Deeper: A Novel (Caroline & West) Paperback – January 28, 2014

Deeper has got to be one of the most beautiful books I've read in a long time. It got to me in all the right places, made me feel connected to a book, to the characters in a way I'll never forget."Be careful what you put on the Internet. Be careful what you do in this digital age. Don't let yourself be made a victim, because if you do, it's your fault. Your mistake."Caroline Piasecki was like any other normal girl, until something private became very public. God, from the first paragraph I fell into this book and nothing could keep me from reading. I felt such a connection with Caroline, I felt so bad for her and for what she was being put through. There is such a double standard when it comes to sex and women. But that's not what made me sad, well not all of it. What made me sad is the fact that this happens to people ALL THE TIME. It wasn't until this book that I realize just how much something like that impacts a persons life. What happened to her is a hate crime. It's wrong, disgusting and shouldn't be allowed. And yet, people look at her and call her hateful names, tell her it's her fault. Her fault for what? Trusting the guy she was in a relationship with to treat her with the respect she deserves? Loving someone who turned out to be a hateful pig? She didn't ask for it, and the fact that it's ok for guys to do things like this and be okay just makes me sick.I loved seeing Caroline's character grow from being weak and hiding to strong and taking control. This is the kind of book every young woman should read. THIS is what New Adult is about. It's not about a bunch of horny college students (though they definitely are that too) but it's also about growing up. It's about being on your own for the first time and realizing that life isn't as beautiful as you thought it was. Life has ugly shades, lots of ugly in it but you learn how to keep moving on despite it.West Leavitt has scene the uglier side of life. He's lived it his whole life, it's a part of who he is despite his every try to be more. Yet another thing I loved about this book was the fact that the characters weren't perfect. He's not the next Brad Pitt and she's not Angelina Jolie. They have physical flaws just like the rest of us! Finally a book where I can truly feel like I could possibly be friends or know these characters. They're not perfect, but that doesn't make them any less beautiful to each other. West is quite the complex character. He acts one way and thinks another, make people think he's some stoner loser simply because he can, never letting them know just how smart and deserving of love he really is. But don't tell him that.The story of West and Caroline unravels in time and I really appreciated the pacing of the story and how we got to know each of the characters as friends, before anything more developed. I suppose one could argue that they never were "just friends" because from the beginning, they've always impacted each other in different ways. Caroline realizing that she could have more, deserves more and West realizing he's allowed to want, and love someone even if he doesn't think he deserves her.I don't want to say more for fear of spoiling any more of their story but trust me when I say this is the kind of book everyone needs to read a least once. It's beautiful, sexy, touching and sad and it's everything I could ever hope for in a book. Deeper is by far one of my favorite books of the year and I know by the end of this year, it still will be fresh on my mind.

Caroline is a very good girl. But she's also a good girl who was betrayed by a boy she thought loved her. One night's mistake continues to haunt her as she begins college, desperate to leave her 'bad reputation' behind. After all, how can she go to law school and eventually get into politics with a black mark on her record.West, a bad boy Caroline can't seem to outrun, is definitely not part of her plan. And Caroline is not part of West's plan either. He has fought tooth and nail, done things he isn't proud of to get into a good college where he has a chance at a real future for he and his little sister. West may be drawn to Caroline but he knows getting involved will just be a distraction from the big picture he needs to focus on.********************************I really enjoyed this story, definitely 4.5 stars worthy. I only detracted a point because the story really isn't anything original. Boy from the wrong side of the tracks and good two shoes girl meet, try to fight their attraction until they realize they can't.But even though a similar story has been told several times, Robin did create two characters I fell in love with. West is a bad boy, sure but his life has been so hard that it's impossible to judge him too harshly for some of the choices he's made. Caroline becomes stronger as the book goes on but it's apparent at the end of this story these two have a lot to overcome if they really want to be together.I definitely recommend the series. Writing is good, character development is very good, storyline is believable. There is a lot of sexual tension. A lot. So overall, this is worth a read but be prepared to immediately pick up book two, Harder when you finish this one.

I always find it most difficult to review a book I loved because for the best reads, all I can think to say is ...go read this. Now.That’s exactly what I told many of my friends the day after I stayed up all night reading Deeper. That’s the first sign of a five star book for me, I’d sacrifice my sleep on a work night. This book stayed with me for a few days, and even now I find myself drawn to rereading some of it. That’s another reason this is 5 stars for me.And there’s so much more to Deeper than a story about revenge porn. It’s about dealing with all kinds of challenges that get thrown at you as an adult, and I loved what this book had to say about standing on your own two feet during hard times and facing the music.After all of that, there’s still a very tender love story going on here too.Robin York takes her time with letting Caroline and West fall in love. They don’t seem to really like each other at first, but they are drawn to each other in spite of West trying to stay away. But then something beautiful happens and West starts to let Caroline in. They bake bread together in the middle of the night, when she can't sleep. It’s during this time together they really get to know each other.West has a hard time resisting Caroline even though he has his own agenda-- taking care of his sister back home. But he can’t resist Caroline forever, and their strong connection and physical attraction won't let them.It takes some time, but when they finally come together, there is so much passion. Robin York knows just how to build the story to that moment and her writing is just so smooth and liquid that it draws you along and you aren’t aware of the words but only the lovely story unfolding in front of you.Then everything goes to hell again, and Caroline is left to deal with some very difficult situations on her own. There’s an airport scene that just oozes emotion, and you just might need to have a tissue handy for this one. As for West, I want to hug him, because he needs it.I just loved this story. It had everything. Great writing, characters that are beautifully flawed, a timely topic, and a realistic story. I’m going to be buying this for a few of my reading friends, I loved it that much.ARC received from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

It was great. A real page turner. I am so in love with Caroline and West's story and can't wait to read Harder. Where is it? I ordered both at the same time.

