Deep End by Ali Hazelwood is a contemporary college romance in which two very driven, very successful college athletes explore their kinky desires. It is a remarkably intelligent exploration of sexual dynamics, while also being sweet and lots of fun.
Scarlett Vandermeer is in pursuit of perfection. Perfect grades, med school, and maybe even the Olympics. But after recovering from a brutal injury from one of her dives, she’s got a mental block she can’t get past. She thinks she just needs to work harder to achieve the perfection she’s always dreamed of. But then her path crosses that of Lukas Blomqvist, an Olympic gold medalist and the captain of the swim team.
They discover they have something unexpected in common. The universe is pushing Lukas and Scarlett together with faulty doors and shared research projects, and it just makes practical sense for them to start a sexual relationship, with their shared interests and busy schedules. The pressure heats up, and so does their relationship.
Despite their casual beginnings, Lukas and Scarlett’s relationship is very emotionally supportive from the very start. Lukas displays an emotional intelligence that is his sexiest quality, along with his whole tattooed, Swedish, kinky thing.
Scarlett is one of the most relatable characters I’ve ever read. She’s type A, traumatized, and prone to hyperbole. Her relationship with Lukas takes her away from overthinking and being overwhelmed by the burden of wondering if she’s doing everything right.
Deep End is written entirely from Scarlett’s point-of-view, in the first person, so the readers really get to know her in a way that feels complete. The short chapters fit the story well and make it flow smoothly, and the college student vernacular used in the dialogue feels very realistic, and there are so many relatable moments of humor.
If only googling whether someone hates me were a possibility – Scarlett
There was a great deal of online discourse about Deep End and its spice level. People complained it was too kinky, or not kinky enough, or misleading in some way (the cover doesn’t make it seem kinky!) (everyone said this was so spicy but it’s way too tame. boring). After reading this book, I did not connect to any of these complaints, only with the valiant authors and reviewers swooping in to defend it.
Lukas and Scarlett are exploring BDSM, so naturally there is some kink involved. They’re college kids, so they don’t have billions of dollars to spend on custom dungeons and extravagant sex clubs. The level of spice and kink felt authentic for two people in their early twenties exploring power dynamics in sex for the first time.
There were so many intelligent conversations about kink and power dynamics in sex included in this story. Scarlett is nervous around men, particularly aggressive men, but enjoys rough sex. To some, this makes no sense, but to her, to Lukas, and to me, this issue is quite clear.
BDSM has nothing to do with aggression. It’s about trust, and letting go in a controlled environment. There is always a safeword, a stop mechanism, that Scarlett trusts, and Lukas knows will always be respected. There is no safeword, and no trust, for aggressive men or even unknown men outside the bedroom.
Deep End is a very consent-conscious discussion of kink and it is hot. Consent is sexy. That said, this is a slow burn, with lots of delicious teasing and tension.
What I want from you requires enthusiastic consent, not convincing – Lukas
There is such a heartwarming ending to this book, after a story that engages heart, mind, and body. I was truly blown away by how much I love it. I have less than zero interest in college athletics, so I almost didn’t pick up Deep End, thinking I wouldn’t be interested. I have never been so happy to be so incorrect.
Deep End would be an easy book to tear through in an afternoon, but instead, I chose to savor it like a fine wine. The dynamics in this story are captivating, and the characters are not at all difficult to fall in love with. I can see how this book sparked so much conversation, and while I disagree with much of it, there is no denying that Deep End is worth the discourse.
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