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.

Nesse livro vamos acompanhar Bee Königswasser, uma cientista convidada para comandar um projeto de neuroengenharia da Nasa. Empolgada com essa conquista, ela só não esperava que teria como parceiro Levi Ward, o cara que ela odeia. Com uma sacada divertida, referências a Marie Curie, ambientações reais e confusões, a autora nos traz mais um romance maravilhoso e que se tornou minha nova obsessão.

Eu já amei a Bee logo de cara. Com seu jeito descontraído, cabelos coloridos e seus piercings, me ganhou. A medida que conhecemos sua história, percebemos ainda mais a sua força, mesmo em meio as inseguranças da vida. Todas as nuances apresentadas pela autora foram reais e plausíveis e trouxe mais humanidade a personagem. Era impossível não rir com ela. Bee tem como ídolo uma cientista famosa chamada Marie Cure e usa ela como referência em sua vida. Ainda que eu não conhecesse essa pessoa, achei hilário tudo que aprendi durante o livro e terminei pesquisando para saber mais sobre essa mulher.

Quanto a Levi Ward, eu não imaginava a dimensão do amor que eu sentiria por esse personagem. No início, confesso que até quis dar uma sacudida nele, mas quando as coisas se encaixaram, foi maravilhoso. Ouso talvez dizer que ele me conquistou até mais do que o protagonista de Hipótese do amor (apesar de eu ter um apego sentimental tremendo nessa história).

Aproveitando que citei o primeiro livro da autora, assim como ele, aqui temos uma profunda ambientação científica, até mais do que em hipótese do amor. Como eu sou da área, fiquei fascinada. Além de todo embasamento fidedigno, ela volta a trabalhar ainda mais intensamente a questão do machismo, mas sempre com uma pegada leve que nos faz refletir e ainda curtir a vibe gostosa do romance.

Quem leu os dois livros vai perceber alguns pontos em comum entre os dois, mas nada que eu ache que estrague a leitura, pois os personagens tomaram seus próprios rumos, assim como a trama. Temos trabalho em equipe, personagens secundários que roubam a cena, sabotagem, rede sociais fakes, etc.

A razão do amor, apesar de ser slow burn, tem mais cenas do casais e abertura de sentimentos. Eu me derreti diante de todas as declarações que o Levi fez para a Bee e acredito que isso foi uma das coisas que mais me fez apegar a esse casal.

Para mim não teve surpresa alguma em relações aos plots, achei bem óbvio desde o início, mas nem isso tirou a graça do livro. Posso estar sendo emocionada, mas amei a leitura, então é justo minha nota condizer com ela. Só peço que a Ali Hazelwood continue me proporcionando ainda mais livros assim.

There are just some authors that aren't for everyone, and sadly, I think Hazelwood isn't the one for me. I wanted to love this book. I really did.

I liked The Love Hypothesis. It was okay. It didn't blow my socks off. So I wanted to LOVE the story of Bee and Levi. Sigh. Unfortunately, their love story was a bit lacking.

I do not care for the miscommunication trope. I can deal with a grumpy/sunshine character storyline, but when it's nothing but miscommunication, I want to pull my hair out.

I hope the micommunication trope/quirky girl/grumpy dude formula changes with Hazelwood in the future.

honest review;
I gave The Love Hypothesis a 3/5 as well.. and this one tbh i mean.. i’m torn between a 2/5 and a 3/5.. did i love it more? not really did i hate it more? not really.
I just realized that Ali Hazelwood books are just not for me and that’s okey. for me Love On The Brain is sooooooo similar to TLH, so science-y so.. idk boring?
i mean i loved the plot of this one a lil more & also loved that it was her POV and not written in 3rd person. yet still idk something was just missing.
i loved the chemistry between them two more than in TLH
honestly idk.
I think I won’t read any Ali books anymore and that’s okey, still love her as an author and have nothing but love for her 🤍

I really enjoy Ali Hazelwood's writing and characters. The two leads in this one were fantastic, although I do wish I hadn't needed to hate Levi so much. I knew I'd end up loving him, and I did, but I'm just not a fan of one character keeping the other in the dark or trying to protect them in this way. So overall, I didn't enjoy the miscommunication route taken in this one. But otherwise, it was really cute. The plot moved along quickly the characters were fun, and the cats were cute. If you loved The Love Hypothesis or the novellas, you'll love this one. There isn't a lot that's new from the other's but it's still cute and fun.

This copy was kindly provided to me by Netgalley and the publisher for review. All opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed this second book from Ali Hazelwood! Solid 4.75 in my book. I didn't love it as much as The Love Hypothesis but I still had a blast reading this book. I think it might have been that I didn't connect to Bee like to did to LH main heroine that swayed me, I loved Levi though, I want a Levi in my life. Where can I find one?

I am super excited for her next book!

DNF. I know part of the joy of reading modern romance is that you can Frankenstein all your favorite tropes into something that appeals to you. This kinda worked for me in The Love Hypothesis (three stars)but I found this to be... pretty much the same? I love grumpy/sunshine and enemies to lovers, but these characterizations came about by bad decisions that felt immature and out of place for the setting. I love a brooding giant as much as the next gal but i don't know how many big guy/tiny widdle smart girl books I can take. Congrats to everyone who enjoys this niche, though. Best thing about this book was how frequently thinking about it made me get that Rihanna song stuck in my head.
Thank you NetGalley & publisher for the free review eARC.

Ali Hazelwood does it again! Seriously such a big fan of her books, including this latest one. I can't wait for what she writes next!