Quick Thoughts: Deep End by Ali Hazelwood

Deep End

by Ali Hazelwood 

February 4, 2025

Goodreads Summary:

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...

Review

Deep End is exactly the type of romance story I love to read- heart-pounding and butterfly-inducing!! I couldn’t get enough of the tension between Scarlett and Lukas~~ *draws hearts*

What I Liked:

- a plot full of real-life matters

- tackling the topic of mental health

- the self-deprecating humour

- friendships with its ups and downs

- the sizzling romantic tension

- exploration and consent

- hot and not overdone sex scenes

- learning about competitive diving

- so nerdy and fun

The Not So Much:

- while I was braced for Pen’s change in attitude, she still made me so mad

“Worrying is pointless. I’ll either get in, or I won’t.” (p. 154)

“Plus, you know how I feel about sports. They’re a crime against couches.” (p. 295)

“Not perfect can still be good.” (p. 302)