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Deep End
A competitive diver and an ace swimmer jump into forbidden waters in this steamy college romance from the New York Times bestselling author of The Love Hypothesis.
Scarlett Vandermeer is swimming upstream. A Junior at Stanford and a student-athlete who specializes in platform diving, Scarlett prefers to keep her head down, concentrating on getting into med school and on recovering from the injury that almost ended her career. She has no time for relationships—at least, that’s what she tells herself.
Swim captain, world champion, all-around aquatics golden boy, Lukas Blomqvist thrives on discipline. It’s how he wins gold medals and breaks records: complete focus, with every stroke. On the surface, Lukas and Scarlett have nothing in common. Until a well-guarded secret slips out, and everything changes.
So they start an arrangement. And as the pressure leading to the Olympics heats up, so does their relationship. It was supposed to be just a temporary, mutually satisfying fling. But when staying away from Lukas becomes impossible, Scarlett realizes that her heart might be treading into dangerous water...
Scarlett Vandermeer is swimming upstream. A Junior at Stanford and a student-athlete who specializes in platform diving, Scarlett prefers to keep her head down, concentrating on getting into med school and on recovering from the injury that almost ended her career. She has no time for relationships—at least, that’s what she tells herself.
Swim captain, world champion, all-around aquatics golden boy, Lukas Blomqvist thrives on discipline. It’s how he wins gold medals and breaks records: complete focus, with every stroke. On the surface, Lukas and Scarlett have nothing in common. Until a well-guarded secret slips out, and everything changes.
So they start an arrangement. And as the pressure leading to the Olympics heats up, so does their relationship. It was supposed to be just a temporary, mutually satisfying fling. But when staying away from Lukas becomes impossible, Scarlett realizes that her heart might be treading into dangerous water...
447 pages, Hardcover
First published February 4, 2025
19.2k people are currently reading
8,287 people want to read
About the author
Ali Hazelwood
22books148kfollowersI'm Ali, and I write contemporary romcom novels about women in STEM and academia.I love cats, Nutella, and side ponytails. I'm also currently learning to crochet, so as you can tell I'm a super busy gal with an intense and exciting life!
I only use ŷ as a reader, to review and hype books that I've loved (many of these book are ARCs received from fellow authors).
I only use ŷ as a reader, to review and hype books that I've loved (many of these book are ARCs received from fellow authors).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44,238 reviews
March 4, 2025
3 whet stars!
*In Wendy Williams' voice*
Ali Hazelwood just released her new book, and you know I've got an opinion.
Ali Hazelwood, with her past three releases, quickly became a hit or miss author for me because, while I love 4 of her books, I also hate 4 of her books. So, obviously, I was skeptical going into this, but I was so pleasantly surprised by this one!! It was so fresh and needed. It was also very addicting because I finished it in the span of 24 hours, and I really had fun reading it. Deep End was fast and addicting, which is exactly what I was hoping for it to be. While I absolutely loved the first 70% of the book, which had me rooting for the characters and loving the chemistry between them, it quickly faded in the last 30%. I was so frustrated in the last bits, it did not live up to the first 70%, and I kind of wanted it to be over, but I still enjoyed the book overall.
Scarlett: This character was so fucking conflicting because she was a mix of our typical quirky (toned down) mildly relatable female character who's funny and has social problems, which is usually what I like when it comes to Ali's characters. But some of the things Scarlett did were so ?? I enjoyed reading her perspectives and the situations she brought herself into, but her neglecting Lukas and thinking more about how her decisions would affect Pen were so fucking selfish, and I hated them because, while Lukas was thinking about her, she was thinking about Pen.
Lukas, on the other hand, was so much fun. He was so blunt and obsessed that I loved it!! I loved how thoughtful and carefree he was, and how much he thought for Scarlett. I enjoyed reading more about him, and I don't like that we don't get dual POVs because we deserve it. Like, I was reading it with Roxy, and the way she obsessed over him was concerning. Understandable though, because of the energy that radiated, the Olympic gold medalist title, the dirty talking, the desperateness. He was so perfect and hot, and the way he carried himself with his tattoos... yeahhh.
The side characters, Adam and Olive making an appearance, made everything so much better, but Pen's character... I quickly went from liking her to hating her. The OWD didn’t bug me here because the chemistry wasn’t there, and Lukas was so blunt that it made it bearable, but Pen... she needed a slap in the face because the audacity of this bitch ✋� she created so much unnecessary drama and I hated it. I hated everything about her and honestly she's my least favourite character written by Ali Hazelwood ever because she was a disgrace.
Moving to my favorite part of the book, THE ROMANCE , it was soooo good. The way they were so obsessed and down bad for each other made me want to do cartwheels in my room. The angsty nature and the forced proximity made everything so much better. The spicy scenes � I just have to say Ali has improved so much because they were well-written and hot. They weren't cringe like her usual ones, and honestly, I loved how they were put in the situation where the idea even came up. Not to mention Olive and Adam unintentionally playing matchmaker—loll okayyy. So, while I love the romance, it was also kind of the reason why this book wasn’t a full five stars. Because I felt like it was supposed to be more kinky?? But were the kinks in the room with us? The BDSM was so light, lmaoo. It didn't feel like BDSM (I didn’t mind it, though). I also didn’t feel their relationship develop into something serious. I don’t see how they fell in love because it was mostly just a sexual relationship for me. I liked the obsession and thought that it contributed to them falling in love, but I didn’t feel like it was developed well.
This part tho:
“I fuck you-� He pushes deeper. “Because-� Deeper. “It’s all I want to do-� Deeper. “From the moment I wake up.�
Overall, it's an enjoyable read and more towards the spicy side if you ever want to read it.
My ratings for Ali's books:
•The love hypothesis: 5 stars!
•Love on the brain: 4.25!
•Love theoretically: 2.5!
•Check & mate: 3.75!
•Bride: 4.45!
•Not in love: 1.00!
•Cruel winter with you: 2.75!
•Deep end: 3.95!
____
So excited to get into this book 🤭 Hope the books as good as the cover and I just know it'll be filled with Whet reference 😭
____
I love how Ali Hazelwood changes her genres. Stem romance--->Chess romance--->Paranormal romance---> Sports romance---> what else? 👀
*In Wendy Williams' voice*
Ali Hazelwood just released her new book, and you know I've got an opinion.
Ali Hazelwood, with her past three releases, quickly became a hit or miss author for me because, while I love 4 of her books, I also hate 4 of her books. So, obviously, I was skeptical going into this, but I was so pleasantly surprised by this one!! It was so fresh and needed. It was also very addicting because I finished it in the span of 24 hours, and I really had fun reading it. Deep End was fast and addicting, which is exactly what I was hoping for it to be. While I absolutely loved the first 70% of the book, which had me rooting for the characters and loving the chemistry between them, it quickly faded in the last 30%. I was so frustrated in the last bits, it did not live up to the first 70%, and I kind of wanted it to be over, but I still enjoyed the book overall.
Scarlett: This character was so fucking conflicting because she was a mix of our typical quirky (toned down) mildly relatable female character who's funny and has social problems, which is usually what I like when it comes to Ali's characters. But some of the things Scarlett did were so ?? I enjoyed reading her perspectives and the situations she brought herself into, but her neglecting Lukas and thinking more about how her decisions would affect Pen were so fucking selfish, and I hated them because, while Lukas was thinking about her, she was thinking about Pen.
Lukas, on the other hand, was so much fun. He was so blunt and obsessed that I loved it!! I loved how thoughtful and carefree he was, and how much he thought for Scarlett. I enjoyed reading more about him, and I don't like that we don't get dual POVs because we deserve it. Like, I was reading it with Roxy, and the way she obsessed over him was concerning. Understandable though, because of the energy that radiated, the Olympic gold medalist title, the dirty talking, the desperateness. He was so perfect and hot, and the way he carried himself with his tattoos... yeahhh.
The side characters, Adam and Olive making an appearance, made everything so much better, but Pen's character... I quickly went from liking her to hating her. The OWD didn’t bug me here because the chemistry wasn’t there, and Lukas was so blunt that it made it bearable, but Pen... she needed a slap in the face because the audacity of this bitch ✋� she created so much unnecessary drama and I hated it. I hated everything about her and honestly she's my least favourite character written by Ali Hazelwood ever because she was a disgrace.
Moving to my favorite part of the book, THE ROMANCE , it was soooo good. The way they were so obsessed and down bad for each other made me want to do cartwheels in my room. The angsty nature and the forced proximity made everything so much better. The spicy scenes � I just have to say Ali has improved so much because they were well-written and hot. They weren't cringe like her usual ones, and honestly, I loved how they were put in the situation where the idea even came up. Not to mention Olive and Adam unintentionally playing matchmaker—loll okayyy. So, while I love the romance, it was also kind of the reason why this book wasn’t a full five stars. Because I felt like it was supposed to be more kinky?? But were the kinks in the room with us? The BDSM was so light, lmaoo. It didn't feel like BDSM (I didn’t mind it, though). I also didn’t feel their relationship develop into something serious. I don’t see how they fell in love because it was mostly just a sexual relationship for me. I liked the obsession and thought that it contributed to them falling in love, but I didn’t feel like it was developed well.
