Going Deep by Sophie Andrews is one of those stories that will keep you hooked. It was intense, fun and emotional. I’ve read it in one sitting. I just could not get enough! In this book review, I’ll discuss my favorite elements and where I think the story could have done better.
What It’s About
The book follows Nadine and Camden, as they try to accommodate changes in their current lives. While Nadine deals with a potential career change, Camden struggles with the loss of his parents and having to care for his sister, who has a hearing deficit. He needs to clean up his act and become a responsible adult.
Nadine’s brother, Camden’s best friend and captain of the football team he plays for, recommends her as a nanny for Camden’s sister, and thus, their relationship evolves. She will see he’s not a superficial bastard, and he will see she’s not as stuck up as he thought. His feelings for her will return tenfold, and Nadine will slowly let go of her armour.
What Worked for Me
There are several elements I loved in this book, starting with the romance and relationship between characters, and the secondary themes:
- Camden and Nadine rediscover each other. She has a certain opinion about him because of an incident that happened years ago. Her attitude toward him determined his returned behavior. But time spent together reveals their true persona. Their feelings are explosive, and their love fierce and all-consuming.
- Camden’s sister has a hearing deficit, an element thoroughly explored throughout the book. The author mentions how important it is to find an environment that supports development, as well as how important it is for those without the impediment to understand ASL and how to accommodate the needs of their children, parents, or friends.
- Dealing with the loss of parents is portrayed not only from Camden’s perspective, now the leader of the family, but also from his younger sister, a fourteen-year-old girl, who seems to have been treated unfairly at school.
- Nadine is a teacher at a school for teenagers with social issues. She is consumed by their problems, and she does much more than a teacher should. I loved how the author presented the inequities of society, raising awareness of the lack of support these types of establishments have.
- Finding one’s professional purpose and reconnecting with the things we love about our profession are also explored in the book. Nadine feels overwhelmed and burnt out. Camden has to remember the fun of the game, beyond the money and fame.
What Didn’t Work
While I truly loved this book, I do feel there are some elements left unaddressed. One of them is the relationship with Camden’s sister. She is present in the beginning; we see her adapting to a new life, and Nadine helping her to do so. We see the three of them bonding and enjoying cozy evenings. However, when she and Camden start their romantic relationship, Paisley is rarely there. I would have liked to see her adapting to the change in status, in a way.
I would have loved a closure for Nadine and her previous school, maybe seeing her involved in the lives of her ex-students. It feels as if she completely left them behind, and it doesn’t blend well with the passion she shows in the beginning.
Favourite Elements
By far, my favorite part is the writing itself. Sophie Andrews offers laugh-out-loud moments and emotional scenes in a beautiful and poetic way. As I mentioned earlier, I devoured this book. I could not look away from our characters.
With that being said, I’m leaving you with one of my favorite quotes from the book:
It’s always been you, even if I didn’t know it. You have always been mine. Let me be yours.
Who I Recommend This To
If you enjoy a sports romance, with more than just a relationship between the main characters, this book is for you. However, if the loss of a parent is something that may affect you emotionally, consider it with caution.
Fans of fast-paced love stories, in which he falls first and has to prove himself to her will devour the novel, same as I did.
Rating + Final Thoughts
This is my fist book by Sophie Andrews and for sure it will not be my last. I’ve fallen in love with her writing and her characters and I am excited to read more from the series. For now, Going Deep has 4 stars, and my beating heart 😊
Find the book on Goodreads and buy it from Bookshop.org
Until next time, happy reading!
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