In Too Deep

Feb 23, 2012 Inspired Kathy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2011

In Too Deep is a book I didn't want to put down and stayed up until 2 am to finish. When I took a break from reading I couldn't help but think about the storyline and wonder just how Sam was going to get herself out of the mess she was in and what the consequences would be. Thus I was drawn back to the book and stayed up to finish.

Overall I was pleased with this book. The story sucked me in and I like the way the author writes. I could relate to the characters and was grateful this book showed t...more

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May 19, 2013 Kaylee rated it 4 of 5 stars

I just finished In Too Deep and really liked it. It's about this girl Sam who goes to a party and it goes bad. She wants to make her best friend Nick jealous. When it doesn't work out as planned, she stumbles into the school's pride and joy's room. Carter seeing Sam, he's disgusted at the thought she would throw herself at him. As Sam is leaving the room crying, someone sees her and gets the wrong idea. Carter didn't rape her, but after girls have confessed to things he's done to them, is it bet...more

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Apr 23, 2013 Pinkie Pie rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: tour

I'm not really sure what I think about this book. It was written well, with very real characters suffering some very real consequences (mostly) but the subject matter very much irritated me. In fact, it pissed me off. And I'm sure that's what the author intended. But still.

Sam leaves a party drunk, crying, with a bruised face and torn clothes. All the party-goers, that is, her classmates, think the worst: that she's been sexually assaulted in some way by the town's golden boy, Carter Davis. But...more I'm not really sure what I think about this book. It was written well, with very real characters suffering some very real consequences (mostly) but the subject matter very much irritated me. In fact, it pissed me off. And I'm sure that's what the author intended. But still.

Sam leaves a party drunk, crying, with a bruised face and torn clothes. All the party-goers, that is, her classmates, think the worst: that she's been sexually assaulted in some way by the town's golden boy, Carter Davis. But the truth is she just sort of humiliated herself, and lost her balance, hence the crying and the bruises. When she arrives at school the following morning, the toxic rumor has all ready spread. She doesn't understand what everyone's talking about, and just thinks that Carter told the whole school about how she threw herself at him and he rejected her. She tells her classmates that yes, the story is true, not really knowing what story she's verifying.

Later in the day she finds out about the actual rumor, about Carter Davis raping her. Instead of quashing the rumors outright, she lets them run rampant.

This is where I stop liking the story. Or at least, stop liking the main character. The author tries to justify how Sam could make the decision to not tell the truth, but it's all bull to me. Accusations of rape and sexual assault aren't to be taken lightly. Even the hint of something like this is devastating and could ruin the guy's life entirely. And to continue with this lie to belittle every actual victim's experience. It made me sick to my stomach, each and every time she did not tell the truth.

This whole mess started when Sam tried to make her best friend Nick jealous. Nick and Sam have lived next door for forever, and they're extremely close-like, not knocking at the front door, changing in front of each other close. Sam has had feelings for him for a while, but never expressed them for fear of rejection and also because of Nick's on-again-off-again girlfriend. But some time between the humiliating rejection by Carter and the Monday that follows, Nick and Sam end up kissing and they're basically together when all the drama starts.

I loved Nick. I really love love love best friend romances (so if anyone knows anymore let me know!) The couple's interactions were reasonable and believable and Amanda Grace can write a damn good kissing scene. The dynamics of the relationship subtly shift when the rumors of Sam's rape spread. It's all so believable and Nick's frustration and hurt had me practically in tears. But again, I dislike Sam. She continues to spread the rumor by not telling Nick the actual truth, even when he's trying to hard to believe Carter did it.

Sam definitely learns the hard way how deep the consequences of lies can be. And I'm glad for that. I really think she needed to learn her lesson more than just some locker vandalism.

So overall, I'm really not sure how to recommend this book, or really, what I think of it. All at once I am floored by Amanda Grace's writing, but I really, really hate Sam. I don't think I've ever been so disgusted by a main character's actions before, especially in a first person perspective. The only thing that really kept me reading was Carter. I really felt for him, even if he was a monumental jerk. No one, no matter how rude or mean or even disrespectful, deserves to be accused of rape. No one. I don't know. I feel like it was hard for me because the subject matter hits very close to home. So maybe those of you who don't have experiences pertaining to this book would enjoy it more than I did.(less)

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Jan 29, 2013 Liza Wiemer added it

Shelves: bea

Whoa, Mandy Hubbard aka Amanda Grace! I just finished reading IN TOO DEEP and had to type out my review. I have such a pit in my stomach after reading this book non-stop for the past 2 hours (yes - it's a fast read). Yikes, Sam got herself in quite a bind allowing a rumor about golden boy Carter raping her, when he didn't. The consequences were horrible for him and for her - but in the end . . .