This part tho:
“I fuck you-� He pushes deeper. “Because-� Deeper. “It’s all I want to do-� Deeper. “From the moment I wake up.�
Overall, it's an enjoyable read and more towards the spicy side if you ever want to read it.
My ratings for Ali's books:
•The love hypothesis: 5 stars!
•Love on the brain: 4.25!
•Love theoretically: 2.5!
•Check & mate: 3.75!
•Bride: 4.45!
•Not in love: 1.00!
•Cruel winter with you: 2.75!
•Deep end: 3.95!
____
So excited to get into this book 🤭 Hope the books as good as the cover and I just know it'll be filled with Whet reference 😭
____
I love how Ali Hazelwood changes her genres. Stem romance--->Chess romance--->Paranormal romance---> Sports romance---> what else? 👀
February 14, 2025
Oh no. Oh no no no no no. Guys I’m so sorry I absolutely hated this with every fiber of my being. And you know what� that’s on me for being incapable of dnfing. I genuinely cannot think of a single thing I liked about it and I think at the end of the day Ali Hazelwood books just aren’t for me and that’s OKAY!
Now first things first, I personally didn’t think this book was “kinky� at all, I actually found the spice to be very mild.,. HOWEVER!!!!! That’s not why I didn’t like the book. That’s an entirely subjective opinion. However what I did find odd is how the authors note disclaimed that this book contained “explorations of kinks”and there was very little of that. They even made an entire list of kinks to explore and then just never returned to it. Which is totally fine, I get that they are in their early twenties and this was new for both of them. I just think the kink exploration fell really flat and the list got me excited for nothing. But again, the mid spice barely has anything to do with this 1 star review.
I genuinely could not stop cringing the entire time. I fear this entire book gave me the ick. I should have known when she said “that’s so fifty shades� that this wasn’t it�. I just think the writing style didn’t do it for me in any way shape or form.
You’re telling me HIS EX who is also her BEST FRIEND, is the one who pushed them together because she found out they had the same kinks??? Idk that was just weird behavior to me personally. And then she just was lingering around the entire time?? And then you’re gonna tell me that Pen and Lukas didn’t tell anyone other than Scarlett that they were broken up the ENTIRE TIME??? And then we’re just gonna make Pen out to be the villain in the very end??? When both her and Scarlett were in the wrong??? I hated that.
Scarlett�. Couldn’t stand her I’m sorry. I just found her to be so annoying and being in her head was painful, as a STEM girlie myself�. Why’d you do us dirty like that?? She’s also very much so NOT for the girls and it rubbed me the wrong way how she didn’t tell Pen about her feelings for Lukas. I also hate it when authors put characters in therapy just to have the MMC come along and “heal them� YUCK.
Lukas� gave me absolutely nothing. He was so bland and one dimensional I simply could not care about his character in the slightest. Also im still patiently waiting for him to take Scarlett out on a date�. ALSO you’re telling me he had been thinking about being with her for two years while he was still in a relationship with Pen??? And asked Pen if they could have a threesome with Scarlett??? Weird. Weird. Emotional cheating doesn’t do it for me.
Their relationship�.. also gave me nothing. At all. Still looking for the chemistry. It was all lust from the very beginning and then all of a sudden they were just randomly in love??? Okay cool. Makes sense.
Yeah it was an absolutely not for me.
Now first things first, I personally didn’t think this book was “kinky� at all, I actually found the spice to be very mild.,. HOWEVER!!!!! That’s not why I didn’t like the book. That’s an entirely subjective opinion. However what I did find odd is how the authors note disclaimed that this book contained “explorations of kinks”and there was very little of that. They even made an entire list of kinks to explore and then just never returned to it. Which is totally fine, I get that they are in their early twenties and this was new for both of them. I just think the kink exploration fell really flat and the list got me excited for nothing. But again, the mid spice barely has anything to do with this 1 star review.
I genuinely could not stop cringing the entire time. I fear this entire book gave me the ick. I should have known when she said “that’s so fifty shades� that this wasn’t it�. I just think the writing style didn’t do it for me in any way shape or form.
You’re telling me HIS EX who is also her BEST FRIEND, is the one who pushed them together because she found out they had the same kinks??? Idk that was just weird behavior to me personally. And then she just was lingering around the entire time?? And then you’re gonna tell me that Pen and Lukas didn’t tell anyone other than Scarlett that they were broken up the ENTIRE TIME??? And then we’re just gonna make Pen out to be the villain in the very end??? When both her and Scarlett were in the wrong??? I hated that.
Scarlett�. Couldn’t stand her I’m sorry. I just found her to be so annoying and being in her head was painful, as a STEM girlie myself�. Why’d you do us dirty like that?? She’s also very much so NOT for the girls and it rubbed me the wrong way how she didn’t tell Pen about her feelings for Lukas. I also hate it when authors put characters in therapy just to have the MMC come along and “heal them� YUCK.
Lukas� gave me absolutely nothing. He was so bland and one dimensional I simply could not care about his character in the slightest. Also im still patiently waiting for him to take Scarlett out on a date�. ALSO you’re telling me he had been thinking about being with her for two years while he was still in a relationship with Pen??? And asked Pen if they could have a threesome with Scarlett??? Weird. Weird. Emotional cheating doesn’t do it for me.
Their relationship�.. also gave me nothing. At all. Still looking for the chemistry. It was all lust from the very beginning and then all of a sudden they were just randomly in love??? Okay cool. Makes sense.
Yeah it was an absolutely not for me.
February 14, 2025
It was sooo hard to come up with a final star rating for this book. There was so much I loved & some parts I felt meh on.
What I loved:
Lukas & Scarlett!!! Literally everything to do with their relationship I was obsessed with!!! Their chemistry and personalities were great. And I thought it was cool to learn about the competitive swimming and diving world.
What I didn’t love:
It took me a bit to get into the book. I was a little mixed at the beginning and then I didn’t love the third act conflict. It felt very frustrating to me. Overall, I think Pen’s character could’ve been cut (she’s Scarlett’s friend & Luka’s ex) and I would’ve enjoyed the story a lot more.
Overall another great Ali Hazelwood book! But not a 5 star like most of her books are for me. I do want to immediately reread a bunch of Lukas & Scarlett scenes now tho!! ☺️🫶🏻💗
What I loved:
Lukas & Scarlett!!! Literally everything to do with their relationship I was obsessed with!!! Their chemistry and personalities were great. And I thought it was cool to learn about the competitive swimming and diving world.
What I didn’t love:
It took me a bit to get into the book. I was a little mixed at the beginning and then I didn’t love the third act conflict. It felt very frustrating to me. Overall, I think Pen’s character could’ve been cut (she’s Scarlett’s friend & Luka’s ex) and I would’ve enjoyed the story a lot more.
Overall another great Ali Hazelwood book! But not a 5 star like most of her books are for me. I do want to immediately reread a bunch of Lukas & Scarlett scenes now tho!! ☺️🫶🏻💗
February 23, 2025
2.5 ⭐️
I actually think Pen should’ve been the main character given the amount she was in/mentioned in this book 😀
Things I did like: Ali Hazelwood’s writing style, the openness talking about what they intimately liked, the diving competitions (although I read the words “inward dive� so many times, I had to google a video of it), her roommate Maryam (she deserved more scenes), and�..yup that’s it
I think there were TOO many side plots going on that it was hard to focus on the actual story (I genuinely still don’t know what the main plot was supposed to be) - that it just completely lost me. Honestly just an unmemorable read + one too many insufferable characters (staring right at you Scarlett)
I actually think Pen should’ve been the main character given the amount she was in/mentioned in this book 😀
Things I did like: Ali Hazelwood’s writing style, the openness talking about what they intimately liked, the diving competitions (although I read the words “inward dive� so many times, I had to google a video of it), her roommate Maryam (she deserved more scenes), and�..yup that’s it
I think there were TOO many side plots going on that it was hard to focus on the actual story (I genuinely still don’t know what the main plot was supposed to be) - that it just completely lost me. Honestly just an unmemorable read + one too many insufferable characters (staring right at you Scarlett)
April 23, 2025
DNF 45%
I... I c-can't do it.
Can someone tell me which chapter all the characters drown into the deep end water and die?
I... I c-can't do it.
Can someone tell me which chapter all the characters drown into the deep end water and die?
April 3, 2025
ready to get soaking whet
post read thoughts: clean up on aisle meeeeeee. this one was a real moist maker. grab a bucket & a mop. set up the wet floor sign.
post read thoughts: clean up on aisle meeeeeee. this one was a real moist maker. grab a bucket & a mop. set up the wet floor sign.
February 20, 2025
i’m still searching for the kink
February 12, 2025
I think the kink got lost in printing of this book�. I would rather jump off a cliff into a deep end water than read this again
March 9, 2025
finallyyyyy bitch, we are so back!!
May 3, 2025
time of death: pg 222
DNFing after the THIRD time he licked her tears away (during sex, mind you)� which is three times too many.
got the ick so many times, i’m out. ✌�
and no, this is not kinky. (that’s not even the reason for the one star, btw. just an observation.)
booooring and annoying in every way � characters, sex, and plot.
