NEW ADULT MONDAYS: Into The Deep (Into The Deep #1)

The New Adult genre - their bad boys and big problems and epic loves make them engrossing tales that are so easy to lose yourself in. What's not to love about that? And, now, thanks to the cool chicks at Bewitched Bookworms, we can show these books the love they deserve in a weekly feature - New Adult Mondays.

Into The Deep (Into The Deep #1), by Samantha Young
Published August 9, 2013
Publisher:  self-published
Format: e-copy, purchased
Genre:  new adult contemporary romance
To Buy: Amazon * Barnes & Noble

Rating:  4.5 STARS

(From Goodreads) Live young. Live hard. Love deep.

Charley Redford was just an ordinary girl until Jake Caplin moved to her small town in Indiana and convinced her she was extraordinary. Almost from day one Jake pulled Charley into the deep and promised he was right there with her. But when a tragic incident darkened Jake’s life he waded out into the shallows and left Charley behind.

Almost four years later Charley thinks she’s moved on. That is until she takes a study year abroad in Edinburgh and bumps into none other than Jake Caplin at a party with his new girlfriend. The bad-boy-turned-good attempts to convince Charley to forgive him, and as her best friend starts spending time with Jake’s, Charley calls a truce, only to find herself tumbling back into a friendship with him.

As they grow closer, the spark between them flares and begins playing havoc with their lives and relationships. When jealousy and longing rear their destructive heads, Charley and Jake struggle to come to grips with what they mean to one another.

And even if they work it out, there is no guarantee Charley will ever trust Jake to lead her back into the deep.

I think Samantha Young could write dirty limericks on a diner napkin and I would buy them without even reading them first. Because I'm sure they'd be the most awesome smutty poetry I've ever read. I've read her On Dublin Street series and am on her street team. When she announced that she was going to be releasing a new adult book, I one-clicked that sucker right away.

These new adult books about couples who split, then reconnect several years later only to find one of them is now in a relationship with someone else absolutely KILL me. Into The Deep is no different. From the very beginning, I was very emotionally invested in what happened to Charley and Jake. The heartbreak these two felt every time they were around each other - especially Charley - was palpable and real.

Into The Deep is told from Charley's POV. Flashbacks to four years earlier were interspersed with events from the present day to help the reader form a clear picture of what happened to drive these two kids apart when they were so obviously happy and perfect together. In this way, not all the secrets were revealed all at once - it was more like putting together a puzzle. The whole picture was formed a little at a time until we see exactly what's been going on at the very end.

Lots of girls can relate to Charley. She has to live with seeing the love of her life on campus every day knowing that he's with someone else. That sucks with a capital 'S'. The writing was so filled with emotion and description that feeling her pain and frustration with the situation was easy. I almost wish this had been a dual POV, because I would've loved to know what was going on in Jake's head the whole time. The chemistry between then was amazing.

“I knew after weeks of meeting you that I was never going to love another girl like I love you. You’re it for me. They write books about what we have.”

The side characters were equally as vibrant. Charley's best friend Claudia was a piece of work - I loved her craziness and supposed carefree attitude. Beck, Jake's best friend, is an enigma. He's super mysterious and very cool. Plus, he's in a band (with Lowe, who is another awesome side character). I love guys in bands. I'm hoping that soon Beck and Claudia will have their own book, because I think their story will be a good one.

There is no cliffhanger in Into The Deep, and most situations were resolved to a point. But, things were definitely left open and it made me want more. Like, NOW. Samantha Young - you wicked genius. I really loved this new new adult book.