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Into the Deep #1
Into the Deep
This is a previously-published edition - ASIN: B00EG8EQA2
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…
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…
315 pages, ebook
First published August 8, 2013
888 people are currently reading
15812 people want to read
About the author
Samantha Young
109 books28.1k followersSamantha is a New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author and a Goodreads Choice Awards Nominee. Samantha has written over 60 books and is published in 31 countries. She writes emotional and angsty romance, often set where she resides—in her beloved home country Scotland. Samantha splits her time between her family, writing and chasing after two very mischievous cavapoos.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,830 reviews
September 4, 2014
2 1/2 to 3 Stars
I didn't really enjoy the story. The writing, however, was excellent.
August 2013 Comment
I was very disheartened to find out that this book WASN'T a STANDALONE. I'm becoming very discouraged with the "to be continued' trend in the romance genre.
June 14, 2016
This one had been sitting on my shelf for a long time, but I hadn't heard much about it and there was nothing that grabbed my attention to make me bump it up my priority ranking. I told myself that I'd read something I had sitting on my shelf before buying another one and this was the lucky one that got picked.
I knew within the first few minutes of starting this audiobook that I was going to be hooked. This story sucked me right in! I found myself wanting to sit in the parking lot when I arrived at work, just so I could listen a little longer. It was that good.
That being said, I should point out that this is not going to be a story for everyone. It is high on the angst and emotional drama. I loved every damn minute, but I know that it will be a turn-off for many people.
The story is told flashing back and forth between present day and three years earlier. Sometimes this doesn't work or gets confusing, by I didn't find that to be the case for this story. The way the past and present were revealed simultaneously just worked for me with this story. I don't think I would have enjoyed it as much if the entire past backstory between the main characters had been revealed before getting the present day story. I just can't picture it. So, I'm glad that the author arranged the material this way.
The story is told from the viewpoint of Charley, our heroine. I absolutely loved Charley. She was strong and personable and yet, so human. It was easy to relate to everything she was feeling and where her thought processes went. Ms. Young did a fantastic job of making the reader/listener feel every one of Charley's emotions as if they were their own.
When Charley arrives in Edinburgh, Scotland for her junior year of studies abroad, she is shocked to run into her high school boyfriend, Jake. He had been her first love and he broke her heart. Charley had spent years trying to get past the heartache that he had caused. To make matters worse, he is there with his girlfriend.
Whatever healing Charley thought she'd accomplished, is erased with a single look from Jake. No matter what she tried to tell herself, she's not over him. Judging by Jake's reaction to her, she's not the only one who's stuck in the past either.
While Charley is determined to move on and try to forget Jake, he is determined to make amends. He knows that he's wronged her and he wants her forgiveness. No matter how hard she tries, Jake won't let her ignore him for long.
Eventually, the two begin hanging out and reignite a friendship rife with sexual tension. They are flirting with disaster, especially considering that Jake now has another sweet girlfriend in the mix. Yet, despite everything, they can't seem to stay away from each other. It is clear that the chemistry between them has not faded.
The supporting cast of characters was fabulous. Charley's best friend, Claudia, and Jake's best friend, Beck, were a crucial part of this story. Their obvious attraction to one another, and their steadfast support of their best friends, played a critical role in this story. Several mutual friends, like Lowe, the sexy lead singer, also kept things entertaining.
As you can imagine, this was a rip your heart out, angsty, second-chance romance. This story gutted me and then put me back together again. As much as I wanted to strangle Jake, I couldn't deny his appeal. It was like their was a magnetic pull between these two, everything between them be damned.
Overall, it was a fantastic choice for me. There is a love triangle, but that isn't a "no-go" for me. I haven't read anything so emotional and angsty since 'Thoughtless', by S. C. Stephens. This one didn't quite rise to that level, but it was close. My only gripe is that it ended rather abruptly, leaving me wondering if I'd lost a chapter or something. Needless to say, I dived into the next book immediately.
I knew within the first few minutes of starting this audiobook that I was going to be hooked. This story sucked me right in! I found myself wanting to sit in the parking lot when I arrived at work, just so I could listen a little longer. It was that good.
That being said, I should point out that this is not going to be a story for everyone. It is high on the angst and emotional drama. I loved every damn minute, but I know that it will be a turn-off for many people.
The story is told flashing back and forth between present day and three years earlier. Sometimes this doesn't work or gets confusing, by I didn't find that to be the case for this story. The way the past and present were revealed simultaneously just worked for me with this story. I don't think I would have enjoyed it as much if the entire past backstory between the main characters had been revealed before getting the present day story. I just can't picture it. So, I'm glad that the author arranged the material this way.
The story is told from the viewpoint of Charley, our heroine. I absolutely loved Charley. She was strong and personable and yet, so human. It was easy to relate to everything she was feeling and where her thought processes went. Ms. Young did a fantastic job of making the reader/listener feel every one of Charley's emotions as if they were their own.
When Charley arrives in Edinburgh, Scotland for her junior year of studies abroad, she is shocked to run into her high school boyfriend, Jake. He had been her first love and he broke her heart. Charley had spent years trying to get past the heartache that he had caused. To make matters worse, he is there with his girlfriend.
Whatever healing Charley thought she'd accomplished, is erased with a single look from Jake. No matter what she tried to tell herself, she's not over him. Judging by Jake's reaction to her, she's not the only one who's stuck in the past either.
While Charley is determined to move on and try to forget Jake, he is determined to make amends. He knows that he's wronged her and he wants her forgiveness. No matter how hard she tries, Jake won't let her ignore him for long.
Eventually, the two begin hanging out and reignite a friendship rife with sexual tension. They are flirting with disaster, especially considering that Jake now has another sweet girlfriend in the mix. Yet, despite everything, they can't seem to stay away from each other. It is clear that the chemistry between them has not faded.
The supporting cast of characters was fabulous. Charley's best friend, Claudia, and Jake's best friend, Beck, were a crucial part of this story. Their obvious attraction to one another, and their steadfast support of their best friends, played a critical role in this story. Several mutual friends, like Lowe, the sexy lead singer, also kept things entertaining.
As you can imagine, this was a rip your heart out, angsty, second-chance romance. This story gutted me and then put me back together again. As much as I wanted to strangle Jake, I couldn't deny his appeal. It was like their was a magnetic pull between these two, everything between them be damned.
Overall, it was a fantastic choice for me. There is a love triangle, but that isn't a "no-go" for me. I haven't read anything so emotional and angsty since 'Thoughtless', by S. C. Stephens. This one didn't quite rise to that level, but it was close. My only gripe is that it ended rather abruptly, leaving me wondering if I'd lost a chapter or something. Needless to say, I dived into the next book immediately.
August 16, 2013
4-4.5 Stars!!!
When Charley was sixteen years old she met the love of her life. Jake was the new guy in town, and he had his sights set on Charley. From the first time they laid eyes one one another... they knew.
The two became friends. The more time they spent together, the more their relationship developed. They both fell for each other, and they fell hard.
Jake was her person. They knew they were young, but they were very much in love. It was getting serious fast, but they were both on the same page...
They were both happy. Everything was near perfect with their relationship. Then things got complicated. There was an incident that caused Jake to grow distant from Charley. Eventually, he just takes off, leaving Charley without any answers and a broken heart.
Charley spent years of her life just getting by, drowning. She may appear to be okay, but she’s never been the same.
Fast forward about 4 years and Charley is exactly where she wants to be. She is in Edinburgh studying abroad, what she has always dreamed of doing and she is there with her best friend. Everything is going good until she sees him. Jake Caplin at a party. And he’s not alone. Charley quickly exits the party, but Jake catches up to her. He needs to apologize. He wants her forgiveness, and maybe even her friendship. The story goes back and forth, from the past and the present. We see into Charley and Jakes past relationship, what really happened all those years ago... And we go through the journey of the two of them trying to be friends again. Can Charley do it? Can she be just friends with the love of her life when he’s dating someone else? Can she forgive the man who meant the most to her who just tossed her away? Can she take the risk of being dragged back down, into the deep with him?
Charley is a tough girl. They don’t call her Supergirl for nothing. She is a really good person, understanding, kind, funny, a little snarky but sweet. I love a good heroine! Jake is pretty amazing- even though he made some questionable decisions in his youth, well, no ones perfect. I still really rooted for him. I am such a sucker for second chance at a first love stories. I wanted them to work out so badly. Along with the two main characters, there are a lot of other fabulous secondary characters. Absolutely adored Lowe, Beck and Claudia. Can’t wait to see more on these guys.
Samantha Young knows how to write. I’ve enjoyed all her books, and this is no exception. ‘Into the Deep’ is one of those books I didn’t want to put down. Even though some parts were hard to read, there were many scenes that put the biggest smile on my face. A beautiful heartwarming and heartbreaking love story that I thoroughly enjoyed. A little drama, angst, a lot of romance, and a lovely journey reminiscing about a couples first love, and then a reconnection that was just meant to be.
‘Baby, I’ll earn it back. I promise, I’ll earn it back.’
I’m really glad there was no cliffhanger, but I was hoping that this was a standalone and book 2 in this series would have been Beck’s or Lowe’s. I think it would have been nice if the book would have been just a little longer with an epilogue to wrap up Jake and Charley’s story, I really don’t want to wait until 2014 to find out more! I’m very much looking forward to the sequel!
When Charley was sixteen years old she met the love of her life. Jake was the new guy in town, and he had his sights set on Charley. From the first time they laid eyes one one another... they knew.
He watched me the entire time. He watched me like he wanted to watch me forever. I knew this because I was looking back at him thinking the exact same thing.
The two became friends. The more time they spent together, the more their relationship developed. They both fell for each other, and they fell hard.
Jake was her person. They knew they were young, but they were very much in love. It was getting serious fast, but they were both on the same page...
‘I knew after weeks of meeting you that I was never going to love another girl like I love you. You’re it for me. They write books about what we have.’
They were both happy. Everything was near perfect with their relationship. Then things got complicated. There was an incident that caused Jake to grow distant from Charley. Eventually, he just takes off, leaving Charley without any answers and a broken heart.
Charley spent years of her life just getting by, drowning. She may appear to be okay, but she’s never been the same.
Fast forward about 4 years and Charley is exactly where she wants to be. She is in Edinburgh studying abroad, what she has always dreamed of doing and she is there with her best friend. Everything is going good until she sees him. Jake Caplin at a party. And he’s not alone. Charley quickly exits the party, but Jake catches up to her. He needs to apologize. He wants her forgiveness, and maybe even her friendship. The story goes back and forth, from the past and the present. We see into Charley and Jakes past relationship, what really happened all those years ago... And we go through the journey of the two of them trying to be friends again. Can Charley do it? Can she be just friends with the love of her life when he’s dating someone else? Can she forgive the man who meant the most to her who just tossed her away? Can she take the risk of being dragged back down, into the deep with him?
Charley is a tough girl. They don’t call her Supergirl for nothing. She is a really good person, understanding, kind, funny, a little snarky but sweet. I love a good heroine! Jake is pretty amazing- even though he made some questionable decisions in his youth, well, no ones perfect. I still really rooted for him. I am such a sucker for second chance at a first love stories. I wanted them to work out so badly. Along with the two main characters, there are a lot of other fabulous secondary characters. Absolutely adored Lowe, Beck and Claudia. Can’t wait to see more on these guys.
Samantha Young knows how to write. I’ve enjoyed all her books, and this is no exception. ‘Into the Deep’ is one of those books I didn’t want to put down. Even though some parts were hard to read, there were many scenes that put the biggest smile on my face. A beautiful heartwarming and heartbreaking love story that I thoroughly enjoyed. A little drama, angst, a lot of romance, and a lovely journey reminiscing about a couples first love, and then a reconnection that was just meant to be.
‘Baby, I’ll earn it back. I promise, I’ll earn it back.’
I’m really glad there was no cliffhanger, but I was hoping that this was a standalone and book 2 in this series would have been Beck’s or Lowe’s. I think it would have been nice if the book would have been just a little longer with an epilogue to wrap up Jake and Charley’s story, I really don’t want to wait until 2014 to find out more! I’m very much looking forward to the sequel!
August 5, 2016
WOW....Freaking....WOW!!!
I absolutely LOVED this book!
I have to say I was not expecting to love it as much as I did.
"Into The Deep" is surely going to be another hit for Samantha Young!!
There are so many characters that I loved and am hoping they get their own stories (Beck, Claud, Lowe, and Matt)
Ok but this story is about Charley and Jake!
Loved them both and their chemistry was fantastic!!!!
Their love began at the tender age of 16.
Charley is beautiful, funny, and has a sharp wit.
What I loved about her was that she was just an amazing person but also was unaware of how beautiful she was.
She was a very strong and vibrant young girl.
Then the new boy comes to town, Jake.
His reputation develops quickly in the small town of Lanton.
Jake is super hot and has girls all over town swooning over him.
The instant the two meet, the connection between them is pretty hot!!!
They fall hard for each other.
They make promises to each other, that they probably shouldn't have, being that they were so young.
Something horrific happens that causes the two to go their separate ways and the light that once shone brightly in Charley is dimmed.
"From the moment we'd met, he'd dragged me into the deep, swearing to me he was in there for me. It was a lie. He'd waded back out to the shallows and left me to drown. Worse, he'd found a new deep elsewhere with some other girl."
Four years go by and the two cross paths again in Scotland during their study year abroad.
Painful and angst ridden is this time.
I felt so bad for Charley.
