
Member Reviews

Thank you to Chelsea Fagan and NetGalley for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an unbiased review. All opinions are my own.
I was really looking forward to this book, especially since my friends and I were doing a buddy read. I love second chance romances, old friends reuniting, and anything with vacation/summer vibes, so this seemed like a win. But honestly? I spent most of the book thinking, “why is everyone in this so insufferable?” and it’s even crazier that they’re in their 30s? Super immature. Maybe if they were 20, I could work with some of it.
Also, you can’t build a whole “rich people bad” narrative and then be completely fine benefitting from that same wealth when it’s convenient. Kind of undercuts the moral high ground you've been standing on. You can’t have it both ways.
I love a good billionaire romance as much as the next gal and a rags-to-riches situation, but this isn’t that. It tried to be critical of wealth while also indulging in it, and the result just felt hypocritical.
(SPOILER AHEAD)
Just because he quit the job doesn’t change HOW he built his wealth and where that money came from, what company he helped make even more money, etc. also super confusing how he’s stupidly rich but worried about not being able to quit (which was his excuse) cause he has to take care of his mom… yet he then quits no problem? And isn’t stressed? Like can we pick something and stick to it? And don’t even get me started on how the FMC’s financial irresponsibility is never addressed.
Overall, would not recommend because it just had me frustrated and annoyed most of the time. This didn’t have great flow either and I didn’t understand the main couples chemistry really either.
Will not be posting a public review until one month after the pub date so cannot link my Goodreads review at the moment. Will update in the future

Sorry to say I wasn't a fan of this book. Even though the main character was meant to be the less well-off/middle class friend, the whole set-up (including her attitude) felt pretentious and came across un-relatable. By the time the romance elements were being developed, it was hopeless since I already didn't like the MMC of FMC. I recently read Broken French by Natasha Boyd which also is a romance that takes place on a yacht in the med. That was much better executed and a better experience overall. Also, why did was his name spelled Danial? If the author wanted to be unique, I would have preferred the MMC have a unique name completely. It was distracting because I wanted to call him Denial. Which is what I was in while I was reading this book.

Review posted to StoryGraph and Goodreads on 5/13/25. Review will be posted to Amazon on release date.
When I saw that Chelsea Fagan had written an enemies-to-lovers romance I could not get my hands on a copy of it fast enough! If you loved Chelsea’s sexy, chic world she created in A Perfect Vintage, buckle in babe—you’re in for a ride.
A group of college friends reconvenes for a two week yacht trip leading up to the wedding of two of its members. Alex is a mixture of excited and nervous to be reconnected with the group who she always felt a bit of an outsider in. While most of the group grew up wealthy, Alex was a scholarship kid desperate to fit in and not stand out. As an adult she’s built herself a career in political organizing that she’s proud of and thrives in. The only person she isn’t looking forward to seeing on the trip is Danial who she hasn’t seen since their falling out at graduation. Now working for an investment firm that affects the community Alex works in, Danial is enemy number one. Their time on the boat is spend with bickering, misunderstanding, and maybe a truce. Can they overcome their past and come together or are they destined to repeat their past?
This book is such a vibe. Rich people on a yacht in the Mediterranean. All the lush fashion descriptions you could ever want. Some strong sexual tension. A lot of misunderstanding. It was giving everything! I thoroughly enjoyed this book and can’t wait to give copies of it to everyone I know to read pool side or maybe on a yacht if they’re lucky.

Alex and Danial were both part of the same friend group back in college, both of them working very hard to keep up with their ultra-priviledged peers. After dramatic fall out between those two days before graduation, they haven’t seen each other for a decade. That is to change since the whole group is once again reconciling for a big wedding in the Mediteran.
One thing I loved about this book was how Alex was not a perfect heroine. She was insecure, seeking her rich friends’ approval even after ten years while simultaneously feeling morally above them. It was also very clear from the beginning that she was not over Danial at all. The tension between those two was building steadily through the whole book and their chemistry was really good, one couldn’t not root for them.
The problem with this book is how it’s paced. We get a very long built up after which they just get together instantly and then the book ends immediatly after. Also how the main conflict (their very different career paths) was resolved just did not seem to be realistic and kind of looked like the author just wanted to get it over with. What I think would help is if we got more of Danial and could see a bit more into his head – the whole story is told from Alexi’s POV which unfortunately didn’t leave enough space for Daniel to make his decision at the end believable.
Overall a good book that will definitely suck you in. 3,5⭐️

Calling it now - this will be *the* hot read of the summer. I’ve long been a fan of Chelsea Fagan so I expected to like this book, but I was so pleasantly surprised by just how well this one hit. I’m not typically a romance reader, but this book was exactly what I needed right now. The High Dive provided the perfect mental escape to the Mediterranean with perfect emotional tension while also providing excellent commentary on the ways in which we’re all forced to navigate the financial systems we’re born into. I absolutely loved The High Dive and would strongly recommend it to anyone looking for a summer read that *dives* a little deeper than your average romance. Thank you to NetGalley, Orsay Press, and Chelsea Fagan for the ARC!

