This book has resonated with me so strongly, I can't stop thinking about it. I love everything about it - the language, the story itself, and the music which is an integral part of the structure and narrative. There is such beauty, vulnerability and strength in the storytelling. Calem Azumeh Nelson writes with insight about love, loss, race, belonging, class, creativity and connection. It is amazing how much is contained within this novel with such lightness of touch and poetic sensibility. Beautiful.

A lovely little story that focuses on what it means to be black and the emotional effect this can have. The main character falls in love with his best friend but ultimately messes it up when he refuses to open up to her.

It's written in the second person narrative which I personally found very confusing and slightly pretentious. I didn't entirely understand what its purpose was, perhaps to create a sense of detachment? Having said that, I do think the language was quite beautiful. It read like a very long poem, so if you enjoy that sort of narrative structure, then I definitely think this is the book for you! I also liked the distinction between dialogue and narrative, wherein the dialogue was much more colloquial. I appreciated how true to modern english slang it was, so it never came across as forced or cringey and painted a much more authentic picture of modern London.

There was an important analysis on toxic masculinity throughout, which culminated in the disintegration of the characters' relationship, as he is unable to open up to his girlfriend and express all the anguish and anxiety and trauma from being black that he feels. Especially with International Men's Day having just passed, this is definitely an essential read if you want to understand how deeply toxic masculinity affects men and the emotional toll of being a black man in today's world.

Open Water, Caleb Azumah Nelson’s debut, is stunning. There is a beautiful lyrical quality to Caleb Azumah Nelson's writing that is so captivating, he is the type of writer who could write about the back of a cereal box and it'd probably still be interesting. However that's far from the story of Open Water, which is immersive from page one. Two artists meet at a pub in SE London and tentatively fall in and out of love. It is an exploration of Black British identity, youthful romance, and the relationships between intimacy, vulnerability and fear – both fears of physical violence, and emotional fears of intimacy, commitment and being honest with yourself. The writer handles these knotty topics very delicately and Open Water is moving as well as thought-provoking.

"Open water" is a book unlike any others. It's such a smooth and poetical read. It almost feels like you're swimming through smooth waters of the book.
Beautifully written story of love, magnetic attraction and finding your soulmate.
I love books that are set in London so no wonder I liked this one so much. Unfortunately life of people of color is not only rainbows and butterflies. It's also prejudice and fear for their life on daily basis. The feeling of never being safe.

I highly recommend reading this breathtaking story.

“The trouble is, this is trouble that you welcome.”

Have you ever accidentally fallen in love with your best friend’s girlfriend, and been terrified to cross the boundary between friendship and love? To swim out into open water and let yourself be completely vulnerable?

This book is absolutely beautiful and hooked me in right from the start. Nelson describes the pain of a deep and forbidden connection so perfectly.

The writing is beautiful. Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful. I just want to write ‘beautiful’ a thousand times!

I love the poetic repetition throughout and found myself going back to read over my favourite sections again and again. It was so refreshing to read about love and real emotion from a male perspective, I look forward to being able to hold a physical copy in my hands.

Favourite quote:

“The two of you, like headphone wires tangling, caught up in this something. A happy accident. A messy miracle.”

Thank you to Penguin for the arc. Open Water is out on 4th February 2021!

Thank you netgalley for this ARC. It took me a while to get used to characters with no names only ‘you’ and ‘she’. The writing flows easily though and you get swept away in their on off relationship. The book is also heartbreaking and eye opening to life in London and the harsh realities that are witnessed every day.

Open Water by Caleb Azumah Nelson is pure poetry in storytelling. This particular story explores the challenges faced by two artists living in modern-day London. They were introduced at a party by her boyfriend. As they become close, they realize that the stakes of getting intimate are high. How the author teases will they or won't they with tales of their shared experience of struggling to belong makes this book worth reading. The protagonist and deuteragonist are black artists who have a common experience of learning their crafts by winning scholarships to private schools. Caleb Azumah Nelson gets my praise for making these characters believable in this "woke" climate. The style of writing is different but takes nothing away from the message of the book. A new literary voice with potential.

