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Out of Her Depth
There are summers that will change your life.
There are summers that may end it.
In the lush green hills beyond Florence sits the Villa Medici—a graceful pensione surrounded by manicured gardens. Rachel, a college student from an unfashionable London suburb, can’t believe her luck in landing a summer job here. Especially when she’s drawn into a circle of privileged young sophisticates, including her glamorous coworker Diana, who promises to help Rachel win the affections of handsome, confident Sebastian.
But as champagne flows and rivalries fester in the Tuscan countryside, Rachel realizes that Diana has motivations of her own. Adrift in a world of backstabbing and bed-hopping, lavish parties and easy betrayal, Rachel feels the stakes rising along with the temperature until, one night, something snaps. Someone dies. And nothing will ever be the same…
In this atmospheric thriller set in sun-drenched Tuscany, Lizzy Barber weaves a deadly web of manipulation and desire that will keep readers enthralled until the breathtaking last page.
There are summers that may end it.
In the lush green hills beyond Florence sits the Villa Medici—a graceful pensione surrounded by manicured gardens. Rachel, a college student from an unfashionable London suburb, can’t believe her luck in landing a summer job here. Especially when she’s drawn into a circle of privileged young sophisticates, including her glamorous coworker Diana, who promises to help Rachel win the affections of handsome, confident Sebastian.
But as champagne flows and rivalries fester in the Tuscan countryside, Rachel realizes that Diana has motivations of her own. Adrift in a world of backstabbing and bed-hopping, lavish parties and easy betrayal, Rachel feels the stakes rising along with the temperature until, one night, something snaps. Someone dies. And nothing will ever be the same…
In this atmospheric thriller set in sun-drenched Tuscany, Lizzy Barber weaves a deadly web of manipulation and desire that will keep readers enthralled until the breathtaking last page.
400 pages, Paperback
First published December 29, 2021
157 people are currently reading
8631 people want to read
About the author
Lizzy Barber
11 books199 followersHello!
I am a London-based author, living in Islington with my husband, George. I read English at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge University, and My Name Is Anna is my first novel.
Having previously dabbled in acting and film development, I have spent the last eight years working in the restaurant business with my brother, Jamie, heading up our brand and marketing department. We have a small group of restaurants, mainly in London, including Hush in Mayfair, the all-day burger brand, Hache, and the Latin American barbecue group, Cabana.
Working with the restaurants has been creative and dynamic…and has involved a certain about of writing (including a lot of press releases!), but writing has always been a creative itch I have scratched on the side.
I have always written in fits and starts, but about five years ago I started writing my first serious novel – a very long and drawn out literary fiction piece based on my grandmother’s life in Mandate Palestine, pre-Suez Cairo and post-war London.
I started taking regular classes with Maggie Hamand at the Complete Creative Writing Course, which made me completely rethink my approach to writing, and was invaluable in shaping the way I wrote.
However, in April 2017 I found myself at a complete dead end with my first novel, and, almost as a form of release, starting dabbling with a thriller that had been niggling away at me. I mentioned I was writing it to my mother, and, about a week later, she told me that she had spied a first novel competition that I *had* to enter.
I hammered away at my laptop, completing just enough of the book to be able to enter, and literally handed my entry in on the closing day of the competition (I couriered my entry, so worried was I it wouldn’t make the deadline!).
And then I forgot all about it…
About two months later, preparing for my morning operations meeting, I received a phone call out of the blue, which completely changed my life.
The phone call was from Luigi Bonomi of LBA Books telling me I had WON the Daily Mail and Random House First Novel Prize 2017
Thus began an extraordinary chain of events that I am still waiting to wake up from on a daily basis. The little thriller I had dabbled away at is now My Name Is Anna, and was published by Century, an imprint of Penguin Random House, in January 2019. It will be published in North America by MIRA, an imprint of Harper Collins, on 3rd September 2019.
I have had the privilege of working with a marvelous team of people on My Name Is Anna / A Girl Named Anna, and am now hard (hard!) work on my second book. Stay tuned…
I am a London-based author, living in Islington with my husband, George. I read English at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge University, and My Name Is Anna is my first novel.
Having previously dabbled in acting and film development, I have spent the last eight years working in the restaurant business with my brother, Jamie, heading up our brand and marketing department. We have a small group of restaurants, mainly in London, including Hush in Mayfair, the all-day burger brand, Hache, and the Latin American barbecue group, Cabana.
Working with the restaurants has been creative and dynamic…and has involved a certain about of writing (including a lot of press releases!), but writing has always been a creative itch I have scratched on the side.
I have always written in fits and starts, but about five years ago I started writing my first serious novel – a very long and drawn out literary fiction piece based on my grandmother’s life in Mandate Palestine, pre-Suez Cairo and post-war London.
I started taking regular classes with Maggie Hamand at the Complete Creative Writing Course, which made me completely rethink my approach to writing, and was invaluable in shaping the way I wrote.
However, in April 2017 I found myself at a complete dead end with my first novel, and, almost as a form of release, starting dabbling with a thriller that had been niggling away at me. I mentioned I was writing it to my mother, and, about a week later, she told me that she had spied a first novel competition that I *had* to enter.
I hammered away at my laptop, completing just enough of the book to be able to enter, and literally handed my entry in on the closing day of the competition (I couriered my entry, so worried was I it wouldn’t make the deadline!).
And then I forgot all about it…
About two months later, preparing for my morning operations meeting, I received a phone call out of the blue, which completely changed my life.
The phone call was from Luigi Bonomi of LBA Books telling me I had WON the Daily Mail and Random House First Novel Prize 2017
Thus began an extraordinary chain of events that I am still waiting to wake up from on a daily basis. The little thriller I had dabbled away at is now My Name Is Anna, and was published by Century, an imprint of Penguin Random House, in January 2019. It will be published in North America by MIRA, an imprint of Harper Collins, on 3rd September 2019.
