Lifeguard Stacey Chapman is dreaming of love and drowning in bad decisions" perfectly sums up this book: a summer full of confusion, bad choices, and the weight of invisible struggles.

This story hit me in ways I wasn’t prepared for. Like Stacey, I’ve battled body image issues and once experienced something deeply traumatic—a situation where someone I liked tried to take advantage of me while I was sleeping. It didn’t escalate to the worst, but it left its scars. Reading Absorbed was like seeing my life on the page: the impulsive haircut, dangerous choices, and alcohol, all in a desperate attempt to forget. At times, it felt too real, and I genuinely considered not finishing it.

That said, I struggled with the pacing. The central plot didn’t unfold until halfway through, and the ending subplot threw me completely off guard—like, what was even happening there? Honestly, I couldn’t make peace with Jessie. In real life, I still haven’t forgiven the person who hurt me, so why would I forgive a fictional character? What happened to him was tragic, but Stacey didn’t owe him friendship.

This book stirred up emotions I didn’t expect to revisit. It’s raw, difficult, and honest, and I think it will strike a chord with many readers. It’s important to mention that this book deals with heavy topics like abuse, trauma, and emotional violence. I wouldn’t recommend it to readers who are still working through their healing journey, as it can bring up a lot of tension and difficult emotions. Be gentle with yourself if you choose to pick this up.

My ratings: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to read this ARC. It is definitely a relatable read for any age, but I took a star bc I don’t comprehend how Stacy can still be friends with Jessie and want to literally visit him in the hospital etc when he basically 🍇 her???? Like what??? But overall 4/5 stars.

This review is my own.

Loved all of the old school pip culture references throughout this book, and really enjoyed the crazy energy given off by the main characters.

This story felt incredibly real, transporting me back to 1996. The references to grunge bands, familiar stores, and clothing styles definitely stirred up nostalgia, reminding me of my high school days. The depiction of teenage drama and struggles was endearing and relatable. Stacey's growth and confidence through her passion for art kept me totally invested. Watching the group of coworkers become close friends and form meaningful connections, even in the midst of a tragedy by the end, was truly heartwarming.

This book was amazing! It reminded me how crazy and emotional high school can be for our kids - we tend to remember only the good!!
It was a good reminder to step back and remember how intense high school was and to put ourselves in our kids shoes when the drama arises!!
Love this book and it was amazing how much happened in a short period of time!

I enjoyed the book but it has some triggers that I wasn't quite expecting but over all enjoyed the story.

Initially I didn’t think I was going to like this book. It started out slow, and with a protagonist that didn’t seem too likable. Gotta say, my mind was changed long before the end of the book.

Stacey struggles with self-esteem. She’s a tall teenage girl, who also isn’t the skinny model type. So when she’s picked to be a lifeguard over the summer at the local pool, she is anything but excited to have to wear a swimsuit every day. Once she attends the orientation, she’s even less excited since the girls are all, in Stacey’s eyes, perfect. The boys, well, at least one named Jesse, hot. How can she possibly wear a swimsuit around these people?

Yet as the summer goes on, Stacey becomes more comfortable not only with herself, but with her coworkers, forging friendships she never expected. Even the totally hot Jesse. Life is never perfect, nor as expected, and her newfound confidence and desire to be desirable causes a rift with her best friend Gabe. Stacey is going to have to figure out what she really wants and how to get it.

Stacey starts out kind of whiny and insufferable, but over the summer (and the book) becomes so much more of a well rounded human, flaws and all. It’s a great novel about being yourself and trusting your instincts. The teenage years are challenging for anyone. This novel points out that even when you thinks someone has it all, they might be hiding some real things from you.

Turned out to be a pretty good novel about growing up. I enjoyed it.

Absorbed was a nice read that told a really impactful story. I especially enjoyed reading about the main character’s relationship with her mother, the importance of friendship and art. Would definitely recommend this one!

A coming of age story set in the 1990s, “Absorbed”, by Jaime Townsen, features a girl, Stacey, with the dreams, fears and insecurities of any teen, and is a good depiction of adolescence.
Stacey is an intelligent and artistically talented girl, with problems of self-image and who sees herself as ugly and fat.
I liked her vibrant spirit and energy despite all the doubts and insecurities, and how she enrolls in such a different activity – lifeguarding – even though she’s afraid of failure and rejection.
Serious and tragic events take place in the story.
Some relationships become stronger and deeper with the hurdles; new people in Stacey’s life reveal hidden facets.
It’s a time of self-discovery and growing for Stacey and her friends and colleagues.
It’s an enjoyable read and a good foray into teens’ universe against the backdrop of the 1990s culture.

Plenty of unexpected twists will keep you on your toes throughout the book. The plot could be a little tighter but all in all a good read.

“Absorbed” completely sucked me in from the very first page. It reminded me of my high school days, as a young adult, feeling insecure in my own skin and just trying to find my place in the world. Stacey’s struggles are timeless for high school girls, I saw not only myself in her, but my own daughter. Jaime Townzen has a way with words, and her descriptions of Stacey’s life created vivid images in my head, like a movie I could watch as I read. The characters are well developed and believable, and the story made it hard for me to put the book down. I can’t wait for more stories from Jaime Townzen.

