My thoughts after reading 50% of the book were 'how on earth did I select this book as one to review and read on Netgalley UK'? My answer was and still is 'I have no idea'. Being a man in my early 70s, born and bred in Yorkshire, reading a book explaining lesbian sex in great detail seems a long way from my normal category of book (crime/psychological thriller) - but, on the plus side, I would now be able to provide a talk in any northern WMC about advanced techniques in lesbian sex!!
HOWEVER ...... I found the book to be extremely well written with wit, humour and one-liners as good as I have read anywhere.
My conclusion from the book is that lesbian sex seems to be far more exciting and rewarding although I did have some doubts that such carefree females would have such extremely emotional feelings over girlfriends/partners but then I have no experience on which this comment can be based.
The first half of the book seemed to me to be a guide to lesbian sex full of fun and the second half seemed to be a combination of a controlling partner versus a partner so much in love with the former. The only disappointment was that the book seems to peter out at the end with a sort of 'happy ending but not quite' feel. I would have preferred the author/authoress/female author (please choose any one of these) .to have provided a 'wow not expecting that ending'. This leaves me wondering what the subject of the next book will be!

Julia was an interesting character to follow. I was intrigued at how she finally realized that she is in fact a lesbian as I had preconceived notions that the person in their teens would know this - so it was really fascinating to see how she learns who she really is.
It was also very educative to see how she stumbles into a mentally abusive same sex relationship with a partner who is all about control. I liked the way her true friends and family try (with Julia resisting) to help her.
It was lovely to see her find a truly caring relationship.

I must say that some of the graphic descriptions of lesbian sex were quite a revelation to me too, so I can clearly say that I enjoyed reading this book whilst gaining quite an insight (education) about true lesbian relationships.

Wow this story is jam packed with sex!! It felt relevant and modern, with relatable characters and hilarious situations- S&M parties, drug fuelled raves, house parties and an unsatisfactory office job make this story of self and sexual discovery so brilliant and funny. Despite being a married heterosexual, I found myself at times imagining a parallel universe and what it would have been like to make this discovery for myself. Incredible read and definitely a 2019 must read.

Perfect for fans of Emma Morgan, Dolly Alderton and Bryony Gordon.

Julia is in her mid-twenties and going through a bit of a sex drought. After an unsatisfying attempt to get back in the game, she begins to look elsewhere for gratification and makes a life-changing discovery about her own sexuality.

The character of Julia is well developed and there is much to enjoy in this book, particularly the humour with which the novel is narrated. As Julia navigates her new lesbian encounters and relationships, the reader warms to her and wants her to find happiness. I'll admit I found the sex and drugs elements quite graphic, but this adds to the authenticity of Julia's experiences. Although this is a book about sex, it's also about friendship and love and there are lots of examples of strong female support networks, which I thought were very positive.

I'd recommend this book wholeheartedly, although suggest that you avoid if you are easily shocked!

A sort of gay Bridget Jones, this is a fascinating and very entertaining snapshot of life in the lesbian scene.
As angst ridden but funny as any account of young people struggling to cope with the complexities of the dating scene but with the extra dimension that this is not boy/girl but girl/ girl.

A 180 from the normal 'women's fiction' books about romance! We follow Julia over the course of about a year or so through her sexual awakening, realising after three years of celibacy that there's more to life than boring sex. Well written, the characters are likeable and charming in places and the situations seemed very real. I liked that not everything was rainbows and we see the ups and downs.

First book of 2019 and an eye opener! Julia is mid-twenties, lives in London, works for the Civil Service. In At the Deep End is the story of Julia becoming aware and active in her sexual identity and I'm thinking Kate Davies may earn some toasters with this. Other great things about the book: it is funny, there is minimal time spent on brand names or the narrator's appearance, it is relatable and full of good friends. Not Shades of Grey with lesbians, though as advertised lots of sex, drinking, some drugs and uncomfortable relationships. Recommend.

A funny, light hearted read. Very well written. Raunchy scenes but nothing over the top. Looking forward to readings more by Kate Davies.

In at the Deep End wasn’t the raunchy comedy I was expecting from the cover and the pieces of marketing I have seen so far. It was a much more nuanced exploration into the nature of relationships and how we give ourselves up for them. I still enjoyed it a lot, and it was great to see people of genuinely diverse sexual identities represented in a piece of commercial fiction.

This starts off like chic lit with the standard Bridget Jones-alike voice: self-deprecating and a bit self-consciously quirky, but about halfway through it gets more serious as Julia is forced to confront the fact that the her loved-up relationship is toxic to the point of abusive. The sex is pervasive and racy without being porn-y, and there are lots of rah-rah girly friendship scenes. Entertaining and feel-good by the end.

Davies' novel is an honest, funny and treacherous odyssey through the perils and seductions we encounter on the Janus-faced, and more often absurd, path to love and self-awareness.

Meet Julia. After three years without sex, her sex life is about to get a whole lot more interesting.
I really loved this story of Julia’s life- her mundane job at the department of health, her relationship with her parents as she embarks on a lesbian relationship, her opinionated counsellor Nicky -but most of all her self-deprecating and laugh out loud humour. And I laughed out loud a good few times!
It also has its fair share of pathos as Julia starts to question whether her dream relationship is really an abusive one.
Yes, this novel is sexually explicit, but i didn’t find it salacious or even particularly sexy! It’s one element of Julia’s quest to get her life together and of the power dynamic in her increasingly toxic relationship.
It’s one of those books you wish would go on and on because the narrator feels like a friend.
Thoroughly recommended, but not for the prudish!