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Hundred Oaks #8
Coming Up for Air
All of Maggie's focus and free time is spent swimming. She's not only striving to earn scholarships - she's training to qualify for the Olympics. It helps that her best friend, Levi, is also on the team and that he cheers her on, but he's already earned his Olympic tryout, so sometimes his presence creates more pressure. If that wasn't stressful enough, life becomes even more complicated once Maggie goes on a college visit. There, she realizes how much of the typical high-school experience she's missed out on by being in the pool. Not one to shy away from a challenge, Maggie decides to try to squeeze the most out of her senior year while still training. First up? Making out with a guy. Maggie figures that Levi could be the perfect candidate - after all, they already spend a lot of time together. But as Maggie starts to discover her own feelings for Levi, she must decide how much she's willing to sacrifice in the water to win at love.
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First published July 4, 2017
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About the author
Miranda Kenneally
14 books4,254 followersGrowing up in Tennessee, Miranda Kenneally dreamed of becoming an Atlanta Brave, a country singer (cliché!), or a UN interpreter. Instead she writes, and works for the State Department in Washington, D.C., where George W. Bush once used her shoulder as an armrest. Miranda loves Twitter, Star Trek and her husband.
Note: I don't answer direct messages, but do answer questions on Goodreads and Twitter. Please feel free to check in with me there!
Note: I don't answer direct messages, but do answer questions on Goodreads and Twitter. Please feel free to check in with me there!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 696 reviews
June 12, 2017
I've always been a fan of Miranda's books and BFF to more is one of my favorites, so I might have squealed when I got approved for this.
Love love loved Maggie and Levi. They're both so focused and honestly good people. I enjoyed their banter and inside jokes and I'm ready to play Overboard with them. I also loved their little group of friends. As always, some of the best scenes had Jordan in them.
The plot was exactly what I was expecting and when the inevitable conflict happens, I was rooting for Maggie 100%. I was thrilled to see that she stuck to her decisions, no matter what. Of course there's a HEA and an epilogue that couldn't have been better if it tried.
This has set the bar high for other contemps and is definitely my new favorite Miranda book.
**Huge thanks to Sourcebooks Fire and NetGalley for providing the arc free of charge**
Love love loved Maggie and Levi. They're both so focused and honestly good people. I enjoyed their banter and inside jokes and I'm ready to play Overboard with them. I also loved their little group of friends. As always, some of the best scenes had Jordan in them.
The plot was exactly what I was expecting and when the inevitable conflict happens, I was rooting for Maggie 100%. I was thrilled to see that she stuck to her decisions, no matter what. Of course there's a HEA and an epilogue that couldn't have been better if it tried.
This has set the bar high for other contemps and is definitely my new favorite Miranda book.
**Huge thanks to Sourcebooks Fire and NetGalley for providing the arc free of charge**
July 4, 2017
(I received an advance copy of this book for free. Thanks to SOURCEBOOKS Fire and NetGalley.)
This was a YA contemporary romance featuring a best-friends to lovers storyline.
I really liked Maggie in this and I felt really sorry for her when she was bullied by another swimmer. I also liked Levi, and the chemistry between them was really good.
The storyline in this was about Maggie asking Levi to teach her how to hook-up, and them then discovering that their feelings for each other went deeper than friendship. The romance was really sweet, and Maggie and Levi made a great couple. I also liked how there were a couple of funny moments in the book too, like when Maggie’s dad caught her buying condoms – talk about mortifying!
The ending to this was pretty good, and I liked that things worked out for Maggie and Levi.
8 out of 10
“I want you to teach me to hook up.”
This was a YA contemporary romance featuring a best-friends to lovers storyline.
I really liked Maggie in this and I felt really sorry for her when she was bullied by another swimmer. I also liked Levi, and the chemistry between them was really good.
The storyline in this was about Maggie asking Levi to teach her how to hook-up, and them then discovering that their feelings for each other went deeper than friendship. The romance was really sweet, and Maggie and Levi made a great couple. I also liked how there were a couple of funny moments in the book too, like when Maggie’s dad caught her buying condoms – talk about mortifying!
The ending to this was pretty good, and I liked that things worked out for Maggie and Levi.
8 out of 10
July 6, 2017
3 1/2
One of my favorite Kenneally's books! I loved the aspect of competitive swimming and adored the romance! A great summer read for sure!
One of my favorite Kenneally's books! I loved the aspect of competitive swimming and adored the romance! A great summer read for sure!
June 25, 2017
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher via NetGalley. This in no way impacted on my view.
Kenneally's Hundred Oaks series is one of my favourite YA Contemporary series, of all time! I simply adore her story telling, and immediately started the final book in the series as soon as it became available on NetGalley. In Coming Up For Air, Maggie has next to no time for a personal life. Everything revolves around swimming, and her hope that she will one day qualify for the US Olympic team. It helps that her best friend, Levi, is in the same position, so neither feel guilty when they think about swimming. However, Maggie starts to realise she hasn't had a 'normal' high school experience, and wants to explore life as a teenage girl. One problem, though, as she starts to explore this side of life, her feelings about Levi soon change to something much more than friendship.
This book is my favourite of the whole series, hands down! I just loved Maggie so much. She was the perfect MC, and really relatable, though I have no inclination to sports or Olympic dreams. I couldn't put the book down as soon as I picked it up, and devoured it in one sitting.
Maggie and Levi's relationship was smooth, and felt natural from day one. Their progression from best friends to lovers never felt rushed or forced, and it was completely swoony. The way they cared for each other, and didn't want to jeopardise their friendship was what endeared them the most to me.
Yes, there were moments when the plot was a bit predictable, but not so much that it meant the book wasn't enjoyable. Even now, I am already planning on re-reading Coming Up For Air, and look forward to more from Kenneally in the future. If you haven't read any of the books in this series yet, I can't recommend them enough!
November 4, 2019
I loved Catching Jordan and Breathe, Annie, Breathe, but this one here.. oh, it is definitely my top favourite.
5 shiny stars.
I loved EVERYTHING about it: the writing, the humor, the characters (one of the best main characters in a contemporary, I absolutely adore her), the storyline, the ending. It is pretty much drama free, even though there is personal or relationship struggle, the characters are mature for their age, there is comunication (even though sometimes they have no idea what they actually want), this is also a book I would also recommend to teens that feel pressured both socially and "professionally ".. there is so much I loved about this book, I am immensely happy and thankful to be given the chance to read it now.
And the epilogue, it's all back to the beginning and it is beautiful!
If you enjoyed the other companion novels you will adore this one.
If you are new to the series I advise you to start with Catching Jordan, the first one in the ‘series’, even though this book can work very well as a standalone. I didn’t read all the books either and I still loved Coming Up for Air to pieces!
Full review here.
5 shiny stars.
I loved EVERYTHING about it: the writing, the humor, the characters (one of the best main characters in a contemporary, I absolutely adore her), the storyline, the ending. It is pretty much drama free, even though there is personal or relationship struggle, the characters are mature for their age, there is comunication (even though sometimes they have no idea what they actually want), this is also a book I would also recommend to teens that feel pressured both socially and "professionally ".. there is so much I loved about this book, I am immensely happy and thankful to be given the chance to read it now.
And the epilogue, it's all back to the beginning and it is beautiful!
If you enjoyed the other companion novels you will adore this one.
If you are new to the series I advise you to start with Catching Jordan, the first one in the ‘series’, even though this book can work very well as a standalone. I didn’t read all the books either and I still loved Coming Up for Air to pieces!
