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The Pools
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the We Were Liars series comes a love story full of simmering darkness and astonishing twists, following two teenagers whose lives are shattered by a shocking transformation.
Once, in a small New England town known for its hot springs, something terrible happened. Something that should have been a warning to stay away from the pools, if the stories were to be believed.
But no one is afraid of the water anymore, even if they should be.
When new girl Lexie meets golden boy Chester, their chemistry is undeniable. She’s running from a glittering life she won’t speak about. He’s hiding secrets of his own. Their connection feels bigger than both of them, despite their damage.
One frigid winter morning in that small New England town, five people go for a swim in the pools. Five people, including Chester. What happens there sends shock waves through the town, changing life as Lexie knows it forever.
Once, in a small New England town known for its hot springs, something terrible happened. Something that should have been a warning to stay away from the pools, if the stories were to be believed.
But no one is afraid of the water anymore, even if they should be.
When new girl Lexie meets golden boy Chester, their chemistry is undeniable. She’s running from a glittering life she won’t speak about. He’s hiding secrets of his own. Their connection feels bigger than both of them, despite their damage.
One frigid winter morning in that small New England town, five people go for a swim in the pools. Five people, including Chester. What happens there sends shock waves through the town, changing life as Lexie knows it forever.
384 pages, Library Binding
First published October 6, 2026
About the author
E. Lockhart
35 books17.7k followersE. 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
website: www.emilylockhart.com
Instagram, Threads & TikTok: elockhartbooks
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 381 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I think this is one of those books that will definitely divide readers, especially those who aren’t usually into fantasy or magical realism elements. Honestly, when the huge twist involving the five people who chose the absolute worst possible time to swim in the springs finally happened, my first reaction was literally: what the heck did I just read? I went into this almost completely blind because I genuinely enjoyed the author’s previous works. She has always been great at creating authentic YA voices, and as someone who never joined the anti-We Were Liars crowd, I trusted her storytelling enough to dive in without knowing much.
So when the supernatural elements suddenly entered the story, I was caught completely off guard. And yes, I’m trying my hardest not to spoil anything because I refuse to be the person who ruins the experience by spilling all the beans! At first, I truly thought the story was about to spiral into complete chaos in a way that wouldn’t work for me. But instead of giving up, I kept reading with patience and curiosity, and honestly, I’m so glad I did. Even when the story became messier, stranger, and much more fairy-tale-like than I expected, I found myself completely absorbed by its eerie, dreamlike atmosphere. The folkloric influence, especially the haunting “Seven Ravens” fairy tale vibes, worked surprisingly well for me, and the ending ultimately won me over emotionally.
In my opinion, this isn’t simply a whimsical YA romance wrapped in fantasy aesthetics the way some readers may initially assume. Beneath the magical elements, this is very much a story about depression, grief, guilt, fear, and emotional survival. Two of the main characters struggle deeply with depression, but they react to it in completely different ways: one fights while the other runs. Their choices, coping mechanisms, and emotional responses ultimately shape the paths they take by the end of the story. The novel also explores themes of finding your voice, learning to stop silencing yourself for the comfort of others, and realizing that procrastinating your life can become its own form of self-destruction. At its heart, it’s about family, freedom, belonging, and the desperate human need to feel like part of something bigger than yourself.
The story takes place in a small New England town famous for its healing hot springs. Seventeen-year-old Lexie arrives there with her depressed mother, younger sister Orly, and aunt in hopes of starting over. After years spent sacrificing her own childhood as a musical prodigy to financially support her struggling family, Lexie is emotionally exhausted. Losing her father and becoming the emotional caretaker of her mother at such a young age has left her carrying far more than any teenager should. The move feels like her chance to finally breathe again and maybe reclaim pieces of herself she lost along the way.
Then she meets Chester, the town’s mysterious golden boy whose body is covered in scars and whose charm hides much darker emotional wounds beneath the surface. Their connection develops quickly, but both of them are carrying secrets they don’t know how to share. After an argument between them, Chester makes a reckless decision and swims in the springs during the coldest day of the year alongside four others, including Lexie’s little sister. And from that moment on, the story transforms into something much darker, stranger, and emotionally devastating.
As tragedy strikes the town, Lexie desperately fights to protect the people she loves while trying to undo what has happened. But once she becomes trapped inside what feels like a living nightmare wrapped in fairy tale rules, she must confront a terrifying question: how much is someone willing to sacrifice to reverse tragedy and save the people they love?
Overall, Lexie was absolutely the standout character for me. I loved her resilience, emotional exhaustion, bravery, and heartbreaking patience as she tried to hold herself and her family together while everything around her unraveled. Her struggles felt painfully real even within the fantastical setting. I do wish Chester’s depression and emotional backstory had been explored with a little more depth because his character undergoes significant emotional shifts, and at times I wanted a stronger connection to his internal struggles rather than primarily viewing him through Lexie’s perspective. Still, the lyrical writing style, emotional intensity, and unique atmosphere kept me fully invested. The author clearly took a creative risk stylistically here, and for me, it mostly paid off. The blend of dark fairy tale energy, emotional realism, and YA fantasy romance created something memorable and genuinely unique within the genre.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Children’s Books | Delacorte Press for sharing one of the most unusual, emotional, and thought-provoking YA fantasy romances of the year in exchange for my honest thoughts.
