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emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
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:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Medical content, Medical trauma
Minor: Death, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Grief, Death of parent, Alcohol
emotional
funny
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:
Yes
Ali really did it with this one! Lukas is such a babe, like sign me up to be a swimming fan girl. He was so thoughtful and caring, making sure he met Scarlett where she was at and being what she needed. And our girl Scarlett? We love a comeback story and hers with diving is no different. I loved seeing her find her way back to her groove and love of the sport. Lukas and Scarlett were so well matched (and not just talking about the kinks of it all). They were two puzzles pieces that just fit together. They saw each other, while others didn’t understand them. I do wish they communicated more openly about their feelings. It felt a little dragged out. Also, I have to say it- I did not like Pen at all and didn’t want redemption for her. Despite that I really enjoyed this book. I recommend this if you are looking for hot af spice paired with deep emotional connection.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child abuse, Toxic friendship
Minor: Bullying, Infidelity, Stalking, Death of parent
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Ali Hazelwood is either hit or miss with me. Though I appreciate her characters utilizing STEM and building strong female protagonist, sometimes the execution can be completely off. In this instance, her couple who are aspiring Olympians are trying to build tension while dealing with the competitive world of aquatic sports, there is very little tension or build-up of a courtship. Her main character Scarlett is flat and at times obnoxious so it's difficult for me to believe what attraction the love interest, Lukas, has to her. In addition, the publisher and author tease a little kink play in their relationship but fail to deliver and instead readers are treated to just some basic aggressive vanilla sex. The hint of BDSM is nonexistent so it's misleading to say that some of this would be displayed with the exception of it being discussed and not shown in the book. Lastly, the revelation in the finale just wanted me to toss this book across the room and really dampen any empathy I had for these characters. If you want to know what it is, please check out the spoiler part of this review. Overall, this is an okay read for me!
Content Warnings
Minor: Bullying, Cursing, Infidelity, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Classism
emotional
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
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
This is my second book by Ali Hazelwood, and I can say that I REALLY like the way she tells her stories.
I think the best part of Hazelwood's writing is in the details.
All of her characters are vibrant.
There aren't multiple POVs, but she manages to convey exactly what each character feels just through the protagonist's observations.
I really like that before the characters even confess their feelings, we already discover a lot just by the way she describes their glances, their touches, and the little details of each one.
I really like all of the characters here, even the ones that made me angry (I'm looking at you, Pen!).
Scarlett is a bit too naive and a bit selfish for not considering Luk's feelings and putting them below Pen's (especially when he does the exact opposite), but I simply love her with Lukas.
I really like the way Ali managed to show how Scarlett and Lukas are almost perfect for each other.
A lot of their relationship is about noticing each other's peculiarities and learning about who they are and who they can be together.
I really like Luk's toughness and how he's a very straightforward guy. There aren't many characters like him who don't rely on lies or sarcasm. It's cool.
About the BDSM in the book: I don't think Ali needed to make it a focus of the plot since there's almost nothing that's truly BDSM in Deep End.
I don't know if she didn't want to shock her general readers, but I felt it was pretty superficial. Scarlett just likes to be bossed around, and Luk likes to boss around. There's not much beyond that.
But for her most explicit book, it's fine.
Anyway, I still loved it.
Just like in Bride, I really liked the development of the relationships between the characters and the way they are almost palpable because they're so real.
I find Hazelwood's dialogues to be very well thought out, intelligent, and with a very refreshing cadence. I don't know if there is a universe in which the conversations she writes are less than witty.
My second book by the author, and both are 5 stars. I can't wait to read the rest of her work.
I think the best part of Hazelwood's writing is in the details.
All of her characters are vibrant.
There aren't multiple POVs, but she manages to convey exactly what each character feels just through the protagonist's observations.
I really like that before the characters even confess their feelings, we already discover a lot just by the way she describes their glances, their touches, and the little details of each one.
I really like all of the characters here, even the ones that made me angry (I'm looking at you, Pen!).
Scarlett is a bit too naive and a bit selfish for not considering Luk's feelings and putting them below Pen's (especially when he does the exact opposite), but I simply love her with Lukas.
I really like the way Ali managed to show how Scarlett and Lukas are almost perfect for each other.
A lot of their relationship is about noticing each other's peculiarities and learning about who they are and who they can be together.
I really like Luk's toughness and how he's a very straightforward guy. There aren't many characters like him who don't rely on lies or sarcasm. It's cool.
About the BDSM in the book: I don't think Ali needed to make it a focus of the plot since there's almost nothing that's truly BDSM in Deep End.
I don't know if she didn't want to shock her general readers, but I felt it was pretty superficial. Scarlett just likes to be bossed around, and Luk likes to boss around. There's not much beyond that.
But for her most explicit book, it's fine.
Anyway, I still loved it.
Just like in Bride, I really liked the development of the relationships between the characters and the way they are almost palpable because they're so real.
I find Hazelwood's dialogues to be very well thought out, intelligent, and with a very refreshing cadence. I don't know if there is a universe in which the conversations she writes are less than witty.
My second book by the author, and both are 5 stars. I can't wait to read the rest of her work.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Sexual content
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child abuse, Drug use, Infidelity, Abandonment, Alcohol
dark
emotional
tense
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:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Medical content, Medical trauma, Abandonment
Minor: Child abuse, Emotional abuse
Is it me or have a lot of contemporary/romcoms lately had MMCs who were pieces of shit?
He fell for you and wanted you as a third while dating your “closest” friend???? And then continued to prioritize her while sleeping with/dating you???? I would be doing hard time if man ever tried that with me.
I’m really supposed to root for someone who emotionally cheated during a large part of their previous relationship, and wasn’t even the one to break it up??? May this love never find me.
#bringbackgoodmeninromcoms2025
I’m really supposed to root for someone who emotionally cheated during a large part of their previous relationship, and wasn’t even the one to break it up??? May this love never find me.
#bringbackgoodmeninromcoms2025
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic friendship
Moderate: Infidelity
emotional
fast-paced
Thank you to Ali Hazelwood, Berkley Publishing, and PRH Audio for the free audiobook!
I have such a weakness for Olympic athlete stories, and Deep End completely delivered! Ali Hazelwood once again brings her signature mix of intelligence, romance, and deeply realistic conflicts to the page. Scarlett and Lukas had such a compelling dynamic—her determination to focus on med school, his strict discipline as a world-class swimmer, and the undeniable chemistry between them made for such a captivating read.
I really enjoyed the duet narration style, with Thérèse Plummer voicing all the feminine characters and Ben Holtzmuller handling the masculine ones—it made the audiobook feel so immersive. The audio quality difference between the two narrators was a little noticeable at first, but it quickly became a non-issue. Their voices complemented each other beautifully, and I especially loved Ben Holtzmuller’s Swedish accent!
This book is packed with emotion, intensity, and steamy romance, and I couldn’t put it down. Highly recommend for fans of sports romance, college settings, and Ali Hazelwood’s signature storytelling!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Infidelity, Alcohol