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audreyjewel08's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0
alisonjane's review against another edition
5.0
spent most of this book laughing uncontrollably. LOVE.
foreveryoungadult's review against another edition
Graded By: Mandy W.
Cover Story: A-Dory-able
BFF Charm: Big Sister
Swoonworthy Scale: 4
Talky Talk: Teenspeak, UK Edition
Bonus Factors: Feisty British Teen Heroine, Swimming, Happily Divorced Parents
Relationship Status: Slumber Party Pals
Read the full book report here.
Cover Story: A-Dory-able
BFF Charm: Big Sister
Swoonworthy Scale: 4
Talky Talk: Teenspeak, UK Edition
Bonus Factors: Feisty British Teen Heroine, Swimming, Happily Divorced Parents
Relationship Status: Slumber Party Pals
Read the full book report here.
loveisnotatriangle's review against another edition
4.0
This book was hilarious. Far fetched and over the top in places but I was laughing out loud and couldn't stop reading so that's a definite win for me.
tamaraniac's review against another edition
2.0
Read this review on my blog: http://tamaraniac.com/2016/05/goldfish-nat-luurtsema/
I am a synchronized swimmer. I love the sport. But synchronized swimming doesn't get into media very much. Sure there are old 50s movies with that people say have synchronized swimming in them and are referenced every once in a while... But that's not really synchro in the first place, and it is definitely not what it looks like today.
(here's a video with some great clips if you have no idea what I'm talking about)
So of course I was super excited when MC sent me this book and said it was about synchronized swimming! Overall, I found Goldfish to be an entertaining and sometimes hilarious book with a pretty good story. Only... The swimming that was included wasn't at all actual synchro.
For starters, I do want to say that the book does acknowledge that what the main characters are doing is not synchronized swimming. They talk about how they're really just making up their own thing as they go along. They do keep using the term "synchronized swimming" though which I kind of had a problem with because... No. If anything I'd call what the characters practice more "water acrobatics" than anything else.
I knew going into Goldfish that the main character was a former speed swimmer, so I did expect a certain level of derision at the beginning. You have no idea how many people I've met who look down on synchro because they have no idea what it actually is. What I didn't expect that this attitude would go on throughout the book, even while she was supposedly researching the sport.
"I spend every lunchtime and evening googling synchronized swimming but it all looks so boring" (88, ARC)
When I google "synchronized swimming" the first page contains the official USA website, the wikipedia page, a bunch of pictures of perfectly synchronized splits and arms, and a video of one of North Korea's team routines. I don't know about anyone else but it looks pretty impressive to me.
And then, in the last couple chapters...
"[A team] are doing proper synchronized swimming. It looks good, really pro, perfectly in unison. Maybe I'm biased but I think it's a bit boring" (218, ARC)
After the whole book I honestly would have thought she'd have learned.
There were also a couple perpetuated stereotypes (flowery rubber swim caps, slow movements) that really bugged me. Okay, maybe it shouldn't be the biggest deal because, yeah, this is a lot of what people in the world think of the sport. But for a book with synchronized swimming in the summary I really thought it would do better.
"... Surprisingly helpful if you're trying to teach yourself synchronized swimming and Wikipedia doesn't offer much" (103, ARC)
There are so many resources online to learn about synchro moves and doing it in general that this line honestly made me roll my eyes. This was a good enough book but any research that might have been done is seriously questionable.
-
22.05.16: I enjoyed it, but as a synchronized swimmer myself I had some problems with a good deal of inaccuracies. More details/a review to come.
I am a synchronized swimmer. I love the sport. But synchronized swimming doesn't get into media very much. Sure there are old 50s movies with that people say have synchronized swimming in them and are referenced every once in a while... But that's not really synchro in the first place, and it is definitely not what it looks like today.
(here's a video with some great clips if you have no idea what I'm talking about)
So of course I was super excited when MC sent me this book and said it was about synchronized swimming! Overall, I found Goldfish to be an entertaining and sometimes hilarious book with a pretty good story. Only... The swimming that was included wasn't at all actual synchro.
For starters, I do want to say that the book does acknowledge that what the main characters are doing is not synchronized swimming. They talk about how they're really just making up their own thing as they go along. They do keep using the term "synchronized swimming" though which I kind of had a problem with because... No. If anything I'd call what the characters practice more "water acrobatics" than anything else.
I knew going into Goldfish that the main character was a former speed swimmer, so I did expect a certain level of derision at the beginning. You have no idea how many people I've met who look down on synchro because they have no idea what it actually is. What I didn't expect that this attitude would go on throughout the book, even while she was supposedly researching the sport.
"I spend every lunchtime and evening googling synchronized swimming but it all looks so boring" (88, ARC)
When I google "synchronized swimming" the first page contains the official USA website, the wikipedia page, a bunch of pictures of perfectly synchronized splits and arms, and a video of one of North Korea's team routines. I don't know about anyone else but it looks pretty impressive to me.
