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emotional
funny
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The first half was great and then my excitement faded and the friend drama made me want to kms. I was so frustrated with the characters I almost dnfed. Also the mc was so fucking frustrating and there wasn’t really any “kink” just them saying kink every 5 seconds. I was so exited for this book but it was really disappointing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Toxic friendship
Moderate: Sexual content, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Death of parent, Abandonment
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Ali Hazelwood does it again! This is definitely an adult romance featuring two college athletes falling in love. It’s never a surprise when you jump into an Ali Hazelwood and within the first couple chapters a romance begins right away , and I really appreciate that!
I consider a few of her other books to be in the YA category, but don’t be misled, this is definitely an adult romance. It is open door with very spicy scenes throughout. Featuring BDSM and Dom sub.
This is not my favorite type of romance genre, but she really does know how to write a heartwarming romance with true depth. She shows that trauma can bind us together but sometimes you have to move on from the past. She also portrays PTSD and mental blocks well in this book.
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/4
I consider a few of her other books to be in the YA category, but don’t be misled, this is definitely an adult romance. It is open door with very spicy scenes throughout. Featuring BDSM and Dom sub.
This is not my favorite type of romance genre, but she really does know how to write a heartwarming romance with true depth. She shows that trauma can bind us together but sometimes you have to move on from the past. She also portrays PTSD and mental blocks well in this book.
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/4
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Toxic friendship
Minor: Mental illness
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Death of parent, Toxic friendship
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Overall this was a cute and enjoyable read, but not as spicy as advertised. It's a very Ali Hazelwood take on kink.
The third act conflict was ridiculous and unnecessary. Just immature drama and lack of communication.
MMC really carried this novel. He's not without flaws, but he made the book fun to read.
FMC, on the other hand, was pretty annoying and unconvincing as a character. So many things about her didn't make sense.
The third act conflict was ridiculous and unnecessary. Just immature drama and lack of communication.
MMC really carried this novel. He's not without flaws, but he made the book fun to read.
FMC, on the other hand, was pretty annoying and unconvincing as a character. So many things about her didn't make sense.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Death of parent, Toxic friendship
Minor: Body shaming, Bullying, Colonisation
emotional
inspiring
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: Mental illness, Sexual content, Injury/Injury detail
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-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
Graphic: Mental illness, Toxic friendship
emotional
funny
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
In a perfect world I would’ve given this five stars and would’ve never had to read about the character “Pen”, who was the literary equivalent of a gravel on my shoe. The trigger warnings made me think this book was gonna be way kinkier than it was. I’m a sucker for books where the guy falls first and our MMC was down bad from the get-go. Lukas is the perfect guy and I really wish we could’ve gotten his POV too. I listened to the audiobook and Ben Holtzmuller did a wonderful job voicing him. Therese Plummer really gave life to the confidence issues Scarlett was experiencing and her hesitation in realizing her feelings.
“From the very start, you had all the power. From the very start, I was in the palm of your hand” took my BREATH away and I could forgive a multitude of sins for a man who said things like that.
Like I said before, my only complaint was with the friend drama that felt unnecessary at times. Honestly the only part that reminded me this is a college romance. Definitely no complaints about the spicy parts 🔥🔥🔥 And my BABIES Adam and Olive got a cameo 💕
“From the very start, you had all the power. From the very start, I was in the palm of your hand” took my BREATH away and I could forgive a multitude of sins for a man who said things like that.
Like I said before, my only complaint was with the friend drama that felt unnecessary at times. Honestly the only part that reminded me this is a college romance. Definitely no complaints about the spicy parts 🔥🔥🔥 And my BABIES Adam and Olive got a cameo 💕
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Toxic friendship, Injury/Injury detail
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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: Child abuse, Mental illness
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
tense
slow-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
Deep End 🏊🏼♂️ 💦 Yes I listened to it, so let’s dive right in! (get it?!) I really loved Lukas and so hope @alihazelwood gives us a deluxe edition with some of his point of view! Scarlett suffered some childhood abuse, bullying and is still a loner even at Stanford. Lukas is so perfect for her and her insecurities that most of us women can relate to. I personally wish this was spicier (you can look up all the controversy on Booktok and social media). I wanted them to complete their list! It was also a slow burn to me. Yes they talk about sex but nothing happens until chapter 25. Always read TWs before you listen to or read a book. Love the cover too 😉 so whet!
