I was attracted to this book for its Yorkshire setting and for the wild swimming of the title.

Ettie has been unfortunate in love and unfortunate with her job choices when she finds herself a job helping set up a new hotel with a lake. The owners Dominic and Gracie are rather chaotic and a bit short on ideas and Ettie thankfully is full of them.

Ettie loves swimming - it has helped her deal with her anxiety and it is her peaceful place. When she discovers other locals swimming in the lake she joins in. They have to swim in secret as Dominic thinks swimming is unsafe …everything is going well until they are discovered…

This is a very light, gentle, uplifting and often amusing read and Ettie is a fun central character. I loved the setting and the swimming and the blossoming romance between Dominic and Ettie and I was interested in the development of the hotel idea..into something a bit different. This has a big sense of community and well being.

I listened on audiobook. Although the narrator’s voice matched the light tone of the story, I didn’t find it easy to listen to - it was too jolly and I wasn’t really sure of the character’s voices. I do think however, that others will find this voice very cheerful.

With many thanks to Netgalley and Harper Collins Audio for digital copy of this audiobook.

Ettie has had so many jobs and through no fault of her own, she has just lost another one. But moving back home leads her to opportunities to work at a new hotel that is soon to open.
But Dominic, the new owner, is a little cold and set in his ways, but it will be Ettie who charms him and breaks down his barriers; as long as the secret swim club does not get caught.

This was a lovely, upbeat and heartfelt novel, full of great characters and a narrative to warm you inside.

Wake gives us a third-person narrative with Ettie as our main character, who has a great positive attitude and always sees the best in whatever she does.

The minor characters, which are brought together through swimming at the lake, show a mix of different personalities, who each have an individual reason for wanting to swim. This is touched upon and does not override the original storyline which I thought this was good as it kept the narrative light.

This is a beautiful story of hope and healing and I would happily listen to this again.

The Wednesday Morning Wild Swim by Jules Wake
Narrated by Laura Brydon

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins and I am leaving this review voluntarily

Ettie is trying to figure out her future.

Dominic’s just trying to forget his past.

But with the help of some unlikely friends, young and old, a secret lake hidden in the grounds of a beautiful estate and a scruffy dog, a new community is formed – right when they all need each other the most.

Ettie sometimes finds it difficult to be truthful but I thought that just added to her charm. Whilst the title suggests this book focuses on the wild swimming there is so much more to this book - Ettie is trying to help Dominic and Gracie turn an estate into a fabulous hotel whilst also trying to help some of the local residents who only seem to be happy when they are wild swimming.

This is my first book by Jules and it was such a delight. I will definitely be back for more. A nice, feel-good read with such welcoming characters.

Rating 4/5

“The Wednesday Morning Wild Swim” by Jules Wake is the perfect comfort read for a gloomy day or just to get out of a reading slump. The book follows the story of Ettie, a 30ish lassie who just hasn’t found the right job for her yet. After her most recent workplace literally blew up (gas leek in a London vintage clothing shop), Ettie packs her bags and goes back home to live with her family (grandad, mother, and sister) in their Yorkshire home. Lucky for her, Dominic, an ex-Navy new house-owner decides to open a bed & breakfast business, and needs an assistant to help out! A the same time, a secret swimming club (secret only for Dominic) gets together to swim in the lake next to Dominic house, despite his forbidding them to do so...

There were so many beautiful moments in this book and all so beautifully narrated that I couldn’t say that one of them is better than the other. I think it helped a lot to have such a variety of characters and having such visual descriptions of how they mix one with another. Although I’m not a native English speaker, I could tell when the narrator, Laura Brydon, was focusing on introducing the Yorkshire dialect and dialect into the reading. It fit so well with the story!

Special thanks to NetGalley, HarperCollins UK Audio, One More Chapter, and the editorial team for giving me the opportunity to review the ARC in audiobook format and to you, my reader, for taking the time to read this honest personal book review.

If you are interested in other of my book reviews, make sure to follow me on GoodReads!

#LifeLongLearning #TheWednesdayMorningWildSwim #NetGalley

THE WEDNESDAY MORNING WILD SWIM by JULES WAKE.

After a gas explosion, Ettie loses her job in a vintage clothing shop.
With no other option she heads home to her mother and ends up squashed in with her sister and niece.
Luckily a job comes along helping to renovate an old manner house into a hotel.

Owner of the manner, Domonic is reluctant to employ Ettie, but Gracie, his business partner takes quite a shine to the bright and cheery Ettie, meaning the job is hers.

In the grounds of the manner house, is a lake, popular with local wild swimmers, of which Ettie is one.
Domonic is not willing for anyone to trespass on his land and especially not to swim in the lake.

Defiantly, Ettie and a group of locals continue to swim when Domonic is out.

Of course the obvious happens, but what will the consequences be for Ettie and her group of friends? Can Ettie’s blossoming closeness to Dominic survive and maybe pave the way forward for everyone?

I loved this story from the very first page. Ettie is a brilliant main character. She is funny, bright, feisty and flawed.
Dominic is a bit of a grump, but as they say, still waters run deep, and there is a lot more to him than just the uptight facade. Underneath he is really rather lovely.


This is a well thought out and nicely written story. It has some very likeable characters and is full of warmth and charm.

I loved escaping in to each page. This book is an utter delight.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Some characters from previous books make an appearance in The Wednesday Morning Wild Swim, but this is a stand alone read.

Excellent narration from Laura Brydon.

Out in audio and ebook on 30/4/22
Paperback released on 21/7/22

With thanks to #Netgalley and #HarperCollinsUkAudio for an audio arc of #TheWednesdayMorningWildSwim by #JulesWake.

Oh how fabulous this was!
Jules Wake writes as though she’s chatting to you on the sofa with a glass of wine!
This story of Etty, Dominic, Gracie et al was just lovely!
I laughed out loud many times at Etty’s antics and Granddad was just brilliant! You will love him!

The love between the characters and the camaraderie between new friends was just beautiful.

I was listening to the audiobook whilst decorating, where a few blobs on the carpet fell as I stood there listening to it catching flies! Even my husband was listening to it!

I always find a hidden meaning in Jules’s books usually about friendship.

This is a book that needs to be read whilst cosied up.

Perfect

This is a glorious heartwarming audiobook. First of all I must praise the narrater, Laura Brydon, she brought so much character and warmth to the story - a brilliant performance!
Ettie lands herself a job at a local country house which is being transformed into a hotel. The owners are a lovely lady called Gracie and a handsome younger man called Dominic who Ettie takes a shine to straight away. Ettie becomes quickly indispensable for the hotel - managing to secure cheaper building quotes and pushing the redecorations forward However behind Dominic’s back she has formed a swimming club in the lake in the hotels grounds. She knows he would not approve of this and so the swimming club is rather a clandestine affair. I loved the characters and the romantic element in the book and also the uplifting feel - just a joy to listen to. Thank you Harper Collins and Netgalley for my copy.