When Caroline Piasecki’s ex-boyfriend posts their sex pictures on the Internet, it destroys her reputation as a nice college girl. Suddenly her once-promising future doesn’t look so bright. Caroline tries to make the pictures disappear, hoping time will bury her shame. Then a guy she barely knows rises to her defense and punches her ex to the ground. West Leavitt is the last person Caroline needs in her life. Everyone knows he’s shady. Still, Caroline is drawn to his confidence and swagger—even after promising her dad she’ll keep her distance. On late, sleepless nights, Caroline starts wandering into the bakery where West works. They hang out, they talk, they listen. Though Caroline and West tell each other they’re “just friends,” their feelings intensify until it becomes impossible to pretend. The more complicated her relationship with West gets, the harder Caroline has to struggle to discover what she wants for herself—and the easier it becomes to find the courage she needs to fight back against the people who would judge her. When all seems lost, sometimes the only place to go is deeper.
This book was sooo properly named. Deeper is the ways that Robin York is able to develop her characters, able to truly develop her thoughts, the way I was able to fall in love with this book. I don't know if I would call it a favorite yet but I know I would love to re-read this, this time in print form.
I'm not exactly sure how I feel about the New Adult genre. I've read argument for it and against it but I will say most of what I've read, sounds pretty much the same in the genre. Most of novels/series in the genre are about a male lead (typically a man-whore) and the female lead (who is either adequately experienced or equal to the male's experience) who have sexual tension between them.
Also, one or both leads has a toxic back-story/history that contributes negatively to the story. In this story, West is the poor one whose dad is a loser that his mom keeps taking back despite the good man she has at home and West's younger sister. He managed to charm the pants off this rich guy (and literally his wife) who pay for his tuition. On the side he works at a bakery where he deals on the side at his college. Caroline is the rich daughter of a judge (or lawyer, I don't remember) who has been sheltered all her life.
After she breaks up with her long time boyfriend, Nate, Caroline believes that everything is fine between them and they'll be friends. But Nate doesn't feel that way at all. At some point in their relationship, Caroline was going down on Nate and he took pictures of her. She, sadly, trusted that he'd be the only one to see them. Flash forward to the present where Caroline's best friend emails her link where her face and his dick is plastered on the web. I felt soooo bad for her. Especially because Nate doesn't just don this one but twice. The second time is in the last chunk of the story after he gets his ass kicked by West, Caroline's new boo-thang.
The different ways this situation can effect a person is thoroughly examined in this novel. I loved that the way Nate didn't realize just how badly the extent of the damage of what he had done affected Caroline. Other then currently messing up her life, he didn't really think about it. However, Caroline knew. Not only did it affect the way her future teachers and future law schools and possibly future voters. Every time she met a new guy who was nice or tried to flirt with her or she just saw, she had to re-examine his motives for his actions. She had to examine what clothes she planned on wearing in case it brings more "slut" thoughts about her. Nate didn't think about anything but the short term effects of what he was doing. And the second time he did it, the pictures were so wide-spread they were most definitely going to come up in future.
I enjoyed the points that were brought up in this scenario. No one thinks about what Nate did wrong. Instead, everyone is too busy slut-shaming Caroline.
She should've been smarter then that.
She shouldn't have allowed him to take these pictures of her.
She is the one who is punished by society even though he made the pictures public.
SMH, talk about true life double standards. It's sad how true and real life this is. The scene where Caroline is trying to explain this to her dad and he has the audacity to insinuate that her present situation is her fault pissed me off. Oh my God, can we not allow men to take responsibility for their actions? That's like blaming the girl who got raped because she wasn't wearing proper-attire or because she wasn't drunk!
Sorry about the mini rant but society is slowly pissing me off as I get older. I was especially pissed when her sister tried to email her and her first sentence was "I forgive you."
Anyways, I loved the sex scenes in this novel. Usually in new adult or romance novels, the shy-inexperienced-compared-to-the-guy female manages to be naturally good at sex. Like the first time she does anything remotely sexual (like going down on the guy like Caroline does) she is instantly a master. Like, dude that's not realistic. Don't go around acting like inexperienced people can give as good as pros to an actual pro. But here when Caroline does it, we get West's point of view and he tells us while it's okay there are certain things that she could do to be better. And although he tries to act like it's all good, Caroline makes him tell her what he wants. I liked that for two reasons. Not only was it real, but Caroline recognized this delusion and tries to better herself and not be modest about it.
