Reading a book by someone I've met before tends to make it more difficult for me to lose myself in the story because I'm constantly looking for the person behind the words. But with Sophie's book, I was instantly hooked. The fluidity of the prose captivated me, and the unique atmosphere of the Mariana Islands she conjures soothed my need for fresh air. 
Into the Deep is first a character study - that of Sam, an oceanographer who has a passion for the Mariana Trench. He's also a champion of free diving haunted by the memories of a tragedy. It's also a wonderful fantastical novel in which our main character finds something in the Trench - something with the potential of overturning centuries of knowledge. 
Despite knowing next to nothing about the ocean, I was gripped from the first couple of pages and raced through the book. The pace helped, keeping me guessing while taking time to explore the character's thoughts. I was really satisfied to guess some of the revelations, and to witness the plot unfolding so smoothly. So even though I was a bit biased at first, I quickly forgot why I'd picked this book (sorry Sophie) and just marveled at the craft of the writer. 
Rep: Tahitian main character.