Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Workshop for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.
4/5!!!

I loved this novel in the sense that it was a quick, feel-good read. There was a hint of magical realism with a mix of ‘90s nostalgia. The plot was highly original and the story will truly bring you back to those endless summer days and nights between semesters where you have no responsibilities and the possibilities are endless. The novel poses many life-altering questions about who we are and who we are meant to become.

The book is in two sections (A & B); A follows Trevor and Sarah on their lustful pool hopping journey that lands them at the pool of all pools, and B is where the group of teens begin to realize that the forest they have entered may be stopping time on the inside, and has a unique pull on each of them and their desires. Starmer titles each chapter with song titles that perfectly complement the contents.

Favorite Quote: “Yet, there was one thing he did understand. He couldn’t stay here trying to recapture what they had, waiting on someone who would never return. His life couldn’t be defined by this one person, this one place, this one moment. Because the moment was over, and it was okay for things to be over. It was also okay to feel scared and ashamed and unsure about what might come next, as long as he could face what came next. And what came after that.”

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! So different than I expected, odd but fascinating. The description of the the people and scenery was perfect, I could imagine being there. Immerse yourself in the author's magical land of nightswimming!

Thank you netgalley for the prerelease ebook!

I absolutely love the cover. It is what caught my attention. Unfortunately, the book didn't. Ig started ok but then dragged and I really didn't care what happened to the characters. Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book

*thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC for review*

This one was I think a little too weird for me. I really enjoy the 90s vibes and feel, but the story itself never really captivated me and I finished simply to know what the interludes were referencing. The ending wasn’t really satisfying and I felt like the characters just didn’t do much. Onto the next!

Imagine the exhilaration you feel, when finally coming to the end of something that has been your total existence since being a young child all the way through to the end of your teenage years. Then imagine that exhilaration mixed with the fear and anxiety of new unknowns and what comes next in your life. Night Swimming takes a look at the in between of those two pivotal milestones and shows what it would be like to freeze a perfect moment in time. But it also asks the question, what is the permanence of a perfect moment, when we grow and change, and seek out that next fleeting, perfect moment.

Trevor and Sarah have just graduated from high school in the early summer of 1994, and Sarah decides it would be a great idea to swim in every pool of their town, by the summer’s end. This gives the two of them a great way to avoid the questions of their future and what it will look like when they both leave for college. Trevor agrees because of his feelings for Sarah, and he is hoping this will give him the opportunity to share those feelings with her, and that she will return them.

I really enjoyed the time period for Night Swimming, because I graduated in 1993, so a lot of what was happening in the story was very nostalgic for me. I could also totally see the neighborhood pool hopping being something that could have easily taken place during this time. I also loved the different personalities that Starmer introduced through Trevor and Sarah’s other friends. They were a perfect reflection of kids that I knew from high school, and Schulz was definitely my favorite.

The magical realism is done really well, and I thought it was a great way to show that even though groups of people might be at the same stage in life, we are not all ready for that stage at the same time. Each of the characters had to come to their own realizations of when they were ready to face that moment.

I found Night Swimming to have a unique storyline that takes a step away from typical YA Fiction, to take a deeper look at what it means to leave young adulthood behind and face the choices of adulthood. If you love stories about coming of age, self discovery, and 90s nostalgia, with a touch of magical realism, then I would highly recommend Night Swimming.

It had a very original writing style that I occasionally like, and the plot was completely different from anything I've ever read. The story's tone and atmosphere appealed to me, and I was eager to learn what had transpired. Night Swimming is a great choice if you like character-driven narratives and are drawn to stories with a hint of the fantastical. It's a haunting, unforgettable story that makes you appreciate the mystery and beauty that lie beyond the known.

I found Night Swimming to have some appeal when I think about being the age of the characters and what was going through their head and their experiences. It reminded me of my own teenage years. I found it a little strange to want to make a game of swimming in all the pools in the town. However, I also found it a bit exhilarating. As the Trevor and Sarah found the new swimming pool. It seemed as though it took a while to keep the plot moving. I enjoyed the book, but I found it to be a bit slow in places.

This felt really unique - it was weird, and nostalgic, and beautiful. In many ways it felt like an appropriate length for the story, and then in other ways I would have liked it to go on much longer. This feels like a book I will think about for quite some time.

If you liked this, you may also like The Hike by Drew Magary. The Hike is much weirder and a bit scary, but there are some similar themes and concepts that I feel like go well with this book. And both left me with questions I am still thinking about, such as how many people before them experienced this same thing?

Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin Workshop, and the author for the opportunity to read this in exchange for my review!

I picked this book for 2 reasons- First, the stunning cover. Second, this little blurb: From the author of Spontaneous comes a 90s mixed tape of a young adult novel that delivers a summer romance with an unearthly twist.
Being that I was a young adult in the 90s, I definitely was intrigued and dove in head first, completely blind. I suggest you do the same, you won't be disappointed, but if you want a little more premise, read on.

August 1994, I just finished my freshman year of high school and was going into my sophomore year the following month.
For our MMC, Trevor, and FMC Sarah, they just graduated and are off to separate colleges. They decide to spend their final summer together pool hopping throughout their entire town of Sutton.

The two young adults and a few close friends are led to a natural pool in the woods on the outskirts of town by a mysterious woman who loves purple. With plenty of Boones Farm wine (oh, this takes me down memory lane) and 90s music references (hence the title), the group decided to make the most of this last swimming pool adventure.
They soon realize that things are a little bizarre, are they dreaming, or is what's happening even real?

Aaron Starmer takes you down a nostalgic path that leaves you guessing at everything and at every corner. Written in such a heart felt, almost poetic way, you are fully immersed in Night Swimming. (I literally found myself feeling anxious and holding my breath a couple of times.)
Truly, it's unputdownable (not sure if that's a real word), but I couldn't stop reading once I started. I finished in 1 sitting, a few short hours.

Night Swimming is not your typical summer romance/YA novel. It was written to take you on your own personal, thought-provoking journey. Reflecting on your own past experiences and the fears you had as a young adult in regards to self discovery and your grown-up future.

Thank you to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP for an advanced eARC of Night Swimming by Aaron Starmer.

This was a quick read that felt like Bowling For Soup's High School Never Ends literary-fied. Trevor and his crush Sarah go pool-hopping on a whim starting after they graduate. It's fun at first, but then Trevor becomes frustrated since this activity doesn't help him getting out of friendzone. He accidentally blurts it out to his circle of friends, and when Jared, Bev, Schultz, Lori, Buck, and Heather finally join in to a natural pool in the woods, strange things happen.

My high school days are fifteen years after this story takes place, so I can't say anything about nostalgia, but the feeling of wanting to freeze time especially after the hardship and before harder stuff comes is relatable. Trevor and his friends realize that they inevitably will take different paths but which one hangs longer onto this fleeting moment of endless night is another question. I liked that it incorporates surreal elements and mysterious first person POV snippets in every chapter, slowing down the fast pace and making me guess who this is about. This might start like typical dare/bucket list kind of story but the twist from the middle makes it unique.

"Night Swimming" in my opinion is perfect for readers of peculiar books and those who want to experience contemporary YA set in retro times, old and young. You'll find you and I are not so much different when it comes to growing up. 3.5 stars rounded up.

The good:
My high school experience wasn't exactly parties and drinking in the nineties, but for what it's worth, the nostalgia for a high school friend group hit exactly right anyway. To me, this book pretty much perfectly captured all the weird, melancholy feelings around just after high school graduation. That period is an intimidating pause point in time thinking about a future that doesn't really make sense to you but feels like it's actually your future and your choice for the first time. It really feels surreal and a little bit magic, just like this book.

The bad:
The semi-omniscient narrative style was a little strange, and I think harder to read than more stringent POVs from characters would have been, and some characters weren't explored as well as they could have been due to our being mostly connected to what and who Trevor cares about.

The ugly (silly opinions):
Man, this book captures how high school romance is really well. I remember being sort of like Sarah and Trevor once. A little extra (cringe) nostalgia as well as everything else.

I did not read the description close enough when I requested this book. I was intrigued by the description and the cover. I did not realize it was YA and YA is a genre I steer clear of. I'm not sure why because I love this book! The story hooked me from the beginning and it was such a fun palate cleansing read.

Aaron Starmer’s "Night Swimming" is a cleverly written story that has a heartfelt plot and a surprising twist. What starts as a seemingly straightforward tale quickly transforms into a mind-bending exploration of time, memory, and the choices that define us.

Full of 90's nostalgia and cute quips, the has a surprising magical realism element to it that opens the door for a more reflective and emotional look at teen years and the journey that takes us on.

If you enjoy stories that challenge your perception of reality while delivering a rich emotional payoff, Night Swimming is an absolute must-read. It’s a testament to Aaron Starmer’s talent that a book so playful in structure can also be so deeply moving.

Thank you, NetGalley for the ARC!