A lyrical, beautifully written novel set in London, centered around a young Black British man and his experiences in life and love. We read as he falls in love deeply with a dancer he meets as if by fate, something connecting them before they even really get to know each other. I loved the exploration of their subsequent relationship and how they go from being best friends to slowly but inexorably falling in love and having a connection that runs soul deep. It's a meditation on love and being known, on masculinity and being a young Black man in the UK, and the disparity between who you are and how you're perceived. The second person narrative really works to bring a reader in and heightens the experience that is this book.

This book is so sensitive and emotional, filled with so many quiet moments where you're just taken aback by Caleb Azumah Nelson's way of capturing emotions and making it feel so universal and at the same time so personal. I foresee this book being immensely popular on its release and rightfully so, a tender book in so many ways and a book I imagine will allow so many readers to feel seen.

The blurb was inviting and beautiful.
Unfortunately the writing style was the bump in the road. This one wasn't for me, it felt a little incomplete and unfinished.

But it might be for you, if you can adjust to the writing style.

*BOOK REVIEW*

‘How does one shake off desire? To give it a voice to sow a seed, knowing that somehow, someway, it will grow’.

Give me a book to read set in London that I won’t love. Even if the plot is semi-okay stroke dire, a book set in my home town will ALWAYS get my attention.

Set in South East London, Open Water is a love story between a young Black British couple, whose sizzling romance will give you butterflies in your tummy. Told in the second person narrative,

It’s not just about love in Open Water. Nelson also weaves in flashbacks of police brutality experienced by the unnamed male protagonist. These moments are raw and remind us how the streets of London, while vibrant and fun at times, can be an unforgiving, hostile environment for a black man.

Poetic in its prose and deliciously short and sweet for anyone wanting some light escapism.

"Youre looking forward to laughing so hard your chest hurts and you feel light headed. You're looking forward to the safety in pleasure. You're looking forward to forgetting, albeit briefly, the existential dread that plagues you."

This book is like poetry, I found myself re-reading lines over and over again, even saying some out loud to really try to grasp what the author meant, I thought that was really special.

Its interesting too, my "usual" genre is thrillers but I found this way more addictive to read. It took me a little while to get used to the you/she second person writing but a few chapters in and it was normal, so stick with it if that is new for you and you're finding it difficult.

The book takes on what it means to find true, true, love, but also takes on a social commentary about growing up black, police violence and death. Bittersweet is definitely the word!

An absolutely stunning debut! The second person writing style was unique and I liked that you didn’t discover the main characters’ names. I’ve never read a book like this and it will stay with me for a long time. Would definitely recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC of this book in exchange for a honest review.

Now this book was so different to anything I’ve read before. It’s all told from a second person POV, and you never know his or her name, which I thought was a great touch. But what got me with that, was because you never know their names, you do hear one name, and that gives that person the stand out and importance they need in this book, and that name is Daniel

You’re drawing a line towards her. No, the line was there, is always there, will always be there, but you’re trying to reinforce, to strengthen.

The story hits hard. It makes you feel so many different things, and they all grab you quite deep. The story is one of love and friendship, a real closeness. Caleb has delivered this so well, that you feel it deep down, and you just know these two people just fit together. But there is a background of sadness too, and a deep rooted problem which is all too real in todays world, racism.

It’s written so beautifully it’s hard to actually put it into words.