◤┶•~❉᯽❉~•┶�
book club read! 🌸
read new releases with us 🫶🏻
◣┶•~❉᯽❉~•┶�
DNFing after the THIRD time he licked her tears away (during sex, mind you)� which is three times too many.
got the ick so many times, i’m out. ✌�
and no, this is not kinky. (that’s not even the reason for the one star, btw. just an observation.)
booooring and annoying in every way � characters, sex, and plot.
◤┶•~❉᯽❉~•┶�
book club read! 🌸
read new releases with us 🫶🏻
◣┶•~❉᯽❉~•┶�
December 15, 2024
My favorite of Ali’s books, and I don’t say that lightly. WHEW.
February 9, 2025
2 stars
Well, I can officially say I gave Ali Hazelwood a try, and I’m pissed I wasted my time. I went in expecting romance with spice, but all I got was way too much spice and unconvincing romance. Seriously, I don’t even know what to call this mess. No emotional depth, no chemistry, just endless kink talk with nothing real behind it. I knew I was going to hate this book within the first 5%, but did I stop? Nope. Because apparently, I enjoy torturing myself.
Scarlett, the FMC, is supposed to be this ambitious, driven woman with career goals. But she’s got no personality, no depth. I couldn’t care less about her. And Lukas, the MMC? He’s hot, but that’s where it ends. Their so-called “chemistry� is nonexistent. It feels like they’re checking off items from a shared kink list instead of building a real relationship. No emotional pull—just sex. And that’s what this whole book boiled down to—just sex and a whole lot of nothing.
Now, let’s talk about the messiest part: Lukas being Scarlett’s best friend’s ex. It was awkward as hell from the start. At first, I didn’t care because Lukas and his ex had zero chemistry, but the whole “ex� thing kept coming up, and it became repetitive and uncomfortable.
As for the BDSM, which is supposed to be the whole point of this book? Was it even in the room? It was all talk and no action. A few kinks were mentioned, but that’s about it. It was just vanilla sex with a few half-hearted mentions of kink that went nowhere.
The chemistry? There was none. There’s no emotional connection, no depth to their bond. It’s just two people who seem to be going through the motions based on physical attraction alone. That’s not enough to build a romance, and that’s exactly what this book failed to do—create anything meaningful beneath the surface.
Look, I get it. Some people might like this if you're into Fifty Shades-style kink talk with basically zero romance or emotional depth. For me, though, this was a trainwreck—shallow, repetitive, and annoying. Just a bunch of surface-level crap with no substance. In fact, this book made me want to throw myself into the motherfucking deep end.
Well, I can officially say I gave Ali Hazelwood a try, and I’m pissed I wasted my time. I went in expecting romance with spice, but all I got was way too much spice and unconvincing romance. Seriously, I don’t even know what to call this mess. No emotional depth, no chemistry, just endless kink talk with nothing real behind it. I knew I was going to hate this book within the first 5%, but did I stop? Nope. Because apparently, I enjoy torturing myself.
Scarlett, the FMC, is supposed to be this ambitious, driven woman with career goals. But she’s got no personality, no depth. I couldn’t care less about her. And Lukas, the MMC? He’s hot, but that’s where it ends. Their so-called “chemistry� is nonexistent. It feels like they’re checking off items from a shared kink list instead of building a real relationship. No emotional pull—just sex. And that’s what this whole book boiled down to—just sex and a whole lot of nothing.
Now, let’s talk about the messiest part: Lukas being Scarlett’s best friend’s ex. It was awkward as hell from the start. At first, I didn’t care because Lukas and his ex had zero chemistry, but the whole “ex� thing kept coming up, and it became repetitive and uncomfortable.
As for the BDSM, which is supposed to be the whole point of this book? Was it even in the room? It was all talk and no action. A few kinks were mentioned, but that’s about it. It was just vanilla sex with a few half-hearted mentions of kink that went nowhere.
The chemistry? There was none. There’s no emotional connection, no depth to their bond. It’s just two people who seem to be going through the motions based on physical attraction alone. That’s not enough to build a romance, and that’s exactly what this book failed to do—create anything meaningful beneath the surface.
Look, I get it. Some people might like this if you're into Fifty Shades-style kink talk with basically zero romance or emotional depth. For me, though, this was a trainwreck—shallow, repetitive, and annoying. Just a bunch of surface-level crap with no substance. In fact, this book made me want to throw myself into the motherfucking deep end.
February 20, 2025
Pros:
� I love Ali Hazelwood’s writing (I will read absolutely everything she writes).
� Olive and Adam cameo!!
� Binged in 1 sitting.
Cons:
� Everyone sucked. Genuinely hated both female characters.
� Short chapters were sometimes half a page and felt so random (I thought pages in my book were missing).
� Regular therapy chapters with zero growth or development (infuriating).
� His pet nickname for her was ‘Troll�.
Overall thoughts: if you like Ali Hazelwood it’s still worth a read. It’s not super ‘kinky� but realistic for 21 year olds in college. If you don’t like Ali Hazelwood or haven’t read her other books, maybe don’t start with this one?
� I love Ali Hazelwood’s writing (I will read absolutely everything she writes).
� Olive and Adam cameo!!
� Binged in 1 sitting.
Cons:
� Everyone sucked. Genuinely hated both female characters.
� Short chapters were sometimes half a page and felt so random (I thought pages in my book were missing).
� Regular therapy chapters with zero growth or development (infuriating).
� His pet nickname for her was ‘Troll�.
Overall thoughts: if you like Ali Hazelwood it’s still worth a read. It’s not super ‘kinky� but realistic for 21 year olds in college. If you don’t like Ali Hazelwood or haven’t read her other books, maybe don’t start with this one?
February 9, 2025
4 point...25? 4.5? I am unsure where I'm ultimately landing with this, but I really, really enjoyed it.
Ali Hazelwood the woman that you are. I've said it before and I'll say it again but her books always feel like they're meant for me and me specifically. Her sense of humor lines up so well with mine that I find myself audibly cackling through these books; her FMCs are smart, and driven, and flawed, and make mistakes in ways that I always appreciate even when they're frustrating; her MMCs ALWAYS hit the perfect line of not only loving their partner and being so outrageously down bad for her (Lukas my guy you are OBSESSED and I love it), but actually LIKING her as a PERSON (you'd be surprised how often I read a romance novel like okay I guess you love this person...but do you actually like them?), and her authorial voice has only gotten stronger over these last few years.
I eat up everything she writes and this was no different. I devoured these 450 pages in a single sitting - as I have done with every one of her books - in my friend and I's time honored tradition of shutting off everything else in our lives for a day to buddy read the latest Ali Hazelwood book. For being her longest book, we were FLYING through this.
I always appreciate the knowledge Hazelwood brings to her books, in STEM or otherwise. I was reading this with a former swimmer who was very cautious about potentially reading a romance novel getting her specific niche interest wrong (we've all been there), and ended up very pleased with how it all went! As a sports romance, I feel like this delivered much of what I wanted and more, including a great portrayal of the twisties without ever leaning on a magic fix.
(This also may have been my favorite inclusion of characters from other books in the universe I've ever read in a romance novel. 1000/10 for the cameos here. I feel an immediate need to reread the love hypothesis again.)
This is Ali's sexiest book yet and I LOVED that. I love what she's able to do with character relations in these moments of vulnerability through power exchange sexual dynamics, but on that note the kink is also where this one lost me a bit. In part because we're balancing the MMC at the very least being presented as someone who is very much locked into this side of himself and being very good at it despite the fact that he's only 22 (the most emotionally mature 22 year old man to ever [fictionally] exist, tbh) and has only ever been in a relationship with a partner who wasn't into this and so had very little chance to ever explore it, but by far I think the biggest missed opportunity of this book comes in the fact that there is not a single mention of Aftercare the entire time. Kink exploration is all well and good and Hazelwood well uses that time to establish our characters' connection and communication and vulnerability, but the chance for all of that to come together tenfold in soft moments of aftercare is left on the cutting room floor here! So much of the eroticism of kink in romance novels can be in those quiet moments after a scene, and while I could squint and say that some of their apres-sex scenes could be considered aftercare, I wouldn't actually classify them as such and there's no communication of it being so.
This could be explained away by age and [in]experience, but as mentioned above we're also presented with an MMC shown to be very good at and comfortable with this lifestyle and both of our characters are the type to have done much research on this, so it feels like a huge omission for both of them to completely neglect this.
This is also Hazelwood's longest book yet, and ultimately I don't think it needed to be. There's a good 80 pages in the last third of the book that stagnate both in terms of the relationship and the sports plot where the reading is still fun and had me turning pages, but all while I was asking myself "what are we still doing here? Is anything going to happen? Where is any of this going?"
The climactic conflict isn't nearly satisfying enough to make it feel like it was the peak of 450 pages or to adequately resolve a character issue that had persisted from early on. Some editing down of page count and/or a more robust plot conflict wouldn't have gone amiss here.
All said and done though, another Ali Hazelwood romance that I dearly enjoyed and characters I simply adored. Including side characters. Hazelwood has a particular talent for side characters that I never tire of.
