r/AliHazelwood

Ever since I read Deep End I've been trying to find something similar. I read The Right Move by Liz Tomforde, From Lukov with Love by Mariana Zapata, and The Score by Elle Kennedy and none of them came close. I've spent a lot of time trying to figure out why.

Ali Hazelwood is a scientist and the rigour she brings to the writing shows. Nothing is there by accident, and I think that's what separates this book from everything else in the genre. Deep End is genuinely literary in a way sports romance rarely is. The layers keep coming and she never does the work for you, things are revealed in ways that make you stop and think.

Scarlett's mental block is the best example of this. It isn't just a plot device that shows up when the story needs conflict. It runs through everything. There's a scene where she's with her therapist and starts listing the dives in her discipline. There are six. She lists five, skipping the exact dive she got injured doing without even realising she's done it. The therapist clocks it immediately. No breakdown, no big confession just like you might have in other romances.

That same layering carries into the relationship with Lukas. Even the BDSM dynamic between them is doing something. Scarlett is the one giving up control to Lukas by agreement, but the real power was always hers. He was devoted from the start, which meant he was only ever as present in her life as she could let him in. She held the control over the relationship the entire time without even realising it. And that's made explicit in the moment she tells him to stop when he confesses how he feels for her.

It's a sports romance that stands completely outside the genre while still being in it, and I don't think anything else is doing that right now.

I don't want to put them down and I don't want to finish them either...

Just giggled and kicked my feet at Conor switching the pasta plates.

I'm in love with Conor and I still haven't gotten over Adam. And I'm married with a kid. It's a problematic reading romance.

What's your favourite scene in any Hazelwood book?

I’ve reread all of her books, I’m in a slump now. Looking for books that have that steminist vibe, MMC is maybe a lil broody, the conversation is witty, the heat is hot. The setting doesn’t have to be academia, but it definitely helps.

Any recommendations?

I just finished both Bride and Mate, and even though I'm not much for paranormal romance, I loved both of these! The stories are very captivating and interesting and I really enjoyed both books.

I might be partial to Mate because it's a bit cozier, but I absolutely loved both and now I want more! Maybe Ana's book when she's a bit older so we can get glimpses of Serena & Koen and Misery & Lowe! And I want Koen and Serena to have bunch of lil puppies, so maybe it could be one of their kids and Ana (although much later then bcs obvious reasons lol)

Also, now I have just one Ali book left to read before the others come out and it's making me sad! I hope Ali will always keep us well fed because our girl doesn't miss! <3

Hey all !
I’ve just got into reading after watching the love hypothesis on prime and finished the book over the weekend. And I’ve fallen back in love with reading again.

I have purchased love, theoretically and problematic summer romance, but I’m not sure what to read next I’m still on such a high from the dynamic between Olive and Adam, particularly Adam’s yearning.

What order would you all recommend I read them in ?

Thank you 💖💖

While I love the fact that Adam gets overprotective of Olive after hearing the recording and threatens to kill Tom, wouldn't Adam get in trouble as well not just Tom? I don't think nearly killing a man in front of Harvard professors would look good on you. In a perfect world, maybe Adam could get away with it but not IRL...