I have had the privilege of working with a marvelous team of people on My Name Is Anna / A Girl Named Anna, and am now hard (hard!) work on my second book. Stay tuned…
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July 19, 2022
EXCERPT: Something strange began to happen. Towed along by the loop of Diana's arm in mine, I found myself being swallowed deeper into the crowd. Someone handed me a drink. Champagne, cold and frothy, in an actual glass flute I was sure would get smashed by the end of the night. A girl smiled at me, asked me if she knew me. Someone else told me they liked my heels. I clocked a boy - nice-looking, with wavy hair and swimming trunks that had bright red lobsters all over them - sliding his eyes appreciatively over my body. And I realised, in that moment, that I didn't have to be me. No one here knew boring Rachel, who was friends with the teacher and always left parties early. No one here remembered the Year Ten class trip to the Imperial War Museum, when I got my period on the coach and left a bloody stain on the seat, or that I once called my Year Seven form teacher 'Mum'.
I could be anyone. I could even be one of them.
ABOUT 'OUT OF HER DEPTH': For headstrong Rachel, it is the chance of a lifetime: a summer job in the Tuscan hills, receiving room and board in exchange for her services at the luxurious Villa Medici hotel. It’s not long before she finds herself drawn into a cosmopolitan crowd of friends for whom money is no object, and allegiances can change with the toss of a coin.
When she asks her new friend Diana to help her win the affections of the handsome and charming Sebastian, she thinks she might finally have a chance to become part of their world, but when she discovers that Diana may have intentions of her own, she begins to learn the real cost of friendship. And when Sebastian begins to focus on the sweet and innocent Valentina, Rachel discovers there may be an even higher price to pay.
The suffocating heat, the blinding wealth, the beautiful people: it soon becomes too much, and Rachel finds herself not just out of her depth, but drowning in lies . . .
MY THOUGHTS: Absolutely deliziosa!
Rachel is flattered by Diana's attention, her generosity. She is overwhelmed and grateful, happy to do Diana's bidding in return, never dreaming what trouble it might land her in.
Rachel comes from a lower middle class background; Diana from obscene wealth where there is no problem money can't fix. Sebastian is from Diana's world; privileged, wealthy, careless and Rachel wants him. But as much as she wants to, Rachel never quite fits in. She is literally out of her depth. She lacks that careless insouciance, wears her heart on her sleeve and is easily manipulated.
Out of Her Depth is a story of toxic friendship told entirely from Rachel's perspective over two timelines - 'Then', twenty odd years ago over a summer in Tuscany; and 'Now', when Diana has insulated herself from Rachel, but Sebastian is clamouring to be let back in. The timelines alternate seamlessly, the story flows smoothly. The characters are entirely believable and well fleshed out, the plot well crafted and realistic. Early on we discover that Sebastian has been in prison, but why? That is not revealed until almost the end of the book which kept me guessing, kept me avidly turning the pages.
My interest was piqued on the first page, and never wavered. When I wasn't reading, I was thinking about the characters. When I was reading, the outside world didn't exist: I was in Tuscany. Lizzy Barber has captured the atmosphere perfectly and created an enthralling psychological drama, one with a surprisingly perfect ending.
Out of Her Depth is scheduled for publication 12 July 2022
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
#OutofHerDepth
I: @bylizzybarber @panmacmillanuk
T: @ByLizzyBarber @PanMacmillanUK
#contemporaryfiction #mystery #psychologicaldrama #romance
THE AUTHOR: Hello! I am a London-based author, living in Islington with my husband, George. I read English at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge University.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to author Lizzy Barber for providing a paperback copy of her novel Out of Her Depth, published by Macmillan. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review is also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage.
I could be anyone. I could even be one of them.
ABOUT 'OUT OF HER DEPTH': For headstrong Rachel, it is the chance of a lifetime: a summer job in the Tuscan hills, receiving room and board in exchange for her services at the luxurious Villa Medici hotel. It’s not long before she finds herself drawn into a cosmopolitan crowd of friends for whom money is no object, and allegiances can change with the toss of a coin.
When she asks her new friend Diana to help her win the affections of the handsome and charming Sebastian, she thinks she might finally have a chance to become part of their world, but when she discovers that Diana may have intentions of her own, she begins to learn the real cost of friendship. And when Sebastian begins to focus on the sweet and innocent Valentina, Rachel discovers there may be an even higher price to pay.
The suffocating heat, the blinding wealth, the beautiful people: it soon becomes too much, and Rachel finds herself not just out of her depth, but drowning in lies . . .
MY THOUGHTS: Absolutely deliziosa!
Rachel is flattered by Diana's attention, her generosity. She is overwhelmed and grateful, happy to do Diana's bidding in return, never dreaming what trouble it might land her in.
Rachel comes from a lower middle class background; Diana from obscene wealth where there is no problem money can't fix. Sebastian is from Diana's world; privileged, wealthy, careless and Rachel wants him. But as much as she wants to, Rachel never quite fits in. She is literally out of her depth. She lacks that careless insouciance, wears her heart on her sleeve and is easily manipulated.
Out of Her Depth is a story of toxic friendship told entirely from Rachel's perspective over two timelines - 'Then', twenty odd years ago over a summer in Tuscany; and 'Now', when Diana has insulated herself from Rachel, but Sebastian is clamouring to be let back in. The timelines alternate seamlessly, the story flows smoothly. The characters are entirely believable and well fleshed out, the plot well crafted and realistic. Early on we discover that Sebastian has been in prison, but why? That is not revealed until almost the end of the book which kept me guessing, kept me avidly turning the pages.
My interest was piqued on the first page, and never wavered. When I wasn't reading, I was thinking about the characters. When I was reading, the outside world didn't exist: I was in Tuscany. Lizzy Barber has captured the atmosphere perfectly and created an enthralling psychological drama, one with a surprisingly perfect ending.
Out of Her Depth is scheduled for publication 12 July 2022
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
#OutofHerDepth
I: @bylizzybarber @panmacmillanuk
T: @ByLizzyBarber @PanMacmillanUK
#contemporaryfiction #mystery #psychologicaldrama #romance
THE AUTHOR: Hello! I am a London-based author, living in Islington with my husband, George. I read English at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge University.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to author Lizzy Barber for providing a paperback copy of her novel Out of Her Depth, published by Macmillan. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review is also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage.