Full review here.
June 26, 2017
Maggie's entire life is swimming. Since she was a kid, her focus has been on the sport and hopefully qualifying for the Olympics one day. Her best friend, Levi, also swims, and the two spend most of their time together. As they enter their senior year, however, Maggie starts to realize how much of typical teen life she's missed out on because of swimming. In particular: relationships and being with a guy. So Maggie turns to Levi for help. After all, her best friend is well-versed in randomly hooking up with girls at swim meets, so she asks him to teach her to hook up. Maggie doesn't think anything will go wrong with this plan--and that the two can maintain their close friendship. But is that really the case? And can Maggie still focus on the most important year of her swimming career?
I've read a few other books in Kenneally's Hundred Oaks series and really enjoyed them: they are just fun, escapist YA novels. For me, this one wasn't quite up to the others I've read, though I enjoyed the second half more than the first. It took me a long time to get into the story and the characters. The "learn to hook up" premise for the plot was a shaky one, and I missed the main focus on sport and relationships than seem to be the hallmark of Kenneally's other novels. While this genre of book is often a bit predictable, the first half of this one was ridiculously so, and it was a little painful to read at times.
Luckily, I found the second half more in the usual Hundred Oaks style, and I did find myself getting into Maggie and Levi's story more. Maggie irritated me a bit from time to time, but she takes more control over her own life decisions in the second half of the story. I liked Levi a lot and the two's friendship. The second half also centers more on her competitive swimming career, which I enjoyed (the focus on different sports in this series is always a fun, added touch). You can't help but enjoy the romance aspect and get sucked in--it's just a strength of Kenneally's and she does it so well. Overall, while not my favorite of the Hundred Oaks novels, this was a cute book and a fun read, though not the usual quick escape that I was expecting.
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher and Netgalley (thank you!); it is available everywhere as of 07/01/2017.
You can read my reviews of two other books in the series here: BREATHE, ANNIE, BREATHE and DEFENDING TAYLOR.
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I've read a few other books in Kenneally's Hundred Oaks series and really enjoyed them: they are just fun, escapist YA novels. For me, this one wasn't quite up to the others I've read, though I enjoyed the second half more than the first. It took me a long time to get into the story and the characters. The "learn to hook up" premise for the plot was a shaky one, and I missed the main focus on sport and relationships than seem to be the hallmark of Kenneally's other novels. While this genre of book is often a bit predictable, the first half of this one was ridiculously so, and it was a little painful to read at times.
Luckily, I found the second half more in the usual Hundred Oaks style, and I did find myself getting into Maggie and Levi's story more. Maggie irritated me a bit from time to time, but she takes more control over her own life decisions in the second half of the story. I liked Levi a lot and the two's friendship. The second half also centers more on her competitive swimming career, which I enjoyed (the focus on different sports in this series is always a fun, added touch). You can't help but enjoy the romance aspect and get sucked in--it's just a strength of Kenneally's and she does it so well. Overall, while not my favorite of the Hundred Oaks novels, this was a cute book and a fun read, though not the usual quick escape that I was expecting.
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher and Netgalley (thank you!); it is available everywhere as of 07/01/2017.
You can read my reviews of two other books in the series here: BREATHE, ANNIE, BREATHE and DEFENDING TAYLOR.
Blog ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Google+ ~ Instagram
July 23, 2017
3.5 stars!
I adore Miranda Kenneally's writing. Her YA stories are one of my go-to's when I'm hankering for a light, YA romance read.
Coming Up For Air checks all the YA romance boxes, and I enjoyed it. It's a pretty straightforward story. What you read in the blurb is what you get.
Maggie is a competitive swimmer who wants an Olympic tryout spot. Her best friend, Levi already has a spot and Maggie is working overtime to get in as well. Even with that goal, Maggie is still a teenager. Yes, she has dreams about making it into the Olympics but she also wants to experience the full high school experience.
That's where the conflict of this book comes in because to qualify for the Olympics, Maggie would have to sacrifice a lot more of her time to achieve her goal. And her growing feelings for her best friend Levi is not helping. Then there's also the re-appearance of her fiercest rival. So everything is getting overwhelming for Maggie real fast.
Coming Up for Air is told entirely in Maggie's POV, and like her previous books, the romance is light and clean. It doesn't take center stage but it's not relegated to the sidelines either. I loved Maggie's relationship with Levi, Hunter and Georgia. And I also enjoyed Parker's cameo in this book as sort of a mentor to Maggie. That was great.
This is clean YA, meaning there's no open sexual encounters between the hero and the heroine. It's there and it happened but it's fade-to-black, which is fine really.
ARC provided by the publisher
I adore Miranda Kenneally's writing. Her YA stories are one of my go-to's when I'm hankering for a light, YA romance read.
Coming Up For Air checks all the YA romance boxes, and I enjoyed it. It's a pretty straightforward story. What you read in the blurb is what you get.
Maggie is a competitive swimmer who wants an Olympic tryout spot. Her best friend, Levi already has a spot and Maggie is working overtime to get in as well. Even with that goal, Maggie is still a teenager. Yes, she has dreams about making it into the Olympics but she also wants to experience the full high school experience.
That's where the conflict of this book comes in because to qualify for the Olympics, Maggie would have to sacrifice a lot more of her time to achieve her goal. And her growing feelings for her best friend Levi is not helping. Then there's also the re-appearance of her fiercest rival. So everything is getting overwhelming for Maggie real fast.
Coming Up for Air is told entirely in Maggie's POV, and like her previous books, the romance is light and clean. It doesn't take center stage but it's not relegated to the sidelines either. I loved Maggie's relationship with Levi, Hunter and Georgia. And I also enjoyed Parker's cameo in this book as sort of a mentor to Maggie. That was great.
This is clean YA, meaning there's no open sexual encounters between the hero and the heroine. It's there and it happened but it's fade-to-black, which is fine really.
ARC provided by the publisher
March 5, 2017
I'm honored to have read an early copy of this & so grateful to Miranda for sharing her words with me. As someone who adores swimming, I really enjoyed reading this novel set amongst the swimmer's world. It's the perfect balance of real life issues that I know teens can identify with, accompanied with a super competitive sport that intensifies the story that much more.
August 20, 2017
It´s a nice summer read. Only reason I´m not giving it more than 3 stars its cause plot felt a bit unfinished. But I still liked it.
July 6, 2017
She said it's the end...
Yep, that's right. Hundred Oaks is done, according to Miranda Kenneally's Twitter feed. Her final book in the series, Coming Up For Air, is all about firsts but it also takes a look back to where it all started.
Maggie King has been swimming towards the Olympic trials almost the entire 17+ years of her life. With her best friend Levi Lucassen by her side the entire way, they both train hard almost every day. The one break... Friday nights with their other two best friends, Georgia and Hunter, both also athletes of their own rights. They all gather at the local Jiffy Burger and discuss their love lives, their families, and their future plans.
Maggie has the "future plans" part all figured out. But listening to her friends, she realizes that she may have missed out on some high school experiences. Specifically, the "hooking up" part. And she's worried her inexperience will show once she gets to college.
I actually went into this story totally forgetting what it was about and I didn't read the synopsis to refresh my memory. If you can, I highly recommend you do that because it really is a sweet, surprising love story. No matter, Ms. Kenneally put a unique spin on a story trope I love. But she made this story new! In Coming Up For Air, she blended a few different ideas and it really worked in the overall storytelling.