To see the one great love of your life with someone else has to make you feel like your heart's been ripped out of your chest.
However, their chemistry and deep feelings are undeniable.
Anyhow, this was truly a fabulous story and had my stomach in knots over the angst.
I can't wait to read the next book!!! Sucks we have to wait till 2014!!
5 Stars!!!!!! :)
I absolutely LOVED this book!
I have to say I was not expecting to love it as much as I did.
"Into The Deep" is surely going to be another hit for Samantha Young!!
There are so many characters that I loved and am hoping they get their own stories (Beck, Claud, Lowe, and Matt)
Ok but this story is about Charley and Jake!
Loved them both and their chemistry was fantastic!!!!
Their love began at the tender age of 16.
Charley is beautiful, funny, and has a sharp wit.
What I loved about her was that she was just an amazing person but also was unaware of how beautiful she was.
She was a very strong and vibrant young girl.
Then the new boy comes to town, Jake.
His reputation develops quickly in the small town of Lanton.
Jake is super hot and has girls all over town swooning over him.
The instant the two meet, the connection between them is pretty hot!!!
They fall hard for each other.
They make promises to each other, that they probably shouldn't have, being that they were so young.
Something horrific happens that causes the two to go their separate ways and the light that once shone brightly in Charley is dimmed.
"From the moment we'd met, he'd dragged me into the deep, swearing to me he was in there for me. It was a lie. He'd waded back out to the shallows and left me to drown. Worse, he'd found a new deep elsewhere with some other girl."
Four years go by and the two cross paths again in Scotland during their study year abroad.
Painful and angst ridden is this time.
I felt so bad for Charley.
To see the one great love of your life with someone else has to make you feel like your heart's been ripped out of your chest.
However, their chemistry and deep feelings are undeniable.
Anyhow, this was truly a fabulous story and had my stomach in knots over the angst.
I can't wait to read the next book!!! Sucks we have to wait till 2014!!
5 Stars!!!!!! :)
July 15, 2013
“… peace… that comes with feeling complete, and I haven’t felt that way since I was seventeen and I walked away from a girl who could make me laugh harder, feel harder, and burn harder than any other person in my world.”
If you think you’re already a die-hard fan of Samantha Young’s unique writing style, well, be ready to hopelessly fall in love with it all over again because this book will rock your world and leave you so addicted to these characters, you won’t know what to do with yourself when you reach that wretched last page. An epic love story that is equally heart-warming as it is heartbreaking, the tale of Charley and Jake will entrench itself so deeply into your heart, you will never want it to end. By the end of this book, you’ll be going back and frantically re-reading passages like I was, re-living moments that affected you one way or another, because you won’t be able to let go of this beautiful story of young loves and second chances at forever.
“All I know is that you probably deserve better than me, but I’m too selfish to let you. I’m into you, and I want you to be so into me, you don’t even care that I’m not good enough for you.”
We meet Charley and Jake as two high school kids whose immediate attraction quickly progresses into falling in love for the very first time, being confronted with the very real possibility of having met “the one” at such a young age, and eventually losing it all. Their connection is immediately palpable, from teenage chemistry when they first meet and fall in love to full blown sexual tension when they cross paths again, but we are not given their story all at once. Paced flawlessly and carefully, their story goes back and forth in time, slowly putting the past and the present together like pieces in a puzzle, and making us simultaneously watch them fall in love for the first time, as well as find each other again years later and cope with all the residual feelings still burning bright in their young hearts.
“I won’t ever stop loving you. No matter what.”
We live this story through our heroine’s eyes, we feel every one of her emotions, past and present, as we watch her as two different people – a witty sixteen year old girl who’s never been hurt before and who lets herself fall in love with the new boy in town freely, wholeheartedly, irrevocably, and as a twenty year old young woman who’s never overcome the heartbreak of losing her first love and having her trust shattered into a million pieces by that sudden loss. The more we get to know the young girl that Charley once was, the more it hurts us to see how heartbreak eventually changes her. When suddenly faced again with the one she never stopped loving, Charley has to not only overcome her lingering feelings for Jake, but also learn to forgive and finally put the past behind her.
Charley is a character you will love from the very first scene. Her smart mouth and vivacious personality as a young girl will make you protective of her, deeply invested in her happiness, but as much as I wanted to resent Jake for the pain he had caused her, he is not an anti-hero by any stretch of the imagination. There are no villains in this love story – their heartbreak stems from their inability to cope with all they are confronted with at such a young age, not a lack of deep emotions towards each other. This is a story of second chances, of meant-to-bes and of whether true love can survive sorrow, time and distance. It’s a story that will remind you of what it was like to be young and hopelessly in love, of your first heartbreak, your first broken dreams, and it’s a story that will fill you with hope – hope that some hearts are simply destined to find their way back to each other.
“I knew after weeks of meeting you that I was never going to love another girl like I love you. You’re it for me. They write books about what we have.”
This is possibly one of the most addictive books I have ever had the pleasure of reading. Everything about this story “spoke” to me and I found every part of it to be truly remarkable. I cannot stop thinking about it, remembering scenes, smiling at those memories… My personal highlight were the clever dialogues – they flowed naturally and effortlessly, capable of making us laugh as well as bring tears to our eyes. Ms Young has a distinctive style of telling a story – it is recognisable in every word, every sentence, every humorous remark. I never wanted this book to end, it physically hurt to let go of Charley and Jake, not to mention all the other loveable secondary characters, but even though we are left in a very happy place story-wise and there is no cliffhanger, I was over the moon when I realised that their story would continue in Out of the Shallows, coming in 2014.
Epic. Unforgettable. Heartbreaking. A must read.
“Do you promise to take care of me for the rest of forever, Jacob Caplin?”
“I promise. For the rest of forever.”
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August 11, 2013
A SECOND-CHANCE ROMANCE!! MY FAVORITE!!!
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…
WOOHOO!!
June 3, 2015
4.5 Take me Deeper Stars
“I knew after weeks of meeting you that I was never going to love another girl like I love you. You’re it for me. They write books about what we have."
Samantha Young is a truly gifted author. I enjoy her breezy writing style. The depth of emotions that her characters experience causes a chain reaction of feelings for the reader. There is always great tension between the main characters with pulling and pushing until they might break. Into the Deep certainly did not disappoint.
Into the Deep is told in both the present and past. Although I tend to shy away from books that are written in this format, I assure you the transitions were seamless. Additionally, I felt that this writing style worked perfectly as the story came to life.
In the past...
Charley is from a small town. Her junior year, a fine looking young man moves in. Jake is charming, sexy, witty, and smart. It doesn't take him long to set his sights on Charley. Although Jake is quite the ladies man, Charley is different. Charley is special. Together they create something remarkable. At first glance, it seems as if we have a case of young love. And yet, Charley and Jake become more then just boyfriend and girlfriend. They created a love that lasts. Or does it?
“I love you so much. I don’t care if people think we’re crazy.”
Jakes' family is an unwelcome addition to the small town. They are bullied and treated like outsiders. Yet, Jake is blissfully happy with Charley.
"This was it. This was our lives now. Laughter and kindness and affection and friendship and great sex."-Charley
“Do you promise to take care of me for the rest of forever, Jacob Caplin?”-Charley
“I promise. For the rest of forever.”-Jake
Things don't always work out as we have planned. Something happens and Jake leaves Charley.
"Jake’s departure re-broke me."
"From the moment we’d met, he’d dragged me into the deep, swearing to me he was in there with me. It was a lie. He’d waded back out to the shallows and left me to drown. Worse, he’d found a new deep elsewhere with some other girl."-Charley
The present...
Charley arrives at the University of Edinburgh. She is so excited to be participating in a study abroad program. She and her best friend Claudia just know it is going to be the best year of their life. And then everything changes in one moment. While enjoying her welcome to Scotland party, Charley spots Jake. Her Jake. Her Jake who now has his arms around another girl. Charley is brought back to a place of pain. A place that she has tried to shove away and forget forever.
Jake wants to make amends with Charley. He wants to be her friend. Because they socialize in the same group of close friends, Charley and Jake are forced to spend time together. Reluctantly, Charley begins to rekindle her friendship with Jake. Everyone close to her is terrified that she will be swept away.
“Letting this boy back in your life is a mistake. Fix it before he breaks you again.”
Still Charley and Jake are like two magnets. They are drawn together. Perhaps, it is due to their past. Perhaps, it is chemistry or just the fact that their story wasn't finished. Whatever has brought them together, Jake is with another girl. Charley is hardened because of what she lived through after Jake left. How can they possibly find their way through all of that?
There are so many fantastic elements to discuss in this book. I loved the connection between the two main characters. I loved the supporting characters and how they were intertwined in both the past and the present. The contrast in the setting of this story offers the reader a panoramic view of Scotland. Additionally, we experience the quaint small town of Lanton Indiana. Both special and unique backdrops for this plight. The dialogue is well crafted and rich with colorful details. I couldn't wait to find out what was going to happen to these two.
Overall, I highly recommend this read to anyone who enjoys a second chance romance with a heavy dose of passion and angst. I can't really classify the read as having a love triangle. I feel it is pretty obvious who Jake wants to be with. I would have loved for more finality to their story in this read. Alas, we have a happy for now ending. I look forward to continuing the journey with Jake and Charley in the next book. Perhaps Jake can make amends and Charley can let herself once again be free.
“Baby, I’ll earn it back. I promise I’ll earn it back.”-Jake
“I knew after weeks of meeting you that I was never going to love another girl like I love you. You’re it for me. They write books about what we have."
Samantha Young is a truly gifted author. I enjoy her breezy writing style. The depth of emotions that her characters experience causes a chain reaction of feelings for the reader. There is always great tension between the main characters with pulling and pushing until they might break. Into the Deep certainly did not disappoint.
Into the Deep is told in both the present and past. Although I tend to shy away from books that are written in this format, I assure you the transitions were seamless. Additionally, I felt that this writing style worked perfectly as the story came to life.
In the past...
Charley is from a small town. Her junior year, a fine looking young man moves in. Jake is charming, sexy, witty, and smart. It doesn't take him long to set his sights on Charley. Although Jake is quite the ladies man, Charley is different. Charley is special. Together they create something remarkable. At first glance, it seems as if we have a case of young love. And yet, Charley and Jake become more then just boyfriend and girlfriend. They created a love that lasts. Or does it?
“I love you so much. I don’t care if people think we’re crazy.”
Jakes' family is an unwelcome addition to the small town. They are bullied and treated like outsiders. Yet, Jake is blissfully happy with Charley.
"This was it. This was our lives now. Laughter and kindness and affection and friendship and great sex."-Charley
“Do you promise to take care of me for the rest of forever, Jacob Caplin?”-Charley
“I promise. For the rest of forever.”-Jake
Things don't always work out as we have planned. Something happens and Jake leaves Charley.
"Jake’s departure re-broke me."
"From the moment we’d met, he’d dragged me into the deep, swearing to me he was in there with me. It was a lie. He’d waded back out to the shallows and left me to drown. Worse, he’d found a new deep elsewhere with some other girl."-Charley
The present...
Charley arrives at the University of Edinburgh. She is so excited to be participating in a study abroad program. She and her best friend Claudia just know it is going to be the best year of their life. And then everything changes in one moment. While enjoying her welcome to Scotland party, Charley spots Jake. Her Jake. Her Jake who now has his arms around another girl. Charley is brought back to a place of pain. A place that she has tried to shove away and forget forever.
Jake wants to make amends with Charley. He wants to be her friend. Because they socialize in the same group of close friends, Charley and Jake are forced to spend time together. Reluctantly, Charley begins to rekindle her friendship with Jake. Everyone close to her is terrified that she will be swept away.
“Letting this boy back in your life is a mistake. Fix it before he breaks you again.”
Still Charley and Jake are like two magnets. They are drawn together. Perhaps, it is due to their past. Perhaps, it is chemistry or just the fact that their story wasn't finished. Whatever has brought them together, Jake is with another girl. Charley is hardened because of what she lived through after Jake left. How can they possibly find their way through all of that?
There are so many fantastic elements to discuss in this book. I loved the connection between the two main characters. I loved the supporting characters and how they were intertwined in both the past and the present. The contrast in the setting of this story offers the reader a panoramic view of Scotland. Additionally, we experience the quaint small town of Lanton Indiana. Both special and unique backdrops for this plight. The dialogue is well crafted and rich with colorful details. I couldn't wait to find out what was going to happen to these two.
Overall, I highly recommend this read to anyone who enjoys a second chance romance with a heavy dose of passion and angst. I can't really classify the read as having a love triangle. I feel it is pretty obvious who Jake wants to be with. I would have loved for more finality to their story in this read. Alas, we have a happy for now ending. I look forward to continuing the journey with Jake and Charley in the next book. Perhaps Jake can make amends and Charley can let herself once again be free.
“Baby, I’ll earn it back. I promise I’ll earn it back.”-Jake
August 13, 2013
"I let myself be convinced that all my memories of our relationship were somehow blown out of proportion, that I'd only imagined the intense connection between us. It's real. I haven't forgotten and neither has he. I can't describe what it feels like. It's just...like a rope binding us together."
Samantha Young tells the tale of Charley and Jake's high school romance through chapters of flashbacks. These two had one epic romance till a horrible event took place that crushed Jake and in turn, he shattered Charley's heart.
In the present, their paths cross again in Edinburgh while attending a study abroad program.
My favorite character is definitely our main character, Supergirl - Charley. She is fantastic female lead. The cast of supporting characters were also well done and fun to read. I just loved Lowe and Beck and I'm excited about more of these two in the next book.
