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Diving Heart First
Not yet published
Expected 10 Feb 26Collegiate diver Maisie Thatcher begins her freshman year at Magnolia University hoping it will bring her the clarity she needs. Things have been off with her boyfriend. Her dives aren't where she'd like them to be. Even the major she selected no longer seems like the right dream to chase.
Enter: Connor Bocelli, a top recruit on the swim team who, despite his mesmerizing eyes and selfless nature, seems to be battling demons of his own. And yet, his small acts of kindness toward Maisie have her more confused about her feelings than ever.
Navigating love, family, and sports, these two athletes must figure out their own paths before choosing whether to risk their hearts for a future together or stay safely guarded behind their budding friendship.
Can Connor and Maisie find their way out of the friend-zone or will their love belly flop?
Enter: Connor Bocelli, a top recruit on the swim team who, despite his mesmerizing eyes and selfless nature, seems to be battling demons of his own. And yet, his small acts of kindness toward Maisie have her more confused about her feelings than ever.
Navigating love, family, and sports, these two athletes must figure out their own paths before choosing whether to risk their hearts for a future together or stay safely guarded behind their budding friendship.
Can Connor and Maisie find their way out of the friend-zone or will their love belly flop?
378 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication February 10, 2026
5 people are currently reading
34 people want to read
About the author
Emmy Lewes
1 book5 followersEmmy Lewes writes hot and heartfelt sports romance, where female athletes always shine.
When she’s not cuddled into the couch typing away on her laptop, she’s spending time with
friends and family, making any excuse to go to a beach, and narrating audiobooks with her
husband. A Pennsylvania native and certified “sporty-girl”, she hopes you enjoy her stories as
much as she enjoyed writing them. Find her on instagram at @authoremmylewes
When she’s not cuddled into the couch typing away on her laptop, she’s spending time with
friends and family, making any excuse to go to a beach, and narrating audiobooks with her
husband. A Pennsylvania native and certified “sporty-girl”, she hopes you enjoy her stories as
much as she enjoyed writing them. Find her on instagram at @authoremmylewes
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
4.5 rounded up
How did I not know that I needed more swimming/diving sports romances? I know that hockey romances are all the rage right now - but please give me more swimming and diving! And this book absolutely filled that void that I didn't even know was there.
Maisie and Conner are such a cute relationship, and some of their moments? Absolute goals! I loved watching their relationship grow, and lordy, Maisie's first boyfriend couldn't go away soon enough! He made me so mad, but it led the way for Connor to show just how much better he could be, and boy was he better!
I'm so excited to see what comes next (please please please let it be the roommate!) and I'll be one of the first on the list begging to read it!
How did I not know that I needed more swimming/diving sports romances? I know that hockey romances are all the rage right now - but please give me more swimming and diving! And this book absolutely filled that void that I didn't even know was there.
Maisie and Conner are such a cute relationship, and some of their moments? Absolute goals! I loved watching their relationship grow, and lordy, Maisie's first boyfriend couldn't go away soon enough! He made me so mad, but it led the way for Connor to show just how much better he could be, and boy was he better!
I'm so excited to see what comes next (please please please let it be the roommate!) and I'll be one of the first on the list begging to read it!
Review of advance copy received from Author
“Sometimes scars remain, but that doesn’t make me any less healed.”
The first note I took when reading this book was “This book is for those of us who stuck with the dirtbag boyfriend way longer than we should have before finally realizing we deserved better.”
I was immediately sucked into this story. I LOVE that we got to Connor’s POV first. Connor, with his earnestness and kind heart, falls first and hard. He is the definition of “written by a woman.” A consent KING and I’m here for it. And then there’s Maisie with her desire to find her place in the world. Struggling with anxiety and figuring herself out. It was all so relatable. I really appreciated the authenticity and I just wanted to know these characters.
There is miscommunication within the story, which I usually hate and had me worried for a minute, but the author was able to write it in a way that made it understandable and appropriate for the situation. Miscommunication usually feels outrageously frustrating to me, but this felt exactly right for these characters.
The side characters were a hit for me as well. I’m REALLY hoping that she’s setting us up for more books in a series with their friends, because I definitely want to know more about their stories. The found family vibes are strong in this story. And Hunter has my heart! I love his feminist ideals and really want to see all the great things that happen for him. And quiet Tyler… I need to know more!
