The Deepest Cut

by Natalie Flynn

You haven't said a single word since you've been here. Is it on purpose?' I tried to answer David but I couldn't ... my brain wanted to speak but my throat wouldn't cooperate... Adam blames himself for his best friend's death. After attempting suicide, he is put in the care of a local mental health facility. There, too traumatized to speak, he begins to write notebooks detailing the events leading up to Jake's murder, trying to understand who is really responsible and cope with how needless it was as a petty argument spiralled out of control and peer pressure took hold. Sad but unsentimental, this is a moving story of friendship and the aftermath of its destruction.

Genres: Young Adult

195 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 24, 2016

Reviews

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a hugely powerful, gut wrenching, heart breaking read.

From the first page through to the end the pages don't stop turning. The story line is incredibly well written as are the characters who are all sensitively depicted and well thought out.

Throughout the book the reader is drawn down avenues that are so true to life it is unreal. The truth of past events isn't what you expect but is superbly constructed and the only possible reality once you reach the end of the story.

I definitely recommend this book to all young adults upwards.

This is a Goodreads First Read

[Becca Ashworth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I lost one of my close friends this year. I'm not using this comment in an attempt to get sympathy; Izzy deserves better than that, but I do think that it is entirely relevant to this review, as it massively affected this novel's impact upon me. So just bear that in mind as you read my review.

This novel is very beautifully done. The idea of recollection through therapeutic writing is original, and expertly done. At each point, another factor in the death of Adam's, our protagonist's, best friend Jake, is revealed, allowing us, as the reader to develop a clear image of what happened that night.

Furthermore, this novel has a beautiful array of characters. The friendships made me smile and I felt so personally connected to each of them. Even Adam's father earned my sympathy, particularly through his character development as the novel progressed. There was superb development of all of them, not least through the mental health journey of Adam. I found it impossible to hate any of the characters because they were all so spectacularly human, and humans have flaws, but that does not mean that they are bad, but rather the opposite. None of these characters are inherently bad, which is what left me so affected by the tragic events of this novel. Honestly, it was perfectly executed and I could not be more impressed.

It takes a lot for a novel to make me cry. However, this novel had me absolutely bawling, because it was so unfalteringly honest and so relatable to what I had experienced. When Izzy died, I found it hard to avoid hating myself for not spending enough time with her. We all reacted in different ways, not all positive, and we all overcame our own grief. I personally struggled with self harm, through much of Izzy's illness. Although that was not the cause, the hatred I felt towards myself for not treating her as I felt she deserved was an important factor. This novel was exceptionally cathartic for me; as I read it, I came to realise that my regret was not necessary, and that instead, I should be grateful for the time we had. And I am, truly. It took this novel to help me realise it and for that, I am eternally grateful to Natalie Flynn for that.

[Perdita Cargill · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Deepest Cut is a tragedy, the pain is stark on nearly every page but it is a book with enormous heart. There is so much love in this book - the uncertain, brave attempts at love amongst the teenage couples, the strong mother/son love (Debbie is a brilliant character) and the brothers-in-arms love between Adam and Jake. Funny in parts, always true, with strong male leads it is an important book. You know from the first sentence that Adam's best friend Jake has been murdered and you know that he feels so much guilt that he tries to kill himself and yet there is so much unknown that you are driven fast through the pages searching for some answers and a sliver of comfort. I loved it.

[Steph Hayward-bailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing young adult novel that tackles issues that effects a lot of young men. I love how the issue of knives is addressed as it shows teenagers that just by carrying a knife your whole world can change. It also tackles the issues surrounding male mental health which isn't really tackled a lot elsewhere. I think this would be a great novel to have teenagers read at high school to help discuss these important issues.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this book in a Twitter giveaway, therefore I got a free signed copy from the author. This in no way shapes my review, which is completely unbiased.

I am honestly so, so grateful for the fact that I got this book and had the opportunity to read it. It is so heartwarming and powerful. I had to give it 5 stars. I literally had to. It would be an absolute disservice to the novel if I didn't.
I believe that a good book should tug at your heart or tug at your brain. I can say that this book made me feel, completely and absolutely.

Flynn's writing is moving, emotive, entrancing. I really got into the book and I don't feel that I have felt that way for many books that I have read. Everything about her words is powerful, as if they were cared for hand crafted, thought out.

I am gushing.

In terms of the content, I would compare this book to Nicci Cloke's book (which I also loved) 'Now you see me'. Both books deal with personal problems and problems with friendship groups with relatable teenage characters. I would totally recommend this book to fans of the latter.