Can Charley forgive Jake for breaking her heart fours years ago?
Can she be civil while in the company of his new girlfriend and love of his life Melissa?
Is forgiveness enough for Jake or is his first love - the one?
This story ends with a "to be continued" and a scene in Jake's pov. I found the book to be a good read and I'll be anxiously awaiting - Out of the Shadows
"Despite his declaration of love and my silence on the matter, I realized that deep down, I was worried I was always going to be that little bit more in love with Jake than he'd ever be with me. That didn't sit well. Not at all."
Samantha Young tells the tale of Charley and Jake's high school romance through chapters of flashbacks. These two had one epic romance till a horrible event took place that crushed Jake and in turn, he shattered Charley's heart.
In the present, their paths cross again in Edinburgh while attending a study abroad program.
My favorite character is definitely our main character, Supergirl - Charley. She is fantastic female lead. The cast of supporting characters were also well done and fun to read. I just loved Lowe and Beck and I'm excited about more of these two in the next book.
Can Charley forgive Jake for breaking her heart fours years ago?
Can she be civil while in the company of his new girlfriend and love of his life Melissa?
Is forgiveness enough for Jake or is his first love - the one?
This story ends with a "to be continued" and a scene in Jake's pov. I found the book to be a good read and I'll be anxiously awaiting - Out of the Shadows
"Despite his declaration of love and my silence on the matter, I realized that deep down, I was worried I was always going to be that little bit more in love with Jake than he'd ever be with me. That didn't sit well. Not at all."
March 27, 2014
Jake and Charley had a love that lasts forever and even though they are young, everyone could tell that just by looking at them. Unfortunately, something happens and Jake shuts down and shuts Charley out of his life. Now it's four years later and they are both in Edinburgh where they both wanted to go to study abroad. Adding to the problems, Jake brought his new girlfriend along.
Wow Wow Wow ...I LOVED this book. It's always so amazing when a book just grips you right from the beginning and this one sucked me right in. I could not put it down!
Charley is such a character...she's witty, funny, kind and doesn't take any crap. She's known for being a smart-ass and her nickname is Supergirl (I love the reason behind that). But she's guarded and you really can't blame her.
When Charley first meets Jacob, he has a reputation for being a manwhore. She gets him out of that but after things hit the fan, he reverts to his old ways, that is, until he gets together with his current girlfriend, Melissa.
But...Jake is a great guy and he just gets Charley. You can definitely tell they are both not over each other but they have several land mines to maneuver around to come to any clarity.
The book is told in the past and the present in alternating chapters for a while. It really helped you understand what in the heck happened. It's also told from Charley's POV however, there is a POV from Jake's POV at the end of the book and there's a couple of others on her website.
Jake and Charley have a lot of great friends and great families. I especially liked Beck and Claudia and would love to have a story about them! And don't even get me started on Lowe! ~sigh~
There were some good steamy scenes. I just love Jake and Charley together and it was wonderful how sweet and gentle he was with her.
Naturally, there's a lot of drama not only about Charley and Jake's past but with his girlfriend. It was hard for Charley having to deal with that but I loved how jealous Jake got when Charley was with anyone.
It was really interesting to see if Jake and Charley could make things work. Some serious things happened and they have a lot to work through. The book ends in a good place but there's still a lot to do and the blurb for the next book, Out of the Shallows, makes me nervous. Thankfully, we don't have to wait much longer!
Recommendation:
I just love Samantha Young and if you're a fan, you will enjoy this series especially if you like a lot of angst and heartbreak.
Favorite quotes:
♥ “Five minutes with you and I feel like I’ve known you forever.”
♥ Lowe chuckled. “A guy wants a girl, he has to hope to God she wants him back. A girl wants a guy, all she’s got to do is say the word and bam! He’s naked. You got all the power.”
♥ “So beautiful. I used to think there was nothing prettier than looking up at the stars. That feeling I got, like I was part of something bigger than anything I could ever imagine. It’s one of my favorite feelings … and I get it every time I look at you.”
♥ “I knew after weeks of meeting you that I was never going to love another girl like I love you. You’re it for me. They write books about what we have.”
♥ “I wish I could go back to that scared-shitless kid and tell him to be brave like his girl. I can’t take that back, though. All I can do is attempt to make up for it. I want you to give me that chance, but if you don’t, I need you to know I never lied when I told you that you’re extraordinary, Charley. Whatever your answer is, just know that I will always believe that, and I will always believe in you.”
♥ “Please. Please try because every time I look into your face, all I feel is … so in love with you. Then two seconds later, every time without fail, it hits me like a sledgehammer in my gut that you’re not mine. That I’m not allowed to reach out to you … I thought I could accept that, I thought I’d come to terms with it, but I can’t. We’re not over.” Tears shimmered in his beautiful eyes. “We can’t be over.”
Wow Wow Wow ...I LOVED this book. It's always so amazing when a book just grips you right from the beginning and this one sucked me right in. I could not put it down!
Charley is such a character...she's witty, funny, kind and doesn't take any crap. She's known for being a smart-ass and her nickname is Supergirl (I love the reason behind that). But she's guarded and you really can't blame her.
When Charley first meets Jacob, he has a reputation for being a manwhore. She gets him out of that but after things hit the fan, he reverts to his old ways, that is, until he gets together with his current girlfriend, Melissa.
But...Jake is a great guy and he just gets Charley. You can definitely tell they are both not over each other but they have several land mines to maneuver around to come to any clarity.
The book is told in the past and the present in alternating chapters for a while. It really helped you understand what in the heck happened. It's also told from Charley's POV however, there is a POV from Jake's POV at the end of the book and there's a couple of others on her website.
Jake and Charley have a lot of great friends and great families. I especially liked Beck and Claudia and would love to have a story about them! And don't even get me started on Lowe! ~sigh~
There were some good steamy scenes. I just love Jake and Charley together and it was wonderful how sweet and gentle he was with her.
Naturally, there's a lot of drama not only about Charley and Jake's past but with his girlfriend. It was hard for Charley having to deal with that but I loved how jealous Jake got when Charley was with anyone.
It was really interesting to see if Jake and Charley could make things work. Some serious things happened and they have a lot to work through. The book ends in a good place but there's still a lot to do and the blurb for the next book, Out of the Shallows, makes me nervous. Thankfully, we don't have to wait much longer!
Recommendation:
I just love Samantha Young and if you're a fan, you will enjoy this series especially if you like a lot of angst and heartbreak.
Favorite quotes:
♥ “Five minutes with you and I feel like I’ve known you forever.”
♥ Lowe chuckled. “A guy wants a girl, he has to hope to God she wants him back. A girl wants a guy, all she’s got to do is say the word and bam! He’s naked. You got all the power.”
♥ “So beautiful. I used to think there was nothing prettier than looking up at the stars. That feeling I got, like I was part of something bigger than anything I could ever imagine. It’s one of my favorite feelings … and I get it every time I look at you.”
♥ “I knew after weeks of meeting you that I was never going to love another girl like I love you. You’re it for me. They write books about what we have.”
♥ “I wish I could go back to that scared-shitless kid and tell him to be brave like his girl. I can’t take that back, though. All I can do is attempt to make up for it. I want you to give me that chance, but if you don’t, I need you to know I never lied when I told you that you’re extraordinary, Charley. Whatever your answer is, just know that I will always believe that, and I will always believe in you.”
♥ “Please. Please try because every time I look into your face, all I feel is … so in love with you. Then two seconds later, every time without fail, it hits me like a sledgehammer in my gut that you’re not mine. That I’m not allowed to reach out to you … I thought I could accept that, I thought I’d come to terms with it, but I can’t. We’re not over.” Tears shimmered in his beautiful eyes. “We can’t be over.”
July 25, 2013
A second-chance-at-love story always tugs at my heartstrings. Not only did Into the Deep tug at my heart strings it settled in and gave my heart a great big crushing squeeze! It was filled with painful longing, lusty attraction, and a once-in-a-lifetime-love.
Charley and Jake fell into love while they were both sixteen. They were very young, but sometimes life works out like that. Unfortunately, tragic circumstances cause a rift and Jake leaves Charley without any explanation shattering Charley’s heart. She’s never been the same. Three and a half years later Charley has moved on as best as she could and is fulfilling her goal of studying abroad. Shock, pain, and disbelief strike Charley when she finds Jake also attending school there, as well, with a girlfriend in tow! Avoiding him and his girlfriend is near impossible as all of their friends hang out together. Plus, Jake can’t seem to stay away from Charley and asks her to be his friend. She knows that she should avoid him and refuse but she just can’t tell him no. Their mutual attraction and deep connection comes through loud and clear to everyone around, causing drama and angst.
Into the Deep started out bittersweet because when Jake and Charley meet again he’s moved on with someone else! This crushed Charley’s heart (mine too!) throughout the story and it was painful to read Charley emotions.
Part of me still felt for Jake and all he’d been through, and the other part hated him for breaking all the promises he’d made me. From the moment we’d met, he’d dragged me into the deep, swearing to me he was in there with me. It was a lie. He’d waded back out to the shallows and left me to drown. Worse, he’d found a new deep elsewhere with some other girl.*
I’m fully in Charley’s corner. The story alternates chapters flashing back to the past, and then going back to the future, revealing slowly what went wrong with Charley and Jake. While I felt bad for what happened to Jake, I don’t understand why he just left things the way they were as time went on. Not only did he just leave things, he goes out to school where he knows Charley will be attending and gets a girlfriend!! Not okay with me Jake!
Charley is an awesome girl trying to hold it together and respecting what she thinks is Jake’s happiness with another girl, all the while being his friend!! You know this can only last for so long before things explode. Things end on a high note, but just like Charley, I don’t know if I’ll be able to trust and forgive Jake. The story does not end in a cliffhanger, but it’s far from over. The next installment will be told in Jake’s POV and I’m hoping he’ll win me over. This will largely depend on how steadfast he is, where he lays his priorities, and how he handles Melissa. Groveling wouldn’t hurt either!
With all my uneasiness over Jake I still want nothing more than a HEA between them. Their chemistry, steam, and attraction are felt profoundly throughout the story!! Samantha Young always manages to suck me in with her addictive and brilliant writing, making me feel a whole range of emotions: soaring highs and crushing lows. I’ll leave you on a high:
Charley and Jake fell into love while they were both sixteen. They were very young, but sometimes life works out like that. Unfortunately, tragic circumstances cause a rift and Jake leaves Charley without any explanation shattering Charley’s heart. She’s never been the same. Three and a half years later Charley has moved on as best as she could and is fulfilling her goal of studying abroad. Shock, pain, and disbelief strike Charley when she finds Jake also attending school there, as well, with a girlfriend in tow! Avoiding him and his girlfriend is near impossible as all of their friends hang out together. Plus, Jake can’t seem to stay away from Charley and asks her to be his friend. She knows that she should avoid him and refuse but she just can’t tell him no. Their mutual attraction and deep connection comes through loud and clear to everyone around, causing drama and angst.
Into the Deep started out bittersweet because when Jake and Charley meet again he’s moved on with someone else! This crushed Charley’s heart (mine too!) throughout the story and it was painful to read Charley emotions.
Part of me still felt for Jake and all he’d been through, and the other part hated him for breaking all the promises he’d made me. From the moment we’d met, he’d dragged me into the deep, swearing to me he was in there with me. It was a lie. He’d waded back out to the shallows and left me to drown. Worse, he’d found a new deep elsewhere with some other girl.*
I’m fully in Charley’s corner. The story alternates chapters flashing back to the past, and then going back to the future, revealing slowly what went wrong with Charley and Jake. While I felt bad for what happened to Jake, I don’t understand why he just left things the way they were as time went on. Not only did he just leave things, he goes out to school where he knows Charley will be attending and gets a girlfriend!! Not okay with me Jake!
Charley is an awesome girl trying to hold it together and respecting what she thinks is Jake’s happiness with another girl, all the while being his friend!! You know this can only last for so long before things explode. Things end on a high note, but just like Charley, I don’t know if I’ll be able to trust and forgive Jake. The story does not end in a cliffhanger, but it’s far from over. The next installment will be told in Jake’s POV and I’m hoping he’ll win me over. This will largely depend on how steadfast he is, where he lays his priorities, and how he handles Melissa. Groveling wouldn’t hurt either!
With all my uneasiness over Jake I still want nothing more than a HEA between them. Their chemistry, steam, and attraction are felt profoundly throughout the story!! Samantha Young always manages to suck me in with her addictive and brilliant writing, making me feel a whole range of emotions: soaring highs and crushing lows. I’ll leave you on a high:
August 16, 2013
4.5 Second Chance Stars!!
Charley and Jake were boyfriends in high-school. But not just young lovers, they had that kind of love so strong that everyone was certain that they would be forever.
“I knew after weeks of meeting you that I was never going to love another girl like I love you. You’re it for me. They write books about what we have.”
But unfortunately, life is unpredictable and something really bad happens that will end with Jake going away and leaving Charley. She is left broken with never really recover from it.
For almost 4 years she doesn’t know anything about Jake. He never tried to reach her again.
When she takes a year abroad in Edinburgh, on the third year of college, he is the first person she sees… with his girlfriend. (Who isn’t a bitch, so is really hard to hate her…)
Right from the moment he sees her, he tries to apologize and do everything he can to keep her in is life… but he hurt her too much and she can’t trust him. Not to mention that is very hard for her to be around him and her girlfriend.
