I have decided if Ali writes it I’ll follow. This might be my favorite by her yet (and I looooooooved bride). Honestly from the first chapter I knew this was for me. And I loved the spice. It felt like a different type of book from her and I am here for it. I love the stem, and that be was obsesssssed with her. 4.5 stars !!!

THIS BOOK WAS SOOOO AMAZING!!!
Our queen Ali is at her finest with this one! And I have to say I'm totally in love in Not in Love.

Dr. Rue Siebert might not have it all, but she has enough, including a few friends she can always count on. She works as a biotech engineer in the field of food science. And let me tell you, Rue is one heck of a character! She's smart, sassy, and totally relatable. I mean, who wouldn't want to be besties with her, right?

Enter Eli and his business partners, who want Kline, Rue’s company, and they’ll stop at nothing to get it. But here's the kicker—Eli can't seem to get Rue out of his head, no matter how hard he tries. Their chemistry?

Torn between loyalty and undeniable attraction, Rue and Eli throw caution out of the window for a no-strings attached steamy relationship. And let me tell you, folks, it's 🔥🔥🔥!

Ali Hazelwood truly knows how to write interesting, fun, and lovable characters. Rue was such an incredibly unique character that I immediately found myself attached, relating, and empathizing with. Meanwhile, Eli was the definition of golden retriever energy and I was living for it. Their love story was vulnerable, emotional, and raw.

But it's not just about the romance! Hazelwood tackles some serious stuff in this book, like unresolved trauma and intellectual property theft issues. It's like a rollercoaster ride of emotions, with twists and turns that had me on the edge of my seat!

I found myself not only attached to the main characters but the world that Ali built around them. The plot was truly unique, engaging, and original alongside the romance. I love reading a book that leaves me feeling giddy and filled with joy, and this book did just that.

So, if you're looking for a book that'll make your heart race, your cheeks flush, and your soul sing, look no further than "Not in Love" by Ali Hazelwood! Trust me, you won't be able to put it down! 5 stars? More like 500 stars! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Yup, yup, yup. Ok Ali Hazelwood I see you. Not in Love is Hazelwood’s newest STEM romance, and if you are thinking, “why would I read this if I’ve read her other three already,” well let me answer your question.
1. DUAL POV!!! FINALLY!!!! (with a slight disclaimer, see first paragraph) (thank you Ali for listening to us)
2. This book felt a lot more …mature than her previous books
3. There isn’t a BIG miscommunication trope (finally!)

So yeah, the disclaimer about my first reason to read this book is that, although it is dual pov, Ms. Hazelwood decided to put the MMC’s pov in third person and put the FMC’s pov in first person??? I don’t know if that was some sort of stylistic choice she made or if she thought it would suit the plot better or something. Genuinely when we swapped povs for the first time, I was so taken aback. I don’t like how she did this because it made the story feel very disorganized and disjointed. Also, just why??? Someone please give me the answer to this because I still don’t understand.

Moving on to my second point. In her content warnings, Ali literally spells it out: “I know genre definitions can be a bit blurry, but I consider Not in Love to be an erotic romance, so… lots of sex scenes, explicit and graphic. More than usual.” So…. yeah. See here’s the thing. I don’t mind sex scenes, they’re fine. But this book had wayyyy too many. At one point, they were hooking up in every chapter, so much so that the PLOT (one of the most important parts of a book!!!) fell to the wayside. Maybe she went overboard with the sex scenes to makeup for the lack thereof in her previous books.

Don’t get me wrong though, this book is still quintessential Ali Hazelwood. There are still a lot of repeating tropes, so if you are a fan of her previous books, don’t worry, you will still get your Ali Hazelwood romance.

I know that a lot of the things I’ve said so far makes it seem like I disliked the book, but I just want to make it very clear that I didn’t dislike the book. I mean I gave it a 3 star, which is pretty good for a romance. See, when I read books like this, I turn off the logical side of my brain because I read these for entertainment purposes only. And after turning off all logic and critical thinking, I enjoyed this book! It wasn’t terribly written and I found myself thoroughly entertained by the diverse cast of characters. Basically, the book was solid. Not revolutionary in any way, but not awful either.

I wouldn't say this was a love story per se. It reminded me a lot of Icebreaker with an overabundance of sex schemes with a mediocre plot.

Okay, this was amazing. I am nearly speechless with how hot this was. Eli and Rue, the tension. UGH. Loved the cold girl representation. Loved the we might be horrible people but we can be horrible together vibes (they are not horrible, just normal people).

Thank you Berkley Publishing Group and Netgalley for a copy of this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

First, I love Ali Hazelwood and have enjoyed reading her past work. I didn't love Not in Love. I thought the beginning of the book was tough to get through. I never really felt a connection with Rue and Eli, especially because their intimate scenes were happening WAY too often to even delve into their connection to each other. I just found it cringe more than deepening their emotional connection. The ending was better. I think the plot twist was done well, even though it is predictable.

Overall, not super memorable, however, Ali Hazelwood is still a queen in my eyes and I am excited to see her future work.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ 4/5

Not in Love is certainly Ali’s spiciest romance to date!

Enemies to lovers will always be a favorite trope of mine. When the two characters get together despite what their conscience might be telling them... UGH! The tension is just SO GOOD!

There came a point in this story though that I started to feel like the spice was a bit much. It became super repetitive in my eyes. I honestly never thought I’d say I wanted less spice, but I feel like many scenes were added to just make the story seem more provocative, which wasn’t a plus in my book. I wanted the two characters to get a little deeper into their past relationships to show why perhaps they were the way they were, but maybe this is just me.

I really love how the majority of Ali’s novels revolve around characters within the scientific community. I love how she brings to light the different types of injustices that women experience in the STEM space, and Not in Love is no different. I don’t want to give too much away, but the drama in this story had me STRESSING!

Overall, this was definitely a fun and spicy read! Eli was a total SIMP for Rue and I couldn’t get enough. We love a man with golden retriever energy who falls HARD for his girl!

Thank you to Berkley Romance (@berkleyromance @berkleypub) for the gifted ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Ali Hazelwood never misses, and this is no exception. This book is different from her others. A bit more serious, a lot more sexy. The characters are so special, their tension palpable, but with Hazelwood's humor at the forefront. I will never not adore an Ali Hazelwood book.

Gosh golly I was not expecting this one. 5⭐️ easy.
Ali Hazelwood definitely stepped outside of her comfort zone writing Not In Love, and it paid off. The start of the book was slow but I was completely hooked about 40% of the way in and couldn’t put it down. The unspoken autism rep through Rue’s character was unexpected and sooo appreciated, I felt so seen with Rue and how she navigated life. The way Eli was so disgustingly obsessed with her from the moment they met was my favorite part of all, and I normally hate insta love, but Rue’s pushback made it exciting.
The little mystery of Harkness vs Kline was well thought out and executed.
Rue and Eli are quickly becoming one of my favorite couples and I’m secretly yearning for both of them.

Guys, this book was everything. That’s it. That’s the review. Not really, but also, it could be.
.
Not In Love follows Rue and Elizabeth as they try and navigate the world of tech and science and life and love. Rue is so incredibly guarded. She has a few friends, her apartment, her plants, her science. Eli, on the other hand, is big and loud and demanding of what he wants. I love him for his very forward and dominant personality. These two are such polar opposites while also being exactly the same.

Rue and Eli meet through a dating app, intending on having just one night, but life has other plans. While never intending to be the villain in the story, Rue is forced to face that Eli and his investment firm are trying to buy out the tech startup where Rue works. All the while, drama from Rue’s past is rearing its head in the ugliest of ways. In her almost one night stand turned hostile takeover turned secret situationship, Rue is forced to face that her life isn’t all sunshine and rainbows and who you should trust isn’t always clear cut,

As expected the chemistry between the leads is burning off the page. Eli is tall, broody, DEMANDING, and Rue is so sure of what she needs. Watching them figure out relationships together was just the most beautiful and sexy time. The back drop of a tech startup and the world of finance, while something I know exactly nothing about, was so interesting. Watching the two completely different worlds collide was so fascinating to watch.

In typical Ali fashion, this book was such a celebration of smart humans being so so stupid. Ali herself has said that this book is incredibly different from her others, and I couldn’t agree more. This book was super steamy and super sexy-driven. I LOVED THAT. These two didn’t fall in love in a traditional sense. This book wasn’t a typical Ali read. I adored these characters and their story and watching it unfold. Another 5⭐️ STEMinist read. Also, Tiny the dog deserves all of the pets and scritches. He can do no wrong.

