My third Ali Hazelwood book and I don't know how to feel anymore.

You hear about how her books follow the same formula and you want to believe it's not true... but it is. Big man/ tiny woman, enemies to lovers, the guy falls first, an evil enemy ready to take down the FMC because misogyny in STEM. I genuinely loved it the first time around in TLH, but at this point it’s just become predictable and repetitive.

For this book, I of course still really appreciate the women in STEM themes and how Hazelwood doesn’t shy away from shedding some ugly truths on what this field, primarily dominated by men, can be like. I also liked who our FMC in this story, Elsie, suffered from chronic illness (type 1 diabetes) and the struggles of that while not have adequate healthcare felt relatable.

This book does also have more of an academia/ politics within it feel which made it a tad different than some of her previous stories. I did also like a few of the side characters, such as George, and hope we can somehow see more of her someday.

Aside from the aforementioned grievances, another thing I wasn’t a huge fan of in this book was Elsie herself. She is and always has been a people pleaser which is something I totally understand, but there were parts about this that just felt off. It’s hard to explain, but part of it was how Jack came in, told her to say “honesty” and BAM it was like there was never an issue. Sure it can be seen as sweet, but I just had a hard time with her character. Also, her obsession with cheese and Twilight was fun at first, but then I felt like it became a thing to constantly mention this and it became way too much.

While there were some qualities that made this book a little different, ultimately I found it too similar in structure and plot where I’m really wondering if AH can write anything else because I am tired of hearing the many adjectives to describe the big MMC. Like can we get something a little different?

Despite this, I can see myself still reading her books in the hopes of getting something new, but we shall see!

As with all of Hazelwood's previous releases, this one features a female character who works in a STEM field and is a badass of epic proportions. I loved the enemies to lovers banter and tension between the two main characters. There is also quite a bit of forced proximity in this book, which was well done. I very much enjoyed the story line and found myself laughing out loud on occasion. The romance is open door and very well done.

Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood is a standalone stem contemporary romance that delivered friendship, snark, science and a swoons. Theoretical physicist Elsie Hannaway when she goes head to head with experimentalist Jack Smith.

I loved the premise for Love, Theoretically. Elsie has spent her life changing her personality to please those around her. She is very aware of people’s needs & feelings. She’s a theoretical physicist stuck in adjunct professor position. Which equals dealing with students, low pay, and zero healthcare. She is trying to find a tenured position, but in the meantime she supplements her income through a fake girlfriend service.

When she is asked to interview, she is ecstatic, that is until she comes face to face with Jack Smith. Her mentor’s nemesis and the half-brother of the guy she’s been pretending to be a fake girlfriend for….lol. From time spent at family gathers to his broody personality, one can’t help but feel the sizzling charge between them.

This story had a lot going for it, from a look inside scholarly pursuits to battles between theorists and experimentalists. I liked Elsie, admired her smarts and respected her for keeping her client’s secret. While, I appreciated her ability to read people, and that Jack threw her for a loop. I hated how she let family and people define her. Hazelwood allowed for character growth, and I enjoyed watching Elsie find herself.

Jack was a swoon-worthy geek who fell for. I adored how he protected his brother and mother. Despite questioning her intents with his brother, Jack respected Elsie as a scientist and was patient as she worked through things.

The romance was swoony and not filled with miscommunication. It was refreshing. The back-and-forth banter, snark, science quibbles and heat keep me reading. Secondary characters from a snarky grandmother to Jack’s brother and Elsie’s roommate added to the story.

Love, Theoretically, is the perfect romance to toss into your beach bag this summer.