July 11, 2022
Decent suspense novel, odd ending. Unlikable characters. Worth reading.
The main premise is that Rachel, who is about to start University at Cambridge in the fall, takes a summer job in Tuscany working at a hotel, hopefully to work on her Italian skills. She meets fellow co-worker Diana, who is fun-loving but has a mean streak and is brazen where Rachel is timid. She draws Rachel out of her shell, but there's a dark undercurrent to everything she does. Rachel falls hard for Sebastian, a rich guy out of her league, but he doesn't really seem interested. At the beginning of the book, we are twenty years later and find out that Sebastian has been in prison for murder, but his sentence has been overturned and he is trying to get in touch with Rachel. Who was murdered and what really happened?
I did like the way this book unfolded, alternating between the present and the past, deliberately laying things out so that the reader can feel the anticipation of the events. Themes of obsession and toxic relationships abound. The ending had some great surprises, yet I thought it went a step too far, one of those "one twist too many" traps that writers sometimes fall into unfortunately. The characters are quite unlikable, even those I liked at first I eventually grew to despise. I want to have someone to root for, so this was a bit disappointing.
I thought this book was worth reading because the twists were good, but just go in knowing you probably won't like any of the characters.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
The main premise is that Rachel, who is about to start University at Cambridge in the fall, takes a summer job in Tuscany working at a hotel, hopefully to work on her Italian skills. She meets fellow co-worker Diana, who is fun-loving but has a mean streak and is brazen where Rachel is timid. She draws Rachel out of her shell, but there's a dark undercurrent to everything she does. Rachel falls hard for Sebastian, a rich guy out of her league, but he doesn't really seem interested. At the beginning of the book, we are twenty years later and find out that Sebastian has been in prison for murder, but his sentence has been overturned and he is trying to get in touch with Rachel. Who was murdered and what really happened?
I did like the way this book unfolded, alternating between the present and the past, deliberately laying things out so that the reader can feel the anticipation of the events. Themes of obsession and toxic relationships abound. The ending had some great surprises, yet I thought it went a step too far, one of those "one twist too many" traps that writers sometimes fall into unfortunately. The characters are quite unlikable, even those I liked at first I eventually grew to despise. I want to have someone to root for, so this was a bit disappointing.
I thought this book was worth reading because the twists were good, but just go in knowing you probably won't like any of the characters.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
July 17, 2022
Out of Her Depth by Lizzy Barber is a suspenseful thriller novel. The story in Out of Her Depth is one that is told by alternating timelines with one from the past, around twenty years before and one in the current time.
During the summer before Rachel begins her time at university she is given an opportunity to travel to Tuscany. Rachel will spend that summer working at the Villa Medici surrounded by glitz and glam that is foreign coming from her modest background.
During this summer that shaped Rachel’s life twenty some years before Rachel met Diana. Diana came from a world where money was no object and Rachel became obsessed with their friendship. Rachel also began to like one of Diana’s rich crowd friends, Sebastian, and enlisted Diana’s help to get to know him but when the summer came to an end someone had died and Sebastian had goen to prison.
Out of Her Depth by Lizzy Barber is a slow burn thriller which I’m not always the biggest fan of but I did find myself intrigued with the toxic friendship and interested in finding out what would happen. The characters in Out of Her Depth are not ones that are likable but one that make you pick up some popcorn and watch as one would a train wreck. It was easy to lose myself in Tuscany in the past but also follow along easily as the story switched to the current as I waited for the big finale where it all comes together.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
During the summer before Rachel begins her time at university she is given an opportunity to travel to Tuscany. Rachel will spend that summer working at the Villa Medici surrounded by glitz and glam that is foreign coming from her modest background.
During this summer that shaped Rachel’s life twenty some years before Rachel met Diana. Diana came from a world where money was no object and Rachel became obsessed with their friendship. Rachel also began to like one of Diana’s rich crowd friends, Sebastian, and enlisted Diana’s help to get to know him but when the summer came to an end someone had died and Sebastian had goen to prison.
Out of Her Depth by Lizzy Barber is a slow burn thriller which I’m not always the biggest fan of but I did find myself intrigued with the toxic friendship and interested in finding out what would happen. The characters in Out of Her Depth are not ones that are likable but one that make you pick up some popcorn and watch as one would a train wreck. It was easy to lose myself in Tuscany in the past but also follow along easily as the story switched to the current as I waited for the big finale where it all comes together.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
February 14, 2024
3⭐
Genre ~ psychological fiction, drama fiction
Setting ~ England & Italy
Publication date ~ July 12, 2022
Est page Count ~ 381 (p+ 44 chapters)
Audio length ~ 13 hours 29 minutes
Narrator ~ Ell Potter
POV ~ single 3rd
Featuring ~ dual timeline ~ now & then, toxic friendship, death, revenge
Rachel tells the story of the summer she spent in Italy before college 21 years ago. It's here that she'll meet Diana, Sebastian and Valentina. The introduction lets us know someone has died, but it's a while before we know the who and the why. But once you get into the story it's not that difficult to figure out.
Rachel comes off as a very insecure unreliable narrator. This is very much a slow burn story of jealously and trying to keep up with the Joneses so to speak. I like that it was told in dual timeline, which built up the suspense, but it took a little too long to get there for me. There's a toxic friendship and unlikable characters, especially, Diana, with a surprise ending.
Overall, it was a decent psychological drama. I'd read this author again.
I was able to listen to the audiobook, too.
Narration notes:
She did a fine job.
*Thanks to the author, Harliquin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
Connect with me ➡ Blog ~ Facebook ~ Twitter
Genre ~ psychological fiction, drama fiction
Setting ~ England & Italy
Publication date ~ July 12, 2022
Est page Count ~ 381 (p+ 44 chapters)
Audio length ~ 13 hours 29 minutes
Narrator ~ Ell Potter
POV ~ single 3rd
Featuring ~ dual timeline ~ now & then, toxic friendship, death, revenge
Rachel tells the story of the summer she spent in Italy before college 21 years ago. It's here that she'll meet Diana, Sebastian and Valentina. The introduction lets us know someone has died, but it's a while before we know the who and the why. But once you get into the story it's not that difficult to figure out.
