Marie has lived at Shelly Bay, north of Sydney, all her life. Since her husband died five years previously, she now lives alone in the family home with her dog, Charlie Brown, for company. Marie is lonely but the real escape for her is the morning swim which she undertakes throughout the year unless the weather is really bad and the surf too rough. She is used to swimming alone but then she meets Theresa on the beach one morning as she is about to go for a swim and invites her to join her.
Theresa lives with her husband, two children and her grandmother in Shelly Bay. As well as looking after the house and her family, Theresa volunteers at the local hospital a couple of days a week. A comment from her husband that she is overweight motivates Theresa to take up swimming again, not just for exercise but also for some 'me time'.
At the hospital Theresa meets and befriends Leanne, a nurse in the childrens' department. Leanne has been having swimming lessons and eventually decides to give ocean swimming a try.
The fourth member of the swimming circle is Elaine who has left her home and children in England when her husband decides he wants to return to Australia. Looking for something to do she decides to attempt swimming in the sea.
As friendships among the women develop we, with members of the swimming circle, gradually learn of the problems that each member has experienced in the past as well as in the present. A strong support group develops from the morning swim as each of the swimmers gradually faces up to issues from their past plus current challenges. This results in lifestyle changes for all members of the group.
Once again it is interesting to read a book exploring, as one of its themes, the power of the sea over an individual.
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