This romance dives deep into class divides and feelings of inadequacy, exploring personal growth and overcoming challenges.

A must-read if you enjoy romances with deep character growth, evolving relationships, and social struggles. It's a refreshing, emotionally real journey of two people navigating their differences and finding their way back to each other.

Thank you for this arc 💕💕

A story about old flames, complicated friendships and socioeconomic disparities - it seems like it has been made specifically for me yet it left me feeling somewhat tepid. Our main character Alex's most prominent defining trait is being debilitatingly insecure about her social standing compared to all her absurdly wealthy Colombia friends. Friendship was as important a theme to the story as the romance was yet it left me wanting more. Even Alex and Paul as best friends were a little unconvincing. Alex's inner monologue often took jabs at him, especially when it came to his wealth, how he treats service staff, etc... It felt full of resentment in a way that made me doubt the depth of the friendship. Alex's friendship with the rest of the crew was always rocky but it didn't evolve from the beginning of the story to its conclusion. They still treat her like an outsider, she still lowkey hates them - there is no catharsis.

Though, to be honest, as much as I found Alex's struggles relatable and have wanted to root for her but she was so! frustrating!! Self-centered and proud and hurting so many people left and right but refusing to apologize for it. On the other hand, our love interest Danial is... hot. Listen, I don't often need my male characters in romance to be more than hot and full of yearning, so thank you for your service, Danial. I would've wished to see more of their relationship in college and what led them to be so fascinated with each other in the first place, especially since we only follow Alex's POV and I had to use a lot of my imagination to find reasons why would Danial reciprocate her affection. To be honest, by the end, I kinda believe he deserved better. Despite my being skeptical about their relationship, I won't deny the chemistry. I think Fagan's strength is definitely in writing those sweet quiet romantic moments.

As a Below Deck fan I loved the yacht aspect of this book. Even the social/political discussions. I wished it focused more on Danial and Alex’s jobs and less on the love story. I appreciate a good love story but like most it was very predictable. Even Paul and Guy’s story was predictable but I was happy how that ended. I just found myself speed reading through most of it but the writing was good!

For the girlies looking for a sophisticated summer romance that will scratch the travel itch, you've landed in the right place. The High Dive by second time fiction author & CEO of The Financial Diet Chelsea Fagan might be exactly what you're looking for.

Alex is on her way to the expensive Italian wedding of one of her best friends, where she knows she will cross paths with Danial, the boy she once humiliated herself over in college and has avoided ever since. Unfortunately, she runs into him a lot sooner than she intended, sans the revenge outfit she carefully planned - which turns out to be indicative of all of their interactions for the duration of the luxury cruise - unexpected and largely uncomfortable.

The themes in this book are so on brand for Chelsea. I've watched The Financial Diet videos off and on throughout their tenure, and topics of liberal politics, social issues, class warfare, and even the love of travel that shines through the pages are all very expected coming from her. I will say it is all done quite tastefully. The politics are very intwined in the plot, but only because they are Alex's entire job, and is relevant to the plot. The High Dive is successful on this point where many other ultra-progressive novels I've read recently have not been (I'm looking at you When We Grow Up). It is not shove-it-down-your-throat style writing, it is natural to the characters and their story, which is the only way I personally believe politics should be discussed outright in fiction.

Though Alex and Danial's story is interesting and romantically mysterious, I didn't get the distinct impression that the two of them were MFEO soul mates that fate was inevitably bringing back together. Instead it is about two people who might have gotten together once upon a time if they'd made different choices, getting to know each other again as who they are now. For me, this wasn't the strongest tether of the story. I feel like the characters maybe spent a little too long assuming they were more like the selves they previously knew than the people standing in front of them.

One thing I know the author does well is travel, and I feel like that truly shines in this book. Details I'd never think of (as someone who has never traveled internationally) really bring the story to life in a very organic way. Prepare yourself to live vicariously on an indulgent European getaway!

Despite my few qualms with the romance of it all, this is still an excellent choice for your summer TBR. Not every love story has to be I'd-die-for-you-romance. Sometimes it can be the I-choose-you-despite-everything kind. Also, look at that cover! I will absolutely continue to follow Chelsea's publishing career and am so grateful to have received this title for early review.

Note:: I received an early copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

This book took me a while to get into but once I was hooked I ate it up.

The plot was well done. The mix of past and present timelines leave you wondering what exactly happened ten years ago and makes you keep reading.
There was good exploration of political issues, particularly the class/wealth divide, as well as a slightly less in depth exploration of emotional abuse.
The main characters were well developed although I’m not sure I would say they’re particularly likeable. I did root for Alex, Danail and Paul, but I’m not sure I’d be friends with them in real life. At times the romance feels pretty toxic but I think you root for them to be together by the end.

I would recommend this book for those looking for a summer romance with some grit.

Thanks to Netgalley and Orsay Press for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

First off, I loved the banter in this book and the escapism of being on a boat. The author's descriptions made me feel like I was there. However, Alex was a terrible character and therefore I didn't care for the romance aspect.

This was such a great read! I flew through it on vacation with my family (not on a boat, sadly). I really liked Alex's character arc and that she didn't settle, but persevered for what she wanted. I'll ready anything by Chelsea!

Thanks to Netgalley for an advanced copy for a honest review. This was an escape that I needed. I stayed up way to late to finish it. Gave me Below Deck vibes. Enemies to lovers, social class, politics and cross cultures were everything. Absolute charming summer read. FANTASTIC!!!!!

3⭐️ for The High Dive.