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So when the supernatural elements suddenly entered the story, I was caught completely off guard. And yes, I’m trying my hardest not to spoil anything because I refuse to be the person who ruins the experience by spilling all the beans! At first, I truly thought the story was about to spiral into complete chaos in a way that wouldn’t work for me. But instead of giving up, I kept reading with patience and curiosity, and honestly, I’m so glad I did. Even when the story became messier, stranger, and much more fairy-tale-like than I expected, I found myself completely absorbed by its eerie, dreamlike atmosphere. The folkloric influence, especially the haunting “Seven Ravens” fairy tale vibes, worked surprisingly well for me, and the ending ultimately won me over emotionally.
In my opinion, this isn’t simply a whimsical YA romance wrapped in fantasy aesthetics the way some readers may initially assume. Beneath the magical elements, this is very much a story about depression, grief, guilt, fear, and emotional survival. Two of the main characters struggle deeply with depression, but they react to it in completely different ways: one fights while the other runs. Their choices, coping mechanisms, and emotional responses ultimately shape the paths they take by the end of the story. The novel also explores themes of finding your voice, learning to stop silencing yourself for the comfort of others, and realizing that procrastinating your life can become its own form of self-destruction. At its heart, it’s about family, freedom, belonging, and the desperate human need to feel like part of something bigger than yourself.
The story takes place in a small New England town famous for its healing hot springs. Seventeen-year-old Lexie arrives there with her depressed mother, younger sister Orly, and aunt in hopes of starting over. After years spent sacrificing her own childhood as a musical prodigy to financially support her struggling family, Lexie is emotionally exhausted. Losing her father and becoming the emotional caretaker of her mother at such a young age has left her carrying far more than any teenager should. The move feels like her chance to finally breathe again and maybe reclaim pieces of herself she lost along the way.
Then she meets Chester, the town’s mysterious golden boy whose body is covered in scars and whose charm hides much darker emotional wounds beneath the surface. Their connection develops quickly, but both of them are carrying secrets they don’t know how to share. After an argument between them, Chester makes a reckless decision and swims in the springs during the coldest day of the year alongside four others, including Lexie’s little sister. And from that moment on, the story transforms into something much darker, stranger, and emotionally devastating.
As tragedy strikes the town, Lexie desperately fights to protect the people she loves while trying to undo what has happened. But once she becomes trapped inside what feels like a living nightmare wrapped in fairy tale rules, she must confront a terrifying question: how much is someone willing to sacrifice to reverse tragedy and save the people they love?
Overall, Lexie was absolutely the standout character for me. I loved her resilience, emotional exhaustion, bravery, and heartbreaking patience as she tried to hold herself and her family together while everything around her unraveled. Her struggles felt painfully real even within the fantastical setting. I do wish Chester’s depression and emotional backstory had been explored with a little more depth because his character undergoes significant emotional shifts, and at times I wanted a stronger connection to his internal struggles rather than primarily viewing him through Lexie’s perspective. Still, the lyrical writing style, emotional intensity, and unique atmosphere kept me fully invested. The author clearly took a creative risk stylistically here, and for me, it mostly paid off. The blend of dark fairy tale energy, emotional realism, and YA fantasy romance created something memorable and genuinely unique within the genre.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Children’s Books | Delacorte Press for sharing one of the most unusual, emotional, and thought-provoking YA fantasy romances of the year in exchange for my honest thoughts.
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October 18, 2026
An absolutely masterpiece! I went in relatively blind, thinking this would be a fantastical magical water book, not unlike TUCK EVERLASTING. And, the same way Natalie Babbit’s tale imprinted on my heart, so too will this strange and poignant tale of a town whose citizens began to turn to birds. Brilliant and eviscerating , I loved every single word.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
thanks to negalley + the publisher for an advanced copy
in which i read this not by a pool
i think reading this book
by a pool might enhance the reading
experience, because reading this book
inside of a cold house
felt like i was reading
at the top of mt everest
although i wonder with the characters
if e lockhart
was doing a metaphor for suicide
and self harm, with the birds
because when people you love
diefly away
you wonder what you could do
to get them back, for there's no swan
and there's no cure
not even if olivia rodrigo wrote a song about it
there's my cutesy review. i enjoyed it! if you've read the book, you'll hopefully get my review
in which i read this not by a pool
i think reading this book
by a pool might enhance the reading
experience, because reading this book
inside of a cold house
felt like i was reading
at the top of mt everest
although i wonder with the characters
if e lockhart
was doing a metaphor for suicide
and self harm, with the birds
because when people you love
die
you wonder what you could do
to get them back, for there's no swan
and there's no cure
not even if olivia rodrigo wrote a song about it
there's my cutesy review. i enjoyed it! if you've read the book, you'll hopefully get my review
Did Not Finish
October 24, 2026❨ 🌊 ❩ — 𝓓id 𝓝 ot𝓕inish 𖹭
𐔌 without spoilers .ᐟ
⟡ ݁❜ “...but no one is afraid of the water anymore, even if they should be." ❛ ⋆.˚
i wanted to like this book so, so bad,
but i didn't and couldn't.
