‘Deep End’ is the latest contemporary romance novel by Ali Hazelwood, best known for her series of romances about women in STEM. Whilst this is set in the same overarching universe, it’s a slight departure: instead of focusing on older, graduate student or industry scientists, this novel focuses on a junior pre-med on the college’s competitive diving team – and her love interest, a pre-med on the swim team who’s already an Olympic gold medallist. Following the trend of Hazelwood’s more recent novels ‘Bride’ and ‘Not in Love’, this is a steamier novel, with Hazelwood’s first venture into the world of BSDM. The strongest element, however, is the novel’s exploration of the protagonists mental health, alongside the fantastic chemistry Hazelwood is known for.
This has to be Scarlett Vandermeer’s year. Injured out in her Freshman year, she’s finally healed enough to make her comeback in platform diving – alongside sitting the MCAT, and finally getting all those additional requirements out of the way ready for med school applications. She has to be perfect. She certainly doesn’t have any time for a relationship. Then, her teammate Pen – senior and diving golden girl – spills a secret: she’s thinking about breaking up with her boyfriend, swim team star and Olympic gold medallist Lukas Blomqvist, because of incompatibility in the bedroom. And that incompatibility? Might just be what Scarlett has been looking for her whole life. Slowly, Pen and Lukas find themselves sliding into an arrangement. But Scarlett’s desperately juggling a whole bunch of precarious balls – and as her heart starts to get involved, everything might just come tumbling down.
Scarlett is a wonderful protagonist. A bit of a neurotic mess, Scarlett has a whole bunch of baggage – and a perfectionist streak so wide she’s drowning in it. She’s incredibly smart and dedicated, but also closed off and determined to do everything herself without letting anyone else in. She’s defined her identity in her attributes – competitive diver, future orthopaedic surgeon, grade A student – and anything that puts that under threat rocks her. Hazelwood does a wonderful job making Scarlett seem real and relatable, and while her head isn’t always a comfortable place to be, the reader is with her all the way.
As someone who follows NCAA gymnastics, I loved getting to know the similar but distinct world of NCAA diving. Its a small and cliquey one, with fierce loyalties but also backstabbing and rivalry. For her first foray into sports romance – even one still paired with some STEM – Hazelwood does a great job of exploring the athlete mindset. She keeps the sport details themselves light and simple, but with enough there that those with an interest can enjoy the tidbits.
The mental health exploration is my favourite part of this book. Whilst this is a romance at heart, the romance is – as with most Hazelwood novels – a slow burn, and a significant portion of the book is more about Scarlett getting to grips with herself, and learning to see herself as more than her achievements. I loved the realistic looks at therapy, the overwhelming nature of anxiety, and how recovery is not a linear process. Of course, this being a romance, it’s all kept rather rose-tinted, but it’s still well-written and adds real depth (pun intended) to the novel.
Hazelwood excels at writing chemistry, and this is no exception. As with every Hazelwood, he falls first – and its delightful seeing the chemistry build and build until it sizzles over. Hazelwood tends to write strong and silent love interests – Lukas, as a literal Olympian, remains strong but is refreshingly blunt and talkative. Where he falls down a little is seeming a bit two dimensional. The reader gets peeks into more of a personality underneath, but just peeks – Lukas is left seeming a bit too perfect to feel fully real. That being said, the romance is still sparklingly hot, and the inevitable romance novel third act is much less trite and unreadable than in some Hazelwood novels, which is a real bonus.
This is Hazelwood’s first exploration of the BDSM scene. For those looking for heavy BDSM, there’s none of that to be found here – this explores light dominance and submission, with a little pain and impact play, without any of the heavier elements of the genre. I will say that the negotiation and aftercare parts are lacking – again, this is a rose-tinted book that glosses over things – but there are far more unhealthy depictions of BDSM out there, and for a first novel exploring it Hazelwood does an acceptable job.
Fans of Hazelwood’s previous books will also appreciate the cameo appearances from The Love Hypothesis – it’s fun seeing characters you know from a new perspective.
Overall, ‘Deep End’ isn’t my favourite by Ali Hazelwood, but is an enjoyable read that shows her increasing versatility and growth as a romance author. Recommended for fans of her existing books and sports romance.
For more by Ali Hazelwood, check out her STEMinist novel series: The Love Hypothesis, Love on the Brain, Love, Theoretically, and Not in Love, and her fantasy/paranormal romance novel Bride
Published by Sphere (Hachette)
Paperback: 4th February 2025
