Breathing Underwater‘s gorgeous cover was calling me like a siren — I mean, look at that thing. 😍 But it was the synopsis that really got me. The book, by Abbey Lee Nash, centers on teen competitive swimmer Tess during the summer she’s diagnosed with epilepsy. As she grapples with this news, everything she’s ever dreamed of and planned for her life is screeched to a halt. How can she swim when she’s constantly at risk of having a seizure? But then, how can she not swim, when that’s all she’s ever known?
I don’t have much knowledge on epilepsy, and the only epileptic characters I recall reading about were side characters. So I was super excited to get a protagonist going through these physical and emotional struggles. And overall, Breathing Underwater is a smooth, fast-paced read that provides a lot of insight. Into the confusion and fear that accompanies seizures. The sense of hopelessness that the triggers and precautions bring out. But in terms of character, everything is pretty surface level. I wanted more from Tess, more from her friendships, and more from her romance with the cute new lifeguard Charlie. The people around Tess reassure her that she’s more than a swimmer, but as a reader, I failed to see that. If we got a longer look at who she is — as both swimmer Tess and everyday teenager Tess — I think her journey would’ve been more fulfilling.
**Much thanks to NetGalley and Holiday House for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Breathing Underwater will be released on March 5.
Rating: ★★★☆☆
Sara Bechtol 