I really liked the concept of Deep End—college sports, specifically diving and swimming, aren’t something we see often in fiction, and that unique setting was a highlight for me. It added an interesting backdrop to the story and gave the romance a fresh feel.

That being said, I personally didn’t vibe with Scarlett as a main character, and her friendship with Penny didn’t sit well with me. Their dynamic was definitely different, which made it interesting, but it wasn’t something I enjoyed. Penny, in particular, gave me bad vibes, and I struggled with the way their relationship developed throughout the book. On the other hand, Lukas was a phenomenal male lead. I would have loved to get his perspective—if this had been a dual POV, I think I would’ve found the story even more engaging.

The BDSM aspect felt very soft, which could be a positive for readers looking for a light introduction to that dynamic. However, for me, it felt a little awkward and didn’t entirely read like BDSM, which took me out of the story at times.

I also struggled with the pacing. There were moments where the timeline would jump forward, with large sections of information being summarized rather than shown. While this can sometimes work, I personally found it jarring and felt like I was being rushed through key moments. As for the conflict, it was a bit of an eye-roll, but still dramatic enough to be enjoyable. My main issue was how quickly everything wrapped up—I would’ve liked more time spent on the resolution or for Lukas and Scarlett to have a few more hurdles before getting to their happily ever after.

Overall, while I enjoyed Deep End, it’s far from my favorite by Ali Hazelwood. The audiobook was good, though I wasn’t a huge fan of the female narrator. The male narrator, however, did a phenomenal job, especially with his voice changes. The duet narration definitely enhanced my experience, so I’d recommend the audiobook to anyone considering reading this one.