Let'go talking about Deep End, the next book (upcoming 4th February) by her majestry Ali Hazelwood .

First of all, I wanted to thank Little Brown Book Group infinitely for giving me the opportunity, through this digital ARC, to read this book in preview. Ali Hazelwood is one of my favorite romance authors of the last few years, so seeing an ARC of one of her books (this is the second time AW) so many months in advance was really nice. Really, thank you, from the bottom of my heart.

Right now I have read every Ali Hazelwood's books, so imagine my joy when I saw this ARC arrive in my email.
But let's go in order without being too melodramatic.
What is Deep End?
- Sport romance set in Standford
- STEM, even if less than the first three books but there are always references to the stem world
- Steamy - I have to say that this time the spicy component is very present, but it has its reason given that it is one of the central themes of the book
- Super cameo (yes :) )

Deep End is a sport romance (Ali write more about it please) set in a swimming pool, diving etc ... definitely ... wet ... What I can tell you about this book, besides the fact that Hazelwood is a must read for me, is that, this time, the themes are a little different from those she has always examined between the protagonists, and that they develop more on the sexuality and on a sexual level. I have to say that the development is nice and consistent with those who are the characters and their character (Lukas introvert king). Another point i liked is than everything works around the high level sport, in which we also see the internal dynamics, anxieties within this sporting sphere that is linked to the university environment of Stanford and to the same love story.

It is certainly a book that I liked but I must admit, it did not leave a mark like the others that I have read in previous years. The turning point of the last year and a half, a little more adult also in the references to the descriptions (it has always been adult but often in the first books many things happened off-screen) is not that I dislike, because I loved Bride, the other year, and this new book, but I probably preferred it in a slightly softer guise. Obviously this is a personal preference, but in any case the story as a whole in my opinion worked very well and the dynamics that are established between the two main characters, even if they are always a little the same, narratively work for me and this is what interests me.

Overall I liked it, I would like a return (who knows) to the STEM romances of the early years, but in any case it is not despised, on the contrary!

There will never be an Ali Hazelwood book I dont immediately fall in love with. She is so consistent with her books, characters and plots that I’m always in awe of how much I love her.

Deep End was no exception - it is absolutely Ali’s smuttiest book by far and the most endearing. Lukas (LOML) is down bad so early for our girl Scarlett that I’m sure they’re soulmates.

Also Scarlett and I have the same middle name with the same spelling which is UNHEARD OF and also mentions my home-city numerous times which makes me love it even more.

The stakes were high in this one and it made it all the more delicious. It was also kinky AF but also kind of just super super smutty and dirty which I ATE up

Anyways, this was a downright delight and Ali will never let me down.

This is everything Ali is good at but refreshed, enhanced, and 'grown-up'. It feels like she's taken everything I adored about her early books (first-person POV, college setting, cute nicknames, strong and likeable FMC) and somehow made it better!

This review is for Deep End by Ali Hazelwood which will be released in the UK on the 4th February! Thanks so much to Netgalley and Sphere/Little Brown Book Group for giving me an eArc copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

We all know I’m an Ali fangirl at this point, she could literally write an instruction manual and I would read it back to front, and enjoy every second of it. As soon as I knew Deep End was coming out, I was hoping and praying I could gain access to an early copy and thank god I did because I am OBSESSED.

Lukas is the man of my dreams and I will not take any criticism of him. The way he falls first, the way he’s so gentle and caring while also being little kinkster, I loved it. He truly cared about Scarlett and her feelings, constantly checking with her for consent. The character development was also really good in the book, and loved how we can see Scarlett learn how to overcome her mental blocks in relation to diving, and in her personal life as well. Learning to love herself as much as the people around her do.

The spice was SPICING and I loved it, as per usual. It makes so much sense now why she wanted to call the book Whet… the tension, the horniness, the chemistry??? All combined to create a genuinely amazing romance book which I would have devoured in one sitting (if I had enough time 🥲).

Cannot recommend this book enough, and will forever sing Ali’s praises till the day I die.

Another great fast-paced romance from Ali Hazelwood! Fun to read something set in the sports world, although personally I'll always prefer her STEM novels. The usual strong characterisations, including believable back stories, and a fun plot. An enjoyable read.

Headlines:
Water sports
Brain fighting emotions
Immense feeels

This book made a complete splash into my Sunday and I couldn't put it down. This was a very character-couple driven story but the plot was excellent too. While I knew there was a theme of intimate control, it was very palatable for me (not always a fan) and I just loved how it translated to building trust in this couple.

Scarlett was a diver with a mental block, training for the big competitions and often on the outside of friendship groups. Scarlett was an endearing protagonist, she was kind of self aware but in denial about some things. Lukas was hard to work out at first but the vibes he gave off in Scarlett's direction were pretty strong. The triangular (not a triangle) situation was always there in the background and I felt the scent of things to come.

I very much enjoyed all the diving stuff, the sports context, the pressures of training, competing and studying. We got some cameos from previous characters which was pretty sweet.

How the months passed and the trust built had me glued to every page. I felt all the moments between these two, the most powerful ones were emotional. I honestly didn't want this book to be over.

Ali Hazelwood writes romance as though it's personalised to my taste and I will devour her books on first bite and re-read forever.

Thank you to Sphere for the review copy.

Ali Hazelwood’s Deep End is a delightful dive into romance and self-discovery. Packed with Hazelwood’s signature humor, lovable characters, and sizzling chemistry, this story captures the thrill and vulnerability of falling in love. The dialogue is sharp, the emotions are raw, and the plot is impossible to put down. It’s a heartfelt and refreshing read that’s perfect for fans of swoony romances with a touch of nerdy charm. Highly recommend!

Reading this book was an absolute delight! The chemistry between the couple is fantastic, and their interactions really warmed my heart. I love how Lukas was drawn to her from the moment they met. It's lovely to witness their slow journey toward love, even though they’ve already shared such a deep physical connection.

Ali Hazelwood's latest book it just as spicy and addictive as you'd come to expect from the queen of romance. I have to admit, I found this couple a little difficult to connect with. Their relationship was solely based on their sexual desires and, while their chemistry is undeniable, I found both characters difficult to connect with on an emotional level.

There was also one character that I found pretty infuriating throughout. Yes, there's a redemption arc sub-plot, but I personally was left a tad unsatisfied. I'm a woman who requires a hefty amount of grovelling when my FMM is wronged. She was sl*t shamed, ghosted and treated awfully throughout and I think the perpetrators got off with it a little too easily for my liking.

I absolutely loved that our original couple, Adam and Olive from The Love Hypothesis, make an appearance and I found Scarlett's mental block and therapy sessions after her injuries to be very interesting and well written.

Are you set to get WHET!?!??

If not, you should be. This is a BDSM romance book. Unfortunately this fact was not to my taste; however if it was I would have thoroughly enjoyed this book. The characters are well-written, likable, and go on a believable journey of both personal and romantic development. Ali Hazelwood has delivered on her formula again, so any fan of hers will enjoy this one as long as they don't share my silly little hangups.

Ready, set, WHET!!

I was blown away by Deep End. This is my second Ali Hazelwood book, and I loved it even more than the first (which was excellent). The sports romance genre is pretty huge, and I've read widely within it, so it's always a real pleasure to come across a book which hits all my favourite things about the genre (the frienships and rivalries, the camaraderie, the angst, the spice, the sporting stakes) but also feels like something fresh and nothing like anything I've read before.

Scarlett is complex and sympathetic as a FMC, with plenty of baggage to overcome, and an excellent dry wit to her which made her the perfect POV character. Seriously, Hazelwood has such a way with words, and an ability to be very funny one moment and to gut you the next. Or the same moment, even. I loved Scarlett's connection with Lukas, and while this was (for the most part) a single POV story, I never felt like Lukas's characterisation was anything less than clear, or that the reverse POV was needed. I also loved the other central relationship of the book, which was Scarlett's frienship with Pen. Hazelwood really nailed the sense of finally finding your person, and wanting to hold onto that sense of acceptance and belonging, sometimes at your own expense, and the need to try and balance all the conflicting demands on your time and energy as a college student whilst still make the most of *being* a student.

