Brews, Books & BFFs

Deep End by Ali Hazelwood

Scarlett is a world-class diver, fighting to reclaim her place in the sport after a serious injury. But getting back on the board isn’t just a physical battle—it’s a mental one. Enter Lukas, the insanely talented and ridiculously swoon-worthy swim captain and world champion. The catch? He’s also her friend and teammate’s soon-to-be ex-boyfriend. 😳

When her friend casually suggests that Scarlett and Lukas should, uh, explore some extra-curricular activities together, things take a turn for the steamy, the emotional, and the highly addictive. What starts as an unexpected arrangement soon spirals into an intense, sizzling connection that neither of them can ignore.

Ali Hazelwood nails this story with her signature mix of humor, heart, and heat. Seeing characters from The Love Hypothesis pop up was such a fun surprise—it made the world feel even richer! The character development here is chef’s kiss 👩‍🍳💋. Scarlett and Lukas both have so much personal growth, and watching them push each other (in and out of the pool 👀) was incredibly satisfying. Their chemistry? Off the charts. 🔥🔥

Speaking of chemistry… let’s talk spice. 🌶️🌶️🌶️ This book delivers just the right amount—steamy enough to make you blush, but never overshadowing the heart of the story. Ali balances tension, banter, and emotional depth so perfectly, making this an absolute must-read for romance lovers.

If you love smart heroines, swoony love interests, and a romance that will make you laugh, swoon, and possibly fan yourself, Deep End is for you. Dive in—you won’t regret it! 💕🌊

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐️

Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

Blurb:

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…

XOXO,
Jessica 💋

Deep End by Ali Hazelwood
Published on February 4, 2025
Genres: Sports Romance, College Romance
Pages: 460
Rating: 5 Stars

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