Review: A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid

This was a book that I simply had to read again. It has been just over a year since I first read it. And I loved it so much back then. As always, I was a little nervous that I would not love it the same this second time. But I did. Oh, how I loved this story. It is still so precious to me and I adore it to pieces. It's a big favorite of mine.

This second time I shall not write such a long review. And I am going to talk less about the plot and more about my feelings for the story. Just how much I loved this book. I am beyond excited to start reading an eARC of the sequel next. It's going to be truly amazing. The writing in this was fantastic. I had no issues with it.

And what I loved most about this book is that it is a romance. In a way. It becomes a romance, at least. The growing relationship between Effy and Preston was the sweetest thing. I loved them together so much. They argued at times. But it was the cutest. I loved how well they fit together. How it then grew into something more, despite the place they were in and all that was happening around them. I loved how honest they both were. How they both cared and just getting to know them both. Effy starts out as such a broken girl. Trying her best to live her life, despite not getting to study what she truly wants to. She got taken advantage of. That hurt so much, reading those memories come back to her. Not as bad as it could have been, thankfully. But bad enough.

But oh, how I loved Effy. She was broken, yes. But she was perfect. I loved all the broken parts of her. I loved how she finally started to heal a little. How Preston helped her get better as well. She did change a lot. Became a little more confident, I think. I can't wait to see more of it in book two. She was so hurt. And I very much wanted to see those who hurt her get hurt back. Hmph. I want to see more of her mother, just so I can see her in pain as well. What she did to Effy was not okay. And she deserves some punishment.

But yes. Effy was all kinds of awesome. I loved how she was such a fangirl for her favorite book. How she knew everything from it. It was so lovely to read about. And Preston. Sigh. He was such a good person. I just loved him to pieces. And it hurt me a whole lot to read about what happened to his dad, and how that still hurt him. They both had trauma. And I love how they were both able to help each other from it. I really hope there is more of that in book two, ack. Now I'm getting more nervous about reading it next. Excited.

There is so much I could write about this book. But I'm trying to keep it short. I loved how this world was a little magical, despite being fully ordinary. I loved how it seemed a little old-fashioned, not set in our time. It made me love it more. I very much loved the old mansion they were staying at. Effy trying to figure out how to fix all the broken parts. Preston hunting for a mystery. I so loved how it was almost falling into the sea. The whole atmosphere of this book was incredible. I loved it so very much. It was written very good.

This book was also about the Fairy King. How he was just a story to some. But how he was more to Effy. How he was in her most favorite book and how he suddenly started to appear in her life more often. I so loved how it was all connected. I did not like this Fairy King. I liked how it didn't seem like I was supposed to either. He was not someone that Effy saw in her dreams that she wanted there. He was a nightmare to her. But I very much loved that whole storyline. All of it was very interesting and fascinating to read about.

I liked how this ends with this world about to change. How it might end up with women getting stronger. At least, it felt like it. This book was set in a world where men were in charge of most things. Only they could write books. I love how Effy wants to change that and how she is starting to. I loved how a certain person was alive at the end of the book, when I thought it was just a ghost. I also loved how that person started changing things too. Most of all I just loved everything about this one. The magical feeling it had. Loved it.

There is honestly just so much that I loved about this book. Effy and Preston were so precious to me. And I cannot wait to read more about their epic romance in book two. Eee. I'm hoping for lots of kisses. Lots of affection and love. There was much in this. But I want even more, ha. They are simply the best together. I cannot wait to learn more about the world in book two as well. So excited for it all. And I am honestly just so happy that I still loved this book to pieces a second time. It still ruined me in the best ways. Do read it.

 

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