So, in plot 'The Deepest Cut' is about a boy called Adam who is locked in a mental institute for trauma related to the recent death of his best friend, Jake. He tried to commit suicide and blames himself for the death of his friend and goes mute. Whilst at the mental health facility, he begins to write down the significant events leading up to the death of his mate. Through this, he takes the reader on a trip down memory lane, through the good and the bad in his friendship, to see where the fault really lies in Jake's death.

The book isn't very long but it is pretty quick to get into. I was reading it on all of my train journeys, my bus journeys, at home, when I should have been revising... It was addictive, basically. Adam is a likeable, kindhearted character and it was easy to feel attached to him. I don't really think that you can hate him, he is that sweetheart kind of guy, if that makes any sense.
For once, I don't think that I truly hated any of the other characters. I am usually pretty picky about characters who I like, but the only ones I disliked were the 'antagonist' type characters, who you are meant to hate.

I really think that this book could do with an adaptation to a play, because there are really important themes that teenagers need to hear. Reading it made me reflect, and some people really need the same.

Once again, this book was amazing and I highly, highly recommend it!

[Shannon · Rating 1 out of 5]

Honestly, I really wanted to like this book and I tried to keep going but ultimately gave up because I couldnt deal with the writer's voice. The idea is good and the story itself is something that I would normally enjoy, but the dialogue between the characters just wasnt realistic. It didnt sound like teenage boys talking between Adam and his friends and while sure, you could say that that's because the only time we get insight into this is through Adam's written memories I found it too annoying to continue reading. The same problem happened with the other characters too but it was much worse for the boys and for the younger characters. At times it seemed like the author had forgotten who was speaking and how they would speak and at other times it felt she was trying too hard to make her characters sound young and cool, just throwing in words that youth must say. It was cringeworthy and really took away from the tone of the story. I will say that in sections of writing where there was no dialogue it was well written.

[Sophie · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up (first time doing this!)

tbh im unsure on how to rate this. i did find the overall storyline interesting and i can say the same thing for the characters. at first i was unsure on how i would feel reading a book where half of it is in italic but the author was able to make it work. however, i do feel like something is missing, though i cant exactly say what. overall not a bad novel.

[Kirsty Stanley · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

[Donovan · Rating 3 out of 5]

i cried. a LOT. and aside from a bit of stiff dialogue it was written really well

[Radhika · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book.

[Abegael O’Niell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Got me right in the feels

[Heather Lawson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originally posted here: https://heatherreviews.wordpress.com/...
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I was lucky enough to get a copy of this book when I met the author at London Book Fair. As part of Accent YA’s new launch list, The Deepest Cut tackles a difficult topic surrounding bullying and knife crime, as well as looking deeper into the after-effects of trauma and subsequent mental health issues that arise from it. I was eager to see how these topics were handled and, considering the main character is mute, I wondered what the narrative would be like.

Adam is still struggling to come to terms with what happened to his best friend, Jake, and his own role in the incident. After attempting suicide and being committed to a facility by his father, who is too busy with his girlfriend to really pay attention to his son, Adam thinks of nothing but escaping – one way or the other. But then he begins to write things down for his doctor, and bonds with another of the patients, and he starts to work through all the things that he’s buried under his guilt.

This is one of those books that when you start reading, you can’t put it down. Adam has such a distinctive voice that I was sucked in immediately. The deliberate way Flynn withholds the most important pieces of information about the events of that fateful night with Adam and Jake made me hunger for more and need to find out what exactly went on that could have had such a powerful effect on Adam.

As we slowly learn more about the past through Adam’s journal, it’s heart-breaking to see how normal him and his friends were leading up to the accident. It’s a very powerful way of showing how easy it is for things to go horrifically wrong. While reading his journal, it’s almost easy to forget about where Adam is while he’s writing it and lose yourself in the story of their average teenage drama. It’s like reading two separate stories that slowly weave together to form the whole.

The scary thing about this story is how accurate it is. Peer pressure is a terrifying thing and to see it go as far as it does in The Deepest Cut brings home just how serious it can get. All it takes is one person pushing another just that little bit too far.

I really felt for Adam. He was torturing himself daily over what happened to Jake and even when I didn’t have all the information, I still wanted things to turn out to be okay for him. The support that he had from within the care facility and out was fantastic to read, showing that even when you’ve given up on yourself, there will always be someone there willing to push to see you get better.

Despite being on the short side, this book is full of mystery and heartache that you can’t help but read it quickly �� if not in one sitting!

An honest and brutal look into the effect of peer pressure and the devastating aftermath it can create, not just in the lives of those immediately effected but the wider community, too.

I think that this is a book that should be read by as many people as possible.

