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Deep In Love
Three weeks at sea. Two researchers. One chance to evolve.
“What would Charles Darwin do?”
In Charlie Bowen’s twenty-six years of life, the motto has never failed her. Until now. She’s confident the naturalist wouldn’t know what to do if he were stuck at sea with Mateo Alvarez. Throw him overboard, most likely.
Participating as a scientific advisor on the SeaStar research vessel is Charlie’s dream come true. However, her fantasies never included a documentary film or cohabitation in tiny quarters with her sworn enemy. Despite her exhilaration to uncover what lurks in the ocean’s depths, she’s wholly unprepared to discover something far more revolutionary at the surface—with Mateo, it’s hard to hide the scars of her past. Worse, she may not want to.
For years, she’s abided by a strict set of guidelines to keep her heart safe. Her life begins and ends with her best friend and PhD work. Yet with every lingering glance, broken rule, and stolen kiss, Charlie begins to rediscover parts of herself she once considered lost.
But life at sea is not the real world—a reality that continues to haunt her, even miles offshore—and as the two move into unknown territory with each other, there’s one question that matters Can their relationship evolve into something spectacular, or are they doomed for extinction?
“What would Charles Darwin do?”
In Charlie Bowen’s twenty-six years of life, the motto has never failed her. Until now. She’s confident the naturalist wouldn’t know what to do if he were stuck at sea with Mateo Alvarez. Throw him overboard, most likely.
Participating as a scientific advisor on the SeaStar research vessel is Charlie’s dream come true. However, her fantasies never included a documentary film or cohabitation in tiny quarters with her sworn enemy. Despite her exhilaration to uncover what lurks in the ocean’s depths, she’s wholly unprepared to discover something far more revolutionary at the surface—with Mateo, it’s hard to hide the scars of her past. Worse, she may not want to.
For years, she’s abided by a strict set of guidelines to keep her heart safe. Her life begins and ends with her best friend and PhD work. Yet with every lingering glance, broken rule, and stolen kiss, Charlie begins to rediscover parts of herself she once considered lost.
But life at sea is not the real world—a reality that continues to haunt her, even miles offshore—and as the two move into unknown territory with each other, there’s one question that matters Can their relationship evolve into something spectacular, or are they doomed for extinction?
363 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 16, 2025
254 people are currently reading
2567 people want to read
About the author
Nicole Cubba
5 books90 followersNicole Cubba writes romance with the belief that every person deserves a happily-ever-after and her favorite stories are ones that reflect that sentiment. Nicole works as a marine biologist and has a deep passion for the ocean and the planet. When she isn’t in the lab, you can find her searching for new coffee shops, wandering in nature, and spending far too much time watching sports. She was born and raised in Michigan, but now lives in Massachusetts, close to the ocean.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 327 reviews
dnf
October 9, 2025I wasn’t connecting with the writing and I’m in a mood where I want to feel excited for whatever I’m reading. I might try to read this again another time.
Want to read
October 6, 2025Bookish Thoughts
I wanted to love this book so much but I ended up DNFing around 30%. I had a hard time connecting with either main character, and the writing style just did not click for me. That said, I think others may enjoy this story, especially readers who love STEM settings, and academic rivals to lovers. It just wasn't a fit for me.
📅 Pub Date: September 16, 2025
📝 Publisher: Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op
Thank you to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.
I wanted to love this book so much but I ended up DNFing around 30%. I had a hard time connecting with either main character, and the writing style just did not click for me. That said, I think others may enjoy this story, especially readers who love STEM settings, and academic rivals to lovers. It just wasn't a fit for me.
📅 Pub Date: September 16, 2025
📝 Publisher: Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op
Thank you to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.
December 7, 2025
Actual rating 3.75 ⭐️
August 27, 2025
As a lover of all things marine biology, i knew i had to read this. I thought it was pretty good, but I would have made a few small changes!
You may like this if you’re interested in:
- Rivals to lovers
- Forced proximity
- Only one bed
-STEM/Academic romance
- (I have not read much Ali Hazelwood, but I think this may be somewhat similar if you like her novels)
Charlie is a PhD candidate, who has recently been given the opportunity to go on a research trip.
The problem? her academic nemesis Mateo is going on the same trip.
Two rivals. Trapped on a boat together for weeks. Forced to share a room with each other.
Charlie expects this to end in disaster, but it turns out that all of the discoveries she makes may not be scientific afterall.
I really liked the premise of this story, and I think the plot was quite nice.
I like the sciencey/oceanic theme! It was like summery academia.
It was fun.
I also like the relationship development between Charlie and Mateo.
Charlie really came to open up to him naturally, which I loved. I felt the bonding that came from that.
Charlie’s story about her injury/illness was pretty sad, and I felt deeply for her. Especially when she started discussing the way that other people viewed her appearance and how it effected her and her self worth.
I wish we got a bit more of this, as it added a lot of depth and emotionality to the story.
My problem here is that i felt like the characters were a tad immature.
For example, Charlie’s outright hostility toward Mateo at the beginning of the story, just because she doesn’t like him.
Another example, Mateo getting angry but refusing to admit why after Charlie talked to another guy (despite the fact that that he had not yet admitted his feelings for her)
Both of them were just a little childish in the way they communicated with one another (or failed to communicate with each other, i should say)
Another note: If one of your coworkers is mentally tracking your cycle… thats a red flag.
Overall, I think it is an enjoyable read.
It went by fairly quickly, and the writing style was nice.
While I did not love everything about it, I would say it is worth it!
Thank you to Netgalley, Victory Editing and author Nicole Cubba for providing me with the eARC of “Deep in Love”, in exchange for my honest review!
Publication date: September 16th, 2025
You may like this if you’re interested in:
- Rivals to lovers
- Forced proximity
- Only one bed
-STEM/Academic romance
- (I have not read much Ali Hazelwood, but I think this may be somewhat similar if you like her novels)
Charlie is a PhD candidate, who has recently been given the opportunity to go on a research trip.
The problem? her academic nemesis Mateo is going on the same trip.
Two rivals. Trapped on a boat together for weeks. Forced to share a room with each other.
Charlie expects this to end in disaster, but it turns out that all of the discoveries she makes may not be scientific afterall.
I really liked the premise of this story, and I think the plot was quite nice.
I like the sciencey/oceanic theme! It was like summery academia.
It was fun.
I also like the relationship development between Charlie and Mateo.
Charlie really came to open up to him naturally, which I loved. I felt the bonding that came from that.
Charlie’s story about her injury/illness was pretty sad, and I felt deeply for her. Especially when she started discussing the way that other people viewed her appearance and how it effected her and her self worth.
I wish we got a bit more of this, as it added a lot of depth and emotionality to the story.
My problem here is that i felt like the characters were a tad immature.
For example, Charlie’s outright hostility toward Mateo at the beginning of the story, just because she doesn’t like him.
Another example, Mateo getting angry but refusing to admit why after Charlie talked to another guy (despite the fact that that he had not yet admitted his feelings for her)
Both of them were just a little childish in the way they communicated with one another (or failed to communicate with each other, i should say)
Another note: If one of your coworkers is mentally tracking your cycle… thats a red flag.
Overall, I think it is an enjoyable read.
It went by fairly quickly, and the writing style was nice.
While I did not love everything about it, I would say it is worth it!
Thank you to Netgalley, Victory Editing and author Nicole Cubba for providing me with the eARC of “Deep in Love”, in exchange for my honest review!
Publication date: September 16th, 2025
September 22, 2025
I’m sorry but if I read “Bruja” one more time, I would’ve punched a hole in the wall.
November 9, 2025
This was cute, I loved that this was a STEM romance!
Marine biology is so badass, so I truly enjoyed reading a romance in which the characters were studying in the field.
The romance was cute, Mateo being so down bad is absolutely adorable. Mexican man lead for the win!
The FMC is interesting, she’s really dedicated to marine biology which I loved but she kind of had a hyper fixation on Charles Darwin and like the guy is a racist 😭. He’s just a weird guy to really be invested about.
Overall this was cute, I’m curious to read more of this authors work!
Marine biology is so badass, so I truly enjoyed reading a romance in which the characters were studying in the field.
The romance was cute, Mateo being so down bad is absolutely adorable. Mexican man lead for the win!
The FMC is interesting, she’s really dedicated to marine biology which I loved but she kind of had a hyper fixation on Charles Darwin and like the guy is a racist 😭. He’s just a weird guy to really be invested about.
Overall this was cute, I’m curious to read more of this authors work!
August 12, 2025
review to come!!
September 22, 2025
4.7/5– 3.3🌶️
A man who yearns is a man who earns
A man who yearns is a man who earns
September 15, 2025
#Review: *Deep In Love* - Nicole Cubba - ARC [18+]
4.6/5✨
3/5🌶️
I was super curious about this book when I saw it on the author's page. Thankfully, I got accepted by Negalley and Nicole to receive this early copy. Thank you!
Mateo and Charlotte 'Charlie' were both scientists, working in the same place. They've started pretty wrong even from their first encounter and they sort of became enemies. Or at least that's what they were from Charlie's point of view. The same thing cannot be said when it came to Mateo, who had a huge crush on Charlie.
When the opportunity to stay 3 weeks on SeaStar vessel for researching purposes, both Charlie and Mateo were delighted to be part of such an amazing experience. What they didn't know from the start was that they will go together and, later on, discovering that they also have to share a room and bed together. Upsii!🤭 Will they be able to overcome their little disagreements in order to enjoy the amazing experience they were blessed with?
I had so much fun with Charlie and Mateo! They were so flustered when they were in each others presence, being always stunned by how amazing the other was. But all that in secret, because they were both afraid of rejection. That was mostly from Charlie's side, because she wasn't too happy about herself and the way she looked after a tragic experience which left her with many scars. But Mateo was super determined and I loved his jealously crises, which were way too sweet. I liked how he always tried to open Charlie's eyes, to make her see beyond the surface and accept what was inside both their hearts.
Even though this book was mostly super fun, it also had some very sensitive subjects in there, about self acceptance, trying to overcome a traumatic event and to see the positive side of life, even though there will always be mean people who would spread negative thoughts.
✨Tropes
#AcademicRivalsToLovers
#HeFallsFirst
#OneBed
#StemRomance
#BoyObsessed
#TragicPast
#OppositesAttract
#ForcedProximity
#WorkplaceRomance
#MentalHealthRep
4.6/5✨
3/5🌶️
I was super curious about this book when I saw it on the author's page. Thankfully, I got accepted by Negalley and Nicole to receive this early copy. Thank you!
Mateo and Charlotte 'Charlie' were both scientists, working in the same place. They've started pretty wrong even from their first encounter and they sort of became enemies. Or at least that's what they were from Charlie's point of view. The same thing cannot be said when it came to Mateo, who had a huge crush on Charlie.
When the opportunity to stay 3 weeks on SeaStar vessel for researching purposes, both Charlie and Mateo were delighted to be part of such an amazing experience. What they didn't know from the start was that they will go together and, later on, discovering that they also have to share a room and bed together. Upsii!🤭 Will they be able to overcome their little disagreements in order to enjoy the amazing experience they were blessed with?
I had so much fun with Charlie and Mateo! They were so flustered when they were in each others presence, being always stunned by how amazing the other was. But all that in secret, because they were both afraid of rejection. That was mostly from Charlie's side, because she wasn't too happy about herself and the way she looked after a tragic experience which left her with many scars. But Mateo was super determined and I loved his jealously crises, which were way too sweet. I liked how he always tried to open Charlie's eyes, to make her see beyond the surface and accept what was inside both their hearts.
