Step aside Adam Carlsen, Levi Ward has entered the chat and he is not here to play.

This book is my second chance romance with Ali Hazelwood and she hit it out of the park with this one.

Bee is a bright, extroverted neuroscientist who loves Star Wars and Marie Curie. She has purple hair, colourful outfits, and a dream to throw the patriarchy off balance. When she's invited to co-lead a project with her nemesis Levi Ward (who absolutely HATED her in grad school) she's wary, but a scientist can't just pass up NASA.

I had so much fun with Bee - her personality was so loud and proud and I adored her confidence (that she had most of the time) in herself and her work. Her snappy cinematic-like narration (that breaks the fourth wall, but in a good way) was entertaining and captivating. Also, her beef with Levi is legit and I loved the enemies-to-friends-to-lovers / grump & sunshine dynamic they had. Levi is absolutely a dream and I fell for him so hard once he came out of his shell. Their vastly different family experiences and their journey to where they are today was super different and I appreciate how that played into the plot and their actions through the story.

This was also a lot spicier than The Love Hypothesis - many open door scenes. Just saying.

The secondary characters really helped to round out the story and their presence filled in the world, Levi and Bee's shared history, and the dynamics of their scientific community. Ro, especially, was a favourite - I loved her random goth facts and her attitude towards basically everything. Bee's sister and Levi's friends also reflect their lived experiences back on them and really help build up their history and their past together and apart. Such a great way to flesh that out!

While a little bit predictable at times, Hazelwood's writing is addictive, snappy, and full of banter and wit. It was so hard for me to tear myself away from this book (which is why I'll be hopping on my work laptop at 10PM right after I finish writing this). Additionally, I found that the storyline for Love on the Brain was very cohesive and the foreshadowing and puzzle pieces all fell into place chaotically (on purpose) in the end and I loved it. It was a super satisfying, if not maddening, finale.

Love on the Brain is also a fantastic look at the sexism that takes place in the science community and the disparity between the supposed "legitimacy" of a woman's opinions and concerns versus a man's. Those elements were handled really well and I loved Bee's categorization of them.

I have so many highlights for this book, I can't wait til my final copy arrives in August so I can annotate the heck out it.

Also, as a Canadian, I am a Nickelback stan. I stand with Deadpool LOL

TW: mentions death (car accident and rock climbing accident), seizures, sexism in the workplace and mentions of sexual harassment, gun and life-threatening situation (doesn't end in death)
Rep: bi-sexual secondary character (sapphic relationship)

Plot: 4.5/5
Characters: 4.5/5
World Building: 4/5
Writing: 5/5
Pacing: 5/5
Overall: 5/5

eARC gifted via NetGalley by Berkley Publishing Group in exchange for an honest review.

Ali Hazelwood has done it again and by it I mean written a book that is a straight shot of swoony serotonin to my brain. Somehow this book is even better than THE LOVE HYPOTHESIS, which would seem impossible an yet here we are?? Falling madly in love with Bee and Levi??

I fully admit that I'd read TLH in its original fanfic form and for that reason, TLH carried with it a lot of expectations when I read it. And don't get me wrong - it met those expectations and was great! But I think free of such intense expectations and with less direct 1-to-1 Star Wars/Reylo parallels, LOVE ON THE BRAIN was free to spread its wings and be more of its own thing, which I LOVED. Like complete, over the top, can't wait to force this book into the hands of everyone I know, LOVE. Big thanks to Berkley for letting me read this early copy - absolutely can't wait to see what Hazelwood writes next!

4.5/5 - Love on the Brain

3.5 / 5 STARS - Story Authenticity

5 / 5 STARS - Relatable and Lovable Characters

4 / 5 STARS - Steaminess

In Love on the Brain, by the incredible Ali Hazelwood, a neuroscientist, Bee, earns the opportunity of a lifetime - to run a team for NASA to develop critical gear for astronauts. Well, actually, co-run - with her lifelong nemesis, Levi Ward, that is. Will their past make working there impossible? Will they be able to achieve their goals before their competitors?

Let me start with this - Ali Hazelwood had my heart ever since I read The Love Hypothesis in less than 8 hours. I was so excited to have the opportunity to read this ARC (and yes, I already preordered the book). She did not disappoint. The story was well written, the characters relatable, and gave you just enough chemistry and detail to keep you turning the page for more. It is a captivating story that I would very much recommend to anyone who enjoys contemporary romance.

I did find I was more rooting for Levi and Bee to succeed, and then get together, in that order, versus TLH, which was closely tied in to Adam and Olive’s dynamic. Completely preferential, but I personally adored Adam and Olive’s dynamic, so it is hard not to compare.