It's probably worth noting that the spice is very spicy in this one - but while the central dynamic is based on power exchange, and the spicy scenes go all in with that, it never felt gratuitous, or anything less than grounded in the genuine connection between the characters; this was just one way in which they expressed it. Hazelwood does a great job of sensitively showing the dynamic in a responsible way, yet without it being overly didactic. A hard circle to square, but it was well done.

Finally, while I went in knowing (and caring) little about competitive diving, I found it truly compelling as a backdrop to the story, both in terms of the psychology of the sport (and Scarlett's mental block) and the logistics of being a D1 athlete and NCAA competition.

Basically, this is an excellent college sports romance - but also has plenty of substance and interest for a general romance reader who might normally give college (or sports) romances a miss. Maybe it's a gateway to the genre for STEM fans? Either way, highly recommended!

I can not believe I put one of my Romantasy reads on pause because I needed something suitable to read in public as I was going by train home from CPH and.... well, this is NOT suitable for public reading. Approach at your own risk... 😂

That said, I loved the tension, the yearning, the emotions, the chemistry, the "hey let's write a sports romance, but add some STEM in there anyway" (staying true to Ali Hazelwood ofc), everything basically. I loved everything.

4.5⭐

Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Another win in the books for Hazelwood! I’ve read every Ali Hazelwood book, and I read them as SOON as it hits the shelves, they’re that good. I’ve been fortunate to ARC read both Not in love, and Deep end, extremely happy about that fact. In this brand new novel, Hazelwood dips her toes (literally) in the world of college sports romance, as well as BDSM. Like, hello? Yes PLEASE girl. In Deep end we follow Scarlett and Lukas, a diver and a swimmer, who btw won an olympic goldmedal. Obviously, we also have the world of STEM, which I adore and I’m so happy that even though Hazelwood is trying out new things in her books, she’s still true to the STEM themes. We have some lovely guest appearances by Olive and Adam, our couple in Love Hypothesis 🙏🏼 And Lukas, like you might hear from his name, is SWEDISH. Yeeey Sweden represent! 😂 We get so many funny jokes and banter about this fact, ”Resting Swede face”. Yep, I have that face down to a tee 😐😂. Incredible dialogue and deep conversations between our characters. Very profound and honest, lovely representation. And such a page turner. It’s also the longest book to date, standing at 464 pages, so lots of Hazelwood brilliance to enjoy! ♥️

And yes, there is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes. 👏🏼

LOOOOOVEDDD THIS!!! I'm always obsessed with any of Ali's books and this one isn't any different. OMG the SPICE!!!! It's reached a new level and omg yessssss!!! YES YES YES

Did I read almost 500 pages in less than 48 hours? Yes, I did. I'm obsessed

I honestly don't know how Ali Hazelwood does it, but she keeps outdoing herself. I said Not in Love was neck and neck with Check & Mate as my favourite of hers, because Nolan is just unbeatable, but he may have found his match with Lukas!

Deep End is Ali Hazelwood's first sports romance and it follows Scarlett, a platform diver who is a Junior at Stanford, and Lukas, a world champion swimmer. They have been going around in the same circle for years, as they are both athletes of water sports at Stanford, but have kept apart and haven't really had any meaningful interactions, until something they have in common ends up bringing them together.

When it comes to romance novels, sexual intimacy is an important part of how we see the main characters interact; it can say a lot about a relationship. I love how Ali manages to make these scenes cohesive with the novel and the characters as a whole; they always serve a purpose and are never gratuitous. I found the chemistry between Scarlett and Lukas just incredible; so much tension and yearning, even though it's not a slow romance in the traditional sense.

