I really liked the writing style of this novel. It’s funny yet honest. Will definitely read more by Davies again. ( )

I feel no connection with Julia. I felt like there was no real character development and that's something I struggled with throughout the book. The only real development was her deciding to embrace being a queer woman and even that was not the greatest. I have an issue with it because she decided to become a queer woman because she had bad sex.

I enjoyed the first half of this book but it started going down hill when Sam was introduced. That relationship was really cringe-worthy because of how abusive the relationship is. Sam was very manipulative and took advantage of Julia's innocence.

It was hard to write this review because I did like the writing. The work flows so good and made you want to keep reading. I would be very picky about who I recommend this book to. If you are easily offended, this book isn't for you. ( )

The first portion of In At the Deep End starts off on a lighter note. Especially more Rom-Com as Julia explores her sexuality as a lesbian woman. Julia is able to connect well with a group from swing class and is able to get their love and support in her new journey. However, the tone of the novel quickly turned heinous when a relationship with Sam began.
The rest of the novel if filled with graphic, non consensual sex scenes, and a gross display of manipulation, leaving Julia in despair.
I found most of my enjoyment came in the development of more minor characters such as Julia's Mum and Dad and her best friend, Alice.
As a whole, it did represent varying perspectives of the LGBTQ community; but with the abuse and rape, the book left me feeling unsettled and unsatisfied. ( )

Julia has had enough.

The only thing she hasn’t had enough of is orgasms; she hasn’t had proper sex in three years.

So, when Julia gets invited to a warehouse party in a part of town where trendy people who have lots of sex go on a Friday night, she readily accepts. And that night she meets someone: a figurative artist, who also happens to be a woman.

She finds her tribe at queer swing dancing classes, and guided by her new lover Sam, she soon discovers London’s gay bars and BDSM clubs . . . and the complexities of polyamory.

Soon it becomes clear that Sam needs to call the shots, and Julia’s newfound liberation comes to bear a suspicious resemblance to entrapment . . .

Thank you Goodreads and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for a chance to read this book!!

This is the first LGBT book I have read. That I can remember at least. The beginning of the book was good funny and easy to get into. The middle was iffy and the ending was surprising. To me the book came off as a coming-of-age book. I think that is mostly because Julia is just starting to find out who she is. But it was an ok book. Happy reading everyone!! ( )

I was gifted the galley at the bookshop I work in, and I wanted to like this more than I did. I really, truly did. It was marketed to me in prepublication as a "fun queer sexy read" and it was only....sort of those things. Following a young woman who, in her adulthood, comes out as a lesbian, falls into a queer artsy crowd, and then endures an emotionally manipulative, abusive relationship, "In at the Deep End" doesn't seem to know which kind of book it wants to be when it grows up. The first act functions as a coming out narrative (which is important, even if it feels familiar), spurred on by the fact that our protagonist Julia has not had sex in literal years, has beyond mediocre sex with men, and then spends the night with a talented lesbian painter who serves as her "awakening" of sorts. She begins a community LGBT ballroom dancing class, and loves it, and I wish that this had been explored more; instead, the second act is about falling in love with a daring, devilish up-and-coming artist, Sam, who runs the relationship on her terms only. Some kinky sex, a lot of BDSM (which I suppose serves a narrative purpose but leaves a really, really terrible taste in my mouth, especially coupled with an abusive relationship) and a third act that doesn't commit to catastrophe or a happy ending but middles around somewhere between them, this book had the potential to be a lot of fun but doesn't really land well for me. ( )