I was so excited to see another book from Sara Waxelbaum and Brianna R. Shrum, authors of Margot Zimmerman Gets the Girl, which I absolutely loved. I mostly enjoyed Don't Forget to Breathe, but I'm not sure it was the book for me in the way Margot Zimmerman Gets the Girl was. I did love that both main characters, Hanna and Zoe, are Jewish and are living in the South. However, I wish there had been more about their Jewish identities; Hanna primarily discusses her dad's Jewish identity and practice, rather than her own, and I think we only learn that Zoe is Jewish from Hanna—Zoe doesn't mention it herself. Also, what I loved about Margot Zimmerman Gets the Girl is that it was laugh-out-loud funny at times, while I think Don't Forget to Breathe could have benefitted from some of those lighthearted moments. There were a lot of capital-F Feelings, as well as Zoe and Hanna making pretty infuriating teenage mistakes with regard to those Feelings, which I do think that young adult readers might identify with and see themselves in. 3.5 stars, rounded up.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I tore through the book.The writing was exquisite and I was able to completely throw myself into these characters. I love a coming-of-age novel. This book had so much representation. The two MCs both were neurodivergent in different ways, and you could really see how it affected them and their thought process. A book that changes my outlook on life, even a little, is a great book in my eyes. The military aspect of Hanna’s world really got to me. I’m not a military brat, but I debated going into the military— I still was really until reading the novel. But seeing the perspective of a child having to deal with it really changed my mind. I liked the love story aspect, but the ending left me unsatisfied, a little rushed maybe? I’m just the type of person who likes a drawn out happy ending. But I can appreciate the unknown. This wasn’t necessarily a third act breakup, but there was drama. I cried in some moments, feeling their turmoil like it was my own. I like that Zoe didn’t immediately go back. It felt different.