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Don't Forget to Breathe
Zoe’s always had a plan. Ballet has been her past, present, and future for so long that she’s never even considered otherwise. It’s been the escape she’s always needed. Yet when senior year arrives, it arrives with a feeling of uncertainty she never expected—and a paralyzing fear about choosing the wrong future.
Hanna’s rarely stayed in a place longer than a year. The greatest consistency she has is her piano playing, and her dad diving back into his Jewish faith every time her mom leaves on assignment. So when her senior year begins with yet another move to a new school, she’s not planning on putting down roots—she’s learned that hard way how that ends.
But when the girls’ paths collide, everything they thought they knew is turned upside down. Their relationship could change them each forever—if they have the courage to let their worlds fall apart.
An honest, messy, and very real approach to first love that focuses keenly on the queer and neurodiverse experience, Don't Forget to Breathe proves the power of overcoming fear to be wildly, truly yourself.
Hanna’s rarely stayed in a place longer than a year. The greatest consistency she has is her piano playing, and her dad diving back into his Jewish faith every time her mom leaves on assignment. So when her senior year begins with yet another move to a new school, she’s not planning on putting down roots—she’s learned that hard way how that ends.
But when the girls’ paths collide, everything they thought they knew is turned upside down. Their relationship could change them each forever—if they have the courage to let their worlds fall apart.
An honest, messy, and very real approach to first love that focuses keenly on the queer and neurodiverse experience, Don't Forget to Breathe proves the power of overcoming fear to be wildly, truly yourself.
384 pages, Hardcover
Published October 21, 2025
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2552 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
October 14, 2025
For Hanna, uprooting is normal. As an army brat, she's used to picking up and moving. Zoe, though, is grounded—except when she dances. Then she flies. And when their lives intersect, sparks fly too.
I don't read as much YA as I used to, but I like ballet books, so here we are. This was a fun read with a number of overlapping themes—as well as Zoe making tentative plans for her future (and Hanna, well, putting off making even tentative plans for her future), we have neurodiversity, Hanna's worries about her mother, figuring out (some of) the intricacies of sexuality, Hanna struggling with the idea of developing relationships that might last, and so on.
I appreciated Hanna's struggle with sorting out her emotions around parental deployment; she's of an age to be butting heads with her parents but also old enough to understand the real risks that come with deployment, and her struggle to balance all those emotions feels realistic. (I also kind of love how ill prepared for post–high school life she is; she has big dreams but not really the drive to pull them off.) I think I would have liked to see Hanna's storyline with her parents explored a bit more, though; she's perhaps a little less stormy by the end of the book but hasn't worked all that much out yet. Or rather—she starts to figure out how some of that uncertainty has affected her, but not really to make any progress with her family.
This feels like one for readers who like their characters' emotions big—Hanna and Zoe fall hard and fast, and their conversations lean intense and sometimes dramatic in that way of teenagers who are, well, hormonal and full of emotions and still figuring out what to do with them all. I probably could have used a bit more levity at times, but I think this will be a good fit for teenagers who are also in that figuring-it-out stage.
Thanks to the authors and publisher for providing a review copy through NetGalley.
I don't read as much YA as I used to, but I like ballet books, so here we are. This was a fun read with a number of overlapping themes—as well as Zoe making tentative plans for her future (and Hanna, well, putting off making even tentative plans for her future), we have neurodiversity, Hanna's worries about her mother, figuring out (some of) the intricacies of sexuality, Hanna struggling with the idea of developing relationships that might last, and so on.
I appreciated Hanna's struggle with sorting out her emotions around parental deployment; she's of an age to be butting heads with her parents but also old enough to understand the real risks that come with deployment, and her struggle to balance all those emotions feels realistic. (I also kind of love how ill prepared for post–high school life she is; she has big dreams but not really the drive to pull them off.) I think I would have liked to see Hanna's storyline with her parents explored a bit more, though; she's perhaps a little less stormy by the end of the book but hasn't worked all that much out yet. Or rather—she starts to figure out how some of that uncertainty has affected her, but not really to make any progress with her family.
This feels like one for readers who like their characters' emotions big—Hanna and Zoe fall hard and fast, and their conversations lean intense and sometimes dramatic in that way of teenagers who are, well, hormonal and full of emotions and still figuring out what to do with them all. I probably could have used a bit more levity at times, but I think this will be a good fit for teenagers who are also in that figuring-it-out stage.
Thanks to the authors and publisher for providing a review copy through NetGalley.
November 25, 2025
Margo Zimmerman Gets the Girl was my favourite novel a couple of years ago, so when I found out the authors were teaming up again to write another novel, I knew I would be reading it. And Don't Forget to Breathe did not disappoint.
