You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
adventurous
hopeful
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
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic friendship
Minor: Bullying, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Medical content, Medical trauma
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
Besides all the spice or smut (which you are able to skip out of your own free will), this is an unironically good beginner romance book. Nothing toxic, everything was consensual and it was only corny once, or twice, and probably thrice. Only thing that bothered me was Pen. How the FMC didn’t immediately square up? Idk.
I need better morals.
I need better morals.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Toxic friendship
Minor: Bullying, Domestic abuse, Death of parent
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
sad
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 knew that I would love this book. I will read the shit out of Ali Hazelwood’s books and love every single second of it.
Lukas Blomqvist and Scarlett Vandermeer.
Lukas by far is one of the best Main Male Characters that I’ve had the pleasure of reading about.
This might be my favorite Ali Hazelwood book so far.
Lukas Blomqvist and Scarlett Vandermeer.
Lukas by far is one of the best Main Male Characters that I’ve had the pleasure of reading about.
This might be my favorite Ali Hazelwood book so far.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Minor: Domestic abuse
emotional
funny
tense
slow-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
Not bad, but Vandy really gets on my nerves with taking so long. I don’t hate her character, she just frustrated me sometimes. Love Lukas though. I literally had to stop reading it a couple times bc it was stressing me out.
Content Warnings
Minor: Child abuse, Domestic abuse
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
This was a fun read. I loved Lukas and Scarlett together. Although I did feel Lukas dropped Scarlett a lot for Penelope. But other than that I loved them together
Penelope was definitely not a good friend to either Lukas or Scarlett. Honestly I got the feeling she broke up with Lukas because she caught feelings for her TA and she didn't want to feel bad and just blamed the break up on her and Lukas's incompatibility in the bedroom. I feel she put way too much blame on Lukas.
And then towards the end Penelope had no right to be upset about Scarlett and Lukas. Although I did see that 3rd act break up coming a mile away when none of their friends know about pen and Lukas's break up.
Overall this was a really great read. The 3rd act break up was annoying and unnecessary. But I really enjoyed it. I works certainly recommend.
Penelope was definitely not a good friend to either Lukas or Scarlett. Honestly I got the feeling she broke up with Lukas because she caught feelings for her TA and she didn't want to feel bad and just blamed the break up on her and Lukas's incompatibility in the bedroom. I feel she put way too much blame on Lukas.
And then towards the end Penelope had no right to be upset about Scarlett and Lukas. Although I did see that 3rd act break up coming a mile away when none of their friends know about pen and Lukas's break up.
Overall this was a really great read. The 3rd act break up was annoying and unnecessary. But I really enjoyed it. I works certainly recommend.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Bullying, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Grief, Death of parent
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
This is not my fav of Ali's books, but I did still enjoy it. Just didn't really blow me away *shrug*
We didn't get to see a lot of Scarlett and Lukas together outside of sexy times which makes sense logistically cause they're traveling, busy athletes, and also they are not actually dating. I personally think we could've gotten a bit more swoony romance, if they had entered into this sexual arrangement, but then they like: couldn't stop talking, even on trips, or did spend more time together. The moments they are together, Lukas is being Scarlett's pseudo-therapist, which like, we love a supportive man. IDK I just wanted more!
Someone told me Deep End is to kink relationships as Bride is to omegaverse - and I think that sums it up perfectly.
For a sports romance there is a good amount of actual sports (diving, barely any swimming) as someone who knows nothing about that sport it seemed accurate, but a diver might have a different opinion?
Pen is actually the worst friend ever and she treats both Scarlett and Lukas horribly, and they forgive her for what reason? idk she needs to go to therapy herself.
Also like what did happen to those other divers who suddenly weren't able to compete? Was Pen's test a false positive like they said or was there funny business? I know that's not the point of this book, but it seemed funny to bring up all these like bullying girls and nefarious possibilities and in the end it was just all coincidence?
Anyway, of course Ali is good at writing men so Lukas was great and I really appreciated the storyline of Scarlett's mistrust of men in general (so real) and how that was handled so delicately from Lukas entering her life and this relationship.
I did also realize that Swedish accents? not my thing
We didn't get to see a lot of Scarlett and Lukas together outside of sexy times which makes sense logistically cause they're traveling, busy athletes, and also they are not actually dating. I personally think we could've gotten a bit more swoony romance, if they had entered into this sexual arrangement, but then they like: couldn't stop talking, even on trips, or did spend more time together. The moments they are together, Lukas is being Scarlett's pseudo-therapist, which like, we love a supportive man. IDK I just wanted more!
Someone told me Deep End is to kink relationships as Bride is to omegaverse - and I think that sums it up perfectly.
For a sports romance there is a good amount of actual sports (diving, barely any swimming) as someone who knows nothing about that sport it seemed accurate, but a diver might have a different opinion?
Also like what did happen to those other divers who suddenly weren't able to compete? Was Pen's test a false positive like they said or was there funny business? I know that's not the point of this book, but it seemed funny to bring up all these like bullying girls and nefarious possibilities and in the end it was just all coincidence?
Anyway, of course Ali is good at writing men so Lukas was great and I really appreciated the storyline of Scarlett's mistrust of men in general (so real) and how that was handled so delicately from Lukas entering her life and this relationship.
I did also realize that Swedish accents? not my thing
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Toxic friendship
Minor: Bullying, Domestic abuse, Sexual violence, Death of parent
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
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
Typical Ali Hazelwood story line. People in STEM. He falls first, and hard! Someone tries to sabotage happiness. Love wins!
I love the development of Scarlett and Lukas's relationship. Their support of each other and helping to work through trauma.
I love the development of Scarlett and Lukas's relationship. Their support of each other and helping to work through trauma.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse