Learning to Swim

by Shayla Dugan

A humorous and heartfelt book about the complicated relationship between a mother, a daughter, and a grandmother.

Gabrielle Malone shows up on her mother’s Arizona doorstep with nothing more than a few belongings, her teenage daughter, and a car with no air conditioning (don’t ask). The rest she left behind—her house, everything she owned, and her ex-husband. Her estranged mother Ida, a former Olympic swimmer and current chain smoker, needs her help after a significant health scare. Gabrielle hopes this is their relationship’s opportunity for a fresh start, and a new beginning for her too.

Thirteen-year-old Juniper feels stranded at an old lady’s house she barely knows. She’s frustrated that her mom uprooted their entire life for a strange place and misses her dad. Forced to attend the pointless last week of school, she embarrasses herself on the first day and is certain she’ll never make friends again. As if that weren’t bad enough, her mother’s nightly binge-eating and cry sessions are concerning to say the least.

Ida is her own woman, resenting being tethered to the oxygen hoses winding through her house. She looks darn good in the old, framed cigarette ads on her wall, holding her gold swimming medal. Heck, she still looks good. Her neighbor Morton certainly thinks so. She had one little health scare. What’s the big deal? Heart surgery. It’s coming for her. She knows it but likes to pretend she doesn’t.

Ida is shocked to learn her own granddaughter can’t swim. The one legacy she had hoped would carry on for generations is at stake. While her health certainly limits her activities, she knows she must teach the skill that brought her a lifetime of pride. Gabrielle may have laughed at the idea of her frail mother getting back into the pool, but that’s exactly what Ida would do. Teach her to swim.

Learning to Swim is a coming of age novel about three women in different stages of life mending relationships. Shayla Dugan’s debut family drama book is a delightful read full of insight, wisdom, and wit.

Genres: Fiction, Relationships

250 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 1, 2024

Reviews

[sania (intermezzoism) · Rating 4 out of 5]

this book is for girls with mommy issues (me). Learning To Swim is a coming of age novel featuring three women in completely different generations, a seventy five years old grandma, a mother in her late thirties and a teenage daughter. i loved Dugan's writing so much, the way she had blended the grief with the perfect balance of wit, it touched my heart.

Ida, Gabrielle and Juniper are wonderful, multifaceted and complex characters with their own struggles, desires and fears. personally, i was awfully struck by Gabby, it felt like the author was inside my head, attacking me at every point. the writing was beautiful, characters relatable and flawed and just the right symbolism of swimming. Gabby's biggest struggle with the fact that she and her mother both love each other and yet cannot understand each other to them finally understanding each other, that healed something in me and i thank the author so much for that.

one thing that this book further taught me was how saying “I love you but ...” actually feels to the other person through Juniper's monologue. trust me, i am never doing that again. i don't think i can forget about this book so easily.

— thank you net galley and the author for an advanced reader copy of the book in exchange for a honest review

[Liz Burkhart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Advance reader copy. Publishes May 2024.

What a wonderful debut novel from Ms. Dugan! This is an engaging story of a woman struggling with being a good wife, mother, and daughter. All of the main characters are very well developed and I felt a connection with each of them. Ida was a remarkable lady with so many stories to tell; she was my favorite character. This is a heartwarming story of the difficulties faced by so many women in all stages of life. Well done!

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Three generations of women, each with their own stress and upheavals, are brought together when the grandmother, Ida, needs heart surgery. Ida still sees herself as the Olympic butterfly swimmer that she once was, despite the need for oxygen. (I did the research for you: the Butterfly was first swum in the 1956 Olympics.) Gabby, in the middle of the sandwich generation, is close to finalizing her divorce and really just lost. How is she going to take care of her mother when she thinks the woman doesn't even like her? And then Juniper who is forced to change states and schools 3 weeks before the end of the school year. There is a lot going on in this book and Ms. Dugan weaves together all the stories, emotions, and relationship history so very well! Each character has their own unique voice and as the point of view shifts, I could feel myself relate to the narrator only to have the same thing happen when it shifted again! I will admit the resolution was a bit sappy for me, but not eye-rolling sappy. And, honestly, it fit the story instead of feeling forced. This will be a great beach or lazy afternoon read! I look forward to reading more from Ms. Dugan!

Thanks to NetGalley and Egret Lake Books for a copy of the book. This review is my own opinion.