My only other comment is regarding prose/writing style. I LOVE Ali’s style . . . but in TLH, her short novella Under One Roof, and in Love on the Brain, I found there were moments in which the staging was confusing. This seems to be most apparent during the more, ehem, steamy scenes. I have to go back and look for staging cues to set the scene properly in my head, which kind of takes me out of the moment.

For example, in Love on the Brain, I would understand if two characters were kissing and what they were feeling, but then there would be a comment suggesting the main character was actually turned away from the other, and not facing them. Another example was Chapter 16 of TLH (you know the scene) where certain remarks made it confusing as to whether Adam was standing or sitting. It just seems to be a reoccurring theme I’ve noticed, and would love for those moments to flow like the rest of the book.

All in all, Ali Hazelwood has created another wonderful woman-in-STEM novel that will have you sprinting through the pages. If you enjoyed The Love Hypothesis, I highly recommend Love on the Brain.

Thank you again, Netgalley, Berkley Publishing, and Ali Hazelwood for sending me this ARC. It was such an honor!

I loved this so much! The banter,,the angst, perfect light enemies to lovers fun!
If you loved The Love Hypothesis, you'll absolutely love Love on the Brain.

the ideal romance is a man being obsessed with an unknowing woman from afar until she notices him after several years of pining. i don't make the rules

this was silly in many ways but it was also ideal and romanticized and THATS WHAT I'M HERE FOR

i love bee (tho she is dumb) and rocio

you guys aren't ready!!!

Coming off the success of the love hypothesis, this author found a formula that works and hasn’t strayed from it. This second book is a standalone that packs the same witty comedic timing and lost of angst and fevered glances. Bee and Levi have tons of miscommunication that makes their relationship pretty angsty and non existent. Until they’re thrown together on a project for a NASA. The journey to bee and Levi as a unit is fun, electric and will make you read this in one sitting. I love all things academia and navigating the politics and nuances of it through a comedic eye also make this a fun read. There’s a slight plot twist I didn’t see coming that is the cherry on top but I loved it. The you got mail, 90s rock and all the millennial references carve a space in your heart as well

This book was a brilliant next step from The Love Hypothesis, making Love on the Brain even nerdier and hotter. In addition to classic romance tropes, Hazelwood continues to absolutely nail how it feels to be anyone not cis-het-white-male in STEM, like to the point that I had stress hives from remembering what it was like in the odd nether realm where academia meets civil service and industry. The Curie biography, the hilarious descriptions of all-male meetings, and the subplot of the social media campaign make this book feel so well rounded. As a contemporary romance that gets in the weeds on that geeky life, this is a five-star read.

However, I do have to note for potential readers that there may be some aspects that tweak a few pet-peeves. This is a self-insert fic through and through. I mean, so were the Bond novels, but I know that can be a non-starter for many. Our fair protagonist treads really close to the “not like other girls/not like other geeks” line in ways that didn't feel necessary to the story. Lastly, the final conflict (which I will not spoil) is a little over the top when the plot could have played out in ways that more accurately reflect the actual, non-stop, attacks on women in STEM fields. These are only a bummer since in so many ways this book shows Hazelwood really blossoming as a contemporary romance writer, but they don't overshadow what a great read the book is overall.

** Thanks to NetGalley, Ali Hazelwood, and Berkley Publishing Group for this ARC**

I have found the only thing that can compete with my love of fantasy romance novels - romance novels about badass women in STEM. An enemies-to-lovers where the guy was always obsessed with her?? At NASA???? Are you kidding me?? I literally got a NetGalley account because it was my DREAM to read this before August and I was so excited that I texted multiple people when I got approved. I adored The Love Hypothesis and I think I might even have liked Love on the Brain more. I will be reading everything Ali Hazelwood writes for the rest of her career. God bless hot men who are obsessed with smart, amazing women.

An unequivocal 5 stars.

Love on the brain was just as fun and adorable as her last book, The Love Hypothesis! Loved it and all the characters.

To say I was excited to read Love on the Brain would be an understatement. Ever since I read The Love Hypothesis I have been devouring the novellas Hazelwood has released and now this book. There was so much to love about it! Without getting too in depth and ruining things for you, let me give you a list of what made this book one you need to pick up.

