Swimming for Sunlight

Starred review from April 1, 2019
Reeling from an ugly divorce, costume designer Katie decamps for her grandmother's house in Florida with her beloved (and anxious) dog, Barkimedes. Nan's place provides nostalgic comfort for Katie, but it also brings back memories of her father's accidental death and her mother's subsequent abandonment. To take her mind off of her troubles, Katie offers to design costumes for Nan and her friends, who are reliving their youthful adventures as mermaids in a roadside attraction. As the project grows, Luca, Katie's best friend from college, arrives to film a documentary of the mermaid reunion, and Katie is forced to confront a variety of truths about herself and the anxiety that prevents her from being truly happy. Larkin (Stay, 2010) handles Katie's mental-health issues with sensitivity and compassion, with no quick fixes or sudden improvements. The intergenerational relationships are lighthearted and entertaining, providing Katie with a pack of well-meaning grandparents who dish out advice, love, and an emotional boost. Swimming for Sunlight hits all of the women's-fiction sweet spots: strong relationships that grow throughout the book, light romance, and a main character who is easy to root for. An excellent suggestion for readers looking for an engaging summer read.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)