Review: Into the Deep by Samantha Young

Into the Deep by Samantha Young
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Summary: Live young. Live hard. Love deep.

Charley Redford was just an ordinary girl until Jake Caplin moved to her small town in Indiana and convinced her she was extraordinary. Almost from day one Jake pulled Charley into the deep and promised he was right there with her. But when a tragic incident darkened Jake’s life he waded out into the shallows and left Charley behind.

Almost four years later Charley thinks she’s moved on. That is until she takes a study year abroad in Edinburgh and bumps into none other than Jake Caplin at a party with his new girlfriend. The bad-boy-turned-good attempts to convince Charley to forgive him, and as her best friend starts spending time with Jake’s, Charley calls a truce, only to find herself tumbling back into a friendship with him.

As they grow closer, the spark between them flares and begins playing havoc with their lives and relationships. When jealousy and longing rear their destructive heads, Charley and Jake struggle to come to grips with what they mean to one another.

And even if they work it out, there is no guarantee Charley will ever trust Jake to lead her back into the deep…

Characters: Charley is selfless, funny, and smart, and she doesn't deserve to lose her love, Jake.  I came to love seventeen year old Jake through the flashbacks, but I wasn't too crazy about present day Jake.  He was so kind and carefree, but not so much as he got older.  The tension between these two is so frustrating at times!

Plot: Are you kidding with that ending? Ugh, why must this be a series? I just want my happy ending now!!!!!! For me, the plot was a little too slow.  I felt like Jake and Charley had too many issues with their past and Jake's girlfriend that prevented them from connecting again. Even by the end, their relationship is still strained, and it seemed to me that thy only got together because they gave in to physical attraction.

Would I recommend it to a friend? No, I love Samantha Young, so I guess my expectations were really high.  I was disappointed with this, but I know I'll read the sequel because I'll read anything by this author and I still want the happily ever after.  If it were another author though, I'm not so sure I'd pick up the sequel.

View all my reviews