhhh! It’s a decent read but definitely not going to re read ever, it was super hard for me to pull through this book because it was very bland and repetitive from the beginning. I don’t like leaving crap reviews but dang I’m just a little disappointed. It made me feel like the author didn’t even realize where his story was headed until the very end. In other words the storyline didn’t seamlessly blend together like I would have expected?

Loved this weird and wicked book. It was a bit too strange even for me at some points — it was hard to keep track of the plot even though I realize a lot of the nonsense was purposeful — but the gorgeous language always roped me back in. The story of an anxious mother and precocious daughter at the end of the world was lovely to me also. The relationship felt weird, though the character of young Mott did seem to be a bit younger than she was supposed to be at times, though she was conveniently brilliant. It didn't always check out. But I loved Lyd, and I loved the evil of David, and I loved that this story rarely takes the easy way out

Everyone in the world had the same dream one night: The world was ending. They were dying- drowning, really, on November 1. Obviously, there were folks who refused to believe it, which makes sense, but the world as a whole was pretty convinced that this was The End. Which, as you’d imagine, sends things… spiraling. Interestingly, things didn’t get quite as bad as quickly as I’d assumed, but that made sense too. Humans are, by and large, good at denial. The whole “let’s not think about it and it will go away” applies fairly often.

In the story, we follow young teen Mott, her mom Lyd, and her crappy father David. Actually strike that- David is straight up an abusive ass. Lyd and Mott have sort of gotten away from him, but he still tracks them and spies on them and it’s really creepy. Lyd is basically a hermit at this point, letting Mott pick up all the slack outside the house. But that all changes when she realizes that David is back on his bullshit and wants to get to them before the end. So, Lyd snaps out of her stupor, and they go on the run.

The story itself is fairly quiet, as the women go from city to city, building their relationship back up and evading David. We see from David’s perspective how twisted he really is. He has been.. collecting young folks? That’s the best way to explain it, I suppose, to live in his house and keep him company/make him feel needed. It’s weird, but so is he. And he seemingly will stop at nothing to recapture Mott and Lyd. Not because he loves them, but because he feels some sort of entitlement to them. Sick, really.

Meanwhile, Lyd and Mott don’t just have to deal with this jerk hunting them down, but with the ramifications of the end of the world looming in front of them. There’s a lot of quiet character exploration, which I really enjoyed, especially with the mother-daughter relationship at the forefront. I am also always here for ideas about how mankind would act when facing its imminent demise. I have no idea why, but it fascinates me and is incredibly thought-provoking. The author did a great job of making the atmosphere appropriately desolate and eerie.

The ending.. the ending was a little weird for me? I didn’t hate it, but nor did I love it? But, it too is incredibly thought-provoking, so I can’t be mad.

Bottom Line: A quiet, family centered exploration on how humanity would react if they knew the end was coming- and exactly when and how.

Everyone in the world receives a dream about drowning in nine months time. Some believe it, some don't, but the world continues. Mott, a pre-teen girl, and her mother Lyd, who hasn't left her home in years, continue on working and living, until Lyd's ex decides it is time for them to live together again. In response to this request, Lyd and Mott flee. David was abusive, seems unstable, and is an actual spy. He attempts to track them down while Lyd works to both help and hide her daughter in a world confused about what to do in the time remaining. Mott does need to write her novel before the end of the world. While I generally do not like the novel within a novel premise, Mott's writing supports the overall theme in a way that makes the entire work more engaging.

A story about family and friendships in a world that doesn't quite know what to do with the shared dream and a possible end of their lives. A lot to think about on both the premise and the interpersonal relationships. The more I let this book stew in my brain, the more I like it.

Content warning: psychological abuse and non-graphic depictions of marital rape

Super weird dystopian novel. Ultimately, this one just didn’t come together for me. Unlikable characters and an interesting premise that just didn’t gel.

A very different type of book... I picked up Drowning Practice due to the end of the world theme. The sotry goes that one night EVERYONE on Earth has the same dream - a water death by a loved one on November 1st.
It's eight months out and there is a variety of reactions to the upcoming end of the world. The majority of the story is told via Lyd and her 13 year old daughter Mott. Lyd is contacted by her ex-husband David who is an unpleasant character. She believes fleeing is all she can do to keep Mott safe.

Lyd and Mott take a road trip about the United States that seems more like an odyssey. Fueled by Lyd's paranoia, the two mix with a variety of strange, kind and sundry characters. As the novel moves to the foretold cataclysmic end, Mott begins to mature and forces Lyd to see her as an individual. We also learn what powers Lyd's fear of David and I for one, could not stand the man. Part odyssey, part literary genius and part sad and realistic depiction of obsession, this story will stay with you for a long time.

if you like beautiful literature, stories of mother and child, experimental plots and of course end-of-world experiences, this novel is for you! #Drowning Practice. #Ecco #netGalley

I like this author’s writing, so it’s no surprise that I was a fan of this book. The story made me think of my life. It was so moving and emotional.

This book will mess with your mind. That said, this wasn’t really my cup of tea for casual reading. With all that’s going on in our world, I chose to read about the Apocalypse. This was (to me) a very, very long read that could have been shortened considerably. I wasn’t fond of any of the characters. I have often read excellent books with undesirable and unlikable characters. This read wasn’t one of those. The premise begins with everyone the world over having the same dream at the same time, of drowning. The characters are either drunk, drugged, crazed, depraved, mentally ill, or all of the above. The months and months it takes to see what happens when the clock runs out, felt like the readers also had to go through the same excruciating process. There was nothing pleasing or enjoyable whatsoever in my opinion. I don’t know how to even classify this book - horror, comedy, mystery, it just defied any expectations of what to expect. I felt knocked off my center. It was a well-written story, and I know there will be an audience for a read like this. Unexpected, keeps you guessing, and questions about family and what it means to you.
Thank you to Netgalley, Mr. Meginnis and Ecco for an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This book was a melancholy and quirky novel that had me reflecting on family and the ties that bind. What does it mean to be a good daughter or mother? When is love enough? These were questions I had while reading this novel that follows Lyd and Mott as they travel before the end of the world in November. Each chapter I was wondering what would come next. This was a reflective piece and I would recommend others to read it.