I’ll be honest, I’ve been in a bit of a reading slump lately. But now that spring is nearly upon us, I decided to pull myself out of the rut I’m in and start reading again. For my first book, I read Open Water by Caleb Azumah Nelson. This one has been on a few reading lists I’ve found and with it being 160 pages, it felt like the most approachable one to jump start my reading again.

The Plot

Open Water is a love story that also explores the topics of systemic racism. The story follows the life of a young unnamed Black photographer who meets and falls in love with his friend’s ex, a young unnamed Black university student and dancer. While their story starts out platonic, there is a clear connection between the two that keeps them deeply intertwined. While we see a deep love develop, we also see moments of police brutality and racist experiences that leave lasting impacts.

As we watch their relationship unfold, the story highlights the common expectation that men bottle up their emotions. This lack of vulnerability inevitably impacts the couple’s relationships as well as the main character’s own mental health.

Was the Book Good/Bad?

Overall, I did really like this book. While the book jumps around a lot and doesn’t go in-depth into each snippet that’s shown, it does feel like a real insight into the thinking and feelings of the main character. Since it’s under 200 pages, it’s a relatively short read, but it delivers a very strong story that’s engaging.

In short, I would recommend giving this one a try!