For Ali Hazelwood fans, the wait is over – “Deep End” is here! The queen of enemies-to-lovers romance returns with another steamy title for fans to dive into headfirst.

The bestselling romance author writes under a pseudonym, in part to keep her life as a professor and scientist apart from her writing career. But it doesn’t mean there isn’t any overlap – some of Hazelwood’s most well-known books are her “STEMinist” romance novels, where you may just find love stashed between Bunsen burners in the lab.

Here’s everything to know about “Deep End” and Hazelwood’s entire romance repertoire. 

What is ‘Deep End’ by Ali Hazelwood about?

“Deep End” is a bit of a departure from Hazelwood’s other “STEMinist” love stories. The college romance follows two student athletes at Stanford – a platform diver named Scarlett and an Olympic-winning swimmer named Lukas – as they navigate school, competition and shared sexual proclivities that are less than conventional.

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The tone and topics Hazelwood treads into with “Deep End” are heavier, darker than most of her other books. But she still delivers the witty characters, relatable issues and delicious tension fans have come to love.

Fans will also swoon for the cameos from Hazelwood’s “The Love Hypothesis,” as Olive Smith and Adam Carlsen orbit Scarlett and Lukas’ Stanford journey.

Ali Hazelwood books in order

Hazelwood has published standalone romance novels, novellas and even audio-only stories. Her books are often characterized by enemies-to-lovers and fake dating tropes, as well as plenty of “Star Wars” references. She was even featured in a “Star Wars” anthology, “From a Certain Point of View,” to celebrate the 40th anniversary of “Return of the Jedi.”

“The Love Hypothesis” (2021): Hazelwood’s debut romance novel follows Olive, a third year Ph.D. candidate who doesn’t believe in romance and Adam, the young hotshot professor who agrees to be her fake boyfriend. 

“Love on the Brain” (2022): This “STEMinist” novel follows Bee and Levi as they co-lead a neuroengineering project. The only problem? They have a history – as arch nemeses. But when Bee’s equipment starts disappearing and the other staff members begin ignoring her, she finds an unlikely ally in Levi.

“Loathe to Love You: The STEMinist Novellas” (2023): This collection contains three enemies-to-lovers novellas – “Under One Roof,” “Stuck With You” and “Below Zero” – about engineer best friends. The first novella, “Under One Roof,” follows an environmental engineer forced to bunk with a big-oil lawyer. In “Stuck With You,” two rival engineers are trapped in an elevator. In “Below Zero,” two scientist foes meet again at a remote Arctic research station. 

“Love Theoretically” (2023): This romance borrows from Hazelwood’s beloved enemies-to-lovers trope, but with a little fake dating thrown in. Elsie supplements her work as an adjunct professor in theoretical physics by offering up herself as a fake girlfriend. But what happens when a client’s brother turns out to be the same guy who ruined her mentor’s career?

“Check & Mate” (2023): Hazelwood’s young adult novel is about two competing chess players – Mallory, who is playing one last game before she hangs up her pawns for good, and Nolan, the current world champion whose loss to an unknown rookie shocks the chess world. 

“Not in Love” (2024): One of Hazelwood’s “spiciest,” “Not in Love” is about a secret, no-strings-attached affair between Rue, a food scientist with a promising career at a start-up and Eli, the businessman who has his own motivations for buying the company. 

“Bride” (2024): “Bride” is Hazelwood’s foray into paranormal romance as a Vampyre bride and Alpha Werewolf form a dangerous alliance through a marriage of necessity.

“Cruel Winter with You” (2024): Part of the “Under the Mistletoe” collection of holiday romances by some of the genre’s top authors, “Cruel Winter with You” sees pediatrician Jamie coming face-to-face with her best friend’s brother – the one who got away.

“Two Can Play” (2024): This short enemies-to-lovers romance is only available as an audiobook. In “Two Can Play,” Viola gets an opportune chance to design a video game based on her favorite book series, but she’ll have to co-design it with her fiercest rival.  

“Deep End” (2025): Make way for Scarlett and Lukas! “Deep End” is about college athletes and the spicy arrangement they come up with on the road to the Olympics.

Are Ali Hazelwood books spicy?

“Deep End” definitely is – some early readers are even calling it her “spiciest” book yet. Fitting for a book that’s original title was “Whet.” 

Most of Hazelwood’s books contain sexual scenes, but “Bride” and “Not in Love” are the most explicit. “Check & Mate,” Hazelwood’s only young adult novel, is a closed-door romance. 

Still looking for the right book? USA TODAY Books has you covered.

Taste is subjective, and USA TODAY Books has plenty of genres to recommend. If romantasy is your thing, check out books we suggest reading after “Fourth Wing” by Rebecca Yarros. If you want something with lower stakes and loveable characters, see if a “cozy mystery” or “cozy fantasy” book is for you. Or, take a look at our most anticipated 2025 reads. If you want the most popular titles, check out USA TODAY’s Best-selling Booklist.

Clare Mulroy is USA TODAY’s Books Reporter, where she covers buzzy releases, chats with authors and dives into the culture of reading. Find her on Instagram, check out her recent articles or tell her what you’re reading at [email protected].