I can't write what I want to say in this review or I will spoil it for the reader. But boy oh boy thi...more

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Jan 20, 2013 Yinglin Chen rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: sophomore-year

In too Deep, is an interesting novel about the life of teenagers in a small town. Sam, a senior in high school, went to a party, got drunk, and her life got messed up. She went into the host of the party's room, fell on her face, and got rejected by the hottest guy in school, Carter. As her eyes teared up, and she stumbled out of his room, a few girls saw her, and that is when everything started. The Monday Sam got to school, a rumor had already started, Sam, an unpopular senior was raped by Car...more

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Dec 14, 2012 Alicia rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: romance, chicklit, dysfunctional

In the opposite of Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson, this realistic "message" novel is actually pretty poignant if brief and shallow (and not in a negative way, it just merely scrapes the surface of a story like this). Samantha attends a party in a skimpy outfit for two reasons, to make her best boy friend, Nick, jealous and fall madly in love with her and possibly do it with Carter, the jock extraordinaire. In a twist of mistaken circumstances, Sam is too drunk to really impress Carter and when s...more

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Oct 20, 2012 Isamlq rated it 3 of 5 stars

"Some things can't be undone..."

It took me two hours to read this and I loved every second of it... not because it's a quick read or because the topic is different, though it is both those, but because the way things have been going lately, me knowing that I don't have to get up at butt o'clock the next morning is a positively wonderful thing.

Now, the book itself?

It was interesting (and quick) and surprising too given me thinking it would be all serious and sad. Surprising especially with mome...more "Some things can't be undone..."

It took me two hours to read this and I loved every second of it... not because it's a quick read or because the topic is different, though it is both those, but because the way things have been going lately, me knowing that I don't have to get up at butt o'clock the next morning is a positively wonderful thing.

Now, the book itself?

It was interesting (and quick) and surprising too given me thinking it would be all serious and sad. Surprising especially with moments of it with me putting it down because of some cringe-worthy events. I truly didn't expect any high school humiliation in this one~ the funny kind and not the mean ones like in Carie (even if both types are present here.)

The people are actually pretty straightforward. There's Sam, then there's Nick and Carter as well. You'd think the two boys would play big part in this, but it's all really about Sam and stuff she realizes! Sam feels herself unremarkable. She's not as smart as her best friend, considers herself cute at best, and has aspirations toward writing. She's hatched a plan to get a guy and when things don't go as expected gets smashed; hours later and people think something bad's been done. From there we see her be happy with what’s come out of it all then be all torn up about what should be done except that everybody else makes doing so such a hard thing. To this end, it's his having been an ass that seemed to justify what's done... and it's not right especially the level things reach, to but if we were gauging things on how effective the teen revenge thing was going that bit was pretty effective. And I've said this before, but it bears repeating: girls can be scary, too (as both Dare Meand Burn for Burn have established.)

It's an interesting story too because obviously what's going on is not right, but all these other factors come into play like how her boyfriend's all protective and the other guy is not a completely stand up guy to begin with. And how half of everyone believes one thing because they've experienced first hand what the guy can be like, others believe otherwise... because how could they not? Interesting how things like loyalty and reputation play a part in all this. Plus, it could have been more than a little disappointing: how she’s painted, taking path of least resistance has never felt so negative to me than it does after Sam, but she’s real...

-in feeling stifled,
-in wanting more and
-even in her inability to face up to things ‘til almost too late.