i hated the magical realism/fantasy part of this.
it was supposed to represent self harm, depression, anxiety, suicide, death and sexual abuse
but it only made me confused, and in some sort of way it felt like e. lockhart joked about the topic
— made it fictional instead of actually seeing the importance of it.
i wanted to like this book so, so bad.
reading update
i'm halfway through but this shit is confusing af, like what the hell is happening? and i am so, so sad that they're literally turning into real birds, i thought it was more alike we were liars (#myfav). but it's some kind of fiction/fantasy thing instead. and yeah i think the thing with the birds is to show how people can feel trapped inside their own bodies and you know things like that, but she couldn't just have done it realistic? i love realistic 🥹 might dnf but since it's so incredibly short i'll have to suffer if <3
𐔌 without spoilers .ᐟ
⟡ ݁❜ “...but no one is afraid of the water anymore, even if they should be." ❛ ⋆.˚
i wanted to like this book so, so bad,
but i didn't and couldn't.
i hated the magical realism/fantasy part of this.
it was supposed to represent self harm, depression, anxiety, suicide, death and sexual abuse
but it only made me confused, and in some sort of way it felt like e. lockhart joked about the topic
— made it fictional instead of actually seeing the importance of it.
i wanted to like this book so, so bad.
reading update
i'm halfway through but this shit is confusing af, like what the hell is happening? and i am so, so sad that they're literally turning into real birds, i thought it was more alike we were liars (#myfav). but it's some kind of fiction/fantasy thing instead. and yeah i think the thing with the birds is to show how people can feel trapped inside their own bodies and you know things like that, but she couldn't just have done it realistic? i love realistic 🥹 might dnf but since it's so incredibly short i'll have to suffer if <3
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Thank you PRHAudio for the complimentary audiobook!
This audiobook experience was excellent! It ends with real singing voice. The singing and the narrator's golden voice got me teary eyed. I listened to the songs many times! Audiobook definitely made storytelling and listening experience fantastic for bookworms recently.
This story was good and different. Readers followed two main characters: Lexie and Chester. Chester's family is wealthy while Lexie's is not. Lexie and her mom along with younger sister just moved into town living at their aunt's house. Three to a bedroom, even at motel during their road trip. Chester may seem to have it all but he's suffering from self harm. He tried to seek help but doesn't feel better until he met Lexie. It was love at first sight.
Lexie's mom was suffering from depression. Lexie took care of her sister and her mom. They moved into this community with a lot of pools. Lexie met Chester at the pool. They got together after that. They met each other's family. They attended school. They have had their fights. They refused to share their secrets with each other.
Then the transformation happened. Five people at first, including Chester and Lexie's younger sister. Thought provoking to follow Chester's thoughts. Later, more people transformed. Lexie felt desperate to do something to help even though she did actively do something all the time. Finally, she took a chance to bring out her golden voice once more.
The book organization is different.. I am reading and listening to the audiobook again.. I actually listened to this audiobook twice!
This audiobook experience was excellent! It ends with real singing voice. The singing and the narrator's golden voice got me teary eyed. I listened to the songs many times! Audiobook definitely made storytelling and listening experience fantastic for bookworms recently.
This story was good and different. Readers followed two main characters: Lexie and Chester. Chester's family is wealthy while Lexie's is not. Lexie and her mom along with younger sister just moved into town living at their aunt's house. Three to a bedroom, even at motel during their road trip. Chester may seem to have it all but he's suffering from self harm. He tried to seek help but doesn't feel better until he met Lexie. It was love at first sight.
Lexie's mom was suffering from depression. Lexie took care of her sister and her mom. They moved into this community with a lot of pools. Lexie met Chester at the pool. They got together after that. They met each other's family. They attended school. They have had their fights. They refused to share their secrets with each other.
Then the transformation happened. Five people at first, including Chester and Lexie's younger sister. Thought provoking to follow Chester's thoughts. Later, more people transformed. Lexie felt desperate to do something to help even though she did actively do something all the time. Finally, she took a chance to bring out her golden voice once more.
The book organization is different.. I am reading and listening to the audiobook again.. I actually listened to this audiobook twice!
![Profile Image for ✞emerson✞ [levi coldwell's version].](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/users/1793489761i/183993524._UX200_CR0,0,200,200_.jpg)
Did Not Finish
October 13, 2026Dnf @ page 194
Real footage of me every time I remember life's too short to read lame books no matter how quickly I could probably finish them: 💃💃🕺🤸♀️🤸♀️🥳
*runs to barnes & nobel, gets this book out of my sight, gets all nine dollars and eighty-two cents back, is happy*
nah
I have zero interest
none
like what even happened?? IT SHOULD NOT SAY "A LOVE STORY" ON THE FRONT COVER
I can't really say why without spoiling what went down (and who knows maybe in the future it's more like a love story (*cough* I doubt it). I have seen reviews tho that say the romance rly isn't the main thing at all . . . and I believe it)
but like
seriously?? lame, random, confusing
just why??