Rue is a successful biotech engineer and a penchant for one night stands. But her world is turned upside down when there’s a hostile takeover of her company and one of the people responsible, Eli, the man she most recently almost slept with. Despite the conflict, the two begin a secret fling. (Can’t say more without spoiling it).
It pained me to rate an Ali book this low. I fell in love with her early writing blending romance and science, and while she did give fair warning that this novel would be different, it didn’t bring any true storyline. It was smut with a side of unclear plot.
Thank you to Berkley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

ali hazelwood’s latest books have been a hit for me (NOT IN LOVE, BRIDE, CHECK & MATE)! one thing they have in common is that they are not her stem romances that she is known for. I enjoyed those too, but not nearly as much as these! i had so much fun reading this one and even had moments where i teared up because of the trauma these characters have endured in their life. it kind of reminds me of check & mate, that book handled hard topics with depth, but kept it YA. this is the adult version, but make it STEM 🧪💕

this is the second book that i have read that handled the representation of a relative taking on a guardianship role with care while giving a glimpse of the hard realities that come with it (just for the summer is the other book i’m referring to). i felt seen and related to eli, and for that, this book will have a special place in my heart.

i will note that is book is extra spicy, like 5/5🌶️ just in case open-door romance isn't your thing. this was the only reason it wasn't a five-star read for me, while i don't care if a book has a spice, this one had a bit too much 🤭

what to expect:
- the guy is down bad first
- dual pov
- lots of spice
- character development & depth
- stem (but not nearly as much as previous books)
- might make you laugh and cry

4.5 stars

As always, Ali Hazelwood delivers an absolute joy of a spicy STEM romance. This will easily be one of my most recommended reads this summer. Ali's STEM bibliography is growing and I honestly appreciate the consistency, as someone who wouldn't normally seek out STEM or academic settings & characters, and doesn't always relate to the characters' struggles. Not in Love wasn't my favorite (no one beats Jack imo), but I love the direction she's going in!

This was the first Ali Hazelwood book that I did not love. The Love Hypothesis is one of my all-time favorite books and I adored Bride, but this did not hit the mark. I didn't feel any chemistry between Rue and Eli and I wasn't invested in the plot at all. The majority of the book was centered around sex, but it felt too cold and disconnected for me to enjoy. I ended up DNFing at 61% so I can't give a fully accurate rating.

As one of Ali's biggest fans this one hurt. I think the low stakes plot made it hard for me to buy-in. I was honestly bored! Between the high level science and corporate legalese I was just zoning out.

Book Review for Not in Love by Ali Hazelwood

First Impressions: Don’t Forget the Science
What’s Your Type? Grumpy/Sunshine, Aquaintences With Benefits, No Strings Attached, One Night Stand Turns Into Something More
Meet Cute: I Never Thought I’d See You Again
The Lean: Slow Burn, Emotionally
Dirty Talk: Straight Up
We Need to Talk: Science as an Afterthought
Was it Good For You? Not the Best, But Not the Worst

First Impressions: Don’t Forget the Science
I used to really like the sciency aspect of Hazelwood’s covers; they were unique and quirky among the many other illustrated covers out there. But this one’s just lazy. Those test tubes look like a total afterthought, and it’s hard to tell that the thing in front is an experiment of some sort.

What’s Your Type?
- Grumpy/Sunshine
- Acquaintances With Benefits
- No Strings Attached
- One Night Stand Turns Into Something More

Dating Profile
Dr. Rue Siebert doesn’t really do people. But when she’s feeling a certain need, she reaches out to men via an app, they both benefit, and then they go their separate ways. No repeats, no strings attached. Nothing to detract her from her true love: working on a new chemical coating for fruits and veggies to keep them fresher, longer.

Eli Killgore isn’t looking for a relationship; he’s been there, done that. He’s too busy with his private equity firm and their interest in Kline, a promising startup in the biofuel industry. But he, too, occasionally needs to scratch an itch, and also turns to an app for quick and easy company.

Meet Cute: I Never Thought I’d See You Again
Rue contacts Eli through an app and expects a night of good fun. Instead, they get to deal with her aggressive brother and end up going home without going home, if you know what I mean. Both feel an immediate and powerful attraction to each other, however, and so consider doing what they don’t usually do: meet up a second time. Until they realize who each other are: Rue being a scientist at Kline and Eli being one of the people (allegedly) trying to take it over.

The Lean: Slow Burn, Emotionally
Rue doesn’t want to like Eli, especially when she thinks he’s trying to ruin everything she and her friend Florence, the founder and CEO of Kline, have worked so hard for. But she can’t resist the chemistry. Eli feels much the same way, if not more so, so the two fall into the spice from a pretty early point. It’s the emotional connection that comes later, through sharing difficult stories about their childhoods to learning the quirks of each other.

Dirty Talk: Straight Up
Rue and Eli are refreshingly honest and open about their likes and dislikes while getting to know each other’s sexual preferences. Rue, for example, doesn’t like penetrative sex (not because of any residual trauma, but because she’s never really enjoyed it) while Eli likes to take control. It’s nice to see two romance novel adults being so clear and explicit in their wants and consents.

