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emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Minor: Bullying, Domestic abuse, Death of parent
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship
Minor: Bullying, Domestic abuse, Death of parent
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: Sexual content
Minor: Domestic abuse
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-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: Sexual content
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Grief, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Death of parent
dark
emotional
slow-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
Overall, I enjoyed this book. I love Ali’s writing, and I appreciate that her FMCs are intelligent women. I thought the spice (🌶️🌶️🌶️) was excellent, and definitely something new compared to previous Ali books. I also appreciated a sports romance that was not about hockey, since right now many are hockey focused.
The relationship between Scarlett and Lukas left me feeling a bit lacking. I don’t mind a slow burn, but this felt too slow to me. I stayed reading for hours hoping we’d get a spark of hope. I felt like I had to read almost the whole book before I was sure they’d even end up together.
I struggled a lot with Scarlett’s and Lukas’ lack of and miscommunication scenarios. The fact that they were frequently apart throughout the book was tough for me. I was also kind of bummed about how often Pen came up in their communications. I felt like the story focused just as much on Pen’s third-wheeling as it did on Scarlett and Lukas, and I really wanted to just read about Scarlett and Lukas.
I also generally like the sports romance books I’ve read. I think this one almost focused too much on the sport itself and less on the romance and/or the familiar women in STEM theme(s) I’m used to and love from Ali’s books. I wish they spent more time in the lab than at the pool, or equal time at both. We love smart pairs 💕
Looking forward to picking up my next Ali read❣️
Content Warnings
Minor: Domestic abuse
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Child abuse, Domestic abuse
emotional
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
"If you decide to go for it, I think it should be me."
With books like this (about communities that face significant stigma) it's refreshing to read something that feels both catered to expanding the understanding kink it within vanilla communities while also staying true to the experiences of kink communities and their relationships. I am newer to Ali's work and so far have only read this and Bride and have been pleasantly surprised. Unlike Dark Romances that lean into the moral ambiguity of falling for the "bad guy", Deep end explores the nuances of power exchange from a very realistic point of view. Ali leverages experiences like "i've always known i felt this way" and the clumsy feelings associated with kink checklists and navigating consent and real life alongside them. There are no consent violations, there are safe words and consent negotiations.
That said, the plot left me wanting more. I loved the organic and intense development of their relationship, but I hated to see a friend throw another friend under the bus, and wanted to see more of their relationship existing outside kink at the end of the book. The ending, compared to the hundreds of pages they spent falling in love, felt a little abrupt and disappointing(I mean the girl flew to switzerland to reconcile with him and we didn't even get to see the midsommar fallout).
All in all, this was an easy read with some solid spice and great character development. I wish she'd mentioned Pen 40% less, that there'd been a few more spice scenes and the ending didn't feel like slamming on the brakes but i would read this again. It's refreshing to see a book about Kink that doesn't fall into the familiar tropes of fifty shades.
Favourite Quotes:
"“I always knew, to some degree. I mean, I wasn’t browsing eBay for deals on PVC masks in middle school, but once I became, um, aware of and interested in sex, I always had . . . fantasies. Ideas.” I shrug, and don’t add, It felt right. It feels right."
“I know it sounds counterintuitive, but I’m usually overthinking something. Desperately trying to avoid screwing up and working myself up to a panic.” Am I taking up too much space? Boring you? Disappointing you? Would you rather be somewhere else, with someone else? “Overwhelmed by the burden of wondering whether I’m doing it right.”
“Regardless, no. I don’t think it makes sense to conflate everyday violence with the kind of stuff you—we—are into. In fact, I don’t think the two things are related at all.” His gaze is steady. “What you and I want, it’s all about trust. We decide to be part of it. It sounds like whatever happened to you had little to do with you making any decisions, right?”
With books like this (about communities that face significant stigma) it's refreshing to read something that feels both catered to expanding the understanding kink it within vanilla communities while also staying true to the experiences of kink communities and their relationships. I am newer to Ali's work and so far have only read this and Bride and have been pleasantly surprised. Unlike Dark Romances that lean into the moral ambiguity of falling for the "bad guy", Deep end explores the nuances of power exchange from a very realistic point of view. Ali leverages experiences like "i've always known i felt this way" and the clumsy feelings associated with kink checklists and navigating consent and real life alongside them. There are no consent violations, there are safe words and consent negotiations.
That said, the plot left me wanting more. I loved the organic and intense development of their relationship, but I hated to see a friend throw another friend under the bus, and wanted to see more of their relationship existing outside kink at the end of the book. The ending, compared to the hundreds of pages they spent falling in love, felt a little abrupt and disappointing
All in all, this was an easy read with some solid spice and great character development. I wish she'd mentioned Pen 40% less, that there'd been a few more spice scenes and the ending didn't feel like slamming on the brakes but i would read this again. It's refreshing to see a book about Kink that doesn't fall into the familiar tropes of fifty shades.
Favourite Quotes:
“I know it sounds counterintuitive, but I’m usually overthinking something. Desperately trying to avoid screwing up and working myself up to a panic.” Am I taking up too much space? Boring you? Disappointing you? Would you rather be somewhere else, with someone else? “Overwhelmed by the burden of wondering whether I’m doing it right.”
“Regardless, no. I don’t think it makes sense to conflate everyday violence with the kind of stuff you—we—are into. In fact, I don’t think the two things are related at all.” His gaze is steady. “What you and I want, it’s all about trust. We decide to be part of it. It sounds like whatever happened to you had little to do with you making any decisions, right?”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child abuse, Domestic abuse
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I couldn't put this book down. The way Ali was able to weave several different plot points into one without anything feeling like filler was masterful. I could only ever hope to have the emotional maturity and growth depicted in these pages.
The prologue content was refreshingly different than the romance book norm.
The only deduction for me was a bit of reality suspension when Pen's feelings needed to be considered over and over and over.
The prologue content was refreshingly different than the romance book norm.
The only deduction for me was a bit of reality suspension when Pen's feelings needed to be considered over and over and over.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Alcohol
Minor: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Toxic relationship, Death of parent
funny
lighthearted
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
A great palette cleanser read, the audiobook version is amazing. I’m sad it’s over.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Domestic abuse, Death of parent
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
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:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Domestic abuse