Review: In Too Deep By: Amanda Grace/Mandy Hubbard

Title: In Too Deep
Author: Amanda Grace/Mandy Hubbard
Publisher: Flux, 228 Pages (February 8th, 2012)
From: the Publisher, Thank You!
Format: ARC - Paperback

Synopsis: I never meant for anyone to get hurt. All I wanted to do that night was make a play for Carter Davis. His heartless rejection was mortifying, but people got the wrong idea when they saw me leaving his bedroom, crying. That’s how rumors of rape started.

Now girls at school are pouring out their sympathy to me. Guys too. But not everyone’s on my side. The school has become a war zone and the threats are getting scary. What began as poetic justice has morphed into something bigger-forcing me to make a terrible choice.


Review: 4.5 Stars - In Too Deep By Amanda Grace/Mandy Hubbard is an emotionally driven novel about lies and truths and how the choices you choose to make can forever change your life, who you are and the people around you.

Sam wants nothing more than to finally figure out if her best friend Nick has feelings for her that are above and beyond just friends. Aww, teen love, *sigh* So, she chooses a way - and a dumb way at that –to try to make Nick jealous and find out once and for all if there’s something more between them. And that’s when things go horribly wrong. Assumptions are made, a rumor spreads like wide fire and it all spirals out of control. Before Sam can see what has happened it’s all too late.

Sam and Nick are amazing characters. While Sam makes some disastrously horrific choices, you can’t help but feel for her. It’s the inner dialogue she has with herself that shows just how scared, confused and young she is. It’s not often that I find a character that’s done something horrible that I’m able to feel for her and actually like her, but I do. It was painful for me to read parts of this, as Sam fought to figure out a way through and to the other side. Yet sometimes I couldn’t do more than shake my head at the teen and her choices. I mean, tell the truth! The longer you wait, the worse it’ll all be… for not only YOU but EVERYONE! Frustrating!

Her father… I didn’t really care for. He’s cold and in his own ways lost. There’s a part of this story about the relationship between father and daughter that does explain a lot when it comes to the struggles Sam has.
Nick, he’s a fantastically written male character. He has a strong voice and I love how honest he was.

There’s a lot to Nick, he’s funny and sweet, cute and smart, and he’s one of those teen boys from a book that I wish there were more of when I was in school. Man, the world needs more “Nicks”. Both Sam and Nick felt amazingly real, which is always an aspect of a novel that I’m drawn to. Grace/Hubbards writing is, in a word, outstanding. I mean, when an author has written something that is vivid and real, it’s hard not to see it as anything but.

That ending, I didn’t see coming, but that’s another honest part of what happens when you choose the wrong path. I might have tried to keep turning the pages, thinking there was more to it and I must be missing something. I mean, seriously? That’s how it’s ending? Talk about frustrating! But… and there’s always a but isn’t there? If you’re going to tell an honest story about lies and how they affect not just the liar, but everyone, then the ending needed to be honest as well. I commend Grace/Hubbard on that. I don’t like it, but I’ll give her the props she rightly deserves.

All in all, while the book takes an honest look at the damaging side of lies and the choices people make, I couldn’t help but find myself attached to the characters. It has a bit of everything in this story, romance, angst, family issues, and some pretty harsh realities. Yet, at the end of it all, there was some much needed strength and growth. I hope others will enjoy In Too Deep as much as I did.

FTC Disclaimer: I did NOT pay for this book, nor have I been compensated at all in any way or means for reading and writing this HONEST review.