The writing is strong, but everyone in this novel is insufferable. It was hard to root for the happy ending when I hated everyone so much. But thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the arc in exchange for an honest review!

This is an emotionally rich, thought-provoking novel that masterfully blends romance with social commentary. Chelsea Fagan delivers a sharp, engaging narrative that doesn’t shy away from the complexities of class, privilege, and personal ambition. Alexandra Onassis is a compelling protagonist—intelligent, idealistic, and unapologetically outspoken. Her dynamic with Danial Azad is charged with history and tension, making their reunion aboard a luxurious Mediterranean yacht feel both electric and inevitable. One of the novel’s strongest elements is its exploration of how past wounds, political convictions, and personal desires collide. Alex’s struggle to maintain her integrity in an environment that constantly reminds her of what she lacks is deeply relatable, and her interactions with Danial keep the emotional stakes high.

I enjoyed this book and had a hard time putting it down! As a below deck fan, it felt as if i was getting an inside look on what it might be to be a guest on a mega yacht. Honestly would have been happy with that, but there was some really touching character development.

Enemies in a friend group have to spend a week on a yacht in the Mediterranean to celebrate their mutual friends’ marriage. Enemies to lovers, forced proximity, second chance romance? Sign me up.
Overall, it was enjoyable and wanting to know what happened between them 10 years ago kept me reading. But it took me about 30% in to get hooked. At first it felt like too much set up while simultaneously not really explaining why Alex would still be friends with these people. And the spelling of Danial was kind of distracting. It’s hard to categorize this book bc it feels more layered than a traditional romance and also a little like it’s trying to be literary/deep with the class/political storyline. In tone and vibes, it felt like a hybrid between The Wedding People and Before I Let Go.
Alex’s inferiority complex was kind of frustrating. But I liked her friendship with Paul. And although he was a secondary character, I think Dev was my favorite. The ending felt a little rushed but it follows the traditional romance structure of a HEA.

The perfect enemies to lovers novel! I also really enjoyed the theme of class-differences and how easy it is to get swept up in critiquing those who “have more.” I love Chelsea Fagan’s writing and I will consume anything that she writes!

This book was a romance but didn’t feel conventional. I enjoyed the discussion around class and wealth and the impact this not only has on yourself but also on the relationships around. The tangential plotlines really added to the main romance plot that it made it such an easy read.

I enjoyed the High Dive. Like Fagan’s first book, the setting is as much a character as anything else, which makes it an ideal summer or beach read. The two timelines were interesting, but it took almost too long to get to the meat of it all. The protagonist is relatable, plucky and deeply flawed without being a ditz, which is hard to find in the romance/women’s fiction genre. I’ve seen Fagan discuss her approach to writing sex scenes on her TikTok, but I think the one in this book kind of missed the mark. Maybe it was the logistics of the situation but if you’ve got just one truly steamy scene it shouldn’t be hard to follow. I’ve excited to read Fagan’s next book!

