Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher/author for providing me with an ALC in exchange for my honest review.

OMG!!! This book was exactly what I wanted it to be! I loved it. I will make sure to check out other books by this author. When I requested this I was just intrigued by the concept of it and I loved how it turned out. This story had a great plot and if you have read this and enjoyed it, This was so much. It was such a great story. I would say give this one a try. I will continue to follow this author. Way to go to this author for not letting me down.

I highly enjoyed the narrator of the audiobook. Kept me listening.

I’m not sure how I feel about this one still. I liked it while I was reading it but I found it very forgettable. I did really like the characters and the story line.

🌊🛥Book Review:
Title: Deep Water
Author: Emma Bamford
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️/3 stars

A deserted, remote island. Clean, uninhabited beaches. Sounds like paradise, right? Is there really such a place? Jake and Virginie are about to find out.

This newly married couple decides to spend their life savings on a yacht and set out to find the most exotic places the seas have to offer. After stopping for a brief visit in Malaysia, they receive information about an island that very few seem to know about. But when they arrive, others are already there with more to arrive. Everyone seems to have the same intentions, enjoying this little piece of secluded paradise. But of course, naturally, things start to go wrong. And people end up dead.

This book was decent, but it could have been a tad shorter. There were parts that drug on but not too shabby overall.

Published: May 9th, 2023

Thank you, @netgalley, and @gallerybooks, for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

This was a super interesting, intriguing story that will keep you guessing.
It’s about a captain that heads to a distressed yacht. There, he finds a couple - one is severely injured. The wife tells a harrowing tale of survival. But as more unfolds…… what is the truth?

This was my first book by Emma Bamford, and although I didn't find it as fast-paced as I'd typically like my thrillers, I'll definitely look out for more from her in the future. This is something that I'd consider a "slow burn thriller", with a pretty glacial pace and overall feeling of dread / like something is building up to the end. Personally, I like to be a bit more excited along the way as I go, so this was a little slow for me - but I think there are definitely people out there who will really appreciate not just the story's pacing, but the attention to detail in things that went completely over my head (especially in regards to boats, which this had A LOT of info about!).

I will absolutely say that whomever compared this to THE RUINS has never actually read or watched THE RUINS, because this was so far away from that it may as well have been Sesame Street comparison-wise.

Thank you to Netgallery and Gallery Books for this copy to review.

This was a great book. It starts in current times, as a frantic woman and her gravely injured husband are brought onboard a ship from their own yacht. The story then flashes back to an idyllic time, as this couple settles in at a beautiful, remote island for months of life of the grid on their boat. They meet other couples also enjoying this blissful time.

The details of the area are wonderful, you can truly see and taste what they see and taste. The characters are well fleshed-out and you really get to know them well.

This is a great story and has you really feeling a full range of emotions

Deep Water is Emma Bamford's debut novel, and she came out of the gate hot! I loved the setting and felt like Emma Bamford provided so much detail that you really felt like you were there. I enjoyed her character development, which provided just enough backstory for each character as well. The perfect book to read on the beach this summer!

It was alright not bad but not the best I wish there were more action in the middle of the book and not just at the end. Great book to read in the summer However, the mystery of it was interesting the reason is that I love reading books that take place on a remote island plus a mystery that I am hook.

Deep Water is a solid debut novel that will appeal to those who enjoy atmospheric mysteries with a nautical twist. With its correct terminology and captivating setting, the book earns a rating of 3.5 out of 5. While it falls slightly short of being a gripping thriller, it offers an intriguing and suspenseful reading experience.

Not what I was expecting! Drug on longer than expected but the ending wasn't expected. I'm not big on anything to do with the ocean, but not the worst story, just a little slow.

"Deep Water" by Emma Bamford is a captivating memoir that takes readers on a thrilling journey of self-discovery and adventure. Bamford's vivid storytelling transports readers to the open seas as she embarks on a solo sailing expedition around the world. With its blend of personal reflections, exhilarating experiences, and encounters with diverse cultures, this book offers a compelling narrative that will keep readers hooked from start to finish.