Even though this book was mostly super fun, it also had some very sensitive subjects in there, about self acceptance, trying to overcome a traumatic event and to see the positive side of life, even though there will always be mean people who would spread negative thoughts.
✨Tropes
#AcademicRivalsToLovers
#HeFallsFirst
#OneBed
#StemRomance
#BoyObsessed
#TragicPast
#OppositesAttract
#ForcedProximity
#WorkplaceRomance
#MentalHealthRep
September 23, 2025
3.5⭐️
This was cute though a bit boring and a bit corny?
The first 50% of the book I was there I was in, but then they kinda got together and there was no more intrigue. I think the author needs to refine the plots of her books a little bit more. The characters were nicely portrayed and logical, the found family aspect was very cute, but at some point I was like ok now they love each other and they’re still on this boat what else is going to happen ?
I found the Darwin references a bit corny because of the timing, and the Neptune instead of Oh god you can read Oh Neptune but nobody would say that irl, really cringe. And the sciency part was fine, I just don’t think it’s very realistic for a biology PhD student to believe in crystals & energy but 🤷🏻♀️
This was cute though a bit boring and a bit corny?
The first 50% of the book I was there I was in, but then they kinda got together and there was no more intrigue. I think the author needs to refine the plots of her books a little bit more. The characters were nicely portrayed and logical, the found family aspect was very cute, but at some point I was like ok now they love each other and they’re still on this boat what else is going to happen ?
I found the Darwin references a bit corny because of the timing, and the Neptune instead of Oh god you can read Oh Neptune but nobody would say that irl, really cringe. And the sciency part was fine, I just don’t think it’s very realistic for a biology PhD student to believe in crystals & energy but 🤷🏻♀️
September 21, 2025
DNF at 58%. LOVED the STEM setting and the fact that they’re PhD’s but this romance is very untraditional. He’s already in love with her in Chapter 2 and the FMC is so tortured I didn’t see how things could progress. They talk and talk about their feelings but there’s no natural chemistry, mainly because the FMC is so insecure. It triggered me, reminding me of my cringe experiences with my first boyfriend when I was in high school. And the characters are 26 years old! The MMC was also toxic to me and I’m shocked no one is saying this in their reviews. He acts like an ASSHOLE to FMC because he ASSUMES she snuck away at night to go bang another dude. When really she was freaking out about him being pissed off at her due to his jealousy over same dude. Also, HUGE red flag: he’s in love with her, doesn’t think she reciprocates his feelings, and yet FAILS to tell her that they’re going to be sharing the same bed for 3 WEEKS?! In what world? He also gets pissed at her cuz she’s afraid of the relationship. This dude is so quick to anger, freaks me out. And the FMC’s crippling anxiety and self-hate was such a huge trigger. I read romance to escape—this was NOT it.
(I don’t know if you can tell, but I got increasingly pissed off as I wrote this review and now I’ve dropped it from 2 stars to 1 star. The positive reviews for this book are mind-boggling.)
(I don’t know if you can tell, but I got increasingly pissed off as I wrote this review and now I’ve dropped it from 2 stars to 1 star. The positive reviews for this book are mind-boggling.)
August 22, 2025
This was seriously so good! I loved everything about! From the STEM characters, mental health rep and the AMAZING yearning?? Did I mention it's forced proximity? Sold. I was hooked immediately and avoided life until I was done 🫡
Thank you Nicole and Net Galley for the ARC 🥹🫶🏻
Thank you Nicole and Net Galley for the ARC 🥹🫶🏻
November 19, 2025
3.5/5
people falling in love on boats is insane, how are you not having anxiety attacks???
between the cover and marketing of a steminist romance, i was so down to read this book. ali hazelwood truly crated a sub genre of romance that i am so happy to love. seeing characters be passionate about something sciencey is so cool. honestly i wish we saw more of the science in this book because i wasn't totally sure what mateo and charlie were doing on the boat or in their labs. marine sciences are so cool so diving (hehe) more into that could have been really fun. it also would have added more to the book which would have helped because it seemed a bit instalovey.
mateo is a yearner, and he won in the end so go mateo!! we love men who have been in love and obsessed with a girl for years and has just been pining. charlie struggles a lot with self confidence because of injuries that were left on her from an accident. seeing her grow to find love for herself over this book was so sweet. her and mateo were so sweet, plus we had a bit of tension which i was LOVING!!! unfortunately i just think everything happened too fast. before we got halfway into the book we already had the reveal. mateo also gets oddly rude to charlie for one chapter because he thinks she might be flirting with someone else. like i get he has his own confidence issues but he needed to realize that was his own problem and stop projecting on my girl..
to end this, i have questions. why are the one the boat again? like i get it a little but i feel like they weren't ever really doing any work. they just made friends with all the film people and sometimes saw animals in the ocean. was that it? they were just looking? i just didn't grasp what science they were completing on the boat. the friendships in the book were so cute, i adored amy. some of the scenes of the girls on the boat were a bit juvenile but that might just be because of the word "weinering"...
sense this isn’t a fantasy book, the “oh neptune,” really sent me. my eyes couldn’t roll further back into my head when it came up…
people falling in love on boats is insane, how are you not having anxiety attacks???
between the cover and marketing of a steminist romance, i was so down to read this book. ali hazelwood truly crated a sub genre of romance that i am so happy to love. seeing characters be passionate about something sciencey is so cool. honestly i wish we saw more of the science in this book because i wasn't totally sure what mateo and charlie were doing on the boat or in their labs. marine sciences are so cool so diving (hehe) more into that could have been really fun. it also would have added more to the book which would have helped because it seemed a bit instalovey.