Do yourself a favour and pre-order this asap (if you haven't already) because it's now tied with Not in Love and Check & Mate as my favourites of hers!

Thank you SO much to Sphere and NetGalley for the e-ARC!

If it was possible to give this 1000 stars I would. The emotional depth of these characters was incredible, and I felt like I really related on a personal level to Scarlett. I feel like I say this every time Ali Hazelwood releases a new book, but this is my favourite!

Je me suis "plongée" dans ce livre avec beaucoup d'attente et je n'ai pas été déçue.
On retrouve un peu le même schéma que dans ces précédents ouvrages, mais, de nouveau, elle réussit à nous happer.
Scarlett est un personnage assez introverti aux premiers abords et on découvre vite que c'est une personne drôle, intéressante, ouverte d'esprit, bref l'amie qu'on voudrait tous avoir.
Elle fait partie d'une équipe de plongeon à l'université, mais suite à une blessure la reprise est compliquée en effet, elle se met en retrait, malgré son équipe qui la soutient.
Parmi son équipe une jeune femme qui est en couple avec le "golden boy", Lukas. En apparence, ils sont le couple parfait, mais son équipière lui fait part de difficultés qu'elle vie dans sa relation.
Scarlett constate suite à cette confidence que Lukas à les mêmes intérêts qu'elle et ils vont se rapprocher.
C'est une romance encore plus steamy, qui traite de traumas, ainsi que de sexualité qui n'est pas "classique".
En ayant vu ces sujets, on peut se demander si ça ne va pas tomber dans le cliché et bien non. C'est traité avec beaucoup de respect, d'ouverture d'esprit et de réalisme.
J'ai adoré cette relation qui évolue dans l'amour et dans la bienveillance tout en montrant une sexualité qui sort de clous.
Je recommande mille fois ce titre !

5 / 5 💦💻🩱🎧

A HUGE THANK YOU AND APPRECIATION TO HACHETTE FOR THE HARDCOVER PROOF COPY OF DEEP END, FOREVER GRATEFUL!!

My first 5 star read of 2025!! No questions asked, this book genuinely stole my heart from the first few chapters and quickly became my new favourite Ali Hazelwood book!

There was just something in this book, it had everything I like in a romance book. The college setting, the academic partners, the semi-hate to love, the love languages, the way Lukas loved Scarlett and vice-versa was everything. This won’t be everyone’s cup of tea I think but for me I connected to Scarlett on such a deep level that just made everything about this book hit hard and close to home.

LUKAS >>> This man is the definition of perfect and he’s up there with my favourite book boyfriends now. I cannot wait to re-read this book and annotate and buy it when it releases and I will be keeping my eye on special editions of this because I think I’ll need one.

This book had me entertained the whole way through, I was also so invested in them and watching there relationship unfold.

Please heed the disclaimer from Ali at the beginning of the book because it is extremely important to consider if you want to read it or not !!

Ali Hazelwood truly never misses

Deep End is a masterpiece about two people coming together in a beautiful way. The romance was exquisite, Lukas may just be the best man she’s written yet. This is how you treat a woman people! I was rooting for him and Scarlett from the get go.

The real strength of this book however lies not with the romance but the way in which Scarlett’s struggles are addressed. They were handled with care and respect and explored beautifully. Seeing Scarlett transform in the duration of this story was incredibly emotional. Scarlett is going to mean a lot to so many people.

Deep End might just be Hazelwood’s best work yet and is a must read.

I adore these new Ali Hazelwood books.
I love the mix between STEM and jocks and BDSM, it’s such a taboo subject sometimes in books but I loved how it was incorporated in the book.
Lukas and Scarlett are the best, I was going to say the cutest but there’s nothing cute about Lukas. I love how their relationship develops and all the links between their sports. The friendships in this book are also on point (if not a little toxic at some times) but the banter, the support and the love is all that’s needed. I also love that it’s Scarlett’s mental health and her own development that’s a main part of the book, not only her relationship with Lukas or others, but how she overcomes her own fears.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an ARC in exchange of an honest review!