Deep End
by Ali Hazelwood
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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 show more 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... show less
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Ali Hazelwood is a genius. Every time I read one of her books I find more to admire about her writing and her stories. They have so much feeling and Deep End is no exception. This story is about so much more than kinks. This a beautiful love story between two people who feel a deep connection to one another and who learn to trust each other enough to be their real selves. It is also about healing and trusting yourself. There was so much feeling and emotion in the story I needed Lukas and Scarlett to figure out how to be together.
**spoiler alert** I’ll admit that I only put this book on my TBR because of the “controversy” and drama online about how people said the book was super spicy and the kinks were shocking.
Regarding that? Nah, it’s just a normal spice level, and I don’t even really like spicy books. I thought this one was actually very well balanced. It wasn’t overly explicit and had a full chapter just about sex. Instead, it had sex scenes that (I felt) added to the plot and explained their relationship more than sex for the shock, grittiness, etc.
Additionally, I found the plot to be entirely realistic and reasonable. The whole situation made sense, with her trauma, the strong friendship struggle, the relationships… they all felt realistic show more yet still hopeful and romantic.
Also, since this book did have a lowkey “man shows her she’s beautiful and fixes her” plot, I have to say that it was, again, realistic and well done. When he helped her have any revelations, it was a small thing that she would then take and think about more, away from him, and grow on her own. I liked that her confidence and growth wasn’t entirely based around him.
And the epilogue?
It was so succinct and beautiful, I was very happy with it. It wrapped everything up and ended in such a cute and happy note.
Why not a 5 star rating?
I’ll be honest, while I enjoyed the plot, romance, drama of it all, it wasn’t “gripping” or all that exciting to me. Well written but didn’t have me in a chokehold, if you will.
I just found something about the male character lacking because I didn’t love him, just found him mildly interesting and good for the FMC. show less
Regarding that? Nah, it’s just a normal spice level, and I don’t even really like spicy books. I thought this one was actually very well balanced. It wasn’t overly explicit and had a full chapter just about sex. Instead, it had sex scenes that (I felt) added to the plot and explained their relationship more than sex for the shock, grittiness, etc.
Additionally, I found the plot to be entirely realistic and reasonable. The whole situation made sense, with her trauma, the strong friendship struggle, the relationships… they all felt realistic show more yet still hopeful and romantic.
Also, since this book did have a lowkey “man shows her she’s beautiful and fixes her” plot, I have to say that it was, again, realistic and well done. When he helped her have any revelations, it was a small thing that she would then take and think about more, away from him, and grow on her own. I liked that her confidence and growth wasn’t entirely based around him.
And the epilogue?
It was so succinct and beautiful, I was very happy with it. It wrapped everything up and ended in such a cute and happy note.
Why not a 5 star rating?
I’ll be honest, while I enjoyed the plot, romance, drama of it all, it wasn’t “gripping” or all that exciting to me. Well written but didn’t have me in a chokehold, if you will.
I just found something about the male character lacking because I didn’t love him, just found him mildly interesting and good for the FMC. show less
Ali Hazelwood’s Deep End had me hooked early: a Stanford platform diver, Scarlett, fighting her way back from an injury, and an Olympic-level swim captain, Lukas, whose devotion to discipline borders on devotional. When an unguarded secret pushes them into an arrangement, Hazelwood lets competence, vulnerability, and desire braid together until the romance feels truly earned.
One of the novel’s most important threads is how it treats desire as something to name and negotiate. Lukas’ dominant impulses and Scarlett’s submissive curiosity are explored through explicit communication, boundaries, check-ins, and consent that stays present on the page. Their sexual exploration becomes its own kind of intimacy, a way of learning each show more other, and of choosing each other.
I also greatly enjoyed the tenderness around recovery. Scarlett’s trauma is not a hurdle to clear so the plot can sprint on, it’s something the book sits with, patiently and respectfully, as she rebuilds trust in her body and in her own decisions.
There’s also a sharp, quietly heartbreaking thread about perfectionism. Scarlett’s fear of trying and failing felt painfully familiar, because for decades I avoided anything I might not excel at. Hazelwood captures that internal logic without judgement, and I felt completely understood.
»Mostly, I’m afraid of attempting something and not being perfect at it.«
Hazelwood’s humour still sparkles, too, from couch-loving gripes about sport to a surprisingly amusing pet name that made me grin.
»What I like is being on the couch feeling my atoms rot as I succumb to entropy.«
My one real complaint is the length. For a story built on intensity, the forward progression can feel sluggish, and I wanted more direct interaction between the two leads, more scenes where their dynamic is allowed to breathe without the buffer of training schedules and interior monologues. The chemistry is undeniable when they are together, especially in the moments where they actively explore what they want from each other, but the book sometimes keeps them apart for too long, enough for the tension to cool.
Still, the sensitivity, the emotional care, and the slow-building trust carried me through, and I closed the book glad I’d stayed in the water.
Four stars out of five.
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Ceterum censeo Putin esse delendam show less
One of the novel’s most important threads is how it treats desire as something to name and negotiate. Lukas’ dominant impulses and Scarlett’s submissive curiosity are explored through explicit communication, boundaries, check-ins, and consent that stays present on the page. Their sexual exploration becomes its own kind of intimacy, a way of learning each show more other, and of choosing each other.
I also greatly enjoyed the tenderness around recovery. Scarlett’s trauma is not a hurdle to clear so the plot can sprint on, it’s something the book sits with, patiently and respectfully, as she rebuilds trust in her body and in her own decisions.
There’s also a sharp, quietly heartbreaking thread about perfectionism. Scarlett’s fear of trying and failing felt painfully familiar, because for decades I avoided anything I might not excel at. Hazelwood captures that internal logic without judgement, and I felt completely understood.
»Mostly, I’m afraid of attempting something and not being perfect at it.«
Hazelwood’s humour still sparkles, too, from couch-loving gripes about sport to a surprisingly amusing pet name that made me grin.
»What I like is being on the couch feeling my atoms rot as I succumb to entropy.«
My one real complaint is the length. For a story built on intensity, the forward progression can feel sluggish, and I wanted more direct interaction between the two leads, more scenes where their dynamic is allowed to breathe without the buffer of training schedules and interior monologues. The chemistry is undeniable when they are together, especially in the moments where they actively explore what they want from each other, but the book sometimes keeps them apart for too long, enough for the tension to cool.
Still, the sensitivity, the emotional care, and the slow-building trust carried me through, and I closed the book glad I’d stayed in the water.
Four stars out of five.
Blog | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter | Mastodon | Instagram | Threads | StoryGraph | LibraryThing | Medium | Matrix | Tumblr
Ceterum censeo Putin esse delendam show less
All the love. Hazelwood's writing gets better with each book, but from the beginning, she has given readers smart, decent, nuanced, feminist, socially conscious characters to root for. I have never read her YA, but these are the youngest characters in any of her adult books. Scarlett and Lukas are college students, she a Junior he approaching graduation. For the record, this is NOT YA. The sex here is very graphic, slightly kinky, and IMO a boatload of fun.
Briefly, Scarlett and Lukas are elite athletes at Stanford and aspiring med students. When they meet (actually he has been noticing her for a while, but at least this is when Scarlett became aware) Lukas was breaking up with his long-term GF, a woman on the diving team with Scarlett show more and with whom she is growing close. It is the ex-girlfriend who suggests they hook up because both are into BDSM. Things get complicated when the relationship quickly becomes more than just sex. Scarlett is insecure and awkward, dealing with complicated PTSD, and is very hesitant to commit, though it is clear that these two are made for each other. Lukas is mature and clear-thinking and knows what he wants, but is afraid to freak out his skittish love interest. Also, they were both busy, what with getting into med school and qualifying for the Olympics. For those who love Hazelwood's earlier books, Olive and Adam from The Love Hypothesis have cameos here and they are adorable!
I just don't think this could have been sexier or more charming. I wish I had listened more slowly so that I could spend more time with Scarlett and Lukas. Almost certain to be on my Romance best-of list come the end of 2025. show less
Briefly, Scarlett and Lukas are elite athletes at Stanford and aspiring med students. When they meet (actually he has been noticing her for a while, but at least this is when Scarlett became aware) Lukas was breaking up with his long-term GF, a woman on the diving team with Scarlett show more and with whom she is growing close. It is the ex-girlfriend who suggests they hook up because both are into BDSM. Things get complicated when the relationship quickly becomes more than just sex. Scarlett is insecure and awkward, dealing with complicated PTSD, and is very hesitant to commit, though it is clear that these two are made for each other. Lukas is mature and clear-thinking and knows what he wants, but is afraid to freak out his skittish love interest. Also, they were both busy, what with getting into med school and qualifying for the Olympics. For those who love Hazelwood's earlier books, Olive and Adam from The Love Hypothesis have cameos here and they are adorable!
I just don't think this could have been sexier or more charming. I wish I had listened more slowly so that I could spend more time with Scarlett and Lukas. Almost certain to be on my Romance best-of list come the end of 2025. show less
While this book might not have been the kind of spice I'm into, the story was SO good! Let's just say the rest was VERY educational. This was my first Ali Hazelwood book and it literally felt like I was jumping into the deep end! I did a combo listen/read and let me tell you, the audio narration was so SO good!
I love a good sports romance, but have never read any about swimmers or divers. I caught myself looking up swimming/diving terms I didn't know and learning the ins and outs of highly competitive D1 sports. The mental health sides along with the fact that these are elite athletes with dealing with very high pressure situations. It was actually super interesting.
I love a good sports romance, but have never read any about swimmers or divers. I caught myself looking up swimming/diving terms I didn't know and learning the ins and outs of highly competitive D1 sports. The mental health sides along with the fact that these are elite athletes with dealing with very high pressure situations. It was actually super interesting.