I would like to briefly point out that even though this story takes place during Senior year in high school, the sexual content makes me not want to recommend this book to anyone much younger than that. I'm such a mom sometimes....
After eight books, I think Ms. Kenneally has her regimen down for writing a good book. Okay, okay... I have only one other book of hers to compare it to, Catching Jordan. But that kind of works, right?
Being a young adult contemporary romance, Ms. Kenneally paced this story well. Told entirely from Maggie's POV, the book is a very quick read with short, succinct scenes that never dawdle or lose the reader. I hate being bored in a romance with an introspective character... blech!! None of that here!! We get romance, turmoil, and exciting swim races. Perfect for the young adult reader... or someone like me who needed a lazy summer day distraction :)
You don't have to have read any of the other stories in the Hundred Oaks series to enjoy this one. Ms. Kenneally uses new characters in this story and sets up the world, the characters, and the plot all quickly for the reader in the first couple of chapters. Not having read any of the previous books means you just miss out on the references to characters in previous books.
... and you miss out on the true effect of the surprising and "awe"-inspiring epilogue that wraps up the series with a nice pretty bow.
Would you be surprised if there wasn't??
Review appears on
Yep, that's right. Hundred Oaks is done, according to Miranda Kenneally's Twitter feed. Her final book in the series, Coming Up For Air, is all about firsts but it also takes a look back to where it all started.
Maggie King has been swimming towards the Olympic trials almost the entire 17+ years of her life. With her best friend Levi Lucassen by her side the entire way, they both train hard almost every day. The one break... Friday nights with their other two best friends, Georgia and Hunter, both also athletes of their own rights. They all gather at the local Jiffy Burger and discuss their love lives, their families, and their future plans.
Maggie has the "future plans" part all figured out. But listening to her friends, she realizes that she may have missed out on some high school experiences. Specifically, the "hooking up" part. And she's worried her inexperience will show once she gets to college.
I actually went into this story totally forgetting what it was about and I didn't read the synopsis to refresh my memory. If you can, I highly recommend you do that because it really is a sweet, surprising love story. No matter, Ms. Kenneally put a unique spin on a story trope I love. But she made this story new! In Coming Up For Air, she blended a few different ideas and it really worked in the overall storytelling.
I would like to briefly point out that even though this story takes place during Senior year in high school, the sexual content makes me not want to recommend this book to anyone much younger than that. I'm such a mom sometimes....
After eight books, I think Ms. Kenneally has her regimen down for writing a good book. Okay, okay... I have only one other book of hers to compare it to, Catching Jordan. But that kind of works, right?
Being a young adult contemporary romance, Ms. Kenneally paced this story well. Told entirely from Maggie's POV, the book is a very quick read with short, succinct scenes that never dawdle or lose the reader. I hate being bored in a romance with an introspective character... blech!! None of that here!! We get romance, turmoil, and exciting swim races. Perfect for the young adult reader... or someone like me who needed a lazy summer day distraction :)
You don't have to have read any of the other stories in the Hundred Oaks series to enjoy this one. Ms. Kenneally uses new characters in this story and sets up the world, the characters, and the plot all quickly for the reader in the first couple of chapters. Not having read any of the previous books means you just miss out on the references to characters in previous books.
... and you miss out on the true effect of the surprising and "awe"-inspiring epilogue that wraps up the series with a nice pretty bow.
Would you be surprised if there wasn't??
Review appears on
unfinished
December 22, 2017I'm abandoning this at about 70% mark, though "without prejudice" (i.e. rating). It's really well-written and the characters are very well-depicted. And with a setting and story that are interesting.
But this is a story of sexual discovery (not unlike Judy Bloom's Forever . . .) only in a modern world where the college hook-up culture has clearly penetrated the American High School. And that depresses me. Kenneally is an outstanding writer so she is neither condemning nor condoning that development. She's merely letting it play out in her characters. And that works for both good and ill, about like you'd expect with people just discovering themselves. And no, I don't mean that it's all loss and devastation, because it isn't. And I don't mean that it's all hugs and kittens, because it isn't that, either.
And I'm talking myself into circles because while I admire the talent and the art and I'm glad authors exist who can take on this kind of story and do so honestly and with care (and without at all being as heavy as I'm making it sound) . . . it's still not a story I'm interested in experiencing even though I liked the characters and my heart broke for their pain and rejoiced in their victories.
But this is a story of sexual discovery (not unlike Judy Bloom's Forever . . .) only in a modern world where the college hook-up culture has clearly penetrated the American High School. And that depresses me. Kenneally is an outstanding writer so she is neither condemning nor condoning that development. She's merely letting it play out in her characters. And that works for both good and ill, about like you'd expect with people just discovering themselves. And no, I don't mean that it's all loss and devastation, because it isn't. And I don't mean that it's all hugs and kittens, because it isn't that, either.
And I'm talking myself into circles because while I admire the talent and the art and I'm glad authors exist who can take on this kind of story and do so honestly and with care (and without at all being as heavy as I'm making it sound) . . . it's still not a story I'm interested in experiencing even though I liked the characters and my heart broke for their pain and rejoiced in their victories.
July 13, 2017
2,5 estrellas redondeadas a 2 porque sí, me gustó, pero en realidad it was ok?
"There’s definitely a double standard. It seems guys can do whatever they want sexually because boys will be boys. But girls have every right to experiment too. Can’t girls be girls?"
El libro comienza de manera poco prometedora: las típicas descripciones físicas de los personajes en las primeras 10 paginas donde nos enteramos que la protagonista es "promedio" (aunque no lo es) y el protagonista es hermoso, musculoso y sexy; info dump de cosas relativas a la natación; rivalidades infantiles (tomando en cuenta que los personajes tienen 17/18 años); problemas superficiales (nunca he sido besada, oh, qué será de mí? cómo puedo seguir viviendo así?). Es fácil en esos primeros capítulos caer en la tentación de abandonar la lectura, yo estuve a punto. Pero si resistes solo un poco las cosas mejoran.
Lo bueno:
- La relación de Maggie y Levi. Cuando deciden transformarla en algo más puedes sentir la química pero siempre su amistad es lo más importante.
- La forma en la que se trata la rivalidad entre Roxy y Maggie. Como van madurando y la desestiman como lo que es: una tontería (aunque me hubiese gustado que se le diera mayor profundidad a Roxy y que no fuera utilizada como un simple generador de angst).
-El crecimiento personal de Maggie de "como soy chica pueden juzgarme" a "las chicas también tenemos derecho a experimentar y está bien". Es edificante ver como crece para aceptarse.
- El grupo de amigos. Que maravilla leer amistades que son más que simples personajes de relleno. A pesar de que Georgia y Hunter están allí para apoyar (o desaprobar, según aplique) a los protagonistas, cada uno tiene su propia historia. Que son tan importantes como la principal.
- Que Maggie se esfuerce con todo para cada competencia a pesar de no ser la mejor, de hecho pierde casi todas las carreras en las que participa. Fue refrescante (y realista) leer acerca de un personaje principal que no es el mejor en todo lo que hace pero que a pesar de las adversidades no se rinde.
Lo malo:
- El drama principal que separa a Levi y Maggie a mitad del libro (spoiler: pasa en todos los libros románticos así que no es spoiler), es taaaaan básico y predecible y meh. Drama por el simple hecho de tener drama.
- La falta de diversidad racial y de orientación sexual.
- Las continuas referencias deportivas de natación. #ABURRIDAS. I don't care.
