Deep End

Lukas Blomqvist is one of the novel’s primary characters and the male romantic lead of Deep End. Unlike most contemporary romance novels, this novel doesn’t have Lukas narrate any portion of the narrative, but his character does play a major role in Scarlett’s story.

Hazelwood depicts Lukas as attractive, confident, talented, and intelligent. He is from Sweden and has established himself as the hunky swimming champion in the world of Stanford athletics. He and Scarlett cross paths several times during Scarlett’s first two years at Stanford, but she doesn’t notice him the way he notices her. After they formally meet, she starts to understand what everyone else sees in him, with his “[b]lack Speedos. Tattoos. Short, choppy brown hair. Above-average wingspan,” and “majestic and yet improbable build” (2). The more she spends time with him (they’re also paired up on a research project), the more Scarlett understands that her attraction to Lukas isn’t just physical. Lukas is indeed handsome and charming with an imposing figure, but he’s also intuitive, respectful, curious, and well-spoken.

Lukas contributes to Scarlett’s growth because he invests in her life and shows her love, trust, and care. Lukas and Scarlett’s relationship initially begins as just sex. They’re both interested in BDSM and find themselves sexually compatible. Over time, Lukas begins to fall for Scarlett. He enjoys that she wants what he wants in bed, but he’s also drawn to her intellect, admires her drive, and connects with her athletic and medical pursuits. Scarlett concurrently develops feelings for Lukas, appreciating their shared passion for science and sports, and loves the ways he listens to and understands her better than anyone else she’s been intimate with.

Hazelwood emphasizes that Lukas’s confidence isn’t the result of arrogance but of a capacity for humility that allows him to balance his strengths with his weaknesses. Like Scarlett, he’s lived with significant trauma. His mom passed away when he was just a teenager, a personal loss that affected his athletic and academic careers. In the narrative present, he shares these struggles with Scarlett to let her know that she’s not alone. He also shares his dreams of accomplishing things beyond swimming. He knows that he’s famous for his athletic talent but puts little value on fame because he wants to go to med school and fall in love. He is thus a balanced, centered character who creates stability in Scarlett’s life. Together, they build a healthy, trusting relationship.

Penelope (Pen) Ross is another of the novel’s primary characters. Pen is the captain of the diving team, and Scarlett has looked up to her ever since she started diving at Stanford: “The thing about Pen, she’s kinda great. Aspirational. The type of person who instinctively knows how to make someone feel at ease” (3). Scarlett relies on her for confidence, comfort, and support. However, she’s surprised when Pen shows authentic interest in being her friend because Pen already has a wide social network. Pen is well-liked but she’s also genuine. She openly interacts with Scarlett—sharing her feelings about Lukas (both before and after their breakup) and allowing Scarlett to see her vulnerability (when she’s dating Theo and confronting personal challenges of her own). Throughout the novel, she and Scarlett develop a close connection.

Pen’s character also creates conflict in Scarlett’s story. Because Pen is Lukas’s ex-girlfriend and Scarlett’s close friend, Scarlett often fears overstepping her boundaries and hurting Pen. She worries that Pen will feel betrayed if she falls for Lukas and also worries that Pen is more suited for Lukas than she is. Because of these anxieties, Scarlett sometimes feels on edge in Pen’s company, particularly when the topic of Lukas comes up.

Scarlett and Pen work out their differences when they learn how to communicate without fear, shame, or jealousy. Pen hurts Scarlett when she accuses her of stealing her boyfriend and medal after the NCAA but ultimately owns her mistakes when she travels to St. Louis to apologize to Scarlett in person. Although she has a big personality and is more emotive than Scarlett, she proves herself to be a loyal friend who has Scarlett’s best interests in mind. The author also uses Scarlett and Pen’s friendship to balance Scarlett’s social sphere and to offer Scarlett female connection. At the same time, their relationship illustrates Scarlett’s capacity for patience and empathy.

Sam, Scarlett’s new therapist, is a secondary character in the novel who is a support to Scarlett throughout her arc. She works in Stanford’s Counseling Services department and thus doesn’t have in-depth knowledge of Scarlett’s athletic career. The author uses her as a device to translate the complexities of the diving world onto the page for the reader, making it more accessible. Scarlett often has to explain specific athletic dynamics to Sam or answer Sam’s questions about the sport for clarification—conversational dynamics that help the reader navigate Scarlett’s athletic sphere. Despite her ignorance of diving, Scarlett decides to start therapy with Sam at the beginning of the year because she wants a different perspective on her mental and emotional health.

Hazelwood portrays Sam as a no-nonsense character who “appears to have mastered neutrality in all facets of life” (5). She not only has “no judgment or curiosity in her tone” but often wears “beige” and has “an ageless, graceful look” (5). When Scarlett first starts working with her, she is hesitant about trusting her. Sam doesn’t make Scarlett feel unsafe, but she does ask Scarlett difficult questions—acting as a support to Scarlett by pushing her toward growth. Her intuition at times unsettles Scarlett because she’s still learning to own her difficult experiences.

Sam acts as Scarlett’s archetypal guide throughout her junior year. Depictions of their weekly therapy sessions are interspersed throughout Scarlett’s first-person account, and trace Scarlett’s arc toward growth, healing, and self-empowerment. The sessions are difficult for Scarlett, but she gradually learns to use Sam as a resource. By the novel’s end, she makes significant strides with Sam’s help. Sam facilitates Scarlett’s growth by remaining a consistent support system through her various collegiate, athletic, and personal challenges.