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noukka's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
The audiobook was SO well done, I loved the way the podcast would sound differently from the other chapters and incorporate the sounds mentioned in the book. Devoured this.
dunder_mifflin's review against another edition
4.0
the audiobook slapped so hard
sensitive subject matter ofc so read at your own discretion but it was genuinely such a good read. listen?
sensitive subject matter ofc so read at your own discretion but it was genuinely such a good read. listen?
issianne's review against another edition
4.0
This book centers around two different timelines: current day and the summer of 1992. While I tend to find myself preferring one timeline over another in most books, I have to say that I didn't really in this story--mostly because both stories were really tough to read about. Rachel comes to town to report on her podcast about a rape case and finds letters addressed to her by Hannah, a young woman whose sister died in 1992 under mysterious circumstances. For the most part, this book is a steady pace through the trial of a young swimmer who raped a sixteen-year-old girl (very Br*ck T*rner like). I was intrigued by the chapters in the courtroom and appreciated how the author handled it. The 1992 murder is also wrapped up in a full-circle way that I'm still trying to determine satisfying or not. It was a solid story, and I would read from the author again
yumchickens's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault
luminous's review against another edition
2.0
Promising, well-crafted, but ultimately soulless. The characters were flat, not even managing to rise to the level of cardboard cutouts. Attempts social commentary but says very little. The first 60% or so had me riveted, but then I realized nothing was going to develop and it was just one of those mysteries without enough clues for the reader to feel engaged.
Don't get me wrong. It had an interesting concept, is well written, and the audio is well produced. But it's so disappointing.
Don't get me wrong. It had an interesting concept, is well written, and the audio is well produced. But it's so disappointing.
mayflowergirl74's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this book—it was gripping, and the podcast portions felt like you were really listening to a true crime podcast—BUT the the person responsible for the earlier crime didn’t sit quite right with me. It felt like it was partially for shock value, but mostly it felt like a whole other book could have been written about that twist and the fallout. It was “resolved,” but how could it really be resolved for the characters it affected most? I guess I wanted more pertaining to that! I could actually see this as a series though, focusing on a new podcast season and crime each book.
dowryofbooks's review against another edition
4.0
4/5 stars
“To tell you the truth, I don't get how we can almost unanimously agree that murder is wrong, yet when it comes to rape some people still see shades of gray.”
In The Night Swim we follow Rachel, a podcast host in Neapolis, North Carolina as she's covering the rape trial of a teenage girl who says she was raped by a semi-famous swimmer. While she's in town she starts receiving letters from a woman named Hannah who claims that her sister was murdered there many years ago and she wants to enlist Rachel's help to find out what happened.
My summary is a mess, but basically the two timelines weave together at the end and it's an amazing story. I'm so glad the hype surrounding this pressured me into picking it up.
I really love this book for it's commentary and powerful quotes revolving around the themes of rape and sexual assault. Just a few of the topics the author touches on include: how were conditioned to think of being sexually assaulted as something we just have to deal with instead of calling it out for the abhorrent crime that it is, the many reasons why victims of rape and sexual assault don't come forward, how the motions of putting the victim on trial is another trauma on top of the assault, and how a lot of the blame and backlash gets aimed toward the victim instead of the abuser after an assault.
I didn't love the podcast chapters as much. I consume a lot of true crime podcasts when I'm not reading a book and I love the idea of a true crime podcast in a book, but the actual episode chapters felt underdeveloped. They were too short and lacking in detail to be believable as a real podcast to me.
If you haven't, I recommend you to read this and HIGHLY recommend the audiobook if it's available to you. The audio of the podcast chapters is great.
“To tell you the truth, I don't get how we can almost unanimously agree that murder is wrong, yet when it comes to rape some people still see shades of gray.”
In The Night Swim we follow Rachel, a podcast host in Neapolis, North Carolina as she's covering the rape trial of a teenage girl who says she was raped by a semi-famous swimmer. While she's in town she starts receiving letters from a woman named Hannah who claims that her sister was murdered there many years ago and she wants to enlist Rachel's help to find out what happened.
My summary is a mess, but basically the two timelines weave together at the end and it's an amazing story. I'm so glad the hype surrounding this pressured me into picking it up.
I really love this book for it's commentary and powerful quotes revolving around the themes of rape and sexual assault. Just a few of the topics the author touches on include: how were conditioned to think of being sexually assaulted as something we just have to deal with instead of calling it out for the abhorrent crime that it is, the many reasons why victims of rape and sexual assault don't come forward, how the motions of putting the victim on trial is another trauma on top of the assault, and how a lot of the blame and backlash gets aimed toward the victim instead of the abuser after an assault.
I didn't love the podcast chapters as much. I consume a lot of true crime podcasts when I'm not reading a book and I love the idea of a true crime podcast in a book, but the actual episode chapters felt underdeveloped. They were too short and lacking in detail to be believable as a real podcast to me.
If you haven't, I recommend you to read this and HIGHLY recommend the audiobook if it's available to you. The audio of the podcast chapters is great.
waldsar's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
melinda_and_her_books's review against another edition
4.0
This was a very tough book to read. It deals with rape and murder etc. The audiobook was great. It felt like you were actually listening to the podcast. I think the content of the book kept me for giving this book 5 stars but it is a good read. Just make sure you go in knowing the tough life situations it deals with. I found myself angry and disgusted at times.