3.5/5(less)

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Jul 18, 2012 Reading Teen rated it 3 of 5 stars

This is the story of a troubled young woman who gets caught up in a web of lies and deceit in an effort to further a romantic relationship with her childhood best friend, Nick Davis. Sam Marshall is a 17 year old high school senior who lives alone with her father. Her relationship with her father is not a loving, supportive one. Her father is a strict disciplinarian who monitors every move she makes. I see her as a girl who has a very low self-esteem and very few friends before the story begins....more This is the story of a troubled young woman who gets caught up in a web of lies and deceit in an effort to further a romantic relationship with her childhood best friend, Nick Davis. Sam Marshall is a 17 year old high school senior who lives alone with her father. Her relationship with her father is not a loving, supportive one. Her father is a strict disciplinarian who monitors every move she makes. I see her as a girl who has a very low self-esteem and very few friends before the story begins. Sam wants her friend Nick to see her as more than a friend and decides to do this by flirting with one of the most popular boys in school at a party. Sam dresses provocatively for the party and once there she builds up her courage by drinking a lot of alcohol. Unfortunately when Sam approaches Carter Wellesley, he not only laughs in her face, he also belittles her completely. The circumstances of this encounter cause another girl at the party to come to a conclusion that wasn't factual. Sam doesn't realize this until word has spread throughout the school that Carter raped her at the party. The repercussions of this rumor run far and wide. Sam falls deeper and deeper into the deception and cannot figure out how to get out of it even though she knows how wrong it is. Nick has become her protector. Her father is the police chief. The girls at school are seeking her out and inviting her to social activities. How can she tell them all that it was all just one big mistake?

I have very mixed feelings about this book. I didn't like the character of Sam Marshall. She was weak and unwilling to stand up and state the truth. She allowed someone to be accused of a terrible crime when she had firsthand knowledge that it wasn't true. The problem with my feelings about Sam is that I can understand how she got into this situation. She is so insecure and lonely that when people begin to respond to her she feels incapable of telling the truth. The need to feel liked and accepted in high school is a top priority and Sam was feeling that for the first time. This is not one of my favorite books but the topic is an important one.

-Janeth

Content:
Sexual Content: Heavy
Profanity: Heavy
Violence: Mild
Other Notables: Underage drinking/partying
For more details, check out In Too Deep on Parentalbookreviews.com
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Apr 04, 2012 Julia rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: appropriate-for-high-school, everyone-should-read-at-least-once, families, friendship-school, sexuality, realistic-fiction, cautionary-tale

Due to a misunderstanding, a girl sees Sam (main character - female) leaving the bedroom of Carter & because of Sam's appearance (tears & torn shirt) & her demeanor, the observer infers that Carter had raped Sam. Soon this rumor spreads through the whole school - unknown to Sam. (She's just embarassed Carter rejected her advances - which were only made to get her best friend Nick to notice her as a girl.) When Sam hears the rumors for the first time Monday at school, she is too stunn...more

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Mar 28, 2012 Aimee (Coffee Table Reviews) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, 2012-ya-contemp-challenge, ya

I had wanted to like this more. The story itself is compelling. To tell the truth or to keep your mouth shut. Sam is humiliated, but not the way her school thinks. She through herself at a popular jock in order to get the guy she likes to notice her. But it doesn't end well. She's drunk and manages to get herself a few bumps and bruises on her way to trying to get noticed. In all the wrong ways.

What made this story easier to read was that Sam herself didn't start the rumor. She's humiliated at...more

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Mar 10, 2012 Stephanie rated it 5 of 5 stars

I have seen so many movies, especially on Lifetime, and even heard some actual stories like the one told in this book. Sam, a high student, is crazy about her best friend, Carter, who is a senior in high school. She has had the biggest crush on him for years, so Sam decides to reveal her true feelings to him at his senior party. It did not turn out as well as she thought, so she is utterly disappointed, hurt, and crying. A girl at the party sees her leave Carter's room in that condition and beli...more

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Sep 27, 2011 Bailey (IB Book Blogging) rated it 4 of 5 stars

IN TOO DEEP is a powerful YA that explores the danger of rumors and their lasting affects on people. Grace's novel deeply affected me, and while there were some flaws, they were easy to overlook. I look forward to more from Grace.