WHY??
it was so weird 😭
(also I read ahead cuz I was like "should I keep going" and im pretty sure what went down continues THE WHOLE DANG BOOK. naaaaaah we aint doin that)
the writing style was cool to me and did make it interesting to read
and FAST, which is why I thought I'd js stick it out
but then I was like
"uh why would I do that to myself?"
so anyyyywayyyyyyy
another lesson for me about not using b&n like a library 🤭😑👏
Pre-read
50% off at B&N and 0% self control later . . .
I am very intrigued
It’s written in verse which I think is so cool
And the cover is dope
Like the water droplets are 3D or whatever
Exciteddddd
Real footage of me every time I remember life's too short to read lame books no matter how quickly I could probably finish them: 💃💃🕺🤸♀️🤸♀️🥳
*runs to barnes & nobel, gets this book out of my sight, gets all nine dollars and eighty-two cents back, is happy*
nah
I have zero interest
none
like what even happened?? IT SHOULD NOT SAY "A LOVE STORY" ON THE FRONT COVER
I can't really say why without spoiling what went down (and who knows maybe in the future it's more like a love story (*cough* I doubt it). I have seen reviews tho that say the romance rly isn't the main thing at all . . . and I believe it)
but like
seriously?? lame, random, confusing
just why??
WHY??
it was so weird 😭
(also I read ahead cuz I was like "should I keep going" and im pretty sure what went down continues THE WHOLE DANG BOOK. naaaaaah we aint doin that)
the writing style was cool to me and did make it interesting to read
and FAST, which is why I thought I'd js stick it out
but then I was like
"uh why would I do that to myself?"
so anyyyywayyyyyyy
another lesson for me about not using b&n like a library 🤭😑👏
Pre-read
50% off at B&N and 0% self control later . . .
I am very intrigued
It’s written in verse which I think is so cool
And the cover is dope
Like the water droplets are 3D or whatever
Exciteddddd
April 28, 2026
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.
📖 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.
November 1, 2026
Just as I was getting used to the fact that this is written like a collection of poems, THAT thing happened.
I would not recommend going into this blind. Or do! It's more absurd that way. The Pools is marketed as a romance but contains surprisingly little romance. It's more of an undercurrent of love throughout the story. This is a magical realism story that basically asks, "What if this one random event happened?" and doesn't explore much beyond that. I found myself much more invested in the resolution than the plot itself, and forgot it was a romance entirely until the end.
This wasn't unenjoyable - the absurdism of it all was actually quite fun. I just think I was enjoying it for reasons that the author probably didn't intend. Plus it's written almost in prose, which means you can fly through this.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC!
I would not recommend going into this blind. Or do! It's more absurd that way. The Pools is marketed as a romance but contains surprisingly little romance. It's more of an undercurrent of love throughout the story. This is a magical realism story that basically asks, "What if this one random event happened?" and doesn't explore much beyond that. I found myself much more invested in the resolution than the plot itself, and forgot it was a romance entirely until the end.
This wasn't unenjoyable - the absurdism of it all was actually quite fun. I just think I was enjoying it for reasons that the author probably didn't intend. Plus it's written almost in prose, which means you can fly through this.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I didn’t go into this book expecting much but I was sure surprised that it completely surpassed all my expectations in a positive way! Overall, I really enjoyed it especially the way the eerie, and magical atmosphere was mixed with heavier themes. The whole idea behind the pools and what happens to the people who enter them was so interesting and unique and I didn’t want to put the book down. Some of it broke my heart though so be sure you’re in the mood for a book that will tug on your emotions before reading it.
𝗠𝗬 𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
𝗠𝗬 𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
May 13, 2026
The Pools is a haunting and unique read that stayed with me long after I finished it. I especially enjoyed how quickly the story moved while still feeling thoughtful and layered. The use of old folklore and myth-inspired storytelling gave the book an eerie atmosphere that made it stand out from a typical teen novel.
One of the most interesting parts of the book was the way it was written in poem and song form. The lyrical style made the emotions feel more intense and personal, almost like reading someone’s private thoughts or listening to a ballad being told around a fire. While the format is unconventional, it worked well with the mood of the story and made it easy to read in a short amount of time.
The novel also tackles serious topics like depression, loneliness, and complicated teen relationships in a realistic way. The characters felt emotionally raw, and their struggles added depth beneath the folklore-inspired surface. Even when the story became dark or unsettling, it remained engaging because of the emotional honesty woven throughout it.
Overall, The Pools is a beautifully written, atmospheric novel that blends folklore, poetry, and emotional realism into a memorable quick read. I would recommend it to readers who enjoy books that are a little different in style and that explore deeper emotional themes.
Thank you to Net Galley and Random House Children’s Books for an advanced readers copy in exchange for a honest review.
One of the most interesting parts of the book was the way it was written in poem and song form. The lyrical style made the emotions feel more intense and personal, almost like reading someone’s private thoughts or listening to a ballad being told around a fire. While the format is unconventional, it worked well with the mood of the story and made it easy to read in a short amount of time.
The novel also tackles serious topics like depression, loneliness, and complicated teen relationships in a realistic way. The characters felt emotionally raw, and their struggles added depth beneath the folklore-inspired surface. Even when the story became dark or unsettling, it remained engaging because of the emotional honesty woven throughout it.
