Book Review:
Deep End
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my goodness, this book 😮💨 my new fav Ali book hands down 🙌🏼
📖 Deep End by Ali Hazelwood
🎧: highly recommending the audio (details below)
⭐️: ♾️
🌶️: open door, and they are exploring shared k!nks, however spice does not take over the plot/character development
💭 overall thoughts:
I LOVED how the relationship developed between Scarlett + Lukas – how they went from vaguely orbiting one another (though he was 100% always drawn to her), to developing a physical relationship & friendship at the same time.
Both are student athletes & med students, high achievers with their own baggage that helps them understand each other & bond.
For those who are saying this is all spice and no plot/character development, I think you’re missing the point.
There is so much to be said about the way the MCs explore k!nk – it’s 100% consensual, everything is fully discussed and agreed upon beforehand.
I love how it was portrayed, it was accessible for someone like me that wouldn’t choose necessarily to pick up a book with this type of spice.
I think some of the criticism also forgets that these are 21-22 year olds, and many of their reactions to things are age-appropriate. The bits of drama & reactions of Penn (Luk’s ex & Scarlett’s best friend) were uncomfortable at times, but that’s kind of the point? For a story to make you feel something.
🎧 audiobook thoughts:
I can’t say enough good things about the audio.
While written in single pov, the narration is duet so this completely enhances the story – every word out of Lukas’ mouth is 😮💨 and pretty much all the parts I saved/tabbed in my physical copy.
Ben Holtzmuller as Lukas – I don’t even know where to begin. His accent, his energy – it was perfect.
Thérèse Plummer perfectly encapsulates Scarlett, with her nervous vibes and her confidence as it grew.
They were both absolutely fantastic.
*** All that said, this book definitely won’t be for everyone. Honestly at surface level (pun always intended) it wouldn’t be for me, but it WAS.
I don’t even know how to explain it.
I think I just love Ali’s writing, period.
read if you love:
💦 college (Standford) med students + athletes
💦 platform diver & swim team captain (+ olympian)
💦 friends to lovers
💦 secret hookups >> fling to more
💦 shared k!nks
💦 he falls first + harder
💦 single 1st person pov (with duet narration)
Thank you to Penguin Random House & LibroFM for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.