But Jake is not if not persistent and he is determined to be forgiven for his past sins and not let her away again He is determined to have a second chance with Charley, even if she thinks that she doesn’t want that.
This was a really great reading. The only reason I’m not giving it 5 starts if because the end seemed to be rushed. It’s like Samantha suddenly remembered: “Hey! I can turn this into a series!!” and just stopped writing right there. If it was a stand alone with a few chapters longer and a nice epilogue and this would have been perfect.
The supportive characters were real great (I’m so hoping for a HEA for Claud and Bret!), as the main ones. Charley was an awesome heroine, which isn’t that common, and Jake even with all the pissing me off, was real great.
Believe me, this is a book you will don’t want to miss out on ;)
Charley and Jake were boyfriends in high-school. But not just young lovers, they had that kind of love so strong that everyone was certain that they would be forever.
“I knew after weeks of meeting you that I was never going to love another girl like I love you. You’re it for me. They write books about what we have.”
But unfortunately, life is unpredictable and something really bad happens that will end with Jake going away and leaving Charley. She is left broken with never really recover from it.
For almost 4 years she doesn’t know anything about Jake. He never tried to reach her again.
When she takes a year abroad in Edinburgh, on the third year of college, he is the first person she sees… with his girlfriend. (Who isn’t a bitch, so is really hard to hate her…)
Right from the moment he sees her, he tries to apologize and do everything he can to keep her in is life… but he hurt her too much and she can’t trust him. Not to mention that is very hard for her to be around him and her girlfriend.
But Jake is not if not persistent and he is determined to be forgiven for his past sins and not let her away again He is determined to have a second chance with Charley, even if she thinks that she doesn’t want that.
This was a really great reading. The only reason I’m not giving it 5 starts if because the end seemed to be rushed. It’s like Samantha suddenly remembered: “Hey! I can turn this into a series!!” and just stopped writing right there. If it was a stand alone with a few chapters longer and a nice epilogue and this would have been perfect.
The supportive characters were real great (I’m so hoping for a HEA for Claud and Bret!), as the main ones. Charley was an awesome heroine, which isn’t that common, and Jake even with all the pissing me off, was real great.
Believe me, this is a book you will don’t want to miss out on ;)
September 17, 2020
Its been a while since I read Miss Young's book. She is quite famous with The Dublin Street series. Into the Deep is NA romance. The story is good. Jake and Charlie are high school lover. They connected instantly. Miss Young gives us their connection, their character development is sweet and innocent. It seems they have everything coming into their way. Until a freak accident causing their classmate dead.
That freak accident rips them apart. And then where my interest dwindle. Jake and Charlie met again and Jake has a new girlfriend. The drama begun. And this is where the Jake and Charlie become immature. Their jealousy and possessive is just.... juvenile. I am disappointed with the character development. I wish Miss Young can give me more mature behavior. I want to see more how Jake copes with his guilt.
Overall the writing is still good. Enough to make me finish this book. But not enough to pick up the next book.
3 stars
That freak accident rips them apart. And then where my interest dwindle. Jake and Charlie met again and Jake has a new girlfriend. The drama begun. And this is where the Jake and Charlie become immature. Their jealousy and possessive is just.... juvenile. I am disappointed with the character development. I wish Miss Young can give me more mature behavior. I want to see more how Jake copes with his guilt.
Overall the writing is still good. Enough to make me finish this book. But not enough to pick up the next book.
3 stars
November 16, 2014
3.5 stars
As thrilling and extraodinary as new release by Samantha Young sounds, Into The Deep is nothing I thought it would be, if I was being blunt I would say it’s a bitter let down. I was expecting mind blownig new adult novel that would stand equally with On Dublin Street or my favorite book by Samantha Young Slumber. Unfortunately I got short but entertaining read, that lacked deeper emotions or uniqueness.
I can’t say Into The Deep is bad read, because I really enjoyed it, I just couldn’t let myself love it all the way. Especially because of the abrupt ending. It was like someone just cut off the rest of the story in usual moment (without making it a cliffhanger) and wrote To be continued. I was like what the hell? Changing stand alone novel into series? And setting release date in 2014? Big no from me. Sigh.
Story follows twenty year old Charley who’s studing abroad in Edinburg with her best friend. Both of them decided to go for a year to Scotland to enjoy living in a forgein country. Unfortunately, Charely hadn’t realize that sometimes past can collide with future. So when she sees the man who broke her heart when she was only seventeen things go a little down hill.
Jake was her first love, the only boy she have ever loved, but she can’t forgive him what he had done to her, she didn’t move on either. Now they’re stuck together in the same University and sharing the same group of friends. Charley will have to face seeing him and his new girlfriend every day.
The best in this book, was Charley, main character. Funny, clever and smart ass mixed with charming attitude and sexiness, she really is the shining star of Young’s novel. From fanatsic Supergirl nickname to a dream of being a cop Charley stole my heart. She's one of the very few girls I have book crush on.
Jake was not bad character either, handsome heartbreaker is always sexy.
Overall, Into The Deep is not bad book, it's enjoyable and sweet, but it lacked of something deeper that could put this book in my favorite shelf. I suppose I my high expectations made this book look poorer in my eyes. Still I would highly recommend this book for a person who is not looking for outstanding book, but a great entertaiment. For those of you that want to read something better I recommend Slumber one of my favorite books by Samantha Young ;)
As thrilling and extraodinary as new release by Samantha Young sounds, Into The Deep is nothing I thought it would be, if I was being blunt I would say it’s a bitter let down. I was expecting mind blownig new adult novel that would stand equally with On Dublin Street or my favorite book by Samantha Young Slumber. Unfortunately I got short but entertaining read, that lacked deeper emotions or uniqueness.
I can’t say Into The Deep is bad read, because I really enjoyed it, I just couldn’t let myself love it all the way. Especially because of the abrupt ending. It was like someone just cut off the rest of the story in usual moment (without making it a cliffhanger) and wrote To be continued. I was like what the hell? Changing stand alone novel into series? And setting release date in 2014? Big no from me. Sigh.
Story follows twenty year old Charley who’s studing abroad in Edinburg with her best friend. Both of them decided to go for a year to Scotland to enjoy living in a forgein country. Unfortunately, Charely hadn’t realize that sometimes past can collide with future. So when she sees the man who broke her heart when she was only seventeen things go a little down hill.
Jake was her first love, the only boy she have ever loved, but she can’t forgive him what he had done to her, she didn’t move on either. Now they’re stuck together in the same University and sharing the same group of friends. Charley will have to face seeing him and his new girlfriend every day.
The best in this book, was Charley, main character. Funny, clever and smart ass mixed with charming attitude and sexiness, she really is the shining star of Young’s novel. From fanatsic Supergirl nickname to a dream of being a cop Charley stole my heart. She's one of the very few girls I have book crush on.
Jake was not bad character either, handsome heartbreaker is always sexy.
Overall, Into The Deep is not bad book, it's enjoyable and sweet, but it lacked of something deeper that could put this book in my favorite shelf. I suppose I my high expectations made this book look poorer in my eyes. Still I would highly recommend this book for a person who is not looking for outstanding book, but a great entertaiment. For those of you that want to read something better I recommend Slumber one of my favorite books by Samantha Young ;)
August 15, 2013
Overall, I thought this book was just ‘okay’. I had high hopes for this 2nd chance type of romance especially from Samantha Young. It started out strong and kind of dwindle after that.
I had several issues with the book.
For starters, it’s not a STANDALONE. There are no crazy cliffhangers but things definitely aren’t resolved. Quite honestly, I don’t think there was any reason to drag this story out.
July 27, 2014
“We are all looking for a place in life, somewhere we fit. It’s not a place that changes who we are or what we do – perhaps it shapes us, makes us better, makes us more - but mostly it shelters us with a sense of peace, a sense that whatever we do, whoever we are, we’re not alone in it.
I was lucky enough to find that place, when I was sixteen years old.”
Samantha Young, you have done it again! By the end of chapter 1, I was completely sucked in, and the end of chapter 2, I was in love.
Charley is a 20 year old American student who has just arrived in Edinburgh with her best friend, Claudia, to study abroad for a year. Her world is rocked when she attends a party and her past comes screaming into her present when she sees the boy she loved and lost four years ago, Jake.
“Charley!” Maggie shrieked drunkenly and I watched as my name hit Jake’s ears. I noted the way he tensed, my fingers trembling around my beer bottle.
His eyes shot up from his group and tore through the crowd across the room. His chest jerked as his gaze collided with mine and his arm fell away from the girl cuddled into him. His lips parted as shock slackened his handsome features and I watched him mouth my name.
Everyone disappeared around me as we locked eyes for the first time in years. The music dulled to a throb, the conversation to a muffled buzz, and all I could hear was my heartbeat.”
Jake was Charley’s first love. Having met at age 16, they were each other’s entire world, and the story of their past is told in alternating chapters with the present day, so we get to see their incredibly intense love story unfold in beautiful, swoony detail, right alongside the shock and pain of them seeing each other again, four years after Jake broke her heart and left her shattered.
“From the moment we’d met, he’d dragged me into the deep, swearing to me he was in there with me. It was a lie. He’d waded back out to the shallows and left me to drown.”
16 year old Charley and Jake are amazing. Both very mature for their ages, they’re open and honest, and there’s no bullshit with either of them – both individually, and when they’re together. Jake has a swoony arrogance about him, and Charley is confident, and funny, and they have some epic banter! I love them both, they are absolutely perfect together!
“All I know is that you probably deserve better than me, but I’m too selfish to let you. I’m into you, and I want you to be so into me, you don’t even care that I’m not good enough for you.”
Their love for each other is all consuming. They may be young, but it’s the once in a lifetime, life-altering kind of love that takes your breath away, and I felt every moment right alongside them.
“I knew after weeks of meeting you that I was never going to love another girl like I love you. You’re it for me. They write books about what we have.”
When their best friends start hanging out, Charley and Jake have no choice but to spend a lot of time together, and they form a tight knit circle of friends. This is a great bunch of characters! Jake’s best friend, Beck, is in a band, and he and his bandmates , Lowe, Denver and Matt are a bunch of hot, crude bad boys, each with a heart of gold, and who I absolutely LOVED. They all get involved in the unfolding drama, and some of the conversations are classic! I also loved the side story of Claudia and Beck ‘sort of’ romance, and I’m looking forwards to seeing how that all plays out.
With so much between Charley and Jake in the past, I loved watching them trying to relate to each other in the present. Things are initially very strained as she is still very angry, and he is wracked with guilt and regret. But, it is obvious to all that they still have intense feelings for each other. And, just to complicate things further, Jake now has a girlfriend, which brings a whole new range of emotions into the picture. They manage to develop a tentative friendship, and as they sort through their past, and struggle with their feelings in the present, you feel every little glance, every little spark between them as it becomes harder for them to hide the truth of what is still between them. And the emotion is beautifully written!
Note: This is a very minor spoiler, I've blocked it for those who don't want to know the direction the book takes, but if you don't mind that, feel free to look because it's pretty freaking epic!!
With the two stories running side by side, little bits of information are revealed, which may seem inconsequential, only for it be built upon in the very next chapter, creating a fully developed relationship, and showing us just how much they impacted each other’s lives, and the depth of the emotion between them. I thought this was really cleverly done, and loved watching it all unfold. I was completely mesmerized!
I love Samantha Young’s writing! She manages to combine laugh out loud humour with beautiful romance, heartbreaking drama, sexy time and lots of swoony moments. And it all has an element of reality about it. You could imagine it all happening exactly as she writes it!
While there is some resolution for Charley and Jake, and the book ends off at a good point, the story is very much unfinished, and I can’t wait to continue on.
I loved it – 4.5 stars.
I was lucky enough to find that place, when I was sixteen years old.”
Samantha Young, you have done it again! By the end of chapter 1, I was completely sucked in, and the end of chapter 2, I was in love.
Charley is a 20 year old American student who has just arrived in Edinburgh with her best friend, Claudia, to study abroad for a year. Her world is rocked when she attends a party and her past comes screaming into her present when she sees the boy she loved and lost four years ago, Jake.
“Charley!” Maggie shrieked drunkenly and I watched as my name hit Jake’s ears. I noted the way he tensed, my fingers trembling around my beer bottle.
His eyes shot up from his group and tore through the crowd across the room. His chest jerked as his gaze collided with mine and his arm fell away from the girl cuddled into him. His lips parted as shock slackened his handsome features and I watched him mouth my name.
Everyone disappeared around me as we locked eyes for the first time in years. The music dulled to a throb, the conversation to a muffled buzz, and all I could hear was my heartbeat.”
Jake was Charley’s first love. Having met at age 16, they were each other’s entire world, and the story of their past is told in alternating chapters with the present day, so we get to see their incredibly intense love story unfold in beautiful, swoony detail, right alongside the shock and pain of them seeing each other again, four years after Jake broke her heart and left her shattered.
“From the moment we’d met, he’d dragged me into the deep, swearing to me he was in there with me. It was a lie. He’d waded back out to the shallows and left me to drown.”
16 year old Charley and Jake are amazing. Both very mature for their ages, they’re open and honest, and there’s no bullshit with either of them – both individually, and when they’re together. Jake has a swoony arrogance about him, and Charley is confident, and funny, and they have some epic banter! I love them both, they are absolutely perfect together!
“All I know is that you probably deserve better than me, but I’m too selfish to let you. I’m into you, and I want you to be so into me, you don’t even care that I’m not good enough for you.”