So I read this story a while back and thought I had reviewed it already.

I remember not trusting any of the characters nor being able to connect to them. Everyone had a secret and some were bigger than others.

When you arrive at this island, you are expected to contribute to the lifestyle with those around you. It’s like a tiny town and everyone relies on each other but no one is allowed to go about another boat unless invited and inviting people aboard was frowned upon.

I like this book though it’s not a favorite but I do recommend it for as a good beach read.

A young couple sails to a deserted location for the winter... and what could possibly go wrong? Quite a lot, as it turns out. This book convinced me not to abandon my fear of boats/water.

This book was a great read and I liked the detailed descriptions of the island and characters. I want to know more and feel there could be a sequel I hope!!!! I felt this book took me far away to an island where you have to do everything yourself and rely on others for help. Enjoyed reading this book!

The book starts out with a bang...a mayday call from a sailboat in the middle of the ocean. When the naval vessel comes upon the distressed yacht, there is a man with a head wound and a malnourished woman in a bikini covered in blood. When the captain asks why they're on a boat that doesn't belong to them, the woman confesses that it's her fault, she killed them.
From there, the story backtracks to when Virginie and Jake, a newly married couple, bought a yacht, fixed it up, and headed off for adventure. A fellow sailor mentions a mysterious, isolated island full of unspoiled beaches and the couple decides to find out. When they arrive there are already a few boats, but they soon become friends and decide to stay until monsoon season. But upon the arrival of another boat, the lines are drawn, friends are pitted against each other, and survival isn't guaranteed. What really happened on this island that still has Virginie terrified?
I enjoyed parts of this book, but the chapters in between were so long and drawn out I quickly became bored. But I'm not a quitter, so I forged on. The ending was pretty good so I'm glad I did, but the story didn't quite live up to its beautiful cover and thrilling blurb.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own

I loved this book. It reminded me of Reckless Girls a bit. Aside from arctic thrillers and horror I also love mysteries and thrillers that take place on the sea. This did just that. It was one of those books where 3/4 was captivating but I didn't love the end. Too much of a let down. It checks all my boxes, and so I highly recommend it.

This was an interesting sailing story, but not what I would call a thriller.

The synopsis sounded like there was going to be some kind of mystery to unravel, but there was really nothing to figure out; no twists, no intrigue, just couple drama. The story was pretty linear, just told mostly from one POV.

There was definitely a LOT of description of sailing and activities around it, as well as the remote island, but even when we get to meet other characters, we don't really get to know them on a personal level. They feel like props in the story of the main couple's drama, and ultimately don't really add much.

Overall, I'm not sure how I would classify this book. It was a basic, straightforward story of a couple who goes on an extended honeymoon on a remote island, which ends up not being too secret, since there are quite a few people already there. I kept waiting for something mysterious or thrilling to happen, but nothing ever did. I'd say it's a nice beach read.

This was just okay for me. Would recommend if you’re looking for an adventure story with a sprinkle and tension between characters. There’s a lot of talk about boats/boating that went right over my head. Some pretty good visuals/descriptions and decent plot drama, just not really for me.

Somewhat similar to Rachel Hawkins’ book Reckless Girls, this book still managed to capture my interest. It’s one of the genre of “people who find a remote island and everything is perfect until it isn’t” kind of tale. I did enjoy the dual perspectives and how the emotionally fraught nuances of the protagonist were detailed extensively. I like to get into people’s heads when it comes to these kinds of stories, so it really worked here. Overall, I enjoyed it.

Virginie and Jake just got married and decide to buy a boat and sail all over the place. They are supposed to head to Thailand but change their mind and head out to a deserted island where they meet up with a couple of other folks. This is not an action packed book, it’s a slow ride and creepy. It reminded me a bit of Reckless Girls by Rachel Hawkins and I enjoyed it.