The High Dive by Chelsea Fagan

The High Dive is the kind of book that practically demands to be read poolside, cocktail in hand—equal parts frothy escapism and smart social commentary. Set against the sparkling backdrop of a Mediterranean yacht trip, it drops you into a world of privilege, pressure, and unresolved tension. At the heart of the story is Alex—sharp, driven, and perpetually out of place. She’s spent years trying to keep up with her effortlessly wealthy college friends, stretching her bank account and sense of self thin in the process. Now, she’s back with the group for a ten-day luxury getaway to celebrate the wedding of two of their own. The twist? Danial, the one person who truly saw her—and the one she embarrassed herself in front of a decade ago—is also on board. And he’s now rich, successful, and everything she claims to hate. What starts as an attempt to play it cool spirals into something much more complicated. Their chemistry simmers beneath sharp banter and lingering glances, but it’s clear that the real friction lies in who they’ve become—and what they’re still pretending to be. The book alternates between past and present, peeling back the layers of Alex and Danial’s history, giving weight to every awkward encounter and unspoken word. This isn’t just a second-chance romance; it’s a story about class, identity, and the exhausting dance of appearances. The setting is pure luxury—private cabins, Mediterranean views, a wedding in Greece—but the emotional terrain is far messier. These aren’t just beautiful people on vacation. They're messy, flawed, and figuring out how to live on their own terms. If you're into stories with bite behind the glamour, old flames, and rich people behaving badly, The High Dive is the perfect summer binge. Stylish, introspective, and irresistibly readable.