[Smitha Murthy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a sweet book on navigating the complexities of life. Sure, you know the ending. Sure, you know that everything resolves predictably. But it doesn't take away the fun of getting there.

A pick-me-up book to get you out of the reading slump.

[Dace ჯ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this debut about three generations of women. I think the author has done a great job at portraying the struggles of a 13 year old teenager, "sandwich generation" almost 40 year old and a 75 year with an ailing heart.

The book reminds us about the things that are really important in life - relationships, unconditional love, taking charge of your own life - jumping in and swimming, not just floating.

Thank you for the advanced reader copy of this book, which I won in the Library Thing Early Reviewers program in exchange for an honest review.

[Shannelle Murry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Learning to Swim hits every emotion. It makes you think of your own life and how you don’t want to miss a thing. So make that list and get to making your dreams come true! You still have some swimming left to do.

[Eiyana · Rating 5 out of 5]

This impressive debut novel is more than a charming story, it is a call to live.

In, Learning to Swim, we meet Grandmother Ida who is undergoing heart surgery; her daughter Gabrielle who is in the process of divorcing her husband and learning who she is; and Gabrielle's thirteen year-old daugher Juniper who is trying to figure out a new school, feelings, and boys. Each chapter is presented from the perspective of one of the three main characters as she works through her feelings about life, love, loss, and new beginnings.

Certainly, Dugan's experience as an end of life social worker shaped her ability to tell this story with tenderness and understanding, but her ability to hold the reader rapt is evidence of her incredible storytelling skills. Readers will remember Sexy Ida, Gabrielle's devotion, and blossoming Juniper long after putting this book down.

Learning to Swim is a perfect book club read - even better if that book club is multigenerational.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Bonnie Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don't miss this debut novel!
Three generations of women, each with her life uprooted and struggling to navigate her new reality, learn that it is never too late for second chances, a fresh start, and even new dreams. Being part of the sandwich generation myself, I can appreciate the honest emotions that Shayla captures so beautifully from each viewpoint, and I love the way she finds humor in such ordinary and relatable situations. This book is a heart-felt journey through complicated relationships and self-discovery. Highly recommend this debut novel!

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

In Learning to Swim Gabby, who is going through a divorce, travels across the country with her 13 year old daughter to care for her elderly, but feisty as ever, mother after open heart surgery. The book explores the complexities of the mother/ daughter relationship, with Gabby as both a daughter still longing for the approval of her mother and as a mother doing the best she can under the circumstances with her teenager daughter, and how roles can swap in a crisis.

“She likes you Gabrielle. She just doesn’t understand you.”

What daughter hasn’t thought at some point that her mother doesn’t like her, and what mother hasn’t felt she doesn’t understand her daughter? These dynamics are so relatable. I found myself thinking about my own relationships as I was reading, and how I’ve felt both of these at times.

I liked this book, and I’m glad I read it, but I didn’t love it. I liked it more after I was done and spent time processing what I read than I did while I was reading it. I enjoyed the relatability of the main theme but didn't find the story itself to be particularly compelling. I didn’t find myself eager to find out what was going to happen next, although I was curious how it would end. I did love the ending! It was just SO appropriate. I found myself thinking "Of course! Brilliant!" Some parts felt contrived though, like the weirdly inappropriate relationship between Gabby and Mark. Gabby seemed too smart for a relationship like that. I didn't see the point. Overall, I would probably recommend it.

Thanks to LibraryThing, and Egret Lakes Books, for the Advanced Reader Copy.

[Celaine Charles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shayla Dugan’s book, Learning to Swim, takes the reader into the pool, quite literally, yet also figuratively. Life trauma washes over this family of women…mother, daughter, and grandmother…until each one is forced to sink or swim. In one summer, the lives of all three main characters struggle through all kinds of emotion—worry, sadness, anger, embarrassment, yet also joy and laughter amid their unique displacements. While the mother struggles to find meaning in her new world of divorce and self-identity, her daughter has no idea how to tread water between the drama at home and the humiliation experienced at her new high school. Meanwhile, the chain-smoking grandmother, dealing with sudden health limitations, battles to get the last word in, no matter the cost.

The pacing in this story moves swiftly and smoothly. Every chapter hosts one of the three voices, each short and packed with character development, craft, and the ability to relate, even if the reader may not have experienced the same situation. I often found myself laughing and crying on the same page. Before I could blink, I was cruising through a new scene from another character’s perspective.

