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amber_hastings's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
A literary novel that feels like a blend of Sally Rooney and other coming of age novels, dark academia stories, and The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo.
I was pretty compelled by main character Beth, and I felt like she was believable and relatable.
It took me a while to get past the disparity between Beth's rich inner world described by the narrator versus the very minimalist dialogue that Beth has with other characters. I wasn't quite convinced she was a psych student, but I was pretty convinced by all the other decisions she made. Other reviewers mention thay too much attention was paid to Justin, but I think that was deliberate. I think Beth needed to have gone through that experience to really relate to her grandmother and grandfather. Without experiencing love and rejection in that way, I don't think she'd have been so generous in understanding Julie. I was gobsmacked when she learns the truth about Justin, and related a lot to that, though I'd like to have seen a bit more emotion in Beth as a response to it.
I loved Beth's uneasy transition from competitive to varsity swimmer and felt this was convincing. The swimming completion towards the end was a bit of a letdown, though. I know that her lack of discipline and focus and practise was meant to reflect that she had other things finally going on in her life, but I'd have liked to see her engage with her poor performance, and to see that play out with her dad. But I guess we're meant to know that her withdrawal from swimming competitively at elite level was still an ongoing sticking point with her dad.
The ending with Julie was unexpected but a good way to add a twist to the Ben mystery. I didn't feel particularly compelled by Ben throughout and so having a bit more detail about Lydia via Julie was helpful in keeping up the interest about his life.
It was also interesting to form a parallel between Beth and Marina with Lydia and Julie. I don't think it was quite necessary, or perhaps was pulled off, given that Beth appeared to have no emotional response to Marina, but I do like the ambition — Beth and Marina understood each other in the same way Lydia and Julie could, and it's something others on the outside couldn't.
I think what let the novel down for me was that everything (the plot, the character development, the connection between plotlines) felt about 90% there but could have perhaps been tied together more strongly.
Regardless I enjoyed reading it.
I was pretty compelled by main character Beth, and I felt like she was believable and relatable.
It took me a while to get past the disparity between Beth's rich inner world described by the narrator versus the very minimalist dialogue that Beth has with other characters. I wasn't quite convinced she was a psych student, but I was pretty convinced by all the other decisions she made. Other reviewers mention thay too much attention was paid to Justin, but I think that was deliberate. I think Beth needed to have gone through that experience to really relate to her grandmother and grandfather. Without experiencing love and rejection in that way, I don't think she'd have been so generous in understanding Julie. I was gobsmacked when she learns the truth about Justin, and related a lot to that, though I'd like to have seen a bit more emotion in Beth as a response to it.
I loved Beth's uneasy transition from competitive to varsity swimmer and felt this was convincing. The swimming completion towards the end was a bit of a letdown, though. I know that her lack of discipline and focus and practise was meant to reflect that she had other things finally going on in her life, but I'd have liked to see her engage with her poor performance, and to see that play out with her dad. But I guess we're meant to know that her withdrawal from swimming competitively at elite level was still an ongoing sticking point with her dad.
The ending with Julie was unexpected but a good way to add a twist to the Ben mystery. I didn't feel particularly compelled by Ben throughout and so having a bit more detail about Lydia via Julie was helpful in keeping up the interest about his life.
It was also interesting to form a parallel between Beth and Marina with Lydia and Julie. I don't think it was quite necessary, or perhaps was pulled off, given that Beth appeared to have no emotional response to Marina, but I do like the ambition — Beth and Marina understood each other in the same way Lydia and Julie could, and it's something others on the outside couldn't.
I think what let the novel down for me was that everything (the plot, the character development, the connection between plotlines) felt about 90% there but could have perhaps been tied together more strongly.
Regardless I enjoyed reading it.
naoisepanda's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
tgaines12's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
miagoldby's review
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
pholli's review
emotional
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
3.5
meghan_readsbooks's review against another edition
4.0
Thank you Mariner Books for the ebook copy of Holding Her Breath via NetGalley. I love literary fiction and I love books set in schools with coming of age themes. This book captures all of those loves and does so in such a wonderful narrative style. There are wonderfully developed themes on relationships (family, friends) and growing up and into a more adult version of oneself; I loved that Beth studied psychology (I am a psych lecturer) as I think that thematically went along with her growth and exploration of identity.