*Ali Hazelwood's writing has only gotten better, which is a tough thing to do since it was already fabulous.
*Bee was a great combination of geeky and quirky. She had some big feelings over basically everything going on in her life and I loved how she took strength from Marie Curie and other female scientists to get her through it. I also loved Bee's relationship with her sister. Bee's backstory was great and pulled me in emotionally. 
*Levi. Oh, man. He was this quiet surprise. I adored his awkwardness. This book didn't have or need his POV, but what I wouldn't have given to know what he was thinking at times.
*I adored Bee and Levi together. They were so sweet, but also had amazing chemistry. WARNING: This book is steamier than the first one by far. 
*The STEM was strong in this book. Stronger than The Love Hypothesis. I learned so much. Marie Curie is a famous scientific name, but I learned so much more about her through this book. The project Bee and Levi were working on also taught me some stuff. Oh, and the whole women in STEM stuff was very good.
*There's a whole You Got Mail vibe going on. AND Star Wars talk. 

I could probably go on and on, but I'm going to stop here and let you enjoy Love on the Brain for yourself. It was a fabulous, smart, and emotionally engaging romance.

Physically could not put this book down. Eyes glued to the page. PRE-ORDER NOW !!!! Thank you NetGalley & Berkley for the arc ♥️

This was a supremely geeky, witty, and swoon-worthy read. Love on the Brain follows Dr. Bee Königswasser, an accomplished neuroscientist and devoted admirer of Marie Curie, who is selected to lead a groundbreaking neuroengineering project for NASA. What is the catch for her dream coming true? -- her co-lead is the man who she KNOWS detested her during grad school, her self-proclaimed college nemesis, engineer Levi Ward.

This book was a stellar follow up to Ali Hazelwood's popular debut, The Love Hypothesis. It addressed misogyny and systemic barriers faced by women in stem, and the many ways it manifests. I loved that Bee was prominent in a twitter community to bring women in stem together to address their frustration with the discrimination they face in the field and to support one another. Hazelwood did a great job of highlighting the need for changes in the scientific community at large!

I loved the romance in this book. The chemistry between Bee and Levi was off the charts and I loved the subtle "You've Got Mail" trope that came together and only elevated their relationship. It also (of course) features the rivals to lovers trope which was very very well done. Their relationship progression was SO cute and their banter was *chefs kiss.*

This book kept me interested from start to finish and I think that they different storylines at play all complemented each other and came together in a surprising but satisfying way! This book was also one for the cat lovers (which I am) and I loved it. I am envious of everyone who gets to read this for the first time!

Ali Hazelwood has done it again! Her debut, THE LOVE HYPOTHESIS has a fabulous book sibling in LOVE ON THE BRAIN. Bee and Levi’s journey from enemies to lovers is captivating from the first page. Ms. Hazelwood’s sense of humor, scientific knowledge and overall storytelling skills shine in this novel. Highly recommended.

I liked The Love Hypothesis well enough but didn't love it, so my expectations weren't high for Love on the Brain. But this book exceeded my expectations; I definitely liked this one better.
I found the characters to be very loveable,, especially Bee. I loved her obsession with Marie Curie, and even welcomed the interruption to the narrative that the Marie Curie facts brought. I also loved the plot line of her advocating for women in STEM and for grad school students, although I sometimes wished that there was more of a focus on that; sometimes it felt like we would go forever without hearing about it only to be shoved in the face with it randomly.
The romance was very cute, and while it fell into some predictable and overused tropes, that's what I found so likeable about it. A book doesn't have to shock me or surprise me to captivate me; I enjoyed predicting some of the things because it was still fun to read as things unfolded.
Speaking of surprising, I found the ending of the book to come out of nowhere. To avoid spoilers, I won't go into details, but I felt like it didn't match the tone of the rest of the book at all and was too high stakes. I would have enjoyed something a little less intense that matched the rest of the book, since the rest of it is relatively light and fluffy.
Overall, it was a very good book that made me smile and feel all warm inside!
(3.5 stars rounded down)

Loved The Love Hypothesis and was very excited to read Love on the Brain. Thank you for the free copy to review and all opinions are my own.

Hazelwood is clever and great with dialog and description. I loved the characters, they are easy to connect to and cheer on. Loved the trademarked funny descriptors (Cute Guy; Hostile Companionable Silence, etc.). Loved the Marie Curie parts. Loved the story..... even though it was eerily similar to The Love Hypothesis in many ways (taciturn, stoic male protagonist, quirky orphan female protagonist, misunderstandings that result in false beliefs for relationships, assumptions about relationship status, secretish crush for years). Certain aspects were too redundant. However, I still couldn't put this down, loved it, and was sad when it ended.

Love on the Brain shows an improvement in Hazelwood's writing from The Love Hypothesis - and I truly enjoyed The Love Hypothesis. Bee, Levi, and Rocio just come across as much more lived in characters with far fewer awkward set-up scenes, which is what consistently yanked me out of The Love Hypothesis.
A very cute read that is sure to draw more fans to Hazelwood's work.

