Scarlett Vandermeer feels like she’s drowning. The life of a D1 athlete is intense on a good day, but Scarlett is trying to juggle a difficult junior year Stanford course load, studying for the MCAT, and mentally recovering from a devastating diving accident, all while trying to qualify for world and Olympic diving competitions. She doesn’t have time for dating or relationships. Lukas Blomqvist is a senior and already a worldwide celebrity as an Olympic winner with the Swedish team and has broken record after record. But those wins have come because of total discipline and focus. But when Scarlett and Lukas discover that they share a unique interest in the bedroom, they make a no-strings-attached pact, safe words and all. As the pressures of competition ramp up, so does the intensity of their relationship, and what began as a temporary escape starts to feel achingly permanent.
Hazelwood continues to push boundaries with this stunning book. Scarlett and Lukas are smart and complex characters. Although this book is sex-forward, it is no more explicit than any spicy college sports romance out there. Here’s what’s different – the care and transparency with which Hazelwood imbues her characters. What I loved here which I’ve often struggled with in other college sports romances, is the question of how these approximately 21-year-olds are already so experienced. In this book, Scarlett and Lukas acknowledge that they aren’t experienced in these spaces, but it is what they are drawn to and turned on by. They have explicit conversations about control and trust, and clearly separate the dynamics of control and submission in their intimate encounters from the rest of their relationship.
Beyond the romance, the book dives deep (pun intended!) into the pressures of striving for greatness, the sacrifices required to excel, and the friendships that are both comforting and competitive. This is an unforgettable story about ambition, vulnerability, and the balance between control and surrender.
Book: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Book Smart Kate 