A review by ejsimpson
The Night Swim by Megan Goldin

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I wasn’t entirely sure what I was getting myself into when I plucked this title from a tall pile of other mysterious thrillers and dramas. There are multiple stories in this book, yet there’s a thread to tie them together… in more ways than one. I was under the impression this had to be inspired by the case of the student swimmer accused of raping a classmate on campus, but didn’t look up any info as to whether that’s true or not. With that in mind, I think it makes the conversations this book could spark even more important. 
The chapters are short but poignant, though I wonder how could Rachel’s podcast truly be topping the charts with such short entries (then again, I’m largely unfamiliar with podcasts). Such short chapters make the story feel like it’s progressing more quickly, or maybe that’s this bookworm’s “oh, just one more chapter” excuse for staying up late. A quick and easy read but one centered on an important yet controversial topic. 
At one point Rachel tells her listeners that as a woman she is expected to merely ignore and accept small acts of sexual assault. Inconspicuous things, seemingly accidental things. This I think all women can relate to, some more than others. Why can we agree that murder is bad yet be so divided on rape and sexual assault? There was a chapter where K takes the stand and her testimony could be difficult for some readers as it discusses the events of the fateful night on the beach. The screaming and pleading, the bruises and descriptions of photos, the intentionally cruel attitude of Scott. 
The back and forth of K v Scott unfolding “in real time” while the hazy truth of Jenny’s torturous final weeks come to light was done methodically and done well. Neither giving too much away at a time or being so dreary as to drag on. The conclusion was one I didn’t wholly see coming, and it was nice to be a bit surprised. Overall, I enjoyed this book, the fleshed out characters, and felt it didn’t leave me wanting, didn’t leave me with any questions about the characters or plot (central to the story, anyway), so I would recommend this book.
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