A sports romance where ambition, desire, and tangled relationships collide in and out of the pool
Author: Ali Hazelwood
Pub. Date: February, 4th 2025
Genre: Romance
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️.5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Official Description:
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...
Warning: This article contains spoilers!
Deep End ali hazelwood review
Initial Thoughts
I usually love Ali Hazelwood’s books. Her STEM romance novels were an instant hit for me, and when she ventured into fantasy romance with Bride, I was convinced—Ali is a genius. She stepped into a new genre and absolutely nailed it, delivering a fresh, captivating, and steamy story that still had her signature humor. So when Deep End was announced, I was intrigued but also surprised. A sports romance? Sure, it still had some STEM elements, but it felt like a big departure from what she does best.
I know sports romance has a massive fan base, and I assume Ali wanted to cater to that audience. But honestly? This book didn’t feel like her at all. There were a few funny moments, but overall, the writing felt flat, almost rushed—like her heart wasn’t really in it. And the plot? Let’s just say it didn’t do the book any favors.
Characters & Romance
Scarlett and Lukas are both professional college athletes—she’s a diver, he’s a swimmer who’s already won every major competition, including the Olympics. Then there’s Pen, Scarlett’s teammate and Lukas’ long-term girlfriend. Their relationship is on the rocks, and Pen confides in Scarlett that she isn’t satisfied, especially in bed. Instead of working through it, she dumps Lukas and casually suggests that he and Scarlett should hook up, since they apparently have “compatible” preferences.
I’ll be honest—this setup was off-putting. Pen’s behavior throughout the book was just toxic. She ditches Lukas but still expects him to be at her beck and call. She treats him terribly, but the moment she sees him moving on with Scarlett, she gets jealous and possessive. And Scarlett? She bends over backwards for Pen, constantly prioritizing her feelings over her own. It was frustrating to read.
Then there’s Scarlett and Lukas. Their dynamic felt forced from the start—because it was forced. Just because two people are into the same things sexually doesn’t mean they automatically have chemistry. And honestly, the whole “second choice” aspect really rubbed me the wrong way. Scarlett stepping into Pen’s shoes as Lukas’ rebound made it hard to root for them. Even when their relationship slowly developed beyond physical attraction, it still didn’t feel natural. Lukas was the only redeeming factor—he genuinely cared about Scarlett, helped her overcome her fears, and tried to make it clear that he was done with Pen. But that didn’t stop Pen from manipulating both of them.
Final Thoughts
For a book that kept teasing a “kinkier” romance, it didn’t actually deliver. There was plenty of buildup, but when things finally happened, it was just… standard. Ali Hazelwood has written steamier scenes in her previous books without all the hype. If you’re going to make a big deal about it, you have to follow through.
By the end, Pen’s sudden redemption arc felt just as forced as everything else. Scarlett and Lukas do get their HEA, but at that point, I wasn’t invested anymore. This is, without a doubt, my least favourite Ali Hazelwood book. It didn’t have the cleverness, charm, or heart that I expect from her. I’m all for authors exploring new genres, but Deep End just didn’t work for me.
deep end ali hazelwood review
Disclaimer: I have added affiliate links for your convenience so you can directly purchase the book if you are intrigued. This also means that I will receive small commission. This does not affect inclusion in my reviews or the overall rating of the book.
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