And then, in the last couple chapters...
"[A team] are doing proper synchronized swimming. It looks good, really pro, perfectly in unison. Maybe I'm biased but I think it's a bit boring" (218, ARC)
After the whole book I honestly would have thought she'd have learned.
There were also a couple perpetuated stereotypes (flowery rubber swim caps, slow movements) that really bugged me. Okay, maybe it shouldn't be the biggest deal because, yeah, this is a lot of what people in the world think of the sport. But for a book with synchronized swimming in the summary I really thought it would do better.
"... Surprisingly helpful if you're trying to teach yourself synchronized swimming and Wikipedia doesn't offer much" (103, ARC)
There are so many resources online to learn about synchro moves and doing it in general that this line honestly made me roll my eyes. This was a good enough book but any research that might have been done is seriously questionable.
-
22.05.16: I enjoyed it, but as a synchronized swimmer myself I had some problems with a good deal of inaccuracies. More details/a review to come.
ndjrpgs's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed reading this young adult contemporary. It's a perfect summer read! I looooved Lou. Her humour is simply brilliant. I can't give five stars because in the end it got a bit too over the top for me but I will read the sequel for sure and I need to check out [a:Nat Luurtsema|5818800|Nat Luurtsema|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1460383453p2/5818800.jpg]'s other books as well.
beckyleew's review against another edition
4.0
Quick witted and engaging, Goldfish kept me interested from the beginning. I like the way Luurstema writes about a sport we don't read enough about and is able to simultaneously keep me laughing throughout. Very age appropriate with texting slang (admittedly not my most favorite aspect of the book, but it is for teens) and a tiny romance that doesn't distract from the moral of the story, I think this book will be great on the boomshelves for many ages, especially middle school.
dani_reviews's review against another edition
4.0
Disclaimer: I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
There are funny books, and there are laugh out loud until your sanity is questioned books; this was the latter. Lou was extremely relatable in her awkwardness. The family dynamics were realistic and amusing, and when things got heavy, everyone was very supportive of each other. I want Lou’s sister. And her parents. Actually, let me just join her family. The romance was very sweet, and I loved that the love interest was a Nice Guy, but he wasn’t the stereotypical Mr. Perfect™. The slow build of the side story, showing the dangers of competitive sport, was very eerie, especially the moment I realised what was happening.
Biggest takeaways: you shouldn’t expect to have your life sorted at 16, and dreams can change.
Read if you love TV talent shows like Britain’s Got Talent!
There are funny books, and there are laugh out loud until your sanity is questioned books; this was the latter. Lou was extremely relatable in her awkwardness. The family dynamics were realistic and amusing, and when things got heavy, everyone was very supportive of each other. I want Lou’s sister. And her parents. Actually, let me just join her family. The romance was very sweet, and I loved that the love interest was a Nice Guy, but he wasn’t the stereotypical Mr. Perfect™. The slow build of the side story, showing the dangers of competitive sport, was very eerie, especially the moment I realised what was happening.
Biggest takeaways: you shouldn’t expect to have your life sorted at 16, and dreams can change.
Read if you love TV talent shows like Britain’s Got Talent!
See this review in its natural environment, Dani Reviews Things.
ciao_potatoes's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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? No
4.0
maddyd51's review against another edition
4.0
{Many thanks to NetGalley for sending me an eARC of The Goldfish in exchange for an honest review. Find more reviews at www.plantohappy.com.}
Sometimes it's fun to just read a story. No gimmicks, no lofty concepts, and no inscrutable motivations. The reading experience of Nat Luurtsema's Goldfish was just that - a wonderful storytelling experience.
In the first few pages, we learn that Lou Brown is on her way to the Olympics, until she isn't. Her best friend heads off to swim for Team Great Britain while Lou heads back to school on her own, without any friends and with muscles she no longer has use for.
This novel is chock full of witty observations of teenage life - like spending hours making the perfect playlist to be cool, without actually acting like you're trying to be cool. Oh, the memories!
I laughed out loud several times and cringed for Lou several times, as well. The story didn't head in the direction I thought it would and what a gift that is! Give this one a read if you're in the mood for something lovely, sweet, and witty.
Sometimes it's fun to just read a story. No gimmicks, no lofty concepts, and no inscrutable motivations. The reading experience of Nat Luurtsema's Goldfish was just that - a wonderful storytelling experience.
In the first few pages, we learn that Lou Brown is on her way to the Olympics, until she isn't. Her best friend heads off to swim for Team Great Britain while Lou heads back to school on her own, without any friends and with muscles she no longer has use for.
This novel is chock full of witty observations of teenage life - like spending hours making the perfect playlist to be cool, without actually acting like you're trying to be cool. Oh, the memories!
I laughed out loud several times and cringed for Lou several times, as well. The story didn't head in the direction I thought it would and what a gift that is! Give this one a read if you're in the mood for something lovely, sweet, and witty.