The Lifeguard

Set in a small Michigan town in 1969, Laura Kasischke’s The Lifeguard is a gripping novel that explores themes of grief, innocence, and blame through a layered narrative surrounding a tragic drowning at a summer pool. As the story unfolds, different perspectives reveal complex truths about the accident and its aftermath, delving into the blurry lines between memory and reality. Richly written and introspective, the novel examines how a single moment can have profound, lasting effects on a community and its individuals.