I’m not even sure how to rate this. It’s weird, it’s good, it’s bad, it’s everything in between. I’ve never read anything else like it, that’s for sure. I wanted more from the last 1/3 but satisfied enough. I loved the 90's setting, and the atmosphere that Starmer created. Super creative but fell short in the end and felt unresolved to me.

3.5/5

The setup of this novel is familiar in the best way: teens languishing in their hometown post-high school graduation, unsure about what’s coming next and how to say goodbye. Trevor has a major crush on Sarah and is hopeful for something to happen before they go their separate ways. The turn towards magical realism makes this stand out in the coming-of-age genre, and the 90s setting makes it a great nostalgic read. (Recommendation will be sent to readers of WordSmarts email newsletter)

Well, this was one wild, nostalgic, unusual read from start to finish. I’ve never quite read a book like this. The prose was a bit choppy with very little frill but it vibed. The descriptions took me back to my childhood in the 1990s. The vibes were THERE.

This is a story of a group of friends living their last free summer after high school. They’re each going through things and they each want something.

And then there’s that creepy POV that haunts you throughout the story. A truly fun and reminiscent way of telling a story based during one of the BEST times.

{I was gifted a complimentary copy of this book. All reviews are my own.}

I think I was expecting something different than what I got with this story, which threw me off a bit. I still did enjoy it, but it's not the type of story I would usually reach for. I do believe that a lot of people would eat this up if it's what they were looking for! I also struggled with the pace of the story at times and almost feel like the author was dragging their feet at certain parts. The romance was okay, but I wasn't that into it. I did love the characters, though, and find them well written!

Overall, this was a cool read. Like I stated not something I would reach for if I knew the full plot, but it was fun and I loved the vibes and atmosphere. I definitely think this would be super successful if it found an audience that was more into this vibe (trying not to spoil lol), but I'm glad I had the chance to try it out.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

~ 3.75 stars ~
Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Workshop for sending me this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Expected Publication: April 29th, 2025

Night Swimming is a nostalgic coming of age YA book with nostalgic vibes and a relatable theme. Taking place in the summer of 1994, Trevor and his friends have graduated high school and decide to swim in every pool in their hometown for their final summer together.

Aaron Starmer’s take on the transition between high school and college and teenage to young adult is timeless; whether in 1994 or 2025, the sentiment is the same.

I found Starmer’s writing style to be creative but ultimately not my cup of tea. Sentences were blunt and choppy, paragraphs were long-winded, and characters and romances were under-developed.
The vibes were there but the execution was not.

In short, a nice read but not my kind of book ♡

It’s the summer of 1994. As Trevor and his friends transition from being high school graduates to the rest of their lives, his best friend Sarah decides they must swim all the backyard pools in their town as a final goodbye to their youth. What starts as secret between the two, transitions into a final night with the whole crew coming upon a mysterious natural pool on the edge of town. No one knows who takes care of it, but the teens are ready for an epic night. Can one last adventure with friends last forever?

This was a good novel that reflects on a short window of time where kids truly step out into an adult world, face questions of what happens next and try to determine if they are on the right path. The setting in the nineties provides some more simple life nostalgia, but the light romance, coming of age and feeling of moving on is relevant to any time frame. Enjoyable and thoughtful. 4 stars.

Based on a digital Advanced Reader’s Copy (uncorrected proof) provided by Penguin Young Readers Group/Penguin Workshop and NetGalley for an honest review. Thank you!

70/100 or 3.5 stars

I liked what the author was doing with this story, as the vibes/atmosphere is there. It does take a decent amount of the story to get to the main part, but I do like where the author took this. The writing was good enough to hook me into the story even when it felt like not much was happening. I would be interested in checking out future stories from Starmer!

Part of what didn't work with this one for me was the odd writing style. There were word choices and certain ways the author would word things that just felt awkward. One example is in the exposition, the author referred to one of the teens as "young man," which just didn't mesh with the rest of the scene/tone of what was happening. The author also overly relied on telling rather than showing, which left most aspects of the book feeling flat. There were also pages of rambling exposition that provided background to elements that really weren't relevant to the plot and didn't help to bring the characters to life.

This work was also in a weird place between genres in a way that didn't quite work for me. It's advertised as a romance, but despite a large part of the book focusing on the protagonist's feelings for his friend, I never felt those feelings and the book did not feel like a romance. The magical realism element was stronger, even though it took a long time in the book to get to that aspect and it wasn't really explained.

Despite this being a relatively short read, it felt much longer to me. If you're looking for some '90s nostalgia that focuses on teens, a summer relationship, and has an element of magical realism, you may enjoy this one. My thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group for allowing me to read this work, which will be published April 29, 2025. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I'm sure this ends up being great and the 90s nostalgia is probably a hit for a lot of people. I really couldn't get invested in the story. I was almost 80% through when I asked myself, "Do I care what happens?" The answer was no, I didn't.

