Char Reviews ‘Deep End’

February is the best month to read romances. I read so many and can’t help it. That’s why Ali Hazelwood announced she would have another book before February. What amazing luck!  ‘Deep End’ is that book.

Scarlett Vandermeer is an excellent diver, but when she injured her shoulder, her life was turned upside down. A year later, when she was training, she still couldn’t dive like before. Her mental block is affecting her dives. Between med school and diving, she has no time for a relationship, but why can’t she keep away from Lucas?
Lucas is the swim team captain and all-around swimming golden boy. On the surface, he is disciplined, and that’s how he gets gold medals, but underneath it all, he is serious about his schooling. But when a secret gets out about an arrangement between him and Scarlett, things start to get complicated.

While Ali Hazelwood isn’t my favorite author, I’ve really enjoyed her more recent books. I particularly liked her book “Bride.” So, when I came across this one, I knew I had to give it a try. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it. The story is quite spicy, but beneath that layer, it’s incredibly cute. I appreciated the struggles that Scarlett faced with her mental block; we all go through difficult times. I also felt for Pip, who had a hard time dealing with change, which added depth to the characters.

Lucas’s character was the archetypal quiet, brooding bad boy that many girls seem to adore. In addition to the characters, I found the writing enjoyable. I’ve noticed that Ali’s STEM-themed romances could feel repetitive, which is why I started to lose interest in her earlier works. However, this book felt entirely different. I’m enjoying the new style she’s developing, and I fully support it! I also highly recommend the audiobook version, as the voice actors did an excellent job!