I was so so excited when I heard Steph Bowe had a new book!
I’m totally a hipster fan of Steph Bowe, okay? I’m just going to put it out there. Back in 2012 I was totally in adoration of Girl Saves Boy. (Steph was only 16 when it was published! Which was 500% #GOALS for me at the time.) And I also loved All This Could End which is about a family of pretty chill bank robbers back in 2013. SO I WAS PRETTY MUCH DESPERATE FOR MORE OF HER BOOKS.
And Night Swimming didn’t disappoint at all! It was an entire puddle of adorkable cuteness, filled with dry humour and excellent goat puns and a super cute romance.
“Could you say he raised the baa for goat’s milk soap?” asks Iris.
I laugh. “You could.”
First we need to talk about the glory that is Kirby.
She has the best voice. She’s dryly witty + intensely awkward + too anxious to tell her crush about her feelings + a very avid food enthusiast which is so relatable + scared of change + A HUGE BOOKWORM + a complete and utter dork. AND she confessed to having a “book buying problem” which obviously means she had no problem at all. SHE’S ONE OF US.
YOUR PEOPLE ARE HERE, KIRBY. WE UNDERSTAND.
Kirby and her BFF, Clancy, are the ONLY teens in their town, so they’re BFF by default. I love reading books with girl/boy platonic relationships! The two meshed so well and the witty banter was on point. Clancy was basically a glitter explosion and drama queen, while Kirby was a slow-steady tortoise. I adored them!!
He knows I’m here, but he doesn’t look up till I sit down across the table from him. He grins. “Had to finish the chapter.” He tucks a bookmark in. I have a tendency to fold back the corner to mark my page, so he thinks I’m a heathen. I like my spines cracked and my books well loved. Clancy likes his possessions being neat and nice and in like-new condition.
#I #AM #CLANCY
There is a love triangle, however. Which I admit is my least favourite romance trope. But it’s not one of those dystopian triangles where all is destinyyyyyy and confessions of luuuuuve all over the place. It’s more a matter of Iris comes into town and Clancy and Kirby both fall in love with her. But they become friends first! And it becomes quite obvious it’s Kirby/Iris, since all Clancy does is talk about marrying Iris and then does nothing else because #dork. Iris isn’t leading anyone on and honestly the angsty isn’t even too highkey! I’m okay with this triangle! And I really love that it focused on friendship-to-romance…which makes Iris and Kirby so much more shippable. <3 BLESS THEIR LITTLE HEARTS.
- beautiful but horrible puns which are life
- the small country town vibe where everyone knows everyone
- Kirby was fat and while she fretted over it occasionally she was ok with her body and comfortable being herself
- the romantic encounters were ADORKABLE with Kirby spending 5 hours sending a text that says “sure”
- bookworm appreciation
- a pet goat named Stanley who will eat your shoes and soul
- goat soap
- crop circles
- Aussie slang which is my favourite
- grandpa representation
- so much diversity with LGBTQI+ and POC characters and also a goat that wants to be human
My only small quibble is that I think Iris’ character wasn’t complex enough. She has a Secret Reason She Moved To This Town™ and it was barely mentioned and brushed over at the end. And I still don’t get why she did most of the things she did?? I also hesitantly say that Kirby’s Estranged Father subplot was a bit cliche. I have read that 398 times and it played out how they usually do. But ya know. These are just small things in an altogether marvellous book!
“You’re more of a Belle, anyway. Since you’re a reader. Clancy should’ve put on Beauty and the Beast, that’s one hell of a musical. I could’ve been a teapot.”
“You’d be a great teapot.”
“No one’s ever said anything so nice to me.” She grins.
I fully loved reading this. I laughed out loud! I ate it faster than a goat with a tasty stolen slipper! The writing style/banter is honestly what I live for and Clancy and Kirby’s friendship was so golden. Plus cute romance, delicious food, so much awesome awkward, and all the coming-of-age fears and questions teens face which is just #relatable.
THANK YOU TO TEXT PUBLISHING FOR THE REVIEW-COPY. Night Swimming by Steph Bowe was published 3rd April, 2017.
★★★★☆
Imagine being the only two seventeen-year-olds in a small town. That’s life for Kirby Arrow—named after the most dissenting judge in Australia’s history—and her best friend Clancy Lee, would-be musical star.