Ali Hazelwood the woman that you are. I've said it before and I'll say it again but her books always feel like they're meant for me and me specifically. Her sense of humor lines up so well with mine that I find myself audibly cackling through these books; her FMCs are smart, and driven, and flawed, and make mistakes in ways that I always appreciate even when they're frustrating; her MMCs ALWAYS hit the perfect line of not only loving their partner and being so outrageously down bad for her (Lukas my guy you are OBSESSED and I love it), but actually LIKING her as a PERSON (you'd be surprised how often I read a romance novel like okay I guess you love this person...but do you actually like them?), and her authorial voice has only gotten stronger over these last few years.
I eat up everything she writes and this was no different. I devoured these 450 pages in a single sitting - as I have done with every one of her books - in my friend and I's time honored tradition of shutting off everything else in our lives for a day to buddy read the latest Ali Hazelwood book. For being her longest book, we were FLYING through this.
I always appreciate the knowledge Hazelwood brings to her books, in STEM or otherwise. I was reading this with a former swimmer who was very cautious about potentially reading a romance novel getting her specific niche interest wrong (we've all been there), and ended up very pleased with how it all went! As a sports romance, I feel like this delivered much of what I wanted and more, including a great portrayal of the twisties without ever leaning on a magic fix.
(This also may have been my favorite inclusion of characters from other books in the universe I've ever read in a romance novel. 1000/10 for the cameos here. I feel an immediate need to reread the love hypothesis again.)
This is Ali's sexiest book yet and I LOVED that. I love what she's able to do with character relations in these moments of vulnerability through power exchange sexual dynamics, but on that note the kink is also where this one lost me a bit. In part because we're balancing the MMC at the very least being presented as someone who is very much locked into this side of himself and being very good at it despite the fact that he's only 22 (the most emotionally mature 22 year old man to ever [fictionally] exist, tbh) and has only ever been in a relationship with a partner who wasn't into this and so had very little chance to ever explore it, but by far I think the biggest missed opportunity of this book comes in the fact that there is not a single mention of Aftercare the entire time. Kink exploration is all well and good and Hazelwood well uses that time to establish our characters' connection and communication and vulnerability, but the chance for all of that to come together tenfold in soft moments of aftercare is left on the cutting room floor here! So much of the eroticism of kink in romance novels can be in those quiet moments after a scene, and while I could squint and say that some of their apres-sex scenes could be considered aftercare, I wouldn't actually classify them as such and there's no communication of it being so.
This could be explained away by age and [in]experience, but as mentioned above we're also presented with an MMC shown to be very good at and comfortable with this lifestyle and both of our characters are the type to have done much research on this, so it feels like a huge omission for both of them to completely neglect this.
This is also Hazelwood's longest book yet, and ultimately I don't think it needed to be. There's a good 80 pages in the last third of the book that stagnate both in terms of the relationship and the sports plot where the reading is still fun and had me turning pages, but all while I was asking myself "what are we still doing here? Is anything going to happen? Where is any of this going?"
The climactic conflict isn't nearly satisfying enough to make it feel like it was the peak of 450 pages or to adequately resolve a character issue that had persisted from early on. Some editing down of page count and/or a more robust plot conflict wouldn't have gone amiss here.
All said and done though, another Ali Hazelwood romance that I dearly enjoyed and characters I simply adored. Including side characters. Hazelwood has a particular talent for side characters that I never tire of.
January 23, 2025
This is everything Fifty Shades thought it was and also they have the stamina of Olympic athletes
Want to read
June 22, 2024Y'all THAT COVER 👀🤭
•~•~
Did she change the title from Whet to Deep End? 👀
•~•~
Ali Hazelwood writing sports romance? Now that's something I wanna read ASAP 🤭
•~•~
Did she change the title from Whet to Deep End? 👀
•~•~
Ali Hazelwood writing sports romance? Now that's something I wanna read ASAP 🤭
March 28, 2025
Imagine being held by your hair and locked in a chokehold so tight ur blue in the face gasping clawing struggling to be free� yeah well that’s the exact stronghold this book had on me the WHOLE time but the difference is I DONT WANNA BE FREE EVER DONT EVEN THINK OF SAVING ME
“Lukas Scarlett� 😫 NOBODY UNDERSTANDS THE EMOTIONS THAT BULLDOZED THRU ME WHEN I READ THIS PLS-
LUKAS BABY PLS COME KIDNAP ME IM URS TO DO WHATEVER 🙏 PICK ME CHOOSE ME LOVE MEEEEE
It’s so rare when I get to love and appreciate both the characters. But I truly did with Scarlett and Lukas. They both excited me and made me stupid with love for them.
sweedy and his troll against the world 🧚♀️🔐�
Scarlett the precious adorable pookie u are 🥹 I love her so much your honour. Like she was just so sweet and caring and overall such a lovely soul. Her arc and development made me so happy. I loved watching her grow and make mistakes and learn from them. She was such a fascinating character.
There wasn’t a time when I didn’t love her or got annoyed with her. She’s such a relatable person who I couldn’t help but wanna hug and love and dote on. So I get it Lukas, I truly get it.
Lukas the MAN that you are 🗣�
The way he could do no wrong???? He’s perfect???? Everything he said was music to my ears. It just took me higher and higher 🧚♀�
The way he knew everything about her and was so patient and understanding but also so headstrong and took the lead??? Blueprint. BLUE. PRINT. He is now the official standard I will use to compare all romcom men.
No bc why was he the PERF amount of grumpy but sweet and hilarious 😾 I neeeeeed him pls I’m begging 👺👺
The intensity is what makes or breaks a couples dynamic/chemistry and these two had it in SPADES 😮💨� there was so much heat and tension it was palpable in their every interaction.
The fucking mouthhhh on this man PLEASE 🙏 had me panting and clutching my sheets like fuck- he is so hot I need him RFN 🫦
╰� �“Oh, sweetheart. Already? Just from this?��
╰� �“i need a minute to—�
“Nah, I’ll fucking tell you what you need.��
The BANTER 🤚 had me blushing giggling kicking my feet twirling my hair biting the tip of my finger like a schoolgirl with the fattest crush. No like my cheek muscles are ACHING and twitching from how long and hard I’ve been grinning this past 24 hrs.
╰� � “You’re not cold, Scarlett,� he says. “You’re . . . soft.�
“I’m not soft.�
“You are with me.� �
~SHUT UPPPP I CANTTT
╰� � “Because sometimes I can’t breathe when you’re around.� �
~SHUT THE FUCK UP RIGHT NOWW
╰� � “The entire universe is here, in his arms.� �
There were so many moments when I was just scared thinking it’s gna get boring and predictable from here but that didn’t happen and I’m genuinely so happy it wasn’t. reading this was such a refreshing experience.
THERE WERE CERTAIN CONVOS THAT HAD ME LIKE 🫨🫨🫨🫨 MAN I WAS CRASHING OUT SO HARD OVER THEM.
Yk how everyone hated the Pen drama? Well 🌚 drama is my bread n butter so� I fucking are it up and it was delish 🙂↕️� The betrayal, the unwavering loyalty and support from Lukas, the gut wrenching pain when Scarlett said that WORD, pen turning out to not be that 2D villain OW like almost every romance book. It was fking refreshing.
I appreciated Ali’s writing so much in here. The care with which she used to discuss and create a safe space for ppl to express and explore their wants, it was rlly heart warming ❤️� the kink didn’t feel mild or “nonexistent�, it was simply “basic� but basic is not bad nor undeserving of recognition. Kinks don’t necessarily have to be something wild. Theirs was a display of what healthy and consensual looks like, showing that it could be your average couple that likes a little kink and doesn’t need to be considered a dark or taboo subject. I didn’t feel the lack of kinkiness or whatever because they are so much more than that. And every scene where they were intimate was based around their trust and that really brought out a whole new range of emotions. The heat, the intensity, the tension, the longing, the sweetness, the way he takes charge, the knowledge that she is one who truly holds all the power in their relationship. It created the PERFECT atmosphere. I just loved it.
There were certain aspects of their relationship I fell head over heels in love with. I missed reading contemporary romance but this experience was so unique to me.
Their relationship was based around their trust in each other and that is why I’m really convinced they’re genuinely in love. Not only did they protect their safe space but they didn’t allow it to take over their daily lives. Their respective careers and passions were given so much space and attention, it was just really amazing that Ali didn’t treat their personal drives as a gimmick but explored BOTH of their passions.
Their communication and easy understanding was what really brought me to the brinqqqq- i don’t remember the last time I felt this satisfied with a couple before. Their dynamic was so perfect and felt so genuine to me.
