Swish by Tom Carter is a paranormal romance (PNR) for young adult readers. Adopted by her uncle, Abigail Lewis is bullied at high school. With only one friend, Abby suffers mean-spirited pranks at school and physical abuse at home. Her life seems bleak until she meets a new neighborhood boy, Mike, who takes an interest in her. Handsome and confident Mike could easily join the social elite at school, but sticks steadily at Abby’s side. Her life is starting to look up until a school party on a beach. That night, Mike and Abby come face to face with a menacing, supernatural presence.
Swish leans into certain religious legends in a massive way. The novel injects fun into the idea that the high school outsider might be the savior of the world (always a welcome trope). It explores the concepts of good, evil, and conversion. The book also paints an accurate picture of abuse that, sadly, is reflective of our times. All of this is wrapped in a supernatural action and romance.
As mentioned above, the novel sets up Abby to the point where only the most hard-hearted reader wouldn’t be invested in her. The reader wants to see a relationship develop between Mike and Abby, but also see Abby grow on her own. The novel pays off its premise with explosive action sequences and a forbidden romance, all the elements that readers are looking for in a PNR.
The writing is engaging and keeps the pace going. A few minor mistakes took this reviewer out of the moment, yet the plot was tight and the characters consistent.
YA readers love series, could this one continue? The novel wraps up the events, but it leaves the premise open for sequels.
If you enjoy a solid PNR but are tired of the darkness of vampires or werewolves, Swish is the book for you. Action, romance, and heart combine to make this a memorable book in this genre.