DNF Review: A Deeper Well by Jill Eileen Smith
(No Star Rating – Content-Based DNF)
I received a review copy of A Deeper Well from the publisher. As always, my thoughts are entirely my own.
This is one of those reviews that’s hard to write. I do like a good biblical fiction with redemptive themes and Jesus shown bringing hope in their depravity.
However, I chose to DNF this book because the content became heavier than I was personally prepared for. I want to be transparent about that so readers can make their own informed decision if this is right for them or not. Maybe at another time of my life I could read this, but as a Mom, it was just too much for me.
First, what I can say - I think Jill Eileen Smith is a skilled author. The writing is immersive and very richly detailed and you can tell she did a lot of research in writing it.
However, this story is just sooo sad and intense. It follows Nessa, who is married off at thirteen to a much older man and then passed from one marriage to another. The themes were just too much for me. See content warnings at the bottom of the review from my friend's notes for reference of what I am talking about.
While I understand the historical context, the weight of it became overwhelming for me in this season I am in. The romance sexual scenes in this are also too detailed for my tastes.
I did not make it to the end of the book of course, where Jesus shows up, but ultimately, my decision to DNF is about content sensitivity and the season I am in right now, not writing quality or storytelling issues. I believe there will be readers who deeply appreciate this. But if you are sensitive to stories involving these themes, I strongly recommend looking into content warnings before picking this one up.
This simply was not the right book for me in this season.
Content / Trigger Warnings - pulled also from my friend Kay's review for your reference (here is her review) since she finished the book, I appreciate her content details: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/8270042399
Thank you Kay, for this list. I am adding to this DNF review for clarity for my viewers as well to help others if needed to make informed reading decisions.
⚠️ Content & Trigger Warnings ⚠️
• Child marriage / pedophilia (historically contextualized, but disturbing by modern standards)
• Death on page (non-graphic, includes blood descriptions)
• Multiple stillbirths and infertility (major themes)
• Distressing situations involving young children (especially difficult for young moms)
• Cheating & polygamy
• Death of parents on page
• Grief
• Sexually, verbally, and physically abusive marriages
• Toxic family dynamics (lying, gaslighting, emotional abuse, bullying)
Honestly, just like Kay said in her review, take me with a grain of salt here. This just wasn't going to be for me unfortunately, but I definitely appreciate the publisher for sending me a copy to read for review. All thoughts are my own.
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