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Years ago, Rachel had a crush on Henry Jones. The day before she moved away, she tucked a love letter into his favorite book in his family’s bookshop. She waited. But Henry never came.
Now Rachel has returned to the city—and to the bookshop—to work alongside the boy she’d rather not see, if at all possible, for the rest of her life. But Rachel needs the distraction. Her brother drowned months ago, and she can’t feel anything anymore.
As Henry and Rachel work side by side—surrounded by books, watching love stories unfold, exchanging letters between the pages—they find hope in each other. Because life may be uncontrollable, even unbearable sometimes. But it’s possible that words, and love, and second chances are enough.
First sentence: “I open my eyes at midnight to the sound of the ocean and my brother’s breathing. “
How do you not fall in love with a book that’s a love letter to, well, books? For a book reader, it’s hard.
What you get in Words in Deep Blue are: an ode to books, characters who are constantly surrounded by books and see love bloom in front of their eyes, a love of Prufrock, letters being exchanged between pages, a childhood friends becoming more, a loss that upends an entire world, and Australian lit that will make you yearn for more.
WHY EVERYBODY NEEEEEEED TO READ
WORDS IN DEEP BLUE
- It’s a love letter to books.
Words in Deep Blue is that book that eats, drinks, breathes in words and books. Readers will see it through: the characters who work and surround themselves with books; the people who visit the store, looking for long lost copy of a precious book; the people write in the margins or underline lines they love; and the people who slip love letters between the pages of the book. Books are what these characters love, and you see the extent of their love never-ending love for books.
- People write in books and write letters that are slipped between the pages in books.
Howling Books has a genius idea—they created a Letter Library, where books are stored for people to write in or underline or leave love letters. You can see readers who love the same books as you; the love stories and friendships that play out between the pages of books. It’s incredibly beautiful to see connections being made because of books.
- If you love “childhood friends becoming more” and second chances, that is Rachel and Henry.
Before Rachel moved away, she harbored a crush on her childhood friend, Henry Jones, and attempted to confess her feelings through a love letter, slipped through the pages of “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock.” However, Henry never came or responded to her love letter. Years later, when Rachel returns, everything has changed.
Wow, oh wow, friends. If you’re a fan of childhood friends becoming more and second chances, Words in Deep Blue is the book for you. I thoroughly enjoyed the progression of Rachel and Henry’s friendship—from being friends to not friends to friends again to something more. It was incredibly beautiful to read because it happened so naturally. They make sense.
- It features “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” by T.S. Eliot.
This deserves its own bullet point because I adore “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock.” It’s my favorite poem ever. It invokes a lot of feeling of longing and regret that fits well in Words in Deep Blue. This poem is what convinced me to read this book.
- It deal with a longing and dealing with grief.
Longing for a love that could’ve been, and for a loved one to still be alive. Grief of losing a loved one.
Over a year ago, Rachel lost her brother to the ocean, and she’s still grieving of her lost when she returns back to her hometown. She hasn’t told nobody that her brother has passed away, and it starts taking a toll on her. Words in Deep Blue does a beautiful portraying how lost Rachel is and how she’s having difficulty with her brother’s death. She hasn’t told anybody about it, and I loved how despite everything, she has to confide in her best friend, Henry.
- It’s written by an Australian author.
You want read a book by an Australian author? Here you go! Words in Deep Blue is an example of Australian literature that will have you falling in love with the characters and make you yearn to read more. You’ll wanna read more Australian lit!
Should you read Words in Deep Blue? YES YES YES! As a fellow book reader, Words in Deep Blue is an absolute must! You will understand these characters’ love for books and bookstores! Fans of childhood friends-to-lovers and second chance-esque romances + “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” will enjoy this book! Everybody, go read this!
Not only do I love that cover, but you have convinced me to read this one! An ode to books? I’m always in for that.
I’m so glad to find people enjoying this book! I read it last year because it was published in Australia first and while it received a lot of praise Down Under, I wanted it to also receive international recognition and seeing bloggers upload their reviews and rave about it makes me so happy! Thank you for sharing and I’m so glad you enjoyed it!