Review by mallorypen - Breath Like Water

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mallorypen 's review for:

Breath Like Water by Anna Jarzab

3.75

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

I liked this book! The plot is compelling, and the storyline kept me guessing throughout. The friendships between Susannah, Amber and Jessa felt incredibly realistic, especially with some friendships being close and others being strained but still important, even as they fade. It was clear that the author knows swimming very well, and the authenticity made Susannah’s journey all the more satisfying and believable. There were a few times where Harry’s character didn’t sit quite right with me as a reader: but in retrospect his character got more nuanced the better Susannah got to know him, which is a cool thing to do as she was the narrator. I do think some of the characters handled tough situations a lot better than one may expect, but it feels like a good roadmap for readers who wouldn’t know how to have a thought conversation, or who may not have the most supportive and open parents. I also felt the bittersweet conclusion - followed by a very satisfying mini story at the end - was an excellent way to end a story that talks about the crossroads of failure (perceived and actual; emotional and mental) and deals in many shades of gray versus absolutes.

One thing is for sure: Dave is a GIANT asshole.

Content Warnings