Deep Blue Eternity

The English language fails me sometimes, as I’m afraid this review will illustrate. It’s difficult to put into words how this narrative affected me (especially without revealing spoilers). All the words I want to use to describe it—"beautiful," "real," "true," "powerful," "profound," "intense"—have been spoken and written so much before that they fall short of capturing Deep Blue Eternity’s distinctiveness.

I finished the book in two days, having forced myself to put it down and sleep that first night. However, I don’t think I would have chosen to finish it in twenty-four hours even if I could have. Because there is so much to absorb, I didn’t want to hurry my reactions or rush through the myriad of emotions I experienced while reading. In giving myself time to process not only the description and new information, but also the writing’s nuances and impressions, I appreciated Natasha Boyd’s novel even more.

“But tell me, why did God give you such complexity if you are not allowed to fully experience it?”

In many ways, this quote underlies the novel’s themes—at least as I understood them.
Life is complex.
People are complex.
Relationships are complex.
So, not surprisingly, Livvy and Tom’s story is exquisitely complex.

Deep Blue Eternity is told in first person, alternating between the two main characters’ perspectives. Although this technique has become a staple in new adult literature, I liked that each section represents a meaty chunk of content (rather than a quick couple of pages, ping-ponging back and forth between characters so fast that it causes whiplash). Witnessing Livvy’s transformation is fulfilling; likewise, there is much to admire about Tom. And while both characters take things to the extreme at times, they never quite crossed over into the “MCs-I-want-to-strangle” category. The novel’s secondary characters are rich and entertaining as well, adding yet another dimension to an already excellent read.

The writing is very impressive—beautiful in the way a work of art is beautiful. Words have been strung together purposefully, laced with strong emotion and passion. In addition, the author’s talent for description is unparalleled. One scene in particular I can’t seem to shake: Because it’s described in such vivid detail, I feel as if I witnessed the event firsthand, with my own eyes.

There’s a process of discovery that takes place in this novel, with readers along for the ride. It’s definitely a heavier type of read (not light and fluffy, like I usually gravitate toward), so it does require the right mood and headspace. Nevertheless, I’d gladly read another two hundred pages (or more) on this cast of characters, as I truly felt sad to bid them farewell at the novel’s close.

Although this was my first time reading something of Natasha Boyd’s, she’s definitely an author whose publications I’ll follow with rapt attention.

*ARC generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review (copy provided via Goodreads, where this review can also be found).

It has been a LONG time since I've read a book in the span of ten hours and this wasn't some easy-breezy 250-page novel but 413 pages of angst, suspense, and a slow-building romance. It takes Liv and Tom the majority of the book to come together, but there was an excellent plot to hold my attention and literally drop everything to finish the book in a single day. The only minor quibble I have was how quickly the end came together. I needed to see justice for Liv and that seemed to happen off the page. There were just too many questions that I needed answers that I had to speculate about. It's definitely thought-provoking.

Natasha Boyd is quickly becoming one of my favorite romance authors. Her characters are real, flawed and easy to relate to. Once again she has crafted a harrowing tale of facing your demons and learning to love yourself and another person.

My heart ached for Livvy, the main character, as I was taken through her painful history of loss and abuse. Boyd addresses these serious issues with tact and grace giving just enough detail to break your heart. Being a part of Livvy's story of finding redemption and strength helped put the pieces back together. She still wasn't perfect and continued to fight her demons throughout the story which I appreciated. Healing takes time, a lot of time, and Livvy's story was beautifully raw.

Tom was equally deep in his own despair. I really enjoyed his character's growth and development throughout the story. Boyd gives us tidbits into his past without revealing too much until the poignant moments. I found myself going back through his dialogue to make sure I absorbed every bit of it.

The supporting cast of misfits fit the story perfectly and enhanced the experience for me. They were everything I hope for in a good book. I finished this in one sitting because I couldn't put it down. I highly recommend picking up this book.