‘A Deeper Well’ Book Review

This gut-wrenching novel by Jill Eileen Smith was so difficult to get through without my heart absolutely breaking for the Samaritan woman mentioned in John 4. The character of Nessa felt so real and her struggles were so raw, it made me want to cry. Smith craft an absolutely masterful story about what life might have looked like for the woman at the well.

Main Themes (SPOILER ALERT)

Smith takes the time to ask and research deep questions about the Samaritan woman’s story. Why would a woman in the 1st century middle east need to be married 5 different times (and keep in mind that only men were allowed to write a certificate of divorce, so she couldn’t have initiated leaving the marriage), and still be living with a man who she wasn’t officially wed to? And what would make her desirable for a third, fourth, or even fifth marriage when virginity was so highly valued?

In A Deeper Well, Smith proposes that she was a beautiful woman from a poor family, who gave her in marriage to the highest bidder (the man who could pay the highest bride price). In the novel, Nessa’s first husband dies in an accident, and then her second husband divorces her after she has two miscarriages. Her third and fourth husbands also divorce her when she cannot bear any more children. Her fifth husband is still attracted to her undiminished beauty, but is persuaded to divorce Nessa by a jealousy and cruel mother-in-law.

There are two distinct themes in A Deeper Well. First, when a man takes a woman and only values what is on the surface, it will always turn into an abusive and cruel relationships when she can’t live up to his impossible standards. Was Nessa without sin? Of course not. We’re all fallen and broken people. But an honest look at the culture of the time does strongly suggest that she was a victim of marital abuse.

The second theme is that God never leaves us alone in the middle of our deepest pain. God’s presence can be hard to feel when life is hard, and it can be even hard when years of torment go by and it seems like God is silent. In fact, God was silent for almost the entire book as Nessa was callously passed from household to household, never loved for who she was but only for the pleasure she could provide her husband. And yet when Jesus meets her at the well, he doesn’t demand anything from her but offers her love freely and without conditions. When joy finally came, it was a beautiful thing.

Faith Elements

This was a deeply Christian novel and with a beautiful portrayal of Jesus as he came to seek and save the lost and unloved. Nessa deals with so much pain, trauma, and abuse, but the book shows that Jesus can end every story with hope, love, and redemption.

Family Friendly Considerations

I read this book in one sitting, which made it incredibly overwhelming and difficult to try to process everything that was happening to the main character. This is definitely a book that should be read slowly and with a lot of discernment. This novel was very eye-opening to the lack of rights and inability to defend herself a woman had in that culture, but it is not “family friendly” or suitable for teens.

A Deeper Well does not shy away from sexual/marital abuse, which could be triggering for some audience and too heavy for younger audiences to read without considerable adult guidance. Nessa deals with miscarriages and infertility, which are difficult topics as well. That being said, it’s tough to label this novel as clean romance or not, because there is very little romance, just abuse, fear, and desperation. Each marriage night is described, although not in explicit or erotic detail.

I think the story of the Samaritan woman is one that every Christian should understand better, and I do believe that this novel is a wonderful, heart-breaking, beautiful, and tragic rendition of what might have happened. But there’s no denying that this book is heavy, and I don’t want readers to be caught unaware.

Interested in Similar Reads?

If you enjoy biblical fiction novels, you might enjoy these other books too!

• Noble: The Story of Maakah by Mesu Andrews
• The Splendor of the Land by Connilyn Cossette