You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.49 AVERAGE
3.49 AVERAGE
Definitiv fleabag-humor aber auch ein bisschen queeres 50 Shades of grey.
Zwischenzeitlich hat es mir fast weh getan von Julia und Sam zu lesen, weil irgendwie beide so ungesund für einander waren- insgesamt hätte ich mir gewünscht dass Davies noch ein wenig mehr deutlich gemacht hätte dass auch Julia toxische Züge hatte und es eben nicht nur den „guten“ und den „bösen“ Part in einer Beziehung gibt. Alles in allem aber sehr lesenswert mit tollen Charakteren. Hab laut gelacht und sogar geweint und welches Buch schafft sowas schon.
Zwischenzeitlich hat es mir fast weh getan von Julia und Sam zu lesen, weil irgendwie beide so ungesund für einander waren- insgesamt hätte ich mir gewünscht dass Davies noch ein wenig mehr deutlich gemacht hätte dass auch Julia toxische Züge hatte und es eben nicht nur den „guten“ und den „bösen“ Part in einer Beziehung gibt. Alles in allem aber sehr lesenswert mit tollen Charakteren. Hab laut gelacht und sogar geweint und welches Buch schafft sowas schon.
challenging
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Spoiler
I don’t think I’ll be finishing this book. I’m 70% finished at this point bit i don’t think I can continue it.At first, it seems like a relatively good story. The characters are kind of boring but likable. The romance is decent. The scenes can be hot.
But holy shit. The representation is AWFUL. Which would be fine, if it were critiquing those aspects. And I’ve read spoilers that Julia does dump Sam in the end but the text doesn’t seem to be engaging with what exactly the issues are, its not represented in a critical lens.
For starters, the poly and SM representation disgusts me. Everything about it is coercive. Not only is the consent not only not enthusiastic, its often not even asked or declared. This is extremely problematic in both SM and poly culture. It is unethical. Again, had the author engaged with this a little more critically, it could be excusable or even good. But thats not what it is. No one except Julia’s internal monologue has any issue with it.
And the trans representation, oh my god. Sam, a lesbian, has slept with (I may be misremembering the exact numbers but it was near this) 121 cis women, 12 trans men and 3 cis men. 0 transfems, apparently. Which in the real world, is totally fine. Maybe she just never met any she liked or had an opportunity with. However, in a list of other completely arbitrary numbers of partners, choosing to write that she has not or will not sleep with transfems smells a bit TERFy. It didn’t sit right with me but I was willing to excuse it, however I will note that the reviewers at The Guardian loved this book for specifically transphobic reasons, which tells me all I really need to know.
About halfway through, we finally get some (possibly) transfem representation. In the form of a single drag queen. Julia thinks she is beautiful, but when she says so, the others laugh hysterically and then everyone talks about her Adam’s apple and penis. Nice. Very cool. Lovely even.
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-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
WOW. I learned more about lesbian culture and sex than I ever imagined while reading this book. I felt like I was on a journey along with Julia, and I appreciated the exploration of the good AND difficult parts of coming out to friends and family. I love that it was extremely sex positive and inclusive. (It didn't just include lesbians.) The writing style was also so very British and entertaining, and there were several times throughout reading this book that I laughed to myself.
However, there is a very toxic relationship in here that makes up the main conflict of the book. While it was a very realistic depiction of manipulation and toxicity in a relationship, I found myself screaming at Julia through the pages and begging her to open her eyes. I appreciate the real, raw quality of what Julia went through, but wow. It took a lot for her to finally express awareness of what was happening and a desire to stop it.
However, there is a very toxic relationship in here that makes up the main conflict of the book. While it was a very realistic depiction of manipulation and toxicity in a relationship, I found myself screaming at Julia through the pages and begging her to open her eyes. I appreciate the real, raw quality of what Julia went through, but wow. It took a lot for her to finally express awareness of what was happening and a desire to stop it.
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
slow-paced
dark
emotional
funny
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Read content warnings for this book before starting it.
Fourth reread: I can no longer deny that this is one of my favorite books... more so one of my comfort books.
Fourth reread: I can no longer deny that this is one of my favorite books... more so one of my comfort books.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm, Sexual content
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault
Minor: Sexual violence, Sexual harassment
Book reviews on www.snazzybooks.com
In at the Deep End is a brilliantly funny and honest read, and a book that not only makes a nice change from the many crime/ thriller novels I read, but also is so great that I will be buying copies for all of my friends.
This novel has lots of situations I can relate to, or I’ve heard discussed by people I know, so for a lot of it I smiled as I read main character Julia's thoughts and experiences, and really identified with her as a late twenties woman.
Julia realizes that she’s gay and Kate Davies writes so fantastically that I felt like I was experiencing everything with her, through her eyes. It made me laugh at countless points, and most importantly it made me really care about Julia and what might happen to her as well as being entertaining to read. It's also very crude at times, which just made me love this novel - and Julia - even more. Frank and funny are two excellent indicators of a brilliant book!
In at the Deep End is a fun, straight-talking and entertaining read with some brilliant characters. It's easily a five-star read for me and I'll definitely be reading more from Kate Davies in the future!
Many thanks to The Borough Press for providing a copy of this book on which I chose to write an honest and unbiased review.
In at the Deep End is a brilliantly funny and honest read, and a book that not only makes a nice change from the many crime/ thriller novels I read, but also is so great that I will be buying copies for all of my friends.
This novel has lots of situations I can relate to, or I’ve heard discussed by people I know, so for a lot of it I smiled as I read main character Julia's thoughts and experiences, and really identified with her as a late twenties woman.
Julia realizes that she’s gay and Kate Davies writes so fantastically that I felt like I was experiencing everything with her, through her eyes. It made me laugh at countless points, and most importantly it made me really care about Julia and what might happen to her as well as being entertaining to read. It's also very crude at times, which just made me love this novel - and Julia - even more. Frank and funny are two excellent indicators of a brilliant book!
In at the Deep End is a fun, straight-talking and entertaining read with some brilliant characters. It's easily a five-star read for me and I'll definitely be reading more from Kate Davies in the future!
Many thanks to The Borough Press for providing a copy of this book on which I chose to write an honest and unbiased review.
adventurous
funny
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I brought this book not knowing what it was about and I was pleasantly surprised! It was funny, hard at times, and a realistic portrayal of abusive relationships of queer people, that is often overlooked. I'm a big fan of an unlikeable main character, and I liked Julia a lot.