Reviews with content warning for Domestic abuse - Deep End

Reviews tagging 'Domestic abuse'

Deep End by Ali Hazelwood

267 reviews

magicalmorgan's review against another edition

4.75

emotional funny 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

I won't lie, I originally bought this book cause I found a really pretty edition with sprayed edges and the concept sounded interesting but I ended up loving this book so much more than I thought I would 😭

Content Warnings

_thebookishintrovert_'s review against another edition

5.0

emotional funny 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

God did I love this book. The audio was phenomenal and I DEVOURED it. I couldn’t get enough and when I wasn’t listening to it, I was thinking about listening to it. This book just might be my new favorite by Ali. Actually, scratch that, IT IS my new favorite by her.

Also can we talk about Lukas? Lukas. F**king. Blomqvist. Aka my newest book boyfriend. This man right here? 😮‍💨 Everything that just came out of his mouth had me falling in love with him. And then how he was with Scarlett just reinforced that love. Their chemistry was off the charts and the banter was perfection. Oh and the spice was H O T (and the audio probably turned it up notch because damn).

Ugh, I just can’t get over how much I loved this one.

Content Warnings

yilliun's review against another edition

3.0

emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

I can start with the good stuff: this was a decent exploration of two individual’s first kink relationship. I think the kinks they explore are very entry level, realistic, nothing too in the deep end (pun intended). I can admit to some giggling, kicking of my feet, twirling my hair, etc when Lukas said some of his iconic lines in the book. I also think that we got some good mental health representation with Scarlett’s anxiety returning to diving after her injury. Unfortunately, that’s where the praise ends.

My main issue comes down to how they practiced safer sex/ kink. You don’t get any on page negotiation of scenes which I felt really uncomfortable with not being incorporated (a very rare moment of tell me AND show me). The list they fill out is great and all, but it doesn’t mean much (to me) without the accompaniment of a conversation NOT INTERRUPTED BY PEN. The amount that Scarlett and Lukas don’t communicate/ text each other seemed totally unrealistic. A lot of their issues seemed to be solved after a bathroom quickie. The core issues of miscommunication were not addressed.

Adding onto this, the somewhat surprise anal sex scene when Lukas was not in the right headspace to dom really put me off. To me, that read as a very unsafe situation for both of them. Furthermore, following their first sexual encounter (unprotected without Lukas having a recent negative STI panel), he basically abandons her forgoing any responsibility for more long term post-scene aftercare. This leaves Scarlett obviously confused and hurt and in a state of sub drop which was totally avoidable.

Pen is shit friend too.

I didn’t dislike this book; I still somewhat enjoyed it, however, my issues with their communication overshadowed most of that enjoyment.

Content Warnings