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emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Medical content, Medical trauma
Minor: Death, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Grief, Death of parent, Alcohol
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Oh my god this book was so good! Ali Hazelwood always does her research and her reads always feel scholarly without being snooty (and they’re always fun 😉) the sprayed edges really made me feel like I was in the pool with the main characters! This book touches on so many great topics: mental health, STEM careers, swimming and diving (I had to google a bit) found family, healthy interpersonal relationships both physically and emotionally. It’s all there. I took my time with this one because it really is Ali’s best work to date (and I loved Bride and her other books). Definitely will be rereading this one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Mental illness, Sexual content, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Toxic friendship, Alcohol
Minor: Bullying, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Death of parent
emotional
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Sexual content
Moderate: Mental illness, Alcohol
Minor: Bullying, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, Injury/Injury detail
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Death of parent, Alcohol
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I really liked this book and the spice was SPICY. Lukas is absolutely precious and also so hot. My biggest gripe with this book was the whole Pen situation I don’t understand why things had to be kept on the dl. That was the first Pen red flag. I think her apology and forgiveness was too easy bc she was a terrible friend but maybe I just hold grudges lol . All in all fantastic book. Would listen again.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Sexual content, Toxic friendship, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Toxic relationship
Minor: Bullying, Child abuse, Medical content, Death of parent
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Another 5 star by Ali Hazelwood.
This one seemed to focus more on our FMC than the love story dynamic. Although it’s still really there. It was nice to see the clear transformation in Scarlett’s life throughout the book. I love the clear and respected boundaries between our main characters.
This one seemed to focus more on our FMC than the love story dynamic. Although it’s still really there. It was nice to see the clear transformation in Scarlett’s life throughout the book. I love the clear and respected boundaries between our main characters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Bullying, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Grief, Death of parent, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
emotional
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I really loved Lukas, Scarlett drove me crazy at times but her character made a lot of sense. The whole plot was very Hazelwoo, but I really liked the friendship aspects a lot. I’m just going to say it now, the sex was very tame for a “BDSM” relationship. It felt also comical at points, especially how much she came with no preambles.
Fuckbuddies to Love, 3 3/4 🔥
"Confidence is showing up, and trying, and not giving up because deep in your heart you know who you are and what you are capable of."
Fuckbuddies to Love, 3 3/4 🔥
"Confidence is showing up, and trying, and not giving up because deep in your heart you know who you are and what you are capable of."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Cursing, Sexual content, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Emotional abuse
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
another day another ali hazelwood book !
i liked it well enough?! i had fun!?!
my hang-ups are kinda specific to my own personal preferences i think? like im not sure if the majority of people feel this way or if im just being pedantic... ANYWAYS!
i couldnt buy into vandy/luk's relationship -- there was something about it that just didnt feel authentic. not sure if this is a ~ spoiler ~ really bc, well, its a romance book ! BUT ill cover it anyways! --> i love love love when we finally get the 'i love you' reveals! its my fave part of a romance book - but this one? idk, i was pretty indifferent about it :(
their relationship felt very shallow (pun not intended). it wasnt bad per se but it felt lackluster. i wanted to love them together but by the end i didnt really think they were compatible beyond their shared kinks.
on a positive note ! i will say omg yay i love bi inclusion ! from a fellow bi, we loveeee to see it!
i want to go more in depth but i simply dont think i have it in me! long story shooooort: it was straightforward and fun but lacked a certain depth. there were a lot of themes that couldve been fleshed out and used to make this story more rich and that just didnt happen. not a terrible thing but kinda disappointing!
its not my least favorite ali hazelwood book - not even close! but its not my fave. i AM happy i bought it, its super cute and looks great on my bookshelf :) im sure ill re-read it some day!
excited to see what miss ali does next :P
i liked it well enough?! i had fun!?!
my hang-ups are kinda specific to my own personal preferences i think? like im not sure if the majority of people feel this way or if im just being pedantic... ANYWAYS!
i couldnt buy into vandy/luk's relationship -- there was something about it that just didnt feel authentic. not sure if this is a ~ spoiler ~ really bc, well, its a romance book ! BUT ill cover it anyways! -->
their relationship felt very shallow (pun not intended). it wasnt bad per se but it felt lackluster. i wanted to love them together but by the end i didnt really think they were compatible beyond their shared kinks.
on a positive note ! i will say omg yay i love bi inclusion ! from a fellow bi, we loveeee to see it!
i want to go more in depth but i simply dont think i have it in me! long story shooooort: it was straightforward and fun but lacked a certain depth. there were a lot of themes that couldve been fleshed out and used to make this story more rich and that just didnt happen. not a terrible thing but kinda disappointing!
its not my least favorite ali hazelwood book - not even close! but its not my fave. i AM happy i bought it, its super cute and looks great on my bookshelf :) im sure ill re-read it some day!
excited to see what miss ali does next :P
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Sexual content
Moderate: Bullying, Mental illness, Injury/Injury detail
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This may be my favorite Ali Hazelwood book ever, which is really saying something because I have given several of Ali's book five stars, and I devour everything she writes with a passion. She just has such a knack for writing chemistry, and her sex scenes are definitely the best I've ever read. This book stands out from Ali's incredible (and incredibly prolific) oeuvre for so many reasons: the world of competitive swimming and diving is sketched so well, Scarlett's mental blocks about diving resonate so deeply and feel so interesting, the growing relationship between Scarlett and Lukas is truly just swoon-worthy, the intimacy serves such a purpose and feels so rewarding, and every sex scene is the hottest thing I've ever read. I also loved the insights into family dynamics and about needing different things from romantic partners at different times in your life, and I just loved Scarlett and Lukas. I will be screaming from the rooftops about how much I love this book!!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Sexual content
Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Death of parent
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Ali Hazelwood is either hit or miss with me. Though I appreciate her characters utilizing STEM and building strong female protagonist, sometimes the execution can be completely off. In this instance, her couple who are aspiring Olympians are trying to build tension while dealing with the competitive world of aquatic sports, there is very little tension or build-up of a courtship. Her main character Scarlett is flat and at times obnoxious so it's difficult for me to believe what attraction the love interest, Lukas, has to her. In addition, the publisher and author tease a little kink play in their relationship but fail to deliver and instead readers are treated to just some basic aggressive vanilla sex. The hint of BDSM is nonexistent so it's misleading to say that some of this would be displayed with the exception of it being discussed and not shown in the book. Lastly, the revelation in the finale just wanted me to toss this book across the room and really dampen any empathy I had for these characters. If you want to know what it is, please check out the spoiler part of this review. Overall, this is an okay read for me!
Content Warnings
Minor: Bullying, Cursing, Infidelity, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Classism