Lo mejor:
- Levi usando The Raven Boys como comfort-read cuando está enfermo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Un libro disfrutable, que se lee rápido y que está un poquito por encima de la media en su área pero que padece de los defectos frecuentes del género.
"There’s definitely a double standard. It seems guys can do whatever they want sexually because boys will be boys. But girls have every right to experiment too. Can’t girls be girls?"
El libro comienza de manera poco prometedora: las típicas descripciones físicas de los personajes en las primeras 10 paginas donde nos enteramos que la protagonista es "promedio" (aunque no lo es) y el protagonista es hermoso, musculoso y sexy; info dump de cosas relativas a la natación; rivalidades infantiles (tomando en cuenta que los personajes tienen 17/18 años); problemas superficiales (nunca he sido besada, oh, qué será de mí? cómo puedo seguir viviendo así?). Es fácil en esos primeros capítulos caer en la tentación de abandonar la lectura, yo estuve a punto. Pero si resistes solo un poco las cosas mejoran.
Lo bueno:
- La relación de Maggie y Levi. Cuando deciden transformarla en algo más puedes sentir la química pero siempre su amistad es lo más importante.
- La forma en la que se trata la rivalidad entre Roxy y Maggie. Como van madurando y la desestiman como lo que es: una tontería (aunque me hubiese gustado que se le diera mayor profundidad a Roxy y que no fuera utilizada como un simple generador de angst).
-El crecimiento personal de Maggie de "como soy chica pueden juzgarme" a "las chicas también tenemos derecho a experimentar y está bien". Es edificante ver como crece para aceptarse.
- El grupo de amigos. Que maravilla leer amistades que son más que simples personajes de relleno. A pesar de que Georgia y Hunter están allí para apoyar (o desaprobar, según aplique) a los protagonistas, cada uno tiene su propia historia. Que son tan importantes como la principal.
- Que Maggie se esfuerce con todo para cada competencia a pesar de no ser la mejor, de hecho pierde casi todas las carreras en las que participa. Fue refrescante (y realista) leer acerca de un personaje principal que no es el mejor en todo lo que hace pero que a pesar de las adversidades no se rinde.
Lo malo:
- El drama principal que separa a Levi y Maggie a mitad del libro (spoiler: pasa en todos los libros románticos así que no es spoiler), es taaaaan básico y predecible y meh. Drama por el simple hecho de tener drama.
- La falta de diversidad racial y de orientación sexual.
- Las continuas referencias deportivas de natación. #ABURRIDAS. I don't care.
Lo mejor:
- Levi usando The Raven Boys como comfort-read cuando está enfermo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Un libro disfrutable, que se lee rápido y que está un poquito por encima de la media en su área pero que padece de los defectos frecuentes del género.
April 14, 2017
Guys, this was so good.
Like really, adorably, amazingly good!
I wasn’t a huge fan of Catching Jordan, Miranda Kenneally’s first novel in the Hundred Oaks series. When I received this from Netgalley I wasn’t sure what to expect. As someone who absolutely loves swimming, I was hoping this would entice more than football does and I just could not put it down! I seriously read this in one sitting! Although the romance was perfect (who else loves the “best friends to something more” trope?), I was absolutely enthralled with Maggie’s competitive swimming world.
Maggie is trying to qualify for the Olympics. Her entire life is eating and swimming. Her only free time involves hanging out at the local burger place on Friday night with her three closest friends, Georgia, Hunter and Levi. Levi is her best friend and the most understanding of her schedule as he is a competitive swimmer as well. As Maggie lives vicariously through her friend's lives she realises that she may be missing out of the quintessential high school “experience”. After a disastrous hook-up Maggie decides to ask Levi to help her gain some experience before heading off to college. After he hesitantly agrees the line between friendship and something more becomes blurry.
The healthy sex attitude in the novel blew me away. The way the characters, and especially one of the teachers, approached sex was really well done. It wasn’t something to be ashamed of. It wasn’t this crazy secretive thing. No one pretended that teenagers don’t want to experiment and have sex. It was realistic and healthy and just normal. A real breath of fresh air in the YA world and I have to applaud Kenneally for that.
Even if you didn’t love Kenneally’s other novels, I would still recommend this. Kenneally does an amazing job of showing us Maggie’s intense routine and it was hard not to admire Maggie’s passion and determination. It really does amaze me that there are people out there this dedicated to their sport.
Now I am going to have to go back and read the rest of the Hundred Oak series!
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January 18, 2018
This is a really sweet YA coming-of-age romance that focuses on the focus, determination, and hard work of being a competitive athlete in your teens.
It was an entertaining, engaging read and I really enjoyed it.
It was an entertaining, engaging read and I really enjoyed it.
March 27, 2019
This book wasn't bad.
It also wasn't incredible.
It was a cute, albeit boring, story
It also wasn't incredible.
It was a cute, albeit boring, story
December 11, 2019
3.5 stars. This was pretty much what I thought it would be, and I am not mad at it!
Some things I really enjoyed about this book:
-the friendships in this book
-the swimming aspect (I love sports romances)
-Maggie; she was a very inspiring and motivating character!
The one thing that makes my rating lower than 4 or 5 stars is that I am not a huge fan of the friends-to-lovers trope. Obviously I have read some that I have enjoyed, and even though this was an entertaining and fun read, it did not completely change my feelings on this particular trope.
Overall, this was a good and fun read. If you want a YA sports romance (that also gets a bit steamy at times), I would recommend giving this one a shot.
Some things I really enjoyed about this book:
-the friendships in this book
-the swimming aspect (I love sports romances)
-Maggie; she was a very inspiring and motivating character!
The one thing that makes my rating lower than 4 or 5 stars is that I am not a huge fan of the friends-to-lovers trope. Obviously I have read some that I have enjoyed, and even though this was an entertaining and fun read, it did not completely change my feelings on this particular trope.
Overall, this was a good and fun read. If you want a YA sports romance (that also gets a bit steamy at times), I would recommend giving this one a shot.
June 28, 2017
Review originally posted on Mostly YA Lit:
I’ve read five of Miranda Kenneally’s Hundred Oaks books, but Coming Up for Air is the only one that’s ever been absolutely unputdownable for me. I don’t know if it’s the really amazing friendship/relationship between protagonist Maggie King and best friend/swimming partner Levi Lucassen, the sex positivity, the descriptions of thetraining needed for the Olympics, or the absolute steaminess of the romance…
Ok, wait, who am I kidding, it’s definitely the steamy romance. This book smolders with the main characters’ encounters – equal parts banter, long-time friendship, and incredibly sexy moments.
What I loved about this book was how naturally Maggie and Levi went from friends to lovers – and how honest it was about the confusion of first having feelings for someone. Add to that the focus needed to become an Olympic athlete and it’s a lot of pressure to try to sort out a relationship.
I also loved how much Maggie was the instigator for everything because she was sexually curious and ready to explore physical love. She wanted experience before going to college – but she also wanted to feel safe while getting that experience. Obviously, this provides for some pretty steamy scenes. And even more obviously, things get complicated when Maggie and Levi start to have feelings for each others.
Kenneally has always been a huge proponent of writing sex positive teenagers, but never more so than in this book. I loved how Coming Up for Air encouraged her to explore and do what felt good to to her, safely. I loved that all of the girls in the book were just as interested in the physical side of love as the boys were. It’s so realistic, feminist, and honest.
