A review by savvylit
The Immeasurable Depth of You by Maria Ingrande Mora

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.0

The Immeasurable Depth of You is a compelling and empathetic young adult tale. Narrator Brynn's anxiety, compulsions, and self-consciousness throughout are so palpable that I yearned to comfort her. In creating Brynn, Mora has written one of the most believable teen narrators I have ever encountered in fiction.

Beyond the realistic characterization, there is so much more to love about this novel. First, there is a supernatural thread surrounding Skylar. Skylar's inclusion and her arc within the novel are both beautiful and heart-wrenching. Second, this novel paints a nuanced and empathetic portrait of teen mental illness and suicidal ideation. When I was reading piles on piles of YA Fiction as a teen myself, I never read any books that even slightly portrayed mental health in as normalizing a way as this novel. Third, this is a delightfully queer novel. Brynn's bisexuality is, like her other qualities, portrayed in a deeply believable and loveable manner.

Last but not least, this book is powerfully connected to its setting: the Gulf Coast of Florida. Mora is a resident of Florida and it is heavily apparent in her rich, vivid, and accurate descriptions of the coast and its native flora and fauna. Furthermore, the connection to place in this novel has an important political context. The government of the state of Florida is currently enforcing a culture of homophobia and hate within its bounds. Countless books have been banned from public school libraries for mentioning anything deemed even slightly "controversial." Teens need access to books like this one in order to feel less alone and to see how the teenage experience can be beautifully varied.

Thanks @peachtreeteen & @mariamorawrites for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Content Warnings