What really stood out for me was the exploration of what it is like to become separate from identities forced upon you (granddaughter of a famous poet) or move away from identities that are no longer accurate/healthy, in this case competitive swimmer. We often fail to realize that by the time young people arrive in college they arrive with a lot of emotional baggage and pressures to be someone they aren't or come with the goal of moving away from high school/past identities. I felt this book indirectly captured this common part of growing up, the desire and need to form new roles and identities and to try to find space away from pressures to be one version of self. The shadow of family identity and mental health are nicely revealed here.
The other standout were some of the relationships portrayed, including her friendship with Sadie and with her grandmother as I like strong female characters and relationships that reflect strength and nurturing. What was also notable were these relationships were about Beth as a person, not her identity as a swimmer or as the granddaughter of famous poet.
This is a strong debut, well developed themes and strong writing and narrative style and an ease in developing interesting, relatable, and dimensional characters. I often felt very present in Beth's world and her thoughts and experiences which is a credit to the writing, the pacing, and the overall sense of presence that Eimear Ryan brings to her writing.
What really stood out for me was the exploration of what it is like to become separate from identities forced upon you (granddaughter of a famous poet) or move away from identities that are no longer accurate/healthy, in this case competitive swimmer. We often fail to realize that by the time young people arrive in college they arrive with a lot of emotional baggage and pressures to be someone they aren't or come with the goal of moving away from high school/past identities. I felt this book indirectly captured this common part of growing up, the desire and need to form new roles and identities and to try to find space away from pressures to be one version of self. The shadow of family identity and mental health are nicely revealed here.
The other standout were some of the relationships portrayed, including her friendship with Sadie and with her grandmother as I like strong female characters and relationships that reflect strength and nurturing. What was also notable were these relationships were about Beth as a person, not her identity as a swimmer or as the granddaughter of famous poet.
This is a strong debut, well developed themes and strong writing and narrative style and an ease in developing interesting, relatable, and dimensional characters. I often felt very present in Beth's world and her thoughts and experiences which is a credit to the writing, the pacing, and the overall sense of presence that Eimear Ryan brings to her writing.
suzsta's review
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
lbriss11's review against another edition
4.0
I loved this quick and intelligent book. I bought it in Cork this past summer after browsing many bookstores on the hunt for a new Irish author to try. Eimear Ryan's debut novel didn't disappoint. (I recommend for Sally Rooney fans as well.)
Beth Crowe is a college freshman and former competitive swimmer. She has a famous and tragic poet grandfather whose personal archives have been closed off to interested scholars. Because of the notoriety and intrigue of her grandfather's life and poetry, Beth finds herself immersed in the Dublin literary crowd and on a quest to find out more about her grandfather she never knew. While it's not dark academia, dark academia fans might enjoy this moody book. I know I really enjoyed the academic atmosphere as I was getting ready for the fall and start of the semester. Ryan's writing is smart, spare, and will keep you turning the pages.
Beth Crowe is a college freshman and former competitive swimmer. She has a famous and tragic poet grandfather whose personal archives have been closed off to interested scholars. Because of the notoriety and intrigue of her grandfather's life and poetry, Beth finds herself immersed in the Dublin literary crowd and on a quest to find out more about her grandfather she never knew. While it's not dark academia, dark academia fans might enjoy this moody book. I know I really enjoyed the academic atmosphere as I was getting ready for the fall and start of the semester. Ryan's writing is smart, spare, and will keep you turning the pages.
meritpawolka's review against another edition
4.0
3.75/5
it took me a while to get into this book especially the last 70 pages or so were magnificent. i wish i’d connected to beth more.
i need to go to ireland
it took me a while to get into this book especially the last 70 pages or so were magnificent. i wish i’d connected to beth more.
i need to go to ireland
aimcoop's review against another edition
4.0
This book provides a calm story about grief and love. I personally believe that the plot of the book moved at too slow of a pace for the first 2/3, but the way the book wrapped up provided a meaningful closure to the plot.