The story is interesting enough; there's so much potential, but I desperately wanted more from the narration. And while I get that delving into a character's emotions isn't easy, it's so important since that's what gives more depth to the story and the characters. Without it, everything that happens feels sort of bland, underdeveloped, and unimportant.

I don't think I've ever known so little about the main character. Tess is a goody-two-shoes who loves swimming and… well, that's it. Where are her other interests? What are her thoughts on everything happening around her? What about her deeper worries regarding the diagnosis or her feelings about potentially losing her best friend? We barely saw any of it, and it drove me crazy.

On the other hand, Charlie is slightly more developed as a character and a main love interest. However, due to the limited insight into Tess's thoughts, I'm not convinced that she likes him as much as she says. Even their first kiss lacks the expected spark. Where's the slow build-up, the anticipation, the music swelling up in the background?

All in all, I just think if you're going to write from a first-person point of view, don't forget to include their point of view. Simply put, Breathing Underwater felt more like reading a screenplay than a novel.

This was a great read especially as it coupled the relatability of growing up woth the uncertainty of a diagnosis!

75/100 or 3.75 stars

Thank you to NetGalley for providing a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This was better than I was expecting! I enjoyed the representation in the book, and it felt well done.

While the following critique isn't all on this book, it is in so many books and it grinds my gears.
Can we stop putting in dialogue that goes along the line of "oh this dessert is going to give me diabetes?" Like why in 2023 are books still putting in lines like this? I don't have diabetes and I don't know a lot about it, but I do know that is not how diabetes works. The books has this dialogue twice, and both times it annoyed me.

The romance was cute and the ending was not as cheesy as I was expecting. Decent Middle Grade story!

Tess is hoping to be offered a full scholarship for swimming until she has a seizure one day while swimming. The doctor says further testing is needed because she could have another seizure and that no one is considered epileptic until they have two seizures. When Tess meets Charlie, a lifeguard, they start seeing each other. Tess begins losing her focus on swimming, and Tess worries the college won’t offer her a scholarship if she can’t swim. When running one day, Tess has another seizure. Tess wants to quit the swim team, but Charlie says focus on the positive. Words are said and Tess and Charlie break up. Does Tess end up quitting the team? Do Tess and Charlie get back together? Would love to see a second book showing us Tess’’ future.

Thank you Holiday House for the digital ARC!

Holiday House is putting out some really great books about disability lately, and I'm excited for this latest addition to their line-up. BREATHING UNDERWATER is gorgeously written, poignant, and fresh with important themes of coping with a sudden diagnosis, chasing your ambitions, and navigating feelings.

First off, this cover is super pretty and that's what drew me into this book. I don’t feel like I typically read slice of life novels so I was curious on how I’d enjoy this. Our main character Tess loves swimming and it's practically her entire life. She hopes to get a scholarship from this and make everyone around her happy since it's what they expect to happen. Unfortunately for Tess she has a seizure which throws everything she's dreamed and hoped for off track.
I enjoyed this book and how Tess handled her epilepsy. The author herself lives with epilepsy I’ve learned after going through her instagram and you can tell she really wanted to make people aware that although it roughly impacts your life, you don’t have to let it stop you from achieving your dreams. I learned a lot from this book. There was romance also and that was semi enjoyable for me.
Thank you to Netgalley and Holiday House for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

first of all, this cover is absolutely gorgeous!

i never read a book like this, it was so interesting! honestly, i wish this book was longer. i would've liked to see more of relationship tess has with her parents, especially her dad.
overall, this book was really good. cant believe it's a debut!