Chad Lutzke

Music, beer, skateboarding, and tragedy star in this coming-of-age lesson on love and lust and the line that divides them, as 19-year-old Jex experiences a life that meets River's Edge and Kids with Dazed & Confused--a parentless indie yarn with the dark heart Lutzke is known for. I'll show up for anything this author writes. ~Sadie Hartmann, Cemetery Dance Lutzke has a way with words that merges horror and compassion in a single sentence. Reminiscent of Robert McCammon.~Joe Mynhardt, Crystal Lake Publishing Lutzke is writing on an entirely different level than any other small press/indie author.~Edward Lorn, author of Bay's End

The Same Deep Water As You

Becca Futrell

Thank you Chad Lutzke for providing me a copy of The Same Deep Water as You in exchange for an honest review!

Please Note: This is a review copy, meaning any quotes used in this review may not be the same as in the final copy of The Same Deep Water as You.

So, I purposely waited to read The Same Deep Water As You by Chad Lutzke until the first of the year, because I wanted to finish all of my CURRENTLY READINGS & just start on a fresh slate. & I’m now realizing my mistake, because WOW THIS SET A PRETTY HIGH BAR FOR THE REST OF 2019.

I had no idea how much this novella was going to wow me, even when I started reading it, I found myself saying ‘okay — yeah this is fine — cool, whatever.’ But then I kept going & I found myself diving deeper and deeper into this hour-long story & guys, I STRONGLY recommend this read. & since I’m strongly recommending this book, I should mention some possible triggers: rape, suicide, death, alcohol & drugs.

I’ve complained a lot about the way that other books have handled rape, but I felt perfectly comfortable with it being a part of The Same Deep Water As You. It did not deter me away from the reading whatsoever & it was so subtle, but also such an important concept to the story. & it’s only mentioned in dialogue, and doesn’t show any scenes of it happening.

Chad Lutzke’s writing was absolutely stunning in The Same Deep Water As You. Its read as a true COMING-OF-AGE classic & I would not be surprised whatsoever if this novella won some sort of award. Along with feeling like a classic, it reminded me of the movies I loved growing up (such as Dazed & Confused, as mentioned in the novella’s pitch). & gosh, there’s so much meaning weaved into every word, every paragraph, The Same Deep Water As You is perfectly crafted.

It’s moments like that, harmless ones, that helped me cope that year. Memories no one should be without. I mean, what’s living if you’ve got no stories to tell?

The characters all seemed so realistic; in fact, I could probably compare almost each one to someone I went to high school with. This was basically a throwback to my teen years, but without me having to deal with what Jex had to throughout the read. Shout out to second-hand nostalgia.

Speaking of nostalgia, THE MUSIC REFERENCES. Wow. This entire novella used The Cure as inspiration, and each chapter is labeled with a Cure song title.

I mean, if we’re not searching for someone to make us better people, to excel in life, then what in the hell are we doing?

I would love nothing more than to keep going about every single thought I had & to establish why I loved this & why I loved that, but I think it’s only right for you to experience it firsthand. As mentioned, it’s just a novella & I probably only clocked in one hour of reading time. Please get your hands on a copy when it’s released January 11th, 2019!

The Same Deep Water As You

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