This was absolutely <i>delightful.</i> There is no better feeling than when an author’s second book lives up to the expectations set by the first.

Bullet points because I’m too excited to make sentences!!

- <b>The characters!!</b> Quirky, fun and down to earth. This book isn’t as side-splittingly hilarious as The Love Hypothesis, but equally endearing.

- <b>The STEM!!</b> Once again we venture into the world of studies, grants, bureaucracy, and cutting edge breakthroughs, navigating your career forward while trying to avoid interpersonal icebergs. Just *chef’s kiss.*

- <b>The angst!!</b> This was my favorite part of the book. So I had figured out the main plot within the first couple chapters, but did that make it any less fun? Absolutely not. So watching Levi’s online alter ego pour out his soul to Bee’s online alter ego - that may have been the most romantic thing I have ever read. And then the hotel scene where the truth comes out and he realizes she never married Tim (<i>fuck</i> Tim). And…well I could go on, but you really need to read the book 😆

- <b>The spice!!</b> Signature Ali levels of hotness, but in this book we get 300% more of it 👀

This is a new comfort read for me and I’m definitely buying a hard copy when it officially releases. Thanks so much to Ali, Berkeley and Netgalley for a digital ARC in exchange for my thoughts!!!

Even though it’s predictable, the charm leaps off the page in Ali Hazelwood’s sophomore title. It’s fun, nerdy and sexy and I can’t wait to read more from her!

So I really think that Ali Hazelwood is a goddess among people who could write a PHONE BOOK and I would happily read it in one sitting/ Seriously, who gave her the right to be so good at grumpy/sunshine trope??? I adored this book, if you couldn't already tell.

My new favorite Ali Hazelwood novel! A neuroscientist joins a NASA project only to discover her co-leader is the grad school student who absolutely hated her. Or did he? Yep, it's got a similar sort of mistaken-enemies-to-lovers story to The Love Hypothesis, but other aspects were different enough that it doesn't feel like the same story rewritten. Bee is a neuroscientist and Levi is an engineer working at NASA, where they're creating a prototype for a helmet that will enhance astronaut brain function. It was a really fun and cute story-- right up until the last 10%. At that point, right when you think it's too late for the s*th to hit the proverbial fan, things get very stressful, very fast. I think those last few chapters probably took a year off my life. I'm not mad about it exactly, but it did come out of the blue in a way I wasn't expecting! Otherwise, a really fun, predictable read.

I will admit I was hoping for some more ace / demi rep but no such luck. Still a really fun romance.

It’s fun, adorable, and just the right notes of quirky without being cliche. We’re presented with another smart and strong heroine with vulnerabilities but damned good determination. The STEM-centered, well, everything, is portrayed exactly as you would hope and crave. The hero is broody and sexy but never pushy. And it gets seriously smexy, the author turned up the heat.

My only criticisms are the obvious similarities between these characters and The Love Hypothesis, they weren’t quite different enough. BUT it’s still a great formula and honestly didn’t bother me much. I did get a little irked by how long the first third of the book and the non-communication went on for. There were too many moments when I just went “can you two speak plainly already?!”

Still, Bee and Levi created some fun reading time and sexy moments, as well as being in a unique and educated setting. I enjoyed it.

* I received a free early e-arc from the publisher via netgalley

No surprise there, but I just ate this book up in less than two days, I couldn’t stop reading. These characters, the romance, the laugh out loud moments and the fuzzy feelings this book gave me has me in a chokehold. Last year the Love Hypothesis was one of my favorites, so I was obviously screaming when I got my hands on this early copy. I didn’t know if Love on the Brain can top the feelings I got from TLH, but let me tell you it certainly did. It was even funnier, sexier and more romantic. I also loved how this book was written in first person, I definitely prefer that to third person. Bee was such a fantastic main character and her chemistry with Levi from the beginning was unbelievable…I love a good workplace enemies to lovers romance, it always gets me. The side characters also made this book the perfection it is, Rocíó was my absolute favorite side character, her funny comebacks always made me smile.

All in all, if you loved The Love Hypothesis then you’ll definitely love Love on the Brain, so do not hesitate to preorder it now. And if you like a good grumpy and sunshine, enemies to lovers workplace romance with a lot or nerdy jokes then this one is for you as well, you won’t regret preordering it.

