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Book Review: Night Swim by Jessica Keener & Giveaway

February 20, 2012 by Darlene

Just what constitutes a perfect family? Is it having both a mother and father? Is it belonging to the country club and having lots of money? In Night Swim, debut novelist Jessica Keener gives us an in-depth look into a so called ‘perfect family and what sometimes lurks behind the facade?

To the outside world sixteen-year-old Sarah Kunitz’s life looks pretty good. Her parents live pretty high with parties, expensive cars and even a live-in maid to take care of the chores and help with Sarah and her three brothers. Looks can be deceiving though and much of the time the kids sit nervous and waiting for the next blowup from their father who likes to have complete order and control of his household. Sarah’s mother, who blames her children and arthritis for making her give up a career playing the violin handles things by popping as many pills as she can manage and always having a drink at hand.

When Sarah’s mother dies in a car accident the lives of the Kunitz family are forever changed. Yet for Sarah she has felt her mother slipping away for a long time, trying to leave them. She had finally succeeded. Her father, already more concerned with himself than his kids, begins to see a younger lady friend who had been friends to both of her parents at one time. None of the kids are happy with this but Sarah especially so. This woman can’t take the place of her mother and Sarah is angry with her father for starting to see someone so soon after her mother’s death.

Drifting along Sarah, anxious to grow up and having no guidance to steer her otherwise delves into a few relationships with boys. Sarah, normally a level headed girl, doesn’t foresee the all of the consequences of jumping into relationships that she really isn’t quite ready to handle and ultimately she is faced with decisions that a girl of her age shouldn’t have to make.

Night Swim is a beautifully written novel and one I enjoyed. There are many passages that are worth reading over and over just for the beauty of the sentence itself. Sarah, even being in the midst of her confusing teenage years, is an easy girl to like and you find yourself very invested in her life and future. You find yourself feeling her pain over the loss of her mother and then her struggle to find herself in a world that doesn’t make much sense to her anymore. Night Swim is a coming of age story but even more than that it is a story of a broken people trying to find a way to heal and move on.

I read Night Swim by Jessica Keener for her book tour with TLC Book Tours. You can pop into the other tour stops and see the thoughts of others on this novel. Be sure to check out Jessica’s website and you can find her on Facebook and Twitter as well. Your own copy of Night Swim can be purchased here in the US and here in Canada.

 

GIVEAWAY DETAILS

I have one copy of Night Swim by Jessica Keener to share with my readers. To enter…

  • For 1 entry simply leave me a comment entering the giveaway.
  • For 2 entries, follow my blog.  If you already do, thank you, and please let me know so I can pass the extra entry on to you as well.
  • For 3 entries, blog or tweet this giveaway and spread the word.

This giveaway is open to US and Canadian residents only (no PO boxes) and I will draw for the winner on Saturday, March 10/12.  Good luck to all!

Source:  Review copy provided by TLC Book Tours and Fiction Studio Books.  No compensation was received for this review and all opinions are my own.

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Filed Under: 2012 - 100+ Books, 2012 ARC's, 2012 Book Reviews, 2012 eBooks, TLC Tours

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Lisa Garrett says

    February 20, 2012 at 4:18 am

    Thanks for your review. I love coming of age novels and would like to read more of this one.

  2. Lisa Garrett says

    February 20, 2012 at 4:19 am

    I follow via GFC and email.

  3. Lisa Garrett says

    February 20, 2012 at 4:23 am

    Tweeted: https://twitter.com/#!/lag32583/status/171555045932929025

  4. Jayme@Beachreader says

    February 20, 2012 at 6:47 am

    Thanks fro the giveaway. I’m starting to put books together for my summer reading and this would be perfect.
    jgoffice(at)cox(dot)net

  5. Anne says

    February 20, 2012 at 7:50 am

    Many thanks for this intriguing giveaway. I am an e-mail subscriber.

  6. amandasue says

    February 20, 2012 at 8:11 am

    I’d love a chance to read this.

  7. amandasue says

    February 20, 2012 at 8:12 am

    I’m a follower thanks.

  8. Staci says

    February 20, 2012 at 8:31 am

    I like how everyone’s version of perfect can be so different but money always seems to be the main factor! Sounds like a great read!

  9. Ellie says

    February 20, 2012 at 8:47 am

    What a wonderful book which interests me greatly. Thanks. I subscribe.

  10. Jo-Jo says

    February 20, 2012 at 9:11 am

    I would love to win this book Dar!
    joannelong74 AT gmail DOT com

  11. Jo-Jo says

    February 20, 2012 at 9:11 am

    I’m also a follower.
    joannelong74 AT gmail DOT com

  12. Bethie says

    February 20, 2012 at 9:25 am

    Thanks for the giveaway. This one looks so good.

  13. Bethie says

    February 20, 2012 at 9:25 am

    I follow on GFC

  14. zibilee says

    February 20, 2012 at 9:43 am

    I have heard a lot about this book, and am eager to read it and see what I think. It does sound as though it’s a heartbreaking story of one family’s destruction, and I would be curious to see how it all ends up. Fantastic review, Dar! I would love to be entered in your giveaway!

    zibilee(at)figearo(dot)net

  15. Beth C says

    February 20, 2012 at 9:56 am

    I would enjoy reading this book. Thanks for the nice giveaway!
    pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

  16. Beth C says

    February 20, 2012 at 9:56 am

    Follower.
    pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

  17. Linda Kish says

    February 20, 2012 at 10:03 am

    This sounds terrific! I would love to win a copy of this book.

    lkish77123 at gmail dot com

  18. Linda Kish says

    February 20, 2012 at 10:04 am

    I am a GFC follower

    lkish77123 at gmail dot com

  19. rhonda says

    February 20, 2012 at 10:07 am

    Book sounds wonderful .

