The Pools

by E. Lockhart

A modern literary tour de force from E. Lockhart, Printz and National Book Award honoree and bestselling author of the global sensation We Were Liars. Told through short, poetic chapters, this sweeping love story follows two teenagers whose lives—and the lives of everyone in their quiet New England town—are forever altered by a shocking transformation.

In a New England spa town, now long past its Victorian heyday, there still stand twelve pools, sourced by a single hot spring. The people of the town swim there every day. After school, they swim. After dinner. For playdates. For dates.

Legend has it, one day long ago, people who bathed in the pools turned into birds. But that is just a tale.

Then one day, in the depths of winter, it is too cold to swim, even in the hottest pool. That day, only five people go in the water: two eight year-olds, at play; a teenage boy, trying to swim off a looming depression; and two old women, a couple, who never miss their exercise.

Next morning, the five of them wake up as birds.

The Pools is the story of Lexie. Her sister Orly has become a bird. And so has her first love, Chester. When their families fail them, and when the doctors, apothecaries, religious leaders and healers fail them too, it may be up to Lexie to save their lives.

The book is a quick read, an emotional gut-punch and a mediation on true love, and death and grief, sacrifice and identity.

Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance

384 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication October 6, 2026

About the author

E. Lockhart is the author of Again Again, Genuine Fraud, We Were Liars and Family of Liars, The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks, and several other books. Whistle: A New Gotham CIty Hero is a graphic novel. We Were Liars is also a TV show on Prime Video, June 2025. We Fell Apart, book 3 in the We Were Liars universe, publishes November 2025.

website: www.emilylockhart.com
Instagram, Threads & TikTok: elockhartbooks

Reviews

[jo ୨୧]

thanks to negalley + the publisher for an advanced copy

somehow i got an arc for this like yes

[Amanda Doherty · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve read other books from this Author and LOVE all of them!

The way the author ignites you into this book with thrill and curiosity is amazing! It starts off with a cute love story and then has a twist you don’t see coming! I cannot share the secrets in or about the pool, but I suggest you read it to see for yourself!

I would highly recommend this book & Author, & cannot wait to read more by this author! 5+⭐️’s!

Thank you E. Lockhart, Delacorte Press, & NetGalley for allowing me to read this amazing Arc!

[Collyn Bradley · Rating 2 out of 5]

read if you like:
📖 poetry
🦄 fantasy stories
👩‍❤️‍👨 abstract love stories

summary:
I have loved E. Lockhart’s other books including the WE WERE LIARS series, but this one was a little too abstract for me. It is a strange, sharp, almost poetically written love story between Lexie and Chester, who meet when Lexie moves to town and the two immediately realize the chemistry between them. The town, known for its hot springs, has a history of lore, but no one is afraid of the pools anymore, and instead they serve as the centerpiece to the small, remote town. That is, until a cold winter day, when five people go for a swim, and five birds emerge from the pools.

The bird element feels….random. It feels like it must be symbolic for something, but I was struggling to make any connection that made it feel less weird. I wanted to really believe in their love story, but the abstract nature of the symbolism made it really hard for me to get hooked. The style itself is unique — almost a staccato poetry, which I thought I would struggle with, but actually got easy to follow along with as you went. It helps add more description and shift away from dialogue, so if you’re someone who likes a dialogue-heavy book, this might not be for you. I also didn’t feel like it gave us enough character development, and since we didn’t get enough first hand insight into Lexie or Chester, it made me feel a little more detached from their story.

I really wanted to like this one, but it was just a little too out there for me.

[Nicole Austin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Delacorte Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

E. Lockhart’s “The Pools” is definitely not going to work for everyone, but I kind of admire how strange and dreamy it is. If you’re going into this expecting another twisty thriller like “We Were Liars,” this is a completely different vibe. The writing is much more poetic and fragmented, almost like reading a modern fairy tale mixed with prose poetry, and the whole book feels eerie and surreal from start to finish.

The story follows Lexie, who moves to a small New England town famous for its mysterious hot springs. She’s dealing with family struggles and her mother’s illness while trying to figure herself out. Then she meets Chester, the town’s golden boy who’s hiding his own pain, and the two fall into this intense, emotional relationship. But once the pools and their strange folklore become more central to the story, things get increasingly unsettling and symbolic in a way that feels more emotional than logical.

One of the strongest parts of the book is definitely the atmosphere. The town feels cold, haunting, and full of old stories people should probably pay more attention to. Lockhart’s writing style really sells that mood; it’s lyrical, sharp, and often beautiful. The emotions surrounding grief, love, loss, depression, and family responsibility come through really well, even when the plot itself gets abstract.

That said, I did struggle a little with the structure. The mix of poetry, prose, dreamlike fragments, and fairy-tale logic sometimes made it hard to fully settle into the story. Lexie and Chester’s romance had the potential to be incredibly moving, but I wanted more development before the book expected me to feel deeply attached to them. At times it almost felt like hearing a tragic local legend secondhand instead of fully living inside it.

The ending is also the kind that will really divide readers. It’s haunting and memorable, but not neatly explained or fully satisfying in a traditional sense. Honestly, though, that almost fits the fairy-tale feel of the whole novel. It leaves you with emotions and questions more than answers.

Overall, I think “The Pools” is a strange, atmospheric, and emotionally heavy read that feels more like a dark fable than a typical YA mystery. It’s short, fast to read, and packed with mood, but you definitely have to be open to ambiguity and poetic storytelling to really connect with it.

[Jess Ross-Steltz · Rating 5 out of 5]

🛁 𝚁𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚠 🛁
The Pools: A Love Story by E. Lockhart
“I want you to need me.”

“Birds done get lost.
They fly away because they’re not meant to live in houses.”

I woke up on Mother’s Day 2026 in one of the deepest depressive episodes I’ve ever had. I decided halfway through the day that lying with my glasses off, horizontal, staring into space wasn’t productive and that I should pick up a book. I had almost forgotten that I recently was approved on NetGalley for The Pools by E. Lockhart, one of my favorite authors, so I opened it up hoping her signature prose and engaging stories would make me feel better.

It did. Books really are amazing, aren’t they?

This book in particular was so odd in the best way possible. I don’t want to say too much and spoil anything, but what I will say is that fans of novels in verse will be chomping at the bit to devour this in one sitting. Some of the short entries that serve as our “chapters” are written like poems or song lyrics. I enjoyed it so much.

I am a sucker for a YA love story and The Pools found me at the perfect moment. It’s got gorgeous examinations of first love and those feelings you get to feel for the first time. It’s special and sweet as sugar.

Then, when our story takes a somewhat massive turn that you will never see coming, we see other sides of many characters that move the plot forward while keeping you rooting for love to prevail. By the end, you’ll be saying to yourself “I don’t know what I just read, but damn I loved it.”

E. Lockhart brings gorgeous descriptive writing and her trademark phrases that grip you and don’t let go while crafting a deeply original story that will make its home in your heart from the beginning to the end. A weird little love story that reminded me why I love books. 🧡🛁📚☀️🦢

[Addison 🎀 · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 ⭐️

I want to thank the Publisher and Netgalley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a very different kind of book, especially compared to We Were Liars. The writing is much more poetic and lyrical, even in just feh wring style, which gives it a unique, almost dreamlike tone, but also makes it feel less like a traditional mystery or thriller.

The story leans into dark themes and has a somewhat distant feel, which made it harder for me to fully connect with the characters. It’s also not a straightforward mystery, and the plot doesn’t wrap up in a typical, clearly resolved way.

That said, there’s something really interesting about it. It almost reads like a modern day fairytale, with an eerie, slightly surreal atmosphere. While I didn’t always know exactly how I felt about what was happening, I was still intrigued enough to keep reading, and ended up finishing it in a day.

The ending was one of the stronger parts for me, though I do wish it had been a bit longer and more developed.

I do think The Pools is a strange but compelling read. It didn’t fully come together for me in terms of connection or clarity, but I appreciated its originality and atmosphere.

[Mrs. G · Rating 4 out of 5]

The pools are said to have mystical powers. Lexie hopes that her mother's illness with be cured with it's healing powers. As Lexie cares for her family, she falls in love with Chester, a boy at her school. One day Lexie and Chester get into a fight. As he swims at the pools, he is turned into a swan. Lexie is left alone trying to navigate the loss of the people she loves. Will she give up, or will she save those she loves?

This prose written novel will make you think about the lengths we are willing to go to for those we love. It will challenge what you see as normal, and what is most important in life. If you have enjoyed e. Lockhart's other novels, this will be a hit with you. The loss, love and growth of Lexie will make you appreciate your teen(s) (or teen self) in your life.

I enjoyed the concept of the book and the poetry structure. The relationship between Lexie and Chester was one that people search for. The parallel's between fairy tales and fables was a great concept. If you do not enjoy poetry, you may have a hard time reading this novel. For others, the shorter phrases may be a draw. Either way, the feelings and emotions were well described and felt from page to page.


***NetGalley ARC Review***

[L · Rating 3 out of 5]

I went into The Pools by E. Lockhart really looking forward to it, and I’m a little bummed it didn’t quite click the way I’d hoped.

I appreciate the exploration and care that went into the mashup of prose, but I had a hard time fully settling into it. I found myself trying to understand the rhythm, the flow, the structure, and in doing that, I never quite settled into the story. There is a real mix of styles here: poetry, prose, dreamlike fragments. While I think I can see what she was aiming for, it felt like a lot to hold all at once. Some parts really did land for me, just not consistently enough to stay fully immersed.

Chester and Lexie’s connection has all the makings of something beautiful and lovely, but it felt a bit rushed and disjointed to me. I wanted more time with them at the beginning, more build, more reasons to feel as invested as the story seemed to expect me to be.

And the ending… I’m torn. Parts of it worked, parts of it didn’t. But maybe that is the point? I do not always love the endings of fairy tales either, and this, I suppose, felt a little like that. A bit unsettling, and not entirely satisfying.

[addy may · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this ARC from Net Galley, and all of Lockhart’s books never fail to amaze me. The writing style is so unique— and this one was so simple to read. I loved the way the chapters were set up because the reading just flowed smoothly. I also was shocked in the middle of the book from the plot twist, and then the end again. It’s a sad story about grief, finding yourself, and loss. However, it was such a beautiful and moving read. It reads a lot like poetry, and it’s such a great fast-paced read! I highly recommend this book to readers for when it comes out!

The reason it isn’t a full five stars is because it wasn’t a book that I was fully obsessed with, and the storyline of it was very random in my opinion. However, it was easy to fall into a fast rhythm of reading and enjoying this book. I loved that the author warned of what was to come throughout the story, but it didn’t seem obvious when she did. I think this genre and type of book isn’t for everyone because it’s very abstract, but if you are looking for something like that I would totally recommend it!

[Sarah Pirtle · Rating 3 out of 5]

A short, poetic read for when you’re looking for a fairy tale or a whimsical love story. Unfortunately, I didn’t connect with the characters or story the way i’d hoped. I felt like I was in a side town hearing it via gossip rather than engulfed in Covington. A magical little story set in a small town of hot springs and ancestral lore. Lexie is new to town and keeps to herself. Chester is a boy who is rediscovering life post a serious bout of depression. They have a short adventure of falling in love before some old town magic takes over. It’s a story of grief and persevering love. It explores themes of suicide, self harm, parentification of siblings, addiction, depression, grief, loss, and young love. I’d recommend it to older teens who enjoy poetry. I think it’s a good bridge between poetry and short stories. I think I read the whole thing in two hours, so it’d be easy to pick it up between full length novels.

[Chelsea Walsh · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Pools by E. Lockhart is an atmospheric and intriguing read that showcases the author’s signature style—lyrical, mysterious, and emotionally layered. The story draws readers in with its sense of unease and quiet tension, unfolding in a way that keeps you curious about what lies beneath the surface.

Lockhart’s writing is sharp and evocative, capturing complex emotions and relationships with a subtle touch. The mood is one of the book’s strongest elements, creating a lingering impression that stays with you even after finishing.

At times, the narrative can feel a bit abstract, and some readers may wish for more clarity or resolution in certain plot points. However, this ambiguity is also part of what gives the story its depth and invites interpretation.

Overall, The Pools is a compelling and thought-provoking read that earns four stars for its haunting atmosphere and distinctive storytelling.

[Kelsey · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to ARC read and review The Pools by E. Lockhart.

“The Pools” was a little difficult to follow at times, but I still found it interesting overall. I’m giving this book 2 out of 5 stars because the writing style was different from what I expected, which made it harder to fully understand what was happening in the story. However, I appreciated the author’s use of poetry and rhythm throughout the book, as it added a unique and creative way of telling the story. I also think this would be a great book for young adults who are getting into reading because the pages are short and it’s a fast, easy read.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I went into this not knowing it was a novel in verse so I was pleasantly surprised by that - I think the form really fits the story!

