I found the premise of this book intriguing and interesting, but in actuality I couldn't get into it. I can see, however, that this book can be a good book for many. This isn't a case where I can say I wouldn't; recommend it; it just wasn't for me.

This was a great book! I really enjoyed the pacing and it really makes you then the pages. I hoping to read a lot more from this author!!

This book was definitely different than I thought it wld be. It was not a erotic all about sex novel like I thought. Actually a coming lesbian novel where the main character falls for her first lesbian encounter who turns out to be controlling, manipulative, and just plain psycho. All in all though it was a very enjoyable read. Thank you to Netgalley for my honest review.

I totally get the Bridget Jones comp, it's just more like "if Bridget Jones realized she were a lesbian in an emotionally abusive relationship." I really, really liked it, with a special place in my heart for chapter 48 and especially its final line. I know there are some readers who straight-up hate the emotional abuse of it but especially in a late-realization-queer novel, I think its prescient to show how when you're already new to something that's sort of terrifying, you might be more likely to take what you can get and let it feel like a safety net. It certainly resonated with me.

Wow, where to start unpacking this one. The book was billed as a Bridget Jones-esque story about Julia, a mid-twenties woman in London looking for love (scratch that--she's actually just looking for sex). After a few ho hum experiences with men, including one with questionable hygiene, she decides to sleep with a woman. Naturally, this results in her declaring she's a lesbian. So at this point, I was seeing this more like Kissing Jessica Stein and less Bridget Jones, but this also is the start of the many, many problems I had with the book. Julia embraces her new lesbian identity (which, ok, huzzah!) and picks up a woman in a bar named Sam, who flat out states that sex is her life or something to that effect that is equally eye-roll worthy. In her second experience with a woman, suddenly it's all dildos, strap ons, and fisting. Sam turns out to be heavily into kink, non-monogamy, and the SM lifestyle, which Julia also jumps into. What I don't like is that consent becomes a very, very grey area. The story is told through Julia's perspective; the reader is in her head, reading her thoughts. Many of her thoughts are conflicted and often she's flat out thinking that she doesn't want to partake in the sex acts she's about to or in the middle of, and this is a problem. This issue of consent is not dealt with at all and her feelings are basically swept aside by the blanket statement "...but she was turned on" and the author moves on from there. I had a very hard time following the tone of this book, which felt like it was trying to edge more towards that Bridget Jones style of exaggerated comedy but most of the story is about an abusive/controlling/unequal relationship. Not the things big laughs stem from. So I had definite problems with consent and tone, but I also did not like these characters, especially Julia herself. Bridget Jones and Jessica Stein work as (flawed) characters because they're ultimately likable and relatable even if they're making terrible decisions at the time. Julia is missing that likability for me. Her personality is shaped by the relationship she's in at the moment, she is absolute shit at her job yet has additional opportunities handed to her, she's completely self-centered, and she never really has that growth moment where she stands up for herself and her feelings. I had a difficult time envisioning her as a person, let alone someone I'd want to actually read about. She is NO Bridget Jones.
My final gripe is minor compared to the rant above, but the author has managed to come up with probably the crudest, least sexy term for cunnilingus I've read to date--"licking the snail". I didn't need to read that term once, let alone the additional three or four times it appears. Sorry, that is not a term that is going to catch on; it's no "fetch".

I really liked In at the Deep End's main character, Julia - she was very endearing and funny. As the book begins she's fed up with men and realizes she's a lesbian. She meets Sam and they quickly become involved, but Sam keeps manipulating Julia into doing things she doesn't want to or isn't ready for. Their relationship gets progressively more abusive, and it was not fun to read about - I skimmed a lot. Ultimately though, I enjoyed Davies's writing and will be on the look out for her next book.

This is a book that is probably going to become a queer staple. However, the writing style didn't work for me.

In at the Deep End has been billed as a "lesbian Bridget Jones", and as is usually the case when people try to compare new novels to other (very successful) ones the description isn't all that fitting.

If you were basing this description on just the first third of the book or so then I can see where they are coming from - Kate Davies' novel starts off very relatable, with the reader witnessing 26-year-old Julia's various terrible experiences with men and sex (which she hasn't had for three years - after a particularly bad experience), how much she hates her job as a civil servant and her close relationship with her housemate, Alice. Julia has an encounter which makes her question her sexuality, and this soon progresses into her full on immersion into the lesbian dating scene (think druggy warehouse parties, clubbing and S&M) as she realises she is attracted to women and not men. I really enjoyed the first third of the book and even found myself laughing at certain sections which were all too familiar - while I'm a few years older than Julia I am a millennial after all...

It was around the middle of the novel where Davies lost me. I won't get too spoiler-y but Julia gets into a relationship which is not as it initially seems, and things got a lot darker and more frustrating and I couldn't wait to finish reading.

