Thank you to Marble Press and NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are mine.

YA contemporary had its heyday about a decade back and I think it's time to get that spotlight again, perhaps starting from "Into the Deep Blue". This book gives that nostalgic vibe of John Green's works with more updated stuff, including slangs and the way mental health is portrayed nowadays. It feels like coming home after a long journey and some part of the house has been renovated as if for growing up, but the photos and couches and kitchen's smell are still the same.

The dual POV, first person perspectives, and modern setting are easy to dive into. Both Fiona and Nick have their own distinctive voice and the story flows in even pace. Grief might be the initial trigger of their closeness, but I'm glad the romance part is built out of more solid foundation instead of making their bond merely a shared trauma. Their dynamics are fun and sweet; I could see where both of them slowly and naturally fall for each other. And what I liked about their friends-to-lovers journey is the friendship stays after romance, even if it's only a little portion.

While Fiona-Nick's relationship is handled respectfully, for me the best part is their relationship with each family and friends. It's not as easy as cut-off-and-move-on solution because everyone has their own personality and character development. I especially teared at Fiona and her dad's talk and Nick with his dad after an incident. Almost everything is neatly tied up in the end while the rest seems to be intentionally left hanging, and that's what makes the characters here feel human.

I didn't really have issues while reading this, except maybe one thing and honestly I would blame my expectation for this: I thought the road trip would be the biggest part of this story, but instead it started after first half of the book. Even so, it's still a fulfilling and important part. Also I thought that this book is based on the film scenario first, but turns out the script is adapted from the novel. I can see why it's doing well as a script—the writing style in here is already cinematic.

"Into the Deep Blue" is recommended for the readers who long for realistic YA books about hope, acceptance, and slow-burn romance. Can't wait for the movie adaptation!

A poignant and emotionally rich young adult novel that delves into themes of grief, friendship, and the complexities of transitioning from adolescence to adulthood.

Thank you to NetGalley and Marble Press for this ARC!

This book is very realistic when it comes to grief and teenage emotions which I loved very much. However, even though I love YA books I don’t believe I was the target demographic for this book. I was not emotionally invested and for me it could not hold my interest. I would recommend you give this book a read because it was beautifully written.

I just finished Into the Deep Blue, and I loved it. This book hits hard and I couldn’t put it down. It’s super emotional best-friends-to lovers that is raw and real about friendship, love, grief, and all the messy stuff in between. Nick and Fiona? They stole my heart—beautifully written, angsty AF, and I was rooting for them so hard. There’s hilarious moments where I laughed out loud, and then, I’m choking back tears over the heartbreak. The way it tackles grief is so honest and raw, it’s heavy but handled so delicately and it wrecked me in the best way. Every character feels so real—their chaotic lives, their rollercoaster emotions, all of it. The story moves fast and kept me wondering what’s next. This booked cracked my heart open so wide that I’m still feeling it days later - it will stay with you for a long time. I'm already wanting to reread it when I get the physical copy.
Thank you to NetGalley and Marble Press for the ARC.

This book!!!! John Green is back. If you miss his YA, THIS is the vibe. I loved Nick’s chapters. I could have easily read a dozen more, but Fi also had a way of sinking into my bones, and I loved her too.

All of the relationships felt so authentic to me. I loved how Archer was careful not to vilify anyone into a trope, but show them as humans with issues. As someone who has complicated family dynamics, I appreciated that.

I also loved the delicate relationship balance between Nick and Fi. I felt he knew her well, and put himself out there just enough, but read her cues and gave her space. His POV is an amazing combo of funny and heartbreaking all at once. It was done so well. Their banter was fun. I ate it up. They are perfect together. The story left me feeling--a lot. It's a combination of fun, sad, wistful and the way moments (big and small) stay with you.
A fantastic debut.

I enjoyed this book and all of its perspectives towards grief. It was interesting to see it from so many different POVs (child, spouse, people in group grief setting) it was very in depth towards that theme. It felt very heartfelt.

What an amazing story! It felt like a rollercoaster of emotions reading this. Nick and Fiona are absolutely everything. These two characters having gone through grief and finding the light with each other was so interesting to read. They both have experienced such a loss in their lives and reading this had me rooting for them to get their happy moments. I absolutely loved the best friends to lovers aspect of this book. Nick and Fiona have such great chemistry and I enjoyed their moments,even the ones that had my heart hurting. The angst, the pain, the strong feelings between them.. it’s all written so well. You really feel for this characters which makes a story even more amazing. I love Nick and Fiona so much and I know so many people will too!

OMG. If you love Jennifer Niven and John Green and Nicola Yoon and all the sad girl vibes....you will LOVE this book. I could not put it down. Nick and Fi felt like real, breathing people, and Archer did a dual POV with them! If I were still a teen, I'd be all over/obsessed with this book.

A great YA read! Thank you to NetGalley and Marble Press for the ARC.

This was a realistic look into grief as well as normal issues that teenagers face.

The characters felt deep and their relationships complex. All the side characters had depth and never felt like they were just there to push the plot along. The characters acted age appropriate which can be difficult to do without making the characters hard to relate to.

I didn't quite understand the FMC reaction to the major conflict. The overreaction felt out of place but I can attribute that to the age of the characters.

Emotionally, I wasn't as invested as I should have been but I also wasn't the intended audience. The story was enjoyable and I would recommend it.

This sweet and emotional best-friends-to-lovers romance truly captured my heart! Nick and Fiona's connection was so raw, real, and beautifully written — it made me giggle, tear up, and feel all the feels. I absolutely loved how the story portrayed grief with such honesty and how the love between the two characters slowly and naturally built up. It felt so real, and I was rooting for them every step of the way. The chemistry between Damian and India is perfect for their roles, and I can't wait to see the movie adaptation. The book left such a lasting impression on me — truly unforgettable!

4.5/5 stars, book so good I had to make a playlist about it immediately. Loved the perspective that grief isn't something to fix or get rid of. Even though it's painful it keeps us connected to the people we love. And ofc loved the teenage angst and romance <3 This will be an amazing movie adaptation too! Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

Into the Deep Blue is a sweet and heartfelt story that pulls you in with its emotional depth. Jennifer Archer crafts a tale filled with challenges, heartbreaks, and ultimately hope. The characters are relatable and their journeys feel genuine, making it easy to root for them. While it has its moments of sadness, the overall tone is uplifting, and it leaves you with a sense of peace. A great read for anyone who enjoys emotionally rich storytelling with a touch of warmth.