This book is about love and how it feels to be drawn so magnetically to someone when you fall in love. Nelson so vividly describes that feeling of falling for someone, where the characters are so drawn together it is almost magnetic and their lives are whirling together.
That even if they wanted to stop what was happening they couldn’t, love is a riptide.
This book is also about fear, fear of dying of never being safe on the streets. Fear of being attacked and killed and what living in fear does to you and your family. Fear of the police who are supposed to be there to protect you, but target you.
The feeling of never being free, never knowing what might happen to you when you step outside.
Living like that puts a shield up around you that is hard to emotionally penetrate. How that shapes everything in the characters lives, no matter what.
You pray every day that today is not that day.
Nelson marries the two themes so beautifully together, and wraps them both around life in London. Bringing the vibrancy, life and fear of the streets to the story. The writing feels almost lyrical at times, and the book has songs woven in throughout. Songs that have feelings and memories and importance to the main character.
The second person writing does take a bit if getting used to, it feels although it allows the story to be separated a further step from Nelson.

An amazing debut, beautifully written. One I already want to read again.

Wonderful debut. Beautiful words and language. This is one of those unique stories you won’t forget soon.

It's been two days since I finished Open Water and I still can't stop thinking about it.

In his flawless debut Caleb explores themes of love, the complexities of relationships and the intimacy they require and the subject of masculinity and mental health.

And it's done beautifully. So much so that Caleb's prose reads like poetry. I kept finding myself rereading lines just to feel them all over again.

The references in this book had me straight away. Music features heavily throughout, creating a soundtrack that lives alongside the writing so seemlessly that you almost don't notice how integral it is to the protagonist's sense of self and togetherness. Alongside the music, this book is riddled with references to Peckhamplex, Notting Hill carnival and popular, landmark entertainment. A book about the culture.

These familiarities meant I held Open Water so close to my heart that I wasn't really ready for it to end. I can't recommend it enough, and I can't wait to big up whatever Caleb writes next.

Open Water by @caleb_anelson is pure poetry, a beautiful tender, rhythmic, romantic, slow-paced; like a heartbeat. His writing style is so versatile, incisive & meaningful, it touched the deepest core of my heart.
This book is not simply about two black young students, one a photographer another a dancer, who fall in & out of love but so much more.
Calib has poured out his feelings, exposed his insecurities, emotions, sentiments, rage, anger, confusion, love, passion in such a way that I wanna hug him.....tight! And tell him that you made me cry, my heart is broken 💔 but you have also given me hope to hang in there.
He talks about the blackness & being black, racism & everything about it, the enslavement & freedom, vulnerability & immunity, the powerlessness & power, the life and death.
Gosh!!! I loved loved loved it! A stunning debut novel to be published in 2021. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Thank you #netgalley #penguinuk @vikingbooksuk for the ARC in exchange for an honest review of #openwaterbook by #calebazumahnelson.
"𝐈𝐭𝐬 𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬, 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐞 𝐧𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐝, & 𝐯𝐮𝐥𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞, 𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐨𝐰𝐧𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭" A stunning debut

It's hard to believe this is a debut novel at times. The way the author wielded the English language gave me a different level of appreciation for reading. Beautiful poetry-like text gave the whole book a rhythm. It played along on a beat just like the music referenced so often within it.

I came to this book straight after reading 'Kindred' by Octavia Butler and am left with the reminder that we've come a long way since the 1800s but in some ways, not that far at all.

It let me see through the eyes of a young Black person and broke my heart in so many ways. It educated me about the harshness that daily life can bring just from the colour of a person's skin. But it also told me a love story about finding someone who matches your rhythm. About the love of people around you and the kinship you can find with a stranger.

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Thank you to the NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review

I adored this. I got so invested in the setting and the characters. It felt so relatable and vulnerable at the same time. fantastic.

There's a real sense of tenderness and vulnerability articulated in this short piece of writing but there's also an awkwardness that perhaps makes it feel a bit unfinished. The 2nd person narrative works to create intimacy but the interspersed Black theory (Zadie Smith, Kei Miller, Teju Cole) feels spliced in with too strong an artifice. It's good, though, to see this challenging social and gendered race cliches - a writer to watch for the freshness of vision.