Overall, the writing itself was great. Very smooth, clear, and had a great pace. There weren’t any points where it slowed enough to make me want to put the book down. She also was able to write about diving well enough to convince someone who has never learned a thing about competitive diving that she (me) understood everything that was happening.
TLDR:
-College sports romance
-Anxiety rep
-Found family
-Consent is SEXY!
-He falls first and HARD
-Friends to lovers
-Therapy positive
-Smooth writing
Add this one to your TBR!
Thank you Happily Booked PR and Emmy Lewes for the opportunity to read an eARC of this book.
The first note I took when reading this book was “This book is for those of us who stuck with the dirtbag boyfriend way longer than we should have before finally realizing we deserved better.”
I was immediately sucked into this story. I LOVE that we got to Connor’s POV first. Connor, with his earnestness and kind heart, falls first and hard. He is the definition of “written by a woman.” A consent KING and I’m here for it. And then there’s Maisie with her desire to find her place in the world. Struggling with anxiety and figuring herself out. It was all so relatable. I really appreciated the authenticity and I just wanted to know these characters.
There is miscommunication within the story, which I usually hate and had me worried for a minute, but the author was able to write it in a way that made it understandable and appropriate for the situation. Miscommunication usually feels outrageously frustrating to me, but this felt exactly right for these characters.
The side characters were a hit for me as well. I’m REALLY hoping that she’s setting us up for more books in a series with their friends, because I definitely want to know more about their stories. The found family vibes are strong in this story. And Hunter has my heart! I love his feminist ideals and really want to see all the great things that happen for him. And quiet Tyler… I need to know more!
Overall, the writing itself was great. Very smooth, clear, and had a great pace. There weren’t any points where it slowed enough to make me want to put the book down. She also was able to write about diving well enough to convince someone who has never learned a thing about competitive diving that she (me) understood everything that was happening.
TLDR:
-College sports romance
-Anxiety rep
-Found family
-Consent is SEXY!
-He falls first and HARD
-Friends to lovers
-Therapy positive
-Smooth writing
Add this one to your TBR!
Thank you Happily Booked PR and Emmy Lewes for the opportunity to read an eARC of this book.
Review of advance copy received from Indie Reviewers
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ A super sweet, realistic college romance with a very heavy slow-burn.
Thank you so much for the opportunity to read an ARC of this story! Overall, this was a super cute read with a lot of heart and two very solid lead characters.
The Characters: Connor is an incredible MMC—self-aware, mature for a college freshman, and genuinely well-intentioned (plus, those swimmer vibes are a major bonus 🥵). While Maisey’s choices made me want to shake her at times, her journey felt very realistic to anyone who has navigated a difficult relationship. Their chemistry was present, and the foundations of their connection were lovely.
The Pacing & Communication: While I can appreciate the realism of college freshmen finding their way, the communication (or lack thereof) annoyed the crap out of me! I understood why it was happening, but it definitely added to my frustration with the pacing. As someone who usually loves a well-executed slow burn, the "stops-and-starts" here didn't quite click for me. Instead of feeling like delicious tension, it felt a bit too drawn out. There were so many moments where I wanted to reach into the book, shove them together, and say, “Come on already—you both clearly want this!”
The Verdict: The writing is solid, the "staring across the pool" moments were incredibly accurate, and the spice—while light—was impactful for the FMC's growth. Even though this specific slow-burn style tested my patience, the characters made the journey worthwhile. I’m definitely looking forward to seeing what happens in Book 2!
TROPES & VIBES:
🏊♂️ Swimmer MMC
🎓 College Romance (Freshman Year)
🐢 Ultra Slow-Burn
✨ He Falls First
🫂 Emotional Growth / Healing
🚫 Miscommunication / Longing
Thank you so much for the opportunity to read an ARC of this story! Overall, this was a super cute read with a lot of heart and two very solid lead characters.
The Characters: Connor is an incredible MMC—self-aware, mature for a college freshman, and genuinely well-intentioned (plus, those swimmer vibes are a major bonus 🥵). While Maisey’s choices made me want to shake her at times, her journey felt very realistic to anyone who has navigated a difficult relationship. Their chemistry was present, and the foundations of their connection were lovely.
The Pacing & Communication: While I can appreciate the realism of college freshmen finding their way, the communication (or lack thereof) annoyed the crap out of me! I understood why it was happening, but it definitely added to my frustration with the pacing. As someone who usually loves a well-executed slow burn, the "stops-and-starts" here didn't quite click for me. Instead of feeling like delicious tension, it felt a bit too drawn out. There were so many moments where I wanted to reach into the book, shove them together, and say, “Come on already—you both clearly want this!”
The Verdict: The writing is solid, the "staring across the pool" moments were incredibly accurate, and the spice—while light—was impactful for the FMC's growth. Even though this specific slow-burn style tested my patience, the characters made the journey worthwhile. I’m definitely looking forward to seeing what happens in Book 2!
TROPES & VIBES:
🏊♂️ Swimmer MMC
🎓 College Romance (Freshman Year)
🐢 Ultra Slow-Burn
✨ He Falls First
🫂 Emotional Growth / Healing
🚫 Miscommunication / Longing
February 2, 2026
Thank you so much for allowing me to ARC read this—I always appreciate the chance to dive into a new story early. Overall, this was a good book with strong potential, and there were definitely elements I enjoyed.
The MMC and FMC were solid characters. They each had distinct personalities, believable motivations, and a dynamic that could have been really compelling. I liked them individually, and I could see why they were drawn to one another. Their interactions were sweet, their chemistry was present, and they had the foundations of a relationship that could’ve been wonderful.
However, the slow burn aspect just didn’t work for me personally. Instead of feeling deliciously tense or emotionally satisfying, it ended up being more frustrating than enjoyable. There were so many moments where I found myself wanting to reach into the book, shove them together, and say, “Come on already—you both clearly want this!”
The long pauses between their emotional progression and the stops-and-starts of their relationship didn’t impress me the way slow burns usually do. I love a well-executed slow burn when the tension builds, the longing simmers, and the payoff feels earned—but here, the pacing felt a bit too drawn out, and the emotional beats didn’t always land as strongly as they could have.
That being said, the writing was still good, the characters were likable, and there were definitely moments that made the journey worthwhile. It simply wasn’t the kind of slow burn that clicks with my personal reading preferences.
A good book overall—just not quite the slow-burn style that works for me.
The MMC and FMC were solid characters. They each had distinct personalities, believable motivations, and a dynamic that could have been really compelling. I liked them individually, and I could see why they were drawn to one another. Their interactions were sweet, their chemistry was present, and they had the foundations of a relationship that could’ve been wonderful.
However, the slow burn aspect just didn’t work for me personally. Instead of feeling deliciously tense or emotionally satisfying, it ended up being more frustrating than enjoyable. There were so many moments where I found myself wanting to reach into the book, shove them together, and say, “Come on already—you both clearly want this!”
The long pauses between their emotional progression and the stops-and-starts of their relationship didn’t impress me the way slow burns usually do. I love a well-executed slow burn when the tension builds, the longing simmers, and the payoff feels earned—but here, the pacing felt a bit too drawn out, and the emotional beats didn’t always land as strongly as they could have.
That being said, the writing was still good, the characters were likable, and there were definitely moments that made the journey worthwhile. It simply wasn’t the kind of slow burn that clicks with my personal reading preferences.
A good book overall—just not quite the slow-burn style that works for me.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Diving Heart First
By Emmy Lewes
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Diving Heart First by Emmy Lewes is an absolutely delightful and uplifting college sports romance that will put a huge smile on your face! It’s the perfect, sunshine-filled read for anyone who loves a good D1 athlete story. The novel introduces us to Maisie Thatcher, a determined diver at Magnolia University, who is ready to shake up her life. As she navigates the thrilling ups and downs of freshman year and rediscovers her true passions, she crosses paths with the charming Connor Bocelli, a talented swim star with an incredibly kind heart.
The magic of this book lies in the bright and healthy relationship that blossoms between Maisie and Connor. It’s a refreshing friends-to-lovers journey that is full of heartwarming connection, supportive gestures, and all the sweet, swoony moments you could ask for. Lewes masterfully handles themes of anxietyand finding your path with warmth and optimism. There are no unnecessary dramatic breakups here, just pure, feel-good fun and characters you can genuinely cheer for. Get ready to "dive heart first" into this cheerful story and fall in love with Maisie and Connor's vibrant world!
10/10 Would recommend this book to all family and friends.
