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The Immeasurable Depth of You
How do you face your fears when everything is terrifying?
Fifteen-year-old Brynn can’t stop thinking about death. Her intrusive thoughts and severe anxiety leave her feeling helpless—and hopeless. So after her mom interprets one of Brynn’s blog posts as a suicide note, she takes extreme measures, confiscating Brynn’s phone, blocking her Internet access, and banishing her to stay with her father who lives “off the grid� on a houseboat in the Florida mangroves. Isolated from her online friends—her only friends—Brynn resigns herself to a summer of mind-numbing boredom and loneliness� until Skylar appears.
Skylar is everything Brynn isn’t—sultry, athletic, and confident. Yet Brynn feels at home around this fearless girl who pushes her to try new things and makes her belly flutter with nerves that have nothing to do with anxiety. When Brynn discovers that Skylar is trapped in the bayou and can’t tell her why, she resolves to free her new crush from the dark waters, even if it means confronting all of her worst fears.
In the devastating but uplifting tradition of Adam Silvera and Nova Ren Suma comes a queer supernatural coming-of-age story from acclaimed author Maria Ingrande Mora.
Fifteen-year-old Brynn can’t stop thinking about death. Her intrusive thoughts and severe anxiety leave her feeling helpless—and hopeless. So after her mom interprets one of Brynn’s blog posts as a suicide note, she takes extreme measures, confiscating Brynn’s phone, blocking her Internet access, and banishing her to stay with her father who lives “off the grid� on a houseboat in the Florida mangroves. Isolated from her online friends—her only friends—Brynn resigns herself to a summer of mind-numbing boredom and loneliness� until Skylar appears.
Skylar is everything Brynn isn’t—sultry, athletic, and confident. Yet Brynn feels at home around this fearless girl who pushes her to try new things and makes her belly flutter with nerves that have nothing to do with anxiety. When Brynn discovers that Skylar is trapped in the bayou and can’t tell her why, she resolves to free her new crush from the dark waters, even if it means confronting all of her worst fears.
In the devastating but uplifting tradition of Adam Silvera and Nova Ren Suma comes a queer supernatural coming-of-age story from acclaimed author Maria Ingrande Mora.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published April 4, 2023
35 people are currently reading
6,075 people want to read
About the author
Maria Ingrande Mora
18books119followersMaria Ingrande Mora (they/she) is a Florida native and the writer of BOOM!Studio’s Power Rangers middle grade limited series, Ranger Academy. Their YA debut, Fragile Remedy, was selected as Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection. Their second novel, The Immeasurable Depth of You, was an Amelia Elizabeth Walden Award finalist. Their forthcoming young adult historical fantasy, A Wild Radiance, will be released January 2026.
A graduate of the University of Florida, Maria lives near a wetlands preserve with two cats, two teenagers, and two billion mosquitoes. They can often be found writing at their stand-up desk, surrounded by house plants. Unless the cats have already destroyed them.
A graduate of the University of Florida, Maria lives near a wetlands preserve with two cats, two teenagers, and two billion mosquitoes. They can often be found writing at their stand-up desk, surrounded by house plants. Unless the cats have already destroyed them.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 245 reviews
June 1, 2023
As someone who frequently fights my own thoughts, this book was like getting a hug.
Plot: As another character driven novel, most of what we see in the plot is the MC, Brynn’s, journey of coping with her anxiety. As she navigates the mystery of Skyler, a girl she meets one day out on the lake, we get to see just how hard it is to do day to day tasks when you suffer from an anxiety disorder,
Characters: despite the mystery of Skyler, I found most of the focus was on Brynn and her dad’s relationship. I liked both of them quite a bit (with the exception that her dad kept leaving Brynn when that clearly wasn’t a good choice)
Pacing: slow, but in a nice way
Overall: I really loved this for the disability rep. I struggle with intrusive thoughts myself and found this to be a really heartwarming portrayal of what it feels like. It wasn’t really a love story, as lots of other reviewers have pointed out, and there’s a not good kiss given that one of them is straight (and the other knows it). If you’re reading this, read it for the disability rep.
Content warnings: intrusive thoughts, suicide, anxiety
Click for the full review on my blog!
—ĔĔĔĔĔĔĔĔĔĔĔĔĔĔ�
I’m ready to get my heart broken. Thank you Peach Tree Teen for the ARC!
Plot: As another character driven novel, most of what we see in the plot is the MC, Brynn’s, journey of coping with her anxiety. As she navigates the mystery of Skyler, a girl she meets one day out on the lake, we get to see just how hard it is to do day to day tasks when you suffer from an anxiety disorder,
Characters: despite the mystery of Skyler, I found most of the focus was on Brynn and her dad’s relationship. I liked both of them quite a bit (with the exception that her dad kept leaving Brynn when that clearly wasn’t a good choice)
Pacing: slow, but in a nice way
Overall: I really loved this for the disability rep. I struggle with intrusive thoughts myself and found this to be a really heartwarming portrayal of what it feels like. It wasn’t really a love story, as lots of other reviewers have pointed out, and there’s a not good kiss given that one of them is straight (and the other knows it). If you’re reading this, read it for the disability rep.
Content warnings: intrusive thoughts, suicide, anxiety
Click for the full review on my blog!
—ĔĔĔĔĔĔĔĔĔĔĔĔĔĔ�
I’m ready to get my heart broken. Thank you Peach Tree Teen for the ARC!
March 22, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley and Maria Ingrande Mora for providing me with the e-arc of The Immeasurable Depth of You!
My initial commentary on the book's synopsis read: "I saw "anxious bisexual" and "...can't stop thinking about death" and am preparing to feel SEEN." And, boy, did I?
The Immeasurable Depth of You is a book that would have deeply resonated with me when I was the age of the main character, Brynn (15). While her anxiety doesn't quite manifest in the same manner, there were a lot of similarities between my own experience and hers that allowed me to enjoy this book despite me not being in the intended age category.
Throughout this book, I had to remind myself that I wasn't the intended reader because I struggled with some of the writing and, certainly, the characterization of the young lead, Brynn. At first, I didn't like Brynn. She externalizes many of her anxious thoughts, and her interactions with her father in the early parts of the book stressed me out as they danced around each other, learning each other like near-strangers. Over the book, she grew on me, through her interactions with her dad and Paula especially. I thought Brynn's relationship with her dad was the shining star of this story.
What I Liked: The environmental descriptions from the POV of Brynn really made me feel like I was in Florida. I also thought the setting, especially Brynn's Tide, was a unique one. As mentioned above, I really enjoyed the interactions between Brynn and her dad and Brynn and Paula. The scenes surrounding the hurricane were my favorite.
What I Didn't (as much): While I saw what the author was going for with the mystery/plot surrounding Skylar, its execution wasn't my favorite. The resolution was disappointing for such an interesting setup (hot ghost girl who can't explain how she died, hello?) and after a while, Skylar took the place of Brynn for the outlet of my frustration with characterization. She had so much potential, and I just ultimately was left wanting more.
My initial commentary on the book's synopsis read: "I saw "anxious bisexual" and "...can't stop thinking about death" and am preparing to feel SEEN." And, boy, did I?
The Immeasurable Depth of You is a book that would have deeply resonated with me when I was the age of the main character, Brynn (15). While her anxiety doesn't quite manifest in the same manner, there were a lot of similarities between my own experience and hers that allowed me to enjoy this book despite me not being in the intended age category.
Throughout this book, I had to remind myself that I wasn't the intended reader because I struggled with some of the writing and, certainly, the characterization of the young lead, Brynn. At first, I didn't like Brynn. She externalizes many of her anxious thoughts, and her interactions with her father in the early parts of the book stressed me out as they danced around each other, learning each other like near-strangers. Over the book, she grew on me, through her interactions with her dad and Paula especially. I thought Brynn's relationship with her dad was the shining star of this story.
What I Liked: The environmental descriptions from the POV of Brynn really made me feel like I was in Florida. I also thought the setting, especially Brynn's Tide, was a unique one. As mentioned above, I really enjoyed the interactions between Brynn and her dad and Brynn and Paula. The scenes surrounding the hurricane were my favorite.
What I Didn't (as much): While I saw what the author was going for with the mystery/plot surrounding Skylar, its execution wasn't my favorite. The resolution was disappointing for such an interesting setup (hot ghost girl who can't explain how she died, hello?) and after a while, Skylar took the place of Brynn for the outlet of my frustration with characterization. She had so much potential, and I just ultimately was left wanting more.
May 3, 2023
Thank you to the author Maria Ingrande Mora, publishers Peachtree, and as always NetGalley, for an advance digital copy of THE IMMEASURABLE DEPTH OF YOU.
🎖 One of my two favorite reads of April 2023!
Brynn needs to fill the void left behind when her mom banished her from her phone and the internet, and then to an entirely other state for "a break" after discovering Brynn's Tumblr ramblings and mistaking them for a suicide note. But really, Brynn is impulsive and moody, drops a lot of social cues, and doesn't seem to connect with many friends. But that doesn't mean she doesn't have a life, and she doesn't want to leave it for someplace that feels and smells like an armpit. While in Florida with her dad, she meets Skylar, who turns out to be a lot of firsts for young Brynn. First friend. First girl kiss. First ...who is Skylar, exactly?
Please consider this my trigger warning for suicidality, suicide, death of a young person, grief and grieving
The storyline along the length of this book is very entertaining, with unexpected turns throughout. Also, the way in which Mora develops and writes Brynn is brilliant. This is really great character work for both bisexual representation as well as mental illness representation. The narrative voice, which is first person from Brynn's perspective, is so authentic. It reads almost like stream of consciousness, and the reader can really "hear" the obsessive and compulsive thoughts.
I read a lot of critical feedback on this book that said that Brynn was unlikable because she was too weird, too socially inappropriate (wow, just wow), and I think these criticisms missed the point of this character. Even the whole book. I think such criticism even lays bare internalized ablism and sanism. Some of Brynn's characteristics exist because of a disordered psyche. Disliking her for that is morally complex.
I can't recommend this book enough for readers who are looking for main characters living with a disordered psyche, and who build a culture of support around them.
Rating: 💧💧💧💧💧 / 5 reflective pools
Recommend? Please read this book!
Finished: April 15 2023
Read this if you like:
👤 Mental health rep
🏳️� LGBTQ+ rep
💜 Bisexual rep
👫 Coming of age stories
👨👩� Family drama
🎖 One of my two favorite reads of April 2023!
Brynn needs to fill the void left behind when her mom banished her from her phone and the internet, and then to an entirely other state for "a break" after discovering Brynn's Tumblr ramblings and mistaking them for a suicide note. But really, Brynn is impulsive and moody, drops a lot of social cues, and doesn't seem to connect with many friends. But that doesn't mean she doesn't have a life, and she doesn't want to leave it for someplace that feels and smells like an armpit. While in Florida with her dad, she meets Skylar, who turns out to be a lot of firsts for young Brynn. First friend. First girl kiss. First ...who is Skylar, exactly?
Please consider this my trigger warning for suicidality, suicide, death of a young person, grief and grieving
The storyline along the length of this book is very entertaining, with unexpected turns throughout. Also, the way in which Mora develops and writes Brynn is brilliant. This is really great character work for both bisexual representation as well as mental illness representation. The narrative voice, which is first person from Brynn's perspective, is so authentic. It reads almost like stream of consciousness, and the reader can really "hear" the obsessive and compulsive thoughts.
I read a lot of critical feedback on this book that said that Brynn was unlikable because she was too weird, too socially inappropriate (wow, just wow), and I think these criticisms missed the point of this character. Even the whole book. I think such criticism even lays bare internalized ablism and sanism. Some of Brynn's characteristics exist because of a disordered psyche. Disliking her for that is morally complex.
I can't recommend this book enough for readers who are looking for main characters living with a disordered psyche, and who build a culture of support around them.
Rating: 💧💧💧💧💧 / 5 reflective pools
Recommend? Please read this book!
Finished: April 15 2023
Read this if you like:
👤 Mental health rep
🏳️� LGBTQ+ rep
💜 Bisexual rep
👫 Coming of age stories
👨👩� Family drama
March 10, 2023
**I highly recommend that you check out some reviews rather than basing your interest in this book on the blurb and genre tags. They are quite misleading.**
I loved this and I'm not going to tell you the deep, emotional reasons why because I'm a firm believer in emotion bottling. But I will tell you some more generic and topical reasons why this was an amazing read for me.
I'm just going to preface this by saying that it is absolutely NOT for everyone and definitely make sure to read the author note at the beginning before you dive in.
This is a coming of age, young adult story, but rooted very deeply in the perspective of a young girl that struggles with a serious anxiety disorder. It's not a romance, the MC is queer (bisexual), but the focus is really just on her experience over the period of a summer and how she dealt with the mystery that was her new friend, Skylar.
I found Mora's writing and descriptive style very enchanting (once I got past the formatting issues of the ARC). The picture she paints with her words is quite beautiful. Most notably, however, I found the perspective of an anxious teenager who was locked in a constant battle against her own mind relatable and somehow really refreshing. As someone who struggles with anxiety (though in a different way), this story was a lot of things - heart wrenching, comforting, validating, happy, sad...just all the emotions and a good few tears too. That said, this is a very thought-heavy book. Lots of raw thoughts and emotions that are very much the focal point of the story while the light mystery plays second-fiddle. (Note: I, personally, probably wouldn't pick this up for the Saving Skylar part of the book, but it is a beautiful and emotional tale in itself - I just didn't find the mystery aspect that compelling.)
But that was my experience. With a book like this, I think everyone reading it will have a wildly different reaction to it. Other anxiety sufferers could be adversely affected by the stream-of-consciousness type of writing that Mora uses to depict Brynn's anxieties. Some people might find it boring. I'm not at all surprised to see it's rating sitting in the 3+ category.
Would I recommend it? No. This is a book you should read if it speaks to you. Read a sample, read the author's note. Decide for yourself. I really enjoyed it and all of the emotions it evoked for me, but only you can tell if and when this is the right book for you.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I loved this and I'm not going to tell you the deep, emotional reasons why because I'm a firm believer in emotion bottling. But I will tell you some more generic and topical reasons why this was an amazing read for me.
I'm just going to preface this by saying that it is absolutely NOT for everyone and definitely make sure to read the author note at the beginning before you dive in.
This is a coming of age, young adult story, but rooted very deeply in the perspective of a young girl that struggles with a serious anxiety disorder. It's not a romance, the MC is queer (bisexual), but the focus is really just on her experience over the period of a summer and how she dealt with the mystery that was her new friend, Skylar.
I found Mora's writing and descriptive style very enchanting (once I got past the formatting issues of the ARC). The picture she paints with her words is quite beautiful. Most notably, however, I found the perspective of an anxious teenager who was locked in a constant battle against her own mind relatable and somehow really refreshing. As someone who struggles with anxiety (though in a different way), this story was a lot of things - heart wrenching, comforting, validating, happy, sad...just all the emotions and a good few tears too. That said, this is a very thought-heavy book. Lots of raw thoughts and emotions that are very much the focal point of the story while the light mystery plays second-fiddle. (Note: I, personally, probably wouldn't pick this up for the Saving Skylar part of the book, but it is a beautiful and emotional tale in itself - I just didn't find the mystery aspect that compelling.)
But that was my experience. With a book like this, I think everyone reading it will have a wildly different reaction to it. Other anxiety sufferers could be adversely affected by the stream-of-consciousness type of writing that Mora uses to depict Brynn's anxieties. Some people might find it boring. I'm not at all surprised to see it's rating sitting in the 3+ category.
Would I recommend it? No. This is a book you should read if it speaks to you. Read a sample, read the author's note. Decide for yourself. I really enjoyed it and all of the emotions it evoked for me, but only you can tell if and when this is the right book for you.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
October 17, 2023
Anxiety and intrusive thoughts were really well captured in this YA novel. It does deal with some heavy issues as Brynn's mother is worried she has suicidal thoughts. Her father's fear was well written as he tries to find a workable arrangement that respects Brynn's independence but keeps her safe. I'm not sure how I felt about the mystery element of the story as I didn't really like the secondary character so couldn't understand the connection between the girls.
CW:
CW:
January 26, 2023
I am so thrilled to share Brynn's story and her vulnerabilities with readers.
I must note that as an author, I have no control over the genres listed on the ŷ page. ŷ tagged this book with the genre "Lesbian" with no input from me or my publisher. This is no one's fault. Algorithms, amirite?
Regardless of how it happened, this is bi-erasure. It doesn't feel good and it sets folks looking for lesbian fiction up for disappointment. However! You can help by tagging and describing THE IMMEASURABLE DEPTH OF YOU as a queer or bisexual book.
I hope that folks consider refraining from biphobic comments as they discuss this story. I don't wish this for my sake, but for the sake of bisexual+ readers who don't deserve to feel invalidated by a book review.
DEPTH isn't for everyone, but discussions of it should be a safe space for everyone.
Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for reading.
I must note that as an author, I have no control over the genres listed on the ŷ page. ŷ tagged this book with the genre "Lesbian" with no input from me or my publisher. This is no one's fault. Algorithms, amirite?
Regardless of how it happened, this is bi-erasure. It doesn't feel good and it sets folks looking for lesbian fiction up for disappointment. However! You can help by tagging and describing THE IMMEASURABLE DEPTH OF YOU as a queer or bisexual book.
I hope that folks consider refraining from biphobic comments as they discuss this story. I don't wish this for my sake, but for the sake of bisexual+ readers who don't deserve to feel invalidated by a book review.
DEPTH isn't for everyone, but discussions of it should be a safe space for everyone.
Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for reading.
January 17, 2023
advanced reader copy from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
rep: bisexual mc
romance: none
This is a tough one to rate. It's so deep but shallow at the same time. Deep in the mental health aspect but shallow everywhere else.
There are content warnings at the beginning of the book that I HIGHLY recommend checking before reading. I honestly wish I had listened, but curiosity got the best of me. Brynn has loads of intrusive thoughts stemming from her OCD. I loved the rep, but sometimes compounding someone else's intrusive thoughts on to your own is too much.
That being said, I still flew through this! The writing flowed so well, and oftentimes, I found myself lost in the story. It felt like I was watching a movie about angsty teens instead of reading.
Teenagers are complicated. Brynn is complicated. Brynn is spoiled and flawed, but still a good main character. She really did irk me a lot, but then again, she is 15. As in the "I am the center of the universe" kind of 15. She's impulsive and doesn't think about the consequences of her action. But that is the main focus of the book. Brynn grows in that aspect throughout the book.
What really tripped me up was the ending. I finished the book and said, "That's it?" The whole mystery plot wasn't even a mystery. The romance wasn't even a romance. This book never intended on being a romance, but still! If any of you have read "Wilder Girls," the ending of this gives you that same unsatisfied feeling.
Overall, this book is very enjoyable! Like I said before, read content warnings! They are there for a reason :)
rep: bisexual mc
romance: none
This is a tough one to rate. It's so deep but shallow at the same time. Deep in the mental health aspect but shallow everywhere else.
There are content warnings at the beginning of the book that I HIGHLY recommend checking before reading. I honestly wish I had listened, but curiosity got the best of me. Brynn has loads of intrusive thoughts stemming from her OCD. I loved the rep, but sometimes compounding someone else's intrusive thoughts on to your own is too much.
That being said, I still flew through this! The writing flowed so well, and oftentimes, I found myself lost in the story. It felt like I was watching a movie about angsty teens instead of reading.
Teenagers are complicated. Brynn is complicated. Brynn is spoiled and flawed, but still a good main character. She really did irk me a lot, but then again, she is 15. As in the "I am the center of the universe" kind of 15. She's impulsive and doesn't think about the consequences of her action. But that is the main focus of the book. Brynn grows in that aspect throughout the book.
What really tripped me up was the ending. I finished the book and said, "That's it?" The whole mystery plot wasn't even a mystery. The romance wasn't even a romance. This book never intended on being a romance, but still! If any of you have read "Wilder Girls," the ending of this gives you that same unsatisfied feeling.
Overall, this book is very enjoyable! Like I said before, read content warnings! They are there for a reason :)
February 27, 2024
I don't read much YA anymore but this reminded me how much comfort I can find while reading those.
This was a beautiful story about growing up, mental health and family and in parts it felt comforting to read, even if it deals with difficult topics.
This was a beautiful story about growing up, mental health and family and in parts it felt comforting to read, even if it deals with difficult topics.
March 12, 2023
What a beautifully written hug of a book. From the delicate author's note a the beginning asking readers to take care of themselves over potential triggers to Brynn being an anxious, shy girl exploring a new state with a father she doesn't have a close relationship with, this boo was just so incredibly moving, especially when you look at it in the context of the extremely problematic Don't Say Gay bill in Florida right now--this book that is desperately needed by LGBTQ+ students isn't even legal to have on school library shelves in Florida right now. What a delicate and defiant work of fiction.
Brynn is a 15-year old Tumblr expert who writes an alarming and problematic post. Her mother takes her phone and computer and ships her to spend the summer with her estranged father on his houseboat in Florida, specifically the Wheedon Island Preserve in St. Petersburg. This book brilliantly captures the immense beauty and danger of living in Florida without falling into the Florida Man stereotype. When Brynn encounters a mermaid (?) one day while paddleboarding, a mystery begins to unfold that Brynn is hell bent on discovering. She's making new friends, discovering a relationship with her father, and, most of all, discovering that she's so much more than she ever thought. Heartfelt and beautifully written, this book is a must read for queer, anxious shy teens looking to see themselves reflected back on themselves from the pages of the book.
Brynn is a 15-year old Tumblr expert who writes an alarming and problematic post. Her mother takes her phone and computer and ships her to spend the summer with her estranged father on his houseboat in Florida, specifically the Wheedon Island Preserve in St. Petersburg. This book brilliantly captures the immense beauty and danger of living in Florida without falling into the Florida Man stereotype. When Brynn encounters a mermaid (?) one day while paddleboarding, a mystery begins to unfold that Brynn is hell bent on discovering. She's making new friends, discovering a relationship with her father, and, most of all, discovering that she's so much more than she ever thought. Heartfelt and beautifully written, this book is a must read for queer, anxious shy teens looking to see themselves reflected back on themselves from the pages of the book.
Want to read
September 26, 2022Related hard to the MC based on the blurb alone, then saw the cover and realize she is just like me fr
March 11, 2023
I'm going to start this review by stating that this book won't be for everyone. To decide if this is a book for you is recommend reading an excerpt and the author’s note. And take the notes to heart, if you decide to read this do so when you are in the right headspace for it.
With that out of the way let's get into my thoughts about this one. I didn't read the blurb before diving into this book because the book was recommended to me, I’d say that's a good thing. The blurb doesn't do the story any justice, fortunately, it also doesn't spoil it. It was great I hadn't read it before reading this book. This story is told from Bryn’s perspective. This 15-year-old girl narrates her summer of banishing to Florida like you'd expect a teenager to do. It's very angsty. More so because Bryn struggles with anxiety. As readers, you get a very good insight into the workings of her mind. Why her mom banished her, how her anxiety works (against her), lusty teenager feels (gross). That latter is one I struggle with, we've all been teens, but I can't remember being a teen like Bryn when it comes to sex and sexuality. I certainly had other things to occupy my mind with� This is not to say this is a romance, far from it actually, it's about all the feels this bisexual teen has and how she deals with them.
There is this bit of a mystery storyline going on as well, I could definitely have done without that. I'm not sure what, if anything, it adds to the story or to Bryn’s coming-of-age storyline.
I'm pretty sure I'm not the target audience for this book but I sort of enjoyed it. YA isn't typically a category I enjoy, although this one doesn't necessarily feel like YA. Aside from some real teen moments. Inform yourself before reading this one, if you decide to read it I'm sure you'll find that the author did a great job in portraying an anxiety-riddled character.
3.5 stars
ARC received from the publisher (Peachtree) through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
With that out of the way let's get into my thoughts about this one. I didn't read the blurb before diving into this book because the book was recommended to me, I’d say that's a good thing. The blurb doesn't do the story any justice, fortunately, it also doesn't spoil it. It was great I hadn't read it before reading this book. This story is told from Bryn’s perspective. This 15-year-old girl narrates her summer of banishing to Florida like you'd expect a teenager to do. It's very angsty. More so because Bryn struggles with anxiety. As readers, you get a very good insight into the workings of her mind. Why her mom banished her, how her anxiety works (against her), lusty teenager feels (gross). That latter is one I struggle with, we've all been teens, but I can't remember being a teen like Bryn when it comes to sex and sexuality. I certainly had other things to occupy my mind with� This is not to say this is a romance, far from it actually, it's about all the feels this bisexual teen has and how she deals with them.
There is this bit of a mystery storyline going on as well, I could definitely have done without that. I'm not sure what, if anything, it adds to the story or to Bryn’s coming-of-age storyline.
I'm pretty sure I'm not the target audience for this book but I sort of enjoyed it. YA isn't typically a category I enjoy, although this one doesn't necessarily feel like YA. Aside from some real teen moments. Inform yourself before reading this one, if you decide to read it I'm sure you'll find that the author did a great job in portraying an anxiety-riddled character.
3.5 stars
ARC received from the publisher (Peachtree) through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
April 5, 2023
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for an honest review!
Firstly, this book has amazing mental representation, specifically anxiety and intrusive thoughts, and I thought that it was really powerful to read about, especially in a YA novel. Also really positive therapy discussion which I always love to see. There was also really lovely bisexual rep, which I also thought was done really well.
I also thought the book was so easy to read and to immerse yourself in - the author does a great job of painting a picture of the setting of Florida and the bayou, I could totally picture everything that was happening and I loved that. I also really liked the side characters, of Brynn's dad and his girlfriend; I thought it was lovely to see how they interacted with Brynn and with each other, they felt very realistic.
However, the book did end up feeling just... unsatisfying. The two main plots of the book, don't end up really going anywhere, and I was left feeling a bit like "Oh.". I just don't think the mystery plotline actually added anything to the book; I think the book would've stood strong on its own with just a discussion of Brynn's mental health and her relationship with her dad. I loved seeing Brynn and her dad slowly get to know each other again and how they deal with Brynn's mental health together, and I just think that a lot of the things that happened with the mystery plotline were just unnecessary (like every interaction Brynn had with Skylar's parents... that was just cruel really).
Firstly, this book has amazing mental representation, specifically anxiety and intrusive thoughts, and I thought that it was really powerful to read about, especially in a YA novel. Also really positive therapy discussion which I always love to see. There was also really lovely bisexual rep, which I also thought was done really well.
I also thought the book was so easy to read and to immerse yourself in - the author does a great job of painting a picture of the setting of Florida and the bayou, I could totally picture everything that was happening and I loved that. I also really liked the side characters, of Brynn's dad and his girlfriend; I thought it was lovely to see how they interacted with Brynn and with each other, they felt very realistic.
However, the book did end up feeling just... unsatisfying. The two main plots of the book, don't end up really going anywhere, and I was left feeling a bit like "Oh.". I just don't think the mystery plotline actually added anything to the book; I think the book would've stood strong on its own with just a discussion of Brynn's mental health and her relationship with her dad. I loved seeing Brynn and her dad slowly get to know each other again and how they deal with Brynn's mental health together, and I just think that a lot of the things that happened with the mystery plotline were just unnecessary (like every interaction Brynn had with Skylar's parents... that was just cruel really).
April 5, 2023
I received an ARC from the Edelweiss
TW: intrusive thoughts, homophobia, internalized ableism, grief, suicidal ideation, panic attacks
3.8
I love magical realism and mental health stories, so I liked the idea of this story.
I thought the anxiety rep was well done, particularly the intrusive thoughts. Intrusive thoughts aren't shown often in books, and when they are they don't tend to feel realistic- but in this book they do.
Brynn also manages to feel very real. She is at times very frustrating, and makes choices that don't always make sense, but that only makes her feel more genuine.
The one line I found it hard to see crossed, with Brynn's selfish behavior, was how she acted with Skylar's parents. I can understand bad decisions in general, and I tend to like my characters rough and sometimes thoughtless, but that was just too far for me. I also felt lik the Skylar side of the story, in terms of the romantic angle and and the way she effected Brynn's life, felt thin.
I also, while appreciating the mental healt conversations and representation, felt like Skylar's story was glossed over too much. I wish we had seen more of it, even after the fact, so it conected more with the character.
