Intense and hopeful
The characters in the books by Ginger Scott very often have to deal deal with disabilities, illness or traumatic experiences. Maddy and Will in "Hold your breath" are no exception as they both still struggle with the loss of Will's brother Evan, Maddy's boyfriend, and Evan's and Will's parents four years ago. Up to that moment their families were tight and Evan, Will and Maddy were all training hard with Maddy's father, a former Olypian swimmer and had been training (and growing up together) for some years.
When Maddy and Will start to swim together again, it is more than just swimming that this is about, it is also about living. And about facing what happened - even more important, when some things turn up that can't be ignored and that will not just change their perception of the past but also their future, forever.
I like Ginger Scott's intense writing that lets the reader feel and fear with the characters without ever turning sappy or overly dramatic. The reader faces the facts as much as the characters have to face them, just plain hard facts, no drama to blow it up or something like that, just the facts and the people who have to deal with them. You can feel them grow into their roles, into their fate and you respect and love them for it.
A beautiful story, well written with wonderful, strong characters - I really enjoyed reading this book!