Overall, The Pools is a beautifully written, atmospheric novel that blends folklore, poetry, and emotional realism into a memorable quick read. I would recommend it to readers who enjoy books that are a little different in style and that explore deeper emotional themes.
Thank you to Net Galley and Random House Children’s Books for an advanced readers copy in exchange for a honest review.
October 8, 2026
I honestly thought this book was an elaborate prank. It got so wild that I had to stop and double-check the cover just to make sure I actually picked up the right title and author.
So, it turns out people in this town are inexplicably transforming into wild birds, and what's wilder is how quickly the community just... accepts it and moves on. The plot focuses on Lexie, who is already dealing with an ailing mother, only for her younger sister to get caught up in the avian transformation. Instead of looking for a logical cure, the local humans start consulting shamans and resorting to old-school apothecaries just to soothe their feather-bound loved ones' suffering. On top of the bizarre premise, the dialogue is completely surreal. Lines like 'Chester is getting birdier each week' or 'Does she have a good cat life?' left me wondering- am I the only one completely tripping here?
The plot reminds me so much of the Filipino folklore called Ibong Adarna. I grew up loving this in school. So, so weird!
So, it's official: this book feels like a complete multiverse trip. Kidding! But out of all the mind-bending surrealism, it was Chester who ultimately grounded me back in reality with his words: 'Humans have the capacity for magic, but also have the capacity for logic.'
So, it turns out people in this town are inexplicably transforming into wild birds, and what's wilder is how quickly the community just... accepts it and moves on. The plot focuses on Lexie, who is already dealing with an ailing mother, only for her younger sister to get caught up in the avian transformation. Instead of looking for a logical cure, the local humans start consulting shamans and resorting to old-school apothecaries just to soothe their feather-bound loved ones' suffering. On top of the bizarre premise, the dialogue is completely surreal. Lines like 'Chester is getting birdier each week' or 'Does she have a good cat life?' left me wondering- am I the only one completely tripping here?
The plot reminds me so much of the Filipino folklore called Ibong Adarna. I grew up loving this in school. So, so weird!
So, it's official: this book feels like a complete multiverse trip. Kidding! But out of all the mind-bending surrealism, it was Chester who ultimately grounded me back in reality with his words: 'Humans have the capacity for magic, but also have the capacity for logic.'
October 23, 2026
That was perhaps the worst book I’ve ever read
May 21, 2026
I did not enjoy the poem like writing of this book. It was challenging to find a rhythm in reading and the book felt disconnected to me because of this. That being said, if you love poetry or rhythmic writing styles, you may enjoy this book.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
DNF at 25%. I tried with this book. I was already struggling with the writing format but once people turned into birds I was done. I have liked previous books by this author but this book was not for me. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 29, 2026
not what I expected at all but I didn’t hate it… probably bc it is written in verse so it went very fast
October 15, 2026
I know this book will not be for everyone because of the improbability of the plot and the unusual writing structure, but it was absolutely for me. Let me explain.
As far as the plot goes, if you read and enjoyed Shark Heart, I think you’ll appreciate what Lockhart is doing here. It’s strange, creative and imaginative, making the impossible somehow feel relatable. You definitely have to suspend disbelief and just go with it, but the extremity of what happens to Lexie is part of what made the emotions underneath it so easy to understand. Loneliness, abandonment, loss, grief… it’s all poured over her, and yet she remains good. She’s golden. She continues to shine her light despite all that darkness.
The writing is also very different. It has poetic elements, lots of page breaks, symbolism, metaphors and lyrical prose, with plenty left open to interpretation. I LOVED that. I love when an author gives me room to let my mind wander and make connections on its own instead of explaining everything to me. There was space to sit with the story, the characters and everything they were experiencing and decide what it all meant to me.
The fairy-tale elements and eerie atmosphere were an added bonus. Weird, beautiful and a little bizarre? Exactly my kind of book.
As far as the plot goes, if you read and enjoyed Shark Heart, I think you’ll appreciate what Lockhart is doing here. It’s strange, creative and imaginative, making the impossible somehow feel relatable. You definitely have to suspend disbelief and just go with it, but the extremity of what happens to Lexie is part of what made the emotions underneath it so easy to understand. Loneliness, abandonment, loss, grief… it’s all poured over her, and yet she remains good. She’s golden. She continues to shine her light despite all that darkness.
The writing is also very different. It has poetic elements, lots of page breaks, symbolism, metaphors and lyrical prose, with plenty left open to interpretation. I LOVED that. I love when an author gives me room to let my mind wander and make connections on its own instead of explaining everything to me. There was space to sit with the story, the characters and everything they were experiencing and decide what it all meant to me.
The fairy-tale elements and eerie atmosphere were an added bonus. Weird, beautiful and a little bizarre? Exactly my kind of book.
April 17, 2026
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!
September 23, 2026
I hesitated between four and five stars, because I did have some gripes with this book, but ultimately I found the story beautiful enough to settle on five. This is a very hit-or-miss book, depending on your own reading preferences. It’s a quick read, though not necessarily an easy one.
If I had known how the writing was structured before getting this book, I likely wouldn’t have bought it. Evidently, I didn’t regret it, but it’s not for everyone.