Sam isn't perfect. In fact, she is far from that. She is completely humiliated by Carter, and feels broken. But she didn't mean for the false rumors to spread about her being assaulted by Carter. Sure, he is a complete jerk who has no respect for women, but rape is pret...more

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Aug 22, 2012 Dalimar rated it 3 of 5 stars

Un buen libro,de esto no hay duda.El problema en el que habia tantas historias que la autora pudo aprovechar para sacar al maximo el potencial de los personajes y se concentro unicamente en base a la mentira que surgio de un rumor.Sam no lo invento,ella solamente no lo desmintio,cosa que hizo muy mal.No es que Carter fuera una planca paloma que no se mereciera pagar las cosas que ha hecho en su vida.Pero es que la mentira que se dijo sobre el,es demaciado fuerte y sucia,no era un invento de una...more

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Feb 02, 2012 Jessica Lopez rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, arc, ya, owned, signed

This book really isn't too thought provoking. It is a good read, but it is also kind of nice and simple. Its nice because it has a good story line as well. Now, I am the type of person who really gets a sick pleasure out of sad endings, because they're more realistic, but this book actually made me crave a happy ending by the time I reached the end of the book (I won't say whether it was happy or sad in the end). The book really did keep me entertained the whole time and the MC is very relatable...more

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Feb 18, 2013 Shannon rated it 4 of 5 stars

This story about truth and standing up for yourself was a fast, tension-packed read for me--started it Sunday night, finished it Monday night! I even gave up Monday night writing time to finish because I needed to see how MC Sam's story played out!

I loved Sam's voice, and I was rooting for her right away, and all the way to the end.

Sam starts out as a victim of a rumor, but she becomes accomplice to the whole thing getting out of control.

One night at a party she had too much beer and she was de...more This story about truth and standing up for yourself was a fast, tension-packed read for me--started it Sunday night, finished it Monday night! I even gave up Monday night writing time to finish because I needed to see how MC Sam's story played out!

I loved Sam's voice, and I was rooting for her right away, and all the way to the end.

Sam starts out as a victim of a rumor, but she becomes accomplice to the whole thing getting out of control.

One night at a party she had too much beer and she was depressed about her best friend Nick being 'on again' with his girlfriend. In the hopes of making Nick jealous, she tries to go after jock, asshole, Carter. She ends up embarrassing herself in front of him via drunken klutziness, but is still sober enough to be incredibly hurt when he calls her a 'two-bagger'. Okay I'd never heard this term before and I couldn't stop laughing about it, probably because Sam kept mentioning it, hoping this horrible 'two-bagger' label didn't spread its way to anyone else, especially Nick!

Sam and Carter come out of his room, with Sam crying (because she fell into a dresser! I'd be crying too!) and bruised and her shirt torn. A girl watching this scene makes an assumption and thus the rumor starts, spreading through Mossyrock High: Carter raped Sam.

Sam is oblivious to the rumor for days. Things have changed with Nick, and Sam's memory of being a 'two-bagger' are blissfully fading, so she doesn't understand why people are looking at her, and talking about her and why girls who usually ignore her, are talking to her, and asking if she is okay.

Once Sam realizes the mistake that's been made, she has many chances to offer up the truth. But she doesn't. Her intentions are good, you can see why she has a hard time, but she just doesn't do the right thing. Even though Carter is horrible and I never felt sorry for him. The rest of the story is tense, all the way through as we wonder if she'll come clean and we hope it doesn't destroy her relationship with Nick.

One could argue (because ok I saw the first sentences of some other reviews) that there is more opportunity in this story to go a little deeper with some of the relationship stuff, like Sam losing some friends early in high school, and her relationship with Nick but its not really necessary because I feel like it was intended to be a lighter read. I didn't feel anything missing, and the message about truth and standing up for yourself is very clear.(less)

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Mar 05, 2012 Jennie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-march

I read this during the bus ride home from the library. It's a little over 200 pages and a very quick read (about 25 min). The writing is fairly minimalistic, which I liked. The subject matter is...well, to be honest, that's the part I can't make up my mind about. On one hand, it is a very interesting look about how rumors and situations get out of control. On the other, rape apologists LOVE to go on about how the survivor is just crying wolf. So while I want to applaud the author for writing a t...more

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Jul 19, 2012 Jess Bierschied rated it 4 of 5 stars

Infuriating. Emotional. Harsh. Heartbreaking.

IN TOO DEEP by Amanda Grace is a jaw-dropping, heart-pounding, hell of a roller-coaster ride. We follow Sam who carries around a horrifying lie that can devastate so many people. This is a crazy story that shows the consequences of lying in a horrible fashion.

