In the hauntingly evocative debut, "Learning Not to Drown," Anna Shinoda plunges readers into the turbulent waters of a family drowning in the consequences of addiction and secrets. Clare, the youngest of three siblings, navigates the choppy currents of love and loyalty as she grapples with the reality of her brother Luke's drug addiction. Luke, the golden boy in their mother's eyes, is a tempest that repeatedly threatens to pull the family under with his series of arrests and the shadows of his choices. Through Clare's eyes, we witness the painful dynamics of a family caught in a cycle of enabling and despair, as she stands at the precipice of choosing between the familial ties that bind or the self-preservation that beckons. Shinoda masterfully crafts a narrative that is as compelling as it is heart-wrenching, inviting readers to explore the depth of familial love and the heavy price of loyalty. "Learning Not to Drown" exposes the raw, unfiltered reality of living in the shadow of addiction, where each member of the family battles with their own demons in the wake of Luke's chaos. Clare's journey is a poignant exploration of the lengths we go to protect the ones we love, even as they pull us into the depths. This novel is a powerful testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the complex, sometimes painful, nature of love and forgiveness.