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A review by yeontan
Coming Up for Air by Miranda Kenneally
4.0
Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for the eARC.
Star athlete Maggie has always focused her life on a singular goal: swimming her way to the olympics. When Maggie visits the university she will be swimming for in the Fall she realizes her laser focus has caused her to miss out on being a teenager. Parties, boys, and even a life outside of swimming are all alien to Maggie. She decides she won't waste another minute of her senior year and wants to experience it all - including hooking up with a guy. The perfect candidate? Fellow swimmer, olympic hopeful, and best friend Levi. Along the way Maggie begins to uncover deep feelings for Levi that extended beyond the friends with benefits realm.
Maggie is an amazing character. She is focused and driven towards her goal. It is so rare for me to read a book with a female athlete who goes after what she wants. She was a refreshing lead who knew exactly what she wanted sexually and she didn't shy away from it. Her proposition to Levi is undeniably awkward and I had to put down the book at times. The reader can feel the uncomfortable tension between them when their relationship begins to shift. I felt this was intentional by Kenneally. You could truly feel their relationship move from platonic, to sexual, to romantic. Once they finally found their footing they were undoubtedly a swoon-worthy YA couple. I found their over all relationship healthy and mature for their age. I was rooting for them as soon as they were able to transition from friends to more than.
Maggie was also a hilarious lead. As she explored her sexuality and the world beyond sports she missed out on, she took us along the hilariously awkward ride. She is a loyal friend to the rest of the kids in their gang and dutiful daughter. She also made sure not to allow her relationship with Levi to interfere too much with her swimming. That includes her rivalry with a former friend and fellow swimmer.
Over all, this was a hilarious and lovable novel. Maggie is a character I think I will carry with me for some time. I definitely recommend it for teenage girls (just a note they do a lot more than make out) as I think Maggie's sex positivity can be very refreshing in a world where girls are taught to be ashamed and to not talk about their desires.
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Star athlete Maggie has always focused her life on a singular goal: swimming her way to the olympics. When Maggie visits the university she will be swimming for in the Fall she realizes her laser focus has caused her to miss out on being a teenager. Parties, boys, and even a life outside of swimming are all alien to Maggie. She decides she won't waste another minute of her senior year and wants to experience it all - including hooking up with a guy. The perfect candidate? Fellow swimmer, olympic hopeful, and best friend Levi. Along the way Maggie begins to uncover deep feelings for Levi that extended beyond the friends with benefits realm.
Maggie is an amazing character. She is focused and driven towards her goal. It is so rare for me to read a book with a female athlete who goes after what she wants. She was a refreshing lead who knew exactly what she wanted sexually and she didn't shy away from it. Her proposition to Levi is undeniably awkward and I had to put down the book at times. The reader can feel the uncomfortable tension between them when their relationship begins to shift. I felt this was intentional by Kenneally. You could truly feel their relationship move from platonic, to sexual, to romantic. Once they finally found their footing they were undoubtedly a swoon-worthy YA couple. I found their over all relationship healthy and mature for their age. I was rooting for them as soon as they were able to transition from friends to more than.
Maggie was also a hilarious lead. As she explored her sexuality and the world beyond sports she missed out on, she took us along the hilariously awkward ride. She is a loyal friend to the rest of the kids in their gang and dutiful daughter. She also made sure not to allow her relationship with Levi to interfere too much with her swimming. That includes her rivalry with a former friend and fellow swimmer.
Over all, this was a hilarious and lovable novel. Maggie is a character I think I will carry with me for some time. I definitely recommend it for teenage girls (just a note they do a lot more than make out) as I think Maggie's sex positivity can be very refreshing in a world where girls are taught to be ashamed and to not talk about their desires.
leave a comment on the blog!