I became friends with the author through our mutual love of watercolor painting, so it is unsurprising that some of my favorite parts of this book revolve around the moments that the main character is exploring her artistic expression. The author has a real talent for taking the imagery from those art sessions and infusing them into other parts of the story. If you loved the 90s and especially the music of the 90s, you will enjoy the setting and immersive references. Without giving anything away, when you reach the end of the book you may find it hard to believe that only a summer has passed because of all of the things the main character has had to go and grow through. For the reader, this translates into a story that keeps moving and evolving - sometimes with plotlines that you can predict based on foreshadowing and your own life experience, but there are also plenty of surprises along the way!

“Absorbed” is one of those rare novels that doesn’t just tell a story; it takes you back in time. Set in the late 90s, it immerses you in a world that feels familiar and nostalgic, full of the scenery and nuanced emotions of being a teen at the cusp of adulthood. For anyone who lived through that era, every page is a reminder of moments long past but not forgotten. The author perfectly captures the music, food, pop culture, and energy of that period, creating a beautifully authentic backdrop for Stacey’s journey.

As I read, I found myself not only empathizing with Stacey but also revisiting my own teenage years—memories that felt so relatable to her experiences. This story is a true page-turner, and even when I wasn’t reading, I was thinking about Stacey and reflecting on similar moments from my life. The title, “Absorbed,” couldn’t be more fitting because I felt like a character in the book, observing events as they unfolded in real time.

This novel is perfect for anyone looking to revisit the magic and messiness of late-90s youth, as well as for younger readers curious about what life felt like before the digital age truly took over. It’s a captivating story about growth, self-discovery, and the universal challenge of finding your place in the world.

The title says it all! I was one hundred percent absorbed in this story from the start and absolutely loved it. The characters are fantastic and the writing is superb. Loved it!

I was totally “Absorbed” in this book from page one. It magnificently pairs the excitement of teenage life with the bittersweet consequences that are often out of a young adult’s control. The arc of a group of teens who work together at a pool intertwine inextricably with the universal angst that plays, sometimes heartlessly, with the songs, emotions, and consequences of lives barely lived. This first book by Jaime Townzen does not disappoint. It is a must-read for young adults and their parents alike.

The characters in Absorbed feel so real I want to talk to them in real life. Jaime Townzen has done a wonderful job bringing the characters to life and painting a very realistic and nostalgia-inducing setting back in 1996. It was fun to revisit the drama of a high school senior trying to figure out how to navigate issues related to self-identity, body image, and friendships. What started out as a nice beach read, or more appropriately, poolside read, took a more serious turn towards the end and this elevates Absorbed from a good book to one worth recommending to friends.

In Jamie Townzen's debut novel, "Absorbed", you become transported to a very unique time and place- high school in the late 90s. She creates a vivid yet nostalgic environment naming places and songs that immediately stir up your own memories of the emotional rollercoaster during those formative years. Through various, fully formed characters, Townzen tackles the timeless struggle against the pressure not to compromise your character, friendships or values in order to fit in and be accepted by your peers. I was struck by how Townzen uses poignant dialogue between all of her characters, forcing them to confront their own misconceptions about one another and how they all struggle to belong. This book is a great way to begin conversations with your own teens or loved ones as it shows that honest discussions can lead to healing and reconciliation.

Thank you to NetGalley and Palm Tree Press Books for providing this book, with my honest review below.

I wasn’t a teenager in the 90’s but Absorbed gave me all kinds of nostalgia for that time. While marketed as a book for teens, this story takes the reader to a very real place which is realistic for a teen but would also appeal for many adults.

Stacey lives with her mother and has a massive crush on Jesse, a boy who seems to be perfect. With the paid working together as lifeguards for the summer Stacey is hoping to spark a romance. This all sounds very YA, no? With the initial opening it undoubtedly is but we learn more about Stacey, her self doubt despite her artistic talent and vitality, her strained relationship with her obviously caring mother, and her isolation from most of her peers. The nostalgia had me interested in this book, but in any decade those feelings and experiences can be shared. As the story takes a serious turn with Stacey getting what she most desired - Jesse - but not in the way she fantasized, and series of terrible accidents, Stacey brings the reader along as she deals with some very adult issues, which once again I think reflects some of the struggles we still face or may reflect on when growing up.

This hit a chord, and I think other readers would find it to resonate for them as well.

This was everything that I wanted from this type of book, it had that concept that I was looking for from the description and enjoyed the characters and how they developed from it. Jaime Townzen has a strong style for this genre and that the characters worked overall in this story.

I thought the book was geared more for a teen crowd in the first half. But as I got further in, the story grew more relatable, the author’s words seemed to flow effortlessly, and my interest in the story grew stronger. By the time I had reached that point, I found it hard to put down. Most readers will connect with their own awkward moments of pubescent days and relate to the struggles of being a teen, and trying to figure out where you fit in. I enjoyed the book and think others will, too.