Wow. After I finished this book, I was left a bit speechless. It was short and I read it in one sitting but holy cow did it leave an imprint. Sam, the main character is snubbed by Mr. Popular/j...more

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Sep 10, 2012 Bena Chen rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: advisory-bookshelf-2012-2013

After a text message got out of hand, everyone assumes that Samantha was raped by Carter. In reality, Carter is the victim. Samantha is force to reckon with guilt or face the punishment of an unintentional lie. As peers turn against Carter, Samantha receives threats to tell the truth or else…
Amanda Grace put in perspective about stereotypes that women are more prone to be victims in rape crimes. However, What if… it was the other way around… This novel shows a fictional alternative about socie...more

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Jul 05, 2012 Aldy rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: bz, teen-love, drama

A ver, me pasó algo muy raro con esta historia, al principio me gustó, y el final también, pero desde el capítulo 3 hasta el 18 más o menos, me pareció aburridísimo, la protagonista se hizo odiar, como va a mentar sobre un asunto TAN pesado?, me parece que la autora no estuvo a la altura de la situación a la hora de desarrollar el relato sobre este tema y eso se notó claramente a la hora de concluir la historia.
(view spoiler)...more

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Nov 27, 2012 Andreina rated it 4 of 5 stars

Sam is in love with her best friend Nick, but he doesn't know it yet. Its senior year and she wants him to know or at least to realize that maybe somewhere he does in-fact like her as well. So she decides to flirt with pretty boy Carter at one of his parties hoping that Nick will see them and finally realize that he does have feelings for her. Only that Carter doesn't acknowledge Sam so she follows him into his room, that's when the rumor begins. Its Monday, and everyone at school is saying that...more

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Apr 19, 2012 Julia rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012

This wasn't an entirely horrible book- I'd even stretch to give it 2.5--3 stars.- but, it was just too simple from beginning to end.

Personally, this book just wasn't very unique, interesting or realistic- even though it dealt with a very realistic topic. I'll admit it wasn't the most horrible book ever, there were some pretty good parts, and the subject of how quickly and easily a rumor can spiral out-of-control was a good idea for a book, but it didn't seem to go anywhere unpredictable or surp...more

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Jan 26, 2012 Kate rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, a-z-challenge, 2012-reading-challenge, 2012-reads, ya-contemporary

I really thought this was a brilliant novel. It reminded me a lot of the movie Gossip. Sam was easy to relate to, for me at least, she's fairly passive in her life which allows for a simple misunderstanding to spiral out of control. The lie becomes easier to go along with, and almost impossible to set straight, after Sam finally gets the boy next door. Her fears of losing him, the way the town reacts, all of it felt brutally honest- despite being based on a story of a lie. The ending was great,...more

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Oct 29, 2012 Vilma Garcia rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

The author's purpose for writing this book was to teach the readers that even a little white lie can lead to something big and the loss of one's friends. "In too deep" is a book filled with love, relationships, and twists. Tells the story of a teen that lets a rumor go too far. The way the rumor was started is the how she was brought together with her best friend. This life changing rumor leads to the destruction of their relationship and friendship. This book serves as an eye opener for the re...more The author's purpose for writing this book was to teach the readers that even a little white lie can lead to something big and the loss of one's friends. "In too deep" is a book filled with love, relationships, and twists. Tells the story of a teen that lets a rumor go too far. The way the rumor was started is the how she was brought together with her best friend. This life changing rumor leads to the destruction of their relationship and friendship. This book serves as an eye opener for the readers and the lesson we learn can be used at any point in time.
This book was most definitely well written. Amanda Grace uses great detail in the book. She really makes the reader understand how the characters feel and the mood of the situation.The things said really gets someone thinking. For example, "Suddenly new friends are rushing to my side, telling me that Carter hurt them, too," this piece of text from the book gets readers to ask themselves questions. What did he do? Did he get away with it? How many people did he hurt? What was his motive? You can feel the emotion in the book. When the main character describes her feelings for her best friend.
This book was very captivating.It was a very interesting book. I read one page and I didn't want to stop. It automatically hooks the reader. It was funny, romantic, and sort of twisted. In a way, I can relate to the main character in the book. Sam, the main character, has a crush on her guy best friend. This is relate-able to me because I remember a time when I had a crush on my best friend. The friendship between her and her best friend reminds me of my friendship with my best friend. Playful and always joking around. This was definitely one of the most intriguing books that I have ever read.
This book has many strengths. One of them being vocabulary. The book uses words like "unhinged" and "murky." "I guzzle the rest of the bottle, then toss it and pick up a beer, relishing the quieting of the butterflies." Just that sentence alone gives an idea of the good vocabulary that the author uses throughout the book. Another strength would be the way that the author writes the book. The way she describes the events and the characters feelings. An example in the text is; "I realized I loved Nick the first time I saw him with Reyna, watched his lips curled upward when he looked at her, saw his eyes sparkle in a way they never did when it was just to." This text gives us an idea of how the author describes characters feelings in a way that the reader can feel it too.I don't think this book has any weaknesses. I loved every single part of the book. I was hooked right away and couldn't unhook myself at all.
I would definitely recommend this book to others. I can assure you that if you love twists, love, and humor, this book is the right book for you. This book has all of that and more. This book has it all. This is the type of book that can instantly hook a reader and make them never want to stop. This is the type of book that once you are at the last page of the book, you want to keep going and for there to be more pages. Honestly, i recommend this book to everyone. It is truly an amazing book.
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Jul 08, 2012 Jon Ripslinger rated it 3 of 5 stars

