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nikitanavalkar 's review for:
Deep End
by Ali Hazelwood
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
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
There are so many things to be mad and sad about in the world, but one thing I’ll never stop being thankful for is living in a time with access to all these amazing books and existing at the same time as greats like Ali Hazelwood. Every time I think the next Ali book can’t be as good as the previous one, she proves me wrong, and makes it even better. This may be like the 5th time I’m saying this, but this is surely my most favorite Ali Hazelwood book yet. Her writing is only going from strength to strength, full of humor and caustic observations on society with a strong emotional core, while showing off her mastery in research of wildly varied topics like neuroscience, computational biology, and the intricacies of competitive water sports; Ms. Hazelwood can literally do it all and do it with panache. You can tell from the dialog and prose and the confident command on any subject matter that she’s in the zone and in rare form at the moment, and I’m glad she’s writing exactly what she wants.
Scarlett Vandemeer is an anxious ball of insecurities wrapped in a socially awkward tortoise shell, tempered with type A perfectionism, academic and athletic brilliance, and severe traumas. Scarlett is everything and I wanted to be her and also wrap her in cotton wool and protect her at all costs. Like all AH heroines, Scarlett made me feel seen and taught me something about myself, and also inspired tf out of me. For someone uncomfortable with strong emotions, she’s melodramatic as all get out and funny as fuck. I would throw myself under a bus for her. And her dog. And her stepmom probably. I know I say this about a lot of characters but they’re my babies leave me alone.
Scarlett deserves the world; so enter Lukas Blomqvist; unflappable Swede, world class swimmer, major heartthrob, baby Dom (nothing baby about him), love of my life. Okay fine, Scarlett’s. That unflappable calm (I know I’m reusing that word), that unshakeable confidence, and the enviable control? Gods Ali could not have created a more perfect man if she was AI sent to my brain to download its deepest desires and create an AI human (the cool kind not the glitchy Frankenstein version). I’m utterly and irrevocably obsessed with him; you guys this is a parasocial emergency and I do not want to be rescued from it 😩 I clearly did not maximize my trip to Sweden, I should’ve kept my eyes and ears peeked for an Alexander Skarsgard type whose calling in life is taking utmost care of his girl. We all love a man written by a woman, but I personally would like Ms. Hazelwood to be assigned to the creation of custom men for the earth girlies (and gays and theys who so wish) by some higher celestial power. Pls, the dating pool is miserable around here.
But I digress. Scar and Lukas’s chemistry is gravity defying, earth shaking (an AH hallmark), and honestly even if they weren’t kinky lil mofos trying to find their match in this world, they’d set those pools on fire. But they are—as we’ve been warned by the author right from the start—and it’s glorious. As any young couple just dipping their toes in the kink pool (I need to stop with the aquatic analogies), they’re tentative and imperfect, but they’re experimental and sincere and so freaking compatible it hurts my painfully single soul. Their relationship is a slow, sensual exploration of kink, and a masterclass in consent. Now would I have liked to see a little more actual bondage etc? Yes, but you see that’s the beauty of an AH romance. It might dig into your deepest fantasies, but it’s always just realistic enough that it never seems out of reach and in this case, these two are just starting their kink journey so they obviously can’t go full dungeon master/sub. Regardless it’s so incredibly hot, several times in the book I wished I actually knew how to swim because I sure did feel the need for a plunge in an ice bath to cool down. Anyway, they’re emotionally as in tune as they are physically, not withstanding Scar’s issues, and I’m feral over them.
This is in large part Scarlett’s coming of age story; and her learning to balance her athletic aspirations with an intense academic schedule and a fulfilling social life had me in my feels (Lukas too but he’s a Swedish god and does not have mortal problems like an unbalanced life), as did the angst of her getting into a situationship and eventually falling for her teammate’s ex. I was either blushing furiously or swooning or teary eyed or smiling stupidly throughout this entire book and what else could I possibly want from it? I know, I want a Lukas. And barring that, I want to go back and reread it immediately just to get back the same giddy, weightless feelings. Also making me giddy were certain cameos (nice juicy ones), and that adorable little slice of perfection that was the epilogue.
Scarlett Vandemeer is an anxious ball of insecurities wrapped in a socially awkward tortoise shell, tempered with type A perfectionism, academic and athletic brilliance, and severe traumas. Scarlett is everything and I wanted to be her and also wrap her in cotton wool and protect her at all costs. Like all AH heroines, Scarlett made me feel seen and taught me something about myself, and also inspired tf out of me. For someone uncomfortable with strong emotions, she’s melodramatic as all get out and funny as fuck. I would throw myself under a bus for her. And her dog. And her stepmom probably. I know I say this about a lot of characters but they’re my babies leave me alone.
Scarlett deserves the world; so enter Lukas Blomqvist; unflappable Swede, world class swimmer, major heartthrob, baby Dom (nothing baby about him), love of my life. Okay fine, Scarlett’s. That unflappable calm (I know I’m reusing that word), that unshakeable confidence, and the enviable control? Gods Ali could not have created a more perfect man if she was AI sent to my brain to download its deepest desires and create an AI human (the cool kind not the glitchy Frankenstein version). I’m utterly and irrevocably obsessed with him; you guys this is a parasocial emergency and I do not want to be rescued from it 😩 I clearly did not maximize my trip to Sweden, I should’ve kept my eyes and ears peeked for an Alexander Skarsgard type whose calling in life is taking utmost care of his girl. We all love a man written by a woman, but I personally would like Ms. Hazelwood to be assigned to the creation of custom men for the earth girlies (and gays and theys who so wish) by some higher celestial power. Pls, the dating pool is miserable around here.
But I digress. Scar and Lukas’s chemistry is gravity defying, earth shaking (an AH hallmark), and honestly even if they weren’t kinky lil mofos trying to find their match in this world, they’d set those pools on fire. But they are—as we’ve been warned by the author right from the start—and it’s glorious. As any young couple just dipping their toes in the kink pool (I need to stop with the aquatic analogies), they’re tentative and imperfect, but they’re experimental and sincere and so freaking compatible it hurts my painfully single soul. Their relationship is a slow, sensual exploration of kink, and a masterclass in consent. Now would I have liked to see a little more actual bondage etc? Yes, but you see that’s the beauty of an AH romance. It might dig into your deepest fantasies, but it’s always just realistic enough that it never seems out of reach and in this case, these two are just starting their kink journey so they obviously can’t go full dungeon master/sub. Regardless it’s so incredibly hot, several times in the book I wished I actually knew how to swim because I sure did feel the need for a plunge in an ice bath to cool down. Anyway, they’re emotionally as in tune as they are physically, not withstanding Scar’s issues, and I’m feral over them.
This is in large part Scarlett’s coming of age story; and her learning to balance her athletic aspirations with an intense academic schedule and a fulfilling social life had me in my feels (Lukas too but he’s a Swedish god and does not have mortal problems like an unbalanced life), as did the angst of her getting into a situationship and eventually falling for her teammate’s ex. I was either blushing furiously or swooning or teary eyed or smiling stupidly throughout this entire book and what else could I possibly want from it? I know, I want a Lukas. And barring that, I want to go back and reread it immediately just to get back the same giddy, weightless feelings. Also making me giddy were certain cameos (nice juicy ones), and that adorable little slice of perfection that was the epilogue.
Content Warnings
Minor: Child abuse, Domestic abuse