Deep End by Ali Hazelwood

Narrated by Meg Sylvan and Jason Clarke

Standalone (set in the Loathe to Love You universe) College Sports Romance with BDSM themes

I’ve really enjoyed Ali Hazelwood’s books in the past, so I was excited to listen to Deep End, especially when I heard it explored BDSM. It had been a while since I read a book with kink, so I couldn’t wait to dive in. (Pun fully intended.)

But I think I’m starting to realize that 9 out of 10 college romances just aren’t for me anymore. I have a harder time connecting with younger characters, and it’s tough to imagine an HEA when they still feel like they’re figuring life out. I liked Deep End. It held my interest, and the kink was handled with care and consent—but it also felt like it dragged on. I was ready for it to end long before it did.

Scarlett is on the dive team and in med school. Her best friend and teammate, Penelope, just broke up with her long-time boyfriend because he wanted kink and she didn’t. When Scarlett admits she’s curious about the same things, Penelope literally suggests she try it with her ex. That setup didn’t work for me—best friend’s ex as a matchmaker just felt… off.

“From the very start, you had all the power. From the very start, I was in the palm of your hand.”

Lukas is the captain of the swim team and a former Olympian. His relationship with Penelope had been fizzling for years, and he’s cautiously optimistic about a fresh start with someone who shares his desires. But despite trying to avoid it, Penelope was constantly hovering in the background, making the whole thing feel more like a love triangle than I think it was meant to.

Also, let’s talk about the kink. This was definitely marketed as a BDSM romance, and while there was some open communication and negotiation, there really wasn’t much actual kink on the page. So don’t go in expecting a super spicy read—it’s more about the idea of kink than the experience of it.

What did stand out was the portrayal of college athletics. The pressure to perform, the mental blocks, the burnout—it was all incredibly realistic. In fact, I’d say the sports storyline often took center stage over the romance.

Likes:

Realistic portrayal of athlete pressure, injury, and burnout.
Consent-focused kink conversations.
Scarlett’s mental health journey.
Therapy scenes that actually mattered.
Some crossover from her other books.

Dislikes:

Marketing overpromised the spice.
Penelope never went away.
They were just too immature for my tastes.
Too slow in the second half

The Narration:

Jason Clarke nailed Lukas’s calm authority. Meg Sylvan brought Scarlett’s vulnerability and emotional layers to life. They made a good pair, and the narration definitely elevated the experience.

The Down & Dirty:

Deep End is Ali Hazelwood’s most sex-positive book yet—but if you’re here for heat, you’ll want to lower your expectations. The BDSM elements are discussed openly and handled with care, but the actual on-page spice is pretty mild. The heart of the story lies in mental health, athletic pressure, and the emotional growth of two college students figuring out who they are. For me, the immaturity and lack of life experience—especially from the female characters—kept me from fully loving it. But that’s the risk you take with college romance.