panUnpopular opinion incoming.....Sports setting, emotional baggage, honest(ish) characters and spice had potential, but I struggled to connect—especially with Scarlett, whose emotions felt inconsistent. Lukas‘s side rang truer. Fun sports backdrop, good audio, but too long and a bit eye-roll-y. If you are into spicy sports romance with younger, emotionally messy characters this one might be for you. Unfortunately, it wasn't for me. ⭐️⭐️💫/5 ❤️📚🎧
pick#WeeklyFavorites
Second Hazelwood to make my #WeeklyFavorites this month. I just enjoy her characters and writing. A total escape.
pickIf you asked me why I, who doesn‘t even like contemporary romance or sports; read a sports romance, I would have to tell you it‘s because the author got bullied off social media for having an apparently unpopular opinion about the Hunger Games. An inane decision but it worked out. this book was really good actually. Maybe a little too long? Did I need to know THAT much about diving? I was unsurprised by the source of conflict. But it was worth it
pickI think a pick? I had some issues but overall really enjoyed this romance. The main couple is very sweet together and there are plenty of warm moments, funny moments, sizzling hot moments. Ali Hazelwood can certainly write good smut. I did find Lukas‘ accent a little distracting and the Scarlett‘s constant self deprecation was sort of exhausting. Also not sure I have a good enough poker face for romance on audio😂 Quality escapism, for sure.
pickHazelwood has done it again! I just always enjoy her characters and the substance in her writing. The added bonus here was the appearances of Adam and Olive from The Love Hypothesis!
#bookspinbingo - got a 2nd bingo!
pickI had high hopes for this book after reading the author‘s introduction, though it didn‘t quite deliver. I‘m not really into kink, and while the book promised it, it was really just some light BDSM. I‘m also over the kind of story where we get a smart female lead who still has to be rescued by a big, strong man. That trope feels tired and overdone. Book #47 in 2025
so-soMay 8, 2025 So the verdict is: The book was slow in the beginning and did not pick up speed until like 2/3 of the way through when Penolope showed that she was jealous of Lukas even though she was the one who broke up with him first and wanted her best friend, Scarlett, to have sex with him. Towards the end, Pen showed more jealousy towards Lukas and her being together but eventually apologized to Scarlett. Scarlett and Lukas are together!!!
pickWowza. This is the spiciest Hazelwood book. Mainly due to the mc‘s discussing their kinks early on; mainly bdsm, thou never happened. Which they first bonded over. Borderline too much. Lukas is incredible, full stop. Vandy grew on me, and I liked her healing journey. Pen was annoying. What I didn‘t like was how early they got it on together. I‘m not a fan of getting together quick. Overall, loved the characters, not the plot as much.
May 4, 2025 Page 288 out of 443. Hmmmm I wonder what can happen in these pages... Stay tuned to find out whether it is a positive or negative ending
May 3, 2025 May the fourth be with you! lol Almost May 4th. Anyway, more than halfway through the book and there have been a lot of sexual scenes between Scarlett and Lukas. I am a fan of romance books but if there is too much, than it can be a bit boring and overwhelming too. You get me? Who else is a fan of romance????
April 28, 2025 ooooo things are getting steamy. So far so GOOD. Scarlett has shared that she likes and has feelings for Lukas. Lukas Penolope also told Scarlett the truth that she was the one who initiated the breakup between her a Lukas because she felt there was no chemistry and no sex. Now she is with another guy and she is enjoying that relationship.
April 25, 2025 I have not been constantly picking up the book because life is life, but I have been enjoying the book thus far. I hope to finish this soon or by the end of May (before summer) and then choose my next TBR. Not sure which one I will read next: The Chinese Groove by Kathryn Ma or something else...
pickI don‘t understand why some reviewers said this was just okay… I really love reading Ali Hazelwood‘s books because they are not just romance but have substance which makes you think and understand different points of view. I really loved this and will always purchase her books as they are always beautifully written
pickThis is the first Ali Hazelwood I didn‘t read the second I could get my mitts on it, and that will never happen again. I was put off by some marketing that this was darker, and I didn‘t love the drama in Not In Love and worried it would be similar, but this is a new all-time fav, exploring a dominance and submission kink in a super hot, emotionally complex, and still giggle-and-kick-your-feet worthy way—trademarks of all my favs by this author!
