Author: Marian Womack
Publisher: Titan Books
Released: February 16^th, 2021
Received: NetGalley

I received a copy of The Swimmers in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Marian Womack’s latest novel, The Swimmers, is an eco-dystopian novel set in a time where global warming has done all the damage we could have imagined. Yet there were survivors, more or less.

Set in the 2300s, Earth is very different from the one we all know. This is the world that Pearl grew up in. A world divided, as some moved to the atmosphere to continue to lives of luxury. While others continued doing the best they can for themselves on a ravaged surface.

Pearl’s life is forever changed after a series of declarations and events, all of which sent her reeling. Now she’s questioning everything, including what she thought she knew about those around her – and herself.

Okay, so I really wanted to like The Swimmers. I loved the cover (who doesn’t love the idea of giant Venus Fly Traps?), the description sounded cool, and of course I adored the concept of exploring a completely different world.

However, I did struggle pretty hard when it comes to following the narrative of this story. Not because it was too complex, I just found myself working too hard to become invested in it all. Including Pearl’s story, I’m sad to say.

I actually had to go and look at other reviews before sitting down to write this one, just to make sure that I wasn’t missing something major. Apparently I might have been, as some people think that this novel is heavily inspired by VanderMeer’s Southern Reach Trilogy. Not having read that myself, I can’t say one way or the other. Though I will be adding that series to my list!

Long story short: The Swimmers had a lot of really cool ideas, but the follow through was only okay. I loved the tech, I loved the atmosphere, but ultimately felt a lack in that essential human connection.