Words in Deep Blue by Cath Crowley

To be published on June 6, 2017 by Knopf

Source: eARC for review from publisher

Plot Summary for Words in Deep Blue by Cath Crowley

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.

Words in Deep Blue was an amazing book. I’ve been a huge Cath Crowley fan since Graffiti Moon. I love the realistic way she writes characters and relationships. I love the beauty she weaves into her books, whether that beauty is street graffiti or a shelf of books or the darkest depths of the ocean.

This isn’t a sunbeams-and-rainbows kind of book, but I did find it poignant and hopeful. It’s a grief book and a second-chance-at-love book. It weaves all sorts of themes and subplots together in a seamless way — family relationships, first love, grief and heartbreak, letters, books and reading.

There is a secret-keeping aspect of the book, and that is never my favorite trope. It didn’t bother me as much as it has in other books, though I still wished the character had opened up sooner. And there’s a sort-of triangle-y situation, but strangely it actually didn’t feel that triangle-y to me. I think that’s because Cath Crowley sprinkles magic in her pages!

Fun fact: Crowley’s publisher has created a Virtual Letter Library on tumblr that was inspired by this book, so be sure to check it out!

If you haven’t read a book by this author, you’re seriously missing out! Try this, or try Graffiti Moon. I’m reading A Little Wanting Song soon – it’s been stacked under my nightstand for ages!