It's a strange little fable even as the five people in town are turned into birds but that's where the emotional heart of the book begins. I felt like you could make it an allegory for many real life losses - a school shooting, a divorce, a heartbreak, the death of a child - and it works. Regardless, it's about grief and how many of us don't know how to deal with it. I read the last third on a plane at like 7 am and cried a good portion of the way from Chicago to Boston.

I wouldn't be surprised if this ends up being a Printz contender.

[Melly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book feels like sun glare on water: beautiful, sharp, and slightly disorienting.

E. Lockhart does what she does best—clean, controlled prose that hides something sharper underneath. The Pools is all atmosphere and tension, with wealth, heat, and isolation pressing in until you start feeling trapped in the characters’ perfect-looking world.

It’s elegant. It’s eerie. It’s a little cold.
And it knows exactly what it’s doing.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read an ARC of The Pools by E. Lockhart.

[Julia B. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had high hopes for this book, but I didn't connect with the writing style. I appreciate what the author did, writing about some very deep topics in a digestible way through the poetic writing style, but it took away from the characters and their stories for me. I wish we had learned a little more about Chester and Lexie beforehand as well, as I didn't feel very invested in the outcome of their story. I think some people will really love this novel, but others will have the opposite experience.

[Bethea Scovic · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have enjoyed E. Lockhart’s books that I have read so was excited to read this one. This was written in prose, so took a bit to get used to. It did make it a fast read. I liked the character of Lexie and was always rooting for her. The birds was an interesting twist and definitely made the book fit the fairytale genre. Even though the book was well written, I didn’t love it. It was too sad. Almost the entire book was just depressing.

Thank you to #NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for honest feedback. -3 stars

[Emily Grenier · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Pools is the very poignant teenage love story of Lexie and Chester. Each has individually encountered hardships in life, but despite that, have chosen to move forward toward happiness. And when they meet each other, they instantly find a kindred spirit. When tragedy strikes, they keep each other in their hearts until eventually they find their way out. A quick and worthwhile read from E. Lockhart.

[Michelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some people are going to really enjoy this writing style and story but it was just okay to me. It was a quick read that still managed to fit in some deeper topics.

Kindly received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Wendy Pitts · Rating 3 out of 5]

I usually adore E. Lockhart because I love a good twist however, this fell a little flat for me. I couldn't suspend disbelief long enough to get into the story. I think the mix of fantastical/ real life just didn't work for me here. Great premise and interesting style, just not my cup of tea.

[addison☻ · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was one of the strangest books I have ever read. The storyline was very confusing, but I loved the poetry. This was a fun and quick read!

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley, E Lockhart, and the publisher for an arc of The Pools. I am a lover of myths and fables and tales and poems and love stories. The Pools is all of these. Well done, E Lockhart.

[Kerri · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved novel in verse and I loved this story. Even the part that made me cry.

[Hillary · Rating 5 out of 5]

What i never suspected, the thing i just didn't see coming, is that it's really quite sweet.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full review coming

..I think I identified too much with orly so like yeah love story but WHAT ABOUT HER SISTER?!?! 😭😭😭

#justicefororly and for orly’s friend

[Kennedy Warner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley & Random House Children’s Books publishers for this ARC copy of E. Lockhart’s newest book !

I’m just gonna dive right in. This story just did not do it for me unfortunately. It had a lot of potential but just fell short in the end. The writing was a very different style than I’m used to, almost a mix of poetry and prose, but it seemed to just fall flat for me. I never felt emotionally connected to the characters at all, and often had a hard time following the story and found myself having to reread pages. I’m so sad that I didn’t love this because I truly have loved all of her other work !

I’m hoping that if I reread this in a few weeks maybe I’ll have different feelings and re-rate & review this story, but as of now my solid 3 star rating stands 🥲

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was one of the most peculiar premises and completely not what I was expecting from E. Lockhart. It’s best to go in blind and just trust the process. It is written in prose with a more mellow vibe that makes for a quick, somber read. While it may not be for everyone, young adult readers that enjoy fantasy will especially love this one.

Thank you to E. Lockhart, Random House Children’s Books and NetGalley for a digital copy of the book for an honest review.

[Delfina · Rating 5 out of 5]

wtf!!