Ms. Perky’s Prize for Purplest Prose
Being able to read Eli’s POV in this book is an interesting experience; he clearly falls for Rue long before she even gives the idea a subconscious thought. The poor guy is like a teenager again, constantly hard and reaching his climax nearly immediately. I feel bad for how uncomfortable he had to have been the entire book.

We Need to Talk: Science as an Afterthought
Hazelwood made a name for herself with her STEM-heavy romance novels but has slowly been moving away from the actual science. This latest book is the lightest on the science yet (aside from Bride, which is outside her norm), and although I’m not a scientist by any stretch of the imagination, I really liked how different the science aspects of her books made them seem. It makes me a bit sad that the science in Not in Love could have been replaced by any sort of other job, and it wouldn’t have changed the plot much at all.

Was it Good For You?
Although Not in Love is a spice-heavy book, I was more interested in the emotional relationship between Rue and Eli. The way they trusted each other with their darkest secrets was powerful, and their explicit and clear conversations about their preferences was a breath of fresh air. Kudos to Hazelwood for those aspects. (And the spice isn’t all that bad, either.)

“Her existence, apparently, did a lot for him. More than an elaborately staged erotic show.”

A forbidden, secret affair proves that all’s fair in love and science.
_
I just love the characters that Ali develops and the relationships they have to one another. We explored different types of preferences in this one as well.
The double cross hurt in this one. It sucks when you put your trust in the wrong place in your life and/ or your career.
Loved Rue and Eli, their forbidden relationship, their intensity and kink. She didn't want more than one time and he wanted it all. Love when he falls first and I think Ali’s men always fall for these beautiful and brilliant woman before they catch on. Loved how Rue is curvy and awkward and didn't feel like she could do a relationship. But he was so patient with her and made her feel all the things. Loved his preferences, so interesting. 🥵
I really hope we get another story with the friends from Harkness. Love a good hostile takeover with a twist.

Thank you berkleyromance

This was so unlike Ali Hazelwood's other books and yet it still reminded me of how much I love reading her books.
The author's note at the beginning of the book was perfect for the content of the book because I don't want anyone to pick this up expecting something that it is not (a cutesy rom-com like her others). This was a fun, quick, witty, spicy romance with an emotional subplot with a touch of mystery.
I started this and read it in one day. It was impossible to put down and all-consuming when I was reading it. Sometimes I felt overwhelmed by the amount of spice, but other than that I loved learning more about the characters throughout the story and I felt very emotional connected to Rue and her backstory. I also enjoyed the way Eli and Rue shared their worst stories with each other. That is such a wonderful addition to the book and helped us see new and more vulnerable layers to the characters!
3.5

Ali Hazlewood strikes again with an amazing STEM-romance! I loved Eli and Rue's dynamic and their understanding on what love is.

Thanks to #partners Berkley Romance and PRHaudio for the #gifted eARC and ALC for this clever and beautiful book.

Not in Love
by Ali Hazelwood
Duet narration by Callie Dalton and Jason Clarke

Story Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (0-5)
Narration: 🎧🎧🎧🎧🎧 (0-5)
Overall: 4.75/5
Steam: 🔥🔥🔥 ☄️ (0-5) Very vocal dirty talk and deliciously kinky and descriptive.

What I’m Starry-Eyed Over:
🤩 Cleverly written in dual POV with an important flashback, giving us that perfect, complicated, and forbidden meet-bad/meet-again workplace situation.
🤩 The unique (and maybe quirky) characterization is fabulous.
🤩 The combination of opposites attract plus instant attraction banter is top-notch.
🤩 All of these qualities in such gorgeous voices that are perfectly cast!! You can feel their every emotion (or non-emotion) deeply.
🤩 I love how the story confessions are weaved throughout the plot to help us know the MCs better as they are getting to know and trust each other.
🤩 Eli Killgore is total book boyfriend material. He is open, honest, caring, and puts Rue before everything. I love how he encourages her, his “Good girl.”
🤩 Eli and Rue are super steamy together in a very intimate way. I appreciate the deeper themes of trust and control even in their spicy moments.
🤩 On a personal note: I feel so seen with this beautifully written contemporary wallflower FMC.

What I’m Wishing/Dizzy About:
💫 They almost lost me in chapter one. It was a little too heavy in the private equity firm and loan assignment discussions going on. I’m so glad I pushed through, and the plot felt much more interesting once we got past the initial business stuff.