I also loved Caroline as a character. West had one of those stupid internal conflicts where he decides to break off his entanglements with his love interest for whatever reason without telling her why. Caroline is a little hurt and then she goes out with her rugby teammates (I wish they were featured in this story more so Caroline would have a fuller developed life post-sex scandal that wasn't just West) to this party. West shows up and kisses her in front of everyone in this random, nearly speechless, but passionate encounter before he takes off again. Despite it being swoon worthy, Caroline doesn't take the road of other romantic heroines. Instead of the typical no-don't-do-that/why-did-you-do-that before the guy entices her in some kind of sexual encounter in most books like this, Caroline rightfully tells him off.
And she raises a valid point. Why do guys in novels decide they don't want to be with a girl, then pull a stunt like that when they have previously stated THEY DON'T WANT TO BE TOGETHER?!?!!? Caroline was right to be pissed off. Not only is that playing with her emotions but it was utterly pointless except marking her like a dog does a fire hydrate to other
It took a little bit for their relationship to grow on me. I didn't like the way the beginning of their relationship was introduced. Why did West have to say something like that in front of the girl's dad. No wonder he doesn't like you. And why were they so into each other before they actually knew each other. It was more then a crush but not exactly insta-love.
Whatever it was, I didn't like any of their interactions until he invites her inside the bakery. After that I enjoyed it. I do wish we could get a little more of their relationship outside of their back stories and attraction to each other. But I do love that they talk about their issues. Especially because Caroline's realistic fears about how the revenge porn scandal has effected her in regards to sex and guys was not only talked about but dealt with. West takes it slow with her. When they start doing stuff (stupidly as Friends With Benefits) they only make out and have all these lines and boundaries that I definitely enjoy. You definitely don't see that in stories like these. Usually each encounter is a build up to the first time the characters have sex. However, in this story they use these interactions to truly get to know each other and their bodies.
The only part of York's writing that I struggled with was when Caroline would start hearing the men's voices in her head. In the beginning, I completely understood it. Actually I always understood it but the ways the author kept reminding us who and what these men are doing to her started getting a little redundant after a while. But it made sense to me.
This story is the beginning of a trilogy which I know some people didn't like. Although I see their point (in this day and age, too many authors are adding sequels to books that could've been great stand-a-lones), in Deeper's cause I disagree. The revenge porn incident is the catalyst that brings West and Caroline together. I want more of her journey. I want to see what happens with their school and Nate getting in trouble. I want to see the legal interactions in court instead of a two paragraph summary in a epilogue. I want to see Nate finally understand the extent of damage he's done to Caroline and to feel remorse. I want to see how this scandal will effect Caroline's future and how she'll deal with it. I also want to see West's journey in regards to his family. His mom pisses me the fuck off and I'm really worried about what may happen to his little sister. That's why I loved this story. It's so realistic in the point that people have more going on then just their romantic relationships. And not just how those other things effect their relationship or as mild sub-plots but as actual issues for the characters. I definitely recommend this book!
Thanks to Doctor Iyoha for helping me get my wife back, My name is Rajveer Singe From India and i have been married for 2 years. It all started in March, my wife started acting very weird, every little thing, she gets angry at every little thing and then one day i suggested to her that we should go for counseling in order to make our marriage work but she bluntly refused and told me she wanted to move out. She finally moved out and i became very sad, i did not know what to do, a friend of mine at work told me of Doctor Iyoha and how he helped him when he had problems in his marriage. I wrote to the Doctor Iyoha and told him what i have been going through. He told me my wife had another man in her life and he would ensure i get her back. I did all the Doctor told me to do, he told me my wife would be back to me in less than 24hrs .My wife came home 3 days later, we talked about all that happened, she said she did not know what got over her. I forgave her and now we are back together. Thanks to Doctor Iyoha for bringing my wife back. Please contact Doctor Iyoha via email driyohasolutiontemple@yahoo.com or call him on his number : +1 (407) 337-9869 he is a great doctor and he is also reliable. he can aslo help in curing HiV/AIDS,Cauncer, diabetes, fame and wealth, pregnancy herbs etc. all these i have seen and i cant hold back without testifying to help those suffering same fate.
ReplyDeleteindeed you are a miracle working doctor with rich powers!!!