Davies writing definitely has a lot of potential, and I would probably give her future novels a go despite the issues I had with this.

At the start, I agreed with the comparison to a lesbian Bridget Jones. The first half is a fun, and relatable, coming out story. Then the book takes a turn that I wasn't expecting. My feelings shifted so much from beginning to end, that I don't know how I feel about it.

Is it weird that I find long descriptions of sex boring? I enjoyed parts of this book but too often found myself skimming over large portions. I know there is an audience for this, but it isn't me. I enjoyed reading about the main character's journey into herself and wish there was more of that.

In At The Deep End by Kate Davies hits the ground running when it comes to being a wide open view of sexuality. What I liked about it is that it is immediately in your face, never mincing words, when it comes to telling the story. It is literally like, fasten your seatbelts it’s time to take off. I loved the honesty of this concept. I enjoyed reading this immensely, it was almost a guilty indulgence. The main character Julia was very real, and she is on the road to discovering herself and her sexuality. This book is not for the weak at heart, as there is indeed a lot of graphic and passionate sexual descriptions and scenes. I relate to Julia’s self-depreciating sense of humor and I did enjoy finishing this novel as it opened my eyes to an alternate universe in a sense. I kind of see where people are coming from with the Bridget Jones comparisons but I hate to see Julia made to be another character when she is clearly an individual

This book is steamy!! Wow! It isn’t for those who shy away from sexy scenes, especially same sex relationships. I loved Julia’s relationship with her best friend. There were many moments while reading this while I laughed out loud. It was a fun steamy read that kept my attention.

Hmmm. What to say about this one? Julia discovers her true sexuality and has a lot (a lot) of experiences. Graphically. It's also well written and there are some chuckles even as there are also some awkward moments. This isn't Brigid Jones goes lesbian, it's a full out exploration of well, various options out there. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

Anytime I see "Bridget Jones-esque" in a blurb I'm just going to assume it's problematic as hell from now on. This is the second book I've seen with that and it ended up being somewhat of a shit show mid way through the book. The first portion of this book was great. The protagonist is going through a kind of dry spell sex wise and after 3 years figures out that it's not because she can't find a great guy, it's because she just doesn't like GUYS. So she launches herself into the world of women and it's a great read until SLAM, we meet her first real serious girlfriend, who turns out to be an abusive, manipulative, non-consent asking for awful 50 shades-esque representative of the BDSM community. I'm not afraid of graphic sex scenes. Throw em at me. This, was not that. This was just awful, abusive, knives at necks, leaving her crying afterward, YOU IN DANGER GIRL run for the hills kind of I'm not trying to yuck your yum but only one person here is having fun kind of situation. Our protagonist finally grows a spine toward the end and leaves us with the profound thought of "We're all the villain in someone's story", which I suppose is somewhat true. Not a total waste of time, but it had some really abusive and problematic elements, plus it was RIFE with drug and alcohol abuse throughout.

I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
Thanks NetGalley!


This book touches down on coming into your own, same sex relationships, sex and more. There are quite a few sex scenes, so if that bothers you, don't bother reading it.

i love the author's writing style.

A no-holds-barred look at one woman's 'dry spell' and foray into the world of same sex relationships, this book is cleverly plotted and laugh out loud funny. More explicit than I expected - don't read it if there's a chance a young child might look over your shoulder! - and at times the sex references felt gratuitously crude, but the characters and experiences were ultimately relatable and endearing.

Well written the characters come alive Julia is looking for love and the place she finds it will surprise you .A really delightful eread a wonderful author # netgalley #hmh

There is a lot of sex in this book. A. Lot. Of. Sex. I expected the main character to be more Briget Jones ish as opposed to Samantha Jones-ish. Just a little too MUCH for my taste.

Thank you to NetGalley and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, for the read of Kate Davies, In at the Deep End.

I was interested by the suggestion of a Bridget Jones-like character and assumed I would enjoy this book.

Julia is looking for love and fulfillment and learns that she’s been looking in all the wrong places. One night at a warehouse party, she meets a beautiful, confident lesbian artist. That meeting ignites Julia’s awareness to opening her mind and heart to who she truly is, and sets her on a path of self-discovery, self-love, and many new and exciting adventures.

Katie Davies’ writing is fresh and clever, and her characters indisputably realistic. Julia’s great personality and the unique relationships she has with her co-workers, family and friends - all fabulous. I love how Julia’s character bloomed, and grew, and found her voice. However, while I was by no means astonished, I did find that some of the content was too explicit and risqué, for my taste.

I am grateful to have received a copy of this book from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt through NetGalley. The opinions expressed in my review are my very own.

Kate Davies writes great young female heroes. I liked the characters and the urgency of the story, and I felt Davies built up her writing style a lot in this book. I think I'd recommend to teens who like love, romance, self-sufficiency, and great writing.