Their love for each other is all consuming. They may be young, but it’s the once in a lifetime, life-altering kind of love that takes your breath away, and I felt every moment right alongside them.
“I knew after weeks of meeting you that I was never going to love another girl like I love you. You’re it for me. They write books about what we have.”
When their best friends start hanging out, Charley and Jake have no choice but to spend a lot of time together, and they form a tight knit circle of friends. This is a great bunch of characters! Jake’s best friend, Beck, is in a band, and he and his bandmates , Lowe, Denver and Matt are a bunch of hot, crude bad boys, each with a heart of gold, and who I absolutely LOVED. They all get involved in the unfolding drama, and some of the conversations are classic! I also loved the side story of Claudia and Beck ‘sort of’ romance, and I’m looking forwards to seeing how that all plays out.
With so much between Charley and Jake in the past, I loved watching them trying to relate to each other in the present. Things are initially very strained as she is still very angry, and he is wracked with guilt and regret. But, it is obvious to all that they still have intense feelings for each other. And, just to complicate things further, Jake now has a girlfriend, which brings a whole new range of emotions into the picture. They manage to develop a tentative friendship, and as they sort through their past, and struggle with their feelings in the present, you feel every little glance, every little spark between them as it becomes harder for them to hide the truth of what is still between them. And the emotion is beautifully written!
Note: This is a very minor spoiler, I've blocked it for those who don't want to know the direction the book takes, but if you don't mind that, feel free to look because it's pretty freaking epic!!
With the two stories running side by side, little bits of information are revealed, which may seem inconsequential, only for it be built upon in the very next chapter, creating a fully developed relationship, and showing us just how much they impacted each other’s lives, and the depth of the emotion between them. I thought this was really cleverly done, and loved watching it all unfold. I was completely mesmerized!
I love Samantha Young’s writing! She manages to combine laugh out loud humour with beautiful romance, heartbreaking drama, sexy time and lots of swoony moments. And it all has an element of reality about it. You could imagine it all happening exactly as she writes it!
While there is some resolution for Charley and Jake, and the book ends off at a good point, the story is very much unfinished, and I can’t wait to continue on.
I loved it – 4.5 stars.
August 30, 2013
Love it review to come <3 <3
August 13, 2013
Samantha Young doesn't write earth-shattering stories nor are they very unique. She also doesn't have a way with beautiful, insightful prose as much as Tammara Webber, Gayle Forman and Tarryn Fisher etc are capable of...BUT there is a reason why she is a New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author, Samantha Young has talent for weaving a story that is so tight - it just flows. It is not only well-paced but perfectly-paced with the right amount of drama mixed with a heavy yet tolerable dose of angst. It sucks you in. And boy was I caught up. I was so hooked that I had to finish this book - at 4AM.
Samantha Young has perfected the art of creating the strong heroine. Just like Jo from On Dublin Street, Charley comes equipped with razor sharp wit. She is a lovable smartass. There is such strength in her character that she can easily rein in her emotions. Jake had his work cut out for him.
It's the age-old story of the bad boy falling for the girl who makes him work for it for the first time in his life. The sparks were instantaneous and the banter, in true Samantha Young style, was so entertaining.
But the story lets the initial chemistry develop into a deep connection. Jake and Charley's story is reminiscent of real-life couples who met at 16, fell in love and lived happily ever after. There was something in the subtle storytelling minus the usual unnecessary dramas that somehow made their story feel so authentic to me.
Unfortunately, outside forces were not in their favor. Jake's family is the new kid in town in "bum-f*ck" Lanton where everybody had a set place in the community. There was no place for the Caplins. Until everything comes to a head and a tragedy leaves Jake a mess. He leaves Charley behind heartbroken. What was once beautiful was reduced to a very ugly history. And as a double whammy, Charley is left without any closure.
Fast forward to 4 years later, Charley is in Edinburgh on a study abroad program for a year. This was always her plan - a plan Jake was fully aware of. Imagine her surprise when Jake showed up in the same program - with a new girlfriend in tow.
But Jake wants to be friends and Charley was too weak to look the other way. And so they once again fall into an easy friendship - albeit laden with heavy tension and chemistry. And strong feelings resurface - apparently they were merely buried not gone.
Because I fully bought that what Jake and Charley once shared was worthy of a forever helped me accept them in the present scenario. Because I had issues with these characters in the present-time.
Jake. I'm still torn about him and to be honest, I'm leaning towards cementing my viewpoint of him as an ass. I fully understand how the tragedy messed up his head and his need to go away. But to come to a place where he knew Charley would be...and to flaunt a new relationship in front of her face and yet insist on maintaining a friendship with Charley - WHAT A F*CKER. We do get his explanation and even a bonus POV from him later in the book. Not that it changed my opinion of him. In fact, I think it made it worse...So let me get this straight:
1. He realizes he's still in love with Charley
2. BUT he thinks he has no hope with her. She gives nothing away and seems to have moved on.
3. So he keeps his girlfriend around
4. BUT behind Melissa's back, he tries to spend as much time as possible with Charley in the guise of rebuilding their friendship.
5. And the minute he gets a sign that perhaps all is not lost with Charley, he breaks up with Melissa to pursue Charley.
Is there any other way to see this save for Jake being a D*CK?!
One of the amazing side characters in this book, says it best...
And Charley, do I love her sharp wit and her stoic expressions. But it got to a point when I wanted to slap some sense into her. When an ex-boyfriend who broke not just your heart but ALL OF YOU comes back into your life with a brand-new girlfriend, the right thing to do was to move on and stay away. Why did she have to hang around?!
Again, Lowe lays it all out the best...
Okay rant over. The reality is that the fact that the characters were imperfect were crucial in building the plot. They were both trying to do the right thing and NEVER REALLY WENT THERE but their connection was just too strong to resist. It also made for a more realistic tale. At some point, I was waiting for Charley to hook up with anyone just to show him up. But in hindsight, that would have been the usual unnecessary drama that storylines like these fall into. I am grateful to Samantha Young for keeping this from falling into that mess.
There is a sequel coming in 2014 but there is resolution at the end of this book. You do get a whiff of probable drama ahead but you are not left hanging at the end of this book. And whatever lies ahead, I am pretty sure Samantha Young will weave her magic once again. I can't wait! This book was OH-SO-GOOD!
Samantha Young has perfected the art of creating the strong heroine. Just like Jo from On Dublin Street, Charley comes equipped with razor sharp wit. She is a lovable smartass. There is such strength in her character that she can easily rein in her emotions. Jake had his work cut out for him.
It's the age-old story of the bad boy falling for the girl who makes him work for it for the first time in his life. The sparks were instantaneous and the banter, in true Samantha Young style, was so entertaining.
"Is it possible to move on from a girl like you?"
"Nice line."
"I'm not sure that was a line."
"Oh it was a line. So was that. You're very good at the flirting thing. Very confident for your age."
"I don't now about that. I've never really had to wor-"
"Work at it...Confident or arrogant?"
"You think you're pretty smart."
"No. I know I'm pretty smart."
"Now who's arrogant?"
"Well, I have reason to be. I'm awesome."
But the story lets the initial chemistry develop into a deep connection. Jake and Charley's story is reminiscent of real-life couples who met at 16, fell in love and lived happily ever after. There was something in the subtle storytelling minus the usual unnecessary dramas that somehow made their story feel so authentic to me.
"His confession that he loved me like I loved him made me feel right in a way I didn't know how to describe. I was only sixteen, so I hadn't been looking for it, but now that I had it, I realized it was something I guessed we all looked for in our whole lives...I was lucky enough to find that place when I was sixteen years old. It was carved deep in Jake..."
Unfortunately, outside forces were not in their favor. Jake's family is the new kid in town in "bum-f*ck" Lanton where everybody had a set place in the community. There was no place for the Caplins. Until everything comes to a head and a tragedy leaves Jake a mess. He leaves Charley behind heartbroken. What was once beautiful was reduced to a very ugly history. And as a double whammy, Charley is left without any closure.
Fast forward to 4 years later, Charley is in Edinburgh on a study abroad program for a year. This was always her plan - a plan Jake was fully aware of. Imagine her surprise when Jake showed up in the same program - with a new girlfriend in tow.
From the moment we'd met, he'd dragged me into the deep, swearing to me he was in there with me. It was a lie. He'd waded back out to the shallows and left me to drown. Worse, he'd found a new deep elsewhere with some other girl."
But Jake wants to be friends and Charley was too weak to look the other way. And so they once again fall into an easy friendship - albeit laden with heavy tension and chemistry. And strong feelings resurface - apparently they were merely buried not gone.
Because I fully bought that what Jake and Charley once shared was worthy of a forever helped me accept them in the present scenario. Because I had issues with these characters in the present-time.
Jake. I'm still torn about him and to be honest, I'm leaning towards cementing my viewpoint of him as an ass. I fully understand how the tragedy messed up his head and his need to go away. But to come to a place where he knew Charley would be...and to flaunt a new relationship in front of her face and yet insist on maintaining a friendship with Charley - WHAT A F*CKER. We do get his explanation and even a bonus POV from him later in the book. Not that it changed my opinion of him. In fact, I think it made it worse...So let me get this straight:
1. He realizes he's still in love with Charley
2. BUT he thinks he has no hope with her. She gives nothing away and seems to have moved on.
3. So he keeps his girlfriend around
4. BUT behind Melissa's back, he tries to spend as much time as possible with Charley in the guise of rebuilding their friendship.
5. And the minute he gets a sign that perhaps all is not lost with Charley, he breaks up with Melissa to pursue Charley.
Is there any other way to see this save for Jake being a D*CK?!
One of the amazing side characters in this book, says it best...
"He wants you both. He can't have you both and needs to wake the fuck up and see that."
"...But since you dumped Charley years ago and flaunted a new relationship in front of her for months, I'd like to know what business it is of yours who Charley f*cks and why just the thought of some lucky guy going there stirs you into a blind rage?...Sort your f*cking head out man, before you lose friends and worse...hurt someone who definitely does not deserve to be hurt by you again."
And Charley, do I love her sharp wit and her stoic expressions. But it got to a point when I wanted to slap some sense into her. When an ex-boyfriend who broke not just your heart but ALL OF YOU comes back into your life with a brand-new girlfriend, the right thing to do was to move on and stay away. Why did she have to hang around?!
Again, Lowe lays it all out the best...
"Charley...Jake put you through hell last semester, never mind that he broke up with you. I might have been the only one who noticed how hard it's been for you watching him with Melissa, but it doesn't mean you didn't feel all that. Suddenly, he breaks up with Melissa and what...you're just supposed to run to him?"
Okay rant over. The reality is that the fact that the characters were imperfect were crucial in building the plot. They were both trying to do the right thing and NEVER REALLY WENT THERE but their connection was just too strong to resist. It also made for a more realistic tale. At some point, I was waiting for Charley to hook up with anyone just to show him up. But in hindsight, that would have been the usual unnecessary drama that storylines like these fall into. I am grateful to Samantha Young for keeping this from falling into that mess.
There is a sequel coming in 2014 but there is resolution at the end of this book. You do get a whiff of probable drama ahead but you are not left hanging at the end of this book. And whatever lies ahead, I am pretty sure Samantha Young will weave her magic once again. I can't wait! This book was OH-SO-GOOD!
September 18, 2013
3.5 Sweet, heart aching,deep stars!!
Okay I started this book off with expectations that it would be as good as On Dublin street which I frikin loved..Unfortunately it wasn't.
This isn't a bad book, I liked it and stayed up to finish it but it just wasn't a book that made me say "Wow"
“We are all looking for a place in life, somewhere we fit. It’s not a place that changes who we are or what we do – perhaps it shapes us, makes us better, makes us more - but mostly it shelters us with a sense of peace, a sense that whatever we do, whoever we are, we’re not alone in it.
I was lucky enough to find that place, when I was sixteen years old.”
This is a second chance romance, the love story of Jake and Charley..
The story starts off when you meet Charley who is 20yrs old and is studying abroad in Edinburgh with her best friend.They decide to go to a party being held not far away but things come crashing down when Charley comes face to face with her past.
The boy who left her heart broken
Without an explanation
The boy she was in love with when she was 16
The boy was now a man and he stood in-front of her with another women under his arm..
“From the moment we’d met, he’d dragged me into the deep, swearing to me he was in there with me. It was a lie. He’d waded back out to the shallows and left me to drown”
Charley is still in love with Jake and seeing him with someone else is killing her but as her group of friends include most of Jake's friends avoiding Jake isn't the best idea.
What will happen? Can Jake and Charley be just friends? Find Closure and move forward?
The past contained many happy blissful memories but there were also the messed up ones.People got hurt and Jake's head wasn't in the right place when he was 17. Will Charley be able to forgive him? Can they go back to what they had?
I think my fav character was Charley, she is a smart ass, funny, charming, kind and sexy. She is strong and smart and has a hero complex! She loves saving people and sometimes she saves people without knowing it, she gets her nickname Supergirl after saving her sister when they were younger..and then there is her dream of becoming a cop.
Jake oh Jake..I loved the old Jake, you see, the book flicks from past to present..Past Jake was funny charming cocky loving and overall happy.They were perfect for each other but after finding out he left and everything that happened I just haven't forgiven Jake!
“… peace… that comes with feeling complete, and I haven’t felt that way since I was seventeen and I walked away from a girl who could make me laugh harder, feel harder, and burn harder than any other person in my world.”
