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4.05 AVERAGE
4.05 AVERAGE
emotional
informative
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
*Spoilers*
There was nothing wrong with this book, but also nothing super memorable. I expected this to be Kinky as crap and honestly it was pretty mellow.
I think my main problem isn't I didn't feel attached to any of the characters. Scarlett was struggling with a mental block. I appreciate watching her grow and get through it with therapy. But honestly it was a kinda boring plot line. And it lasted SO long. Also Scarlett had a bunch of mental health issues. She was always sort of in denial about it. There wasn't a ton of history for them either. She mentions having an abusive father but it honestly doesn't really affected her, at least in a way that she thinks about it. It seemed a like there was no real reason for this plot point. In the beginning it mentioned often she was nervous around men because of it, but then by the end it's a non-issue. Though it was never really spoken about how she moved on. It was just magically gone.
Penn was ANNOYING. My lord I wanted to strangle her. I also never trusted her. She always came off as a backstabbing bitch. She outright pushes Scarlett towards her ex, then at the end throws a tantrum that she has him. Like huh? And then makes mention of how she is probably gonna circle back around to having a relationship with him because he's safe. Excuse me Miss Mam.
Then there was Lukas. He was too perfect. The guy had a patients level for Scarlett that was sky high. Holy cow. She was constantly second guessing their relationship and keeping him at a distance. Oh and the whole, he has sex with her then ignores her for 10 days was WILD. Scarlett forgave him so quickly for it. But I guess she probably knew the hell she was going to put him through.
I felt like from 15%-75% of the book the characters and their relationship just went stagnant. I would think they were finally making progress then they would go weeks or a month without seeing/speaking to each other. I don't know if Lukas ever reached out to Scarlett first. Even though it was obvious he had feelings for her, he just never cared enough to contact her?
Then Scarlett tells Lukas they need to put their relationship on hold because Penn is going through a hard time? Scarlett constantly put her relationship with Penn above her relationship with Lukas and it was yucky. Also them having sex after fighting felt gross.
I don't know. This one just didn't do it for me I guess. Honestly the epilogue was the best part. Probably because it was the one time in the entire book where both characters admitted they were in love with each other and were actively acting like a couple.
There was nothing wrong with this book, but also nothing super memorable. I expected this to be Kinky as crap and honestly it was pretty mellow.
I think my main problem isn't I didn't feel attached to any of the characters. Scarlett was struggling with a mental block. I appreciate watching her grow and get through it with therapy. But honestly it was a kinda boring plot line. And it lasted SO long. Also Scarlett had a bunch of mental health issues. She was always sort of in denial about it. There wasn't a ton of history for them either. She mentions having an abusive father but it honestly doesn't really affected her, at least in a way that she thinks about it. It seemed a like there was no real reason for this plot point. In the beginning it mentioned often she was nervous around men because of it, but then by the end it's a non-issue. Though it was never really spoken about how she moved on. It was just magically gone.
Penn was ANNOYING. My lord I wanted to strangle her. I also never trusted her. She always came off as a backstabbing bitch. She outright pushes Scarlett towards her ex, then at the end throws a tantrum that she has him. Like huh? And then makes mention of how she is probably gonna circle back around to having a relationship with him because he's safe. Excuse me Miss Mam.
Then there was Lukas. He was too perfect. The guy had a patients level for Scarlett that was sky high. Holy cow. She was constantly second guessing their relationship and keeping him at a distance. Oh and the whole, he has sex with her then ignores her for 10 days was WILD. Scarlett forgave him so quickly for it. But I guess she probably knew the hell she was going to put him through.
I felt like from 15%-75% of the book the characters and their relationship just went stagnant. I would think they were finally making progress then they would go weeks or a month without seeing/speaking to each other. I don't know if Lukas ever reached out to Scarlett first. Even though it was obvious he had feelings for her, he just never cared enough to contact her?
Then Scarlett tells Lukas they need to put their relationship on hold because Penn is going through a hard time? Scarlett constantly put her relationship with Penn above her relationship with Lukas and it was yucky. Also them having sex after fighting felt gross.
I don't know. This one just didn't do it for me I guess. Honestly the epilogue was the best part. Probably because it was the one time in the entire book where both characters admitted they were in love with each other and were actively acting like a couple.
This is just not one for me 🫣
medium-paced
emotional
funny
reflective
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
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
“From the very start, you had all the power. From the very start, I was in the palm of your hand.”
I saw this floating about and went in blind, opted for the audiobook…. And let me tell you! I was not disappointed by Ali hazlewoods work! My first time reading or listening to any of her stuff and I thoroughly enjoyed it, there was more spice than I was expecting too.. win win!
It’s a story based on competitive diving & swimming groups. Where a competing diver and ace swimme jump into a steamy hot college romance in New York! Scarlett is a junior at Stanford (a student athlete) aspiring to get into medschool while recovering from an injury mental block who accidentally falls in love with Lukas the swim captain, world champion and all round golden boy of the swimming world. The pressure of the olympics and the slip of a well guarded secret brings them together and I couldn’t be happier about it!
I LOVED these two together, they had passion, chemistry.. they had banter!! I enjoyed learning a little more about the diving and swimming world through their character, the only downside to their relationship for me was that it felt like they didn’t know how to openly communicate leading to them shutting themselves out at times.. which can be a little frustrating to me personally … I’ll find myself saying “ffs just tell him how you feel” or “ffs just tell her already” but other than that you can’t fault them, they’re there each orher at the drop of a hat, always supporting & wanting nothing but the best for one another. But those steamy scenes certainly rebuilt any communication issues that would arise.. like lukas cleaning her up, settling her down etc I mean wow! Who knew a college romance could be so sexy?!
I’m definitely going to have to purchase some more of Ali’s work in the future! I loved her writing style and the knowledge that she brought to this book, the character building. It was a really enjoyable listen for me.
If you like these tropes;
🖤 Sports romance
🖤 STEM
🖤 Swimmer x Diver
🖤 He falls first
🖤 Secret hookups
🖤Friends ex-boyfriend
🖤 No third act breakup
🖤 Love triangle
Then you’ll love this book!
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
“From the very start, you had all the power. From the very start, I was in the palm of your hand.”
I saw this floating about and went in blind, opted for the audiobook…. And let me tell you! I was not disappointed by Ali hazlewoods work! My first time reading or listening to any of her stuff and I thoroughly enjoyed it, there was more spice than I was expecting too.. win win!
It’s a story based on competitive diving & swimming groups. Where a competing diver and ace swimme jump into a steamy hot college romance in New York! Scarlett is a junior at Stanford (a student athlete) aspiring to get into medschool while recovering from an injury mental block who accidentally falls in love with Lukas the swim captain, world champion and all round golden boy of the swimming world. The pressure of the olympics and the slip of a well guarded secret brings them together and I couldn’t be happier about it!
I LOVED these two together, they had passion, chemistry.. they had banter!! I enjoyed learning a little more about the diving and swimming world through their character, the only downside to their relationship for me was that it felt like they didn’t know how to openly communicate leading to them shutting themselves out at times.. which can be a little frustrating to me personally … I’ll find myself saying “ffs just tell him how you feel” or “ffs just tell her already” but other than that you can’t fault them, they’re there each orher at the drop of a hat, always supporting & wanting nothing but the best for one another. But those steamy scenes certainly rebuilt any communication issues that would arise.. like lukas cleaning her up, settling her down etc I mean wow! Who knew a college romance could be so sexy?!
I’m definitely going to have to purchase some more of Ali’s work in the future! I loved her writing style and the knowledge that she brought to this book, the character building. It was a really enjoyable listen for me.
If you like these tropes;
🖤 Sports romance
🖤 STEM
🖤 Swimmer x Diver
🖤 He falls first
🖤 Secret hookups
🖤Friends ex-boyfriend
🖤 No third act breakup
🖤 Love triangle
Then you’ll love this book!
adventurous
emotional
funny
informative
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Another good and steamy romance from Ali. I especially enjoyed learning about the sport of diving at the collegiate and Olympian level.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Sexual content, Medical content, Medical trauma, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Domestic abuse
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
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 love anything by Ali Hazelwood. Big fan of this one!
Quite a bit of soft BDSM smut but was kind of wholesome, in the end.