Words in Deep Blue by Cath Crowley

Pages: 352
Publish date: August 30th, 2016
Publisher: Pan Australia
ISBN: 1742612385
Purchase: Book Depository – Amazon US – Amazon AU – Dymocks 

Words in Deep Blue: 

I received an ARC of Words in Deep Blue by Cath Crowley from Pan Macmillan Australia as part of the blog tour, in exchange for an honest review. This has in no way influenced my thoughts and feelings about the book.

Words in Deep Blue is the first Cath Crowley book that I have read and I have no idea why I waited so long. I loved the writing, the plot and how Crowley can capture everything in a small amount of time.

Words in Deep Blue follows protagonist Rachel Sweetie as she returns home, is faced with her best friend, a secret crush and to a place where everything seemed to be better.

It’s about Henry, who doesn’t know what he wants, thinks that he loves his on and off girlfriend and wants things can go back to what they use to be.

It’s about Howling Books, where letters between lovers, friends and strangers are marked forever in the pages of the books that live on its shelves.

Words in Deep Blue is a heartbreaking novel; it’s full of grief, friendship, love, family and finding yourself when you don’t know what to think anymore. It captured me from the first moment, dropped into a world of beautiful words.

I truly enjoyed Rachel as a protagonist, she is one of those characters that I just got along with straight away. Rachel was full of grief and heartache, that she held in from everyone that made her character that more interesting. The grief that Rachel held punched me, and then kept on punching me. It was such a strong element of who she was but, done beautifully. 

Henry, now he wasn’t my biggest fan – he could never make up his mind and kept on going back to the girl that didn’t really love him. However, he had this strong sense of family and the love for Howling Books. I always love it when I find a male character that loves books, and that was Henry. At times his attitude was hard to get around, he had this adoration for Amy – that made his life a whole lot worse.  

But, one of the main reasons why I loved Words in Deep Blue was that it just wasn’t Rachel and Henry’s story, but a whole bookshop. A library of letters between lovers, friends, strangers, everyone’s stories intertwined into books that just had pen inscribed throughout.  

Most of Words in Deep Blue is told through a normal novel structure. However, scattered throughout, there were these letters that have been left on the pages. It was such an interesting concept. I talked with Crowley about this in an interview I had with her in my #LoveOZYA series.

George’s story was one of my favourites – she is this strong girl, but deep down she’s broken and waiting for someone. My heart broke for her, and all I wanted to do was wrap her up in my arms.

Family played a somewhat big part of Words in Deep Blue, yet I wanted more. Henry and George’s family had some substance, but I felt quite disconnected from Rachel and her mother. I wanted to be hit with grief over and over again. I wanted it from the family interactions, but it fell a little flat for more.

The writing, though, is poignant and beautiful. I was gripped from the first page and swept up in this contemporary world where nothing much is different, but I felt that I was somewhere else. Cath Crowley is able to capture the reader with beautiful words, I loved being immersed in a story.

Overall, Words in Deep Blue is a poignant, beautiful story with fleshed out characters, gorgeous writing and a concept that is for every book lover. It’s about love, friendship, family and grief. You are taken on a journey through up’s and down’s and pulled into pieces.

Have you read Words in Deep Blue by Cath Crowley? What did you think of it? Are you going to read it? Have you read other Crowley books? Let’s Chat! Don’t forget to check out the rest of the blog tour.