Breaking Waves: Discovery, Healing and Inspiration in the Open Water

by Emma Simpson

A warm, reflective and uplifting memoir about healing wounds, reclaiming a voice and discovering freedom through the open water.

The open water. To the uninitiated, it represents the unknown, an expanse of mystery and uncertainty. But to those who brave the wild waters, it is so much more. A space to heal. A place of communion. A balm to quieten the mind, soothe the soul, and allow you to reconnect with the world and yourself.

Emma Simpson discovered wild swimming after a period of immense pain. Lost in grief, disillusioned with life, and feeling increasingly untethered from the world, she instinctively felt the pull of the water. There she found an unexpected source of hope and strength, a profound sense of connection, and a glorious sisterhood of women - each with their own remarkable stories to tell.

Interweaving the tales of these inspirational women with reflections on her own experiences, Emma explores themes ranging from devastating loss to birth and rebirth, and from chronic illness to body confidence. Whether describing the taste of an iceberg or a kiss from a baby whale, Breaking Waves is a love letter to womanhood and the open water. It's also a celebration of community, renewal and the power of writing your own life story. Above all else, it is a joyous celebration of going with the flow.

Genres: Memoir

Kindle Edition

Published March 27, 2025

Reviews

[Nicola Wyllie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is beautiful memoir about grief and the healing power of swimming in open water. It celebrates wonderful women and the communities they create.

Emma has been through so much, grief, traumatic birth, and chronic illness, but she writes with such warmth, hopefulness and humour, that has you crying and laughing all in the same chapter. I defy you after reading this book to not want to head to your nearest open water to experience its healing power and maybe swim with brilliant women who will hold you in their collective embrace.

[Sophie Excell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although I'm not a swimmer myself, this book opened my eyes to the power of the water and made me want to swim! Beautifully written with many ladies stories weaved into the narrative of the empowerment of water and how it can be life changing. I would recommend it to anyone who has dealt with any trauma of grief in life, even if swimming isn't for you, its a book full of inspiring stories of the fight to overcome the worst times in life and how you can come out the other side.

[W.S. Luk · Rating 3 out of 5]

Chronicling how wild swimming helped Emma Simpson deal with grief, traumatic birth, and chronic illness, this memoir is a beautiful tale of personal transformation. Simpson's lively prose (I liked her use of sharp and clever descriptions such as "that timeless, cheese-saturated space between Christmas and the resumption of normal life") conveys the exhilarating experience of swimming in open water, from the bracing shock of cold to encounters with jellyfish, and the women of all walks of life who've shared in this experience with her. Equally, Simpson tackles more serious topics, such as how people with disabilities or chronic illnesses find the experience of swimming, in similarly effective terms. While I wonder if this book could've been tightened up in editing, as its structure is rather sprawling and features a tendency towards page-length paragraphs, it's a moving account that's sure to entice people to join Simpson in taking a literal plunge.

[Ellen Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh, this book was wonderful. It was a random loan from the library and it ended up being such an inspirational read.

I want to join a local women’s moon circle and cold water swimming group IMMEDIATELY.

Above all, this book summed up so perfectly why I love the water so much and how amazing it feels to just *be* in the water.

It’s inspired me to be out in the ocean even more, and to seek out lakes, rivers, lagoons, etc. any body of water that can find.

[Milena · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've had the pleasure of meeting Emma in real life and felt her undeniable charisma and warmth translate beautifully onto the page too. I wiped tears a few times and laughed plenty more.
Emma tackles really difficult topics but in such an open and caring manner that I imagine this is how floating on freezing water feels like - challenging and yet you feel so supported.
I thoroughly enjoyed Breaking Waves and am looking forward to what's next in the works from Emma!

[Ella · Rating 5 out of 5]

The most beautiful, soul-enriching, heart-wrenching book I think I’ve ever read. As an outdoor swimmer who is healing from her own trauma and ill health, I could relate and empathise with so much of what was written. I am lucky enough to know Emma through mutual swim circles and I am so honoured to have had the opportunity to read her book, through tears and laughter alike.

[Frankie Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is beautiful. If you feel a pull towards the water and feel that affinity I cannot recommend this book enough. Informative, reflective and emotional. I loved it.

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing!

As the marketing and communication lead at Jubilee Pool Penzance, I was given the opportunity to read this in advance and for us to feature with Emma Simpson as part of the marketing push for the book launch.
I have glued to her story, and been blown away by her heartfelt and beautiful writing style and how in-depth her connections are to so many amazing women in her cold water world.

I was just blown away to realize she had also met Emma aka Mischief the Mermaid - who is local to us and is supporting the Jubilee Pool Penzance as part of our 90th birthday celebrations. I am always eternally grateful to all the water world bestows on us, with such deep connections and spirituality, and to read the last few pages of the book brought this truly home to me.

Equally fitting was to have read it on international women’s day. A must read for any water babe!

[Zoe B · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love a good memoir, usually the celebrity kind but there’s something incredibly special about non celebrity memoirs. They feel more authentic, more relatable, and rooted in real life. Breaking Waves is exactly that.

This tender and deeply moving memoir follows Emma’s journey through grief, chronic illness, and the unexpected healing she finds in open water swimming. She’s been through so much, and so many of her emotions around loss feel universally familiar. Her courage, warmth and humour shine through every chapter.

I’ve read a lot about the benefits of open water swimming and this book is undeniably inspiring but I think I’ll still be sticking to pool swimming or the sea when I’m abroad!

Breaking Waves is a heartfelt and uplifting read, perfect for swimmers, memoir lovers, and anyone who enjoys real life stories of resilience and hope. It also makes a thoughtful gift for the non fiction reader in your life.

[Soulla Christodoulou · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had me laughing and crying, wondering about my own life and how I deal with trauma and pain as well as offering me an insight into Emma's life and her healing connection to the open seas through her swimming rituals. It is a beautifully written book, no fancy words or technical terms, and easy to read. I loved the connections she talked about which she made with other women from across the world as she delved deeper into her journey of finding solace and comfort through swimming. The comradery described is really touching and made me think about my own nurturing relationships with the women in my life, both familial and through friendship. There is power in these friendships and I loved how Emma talked about these in relation to her own journey, yet offered insight into other people and their lives too. A memoir worth reading. Congratulation on a fabulously good debut novel.

[Hannah Gordon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emma really captures the feeling you get when you get into open water, how it can make all your problems seem insignificant for a few moments and how it brings a sense of community. I just really want to find a women's circle under the moon now to soak up all that good stuff ✨🌊

[Nataliia Kuzmina · Rating 5 out of 5]

At times heartbreaking, but mostly uplifting, touching, warming, and cocooning. I cried and laughed with Emma, admired the stories of the women, and shared their struggles. Not without flaws, but overall such a lovely book that it earned its place on my bookshelf.

[Clare · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a great read, I absolutely loved it and couldn't put it down. Full of inspiring stories of incredible women and tales of grief, hope, healing. A beautiful read.

[Clare Bruce · Rating 4 out of 5]

I met Emma last summer and she told me that she was writing a book. It was so thoughtful, well crafted and heart felt.
Have bought this for others who love water xx

[Celina Viner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hardback edition.