  20. rhonda says

    February 20, 2012 at 10:07 am

    I am email subscriber.

  21. rhonda says

    February 20, 2012 at 10:08 am

    Will tweet. At rhondareads

  22. Mary Ward says

    February 20, 2012 at 10:21 am

    I love a book that makes me reread passages.

  23. Mary Ward says

    February 20, 2012 at 10:22 am

    I follow on GFC (mamie316) and by email.

  24. sagustocox says

    February 20, 2012 at 10:24 am

    wow, this sounds fantastic. thanks for the giveaway.

  25. Rachel R. says

    February 20, 2012 at 10:38 am

    Hi! This book sounds like it’s really good! I’d love to win a copy, and I follow you. Happy Presidents Day too!

  26. Colleen Turner says

    February 20, 2012 at 10:45 am

    This book sounds great! I love seeing behind the veneer of the “perfect” life.

  27. Colleen Turner says

    February 20, 2012 at 10:45 am

    I am a GFC follower (Colleen Turner).

  28. Margaret says

    February 20, 2012 at 10:51 am

    Sounds pretty good! I haven’t heard of this one. Thanks for the giveaway!

    Margaret
    singitm(at)hotmail(dot)com

  29. Margaret says

    February 20, 2012 at 10:52 am

    I’m a follower

    Margaret
    singitm(at)hotmail(dot)com

  30. Margaret says

    February 20, 2012 at 10:52 am

    Tweeted

    Margaret
    singitm(at)hotmail(dot)com

  31. Na S. says

    February 20, 2012 at 10:56 am

    It sounds like a beautifully-written story.

  32. Na S. says

    February 20, 2012 at 10:58 am

    I’m a GFC and RSS follower.

  33. blodeuedd says

    February 20, 2012 at 11:04 am

    I want a bit of beauty in my prose now and then, and it has been quite a while since last

  34. Na S. says

    February 20, 2012 at 11:04 am

    I tweeted: https://twitter.com/#!/FieryNa/status/171656145176502274

  35. Tea Time with Marce says

    February 20, 2012 at 11:45 am

    I love when passages are beautiful that you want to read them over, sometimes even out loud.

  36. bermudaonion (Kathy) says

    February 20, 2012 at 11:53 am

    It’s funny how other people’s lives can look perfect from the outside. This book sounds really good. Thanks for the giveaway!

  37. scottsgal says

    February 20, 2012 at 11:57 am

    this sounds like a wonderful book
    msboatgal at aol.com

  38. scottsgal says

    February 20, 2012 at 11:58 am

    already a follower
    msboatgal at aol.com

  39. Margie says

    February 20, 2012 at 12:19 pm

    Looks like an interesting book. Thanks for the giveaway.

  40. Margie says

    February 20, 2012 at 12:19 pm

    follower by GFC and email

  41. karenk says

    February 20, 2012 at 1:59 pm

    thanks for the chance to read this novel 🙂

  42. karenk says

    February 20, 2012 at 1:59 pm

    i’m a follower, too 🙂

  43. Jessica Keener says

    February 20, 2012 at 3:00 pm

    Thank you so much for this review and all the comments. Warm wishes, Jessica

  44. Nise' says

    February 20, 2012 at 4:04 pm

    Sounds like a book I would like! Thanks for the giveaway.

    I am a follower.

    nisethusfarATyahooDOTcom

  45. Jenners says

    February 20, 2012 at 6:07 pm

    I’m always so happy when a debut novel is good. It means we can expect more good stuff from them.

  46. bn100 says

    February 21, 2012 at 12:16 am

    This book sounds very interesting. Thanks for the giveaway.

  47. bn100 says

    February 21, 2012 at 12:18 am

    I follow your blog.

  48. Diane B says

    February 21, 2012 at 1:56 pm

    I read your review of this book & it sounds a absolutely wonderful. I hope that I win it but if not I’m going to buy it as soon as the giveaway ends. Thanks so much for the chance to win. I am a follower & I’m very happy that I am. Oh, by the way I tweeted it also. Happy Reading & reviewing.
    😉

  49. Tiffany Drew says

    February 22, 2012 at 6:07 pm

    I have been eyeing this one for a while. I have seen a lot of good reviews and would love to read it for myself. Thank you for the opportunity!

    jaidahsmommy(at)comcast(dot)net

  50. Tiffany Drew says

    February 22, 2012 at 6:07 pm

    GFC follower Tiffany Drew

    jaidahsmommy(at)comcast(dot)net

  51. Tiffany Drew says

    February 22, 2012 at 6:07 pm

    Tweeted

    https://twitter.com/#!/enterthedrew/status/172486849359646720

    jaidahsmommy(at)comcast(dot)net

  52. Kay Swederski says

    February 23, 2012 at 9:14 am

    Night Swim sounds like a good book. Please enter me in the giveaway

  53. Kay Swederski says

    February 23, 2012 at 9:14 am

    I follow on GFC – kayswederski

  54. Heather J. @ TLC Book Tours says

    February 24, 2012 at 5:50 pm

    Beautiful writing can definitely set a book above the crowd!

    Thanks for being on the tour. I’m featuring your review on TLC’s Facebook page today.

  55. Susan @ The Book Bag says

    February 29, 2012 at 3:49 pm

    Great review! And I love reading books too that just have so many great lines to savor. Thanks for the chance on this on. Oh, and I love the cover too.

    I am a GFC follower.

  56. Maureen says

    March 2, 2012 at 3:16 pm

    Please enter me.
    I follow on GFC
    I tweeted: https://twitter.com/#!/MaureenCE/status/175706094650396672

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