A review by gorelenore
Deep End by Ali Hazelwood

emotional funny medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

 
In Deep End, competitive diver Scarlett Vandermeer is laser-focused on recovering from an injury, getting into med school, and avoiding any romantic distractions. Lukas Blomqvist, a world-champion swimmer and Stanford’s swim captain, is equally committed to discipline and Olympic dreams. When a shared secret pulls them into each other’s orbit, they agree to a no-strings fling—one that quickly gets complicated as real feelings begin to surface.

I really enjoyed the dynamic between Scarlett and Lukas—Ali Hazelwood knows how to build tension and chemistry, and the banter between these two was spot-on. One of the things I consistently appreciate in Hazelwood’s writing is her sharp, clever dialogue, and this book delivered on that front. While this story leans more into the world of student athletics than STEM, I liked that there were still nods to the academic side, keeping it in line with Hazelwood’s brand.

This book felt a little different from Hazelwood’s typical swoony romances—it had a solid pace, satisfying relationship build-up, and some nice character development. However, there were a few things that pulled me out of the story. Pen, the best friend, was overly involved in the relationship and mentioned far too often; it became distracting and a bit irritating. The kink element, while clearly central to the relationship, felt pretty tame and occasionally veered into cringey territory. I also found myself wanting more emotional depth from both leads. Still, the “he falls first” trope and engaging banter kept me hooked, and overall, I found it to be an enjoyable read. 
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