By Emmy Lewes
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Diving Heart First by Emmy Lewes is an absolutely delightful and uplifting college sports romance that will put a huge smile on your face! It’s the perfect, sunshine-filled read for anyone who loves a good D1 athlete story. The novel introduces us to Maisie Thatcher, a determined diver at Magnolia University, who is ready to shake up her life. As she navigates the thrilling ups and downs of freshman year and rediscovers her true passions, she crosses paths with the charming Connor Bocelli, a talented swim star with an incredibly kind heart.
The magic of this book lies in the bright and healthy relationship that blossoms between Maisie and Connor. It’s a refreshing friends-to-lovers journey that is full of heartwarming connection, supportive gestures, and all the sweet, swoony moments you could ask for. Lewes masterfully handles themes of anxietyand finding your path with warmth and optimism. There are no unnecessary dramatic breakups here, just pure, feel-good fun and characters you can genuinely cheer for. Get ready to "dive heart first" into this cheerful story and fall in love with Maisie and Connor's vibrant world!
10/10 Would recommend this book to all family and friends.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book was super cute. Connor is such a great MMC he is self aware, has everyone's best interest in mind, and willing to work on himself plus have you seen swimmers 🥵 Maisey made me want to shake her several times but I guarantee this is exactly how anyone around us during a bad relationship feels. Connor is so mature it makes you forget that they're only freshman in college. staring at your crush across the pool between sets is so accurate too. While I personally could've used a little more spice the parts that were there were impactful for our FMCs growth and done very well. as someone who is not actively seeking out a slow burn I really enjoyed this storyline. will be looking forward to book 2.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This book was so good, especially for a debut. Conner and Mazie were both so sweet, and he is absolutely obsessed with her (in the best way) There was some miscommunication at the beginning of the book, which I’m usually not a fan of but I think this is probably the only time I’ve really loved the way it was done. As an anxious girl myself I thought Maxie’s anxiety and panic attacks were so well written and the way the book showed how damaging parents can be to their young adult children was really excellent. Thank you so much to Happily Booked for the opportunity to arc read this in exchange for a fair and honest review, I really enjoyed it!
Review of advance copy
This was a cute friends-to-lovers story! Both characters are 18 which means they aren't always very good at communicating with each other, but they get better at it. I do think the dialogue was a little stilted sometimes; college kids use contractions when they talk, especially to each other in an informal setting. That's a pretty minor detail, though.
I got an eARC through Happily Booked PR but these thoughts are still genuine.
I got an eARC through Happily Booked PR but these thoughts are still genuine.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I had the pleasure of Alpha reading this book for Emmy, and it is a fantastic debut.
Women in sports rep, coming of age, and all the sweetness and care you want in a college romance are just some of the things that come to mind!
I’m excited to dive back into my ARC and see everyone enjoying this book when it’s released February 10th!
Women in sports rep, coming of age, and all the sweetness and care you want in a college romance are just some of the things that come to mind!
I’m excited to dive back into my ARC and see everyone enjoying this book when it’s released February 10th!
Review of advance copy received from Author
That slow burn was slow burning and made me feel all of the feels!
I loved it, I could definitely relate to the insecurities that Maisie was feeling with such a horrible first love experience. I love how understanding and accepting Connor was of everything.
Brock and Angie?!?!?! Will they be Magnolia U book 2?! I can't wait
I loved it, I could definitely relate to the insecurities that Maisie was feeling with such a horrible first love experience. I love how understanding and accepting Connor was of everything.
Brock and Angie?!?!?! Will they be Magnolia U book 2?! I can't wait
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 31, 2026
It felt like Connor was giving creepy “nice guy” vibes at first but he grew on me. I really enjoyed the chemistry between Maisie and Connor (:
January 31, 2026
A fantastic debut from Emmy Lewes! Connor, the ultimate green flag, and sweet Maisie, perfectly flawed and completely relatable, find each other in Book 1 from the Magnolia U series. Emmy takes us right back to what it was like in college, feeling pressure from everywhere and learning how to become the real you. A book about finding yourself, finding love, and seeing what the world can hold in store, Lewes touches on everything from toxic relationships, parental pressure, mental health, and more - a well-rounded, sweet (with a little spice) debut romance. I cannot wait for more!
I received an advanced copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
I received an advanced copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews