SUMMARY

A competitive diver and an ace swimmer jump into forbidden waters in this steamy college romance from the New York Times bestselling author of The Love Hypothesis.

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…

Image & Summary from Goodreads.

REVIEW

We just aren’t going to talk about how many sports romance books I’ve read this year already, and we aren’t going to talk about how many more I’ll read this year too. 

This was the first Ali Hazelwood book I have ever read before and I really enjoyed her writing style. She has a way of writing that hooks the reader into the story and I really did enjoy her writing. I do want to also read more of her books this year as they are on my ever growing TBR pile. 

Deep End follows Scarlett a diver coming back from injury and Lukas a swimmer who both go to the same college. Scarlett is working through some issues after her injury and has a big fear of injuring her shoulder again which is a valid fear especially when you have to dive into the water from such a height. Lukas is dating Penn at the beginning of the story which you learn is nearing the end after being together since they were in their teens. 

Lukas has some kinks that he is into and Penn doesn’t wan’t to participate and is one of the reasons that Lukas and Penn break up. Scarlett talks to Penn about it as she wants to help Penn see how it can be good and thats how Penn finds out that Scarlett is into that as well. At a house party, Penn gets drunk and suggests that Scarlett and Lukas should hook up as they are both kinky and like the same thing. Scarlett isn’t so sure at first but then comes around to the idea and her and Lukas start up a sexual relationship. Both aren’t sure about the outside socialisation rules with each other but eventually they work it out. 

I can understand Scarlett’s hesitation with progressing the relationship with Lukas because of Penn but Penn had started up a relationship with Hot for Teacher – Theo and Scarlett just wants to be a good friend. I’m pretty sure Penn just wanted to keep Lukas on the side when she wasn’t sure where her relationship with Theo was going but it wasn’t fair to Scarlett every time that Penn called Lukas to help her out of situations. 

This was a very fast read for me as all I wanted to do was read this book! It annoyed me a little when I had to put it down while I was at work but I was so excited to keep reading this when I finished up work. It had me hooked within the first couple of chapters and I really enjoyed this book. 

I gave it a 4 star rating and if this is like any other Ali Hazelwood novel, then I’m sure that I’ll enjoy her other reads as well. 

-Rachelle

I’m on Instagram at @rachellesbookshelf