I loved Lowe! Bless him he was an awesome friend and I hope he finds someone in the next book! He was always there when Charley needed him, there were no questions he just knew when to be there for her. Also loved Beck..they both need their own book!
Live young. Live hard. Love deep.
The ending was kinda abrupt I didn't want it to end there I think it should have been a stand alone not a series, or a series but for different characters.
*Arc provided by author for an honest review*
Check out my blog for more reviews!
http://zakirrahsbookblog.blogspot.co.uk/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Zakirr...
Okay I started this book off with expectations that it would be as good as On Dublin street which I frikin loved..Unfortunately it wasn't.
This isn't a bad book, I liked it and stayed up to finish it but it just wasn't a book that made me say "Wow"
“We are all looking for a place in life, somewhere we fit. It’s not a place that changes who we are or what we do – perhaps it shapes us, makes us better, makes us more - but mostly it shelters us with a sense of peace, a sense that whatever we do, whoever we are, we’re not alone in it.
I was lucky enough to find that place, when I was sixteen years old.”
This is a second chance romance, the love story of Jake and Charley..
The story starts off when you meet Charley who is 20yrs old and is studying abroad in Edinburgh with her best friend.They decide to go to a party being held not far away but things come crashing down when Charley comes face to face with her past.
The boy who left her heart broken
Without an explanation
The boy she was in love with when she was 16
The boy was now a man and he stood in-front of her with another women under his arm..
“From the moment we’d met, he’d dragged me into the deep, swearing to me he was in there with me. It was a lie. He’d waded back out to the shallows and left me to drown”
Charley is still in love with Jake and seeing him with someone else is killing her but as her group of friends include most of Jake's friends avoiding Jake isn't the best idea.
What will happen? Can Jake and Charley be just friends? Find Closure and move forward?
The past contained many happy blissful memories but there were also the messed up ones.People got hurt and Jake's head wasn't in the right place when he was 17. Will Charley be able to forgive him? Can they go back to what they had?
I think my fav character was Charley, she is a smart ass, funny, charming, kind and sexy. She is strong and smart and has a hero complex! She loves saving people and sometimes she saves people without knowing it, she gets her nickname Supergirl after saving her sister when they were younger..and then there is her dream of becoming a cop.
Jake oh Jake..I loved the old Jake, you see, the book flicks from past to present..Past Jake was funny charming cocky loving and overall happy.They were perfect for each other but after finding out he left and everything that happened I just haven't forgiven Jake!
“… peace… that comes with feeling complete, and I haven’t felt that way since I was seventeen and I walked away from a girl who could make me laugh harder, feel harder, and burn harder than any other person in my world.”
I loved Lowe! Bless him he was an awesome friend and I hope he finds someone in the next book! He was always there when Charley needed him, there were no questions he just knew when to be there for her. Also loved Beck..they both need their own book!
Live young. Live hard. Love deep.
The ending was kinda abrupt I didn't want it to end there I think it should have been a stand alone not a series, or a series but for different characters.
*Arc provided by author for an honest review*
Check out my blog for more reviews!
http://zakirrahsbookblog.blogspot.co.uk/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Zakirr...
August 12, 2013
“From the moment we’d met, he’d dragged me into the deep, swearing to me he was in there with me. It was a lie. He’d waded back out to the shallows and left me to drown”
First off, I want to thank Samantha Young, not for providing me this ARC (because that’s just the icing on the cake) but rather for being such an incredibly awesome writer! Honestly, if I thought this woman could write, her foray into the New Adult world blew my expectations out of the water! So now, without further ado, I’ll try and assemble my thoughts into some semblance of a review, because honestly, all I feel like doing is gushing.
This book starts off with Charley Redford, a seemingly normal college girl whose recently moved to Edinburgh, Scotland with her best friend, Claudia, to spend the year studying abroad. As part of them trying to integrate themselves into their new environment, they attend a party a new friend, Beck, invites them to. Not even a few minutes into the party Charley sees him – Jacob Caplin – her ex-boyfriend and the one person Charley never prepared herself to see again, lest a whole continent away from where they first met. From the get-go, just from reading through all the emotions Charley experiences from catching Jake's gaze randomly at a party, I was left breathless. It’s clear to the reader (and to everyone else around her) that not only is Charley not over her ex, but whatever happened between them clearly shattered this girl. And so the story begins.
For the most part, though the story is all told from Charley’s perspective in present time, about three quarters of the book also includes alternating chapters that detail Charley and Jake’s relationship four years prior in Indiana. To be honest, I’m not a fan of retrospective in books…ever. I feel they have the potential to drag down a story, making them slower to get through (and even tedious). With that said, I can’t imagine Samantha Young telling this story any other way. Some of my favorites scenes in this book were from the retrospects! Not only did those chapters add a nice reprieve from all the heavy feelings and confusion that muddled Jake and Charley’s current situation, they also gave the reader a valuable insight into what a great couple these two were …which honestly left me even more confused as to what had happened to them. Wanting to find out the why then, not only had me ripping through the pages, it also made it clear that nothing was completely black and white where these two were concerned. Without spoiling anything, I knew a love like Jake and Charley shared couldn't have shattered so easily, but that doesn't mean they didn't have serious issues to work through. At the end of it, I was glad to see these two could finally find peace.
“I don’t know.” Jake’s expression grew serious. “Is it possible to move on from a girl like you?”
I laughed softly. “Nice line”
Jake smiled, running a hand through his messy dark hair. “I’m not sure that was a line.”
I really enjoyed Charley’s character. When the book starts out, she’s funny and smart, and always armed with wickedly funny comebacks that earn her the name of “smartass.” It’s not until I read the flashbacks that I got a sense of how much her heartbreak changed her. Present day Charley is a lot more cynical and insecure than her younger-self, and with good reason. The love of her life rejected her and appears to be moving on seamlessly. Still, I felt she acted pretty mature given her circumstance. I liked how she wasn't afraid to call Jake on his bull while at the same time trying to stay empathetic to his side of the situation.
His chest rumbled underneath my cheek as he chuckled. “I’m here because you crack me up. You never bore me. You surprise me. That’s why. Not because you made me work for it."
Jake Caplin. What can I say. From the moment he came on scene, with a girlfriend no less (who I’m sad to say shared my namesake), I wanted to hate him. The gall he had, coming to a place he knew Charley would be at, and all the while appearing to be fine, was more than enough reason for me not like him. But seeing him through Charley’s eyes both in present and past, I couldn't help but also fall for Jake’s charm. Like I said earlier, nothing’s quite black and white with these two. Though Charley doesn't want to see it, it’s obvious to the reader that Jake’s not completely over everything and still has feelings for her. Watching them wade through their feelings was a combination of funny, and frustrating and swoon-worthy and just plain heartbreaking at times. Still, at no point did I have any doubts that Jake Caplin was a pretty awesome guy who in youth made some pretty big mistakes. All I can say, is that when you read this (which you need to) give Jake a chance. Samantha Young knows how to write these swoony-alpha males in a way that makes you helpless but to fall for them.
Speaking of characters, I loved about all the side-characters in this book, with the exception of Melissa (which again, was weird). Charley and Jake’s group of friends were hilarious and written in such a way that I felt like I was a part of their dynamic every time they came on scene. Beck, Jake’s best friend, and Claudia, Charley’s best friend, were the best! Not only were they loyal and a good sounding board for their friends, but their sexual chemistry was pretty explosive. I can only hope they get together before either of them strangles the other. Now, though I would love to see Beck and Claudia get resolution (and maybe a story), the only one I’m going to plead for is Lowe. I ADORED LOWE! A friend of Jake, Lowe’s the lead vocalist of the Stolen (a band he and Beck form a part of). Though he flirts with Charley initially, nothing happens, except for him becoming such a good friend to her. I found myself swooning for real whenever he spoke and when I went to check my highlights, half of them were things Lowe had said :D So Samantha Young, please write Lowe a story, because honestly, this guy needs his own HEA!
Though it was a pretty long book, Samantha Young’s writing was seamless and I loved how lyrical it turned at times, especially when describing the breath-taking settings. Except towards the end, the story never dragged and even then, it was more my frustration with . At the end of the book, we’re told that Jake and Charley’s story will continue in a second installment (Out of the Shallows) that comes out next year. Now, though there will be a second book, that doesn't mean this ended with a cliffhanger or badly. Much to the contrary, Jake and Charley got a really nice and happy ending, making it obvious they're at a much better place. That said, after everything they've been through, issues do remain, not only for Jake and Charley, but for side characters, like Beck and Claudia. It'll be fun to see what Samantha Young will do with these characters next. Until then, this is a definite must buy! If you're a fan of New Adult, romance, alpha-males, great friends, and stories about redemption, then this is the read for you!
My Jake & Charley:
First off, I want to thank Samantha Young, not for providing me this ARC (because that’s just the icing on the cake) but rather for being such an incredibly awesome writer! Honestly, if I thought this woman could write, her foray into the New Adult world blew my expectations out of the water! So now, without further ado, I’ll try and assemble my thoughts into some semblance of a review, because honestly, all I feel like doing is gushing.
This book starts off with Charley Redford, a seemingly normal college girl whose recently moved to Edinburgh, Scotland with her best friend, Claudia, to spend the year studying abroad. As part of them trying to integrate themselves into their new environment, they attend a party a new friend, Beck, invites them to. Not even a few minutes into the party Charley sees him – Jacob Caplin – her ex-boyfriend and the one person Charley never prepared herself to see again, lest a whole continent away from where they first met. From the get-go, just from reading through all the emotions Charley experiences from catching Jake's gaze randomly at a party, I was left breathless. It’s clear to the reader (and to everyone else around her) that not only is Charley not over her ex, but whatever happened between them clearly shattered this girl. And so the story begins.
For the most part, though the story is all told from Charley’s perspective in present time, about three quarters of the book also includes alternating chapters that detail Charley and Jake’s relationship four years prior in Indiana. To be honest, I’m not a fan of retrospective in books…ever. I feel they have the potential to drag down a story, making them slower to get through (and even tedious). With that said, I can’t imagine Samantha Young telling this story any other way. Some of my favorites scenes in this book were from the retrospects! Not only did those chapters add a nice reprieve from all the heavy feelings and confusion that muddled Jake and Charley’s current situation, they also gave the reader a valuable insight into what a great couple these two were …which honestly left me even more confused as to what had happened to them. Wanting to find out the why then, not only had me ripping through the pages, it also made it clear that nothing was completely black and white where these two were concerned. Without spoiling anything, I knew a love like Jake and Charley shared couldn't have shattered so easily, but that doesn't mean they didn't have serious issues to work through. At the end of it, I was glad to see these two could finally find peace.
“I don’t know.” Jake’s expression grew serious. “Is it possible to move on from a girl like you?”
I laughed softly. “Nice line”
Jake smiled, running a hand through his messy dark hair. “I’m not sure that was a line.”
I really enjoyed Charley’s character. When the book starts out, she’s funny and smart, and always armed with wickedly funny comebacks that earn her the name of “smartass.” It’s not until I read the flashbacks that I got a sense of how much her heartbreak changed her. Present day Charley is a lot more cynical and insecure than her younger-self, and with good reason. The love of her life rejected her and appears to be moving on seamlessly. Still, I felt she acted pretty mature given her circumstance. I liked how she wasn't afraid to call Jake on his bull while at the same time trying to stay empathetic to his side of the situation.
His chest rumbled underneath my cheek as he chuckled. “I’m here because you crack me up. You never bore me. You surprise me. That’s why. Not because you made me work for it."
Jake Caplin. What can I say. From the moment he came on scene, with a girlfriend no less (who I’m sad to say shared my namesake), I wanted to hate him. The gall he had, coming to a place he knew Charley would be at, and all the while appearing to be fine, was more than enough reason for me not like him. But seeing him through Charley’s eyes both in present and past, I couldn't help but also fall for Jake’s charm. Like I said earlier, nothing’s quite black and white with these two. Though Charley doesn't want to see it, it’s obvious to the reader that Jake’s not completely over everything and still has feelings for her. Watching them wade through their feelings was a combination of funny, and frustrating and swoon-worthy and just plain heartbreaking at times. Still, at no point did I have any doubts that Jake Caplin was a pretty awesome guy who in youth made some pretty big mistakes. All I can say, is that when you read this (which you need to) give Jake a chance. Samantha Young knows how to write these swoony-alpha males in a way that makes you helpless but to fall for them.
Speaking of characters, I loved about all the side-characters in this book, with the exception of Melissa (which again, was weird). Charley and Jake’s group of friends were hilarious and written in such a way that I felt like I was a part of their dynamic every time they came on scene. Beck, Jake’s best friend, and Claudia, Charley’s best friend, were the best! Not only were they loyal and a good sounding board for their friends, but their sexual chemistry was pretty explosive. I can only hope they get together before either of them strangles the other. Now, though I would love to see Beck and Claudia get resolution (and maybe a story), the only one I’m going to plead for is Lowe. I ADORED LOWE! A friend of Jake, Lowe’s the lead vocalist of the Stolen (a band he and Beck form a part of). Though he flirts with Charley initially, nothing happens, except for him becoming such a good friend to her. I found myself swooning for real whenever he spoke and when I went to check my highlights, half of them were things Lowe had said :D So Samantha Young, please write Lowe a story, because honestly, this guy needs his own HEA!