This is my second Ali Hazelwood book that I have read and I can honestly say I love the way she writes. I cannot wait to read more of her books!
Elsie is a physicist where she works as an adjunct professor for a college. This is far from what she wants to be doing but something has to pay the bills. She realizes that she needs to make more money so she begins fake dating people.
She has a client named Greg who she has broken the rules for a bit and went on a couple fake dates with to family functions and this is where she meets Greg's brother Jack.
Elsie is applying for a position at MIT where she would make way more money and not have to worry about how she is going to pay her bills. She goes in for a group interview and in comes Jacob Turner Smith aka Greg's brother Jack. She is now trying to prove to Jack that she isn't some crazy liar and lying to his brother Greg.
In all this we see the relationship between Elsie and Jack build and develop throughout the rest of the book.
I could not put this down it was very good. I cannot wait to read more of her books!

***ARC provided by the Publisher via NetGalley***

3.5 Stars

Elsie and Jack are rivals, mainly because they work in different branches of physics and Jack caused a physics scandal a few years ago that impacted Elsie's field more than his.

So, they are not a match made in heaven. Add in that she is fake dating his brother, initially thinks Jack isn't a physicist, a possible position at MIT that will solve all of her problems, and a vengeful mentor, and you have a whole lot going on that makes them being together seem...unlikely...at best.

I did believe in their romance, but I think I wanted more in the way of a connection with them in places. I liked his admission that he was angry that his brother was dating someone that he wanted, but I think I wanted to see it rather than hear it. There were times I did, but those left me wanting just a little more from him.

This book was quirky, but in a relatable way...although I will be the first to admit I didn't get all of the jokes and had to look up "Go" to figure out what it even was.

I enjoyed and recommend this title.

Ali Hazelwood has done it again! I've been obsessed with her "steminist" rom coms ever since I read The Love Hypothesis and her latest novel, Love Theoretically, which features two rival physicists, is full of the same nerdy, steamy goodness.

The story follows Elsie, a theoretical physicist currently working as an adjunct professor. To help out her finances, Elsie has a side hustle where people hire her to fake date them. One of her best customers is Greg, a super sweet guy who just wants his family to back off about his love life.

When Elsie has the opportunity to interview for a faculty position at MIT, she is thrilled until she finds out Greg's half brother, Jack, is on the hiring committee, a big problem because Jack has hated Elsie ever since Greg first introduced them. Or has he?

I didn't realize I was a fan of the "he fell first" trope until I read this book and realized that all of Jack's broody, sulky behavior was hiding the fact that Jack is attracted to Elsie and has been trying to hide it so as not to hurt his brother. He's also shocked to find out that Elsie is a physicist since she told Greg's family she was a librarian. One of Jack's most adorable qualities is that he is super protective of Greg so he is determined to find out why Elsie has lied.

I adored both Elsie & Jack and loved watching those rivals-to-lovers sparks fly between them. Jack is an incredible book boyfriend, actually giving Adam from The Love Hypothesis for run for his money.

Elsie is lovable too and what I adored the most about her is the growth that she experiences throughout the book. She goes from being the ultimate people pleaser who can never say no, to a much more assertive version of herself and it's just so wonderful to watch.

I also loved that their romance plays out against the background of academia and that Hazelwood exposes some of the less than ethical behaviors that can take place behind the scenes.

Love, Theoretically was everything I hoped it would be & more.

The things I love best about Ali Hazelwood's books are the bitingly accurate portrayals of what it's like to be a woman in STEM academia. They are consistent and really highlight how much work needs to be done in regards to workplace equality. At the same time, the characters all display a realistic passion for the sciences and an inherent social awkwardness that, as a former Caltech student, really ring true and make the book feel like coming home.

The romances are a little bit formulaic with the small woman, big hulking man trope, but they center ideas of being true to yourself and finding out what you really want. The leading men are always decent, kind, considerate and willing to (eventually) treat the women with care and understanding.

It was painful to watch Elsie contort her personality to fit whatever she thought the person she was interacting with would want to see, and I was so happy to see her work to shake those habits and learn to stand up for what *she* wants. Jack was hugely instrumental in helping her on the road to finding herself and it was so refreshing.

The fake dating plotline was hilarious, as was Jack's grandmother Millicent. I loved their relationship.

