Every once in a while, I pick up with no expectations whatsoever. I don’t read about it online; I don’t look up reviews. I just go into it blindly. And every once in a while, a book surprises me by exceeding all the expectations I didn’t have.
Breath Like Water was one of those books.
The premise of this book is quite straightforward: for as long as Susannah can remember, she wanted to participate in the Olympics as a swimmer for the team USA. As a young tween, she was closer than ever, even winning Gold. Then, puberty happened and suddenly, Susannah wasn’t as fast anymore – her new curves felt awkward and it was hard to be as fast as she used to be. Flashforward to now, where Susannah is sixteen, and still struggling to make her body move in the water the way she wants it to. Her goal hasn’t changed – she’s going to be at the Olympics, come hell or high water.
A simple plot makes for an extraordinary opportunity to make the characters shine, and Jarzab excels with this in Breath Like Water.
At its core, this is a story about ambition and failure, and the inner strength it takes to get up when you lose and try again instead of giving up. Susannah is a fighter who does not want to let go of her dreams and does not need any distractions. It’s hard for her to give anything attention besides swimming so her mind basically spirals when Harry, a fellow swimmer, makes heart-eyes at her. And even though Harry is nothing if not charming and fun, he has also has his secrets and private issues. Yet, instead of letting those obstacles decide their fate, both Harry and Susannah vow to help the other out with support and guidance.
This book doesn’t hold back when it comes to talking about the sacrifices one has to make when persisting on their dreams. It was a refreshing portrayal to see someone be fantastic at what they do but nevertheless falling short. It has something of a sobering quality to see Susannah, who spends more time in the water than out of it, working so hard to get to the Olympic Trials and be held back by her own pride and hubris that cause fallbacks. Yet she never surrenders and eventually, gets what she always wanted, just not in the way she thought it would happen.
Furthermore, this book tackled mental health issues, in particular bipolar disorder. I loved both the portrayal and the realness to this; it is always difficult to discuss these things without sounding preachy or romanticising it when it comes to two young people falling in love. Yet Jarzab shines here once more; she both showcases the ups and downs of the illness but also proves that it does not have to hold you back from excelling at sports or having fierce and deep relationships. Personally, I loved the level of maturity this storyline introduced to both Susannah and Harry and how it made them reevaluate and understand their relationship better.
My only complaint is that the secondary characters were quite static. While Amber, Susannah’s friend, eventually got a bit of her own story, everyone else from Tuck to Jessa only serve as relationship obstacles or boosters for Harry and Susannah. They rarely exist outside of that aspect and thus their voices grew weaker with every page. Perhaps in the same vein, the epilogue startled me because it not how I expected the story to end at all. The time jump and overall ending felt a bit forced to me, especially the way Susannah was thinking and talking. it served to show that she had grown older and wiser but it just made my hackles raise a bit, reminding me of didactic impulses in novels directed toward younger teens. However, those are just two small complaints and definitely did not take away from my enjoyment.
Quite like Susannah fighting to get to the Olympics, this debut is ambitious, powerful, and relentless. Exposing the darker aspects of pursuing your goals, Breath Like Water is a refreshing and much-needed addition to YA shelves everywhere.
Breath Like Water is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers as of May 19th 2020.
Will you be picking up Breath Like Water? Tell us in the comments below!
Synopsis | Goodreads
“Expansive, romantic, and powerful.” —Gayle Forman, #1 New York Times bestselling author of If I Stay and I Have Lost My Way
Susannah Ramos has always loved the water. A swimmer whose early talent made her a world champion, Susannah was poised for greatness in a sport that demands so much of its young. But an inexplicable slowdown has put her dream in jeopardy, and Susannah is fighting to keep her career afloat when two important people enter her life: a new coach with a revolutionary training strategy, and a charming fellow swimmer named Harry Matthews.
As Susannah begins her long and painful climb back to the top, her friendship with Harry blossoms into passionate and supportive love. But Harry is facing challenges of his own, and even as their bond draws them closer together, other forces work to tear them apart. As she struggles to balance her needs with those of the people who matter most to her, Susannah will learn the cost—and the beauty—of trying to achieve something extraordinary.