mateo is a yearner, and he won in the end so go mateo!! we love men who have been in love and obsessed with a girl for years and has just been pining. charlie struggles a lot with self confidence because of injuries that were left on her from an accident. seeing her grow to find love for herself over this book was so sweet. her and mateo were so sweet, plus we had a bit of tension which i was LOVING!!! unfortunately i just think everything happened too fast. before we got halfway into the book we already had the reveal. mateo also gets oddly rude to charlie for one chapter because he thinks she might be flirting with someone else. like i get he has his own confidence issues but he needed to realize that was his own problem and stop projecting on my girl..
to end this, i have questions. why are the one the boat again? like i get it a little but i feel like they weren't ever really doing any work. they just made friends with all the film people and sometimes saw animals in the ocean. was that it? they were just looking? i just didn't grasp what science they were completing on the boat. the friendships in the book were so cute, i adored amy. some of the scenes of the girls on the boat were a bit juvenile but that might just be because of the word "weinering"...
sense this isn’t a fantasy book, the “oh neptune,” really sent me. my eyes couldn’t roll further back into my head when it came up…
January 18, 2026
so so cute!! Mateo is a true yearner and I love them together (even though they started dating suuuuuper quickly)
September 19, 2025
3.75/5☆
if you know me you know i LOVE a stem romance and this one was so cute!! mateo and charlie’s development was just so fun to read and i LOVE how down bad mateo was from the beginning hehe!! also this book is categorized as “rivals” but honestly they were not rivals it was very one-sided for charlie because mateo was very much into her from the start. i will say i did get a little annoyed with both of them because they were slightly immature but i still had fun with their story and their angsts and getting to see them fall for each other while stuck on a boat for three weeks with only one bed (one of the best tropes frfr)!! also mateo was hot need him!!
if you know me you know i LOVE a stem romance and this one was so cute!! mateo and charlie’s development was just so fun to read and i LOVE how down bad mateo was from the beginning hehe!! also this book is categorized as “rivals” but honestly they were not rivals it was very one-sided for charlie because mateo was very much into her from the start. i will say i did get a little annoyed with both of them because they were slightly immature but i still had fun with their story and their angsts and getting to see them fall for each other while stuck on a boat for three weeks with only one bed (one of the best tropes frfr)!! also mateo was hot need him!!
August 13, 2025
Genre: New Adult / Adult Contemporary Romance
Spice: 2.5/5🌶️
*spice ratings are relative to similar books in the same genre*
The Catalog: F/M, academic rivals to lovers, forced proximity (3 weeks on a research ship), he has been pining for two years, fighting as foreplay, only one bed, slow burn, chronic pain from a traumatic injury, he knows her menstrual cycle, obsessed MMC, neuro-divergent coded FMC, FMC in STEM
Synopsis: Mateo has been Charlie’s academic rival since the moment he spilled wine all over her dress the day they met. But now, they’re stuck together on a research boat for three weeks, working together, eating together, and sharing a bed together. Charlie has always seen Mateo as cocky, competitive, and annoying, but as they spend more time together, she realizes she hasn’t really seen him at all.
Thoughts:
What I loved:
I was initially drawn to this book for several reasons: own voice oceanic scientist rep, academic rivals to lovers, and forced proximity on a boat. The fact that the author is a marine biologist was a HUGE draw for me, and I adored the fact that everything felt authentic and scientifically sound. It made my nerd brain so happy.
As for the academic rivals trope, I loved the banter and soft pranks between the MCs, as well as the secrets between them concerning Mateo’s two year long obsession with Charlie. There were quite a few adorable moments where Charlie’s genius brain finally connects the dots that I really enjoyed.
While not explicitly stated, Charlie felt very neurodivergent-coded, and as such, her character had emotional hurdles to work through. In addition, she has a lot of trauma and insecurities from an accident that left her scarred. Mateo was the character that stood out the most to me. He was so sweet, supportive, and balanced Charlie so well.
I would categorize this book as low-stakes cozy; there is really no conflict, external or otherwise, the tone is soft, and the story is character driven.
I do think cozy romance readers will enjoy the soft and sweet feel of this book.
***
Things I Didn’t Love:
1. I wasn’t expecting the book to feel so juvenile. The characters are phd students, so I guess I expected a more adult tone and characterization, but I must admit that I think this is best suited for the New Adult category of romance. In truth, the only thing that makes it not Young Adult is the explicit sex. Charlie, especially, seemed very child-like and immature, which made the romance portion feel awkward at times. In addition, the amount of giggles and laughing by all characters, at odd times, was a little off putting.
2. Charlie. There’s two main things that didn’t sit right regarding her character arc. First, I’m not sure that her chronic pain was explored deeply enough, which made the huge emphasis on her insecurities regarding her looks feel very shallow. In short, it felt odd that she was more concerned with her scars than the fact that she a) survived at all, and b) was left with chronic pain. Second, this book fell a little into the “love cures all” trap in the sense that (while the author did try to make it feel like Charlie was growing on her own accord), Mateo was absolutely the only driving factor in Charlie’s growth. In this way, her character arc felt centered on Mateo and how Mateo saw her, etc.
3. The chemistry. All of the secondary characters repeatedly remarked on the sexual tension between the characters, but that tension wasn’t *shown* on page very often. Yes, there were scenes where it was believable, but for how slow burn this book was, it didn’t sizzle.
Spice: 2.5/5🌶️
*spice ratings are relative to similar books in the same genre*
The Catalog: F/M, academic rivals to lovers, forced proximity (3 weeks on a research ship), he has been pining for two years, fighting as foreplay, only one bed, slow burn, chronic pain from a traumatic injury, he knows her menstrual cycle, obsessed MMC, neuro-divergent coded FMC, FMC in STEM
Synopsis: Mateo has been Charlie’s academic rival since the moment he spilled wine all over her dress the day they met. But now, they’re stuck together on a research boat for three weeks, working together, eating together, and sharing a bed together. Charlie has always seen Mateo as cocky, competitive, and annoying, but as they spend more time together, she realizes she hasn’t really seen him at all.