As someone who loves sports romances, and especially loves swimming, I found this book to be so good at balancing both. The swimming descriptions, in particular, were fascinating and never felt heavy or weighty with exposition. I enjoyed seeing the characters preparing for such big challenges.
I also really loved the secondary characters in this book – from Maggie’s parents, to athlete friends Hunter and Georgia, to the swim team friends. Everyone in this book really feels rounded, and because of that, every scene felt compelling and necessary. Even though the central theme of this book is around the dichotomy of focus and determination vs losing oneself in a relationship, the little moments that Maggie has with her friends at the local Jiffy Burger, or the talks with her parents at their party planning business made this book come alive for me.
THE FINAL WORD:
If I’m being objective, I think Breathe, Annie, Breathe is still the best book of the Hundred Oaks series. But I think Coming Up for Air is the most tightly written of the series, and the one that really says what Miranda Kenneally wanted to say with this series. It’s got a little bit of everything, from friendships to sexy romance, to feminism and sports. And since it’s the last book in the series, the cameos don’t hurt either.
Coming Up for Air is definitely up there as my second favorite of the Hundred Oaks series – and it might even sneak into first on further reflection.
I’ve read five of Miranda Kenneally’s Hundred Oaks books, but Coming Up for Air is the only one that’s ever been absolutely unputdownable for me. I don’t know if it’s the really amazing friendship/relationship between protagonist Maggie King and best friend/swimming partner Levi Lucassen, the sex positivity, the descriptions of thetraining needed for the Olympics, or the absolute steaminess of the romance…
Ok, wait, who am I kidding, it’s definitely the steamy romance. This book smolders with the main characters’ encounters – equal parts banter, long-time friendship, and incredibly sexy moments.
What I loved about this book was how naturally Maggie and Levi went from friends to lovers – and how honest it was about the confusion of first having feelings for someone. Add to that the focus needed to become an Olympic athlete and it’s a lot of pressure to try to sort out a relationship.
I also loved how much Maggie was the instigator for everything because she was sexually curious and ready to explore physical love. She wanted experience before going to college – but she also wanted to feel safe while getting that experience. Obviously, this provides for some pretty steamy scenes. And even more obviously, things get complicated when Maggie and Levi start to have feelings for each others.
Kenneally has always been a huge proponent of writing sex positive teenagers, but never more so than in this book. I loved how Coming Up for Air encouraged her to explore and do what felt good to to her, safely. I loved that all of the girls in the book were just as interested in the physical side of love as the boys were. It’s so realistic, feminist, and honest.
As someone who loves sports romances, and especially loves swimming, I found this book to be so good at balancing both. The swimming descriptions, in particular, were fascinating and never felt heavy or weighty with exposition. I enjoyed seeing the characters preparing for such big challenges.
I also really loved the secondary characters in this book – from Maggie’s parents, to athlete friends Hunter and Georgia, to the swim team friends. Everyone in this book really feels rounded, and because of that, every scene felt compelling and necessary. Even though the central theme of this book is around the dichotomy of focus and determination vs losing oneself in a relationship, the little moments that Maggie has with her friends at the local Jiffy Burger, or the talks with her parents at their party planning business made this book come alive for me.
THE FINAL WORD:
If I’m being objective, I think Breathe, Annie, Breathe is still the best book of the Hundred Oaks series. But I think Coming Up for Air is the most tightly written of the series, and the one that really says what Miranda Kenneally wanted to say with this series. It’s got a little bit of everything, from friendships to sexy romance, to feminism and sports. And since it’s the last book in the series, the cameos don’t hurt either.
Coming Up for Air is definitely up there as my second favorite of the Hundred Oaks series – and it might even sneak into first on further reflection.
July 8, 2017
3.5/5
I wasn’t aware going into Coming Up For Air that this was the last book in the Hundred Oaks series. This series has been such a comforting and pleasant presence in my reading life, so I’m sad that it’s over. For me, these books have consistently grown better and Miranda Kenneally’s strength as a YA writer has only improved. Coming Up For Air was a satisfying conclusion, though I’m going to admit, it wasn’t my favorite book from the author for a couple of reasons.
I don’t quite get why friends-to-lovers romances aren’t as prevalent in YA. They always make for a sweet trope, and we get that here in Coming Up For Air. Maggie and Levi have a great friendship between them, that evolves into chemistry when Maggie propositions Levi to help her gain some experience when it comes to flirting, boys and sex. The foundation of their relationship was solid enough to have me rooting for them. That being said, the romance could be so stressful. Both of them are struggling with these new heightened feelings for each other, and there was some push and pull, that I’m not used to seeing in Miranda’s books that I wasn’t very much of a fan of, to be honest. I guess I just wanted them to be a couple and do coupley things without giving me a headache. Coming Up For Air is also quite sex-positive, which is a trend with Miranda Kenneally’s books, one that I’m always grateful for, because she handles it with finesse. I liked how both Levi and Maggie were portrayed as these teens who had urges and were frequently horny. The sexy times scenes were touching, and done beautifully, in my opinion, not explicitly, but written in a way that was sensitive and not all gratuitous.
For the most part, I liked the characters in Coming Up For Air. Both Maggie and Levi were likable characters, and you want to root for them. Both their passion and struggles with swimming were one of the highlights of the book for me. Speaking of swimming, I loved how focused the book was on swimming – it’s one of the only sports I happen to enjoy. Anyways back to the characters. Though I did like them, I didn’t feel they were particularly memorable, mostly because they lacked a bit of depth and development. They weren’t terrible, but just not up to the standards I have come to expect from Miranda Kenneally. I did love all the friendships here, and how supportive these kids of each other. It always makes me happy to see characters with good friends, being rocks to one another.
Coming Up For Air ended with a splendid epilogue that was an absolute precious gift to fans of the series – it was seriously PERFECT. While this installment wasn’t my favorite, I’m never not going to recommend this series. They are truly amazing coming of age stories with great characters. I’m excited to see where Miranda Kenneally takes readers next.
April 14, 2020
“When I call mom and dad, they scream congratulations over and over, which is pretty funny considering they are catering a library fundraiser tonight. It’s fun to imagine the librarians shushing them.”
I don’t really have much to say about this book.
I actually got bored, the only part I really enjoyed was the last chapter, of Sam and Jordan ( from the first book)
You didn’t find out what happened to the other people in the last books. I thought this book didn’t have something epic to pull me in.
So I give Coming Up for Air 1/5 stars
I don’t really have much to say about this book.
I actually got bored, the only part I really enjoyed was the last chapter, of Sam and Jordan ( from the first book)
You didn’t find out what happened to the other people in the last books. I thought this book didn’t have something epic to pull me in.
So I give Coming Up for Air 1/5 stars
March 23, 2017
Hundred Oaks is back at it with a new sports story! I love how Kenneally always manages to capture an authentic look into the minds of teens.
This one lacked a certain depth the others had, but I was hooked until the end, per usual.
This one lacked a certain depth the others had, but I was hooked until the end, per usual.
April 15, 2018
You can find the full review and all the fancy and/or randomness that accompanies it at It Starts at Midnight
If you know me, you know that two things are true: 1) I don't usually get along well with fluffy; and 2) I will read anything that promises me swimming. So I was on the fence about whether I should read this, especially since it was part of a series that I'd never read. But alas, it was such a fabulously pleasant surprise! First, if you haven't read the other books, it is absolutely not a problem. I had been told this, but I had a pretty healthy level of skepticism about it. Also, if you are (or were) a swimmer, you'll be incredibly happy to know that the swimming references are on point! I'll delve more into that in a second. Let's talk about what I adored, shall we?
