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Too explicit for me. This is NOT like her earlier books.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Bullying, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Medical trauma, Gaslighting
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
tense
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
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!! I know Ali Hazelwood is never going to read this review, but I feel like if she ever did, she'd appreciate how HARD I'm fangirling right now😍 I've been a mega-fan of hers ever since I inhaled The Love Hypothesis in a day (when I should have been doing homework, but whatever), but genuinely? This is lowkey on a different level. Don't get me wrong! I will always adore The Love Hypothesis, but Deep End? I don't know, guys... It kinda hits different. The longing. The stoic white man whose strangely emotionally mature. The sex. Ali POPPED OFF with the BDSM stuff, ngl. This book made me laugh and cry and gave me heart palpitations and also extremely warm, gooey feelings in my stomach. I inhaled this book and I already want to read it again.
Scarlett was just *chef's kiss* I immediately loved her and wanted her to feel loved. She deserves the world and she got it! Because Lukas? OH MY GOD🤤 I don't know what it is about cold men who fall in love and only show emotion with the woman they're in love with, but oh boy... Do they hit. And Ali is the QUEEN of writing them. His consistency and support of Scarlett was so beautiful to read, but also his own trauma and imperfections??? Somehow made him hotter. Early on, he does something that made me😡 And I was like "How is Ali gonna explain this one for him???" But GUYS! The explanation??? Heartbreaking. It, of course, didn't excuse his actions. But it did make me🥺🥺🥺🥺Yes, I am referring to when he ghosted her to prove to himself that he could go without her, but HE COULDN'T. I mean, how are you supposed to stay mad at him for that??? Especially with the way Scarlett found out🥺
Anyway, catch me listening to the audiobook next🤪 I need to hear Lukas in all of his Swedish glory. (Please, please, please let the male narrator actually voice Lukas throughout the book in a Swedish accent😭 It doesn't even have to be good! I just need to hear him🥺)
Scarlett was just *chef's kiss* I immediately loved her and wanted her to feel loved. She deserves the world and she got it! Because Lukas? OH MY GOD🤤 I don't know what it is about cold men who fall in love and only show emotion with the woman they're in love with, but oh boy... Do they hit. And Ali is the QUEEN of writing them. His consistency and support of Scarlett was so beautiful to read, but also his own trauma and imperfections??? Somehow made him hotter. Early on, he does something that made me😡 And I was like "How is Ali gonna explain this one for him???" But GUYS! The explanation??? Heartbreaking. It, of course, didn't excuse his actions. But it did make me🥺🥺🥺🥺
Anyway, catch me listening to the audiobook next🤪 I need to hear Lukas in all of his Swedish glory. (Please, please, please let the male narrator actually voice Lukas throughout the book in a Swedish accent😭 It doesn't even have to be good! I just need to hear him🥺)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Death of parent, Alcohol
Moderate: Bullying, Drug use
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Minor: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Death of parent
Ali Hazelwood has been one of my favorite authors since I read her debut novel, The Love Hypothesis, and Deep End does not disappoint. There was a lot of buzz around this release; I'd been hearing it was quite possibly her best book yet, so I had high expectations going in. And somehow, this book met them! I'm utterly obsessed with everything in it and even though it's relatively long for a romance novel, I didn't feel the length at all. It felt like it flew by, leaving me with heart palpitations and gooey feelings.
-Amelia
-Amelia
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Death of parent
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Emotional abuse, Sexual content
Moderate: Child abuse, Mental illness, Toxic friendship, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Bullying, Domestic abuse, Death of parent
A bit more kinky than is my preference, but it was still a good book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Domestic abuse
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-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 will be cautious about who I recommend this book to. It's explicit and it's not going to be liked by everyone. Read trigger warnings if that's your concern.
However, I adored the characters so much. Any time I thought of an excuse to drop the rating, I realized how it was actually a dumb reason and can't count as a negative because it was [insert reason].
The MMC is an adorable Swedish man who is caring and patient towards the FMC. Ali Hazelwood keeps up her science-themed romances, and in a year where I'm focusing on learning languages, it was fun to have a second culture added into the mix.
However, I adored the characters so much. Any time I thought of an excuse to drop the rating, I realized how it was actually a dumb reason and can't count as a negative because it was [insert reason].
The MMC is an adorable Swedish man who is caring and patient towards the FMC. Ali Hazelwood keeps up her science-themed romances, and in a year where I'm focusing on learning languages, it was fun to have a second culture added into the mix.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Sexual content, Grief
Moderate: Bullying, Medical trauma, Toxic friendship, Alcohol
Minor: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Death of parent
BDSM- but it's actually light. Absolutely less than 50 shades of Grey, if you're concerned. Practically vanilla.
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:
Complicated
This book fcks. In more ways than one. This is tied (possibly usurped) with Bride as my favorite Ali Hazelwood. Only Ali could make me *not* want a dual POV because I'm scared of how obsessed Lukas's inner monologue would've been I probably wouldn't have made it. This book had me giggling and kicking my feet on the highway.
thanks Libro.fm and Berkley for my advanced listening copy
thanks Libro.fm and Berkley for my advanced listening copy
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, Gaslighting
sexual content includes exploration of kink as well as negotiated power exchange sex
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
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
Once again, a great book from Ali. I don’t think it was her best because I felt it lacked in the development of the main relationship. But, I loved the whole progress we see Scarlett go through.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Sexual content, Grief, Death of parent, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Bullying, Child abuse, Domestic abuse
emotional
funny
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Death of parent