TW: intrusive thoughts, homophobia, internalized ableism, grief, suicidal ideation, panic attacks
3.8
I love magical realism and mental health stories, so I liked the idea of this story.
I thought the anxiety rep was well done, particularly the intrusive thoughts. Intrusive thoughts aren't shown often in books, and when they are they don't tend to feel realistic- but in this book they do.
Brynn also manages to feel very real. She is at times very frustrating, and makes choices that don't always make sense, but that only makes her feel more genuine.
The one line I found it hard to see crossed, with Brynn's selfish behavior, was how she acted with Skylar's parents. I can understand bad decisions in general, and I tend to like my characters rough and sometimes thoughtless, but that was just too far for me. I also felt lik the Skylar side of the story, in terms of the romantic angle and and the way she effected Brynn's life, felt thin.
I also, while appreciating the mental healt conversations and representation, felt like Skylar's story was glossed over too much. I wish we had seen more of it, even after the fact, so it conected more with the character.
June 4, 2023
4.5 stars.
Thank you to Pride Book Tours, Peachtree Teen, and NetGalley for providing me with a free ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Brynn has intrusive thoughts and anxiety. She’s fifteen, she’s bisexual, and she’s deep into the Tumblr community. So when Brynn’s mom is sent a post she misinterprets as a suicide note, Brynn is sent to spend the summer with her dad� in Florida. Without internet, without her phone, without her friends. But then Brynn meets Skylar in the bayou around her dad’s boat house, and something about her just doesn’t add up�
Everything about this book was too real. The depictions of Florida (“Florida felt like an armpit�), the way Brynn’s intrusive thoughts and anxiety manifested, her frustration and the piercingly honest observations. Even something about the supernatural elements made the book feel real. It was entirely captivating.
My favorite part about reading this book was the exploration of relationships. Every character was so fleshed out and I loved how different levels of relationships were explored. I really grew to love every central character. Brynn and her mom, her dad, Skylar, her dad’s girlfriend � there was so much depth (see what I did there lol). This is a complicated, messy book in so many ways. But most feelings are. Brynn messes up, big time. She makes unwise decisions and is sometimes insensitive to those around her. And I would be lying if I said I didn't sometimes feel frustrated with Brynn. But in the end, I don't think I really blamed her for her attitudes and sometimes blinding self-righteousness. Her willingness to see this, to accept her own faults � her determination to make herself better and correct her thinking, even if in small ways � that's what endeared me to her. I saw a lot of myself in that.
This book was worth the read for me. It’s not a story for everyone, but it’s one we need more of because it is a story for someone. The Immeasurable Depth of You is heartfelt with layers upon layers of feeling, for those parts of us we can’t help but recognize and sometimes let run our lives.
Content Warnings: depictions of anxiety, depression, intrusive thoughts, internalized ableism, grief, suicidal ideation, panic attacks, homophobia, description and aftermath of suicide
Thank you to Pride Book Tours, Peachtree Teen, and NetGalley for providing me with a free ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Brynn has intrusive thoughts and anxiety. She’s fifteen, she’s bisexual, and she’s deep into the Tumblr community. So when Brynn’s mom is sent a post she misinterprets as a suicide note, Brynn is sent to spend the summer with her dad� in Florida. Without internet, without her phone, without her friends. But then Brynn meets Skylar in the bayou around her dad’s boat house, and something about her just doesn’t add up�
Everything about this book was too real. The depictions of Florida (“Florida felt like an armpit�), the way Brynn’s intrusive thoughts and anxiety manifested, her frustration and the piercingly honest observations. Even something about the supernatural elements made the book feel real. It was entirely captivating.
My favorite part about reading this book was the exploration of relationships. Every character was so fleshed out and I loved how different levels of relationships were explored. I really grew to love every central character. Brynn and her mom, her dad, Skylar, her dad’s girlfriend � there was so much depth (see what I did there lol). This is a complicated, messy book in so many ways. But most feelings are. Brynn messes up, big time. She makes unwise decisions and is sometimes insensitive to those around her. And I would be lying if I said I didn't sometimes feel frustrated with Brynn. But in the end, I don't think I really blamed her for her attitudes and sometimes blinding self-righteousness. Her willingness to see this, to accept her own faults � her determination to make herself better and correct her thinking, even if in small ways � that's what endeared me to her. I saw a lot of myself in that.
This book was worth the read for me. It’s not a story for everyone, but it’s one we need more of because it is a story for someone. The Immeasurable Depth of You is heartfelt with layers upon layers of feeling, for those parts of us we can’t help but recognize and sometimes let run our lives.
Content Warnings: depictions of anxiety, depression, intrusive thoughts, internalized ableism, grief, suicidal ideation, panic attacks, homophobia, description and aftermath of suicide
August 12, 2023
2023 reads: 252/350
brynn can’t stop thinking of death. this leads to a blog post her mother finds and gets very worried about. her parents, who are divorced, decide that brynn will have no internet access and will live “off the grid� with her father over the summer. brynn’s sure this will make for a miserable summer, but then she meets skylar, who is trapped in the bayou, but can’t say why. brynn is determined to free her new friend, even though that means confronting many things about herself.
i enjoy coming-of-age stories, so one that also has a ghost mystery sounded even better. i loved how determined brynn was to help out skylar. i also really enjoyed the mental health rep and thought it was handled so well. however, please be advised that brynn has several intrusive thoughts, which might be triggering to some readers. please take caution with this.
brynn can’t stop thinking of death. this leads to a blog post her mother finds and gets very worried about. her parents, who are divorced, decide that brynn will have no internet access and will live “off the grid� with her father over the summer. brynn’s sure this will make for a miserable summer, but then she meets skylar, who is trapped in the bayou, but can’t say why. brynn is determined to free her new friend, even though that means confronting many things about herself.
i enjoy coming-of-age stories, so one that also has a ghost mystery sounded even better. i loved how determined brynn was to help out skylar. i also really enjoyed the mental health rep and thought it was handled so well. however, please be advised that brynn has several intrusive thoughts, which might be triggering to some readers. please take caution with this.
March 8, 2023
An honest review of a NetGalley eARC. Thank you to the publisher.
First of all, this book suffers from some mismarketing, and my rating does reflect that because the marketing is why I requested it. There is no romance here between Brynn and the mysterious Skylar, and, in fact, after an explicit discussion about Skylar being straight, Brynn violates her consent and kisses her anyway. Thankfully she keeps her consistent horny thoughts about Skylar to herself after that, I guess? It seemed really out of left field since she called Skylar out for being ableist, but I think what Brynn did is much worse. There’s a bit of a random het romance for Brynn though. The blurb also tries to hide what’s actually going on with Skylar in a way that makes it way more interesting and mysterious than it actually is.
As for the good stuff: this book has excellent representation for OCD with intrusive thoughts and the debilitating and disabling sides of severe anxiety. It will definitely help those who experience such things feel less alone if they’re able to read it. Please take the content warnings seriously. This book is put in its best light if it’s taken as a character study of a mentally ill teen, not any kind of mystery story. I also liked her seeing that having a stepmom figure could be nice and building that relationship.
