Leap In
A Woman, Some Waves, and the Will to Swim

I would have given this 4 stars if I had stopped reading 2/3 of the way through...the last 60+ pages (yes, 60+) were about how to swim, FAQs about swimming, and swim gear. As someone who once called herself a swimmer, it was not interesting at all. Maybe other people find it helpful, but it took awa......more

As a keen outdoor swimmer, I thought this would appeal to me more, but it never really got going. The writing was fairly bland, and her competitive approach to swimming didn't really resonate with me. The second part that describes how to swim (has anyone ever learnt by reading a book??), a brief (h......more

As a person who was pushed into a pool at age 7 and only learnt to swim after years of fear at age 57, I could completely identify with the author’s feelings at the beginning of her cold water swimming journey. She has now gone on to great things. I am proud of my small achievements, pottering about......more

The first part of this book is a memoir and the second part is a how to manual. I preferred the first half where the Author is introduced to swimming and immerses herself into the sport. Dealing with her IVF treatments and life as a newly wed while she tackles a new sport made the narrative flow. Th......more

Overall, an easy and pleasant read. I enjoyed the first autobiographical part about the author learning how to swim properly and exploring cold water swimming, pushing her mind and body - it's actually made me want to pick up swimming lessons! The second part, I mostly skipped with the exception of......more