April 7, 2025 My new TBR stack. I (sort of) read White Fragility a while back when I was in college but it has been a while, let me tell you so I am rereading it from start to finish. I am also planning to read Deep End by Ali Hazelwood and The Orphanage By the Lake by Daniel G. Miller
A relaxing Wednesday evening!
pick⭐️⭐️⭐️ I want to preface by saying this: I‘m so damned tired of romance novels that are nearly 500 pages. Get. To. The. Freaking. Point. But, I digress. While I wasn‘t super keen on certain aspects, which are laid out in the author‘s note, I generally liked the setting and characters. It was a decent vacation read.
pickHazelwood does it again. Steamy and fun with compelling characters going through it. Not for the faint of heart, especially if power dynamics aren‘t your thing. Not really mine but the high level aquatics competition setting was a big hit for me.
pickThis was something! While there were still some classic Hazelwood elements (tall, dark male… tiny female… both smart) this went more into them being exceptional athletes with a side of kink exploration. The issues with the best friend/ex seemed to flow realistically and I liked the conclusion. The epilogue read a little weirdly, but that‘s fine. Did get my final March #wickedwords -Pen!
pickFrom one of my least favorites to one of my fave favorites. Lukas may be my top hero, and I liked that the conflict seemed more natural than some. Also the stuff between Scarlett and Pen worked out in a believable way. Scarlett‘s running away was a tad extreme, but sure. I was surprised I liked this as much, given the MCs were college-age, but this worked for me in a way that Check & Mate didn‘t.
pick5/5
This is my favorite Ali Hazelwood read yet. I loved Scarlet and her struggle with her collegiate diving career after a devastating injury, her growing friendship with diving captain Pen, and her new relationship with Pen's ex, Lukas. I also loved the cameos from Olive Smith and Adam Carlson from The Love Hypothesis
Spring Break in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. We‘re fortunate to live just a few hours away.
Not sure about this book, y‘all 🫣
so-soThe Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood was the best and then it went downward with each new book...
February wrap up.
4 book club books
2 #readyourebooks #readyourtbr
3 new releases
Not to shabby, but not my best month either. I hit a bit of a slump lately but fingers crossed I get past it soon.
Favorite: Deep End
Least Favorite: Atlas Complex.
panThis thing was never going to be a pick, but that last slog really took it out of me. Get your shit together! And don't even get me started on the fucking MMC POV as epilogue and you switch to 3rd person!!!
The grim, -grim- feeling that a book should be wrapping up, but it still 150+ pages left...
Love seeing the books I‘m reading in foreign languages or with different covers when I travel.
so-soAli Hazelwood is either hit or miss with me and Deep End is no different. Competitive college aquatic sports athletes end up in a torrid romance. Unfortunately, the female MC is unlikable and the promise of kink exploration never happens. It's all talk but no delivery and it's your basic vanilla flavoring. Also, the revelation at the end just irritated the heck out of me. Just an okay spicy romance read!
pickThe premise made me a little wary even if I do love Hazelwood but I adored it. Two top college athletes find out they share certain proclivities in the bedroom when his ex who is also her teammate declares they should sleep together. Their relationship may start out purely physical but the more time they spend together the more things they realize they share. Reading this had me grinning until my cheeks hurt.
so-soLikely an unpopular opinion but I thought this one was just okay. Entertaining enough but I found myself skimming in places and never really got attached to the characters. Is it a good read for a flight or a lazy afternoon? Sure. Is it particularly memorable? Not so much. I typically like Hazelwood‘s stories but this one was just so-so for me.
Deep End | 
bailed
