Review: In Too Deep by Amanda Grace

Title: In Too Deep
Author: Amanda Grace
Release Date: February 8, 2012
Publisher: Flux
Pages: 228
My Rating: 2.5 stars

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Carter didn't rape me. People at school think he did. Suddenly, new friends are rushing to my side, telling me that Carter hurt them, too. They say he's getting what he deserves.Maybe I don't want to fix this.

Sam is in love with her best friend Nick, but she can't seem to tell him. So she decides to flirt with golden-boy Carter Wellesley, hoping Nick will see it and finally realize his true feelings for her.On Monday, everyone at school is saying that Carter raped Sam. He didn't, but Sam can't find the words to tell the truth. Worst of all, she's afraid she'll lose Nick if he finds out what really happened. 

As graduation approaches, Sam discovers that living the lie isn't as easy as her new friends make it sound--and telling the truth might be even worse.  - Goodreads

In Too Deep starts off in a way that would make you expect a cute and light story about a girl who tries to get the boy she secretly likes to see her as more than a friend. (If you didn't read the description, that is) The main character, Sam, comes up with a plan to flirt with another guy who she doesn't really care about, just so she can get her her best friend's attention, and possibly make him jealous. Of course, things go terribly wrong, and one thing leads to another and everything spirals out of control, creating the main problem of the story: everybody thinks she was raped. At first she doesn't even understand why everybody is talking about her, but when she does figure out, she doesn't go right ahead and tell everybody that what they're saying isn't true. 

I didn't particularly like this story because I didn't like or connect with any of the characters, and although it was a really short book, I honestly didn't think I would be able to get through it. Before I talk about why I disliked the story, I just want to acknowledge that her actions are semi-realistic, because everybody makes mistakes. We all screw up, and instead of immediately fixing the problem some of us just keep avoiding it, especially if the only way to fix it will draw unwanted attention to yourself. At one time or another you've probably messed something up and blamed somebody else; either by taking your anger out on them, or just mentally cursing them in your head. 

However, it just wasn't translated in a way that made it seem realistic; it seemed purely childish and silly. I was practically pulling out my hair because even at first thought, you would think, why wouldn't she just tell the truth about something as serious as rape? Initially I just couldn't get over her decision to keep it quiet, and after that everything she did just annoyed me, and I couldn't stop finding fault in everything she did. (Which I'm not proud of, but it was annoying!) The way she kept putting it off again and again made me straight up anxious. Near the end of the book I liked the story a lot better, and  even began to sympathize with the characters.

Overall, In Too Deep was not a book I enjoyed much, but I will admit that the way Sam acted at the beginning probably made me too bored to notice whatever redeeming qualities the book may have had, and I'm sorry for that. I do however think that some people might find her perspective interesting and story refreshing. Not everything about this book is horrible, and there were some goof parts, but for me it just didn't cut it. It just isn't for everyone, I guess, and on top of that I often have a hard time reading contemporary, too.