[Stephanie Cox · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really powerful, so brilliantly written yet simple, and such an important topic. Fantastic. A good read for any age.

[Alix Long · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Deepest Cut was a book that sucked me in from the beginning, and did not let me go until the very last page. Even once I had finished, I couldn't stop thinking about Adam's story and where it all went so wrong. The murder of his best friend Jake was so utterly tragic and devastating, and it could have so easily been avoided. My heart ached as I read Adam's account of the incident and I felt his guilt and regret at what had happened coming through the narration so strongly. I felt that one of the strengths of this novel was undoubtedly Adam's narration of the tale - Flynn made his voice so realistic, eloquent and utterly harrowing.

I sympathised with Adam throughout the entirety of the story and the way that Flynn wrote Adam made me fully understand his every action and thought process. The young people in The Deepest Cut were portrayed so truthfully, and whilst the dialogue was at times not quite right, on the whole the teenagers were portrayed in a way that was both honest and sensitive. The characterisation as a whole was a strength of the book and my favourite characters were undoubtedly Debbie and Jake. There were times when I fiercely hated Adam's father, but he was so well-written and there were so many layers to his character. Complexity in a character is a great thing and makes you enjoy the story so much more.

I also adored the way the story was told, and that it began after the incident had happened. This created a feeling of hopelessness and grief, yet at the same time demonstrated the critical and fundamental message that peer pressure should not be taken lightly - it can provoke serious and devastating tragedy and can ruin lives in the process. I enjoyed reading about Adam's life in the mental health facility and learning about the event through the diaries he wrote whilst living there - it included just the right amount of insight, and plenty of honesty and heart. You end up learning so much about Adam that you feel as if he is a real person, relating his story to you candidly over a cup of tea. The plot itself was very well instructed and even though the present and the past were interweaving narratives it was never done in a confusing way.

The Deepest Cut has just about everything you could wish for in a YA novel - heart, urgency and an important issue at the centre. It is also simply a riveting read. It is absolutely essential reading, and I hope as many people pick up this book as possible. It is definitely not one to miss, and Natalie Flynn is surely emerging as one of YA's latest heavyweight. I cannot wait to see what she has in store for us next :)

[Yolande Branch · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was sent a copy of this ARC by Accent YA in exchange for an honest review.

When I first heard about this book, I thought I would already know how it would pan out. However, I was surprised at how wrong I was. This story was intense, heartfelt and genuine and blew me away from start to finish.

The main character, Adam told the story through a series of written notes, suggested by his therapist to help aid his recovery, after a very serious incident. Adam manages to take you on a deep and heart-breaking journey regarding the chain of events leading up to the incident and the impact that it had on everyone else involved.

​The story was only 15 chapters long but still managed to capture the true essence of what Adam was going through and how he dealt with what was thrown at him. I liked the fact that there were not too many characters involved and the story was told through the first person and dialogue with characters.

Having worked with young people involved in knife crime (both as victims and perpetrators) I felt this storyline was very true to home and allowed the audience to experience a glimmer of what really happens in this type of situation.

​I thoroughly enjoyed this book and hope that a lot of young people will read it and digest the message that's being put out there!

​5 out 5 stars

[Josephine Boyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t think a book has ever made me cry so much, which isn’t great when you’re secretly reading it at work because you can’t put it down and you end up crying behind your computer screen.
Every single character is well drawn (Polly being a favourite of mine) and that is what makes this book so powerfully moving - you really get to know Adam and, when you finally find out what happened the night Jake dies, it’s so painfully tragic and it’s all the more heart-breaking because it’s Adam, sweet and good Adam who blames himself for the tragedy. Even though he makes that choice you don’t blame him, he’s still just a kid, he didn’t know but then you suffer along with him as his world completely collapses and you feel his isolation. It’s truly devastating to read. This book is incredibly powerful and affecting.
It was incredibly hard to read and what makes it so hard to read is that it’s written so well; Natalie Flynn connects you to her characters entirely. Because of that, because it’s painful, because it feels real, it’s a necessary book. This book, undoubtedly, could help someone make a choice that leads them down a better path. I just hope schools and libraries take notice of literature like this as a tool to try and tackle knife crime.

[Chantelle Ojo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This isn't just a story, it's a powerful, emotional and thought-provoking journey with the protagonist - very hard to put down! It covers a majorly important issue and leaves you with the gift of insight. Very well written and a must-read for young adults.

[Glenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book as a Goodreads Giveaway.
I loved this story. Such a great compilation of love and loss and the processes of grief. Lessons to learn from this one.

[Kj · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so much better then I thought it would be. I read it in one sitting and cried my eyes out.