This book follows our main character Bee. She is a neuroscientist and a huge fan of Marie Curie. Long story short NASA offers her a position to co-lead a neuroengineering project. Bee is ecstatic, this is a huge break for her and her career, but there's a catch. It wouldn't be a fun rom-com is there wasn't a catch. She has to co-lead this project with none other than her archenemies from grad school, Levi Ward.

I was actually a little nervous to read this because I read The Love Hypothesis and I really enjoyed it but I felt like this was going to be extremely similar and, guess what, it kind of was but not in a bad way. The characters were great. I love Bee and Levi. I thought that they were perfect and I love the banter that goes on between them. The one liners were great and the Star Wars references were great. If you liked the Love Hypothesis than I think you will like this book.

Be warned that you have to go into this book knowing its going to be like The Love Hypothesis and some parts of this book were completely unbelievable but you kind of have to look past that. If you can do that, then you'll like the book.

I would have given this 3.5 stars but I rounded up. It would have been a solid 4 stars but the ending didn't do it for me, like whatttttt?

I actually really enjoyed this one, despite only giving it 3 stars. I read a majority of it on my flight back from Austria and it was hard to put down.

This book was really easy to get into and I flew through it. I loved the main character, Bee, and reading about her past and her job was very interesting. This book lost some stars just because I thought it was a bit predictable and nothing earth shattering happened.

I did still enjoy it overall, so if you’re stuck in a reading slump, I’d recommend this!

I had the pleasure of reading @alihazelwood’s Love on the Brain early and wow, what absolute romantic, nerdy, clever, surprising and sexy trip. Ali crafted Levi and Bee’s story with so much care and detail and it was fascinating seeing her writing grow between her debut to the novellas and to this one.

I will be the first one to admit that I am 100% “he fell first” trash so seeing Ali venture into that trope once again and mold it into another love story that perfectly balances pining, vulnerability, forgiveness and fulfillment of a first love was just delightful. It’s honestly impossible not to fall for Levi and Bee as a couple and as individuals. Their personalities are so contrasting but make so much sense together because they truly complement each other. Their interactions shift from being awkward/stiff to being downright cute and sexy and dammit, Ali why are! They! So perfect! (Also, *slides $20 to Ali* What did Levi whisper to Bee’s ex? I am asking… for scientific purposes.)

But Love on the Brain isn’t just Levi and Bee’s story. It encompasses the relationship of Bee and Levi with the amazing cast of side characters plus their complex relationship with each other (and some of them were quite unexpected, in a very good way); and did I mention there is not one but two adorable cats in this book and they both have interesting roles? You’re welcome. Admittedly, the third act was a bit far out which felt like a last minute effort to create a conflict and ended up a little silly/forced but other than that, I adored this book.

If you’re anticipating your next Ali Hazelwood fix, I am happy to report that Love on the Brain hits the right notes, will leave you very satisfied and remind you that this is really Ali Hazelwood’s world and we’re just living in it.

I have DNFed this book for now. I loved The Love Hypothesis and the novellas that Ali had released but I was unable to find the hook in the book that made me want to continue to read Love on the Brain.

It is my goal to try and pick this book up again in the future, and if I finish and review it, I will come back and add my review.

Love, love, love! This book is so smart and fun and I couldn't stop thinking about it after I finished reading.

Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley Romance for an advanced copy of Love on the Brain! This STEMinist rom-com follows Bee, neuroengineer who dreams of NASA, and Levi, her grad school archenemy. When they are forced to reunite in the workforce and co-lead a project together, Bee is convinced Levi is out to sabotage her...and play with her heart along the way.

I loved The Love Hypothesis by this author and slotted it as one of my top reads of 2021. I loved a lot about this in the same way - a strong female lead, cool science talk, a fair amount of steam, and fun along the way. There was some great banter and lovable characters. I struggled with reading this right around the time I read the STEMinist novella series because I found so many of her stories to be so similar. While I understand romance tropes tend to follow a predetermined script to some extent, I'm waiting for something new from Ali Hazelwood. The miscommunication trope seems to be pushed too far in this one, and I grew tired of some of the parts that should have been funny but just felt immature. Like, come on you two! Grow up and talk to each other! Also as feminist as it is to write about women crushing it in science, I feel like Hazelwood's characters are still often awaiting the strong hands of men around them to save the day AND continuously fit the "tiny, quirky, not-like-other-girls" trope I'm so tired of seeing.

The ending also just wasn't for me and felt a little too neat.

I think Hazelwood is going to be on the back (Bunsen) burner for me for a while.

Those books are so cute! They do all kinda look the same though, but it was super entertaining and it was super easy to read. Would recommend it for any romance lovers!

1.5* (⅖)

‘Love on the Brain’ by Ali Hazelwood is a romance novel about Bee and Levi. Bee works for NASA on her dream project, however her co-leader for the project is Levi, who made his feelings clear to her in her graduate days. They are archenemies who are forced to work together, but she starts to have feelings for him.

I have read all of Hazelwood’s blacklist of books, and like her other books, ‘Love on the Brain’ is the same. The plot and characters are all the same. It feels like I just reread ‘The Love Hypothesis’, her debut novel. The main female character is a quirky girl who likes science, the love interest is a grumpy guy who is secretly in love with the main character, the side characters are just there. The plot is that the characters run into each other and are forced to work together, with a miscommunication towards the end. I’m disappointed that this is just the same thing as her other books.

