Review: Not in Love by Ali Hazelwood
Thank you Berkley for my copy of Not In Love! All thoughts are my own.
I had seen a lot of conversation around Ali Hazelwood’s latest, about how it was “different” and “not to expect a rom com” but I still didn’t really know what to expect or what that meant. And I was unsure! I really liked The Love Hypothesis and also really enjoyed Love, Theoretically. I love that Ali’s books are a little quirky but are quick, engaging romances. Bride was very different, after all! And that book was so much fun to read.
But I was intrigued and excited to try something new. I didn’t connect with these characters as much. There is an edge to this story which is great and important. Sadly, it’s not a new favorite of mine but i know lots of people who loved it!
Synopsis:
“Rue Siebert might not have it all, but she has enough: a few friends she can always count on, the financial stability she yearned for as a kid, and a successful career as a biotech engineer at Kline, one of the most promising start-ups in the field of food science. Her world is stable, pleasant, and hard-fought. Until a hostile takeover and its offensively attractive front man threatens to bring it all crumbling down.
Eli Killgore and his business partners want Kline, period. Eli has his own reasons for pushing this deal through—and he’s a man who gets what he wants. With one burning exception: Rue. The woman he can’t stop thinking about. The woman who's off-limits to him.
Torn between loyalty and an undeniable attraction, Rue and Eli throw caution out the lab and the boardroom windows. Their affair is secret, no-strings-attached, and has a built-in deadline: the day one of their companies will prevail. But the heart is risky business—one that plays for keeps.” —NetGalley
What I Liked:
That it was “Different”—I think it’s great when author’s step outside their usual box. While this book didn’t become a new favorite, I still commend the author for writing the story she wanted to write, rather than churn out something to appease the masses.
The STEM World—I have nothing to do with math, science, engineering, etc but I still love these hot nerds Ali dreams up for us.
What Didn’t Work for Me:
A Bit too Edgy for Me—I didn’t connect with the language or writing, which left it hard for me to get invested in the love story.
Pacing—I had to switch to the audio because the pacing didn’t keep me wanting to reach for it!
Character Authenticity: 3/5 Spice Rating: 3/5 Overall Rating: 3/5
Content Warnings:
child abuse, death of a parent, emotional abuse, stalking, abandonment