Every time I read an Ali Hazelwood novel I am transported back to my days as an aspiring scientist and they make me seriously nostalgic for both the good and bad parts of being in STEM and I find myself eager for the next hit of that nostalgia. There seriously aren't enough romances that capture that feeling of the peculiar world that is STEM academia.

*Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for providing an early copy for review.

Where are my STEM girlies at?! 🧬

I always look forward to this time of year because a new Ali Hazelwood rom-com featuring a science nerd hits the shelves and I devour it immediately. LOVE, THEORETICALLY was no exception! In fact, this is my new favorite between the three adult novels she currently has.

This story featured everything I needed: excessive mentioning of cheese 🧀, hedgehogs 🦔, and SCIENCE! 🔬

Taylor Swift said it best in her newest song You're Losing Me: "I wouldn't want to marry me either, a pathological people pleaser." Enter: Elsie Hannaway, a brilliant scientist stuck in the life as an adjunct professor when she should be setting her sights higher, but instead allows people in her life to walk all over her. She knows she's capable of so much more and is in desperate need for health insurance due to her diabetes. Instead, she makes extra money on the side by fake dating. As you can imagine this gets messy quick.

This story follows the Ali Hazelwood formula of science nerd romance, which to some can be not their cup of tea, but for me this was everythingggg. Elsie and Jack have such great chemistry and their blossoming romance felt so natural. Jack is so patient with Elsie and allows her to break through her personal hurdles without any judgement or harsh attitude, which made me root for them even more! She really grows into her own throughout the book and sticks up for herself in a harsh academic world! I would love for a side story between George and her wife... they seem like such a cool couple!

The brief cameo of Adam and Olive from THE LOVE HYPOTHESIS and the quick mentioning of Bee/WhatWouldMarieDo from LOVE ON THE BRAIN caught me off guard in the best way.

If any of these books get a screen adaptation, I pray it's LOVE, THEORETICALLY. Now that Ali has covered chemistry, space engineering, and physics in her rom coms, I'll be waiting over here patiently for a fun story featuring meteorology!

I have SO MANY conflicting thoughts about this book (and it's predecessors) that I will divulge eventually - but for now I've come to the conclusion that if a book can drive me this bonkers and yet I read the last word with the biggest smile on my face and be this disappointed that it came to an end... I have to give it 5 stars. This might actually be my favorite of the author's 3 full length novels.

Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood is an enemies to lovers story that is quirky and entertaining; complete with likable characters. Elsie is a physicist who works as an adjunct professor at three different colleges, which results in crazy commutes, an ever-lowering salary and infuriating (and hilarious) emails from students demanding deadline extensions. This is not the dream research job Elsie always wanted, and the lack of health insurance means she’s forced to pay for insulin out of pocket (she’s a Type I diabetic), and somehow still be able to afford rent and food everything else. Then she and her best friend start working for Faux, an app where people can basically request fake dates for different events such as parties, work functions, etc. Then Elsie finds herself in the running for a tenure-track professor position at MIT. Except, once she arrives at the first function she has to attend for the selection process, she’s shocked to find Jack, the brother of one of her fake boyfriends is there, and that Jack is actually Jonathan Turner-Smith, MIT professor and infamous legend in the physics field. Jack has misread Elsie from the beginning, thinking the worst of her.

Elsie has learned how to perfectly customize her personality so it’s optimal for anyone she’s interacting with: even with her family and closest friend; being that she is a definite people pleaser, wanting to be accepted. Only, there’s a fine line between wanting to be liked and staying true to yourself. Everyone has different facets of ourselves that come out or held back depending on the situation we’re in, but Elsie seems to be stuck in a loop of compromising her wants and thoughts to appease everyone else. Jack, also a physicist like Elsie, is the first person who comes into her life who seems to see through this act and call her out on it. Unfortunately this seemingly perfect guy is also responsible for causing chaos in Elsie’s career, making Jack her number one enemy; which is unfortunate because Jack is on the hiring committee for a job Elsie is determined to be hired for.

Elsie is determined to prove herself to Jack in order to get her dream job; which is difficult since Jack thinks she’s hiding this secret life from his brother, and she can’t exactly contradict him without violating Greg’s privacy. Also, Jack needs to overcome his slight obsession with Elsie and actively try to hate her for catfishing his brother; despite the fact she’s not. This book really gets into the depth of scientific academia politics and you can’t help but fall into the rabbit hole along with the characters. I highly recommend Love, Theoretically to other readers.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

I fell in love with Jack and Elsie and just about devoured the entire book in one sitting (would have if life hadn’t gotten in the way).

Elsie, a theoretical physicist and adjunct professor, dreams of a tenure position. It looks like that might be within her grasp when she applies at MIT, but the annoyingly attractive Jack Smith stands in her way. He is an experimental physicist with a reputation for hating Elsie’s side of the physics divide. Elsie has a secret life, she supplements her income by offering her services as fake girlfriend and adjusting her personality to the situation as needed. She has one recurring client, Greg, who she has a soft spot for. And his brother is the same Jack that holds her professional future in his hands. Between the growing attraction to Jack, the uncertainty about her career, and keeping her other job a secret, something’s got to give.

Elsie was a chameleon of personality. She wielded her well-developed observation skills with unerring precision to become what the other person expected her to be. But Jack didn’t give her any ques to work with and this messed with her desire to please others. Jack was suspicious of her “relationship” with Greg, mostly because he was attracted to her from the start and poaching his brother’s girlfriend would not be on point.

I loved how Jack saw through all the veils Elsie wore and forced her to show her true self. Elsie and Jack are very similar to other characters created by the author, but the story will endear you to them and their unique personalities. Everybody needs a Jack in their lives. And I loved the way Elsie saw the world and approached pretty much everything in her life with an eagerness to learn.

The committee members who had to interview Elsie, along with Jack’s friends and Cece, were a hoot and I thoroughly enjoyed all of them. Greg was the sweetest.

The captivating writing will keep you glued to the pages, and I can highly recommend this if you like a steamy enemies-to-lovers romance with STEM elements and fascinating characters.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

She’s done it again! I really loved this book. The female main character, Elsie, is a super smart theoretical scientist. She’s a woman navigating a male dominated field and this book portrayed those challenges really well. Even though Jack was her rival, he never tolerated any bias or discrimination of qualified women as potential candidates for his team.

Jack is Elsie’s kryptonite and she can’t fake it with him. He sees through her fake “personas” and not only sees the real her but prefers it. He’s instinctively protective of her and even though he shouldn’t, given they’re supposedly rivals, he looks out for her during her interview process.

Also, I thought it was fun that Olive & Adam from The Love Hypothesis make a cameo!

Read For:
🔬 STEMinist romcom
☀️ Grump/Sunshine
❤️‍🔥 Enemies to Lovers
❌ Fake Dating
💥 He Falls First
💬 Witty Banter

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 / 5
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️ / 5

4.5 Stars

“What happened to you, Elsie?”

We LOVE Ali Hazelwood…and she’ll never know how much…she’s just over there writing these stories that have us falling in utter book love EVERY SINGLE TIME with their humour and slow romancing. And as for her characters… well, they steal our hearts time and time again, with their irresistible personalities, funny quirks, and excellent ‘funny bones’. Oh, and they’re filled with complete ‘geek speak’ which we find kind of hot!

“It’s easier like that isn’t it?”
“What is?”
“Never showing anyone who you really are.”

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again, this Author has a formula, and it works. She knows what she’s writing about, and she isn’t afraid to highlight important issues whilst her characters are busy elsewhere trying to either avoid each other, avoid embarrassment, and avoid falling in love because you know, they hate each other. Yeah right! Love is inevitable and the journey to that realisation captured us hook line and sinker!

‘There’s something disarmingly, devastatingly self-confident about Jack. About the way he laid out all these facts without hesitating, as though owning his feelings is first and second nature.’

Jack Smith…be still our beating hearts! This guy literally had us laughing one moment and swooning the next. Talk about a man seeing through a façade and seeing the best in the woman he’s falling in love with, the best being Elsie’s inner truth. Elsie is a powerhouse and trying to draw out who she truly is rather than what others expect her to be was wonderful. We saw it too, Jack, and you did a stellar job with the brilliant, clever, funny, and super-sweet Elsie who didn’t stand a chance to hide! She fought a good fight though and we loved how their story played out. Another winner from this fabulous Author.

‘I think that wherever it is that we’re going, maybe, just maybe, it might turn out to be a place I never want to leave.’

I love these women of STEM romance novels of Ali Hazelwood’s. Not only are they cleverly written, but the characters are flawed, real, and go through all of the self confidence issues that regular folks like you and I face on a daily basis, but perhaps even more so! Elsie had a great back story that captured my heart immediately. Diabetic since her youth, she’s always felt like she was a burden to her parents and because of this kind of lets the world walk all over her. When she meets Jack, the person who she thinks is her arch enemy, she is shocked that he doesn’t appear to be what she’s always believed. As we read further into the story, we understand Jack more and more and find him very easy to love as well. Both characters have had things shape their lives and mold them into who they are today. Totally flawed individuals who have to grow to connect with this other individual who certainly seems to be their soul mate. Their story was certainly swoon worthy!

Romance novels have certainly evolved over the years and Ali Hazelwood’s have helped that evolution by writing about a segment of our female population that aren’t usually the heroine’s in romance novels. Kind of like the first “Wallflower” books in the historical romance genre (now totally overdone btw), these women of STEM are certainly intellectual, but Ms. Hazelwood does a great job of showing how these women of STEM have the same insecurities and messed up youths as the rest of us. Underneath those white lab coats are women who just want to be loved, just like you and I. I have a Bachelor’s in English and by no means am proficient in science, math, etc. but I LOVE reading these novels and identifying our likenesses. I also love the surly men who come to love these great women. If you’re looking for a different kind of romance novel, please give this book a try.

Love, Theoretically is an exceptional romance novel. Not only does it have my favorite trope, enemies to lovers, but it has a little mistaken identity and rom-com thrown in as well. What isn’t funny about a young woman who has to fake-date men for a little extra cash to survive? Those scenes make for some great storytelling! Jack is a beast of a physicist and a prime specimen of a man and their interactions have great chemistry and heat. His direct stares followed me into my dreams and haunted me. Really!!! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

I received a copy of this novel through NetGalley and the publisher for an honest review and it was honest!

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.I am quickly becoming an Ali Hazelwood stan, as her BOOKS.DON'T.MISS. Thought I have my favorites over others, every time I pick up one of her romance novels, I am completely transported into a story with steam and science- an amazing combination! I consider myself #blessed that I continue to be approved for ARCs of her novels via NetGalley, and Love, Theoretically is one of the best romances I've read in 2023 (and I've read mostly romances this year).

First off, I am sooooo happy that all of her novels are set in one universe, and I am absolutely delighted when Easter Eggs to her past works appear. In this particular novel, we get to see the couple from The Love Hypothesis (which I loved) and I adore how she doesn't take the obvious route of just plucking a secondary character from one of her novels to write about, it's more subtle than that. For even more fun, there's even a nod a very famous Twitter account from Love on the Brain (iykyk). Also, I love how her novels all focus on women in different STEM fields, with Love, Theoretically focusing on physics (a subject I avoided like the plague in high school and took Anatomy instead, but I still found it captivating to read about- we stan an author who educates and entertains us at the same time!)

Hazelwood is the queen of the hate-to-love romance trope, and this novel is no exception. The story follows Elsie, a year out of grad school who is a struggling adjunct trying to find a stable, health-insurance providing job in the harrowing field of academia, who also moonlights as a girlfriend-for-hire to supplement her meager adjunct pay. She has a fave client (who is a loveable cinnamon role and a great secondary character), but the only downside of working with him is the weird animosity she gets from his older brother. Surprise, surprise, it turns out said older brother is a well-respected physicist who just so happens to be part of the interview process for a very coveted job Elsie is pursuing. It's the perfect premise for the hate-to-love trope!