Thoughts:
What I loved:
I was initially drawn to this book for several reasons: own voice oceanic scientist rep, academic rivals to lovers, and forced proximity on a boat. The fact that the author is a marine biologist was a HUGE draw for me, and I adored the fact that everything felt authentic and scientifically sound. It made my nerd brain so happy.
As for the academic rivals trope, I loved the banter and soft pranks between the MCs, as well as the secrets between them concerning Mateo’s two year long obsession with Charlie. There were quite a few adorable moments where Charlie’s genius brain finally connects the dots that I really enjoyed.
While not explicitly stated, Charlie felt very neurodivergent-coded, and as such, her character had emotional hurdles to work through. In addition, she has a lot of trauma and insecurities from an accident that left her scarred. Mateo was the character that stood out the most to me. He was so sweet, supportive, and balanced Charlie so well.
I would categorize this book as low-stakes cozy; there is really no conflict, external or otherwise, the tone is soft, and the story is character driven.
I do think cozy romance readers will enjoy the soft and sweet feel of this book.
***
Things I Didn’t Love:
1. I wasn’t expecting the book to feel so juvenile. The characters are phd students, so I guess I expected a more adult tone and characterization, but I must admit that I think this is best suited for the New Adult category of romance. In truth, the only thing that makes it not Young Adult is the explicit sex. Charlie, especially, seemed very child-like and immature, which made the romance portion feel awkward at times. In addition, the amount of giggles and laughing by all characters, at odd times, was a little off putting.
2. Charlie. There’s two main things that didn’t sit right regarding her character arc. First, I’m not sure that her chronic pain was explored deeply enough, which made the huge emphasis on her insecurities regarding her looks feel very shallow. In short, it felt odd that she was more concerned with her scars than the fact that she a) survived at all, and b) was left with chronic pain. Second, this book fell a little into the “love cures all” trap in the sense that (while the author did try to make it feel like Charlie was growing on her own accord), Mateo was absolutely the only driving factor in Charlie’s growth. In this way, her character arc felt centered on Mateo and how Mateo saw her, etc.
3. The chemistry. All of the secondary characters repeatedly remarked on the sexual tension between the characters, but that tension wasn’t *shown* on page very often. Yes, there were scenes where it was believable, but for how slow burn this book was, it didn’t sizzle.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 20, 2025
cute, cheesy, learn a lot a of cool marine biology facts
August 28, 2025
I was beyond excited to receive the ARC and couldn’t wait to dive in right away! While it ended up being a 3⭐ read for me, I’m still so grateful I had the chance to experience it early. It was a light but fun read!
The tropes the author chose are some of my absolute favorites: rivals to lovers, forced proximity, and even one bed. On paper, all of these promised sparks and irresistible tension. While the romance between Charlie and Mateo doesn’t have a fully developed arc—the attraction comes quickly rather than building gradually—the dynamic fall a little flat, because it lacks the contrast, growth, or push-and-pull that usually makes this type of romance so engaging, but there are still charming and engaging moments that show potential.
As for the characters, Charlie and Mateo have definite potential, though they aren’t always fully explored. (I actually found the side characters, Amy and Oliver, to be more captivating and interesting than the protagonists themselves).
The book leans quite heavily into the spicy side 🔥💦, with numerous detailed open-door scenes. Readers who enjoy a physical romance will likely appreciate this, though it sometimes overshadows the emotional development of the story. That said, there are also plenty of tender moments and quotes 💌 that are genuinely sweet.
So in my opinion, maybe the book leans a little too heavily into spicy scenes, meanwhile themes like body shaming, as well as Charlie’s struggles and her ability to recover from trauma, are touched on too briefly 😕.
The ending is probably the sweetest part of the book: a thoughtful marriage proposal built around Charlie’s greatest passion. I also appreciated that it leaves the door slightly open for a potential storyline involving Charlie’s best friend, Amy. The cover is fresh, inviting, and well-suited to the romance audience 🎨✨.
In terms of content warnings, it’s worth mentioning explicit sexual scenes, references to a particularly traumatic car accident, and a episode of body shaming. All in all, Deep in Love is a light, enjoyable read 📖💫. While it doesn’t fully maximize the potential of its tropes or give deep exploration to the central romance, it offers charming moments, a lovely setting, and an engaging premise.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for letting me read this book early and providing me with the ARC!
As for the characters, Charlie and Mateo have definite potential, though they aren’t always fully explored. (I actually found the side characters, Amy and Oliver, to be more captivating and interesting than the protagonists themselves).
The book leans quite heavily into the spicy side 🔥💦, with numerous detailed open-door scenes. Readers who enjoy a physical romance will likely appreciate this, though it sometimes overshadows the emotional development of the story. That said, there are also plenty of tender moments and quotes 💌 that are genuinely sweet.
So in my opinion, maybe the book leans a little too heavily into spicy scenes, meanwhile themes like body shaming, as well as Charlie’s struggles and her ability to recover from trauma, are touched on too briefly 😕.
The ending is probably the sweetest part of the book: a thoughtful marriage proposal built around Charlie’s greatest passion. I also appreciated that it leaves the door slightly open for a potential storyline involving Charlie’s best friend, Amy. The cover is fresh, inviting, and well-suited to the romance audience 🎨✨.
In terms of content warnings, it’s worth mentioning explicit sexual scenes, references to a particularly traumatic car accident, and a episode of body shaming. All in all, Deep in Love is a light, enjoyable read 📖💫. While it doesn’t fully maximize the potential of its tropes or give deep exploration to the central romance, it offers charming moments, a lovely setting, and an engaging premise.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for letting me read this book early and providing me with the ARC!