The concept sounds great on paper: edgy Tumblr teen makes a suicide bait post and gets grounded from technology and shipped off to a summer with her absent father where she works through her mental health struggles with a new friend. However, the edgy Tumblr bits are kind of a caricature in a way that made this former edgy Tumblr teen cringe. There isn’t much plot beyond Brynn repeatedly making the most dangerous and ridiculous decisions imaginable, even when they reliably cause her harm, and her father seeming great when they speak and having good bonding moments, but somehow being unable to see that she is constantly lying to him and never taking accountability in finding a way forward that addresses her issues. Brynn is always two seconds from being carted off to the children’s hospital but mostly she talks him out of it, even when she runs off and confronts Skylar’s parents in a particularly ridiculous plan that somehow conveniently works for plot reasons. She also manages to do all these dangerous things kind of against her characterization of crippling anxiety.
There is a paranormal element that doesn’t have a good explanation or resolution, as well as a baffling resolution with Brynn’s mom where she gets a therapist who convinced her online friends are actually good so now she has a Tumblr too?? Anyway, this book just kinda disappointed me.
First of all, this book suffers from some mismarketing, and my rating does reflect that because the marketing is why I requested it. There is no romance here between Brynn and the mysterious Skylar, and, in fact, after an explicit discussion about Skylar being straight, Brynn violates her consent and kisses her anyway. Thankfully she keeps her consistent horny thoughts about Skylar to herself after that, I guess? It seemed really out of left field since she called Skylar out for being ableist, but I think what Brynn did is much worse. There’s a bit of a random het romance for Brynn though. The blurb also tries to hide what’s actually going on with Skylar in a way that makes it way more interesting and mysterious than it actually is.
As for the good stuff: this book has excellent representation for OCD with intrusive thoughts and the debilitating and disabling sides of severe anxiety. It will definitely help those who experience such things feel less alone if they’re able to read it. Please take the content warnings seriously. This book is put in its best light if it’s taken as a character study of a mentally ill teen, not any kind of mystery story. I also liked her seeing that having a stepmom figure could be nice and building that relationship.
The concept sounds great on paper: edgy Tumblr teen makes a suicide bait post and gets grounded from technology and shipped off to a summer with her absent father where she works through her mental health struggles with a new friend. However, the edgy Tumblr bits are kind of a caricature in a way that made this former edgy Tumblr teen cringe. There isn’t much plot beyond Brynn repeatedly making the most dangerous and ridiculous decisions imaginable, even when they reliably cause her harm, and her father seeming great when they speak and having good bonding moments, but somehow being unable to see that she is constantly lying to him and never taking accountability in finding a way forward that addresses her issues. Brynn is always two seconds from being carted off to the children’s hospital but mostly she talks him out of it, even when she runs off and confronts Skylar’s parents in a particularly ridiculous plan that somehow conveniently works for plot reasons. She also manages to do all these dangerous things kind of against her characterization of crippling anxiety.
There is a paranormal element that doesn’t have a good explanation or resolution, as well as a baffling resolution with Brynn’s mom where she gets a therapist who convinced her online friends are actually good so now she has a Tumblr too?? Anyway, this book just kinda disappointed me.
Shelved as 'dnf'
June 9, 2023I ended up DNFing around the ~26% mark.
Listen, I picked this up because of the premise. Despite how specific Brynn's situation was; I had a similar experience. After a suicide attempt, I was shipped off to Florida for the Summer for a "change of scenery" when I was 14. So Brynn was incredibly relatable to me in weirdly specific ways, and I adored her as a character. I was surprised that a book in 2023 would reference Tumblr of all social platforms. I still use it, so it was fun to read and some of the writing definitely felt Tumblr-esque with maybe some Homestuck influences.
Despite this, I Cannot get over Skylar. From her being slightly ableist during their second meeting to her being 17. I'm sorry, but at 17, a 15 year old was a baby to me. I know it's only two years, but those two years go a long way for me. And I just found her to be incredibly obnoxious. :P
If it weren't for the romance subplot, I would've finished it. I wish this had been completely focused on Brynn's mental health coming-of-age story, rather than having a romance and mystery subplot.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book!!
Listen, I picked this up because of the premise. Despite how specific Brynn's situation was; I had a similar experience. After a suicide attempt, I was shipped off to Florida for the Summer for a "change of scenery" when I was 14. So Brynn was incredibly relatable to me in weirdly specific ways, and I adored her as a character. I was surprised that a book in 2023 would reference Tumblr of all social platforms. I still use it, so it was fun to read and some of the writing definitely felt Tumblr-esque with maybe some Homestuck influences.
Despite this, I Cannot get over Skylar. From her being slightly ableist during their second meeting to her being 17. I'm sorry, but at 17, a 15 year old was a baby to me. I know it's only two years, but those two years go a long way for me. And I just found her to be incredibly obnoxious. :P
If it weren't for the romance subplot, I would've finished it. I wish this had been completely focused on Brynn's mental health coming-of-age story, rather than having a romance and mystery subplot.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book!!
June 14, 2023
3.5 stars
as other reviews have said, this is not really a mystery or a romance, even though some of the elements set up the story as if it is. rather, it’s a candid reflection of mental health and growing up. brynn is the type of character who isn’t always entirely likable, but it’s easy to get inside her head and understand why she acts in certain ways. the beginning was slow, but i did really like the second half. it reminded me of watching other kids get in trouble for actively doing things while i was at home getting in trouble for passively worrying about things.
(oof and the online friend part? felt that. that was me since i was 12. it is still me. except now instead of it being my guilty middle school secret that lived on my ipod touch, i go tell my parents “hey i’m meeting some random person from [insert random state here], see ya in a bit!� lolol why change when u can just embrace,,)
side note: great audiobook narrator!!
as other reviews have said, this is not really a mystery or a romance, even though some of the elements set up the story as if it is. rather, it’s a candid reflection of mental health and growing up. brynn is the type of character who isn’t always entirely likable, but it’s easy to get inside her head and understand why she acts in certain ways. the beginning was slow, but i did really like the second half. it reminded me of watching other kids get in trouble for actively doing things while i was at home getting in trouble for passively worrying about things.
(oof and the online friend part? felt that. that was me since i was 12. it is still me. except now instead of it being my guilty middle school secret that lived on my ipod touch, i go tell my parents “hey i’m meeting some random person from [insert random state here], see ya in a bit!� lolol why change when u can just embrace,,)
side note: great audiobook narrator!!
July 13, 2023
Received an arc from NetGalley, thanks!
The Immeasurable Depth of You catched my eye with gorgeous cover. And as with most of my NG arcs, I didn't read the blurb, rather jumped into the story with no expectations.
So did jump Brynn, into the Florida's swamps and lakes, relationship with long "lost" father after his divorce with mom and post-online era after one Tumblr post that changed everything. She's supposed to stay on father's houseboat for the summer, no Internet connection, no Internet friends. Brynn knows why and doesn't stand against it. She's aware why it has to be that way. It doesn't help that she's suffering from anxiety and a feeling that nobody understands what's happening with her. Especially when she looses her father's paddle and meets Skylar, a freckled girl in yellow swimsuit in the middle of the lake.
This book radiates a dense feeling of differency. It feels so real, despite supernatural elements of world-building � Maria Ingrade Mora writes as if they were inside the reader. Characters are flawed, but likeable, the plot is thickening until it's washed away by a hurricane. It's an essence of a silence before the storm, following Brynn's story, learning about her, understanding her. She's not an easy child, she knows that � but she's also not an average main character in a book about mental health. Mora understands perfectly how complicated and messy feelings may be, and describes them on point. Their story isn't what it seems at first glance, for better and for worse.
