Waist Deep
Author: Linea Maja Ernst
Published by: Jonathon Cape London
Pages: 212
Format: Paperback
My Rating: ★★★★
Published by: Jonathon Cape London
Pages: 212
Format: Paperback
My Rating: ★★★★
Five friends from university; seven summer days in a cabin in rural Denmark. A chance to swim, sunbathe, flirt, read and mess around like in the old days.
At least that’s what Sylvia had hoped. But when her friends arrive with real jobs, kids and partners, Sylvia is left wondering what happened to the radical ways of living they embraced at university.
Worse, Esben and Karen announce their plan to get married at the end of the week, striking a blow to Sylvia’s simmering, decades-long crush on Esben – a crush that her monogamous girlfriend Charlie would definitely not approve of.
Whilst the group swim, sunbathe, cook and flirt their way to midsummer night, desire and anxiety swirl in equal measure. As the wedding day approaches, will they achieve their arcadian dreams or will everything come tumbling down?
At least that’s what Sylvia had hoped. But when her friends arrive with real jobs, kids and partners, Sylvia is left wondering what happened to the radical ways of living they embraced at university.
Worse, Esben and Karen announce their plan to get married at the end of the week, striking a blow to Sylvia’s simmering, decades-long crush on Esben – a crush that her monogamous girlfriend Charlie would definitely not approve of.
Whilst the group swim, sunbathe, cook and flirt their way to midsummer night, desire and anxiety swirl in equal measure. As the wedding day approaches, will they achieve their arcadian dreams or will everything come tumbling down?
My thoughts:
Waist Deep is one of those quiet, reflective novels that slowly works its way under your skin. I read it across warm evenings and early mornings, and it quickly became one of the most compelling summer reads I’ve picked up so far this year. Linea Maja Ernst offers a deeply character-driven, introspective story that lingers in the mind long after the final page.
The novel immerses you in a close-knit friendship group navigating the murky, in-between space of early adulthood; a time where identity, desire, connection, and uncertainty all simmer just beneath the surface. The tone is contemplative and slow-burning, rewarding patient readers with rich, nuanced insight into each of the characters. At times infuriating, often fascinating, these characters feel fully alive in all their contradictions and complexity.
Themes of sexuality, friendship, identity, and the quiet ache of longing are explored with care and emotional depth. There’s even a strand of subtle existential reflection woven through the narrative, giving it an added layer of resonance. I particularly appreciated the sharp, naturalistic dialogue—honest and sometimes awkward in all the right ways. Ernst really captures how people talk when they’re trying to figure out who they are and where they fit in.
This is a novel that doesn’t rush to make its point. Instead, it invites you to sit beside these characters for a while, to listen in on their conversations, their silences, and the shifting dynamics that define their world. It’s a beautiful book about change, confusion, and the fragile, essential connections that shape us.
Waist Deep is a quiet triumph. It’s thoughtful, emotionally intelligent, and deeply human.
Overall reaction:
