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emotional
funny
inspiring
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This book changed my brain chemistry. I couldn't put it down. Ali created amazing characters that are super smart, funny and flawed. Scarlett doesn't accept defeat. She may be reluctant to come out of the shadows but with therapy and a safe place with Lukas she is able to get past her obstacles and achieve everything she dreams of.
There is no 3rd act breakup and the miscommunication is wrapped up very quickly.
This is definitely her spiciest contemporary romance with safely exploring BDSM kinks.
There is no 3rd act breakup and the miscommunication is wrapped up very quickly.
This is definitely her spiciest contemporary romance with safely exploring BDSM kinks.
Content Warnings
Minor: Domestic abuse
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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
Minor: Domestic abuse
emotional
funny
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, Death of parent
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Child abuse, Domestic abuse
emotional
hopeful
fast-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
Thank you Berkley for the free e-arc, you guys are my favs!
This book was HOT!
Yes, guys, even hotter than Not in Love. I loved that there was safe exploration of their extra curriculars and positive conversations about boundaries.
CONSENT IS SEXY!!!
Now, is it weird that Scarlett and Lukas are my age? Yes. Yes, it is.
Soley because they left me with a severe case of FOMO. I'm a junior in college rn and nowhere in my entire campus is there a man as good-looking as Lukas. This has only given me a further case of unrealistic expectations.
I had a great time with this, it definitely had me entertained BUT...
This one had me stumbling for a bit, the premise is a little strange towards the beginning. As the novel continues it picks up better flow as we get to see Lukas and Scarlett interact more often. Towards the end though, the steady pacing loses the handle, and we're met with a weird third-act breakup.
To be entirely honest, I wish this book didn't have a third act break up. It felt unnecessary and didn't really add to anything because it was towards the VERY VERY end. Like they had a pretty round up ending until that very last bit.
This is a sports romance so there has to be a sort of balance between the two. Given that this is Ali's first book within the sports romance genre, I'm going lighter on this but the balance between these two subjects could've been better written. There were certain scenes where the sports rep was great but was lacking in the romance department. If Ali continues within this genre, I have no doubt that we will see improvement.
I'm going to sound like a robot for a sec, but Ali, why wasn't this a double POV???? Seeing Luka be obsessed with Scarlett via her POV is something but seeing it through his eyes would've absolutely obliterated me. Justice for Lukas POV. I know his POV is somewhere in your files, Ali. Pretty please with sprinkles on top release it to the public.
Scarlett and Lukas have the physical chemistry & great banter? But it was lacking that spark that Ali's other couples have (In my opinion). We got to see them both open up to each other but there weren't enough scenes where I could see their dynamics flourish without the sex.
Do I wish we had gotten more time to know them separately?? And gotten more fluff? Definitely. But it overall wasn't too bad.
I was here for the hotness of it all, and I got exactly that. You guys are in for a treat!
This book was HOT!
Yes, guys, even hotter than Not in Love. I loved that there was safe exploration of their extra curriculars and positive conversations about boundaries.
CONSENT IS SEXY!!!
Now, is it weird that Scarlett and Lukas are my age? Yes. Yes, it is.
Soley because they left me with a severe case of FOMO. I'm a junior in college rn and nowhere in my entire campus is there a man as good-looking as Lukas. This has only given me a further case of unrealistic expectations.
I had a great time with this, it definitely had me entertained BUT...
This one had me stumbling for a bit, the premise is a little strange towards the beginning. As the novel continues it picks up better flow as we get to see Lukas and Scarlett interact more often. Towards the end though, the steady pacing loses the handle, and we're met with a weird third-act breakup.
To be entirely honest, I wish this book didn't have a third act break up. It felt unnecessary and didn't really add to anything because it was towards the VERY VERY end. Like they had a pretty round up ending until that very last bit.
This is a sports romance so there has to be a sort of balance between the two. Given that this is Ali's first book within the sports romance genre, I'm going lighter on this but the balance between these two subjects could've been better written. There were certain scenes where the sports rep was great but was lacking in the romance department. If Ali continues within this genre, I have no doubt that we will see improvement.
I'm going to sound like a robot for a sec, but Ali, why wasn't this a double POV???? Seeing Luka be obsessed with Scarlett via her POV is something but seeing it through his eyes would've absolutely obliterated me. Justice for Lukas POV. I know his POV is somewhere in your files, Ali. Pretty please with sprinkles on top release it to the public.
