Deep End Paperback – 18 February 2025

Cannot articulate enough in words how much scarlett's struggles hit closer to home. I was not expecting such a heartwarming character arc.And for a story premise which hints at the otp connecting over kink having so little explicit scenes and more moments full of warmth.

Ali Hazelwood continues to prove why she’s one of my all-time favorite authors. Deep End was one of my most anticipated reads of the year, and while the heat was definitely more spicy in this one than her usual books, the depth of thr characters and storytelling made it feel far more than just a spicy read to me. There’s this familiar warmth in Ali’s writing that always feels like coming home.The story follows Scarlett, a Stanford junior and platform diver who’s still recovering from an injury, and Lukas, a world-renowned swimmer and also the captain of the swim team. When one of their mutual friend reveals a secret, their lives unexpectedly intertwined when they enter in a casual and temporary fling that quickly shifts into something far more meaningful as feelings start to take root.What really stood out to me though was the honest communication between Scarlett and Lukas. Even when a certain character really got under my skin, Lukas’s charm and presence made it all better. Scarlett’s struggle with mental blocks and the way she fought her own demons to become the person she was was so beautifully written that it made me genuinely proud of her growth. Their romance felt authentic and heartwarming, and watching their relationship evolve made me love this book even more.

Book so good.

Great detailing and technicalities regarding the sports part of it doesn't make up for the repetition of same emotionally traumatized heroine ,some sexual deviation and introvert hero. But her humor is always very refreshing and so are her metaphors.. expecting more from her next one.I was waiting for a sports drama as enticing as Check mate but a little disappointed

I think we are officially heading into Ali Hazelwood territory because this was pure BRILLIANCE! At the heart of it all were two unforgettable characters: a fiercely competitive diver and a disciplined, ace swimmer. Both were written with so much care and realism that they felt like people I could know. As someone who is glued to the screen every Olympic season, this book was everything my sports-obsessed, book-loving heart could’ve dreamed of. as someone has rightly said, Ali Hazelwood doesn’t just write romance-she engineers it. i absolutely loved and lived for every scene Scarlett & Lukas were part of and if this is what ali brings in each of her book well that's QUEEN ENERGY right there. every emotion and every bit of romance, every interaction between these characters felt purposeful, and loaded with gravitas- every detail feels earned and every scene heavy with emotional intent. layered and matured adults grappling with real fears, burdens and dreams. and still, amid the chaos, they carved out moments of intimacy that makes your heart flutter. i'’m usually not one to gravitate toward the spicy romances. but if there was ever an author to nudge me past that threshold, i knew it wass Ali. and wow, did she DELIVER.

Love the information, sarcastic humour and the storytelling. Fab character building. It’s a perfect book with a lot of lows and fantastic highs

Featuring The best human fictional boyfriend that could be written ladies and gentlemen- Lukas

4.5🌟honestly? At this point, I'd read anything @alihazelwood writes and will probably obsess over it completely. Like I did with this one (and the 6 other books I've read of hers so far 🤭)🥹🥰💗⁣⁣Deep End was very different from Ali's other books and I was kinda apprehensive because what if I didn't like it?? Of course it was all in vain because I don't think disliking any book of hers is even remotely possible! I mean, who knew I needed a college sports romance from Ms. Hazelwood?!🙈💘⁣⁣Scarlett Vandermeer, competitive diver and a junior at Stanford, is focused on working her way to med school and recovering from an injury that almost ended her career. Lukas Blomqvist, swim captain and olympian world champion swimmer, is also working his way to med school, living a life built on discipline and hard work. Both of them very few things in common until their well-guarded secret comes out in fron of each other and they realise just how much their taste aligns. And so the two start an arrangement, a mutually satisfying fling that heats up way too quickly for both of them to digest!⁣⁣Lukas and Scarlett had me obsessed!! They had great, smoking chemistry and some very well done 🌶🌶 scenes 👀🙈. They shared great banter, a staple in any Hazelwood romance which I absolutely loved, obviously! The book focused so much on diving and swimming and I was taken by surprise by how much I enjoyed and got interested in it as a sport. ⁣⁣My only issue was Pen, a mutual friend of Lukas and Scarlett, who was mentioned way too much for my liking and was such an important part of the story and sadly, I wasn't her biggest fan🤧⁣⁣To say I loved this book would be absolutely correct. I just could not put it down and would have literally read 100 pages more of it lol. Cannot wait for Ali Hazelwood to deliver a new book and for me to devour it! 🥹💘✨️⁣⁣🌟🌟🌟🌟✨️/5⁣⁣Thank you so much @hachette_india for sending this my way 💘🥰⁣⁣