Deep End by Ali Hazelwood
Ali Hazelwood has come a long way from the quirky, STEM-filled rom-coms that made her famous. While The Love Hypothesis, Love on the Brain, and Love, Theoretically thrived on humor, banter, and lighthearted romance with a dash of spice, her more recent releases have leaned into darker themes, even more complex characters, and a heavy dose of spice.
If you loved her sweet, nerdy rom-coms, Deep End is a total change of pace that you’re sure to like even more. Hazelwood’s shift towards even more emotionally charged and erotically intense storytelling will have you hooked from start to finish. The exploration of intimacy, emotional healing, and self-worth has never been stronger, proving just how far Hazelwood has come as a writer.
And while the book is set in college, with Scarlett and Lukas in their early twenties, their maturity and depth make this much more than a typical college romance.
Opposites-Attract and Other Lovable Tropes
Scarlett Vandermeer is Hazelwood’s most relatable heroine yet.
As a Stanford junior, an elite platform diver, and a pre-med student, she’s spent her life chasing perfection. But after an injury nearly ends her career, she’s left questioning everything, such as her future, her worth, and whether she’ll ever truly be enough.
Overthinking is second nature to her, and her struggles with self-doubt and anxiety are as relatable as they are painful to read and experience. You’ll be rooting for her to realize that she is enough.
Then there’s Lukas Blomqvist, the swim team captain, an Olympic hopeful, and the kind of male lead that romance lovers will fall hard for. He’s calm, disciplined, and intensely focused, the opposite of Scarlett’s chaotic thoughts.
But beneath his world records and quiet confidence, he understands Scarlett better than anyone ever has, even with their marked differences — a fact that drives the book’s entire character-driven plot.
The book takes off quickly when a deep secret throws them into each other’s orbit, and things escalate fast.
What starts as a no-strings-attached arrangement, just a way to let off some steam and escape the pressure of their worlds, quickly turns into something neither of them saw coming.
Readers will love Scarlett and Lukas and will understand their conflicting emotions. Ali captures the movement from the “no-strings-attached” relationship to the“maybe they’re in love” trope perfectly.
The way their chemistry ignites in the story leads to a barrage of emotions between the two, and then to explosive scenes where the banter and back and forth between them becomes emotionally charged.
Tension That Sizzles, Chemistry That Burns
Make no mistake, Deep End is Hazelwood’s spiciest book yet. If you thought Not in Love pushed boundaries, this book takes it to another level. And it works.
But what makes Hazelwood’s spice work so well is that it’s never just about the physical. Every encounter between Scarlett and Lukas is charged with unspoken emotion. The tension and the slow burn is exquisite, and when they finally give in, readers should prepare themselves to experience all of the feels.
Lukas is the perfect male lead, intelligent, strong, and quiet, yet deeply perceptive. He doesn’t try to fix Scarlett; instead, he gives her space to process her emotions, listening without judgment. That kind of emotional depth adds layers to the challenges that come with his relationship with Scarlett.
High-Stakes Drama and a Love Worth Fighting For
Beyond the off-the-charts chemistry, Deep End delivers some of Hazelwood’s most emotionally gripping moments.
Scarlett’s mental health and self-worth issues are portrayed with raw honesty, making her journey toward self-acceptance just as compelling as the romance itself.
One of the novel’s most powerful scenes is when Scarlett finally lets down her walls, admitting her fears and insecurities. Lukas doesn’t interrupt, doesn’t push, he just listens. And that moment is breathtaking, sweet and relatable for those who struggle to find the strength to speak up about their emotions.
As Lukas and Scarlett fight against what feels to be raging waters, which lead to competition, confusion, growth and finally acceptance, this type of storm becomes a perfect metaphor for their personal struggles.
If you’re looking for a lighthearted rom-com, this isn’t it. But if you’re craving an intense, passionate, and deeply emotional romance, Deep End is a masterpiece.
Watching Hazelwood’s writing evolve book after book has been amazing, and Deep End proves just how far she’s come. She handles sex, emotional connection, and the theme of finding one’s own self-worth authentically, making this story not just steamy, but truly powerful.
Because Deep End doesn’t just pull you under, it leaves you breathless and emotional right to the end of the story.
Final verdict: This is Hazelwood’s best story yet.
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About Ali Hazelwood:
Ali Hazelwood is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Love, Theoretically and The Love Hypothesis, as well as a writer of peer-reviewed articles about brain science, in which no one makes out and the ever after is not always happy. Originally from Italy, she lived in Germany and Japan before moving to the US to pursue a PhD in neuroscience. When Ali is not at work, she can be found running, eating cake pops, or watching sci-fi movies with her three feline overlords (and her slightly-less-feline husband).