A DNF unfortunately, due to the choppy writing style, my inability to connect with the characters, and slow pacing. I do admire the creativity that went into this - the mixtape chapter titles and 90s highschool nostalgia with a dash of paranormal (it seemed like it was heading that direction anyway). I'm sure that there was going to be some deep and insightful message at the end of this, but ultimately I didn't want to continue nor did I have the patience for it.

This is an amazing and unexpected novel which I venture to say is my favorite read of the year so far! What begins as a coming of age quickly becomes a mesmerizing and insightful story which surpasses any expectations I had. The author allows us to accompany the characters on their journey to adulthood which is often misremembered or forgotten altogether. These relatable and well rounded characters, the interesting and intriguing plot, and the wonderful writing make this a definite must read of 2025.

Thank you to Netgalley and PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group | Penguin Workshop for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I did enjoy this book, even though I thought it was slow in spots. I did like the characters and the storyline. I would still recommend this book.

Aaron Starmer's SPONTANEOUS is one of the best teen novels I have ever read. It packs a powerful, often darkly hilarious punch that left me sobbing in its wake. NIGHT SWIMMING is just as
powerful but in a less explosive way. Pun intended. A lot of movies and books depict certain important teen nights as The Most Important of Their Lives (think Homecoming, Prom, Grad Night)and NIGHT
SWIMMING takes that idea a step further. What if one of those important nights never had to end and you were stuck with your favorite people? With neverending snacks? Eager for the so-called
freedoms of adulthood but terrified of what might happen or who you might never see again? If you
could just...stop time for a minute and hang with your buddies a little longer? NIGHT SWIMMING, full of 90s nostalgia and genuine heart, is a speculative love letter to those last days of adolescence when you would have given anything for another day in the sun, another hour in the pool.

At first the premise of this book was so fun. I loved the concept of pool hopping during your last summer before college. Two people, hanging out, seemingly falling in love. What’s not to like! But then things got weird. I should have been prepared but I wasn’t. It was interesting and intriguing but I just never “got it”. I finished the book so unsettled. I have to give it to the author, she made me feel things I don’t usually feel in books and I’ll definitely be thinking about this book in the days to come. I just didn’t enjoy the feelings I felt. A total trip to be honest.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are mine alone.

This book took a turn I did not expect. In the end, it left me feeling bittersweet and longing. The setting was very intriguing, and not getting full answers about the natural pool and the characters at the end made me like it more.

The 90s vibe and nostalgia were all there, the actual interest in the characters themselves feel a bit flat for me. The book itself is short, so it makes for a ok quick read.

This is a strange book that ended up being a bit disappointing. The synopsis was very intriguing, and I was excited to read it, but I wanted more from the story. This is a fairly short book, under 300 pages, but the pacing felt too slow. Most of the story takes place in a single location, and not much actually happens there. That said, I did like the ending.

The main theme of the story is the fear of growing up, leaving your friends behind, stepping into the unknown, and not being sure what the future holds. It’s a scary time, but also an exciting one.

I like the author’s writing style and I do want to read more by him, even though this book was not my favorite.

This book was a whirlwind in both a good and a bad way. It really started somewhere and when somewhere totally different, and I ended up enjoying the direction it when to less. I don’t enjoy languishing, and I feel like the characters in the situation were doing too much languishing and not enough problem solving. I felt stuck right along with them, which did not make for a very fun reading experience. I did end up really loving the end so much, and found myself wishing that more of the plot was dedicated to the experiences for the characters at the end. I understand that this book was trying to communicate a message, but I’m not entirely sure that I received it. It was definitely kooky and philosophical, so if that’s your thing this one may be for you!

Thank you to penguin teen and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review

I loved the authors writing style and how it switched back and forth giving little hints of what was to happen in the future (once I realized that’s what was going on). The plot of the story was intriguing and flowed very smoothly. I do feel though that some of the characters are lacking emotional wise. And I kind of don’t understand the dynamic between Sarah and Trevor.

I was really interested in the storyline and the time element to the story. However, I found it hard to connect with the characters due to the frequent use of strong language and the frequent focus on drinking and drug use. While that may appeal to some readers, it was a bit too much for me personally and took away from my enjoyment of the plot. That said, I think fans of grittier, edgier contemporary fiction might enjoy it more than I did.

The start of this story could be mistaken for a summer contemporary romance, but stick with it, because it gets weird. Set in 1994, Trevor and Sarah decide on a challenge - to visit every private pool in their town at night.

Told of a hidden pool in the woods, they decide to visit - and are gatecrashed by their friends. But this pool is different, and time starts to warp, hours seeming like moments and none of them feel the desire to leave.

I love books like this, where I'm guessing what will happen, if they'll ever get out of the situation they're in, and what waits for them on the other side. The ending got even weirder, and I'm still not sure what the outcome was, but I had a great time.