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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 ✌️🥰

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

(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.