Clancy wants nothing more than to leave town and head for the big smoke, but Kirby is worried: her family has a history of leaving. She hasn’t heard from her father since he left when she was a baby. Shouldn’t she stay to help her mother with the goat’s-milk soap-making business, look after her grandfather who suffers from dementia, be an apprentice carpenter to old Mr Pool? And how could she leave her pet goat, Stanley, her dog Maude, and her cat Marianne?
But two things happen that change everything for Kirby. She finds an article in the newspaper about her father, and Iris arrives in town. Iris is beautiful, wears crazy clothes, plays the mandolin, and seems perfect, really, thinks Kirby. Clancy has his heart set on winning over Iris. Trouble is Kirby is also falling in love with Iris…
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I read and loved Night Swimming so much! It was a fantastic book and so well written and adorable! I related so much to Iris as she was part Indian and I’m fully Indian but all the other characters were so amazingly well written and there was so much diversity and it was in rural Australia and now I’m rambling and THERE WERE GOATS. Enough said. Lovely review Cait <3
Isn’t it just!??😍😍 And it’s SO lovely to read diverse books, especially Aussie ones!! And goats will never stop being the most awesome things ever, especially with how they eat everything because #relatable.
I need to read this because there is an NZ-Indian character what is this this is me. I don’t really have any authors careers who I religiously follow though.. I love reading books about bookworms. It isn’t about the same thing, but I just heard about this book called Literally which comes out tomorrow abut a girl in a YA book who meets her author. I also love Sophia Fitzosborne from the Montmaray books because she’s totally a romantic, and Phoebe from Bookishly Ever After. I’m so glad this book exists and I’m desperate to read it.
I’ve vaguely heard of Literally!! I kind of need to read it because I just basically like ANY books about bookworms. :’) It’s bookworm inception.
I’ve been hesitant to pick this one up and I don’t even know why. Maybe because of the love triangle element. But I hope to pick it up soon. Thanks for the review.
Omg you must try it, Angel!! It’s so cute and fluffy and fun!!
Nice review, it really is a fantastic book with great characters! Fun fact, that’s me in the acknowledgements of Night Swimming – I’m friends with Steph and beta-read this haha 😊
As for author whose career I’ve been following from day one, that’s definitely Stacey Lee!
OMGGGGG I’M IN THE PRESENCE OF A FAMOUS PERSON. CAN I HAVE YOUR AUTOGRAPH. 😱😱😱
This book sounds SO good. And it’s not even something I would have considered reading??? I will totally have to check this out. I completely understand about being excited to follow this writer’s career. I have been reading Shannon Messenger’s books since around when her third novel was published like 3.5 years ago, and although I haven’t read all of her books and they are (now) aimed at people a little younger than me I totally still love them. I feel so proud of her!!
It’s just so awesome seeing authors like “grow up” through the career and things?!? :’) I feel so invested omg. And yessss, please do try this one if you get the chance!! IT’S SO CUTE.
I normally don’t read books that are romance-focused, but this sounds kinda awesome. It seems very quirky. Thanks for bringing it to my attention. 🙂
It is really fun and just so cute and adorkable!! It’s a nice change from all the stabbastic fantasy I read.😂
I’m very concerned by the fact that in your Other Things To Love list, you said “a pet goat” and then after that, “Goat soup”. Like…WHAT?? DOES THE GOAT DIE??
I am very concerned for the goat.
LAURA I SAID GOAT SOAP. AS IN SOAP MADE OUT OF GOAT’S MILK????😂
Ah. I see. XD My mistake.
I don’t read that many books about bookworms. I did just watch Beauty and the Beast though! It was sooooo good, it’s my new favorite movie and I want to watch it a million more times! I NEED IT! I love how Belle and the Beast talked about books! I need someone in my life to talk about books! Its a good thing I have internet. I think an author that I’ve followed forever is Sabaa Tahir. I wish I could say Sarah J. Maas (she is my favorite author), but I didn’t find out about her until her third book was published. And Night Swimming? Do you want my thoughts on the book, or the action. Swimming at night kind of terrifying for me. I hardly like swimming during the day, I feel like I look like a wet dog when I swim. Night Swimming the book sounds good. I might read it, although I’m not that into contemporary. I need all the fantasy.
