Review: The First Rule of Swimming by Courtney Angela Brkic

The First Rule of Swimming is one of those books that you can't put down once you start.  I loved it.  It follows Magdalena and her younger sister Jadranka, and their family's history on a small island in Croatia.  The family has a lot of baggage, and Magdalena wonders if her sister's disappearance in New York has something to do with some family secrets.  When Magdalena and then her mother go to New York to find Jadranka, they are forced to face some of their demons.  This is an unfogettable story about home, love, and the power of family.

I find it so hard to review books that I absolutely loved!  And I really, really loved this one.  The writing is initially what got me hooked.  Brkic definitely is a great story teller.  I would probably read anything she writes just for the writing. 

Besides that, I was also fascinated by the story.  Magdalena's family has lived on the same little Croatian island for centuries, and they've been through good and bad times.  The island and her family are so important to Magdalena, and I just loved the connection she had with her home.

Jadranka too had an interesting story.  While her family is very important to her, she is also a free spirit and can't imagine living out her life on the small island she grew up on.

I highly recommend this book and will probably be buying my own physical copy of the book soon.  This so far is one of my favorite books of the year.

Title: The First Rule of Swimming
Author: Courtney Angela Brkic
Date of Publication: May 28th, 2013
Number of Pages: 336
Genre: Fiction
Source: Netgally