I also feel like the blurb of the book is kind of misleading. Nowhere does it mention the magical realism that hits around the third chapter. From reading the blurb, you’d expect something more in the vein of We Were Liars, maybe even a bit of a thriller.
My main issue with this, however, was that compared to the rest of the book, the ending felt very rushed.
I also had my doubts about how Lexie’s mother was portrayed. Of course, we only see her through Lexie’s eyes and it makes sense for her to have complicated feelings about her mother, but there’s no counterweight to this. No one to remind Lexie “hey, your mother is chronically ill, maybe you shouldn’t judge her the way you do”. Obviously the mother was far from perfect, you could even say far from good, but still. It would’ve been nice to see Lexie receive some pushback in how she views her mother.
Lexie as a whole annoyed me at times. She had a tendency to think she had the moral high ground when she really did not. In most of their arguments and fights, Lexie winds up blaming Chester. And sometimes she’s right and it is his fault. But there were definitely times where she should’ve been the one to apologise. I also found her to be quite hypocritical. She was blaming Chester for not telling her every little thing about himself, whilst she was literally keeping secrets from him. And it would be one thing if she had come to realise this, but she truly believes she has nothing to apologise for.
The beautiful way this is written is what, to me, makes it worthy of five stars despite its flaws. But after this, you can be damn sure I will be checking the way the writing is structured in every book I want to buy from now on 🤣
If I had known how the writing was structured before getting this book, I likely wouldn’t have bought it. Evidently, I didn’t regret it, but it’s not for everyone.
I also feel like the blurb of the book is kind of misleading. Nowhere does it mention the magical realism that hits around the third chapter. From reading the blurb, you’d expect something more in the vein of We Were Liars, maybe even a bit of a thriller.
My main issue with this, however, was that compared to the rest of the book, the ending felt very rushed.
I also had my doubts about how Lexie’s mother was portrayed. Of course, we only see her through Lexie’s eyes and it makes sense for her to have complicated feelings about her mother, but there’s no counterweight to this. No one to remind Lexie “hey, your mother is chronically ill, maybe you shouldn’t judge her the way you do”. Obviously the mother was far from perfect, you could even say far from good, but still. It would’ve been nice to see Lexie receive some pushback in how she views her mother.
Lexie as a whole annoyed me at times. She had a tendency to think she had the moral high ground when she really did not. In most of their arguments and fights, Lexie winds up blaming Chester. And sometimes she’s right and it is his fault. But there were definitely times where she should’ve been the one to apologise. I also found her to be quite hypocritical. She was blaming Chester for not telling her every little thing about himself, whilst she was literally keeping secrets from him. And it would be one thing if she had come to realise this, but she truly believes she has nothing to apologise for.
The beautiful way this is written is what, to me, makes it worthy of five stars despite its flaws. But after this, you can be damn sure I will be checking the way the writing is structured in every book I want to buy from now on 🤣
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 25, 2026
This book would have been life altering if I read it in high school. It felt like a cross between Ellen Hopkins and Alexandra Sirowy. I did enjoy it, mostly, I think? I’m honestly not sure. It was definitely unique and I was captivated by the story, but there was something about it that felt incomplete? I still enjoy YA but I think sometimes I can’t fully enjoy a YA if it feels a bit too young, and I think that was the case here. Overall though, I thought it was worth the read.
October 10, 2026
1 star ✨... eh... no. just no. i was excited about this one but now i wanna cut my veins...
October 9, 2026
what the helly did I just read?
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Read the full review with representation information and trigger warnings on my blog.
Lexie moves to a small town with her mother and sister so that she can go to school instead of having to provide for the family. There, she meets golden boy Chester, and is caught between becoming the girl he wants and the girl her family expects until tragedy strikes.
This book is a very different type of book than those previously written by E. Lockhart, although if you enjoyed the aspects of We Were Liars where Cady speaks in poetry and metaphor in order to describe her life, you may be a fan of this book as it’s entirely in verse and a magical realism novel. The writing is beautiful in most of the poems, and that’s the most complimentary thing I can say about this book. The author describes it as a fairy tale at the end of the book, but unfortunately, it seems that it falls into some of the same pitfall as the Brothers Grimm had in their fairy tales—namely, antisemitism.
“Pools” is described as a love story/romance, but Chester does not strike me as a particularly romantic love interest. It could be said that he has the same realistic flaws as many teenage boys, and maybe that’s true, but his biggest fight with Lexie is about whether she will or won’t go caroling with his religious group for Christmas. Lexie tells him she doesn’t want to because her family is Jewish, and he doesn’t drop it. He keeps on pushing the issue, and the narrative almost seems to punish Lexie for setting this boundary with him, which is unfortunate.
I was also concerned by the way Lexie’s mother’s chronic illness was depicted in this book. She’s a one-dimensional character who is always sick with something or other, and doesn’t want to get better. It’s not a good message to send, especially since there’s no counterbalancing representation in Lockhart’s other books. One of the characters in We Fell Apart, Lockhart’s previous book, had similar issues, but it’s a lot more blatant in the case of Lexie’s mother in this book.
Lexie loses all of her Jewish relatives in this book in one way or another, and this is ultimately depicted as a good thing. She and Chester , at the expense of her losing all of her ties to her roots. Her mother effectively . Authors can of course write whatever they want, but if you’re looking for positive representation of mental illness or Judaism, you won’t find it in The Pools. Despite the positive ending of a sort for Lexie and her boyfriend, it reads to me as more of a tragedy than a romance.
The Pools releases October 6 from Delacorte Press. Thank you to NetGalley, E. Lockhart and Random House Children’s Books for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
Lexie moves to a small town with her mother and sister so that she can go to school instead of having to provide for the family. There, she meets golden boy Chester, and is caught between becoming the girl he wants and the girl her family expects until tragedy strikes.
This book is a very different type of book than those previously written by E. Lockhart, although if you enjoyed the aspects of We Were Liars where Cady speaks in poetry and metaphor in order to describe her life, you may be a fan of this book as it’s entirely in verse and a magical realism novel. The writing is beautiful in most of the poems, and that’s the most complimentary thing I can say about this book. The author describes it as a fairy tale at the end of the book, but unfortunately, it seems that it falls into some of the same pitfall as the Brothers Grimm had in their fairy tales—namely, antisemitism.
“Pools” is described as a love story/romance, but Chester does not strike me as a particularly romantic love interest. It could be said that he has the same realistic flaws as many teenage boys, and maybe that’s true, but his biggest fight with Lexie is about whether she will or won’t go caroling with his religious group for Christmas. Lexie tells him she doesn’t want to because her family is Jewish, and he doesn’t drop it. He keeps on pushing the issue, and the narrative almost seems to punish Lexie for setting this boundary with him, which is unfortunate.
I was also concerned by the way Lexie’s mother’s chronic illness was depicted in this book. She’s a one-dimensional character who is always sick with something or other, and doesn’t want to get better. It’s not a good message to send, especially since there’s no counterbalancing representation in Lockhart’s other books. One of the characters in We Fell Apart, Lockhart’s previous book, had similar issues, but it’s a lot more blatant in the case of Lexie’s mother in this book.
Lexie loses all of her Jewish relatives in this book in one way or another, and this is ultimately depicted as a good thing. She and Chester , at the expense of her losing all of her ties to her roots. Her mother effectively . Authors can of course write whatever they want, but if you’re looking for positive representation of mental illness or Judaism, you won’t find it in The Pools. Despite the positive ending of a sort for Lexie and her boyfriend, it reads to me as more of a tragedy than a romance.
The Pools releases October 6 from Delacorte Press. Thank you to NetGalley, E. Lockhart and Random House Children’s Books for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
WTF was that?
September 3, 2026
Arc received from PRH International
After visiting the Pools one cold winter night, five people are turned into birds. This includes Lexie's sister Orly and Lexie's boyfriend Chester. Lexie begins looking for a cure. But can she save the new birds?
I was reading some of this while at the doctor's office, and I nearly cried. When I got home afterwards and finished reading, I was straight up sobbing the entire time.
At first I wasn’t convinced. I struggled with the writing style and wasn’t fully engaged with the story. But after a while I got into it and could not put it down.
The book deals with themes such as chronic illness, mental health, young love, and being a next of kin to someone who’s struggling. It’s about doing everything for the ones you love, and it still not being enough. Sometimes you just can’t fix everything, and you have to find peace with that.
Sometimes love isn’t enough to save someone.
But sometimes it is.
«The Pools» is beautiful, tragic and sad. It’s a ya novel, but I feel like everyone could read this and enjoy it. It can be a bit difficult to begin with, but it’s definitely worth sticking through.
I highly recommend checking it out when it’s released in October. Thank you so much to PRH International for the opportunity to read this.
After visiting the Pools one cold winter night, five people are turned into birds. This includes Lexie's sister Orly and Lexie's boyfriend Chester. Lexie begins looking for a cure. But can she save the new birds?
I was reading some of this while at the doctor's office, and I nearly cried. When I got home afterwards and finished reading, I was straight up sobbing the entire time.
At first I wasn’t convinced. I struggled with the writing style and wasn’t fully engaged with the story. But after a while I got into it and could not put it down.
The book deals with themes such as chronic illness, mental health, young love, and being a next of kin to someone who’s struggling. It’s about doing everything for the ones you love, and it still not being enough. Sometimes you just can’t fix everything, and you have to find peace with that.
Sometimes love isn’t enough to save someone.
But sometimes it is.
«The Pools» is beautiful, tragic and sad. It’s a ya novel, but I feel like everyone could read this and enjoy it. It can be a bit difficult to begin with, but it’s definitely worth sticking through.
I highly recommend checking it out when it’s released in October. Thank you so much to PRH International for the opportunity to read this.
October 8, 2026
This is a beautiful and poetic story about depression and love and loneliness and healing. It has aspects of fairytales woven throughout, and also elements of magical realism.
The transformation of people into birds is a really interesting way for the author to explore deeper themes - how people can choose to deal with difficult situations (by flying away and leaving everyone else behind), and also how people will react to people who are struggling or different or having mental health issues.
I found most of the story really haunting and sad, and it also made me think about how as a society we treat people who are vulnerable or can’t defend themselves (or in this case literally can’t speak/communicate properly).