While Else isn't my favorite of Hazelwood's protagonists (that honor is still held by Olive), she was just so incredibly funny. I laughed out loud so much while reading this book, and not just from the banter between the protagonists, but from all of the other small, world building elements- from Elsie's eccentric yet loving roommate CeCe who's unknowingly fake-dating a massive tech CEO to her ongoing secret rivalry with Cece's pet hedgehog, who she's convinced is out to get her. I feel like we as readers don't often talk about world building in contemporary novels, but I loved that Hazelwood takes the time to really craft an intimate view of the environment her protagonists live in. I truly felt engrossed in this story in a way I usually only am when reading fantasy novels, and I'm sure it's due to the fact that I had so many niche details to fall into when reading Elsie's story.

Also, can I take a second to talk about how Hazelwood manages to write hate-to-love so well without creating a toxic love interest? Jack can be arrogant, standoffish and hard to read but as the relationship between him and Elsie unfolds, it's evident that he's a good dude at his core (some of his previous professional antics aside). I loved how understated of a love interest he was in some ways (quiet, super chill but still well respected in his field, not showy, etc) and it was still super hot.

Elsie as a protagonist won't be for everyone. It's almost comical how severely she lets others take advantage of her (she takes the term "people pleaser" to a whole new level) and sometimes it almost felt unrealistic (like with her family, good God). However I like how Jack continually calls her out on this and pushes her to be better, and she really has a very defined character arc that's motivated by her romance but still very much hers- Jack helps give her the confidence to ask for what she needs and that's just as important as their romance, in my opinion.

Also there was just so much awesome representation of girl power and women supporting other women (and the acknowledgement of how that can be hard, especially in the STEM field where things are so cutthroat). CeCe, George, the professor who advocates on behalf of Elsie's candidacy, several of Jack's female friends...it was really wonderful to see.

Overall: Love, Theoretically was the Ali Hazelwood book with the most chemistry for me (haha...but they're physicists...I'll see myself out...). It was wonderfully slow burn, full of great, atmospheric settings and fun and fleshed out characters. I would read another 3 books just about Elsie and Jack (though I suppose the most I can hope for is a cameo of them in a future novel!) I cannot WAIT to read whatever Hazelwood puts out next, and I'll happily read 50 more enemies to lovers, hate to love, trope filled romances by her!

my favourite Ali Hazelwood book!!! Jack & Elsie brought something different to the table. They communicated more and even tho there was some “aloofness” and “obliviousness” it is her best book to date.

Jack was DREAMY😍 and the most fleshed out MMC Ali has written. We get a ton about his back story and family which felt different from her other books. And Elsie!!!! My fav Ali heroine!! She wasn’t cringey and I LOVED her. She’s sassy, relatable, real, and felt like a part of me. Also the type 1 diabetes rep was amazing. Ughhh I adored this book so much. Even found myself tearing up a bit at some points!

I didn’t love the “conflict” but I didn’t hate it either and it wrapped up very quickly.

Overall, loved this one.

And those cameos from our fav characters omg🤭🤭😂

Thanks Berkley for the ARC, I am SO thankful for this opportunity!

This is the third book I’ve read by Ali Hazelwood. She writes contemporary romcom novels about women in STEM and academia. Don’t worry if you’re not into science because honestly, her books are so much fun to read!

This one is probably my favorite of the three. I thought the characters were fun and entertaining. The miscommunication and the third act break up was a bit bleh but I still really enjoyed the book.

This is my favorite Ali Hazelwood novel yet! I originally thought nothing could top The Love Hypothesis but I was sorely mistaken!

I absolutely love all of Ms. Hazelwood’s STEMinist romance books and I was so excited to read Love, Theoretically. The author did say in the Author’s Note section (yes I always read those!) that this book is her most academic/academic politics book she’s written so far and it absolutely is. That being said, it doesn’t take away from the love story or the brilliance of the characters, it fully enhances them and the reader experience.

