Into the Blue
The Reese's Book Club Pick! The will-they-won't-they love story with intense yearning loved by Taylor Jenkins Reid
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Into the Blue
Narrated by:
Julia Whelan
Buy Now for £18.89
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Narrated by:
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Julia Whelan
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By:
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Emma Brodie
'An achingly romantic, compulsively readable love story - with chemistry that burns up every page'
TAYLOR JENKINS REID
'Smart and romantic, with fine observations about theater and life . . . The final act will stay with me'
GABRIELLE ZEVIN
'The truth is there's no such thing as a normal life. There's just the time you get and how you spend it.'
In the summer of 2000, seventeen-year-old AJ dreams of being a writer far from her small town. Working in a video rental store, her life changes forever when Noah walks in.
Noah is intense and enigmatic, the youngest in a family of great actors. Despite wildly different upbringings, the two forge a deep bond first as friends, then as acting partners, until the day Noah disappears without a word.
Seven years later in New York City, AJ is shocked to find herself cast in the same intergalactic TV production as Noah, by then a well-known Hollywood heartthrob. As their on-screen characters grow closer every day, the lines between reality and acting begin to blur.
Unable to stay away from each other, AJ and Noah are forced to confront the truth of what happened years ago - and the devastating secret that will send their lives careening apart, even as fate continues to draw them together.
Blending explosive chemistry, devastating emotion and unforgettable characters, Into the Blue is an extraordinary novel that asks: What does it mean to diverge from the script to write your own story?
MORE PRAISE FOR INTO THE BLUE
'I devoured Into the Blue in two sittings, so swept up in the sheer romance of it, I could scarcely look up from the page. A rare and intoxicating love story that hooks from the very first page. I adored it'
CLARE LESLIE HALL
'This book was like nothing I've ever read before: both Gothic and geeky, hilarious and heart-wrenching, a masterclass in scorching sexual tension and a poignant meditation on the true meaning of intimacy. Into the Blue is my new obsession, and it will be yours, too'
LAYNE FARGO
'At once joyful and heartbreaking, INTO THE BLUE is a compelling and powerful portrayal of the magic and devastation of true love. AJ and Noah's story burns with chemistry, and simmers with nostalgia and longing. An epic, special and unforgettable read'
HOLLY MILLER
'Expertly weaving an epic tale of star-crossed lovers for the modern era, Brodie reminds us what it's like to be wildly, desperately in love-and that, often despite our better judgment, there's no escaping the pull of a true soul mate. Into the Blue will have you transfixed . . . and reminiscing about that very first person who stole your heart' MIKKI BRAMMER
'A story that alternately burns with a fiery romance and crackles with whimsical nerdy delights'
NIKKI ERLICK©2026 Emmie Brodie (P)2026 Penguin Random House Audio
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Something Special
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Magic
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Outstanding
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★★★☆☆
I went into this expecting a straightforward romance, but it ended up feeling much more emotional than I anticipated. At its core, this book felt less like a love story and more like a story about timing, illness, sacrifice and the weight of loving someone through difficult circumstances.
One thing I really loved was the decades spanning structure. Seeing AJ and Noah as teenagers first made the later parts of the story hit much harder emotionally. I actually thought the timeline jumps worked really well and I loved slowly getting to understand their relationship over different stages of life. The improv/comedy side of the story was also one of my favourite parts because it made their connection feel natural and believable.
That being said, the relationship itself started to frustrate me towards the end. I understood Noah not wanting to become a burden because of his illness, especially considering his experiences with his mother, but at times it felt like he was making decisions for AJ instead of allowing her to make them for herself. The constant back and forth eventually became a little repetitive for me.
The emotional side of this book really did land though. There were multiple moments where I genuinely felt the sadness, longing and exhaustion the characters were experiencing.
My most unexpected take is probably the ending. By the final quarter of the book, I honestly felt like they maybe should not have ended up together. The emotional weight and heartbreak throughout the story already felt like a complete ending to me. Because everything was tied up neatly with a happy ending, it almost made some of the emotional devastation throughout the book feel less impactful in hindsight. Part of me thinks the story would have hit even harder if it had stayed bittersweet.
Overall, I did really enjoy it, even with my frustrations. It is one of those books that I have found myself thinking about, which honestly says a lot in itself. 💙
An unexpected take…
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