I received this book for free from Library, Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Coming Up for Air by Miranda KenneallyNarrator: Carly Robins
Length: 6 Hours 49 Minutes
Series: Hundred Oaks
Also in this series: Racing Savannah, Defending Taylor
Also by this author: Racing Savannah, Defending Taylor, The Way You Make Me Feel
Published by Sourcebooks on July 4th 2017
Genres: Young Adult Fiction, Romance, Contemporary, Social Themes, New Experience, Sports & Recreation, Water Sports
Pages: 304
Format: eARC, Audiobook
Source: Library, Publisher
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Swim. Eat. Shower. School. Snack. Swim. Swim. Swim. Dinner. Homework. Bed. Repeat.
All of Maggie's focus and free time is spent swimming. She's not only striving to earn scholarships—she's training to qualify for the Olympics. It helps that her best friend, Levi, is also on the team, and cheers her on. But Levi's already earned an Olympic tryout, so Maggie feels even more pressure to succeed. And it's not until Maggie's away on a college visit that she realizes how much of the "typical" high school experience she's missed by being in the pool.
No one to shy away from a challenge, Maggie decides to squeeze the most out of her senior year. First up? Making out with a guy. And Levi could be the perfect candidate. After all, they already spend a lot of time together. But as Maggie slowly starts to uncover new feelings for Levi, how much is she willing to sacrifice in the water to win at love?
Why Did I Listen To Coming Up For Air by Miranda Kenneally?
Coming Up For Air by Miranda Kenneally is a book that I listened to because I wanted something light and easy to follow. Also I wanted to listen to a book via an app that I could speed up (hey there Hoopla, I think I love you). Let’s just say that the CD audiobook I am listening to in my car is excruciating. So, I needed a book that was going to make me ultimately happy and that wouldn’t bore me and that I could listen to at a normal NYer speed. Bless this book and bless Kenneally’s Hundred Oaks series for delivering exactly what I needed and wanted to listen to.
What’s The Story Here?
Miranda Kenneally’s Coming Up For Air is about swimming. Like the other books in her Hundred Oaks series, it features student athletes. I will say up front that I have basically read this series out of order and skipped some books, but it’s fine. This story is so easy to follow along with. Plus, there’s a few references to Catching Jordan but otherwise, it takes place years past that book. Okay so this book follows Maggie who is this elite swimmer who is trying to qualify for the Olympics team, basically. She practices before school with her best friend Levi as part of the practically professional level team that they are on. She also is a member of the school team and trains after school as well.
Maggie’s life is devoted to her sport and to getting better and being the best. Unfortunately, this means she has missed out on some life experiences. Maggie goes away for the weekend to her college orientation in California. After a really awful, hilarious hook up experience, she decides she needs more high school experiences. Maggie turns to her friend Levi for help at getting better at the art of hooking up. OF COURSE SHE CATCHES FEELINGS. Guys I am so here for this. Oh and also, Maggie has a rival named Roxie who is the absolute worst. This is important to the plot is what I am saying.
How Did I Like Coming Up For Air?
I really loved Coming Up For Air. It is exactly what I wanted in a book at the time I was listening. It is light, it’s not that hard to figure out what’s going on. There are some really funny moments. I do not feel overwhelmed while listening to it. Plus there’s a specific scene with Maggie at the store that is hilarious — even better via audio — really conveys the awkwardness. Also, Maggie and Levi as a couple is complicated but sweet. This book was a balm for my brain and I kind of want to ditch all my other books and just read the Kenneally books I have not gotten to yet.
How’s The Narration?
This audiobook is narrated by Carly Robins. I literally have nothing to complain about. The narration was genuine and well paced. The voicing didn’t feel off or wrong for the characters or the writing. I could speed it up (glory glory hallelujah). AND IT IS SHORT. Like the audiobook is about 7 hours-ish minus like ten minutes. THEN YOU SPEED IT UP 2X and it is only 3.5ish hours. I am so so so on board for this. Like, I was looking forward to listening to this versus my car audiobook. I got a lot of cleaning done around the house but barely any driving done.
Other reviews of Coming Up For Air by Miranda Kenneally:
- Feed Your Fiction Addiction – “had me hooked from almost the first page“
- Book Binge – “pretty awesome“
- Pretty Deadly Reviews – “pick this book up“
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I really like to listen to my books on faster speed too (normally I do 1.5x speed). Normal speed usually feels excruciatingly slow! I really enjoyed this book, so I’m glad you did too!