Swimmingly - Vassos Alexander - Book Review

When Vassos Alexander first mentioned that he was working on a book about swimming, I couldn’t help but feel that same refreshing feeling you get diving into a cold tarn on a hot summers day. It’s brilliant to see over the years how much the swimming world has exploded and how the literary world is waking up to the power that these stories have. When I first walked into a Waterstone’s 12 years ago to look for books about swimming I was lucky to find any. So to see new stories like “Swimmingly” out there and alive is a brilliant feeling. Time to dive in…

First up lets look at the key swim stats: Swimmingly was published June 5, 2025, in the UK (and August in the US), and Vassos takes readers on a current‑stirring journey, both literal and metaphorical. Right from the prologue, he channels that familiar shock of cold, like dipping toes into a Yorkshire beck at dawn.

Given Vassos background in journalism I had an inkling he would weave personal anecdotes into the story whilst also holding a strong overarching narrative of big-water philosophy. And I wasn’t disappointed.

Vassos isn’t just recounting random swims; he threads each chapter with humour, humility and heart. Think of moments like our stepping into the Saltstraumen whirlpools in Norways Arctic circle. He doesn’t see this just as an adrenaline stunt, but rather as a lesson in courage and conservation. In that sense, it's akin to our own ethos: swims that ripple outward, beyond personal achievement. This is about more than just ego or vanity and Vassos really shows that throughout the story.

As the middle brother and resident foghorn of the WSB, I especially appreciated how Vassos holds space for vulnerability. He dives into many of the stories to tell tales of exhaustion, shivering, self-doubt. Before emerging stronger, just as we’ve done in icy carnivals and remote lakes alike.

I also really enjoyed his style and storytelling, he’s very strong at the banter with depth angle. His prose bubbles with chatty, conversational energy. At times it felt like I was listening to Vassos recounting a wild swim after a pint (or hot chocolate). It’s genuinely accessible without being trivial: the laughs and the wonder balance nicely with deeper reflections on the natural world and what draws us all to water.

Those acquainted with his radio or previous books like Don't Stop Me Now will find familiar warmth and wit but Swimmingly feels more grounded and anchored in water, place and purpose.

One of my favourite threads is Vassos’s growing awareness and focus in the need to protect the waters that fuel our adventures. He doesn’t preach; instead he lets each buoyant anecdote tether us to rivers, lakes and the creatures within them. That resonates deeply with how we approach wild swimming: as an immersive act of connection an act of rebellion against our modern confinement in the digital and urban world.

For anyone who's felt the thrill of an open‑water plunge, Swimmingly is a kindred spirit. It's an invitation to shed hesitation, wade in, and engage, whether through endurance swims or simple morning dips. If Vassos had joined us for a swim in the River Eden, I imagine he'd share that same triumphant grin and muddy smile at the end.

Rating: 4½/5 polar plunges
A warmly written, deeply felt celebration of water in all its form, ferocity and healing.

Recommendation:
Pack a towel, find a quiet pool or bracing stream, and read Swimmingly by the water's edge. Let the ripples of Vassos’s journey inspire your own next swim, whether it’s an epic challenge or a playful, peaceful dip.

Grab a copy - here