I usually don’t read poetry, so I wasn’t expecting to enjoy this as much as I did - I would highly recommend it to people who don’t usually read poetry because it is still a very easy read. A whole range of different literary devices are used to create different types of experiences for the reader, and I found that really enjoyable as well. It would be fun to listen to as an audiobook as well.
Thanks so much to Allen & Unwin for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
The transformation of people into birds is a really interesting way for the author to explore deeper themes - how people can choose to deal with difficult situations (by flying away and leaving everyone else behind), and also how people will react to people who are struggling or different or having mental health issues.
I found most of the story really haunting and sad, and it also made me think about how as a society we treat people who are vulnerable or can’t defend themselves (or in this case literally can’t speak/communicate properly).
I usually don’t read poetry, so I wasn’t expecting to enjoy this as much as I did - I would highly recommend it to people who don’t usually read poetry because it is still a very easy read. A whole range of different literary devices are used to create different types of experiences for the reader, and I found that really enjoyable as well. It would be fun to listen to as an audiobook as well.
Thanks so much to Allen & Unwin for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
October 12, 2026
The Pools is a contemporary young adult magical realism novel with a fairy tale feel.
Lexie is new in a town famous for its hot springs when she meets Chester. The two instantly fall in love, but their story is cut short when a shocking curse transforms Chester and Lexie’s younger sister Orly along with three other people in town. Lexie has to keep her love and hope alive for Chester while she searches for a cure.
This is a magical and mysterious novel that touches on complicated families, the demands on young performers, struggles with mental health, and has a beautiful love story. I really enjoyed the lyrical writing style (it sounded especially great on audio) and not knowing what was going to happen next.
I recommend The Pools to readers that enjoy their contemporary young adult novels with a touch of the unexplained.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Narration notes: The audiobook of The Pools was read by Rebecca Soler, who does an excellent job with the poetic style of writing.
Disclosure: An ALC (advanced listening copy) of The Pools was provided by Penguin Random House Audio for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Lexie is new in a town famous for its hot springs when she meets Chester. The two instantly fall in love, but their story is cut short when a shocking curse transforms Chester and Lexie’s younger sister Orly along with three other people in town. Lexie has to keep her love and hope alive for Chester while she searches for a cure.
This is a magical and mysterious novel that touches on complicated families, the demands on young performers, struggles with mental health, and has a beautiful love story. I really enjoyed the lyrical writing style (it sounded especially great on audio) and not knowing what was going to happen next.
I recommend The Pools to readers that enjoy their contemporary young adult novels with a touch of the unexplained.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Narration notes: The audiobook of The Pools was read by Rebecca Soler, who does an excellent job with the poetic style of writing.
Disclosure: An ALC (advanced listening copy) of The Pools was provided by Penguin Random House Audio for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
October 18, 2026
This was such a wonderfully unexpected surprise. I love going into books completely blind, and because I’ve come to know E. Lockhart for her young adult mysteries, I was definitely caught off guard when this one ventured into fairytale fantasy and magical realism. But the unique premise immediately intrigued me, and Lockhart’s beautifully poetic writing kept me completely engaged.
I’ll keep this one intentionally vague, but at its heart, this is a whimsical, atmospheric romance with an unexpectedly emotional depth. It’s dreamy and unconventional, but beneath all the magic is a story that packs more of an emotional punch than I anticipated.
I also highly recommend the audiobook. Rebecca Soler’s narration beautifully enhances the poetic format, and the singing at the end adds such an emotional finishing touch and really elevates the experience.
I’ll keep this one intentionally vague, but at its heart, this is a whimsical, atmospheric romance with an unexpectedly emotional depth. It’s dreamy and unconventional, but beneath all the magic is a story that packs more of an emotional punch than I anticipated.
I also highly recommend the audiobook. Rebecca Soler’s narration beautifully enhances the poetic format, and the singing at the end adds such an emotional finishing touch and really elevates the experience.
October 10, 2026
no one talk down on E Lockhart to me because ever since We Were Liars I've been hooked
unfortunately given the writing style and how incredibly poetic this one was, I did zone out at times but that's my bad for skimming😭 but that third act was EVERYTHING
standing ovation
I'm so glad I have the hardcover
unfortunately given the writing style and how incredibly poetic this one was, I did zone out at times but that's my bad for skimming😭 but that third act was EVERYTHING
standing ovation
I'm so glad I have the hardcover
October 11, 2026
Thank you penguin random house Canada for an arc of this book
I have mixed feelings about this book. The story was sad, interesting and had lots of twists. The writing was hard to get into and I just didn’t like reading a story in that way. I feel like the book needed to be longer because it went by so fast without really going into depth on certain things. Not my favourite by this author
I have mixed feelings about this book. The story was sad, interesting and had lots of twists. The writing was hard to get into and I just didn’t like reading a story in that way. I feel like the book needed to be longer because it went by so fast without really going into depth on certain things. Not my favourite by this author
September 27, 2026
Lockhart is known for her twists - at least for me - and this was no different. The twist itself though? Quite unique and something I didn’t see coming at all. I feel like it’ll stay with me for a while. Thought provoking and hauntingly beautiful and sad.
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