I CANNOT WAIT TO REREAD SCARLUCAS DIARIES 😫 IM SOOO CLOSE TO SAYING FUCK IT AND STARTING THE BOOK ALL OVER AGAIN RIGHT NOW 🤚
I’m convinced Ali wrote this book with me in mind. Matter of fact she wrote it FOR me mhm 🙂↕️🙂↕� (my delusions are running free I do not fear 👹)
Farah I love u for buddy reading and giggling over Lukas with me I had the best time 🥹🔐💋 now we finally have another book to send memes to each other about and obsess over 😋
Side Note:
THE ADAMOLIVE CAMEOSSSSS ‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️
HAD ME GASPING SO LOUD AND HARD I ALMOST CHOKED
MY TWO FAV COUPLES IN ONE BOOK?????!!!!!!!! BOUTTA PASS OUT FROM LACK OF OXYGEN BC THIS JUST MADE MY ENTIRE FUCKIN YEAR
WHEN THEY CAME TO SUPPORT SCAR I THINK I CRIED A LITTLE 😭😫
“Lukas Scarlett� 😫 NOBODY UNDERSTANDS THE EMOTIONS THAT BULLDOZED THRU ME WHEN I READ THIS PLS-
LUKAS BABY PLS COME KIDNAP ME IM URS TO DO WHATEVER 🙏 PICK ME CHOOSE ME LOVE MEEEEE
It’s so rare when I get to love and appreciate both the characters. But I truly did with Scarlett and Lukas. They both excited me and made me stupid with love for them.
sweedy and his troll against the world 🧚♀️🔐�
Scarlett the precious adorable pookie u are 🥹 I love her so much your honour. Like she was just so sweet and caring and overall such a lovely soul. Her arc and development made me so happy. I loved watching her grow and make mistakes and learn from them. She was such a fascinating character.
There wasn’t a time when I didn’t love her or got annoyed with her. She’s such a relatable person who I couldn’t help but wanna hug and love and dote on. So I get it Lukas, I truly get it.
Lukas the MAN that you are 🗣�
The way he could do no wrong???? He’s perfect???? Everything he said was music to my ears. It just took me higher and higher 🧚♀�
The way he knew everything about her and was so patient and understanding but also so headstrong and took the lead??? Blueprint. BLUE. PRINT. He is now the official standard I will use to compare all romcom men.
No bc why was he the PERF amount of grumpy but sweet and hilarious 😾 I neeeeeed him pls I’m begging 👺👺
The intensity is what makes or breaks a couples dynamic/chemistry and these two had it in SPADES 😮💨� there was so much heat and tension it was palpable in their every interaction.
The fucking mouthhhh on this man PLEASE 🙏 had me panting and clutching my sheets like fuck- he is so hot I need him RFN 🫦
╰� �“Oh, sweetheart. Already? Just from this?��
╰� �“i need a minute to—�
“Nah, I’ll fucking tell you what you need.��
The BANTER 🤚 had me blushing giggling kicking my feet twirling my hair biting the tip of my finger like a schoolgirl with the fattest crush. No like my cheek muscles are ACHING and twitching from how long and hard I’ve been grinning this past 24 hrs.
╰� � “You’re not cold, Scarlett,� he says. “You’re . . . soft.�
“I’m not soft.�
“You are with me.� �
~SHUT UPPPP I CANTTT
╰� � “Because sometimes I can’t breathe when you’re around.� �
~SHUT THE FUCK UP RIGHT NOWW
╰� � “The entire universe is here, in his arms.� �
There were so many moments when I was just scared thinking it’s gna get boring and predictable from here but that didn’t happen and I’m genuinely so happy it wasn’t. reading this was such a refreshing experience.
THERE WERE CERTAIN CONVOS THAT HAD ME LIKE 🫨🫨🫨🫨 MAN I WAS CRASHING OUT SO HARD OVER THEM.
Yk how everyone hated the Pen drama? Well 🌚 drama is my bread n butter so� I fucking are it up and it was delish 🙂↕️� The betrayal, the unwavering loyalty and support from Lukas, the gut wrenching pain when Scarlett said that WORD, pen turning out to not be that 2D villain OW like almost every romance book. It was fking refreshing.
I appreciated Ali’s writing so much in here. The care with which she used to discuss and create a safe space for ppl to express and explore their wants, it was rlly heart warming ❤️� the kink didn’t feel mild or “nonexistent�, it was simply “basic� but basic is not bad nor undeserving of recognition. Kinks don’t necessarily have to be something wild. Theirs was a display of what healthy and consensual looks like, showing that it could be your average couple that likes a little kink and doesn’t need to be considered a dark or taboo subject. I didn’t feel the lack of kinkiness or whatever because they are so much more than that. And every scene where they were intimate was based around their trust and that really brought out a whole new range of emotions. The heat, the intensity, the tension, the longing, the sweetness, the way he takes charge, the knowledge that she is one who truly holds all the power in their relationship. It created the PERFECT atmosphere. I just loved it.
There were certain aspects of their relationship I fell head over heels in love with. I missed reading contemporary romance but this experience was so unique to me.
Their relationship was based around their trust in each other and that is why I’m really convinced they’re genuinely in love. Not only did they protect their safe space but they didn’t allow it to take over their daily lives. Their respective careers and passions were given so much space and attention, it was just really amazing that Ali didn’t treat their personal drives as a gimmick but explored BOTH of their passions.
Their communication and easy understanding was what really brought me to the brinqqqq- i don’t remember the last time I felt this satisfied with a couple before. Their dynamic was so perfect and felt so genuine to me.
I CANNOT WAIT TO REREAD SCARLUCAS DIARIES 😫 IM SOOO CLOSE TO SAYING FUCK IT AND STARTING THE BOOK ALL OVER AGAIN RIGHT NOW 🤚
I’m convinced Ali wrote this book with me in mind. Matter of fact she wrote it FOR me mhm 🙂↕️🙂↕� (my delusions are running free I do not fear 👹)
Farah I love u for buddy reading and giggling over Lukas with me I had the best time 🥹🔐💋 now we finally have another book to send memes to each other about and obsess over 😋
Side Note:
THE ADAMOLIVE CAMEOSSSSS ‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️
HAD ME GASPING SO LOUD AND HARD I ALMOST CHOKED
MY TWO FAV COUPLES IN ONE BOOK?????!!!!!!!! BOUTTA PASS OUT FROM LACK OF OXYGEN BC THIS JUST MADE MY ENTIRE FUCKIN YEAR
WHEN THEY CAME TO SUPPORT SCAR I THINK I CRIED A LITTLE 😭😫
March 8, 2025
Ohhh boy, this was a RIDE... and not always in a good way. 🚩🚩🚩
Let's start with the good: Lukas? Yeah, I liked him. He was golden boy perfection � hot, disciplined, a literal Olympic-level athlete. His whole "I've been waiting for you" energy? Swoon. But Scarlett? Girlie... I wanted to shake her sometimes. Like, I get she's ambitious and focused, but I never really felt her. Their connection felt more like a shared kink list than an actual romance. 💀 Honestly, it seemed like their relationship was more about sexual fantasies and kinks than any real romantic feelings. It was almost like the physical stuff was the focus, and the emotional stuff was an afterthought.
Now, the DRAMA. The OW situation? Nope. Just nope. ✖️ Lukas is the fresh ex of Scarlett's best friend (who, by the way, they dated for SEVEN years), and they broke up, like, just now?? That was already iffy, but the constant Pen interference? I wanted to throw my phone. Why was Lukas still her emotional support?? Why was Scarlett encouraging it?? Boundaries do not exist in this universe.
And the spice? Look, I love me some steamy scenes, but this was giving diet BDSM. Like, the book talks a big game with contracts and kinks, but then... it's just regular rough sex?? 😭
Overall, this was bingeable, but the romance didn’t hit for me. It wasn't awful, but I won’t be rereading. I already know some people are gonna LOVE this, but for me? Meh.
Let's start with the good: Lukas? Yeah, I liked him. He was golden boy perfection � hot, disciplined, a literal Olympic-level athlete. His whole "I've been waiting for you" energy? Swoon. But Scarlett? Girlie... I wanted to shake her sometimes. Like, I get she's ambitious and focused, but I never really felt her. Their connection felt more like a shared kink list than an actual romance. 💀 Honestly, it seemed like their relationship was more about sexual fantasies and kinks than any real romantic feelings. It was almost like the physical stuff was the focus, and the emotional stuff was an afterthought.
Now, the DRAMA. The OW situation? Nope. Just nope. ✖️ Lukas is the fresh ex of Scarlett's best friend (who, by the way, they dated for SEVEN years), and they broke up, like, just now?? That was already iffy, but the constant Pen interference? I wanted to throw my phone. Why was Lukas still her emotional support?? Why was Scarlett encouraging it?? Boundaries do not exist in this universe.
And the spice? Look, I love me some steamy scenes, but this was giving diet BDSM. Like, the book talks a big game with contracts and kinks, but then... it's just regular rough sex?? 😭
Overall, this was bingeable, but the romance didn’t hit for me. It wasn't awful, but I won’t be rereading. I already know some people are gonna LOVE this, but for me? Meh.
March 18, 2025
i want to violently drop kick and throat punch every character in this book.
✄┈┈�
buddy read with my favorite girl veerali!
✄┈┈�
buddy read with my favorite girl veerali!
February 18, 2025
50 shades of grey (shein version)
thank you manas for reading this with me 🩵
thank you manas for reading this with me 🩵
February 23, 2025
1.5 stars (this review will contain spoilers bc i need to rant)
i started this book with an optimistic feeling. however, it quickly let me down from there. from 'check and mate' and this, i feel like me and ali's writing just don't mesh which is a shame because i'm trying so hard to get the hype around her books 🫠🫠. there were just so many issues in this book that it made it hard to enjoy the actual good parts.
tropes:
� sports romance (swimming + diving)
� best friend's ex (😬😬)
� college romance
� marketed as slow burn, but it's really insta love
- my biggest gripe with this book was the unnecessary drama, especially coming from the ow trope. i was neutral/liked pen (lukas' ex) at first, but she became so clingy and weird after the 60 or 70% mark 🤺🤺. please tell me why she suddenly started becoming all posessive of lukas and trying to one up herself against scarlett for him???? like girl 😭😭... also i hated her for stealing scarlett's GOLD MEDAL moment that she literally worked so hard for after her huge injury. she was also so condescending towards scarlett and lukas' relationship, and for what. he's not gonna get back together with you bestie.
- scarlett and lukas were... cute(?) together..!! idk. i don't think they had any real chemistry, just sexual chemistry. i'd say 75% of their relationship consisted of them doing it and no real getting to know each other and emotional bonding 👎👎. their relationship was also superrrr insta lovey/lusty which i hate in books 🫡🫡. i liked them both separately as characters, but them together is just ehhh... tbh i feel like they both could do better 😭😭
- the writing. oh my goshhhhhh. it was just so boring and repetitive and i seriously considered dnf'ing it 70% through because everytime i would finish a chapter i would take a 30 minute break and reconsider if i wanted to continue 😀🔫 (this is the reason it took me almost 2 weeks to get through).if this book was shortened, it would've been much better.
overall..... i don't recommend. not only was this tedious to get through, but the characters were dry and forgettable. something that i did like about this book is the swimming + diving representation!! (we barely get anything 😔💔) i can happily say that ms. ali did do her research on this, at least the swimming aspect of it, which was the best part of this book.
i started this book with an optimistic feeling. however, it quickly let me down from there. from 'check and mate' and this, i feel like me and ali's writing just don't mesh which is a shame because i'm trying so hard to get the hype around her books 🫠🫠. there were just so many issues in this book that it made it hard to enjoy the actual good parts.
tropes:
� sports romance (swimming + diving)
� best friend's ex (😬😬)
� college romance
� marketed as slow burn, but it's really insta love
- my biggest gripe with this book was the unnecessary drama, especially coming from the ow trope. i was neutral/liked pen (lukas' ex) at first, but she became so clingy and weird after the 60 or 70% mark 🤺🤺. please tell me why she suddenly started becoming all posessive of lukas and trying to one up herself against scarlett for him???? like girl 😭😭... also i hated her for stealing scarlett's GOLD MEDAL moment that she literally worked so hard for after her huge injury. she was also so condescending towards scarlett and lukas' relationship, and for what. he's not gonna get back together with you bestie.
- scarlett and lukas were... cute(?) together..!! idk. i don't think they had any real chemistry, just sexual chemistry. i'd say 75% of their relationship consisted of them doing it and no real getting to know each other and emotional bonding 👎👎. their relationship was also superrrr insta lovey/lusty which i hate in books 🫡🫡. i liked them both separately as characters, but them together is just ehhh... tbh i feel like they both could do better 😭😭
- the writing. oh my goshhhhhh. it was just so boring and repetitive and i seriously considered dnf'ing it 70% through because everytime i would finish a chapter i would take a 30 minute break and reconsider if i wanted to continue 😀🔫 (this is the reason it took me almost 2 weeks to get through).if this book was shortened, it would've been much better.
overall..... i don't recommend. not only was this tedious to get through, but the characters were dry and forgettable. something that i did like about this book is the swimming + diving representation!! (we barely get anything 😔💔) i can happily say that ms. ali did do her research on this, at least the swimming aspect of it, which was the best part of this book.
February 9, 2025
3.75⭐️
March 15, 2025
Reading this was low-key depressing. Not sure what I was expecting though looking at this premise..
Scarlett is part of the diving team at her university, struggling with an old injury (and so many other things). She’s also into BDSM. She finds out that Lukas, the star of the university’s swim team and her teammate Pen’s (ex)boyfriend, is also into BDSM. Scarlett tells Pen about her preferences, which then leads Pen to suggest that Scarlet and Lukas should hook up because they are both into BDSM and obviously that means they are perfect for each other. So the two of them slowly but surely start to get it on. But Pen decided that she and Lukas can only secretly break up and have to pretend that they’re still together in front of everyone else because it’s more convenient for her that way? And Scarlett and Lukas go along with it? That’s just fine for everyone involved in this weird little triangle?
I could not for the life of me understand why they seemingly didn’t care about this. Throughout this whole book, none of these people seemed even remotely happy. It was such a drag to read.
I mean I guess you could say it was really angsty, and I know some people are into these kinds of books. But I’m not, to me, it was just frustrating.
The characters were so unlikeable. I wanted to like Scarlett, she was at least a somewhat well-rounded character. But she was so down on herself all the time, and sure she struggled with a lot of stuff. But it became very exhausting to read from her POV. Like this is supposed to be a romance. At some point, I want to be happy while reading..
Lukas gave me nothing. He was so bland and boring. And he felt like every other mmc this author has written. I mean he was Swedish and tall and he knew how to swim. Great, that’s not enough to make me care about him.
As for Pen, all I’m going to say is I wish she wasn’t in this book.
It just didn’t really feel like a romance to me in general. Like where was the romance? Nothing even remotely romantic happened. Scarlett struggled with everything and then she and Lukas started fucking while Pen for some unfathomable reason was still somehow part of this?? And not in a hot way..
Besides the unlikeable characters and the non-existent romance, my biggest issue with this was the whole BDSM angle. Because if you spend like 150 pages talking about how kinky and depraved you are, mentioning BDSM in every chapter, the sex really has to deliver. And then all they did was engage in some lame-ass dirty talk and one cringy spanking?! What a joke.
One last thing no one is going to care about but it annoyed me sm.
Scarlett had to take a language class and chose German. And she’s bad at it. This came up a few times and I hated everything about it. First of all, her teacher’s name was Herr Karl-Heinz?! That’s not a last name. Karl-Heinz is a (very old-fashioned) first name.
Also, he called her Scharlach in his emails. When I read this, I honestly wanted to dnf right then and there. Because wtf is this? Scharlach is the German word for scarlet fever. The word for a disease. Like why would he ever call her that? It makes no sense, it’s just super weird. I guess the author somehow figured out that Scarlet translates to something in German and thought it would be cool to include it without knowing what it means? Feels kind of ignorant ngl.
Also no way did she get a fucking A on her exam when some weeks ago she had to google what the most basic German sentence (Ich bin so stolz auf dich) meant.
___
I’m going to regret this ✨🤸♀�
But it was right there on Libby. What was I supposed to do.. 🤷♀�
Scarlett is part of the diving team at her university, struggling with an old injury (and so many other things). She’s also into BDSM. She finds out that Lukas, the star of the university’s swim team and her teammate Pen’s (ex)boyfriend, is also into BDSM. Scarlett tells Pen about her preferences, which then leads Pen to suggest that Scarlet and Lukas should hook up because they are both into BDSM and obviously that means they are perfect for each other. So the two of them slowly but surely start to get it on. But Pen decided that she and Lukas can only secretly break up and have to pretend that they’re still together in front of everyone else because it’s more convenient for her that way? And Scarlett and Lukas go along with it? That’s just fine for everyone involved in this weird little triangle?
I could not for the life of me understand why they seemingly didn’t care about this. Throughout this whole book, none of these people seemed even remotely happy. It was such a drag to read.
I mean I guess you could say it was really angsty, and I know some people are into these kinds of books. But I’m not, to me, it was just frustrating.
The characters were so unlikeable. I wanted to like Scarlett, she was at least a somewhat well-rounded character. But she was so down on herself all the time, and sure she struggled with a lot of stuff. But it became very exhausting to read from her POV. Like this is supposed to be a romance. At some point, I want to be happy while reading..
Lukas gave me nothing. He was so bland and boring. And he felt like every other mmc this author has written. I mean he was Swedish and tall and he knew how to swim. Great, that’s not enough to make me care about him.
As for Pen, all I’m going to say is I wish she wasn’t in this book.
It just didn’t really feel like a romance to me in general. Like where was the romance? Nothing even remotely romantic happened. Scarlett struggled with everything and then she and Lukas started fucking while Pen for some unfathomable reason was still somehow part of this?? And not in a hot way..
Besides the unlikeable characters and the non-existent romance, my biggest issue with this was the whole BDSM angle. Because if you spend like 150 pages talking about how kinky and depraved you are, mentioning BDSM in every chapter, the sex really has to deliver. And then all they did was engage in some lame-ass dirty talk and one cringy spanking?! What a joke.
One last thing no one is going to care about but it annoyed me sm.
Scarlett had to take a language class and chose German. And she’s bad at it. This came up a few times and I hated everything about it. First of all, her teacher’s name was Herr Karl-Heinz?! That’s not a last name. Karl-Heinz is a (very old-fashioned) first name.
Also, he called her Scharlach in his emails. When I read this, I honestly wanted to dnf right then and there. Because wtf is this? Scharlach is the German word for scarlet fever. The word for a disease. Like why would he ever call her that? It makes no sense, it’s just super weird. I guess the author somehow figured out that Scarlet translates to something in German and thought it would be cool to include it without knowing what it means? Feels kind of ignorant ngl.