November 27, 2025
Mixed feelings! I love every STEM setting romance but I kinda felt this story was a bit flat.🫠
Learned a lot of cool things about marine biology though.
Learned a lot of cool things about marine biology though.
July 31, 2025
STEM MCs: PhD candidates in marine biology! Y'all, this book is so freakin good! I was cackling half the time from the shenanigans: there's a dildo debacle that you have got to read, there's a whole thing about pavlov'ing a human, and the banter between the cast of characters is excellent... that even surprisingly includes their advisors! I don't know about you, but my PhD advisor was terrifying and definitely not my friend, so seeing a PI as not a bad guy was refreshing.
What I love most about STEM romance authors who write about their field of expertise is that I get to learn new things about a subject that I didn't study in school without getting overwhelmed with jargon. Marine biology is very clearly Nicole's passion outside of writing, and I loved learning about new creatures and the different layers within the ocean. The science does not overpower the story, and you really don't need to love science to enjoy this book, but it's a huge bonus for me as a fellow scientist and lover of nerdy things to read all of the goodies she sprinkled in here.
If you have read any of Nicole's previous books, I would say that this one compares a lot to Love on the Line, which is my favorite book of hers (although that's now tied with this one). You have a strong-willed, organized FMC with anxiety and low self-confidence who feels like a real flawed person, especially since she is so snack and praise motivated. She's paired with a high EQ king who falls first for her and does nothing but show her how beautiful and strong she is. Just like all of Nicole's books, there is no third act breakup, which is always appreciated, and it's a slow burn. The wait is so worth it though! Although it's a slow burn, once it catches fire, it just keeps on burning!
This book is a stand alone, so you don't need to have read any of her previous books to get into this one. It's well written, has a good plot, and has excellent spice.
What I love most about STEM romance authors who write about their field of expertise is that I get to learn new things about a subject that I didn't study in school without getting overwhelmed with jargon. Marine biology is very clearly Nicole's passion outside of writing, and I loved learning about new creatures and the different layers within the ocean. The science does not overpower the story, and you really don't need to love science to enjoy this book, but it's a huge bonus for me as a fellow scientist and lover of nerdy things to read all of the goodies she sprinkled in here.
If you have read any of Nicole's previous books, I would say that this one compares a lot to Love on the Line, which is my favorite book of hers (although that's now tied with this one). You have a strong-willed, organized FMC with anxiety and low self-confidence who feels like a real flawed person, especially since she is so snack and praise motivated. She's paired with a high EQ king who falls first for her and does nothing but show her how beautiful and strong she is. Just like all of Nicole's books, there is no third act breakup, which is always appreciated, and it's a slow burn. The wait is so worth it though! Although it's a slow burn, once it catches fire, it just keeps on burning!
This book is a stand alone, so you don't need to have read any of her previous books to get into this one. It's well written, has a good plot, and has excellent spice.
September 17, 2025
I WANT EVERYONE TO DROP WHAT THEY'RE DOING AND READ THIS BOOK ASAP !!!
This was one of my anticipated September reads, and I am telling you all it did NOT disappoint. The banter?? The forced proximity?? THE WAY THIS MAN YEARNS FOR HER!!! FOR TWO YEARS DAMMIT.
The whole entire story was not only so funny and hilarious (I promise the banter and their inner dialogue had me laughing so hard a times) but it was also touching. I truly loved how loudly Mateo loves Charlie and the way he's just so in tuned with her. Picking up on her subtle cues, the things she loves, and knows her goals in life, Mateo is truly THAT MAN. He gives such golden retriever energy, and I love a smug, cocky man who's also just so so soft for his girl. And, Charlie?? As a STEM girly too, I loved Charlie so much, and with everything she’s been through, I think her character development felt honest and real. Growth isn’t linear, but her realization that sometimes things shouldn’t be done alone hit a bit too close to home. Plus, her little nerdy moments had me laughing because they were 100% understandable.
Overall, if you love a good forced proximity, one bed, rivals to lovers then this book is for you. The two MCs relationship was so much fun to read, and it honestly felt like watching two of your best friends (who give each other so much crap) fall in love. PLUS, WHO DOESN'T LOVE A SOFT MAN WHO'S BEEN DOWN BAD FOR YEARS??
Thank you to the author for the eARC! I love sharing my opinions with others, but if you read this one, I hope to read your thoughts too!!
This was one of my anticipated September reads, and I am telling you all it did NOT disappoint. The banter?? The forced proximity?? THE WAY THIS MAN YEARNS FOR HER!!! FOR TWO YEARS DAMMIT.
The whole entire story was not only so funny and hilarious (I promise the banter and their inner dialogue had me laughing so hard a times) but it was also touching. I truly loved how loudly Mateo loves Charlie and the way he's just so in tuned with her. Picking up on her subtle cues, the things she loves, and knows her goals in life, Mateo is truly THAT MAN. He gives such golden retriever energy, and I love a smug, cocky man who's also just so so soft for his girl. And, Charlie?? As a STEM girly too, I loved Charlie so much, and with everything she’s been through, I think her character development felt honest and real. Growth isn’t linear, but her realization that sometimes things shouldn’t be done alone hit a bit too close to home. Plus, her little nerdy moments had me laughing because they were 100% understandable.
Overall, if you love a good forced proximity, one bed, rivals to lovers then this book is for you. The two MCs relationship was so much fun to read, and it honestly felt like watching two of your best friends (who give each other so much crap) fall in love. PLUS, WHO DOESN'T LOVE A SOFT MAN WHO'S BEEN DOWN BAD FOR YEARS??
Thank you to the author for the eARC! I love sharing my opinions with others, but if you read this one, I hope to read your thoughts too!!
November 21, 2025
4.5⭐️ This was cute!!
