Deep End

A steamy, collegiate sports romance by Ali Hazelwood.

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Deep End by Ali Hazelwood
446 pages | Published by Berkley

The Set Up: Scarlett is a dedicated student-athlete, focused on preparing for med school and recovering an injury that could have ended her diving career. Her teammate’s ex, Lukas, is a record breaking swimmer who thrives on discipline and success. When they discover that they may be particularly compatible in the bedroom, Scarlett and Lukas make an arrangement that they don’t expect to last for long. As the Olympic trials get closer, their connection deepens, forcing Scarlett to confront feelings she never planned for.

Hey!! Hey!! This book was hot!! Sorry about it!! If Ali Hazelwood is going to write quiet stoic men who are head over heels for really smart women, then I’m going to eat it up!! Her books just hit, Deep End was no exception.

I really liked Scarlett - her anxieties felt real and relatable, and I enjoyed getting to see her work through those with her therapist throughout the book. There was a really special relationship with Scarlett and her stepmom which I absolutely loved. And then Lukas 😅 I mean… What is there to say, really? He was steady and patient, the perfect match for Scarlett, and not just because of their, ahem, shared interests. This book was really all about “to be seen is to be loved.”

“From the very start, you had all the power. From the very start, I was in the palm of your hand.”

I would still love to see Ali Hazelwood write some different character dynamics in this academic world she likes to play in. I’m still ready to devour whatever she writes, don’t get me wrong, but I worry that over time I’ll check out of her work.

There was so much delicious tension in this book but Ali always keeps the tone light overall. The spice in this is a major plot point, since it’s what brings Scarlett and Lukas together in the first place, but it also split focus with their academic and athletic lives. The mix of plot and spice made this nearly impossible for me to put down.