I enjoyed the book. I liked the author's style. I especially liked the beginning pages, which drew the reader immediately into the story. But after a bit I couldn't understand why Sam didn't tell the truth about her alleged rape. I wondered why Carter didn't go after Sam more vigorously for allowing the rape rumor to sweep through the school. Why didn't Carter's parents contact Sam's dad to demand that Sam stop these rumors. I think when Nick, Sam's boyfriend, finally discovers that Sam had lied...more

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Feb 20, 2012 Weronika rated it 3 of 5 stars

I am torn between liking and disliking this book because many things didn't add up to me. First, of all, there is a "rumor" of rape in your school and supposedly everyone knows about it, why is that no adult actually steps up and gets this shit resolved. I don't know, maybe contact the authorities...You don't take rape lightly and this book made it sound like it was no big deal besides getting the most popular guy a bad reputation. This got me mad and pretty frustrated throughout the entire book...more

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Sep 11, 2011 Kari rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc-or-review-from-publisher-author, read-teen, books-i-own

(Full review to come closer to release)

This one is intense and emotional, and it jumps right into it. A simple misunderstanding, spiraled into something huge, and Amanda nails that hopeless, loss of control feeling so perfectly. Picked apart, sure, any specific motivation in this book might not seem good enough but mounted on top of each other, and it's easy to see why Sam found herself in such a firestorm. Sam has a fantastic overall story arc and development, testing herself and having just th...more

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Mar 06, 2012 Clementine rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, fiction, ya

When Sam leaves a bedroom at a party drunk and crying, it doesn’t take long for people to start to infer what happened in the room with popular jock Carter Davis. The problem is, Carter didn’t rape her. But as more and more people hear about what supposedly happened, Sam finds it harder and harder to come forward and tell the truth.

The second title Mandy Hubbard has published under her pen name, In Too Deep succeeds where But I Love Him failed only in that this story has a slightly more plausibl...more When Sam leaves a bedroom at a party drunk and crying, it doesn’t take long for people to start to infer what happened in the room with popular jock Carter Davis. The problem is, Carter didn’t rape her. But as more and more people hear about what supposedly happened, Sam finds it harder and harder to come forward and tell the truth.

The second title Mandy Hubbard has published under her pen name, In Too Deep succeeds where But I Love Him failed only in that this story has a slightly more plausible premise. While But I Love Him got bogged down with its stylistic approach to domestic abuse and as a result sacrificed story, character, and credibility, In Too Deep dives right into the narrative without any real thought to its characters or their motivations. This is a fast-paced, tense novel, and it will work for some readers who are more interested in the plot than anything else.

It helps that Grace creates a dilemma that is fairly believable, at least for a while. While it’s clear that what Sam is allowing to happen to Carter is wrong, readers can also understand how such a story can spiral out of control. The problem is that Grace allows it to go on for too long, and the entire thing starts to feel ridiculous. Where are the adults while this rumor spreads throughout the school? The noticeable lack of adult intervention (of any kind) feels inauthentic.

The disappearing parent syndrome isn’t the only problem in Grace’s novel. Her characters are underdeveloped and stereotypical. Every single one of them feels like an archetype. While the novel is supposed to have readers questioning the events of the novel, Grace’s treatment of her characters leaves very little room for interpretation or grey area. While Sam’s narration provides insight into her complicated (and a little trite) family situation, Carter is quickly painted as an absolute jerk, and it makes it easier for readers (and Sam) to rationalize away what is happening to him. This could have been explored more fully if Grace had allowed Carter to subvert expectations.

There is some genuine tension as the novel’s plot builds, and it will work for readers looking for a fast-paced read. This is definitely a problem novel–more of a concept than an actual book–and it’s supposed to be incendiary. It succeeds at that, at least a little, but I couldn’t help but feel very uneasy with the overall message and content.

In Too Deep by Amanda Grace. Flux: 2012. Library copy.(less)

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Aug 10, 2012 Maya rated it 4 of 5 stars

Update: the message of the book is some rumors can really ruin someone's life some rumors if not stopped can cause for you to loose someone you love. I really did like the message of this book which was once u lie it can't be undone . I think it's important for many people to realize some lies are very reckless . I would recommend this for everyone to read I order for them to see how lies can affect u and others around u. When u kno the truth speak out .

Even thought I love happy ending but it wa...more

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Apr 24, 2012 Rose rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary, drama, psychological, young-adult, tough-subjects, realistic-fiction, quick-read

"In Too Deep" by Amanda Grace is an example of a book that, with the right considerations and development, could've been a much better novel in its overall construction. I saw a great deal of what this book wanted to do in terms of being a story grounded in morals - but that morality is shaded in many different points and feels like it speaks more against its overall intended message rather than for it.

Granted, it's not an uncommon plot device for someone to misinterpret something they see in t...more "In Too Deep" by Amanda Grace is an example of a book that, with the right considerations and development, could've been a much better novel in its overall construction. I saw a great deal of what this book wanted to do in terms of being a story grounded in morals - but that morality is shaded in many different points and feels like it speaks more against its overall intended message rather than for it.

Granted, it's not an uncommon plot device for someone to misinterpret something they see in the heat of the moment and spread hearsay rather than speaking on what really happened. It's also not uncommon that the main character in such a scenario may not be able to do anything about it until it's too late. Such an event occurs in the heart of this story when Sam stumbles out of an embarrassing situation at a party one night with one of the most popular guys at school. Her motivation was to make her long time crush jealous by flirting with Carter, one of the most popular guys at school. Terrible judgment call on Sam's part, but I'm not judging that as much in the spectrum of the novel because it is, indeed, an intended moral stumble on Sam's part. It leads within her reasoning for the time and events said to occur.

Yet Carter turns her down in a rather rude gesture, even following a series of mishaps that, frankly, I found hard to swallow but was able to suspend disbelief for. She trips in her heels, tears her tank top, and gets a bruise on her face from the fall. The next day, Sam - to her utter mortification - realizes the whole school knows about her embarrassing rejection and fall.

Or do they?

It turns out that Sam's encounter with Carter was perpetuated into a full blown rumor that takes on a stance of its own. Rumor has it that Sam was raped by Carter. Sam knows this is definitely not true, but she's afraid to dispel it because of the fallout that will occur. All the while, battle lines are drawn in the school between the people who side with Sam and those who side with Carter. There's some prominent slut shaming in the book, and Sam gets caught up in the narratives of many people who have been scorned by Carter, some even plotting revenge, all the while trying to keep up with the budding relationship she has with her best friend Nick, who (to his utter mortification) learns of what the whole school thinks happened with Carter and tries to come to terms with that. And Sam doesn't tell Nick a damned thing, even though they're supposed to be best friends.

From there on out, it's a pressure cooker waiting to boil over, all with the backdrop of graduation within a week's span of time. And when it boils, it boils fast. Unfortunately, that doesn't mean that the conclusion is all that satisfying. It more or less leaves things up in the air with all the fallout that occurs, and it's not that realistic with its consequence.

I'm not going to say that at a certain point the story didn't hit its stride with the way the actual conflict escalated, but goodness this was a trainwreck of a novel. I don't mean that in a positive way.

The structuring and pacing of the story was all over the place. At times, the content dragged in an implausible fashion and the characters felt like cardboard cutouts. There was really no point where I felt like I could either like or align with a character in what they thought or felt. I couldn't even feel much for the relationship developed between Nick and Sam, and they're supposed to be best friends turned lovers. The story as a whole came across as puerile despite the serious subject matter.