December 6, 2025
"𝑰 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒏𝒆𝒙𝒕 𝒇𝒐��𝒕𝒚 𝒚𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒔 𝒂𝒔 𝒂 𝒔𝒄𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒔𝒕, 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒂𝒍𝒘𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒃𝒆 𝒎𝒚 𝒈𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒅𝒊𝒔𝒄𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚. 𝑴𝒚 𝒎𝒐𝒔𝒕 𝒊𝒎𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒅. 𝑴𝒚 𝒑𝒖𝒓𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒆."
I’ve been refreshing my emails for like a week waiting to be approved for this arc, this is how HYPED I was. Add to it that I got it the same week the CONICET expedition was going on, following livestreams as irl marine biologists explored the deep sea next to the Argentinian coast, yeah the timing was f-cking perfect 👌🏻
Charlie and Mateo are both PhD students. She is a die-hard Charles Darwin fan, and she hates Mateo. He, on the other hand, has been obsessed with her for over two years. When a lifetime opportunity to explore the deep sea presents itself, they have no choice but to spend three weeks sharing time, space, and one single bed.
The story did not disappoint, it was more than I was expecting and I loved following Charlie’s journey learning to love – others, but mostly herself. Mateo is the MMC dreams are made of, kind, gentle, and the right amount of obsessed.
It was fun, it was hot, it was emotional. The balance and the pace were perfect, not to mention the love for science and marine biology oozing from every page.
If you enjoy Ali Hazelwood’s books, you’re gonna love Deep in Love.
👀 𝙳𝚞𝚊𝚕 𝙿𝙾𝚅
🔥 𝚂𝚕𝚘𝚠(𝚒𝚜𝚑) 𝚋𝚞𝚛𝚗
🔗 𝙵𝚘𝚛𝚌𝚎𝚍 𝚙𝚛𝚘𝚡𝚒𝚖𝚒𝚝𝚢
🐈⬛ 𝙱𝚕𝚊𝚌𝚔 𝚌𝚊𝚝 𝚡 𝚐𝚘𝚕𝚍𝚎𝚗 𝚛𝚎𝚝𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛
❤️🩹 𝙷𝚞𝚛𝚝 / 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚝
🔬 𝚆𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚗 𝚒𝚗 𝚂𝚃𝙴𝙼
🪴 𝙿𝚕𝚊𝚗𝚝 𝚍𝚊𝚍𝚍𝚢
🗓️ Publish date: Sept 16, 2025
Thank you Nicole Cubba, Victory Editing, and NetGalley for the advance copy. All opinions are my own.
I’ve been refreshing my emails for like a week waiting to be approved for this arc, this is how HYPED I was. Add to it that I got it the same week the CONICET expedition was going on, following livestreams as irl marine biologists explored the deep sea next to the Argentinian coast, yeah the timing was f-cking perfect 👌🏻
Charlie and Mateo are both PhD students. She is a die-hard Charles Darwin fan, and she hates Mateo. He, on the other hand, has been obsessed with her for over two years. When a lifetime opportunity to explore the deep sea presents itself, they have no choice but to spend three weeks sharing time, space, and one single bed.
The story did not disappoint, it was more than I was expecting and I loved following Charlie’s journey learning to love – others, but mostly herself. Mateo is the MMC dreams are made of, kind, gentle, and the right amount of obsessed.
It was fun, it was hot, it was emotional. The balance and the pace were perfect, not to mention the love for science and marine biology oozing from every page.
If you enjoy Ali Hazelwood’s books, you’re gonna love Deep in Love.
👀 𝙳𝚞𝚊𝚕 𝙿𝙾𝚅
🔥 𝚂𝚕𝚘𝚠(𝚒𝚜𝚑) 𝚋𝚞𝚛𝚗
🔗 𝙵𝚘𝚛𝚌𝚎𝚍 𝚙𝚛𝚘𝚡𝚒𝚖𝚒𝚝𝚢
🐈⬛ 𝙱𝚕𝚊𝚌𝚔 𝚌𝚊𝚝 𝚡 𝚐𝚘𝚕𝚍𝚎𝚗 𝚛𝚎𝚝𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛
❤️🩹 𝙷𝚞𝚛𝚝 / 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚝
🔬 𝚆𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚗 𝚒𝚗 𝚂𝚃𝙴𝙼
🪴 𝙿𝚕𝚊𝚗𝚝 𝚍𝚊𝚍𝚍𝚢
🗓️ Publish date: Sept 16, 2025
Thank you Nicole Cubba, Victory Editing, and NetGalley for the advance copy. All opinions are my own.
August 14, 2025
This felt like it wasn't academic, rivals to lovers or STEM... just a sort of teenagers in a spicy romance?
September 23, 2025
2.5 🌟 this book was the definition of a nothing burger I fear. Writing was also weirdly clunky? It was still cute tho so there’s that
September 13, 2025
3.5 ⭐️.
Two marine biologists travel undersea to discover new organisms. They are also academic rivals. Will they stand the test of space and fiery emotions?
I am a sucker for a STEM romance and there were things I really enjoyed in this. The grad school life, the academic tension, the introduction to marine biology and research, and the overall trope of academic rivals to lovers. There were cute moments too which I loved, and some parts were laugh out loud hilarious!
However, a considerable portion of the story felt overdone with 1. Charlie being overly focused on how she looks 2. The overbearing confessions of love. It sometimes slipped my mind as to why Charlie is this hypersensitive and skittish because I felt the root cause wasn’t dealt well enough for the reader to grasp that. Instead she was extremely insecure about her scars which came as being a bit shallow.
Who doesn’t love a man who’s pining and just has eyes for her?! But there can’t be too much of a good thing. There were moments that were too teen like and cheesy that didn’t hit the mark for me. Sure PhD students can act like teens at times but this was overdone. The latter part felt dragged because of this and the epilogue did not add anything special either. Sometimes less is better.