Love, Theoretically is not just a hot love story with a super hunk who looks amazing shirtless, it’s a story of truth and self-discovery. Elsie adjusts her personality to people-please everyone she meets (definitely has some emotional baggage). But the one person she can’t fool is her nemesis Jack Smith. Not only is he the brother of her fake boyfriend (long story) he’s also on the committee in charge of deciding her professional fate and who gets the job of her dreams. Awkward to say the least! As the two spend more time together through the interviewing process, Elsie discovers that she doesn’t hate Jack, “not even close, not even a little bit, not even at all.” (10 Things I Hate About You reference 😉)

OMG this book has all the feels! I really enjoyed reading it and I couldn’t put it down! I love a smart heroine and Elsie is amazing. She is smart, funny and easily relatable. Elsie changes faces to give everyone what they want–so they won’t get mad and leave her. The process to learn how to stand up for herself and be truthful with others about who the “real” Elsie is, that took a lot of courage, especially taking the chance of that person deciding to leave or not “like” her. I feel like such a proud mom when she actually started believing in herself in that way.

Jack. What is not to love about this guy? Yeah he’s a big jerk but he’s got some scars of his own and as Jack and Elsie gravitate towards each other, it becomes important for them to share each other's hopes, fears, hurts and hearts. So beautiful! I love how patient Jack is and how he “saw” the real Elsie and wouldn’t stop fighting for her to be revealed. *Swoon*

Love, Theoretically may be an academic love story about physics but there is crazy chemistry between Jack and Elsie, so much so that I may have blushed a time or three! It was an absolute joy to read and I am desperately looking forward to Ms. Hazelwood’s next book. What science discipline will she tackle next?

This is now the third book I've read of Ali's, and safe to say, it's my favorite. I've adored all of Ali's past books, as they keep being exactly what I needed at the time, but this one really takes the cake for me!

First off, I'd love to thank Netgalley and the publisher so much for giving me early access to this book! As always, all thoughts and opinions are still my own, and I read an earlier version of the book, meaning some things may have changed between this version and the published version!

I feel like anyone who was worried that Ali's stories would begin to feel too formulaic after Love on the Brain needs to read this book. It really feels like Ali is really coming into her own with this book, and showing her strengths and capabilities as a romance author, beyond the fantastic fanfic we know her for! While Love, Theoretically is still very much an 'Ali' book, it also shows her potential for range and variation in her characters and plots, while still keeping a strong, connected feel to her books. Jack and Elsie are not just another copy of Adam and Olive, but their own characters in their own right, and I love how deeply this book explores and proves that to us.

In general, there is so much more depth here. In her author's note, Ali says this book is the most academic one she's ever written, and she's right! There is even more focus on this side of the characters' lives, and it comes to life as more than just a background that the romance takes place in. But somehow, Ali also manages to balance this with a strong romance as well, blending the two together in such a way that they manage to hold each other up. I also feel like this book has so much more emotional and character depth as well, on an individual level. Elsie is a people-pleaser, consistently putting her pieces together in different ways to best make the people around her happy. She's a thousand different Elsies, a mosaic of Elsies, and it's honestly heart-wrenching to see her start to see herself, know herself, and choose herself. And it's also beautiful to see the line of Elsies begin to fall away, and become just Elsie. I always thought that the strongest aspect of Ali's books would be the romance, but honestly, I love what she did here with Elsie's character, and I'd recommend it just for that part alone (though I of course adored the romance as well!!!)

Ali's past works have already made me a lifelong fan, but this book truly cements that. I'm left excited and refreshed and feeling so whole and happy. This book was just a wonderful way to spend an hour, an evening, a whole day, and I'm left brimming with excitement for all her future works (and excited to see everyone else fall in love with Elsie and Jack just like I did!)

I posted this review on Goodreads and my blog, and will also be posting an Instagram post tomorrow to further promote the book and my review!