Rachel comes off as a very insecure unreliable narrator. This is very much a slow burn story of jealously and trying to keep up with the Joneses so to speak. I like that it was told in dual timeline, which built up the suspense, but it took a little too long to get there for me. There's a toxic friendship and unlikable characters, especially, Diana, with a surprise ending.
Overall, it was a decent psychological drama. I'd read this author again.
I was able to listen to the audiobook, too.
Narration notes:
She did a fine job.
*Thanks to the author, Harliquin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
Connect with me ➡ Blog ~ Facebook ~ Twitter
December 31, 2022
For twenty-one years Diana has had mastery over me.
It’s about time I started to take back control. (PG. 310)
This was ridiculously boring and took forever to get to the point. I kept waiting for the height of the plot line and here I was on page 350 still waiting.
The author got the ambiance going and it stayed throughout the novel. I hated all the stupid snobby characters. Even the underdog and main character, Rachel, was a disappointment. She was one of those girls we all grew up with that was, obviously, ashamed of growing up blue-collar and hard working; always trying to impress the rich kids. The rich kids she couldn’t possibly keep up with and looked down on her. In Spanish we have a saying in this but cannot translate literally “Le gusta la mala vida.”
This was not my kind of thriller, should not be labeled a thriller, in my opinion.
It was boring and couldn’t redeem itself.
It’s about time I started to take back control. (PG. 310)
This was ridiculously boring and took forever to get to the point. I kept waiting for the height of the plot line and here I was on page 350 still waiting.
The author got the ambiance going and it stayed throughout the novel. I hated all the stupid snobby characters. Even the underdog and main character, Rachel, was a disappointment. She was one of those girls we all grew up with that was, obviously, ashamed of growing up blue-collar and hard working; always trying to impress the rich kids. The rich kids she couldn’t possibly keep up with and looked down on her. In Spanish we have a saying in this but cannot translate literally “Le gusta la mala vida.”
This was not my kind of thriller, should not be labeled a thriller, in my opinion.
It was boring and couldn’t redeem itself.
January 17, 2022
As a huge fan of psychological thrillers involving toxic friendship when they are done well - with real sense of character and place and talented writing - I had high hopes for Out of Her Depth and I was not disappointed.
Set over one hot Summer in Italy and then decades later, Out Of Her Depth is a classic take on the unreliable narrator, a terrific page turner with themes of those with privilege versus those without.
Lizzy Barber has a keen eye for character detail and a great sense of place that hovers in the background , you get sucked into this tale immediately. The twists and turns are character driven and intriguing and overall this was excellent. I won't forget Rachel or Diana anytime soon.
Set over one hot Summer in Italy and then decades later, Out Of Her Depth is a classic take on the unreliable narrator, a terrific page turner with themes of those with privilege versus those without.
Lizzy Barber has a keen eye for character detail and a great sense of place that hovers in the background , you get sucked into this tale immediately. The twists and turns are character driven and intriguing and overall this was excellent. I won't forget Rachel or Diana anytime soon.
July 25, 2022
This ticks all the boxes of what you want in a good thriller!
An under graduate from Cambridge goes to work as a maid in Florence and gets sucked into the ‘Mean Girls’ world of the privileged rich kids out there. It jumps back and forth from then to now which is good but the ‘Now’ chapters dragged a bit at times. The ending was very dark and not what I expected at all!!! Overall, a cracking read!
An under graduate from Cambridge goes to work as a maid in Florence and gets sucked into the ‘Mean Girls’ world of the privileged rich kids out there. It jumps back and forth from then to now which is good but the ‘Now’ chapters dragged a bit at times. The ending was very dark and not what I expected at all!!! Overall, a cracking read!
September 22, 2022
Whoa, this one was a ride!! I’m stunned that I got so caught up in this novel… especially since I wasn’t fond of any of the protagonists!
November 10, 2022
This book was too long for no reason.
June 28, 2022
Thank you to the publisher, MIRA, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of Out of Her Depth in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
The Gist
Alright, my allergy pill is about to kick in, so I’m going to feel a whole lot better in a matter of minutes. Unfortunately, that doesn’t mean this review will magically get any more positive.
At first, this story and the mood reminded me a little of Scorpionfish by Natalie Bakopoulos. But the more I read, the more annoyed I got with Out of Her Depth.
What is it supposed to be? A Murder mystery? A thriller? A coming-of-age story? Who knows!
The Details
I couldn’t stand the protagonist and not for lack of trying, I can tell you that!
She is such a contradiction and not an interesting one. On the one hand, she wants to be part of the upper class; of the elite. She is self-conscious and insecure to always make a good impression. Yet, her comments on the elite/upper class are stand-offish, snide and even vindictive.
So, I’m sitting here, asking myself “What does she actually want?”.
The rest of the characters aren’t any better and my attention soon dwindled. I lost all interest in any of them.
The narration is equally questionable. It’s the typical now-then format that is supposed to slowly and interestingly unfold the story from two angles. It is told in the first-person, so our protagonist is also our narrator, which makes things less interesting.
The format itself doesn’t work that well, because during each jump nothing is revealed. It nothing more that a chronological telling of the protagonist’s summer spent in Italy.
26% into the story and I totally that this is supposed to be a mystery/thriller.
The writing is good, though. It’s descriptive and catching, which makes this even the more frustrating. It could have an incredibly captivating and satisfying read.
The Verdict
Overall, I didn’t like any of it past the 10% point. I thought it lost its direction. It became a boring and tedious read.
July 13, 2022
In this thrilling story delivered in rapid then and now dual timelines, one of our protagonists, Rachel Bailey, is in a toxic friendship with Diana. A summer full of opportunities is before Rachel as they both get jobs at a lovely Tuscan villa. Rachel’s growing friendship with Diana is further complicated by the fact that Rachel is rather drawn to Sebastian. Will Diana help her to win over Sebastian or will something more sinister eventually happen?
