An easy enough read, especially for light summer entertainment. I found the characters quite unlikeable and all in all a little predictable.

Written between 21 years ago and present day, Out of Her Depth is narrated by central character Rachel. It charts her time in Italy during the summer before she began her university degree. With plans to go study Italian, one of her teachers recommends her to a friend (Silvia Baroni) who runs a small hotel in Tuscany. Four glorious months in which to work, improve her language skills and soak up the sun.
When she arrives, Rachel meets Diana. Moneyed, glamorous and confident, she’s also doing vocational work at Villa Medici for Silvia. The two quickly become friends, Diana introducing her to the local nightlife. When Silvia introduces her handsome godson Sebastian, staying at his parent’s villa a short distance away, the girls are invited to a party there. Sebastian’s world is one of parties and hedonistic activities, shared by a coterie of young, wealthy people. Rachel and Diana are pulled into this new world with disastrous consequences for Rachel, but it is only when a new kitchen helper, Valentina arrives at the hotel, that the real trouble begins.
I loved the backdrop of Tuscany, where I have holidayed on several occasions. I can’t say I warmed to any of the main characters. However this well written story gripped me, and I wanted to know what occurred on that fateful night and who was responsible.
Recommended.
I would like to thank Netgalley, Pan MacMillan and Liz Barber for an ARC of Out of Her Depth in exchange for an honest review

I enjoyed this novel, split between Tuscany and the UK, using the split time zones that we are more than familiar with. I was gripped, and keen to unravel the mystery of what happended on a fatal night in Tuscany. I was totally emersed the whole Tuscan side of the book, loved all the lavish parties, the scenery etc but was less so gripped by the current day setting in the UK, maybe because I just could not warm to Rachel as a character. I would recommend for anyone who wants a grippy holiday read.

I have just spent about four days with Rachel Diana, and Sebastian. Set in the 1990's and the present day. The three of them are spending the summer between A' levels and University working and living in Italy, and having the time of their lives until a terrible event happens that is going to alter their lives forever. In the present day none of them have contact with each other, all of them living separate lifes, all of them trying to keep their guilt, shame, and regret suopressed, but what if one of them decides to tell all....
A tale about entitlement, wealth, and what we will do to fit in and stand out.
A well written book, however, the characters have little warmth.
A good summer read

An easy read with great descriptions of the Italian Riviera. The story is mainly based around three teenagers and their relationships during one summer. There is manipulation, bitchiness, backstabbing and jealousy, everything you want in a novel involving teenagers. How the rich live from how the poor try to keep up.
One miute I liked them, the next I hated them. Toward the end I started to get anoyed with the narrator and thought that there needed a little more explanation.
It was however gripping from the start. One mad summer is all it takes but the rest of your life for the secrets and lies to surface.

Two thirds chick lit, one third fairly predictable whodunnit: Working class student Rachel’s summer job in Tuscany plus her infatuation with a clique of manipulative, toxic and narcissistic rich kids derail her life in such a way that more than 20 years later, she‘s still unable to come to tems with, let alone get over what happened during a drunken night. A lightweight summer read to while away a few hours.

I can’t wait to read more by Lizzy. This was intriguing, engaging and thrilling. The plot was cleverly unravelled as the story progressed.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book. I have chosen to write honest review voluntarily.
I liked the basis for this book, a teenager (Rachel) given the opportunity to work a summer job in Italy whilst learning Italian. Her job brings her into contact with other people around her age (mainly Diana and Sebastian) who come from well-off families and this introduces her to a world of drunken parties with drugs available, and to people who have access to limitless funds rather than living within an income. Alongside this part of Rachel's past there is the current timeline story of Sebastian who has been in prison, although maintaining his innocence. As I read more of the book my dislike of the characters grew and I found it difficult to believe that Rachel could be so easily led but it is important to remember that peer pressure is effective at such an age and she was far from home. The final few chapters of the book draw all the characters together for the final reveal which I found astonishing, a true twist in the tale. I like all the characters even less now, but I can't tell you who I detest the most!

Having greatly enjoyed Lizzy Barber’s debut My Name is Anna four years ago which is partly set in Florida, I was keen to see what she would do with a European setting, and I was not disappointed. This novel, her second, is set in Tuscany and features fictional character Rachel, now a teacher in an independent school, who understandably cannot free herself from memories of the past. These memories relate to a febrile summer some twenty years earlier, when Rachel, a gifted student from limited financial means destined for Cambridge University, accepted a holiday job in Tuscany and became drawn into the wealthy but morally corrupt world of two people she encountered there, Diana and Sebastian.
I am usually not terribly keen on dual-timeline novels but I will definitely make an exception for this novel, as this stylistic feature worked really well to demonstrate the woman Rachel is now and the slightly naïve young girl who headed out to Italy. At times it was difficult to understand Rachel’s reactions to events that unfolded but on the whole this was an engrossing read. Thank you to NetGalley and to the publishers for the free ARC that made this honest and unbiased review possible.

Fantastic five star reading. Had me hooked from the beginning. One of those books you really don’t want to put down as you desperately want to know what is going to happen next.

The book is set in Florence, Italy, and as you read you can imagine the settings. It is set in the past and the present, twenty one years apart. The story is told through the eyes of Rachel, the main character. I felt rather sorry for her however she was an extremely gullible young woman of 18. She comes from an ordinary family and had the chance to spend the summer working in a magnificent Villa as a chamber maid before commencing Cambridge University.

She became friends with Diana, who was also there for the summer season working. She came from a completely different background, where money was no object. Then along comes Sebastian, the nephew of the owner of Villa Medici. Diana falls for him along with others. They spend the summer working hard and playing hard. Poor Diana is finding it hard financially, as all of Sebastian’s friends are privileged too.
Diana and Sebastian are just too privileged for me. They are certainly not my type of people and I would definitely have felt uncomfortable around them at the age of 18.

In the present we read that Sebastian had been imprisoned at the end of that season. Going back to the past we read the intriguing and thrilling story of what led to this. Why after so many years does it have such a remarkable effect on Rachel. With every page turned you quicken your reading pace. Wanting to find out the truth behind that summer. You will not be disappointed when you buy your copy of Out of Her Depth. Great summer read.

Lizzy Barber thank you for such a wonderful thrilling read. You certainly deserve to do well with this.

A perfect holiday read encompassing characters from differing social backgrounds who find themselves caught up as pawns on a chess board manipulated by a wealthy, beautiful but bored 18 year old who believes that her money and lies will camouflage any deceitful actions her mind will conjure and implement.
Fairly predictable but with sufficient content that you will want to get to the end to discover if your predictions are correct...or not! Characters that are not written to be liked or appreciated and the plot unfolds without allowing time for the reader to enjoy the scenery, food or smells...
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this and congratulations to Lizzy.

It should have been the perfect working holiday for Rachel. Working in a hotel for the holiday season in Florence so she could perfect her Italian in preparation for university. However the ‘friends’ she made, Diana and Sebastian ruined it, still causing suffering over twenty years later. Admittedly Sebastian suffered more but it was difficult to have any sympathy for him. He was a character I detested immediately, I thought I’d misread him at one point, and then realised he was much worse than I initially thought.

It was evident from the beginning that Rachel didn’t stand a chance against the other two. Privileged, selfish bullies doesn’t even begin to describe them. The only one who could see the real ‘friendship’ was Elio, only a minor character, and apart from poor Valentina, the only one I had any liking for.

I really tried to have sympathy for Rachel but in a lot of ways she was too much like the others. She was just as manipulative, especially in the modern day parts of the novel. A certain scene made me cringe as I read it, and was the one which really made me see what she could be capable of.

A slightly different crime novel for me. No detectives or investigation. Just the victim and those responsible.

I wanted to go to Tuscany during every page read. The writing gripped me with the evocative descriptions of this beautiful area. A duel time story told by Rachel discovering why the beautiful, dynamic Sebastion has been in prison for 20 years. A great read.

When Rachel goes to work in Italy to earn some money before going to Cambridge University she befriends rich IT girl Diana. When the hunky Sebastian comes along then there is some competition between the two girls to win his affections. This is further complicated by the arrival of another love rival.
This book kept me interested throughout and it kept you guessing by jumping back into the past as the story unravels to reveal what exactly happened all those years ago, why Sebastian ended up in prison and was he really right in protesting his innocence. I did enjoy the story and I thought the characters were very well written. My only criticism would be that I found the ending rather rushed.

This novel tells the story in flashback of Rachel, a naive young woman on a working holiday in Italy before she starts University. She gets caught up in a social circle that is wealthier and more privileged than her own and gets caught up in a tragic event that changes her life and affects her mental health. Several years later an investigation reopens into those events and Rachel starts to stalk one of her former friends on social media and becomes obsessed with past events. A compelling story line with believable characters.

With thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for an advance copy to review

This is an enjoyable summer read set mainly in Italy and I would recommend it. The author captures the sizzling heat and beauty of Florence. I felt as though I was there and got lost in the story of Rachel’s devotion to wealthy, controlling Diana. Both girls are 18 and working at a hotel when their idyllic summer starts to go very wrong and has huge repercussions for the future. The structure of the novel works well, the scenes are atmospheric and although I sometimes lost patience with the main characters, it was an addictive read with a strong ending.

If you’re looking for the perfect escape book for summer, stop right now. This is it….

Out Of Her Depth is my favourite read of the year so far. Set in Florence, it’s a coming of age story which simmers throughout with tension and secrets. Well paced and with mature language, Lizzy Barber crafts an idyllic scene, tainted by tragedy, love and loss, I loved it throughout, one of those books you drink in and never want to end. Whether you’re sunlounger bound this summer, or grabbing a book for a hot commute, this is one not to miss.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book had the promise of sunshine, Italy, romance and friendship. However it is a rather harrowing tale of obsession, jealousy and possession. At times I did wonder what the end point of the story was going to be as it seemed to be going along with not a great deal happening, except more partying and drinking.
I found it to be a typical holiday read, but to my mind it lacked depth.

I don’t think I have ever read a book where I didn’t like one single character! To help her with Italian before she starts university in Cambridge Rachel goes to work in a small but chic hotel in Florence! Rachel is impressionable and certainly ‘out of her depth’ especially when she is joined by the worldly wise, wealthy and manipulative Diane. Diane has breeding, wealth and everything that Rachel does not! She is soon beholden and under Diane’s spell and when the suave, good looking, Sebastian arrives on the scene (Godson of the owner of the hotel) the story really begins to hot up in more ways than one! There is rivalry, manipulation, scheming and plots which thicken when the pretty Valentina arrives to set the hedonistic ‘friends’ on a road which is certain to end in ruin! It definitely kept me riveted and I found myself desperate to reach the end in the hope that justice would be done! However, spoiler alert here………………I do need to ask the question, was the story written from the grave?

Two girls from different social backgrounds find themselves working together one summer in Italy. Plenty of fun was had by all until the night when everything changes. Told in a dual timeline the plot is a bit predictable. A beautiful setting with great characters.