While the subject of the rumor gone awry was done in a way that did feel real, probably the only thing in this novel that did feel real, the matter of rape in this novel not only took a backdrop but fed into many stereotypes about rape that had my jaw dropping to the floor and me absolutely fuming. A better written composition could've actually addressed some of the stereotypes presented and said "Hey, this is wrong". But Sam, as she's presented in the novel, is not that intuitive, and she just gets worse as the novel goes forth. She's incredibly passive, dumb-love struck, and is a bit Mary Sue-ish in construction. When she finally does have the guts to stand up for herself - in her relationships and goals, it's already much too late and the damage has been done. I did think some of the falling out after felt realistic, but I think the open-ended conclusion did more harm than good in terms of having Sam learn from her inaction. It didn't really teach any moral consequences at all - not in a potent way.

I didn't care for this novel at all, and I wouldn't recommend it. There are much better YA stories out there that teach not only the consequences of lying, but also do a better job of constructing characters that feel more realistic and relatable. I just couldn't support the way it was told despite having an interesting idea for the plot thematic.

Overall score: 1/5
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Jun 08, 2013 Catherine rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: disappointing, drama-drama-drama, girl-drama, irritating-main-character, make-me-happy, made-me-cry, romance, shivers-up-my-spine, think-about-it, tumultous

“Oh what a tangled web we weave when we first practice to deceive.” –Sir Walter Scott

And how right he is. When high school senior Samantha Marshall unknowingly tells a lie, it spirals out of control and shatters her whole life. Sam is in love with her best friend Nick, but she can’t find the guts to tell him. Her fear is what starts the whole mess. Sam attempts to make Nick jealous by flirting with golden boy Carter Wellesley at a party, but after his cruel rejection of her, Samantha runs from h...more “Oh what a tangled web we weave when we first practice to deceive.” –Sir Walter Scott

And how right he is. When high school senior Samantha Marshall unknowingly tells a lie, it spirals out of control and shatters her whole life. Sam is in love with her best friend Nick, but she can’t find the guts to tell him. Her fear is what starts the whole mess. Sam attempts to make Nick jealous by flirting with golden boy Carter Wellesley at a party, but after his cruel rejection of her, Samantha runs from his room, in tears, a mess. Michelle, a fellow classmate, asks Sam what happens, and Sam, so caught up in her own mind she doesn’t pay attention to what Michelle is asking, confirms Michelle’s suspicions that she had been raped by Carter. The next day at school, instead of being mocked, as Sam thought she would, she is approached by many who give her their sympathy. She doesn’t understand what is happening, but when she locks herself in the restroom, overwhelmed, she overhears freshmen girls talking about it.
Everyone thinks Carter Wellesley raped Samantha.
Sam knows the whole thing is completely, totally wrong, yet somehow, she can’t bring herself to tell the ugly, embarrassing truth of what happened. So she lives the lie.
Soon, she learns that Carter has hurt or rejected many girls, but no matter how much of a bastard he is, he does not deserve to be tagged as a rapist. Samantha tries to convince herself that it’s okay, if she can just hold on for a little longer, Carter will go away to college in California, and no one will ever have to know the truth. But it’s not that easy. She finds herself telling best friends Tracey and Macy and her ex-best friend Veronica what really happened that night, and they talk her into living the lie. Nick doesn’t believe Carter could do such a thing and gets angry at Sam, but instead of telling him the truth, instead of preventing the whole thing from happening that day, instead of getting him to help her get out of that mess, Sam breaks down into tears, making it look like Carter really did rape her and she is emotionally traumatized.
But in the end, Samantha gets what she deserves. She tells the truth in front of the whole graduating party and loses Nick’s friendship and whatever more they might have had.
In Too Deep is not a tear-jerker like Amanda Grace’s powerful But I Love Him, but it certainly makes you think. Lies that tear your whole life apart. So be careful what you say.
Samantha didn’t begin the rumor, but she spun the web of lies herself when she could have taken it down, instead of trying to right the wrong before it was too late. She lost everything, but found something along the way. Carter will forever hate her for pegging him as a vile rapist, Nick may never speak to her ever again after driving away without a goodbye, and she might still be rebuilding, but somehow, everything will be okay. This is just a story told right. So think about it.
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