Dugan does a brilliant job wrapping the reality of family ordeals around one concept—swimming—that has the power to bend or bind, and with hope (no spoilers) anchors the connections between these three generations of women.

Although this story is filled with some serious life issues, the relationships and growth between all three characters uplifts and validates triumphantly. Learning to Swim is a perfect summer read.

[Tammy O · Rating 4 out of 5]

Learning to swim is a heartwarming story of mother-daughter relationships. It’s also about growing up and navigating life….learning to swim. Chapters alternate between Gabby, 13yr old Juniper, and Gabby’s mother Ida. Things move slowly until Gabby and Juniper arrive at Ida’s home in Arizona. (Painfully slow because they are driving in Gabby’s car that has no a/c.) I enjoyed Ida’s chapters most because of her wit and wisdom. She was on a personal journey of her own after having heart surgery followed by a stroke.

There is humor in the book, but it’s not really necessary—the story stands on its own.

Advanced reader copy courtesy of the publishers at NetGalley for review.

[Alyssa Hough · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Three generations of women learning how to love and live through grief and changes. The oldest dealing with health issues while her daughter gives up her life in the midst of a divorce to help out. All while the granddaughter is trying to figure out why love is conditional. They all bond over swimming. My only complaint is the granddaughter’s schooling storyline seemed rush.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Learning to Swim was a heartwarming story about three generations of women sharing a house for the summer. Ida is a former Olympic swimmer and now a mother and grandmother with a major surgery looming, while she is unwilling to give up the freedom she has always loved. Gabby is her daughter, who has come home to help Ida recover from surgery, but also to try to rebuild her life after her marriage has dissolved. And Juniper is Gabby’s daughter, thirteen years old and forced to move across the country and in with her grandmother, leaving her father and her friends all behind.

What I loved about this story was the resilience each woman brought to her own life and to her relationships, and the ways that their private griefs allowed them to connect with each other more deeply and to grow. The title was a gorgeous metaphor for all three, each at her own stage of life.

I really enjoyed this debut by Shayla Dugan and look forward to what else she writes.

I received an ARC of this book for review.

[Gladys Nakote · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was instantly intrigued by Gabrielle’s story of her experience on the roller coaster of life. I found the writing to be very engaging; I could not stop reading. It’s both amusing, insightful, and heartbreaking at times. I loved the friendship between Gabrielle and Juniper because it felt so real. You made me laugh and cry with Gabrielle throughout Gabrielle’s journey through your fantastic prose. 
 
That gripping scene that left Gabrielle trapped between Tom and Austin on the water slide’s edge... An amazing rush of adrenaline!
 
Gabrielle’s thoughts and emotions felt very real, and I was invested in her the whole time. Specifically, I appreciated how the author contrasted her interactions with her mother, Ida, and her daughter, Juniper. Similarly, when Juniper suddenly reflects, “I wasn’t the best swimmer in the world, but I was no longer a sinker, and that’s what matters." Each of these nuggets of knowledge made this novel that much more exciting.
 
On the flip side, there were moments when you had to dial it back. It provided an unexpected respite during a novel that appeared to be flying at full speed.
 
Lastly, it wasn't just about swimming. The theme of friendship and finding your place in the world was also beautifully explored. I had a wonderful time with this novel, and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a heartfelt story.

[R. Braun · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Learning to Swim" tells the dramatic and humorous narrative of a single mother, Gabby, learning to adjust to changes in her own life while simultaneously taking care of her ailing mother, Ida, and her teenage daughter, Juniper. Like most typical teens, Juniper is moody and easily annoyed, but this is a front for the true emotions she hides. She misses the presence of her father in her life, so a lot of her "teen angst" moments are understandable.

Even though Gabby, Ida and Juniper don't always see eye-to-eye, there is clearly a lot of love between these three characters. Gabby continues to care for her mother and daughter throughout the storyline and they give her the support she needs in return. Gradually, they all understand and acknowledge the value that they bring to each other's lives. Each character forms a newfound understanding of the other character. This book is the perfect coming-of-age/young adult/contemporary adult fiction for readers who have a preference for those genres.