Thank you to the publisher, via NetGalley, for providing me with an arc for review.

In Love on the Brain, Bee Königswasser is stuck in a job she hates, so when she is asked to co-lead a neuroengineering project at NASA she leaps at the chance. Then she discovers who her co-lead is. Levi Ward is no stranger to Bee, after all they had gone to grad school together, where Levi made his contempt for Bee well known. While she is determined to do her best at her new job, Bee is deterred at every turn by miscommunication, missing equipment and misogyny. Bee finds an unexpected ally in Levi and the longer the two work together the closer they become.
After reading and loving The Love Hypothesis, I was eager to read more of Ali Hazelwood’s writing so I was thrilled to receive an ARC of the Love on the Brain. I started reading Love on the Brain looking for the same feeling that The Love Hypothesis gave me. While there are many similarities between the two—women in stem, BIG love interest— Love on the Brain was missing the reactive agent that made the Love Hypothesis so special to me.

Bee Königswasser is a gifted neuroscientist who’s personal life implosion a few years ago means her professional life is not where it ought to be. When she earns an opportunity to co-lead a huge project for NASA, she jumps at the chance. Doubt sets in when she learns that the other co-lead is her old grad school nemesis- hot, tall, smart Levi Ward. Levi has (ostensibly) loathed Bee since first setting eyes on her 6 years ago and has since vacillated between hostility and pretending she doesn’t exist. It doesn’t take long for Bee to begin to realize there’s more to Levi than meets the eye, but that hardly matters since she has sworn to never enter another serious relationship after her last one went down in flames and almost took the whole rest of her life with it.

Bee is a complex character full of believable contradictions. She’s outwardly unconventional (purple hair, tattoos, piercings), but craves a traditionally stable life. She’s hyper intelligent and works hard to get ahead in the closed door boys’ club that is STEM, but is also emotionally vulnerable and cries at the drop of a hat. I liked her relationships with her sister and her research assistant, and the underlying theme of the struggles women and other under represented groups face in STEM and higher ed in general. The author broaches the subject in natural, funny ways that are relatable to anyone who has ever been the “only” in a room. Levi gives some Mr. Darcy vibes (tall, brooding, stares a lot), whose cold exterior miiigghhht be a mask for his true cinnamon roll self. I liked that no matter how much he wanted from Bee, he respected her boundaries.

Speaking of respect and boundaries, Love on the Brain breezed right past steamy and into super sexy. It’s spicer and more explicit than some other contemporary romances (including Love Hypothesis). I thought the love scenes were well done and showed how much the characters trusted each other.

Overall, I liked this book a lot! There are certain story elements and characterizations that will feel familiar to anyone who read Love Hypothesis, but there were also a few twists I didn’t see coming. Love on the Brain is smart, sexy, and fun to read. I’d recommend it to fans of Christina Lauren, Tessa Bailey, and of course Ms. Hazlewood herself.

Awww! First of all, Levi is the SWEETEST lead and I just loved how he pined for her all those years. Ali does a great job at creating female characters in the science world and addressing issues of sexism in that field. The examples of how Levi is a modern man, supportive of women and in touch with his feelings are great - those men do exist! I liked this one just as much as her first book and would recommend it!

Another fabulous book by Ali Hazelwood, featuring smart women in STEM. This was an easy book to go through and read with an interesting plot and a little unrequited/you've got mail/enemies to lovers trope. I really enjoyed seeing how projects in the science world come to fruition and the different roles people play. Levi was a great love interest and I liked getting to know him through Bee's real life and her social media life. Fans of TLH are going to like this one too.

Read. This. Book. It's The Love Hypothesis redux, and I am so here for it. Same beloved tropes (enemies-to-lovers, quirky manic pixie, aloof but in fact misjudged hero) only now set at NASA. (I mean how badass is that??)

The stakes feel waaay higher in this one, as Bee and Levi team up to create astronaut helmets and are caught up in the politics between government agencies AND have to deal with nefarious forces highjacking their project from the inside AND have to deal with their mistaken impressions of each other from grad school.

Ali Hazelwood just keeps on honing her craft. There’s a discernible character arc, witty dialogue, sexual tension, geeky Star Wars references, and science. I can’t believe I’m saying it, but science is cool. Hazelwood does that, and she does that really well.

Love on the Brain is everything you could want in a STEMinist novel and more. Did I stay up all night reading it? Yep. Did I almost fall asleep in class the next day while my professor gave me the side-eye? Yep. I regret nothing.

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.