⭐️⭐️⭐️.75
🌶️🌶️.5
🎧🎧🎧.5
⭐️⭐️⭐️.75
🌶️🌶️.5
🎧🎧🎧.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness
Moderate: Bullying, Sexual content, Toxic friendship, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Body shaming, Child abuse
emotional
funny
inspiring
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
Oh, okay. Wow. I went into this mostly blind aside from it being a sports romance. Never read another Ali book either. Which I will now immediately be amending.
I loved this book. Devoured it. Thought about it incessantly. Still thinking about it. Will probably continue to weeks from now! I think it may have unlocked something in my brain I have yet to fully comprehend. A new neural gateway, mayhaps...
To see the gradual way Scarlett and Lukas’ relationship develops into something more after the first scene of the two of them is so, just — right. I honestly didn’t know how we’d get there, but I dug my heels in tightly the first day I started the book until we get: The Email. And I know I’m locked into a book and a committed to a good romance if my stomach flips. And god, did it flip. I laid there wide awake at 2 AM with the email repeating in my head like a mantra. Like that meme of the cartoon figure lying on the floor staring at the ceiling surrounded by the puddle of their own tears and the same word repeating all around them. I knew then I was, like, deeply in big delulu love with Lukas Blomqvist.
I’ve never read trad pub BDSM before simply because I felt it so often lacked the healthiest aspects of it and the correct portrayal of control. But this book went above and beyond that. Lukas may be the catalyst that differentiates “punishments” (born from anxiety and born from sexual roles) for Scarlett, but to see her do all the work on her own and be proud of herself for getting there felt so empowering. The dynamic was so believable and so interesting to see evolve. I cannot stress how much I enjoyed every scene and the way it continued to deepen their connection, understanding, and respect for one another.
There are so, so many things I enjoyed about this book that I could keep writing this review until it resembled the shape and length of a novella, but I’ll rein in my enthusiasm and just say this: there’s an aching pit in my stomach now that I only get after finishing a 5-star read and I fear it can only be filled by rereading this book another “million times!” (“Hyperbole?”). I’m in love with this book and am now a forever fan of Ali Hazelwood. ♡
I loved this book. Devoured it. Thought about it incessantly. Still thinking about it. Will probably continue to weeks from now! I think it may have unlocked something in my brain I have yet to fully comprehend. A new neural gateway, mayhaps...
To see the gradual way Scarlett and Lukas’ relationship develops into something more after the first scene of the two of them is so, just — right. I honestly didn’t know how we’d get there, but I dug my heels in tightly the first day I started the book until we get: The Email. And I know I’m locked into a book and a committed to a good romance if my stomach flips. And god, did it flip. I laid there wide awake at 2 AM with the email repeating in my head like a mantra. Like that meme of the cartoon figure lying on the floor staring at the ceiling surrounded by the puddle of their own tears and the same word repeating all around them. I knew then I was, like, deeply in big delulu love with Lukas Blomqvist.
I’ve never read trad pub BDSM before simply because I felt it so often lacked the healthiest aspects of it and the correct portrayal of control. But this book went above and beyond that. Lukas may be the catalyst that differentiates “punishments” (born from anxiety and born from sexual roles) for Scarlett, but to see her do all the work on her own and be proud of herself for getting there felt so empowering. The dynamic was so believable and so interesting to see evolve. I cannot stress how much I enjoyed every scene and the way it continued to deepen their connection, understanding, and respect for one another.
There are so, so many things I enjoyed about this book that I could keep writing this review until it resembled the shape and length of a novella, but I’ll rein in my enthusiasm and just say this: there’s an aching pit in my stomach now that I only get after finishing a 5-star read and I fear it can only be filled by rereading this book another “million times!” (“Hyperbole?”). I’m in love with this book and am now a forever fan of Ali Hazelwood. ♡
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Mental illness, Medical trauma
Minor: Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail
Although this is a romance, I feel this is also a journey in self love and learning healthy boundaries with one’s own self as well. I think it’s important to recognize the growth in Scarlett from where we meet her in the beginning to where she journeys to in the end.