All things considered, it is a wonderful tale about three generations—a granddaughter, a mother and a grandmother—learning to get along and coexist in the same space after unforeseen circumstances force them to do so. As someone who is familiar with single-parent families and third generation households, a lot of Gabby, Ida and Juniper's experiences feel authentic and well-explored. The book is an emotional, feel-good novel told from the different perspectives of vibrant and resilient women.

The novel depicts a range of topics like divorce, emotional baggage, fitting in, adolescence, adulthood, starting over, family support, family appreciation, self-love, death, loss, grief, healing, growth and self-reflection. It is appropriate for both teenagers and adults. Even though it isn't the typical book that men would readily reach for, I would even recommend it to my fellow male readers since female-centered novels are a great way to understand women's issues through different perspectives. Overall, the author, Shayla Dugan, has produced a heartfelt work-of-fiction that explores the struggles encountered by countless women at different phases of their life. Excellent work.

[Ulli Zaiss · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gabby and her daughter Jubiper are moving to Arizona to help Gabby's mom Ida who has to have heart surgery. The story is told in triple point of view from each main character.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book it had relatable characters and a believable storyline. I felt empathy for each woman as they struggled with life's problems and came out stronger in the end.
If you like family stories featuring different generations this book should be on your TBR.

[Ágnes Palásthy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it. It is a very well written, moving and heartwarming story of three strong women who happen to be the three generations of a family. I love reading about the complexities of the mother-daughter relationship and I also love older characters in books. This novel gave me all that and much more. I was really sorry when itended and I had to say goodbye to Ida, Gabrielle and Juniper. I will look out for the next books of the author. I can recommend it to everyone. You are in for a treat.

[LinaVer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free advanced reader copy (ARC) of this book via Booksprout. This book publishes in May (2024), and this is my honest, voluntary written review.
There are no spoilers of the story in this review, I think, although I do mention some topics discussed in the book as well as the names of the main characters.

***

In my alternate life, when I become a writer myself, I want to be able to write my first book as good as Shayla Dugan wrote their debut novel. If someone asked me to shortly describe this book, I’d say something like this: “It’s a small book with a simple story about normal people but there’s nothing small or simple about it.” It’s magnificent, and it reveals itself to you, layer after layer, like a beautiful flower in bloom.

On the surface, “Learning to Swim” is a story about three women, three generations, and their relationships. Simple, right? And yet, when were relationships ever just simple? They’re complex, sometimes painful, aggravating, often absurd, and immeasurably beautiful – more so in this book. Through the story of Juniper (the daughter), Gabrielle (the mother) and Ida (the grandma) the author also touches several other vulnerable topics, like coming-of-age, illness, grief, (re)finding yourself etc. (As much as I would like to mention all the themes here, that would spoil the beauty of the book!)

Big topics like these can probably be daunting to write about, and often, while reading the book, I find them unfinished, incomplete, and difficult to connect with. This is not the case with “Learning to Swim” – this story had my full attention within first few words. It’s written with such a unique, deeply sensitive but also humorous voice, that it brought true realness and believability to the characters and their stories. You know it’s true, when you can laugh while talking about all the shit that life throws at you sometimes.

To me, all the people I’ve met in this book, didn’t feel like “book people”, they felt real, well-rounded and written, so that through them I could experience all the aforementioned topics deeply, almost first hand. This is why it felt like through them I also healed my relationship with my mother and grandmother just that little bit more, and my thirteen-year-old me also felt seen and confronted her bullies again, and I also made new friends (loved the Peeping Tom and real Tom idea by the way!), considered new hobbies, laughed, cried, and just breathed. This, to me, is the magic of reading, of reading a well written story.

This feeling of being able to breathe (which might sound weird in the context of talking about a book), is worth mentioning. It’s something I really loved and appreciated about this novel. To me, there will never be too many well written stories that give space to women and simply let them breathe, be, and figure out themselves. Also, I swear, this breathing metaphor is so apt for this book, but unintentionally so! And to understand it, you’ll just have to read it. 😊

I guess what I’m trying to say with all this rambling, is that I found this book beautiful. It’s surprising in a way at how a relatively short and seemingly simple story can contain so much in itself and how it can make you feel so much. I’m really glad this was my first ever ARC, and it kind of set a high standard for the future ARCs that I might read.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Swati · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shayla Dugan’s ‘Learning to Swim’ is an honest portrait of three generations of women. Ida, who is a former Olympian swimmer, has undergone a surgery and needs some assistance. Gabby, her daughter, arrives with her teenage daughter, Juniper, in tow to take care of her mother as well as piece back her life after a divorce. As the women share the house for the summer, creaks and strains start to appear all too soon. But they need to stay together because each one is dependent on the other in more ways than they think.

I loved Ida’s character the most. She brings with her that laissez faire attitude that comes with age and an unrepentant grit. Here is a woman who’d rather drown than ask for help, yet risks her fragile health to teach her granddaughter Juniper the one skill that once defined her. Their swimming lessons become the novel’s core - a literal and metaphorical exercise in trust, where flailing might mean sinking or survival.

Juniper is also quite sharply etched. She is caught between her mother’s quiet unraveling and a grandmother she barely knows, yet delivers the novel’s best observations. Dugan has clearly focused on the women characters as the men are very black and white with no development to speak of, which was a tad disappointing. Either they’re sweet and sensitive or callous and indifferent.

While the novel mostly chugs along at a pleasant pace there were some things that felt superfluous. For instance, a subplot involving Gabby and the neighbor, Mark, strains credulity, feeling more like narrative filler. And while the prose is lean and often wry, some sections drag under the weight of repetitive emotional beats.

‘Learning to Swim’ is not going to dazzle you with plot twists or unforgettable characters. I just liked how relatable it was and extremely easy to read.

I picked this novel looking for a feel-good story, albeit predictable, and I got that.

[eve · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

Touching, thought provoking and heartwarming, Learning to Swim truly was a rollercoaster of emotions.

After separating from her husband, Gabrielle moves back home to look after her mother, Ida, who has to undergo heart surgery, taking her thirteen-years-old daughter, Juniper, with her.

From the very first chapter, I was hooked into the story and I could not put this book down; there just was something so special and so beautiful in watching the relationship between the three characters blossom. Ida, Gabrielle and Juniper each brought in such interesting perspectives and reflections through their thoughts.

The authenticity in the portrayal of the ups and downs in the mothers-and-daughters relationships is something I particularly loved, and it was so interesting to witness it within different generations. I felt very connected to Juniper, and saw a lot of myself in her and her situation, and also related to many aspects of Gabrielle's story. Ida was such a strong, fun character, and I really loved her arc.

While the story did feel a bit rushed to me, it was something I could very easily overlook. I genuinely went through a whirlwind of emotions; I laughed just as much as I cried, and these characters and their story gained a little spot in my heart, where I'll be happy to keep them for the foreseeable future.

I could not recommend this book more, it being a debut blows my mind, and I will surely be keeping an eye out for the author's future work.

Huge thanks to BookBuzz & Netgalley for allowing me an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Reader_for_LifeTLG · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a good read - Three generations struggle, at first, to survive under one roof. Gabrielle drags her daughter Juniper to stay with her mom Ida. The old bird's in need of healthcare and Gabby's brother is only stepping up to hold his hand out. Plus Gabby's getting divorced so leaving town is a boon. As the ladies settle in together, their strained start eases, with Ida softening from the stern Mother of Gabby's youth into an approachable matriarch. She steps up with Gabby and Juni, eventually bestowing advice and love in equal measure. She had a rough start herself, so it didn't come naturally to be demonstrative with her affection. The swim lessons are the icebreaker for the family, as Ida and Gabby teach Juni to swim. Ida's pride is tied to her legacy as an Olympic medalist and it is unthinkable that her own granddaughter cannot experience the joy and freedom of moving through the water.

A front row seat to the reality of a child essentially becoming the parent to her own stubborn parent and that parent's realization of her own mortality. A coming-of-age tale of a young girl in the throes of puberty, uprooted because her parents couldn't make their marriage work, forced to find a place in her new world. They were forced to live together, but they learned to laugh and love together. A great story with the best characters. A modern masterpiece on the realities of adulting, even if you're just a kid.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jo Kerr · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review contains some spoilers...

This is a modern day story about Gabby, who is going through a divorce, her teenage daughter Juniper, who is suffering typical teenage angst, and her mother Ida, who is about to undergo major heart surgery.

All three women are working through their own issues and struggling with their interactions with each other as they do so, and I loved the way the story took us on that journey with them.

We get to see how Gabby realises she doesn't know what she likes, or what she wants and starts to take back control of her life. Meanwhile Ida's sass shows through and she finds a way to help and support both her daughter and her granddaughter. While this is going on Juniper finds her way through some teenage heartache and repairs her relationship with her mother.

