The Whitstable High Tide Swimming Club

The Whitstable High Tide Swimming Club #1-3

by Katie May

Searching for friendship? You’ll find it at The Whitstable High Tide Swimming Club...

When Deb (ageing bikini, sunglasses) and Maisie (black wetsuit, swimming shoes, goggles) keep meeting on Reeves Beach, they strike up an unlikely friendship based on their love of swimming and their recent divorces. Soon, they are joined by other high tide swimmers, each with a crisis of their own to weather. Ann, a bossy organiser, is caring for her elderly mother at home; Julie has somehow (although she’s not quite sure how) managed to produce three children under school age; and Chloe, a bright, brittle girl of fifteen, finds calmness in the water, and Quiet, anxious Bill is soon welcomed into the heart of the club. When the swimmers discover plans for their beach to be paved over for a leisure complex, together they are determined to make a stand, and to prove that the beach is more than just a place to swim – it is the heart of the community.

Genres: Fiction, Summer Reads

288 pages, Paperback

First published February 8, 2018

About the author

See also: Katherine May

There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads data base.

Reviews

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐ = Quite Good.
The only reason that this wasn't a four star is because I believe that it could have been condensed a little.
A feel good read that highlighted many issues in a subtle way.
I've been to Whitstable myself so could picture the scene well.
Enjoyed this 😁

Changed my mind. 4⭐... as have realised that this is 3 books in 1. That's why it was lengthy🤦‍♀️

[Leo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wasn't sure I was in the mood for this book, felt like a blend of feelgood/chick lit. But this genuinely surprised me. It was very engaging and I really feelt for the different characters. Understood most of them and really liked them. This book might have worked so well for me as I'm sad their gonna close down the swim hall in my city. Feelt good to read about people getting together to save what they love and fight for what's right!

[Rachel Gilbey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brace yourself for a group of people who are happy to swim in the English sea once or twice a day when it is high tide, sometimes in the early hours of the morning. As someone that recalls paddling in English seaside resorts as a child all I can say is these characters must be just slightly bonkers as the water is always freezing, that and its been snowing while I have been reading this.

As it so happens the characters you meet in this book are all just ordinary people, especially Deb and Maisie the main protagonists, who are the first two women we meet that happen to be there every day swimming when its high tide.

Whether they like it or not when they meet Anne, suddenly a club is being formed and soon there are a whole host of them that meet on a regular basis to swim and become friends. Maisie and Deb are in the prime of their lives, and you have a complete mix of people who enjoy swimming from the teenage, you busy mothers, to the elderly.

The book was originally published in three parts, and you can see that in the three parts the book is split into with each of part 1 and two ending on a mini cliffhanger to keep your reading. The first part focuses on the formation of the the club and largely works as a great introduction to all the characters, part two is about the beginnings of the fight to save the beach, and then part 3... well part 3 culminates all of this and much much more.

Even at Deb's age of a grandma in her sixties, i would almost describe this as a coming of age story for her, as she learns to stand on her own two feet after leaving her husband, and starting to figure out just who she is as an adult. There are some hilarious scenes early on with regards the temporary job she has taken on, and although at times I wasn't sure how much I liked Deb, but I could sympathise with her, and loved the development of her character.

I loved the ups and downs of this community and by the end I felt as though I was part of their club. Its a great story of the underdog, touches on assorted serious topics, but also some great comedy too. Just an all around enjoyable book.

Thanks to Trapeze and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

[Sina & Ilona Glimmerfee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inhalt: Bei Wind und Wetter stürzt sich Deb in die Flut am Whitstable Beach um ausgiebig schwimmen zu können. Doch plötzlich ist da noch Maisie, die so völlig anders ist als Deb, doch die Begeisterung für das Schwimmen, lässt eine Freundschaft entstehen. Jede von ihnen hat ihre Probleme. Es dauert nicht lange und Ann taucht am Strand auf und bevor sich Deb und Maisie versehen, gibt es einen Schwimmclub. Das Glück bleibt aber nicht lange ungetrübt, der Strand soll bebaut werden und das müssen die Schwimmerinnen verhindern.

Art des Buches: Frauenroman

Wie fand ich das Buch? Das Setting ist sehr schön, gerade das Schwimmen in der Nacht mochte ich besonders gerne. Mir gefiel besonders die Dynamik der Frauen. Sie sind grundverschieden, aber ihre Leidenschaft für das Schwimmen, lässt sie zusammenhalten. Jede hat ihr Päckchen und Geheimnisse zu tragen und trotzdem schaffen sie es, sich gegenseitig zu unterstützen und an einem Strang zu ziehen. Ich habe das Buch sehr gern gelesen, obwohl hier auch Themen wie häusliche Gewalt oder Krankheit angesprochen werden, allerdings auf keine niederdrückende Art.

Gab es etwas zum Nachdenken und/oder Nachforschen? Den Ort Whitstable gibt es wirklich und die Autorin hat im Anhang, die Orte aufgeführt, die man dort aufsuchen kann. Wer möchte kann auch Cocktails ausprobieren, deren Rezepte man auch im Anhang findet.

3 passende Wörter zum Buch? Freundschaft - Leidenschaft - Stärke

Wem empfehlen? Allen Frauen, die gerne Bücher über Frauen lesen, die ihre Probleme in den Griff bekommen und an Freundschaft und Gemeinschaft glauben möchten

[Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

An entertaining gentle tale of a group of strangers brought together by a love of swimming in the sea and outrage at a planning application to destroy their favourite swimming beach. Fab cast of characters with hopefully lots more to come as this is the first book in a series. Something a bit old worldly about it - a perfect read for a lazy Sunday afternoon.

[Charlotte Goulding · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a lovely little read, and as someone who has begun outdoor swimming this year, was a real treat!

[Miriam Smith (A Mother’s Musings) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous, loved every second!

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

A light, entertaining read about a community trying to preserve their beach from development. I liked the mix of slightly quirky characters and the relationships that developed between them. Despite a lot of humour, this novel had a serious side too.

[Karschtl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ich habe das Buch im Urlaub gelesen, wo ich jeden Tag entweder im Hotelpool oder im Meer geplanscht habe. Im relativ warmen Ägäischen Meer mit Sandstrand, im Hochsommer. Das ist keine große Kunst. Vor täglichem Schwimmen im viel kühleren Atlantik, auch im Frühjahr und Herbst und vor allem in aller Herrgottsfrühe oder um Mitternacht, je nachdem wie die Gezeiten gerade sind, habe ich wirklich eine Hochachtung! Und auch wenn ich diese Leidenschaft von Maisie und Deb nicht ganz nachvollziehen konnte (und mich eigentlich auch sonst nicht sehr mit ihnen identifizieren konnte) waren mir ihre Charaktere recht nah und vertraut.

Der Konflikt mit den Bebauungsplänen für ihren geliebten West Beach hätte noch mehr in die Tiefe gehen können, vielleicht wäre das aber auch zu Lasten der anderen Handlungsstränge gegangen. Im Original erschien das Buch anscheinend in 3 eher kürzeren Büchern. Da finde ich es schon besser, dass hier alles zusammen ist und die Gesamtlänge überfordert auch niemanden. Die Autorin hätte aber angesichts der ursprünglich 3 einzelnen Bücher sehr wohl einiges noch ausbauen können.

Aber auch so ist es eine unterhaltsame Lektüre mit recht ernsten Untertönen (wobei auch hier leider nur an der Oberfläche gekratzt wird). Das Ende ist stimmig und ein guter Abschluss.

[Jane Goddard · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was ok just with first 3 chapters and then I thought, Cannot warm to the characters at all and just very mundane
and ordinary so have quit the book, as i had read such a super book the Lido this really fell short..

[Thebooktrail · Rating 4 out of 5]

Visit the locations in the novel


Isn’t this just a delightful story about women who need an escape from life and who start swimming on a beach and form a swimming club! Both Deb and Maisie have problems of their own, but together they form a great friendship during their time they spend on the beach. Soon, more people start visiting the beach and the club is formed!

Ah this book was like a flash of bright sunlight and fresh air on a wintry day when I read it. Snow outside but I imagined it was Whitstable sand. Sleet on the window was sea fret…the location is a joy to behold! Sun, sea and and oysters! Not to mention cafes, pop up bars and a seaside atmosphere. Oh but those developers! aargh I was angry on behalf of the characters but it was a great story line to show the reality of beach towns up and down the country.

I think it’s great to have parts one and two together in a book now – allows you to dive in, swim and come up still wanting more.

