I mean it gas good I guess...
I do not feel strongly for this book, but I think it has more to do with me than the book itself.
Objectively it was really good.
The writing was fun and light.
The characters and chemistry were amazing!
The story? Ok?

I enjoyed it. It was a fun light and heartwarming story... Just I did not connect to it as much as I would have loved to.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an early copy of this novel.

Good books are entertaining, great books make you feel things. This is a great book. Fiona and Nick’s journey through tragedy, grief, family, friendships, and love are beautifully woven through this novel in a way that has the reader feeling like they are in the actual story. Life is messy and it’s heartbreaking, but this book reminds us that sometimes, through the heartbreak, we can find a little sunshine.

Once I started I could not drop this book for even a minute. It took me less than a day to finish. I cried so many times that I was dehydrated by the end. I loved how showed that grief can be different for everyone.
Talking about the relationship side, May is the worst kind a friend someone can have and honestly? Nick is not much better, at least not until he got called out
Fiona is such a good person, I wanted to protect her
It was also amazing to see the develpment of the characters during the year
#IntoTheDeepBlue

While this book did hit quite a few tropes, I was still pulled in from the beginning. You can’t help but root for the characters.

Into the Deep Blue was an enjoyable read, though definitely on the angsty side for me. The weight of grief and unspoken emotions runs through every chapter, and while that sometimes made it heavy, it also gave the story its depth.
The characters were what truly drew me in. Fiona and Nick felt real, flawed, and relatable, and their dynamic kept me turning the pages. Even when the pacing at the start felt slow, the story steadily built momentum and improved as it went on. By the time I reached the second half, I was fully invested in their journey.
Overall, this is a heartfelt and emotional novel that rewards patience, with characters you can’t help but root for.

(Big thanks to NetGalley, the author Jennifer Archer, and Marble Press for the chance to read this ahead of its published date.)

A brave and beautiful book.

Into the Deep Blue is a coming of age story about loss, the strength of friendship, and realizing that the hardest thing about growing up is learning to let go. It’s brilliant, raw, heartbreaking, and hopeful all at the same time. And in its quietest moments is where the beauty lies– the idea that life and love can be born from something like grief.

Nick and Fiona are the heart of the story. Their friendship is the anchor from the first page to the end. Connected by the shared pain of losing a parent, they learn how to live life after loss almost like surfacing after a year underwater. Their banter, the irresistible push and pull between them, and the affection is so present in Archer’s writing. As a romance reader, I know what it feels like when you get the “feels” about the book’s two leads, and I genuinely was rooting for them throughout the chapters.

Reading this story as an adult was inescapably nostalgic. You know the feeling of driving down to the beach with friends just to watch the sunset? It could be a cold December day but the reward is the view. This story captured the highs and aches of growing up. It transported me back to scenes of hanging out in bedrooms and watching movies on laptops with your favorite person, the insecurities (plenty), the shared anxiety of the future… it hit every memorable feeling that everyone knows before university life. Nick is a young man trying to convince the world he doesn’t care, while Fiona’s spirit burns brightly. But yet, they’re both hurting. It takes time, but we watch them both brave the storm of facing adulthood and the best thing about it is we see them do it together.

As a proud Californian, born and raised, the road trip Nick and Fiona take was a special shoutout to the state I call home. The journey they take to a point where the forgiving sea meets jagged coastline felt like the perfect place for two souls to discover that there can still be peace where there is pain.

After finishing this story, I understood. I get why the author channeled the element of water for a subject that is so universal. For Nick and Fiona, grief at times could feel boundless like the sea, as bottomless as the ocean. But grieving is also brave.

There are moments that broke my heart, moments that took my breath away. This book will make you laugh, cry, believe in love, and for those who have lost, it will make you brave to hope again.

Special Note: As a huge fan of Damian Hardung, I came to learn about this book, which he will star as Nick in the adaptation. I cannot wait to see him bring light to this character! (Filming starts Spring 2026)

Vibes: coming of age - young love - surviving loss- road trip romance - Pacific Coast- beach sunsets

3.5 stars!
“Into the Deep Blue” is an emotional story filled with grief, healing, friendship and love.