It took me a little while to feel absorbed in this story, and I suspect it was because of the short initial chapters, however I did feel invested once I got to know each of them a little more. I was certainly invested enough nearer the end to feel a little tear in the eyes as Ida's story came to its conclusion.

I liked the interweaving of the analogy of learning to swim and learning to find your own way in life, I thought this was a nice touch.

Overall I enjoyed this story, it's a nice easy read...

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

[Mona Garg · Rating 4 out of 5]

My thanks to LibraryThing and the publisher, Egret Lake Books, for my e-ARC.

What could be worse than a road trip to Arizona in a car with no AC? A road trip just after the break-up of a marriage. A road trip to care for an estranged sick mom. A road trip with an angsty teen who’s less than enthused about upending her life for this “fresh start.”

Being a member of the sandwich generation is not ideal in the best of circumstances. As hard as it is for Gabby, it’s no picnic for her mom or daughter either.

Ida McClarren is an Olympic gold medalist. She’s feisty and fearless. But she’s apprehensive about her daughter’s visit and not looking forward to it. Juniper is a typical 13 year-old. She barely knows her grandmother and is not thrilled with her mom for making her enroll in a new school just weeks before summer vacation.

There are the expected struggles and conflicts, but eventually, the three of them “learn to swim” literally and figuratively.

Written from the alternating third-person perspectives of Ida, Gabby, and Juniper, the author breathes life into each. There are supporting characters who add enough to the storyline to be relevant.

I enjoyed the book and looked forward to reading it. I can even relate to it somewhat. Everything from the plot, flawed characters, and end were plausible and realistic.

[Ali Murphy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gabby gets divorced and moves her and her daughter, Juniper, to Arizona to care for her mother, Ida, after heart surgery. Ida is a former Olympic swimming gold medalist and one feisty woman. Gabby is apprehensive about being around her mother again and Juniper is apprehensive about starting over at a new school in a new place. When Ida learns that Juniper can’t swim she makes it a goal to teach her after her surgery. Things don’t go according to plan but the lesson leads to a change in Ida and in Juniper and the relationships between all three woman are positively effected.
This was a heartwarming book about repairing relationships and finding oneself. Ida and Gabby had years of misunderstanding each other to address, Gabby and Juniper were struggling with pre-teen emotions mixed in with a divorce and moving, and Juniper and Ida had a relationship to build since Ida had never really been a part of Juniper’s life. Seeing the development of each relationship was uplifting. I also really enjoyed reading about Gabby’s journey to figure out who she was on her own. Her mother’s words that “she hadn’t learned to do it alone” were so powerful and it was delightful to see Gabby take those words to heart and head down a path to find herself. This book dealt with complicated relationships and grief and I really enjoyed how the story was told.

[Courtney Schilling · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shayla Dugan’s Learning to Swim: A Novel is an incredible read. Learning to Swim introduces us to three generations of Whimser Women. Ida, a former Olympic swimmer is dealing with health struggles that have finally forced her to recognize her own mortality. Gabby has found herself in a loveless marriage, and can’t seem to recall the last time she experienced true joy. Juniper is not only new to teenage-dom, she finds herself at a new school with only weeks left in the year (every teenager’s nightmare) and has to learn how to fit in. Going from Queen Bee to laughing stock was not a part of the plan, but ultimately becomes her reality. These three women are not living the lives they imagined, but together, they lean on one another and figure out how to navigate their new realities.
This novel is absolutely stunning. I found myself so engrossed in this storyline, that I had to read it all the way through. Dugan manages to navigate us through an array of emotions so effortlessly, and manages to land the reader in a place where we can be completely content with the journey. This is easily one of my favorite reads in quite some time.
If you are looking for not just an enjoyable read, but a fulfilling one as well, THIS is your novel. Don’t wait! Jump right in!.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[JanEyre9 · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a story about mothers and daughters - their love, their failures, their healing, and their journey to be everything to each other while still being their true self.

Learning to Swim follows 3 generations of ladies in the midst of personal strife. Gabby, a late thirties soon-to-be divorcee who has decided to move across the country with her teenage daughter to care for her ailing mother. Ida, a strong willed former Olympic swimmer who struggles to connect with her daughter and hopes not to repeat the cycle with her granddaughter. Juniper, a teenager caught in the aftermath of adult choices who has her entire life uprooted. These three women must band together to support Ida during her heart surgery, Juniper through starting at a new school, and Gabby as she tries to handle it all while suffering emotionally.