Thank you to the author and Victory editing for the e-ARC. All thoughts my own.
Two marine biologists travel undersea to discover new organisms. They are also academic rivals. Will they stand the test of space and fiery emotions?
I am a sucker for a STEM romance and there were things I really enjoyed in this. The grad school life, the academic tension, the introduction to marine biology and research, and the overall trope of academic rivals to lovers. There were cute moments too which I loved, and some parts were laugh out loud hilarious!
However, a considerable portion of the story felt overdone with 1. Charlie being overly focused on how she looks 2. The overbearing confessions of love. It sometimes slipped my mind as to why Charlie is this hypersensitive and skittish because I felt the root cause wasn’t dealt well enough for the reader to grasp that. Instead she was extremely insecure about her scars which came as being a bit shallow.
Who doesn’t love a man who’s pining and just has eyes for her?! But there can’t be too much of a good thing. There were moments that were too teen like and cheesy that didn’t hit the mark for me. Sure PhD students can act like teens at times but this was overdone. The latter part felt dragged because of this and the epilogue did not add anything special either. Sometimes less is better.
Thank you to the author and Victory editing for the e-ARC. All thoughts my own.
August 16, 2025
3.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
Deep in Love was such a sweet, cozy romance that pulled me in right from the start. The first 60% absolutely delivered with banter, yearning, and that deliciously thin line between love and hate when it came to Charlie and Matteo.
Matteo, oh boy. He is the definition of downbad. A self proclaimed expert in all things Charlie, from her bucket list to her favorite treats, even knowing when she just needs quiet, steady support. He was swoony in every single way.
That said, I didn’t particularly enjoy the conflict between the two main characters. To me, it leaned into a slightly toxic portrayal of the “friend zone,” and while it made sense for Matteo’s inner thoughts and hurt, it didn’t quite work for me personally. Around the 60% mark, I also felt the pacing falter a little, though the side characters did keep me entertained.
Overall, this is a heartwarming, feel good romance without heavy angst or high stakes and honestly, isn’t that exactly what we all need sometimes.
Thank you Netgalley and Victoria Editing for this ARC
Deep in Love was such a sweet, cozy romance that pulled me in right from the start. The first 60% absolutely delivered with banter, yearning, and that deliciously thin line between love and hate when it came to Charlie and Matteo.
Matteo, oh boy. He is the definition of downbad. A self proclaimed expert in all things Charlie, from her bucket list to her favorite treats, even knowing when she just needs quiet, steady support. He was swoony in every single way.
That said, I didn’t particularly enjoy the conflict between the two main characters. To me, it leaned into a slightly toxic portrayal of the “friend zone,” and while it made sense for Matteo’s inner thoughts and hurt, it didn’t quite work for me personally. Around the 60% mark, I also felt the pacing falter a little, though the side characters did keep me entertained.
Overall, this is a heartwarming, feel good romance without heavy angst or high stakes and honestly, isn’t that exactly what we all need sometimes.
Thank you Netgalley and Victoria Editing for this ARC
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August 31, 2025Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for an eARC in exchange for an honest review
This was my summer holiday read and a sweet little romance, even if it lacked a little substance. Whether you love or hate the third act conflict in romance, it's undeniable that it adds a layer of drama for your characters to work through or over. In this book, I really didn't feel that there was much for them to fight through - although they struggled through their day-to-day issues of self-esteem and miscommunication.
As is becoming a theme in romance books for me these days, I was thrilled for them that it all worked out. I did, however, also get the ick. Never in my life do I want to hear someone say "What would Darwin do" to get through life, he really isn't the first historical figure that jumps to mind for me when I think 'inspirational'.
But then again, what a joy to get to read about so many women in STEM these days - love that he'd read all her academic papers!
This was my summer holiday read and a sweet little romance, even if it lacked a little substance. Whether you love or hate the third act conflict in romance, it's undeniable that it adds a layer of drama for your characters to work through or over. In this book, I really didn't feel that there was much for them to fight through - although they struggled through their day-to-day issues of self-esteem and miscommunication.
As is becoming a theme in romance books for me these days, I was thrilled for them that it all worked out. I did, however, also get the ick. Never in my life do I want to hear someone say "What would Darwin do" to get through life, he really isn't the first historical figure that jumps to mind for me when I think 'inspirational'.
But then again, what a joy to get to read about so many women in STEM these days - love that he'd read all her academic papers!
August 23, 2025
While I really enjoyed the premise of this book (two academic rivals turned lovers aboard a research vessel), the character development and pacing fell a little flat to me.
Charlie and Mateo are meant to be PhD candidates, but they both felt significantly younger and less mature than I would have expected. The transition from rivals to lovers felt quite rushed to me and I just didn’t come away from the story with the same giggling smile I want from an easy romance book like this.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Charlie and Mateo are meant to be PhD candidates, but they both felt significantly younger and less mature than I would have expected. The transition from rivals to lovers felt quite rushed to me and I just didn’t come away from the story with the same giggling smile I want from an easy romance book like this.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
October 22, 2025
★★★★☆ || If you love Ali Hazelwood, you’re gonna eat this UP.
This was like STEM romance but… wholesome-er and with no power dynamic. I know a lot of people didn’t like some of the imbalance of power in Ali’s books, and if that’s the case you’ll enjoy this one. They’re both PhD students, and they go on a research trip together.
•He falls first and harder
•STEM romance
•forced proximity
•one sided “hate”
•ONE BED
•scheming advisors
This was like STEM romance but… wholesome-er and with no power dynamic. I know a lot of people didn’t like some of the imbalance of power in Ali’s books, and if that’s the case you’ll enjoy this one. They’re both PhD students, and they go on a research trip together.
•He falls first and harder
•STEM romance
•forced proximity
•one sided “hate”
•ONE BED
•scheming advisors
Displaying 1 - 30 of 327 reviews