Maggie was awesome. She seemed so realistic to me, especially as a person who did devote my whole high school career to athletics. Look, I was not Maggie-level Olympian hopeful or anything, but I was really serious about it. So I understood her so much, understood how important swimming was to her, and understood how sometimes it is really, really hard to balance having a swimming life and any kind of personal life, especially when you include the responsibilities of high school, and preparing for college. I loved how realistically the author portrayed Maggie's situation- and I think so many teens would be able to relate to it. Even if you aren't/weren't an athlete, no doubt you've lived through the stress of juggling something.
As I said before, the swimming references are so, so well done. The author clearly did her homework, not only with the basics of the sport in general, but in actual habits and mores of the athletes. It brought me back to that intense swimming life, and I loved it. The book discusses things like "swimcest" (which is when a swimmer engages in teammate romance), coach-swimmer interactions, issues with jealousy, pre-meet rituals, and so much more.
The romance was so ship-worthy. I love the friends-to-lovers trope, which made it a huge win. Levi is her teammate, of course, and so he understands Maggie's priorities and her time constraints. Plus, they just work so well together, they play off each other perfectly!
It was just an overall fun book to read. The book showed such a realistic glimpse into so many of the struggles that a young scholar-athlete goes through. There was romance, friendship, and I loved that the characters were so driven. They weren't perfect by any means, but I liked that they tried so hard and were invested in their futures.
Bottom Line: Definitely one of the best fluffier books, and one of the best swimming books I have ever read. I loved the story, the romance, and the characters, and now want to read the rest of the series!
*Copy provided for review
If you know me, you know that two things are true: 1) I don't usually get along well with fluffy; and 2) I will read anything that promises me swimming. So I was on the fence about whether I should read this, especially since it was part of a series that I'd never read. But alas, it was such a fabulously pleasant surprise! First, if you haven't read the other books, it is absolutely not a problem. I had been told this, but I had a pretty healthy level of skepticism about it. Also, if you are (or were) a swimmer, you'll be incredibly happy to know that the swimming references are on point! I'll delve more into that in a second. Let's talk about what I adored, shall we?
Maggie was awesome. She seemed so realistic to me, especially as a person who did devote my whole high school career to athletics. Look, I was not Maggie-level Olympian hopeful or anything, but I was really serious about it. So I understood her so much, understood how important swimming was to her, and understood how sometimes it is really, really hard to balance having a swimming life and any kind of personal life, especially when you include the responsibilities of high school, and preparing for college. I loved how realistically the author portrayed Maggie's situation- and I think so many teens would be able to relate to it. Even if you aren't/weren't an athlete, no doubt you've lived through the stress of juggling something.
As I said before, the swimming references are so, so well done. The author clearly did her homework, not only with the basics of the sport in general, but in actual habits and mores of the athletes. It brought me back to that intense swimming life, and I loved it. The book discusses things like "swimcest" (which is when a swimmer engages in teammate romance), coach-swimmer interactions, issues with jealousy, pre-meet rituals, and so much more.
The romance was so ship-worthy. I love the friends-to-lovers trope, which made it a huge win. Levi is her teammate, of course, and so he understands Maggie's priorities and her time constraints. Plus, they just work so well together, they play off each other perfectly!
It was just an overall fun book to read. The book showed such a realistic glimpse into so many of the struggles that a young scholar-athlete goes through. There was romance, friendship, and I loved that the characters were so driven. They weren't perfect by any means, but I liked that they tried so hard and were invested in their futures.
Bottom Line: Definitely one of the best fluffier books, and one of the best swimming books I have ever read. I loved the story, the romance, and the characters, and now want to read the rest of the series!
*Copy provided for review
Read
June 22, 2017Coming Up for Air by Miranda Kenneally
Release Date: July 4th, 2017
DNF @ 12%
Thanks so much for the publisher for sending me an E-ARC of this book via Netgalley - thanks again!
I had always wondered about Miranda Kenneally's books. Her name continues to crop up in YA contemporary, and since I'm clearly a lover of contemporary, it seems that I should have picked up one of her books by now. Alas, I had yet to make it to one to this book. Perhaps because she used a lot of sports themes in her books? Sports and YA plots really don't mix too much for me, so I tend to skip over a lot of them (therefore, skipping over a lot of Kenneally's work). However, this one was about swimming, and I do love a good swim story (perhaps an earlier Michael Phelps Olympics obsession), so I thought I would finally take the dive (pun soooooooo intended) into her stories finally!
Swim. Eat. Shower. School. Snack. Swim. Swim. Swim. Dinner. Homework. Bed. Repeat.
All of Maggie’s focus and free time is spent swimming. She’s not only striving to earn scholarships—she’s training to qualify for the Olympics. It helps that her best friend, Levi, is also on the team and cheers her on. But Levi’s already earned an Olympic try out, so she feels even more pressure to succeed. And it’s not until Maggie’s away on a college visit that she realizes how much of the “typical” high school experience she’s missed by being in the pool.
Not one to shy away from a challenge, Maggie decides to squeeze the most out of her senior year. First up? Making out with a guy. And Levi could be the perfect candidate. After all, they already spend a lot of time together. But as Maggie slowly starts to uncover new feelings for Levi, how much is she willing to lose to win?
There was really nothing wrong with this book except, well, me. I have told you before that there are writing styles that I liked and writing styles that I do. I'm super picky about them, and if I'm not vibing with it, then I'm out. This book is a classic case of that. I really tried to get into her writing style, but I just didn't like it. I'm not sure how I can explain it, but it just didn't work for me.
I also felt nothing for the characters. I understand there will be parts in contemporaries that are slower or don't have much going on, but I felt like I was literally sitting there at this table with the crew who I cared nothing about and was just sitting into their conversation. It wasn't interesting to me. And it didn't make feel like I needed to needed to read on right away.
And I really didn't care about Maggie. She was just...there? Yes, this was only 12% of the novel, but I wanted something from her.
So, as you can see, this was me just being picky, but I really couldn't get into this story even though I really tried (I once DNF'd a book within 3 pages because I couldn't deal with the writing style so 12% = huge step for this Picky Book Princess). I think a good deal of people could definitely enjoy it. No crowns since I DNF'd it and a Snow White rating!
Release Date: July 4th, 2017
DNF @ 12%
Thanks so much for the publisher for sending me an E-ARC of this book via Netgalley - thanks again!
I had always wondered about Miranda Kenneally's books. Her name continues to crop up in YA contemporary, and since I'm clearly a lover of contemporary, it seems that I should have picked up one of her books by now. Alas, I had yet to make it to one to this book. Perhaps because she used a lot of sports themes in her books? Sports and YA plots really don't mix too much for me, so I tend to skip over a lot of them (therefore, skipping over a lot of Kenneally's work). However, this one was about swimming, and I do love a good swim story (perhaps an earlier Michael Phelps Olympics obsession), so I thought I would finally take the dive (pun soooooooo intended) into her stories finally!
Swim. Eat. Shower. School. Snack. Swim. Swim. Swim. Dinner. Homework. Bed. Repeat.
All of Maggie’s focus and free time is spent swimming. She’s not only striving to earn scholarships—she’s training to qualify for the Olympics. It helps that her best friend, Levi, is also on the team and cheers her on. But Levi’s already earned an Olympic try out, so she feels even more pressure to succeed. And it’s not until Maggie’s away on a college visit that she realizes how much of the “typical” high school experience she’s missed by being in the pool.
