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Cover of Open Water

Romance · 2021 · PG-13

Open Water

by Caleb Azumah Nelson

Two Black artists in South London. Falling in love. Afraid to say so.

For14+GenreRomanceLength160 pagesRead time~4 hours

This analysis was generated by AI from publicly available reader reviews, literary criticism, and book discussions. It has not been verified by a BookLens community reviewer and may contain errors. Be the first to verify →

Content snapshot

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What's in this book, at a glance — five things readers want to know before they start.

Violence

Barely any

No significant violence

Language

Barely any

Mild language

Sexual Content

Some

Adult romantic content

Substance Use

Barely any

Some social drinking

Emotional Intensity

Some

Themes of vulnerability, racial identity, and the difficulty of allowing yourself to be known

What this book is about

A photographer and a dancer meet at a house party in South London and fall into something that might be love — if either of them can stop being afraid long enough to let it happen. Caleb Azumah Nelson's debut is a spare, lyrical novel written in second person, exploring Blackness, identity, art, and intimacy in a form as carefully composed as the photographs at its center. Shortlisted for the Costa Award.

Notes for sensitive readers

Reader-flagged moments and themes that may affect your experience.

Adult romantic content

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