Though it was a pretty long book, Samantha Young’s writing was seamless and I loved how lyrical it turned at times, especially when describing the breath-taking settings. Except towards the end, the story never dragged and even then, it was more my frustration with . At the end of the book, we’re told that Jake and Charley’s story will continue in a second installment (Out of the Shallows) that comes out next year. Now, though there will be a second book, that doesn't mean this ended with a cliffhanger or badly. Much to the contrary, Jake and Charley got a really nice and happy ending, making it obvious they're at a much better place. That said, after everything they've been through, issues do remain, not only for Jake and Charley, but for side characters, like Beck and Claudia. It'll be fun to see what Samantha Young will do with these characters next. Until then, this is a definite must buy! If you're a fan of New Adult, romance, alpha-males, great friends, and stories about redemption, then this is the read for you!
My Jake & Charley:
July 7, 2013
I finished Into the Deep just over an hour ago and I'm still reeling in all of my emotions. I was ecstatic to get an ARC from Samantha to review because second chance love stories are pretty much my fave at the moment. After reading the description, I was positive I'd adore this story. I had no idea just how much though. Into the Deep covers all of the emotional spectrum. My digital copy is covered in highlighted sections and filled with notes. To say it simply, I fricking LOVED this book.
From the very beginning, this book captures you in its spell. Samantha Young is a phenomenal storyteller. She creates amazingly in-depth characters that you fall in love with. Even those in supporting roles become important to you. Not only did I love Charley and Jake, but everyone - especially Lowe, Claudia, and Beck. She's created a group of people that I feel I know and consider friends. Absolute brilliance.
Now for the breakdown of my feelings about the story. First of all, not only are second chance love stories basically my favorite thing ever but I adore when it's told in flashback style. Of course Young went ahead and did me a solid and used BOTH here. I was sold immediately. Done. There would be no way I could dislike this book. Charley is awesome. What a great character. You can't help but fall a bit in love with her yourself. She doesn't buy into the typical high school drama and BS. She's a true individual. She has her own style, sense of humor and doesn't put up with anyone treating others poorly. She's easily one of my favorite female characters. And then there's Jake... oh wow! I love me a bad boy. And he was renowned for his womanizing ways. But behind that was a super amazing guy. I was smitten. No, I take that back. I'm still smitten. Jake is gorgeous, athletic, protective, sweet and truly everything you'd want in a first love.
So what went wrong and made Charley upset to see him four years later? This is *THE* question that plagues you throughout the entire book. As you flip back and forth from past to present, you cannot stop yourself from falling for Jake. It's impossible. Anyone who says otherwise is lying. He says and does the sweetest things. Their relationship was so adorable. I loved their banter. I loved watching them take baby steps. I loved that he completely and totally fell for an atypical high school girl. The present scenes are hard to read because we have no idea how he broke her. The entire time I was reading those parts, I was nearly screaming in frustration. It's beyond obvious that they belong together. His new girlfriend just felt wrong. And you couldn't help but feel despair over their lost years. All I wanted was for Jake to dump Melissa and get Charley back. That was all. It got to the point of me not even caring what happened in the past. Yep, he won me over as well. There is so much realism in this book and it'll truly grip you. Once you get to the reason they broke up, your heart will break all over again. It was definitely not what I was expecting. Everything about it was devastating and I literally had to put my Nook down to cry. I was so connected to this book and felt like I was alongside them, living these events as they occurred. The ending leaves things open and I'm still worried about the direction things are heading. Jake and Charley still have several issues to work out before they can get their relationship back to what it once was.
Me:
I'm going to post a few of my favorite quotes here:
"I love you too, Charley. I've been in love with you since our first date, and every day since I've fallen deeper and deeper for you."
"Do you know how beautiful you are?" Jake muttered, his gaze still hot but adoring. "So beautiful. I used to think there was nothing prettier than looking up at the stars. That feeling I got, like I was part of something bigger than anything I could ever imagine. It's one of my favorite feelings.. and I get it every time I look at you."
Tears shimmered in his beautiful eyes. "We can't be over."
Into the Deep is emotionally jarring. You will feel all of the ups and downs as if they're happening to you. Samantha Young has another best-seller on her hands. If you don't completely fall for this book, you need to check if your heart still beats. Amazing, beautiful, touching, brilliant... I don't have a large enough vocabulary to express how much I enjoyed this one. And I think this may be my favorite work by Samantha yet. I'm looking forward to what's next in the saga. Easily 10+ stars.
From the very beginning, this book captures you in its spell. Samantha Young is a phenomenal storyteller. She creates amazingly in-depth characters that you fall in love with. Even those in supporting roles become important to you. Not only did I love Charley and Jake, but everyone - especially Lowe, Claudia, and Beck. She's created a group of people that I feel I know and consider friends. Absolute brilliance.
Now for the breakdown of my feelings about the story. First of all, not only are second chance love stories basically my favorite thing ever but I adore when it's told in flashback style. Of course Young went ahead and did me a solid and used BOTH here. I was sold immediately. Done. There would be no way I could dislike this book. Charley is awesome. What a great character. You can't help but fall a bit in love with her yourself. She doesn't buy into the typical high school drama and BS. She's a true individual. She has her own style, sense of humor and doesn't put up with anyone treating others poorly. She's easily one of my favorite female characters. And then there's Jake... oh wow! I love me a bad boy. And he was renowned for his womanizing ways. But behind that was a super amazing guy. I was smitten. No, I take that back. I'm still smitten. Jake is gorgeous, athletic, protective, sweet and truly everything you'd want in a first love.
So what went wrong and made Charley upset to see him four years later? This is *THE* question that plagues you throughout the entire book. As you flip back and forth from past to present, you cannot stop yourself from falling for Jake. It's impossible. Anyone who says otherwise is lying. He says and does the sweetest things. Their relationship was so adorable. I loved their banter. I loved watching them take baby steps. I loved that he completely and totally fell for an atypical high school girl. The present scenes are hard to read because we have no idea how he broke her. The entire time I was reading those parts, I was nearly screaming in frustration. It's beyond obvious that they belong together. His new girlfriend just felt wrong. And you couldn't help but feel despair over their lost years. All I wanted was for Jake to dump Melissa and get Charley back. That was all. It got to the point of me not even caring what happened in the past. Yep, he won me over as well. There is so much realism in this book and it'll truly grip you. Once you get to the reason they broke up, your heart will break all over again. It was definitely not what I was expecting. Everything about it was devastating and I literally had to put my Nook down to cry. I was so connected to this book and felt like I was alongside them, living these events as they occurred. The ending leaves things open and I'm still worried about the direction things are heading. Jake and Charley still have several issues to work out before they can get their relationship back to what it once was.
Me:
I'm going to post a few of my favorite quotes here:
"I love you too, Charley. I've been in love with you since our first date, and every day since I've fallen deeper and deeper for you."
"Do you know how beautiful you are?" Jake muttered, his gaze still hot but adoring. "So beautiful. I used to think there was nothing prettier than looking up at the stars. That feeling I got, like I was part of something bigger than anything I could ever imagine. It's one of my favorite feelings.. and I get it every time I look at you."
Tears shimmered in his beautiful eyes. "We can't be over."
Into the Deep is emotionally jarring. You will feel all of the ups and downs as if they're happening to you. Samantha Young has another best-seller on her hands. If you don't completely fall for this book, you need to check if your heart still beats. Amazing, beautiful, touching, brilliant... I don't have a large enough vocabulary to express how much I enjoyed this one. And I think this may be my favorite work by Samantha yet. I'm looking forward to what's next in the saga. Easily 10+ stars.
August 19, 2013
I am going to go with my gut that this rating, for a Samantha Young book, was an anomaly. I usually love her stuff and judging from that I figured I would love this too.
But I didn't love it. It was at most average. Another NA book full of over-the-top angst and wasted time. Wasted time getting together, not my time reading this book, ;-)).
The story of Charley and Jake is about second chances, lost opportunities and misplaced blame. Their love is real, pure and meant to be epic, but getting there was what this book was about, well, assumed to be about because although there was no cliffy, it ended on a to be continued...
That wasn't necessary. At all. I actually think if the book contained less filler and more substance, Charley and Jake could have easily gotten their HEA in this book and left the continuation of the series to be about other significant secondary characters. Instead, I found myself skimming crazily over things not necessary or even worthwhile.
The angst and over thinking Charley and Jake went through was so unrealistic. Especially after Jake did what he did and realized his mistake, why didn't he try and make it right? In a normal, everyday similar situation "Jake" would have at least tried to reach out and apologize. Especially considering how much it affected him! But he went on facing a future of doubt and uncertainty. I just don't get it.
And Charley. She was definitely more relatable. A girl hurt immemsely by the guy she loves. She acted the way I believe any girl in her shoes would act. But again, she had so many chances to come clean and demand the truth behind everything she wondered about and she never took them, why?
The whole love triangle thing with Melissa was just aggravating. That whole time Jake was with her I kept wondering why someone wasn't kicking his ass! UGHH! There is a reason I don't read books with glorified love triangles--MAKE UP YOUR MIND. AND IN THIS CASE, MAN UP!
This is a rant, I know. I have loved this author's work in the past and I will continue with her other works but not this series. I also want to emphasize that although this book didn't do it for me it did it for many others and in order to judge you must read it on your own. Different strokes for different folks..;-).
GENRE: NA Romance
STEAM: Mild
POV: 1st person--Charley
CLIFFY: No, not a relationship cliffy but a to be continued
But I didn't love it. It was at most average. Another NA book full of over-the-top angst and wasted time. Wasted time getting together, not my time reading this book, ;-)).
The story of Charley and Jake is about second chances, lost opportunities and misplaced blame. Their love is real, pure and meant to be epic, but getting there was what this book was about, well, assumed to be about because although there was no cliffy, it ended on a to be continued...
That wasn't necessary. At all. I actually think if the book contained less filler and more substance, Charley and Jake could have easily gotten their HEA in this book and left the continuation of the series to be about other significant secondary characters. Instead, I found myself skimming crazily over things not necessary or even worthwhile.
The angst and over thinking Charley and Jake went through was so unrealistic. Especially after Jake did what he did and realized his mistake, why didn't he try and make it right? In a normal, everyday similar situation "Jake" would have at least tried to reach out and apologize. Especially considering how much it affected him! But he went on facing a future of doubt and uncertainty. I just don't get it.
And Charley. She was definitely more relatable. A girl hurt immemsely by the guy she loves. She acted the way I believe any girl in her shoes would act. But again, she had so many chances to come clean and demand the truth behind everything she wondered about and she never took them, why?
The whole love triangle thing with Melissa was just aggravating. That whole time Jake was with her I kept wondering why someone wasn't kicking his ass! UGHH! There is a reason I don't read books with glorified love triangles--MAKE UP YOUR MIND. AND IN THIS CASE, MAN UP!
This is a rant, I know. I have loved this author's work in the past and I will continue with her other works but not this series. I also want to emphasize that although this book didn't do it for me it did it for many others and in order to judge you must read it on your own. Different strokes for different folks..;-).
GENRE: NA Romance
STEAM: Mild
POV: 1st person--Charley
CLIFFY: No, not a relationship cliffy but a to be continued
May 16, 2015
Ooh I love a bit of angst and this book certainly delivered on that. Charley and Jake meet when they are 16 and immediately know that they have found that special kind of love that doesn’t come round very often. Don’t let their age put you off either...they are hot!
Unfortunately Jake’s family is the target of a small town hate campaign but nothing can deter them from being happy and on living cloud nine in a perfect little bubble. Their relationship is solid and nothing can split them apart. Until it does.
Fast forward 4 years and heartbroken Charley begins her study abroad program in Edinburgh along with her best friend Claudia. Charley has never been the same since Jake broke her so completely but she is determined to move on with life and is excited to be in Majestic Scotland.
What she wasn't planning on was bumping into Jake and his girlfriend. It’s her worst nightmare come true. Especially when she becomes part of a great circle of friends which include her ex and she has to see them on a daily basis.
I lived through all her anguish and was praying for a happy ending, I just couldn’t put it down. Things come to a head when the gang go on a trip to Fort William. I loved the authors description of the Scottish Highlands it was almost as if you were there.
I’m not sure if this is a HEA or a HFN as there is a book 2 out next year, but personally I would love for the author to tell me the story of Beck and Claudia.
Unfortunately Jake’s family is the target of a small town hate campaign but nothing can deter them from being happy and on living cloud nine in a perfect little bubble. Their relationship is solid and nothing can split them apart. Until it does.
Fast forward 4 years and heartbroken Charley begins her study abroad program in Edinburgh along with her best friend Claudia. Charley has never been the same since Jake broke her so completely but she is determined to move on with life and is excited to be in Majestic Scotland.
What she wasn't planning on was bumping into Jake and his girlfriend. It’s her worst nightmare come true. Especially when she becomes part of a great circle of friends which include her ex and she has to see them on a daily basis.
I lived through all her anguish and was praying for a happy ending, I just couldn’t put it down. Things come to a head when the gang go on a trip to Fort William. I loved the authors description of the Scottish Highlands it was almost as if you were there.
I’m not sure if this is a HEA or a HFN as there is a book 2 out next year, but personally I would love for the author to tell me the story of Beck and Claudia.
August 12, 2013
Ehhhn I wanted to love this book. I'm a huge fan of On the Dublin Street series.
I have to say I pretty much never felt a connection to Jake. He's an asshole.
Spoilers:
He went to Ireland hoping he would run into Charley and brought along his new girlfriend thinking she would be ok with that? Asshole move.
I kinda wanted her to forget Jake and go to Lowe, that's how much I disliked Jake. He was selfish the whole book.
