Coming Up For Air

Swim. Eat. Shower. School. Snack. Swim. Swim. Swim. Dinner. Homework. Bed. Repeat.

All of Maggie’s focus and free time is spent swimming. She’s not only striving to earn scholarships—she’s training to qualify for the Olympics. It helps that her best friend, Levi, is also on the team and cheers her on. But Levi’s already earned an Olympic tryout, so Maggie feels even more pressure to succeed. And it’s not until Maggie’s away on a college visit that she realizes how much of the “typical” high school experience she’s missed by being in the pool.

Not one to shy away from a challenge, Maggie decides to squeeze the most out of her senior year. First up? Making out with a guy. And Levi could be the perfect candidate. After all, they already spend a lot of time together. But as Maggie slowly starts to uncover new feelings for Levi, how much is she willing to sacrifice in the water to win at love?

Maggie and Levi really complement each other’s personality, including their other best friends, Hunter and Georgia. I really love how they both have close relationships with their families. For the romance part, I wouldn’t say that their chemistry immediate, but it picks up really fast. It was a bit of a slow-burn but extremely satisfying one. Although, Levi did something that really irks me, it still annoys me as I think about it.

Another thing worth noting is the feminist and sex-positive theme of the book. Maggie was the one who initiated everything, from making out to the more steamy things. It was pretty hilarious but realistic to see both Maggie and Levi get urges from time to time, but they never compromised their safety and of course consent.

Overall, this might not be my favorite, but it sure is at the top. Miranda Kenneally’s writing style never cease to amaze me. This book was an amazing combination of romance, friendships, family relationships, sports, and a great coming of age theme. I definitely recommend this!