Also no way did she get a fucking A on her exam when some weeks ago she had to google what the most basic German sentence (Ich bin so stolz auf dich) meant.
___
I’m going to regret this ✨🤸♀�
But it was right there on Libby. What was I supposed to do.. 🤷♀�
April 30, 2025
2.5 ⭐️ I’m the opposite of WHET�
WHAT TO EXPECT:
� college sports romance
� Stanford university
� she's a diver newly recovered from an injury
� he's an Olympic swimmer from Sweden
� neither really let people in
� insta-lust
� friend's ex boyfriend
� "it's just sex"
� 4/5 🌶�
� kinks - power dynamic, light dom/sub, orgasm denial, public sex
� ex drama / love triangle
� STEM elements (both MCs want to be doctors)
� HEA
� single POV
� Dr. Carlsen and Olive Smith cameos
� TW: PTSD from traumatic injury, trauma from controlling dad, death of parent (past)
My Thoughts:
Is it a bad story? No.
Do I get why people like it? Yes.
But it was not for me, even though I read the book in 6 hours.
So why didn't I like it?
I don’t love college sports romance. I know this about myself and wasn't planning on reading this book. But everyone, I mean EVERYONE, was saying how this is Ali's best book yet, so I was hoping Deep End would be the exception. Unfortunately, I was wrong. I truly just do not care about the sport aspect of the story and would skim some of the practice and competition scene.
Most importantly, I fucking hate ex drama and love triangles! And while this isn’t a traditional love triangle, it still is one.
Let me explain. Scarlett is on the diving team and has a friendly relationship with the captain, Pen. Pen is dating Lukas, who is on the swim team. These two have been dating since they were 15 years old. Scarlett finds herself in a conversation with Pen about how Lukas is into BDSM but she's not into, so Scarlett confides to Pen that she also is into BDSM and if she has questions about it she can always ask her. Well, Pen and Lukas amicably break up. And at a party Pen drunkly tells Lukas and Scarlett that they should fuck since they are both kinky. Long story short, they do. Pen knows but to her it's just sex, and she thinks she and Lukas will find their way back to each other. But of course, Lukas and Scarlett catch feelings. So the love triangle and ex drama ensues.
I just hated that even though Pen and Lukas are broken up, she's still calling him her bestie and he makes himself so available to her. There's zero boundaries between them. He answers every text/call and drops everything to help her. But it's always at a time when Scarlett is with him, so when he takes off, it feels like he's choosing Pen even though it is clear he only has a friendship with Pen. And every time Scarlett and Lukas would make progress as a couple, she's unknowingly insert herself between them, so Scarlett would feel guilty for being in the way at all and would pull away. Also, Pen's behavior throughout the story irked me. She's not a bad person, but she's so self-centered.
Also, I found it weird as hell that Lukas tells Scarlett that he “asked for her� whenever he and Pen were having threesomes with people. Scarlett had a boyfriend so Pen never asked. But he says this as some sort of declaration that he’s always been interested in her. Like, I’m sorry, am I supposed to find that romantic? How sweet that he wanted to fuck her in a threesome with his ex girlfriend. I get it but also, just further annoys me that Lukas and Pen felt so obligated to each other they would rather invite people they were interested into their sex lives vs just breaking up and pursuing others.
The lack of communication / denial of feelings / omitting truth between Scarlett and Lukas was so frustrating it made me want to pull my hair out. While they communicated their sexual desires, it all ended the second they left the bedroom. In the beginning, there were a few times when they wouldn't speak to each other after a night together. I'm talking weeks. WEEKS! Sometimes it would be because they were traveling for competitions, but more than not, they were at school together and just . . . idk ignored each other? The first time Lukas ghosts her, he does apologize, but Scarlett forgives him wayyyyy too quickly. And later you find out he's been basically in love with her since the beginning and just giving her space because she "wasn't ready" or some bullshit excuse. Meanwhile, we know during these moments of zero communication, she was struggling and wanted to talk to him.
And then there's the problematic scene where Lukas is angry that Scarlett doesn't understand why he wants to fuck her. He takes his anger out on her by fucking her hard (with her consent). But his reason for being angry is stupid. Lukas legit has not given Scarlett any verbal confirmation as to his intentions besides sex with her. So why would she know he has big feelings for her already? She's not a mind reader for fuck's sake.
The amount of times Scarlett cried during sex and how quickly and how often she came was so bizarre. You might think I'm overexaggerating but Scarlett seriously cries every time they have sex. Sometimes it's because she's emotional, other times it's because he fucks her without much prep so she's got tears in her eyes. But don't worry, Lukas is ALWAYS there to lick up her tears. No lie.
And then, there's the fact that Scarlett cums 3+ times during every sex scene. I mean, pop off, but are you kidding? It got the the point where it was just so unbelievable. He would just touch her and she would explode. 🙄
While there’s some kink, it’s pretty damn light compared to what I expected from everyone else’s reviews. I didn't mind what they did. Some of it was hot. But I also wasn't impressed considering everyone was saying this was Ali Hazelwood's best smut yet. I definitely think it has the most smut, but is it the best? No.
Not as important of a note but still, the amount of times the EM dash, parenthesis, and ellipses are used annoyed me. How is this not cut during editing?
I don't know guys, this really was a miss for me. Sadly I haven't enjoyed the last three Ali Hazelwood books so I might just have to throw the towel in. Love, Theoretically is still my favorite. PS: Beautiful paperback. Love the art and sprayed edges.
WHAT TO EXPECT:
� college sports romance
� Stanford university
� she's a diver newly recovered from an injury
� he's an Olympic swimmer from Sweden
� neither really let people in
� insta-lust
� friend's ex boyfriend
� "it's just sex"
� 4/5 🌶�
� kinks - power dynamic, light dom/sub, orgasm denial, public sex
� ex drama / love triangle
� STEM elements (both MCs want to be doctors)
� HEA
� single POV
� Dr. Carlsen and Olive Smith cameos
� TW: PTSD from traumatic injury, trauma from controlling dad, death of parent (past)
My Thoughts:
Is it a bad story? No.
Do I get why people like it? Yes.
But it was not for me, even though I read the book in 6 hours.
So why didn't I like it?
I don’t love college sports romance. I know this about myself and wasn't planning on reading this book. But everyone, I mean EVERYONE, was saying how this is Ali's best book yet, so I was hoping Deep End would be the exception. Unfortunately, I was wrong. I truly just do not care about the sport aspect of the story and would skim some of the practice and competition scene.
Most importantly, I fucking hate ex drama and love triangles! And while this isn’t a traditional love triangle, it still is one.
Let me explain. Scarlett is on the diving team and has a friendly relationship with the captain, Pen. Pen is dating Lukas, who is on the swim team. These two have been dating since they were 15 years old. Scarlett finds herself in a conversation with Pen about how Lukas is into BDSM but she's not into, so Scarlett confides to Pen that she also is into BDSM and if she has questions about it she can always ask her. Well, Pen and Lukas amicably break up. And at a party Pen drunkly tells Lukas and Scarlett that they should fuck since they are both kinky. Long story short, they do. Pen knows but to her it's just sex, and she thinks she and Lukas will find their way back to each other. But of course, Lukas and Scarlett catch feelings. So the love triangle and ex drama ensues.
I just hated that even though Pen and Lukas are broken up, she's still calling him her bestie and he makes himself so available to her. There's zero boundaries between them. He answers every text/call and drops everything to help her. But it's always at a time when Scarlett is with him, so when he takes off, it feels like he's choosing Pen even though it is clear he only has a friendship with Pen. And every time Scarlett and Lukas would make progress as a couple, she's unknowingly insert herself between them, so Scarlett would feel guilty for being in the way at all and would pull away. Also, Pen's behavior throughout the story irked me. She's not a bad person, but she's so self-centered.
Also, I found it weird as hell that Lukas tells Scarlett that he “asked for her� whenever he and Pen were having threesomes with people. Scarlett had a boyfriend so Pen never asked. But he says this as some sort of declaration that he’s always been interested in her. Like, I’m sorry, am I supposed to find that romantic? How sweet that he wanted to fuck her in a threesome with his ex girlfriend. I get it but also, just further annoys me that Lukas and Pen felt so obligated to each other they would rather invite people they were interested into their sex lives vs just breaking up and pursuing others.
The lack of communication / denial of feelings / omitting truth between Scarlett and Lukas was so frustrating it made me want to pull my hair out. While they communicated their sexual desires, it all ended the second they left the bedroom. In the beginning, there were a few times when they wouldn't speak to each other after a night together. I'm talking weeks. WEEKS! Sometimes it would be because they were traveling for competitions, but more than not, they were at school together and just . . . idk ignored each other? The first time Lukas ghosts her, he does apologize, but Scarlett forgives him wayyyyy too quickly. And later you find out he's been basically in love with her since the beginning and just giving her space because she "wasn't ready" or some bullshit excuse. Meanwhile, we know during these moments of zero communication, she was struggling and wanted to talk to him.