I found myself skimming most of the book and I hate doing that.
I may read book 2 but I'm not dying for it to come out.
I have to say I pretty much never felt a connection to Jake. He's an asshole.
Spoilers:
He went to Ireland hoping he would run into Charley and brought along his new girlfriend thinking she would be ok with that? Asshole move.
I kinda wanted her to forget Jake and go to Lowe, that's how much I disliked Jake. He was selfish the whole book.
I found myself skimming most of the book and I hate doing that.
I may read book 2 but I'm not dying for it to come out.
January 11, 2017
4 Stars - Review to come
August 11, 2013
4.5 stars VERY SLIGHT SPOILERS
I love love love when first love reunites for a second chance romance. Our couple doesn't reunite right away cause there's someone else in the picture. The story goes from present to past for Charley and Jake.
Past---They had the teenage love that wasn't just a fling or a summer romance. Theirs was genuine even at their age. Charley is easily likeable with her persona and Jake's charm is easily to love. What I loved about their relationship(in teenage years)was how easily they connected. They didn't have the typical bullshit high school drama(him cheating, jealous fits, blah blah blah). Charley and Jake's communication was the key to their relationship until a certain tragic thing happens and Jake stopped communicating and this leads to their breakup. I found this to be refreshing, the tragedy(even though it's sad) but I'm glad it wasn't something mundane as him cheating on her.
Present---Charley is away in college in Scotland when she happens to run into Jake with his girlfriend at a party. Charley has never gotten over him even when she says she has and it still hurts after all these years apart. They still have this connection that no matter the circumstances they are in, it's inevitable that they will be back together. Like I said before their communication is key and when they finally get the chance to talk about the past, it's hurtful yet it's a weight off their shoulders. What I also loved about the story was that it's still drama filled but without the cheating.
Future---What lays ahead for Charley and Jake is going to be interesting. All I know is that Jake is going to have to work extra hard to earn her trust again and he better not bitch about it. The ending is kinda of a cliffhanger but then it seems abrupt the way it was left off. I didn't know the book was a new series. Shame on me for not reading more into it. I just saw that Samantha had a new book out and I was like, Oh I gots to gets that!
Let's get to the secondary characters. I love them all. You have the amazing best friend Claudia, the manwhores of the band The Stolen and Charley's wonderful family and other friends that come along the way and even Melissa(Jake's ex) who I really felt bad for. Hopefully she gets a story and I really really hope that Claudia and Beck get a story as well.
I invested my time with this story and I was not disappointed except for the ending but that's my beef. I'll be back for more and hopefully it won't take too long for the second book to come out.
I love love love when first love reunites for a second chance romance. Our couple doesn't reunite right away cause there's someone else in the picture. The story goes from present to past for Charley and Jake.
Past---They had the teenage love that wasn't just a fling or a summer romance. Theirs was genuine even at their age. Charley is easily likeable with her persona and Jake's charm is easily to love. What I loved about their relationship(in teenage years)was how easily they connected. They didn't have the typical bullshit high school drama(him cheating, jealous fits, blah blah blah). Charley and Jake's communication was the key to their relationship until a certain tragic thing happens and Jake stopped communicating and this leads to their breakup. I found this to be refreshing, the tragedy(even though it's sad) but I'm glad it wasn't something mundane as him cheating on her.
Present---Charley is away in college in Scotland when she happens to run into Jake with his girlfriend at a party. Charley has never gotten over him even when she says she has and it still hurts after all these years apart. They still have this connection that no matter the circumstances they are in, it's inevitable that they will be back together. Like I said before their communication is key and when they finally get the chance to talk about the past, it's hurtful yet it's a weight off their shoulders. What I also loved about the story was that it's still drama filled but without the cheating.
Future---What lays ahead for Charley and Jake is going to be interesting. All I know is that Jake is going to have to work extra hard to earn her trust again and he better not bitch about it. The ending is kinda of a cliffhanger but then it seems abrupt the way it was left off. I didn't know the book was a new series. Shame on me for not reading more into it. I just saw that Samantha had a new book out and I was like, Oh I gots to gets that!
Let's get to the secondary characters. I love them all. You have the amazing best friend Claudia, the manwhores of the band The Stolen and Charley's wonderful family and other friends that come along the way and even Melissa(Jake's ex) who I really felt bad for. Hopefully she gets a story and I really really hope that Claudia and Beck get a story as well.
I invested my time with this story and I was not disappointed except for the ending but that's my beef. I'll be back for more and hopefully it won't take too long for the second book to come out.
September 13, 2014
This book put me in a bad mood. I was prepared for a love story. What we have here is closer to a tragedy. Charley spends most of this book putting on a brave face when she encounters her first love who broke her heart years ago.
SPOILERS AHEAD---------------------
Let's talk about this piece of work or POS, Jake:
1) He applies to study abroad in hope of reconnecting with Charley. Right before, he somehow falls in love with Melissa. WTF?
2) He flaunts Melissa in front of Charley with no attempts of apologizing for the past.
3) He doesn't want Charley to date anyone else and becomes a jealous a-hole every time she so much as flirts.
4) As time goes on, he decides he loves Charley and doesn't love Melissa.
5) He leaves with Melissa until 2am to console her when he spent months flaunting his relationship in Charley's face.
6) He punches Lowe when he wrongly assumes that he slept with Charley.
This list goes on. . . Jake is a jerk and there are no redeeming qualities here. I don't even care to read his POV. I wanted Charley to throw him to the curb and fall for Lowe. This did not happen.
The worst part of it is that most of Charley's friends (except Lowe) spend most of the book telling Charley to hear Jake out and stop avoiding him. How is anything her fault? I just can't read anymore of their "love" and relationship together. All this written, I still liked Samantha Young's other works but not this one.
SPOILERS AHEAD---------------------
Let's talk about this piece of work or POS, Jake:
1) He applies to study abroad in hope of reconnecting with Charley. Right before, he somehow falls in love with Melissa. WTF?
2) He flaunts Melissa in front of Charley with no attempts of apologizing for the past.
3) He doesn't want Charley to date anyone else and becomes a jealous a-hole every time she so much as flirts.
4) As time goes on, he decides he loves Charley and doesn't love Melissa.
5) He leaves with Melissa until 2am to console her when he spent months flaunting his relationship in Charley's face.
6) He punches Lowe when he wrongly assumes that he slept with Charley.
This list goes on. . . Jake is a jerk and there are no redeeming qualities here. I don't even care to read his POV. I wanted Charley to throw him to the curb and fall for Lowe. This did not happen.
The worst part of it is that most of Charley's friends (except Lowe) spend most of the book telling Charley to hear Jake out and stop avoiding him. How is anything her fault? I just can't read anymore of their "love" and relationship together. All this written, I still liked Samantha Young's other works but not this one.
April 9, 2014
****Sweet Love Stars****
I picked up this book in preparation for a BR for the second novel of this series Into The Deep 2, since it comes out later this week. My friends were right about this book, it was awesome...
(Thanks for the Rec Melissa and Patty)
I will write my full overall review after I finish the next book, as I feel like I still need to get to know these characters better. In this first book we Meet Charlie and Jake as they experience young love as teenagers, then they are separated by some terrible events until they meet again across the world in Edinburg, Scotland. What's next for this couple, will they rekindle their love or finally move on?...
I picked up this book in preparation for a BR for the second novel of this series Into The Deep 2, since it comes out later this week. My friends were right about this book, it was awesome...
(Thanks for the Rec Melissa and Patty)
I will write my full overall review after I finish the next book, as I feel like I still need to get to know these characters better. In this first book we Meet Charlie and Jake as they experience young love as teenagers, then they are separated by some terrible events until they meet again across the world in Edinburg, Scotland. What's next for this couple, will they rekindle their love or finally move on?...
August 16, 2013
4.5 stars!
Many people get this confused: The On Dublin Street series is Adult Contemporary romance. INTO THE DEEP is the first book in a brand new NEW ADULT series by Samantha Young. She has done a Fantasy NA before called Slumber, but this is the first NA Contemp that Young has written and I think it’s a winner!
I can guarantee you that you will fall in love with Charley’s character. Charley Redford is a young adult who doesn’t have the world weighing down on her. In fact, everyone around her – including me! – thinks she is awesome. Her nickname is Supergirl because of one heroic act when she was younger. Since then, Charley has become a bit of a badass. I like to think of her as Batman – an avenger hellbent on protecting others from injustice. And this becomes more and more true as the story progresses.
INTO THE DEEP is written in a unique way. It starts off in 2012 but then alternates between Charley and Jake’s past in 2008-09 when they first became in a relationship. At first, it takes some time getting used to, but once it becomes a habit, it’s smooth sailing from there. I liked the natural progression between the two. The coverage of the past puts in romantic scenes where I think the present would have lacked simply because Jake and Charley are working out the kinks of their past.
I enjoyed the latter half of the book where readers learn what really happened between Jake and Charley and his reasoning for breaking up with her. It adds that touch of angst that is so very welcome in NA books. Interestingly enough, Melissa, Jake’s girlfriend through all of this is a very sweet and kind person whom I found feeling bad for. It makes me wonder if she will ever get a book!
My fingers are crossed for a Claudia and Beck book whose chemistry is just waiting to explode. Young reveals a big secret in regards to Claud’s identity so I will have to check out the next book in the series to find out how that plays out.
I read INTO THE DEEP very quickly, devouring it in one sitting. It’s one of those books that can make you laugh out loud and then break your heart. A lot of that has to do with Young’s talent as a writer. I adore her authorial voice and think it fits very well with Contemporary Romance. Whether she writes is hot and sexy with Adult or angsty and funny with New Adult, Samantha Young’s books are always a must-read!
Favorite Quotes:
“Looking hot, Charlotte.”
“Luke, eyes up or I’ll detach your retinas,” Jake warned.
Lukas grinned mischievously. “Not my fault your girlfriend is hot.”
“Lukas, stop checking me out. It’s weird. You’re a fetus.”
“You named my truck,” he murmured.
“You can un-name it,” I muttered back unsurely.
Jake shook his head. “We’re in too deep for that, baby.”
*ARC provided by author
Many people get this confused: The On Dublin Street series is Adult Contemporary romance. INTO THE DEEP is the first book in a brand new NEW ADULT series by Samantha Young. She has done a Fantasy NA before called Slumber, but this is the first NA Contemp that Young has written and I think it’s a winner!
I can guarantee you that you will fall in love with Charley’s character. Charley Redford is a young adult who doesn’t have the world weighing down on her. In fact, everyone around her – including me! – thinks she is awesome. Her nickname is Supergirl because of one heroic act when she was younger. Since then, Charley has become a bit of a badass. I like to think of her as Batman – an avenger hellbent on protecting others from injustice. And this becomes more and more true as the story progresses.
INTO THE DEEP is written in a unique way. It starts off in 2012 but then alternates between Charley and Jake’s past in 2008-09 when they first became in a relationship. At first, it takes some time getting used to, but once it becomes a habit, it’s smooth sailing from there. I liked the natural progression between the two. The coverage of the past puts in romantic scenes where I think the present would have lacked simply because Jake and Charley are working out the kinks of their past.
I enjoyed the latter half of the book where readers learn what really happened between Jake and Charley and his reasoning for breaking up with her. It adds that touch of angst that is so very welcome in NA books. Interestingly enough, Melissa, Jake’s girlfriend through all of this is a very sweet and kind person whom I found feeling bad for. It makes me wonder if she will ever get a book!
My fingers are crossed for a Claudia and Beck book whose chemistry is just waiting to explode. Young reveals a big secret in regards to Claud’s identity so I will have to check out the next book in the series to find out how that plays out.
I read INTO THE DEEP very quickly, devouring it in one sitting. It’s one of those books that can make you laugh out loud and then break your heart. A lot of that has to do with Young’s talent as a writer. I adore her authorial voice and think it fits very well with Contemporary Romance. Whether she writes is hot and sexy with Adult or angsty and funny with New Adult, Samantha Young’s books are always a must-read!
Favorite Quotes:
“Looking hot, Charlotte.”
“Luke, eyes up or I’ll detach your retinas,” Jake warned.
Lukas grinned mischievously. “Not my fault your girlfriend is hot.”
“Lukas, stop checking me out. It’s weird. You’re a fetus.”
“You named my truck,” he murmured.
“You can un-name it,” I muttered back unsurely.
Jake shook his head. “We’re in too deep for that, baby.”
*ARC provided by author
August 8, 2017
DNF @40% unrated.
This book is some years old and I've been meaning to read/listen for ages. I think it was written when NA was EVERYTHING and to me the story and characters felt overly familiar and cliche, I just felt jaded. I love this author and enjoy almost everything else she's written but this was just not for me. I prefer Young's contemporary age group reads, she excels at that. The narration did not aid the situation, I found the voice high-pitched and somewhat grating.
This book is some years old and I've been meaning to read/listen for ages. I think it was written when NA was EVERYTHING and to me the story and characters felt overly familiar and cliche, I just felt jaded. I love this author and enjoy almost everything else she's written but this was just not for me. I prefer Young's contemporary age group reads, she excels at that. The narration did not aid the situation, I found the voice high-pitched and somewhat grating.
August 9, 2020
Eğer o son sahne olmasaydı, yazar Jack’in bakış açısıyla bize olanların bir kısmını anlatmasaydı hakkı 3’tü. Kılpayı kurtardı. Çünkü kitap boyunca ben bile Jack’e güvenemezken Charley’nin durumu aşırı normal.
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