These are teenagers whose lives are just about to take off. However, a course of events starts to form, and one of the end results is that Sebastian has been given a 20-year prison sentence. For the course of the book, the question remains as to who the murder victim was and what really transpired. As the book alternated between the present and the past, readers are given privy to the byplay between Rachel, Diana and Sebastian. There is a fourth player, however, and her name is Valentina. Readers will start to see how she plays into everything that happened during that hot Tuscan summer.
One thing is abundantly clear in this book. Diana is not a nice person. What is more about the story is that Rachel becomes obsessed with Diana and that obsession carries its way through the entire book. This is most certainly a character driven story as readers can easily see the mean streak that Diana has flowing throughout her all while Rachel is driving to win Diana as well as Sebastian over at any cost.
In the present day, Sebastian‘s murder conviction has been overturned and this is something that really concerns Rachel because there are events from that time decades previously that is really eating away at Rachel. Whether this is a domestic thriller, psychological thriller or mystery is something that the reader will discover as they just might be sucked into this captivating read, especially considering the fact that no one in this book is a genuine person that you would likely friend in real life. Despite the strong unlikeable nature of each and every character, this book was impossible to put down.
Many thanks to MIRA and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
Please enjoy my YouTube video review - https://youtu.be/zbJliaN-frk
These are teenagers whose lives are just about to take off. However, a course of events starts to form, and one of the end results is that Sebastian has been given a 20-year prison sentence. For the course of the book, the question remains as to who the murder victim was and what really transpired. As the book alternated between the present and the past, readers are given privy to the byplay between Rachel, Diana and Sebastian. There is a fourth player, however, and her name is Valentina. Readers will start to see how she plays into everything that happened during that hot Tuscan summer.
One thing is abundantly clear in this book. Diana is not a nice person. What is more about the story is that Rachel becomes obsessed with Diana and that obsession carries its way through the entire book. This is most certainly a character driven story as readers can easily see the mean streak that Diana has flowing throughout her all while Rachel is driving to win Diana as well as Sebastian over at any cost.
In the present day, Sebastian‘s murder conviction has been overturned and this is something that really concerns Rachel because there are events from that time decades previously that is really eating away at Rachel. Whether this is a domestic thriller, psychological thriller or mystery is something that the reader will discover as they just might be sucked into this captivating read, especially considering the fact that no one in this book is a genuine person that you would likely friend in real life. Despite the strong unlikeable nature of each and every character, this book was impossible to put down.
Many thanks to MIRA and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
Please enjoy my YouTube video review - https://youtu.be/zbJliaN-frk
January 28, 2022
This is one of those totally addictive psychological thrillers that has you reading 'just one more page' and ignoring everything else you need to do until you finish it and are then disappointed there are no more pages to turn!
Rachel takes a summer job in Italy mainly to improve her Italian and escape her family. There she meets the vivacious, confident and scheming Diana, and Rachel becomes fascinated with her and her careless, entitled 'rich kids" attitude to people and life. Throw in the hedonistic and handsome Sebastian, lots of booze, drugs and the yearnings of youth and you have the perfect breeding ground for resentments, jealousies and manipulation.
Told from Rachel's perspective in alternate chapters between 'then' and 'now', the reader follows the events that led up to the reason Sebastian has spent the last 20 years since then in prison.
I was totally absorbed with the characters and trying to figure out the mystery behind it all.
Excellent!
Rachel takes a summer job in Italy mainly to improve her Italian and escape her family. There she meets the vivacious, confident and scheming Diana, and Rachel becomes fascinated with her and her careless, entitled 'rich kids" attitude to people and life. Throw in the hedonistic and handsome Sebastian, lots of booze, drugs and the yearnings of youth and you have the perfect breeding ground for resentments, jealousies and manipulation.
Told from Rachel's perspective in alternate chapters between 'then' and 'now', the reader follows the events that led up to the reason Sebastian has spent the last 20 years since then in prison.
I was totally absorbed with the characters and trying to figure out the mystery behind it all.
Excellent!
July 15, 2022
Thank you MIRA/Netgalley, #partner, for the advanced copy of Out of Her Depth in exchange for my honest review.
This is the second book I’ve read by Lizzy Barber and I am a fan! She has proven with this new book that she really is a master at creating clever psychological fiction and I will be reading whatever she writes!
A well-done psychological thriller about toxic friendships is one of my favorite tropes and this one was so cleverly written. Right from the start, I found myself hooked, unable to walk away. That’s the best kind of feeling, where you just become so consumed with a story that you don’t want to put it down and I ended up reading this one in just two sittings!
This story moves at just the right pace, starting off slowly to set everything up and then building to quite the conclusion. We move back and forth between “then” and “now” and I loved that little hints were dropped, almost like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. We know something happened that summer all those years ago and we know that Sebastian has paid the price…but what happened and why?
This book is not only completely atmospheric – the sense of place is unlike anything I’ve read lately – but also it is dripping in dark undertones and bitter manipulations. It is such an addictive read and the twists that it took made the book. I highly recommend this one and have added Lizzy Barber to my list of must-read authors.
You can see all my reviews at: https://www.alwayswithabook.com/
This is the second book I’ve read by Lizzy Barber and I am a fan! She has proven with this new book that she really is a master at creating clever psychological fiction and I will be reading whatever she writes!
A well-done psychological thriller about toxic friendships is one of my favorite tropes and this one was so cleverly written. Right from the start, I found myself hooked, unable to walk away. That’s the best kind of feeling, where you just become so consumed with a story that you don’t want to put it down and I ended up reading this one in just two sittings!
This story moves at just the right pace, starting off slowly to set everything up and then building to quite the conclusion. We move back and forth between “then” and “now” and I loved that little hints were dropped, almost like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. We know something happened that summer all those years ago and we know that Sebastian has paid the price…but what happened and why?
This book is not only completely atmospheric – the sense of place is unlike anything I’ve read lately – but also it is dripping in dark undertones and bitter manipulations. It is such an addictive read and the twists that it took made the book. I highly recommend this one and have added Lizzy Barber to my list of must-read authors.