Not one to shy away from a challenge, Maggie decides to squeeze the most out of her senior year. First up? Making out with a guy. And Levi could be the perfect candidate. After all, they already spend a lot of time together. But as Maggie slowly starts to uncover new feelings for Levi, how much is she willing to lose to win?
There was really nothing wrong with this book except, well, me. I have told you before that there are writing styles that I liked and writing styles that I do. I'm super picky about them, and if I'm not vibing with it, then I'm out. This book is a classic case of that. I really tried to get into her writing style, but I just didn't like it. I'm not sure how I can explain it, but it just didn't work for me.
I also felt nothing for the characters. I understand there will be parts in contemporaries that are slower or don't have much going on, but I felt like I was literally sitting there at this table with the crew who I cared nothing about and was just sitting into their conversation. It wasn't interesting to me. And it didn't make feel like I needed to needed to read on right away.
And I really didn't care about Maggie. She was just...there? Yes, this was only 12% of the novel, but I wanted something from her.
So, as you can see, this was me just being picky, but I really couldn't get into this story even though I really tried (I once DNF'd a book within 3 pages because I couldn't deal with the writing style so 12% = huge step for this Picky Book Princess). I think a good deal of people could definitely enjoy it. No crowns since I DNF'd it and a Snow White rating!
May 14, 2020
Maggie was a likable athlete whose dream was to compete in the Olympics as a swimmer. She was focused and singled minded in her drive. That kind of commitment came at a cost to her social life and connections to her friends. She began feeling like she was missing all those high school milestones that everyone was discussing like their first kiss etc.
Maggie decided to play it safe and get her "firsts" with her best friend and fellow athlete Levi. Boy did she open up Pandora's box. I could totally see Maggie thinking she can handle a no strings attached hook up "lesson" from her BF while only to act crazed with jealous when she sees Levi with someone else.
As a former child athlete, I found this story to be believable, Maggie and Levi were devoted to their goals but still wanted a little piece of real life sprinkled in. Good story telling. I do think the author dealt this idea in a realistic manner.
Special Thanks to Sourcebooks via Netgalley for the e-book given in exchange for an honest review.
January 14, 2017
Miranda Kennealy is one of the most feminist and sex-positive writers out there right now. I love how she explores the decisions girls make and how they feel about relationships while grounding her stories in the athletics world.
Read
June 25, 2017Very sweet friends-to-romance story. RTC!
August 27, 2017
My first story by the author but not my last. A fast read with the thrill I didn't know I was missing in my latest YA books.
Maggie has always focused on he swimming and she hadn't regretted until lately when she has a trauma of a hook-up. But the only one she can think of to teach her how to do it the proper way is her best friend Levi. In fact, she can't stop thinking of him in too many unspeakable ways.
This book comes with a funny story, I've been after it for months and months but I never noticed I had been approved to read the ARC. And even though I was dying to read it, I just learned this was part of a series (and a long-running one with 8+ books in it) by the end when we get a glimpse of the future from a character in the first book. Sorry I had to write this down to say I literally screamed of joy when I received this copy and wish I could have read it ASAP because this was great.
Being honest, it's not a complete 4-star experience for I have the feeling I'll soon forget most of the plot. But it deserved the round-up because it was a pleasure to devour this.
Even though, for me, Maggie is incredibly successful, and this has become a problem for me to relate to main characters in books before, she also felt very real. With the way Kenneally described her relationship with becoming a professional swimmer, it was almost automatic for me to understand her swimming as anything I have really wanted and for which I had to give up others almost as pleasing. I don't know how she did it but she did and Maggie become a character I could identify myself in.Except for her guts to propose that deal to Levi. Oh my, I couldn't believe I was "hearing" that.
This book is obviously for young readers but not too young. This deals with more mature themes and in a more open way than most YA I've been reading. That said, I loved that it managed to be hot without being too graphic—although it was quite close sometimes. This is a frank book.
As for Levi, I wish I had liked him more. He's a great friend and apparently he's really sexy, lol. The way he flirts with Maggie is both cute and exciting, and you can feel his dilemma when she asks him to be more than a friend. So I can't point out what was missing in him for me. Nevertheless, I'm sure he's the right book boyfriend to most of the readers.
The story also brings up key themes for teenagers—and why not grown-ups as well—such as competition, hard work, feeling self-conscious and selling oneself too short. In my opinion, a lot of food for thought not only for a group reading but also for self-growth.
Still, the story was, in general, what one would expect so I don't think it'll be that memorable. I also think the first third or quarter lost steam, which is unfortunate. What really got this rounded up to four stars was the good feeling, the great fun the writer managed to give me. I'm surely curious about the rest of the series—I have no idea which characters here were in the previous books!—and books written by Kenneally. I'm perhaps on my to becoming a fan.
Honest review based on an ARC provided by Edelweiss. Many thanks to the publisher for this opportunity.
Maggie has always focused on he swimming and she hadn't regretted until lately when she has a trauma of a hook-up. But the only one she can think of to teach her how to do it the proper way is her best friend Levi. In fact, she can't stop thinking of him in too many unspeakable ways.
This book comes with a funny story, I've been after it for months and months but I never noticed I had been approved to read the ARC. And even though I was dying to read it, I just learned this was part of a series (and a long-running one with 8+ books in it) by the end when we get a glimpse of the future from a character in the first book. Sorry I had to write this down to say I literally screamed of joy when I received this copy and wish I could have read it ASAP because this was great.
Being honest, it's not a complete 4-star experience for I have the feeling I'll soon forget most of the plot. But it deserved the round-up because it was a pleasure to devour this.
Even though, for me, Maggie is incredibly successful, and this has become a problem for me to relate to main characters in books before, she also felt very real. With the way Kenneally described her relationship with becoming a professional swimmer, it was almost automatic for me to understand her swimming as anything I have really wanted and for which I had to give up others almost as pleasing. I don't know how she did it but she did and Maggie become a character I could identify myself in.Except for her guts to propose that deal to Levi. Oh my, I couldn't believe I was "hearing" that.
This book is obviously for young readers but not too young. This deals with more mature themes and in a more open way than most YA I've been reading. That said, I loved that it managed to be hot without being too graphic—although it was quite close sometimes. This is a frank book.
As for Levi, I wish I had liked him more. He's a great friend and apparently he's really sexy, lol. The way he flirts with Maggie is both cute and exciting, and you can feel his dilemma when she asks him to be more than a friend. So I can't point out what was missing in him for me. Nevertheless, I'm sure he's the right book boyfriend to most of the readers.
The story also brings up key themes for teenagers—and why not grown-ups as well—such as competition, hard work, feeling self-conscious and selling oneself too short. In my opinion, a lot of food for thought not only for a group reading but also for self-growth.
Still, the story was, in general, what one would expect so I don't think it'll be that memorable. I also think the first third or quarter lost steam, which is unfortunate. What really got this rounded up to four stars was the good feeling, the great fun the writer managed to give me. I'm surely curious about the rest of the series—I have no idea which characters here were in the previous books!—and books written by Kenneally. I'm perhaps on my to becoming a fan.
Honest review based on an ARC provided by Edelweiss. Many thanks to the publisher for this opportunity.
