I honestly don’t know where to start! The Art of Not Breathing by Sarah Alexander is a breath-taking, heart-stopping read at times while at others it’s quite dull. I received this book in 2016 when it was first released to review and attempted to pick it up more than once, failing each time. I finally decided to give the audio a try, and I’m glad I did. Colleen Prendergast brought Elsie to life for me, and I listened to the book in one sitting as a result.

The book follows Elsie, 5 years after the death of her twin brother Eddie. Elsie isn’t really living. She feels like a shadow moving through life. She’s a good kid, doesn’t get in trouble much, but is overshadowed by the piece of her family that is missing.

It’s not until Elsie finds herself a new hobby that she starts to come to life. Her new hobby: Free Diving…..y’all this is terrifying and thrilling. The author really brings this to life as you read. For Elsie, under the water she starts to remember the events surrounding Eddie’s death in a new light. She becomes obsessed with uncovering more details and diving deeper each time.

The plot is quick moving and twofold. Both plot lines follow Elsie. One focuses on the present, her learning to dive and having a little romance with her instructor. The other focuses on her family life current and past. The author addresses some tough subjects: grief, eating disorders, infidelity, and accidents. It’s not for the faint of heart, that’s for sure.

Overall I did like the audio version of The Art of Not Breathing more than the print. It was easy to get lost in the unraveling mystery surrounding Eddie’s death. Elsie’s life was heartbreaking, and I found myself wanting to hug the poor girl most of the book. I’d recommend this read to anyone that enjoys YA contemporary with mystery.