You can see all my reviews at: https://www.alwayswithabook.com/
January 7, 2024
Fuck Rachel
November 6, 2022
I would give it a 3.5.
Want to read
July 18, 2022Out of Her Depth, is one of the best psychological thrillers I have read in a long time. This was a dramatic read that holds every key component to be fresh on the tongues of our active "bookstagram" community. I became completely consumed with the storyline and even wanted to punch a bratty kid or two.
Something about kids and the sense of entitlement has a way of getting under my skin. Did I just become my mother? "Back in my day, we would have received a whopping if we spoke like that" . Yes, I think I just about sound like her (YIKES!) .
Anyway, back to this anxiety attack of a back...
Out of Her Depth's is narrated with perfection. Alternating between past and present, I was completely removed from reality and addicted to each flip of the page. The characters are multi-dimensional and the author did an incredible job giving you characters to love and relate to, and others you love to hate.
I have never heard of Lizzy Barber before but if this is a preview of what is to come, I know I will be a big fan. I might even say this was one of my most favored books for the month of July.
Buy the book, you do not want to miss this one
Something about kids and the sense of entitlement has a way of getting under my skin. Did I just become my mother? "Back in my day, we would have received a whopping if we spoke like that" . Yes, I think I just about sound like her (YIKES!) .
Anyway, back to this anxiety attack of a back...
Out of Her Depth's is narrated with perfection. Alternating between past and present, I was completely removed from reality and addicted to each flip of the page. The characters are multi-dimensional and the author did an incredible job giving you characters to love and relate to, and others you love to hate.
I have never heard of Lizzy Barber before but if this is a preview of what is to come, I know I will be a big fan. I might even say this was one of my most favored books for the month of July.
Buy the book, you do not want to miss this one
April 18, 2022
Out of her depth is the story of one unforgettable summer, an unreliable narrator, and toxic relationships. I was upset every time I had to set this one down as every single page left me wanting more and more. I love psychological thrillers and Out of Her Depth did not disappoint.
I was hooked instantly just from the prologue. I read "I was there" and knew right away that I was going I love this book. It so perfectly portrayed the ways people are able to expertly manipulate others and how the manipulated don't realize it until much too late.
The only complaint I have for this book is that the descriptions of Tuscany have me itching for a nice, long Italian vacation.
Thank you so much to the publisher, Mira, for the advance copy of this book! It was so good and I highly recommend it!
I was hooked instantly just from the prologue. I read "I was there" and knew right away that I was going I love this book. It so perfectly portrayed the ways people are able to expertly manipulate others and how the manipulated don't realize it until much too late.
The only complaint I have for this book is that the descriptions of Tuscany have me itching for a nice, long Italian vacation.
Thank you so much to the publisher, Mira, for the advance copy of this book! It was so good and I highly recommend it!
July 8, 2022
I didnt enjoy this at all. The main problem for me were the characters, none of which were likeable, at all. It has a very promising storyline, a villa abroad, food, scenery, everything i like in a book, but Rachel was so unlikeable and i didnt like anything about the story and skipped to the end which also disappointed me. I usually really like Richard and Judys recommendations too but this one wasnt for me.
July 16, 2022
Ohhh, Fuddy Duddy! 😳😯
I have to say, I had higher hopes for this one. The concept and potential of the plot was there, but I feel there was a few things that made it fall short for me. One being the character Rachel. At times I wanted to shake the stuffing out of her she frustrated me so much with some of her behaviour. The ending also felt.. less than satisfying for me and off? And I only found the "suspense" to be mediocre at best here.
Mყ 𝐒ყɴ𝐨ρѕιѕ: Rachel gets the opportunity of a life time, before heading off to college. She has a chance to work at a villa in Florence, Italy for the summer to help her learn Italian. Immediately being sucked into all the glamour and wealth, she befriends a co-worker, Diana, who not only helps her out but also to capture the heart of Sebastian. However, as the summer days wear on, between work, lavish parties & expensive outings, Rachel realizes this is a place full of back-stabbing, betrayal, and selfish desires at any cost. But one night, it all comes to a head that leaves someone dead, & another headed to jail. Death in paradise.
Now that being said, it did have some good qualities. I enjoyed the scenery presented, the location for the plot of "then", the intricacies of the characters, some of the suspense aspects at a few points, & the plot potential. Barber did keep me guessing though along the way that kept me intrigued and curious because I needed to know "what happened"! Although not as tantalizing as I'd have liked & hoped, it was tasty.
Thank you to NetGalley & Harlequin Trade Publishing for this ARC.
Release Date: Out Now!
𝐌𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐭: 3 / 5 Beach Waves! 🌊
I have to say, I had higher hopes for this one. The concept and potential of the plot was there, but I feel there was a few things that made it fall short for me. One being the character Rachel. At times I wanted to shake the stuffing out of her she frustrated me so much with some of her behaviour. The ending also felt.. less than satisfying for me and off? And I only found the "suspense" to be mediocre at best here.
Mყ 𝐒ყɴ𝐨ρѕιѕ: Rachel gets the opportunity of a life time, before heading off to college. She has a chance to work at a villa in Florence, Italy for the summer to help her learn Italian. Immediately being sucked into all the glamour and wealth, she befriends a co-worker, Diana, who not only helps her out but also to capture the heart of Sebastian. However, as the summer days wear on, between work, lavish parties & expensive outings, Rachel realizes this is a place full of back-stabbing, betrayal, and selfish desires at any cost. But one night, it all comes to a head that leaves someone dead, & another headed to jail. Death in paradise.
Now that being said, it did have some good qualities. I enjoyed the scenery presented, the location for the plot of "then", the intricacies of the characters, some of the suspense aspects at a few points, & the plot potential. Barber did keep me guessing though along the way that kept me intrigued and curious because I needed to know "what happened"! Although not as tantalizing as I'd have liked & hoped, it was tasty.
Thank you to NetGalley & Harlequin Trade Publishing for this ARC.
Release Date: Out Now!
𝐌𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐭: 3 / 5 Beach Waves! 🌊
June 23, 2022
I’m giving this 5 stars
Not because it’s a fine piece of literature ; but because , as a beach read It’s very compelling and unputdownable. And true to its genre , the ending , when it finally arrives on the last few pages . Is completely annoying and unbelievable in fact so much so I don’t think even the author has worked out “who dunnit “.
Yes. I think the ending is saying “ take your pick “ whether it’s R or D who dunnit.
I managed to read it in 2.5 days .. it’s very compelling as I say , and the book offers the reader the opportunity of skipping vast tracts of detail without taking away from the sense . a sure sign of a trash style novella . Try doing that to Middlemarch or Anna Karenin .
But to give credit to the author she has created a very strong psychological drama which was very enjoyable until the last page !
Not because it’s a fine piece of literature ; but because , as a beach read It’s very compelling and unputdownable. And true to its genre , the ending , when it finally arrives on the last few pages . Is completely annoying and unbelievable in fact so much so I don’t think even the author has worked out “who dunnit “.
Yes. I think the ending is saying “ take your pick “ whether it’s R or D who dunnit.
I managed to read it in 2.5 days .. it’s very compelling as I say , and the book offers the reader the opportunity of skipping vast tracts of detail without taking away from the sense . a sure sign of a trash style novella . Try doing that to Middlemarch or Anna Karenin .
But to give credit to the author she has created a very strong psychological drama which was very enjoyable until the last page !
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 23, 2022
Out of Her Depth by Lizzy Barber. Thanks to @mirabooks and @netgalley for the gifted Arc ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
You know those books where you hate every single character because they are so unredeemable and genuinely bad people? It either makes you hate or love a book. For me it’s the latter. I love nothing more than vapid, manipulative characters. Especially when they are all working against each other and you have no idea how it’ll turn out. This one was a slow build, but it kept my attention. It got very exciting towards the end and I stayed up way too late. A few unexpected twists that left me reeling too.
“The longer I spent in Italy, the more I saw that bad things happened to good people, and good to bad. So, really, did it matter which any of us were?”
Out of Her Depth comes out 7/12.
You know those books where you hate every single character because they are so unredeemable and genuinely bad people? It either makes you hate or love a book. For me it’s the latter. I love nothing more than vapid, manipulative characters. Especially when they are all working against each other and you have no idea how it’ll turn out. This one was a slow build, but it kept my attention. It got very exciting towards the end and I stayed up way too late. A few unexpected twists that left me reeling too.
“The longer I spent in Italy, the more I saw that bad things happened to good people, and good to bad. So, really, did it matter which any of us were?”
Out of Her Depth comes out 7/12.
July 8, 2022
Told from now and 21 years prior, which you learn someone has died early on. Rachel obsessed over Diana and thought their friendship was real and pure. This friendship is quite toxic and has left Rachel for 21 years a bit off her rocker, while Diana celebrates life as there is no tomorrow.
I found this suspenseful, however, it was a slow burn and there weren’t enough twists that kept me interested tbh. The end was a little odd and it was definitely a twist, but I have no idea what to believe.
Thanks to htpbooks and Hachetteaudio for the gifted copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
I found this suspenseful, however, it was a slow burn and there weren’t enough twists that kept me interested tbh. The end was a little odd and it was definitely a twist, but I have no idea what to believe.
Thanks to htpbooks and Hachetteaudio for the gifted copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
April 29, 2022
https://www.jerasjamboree.co.uk/revie...
Out of her Depth is so very atmospheric. And you don’t just have to picture the scene, you feel like you’re in it!
In an environment totally different to her own, with different rules and different expectations (at a time when you’re most impressionable) is a world that Rachel finds herself in for the summer. She works hard in Villa Medici but her earnings are soon gone as she tries to keep up with the group. She’s dazzled by the glitter and glamour, not really understanding just how shallow that world is.
I really enjoyed the format. The past of 21 years ago interchanging with the present meant I wanted to keep on reading (without a break!) to find out the what and the why. In the present it’s obvious how Rachel is affected. It often felt as if she was just going through the motions. She’s frozen in time without any space to develop into the person she could have been. In the past, we’re not sure in the beginning of the specifics, but that picture builds throughout the book.
Is Rachel an unreliable narrator or is she sharing the truth? Such mixed emotions. I didn’t know whether to empathise with her or shake her. Some of her behaviours in the present day made me feel uncomfortable and gave me the jitters. I was shocked by her mannerisms at a ‘meeting’ she engineers which only reinforced to me that she was unreliable. But was she?
For ages after I finished reading I felt the emotions. I was so disappointed (that’s how you’re meant to feel and I can’t say what emotions or why I was feeling them because then you wouldn’t need to read the book!). It’s not the ending I wanted. But it is the only fitting ending. And I know in my heart it couldn’t be any other way.
Out of her Depth is a story that reveals the underbelly of this (fictional) privileged world and how survival means everything. It’s a world of unhealthy role models and misplaced trust. I can guarantee you’ll feel uncomfortable as well as an array of other feelings. A story to push you out of your comfort zone!
I loved it!
Out of her Depth is so very atmospheric. And you don’t just have to picture the scene, you feel like you’re in it!
In an environment totally different to her own, with different rules and different expectations (at a time when you’re most impressionable) is a world that Rachel finds herself in for the summer. She works hard in Villa Medici but her earnings are soon gone as she tries to keep up with the group. She’s dazzled by the glitter and glamour, not really understanding just how shallow that world is.
I really enjoyed the format. The past of 21 years ago interchanging with the present meant I wanted to keep on reading (without a break!) to find out the what and the why. In the present it’s obvious how Rachel is affected. It often felt as if she was just going through the motions. She’s frozen in time without any space to develop into the person she could have been. In the past, we’re not sure in the beginning of the specifics, but that picture builds throughout the book.
Is Rachel an unreliable narrator or is she sharing the truth? Such mixed emotions. I didn’t know whether to empathise with her or shake her. Some of her behaviours in the present day made me feel uncomfortable and gave me the jitters. I was shocked by her mannerisms at a ‘meeting’ she engineers which only reinforced to me that she was unreliable. But was she?
For ages after I finished reading I felt the emotions. I was so disappointed (that’s how you’re meant to feel and I can’t say what emotions or why I was feeling them because then you wouldn’t need to read the book!). It’s not the ending I wanted. But it is the only fitting ending. And I know in my heart it couldn’t be any other way.
Out of her Depth is a story that reveals the underbelly of this (fictional) privileged world and how survival means everything. It’s a world of unhealthy role models and misplaced trust. I can guarantee you’ll feel uncomfortable as well as an array of other feelings. A story to push you out of your comfort zone!
I loved it!
April 15, 2022
Out of Her Depth takes you on a journey through Florence during a summer of sunshine, friendship and adventure. Except it's not all sunshine and smiles. In fact, it's set to become the backdrop to a life-changing act of treachery for Rachel.
Naive, out of her depth, and self-conscious, Rachel is swept away by the goddess Diana, who she puts far too high up on a pedestal. Diana is a master manipulator and always gets what she wants. And in Rachel, she finds a willing pet.
As we switch between then and now, we delve deep into the horrific events of that summer and the shocks keep coming right to the last chapter.
Immersive, thrilling and a great escape, I loved this brilliant story of friendship, revenge and unrequited love.
Naive, out of her depth, and self-conscious, Rachel is swept away by the goddess Diana, who she puts far too high up on a pedestal. Diana is a master manipulator and always gets what she wants. And in Rachel, she finds a willing pet.
As we switch between then and now, we delve deep into the horrific events of that summer and the shocks keep coming right to the last chapter.
Immersive, thrilling and a great escape, I loved this brilliant story of friendship, revenge and unrequited love.
September 21, 2022
Really disliked this book! The first half was so slow, and I really disliked the overly descriptive language. Half way through I found it all so stressful and the characters so unlikeable that I dreaded reading it. In the end I skipped through the final bits just to get to the crux of what happened. Would not recommend!
August 9, 2022
I’d like to thank NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for approving me for an ARC of this book. Also special thanks to Novel Natters for buddy reading this with me.
The story begins with Rachel, our narrator, accepting a summer job in Italy. Whilst there she meets an interesting group of people, one of whom is Diana, and the events that follow are what shape her entire life. We also flip to the present day where Rachel is now an adult and discovers that someone from her past is about to be released from prison. This brings back a lot of dark memories for Rachel and she begins to spiral. I really liked the back and forth across the timelines and how the story unfolded, it added a lot of tensions and atmosphere.
I really did not like any of the people in this story, Rachel included. The likes of Diana and Sebastian were full of themselves and saw money as a way to make people do what they want. I could see from the beginning how easily they could corrupt Rachel and pull her into their world and it didn’t sit right with me. I also didn’t trust Rachel as a narrator, I couldn’t figure out how much she really knew and if she was protecting one of them?
From the start you know this is going to end in disaster and whilst I figured out a few of the twists I really enjoyed watching it all unfold. I could see it playing out like a movie, all the was missing was the popcorn! The final epilogue was haunting and left me with even more questions but in a good way.
Out Of Her Depth is a dark and disturbing read that explores the beginnings of female friendships and how toxic they can become. It’s a slow burn thriller where all the characters are as twisted as each other and always looking out for number one.
The story begins with Rachel, our narrator, accepting a summer job in Italy. Whilst there she meets an interesting group of people, one of whom is Diana, and the events that follow are what shape her entire life. We also flip to the present day where Rachel is now an adult and discovers that someone from her past is about to be released from prison. This brings back a lot of dark memories for Rachel and she begins to spiral. I really liked the back and forth across the timelines and how the story unfolded, it added a lot of tensions and atmosphere.
I really did not like any of the people in this story, Rachel included. The likes of Diana and Sebastian were full of themselves and saw money as a way to make people do what they want. I could see from the beginning how easily they could corrupt Rachel and pull her into their world and it didn’t sit right with me. I also didn’t trust Rachel as a narrator, I couldn’t figure out how much she really knew and if she was protecting one of them?
From the start you know this is going to end in disaster and whilst I figured out a few of the twists I really enjoyed watching it all unfold. I could see it playing out like a movie, all the was missing was the popcorn! The final epilogue was haunting and left me with even more questions but in a good way.
Out Of Her Depth is a dark and disturbing read that explores the beginnings of female friendships and how toxic they can become. It’s a slow burn thriller where all the characters are as twisted as each other and always looking out for number one.
July 29, 2022
Thank you Goodreads for this giveaway win.
This book was written in the eyes of Rachel, a girl who goes to Florence to work at a Villa. She then meets Diana, a rich girl who is use to getting her way. When they both meet Sebastian of course the handsome rich kid, things start to change. Then bring in another girl named Valentina and circles start to spin.
The ending was not at all what I was thinking and so I loved that. I always love a book, where you think it will end one way and the rug gets pulled right from under you.
This book was written in the eyes of Rachel, a girl who goes to Florence to work at a Villa. She then meets Diana, a rich girl who is use to getting her way. When they both meet Sebastian of course the handsome rich kid, things start to change. Then bring in another girl named Valentina and circles start to spin.
The ending was not at all what I was thinking and so I loved that. I always love a book, where you think it will end one way and the rug gets pulled right from under you.
January 5, 2023
I want to give this 5 stars for setting….I now want to go and spend a year in Italy. Visiting every corner of the cities that they all visited in this book. I read it very quickly and I always love a good “what happened?!” storyline….but I’m slightly over the plot of girls fighting over a boy. A boy that isn’t that special. Not even that likeable to be honest.
August 13, 2022
3.5 stars.
I enjoyed the book don’t get me wrong but it didn’t grip me! The characters are also all very unlikeable, I found my self not really caring what happened to any of them! It’s nice to have at least one you are rooting for!
I enjoyed the book don’t get me wrong but it didn’t grip me! The characters are also all very unlikeable, I found my self not really caring what happened to any of them! It’s nice to have at least one you are rooting for!
August 22, 2023
Meh. Nothing special. Choppy story line. Characters were well thought out but the plot was really lacking.
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