I loved The High Dive! The banter, the slooow burn, the second-chance romance, the diversity and complexity of the characters—it all worked so well. I personally related to Alex the most, but also to Danial (there’s something about growing up poor—even when you’re no longer struggling, that feeling of being out of place lingers). I absolutely adored their love story (and Alex and Paul!).
I appreciated how the book used flashbacks for context without falling into a rigid back-and-forth structure. The pacing felt organic. This is a story about growth, self-reflection, friendship, deep love, identity, societal expectations, and class disparity.
Once I had time to dive in, I couldn’t put it down. I laughed out loud at several moments—the dialogue felt incredibly authentic, like I was right there with them. Even the characters I didn’t like were intentionally complex, and the entire friend group felt fully realized.
I’d love to see the story continue, but I also feel completely satisfied with how it ended.
I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Here's a nightmare scenario for you. You haven't seen or spoken to (who you once thought was) the love of your life in 10 years; you've since loathed them and everything they stand for. Now picture yourself stuck on a 10 day Mediterranean yacht trip... And they're on board. Not only that, but you're joined by several other pompous assholes you've known since college, the majority of whom don't even really like you all that much. How long until you sashay the plank and yeet yourself straight into the water, where your salty tears can mingle with the plentiful sea? ...yeah.
Alex Onassis is the Director of Social Media Strategy for the Worker's Horizon Party. Her function mostly entails making videos in which she vents about big corporations and their questionable ethics. She's mulling over her upcoming target, Horace Capital Partners (a private equity firm), and gets some final things in place before she leaves for a vacation in the Mediterranean. Well, if you can call "being forced to spend 10 days on a boat with a guy she hates because their mutual friend from college is getting married" a vacation. Danial Azad: former friend slash love of her life, and current Managing Director at Horace Capital Partners. Alex and Danial both come from a more humble upbringing, and Alex resents Danial for the choices he's made since she last saw him.
TL;DR:
Grab a knife, because we've got tension to cut.
All pretence of civility flies right out the window, much to the chagrin of their other yacht companions: the rest of the "Columbia Club" group of college friends. Sophie, couple Bee & Dev, and engaged couple Paul & Guy - every single one of them comes from money, and it shows. And now that Danial has gone up the corporate ladder, the only outlier in the friend group is Alex, and she feels incredibly uncomfortable for being expected to enjoy this kind of undeserved luxury - hypocritical when she does. And insecure, because Danial is here.
The High Dive is a second chance - or rather, a missed chance - love story. Alex & Danial's constant bickering betrays their deeper unresolved feelings from years ago; flashback snippets woven throughout the present timeline reveal what exactly happened that one night, peeling back the onion layers one sneer at a time. The "before" scenes are deliciously angsty and give succinct insight into a younger (less cynical) Alex, and how everything with Danial affected her. Danial is a complex character as well: he doesn't come across as antagonistic; rather, Alex is the one who tends to be more volatile in temper. Danial is quick to defend himself - at times by cutting deep.
Underneath it all, Chelsea Fagan shows - when you read between the lines - that they both obviously deal with a lot of hurt. And people you don't care about typically don't have the power to make you hurt that much. There is an effective intensity to their confrontational scenes, moving the plot forward in an evocative manner while pushing the characters toward change. Their arguments are not just about unresolved feelings, but about socioeconomic status, morality, motivations behind choices made. It seems like a lot, but Fagan makes it make sense. I ended up seeing both sides, and I applaud that realistic approach to adult arguments and differences. Alex and Danial both have to work really hard to come together and the reward is so much higher compared to romances where one character messes up something in their budding relationship, and inevitably has to grovel.
I can't not give a special mention to Paul - the sunshine character of the Columbia Group, the glue that holds together both the friend group as well as the book itself. The High Dive gets a lot right, but if it weren't for Alex's strong relationship with Paul, there would have been no logical reason for her to ever be on that boat. Had Fagan written him like the other Columbia Club characters, this book would have been an entirely different read. We don't care about the others in the group at all and I don't think we are expected to? Bee, Sophie, Dev and Guy don't feature heavily in the novel because they are supposed to be found lacking. They bring entitlement and generational wealth to the table, but other than that... I feel a disconnect there.
But Paul? We need to protect Paul at all costs. In a sense, Alex has a few things to resolve with him, too, and I'm glad their friendship rides shotgun in The High Dive, with an emotionally impactful arc of its own.
Thank you NetGalley for a copy of this eBook. My opinions on this book are honest and entirely my own.

3.75 ⭐️ Fabulous settings, well-drawn characters (tho some a bit insufferable at times ...), intriguing relationships. A. fun, escapist read.
The author's debut was such a wow!--enjoyed this latest but not as consistently captivating.
Still look forward to upcoming books!
With thanks to NetGalley, Orsay Press and Chelsea Fagan for this e-ARC.

This book was the perfect way to kick off summer! While I felt like the characters themselves could have used a bit more depth, I loved the discussion of social class and thought that was explored very well in this book. After reading A Perfect Vintage, I’ll pick up anything Fagan writes, and this was no exception!

vibes are really good. our protagonist, Alex, is an interesting character, if a little grating at the beginning, and our LI is really fun and works well with her. 4 stars, tysm for the arc.

I think this book just wasn’t for me. I didn’t find either character likable. I found their banter a bit exhausting. The book is well done for what it’s trying to convey but just not for me

The premise of this book was really good, and I was excited to read it. It didn't really deliver for me unfortunately.
Alex sucked. She thought she was better than everyone else because she wasn't rich but in the same breath kept saying she was below them because she was poor. I'm begging for you to pick a struggle. Also, she was SO defensive and confrontational to literally everyone. Someone would try and show they care? Shes mad because she thinks they're pitying her for absolutely no reason.
Danial (I pronounced it "denial" every single time I read it, and I couldn't stop) I think had the potential to be good. If this had been dual pov and we could see how desperately he was yearning, this could've been a 5-star book.
They have this whole dramatic decade long yearn-fest and we don't even get the reunion??????? He finally gives her a letter saying how much he loves her then we skip to the next day where they wake up together?????? There was no emotional payoff.
Overall, this book was well written, the setting was fun, and the background characters (especially Paul <3) had distinct personalities. I just didn't like how the romance played out.
ARC from NetGalley

First I’d like to than author Chelsea Fagan because I saw your book announcement almost two month ago and I needed to get my hands on your book one way or another. Secondly I’d like to thank NetGalley and Orsay Press for a copy of this eARC.
I’ll start this off by saying this isn’t typically my favorite kind of read to begin with, but having followed the author on social media for some time I knew I’d enjoy what she wrote. The fluidity of your words and how you weave together a realistic story full of life’s complexities is beautifully captured.