Cute summer romance between Alex and Danial. Alex is super insufferable and has a very strong “poor me” presence when she is surrounded by her “rich friends” while they are sailing on a yacht for Paul’s Bachelorette party. The story line bounces between 10 years ago and the present romantic tensions between Alex and Danial.

The banter between Alex and Paul might have been what saved the story.

I had no expectations going into this book, and I ended up really loving it. It taps into something so relatable—the feeling of not being good enough or like you don’t quite fit in, especially when reuniting with old friends for a yatch trip and wedding in Greece. That’s a big part of what Alex is dealing with as she prepares to reunite with her college crew, all of whom are wealthier and seemingly more put-together than she is. Then there’s Daniel, a key part of her past, and their story slowly unravels through a series of flashbacks. Some readers might find Alex a bit much—she can definitely be her own worst enemy—but I found her struggles honest and familiar. Great summer read, thank you @netgalley and @faganchelsea for providing an early copy of this ARC!

I really loved this. I couldn’t stop reading- must have been on my phone for 24 hours straight with the downloaded copy! The characters felt real and the emotion from someone working in politics is very spot on.

Rating: 3.5

This was a quick and easy read and I loved the setting (especially as a fan of Below Deck) and thought that the author did a good job of helping the reader to visualize it. I did not like the main character, Alex. Her background and history from college seemed to drag her back many times more than it should have. I felt like there was context that I was missing about their college days that I didn’t end up getting while reading through the flashbacks. I did like the happy ending!

This novel reads like a gorgeous romance set on your favorite yachting reality TV show. I thoroughly enjoyed the setting and the diverse characters. The commentary on wealth, class, and career choices is unique and well-done, in my opinion. The delicious tension and yearning made this book hard to put down! I would have loved to see more of a character arc for the female main character, as it felt like insecurity ruled the majority of her decisions and dialogue. She is often highly relatable, though, and I did enjoy that the book is only in her POV. Overall, would definitely recommend if you’re looking for an easy, sweet romance novel with some added layers of interest!

I loved this book and it would be a great option for book clubs this year! You are invested in the characters, the story addresses friendships, relationships, wealth, privilege, and so much more. The story is well written and engaging - Highly recommend!

Absolutely LOVED this book! And just look at that stunning cover! I truly couldn't put it down and looked forward to getting off work just to read more.

The High Dive is an enemies to lovers story set mainly on a yacht. It follows Alex, Danial, and their group of friends both currently and in their past college years. I found the characters to be flawed, but very lovable and relatable. Alex especially -- I could see my younger self in some of her thoughts and actions.

All in all, this is a perfect summer read.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced reader copy of The High Dive by Chelsea Fagan!

This enemies to lovers romance address social class, politics and cross cultures. Alex and Danial meet in college as scholarship kids amongst very wealthy friends. Upon graduating hearts are broken and they don’t see each other again for 10 years when their friend Paul is getting married. They are traveling on a yacht for the bachelor party and have to figure out if they can be friends or maybe more.

The High Dive is a friends to enemies to lovers story that follows Alex and Danial, two former working-class scholarship kids among rich elite friends, as they navigate their best friend's wedding. 10 years after their college graduation and combustion of their friendship, they must attempt to play nice for the sake of their friends, which is hard to do when you're on a boat in the Mediterranean. Via a dual timeline, we see them at odds which are now professional as well as personal and also get to meet their younger selves and witness their mutual undisclosed longings and what ultimately caused their friendship to go down in flames. The angst is real in this one, and the "enemies to lovers" part is truly enemies - Fagan wrote two very hurt people who have become very good at hurting each other, to the point where sometimes I wanted to tell them to let up. She also addresses complicated class dynamics and the "haves vs. have nots" feelings both Alex and Danial struggle with in their rich, elite friend group in a way that other class-addressing contemporary romances only scratch the surface of. It was also lovely to see the friendship between Alex and Paul.

While I was always rooting for Alex, something I missed in the story was why exactly she felt drawn to a group that made her feel so unstable for so long and why, despite those feelings, she stuck around - there was an opportunity for more character depth for both Danial and Alex. This book was written very well (which I would expect from Fagan) and the descriptions of settings and fashion were a treat. Ultimately I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone who's looking for a yacht-scene/jet-set romance, enjoys enemies to lovers, or someone who wants a good angsty (what read like a) slow-burn. Perfect poolside read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Orsay Press for this eARC!

I requested this arc since i loved Chelsea's last romance so much and this one did not disappoint! I love The emotional depth of the characters, I started the book hating Danial and than understanding their dinamic and than falling in love with them. I also loved this book for representing adults with flaws, still getting to know themselves as it is obviously the reality that i often don't see in books. Absolutely a charming summer read, thought i read it in the early days of autumn (south hemisphere reader) the atmosphere is palpable. Loved it, loved it!

I am a hard to please reader when it comes to romance, and this story really checks my beach read boxes: high stakes almost entirely due to emotional depth, low stakes for almost everything else (I love sumptuous settings and the feeling of escape to somewhere beautiful!), and the frustrations on the path to romance felt pretty realistic, not contrived. Alex is a heroine I can root for, whose foibles are understandable. Absolutely the perfect read for someone (like me) who has frequently put my foot in my mouth right when I wanted to sound like the smartest person in the room... or anyone who just daydreams of breakfasting on deck on the Mediterranean in a gorgeous outfit. :)

I was given this book by NetGalley for an honest review-
Alex and Daniel were the only two students on a scholarship amongst the elite group. Alex has always strived to fit in. One night before grad an incident caused a rife in their relationship. Alex has always loved Daniel and has followed him making his mark in the firm.
Ten years later they meet in a yacht for a friends wedding. Can they put aside their issues and find love again?