Deep End by Ali Hazelwood Published by Berkley on 02/04/25
Genres: Sports Romance
Format: Paperback
Pages: 445
Source: Purchased
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Goodreads
Ali Hazelwood trades her lab coats for swimsuits in her captivating new novel, Deep End. This isn’t your average sports romance; it cleverly blends the intense pressures of elite athletics with the complexities of navigating friendships, relationships, and academic aspirations.
Table of Contents
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About Deep End
Scarlett “Vandy” Vandermeer is grappling with a severe case of the twisties, an unsettling mental block that’s been haunting her since a traumatic injury took her out of the game last season. As Scarlett struggles to break free from this mental block, the mounting pressures of balancing her studies, competing as a student-athlete, and tackling med school applications are weighing her down. Just when she needs a lifebuoy the most, along comes Penelope “Penn” Ross, the determined captain of the diving team, along with her charmingly complicated on-again, off-again boyfriend, Lukas Blomqvist.
Penn makes a wild suggestion that leaves Scarlett both mortified and intrigued. In a moment of careless honesty, Penn hints that she and Lukas share some rather specific interests that could be worth exploring together. Scarlett values her friendship with Penn deeply, quickly dismissing the comment as a drunken slip. But then fate intervenes, and suddenly Vandy finds herself paired up with Lukas for a project. Cue the heart-fluttering moments! Everywhere she turns, it’s like Lukas is right there, and before she knows it, the lines between friendship and something more start to blur in the most tantalizing way.
Ready to take the plunge? Trust me, you won’t want to miss Scarlett’s journey as she navigates the choppy waters of love and self-discovery!
Tropes in Deep End
- 🏊♀️🥇 Sports Romance
- ❤️🔥-🌶️ Slowburn to SPICY
- 🧍♂️🍁🥇He Falls First
- 🧍♂️🍁⛑️ He Falls Harder
- ❤️🔼 Love Triangle
- 🗣️ Witty Banter
- 🤫❤️ Secret Romance
- ⬅️❤️➡️ Opposites Attract
- 🧠🏥 Mental Health Rep
My Review
- Plot & Pacing
- Deep End takes a thrilling dive into the world of collegiate sports, but don’t worry – Hazelwood still weaves in those signature STEM elements we love. It’s like a perfect balance of jock and geek! The result is a super rich, textured narrative that’ll hook both new and veteran readers.
- Characters
- Scarlett “Vandy” Vandermeer
- FMC
- Diver at Stanford
- Scarlett grapples with the fresh trauma of her injury while simultaneously navigating the deep wounds from her childhood in an abusive home. Although she has a loving yet bustling support system featuring her stepmother and her dog, the distance between them weighs heavily on her.
- As she gradually opens up to Penn, she finds solace in their budding friendship. Plus, her walls come tumbling down around Lukas, Penn’s ex, creating unexpected connections that push her to confront her past while embracing the exhilarating possibilities of her present.
- Lukas “Sweedy” Blomqvist
- MMC
- Swimmer at Stanford
- Lukas radiates a strong, confident vibe, as the swim captain and a world champion. On top of that, he’s acing his MCAT while shooting for his dream of medical school! Though he may appear emotionally reserved, his interactions with Scarlett reveal his keen observant nature and genuine, caring heart.
- Penelope “Penn” Ross
- Scarlett’s best friend & Lukas’ ex-girlfriend
- Swimmer at Stanford
- Penn is, shall we say, a complicated character. Her actions often revolve around her own desires, and while she does have some growth moments, she kinda drops the ball in the end. Girl, what were you thinking?!
- Scarlett “Vandy” Vandermeer
Final Thoughts
This book was a bit of a rollercoaster ride for me. As an Ali Hazelwood super-fan, I always know there are certain things I can count on – namely, her ability to tackle her characters’ past traumas with care and sensitivity. And let’s be real, those hot STEM boys she writes? Swoon!
I was totally hooked and loved the story until Penn made a decision that just felt so out of left field. It was like, c’mon, girl, what were you thinking?! And then the way everyone just forgave her and moved on? That left a sour taste in my mouth and impacted my final rating.
Don’t get me wrong, I was thrilled with how the MMC and FMC’s relationship wrapped up. Those two had some serious steam and I was here for every minute of it. But honestly, I can’t help but think they would have been better off just leaving Penn in the past where she belonged.
Overall, it was a bit of a mixed bag for me. Hazelwood’s signature strengths were there, but the whole Penn situation threw me for a loop. Still, I’m glad I dove in and experienced this sports romance rollercoaster. Here’s hoping the next Hazelwood book I pick up will be a full-on thrill ride from start to finish!
Free Printable
As a special thank you for reading, I am sharing a free printable of the bookmarks I created for this series. Please feel free to drop me a note if you have any questions or issues. Happy Reading!