I honestly had a hard time deciding how to rate and review this title. I genuinely thought the story was good, but it wasn’t necessarily my cup of tea. However, the messages here are great- and I can see how this could be a really special and beneficial to a lot of readers, especially young ones- so I do not want to deter anyone from reading it.

To start off, I think books centered around grief can always be challenging. It is such a subjective topic, and everyone experiences it in their own unique way. It is never a one-size fits all.
With that being said, I did enjoy this story- and the only reason I haven’t given it a higher rating is simply because I did not really connect with the way in which the main characters were experiencing their grief.
It is intense (understandably so), and the characters sort of go off the rails several times.
In no way am I saying that this is an improper response to having experienced a loss, but it made it a bit more difficult to me to read and relate to them.

There were some things here that I did like quite a bit though!
I thought the road trip idea was awesome. Traveling to a place that was special to Fiona’s mother, so that she was able to honor and feel connected to her on the university of her passing. This was beautiful and very sweet.

I liked Fiona and Nick, as friends and as a couple.
Their friendship blossomed into a romantic relationship in a slow, but lovely way.
Having experienced a similar trauma, they were able to understand each other in ways that others could not. This gave them a special bond, and I loved seeing them support each other through things.
Bonus points to both of them for being so forgiving toward each other, even when they were going through bad moods and lots of low points. Again, part of them relating to one another in a unique way.

Overall, I think it is a special book, and there is certainly a place for it. Many readers would find this incredibly touching and emotional.

Thank you to Netgalley, Marble Press and author Jennifer E. Archer for providing me with the eARC of “Into the Deep Blue”, in exchange for my honest review!
Publication date: September 30th, 2025
Reviewed on Goodreads: August 6th, 2025

First off, I would like to extend my gratitude to Jennifer Archer, Marble Press, and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review “Into the Deep Blue” prior to its release date! I first became interested in the story when I found out that it was not only a book, but started off as a screenplay that is now on its way to becoming an actual film.

I always loved reading book to movie adaptations, especially due to my passion of writing and interest in the television/film industry, so “Into the Deep Blue” was right up my alley! With correlating a book and a movie, the book serves as a “guide-map” to gaining a more in-depth analysis of the characters. This enhances the film-viewing experience, as those who read the book will have additional insight on the characters and their interpersonal thoughts.

At the beginning of “Into the Deep Blue”, Nick and Fiona are portrayed as friends who met in group therapy for grief counseling, and love each other in a non-romantic way. Their worlds revolved around each other and they went out of their way to spend as much time with one another as possible, especially on their trip to Monterey.

I found the book to be very relatable in the simplest ways to young adults such as myself. Two moments that stood out to me were when Fiona looked at Nick’s “Notes” app on his phone to see if he had drafted anything that could help her get to know him better. Ironically, I am compiling this review through my own “Notes” app, and many other young adults my age utilize it to vent, organize information, or even just leave themselves reminders.

Another “real” moment that caught my attention is when Fiona’s friend asked Nick out of the blue how his mom died. Fiona was mortified and tried to redirect the conversation, just as I would have. I have had friends in the past who did not have a filter and would just say whatever was on their mind, whether it could be seen as offensive or not. I could just imagine how irritated and embarrassed Fiona was when her friend asked Nick about his mom. My “inner monologue” in my head was saying “Please stop talking!“.

In a lot of Young Adult novels, after the primary conflict occurs between the two main characters, who also happen to be each others’ love interests, it is usually predictable for me as a reader to expect when the couple would reconcile.

Usually there is a disagreement, trust is broken, life goals differentiate, and after some period of time, one of the main characters musters up the courage to talk to the other, and they realize how important they are to each other and then go off and live “happily ever after”, but in all honesty, that is not realistic and has been a pattern in numerous Young Adult books and movies.

“Into the Deep Blue” took a creative and unique approach that differed from the typical sequence of events seen in Young Adult novels. Due to this, I was always “on my toes” as to when Fiona and Nick would have their moment where they would make up, or if they even would.

Nick and Fiona would put a “pause” on their friendship from time to time throughout the story and later reconcile after the smaller conflicts that they faced, but with one chapter of the book left and the primary conflict seeming unresolved, I honestly did not know if Nick and Fiona would ever get to that point where they could confidently say that they both loved each other and weren’t together only because of the death of their moms.

Although I am not going to reveal what Nick and Fiona’s lives look like at the end the of “Into the Deep Blue”, I will say that the conclusion between each character was timed perfectly and did not come off as abrupt whatsoever.

Overall, I would rate “Into the Deep Blue” a 5 out of 5. It is important to show how the grieving process involves anger and curiosity in addition to sadness, and this story did just that. The book was well-written and also realistic in regard to how young adults process grief and love, which is immensely beneficial in today’s day and age.

Thank you again for the opportunity to read “Into the Deep Blue” before it hits shelves, and I am looking forward to seeing how this beautiful story plays out as a film!

-Olivia

I was given the opportunity to read an ARC copy. I heard about this book through an account I follow on Instagram. I was even more interested after I found out Damian Hardung was casted for the screen adaptation.

I really enjoyed the writing of this book. It's a book that I felt was more conversation based. I actually appreciate this in a book. I feel you can get more from the characters this way. I also enjoyed the dual POV.

I did think the characters could have been built out a little more. I did connect with them, but I just feel like it wasn't enough to have me fully in love with the story. That's the 4 star review instead of a 5 star.

Overall, I enjoyed the book and the writing.

This book has officially set my standards for what writing should be in a book. There’s no fluff. There are no flat lines with little to no description. There are no wasted plot lines. Into the Deep Blue is a piece of art that should be showcased right next to the freaking Mona Lisa!

The book follows Nick, who’s grieving the loss of his mother from an incident that’s truly unthinkable, and Fiona, whose mother also passed away in a traumatic event. The two of them have to navigate their feelings for each other while trying not to make it so obvious that one of their Jenga pieces might come crashing down, causing the whole tower to fall. They both use distraction and avoidance as strategies to see how the other one feels before finally meeting in the middle like the Red Sea crashing back in on itself. A trip to Monterey is exactly what Fi and Nick need to figure out what’s going on between them. This TRIP! I was kicking my feet and smiling so wide my jaw started cramping! Reading about them on that trip was truly so special.

Throughout the book, Archer’s details are embedded in every line. The symbolism used to describe grief and mental health made me step back and say, “ahhh damn, I can relate.” At moments, it made me cry—and crying while reading aloud (please read books aloud! It helps your brain remember a treasure of a book like this) just made me sob even more. This book captures the human experience of life after loss and how to deal with the emotional struggle of holding onto a sinking ship. Thank you, Jennifer Archer, for a book I’ll gladly reread until the spine is so bent I’ll need tape to fix it! Thank you for two well developed characters who made me laugh, cry my eyes out, and smile with pride!

And to anyone reading this review: PLEASE preorder this book! It’s one you’ll want to reread over and over again.

Song for the book: Collide by Howie Day

Rating: the limit does not exist/10

5 stars

Short, sweet, and absolutely beautiful. This book made me cry real tears.

I was completely drawn in by Nick and Fiona’s friendship. It felt raw, soft, and beautifully messy. The best-friends-to-lovers tension was so well done, and the way they leaned on each other through their grief felt incredibly real. I could feel the pain, the comfort, and the quiet love growing between them with every page. I was rooting for them with my whole heart.

What stood out most was how grief was handled. It was not treated as something that needed to be fixed or solved. It existed, it lingered, and the story showed how people learn to live with it while still allowing love to grow again. That message was deeply moving.

There was no over-the-top drama, no major plot twist, and it did not need any. It was simply about two people navigating life and love after loss. Gentle, emotional, and unforgettable.

Nick and Fiona now have a permanent place in my heart. 💙

This was an emotional, yet at times humorous, read about two teenagers navigating their grief. I absolutely flew through this, Nick and Fiona read as realistic relatable teenagers. They are figuring out not only who they are after the loss of loved ones, but how they fit together, and I appreciated that it focused on them in the present rather than who they used to be. Can't wait to share this one with my teens.

Into the Deep Blue by Jennifer E. Archer is a 5 star read from me. I totally recommend everyone to read this book as fast as they can because it's really good and the characters are fantastic.

3.5 stars to Into the Deep Blue. Entertaining story with characters you really feel for. Fiona and Nick had a nice dynamic, comfortable and genuine. Liked the message on not losing sight of yourself despite grief, allowing it to become a part of you rather than it overcoming you. Overall, this was a good read. Didn’t quite make it as a personal favorite, but still good.

Another YA book, which I think was fine. The plot and characters were built perfectly for the coming-of-age era. I must say I find the characters a bit annoying, but because I have been through the teenage years so I can empathize with Nick and Fiona. I think this book has the potential to be a movie script because the writing and pacing are good to make a movie.

But unfortunately, I'm not so into YA books, even though this book was good for rewinding the teenage years. But I hope there will be more books by Jennifer in the future.

This was a very sweet, slow paced friends-to-lovers romance book about two characters recovering and finding themselves after a great loss in their lives.

Thoughts 💭:

I loved how these characters weren’t always written to be perfect and they were open about their issues to each other. I always love a good snug and homey friends-to-lovers book.

That said, I would’ve loved some better world-building, as the book didn’t tell me enough their lives before they graduated. I also would’ve loved a bit more plot as I read about 50% of the book before anything actually happened.

Nevertheless, this was a very enjoyable quick-read😊! If you like a warm cozy read with a mug of hot chocolate over an action-packed one this is definitely for you!

Thank you for NetGalley and Jennifer E. Archer for providing me with the opportunity to read this book. All thoughts and opinions were my own.

Thanks to Netgalley for giving me this ARC. This book got me. Like, really got me. It pulled me in without warning and left me feeling all kinds of things. Parts of it felt familiar—like it understood pieces of me I don’t always talk about.
Into the Deep Blue is a story about love, loss, and figuring out how to try again. Nick and Fiona are both dealing with their own pain, but they keep showing up—for themselves and each other. Their connection grows slowly, and it feels real.
Nick holds everything in—like he’s using his pain as armor. And Fiona is soft but strong, always second-guessing, always moving forward, even when it hurts. Their story isn’t perfect and that’s what makes it feel so honest.
What really stuck with me was how real it all felt. The mess, the heartbreak-it’s all there. And the whole second-chances thing? It’s messy and beautiful and so worth it.
This book made me realize you don’t have to be “ready” to love or heal. Sometimes, you just have to choose to keep your heart open, even when it’s scary. 5 stars, I’m still a mess.

3⭐️

this was not my favorite thing in the world?? i’m neutral abt it so i’m not gonna be doing my whole shabang review bc i literally don’t feel anything positive or negative towards this book.

i think it’s probably bc i’m in a slump and nothing is hitting like it should rn (curse you poppy war), but this felt like it was dragging on. the only reason i finished it was bc i didn’t have my kindle or any books the other day and it’s short
also i’ve been trying to spend less time on social media this month lolll

anyway, just unremarkable and lwk wish i hadn’t read it bc i could have read smth that impacted me much more (either negatively or positively at least it had an impact)

anywayyyy peace out homies ✌️🥰

Absolutely loved this book. Into the Deep Blue just gets what it’s like to be carrying something heavy and still trying to show up for the people around you. It switches between Fiona and Nick’s POVs, and both of their voices felt so real. Their connection doesn’t happen just because they’re both hurting; it grows slowly, through all these small, honest moments where it really feels like they see each other.
What stuck with me the most, though, was how the book handled family and friendship. It never pretended things were simple or perfect. It was complicated, funny and heartbreaking in all the right ways. There’s so much heart here and it left me feeling hopeful. Thank you NetGalley for providing an ARC.

Into the Deep Blue is about Nick and Fiona who, as they navigate the sharp ache of loss, develop a deep, complex friendship. This debut is painfully consuming, and Archer surgically handles the topic of grief through the eyes of two heartbroken people who desperately seek connection while actively avoiding and, at times, sabotaging it. The chemistry between Nick and Fi is palpable, and the poetic prose that Archer uses to describe the fine line between yearning and grief is observational, calculating, and masterful. If you’re a fan of authors such as John Green and Nicola Yoon, you will fall in love with Into the Deep Blue and the beautiful way this book fearlessly wears its heart on its sleeve, how it maneuvers through heavy topics with precision and humor. I cried, I laughed out loud, and I will absolutely be reading this book again. I’m warning you now: clear your day when you get this book because you won’t be able to put it down.