When Scarlett’s diving teammate Penelope discovers that Scarlett is kinky like Penelope’s soon-to-be ex-boyfriend, Pen suggests that Scarlett and Lukas should get together.
I wasn’t sure if I would like this one. On one hand, I want more stories about universities and academia, and considering Hazelwood’s other books, I trusted that the setting wouldn’t be only used as a backdrop for sports, socialising and sex. But on the other hand, I didn’t know where the kinky relationship would fall on the scale between “so this isn’t really my cup of tea” and “OH HECK NO I AIN’T READING THIS”.
There are intimate moments between Scarlett and Lukas which I found unappealing, but as it turns out, that didn’t colour how I show more felt about the rest of the story. Scarlett explains clearly why she finds their power dynamic appealing and how it’s about trust and honest communication, and I liked how the narrative shows all the other ways she and Lukas are well suited to each other. They have common ground (they’re both student athletes, they’re both pre-med, they both really like science) and they pay attention to details about each other’s lives. They so clearly care about one another and I felt invested in their romance (even though I didn’t want to read about every single detail!).
I also liked the rest of the story! Diving is one of the few Olympic events I bother to watch (the other one I’ll watch is gymnastics, or as Scarlett calls it, “land-diving”), and I was interested in seeing the life of a student athlete, particularly one who also has academic ambitions.
I liked the focus on mental health – Scarlett was seriously injured while diving a year or so earlier, and although she has physically recovered, she is attending therapy to deal with the mental block she now has about the particular dive she was doing when her injury happened.
I liked seeing Scarlett get to know her teammates better; I liked that her friendship with Pen is important but not perfect, and the two of them have to find a way to address their issues. And I liked the epilogue that’s set some years later – I often have mixed feelings about those, but not this time.
I wasn’t sure if I would like this one. On one hand, I want more stories about universities and academia, and considering Hazelwood’s other books, I trusted that the setting wouldn’t be only used as a backdrop for sports, socialising and sex. But on the other hand, I didn’t know where the kinky relationship would fall on the scale between “so this isn’t really my cup of tea” and “OH HECK NO I AIN’T READING THIS”.
There are intimate moments between Scarlett and Lukas which I found unappealing, but as it turns out, that didn’t colour how I show more felt about the rest of the story. Scarlett explains clearly why she finds their power dynamic appealing and how it’s about trust and honest communication, and I liked how the narrative shows all the other ways she and Lukas are well suited to each other. They have common ground (they’re both student athletes, they’re both pre-med, they both really like science) and they pay attention to details about each other’s lives. They so clearly care about one another and I felt invested in their romance (even though I didn’t want to read about every single detail!).
I also liked the rest of the story! Diving is one of the few Olympic events I bother to watch (the other one I’ll watch is gymnastics, or as Scarlett calls it, “land-diving”), and I was interested in seeing the life of a student athlete, particularly one who also has academic ambitions.
I liked the focus on mental health – Scarlett was seriously injured while diving a year or so earlier, and although she has physically recovered, she is attending therapy to deal with the mental block she now has about the particular dive she was doing when her injury happened.
I liked seeing Scarlett get to know her teammates better; I liked that her friendship with Pen is important but not perfect, and the two of them have to find a way to address their issues. And I liked the epilogue that’s set some years later – I often have mixed feelings about those, but not this time.
I know it’s unfair of me, but my issues are not rational. My high school therapist kept using words like trauma response and PTSD, words that feel too big, like I don’t have a right to them. They belong to war reporters and ER doctors, not girls with shitty dads who bossed them around and told them they’d never amount to anything.
“I’m afraid of the unpredictability of existing. I’m afraid of not being able to control the direction of my life. I’m afraid that no matter how much I plan, I won’t be able to avoid hurtful and sad things. But above all…” I take a deep breath and laugh softly, because what I’m about to say is ridiculous, even if it’s true. Even if it’s me. “Mostly, I’m afraid of attempting something and not being perfect at it.”show less
I enjoy Ali’s writing and sense of humor so much that even if I don’t love the story, it’s still fun to read.
This would have been better if it weren’t for the omnipresent OW. And I’m not even that sensitive to OW drama. I wouldn’t even call it drama. Anti-drama maybe? Everyone was so painfully okay with the fact that she was dating her bestie’s ex that it was weird AF.
What I absolutely adored was all the cameos, Adam being his grumpy self, and Scarlett "never being okay again” when she found out that Olive and Adam were married.
This would have been better if it weren’t for the omnipresent OW. And I’m not even that sensitive to OW drama. I wouldn’t even call it drama. Anti-drama maybe? Everyone was so painfully okay with the fact that she was dating her bestie’s ex that it was weird AF.
What I absolutely adored was all the cameos, Adam being his grumpy self, and Scarlett "never being okay again” when she found out that Olive and Adam were married.
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- Original publication date
- 2025-02-04
- People/Characters
- Scarlett Vandermeer; Lukas Blomqvist; Penelope Ross
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- Palo Alto, California, USA
- Original language
- English
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