What did I just read??? This book is going to forever haunt me. I started reading it and was getting NightSwim (the movie) vibes then immediately thought we were going to more of a Manifest (the TV show) vibe and then from there I realized this was not going to be like either of those. This book is in its own world and I can’t even begin to explain how it left me feeling. I couldn’t put it down because I kept trying to figure it out. The only way I can truly describe this is as a FEVER DREAM. This book left me with just as many questions as answers and I don’t know how to feel about that.

*I received a free ARC from NetGalley*

I really wanted to love this book but I just didn't enjoy it like I thought I would. The writing was beautiful but I just didn't get a grasp on the main characters and I couldn't connect with them enough to care about the plot.

Night Swimming promised me a dose of '90s nostalgia and a soundtrack of the era's iconic music, and while the story certainly delivers nostalgic touches, it’s so much more than that. This novel is a reflection on youth, friendship, love, and the complexities of growing up — all set against the backdrop of a seemingly endless summer.

Told from the perspective of our MMC Trevor, we follow him and his group of recently graduated friends during their final summer before life pulls them in different directions. At the story's heart is Trevor’s unspoken affection for his friend Sarah and his internal struggle over what their (and his) future might look like. The duo makes a pact to swim in every pool in their hometown of Sutton before summer’s end, a lighthearted quest that becomes more profound as the story unfolds.

But when the rest of the gang discover this pact, one split decision leads them to discover the existence of a hidden natural spring pool. It is at this point, their journey takes an unexpected turn. What begins as a playful adventure soon transforms into a poignant exploration of the fears, desires, and emotions that shape their lives. It’s a story about the delicate balance between holding on to the past and stepping into an unknown future.

At its core, Night Swimming isn’t just about the joy of friendship or the thrill of first love. It’s about the universal longing to freeze time — to experience a moment forever without the pressure of what comes next. The novel explores what it would be like to have an endless night, free from the constraints of time and responsibility, where every choice can be made without regret.

This is not your typical "YA romance" or coming-of-age story. While romance plays a role, the themes of fear, change, and self-discovery are what truly drive the narrative. It’s a book that invites you to reflect on your own experiences with youth, love, and the inevitable passage of time.

I highly recommend going into Night Swimming blind as it is a journey best experienced with an open mind, and you may find yourself taking away more from this story than you anticipated.

This book was great, it really sucked me in. It had such a unique writing style which I enjoy from time to time, and the plot was unlike anything I’ve read before. This is one where you want to go in blind and just be along for the ride.

I loved how short it was. I enjoyed the tone and mood of the story and was very interested in figuring out what had happened and the characters. I was a little confused at times and left the book with multiple questions, though not unhappily. Seemed like it would be appealing to teens.

Lois McMaster Bujold did a great job in writing this book, it had that element that I wanted from Spontaneous and was written in a way that worked overall. The characters were everything that I wanted and enjoyed the overall concept of them in this. It was everything that I was looking for and enjoyed the plot and writing.

Night Swimming by Aaron Starmer is an entrancing novel that beautifully captures the emotional complexities of friendship, love, and growing up. This book is a rich blend of realism and surrealism, where Starmer’s lyrical prose takes readers on a journey both enchanting and heartbreaking.

The story centers on the lives of two teenagers who form an intense bond over their mutual love of late-night swims and deep conversations under the stars. The nocturnal escapades and reflective musings shared by the main characters serve as a vehicle for exploring themes of identity, freedom, and the search for meaning. As they navigate adolescence, they face emotional and existential dilemmas that will resonate deeply with readers who’ve wrestled with similar coming-of-age struggles.

One of the novel’s strongest points is Starmer’s evocative, almost poetic, writing style. He skillfully conjures a dreamlike atmosphere, creating a feeling that each night swim is a dive into not only water but also the mysteries of the heart and mind. His characters are multidimensional, flawed, and endearing, each struggling with their own inner conflicts while yearning for connection and understanding.

The progression of *Night Swimming* balances between introspective moments and plot developments that keep the story moving forward. Starmer weaves in subtle elements of magical realism that elevate the story’s exploration of memory, loss, and the elusive nature of time, ultimately leaving readers with questions and reflections that linger long after the last page.

In summary, *Night Swimming* is a captivating and reflective novel that will appeal to readers who enjoy coming-of-age stories with emotional depth and poetic writing. Aaron Starmer has created a memorable piece of fiction that captures the beauty and pain of growing up, making *Night Swimming* a must-read for anyone seeking a profound and thought-provoking journey through adolescence.