Look, this is a YA novel, so while the romance is sweet and I loved everything about it, if you're here for the romance, then you may be a little disappointed (though not overly so). What Brianna Shrum and Sara Waxelbaum do very well is write about neurodiversity. They are very good at showing what navigating life is for someone with a neurodivergent brain (at least according to things my wife says to me about it). And this novel is painful sometimes because they're teenagers and they're awkward and they're discovering themselves while dealing with some hard things.
Is it as good as Margo Zimmerman Gets the Girl? Not quite, but I'm still interested in reading more from this writing duo.
Look, this is a YA novel, so while the romance is sweet and I loved everything about it, if you're here for the romance, then you may be a little disappointed (though not overly so). What Brianna Shrum and Sara Waxelbaum do very well is write about neurodiversity. They are very good at showing what navigating life is for someone with a neurodivergent brain (at least according to things my wife says to me about it). And this novel is painful sometimes because they're teenagers and they're awkward and they're discovering themselves while dealing with some hard things.
Is it as good as Margo Zimmerman Gets the Girl? Not quite, but I'm still interested in reading more from this writing duo.
August 5, 2025
3/5 ⭐️I went into this hopeful and as much as I wanted to love this book, it just felt… not fully developed or engaging enough to keep me wanting to read more. I tried ro hold hope that the plot and characters would develop (as I have a rule to myself to not DNF books) but when I reached the end I still felt underwhelmed and not sully satisfied. I found myself dragging to read this rather than wanting to really pick it up so it took me months to even finish the book (which is rare for me). I really wanted to like the book as I’ve liked other books by the author but overall it was just.. meh. THANK YOU TO NETGALLY AND PUBLISHER FOR LETTING ME HAVE ACCESS TO THIS ARC IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW!
October 17, 2025
In this YA romance, Hanna, whose mother is in the military, and who has moved from place to place her whole life, relocates with her parents to Fayetteville, NC for her senior year of high school. This is the first time they haven't lived on a base. Zoey has lived in Fayetteville her whole life and has been studying ballet since she was in preschool. After an initial attraction, the two meet in their Spanish class after Hanna learns that her mother is about to travel abroad to a new assignment. She also learns that Zoey has a boyfriend and assumes she's straight. Eventually, Hanna convinces Zoey to audition for a ballet company and agrees to accompany her on the piano, which necessitates weekly rehearsals.
In this long book, both MCs are neurodivergent--Hanna has ADHD, which comes up infrequently, and Zoey is on the autistic spectrum, which is explored more fully. One of the strengths of the book is the way in which Zoey's autism is described, especially in the middle of the book, and less so toward the final 25%. The connection between these two is another strength of the book. It is believable and both characters are likeable even when they make mistakes.
Overall, I recommend the book, especially to teen readers dealing with neurodivergence and sexual awakenings.
I was provided an ARC by the publisher via NetGalley.
In this long book, both MCs are neurodivergent--Hanna has ADHD, which comes up infrequently, and Zoey is on the autistic spectrum, which is explored more fully. One of the strengths of the book is the way in which Zoey's autism is described, especially in the middle of the book, and less so toward the final 25%. The connection between these two is another strength of the book. It is believable and both characters are likeable even when they make mistakes.
Overall, I recommend the book, especially to teen readers dealing with neurodivergence and sexual awakenings.
I was provided an ARC by the publisher via NetGalley.
October 25, 2025
Don’t Forget to Breathe by Sara Waxelbaum & Brianna R. Shrum is a tender, emotionally fearless exploration of identity, first love, and self-discovery, told through the intertwining journeys of two girls learning to trust their hearts as much as their futures.
Zoe lives by precision her life choreographed around ballet and control while Hanna moves through chaos, chasing fleeting roots with her music as her only anchor. When their paths cross, what begins as an unexpected friendship blossoms into a connection that challenges everything they thought they knew about love, faith, and belonging.
Waxelbaum and Shrum capture the aching uncertainty of senior year with authenticity and care, weaving a story that honors the queer and neurodiverse experience without shying away from its complexity. The prose is lyrical yet grounded, balancing emotional intensity with the quiet courage of two girls daring to be seen.
Don’t Forget to Breathe stands alongside novels like I Kissed Shara Wheeler and You Should See Me in a Crown not just as a romance, but as a coming-of-age journey about finding freedom in vulnerability and strength in authenticity. It’s a story that breathes life into every reader who’s ever felt uncertain about who they are, or who they’re meant to become.
Zoe lives by precision her life choreographed around ballet and control while Hanna moves through chaos, chasing fleeting roots with her music as her only anchor. When their paths cross, what begins as an unexpected friendship blossoms into a connection that challenges everything they thought they knew about love, faith, and belonging.
Waxelbaum and Shrum capture the aching uncertainty of senior year with authenticity and care, weaving a story that honors the queer and neurodiverse experience without shying away from its complexity. The prose is lyrical yet grounded, balancing emotional intensity with the quiet courage of two girls daring to be seen.