Scarlett and Lukas have the physical chemistry & great banter? But it was lacking that spark that Ali's other couples have (In my opinion). We got to see them both open up to each other but there weren't enough scenes where I could see their dynamics flourish without the sex.
Do I wish we had gotten more time to know them separately?? And gotten more fluff? Definitely. But it overall wasn't too bad.
I was here for the hotness of it all, and I got exactly that. You guys are in for a treat!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Domestic abuse, Toxic friendship
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Child abuse, Domestic abuse
funny
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I genuinely hate the way these two "meet-cute". Like I cannot fucking stand it and I don't know why it rubs me the wrong way entirely, but it does. There are redeemable parts of this book for sure, but I am still SO upset about the way their sexual preferences are so inappropriately revealed to someone else in front of the other. I actually fear I will never get over it and I'm not sorry.
Regardless of how you feel about sex and BDSM, the way that others find out about what you like should COME FROM YOU AND ONLY YOU. I literally teach Title IX regulations to my students, and you cannot go around 1) telling other people "hey, this person is into x y z," 2) saying "you two should have sex because you both enjoy the same things!" THEFUCK???? YOU LITERALLY JUST OUTED SOMEONE'S SEX LIFE TO SOMEONE THEY DID NOT DIVULGE THAT INFORMATION TO ORIGINALLY????????
I actually don't care if that person was drunk or under the influence; it's unacceptable & that would traumatize me so deeply that I'd never share intimate information with a friend ever again.
I can't even proceed to tell you about this book because I'm still so fucking pissed about the beginning of it. (Can't you tell????)
If you love Ali Hazelwood, I'm sure you'll love this one! I simply cannot get over the beginning and I refuse to (yes, in my big old age too, sue me!!!). This one was not it for me.
ALSO I'M NOT SORRY - JUST BECAUSE YOU HAVE THE SAME SEXUAL PREFERENCES AS SOMEONE ELSE, DOES NOT MEAN YOU ARE IMMEDIATELY COMPATIBLE !!!!!!!!! OH MY GOD !!!!!!!!!!!
Regardless of how you feel about sex and BDSM, the way that others find out about what you like should COME FROM YOU AND ONLY YOU. I literally teach Title IX regulations to my students, and you cannot go around 1) telling other people "hey, this person is into x y z," 2) saying "you two should have sex because you both enjoy the same things!" THEFUCK???? YOU LITERALLY JUST OUTED SOMEONE'S SEX LIFE TO SOMEONE THEY DID NOT DIVULGE THAT INFORMATION TO ORIGINALLY????????
I actually don't care if that person was drunk or under the influence; it's unacceptable & that would traumatize me so deeply that I'd never share intimate information with a friend ever again.
I can't even proceed to tell you about this book because I'm still so fucking pissed about the beginning of it. (Can't you tell????)
If you love Ali Hazelwood, I'm sure you'll love this one! I simply cannot get over the beginning and I refuse to (yes, in my big old age too, sue me!!!). This one was not it for me.
ALSO I'M NOT SORRY - JUST BECAUSE YOU HAVE THE SAME SEXUAL PREFERENCES AS SOMEONE ELSE, DOES NOT MEAN YOU ARE IMMEDIATELY COMPATIBLE !!!!!!!!! OH MY GOD !!!!!!!!!!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child abuse, Mental illness, Toxic relationship
Minor: Bullying, Medical content, Death of parent
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Minor: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse
funny
lighthearted
fast-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:
No
Drop the lists Ali!
Content Warnings
Minor: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Death of parent
emotional
funny
lighthearted
slow-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:
No
Rating: 4/5 stars
A college sports romance about a diver recovering from an injury and an Olympian swimmer who share a secret.
I always love me an Ali Hazelwood MMC, and Lukas Blomqvist is the latest in that illustrious catalog. He was super sweet and definitely down bad for his girl, which I always appreciate. Scarlett was also super relatable (not the top-in-her-field DI athlete thing, unfortunately, but the “does everyone secretly hate me?!” insecurities), particularly if I tap into my college era emotional state.
Best of all were the THE LOVE HYPOTHESIS cameos, which absolutely gave me life! Olive and Adam remain the best ever.
CW: Domestic abuse/emotional abuse
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse