Coming Up For Air is the 8th and possibly final book in Miranda Kenneally's Hundred Oaks Series. This is a series of companion novels, meaning each book centers around a different character / couple, but still includes characters from previous books.
This novel follows 17-year-old Maggie as she struggles to balance her career (swimming) with relationships. All Maggie ever has time for is swimming. She's been training ever since she was a toddler to be an Olympic athlete, and she's so close to her dream... But all her swimming is holding her back from having a normal life and normal relationships, and Maggie's starting to realize that she might be missing out.
All in all, this was not one of my favorite Hundred Oaks novels. The way the relationship starts (or at least, the physical part) was just so awkward and uncomfortable for me. I mean, yeah, the boy is cute and sweet, but just... I don't want to spoil you all, but it just was really awkward and weird. And I just felt really weird reading it.
I really enjoyed the side characters and the relationships with them, as well as the cameos from my favorites from other books (looking at you, Jordan). Though, it's kind of weird seeing them all grown up.
If you're reading this and haven't read any of the previous Hundred Oaks books, I highly recommend that you start at the beginning, with Catching Jordan. Not only will you be spoiled on the outcomes of previous books if you read later books first, but I thought the first couple books were the best in the series. I never got nearly as attached to the romances or the couples after the first few books, I still really enjoyed most of the novels, I just wasn't all in with them. They're still really good, cute books to read if you're in the mood for contemporaries and I love seeing other couples appear in later books. Basically this is a really fun, cutesy series that is great for anyone wanting a contemporary.
I'd probably give Coming Up For Air 6/10 stars, it ended well, but something about the writing felt weird to me as well as just... the way the physical relationship started is just so weird and uncomfortable. Not my favorite in the series, but it's still worth the read.
Synopsis:
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 tryout, so Maggie 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 sacrifice in the water to win at love?
Since I think this is the last book in the series, I'll list the books favorite to least favorite:
1. Stealing Parker
1a. This is by far my favorite book in the series. Every time I reread I can't contain the giant grin spread across my face and my squeals of happiness from the sheer adorability of the story and its romance. (This is contradicting previous reviews, but just after so many rereads I have to say this is my favorite).
2.Catching Jordan
3. Jesse's Girl
4. Racing Savannah
5. Breathe, Annie, Breathe
6. Defending Taylor
7. Coming Up For Air
8. Things I Can't Forget
Anyway, thanks for reading,
Anj
This novel follows 17-year-old Maggie as she struggles to balance her career (swimming) with relationships. All Maggie ever has time for is swimming. She's been training ever since she was a toddler to be an Olympic athlete, and she's so close to her dream... But all her swimming is holding her back from having a normal life and normal relationships, and Maggie's starting to realize that she might be missing out.
All in all, this was not one of my favorite Hundred Oaks novels. The way the relationship starts (or at least, the physical part) was just so awkward and uncomfortable for me. I mean, yeah, the boy is cute and sweet, but just... I don't want to spoil you all, but it just was really awkward and weird. And I just felt really weird reading it.
I really enjoyed the side characters and the relationships with them, as well as the cameos from my favorites from other books (looking at you, Jordan). Though, it's kind of weird seeing them all grown up.
If you're reading this and haven't read any of the previous Hundred Oaks books, I highly recommend that you start at the beginning, with Catching Jordan. Not only will you be spoiled on the outcomes of previous books if you read later books first, but I thought the first couple books were the best in the series. I never got nearly as attached to the romances or the couples after the first few books, I still really enjoyed most of the novels, I just wasn't all in with them. They're still really good, cute books to read if you're in the mood for contemporaries and I love seeing other couples appear in later books. Basically this is a really fun, cutesy series that is great for anyone wanting a contemporary.
I'd probably give Coming Up For Air 6/10 stars, it ended well, but something about the writing felt weird to me as well as just... the way the physical relationship started is just so weird and uncomfortable. Not my favorite in the series, but it's still worth the read.
Synopsis:
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 tryout, so Maggie 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 sacrifice in the water to win at love?
Since I think this is the last book in the series, I'll list the books favorite to least favorite:
1. Stealing Parker
1a. This is by far my favorite book in the series. Every time I reread I can't contain the giant grin spread across my face and my squeals of happiness from the sheer adorability of the story and its romance. (This is contradicting previous reviews, but just after so many rereads I have to say this is my favorite).
2.Catching Jordan
3. Jesse's Girl
4. Racing Savannah
5. Breathe, Annie, Breathe
6. Defending Taylor
7. Coming Up For Air
8. Things I Can't Forget
Anyway, thanks for reading,
Anj
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