Review: Deep End by Ali Hazelwood
Ali Hazelwood is back with Deep End, and let me tell you—this is the spiciest book she’s written yet. While I do struggle with her signature voice, I’ve come to realize something: with each book, she hyper-focused on one aspect of the story, and it’s not always the romance. And that, my friends, is where I struggle.
At this point, I have to admit to myself—Ali Hazelwood’s books just might not be for me. And that’s okay! Not every author is for every reader.
That said, Deep End did something I didn’t expect: she got me to enjoy a New Adult Romance, which is usually a hard pass for me. But if there’s one thing Hazelwood excels at, it’s the sheer depth of research she pours into her books. This time, she drops us into the world of elite athletics, following Lukas, a star swimmer, and Scarlett, a dedicated diver. Their worlds collide in the pool, but what binds them runs much deeper.
And then there’s Lukas—swoon. If you like your heroes tall, broody, Scandinavian, and obsessively devoted, he’s going to be your guy. Ali does like an over-the-top broody hero. Lukas doesn’t just like Scarlett—she’s his entire universe. And honestly? That kind of unwavering devotion gets me every time.
Their love story is anything but conventional, but that’s what makes it so compelling. Scarlett is battling past demons that still haunt her, and Lukas is working through his own struggles. Watching them tear down each other’s walls was incredibly satisfying. They see each other in a way that feels raw and real.
But here’s where things got tricky for me:
- The sports take over the romance. I knew this was a sports romance, but whew—there’s a lot of diving talk. Like, a lot, a lot. More than romance, more than relationship development. If I wanted this level of detail, I’d watch the Olympics.
- The secret relationship trope… but make it frustrating. They keep their relationship under wraps for most of the book, which is fine, but they barely acknowledge their own feelings until the very end. Lukas is clearly obsessed with Scarlett, but he doesn’t tell her, and instead, he kind of… ignores her? Meanwhile, Scarlett is struggling to figure out what she even wants. Which, fair—she’s 21! But as a romance reader, I wanted more emotional connection sooner.
- The dialogue felt too wordy. While I loved the poetic, over-the-top style in Bride (because that world was supposed to be extra), here it felt a bit odd. These are college students, even if they’re pre-med, and at times, their conversations felt unnatural.
Here’s the thing: if you already love Ali Hazelwood’s books, you’ll probably love this one, too. It has all her trademarks—STEM-adjacent characters, intense chemistry, and a unique setting. But if, like me, you’ve struggled with her books in the past, this one probably won’t be the one to change your mind.
find other Olympic Sports Reads here
Book Stats:
Rating: 3.5/5
Sub Genre- New Adult (college)
Tropes: Close Proximity, Sports Romance, Secret Relationship, friends with benefits
Pop: 41%
Want to hear more from Ali Hazelwood? Check out our Interview with her.
