Description

‘A beautiful, brilliantly written book on grief, self-discovery and swimming’ EMMA GANNON
‘Immersive and compelling’ CATHY RENTZENBRINK

*SHORTLISTED FOR THE NERO BOOK AWARDS 2023*

In a bid to fill the empty space left by her brother’s death, Freya sets out with her friend Miri to swim every tidal pool in Britain in a year. The adventure takes them from a pool hidden in the cliffs of Polperro to the quarry lagoon of Abereiddi, via the Trinkie in northernmost Scotland where locals meet each year to give the pool wall a fresh lick of paint. The further Freya travels, the closer she finds herself to memories of her brother. With every swim, the challenge becomes more than just a way to explore the country’s furthest reaches, but a journey of self-discovery.

The Tidal Year is a story about the healing power of wild swimming and the space it creates for reflection, rewilding and hope. An exploration of grief in the modern age, it’s also a tale of female rage, sisterhood and falling in love after loss.

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‘Some of the best writing on wild swimming that I have encountered’ MARIANNE LEVY
‘I found myself blinking back tears’ HARPER’S BAZAAR
‘A poignant, funny tribute to the complex, tidal nature of grief’ JADE ANGELES FITTON
‘Funny and moving, brimming with bracingly refreshing uncertainty’ POLLY ATKIN

Publisher Review

Immersive and compelling. I read it in a single day! Everyone should take a plunge into this book — Cathy Rentzenbrink Funny, sad and honest, but ultimately also hopeful, The Tidal Year is a wonderful and welcome addition to the growing canon of books exploring the restorative power of wild swimming — Sophie Pierce Reads like a lusciously languid dream sequence… It’s not just about how water can redeem us but how words can too. A powerful debut — Christopher Beanland Funny and moving, brimming with bracingly refreshing uncertainty and a salty refusal of resolution, it is a book to float away in — Polly Atkin A heart-rending depiction of a young woman growing through grief and the healing, restorative power of nature — Nick Bradley Bright and tender-hearted… candid and vulnerable — Jessica J. Lee A moving and memorable book… Her writing is contained, clear and as powerful as the changing tides she swims in. She is a talent to watch — Raffaella Barker Astonishing in its frankness, raw, poignant, bracing, funny; a very human story — Derek Niemann, Guardian country diarist The Tidal Year is some of the best writing on wild swimming that I have encountered — Marianne Levy A beautiful, brilliantly written book on grief, self-discovery and swimming. I loved following along on the tidal pool adventure and thought all the observations, of people and places, were so vividly captured. It’s not every day you gobble up a 400+ page memoir in a matter of days — Emma Gannon Beautifully written * Jersey Evening Post * A poignant, funny tribute to the complex, tidal nature of grief. The Tidal Year delivers inspirational waves of hope and renewal to its readers, demonstrating the restorative power of immersion in the natural world — Jade Angeles Fitton, author of HERMIT Freya Bromley’s powerful memoir The Tidal Year is all about her love for wild swimming, and how she’s used it to process her grief… I found myself blinking back tears * Harper’s Bazaar *