False Start, the newest book in the Notes from the Deep End series, follows Natalie Collins as she fights to rebuild her life after trauma, scandal, and rehab. Survival isn’t enough anymore — this is about recovery, fame, and an intense love triangle that could either save her or pull her under.
Where do we find Natalie at the beginning of False Start?
She’s in Los Angeles living with her friends, Staci and Ari, trying to rebuild after a sexual assault, rehab, and a public breakdown at the Olympics. On the outside, it looks like she’s thriving. She’s back in the pool competing, volunteering at the rehab left, and throwing herself into the foundation she built in honor of her late best friend Annie. But under the surface, she’s struggling. She’s terrified that her life is spiraling out of control again.
What themes does the book explore?
At its core, it’s about recovery and resilience, the idea that healing isn’t a straight line. It also digs into fame, trauma, and what it means to be seen when you don’t always want to be. And of course, love. The kind that saves you, the kind that scares you, and the kind that breaks you.
There’s a love triangle. Can you tell us about it?
Natalie is caught between Mitch, her first love and anchor to the past, and Eero, a magnetic new presence who tempts her to risk starting over. It’s not just about choosing between two men, though. It’s about whether Natalie can open herself up. Natalie wants to make both emotional and physical connections but is terrified of the risks.
How does Natalie’s trauma shape her relationships?
Her past abuse makes intimacy complicated. With Mitch, there’s deep history but also painful reminders. With Eero, there’s excitement but also suspicion. Is he too good to be true? Her trauma is the shadow in every kiss, every fight, every sleepless night.
How do secondary characters play into the story?
Staci is still her no-nonsense manager and protective friend. Lance is hiding secrets that threaten more than just his art gallery. Cassidy is fighting to prove she belongs outside of her aunt’s control. And Janessa, Natalie’s new swim friend, becomes a much-needed anchor of loyalty in a world where rivals like Paris are circling.
What’s the mood of the book?
Dark, emotional, raw—but threaded with hope and humor. Natalie is sharp and often sarcastic, even when she’s hurting. Readers will feel the weight of her past, the pressure of her present, and the electric tension of a future that could break her or finally set her free.
What makes False Start different from the first book?
Treading Water was about survival and learning to live again. False Start is about what comes after, when you’re trying to move forward but your past keeps pulling you back. Treading Water was about just that, struggling in one spot. False Start is about the scary attempt of moving forward.
What inspired you to write False Start?
Angst is my jam and I’ve always been drawn to stories about second chances. You get a lot of milage out of regret. Is can both motivate and paralyze. Natalie’s journey is about learning that healing isn’t linear and that love can be just as terrifying as trauma.
What music influenced you while writing?
I make playlists for every book. I’m a huge music buff. Every genre, era. For False Start, it was a pretty broad stroke of intensity. A mix of Nine Inch Nails, Florence + The Machine, Taylor Swift, Pink Floyd, Lana Del Rey, and Billie Eilish. Songs that balance rage, grief, longing, and fragile hope.
Are there authors who shaped your approach?
Absolutely. Writers who blend emotional rawness with character-driven stories like Taylor Jenkins Reid for her exploration of fame, Gillian Flynn for her grit and edge, and Stephanie Danler for her vulnerability. My favorite of all time? Tom Wolfe. Vampire of the Vanities checks all the boxes.
What do you hope readers take away from the book?
That recovery is messy but possible. That love can be both dangerous and healing. And that even when you feel broken beyond repair, your story isn’t over.
Want to know more about False Start?
She rebuilt her life. Now a Hollywood murder threatens to tear it apart. Three years ago, Olympic hopeful Natalie Collins lost her future to trauma and addiction. Now sober and rebuilding her life in Los Angeles, she splits her time between mentoring at her old rehab, competing in college swim meets, and planning a glittering charity auction in memory of her best friend.
But when a Hollywood murder resurfaces—one connected to a mute former child star under her care—Natalie is thrust back into a spotlight she can’t control. The press circles like sharks, long-buried memories surface with brutal clarity, and the fragile stability she’s fought for begins to crack.
Her ex, now a military therapist, returns with secrets he can’t share. Her charming new boyfriend hides pressures she may never be ready to face. Trust fractures, loyalties shift, and every answer drags her deeper into a past she’s desperate to escape.
Raw, fast-paced, and achingly real, False Start is a gripping story of recovery and reinvention—where every choice brings Natalie closer to the truth that could finally set her free…or destroy everything she’s fought to rebuild.
Meet Daniella Blue
Daniella Blue has been a writer her whole life, penning her first story in purple crayon at the age of seven. When not at her computer, Daniella can be found on the golf course, tennis court, ski slope and occasionally the bowling alley. She is considering training for a triathlon. Other favorite activities include obsessing over classic 80’s TV and getting her nails done. She lives in western New York with her three boys and two Dachshunds. Purple is still her favorite color.
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