Don’t Forget to Breathe stands alongside novels like I Kissed Shara Wheeler and You Should See Me in a Crown not just as a romance, but as a coming-of-age journey about finding freedom in vulnerability and strength in authenticity. It’s a story that breathes life into every reader who’s ever felt uncertain about who they are, or who they’re meant to become.
November 6, 2025
4.75 stars
Zoe and Hanna enraptured me from the get-go. I related ridiculously hard to both in so many ways. I love the way their neurodivergence (ADHD and autism) were represented. Hanna's ADHD sparking Rejection Sensitivity was so on point! The friend group is fantastic, including Matt, and I love them. Hanna's *mom* is military, and it's so rare to see the service member be the mom!
Hanna and Zoe have BIG feelings and they have to try to navigate that on multiple levels. I kind of wish the angst between them hadn't lasted so long, and that ending felt a bit rushed. Basically, the last 20% was the only partly disappointing part of the book, but I still loved the journey so much.
Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for the opportunity to read and review.
Zoe and Hanna enraptured me from the get-go. I related ridiculously hard to both in so many ways. I love the way their neurodivergence (ADHD and autism) were represented. Hanna's ADHD sparking Rejection Sensitivity was so on point! The friend group is fantastic, including Matt, and I love them. Hanna's *mom* is military, and it's so rare to see the service member be the mom!
Hanna and Zoe have BIG feelings and they have to try to navigate that on multiple levels. I kind of wish the angst between them hadn't lasted so long, and that ending felt a bit rushed. Basically, the last 20% was the only partly disappointing part of the book, but I still loved the journey so much.
Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for the opportunity to read and review.
November 11, 2025
3.5/5 stars.
This book wasn’t terrible or anything, I think I just wanted more from it. Something was missing for me, while Don’t Forget to Breathe covers important topics like first love and mental health issues, it didn’t go very deep. It skimmed the surface too much…I kind of wish it wasn’t a romance and these two girls just ended up being friends.
I also didn’t feel like I got to know Zoe and Hanna very well. I wanted to know more about Hanna’s relationship with her parents and why she felt so bad about her mom leaving all the time. And Zoe seemed to have a strained relationship with her mom as well, but again, it was surface level. I think I liked the idea of this one more the actual execution.
This book wasn’t terrible or anything, I think I just wanted more from it. Something was missing for me, while Don’t Forget to Breathe covers important topics like first love and mental health issues, it didn’t go very deep. It skimmed the surface too much…I kind of wish it wasn’t a romance and these two girls just ended up being friends.
I also didn’t feel like I got to know Zoe and Hanna very well. I wanted to know more about Hanna’s relationship with her parents and why she felt so bad about her mom leaving all the time. And Zoe seemed to have a strained relationship with her mom as well, but again, it was surface level. I think I liked the idea of this one more the actual execution.
October 1, 2025
Hannah has ADHD and anxiety. She’s closed off and so very funny. Zoe is on the spectrum and also has anxiety. But they won’t let that rule their lives.
They both have a great friend group, and they both understand each other. It’s just too bad that Zoe has a boyfriend, because they would be perfect together.
This book is super cute. It’s fun and inspiring, and I had a blast reading it.
They both have a great friend group, and they both understand each other. It’s just too bad that Zoe has a boyfriend, because they would be perfect together.
This book is super cute. It’s fun and inspiring, and I had a blast reading it.
November 28, 2025
This writing duo is magic! And this story is magic! When writing about our neurodivergent selfs...it's rough territory...yet this writing duo does it well...
The two protagonists are well developed in their separate characters...and the story is just wonderful...
If you love a good heartfelt love story...here you are! ;)
Highly Recommended!
March 31, 2025
I was so excited to see another book from Sara Waxelbaum and Brianna R. Shrum, authors of Margot Zimmerman Gets the Girl, which I absolutely loved. I mostly enjoyed Don't Forget to Breathe, but I'm not sure it was the book for me in the way Margot Zimmerman Gets the Girl was. I did love that both main characters, Hanna and Zoe, are Jewish and are living in the South. However, I wish there had been more about their Jewish identities; Hanna primarily discusses her dad's Jewish identity and practice, rather than her own, and I think we only learn that Zoe is Jewish from Hanna—Zoe doesn't mention it herself. Also, what I loved about Margot Zimmerman Gets the Girl is that it was laugh-out-loud funny at times, while I think Don't Forget to Breathe could have benefitted from some of those lighthearted moments. There were a lot of capital-F Feelings, as well as Zoe and Hanna making pretty infuriating teenage mistakes with regard to those Feelings, which I do think that young adult readers might identify with and see themselves in. 3.5 stars, rounded up.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews