Reviews with content warning for Racism - Open Water

Beautifully written, raw, vulnerable and so impactful. I’m writing this review a whole seven days after I’ve finished this novel and I still can’t stop thinking about it. A refreshing perspective on the Black man and the complexities of their emotions!

The desire for connection due to the feeling of isolation while isolating oneself is one that is all to familiar to me. So many moments in this short story that made my heart ache.

I’m usually not a fan of second person narration, but it was fitting to tell this story. The narration choice made it more personal in a way, like I was there.

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dubious_little_creature's review against another edition

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emotional reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes

4.5

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niamhgray's review against another edition

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emotional reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

This book is beautiful and will grasp your attention and your soul in places you weren’t expecting. You will want to hold the characters close to comfort them but will be plagued by the fact that it’s both your world and even you yourself that create the reason behind them needing to be held. It’s a tough, emotional and poetic read that will ask you to reassess your day to day and ask you “when you look at someone are you really seeing them”?

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ilovebooks1967's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective relaxing slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? N/A
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Probably one of my favourite books of all time!

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megansoetaert's review against another edition

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emotional reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Open Water is so beautiful. Even though it's such a short book, it took me a while to read because I just wanted to sit and savor every sentence. Caleb Azumah Nelson writes emotion so beautifully--the main character's emotions flow to you like you're his closest confidante. Each chapter has a purpose, and you feel it. Masculinity, Blackness (and being Black in england), family, love and intimacy, and mental health were central to his story. i loved it so so much, y'all. highly recommend <3

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sangsmiles's review against another edition

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emotional reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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ali1311's review

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dark emotional hopeful reflective fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

The writing in this book is so lovely and it made me YEARN! The way love is discussed is really beautiful and poetic. The actual pacing and plot of the book felt a bit estranged for some reason, and I think it may be the writing in 2nd person. I think the use of that perspective was done really well, but it still made it hard to entirely follow along. I'm also kinda mad at the main character, but I suppose that means the book was well crafted. But I'm still mad at him.

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