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Deep End by Ali Hazelwood
Stem-Romance
A Sports Romance with a Refreshing Twist
Ali Hazelwood is known for her STEM-driven romances and her newest paranormal romance Bride, but in Deep End, she takes us into the world of competitive diving. Right from the start, I loved how unique this setting wasâno football, hockey, or the usual suspects. Instead, we get a behind-the-scenes look at the world of elite divers, which felt refreshing and exciting.Still, it was an enjoyable read that kept me hooked (mostly) from start to finish.
A Unique Take on Sports Romance
One of the best parts of this book is the setting. Instead of the more common football or hockey, Hazelwood introduces us to the high-stakes, high-pressure world of professional diving. The training, the mindset, and the sheer physical and mental endurance required for the sport were fascinating to read about. I appreciated the attention to detail and how Hazelwood made it feel real without overwhelming readers with technical jargon.
A Swoony Romance with a Side of (Light) BDSM
The romance itself had great chemistry, with all the banter and tension youâd expect from an Ali Hazelwood book. The dynamic between the main characters was engaging, though the book does hint at BDSM elements without fully committing to them. If youâre expecting a deep exploration of that, you might be a little disappointedâitâs more of a background feature than a central theme.
The Mid-Book Momentum vs. the Slow Finish
The biggest drawback for me was the pacing. The first half of the book had a great flow, building up the tension between the characters and setting up the stakes. But by the time I hit the 75% mark, things started dragging. The energy dipped, the story felt repetitive, and I found myself waiting for something big to happen. It wasnât enough to make me dislike the book, but I definitely felt that final stretch could have been tighter and more engaging.
Final Thoughts
Despite the slow finish, Deep End was a fun, unique take on sports romance. Ali Hazelwood brings her signature humor, smart heroines, and great chemistry to a world we donât often see in romance books. If youâre looking for something different from the usual sports romance tropes, this one is worth checking out.
â ïžâ ïžSPOILERâ ïžâ ïž
And can we talk about the weird love triangle that wasnât really a love triangle? Youâre telling me HIS EX, who is also HER BEST FRIEND, was the one pushing them together just because she found out they had the same kinks? That was just bizarre behavior to me. And then she was just hanging around the entire time like some kind of lurking specter over their relationship? On top of that, Lukas and Pen had been broken up the entire time, yet they didnât tell anyone except Scarlett? Why? And then weâre supposed to just accept that Pen was suddenly the villain in the end when both she and Scarlett were in the wrong? That entire situation felt forced, and instead of giving us a compelling emotional conflict, it just made the last part of the book frustrating to read.