And then there's the problematic scene where Lukas is angry that Scarlett doesn't understand why he wants to fuck her. He takes his anger out on her by fucking her hard (with her consent). But his reason for being angry is stupid. Lukas legit has not given Scarlett any verbal confirmation as to his intentions besides sex with her. So why would she know he has big feelings for her already? She's not a mind reader for fuck's sake.
The amount of times Scarlett cried during sex and how quickly and how often she came was so bizarre. You might think I'm overexaggerating but Scarlett seriously cries every time they have sex. Sometimes it's because she's emotional, other times it's because he fucks her without much prep so she's got tears in her eyes. But don't worry, Lukas is ALWAYS there to lick up her tears. No lie.
And then, there's the fact that Scarlett cums 3+ times during every sex scene. I mean, pop off, but are you kidding? It got the the point where it was just so unbelievable. He would just touch her and she would explode. 🙄
While there’s some kink, it’s pretty damn light compared to what I expected from everyone else’s reviews. I didn't mind what they did. Some of it was hot. But I also wasn't impressed considering everyone was saying this was Ali Hazelwood's best smut yet. I definitely think it has the most smut, but is it the best? No.
Not as important of a note but still, the amount of times the EM dash, parenthesis, and ellipses are used annoyed me. How is this not cut during editing?
I don't know guys, this really was a miss for me. Sadly I haven't enjoyed the last three Ali Hazelwood books so I might just have to throw the towel in. Love, Theoretically is still my favorite. PS: Beautiful paperback. Love the art and sprayed edges.
February 6, 2025
Ali Hazelwood: Hold my bestsellers while I write another masterpiece
Deep End is a college sports romance for the books! This was such a charming read, the story flowed well and the romance balanced perfectly with the academic background. I loved the character development and all the history we got to explore from Lukas and Scarlett, their hesitance in developing feelings made so much sense with their afflictions and worries. Not to mention, the tension and pining were truly addicting, add in the undeniable chemistry and I was hooked from beginning to end. Ali Hazelwood has a way with words and this steamy romance was no exception; the story was filled with emotion, drama, and so much passion that teetered the lines of erotica turned intimate and caring.
~Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for an ARC of this book in return for an honest review.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
So glad this was my first five star read of the year, wouldn't have wanted it any other way!
Deep End is a college sports romance for the books! This was such a charming read, the story flowed well and the romance balanced perfectly with the academic background. I loved the character development and all the history we got to explore from Lukas and Scarlett, their hesitance in developing feelings made so much sense with their afflictions and worries. Not to mention, the tension and pining were truly addicting, add in the undeniable chemistry and I was hooked from beginning to end. Ali Hazelwood has a way with words and this steamy romance was no exception; the story was filled with emotion, drama, and so much passion that teetered the lines of erotica turned intimate and caring.
~Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for an ARC of this book in return for an honest review.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
So glad this was my first five star read of the year, wouldn't have wanted it any other way!
March 17, 2025
if i could rate this 6 stars i would
3/16 yes i read it again
3/16 yes i read it again
February 23, 2025
I think this might be the best Ali Hazelwood book I've read?! This doesn't say much since it's only 3 stars, but hey � a win is a win 🤣
Lukas was my favourite � he was emotionally mature, said what he thought and was unapologetically himself. He communicated his thoughts and feelings very clearly throughout and was always there for the women in his life. Even though he was a soft dom, he delivered and I found his confidence (not arrogance) very attractive 🫦
Scarlett got on my nerves because she was so insecure. On one hand she's driven and intelligent but she was always putting herself down and comparing herself to others. I did enjoy the storyline around her mental block and fear of men.
The friends's ex trope didn't bother me as much as I expected because Scarlett and Pen weren't close and Pen was on board with it. Pen struck me as one of those girls that loves attention so I saw the third act conflict coming early on. Thankfully it didn't drag on for too long and Lukas's security helped speed this along.
I did enjoy the diving/swimming aspect to this story so it felt different to her normal style, although she did stick to her trademark science talk. I'd be interested to see Ali explore other sport romance genres.
I loved the short chapters, it made me get through this book fairly quickly. I actually didn't find this as instant love / cringy as some of the other Ali books I've read.
Things I didn't enjoy:
╰� The lack of kink?! After all that talk about how kinky this was, it read like most other spicy contemporary romances 🤨 I think they spoke more about their kink list more than what they actually did. I got the impression more happened off page and i wish Ali just committed and backed up the talk. I also wish their kink list was on page because apparently it was just soft dom/sub. There's nothing wrong with this, it's just not what I expected based on how it was advertised. This is just my opinion and I know some people will feel differently that aren't used to reading this.
╰� The troll nickname. Bestie, this is NOT cute and is a new one for my list. I did a little research because I was so confused by this choice 😂 While it might mean good luck in Swedish culture, I couldn't get amongst it.
╰� The constant tear licking? This book taught me a new word � Dacryphilia. Google at your own risk.
╰� Scarlett's insecurity. She brought up Pen's name x5383 times which was giving high school girl behaviour. Lukas was obsessed with Scarlett so why ruin every moment by bringing up his ex. When they weren't constantly talking about Pen, I enjoyed their moments together.
╰� The writing. While it wasn't as cringy as usual it was still clunky, I had to go back and read pages a few times because I couldn't work out what she was trying to say.
Overall, I liked it more than I didn't but there was nothing special about it.
💌 Thanks so much to my bestie Krysta for suffering with me, the fact that we finished it and didn't rate it two stars is a win 🥳
My AH rankings:
� Deep end - 3 stars
� Love hypothesis - 3 stars
� Two can play - 2.5 stars
� Cruel winter with you - 2 stars
Lukas was my favourite � he was emotionally mature, said what he thought and was unapologetically himself. He communicated his thoughts and feelings very clearly throughout and was always there for the women in his life. Even though he was a soft dom, he delivered and I found his confidence (not arrogance) very attractive 🫦
Scarlett got on my nerves because she was so insecure. On one hand she's driven and intelligent but she was always putting herself down and comparing herself to others. I did enjoy the storyline around her mental block and fear of men.
The friends's ex trope didn't bother me as much as I expected because Scarlett and Pen weren't close and Pen was on board with it. Pen struck me as one of those girls that loves attention so I saw the third act conflict coming early on. Thankfully it didn't drag on for too long and Lukas's security helped speed this along.
I did enjoy the diving/swimming aspect to this story so it felt different to her normal style, although she did stick to her trademark science talk. I'd be interested to see Ali explore other sport romance genres.
I loved the short chapters, it made me get through this book fairly quickly. I actually didn't find this as instant love / cringy as some of the other Ali books I've read.
Things I didn't enjoy:
╰� The lack of kink?! After all that talk about how kinky this was, it read like most other spicy contemporary romances 🤨 I think they spoke more about their kink list more than what they actually did. I got the impression more happened off page and i wish Ali just committed and backed up the talk. I also wish their kink list was on page because apparently it was just soft dom/sub. There's nothing wrong with this, it's just not what I expected based on how it was advertised. This is just my opinion and I know some people will feel differently that aren't used to reading this.
╰� The troll nickname. Bestie, this is NOT cute and is a new one for my list. I did a little research because I was so confused by this choice 😂 While it might mean good luck in Swedish culture, I couldn't get amongst it.
╰� The constant tear licking? This book taught me a new word � Dacryphilia. Google at your own risk.
╰� Scarlett's insecurity. She brought up Pen's name x5383 times which was giving high school girl behaviour. Lukas was obsessed with Scarlett so why ruin every moment by bringing up his ex. When they weren't constantly talking about Pen, I enjoyed their moments together.
╰� The writing. While it wasn't as cringy as usual it was still clunky, I had to go back and read pages a few times because I couldn't work out what she was trying to say.
Overall, I liked it more than I didn't but there was nothing special about it.
💌 Thanks so much to my bestie Krysta for suffering with me, the fact that we finished it and didn't rate it two stars is a win 🥳
My AH rankings:
� Deep end - 3 stars
� Love hypothesis - 3 stars
� Two can play - 2.5 stars
� Cruel winter with you - 2 stars
April 12, 2025
A college student who likes being bossed around in bed starts to bang her friend’s ex, which is the kinkiest part of the book. Scarlett � or Vandy, or ScarVan, or whatever her name is in this Dostoyevsky-esque nickname nightmare � is just like every other Ali Hazelwood female lead, in that she’s supposed to be a strong feminist girl boss but is actually kind of an insecure uncommunicative mess who hates herself and only figures things out after she meets a man. Lukas Blomqvist, naturally, is every other Ali Hazelwood male lead, in that he’s super tall and apparently clairvoyant. I’m no kink expert but I do feel that one should be in a healthy headspace before entering a BDSM relationship with a virtual stranger, and Scarlett is not. I couldn’t actually tell you anything about these two because they don’t really have personalities so much as they are a collection of things they say and do, which mostly involves Lukas telling Scarlett what a good girl she is and Scarlett calling Lukas by his full name when she isn’t crying every other page. Additionally, while it’s admirable that Scarlett is in therapy for her diving block, perhaps she should also be focusing on her overwhelming, paralyzing fear of men because it seems like that would also be a big deal? It wasn’t bad, exactly, it just probably would have been better if it had been called Whet. Thanks for nothing, Berkley.
February 1, 2025
this is indeed ali’s best book
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