Night Swimming - by Aaron Starmer

About the Book

Recent high school graduate Trevor longs to take his relationship with Sarah to the next level as they spend the summer trying to swim in every pool in town, including a natural pool with magical properties.

Book Synopsis

From the author of Spontaneous comes a '90s mixtape of a young adult novel that delivers a summer romance with an unearthly twist. Perfect for fans of The Gravity of Us.

"Starmer's eerie love story is spooky, sad, and sweetly funny--a highly original '90s retro mixtape of a book that will have you wishing you could go night swimming with Sarah and Trevor, until chills go down your spine and you realize what a very, very bad idea that would be."--E. Lockhart, author of We Were Liars and Genuine Fraud

One final swim of the summer. Let's make it last all night...

Summer, 1994. Trevor can barely wrap his mind around the fact that he and his friends have graduated high school. And yet there's no rush to get to college. He's determined to live one night at a time. Riding shotgun from party to party, windows down, music up, his focus is entirely on his crush, the enigmatic girl in the driver's seat. Will things ever go anywhere with Sarah?

Maybe? Because Sarah has proposed a mission: They're going to swim all the pools in town. Before long, they're sneaking into backyards every night, splashing, floating, and loving every minute of it. But it's still not enough for Trevor. He yearns for Sarah, despite her college boyfriend, despite her "not yet"s, despite the way she keeps pulling away the moment it starts to feel truly magical.

Things finally change when they learn about a natural pool hidden deep in the woods. It seems like just another spot to check off their summer bucket list. But once they get there, they realize that this place has a curious hold on them, and something very strange is happening...

Review Quotes

"Starmer's writing is beautifully lyrical, creating an atmospheric tone and weaving a nontraditional coming-of-age story about self, friendship, and first love. The dual narrative structure proves utterly absorbing... An evocative and otherworldly tale."--Kirkus Reviews

"Starmer's work is both an intriguing metaphor and the story of young people on the precipice of uncertain adulthood."--Booklist

"Starmer has crafted an eerie and ethereal setting of a perfect, humid summer night with friends. It's a speculative and quiet slow burn of a novel..."--School Library Journal

"If you are looking for an unforgettable summer read, this is the one. Starmer... has given young adults a rumination on life that is wholly and completely their own."--Locus Magazine

"Starmer's eerie love story is spooky, sad, and sweetly funny--a highly original '90s retro mixtape of a book that will have you wishing you could go night swimming with Sarah and Trevor, until chills go down your spine and you realize what a very, very bad idea that would be."--E. Lockhart, author of We Were Liars and Genuine Fraud

"Night Swimming is just the kind of book I like: a beautifully written character dive that plays with the boundaries of reality. Bonus points for the '90s nostalgia and music references that had me thinking wistfully of my own teen years. An exciting offering in the world of speculative fiction, Starmer's novel asks all sorts of questions about who we are, who we might become, and who we're meant to be with. I'm very much here for this book (and I think Michael Stipe would be, too)."--David Arnold, New York Times best-selling author

"Allegorical and shimmering with expectation, Night Swimming is an all-consuming dream of a novel that feels at once vital and timeless. In one singular perfect summer, what's momentary becomes everlasting, and what's feared becomes beautiful and necessary. Unforgettable."--Nova Ren Suma, New York Times best-selling author

"A haunting, romantic, and mesmerizing story of the perilous moments between adolescence and adulthood that will take your breath away. Aaron Starmer's latest will take readers on what they think is one ride, and then turns out to be another--and it's a fantastic one, powered by crisp, beautiful prose and a story that will linger long after the book is over. (Bonus: The songs that begin each section are sure to comprise your next favorite playlist.)"--Kathleen Glasgow, New York Times best-selling author of Girl in Pieces

About the Author

Aaron Starmer is the author of more than a dozen novels for young readers, including Night Swimming, A Million Views, Spontaneous, The Only Ones, and the Locker 37 series. He lives in Vermont with his wife and two children.