A review by zoereadsnrambles
Open Water by Caleb Azumah Nelson

5.0

one of the most beautiful books i have read in a while and the fact that this a debut novel is INSANE. 'Open Water' is so intimate and introspective, it’s beautifully written with prose that feels like poetry at times. this is a short book but a slow read. from page one it's too prettily written to go through quickly, and too searing in content to want to! the novel follows two young black artists, one a photographer, one a dancer, getting to know one another, becoming friends, falling in love. their journey to find each other, trying to navigate their relationship, and ultimately falling apart. 'Open Water' explores themes of identity, what it is to be a young black person in london, masculinity, exhaustion, fragmentation, and trauma of racism, police brutality, and of constantly not being seen. there is love, heartbreak, and hope in the poignant narrative and poetic prose. a truly unforgettable read.