While I enjoyed Learning to Swim and think it’s a poignant novel about the sacrifices and triumphs of being a mother and a child as well as the strength of female bonds, I didn’t necessarily love it. Beyond them being a family and dealing with some tough life situations, it was a bit of a boring read. Even when major events happened they felt subdued and had the same energy as mundane moments. I enjoyed Ida’s feistiness and Juniper’s coming of age woes but felt Gabby was underdeveloped. This is a very quick read though and has some lovely imagery. 3 out of 5 stars. Thank you netgalley for the ARC!

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was very lucky to receive an ARC of this book from new author Shayla Dugan. It wonderfully captures the complex relationships of mothers and daughters. As someone in the sandwich generation and mom to a teen daughter I could definitely relate to the complicated feelings you can sometimes have for your own daughter no matter how much you love her! I liked how Gabby voiced these feelings in her head but did her best to be so patient with her daughter, and in that way I think she forged some great inroads in the relationship - and I love how Ida learned to do the same with Gabby.

I'm always a fan of stories that offer viewpoints of events from each character's perspective. It really reveals aspects of events that you may not have thought about, so that was one of my favorite things about this book.

In all honesty I have to agree with some other reviewers that the stories and events felt a little bit rushed. Some parts of the story felt too repetitive (like the heat or car with no air conditioning). However the ending was exactly what I thought it should be and a perfect outcome for the characters of Gabby and Juniper.

Next book - I'd love a story all about Ida!

[Michelle Barr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dive into a heartfelt journey of emotional resilience mixed with laughter and tears.

‘Learning to Swim’ by Shayla Dugan is a wonderful, easy-to-read story and from the moment I dived in, I was drawn to the genuine, relatable and likeable characters who felt like people I knew.

Ida, Gabrielle, and Juniper each brought their own unique perspective to the story. As they navigated life's twists and turns, I found myself feeling like I was a friend supporting them every step of the way.

I enjoyed the interwoven elements of self-reflection with heartfelt humour. It's a story that doesn't shy away from the complexities of life yet manages to find moments of levity even amid adversity.

This is a story of resilience and the enduring strength of family bonds even when it feels bumpy and difficult along the way. Through the ups and downs, the characters learn to adapt and grow, reminding us that even when life feels overwhelming, there's always the opportunity for growth and discovery and for learning to swim.

‘Learning to Swim’ is an emotional ride that made me laugh and brought a tear to my eye.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Sudipta Nandi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can you guess what we can learn from swimming? A lot about life. The coping strategies, the struggle, the deep-bottom feeling, and the neglected self-care requirements. Gabby, her mom, and her daughter improve their swimming aka living too. They learn the difference between swimming, floating, and competition and offer their experience and insight. The journey is so vibrant with compassion, wit, and kindness that you feel real. You can relate to independent Ida’s checklist, Gabby’s self-discovery, and Juniper’s inexperience. It is funny the way Ida and her father’s teaching styles vary and the styles express a lot about their personality. You cannot blame Ida’s dad for his teaching style as the backstory is so sad and helpless. Ida, Gabby, and Juniper feel confused but eventually find their way. The use of Playboy magazine, Chad’s Casanova father, the Juniper-Tom connection, the Adam Archer incident, and Gabby’s dream (“You haven’t learned to do it alone”) are so engagingly witty.
A must-try if you want to reflect on your swimming style (in life-sea) and self-care strategy.

[Sharondblk · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book covers a lot of emotional ground, most of it with sensitivity and humour. It tells the story of three generations of women and the struggles they are facing at their life stages. Each of them are trying to do their best - even if they sometimes fall short. The struggles and emotions are shared with a light hand and a wry smile.
There were a couple of things I felt could have been done better - Chad (the brother) is bad just plain bad. We are told that, and expected to believe it, but it doesn't fit in with his actions prior to the books opening. The thing with Gabby's boss, I kept wondering if it was meant to be romance or harassment.

The ending was lovely. It teetered on overblown and sentimental, but fell back to affirming and delightful.

I thank NetGalley and the publishers, who gave me this book in exchange for an honest review.