This is the debut semi-autobiographical novel by Jewish Australian author Nadine Cohen. It is a contemporary fiction set in Sydney featuring Yael Silver, in her 30s and struggling to come to terms with mental health problems and grief.

Yael, like Cohen herself, is not a practising Jew but is culturally part of the community and has grown up with her grandparents’ Holocaust experiences as a backdrop to her life. When she finds herself spiralling into depression she tries to shift things by spending time at the Coogee Womens’ Baths and makes some new friends including older fellow bather Shirley. She spends time with her sister Liora and her gentle and pragmatic therapist Priya.

While I appreciated what Cohen was trying to do, and the deep topics that were touched on, I found the writing bitsy. It seemed to randomly shift between the present and past reminiscences, including a troubled relationship in her past that was never really fleshed out. There were more pop culture references than you could like a stick at. Also, despite knowing that Yael had certainly suffered and been through heart-rending experiences, it still felt like a very self-absorbed style of writing, similar to a certain type of American book like Eat, Pray, Love. Yael’s thoughts are very firmly fixated on herself, and I couldn’t help thinking that only a privileged Eastern suburbs person would be able to take a year off work to indulge in mango smoothies, yoga, sunbathing by the beach, reading Fifty Shades of Grey and online shopping to work through their mental health problems. This was then followed by a planned lengthy international vacation. Where did she get the money for all this? Never mind, I doubt I would stick around for a sequel to find out.

On the positive side Cohen’s writing is an ode to female friendships and highlights cultural aspects of the Jewish community and their closeness. Yael is a smart, sassy character with a cynical humour. I’m not sure her need to explain the ins and outs of “ghosting” and “fuckboys” to septuagenarian Shirley necessarily made me think she was unbelievably cool, but I get the feeling she thought so. ( )

Poignant novel about a woman's experience of grief and depression. The depiction of the friendship that develops between two women at the swimming baths was particularly moving. Audiobook was enhanced by the excellent narration. Recommended. ( )