I don’t care about Bee or Levi. I don’t care about their relationship. I just don’t care about them. Bee is what I imagine if Buzzfeed quizzes were a real person. I thought some parts of the book funny, but often cringe. The NASA plot is fun at times but it often loses my interest. The ending completely losses me. It feels like it is out of no where. An opera ending in ways, which is very different from the rest of the book.

If you like Ali Hazelwood’s other works and quricky romance novels, you will like this.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC for an honest review.

This is a new author for me, and I was interested in it because of the female leads who were highlighted in field not normally associated with women. Anytime I can read about women in the math and/ or science fields, and then add in a bit of romance and I am so here for it.

I can't keep reading the same story over again - I feel like every Ali Hazelwood story is basically the same - I adored her first book but I think I might be done.

Ali Hazelwood is the best! She makes me smile and laugh out loud. Her writing is smart and sharp and so enjoyable! I wish I had a real friend like Bee. And, Levi!!! Be still my heart! Their banter was the best, especially when we (the reader) knew something about them both before they did. I loved this book and can't wait to see what is next for Ali.

As huge fans of Ali Hazelwood since her fanfic days, we at The Nerds Awaken were THRILLED to interview her on our podcast to chat about her latest release Love on the Brain. With her characteristic humor, heat, and dynamic characters, Love on the Brain was an instant hit for us.

Listen in to hear the interview!

I enjoyed this book decently, I liked how it was different than the author's first book. I did think that the work was a bit derivative, but I liked the protagonist and found her pretty relatable. I also liked the element of action, which was unexpected.

Ali Hazelwood became an auto buy author for me within the first chapter of The Love Hypothesis. Bee and Levi’s story only further cemented my love because these two, ih my GOD! I absolutely love a giant dump of a hero and Levi is exactly that.

The pining, and the angst, the tension, the definitely not imaginary cat 🤣 Their story is just too perfect, and it had me absolutely in love, incapable of setting it down. We also love to see women fighting the patriarchy in stem, fighting misogyny and stupid beliefs about appearance correlated to intelligence.

Ali continues to be one of my all time favorite authors and I’m ecstatic to see what she gives us next!

This book was so much fun. I loved all of the science and even the mentions of the red tape issues. The ending was a little crazy but, still not totally unbelievable. Overall, I loved the vibe with these two characters and I liked how real they were. The banter was also pretty spot on. It was a quick and fun read, and I would definitely check out her work again.

Unfortunately this was a dnf for me. I just couldn't get into the book. It felt so similar to her previous book (and novellas) and I just wasn't as interested in it as I wanted to be.

To be honest, I liked this one better than her first book. The couple was no less awkward with each other and the miscommunication was still there, but it was done better I think. Loved the hero better in this book too.

Ali Hazelwood has done it again with another excellent rom com. Her books her seriously unputdownable- giddy and immediately fit for consumption.

The thing I love most about this book was the communication that develops between our two MC's. Yes, stubbornness, but also a willingness to learn about the other person and try to meet them halfway. Of course we do have our classic MIS-communication trope, but for once it was good. So good (even though the trope is the worst).

4/5 stars. Would read again, 100%. (and would and will buy every edition available)

Neuroscientist Bee worships Marie Curie, and has even created a WhatWouldMarieDo? twitter profile that address issues of women in STEM: dismissive men, men who take all the credit. It’s anonymous, and she connects with a like minded guy who amplifies her tweets as the intersect with his field of research. When she’s tapped for a gig with NASA working on a biofeedback type helmet that will assist with keeping astronauts focused and at the top of their game, unfortunately, her co-leader on the collaborative project with NASA and NIH is none other than engineering superstar: Levi Ward, who has gone to great lengths to avoid her for years. She doesn’t know why Levi just doesn’t seem to like her–leaves a conversation every time she joins a group, declined to work on a project with her, and won’t deign to speak to her. The miscommunication is neatly resolved.

While there are some similarities in Hazelwood’s stories (STEM setting, small female protagonists who run, tall broody men with big dicks), there is something nefarious going on in this story and a mystery to figure out. Emails aren’t reaching their destinations, lab equipment is missing and then a trial goes wrong. I am generally not a fan of suspense with my romance (unless it’s straight up WHY doesn’t he like her?) but this worked for me. The nerdy banter, introspective lead, and steamy sex scenes are highly appealing, but mostly, Hazelwood just writes smart books. I love the science career details, the competent female scientist protagonists, the feminist stance, the slam against JK Rowling, the discussions of feminism and misogyny, and the challenges of women in STEM. A subplot takes a stance against standardized tests and their bias against women, BIPOC, and people in poverty.

I received a free advance reader’s review copy of #LoveOnTheBrain from #NetGalley–but I let it expire because I hadn’t read any Ali Hazelwood books at the time and didn’t know the awesomeness of her writing, so I had to wait for a copy through OverDrive.

If you love Ali Hazelwood's trusty formula, then you're gonna love this book as well! It is truly written for the stem girlies through and through. Does it impeccably as always.