All Scarlett wants to do is get her head back in the game. Ever since her injury at a competition a while back, she just can’t seem to pull it together, and it’s putting her collegiate diving career at risk. She keeps to herself, preferring to focus on her studies and her practice, and Scarlett’s even oblivious when the team hunks flirt with her or ask her out. But when the heartthrob every girl on campus fauns over starts making moves and connecting to Scarlett’s darker bedroom fantasies, Scarlett can’t help but notice. Will he become yet another distraction for her, or will he be the secret to her success both on the diving platform and the classroom?
Best-selling author Ali Hazelwood’s latest release Deep End hit shelves in February 2025. Known for both her paranormal novels and her works focused on women in STEM fields like Scarlett in this book, Hazelwood has claimed this is her favorite book to write so far, and I can see why. Delving into the world of darker pleasure in the bedroom, these characters expertly explore their preferences and desires in a mature and responsible way. Hazelwood also tackles mental health topics including PTSD response due to past physical abuse and an athlete’s inability to compete due to mental block. This is the perfect collegiate coming of age story mixed with spicy romance that readers won’t want to put down!
I give Deep End 5 out of 5 stars. I had been hearing about this book for a few months and I can understand why! I love the banter between the characters and the respectful manner in which the more experienced male character allows the less experienced female character to learn and explore her sexual preferences in the bedroom in a protected way. I can also appreciate the dynamic between the two leads and their friend groups. There was one moment later in the book that I did find unfeasible while the two leads were doing something she had never done before. Without giving away too much – someone 100% unexperienced with this interaction could not go from never having done it to doing it in the span of 5 minutes without major issue. That was the only frustration point in this otherwise picture-perfect novel that I really didn’t want to put down!
Given some rather direct sexual interactions contained in these pages, I would recommend this novel for more mature audiences over 16. With additional themes of bullying, drinking, and PTSD from abuse, this may not be the best read for all audiences. However, if you like steamy romance novels staring 20-something characters that deliver the male dominance and protection most women wish they had in their relationships, this is the book for you. With feels of A Discovery of Witches without the vampires and witches and any of Tessa Bailey’s sports-themed romances, you are going to love this book. Also – I chose the audiobook version for this one – it did not disappoint!
I chose Deep End for the Read With Lindsey Reading Challenge prompt “a new release in 2025”. With it’s gorgeous purple cover, it felt like a perfect choice for this prompt. We have seen so many fantastic new books hitting shelves so far in 2025, including many of our Saturday reviews. What’s been your favorite new release of the year?
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What I’m Reading
- Current print book: Break In, Dick Francis
- Current audio book: Friends With Benefits, Marisa Kanter
- Book I’m most looking forward to: I’m Glad My Mom Died, Jennette McCurdy
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