[Lisa Wilde · Rating 3 out of 5]

The plot was very slow. Not enough to want me to sit and really get in to it .

[Haley Glover · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very enjoyable read. I liked the development of the characters. Made me miss the sea though.

[Ladyfilosopher · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a swimmer myself, and am familiar with Whitstable! I found the story unfolded well. It brings to the surface so many of women's issues and deals with them compassionately and realistically. Women's issues include questions about managing ones town, growth and development. I like the way the author shifts perspective from between the 2 protagonists. I highly recommend it, if for nothing else to stir a passion for sea swimming. I am about to start my stint of sea swimming in a couple of weeks!

[Alma Riggs · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 *
I love a book that introduces me to a new and unfamiliar place, and I really enjoyed the descriptions of Whitstable Beach. There were some interesting characters in the book, but none was fully developed. I also thought the ending a bit lazy, but it was an enjoyable enough read whilst stuck at home with a cold and taking a break from my own beach swims.

[Maja Hylander · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hyfsat bra, inte så spännande men skön och lätt att lyssna på

[Lisa Lish · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book for me was an ok read. It took me a while to get into it and found it an enjoyable read once I did.

[Julie Spratt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. It helped that I live close to Whitstable and could locate all of the places that Katie had written about. This is a story of woman who need to get away from something bad in their lives. Two of them meet; Debs and Maisie; both with different problems. They both swim in the sea to forget about their lives and feel free. More people end up on the beach and they swim together in a club run by Ann; who looks after her Mum and does not want to swim.

I loved the references to "DFL's" as if you live in Kent and are trying to buy/rent property this is a recurring theme of conversations with the locals.

Anyone will love this story but more so if you are a local yokel. Not sure that I will be trying sea swimming yet though.

[Melissa Gray · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful story of unlikely friendship

I was quickly drawn in by the characters of Deb and Maisie and how they bond over their mutual love of swimming in the sea. In addition, the personality clashes of Deb and Ann and the sweet friendship between Ann's elderly but feisty mother Edith and Maisie made this book for me. Whitstable is described beautifully and the sea is integral to the story. There are some heart-wrenching moments but funny ones too that make it feel very true to life.

[Sara Aye Moung · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was in Harbour Books in Whitstable looking a novel by a local author and found this . I’d not heard of the author before. I read while on holiday in Whitstable and enjoyed the fact that it is set in Whitstable and therefore much of its location is familiar to me. However I also thought it was fresh and crisply written with some good characters and an engaging style. I understand there is a follow up novel so will look out for it.

[Emily May]

Librarian recommendation: Had a thoroughly good time reading “The Whitstable High Tide Swimming Club” by Katie May this summer. I don’t think I’ve ever read a book where the characters feel so like they’ve fallen from real life into the pages; their voices couldn’t be more authentic. A perfect book if you want to escape to the shoreline and its community- not the gaudy, brash seaside, but the real Whitstable with all its joys and challenges.

[Kerry-Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful human interest story with delightful, varied, colourful and REAL characters! Written with such a deep understanding for her characters and their lives and their need to band together to save what is precious to them. I loved the twists and turns and how these characters developed as the story developed. Beautiful and meaningful writing. So glad I’ve discovered this author!

[Justkeepreading · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful setting, wonderful characters, and a great story. This book really is about the strong power of female friendship and I loved every moment of it. Perfect for chicklit and romance fans. Loved it.

[Jane Woodcock · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this little tale. I live near the sea, and know a few swimmers, a mixed lot really, and I could totally relate to this book. I have even named some of the characters in the book to people I know!

[Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gentle read

A light and easy read with some good characters. I liked the focus on friendship but found a lot of the stories rather cliched and predictable. A little too 'happy ever after' to be a genuine.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 vacation book. Cute, fast read about a bunch of mainly women who form a swimming club in England. I can’t imagine swimming in the ocean like that and after looking up Whitstable, it looks like such a cute little seaside town that I would love to visit!

[Jude · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this book. Liked all the characters except Derek. Just kept on turning those pages

[Jani · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy reading enjoyable book, obviously written by an open water swimmer.

[Rachel Ward · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must-read feel good book. One of my favourites I read in 2018.

[Claire]

Great pace, really well defined characters who you grow to adore as the story unfolds. I loved that Whitstable is almost a character in itself.