I've quite enjoyed this romance-not romance situation. I've loved the representation, with what grace it was handled. On some level this is another YA story about mental health and queer people, but in the same level it never meant to be one. It's not "A to B road", rather it catches you questioning: was any of it real? Did that really happened, or is it the consequence of such narration?
It's always surprising, when book for teens manages to get its way into my twenty-something yo heart. But I can't thank enough TIDoY for doing it.
tw // suicide, anxiety, mental health discussion, child death
[reread]
Welp, my point still stands. This book is truly something else, and I admire it with all my heart and soul.
The Immeasurable Depth of You catched my eye with gorgeous cover. And as with most of my NG arcs, I didn't read the blurb, rather jumped into the story with no expectations.
So did jump Brynn, into the Florida's swamps and lakes, relationship with long "lost" father after his divorce with mom and post-online era after one Tumblr post that changed everything. She's supposed to stay on father's houseboat for the summer, no Internet connection, no Internet friends. Brynn knows why and doesn't stand against it. She's aware why it has to be that way. It doesn't help that she's suffering from anxiety and a feeling that nobody understands what's happening with her. Especially when she looses her father's paddle and meets Skylar, a freckled girl in yellow swimsuit in the middle of the lake.
This book radiates a dense feeling of differency. It feels so real, despite supernatural elements of world-building � Maria Ingrade Mora writes as if they were inside the reader. Characters are flawed, but likeable, the plot is thickening until it's washed away by a hurricane. It's an essence of a silence before the storm, following Brynn's story, learning about her, understanding her. She's not an easy child, she knows that � but she's also not an average main character in a book about mental health. Mora understands perfectly how complicated and messy feelings may be, and describes them on point. Their story isn't what it seems at first glance, for better and for worse.
I've quite enjoyed this romance-not romance situation. I've loved the representation, with what grace it was handled. On some level this is another YA story about mental health and queer people, but in the same level it never meant to be one. It's not "A to B road", rather it catches you questioning: was any of it real? Did that really happened, or is it the consequence of such narration?
It's always surprising, when book for teens manages to get its way into my twenty-something yo heart. But I can't thank enough TIDoY for doing it.
tw // suicide, anxiety, mental health discussion, child death
[reread]
Welp, my point still stands. This book is truly something else, and I admire it with all my heart and soul.
May 15, 2023
THIS BOOK!!!! Imma cry forever over it.
April 4, 2023
4.5*
This book was so very quietly lovely, at once heartbreaking and heartwarming. Brynn has been struggling with her mental health, and her mom has taken some of her online communications as a cry for help. So, she sends Brynn to Florida to spend the summer with her semi-estranged father. Brynn isn't tickled, as you can imagine, especially since she's been banned from the internet. (Sidenote: I don't think this is great parenting, though I do understand that Brynn's mom was desperate and worried, but. I really don't recommend this.)
Brynn's anxiety obviously isn't cured by a trip to off-the-grid houseboat in Florida, so she's still struggling- maybe even more so without a support system. Her dad is definitely trying, but it's a lot. I don't know about you, but I wouldnot be tickled to spend my summer in a musty humid houseboat with no connection to the outside world and/or technology. Brynn spends a lot of her time hanging out in the bayou, and there she meets Skylar. Skylar's story is far more complex than Brynn bargains for, however.
I felt a connection to Brynn, because a lot of her anxieties and fears were my anxieties and fears, especially her intrusive thoughts and panic about death. That one really resonated with me, and my goodness, what I wouldn't have done for a book that addressed this when I was Brynn's age! I mean, even as an adult, I felt so understood by Brynn, imagine what Teen Me would have thought- because I was pretty sure I was the only person having these disruptive thoughts, and to know I wasn't alone? That would have beeneverything.
Brynn spends a lot of time focusing inward on her trip, but also learning to let others (like her father and hiswonderfulgirlfriend) in to lighten the load. I loved her journey, and I loved the family aspect of the story. Skylar's role in this story is important, but Brynn's role in her own recovery is really the shining star of the story.
Bottom Line: Such a lovely, quiet gem about mental health that will certainly make readers feel less alone, more empathetic, or more likely, both.
TW via author note: "This book contains depictions of anxiety, depression, intrusive thoughts, internalized ableism, grief, suicidal ideation, panic attacks, and homophobia from teen peers. It also deals with the description of and aftermath of suicide."
This book was so very quietly lovely, at once heartbreaking and heartwarming. Brynn has been struggling with her mental health, and her mom has taken some of her online communications as a cry for help. So, she sends Brynn to Florida to spend the summer with her semi-estranged father. Brynn isn't tickled, as you can imagine, especially since she's been banned from the internet. (Sidenote: I don't think this is great parenting, though I do understand that Brynn's mom was desperate and worried, but. I really don't recommend this.)
Brynn's anxiety obviously isn't cured by a trip to off-the-grid houseboat in Florida, so she's still struggling- maybe even more so without a support system. Her dad is definitely trying, but it's a lot. I don't know about you, but I wouldnot be tickled to spend my summer in a musty humid houseboat with no connection to the outside world and/or technology. Brynn spends a lot of her time hanging out in the bayou, and there she meets Skylar. Skylar's story is far more complex than Brynn bargains for, however.
I felt a connection to Brynn, because a lot of her anxieties and fears were my anxieties and fears, especially her intrusive thoughts and panic about death. That one really resonated with me, and my goodness, what I wouldn't have done for a book that addressed this when I was Brynn's age! I mean, even as an adult, I felt so understood by Brynn, imagine what Teen Me would have thought- because I was pretty sure I was the only person having these disruptive thoughts, and to know I wasn't alone? That would have beeneverything.
Brynn spends a lot of time focusing inward on her trip, but also learning to let others (like her father and hiswonderfulgirlfriend) in to lighten the load. I loved her journey, and I loved the family aspect of the story. Skylar's role in this story is important, but Brynn's role in her own recovery is really the shining star of the story.
Bottom Line: Such a lovely, quiet gem about mental health that will certainly make readers feel less alone, more empathetic, or more likely, both.
January 24, 2023
Galley provided by publisher
Rep: bi mc with OCD, ADHD, anxiety & seasonal affective disorder, nonbinary side character
CWs: panic attacks, past suicidal thoughts
Actual rating 2.5
The Immeasurable Depth of You was an it's-not-you-it's-me book. It's been a while since I've felt so clearly the age difference between me and a protagonist, but there's something about the concerns this particular MC had that threw it into stark relief (for example, when Brynn was upset about being cut off from the internet for 4 months, I thought that would be utter bliss). This is why I'm not doing a full review, and won't be crossposting this to my blog, because I'm simply the wrong audience here. I had hoped that, having enjoyed Maria Ingrande Mora's debut, this book might buck the trend I'm seeing with me and YA. It didn't, but through no fault of its own. If you want your YA reads to contain a frank and yet very kind look at mental health, then this is the book for you. You have my blessing to ignore every other aspect of this review.