“Deeper” conta a estória de Caroline e West. Caroline é uma garota de dezoito anos que após o termino de um longo relacionamento vê suas fotos íntimas publicadas na internet para qualquer um vê, comentar e... julgar. West é um personagem de inúmeras camadas... parte bad boy, parte alma perdida. Perfeito ele não é. Mas, ele traz uma mistura inebriante de força, sex appeal, mistério e vulnerabilidade. West aparenta ser um universitário comum, mas de comum os segredos que ele esconde não têm nada.West e Caroline vêm de mundos opostos, mas eles acham um jeito de se encontrar no meio. Desde a primeira vez que que eles se viram ambos sentiram uma atração mútua, mas que nunca foi levada a cabo. Para falar a verdade, eles nunca nem sequer se falaram direito, só se olhavam. Mas, após a publicação das fotos de Caroline, eles formam um tipo de amizade. Complicada, complexa, conturbada e linda.Eu me encantei com os protagonistas deste livro. Caroline é uma personagem crível e fácil de se relacionar, tendo em vista que o que aconteceu com ela poderia ter acontecido com qualquer um. Ela é uma garota inteligente e informada que simplesmente confiou na pessoa errada. Ela poderia ser a sua vizinha, a sua irmã ou até mesmo você. E apesar dessa situação inimaginável e pavorosa, ela demonstra no decorrer da estória uma força incrível. Eu acredito que ela não precisaria de West para ajudá-la a lidar com as implicações da publicação de sua fotos, mas ele a ajudou de qualquer forma. Foi ele quem lhe devolveu a sua confiança. West é um personagem complexo e falho, mas é difícil não se apaixonar por ele. Com certeza, Deeper não é apenas a estória de Caroline é também a de West - seu passado, seu presente e as suas dificuldades. E a jornada dos dois ajudando um ao outro.Apesar da premissa do livro e dos temas tratados, eu não considerei o tom da narrativa demasiadamente pesado, triste ou depressivo. Obviamente, há bastante angustia. Mas, ao meu ver, o livro é foca mais no relacionamento entre os protagonistas. “Deeper” não é um daqueles livros que você devora em uma sentada. Ele é daqueles que você vai lendo e degustando aos poucos e o qual os personagens e a sua estória ficam com você muito tempo após a última página.Se você está a procura de uma estória bem escrita, com um tema intrigante e complicado, mas que ao mesmo tempo é repleto de momentos que te deixará suspirando, Deeper é o livro para você.

My reading tastes are very mixed: I read a lot of what might be considered 'proper literature' and I also read a lot on the trashier side of fiction. In the last month I've read a glut of New Adult books. A couple of them have been so woeful, I couldn't even finish them. Deeper by Robin York was at the opposite end of the spectrum, easily the best NA book I've read and here's why:- Caroline is a genuinely interesting protagonist who develops through the course of the book. She's smart and sassy and has a great internal voice. We come across Caroline at a really low point in her life after having explicit naked photos of her posted on the internet by her ex. Her plight is described in such away that you relate and sympathise with her immediately. But unlike other NA books, she is not only 'saved' by the bad boy, she becomes stronger and saves herself.- West is very hot. Clearly this is the main requirement. But he's also a truly three dimensional love interest with a back story, a voice and problems of his own.- There is a slow burn build to their relationship which makes it more realistic. There are also genuine impediments to them getting together rather than the usual NA staple of miscommunication and insecurity on behalf of the girl. The sex scenes and the lead up to them are well worth the wait.- The supporting characters are well-developed and likeable/detestable as appropriate.- There is an actual plot, which is interesting. The revenge porn element of the story was so well done that I found myself getting genuinely angry on Caroline's behalf. Again, very different to your usual NA plot, it actually made me think.Finally, I think the best praise I can give for this book is that as soon as I read it (in one sitting, staying up until 4.30am!) I wanted to read it again. There's a sequel out in July, and I have already pre-ordered it.

This book is the gut wrenching and poignant New Adult debut for Ruthie Knox – written under the pen-name, Robin York. It is the first of a series that tells the story of Caroline, who is the victim of revenge porn. Her dream of one day becoming a judge and running for office suddenly gets derailed and turned into a twisted pile of scraps.When all is seemingly lost, she befriends a man she actually met on the first day of college, but has studiously tried to ignore ever since. West will not be ignored, however. ‘The West menace is, like, sex in aerosol form.’They try to stay just friends, but the chemistry between them is just too hot. West has his own demons to battle before he can truly find happiness. With the help of West and some good friends, Caroline slowly becomes empowered; refusing to play victim to her ex’s online vitriol. The ending leaves you hanging for the second book, ‘Harder’.This book makes you feel, in spades. I felt like this had happened to me. It’s so relevant to what has, sadly, been happening recently to celebrities and many other women around the globe who have had their accounts hacked.In the horror that she is living, West is the life raft – albeit a leaky one. Caroline is set to turn around and save him right back.This book is a must read. The author’s style is seamless and expressive. The characters are quirky, real, damaged and lovable. I can’t wait for more.CheersJ.M. AdeleStories with romantic flare.

I love it!