Thank you so much for PRH International for providing me a free copy to review

Taking off one star for the sheer amount of times it's mentioned how tall/large/big/huge/towering Levi is

Taking another star off for all the times Bee said that Levi couldn't possibly love her, he hated her, she was ugly, etc etc when she very clearly describes herself as the opposite and Levi told her 14839205x he didn't hate her.

It was just very repetitive and I couldn't handle the miscommunication. Sometimes it wasn't even miscommunication...Levi would blatantly tell Bee the truth and she would be like 'not possible he's being cruel'

Also did not like the very adventageous plot twist at the end. I liked that character and it really didn't make any sense. The kind of drama felt wrong in this type of rom-com

Ali Hazelwood has done it again and omg people are going to devour this novel!

STEM? Check
Marie Curie references? Check
Enemies to lovers? Check
Steam and spice? Check

This made me laugh out loud and root so hard for Bee and Levi.

Here’s a blurb from the jacket copy:

“Like an avenging, purple-haired Jedi bringing balance to the mansplained universe, Bee Königswasser lives by a simple code: What would Marie Curie do? If NASA offered her the lead on a neuroengineering project—a literal dream come true after years scraping by on the crumbs of academia—Marie would accept without hesitation. Duh. But the mother of modern physics never had to co-lead with Levi Ward.”

This is SO much fun, and it will fly off the shelves, so preorder today! I’ve got a preorder in for a physical copy- I loved it that much.

Obviously, this is a five star read, and will keep romance fans talking for months to come.


**Many thanks to #NetGalley and #BerkleyRomance for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. My gushing opinions are my own.**

Ali Hazelwood does it again. An engrossing read where the realistic and heartfelt journey of a woman in STEM, and her arch enemy come together for a project for NASA. Bee Königswasser comes to realize that Levi Ward's apparent abhorrence of her is not all that it seems. Working against the clock to beat a team in the private sector, late nights and tight quarters force them into companionship in order to achieve their mutual goals. This book is steamy and engrossing, a quick and delightful rom-com read.

3.2/5

Thank you Netgalley and Berkley for the chance to review Love on the Brain.

To start, yes, I have read The Love Hypothesis- and yes, I was a big fan- and YES, that is why I was so eager to request Ali Hazelwood's newest novel.

There was a lot of improvements in characterization and just pacing in general, compared to the last book. So that was a plus. However, I realized I just couldn't like Bee and Levi like I did Olive and Adam- and ultimately, I realize that it's because I was reading the first book as a Star Wars fanfiction. Somehow for me that made it all the much better.

More positives:
-Back in a STEM environment, whoop whoop.
-Some well written steamy scenes
-Nice comedic relief

Negatives:
-Almost felt like "Same sh*t, different story" so to speak
-really, a lot of it almost felt like I was reading TLH again
-I couldn't connect with the main couple, and therefore had a hard time caring about what they did and didn't do

Not bad. I'm not a romance connoisseur, but I think fans will enjoy this one.

I love that Bee lives her life by the "What Would Marie Do?" tenet - what would our feminist forebears do in the situations of silencing and patriarchal thinking we deal with each day? She does definitely take it to superfan levels, but can we really blame her?

Bee is a wonderful example of a strong and independent woman who continues to advocate for her worth, even when accosted by the scientist she believed hated her all through grad school... who didn't actually hate her in grad school. Levi is a fantastic gentle giant type hero - physically massive, but with the epic nerd level of "do not know how to talk to girls" affliction. Their pairing of grumpy-sunshine, silent-bubbly, body mod-buttoned up made this a joy to read! Yay for Stem-inist romance!

love Love LOVE. This is a must read romance book!!! As soon as it comes out!! Get it!!! You will not regret it!!! It was so cute and while it was pretty predictable at times it was written in such a great way that putting the book down seemed impossible. ❤️❤️ 10/10 would read again.

This was so good. The perfect balance of science, escapism, and steam. Can’t wait for you all to meet Bee and Levi (and Rocío who - oh my god - may just be my favorite side character in any contemporary romance ever 🦂)!!!!

This was such a great follow up to The Love Hypothesis! If you liked that one then I definitely think you’ll enjoy this one too.
It was a great mix of humorous, emotional and romantic. I really enjoyed the main character Bee, and the love interest Levi is such a sweetheart!
The romance was so cute and I was totally rooting for Bee and Levi as a couple. I think I’ve found a new book boyfriend in Levi, his support and dedication to Bee is just *chefs kiss*.
The drama got super ramped up in this one which made for an ending that I flew through.
I always enjoy books that include women in STEM and this did a great job of showing the difference in treatment between men and women in the field. Bee was so strong and confident in her place in neuroscience, I really appreciated how she handled the tougher situations.
I loved all the nerdy references and the cats!! These additions made the story feel so charming and cute. With a little spice added in, this book has something for all the romance lovers out there.
I can’t wait to read more from this author!

