A review by carireadsbooksandtarot
Words in Deep Blue by Cath Crowley

emotional hopeful 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

4.5

 
I don’t read YA very often but when I do, it’s something that has been mentioned to me by my sister, a middle-school librarian. She knows me well and it shows in her recommendation of Words in Deep Blue. Set in a bookstore, and filled with literary references, we follow Rachel, reeling from the death of her brother, as she returns to live with her aunt in the town she left several years ago. No one there knows that her brother is dead and she’s forced to come face to face with Henry and the broken friendship left behind when she moved away. Henry, who has just been dumped by his girlfriend, is heartbroken and determined to get her back, but everything is upended when Rachel gets a job in his family’s failing bookstore. The bookstore features a library of books, not for buying, but for leaving notes and letters in for others to find. And here we get a spattering of delightful epistolary entries! Rachel and Henry’s story is flanked by other well-drawn characters in this small Australian town. As I’m thinking back over it a week later, I can’t believe how much character and feeling Crowley was able to fit into a 250ish page YA novel. Even more rare than reading YA for me, is reading a romance. When I do, I find that I prefer YA romance. No judgement from me for those out there who enjoy smut, I’m just more of a “OK this is fine, but can we get back to the story?” kind of gal. I found this to be an engaging, well-paced, and touching story. Every time I read a good romance, I think I should read more romance, and this is one of those times. Recommendations welcome! 
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