The Hardest Love

The Hardest Love is the second studio album by Australian singer and songwriter Dean Lewis, released on 4 November 2022. It was initially announced on 2 September 2022 for release on 7 October 2022 before being delayed.

Lewis experimented with various producers on the album and upon release, explained the lengthy creation process: "I started writing the album in this hotel on Sunset in West Hollywood. I wrote in Nashville for a while, then I came back to LA and then went to London... there's a famous quote that says people have their whole life to write their first album, and then six months to write the next one. I feel like I've had double the amount of time for this album than the first one."

The album cover is a photo taken by Darren Craig, taken at night in Los Angeles.

Critical reception
The Voice of London said "Dean Lewis uses his music to strip his soul bare for everyone to see. It is beautiful and something he does incredibly as an artist. While it has a similar feel to his debut, this album will connect with people worldwide, bringing both pain and comfort to many." They also noted "While on his first album he focused more around romance, here there is a heavy theme of death, grief and his deepest anxieties."

Chantal Dalebroux from U Music said "The album is a haze of heartbreak, tumultuous times and relatability."