I don’t have anyone IRL to talk about books to either!😂 So thank goodness we have the internet right!??
Hahahhah…okay I agree, swimming in the night is kind of scary. I mean, I don’t think I’ve really done it?? Maybe I’ve swum at dusk?? But I HATE swimming so.😂
And come on!! This is ME!! The fantasy dragon queen!! And I loved it.😂
I’ve never read.. or heard of this author before, but this book sounds amazing. Plus, I’m always here for cute goats. Though.. all goats are cute. Where have you ever seen a non-cute goat, Cait? XD Wonderful review, as always 🙂
Brittany @ Brittany’s Book Rambles
That’s because Australia likes to hide its authors under ROCKS and it’s so annoying. 😭😭 I need everyone to know the glory that is Aussie lit!!! 😂 AND I KNOW ALL GOATS ARE CUTE. I LOVE GOATS. THEY EAT EVERYTHING .IT’S SO RELATABLE.
I honestly didn’t think Night Swimming was that great. I read your Goodreads review and was like “yes, I have to read it!” so I did, but I didn’t enjoy the writing; I thought there was way too much exposition. It’s a shame, because I really wanted to love this book!
Well I loved it. 🙂
The Night Swimming sounds so cute and fluffy. And YAS for diversity!!! We truly need to #represent in books. This doesn’t sound like a book I would enjoy??? (But what am I saying I thought I would hate To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before and I loved it!) Glad you liked it so much, though!
Well I loved it and I usually only read fantasy haha.
Wait, wait, she published a novel at SIXTEEN????!!! What have I been doing with my life???!!! Anyway, I am totally and completely sold on any character who is also a bookworm. What can I say, I gotta love them. Also, a GOAT? I love goats. Well, I love all animals. But goats are very nice. I also appreciate the diversity. I love seeing that more and more books are becoming more socially aware and diverse and all that jazz. Speaking of love, I loved this post (as usual). I swear you’re some blogging wizard or something.
I KNOW RIGHT?!? JUST TO MAKE US ALL FEEL LIKE UNPRODUCTIVE MELONS.😂😂 I think of what I was writing at 16 and die a little inside.😂
Goats are spectacular especially with the voracious appetites which I fully relate to.
I fully take all accusations of being a blogging wizard. 😇
This is the first I’ve heard of this book and it sounds SO CUTE! I love books where characters are bookworms and I’m curious about these puns. Though I am ashamed to admit it took me a second to get the one in the first quote you included (might be because I’m half asleep at the moment though 😂). I’m going to go run an add this to my TBR! As for authors who I’ve been following since day one the only one I can think of is Jandy Nelson. I got an ARC of her first book through a library summer reading program in 2010 and have been hooked since. She only has two books out so far though and I definitely need more. Great review, Cait!! 😊♥
Yesss, characters being bookworms are the BEST. They’re so instantly relatable.
And omggg Jandy Nelson is AMAZING and that’s so awesome you’ve been a fan since 2010!! *flails wildly* I’ve only read I’ll Give You The Sun but I really need to read her debut AAAAAND she needs to write more.😂
You should so read The Sky is Everywhere! It’s probably my favorite of hers though I did love I’ll Give You The Sun just as much. She definitely needs to write more. I know on her GR there is a book and blurb that says it’s going to be released this year but I’ve heard nothing beyond that and there’s no cover so I’m not sure. *shrugs*
I mean, I needed this book from the minute I heard about it because it mentions SWIMMING right in the title. And NOW you go and tell me that there are bookpeople involved too!?! Cait, I am SOLD. Now, is there ACTUAL night swimming? Because in my opinion, there is nothing better on the planet than night swimming. And the beach at night. And like, just water + night = happiness. Anyway, I obviously need this book. Bonus points for the goat. I haven’t read about a goat since… probably The Hunger Games, and tbh, we need more goats in YA. Let’s get on that, eh? You write a book every 3 days, next one needs to have a goat, okay? 😉 Great review!! I shall buy this with my next paycheck because it is ACTUALLY ON BOOK DEPOSITORY!! WOOO!
Yes yes they do actually go swimming! I mean, that scene isn’t pivotal to the plot…buuuut, they do at least go swimming.😂 But it’s set in the middle of the outback bush, Shannon. No beach. You will have to let the goats make up for that. :’) And we DEFINITELY need more goats in YA because I love goats and relate to them a lot since they want to eat everything. #me
AHHhhh I’m so glad it’s actually on book depository for once!! Aussie authors need to be more easily available overseas omg.
Great review Cait! (As usual… *coughs*)😂👍 but like this title is legit total glorious because I LOVE SWIMMING. Okay but do the characters swim? Is it in the night? I NEED TO KNOW.😂 Plus POCs!! Yay! I feel like I now need to read this! Also goats = awesome.
Yes they swim!! It’s not like a HUGE part of the book but there is definitely swimming.😂
I recently got this from the library so I should read it. Sadly, my ereader broke and I feel very unmotivated to get an app on my phone. I should probably fix this. Also the cover for this book is LIFE and I need it basically 🙂
omgggg your ereader broke?!? I WEEP FOR YOUR LOSS, SHAR. *minute of silence for fallen friend*
If there are characters in a book that are bookworms I am WAY more likely to pick up and love the crap out of the book. Making characters relatable is important obviously, and you are going to reach YOUR PEOPLE if you write a book involving book nerds. Simply put, YEAH IT REALLY IS THE BEST THING EVER BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE SOMEONE ACTUALLY UNDERSTANDS ME???? WHICH IS ALL I WANT? EVER??!
I haven’t read night swimming, and since I’m in the US, I had to order it! Which I did immediately after reading your and loony literate’s reviews because I trust anything you two recommend. I love supporting Aussie books! (Don’t ask me why, I just do. There are plenty of good reasons which I’m sure you are already acutely aware of). I’ll be stalking my mailman until it comes! Which tbh isn’t that weird because my mailman and I are kind of friends because he’s been my mailman since I was 3 and he used to give me lollipops and such. He’s super cool, his name is Eugene. 😀
SAME SAME. It’s like they already have won me over just with pure book appreciation. I RELATE. 😍😂
JAfsdklafd I’m so glad you’re going to read it too!! And everyone should love Aussie books honestly, because we a great nation of drop bears and goats apparently and there’s just so much to adore here. Definitely stalk your mailman. Also he sounds like a really nice mailman??? Ours kind of hates our house, but that probably has something to do with our driveway being like a steep cLIFF and our dog trying to tear out his soul.😂
I DO, in fact, have an author who I have followed since day one and that’s Erica Crouch! I LIVE for her writing, and I am all the sads that she hasn’t released anything in SO LONG. *gross sobbing* I think it’s so fun to follow their journey, and see how their style changes, and all that jazz.
As for Night Swimming, I am EXCITED. It sounds really cute, and sweet! And AN AUSSIE BOOKWORM, FINALLY. I think we all need to read this book, let’s be real.
Also, goats are adorbs. A+ if only for their inclusion.
Ahhh that’s awesome you’ve got a favourite author like this too!! (But omg not awesome that she’s not writing right now. *cries for you*) And omg I know right?!? I don’t think I’ve read an Aussie book enthusiast before this.😍
AHHH OMG STEPH BOWE IS AMAZING. And who doesn’t love a book about goats, right??? And Kirby was just amazing <3 I could easily read a hundred books by Steph Bowe.
AGREED. I hope she gets back to writing one every year (No pressure except yet…pls pressure.😂) I have a sudden need to re-read her older ones.😍
This 100% sounds like my cup of tea! Friendship, banter, dry wit, adorableness… I can’t wait to get to reading this one! Fantastic review 😉
It totally is so cute and witty and dorky!! SO MUCH AUSSIE APPRECIATION.
So excited for it! It sounds AMAZING 😍😍😍💕
Chris Colfer!!!!!!
Yesss, I actually just finished reading this one too and it was so adorable! I loved the quirky adorableness and how Clancy and Kirby had such a lovely platonic relationship. I also didn’t feel the same depth with Iris, she was pretty much this perfect ball of amazing lol. Lovely review Cait!
Ahhh yes so so adorable! Steph Bowe is SUCH an amazing author. 😂