Swimming for Sunlight

By: Allison Larkin

Narrated by: Madeleine Maby

When recently divorced Katie Ellis and her rescue dog Bark move back in with Katie’s grandmother in Florida, she becomes swept up in a reunion of her grandmother’s troupe of underwater performers—finding hope and renewal in unexpected places, in this sweet novel perfect for fans of Kristan Higgins and Claire Cook.

Aspiring costume designer Katie gave up everything in her divorce to gain custody of her fearful, faithful rescue dog, Barkimedes. While she figures out what to do next, she heads back to Florida to live with her grandmother, Nan.

But Katie quickly learns there’s a lot she doesn’t know about Nan—like the fact that in her youth Nan was a mermaid performer in a roadside attraction show, swimming and dancing underwater with a close-knit cast of talented women. Although most of the mermaids have since lost touch, Katie helps Nan search for her old friends on Facebook, sparking hopes for a reunion show. Katie is up for making some fabulous costumes, but first, she has to contend with her crippling fear of water.

As Katie’s college love Luca, a documentary filmmaker, enters the fray, Katie struggles to balance her hopes with her anxiety, and begins to realize just how much Bark’s fears are connected to her own, in this thoughtful, charming novel about hope after loss and friendships that span generations.

Kept waiting for it to get good

I was kind of bored and felt like I was putting up with the voices to get to the payoff that never came

Looooovvveeeeeee

I loved this book. Honestly, I love everything Allison Larking writes. I feel like I can relate to the characters, even though we have nothing in common. While the narration may not be the best, it didn't bother me that much because I was so into the story. The author has a great way of communicating emotion in a nuanced way that drew me into the character's life.

With that, all reviews are subjective (as they should be) but this book is worth giving a chance. I hope you like it as much as I did.

Another winner from Allie Larkin

Allie Larkin is an incredibly talented author. Like her two other titles, Stay and Why Can't I Be You, her heroine is facing a hurdle she needs to overcome. She quickly draws you into Katie's world and has you rooting for her. I finished the book in a day because I was that invested in it. I wish Ms. Larkin published more books. If you haven't, check out her other two books. She a great find.

Breathtaking

Everyone has phobias, they made be small, they be overwhelming, but learning to deal with those phobias is the overriding theme of this book.

When Kate's husband divorces her, she's left with nothing but a few articles of clothing and her rescue dog Barkimedes. Bark is timid and afraid of this own shadow (and cardboard). Kate takes Bark and moves to Florida to stay with her Grandma in a wonderful community of active seniors.

This book is heartbreaking, heartwrenching, and the story of starting over and rebuilding a life from scratch. It captivated me at the first page and kept me listening hopefully that all would be okay for Kate and Bark and all the rest of the wonderful characters.

Doesn't Disappoint!

Loved it! felt swept up in the story and loved the characters! A sweeping story of loss, recovering, and love.