Rep: bi mc with OCD, ADHD, anxiety & seasonal affective disorder, nonbinary side character
CWs: panic attacks, past suicidal thoughts
Actual rating 2.5
The Immeasurable Depth of You was an it's-not-you-it's-me book. It's been a while since I've felt so clearly the age difference between me and a protagonist, but there's something about the concerns this particular MC had that threw it into stark relief (for example, when Brynn was upset about being cut off from the internet for 4 months, I thought that would be utter bliss). This is why I'm not doing a full review, and won't be crossposting this to my blog, because I'm simply the wrong audience here. I had hoped that, having enjoyed Maria Ingrande Mora's debut, this book might buck the trend I'm seeing with me and YA. It didn't, but through no fault of its own. If you want your YA reads to contain a frank and yet very kind look at mental health, then this is the book for you. You have my blessing to ignore every other aspect of this review.
June 11, 2023
The Immeasurable Depth of You is a queer coming of age story about an Ohio teen spending the summer with her dad in Florida. She has anxiety, OCD, ADHD, and seasonal affective disorder, so mental health is a big focus of the novel.
**I like to preface most of my YA reviews by recognizing that I am not the target audience, so please take my review with a grain of salt.**
My biggest problem with this book was that the main character and the story did not seem to fit together. The way the author describes Brynn does *not* make sense with any of her behaviors during this book which made it feel unbelievable and forced.
For example: at the beginning of the book Brynn says "I'd never been a carefree kid... Kids were supposed to be happy-go-lucky, careening through life getting broken bones and split lips while parents did all the worrying. But I wasn't build that way. I calculated risks and measured the likelihood of injury and dismemberment while other kids sped by on scooters...", and then she spends the entire book doing reckless things that make no sense. This is not to say that her anxiety wasn't present in the book (it definitely was - especially since it was written in first person and Brynn constantly worries), and I don't have a problem with the mental health rep. I have struggled with anxiety for years and found so much of what Brynn went through to be scarily relatable. However, her behaviors seemed like they were needed to propel the plot, but didn't match her character.
There were times where I thought this book would be a romance, but I want to make it very clear that it is not. I understand as a teenager these feelings are confusing and new and so I understand that viewpoint. However, there were times where it went too far (there is a scene where Brynn kisses a girl without her consent) and I failed to understand the point of those moments. Once it was made clear that both parties were not interested in romance, I wish there had been a more clear transition into acceptance/friendship.
This is kind of a weird observation, but the author writes about tampons and the main characters boobs getting squished like every chapter. I get that they were trying to make it relatable, but I really feel like mentioning those once would've been sufficient. I think there are better ways to connect your character with the readers and help them imagine how her senses are feeling during certain moments rather than constantly reminding us how squished her boobs are?
I enjoyed the Florida setting a lot, as well as the MCs dad and them working on their relationship. The setting was lush and the text was descriptive, making me feel like I was in the mangroves with Brynn.
I think this was an ambitious book with many separate aspects that were created with intention, but struggled with a lack of cohesion once put together.
Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review!
**I like to preface most of my YA reviews by recognizing that I am not the target audience, so please take my review with a grain of salt.**
My biggest problem with this book was that the main character and the story did not seem to fit together. The way the author describes Brynn does *not* make sense with any of her behaviors during this book which made it feel unbelievable and forced.
For example: at the beginning of the book Brynn says "I'd never been a carefree kid... Kids were supposed to be happy-go-lucky, careening through life getting broken bones and split lips while parents did all the worrying. But I wasn't build that way. I calculated risks and measured the likelihood of injury and dismemberment while other kids sped by on scooters...", and then she spends the entire book doing reckless things that make no sense. This is not to say that her anxiety wasn't present in the book (it definitely was - especially since it was written in first person and Brynn constantly worries), and I don't have a problem with the mental health rep. I have struggled with anxiety for years and found so much of what Brynn went through to be scarily relatable. However, her behaviors seemed like they were needed to propel the plot, but didn't match her character.
There were times where I thought this book would be a romance, but I want to make it very clear that it is not. I understand as a teenager these feelings are confusing and new and so I understand that viewpoint. However, there were times where it went too far (there is a scene where Brynn kisses a girl without her consent) and I failed to understand the point of those moments. Once it was made clear that both parties were not interested in romance, I wish there had been a more clear transition into acceptance/friendship.
This is kind of a weird observation, but the author writes about tampons and the main characters boobs getting squished like every chapter. I get that they were trying to make it relatable, but I really feel like mentioning those once would've been sufficient. I think there are better ways to connect your character with the readers and help them imagine how her senses are feeling during certain moments rather than constantly reminding us how squished her boobs are?
I enjoyed the Florida setting a lot, as well as the MCs dad and them working on their relationship. The setting was lush and the text was descriptive, making me feel like I was in the mangroves with Brynn.
I think this was an ambitious book with many separate aspects that were created with intention, but struggled with a lack of cohesion once put together.
Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review!
January 7, 2024
4.25 ⭐️
I would highly recommend The Immeasurable Depth of You if you're into character-driven books and are looking for a queer book that is not a romance and has minor fantastical elements. It focuses on the main character's relationship with her parents and her own neurodiversity/mental health. Maria Ingrande Moras writing style made me feel very 'close' to the main character Brynn who involuntarly spends the summer with her father she barely knows in Florida and meets a mysterious girl while she's out on a lake. I really enjoyed how the complicated, sometimes messy relationship Brynn has with her parents as well as her difficulties with mental health were depicted.
(incomplete) content notes:
I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review via NetGalley.
I would highly recommend The Immeasurable Depth of You if you're into character-driven books and are looking for a queer book that is not a romance and has minor fantastical elements. It focuses on the main character's relationship with her parents and her own neurodiversity/mental health. Maria Ingrande Moras writing style made me feel very 'close' to the main character Brynn who involuntarly spends the summer with her father she barely knows in Florida and meets a mysterious girl while she's out on a lake. I really enjoyed how the complicated, sometimes messy relationship Brynn has with her parents as well as her difficulties with mental health were depicted.
(incomplete) content notes:
I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review via NetGalley.
February 19, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 7, 2023
Wow. This was even better than expected. The audiobook is fantastic and the story sucks you in. I especially loved all of the focus on relationship dynamics and all forms. It's also super queer but without a main romance plot which is something I think is really important to showcase and is realistic.
CW: suicidal thoughts, mental health, discussion of suicide, anxiety, panic attacks
Pansexual midsize MC
CW: suicidal thoughts, mental health, discussion of suicide, anxiety, panic attacks
Pansexual midsize MC
June 14, 2023
Give me a story about an anxious bisexual any day! I feel so seen. The anxiety disorder representation was done so well that I felt extremely validated. I would rate it 5 stars, but I feel like the storyline just wasn't for me.
May 26, 2023
(4/5) I really enjoyed the writing style and the relationships between the characters- it dealt with heavy subject matter really well. Would have loved reading this kind of representation as a teen!
June 7, 2023
I really liked this book as someone who suffers from the less cute versions of anxiety. It was relatable and I really liked that the girl in the water story line didn’t turn out perfectly. Like it could have been a happy ever after and it kind of was but it wasn’t in that sense and it made the story better. It was overall a great read. I would however not read again.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 24, 2023
4.5 stars, rounding up for ŷ, RTC
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