July 6, 2017
I've only read Breathe, Annie, Breathe and Catching Jordan in this series...and in that order, but I can see why so many readers love Miranda Kenneally's books. They all share such a vivid, realistic portrayal of what it's like to be a teenager: a little angst, a little romance, and a whole lot of finding yourself, all while being very sex-positive. Without having read the entire series, I don't think it would be right to pick a favorite, but I've always loved the best-friends-to-more romance, and so Coming Up for Air is definitely a contender. It shows that guys can be dicks and girls are allowed to be unsure of what they want, but real best friends are forever. This was such a cute summer read, and as you can see, you don't have to have read any of the other books in the series. =)
May 19, 2017
Miranda Keneally works her magic again with the latest installment in her Hundred Oaks companion novel series. I fell in love with Maggie and her story, and it certainly didn't hurt that I also happened to love a certain boy too... Ahem. I also really liked the way relationships (or lack of one) were tackled in this one, and was more than happy to see some familiar faces pop up again. It's such a fun read!
January 30, 2017
Less Reality More Books
I have said this about every review of a book in this series, but I don’t care. I love when a new book comes out and I can sit down and binge-read for hours, getting lost in the fantastic, sporty world that Miranda Kenneally has created. I also love that each book features a different girl who’s obsessed with a sport. I’m not a sporty girl at all, so it’s great to get a sense of how dedicated and strong you have to be to swim, play soccer, football, play softball or train horses.
In this book, our main character is Maggie, who is a swimmer. It is her entire life. She breathes, eats, sleeps swimming, because she one day wants to get into the Olympics and that is not done by doing something in halves. I loved seeing how much she adored swimming and didn’t mind waking up at four am to train before school, and just how passionate she was about it. I have a new sense of respect for people competing in the Olympics, competing in any sport, after this book.
This whole novel was light and funny and so cute. Maggie has four great friends, who all have sports that they love more than life itself. Levi is her best friend, and he swims with her. They were both such great characters, and had such a great romance. They’re best friends first and foremost, and they won’t let anything stand in the way of that. But when Maggie feels she needs experience in certain areas before she heads off to college, Levi is the one person she feels most comfortable asking for help.
This causes their once stable and steady friendship to get a little awkward and a lot emotional, and they both begin to see the other in a new way, and to start feeling emotions neither ever expected to feel in the other. But Miranda handles this new direction in their friendship in such a great way and it felt so real. There was no magic recovery, but their strong bond and friendship was more important than anything else, and that was the one thing they wanted to save.
This book was such a worthy edition to the Hundred Oaks series. I also loved that Jordan Woods got a bigger speaking role as Maggie’s school coach, and there was even a special epilogue that I wasn’t expected but adored.
Until next time, Hundred Oaks.
*special thanks to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Fire for an ARC copy of this book to review*
I have said this about every review of a book in this series, but I don’t care. I love when a new book comes out and I can sit down and binge-read for hours, getting lost in the fantastic, sporty world that Miranda Kenneally has created. I also love that each book features a different girl who’s obsessed with a sport. I’m not a sporty girl at all, so it’s great to get a sense of how dedicated and strong you have to be to swim, play soccer, football, play softball or train horses.
In this book, our main character is Maggie, who is a swimmer. It is her entire life. She breathes, eats, sleeps swimming, because she one day wants to get into the Olympics and that is not done by doing something in halves. I loved seeing how much she adored swimming and didn’t mind waking up at four am to train before school, and just how passionate she was about it. I have a new sense of respect for people competing in the Olympics, competing in any sport, after this book.
This whole novel was light and funny and so cute. Maggie has four great friends, who all have sports that they love more than life itself. Levi is her best friend, and he swims with her. They were both such great characters, and had such a great romance. They’re best friends first and foremost, and they won’t let anything stand in the way of that. But when Maggie feels she needs experience in certain areas before she heads off to college, Levi is the one person she feels most comfortable asking for help.
This causes their once stable and steady friendship to get a little awkward and a lot emotional, and they both begin to see the other in a new way, and to start feeling emotions neither ever expected to feel in the other. But Miranda handles this new direction in their friendship in such a great way and it felt so real. There was no magic recovery, but their strong bond and friendship was more important than anything else, and that was the one thing they wanted to save.
This book was such a worthy edition to the Hundred Oaks series. I also loved that Jordan Woods got a bigger speaking role as Maggie’s school coach, and there was even a special epilogue that I wasn’t expected but adored.
Until next time, Hundred Oaks.
*special thanks to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Fire for an ARC copy of this book to review*
May 31, 2017
This is exactly what I was looking for and hoping it would be - a sweet and funny YA contemporary romance. The characters were relatable and I enjoyed the main characters, Levi and Maggie, as much as the secondary. This is part of the Hundred Oaks series, but can be read as a stand alone.
I think the best part about this book was Maggie. I loved that through it all she stayed true to herself and was very mature for her age. Of course, there is some drama (she is a teenager after all), but overall, she didn't let her dreams and wishes waver even though it was hard emotionally. She had enough faith in herself, friends, and loved ones to know that she could make any decision and know that she was supported. I was impressed at how well the author understood and portrayed the teenage mind - both male and female. Each character was so relatable and even if I didn't agree with their choices, I completely understood why they acted the way that they did. I loved the Friday night dinners that Maggie, Levi, Hunter, and Georgia had and how they all rallied around and supported each other. #squadgoals for sure.
Swimming obviously makes up a huge part of this book and I can see that some readers may find the details a bit much, but honestly, I was completely fascinated by the amount of time, drive, and sacrifice it takes to compete at such an elite level. I felt it was vital to know this information to fully understand Maggie and Levi and the world as they know it. Yes, they're teenagers, but my days and weekends looked nothing like theirs when I was a teen and it helped me understand them better and how their adolescence and high school experience was unique.
This is the first book I have read by the author, but I will definitely be reading the others in this series. I thought the epilogue was nice, but I probably would have gotten more from it had I read the previous books. The author's acknowledgements at the end were heartfelt and truthful, and I hope all her readers will take a moment to read them. Coming Up for Air was a wonderfully sweet romance that left me with a smile on my face and a happy heart.
*I voluntarily read an advance reader copy of this book*
I think the best part about this book was Maggie. I loved that through it all she stayed true to herself and was very mature for her age. Of course, there is some drama (she is a teenager after all), but overall, she didn't let her dreams and wishes waver even though it was hard emotionally. She had enough faith in herself, friends, and loved ones to know that she could make any decision and know that she was supported. I was impressed at how well the author understood and portrayed the teenage mind - both male and female. Each character was so relatable and even if I didn't agree with their choices, I completely understood why they acted the way that they did. I loved the Friday night dinners that Maggie, Levi, Hunter, and Georgia had and how they all rallied around and supported each other. #squadgoals for sure.
Swimming obviously makes up a huge part of this book and I can see that some readers may find the details a bit much, but honestly, I was completely fascinated by the amount of time, drive, and sacrifice it takes to compete at such an elite level. I felt it was vital to know this information to fully understand Maggie and Levi and the world as they know it. Yes, they're teenagers, but my days and weekends looked nothing like theirs when I was a teen and it helped me understand them better and how their adolescence and high school experience was unique.
This is the first book I have read by the author, but I will definitely be reading the others in this series. I thought the epilogue was nice, but I probably would have gotten more from it had I read the previous books. The author's acknowledgements at the end were heartfelt and truthful, and I hope all her readers will take a moment to read them. Coming Up for Air was a wonderfully sweet romance that left me with a smile on my face and a happy heart.
*I voluntarily read an advance reader copy of this book*
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