This book is almost 500 pages, but I flew through it in less than 48 hours because it’s so fast-paced and easy to binge. I’m a total sucker for a sports romance, and the fact that this was swimming instead of hockey? Finally!

Characters:

Lukas:  I loved how determined he was and how he wasnt afraid to go after what he wanted (aka Scarlett). But the best part? He respected her boundaries, which made him even more of a dream book boyfriend.

 Scarlett:  She was a strong FMC, and I could definitely relate to her struggles with people-pleasing and perfectionism. That said, I never fully connected with her, and I’m not sure why. Maybe it was the constant crying? She had amazing growth throughout the book, though, and I loved seeing her come into her own.

The Chemistry? Insane. The tension, the angst, the pining so good. I loved that Lukas and Scarlett’s relationship had actual depth and that they grew together.

Side Characters Deserve a Shoutout They added so much to the story! I really appreciated that there wasn’t any toxic girl drama when there easily could have been. The female friendships were a nice touch.

Plot & Pacing:

Fast-Paced & Engaging“ I never got bored with this one. The sports aspect was so well done, and I really liked how Ali Hazelwood explained the technical details without making it feel like a textbook.

Lots of Drama, Growth & High Stakes This book had a lot going on, but it worked. The mix of romance, personal struggles, and competitive pressure kept me hooked from start to finish.

Why Not 5 Stars?

The Melbourne references threw me a bit. Was this supposed to be about the Olympics? And if so, why Melbourne and not Brisbane 2028? It wasn’t a dealbreaker, but it left me confused.

Also, while I enjoyed Scarlett’s character arc, I didn’t love her as much as I wanted to, which made it a little harder to be fully invested at times.

Final Thoughts:

Overall, Deep End is a great sports romance with electric chemistry, well-developed characters, and a story that never slows down. If you love athlete MMCs, slow-burn romance, and emotional depth, this one’s worth the read!

4 stars!