Did I read this in one sitting? Yes I did. Did I regret my choices? Absolutely not.

(Thank you Netgalley and Berkley for the eARC!)

Ali Hazelwood has done it again! Love on the Brain was a swoon enducing read and highly addictive, I seriously could not put it down and I think I may love it more than the Love Hypothesis 🤫. There's crack in it isn't there?

I loved the characters so much, the dynamic between Bee and Levi was fun, cute, and downright entertaining. Levi was a emotionally constipated grump, while Bee was an awkward, witty, and clueless MC and honestly, what else could you ask for?

If you've read and loved the Love Hypothesis I highly recommend reading this one, you won't regret it!

Swoon! I adore Ali Hazelwood and her women in STEM romances. And all of her quirky additions with quotes and trademarks. I legit laughed out loud several times. Her writing style reminds me a little of a great conversation with a friend and there is zero level of pretense or arrogance despite the fact that she’s writing about supremely smart people. Plus her storylines and the way women are treated in so many situations are relatable, even tho I wish they weren’t. And her sexxxxxy time scenes have definitely ratcheted up a notch!

3 stars because I LOVED the first 60% of this book and was bored/annoyed/repulsed by the last 40%.
LOVED the STEM setting, the You've Got Mail trope, the ying-yang characters of Bee and Levi, the fan-girling for Marie Curie, the cats, the Twitter side relationship, the girl-power science, the witty writing
HATED: the ever-increasing F-bombs, Guy (won't say anything else because, spoilers,) the high level of steaminess, the back and forth of being emotionally stunted or emotionally wise (you cannot be both.) The cover looks like a couple of 15 year olds, not a 28 and a 32 year old.

I realize I'm not in the demographic for this book, but I can pretend pretty well. There are parts that are hilarious and sweet and then others that are just graphic and vulgar--I think those detract from characters we have begun to really like.

So...3 dim, regretful stars. I wanted to love these two from start to finish, but, no.

Bee Königswasser is offered to be a lead on a neuroengineering project at Nasa, but her cooled is none other than Levi Ward her nemesis from her graduate program. Bee is hit with roadblocks after roadblocks and can't believe that Levi still hates her. Bee still has to hold it together and make sure her project is successful. Will Levi and Bee sort through their differences for the sake of the project?

I loved the Marie Curie references. Levi was so very amazing! I loved The Love Hypothesis a lot, it was fresh and new and love Ali's writing style! I like Love on the Brain a lot too but there were a lot of similarities between Bee and Olive /Levi and Adam. I felt the ending was rushed, I wish there was a little more insight into how she handled the twitter situation. Even relationship issues with Levi's parents or Olive's friend felt a bit abrupt. That said I thoroughly enjoyed the book despite the similarities and will definitely read whatever Ali writes!!

Thank you Berkley for sending me the eARC of Love on the Brain.

Tropes: Mistaken Enemies to Lovers, Grumpy-Sunshine, Women in STEM

I req'd this book in the hopes that the many flaws of THE LOVE HYPOTHESIS were a one-off...but once again, Ali Hazlewood has written a novel that's not just bad, it's downright offensive. Setting up the main character as 'not wanting to date' in order to make the falling in love bit more dramatic is weak storytelling (and asexuality is, you know, real and valid and not something that needs 'fixing') and setting up the 'bad history' between the protagonists as based in the idea that...the hero DIDN'T sexually harass the heroine when she was in graduate school?? It takes the problems of TLH and reasserts them, something made even more upsetting by the fact that sexual harassment obviously IS a real problem in academia. Add on the bullshit feminist construction of "I am the most controversial because I like Marie Curie and have fun color hair" and you've got something that whitewashes feminism, dismissively simplifies cultural and structural problems of academia, and does so extremely unimaginatively. I hope someone tells Hazlewood that sexual harassment and a hostile work environment isn't actually sexy, but it won't be me, because after two MASSIVE misses, I won't be reading one of her books again.

What a great read! there were so many unexpected aspects in this book that i enjoyed, from the quirky and bad assness of Bee to the fantastic love interest Levi. What a great highlight to the women in science and stem! Highly recommend!