I am a HUGE Ali Hazelwood fan. Almost all of her stories I've given 5 stars and the couple I haven't were close 4 stars. The level of explicit content in this book was a huge disappointment. I usually skip the few spicy scenes, but this book was not a contemporary romance. The plot revolved around erotic connection and was not something I was interested in reading. I look forward to reading her STEM and YA books again instead.

Reading and listening to this book, I was immediately captivated by the protagonist's unwavering determination to pursue his goals, no matter the cost. I found myself engrossed in the author's skillful crafting of adrenaline-pumping action sequences that kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish.

While thoroughly enjoying the audio version of the book, I couldn't help but feel that at times, the steamy elements overshadowed the intricate storyline. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate a dash of romance woven into the plot, but there were moments where it threatened to distract from the main narrative thread.

Nevertheless, the sheer audacity of the protagonist's actions and the riveting plot twists more than made up for any minor shortcomings. Overall, this book is a thrilling read that left me pondering the lengths one will go to in pursuit of their desires.

Tropes;
- guy falls first
- rivals to lovers w/benefits?
- reverse grumpy x sunshine
- first/third pov narrative
- dual pov

I have to say Not In Love might be my least favourite Ali Hazelwood book so far. I didn’t quite love it but I didn’t dislike it either.

I just didn’t quite connect with this story or characters as much as I did with Ali’s other books.

It saddens me to report that Not in Love was not my favorite read 🙁 The biggest issue I had with this book were the main characters. I found it hard to relate with Rue. She was a little too prickly for me. I found myself getting frustrated with her, especially when she was developing feelings for Eli. As for Eli, I found him a little lacking...especially compared to Hazelwood's other book boyfriends. Over time, Eli's POV chapters didn't really add much to the storyline....they were basically just him simping over Rue. The instalove was a little too much for me. I did find some inconsistencies with the story. For example, in one scene, Eli drops Rue's hand....but moments later, he was still holding her hand. There also was a chapter where the weather was described differently within a few pages of each other. I hope these scenes get tightened up before the release date. I did like the plot of the story! Hazelwood's STEM world was just as strong as ever. I was a little disappointed with the ending. I wanted more justice for everyone. I thought Rue and Eli's secret sharing was cute. I also found the callback to Nolan and Mallory from Check & Mate fun! I was surprised by how smutty this book was. I think this story borders the line of heavy romance and erotica. I always enjoy Hazelwood's steamy scenes; however, this book was a lot. Although I didn't click with this book, I will still be eagerly awaiting Hazelwood's next novel. Thank you to Berkley for the ARC.

another ali hazelwood miss for me 😭😭😭 I’m either all in or all out for her novels, and for this one, it left me with a feeling of “oh that’s it?” 🫠

before the story even starts, ali does point out that it’s more of a hate sex erotica rather than a romance, which is not usually my groove, but her characters are so quirky and lovable I was in for it anyway! however, there was absolutely nothing lovable about rue and mr. killgore I’m sad to say

I’m just not a fan of the trope where the characters pretend not to care for each other because it’s “easier” or “they don’t do relationships” - and maybe this is touching on my own personal relationship trauma a bit 😅 BUT I’m all for honesty in relationships and when you’re holding something back, it’s just unfair to both parties involved

and other than good spicy scenes, I didn’t see the connection between rue and eli at all 🙃 and while the majority of that blame is on rue being introverted and anti-social solely based on the fact that she hates people, it still takes two to tango!!! and rue was a limp noodle dance partner!!!!

in romance, I do crave that solid foundation between the two MCs while creating a likable storyline surrounding the side characters and environment - and this one threw all of that out the window 😅 if you’re in it for the science and spice, I’d say it’s worth it - but otherwise, pick up another one of ali’s books instead…

thank you to berkley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

rating: 2.5 stars
wine pairing: columbia valley chardonnay

This one definitely had a different feel than Ali’s other books. It had a more serious tone to it, but still captured some of the dry humor. I found the setting of science/business really intriguing, and i enjoyed their relationship development!

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for this arc in exchange for an honest review!

"Out of all the people I've met, the things I've wanted, the places I've been, none has ever felt as necessary as you do. Because I love you."

I'm so sad to say that this is my first Ali Hazelwood disappointment. It had potential but I just wasn't feeling the execution. But I still love her writing, so I'm still pretty invested in the story and the characters, for the most part, so I'm not gonna let this put me off her books when I've really loved all the others.

There were two pretty big storylines, one personal and one professional, and for these characters, I thought it was too much. It would have been better to focus more on one of these storylines and really flush it out.

The two main characters weren't the best for me. For Eli, it seemed he was only about their physical relationship for quite a long time, so the inevitable declaration just felt out of place and too soon considering they never did anything together but fuck. For real. From the moment they met, I don't think he had one interaction with her where he wasn't pining to fuck her, and it just gave me the ick.

And Rue was very robotic. I like the type of character Ali was going for but I don't think it translated on the screen as well as it could have. She didn't show a lot of emotion, even in her POV chapters, so that also lead to the relationship just feeling very weird.

So definitely disappointed, but I'll forever belong to the Ali Hazelwood club.

I don’t think there will ever be a book that Ali Hazelwood writes that I won’t read. Even when she deviates from the STEM-focused, enemies to lovers books she’s known for because she will captivate me each and every time.

Considering her last three romance book releases were 5+ stars for me, I had super high expectations for this book, (which is why it was one of my most anticipated romance books of 2024) especially when she shared a note to readers saying that this was a book different from any other she’d written, must more steamy and an erotic romance at that.

Um…if that little tidbit was supposed to be a warning, it only made me want to snatch this book up that much faster.

While I agree that Not in Love is a bit different from her other books, I still found myself consumed and enjoying it while at the same time thinking that all of her fans might not but isn’t that what a great author does? Push their writing, push their readers and give us unique and amazing stories?

For those who don’t like spicy books, buckle up because when you first meet Rue and Eli, they have connected via a dating app and agreed to meet up for some f-cking. Plain and simple. A mere transaction where both bodies are shared for each other’s pleasure. Nothing more.
And yet their simple meeting doesn’t go as plan, setting up not only this intense and immediate attraction that becomes unfulfilled, but also a storyline that exposes two people dealing with some shit and I LIKED that so much.

So yes, this is an erotic romance in that Rue and Eli, though on opposite sides of a corporate takeover, cannot deny their attraction and end up getting together to f-ck on multiple occasions. And it’s these continued physical encounters that are the basis of their eventual emotional connection and relationship.

But I think describing this book as an erotic romance might give a wrong impression. Yes, it fits the definition of this type of romance and yet how Hazelwood approached and described their meetups made it less about tantalizing f-cking and more about two “regular” people who like the act versus two people who have any unusual kinks or other taboo interests that would make this book more spicy than it really is.

It's more about exploring how Rue felt most comfortable keeping it a simple body transaction versus actually exposing her true self. And yet at the same time, while they would hookup they also started this habit of sharing the most personal, “horrible” as they described them stories about themselves that laid them bare to the other person. This was my absolute favorite part of this book.

This personal sharing is what set the foundation of their trust, acceptance, and love for each other when regular dating was completely skipped over. Brilliant.

Usually it is Hazelwood’s heroines that captivate me but Eli stole the show in this one. Oh, how I loved this man and probably did so because this book was told from dual POV so it was easy to get in his head and really see how special this man truly was.

He saw this woman, social awkwardness and all, and had no interest in changing her. He was a man who fell first and HARD and just worked his way into her heart, slowly but surely, as he knew he was dealing with a woman who could easily bolt.

Rue was definitely a unique heroine, possibly neurodivergent (not that she needs a label) with a unique backstory. Though I found it hard to connect with her, I loved the moments when she would push past her hesitations.

This is truly a story about how these two strangers fall hard and fast despite the unfortunate work situation they are in. Their friends are involved but they paled in the background for me. Though Rue’s work is STEM-focused, it wasn’t a huge part of the story but did give an interesting angle to the company and storyline that connected them.

So while this book didn’t blow me away like Bride or Check & Mate (though I loved the quick nod to this book), two other books that also deviate from her signature, STEM and female-focused romance books, I enjoyed it all the same and highly recommend it.

Hazelwood is just one of those authors that is an auto-read because her craft just keeps getting better and better. I cannot wait to see what she comes out with next!

P.S. Can we also just sit in amazement of this cover. Stunning!

Thank you to Netgalley for the advanced reader copy. All opinions are my own.

Not in Love by Ali Hazelwood was such a quick read for me. It might have something to do with the fast pace or the fact that I tend to fast-forward through spicy scenes. But either way, the chemistry between Eli and Rue held me firmly in its grasp.

As I turned the pages, I was swept away by the effortless dynamic Rue and Eli discovered. Their journey proved the relentless power of love - which can be euphoric and redemptive. I loved how the characters were developed with layers of trauma and experiences that meshed into complexities that breathed life into them and made them relatable even when I couldn't relate.

Not in Love, with its unique dual POV narrative, leaves no doubt about the leads' shared feelings. From the moment Eli's perspective is introduced, it is evident that his attraction to Rue is something more. He is wholly and instantly bewitched by her. Then comes the story's big twist, and all bets are off - or are they?

This is Hazelwood's most sizzling contemporary romance yet. Fans of very steamy romances that border on Erotica will find this a delightful addition to their reading list.

Not In Love by Ali Hazelwood
Narrators: Callie Dalton, Jason Clarke
Rating: 4.5 stars
Steam: 4 chilis
Pub date: 6/11

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Berkley Romance for my advanced copy and PRH Audio for my complimentary audiobook.

Dr. Rue Siebert is a determined and successful biotech engineer working at her friend’s company when she faces the threat of a hostile takeover by the charming Eli Killgore. What begins as a battle for corporate control quickly spirals into a complex, secretive affair that challenges their loyalties and desires.

Ali Hazelwood doesn’t miss, and this book is right up there as one of my favorites of hers. This book packs an emotional punch, and is MUCH steamier than Hazelwood’s previous works! And that’s saying a lot coming from me.

Not In Love delivers a fun blend of corporate intrigue and forbidden romance that had me on the edge of my seat. Hazelwood captures the intense chemistry between Rue and Eli, which starts off with enemies-to-lovers vibes that quickly turns into friends with benefits. The way she writes the steamy, no-strings-attached relationship is captivating, where the attention to consent and communication really stands out.

Rue is a complex character who keeps her emotions in check and rarely shows what she’s feeling. She has turned a difficult situation from her childhood into her life’s work, which makes her situation with Eli even more volatile. Eli’s character is a nice surprise. Hearing his side of the corporate story and watching how hard he falls for Rue is so satisfying. The stark contrast between his vulnerabilities and Rue’s creates a balanced and relatable dynamic between these two. Their secret-sharing game is a nice touch, which builds trust between them and deepens their connection.

This well-paced novel hooked me from the start. I mostly listened to this on audio, and I thought the narrators did an amazing job bringing all the characters to life. This book is perfect for fans of contemporary romance with a touch of corporate drama.

Read if you like:
*women in STEM
*he falls first and harder
*reverse grumpy/sunshine
*dual POV
*open door spice

Could their chance meeting be pure coincidence? Or, were they just going to meet in one way or another?

STEaMy romance yet again from the ever so awesome Alison Hazelwood! This one was good, but not my favorite, only because I am more for the body, the characters, and the science academia than the steam. I was dying to know about the connection between Eli and Florence, before Rue got in the mix, and it was just what I expected. I still enjoyed - I read and listened to this one, and I was so thrown off by Rue’s 1st POV and Eli’s 3rd POV. The attraction and chemistry were there, but I could’ve done with less steam lol.

I have no doubt many people will love this book! It is so easy to read and Ali has a way of making you fall in love / connect with the characters. This is definitely not my favorite Ali Hazelwood book but is only because it is so different. Just a lot more spice than I enjoy in a book. However, I love that she is exploring with her writing. I know this is going to be the perfect read for so many people and I would definitely recommend it. There were so many things I enjoyed! I thought the pacing was great, I loved having two POVs, the characters were lovely and sensitive topics were discussed mindfully. I still really enjoyed this book but it was definitely more out of my comfort zone.

Another Ali Hazelwood book to swoon over! Not in Love had me kicking my feet, giggling, gasping, and fanning myself all at the same time! It is humorous, steamy, angsty, and oh-so fun! I love dual point of view books but typically have one POV that I favor over others, but not here. This is a true page turner that I never wanted to put down with each changing point of view adding more and more value to the story. This is easily my new favorite Ali Hazelwood book and I cannot wait to see what she writes next!

thank u netgalley, librofm & publishers for the e-arc 😛

food chemical scientists, family trauma, ‘rivals’ with benefits, praise/degradation 😮‍💨, with hints of sports romance as the characters were both student athletes

dare i say this is ali hazelwood’s sluttiest book yet? (and i say that with love)

it is her typical steminist formula BUT with 2 main characters who are emotionally damaged, stoic, and find solace in their ‘no strings attached’ relationship

i truly enjoy the sameness of hazelwood’s novels while simultaneously watching her grow as a writer. aging like some fizzy, sparkling wine.

rue was a fascinating heroine to follow with a tragic backstory,
and eli… i mean… what can i say? im a slut for a big, grumpy hockey player
sue me!!! 👩🏻‍⚖️

Not my favorite by Ali, but not my least favorite either. I really enjoyed the plot! Where this book fell flat for me is the romance. The way Rue and Eli met was interesting, but once they hit a certain point in their relationship things went downhill for me. Things felt like they were moving incredibly fast and felt unrealistic. The plot kept me going til the end.

Not in Love - Ali Hazelwood
* Women in STEM
* He's obsessed, falls first & falls harder
* Her spiciest book yet
* Rivals to lovers
* Workplace romance
* Secrets

I have really mixed feelings and I'm not sure how to rate this one just yet. But I'm leaning towards 3.75. I liked this book, but I wanted so much more from it at the same time.

Rue grew up impoverished. She is self-proclaimed, weird with food, due to her childhood trauma surrounding food insecurity. She also struggles with reading people and navigating social cues. She exudes a number of traits similar to that of people on the autism spectrum, but it is unclear throughout the entire book (unless I missed something) if she is on the spectrum, or if some of these traits are related to her upbringing.

Eli is a golden retriever. He will essentially do or be anything to get Rue's attention. It's endearing the way he wants to learn everything about her and do everything he can for her. There are times it comes off slightly desperate but he's just so gone for her it's cute. Also, I love his dog Tiny!

I found Not In Love lacked plot, and the very minimal plot that was there was very predictable. I would have liked the reason for the "villain's" actions and decisions to be more complex than just "I didn't have a choice, half heartedly blaming another person who is no longer in their life, then turning around and doing it again with zero justification other than "what else was I supposed to do?" and a disingenuous "sorry".

90% of this story was Rue putting up walls and Eli doing his best to smash through them, but like.. respectfully.

This couple did have chemistry, and the amount of spice in this book clearly demonstrated it. Rue struggled with social interactions and communication, so Eli resorted to communicating with her almost exclusively through hooking up. I would have liked to see some more relationship development outside of the bedroom.

I did really like the trauma bonding and sharing of the horrible stories about themselves. It helped demonstrate the level of trust they were working on developing.

I absolutely loved the work Rue was was working on and appreciated how it connected to her story. I hope it is something that could actually be created one day.

Ali always does an excellent job of representing women in STEM and the struggles with living that academia life. There is no question she did that again.

One thing that I found slightly frustrating though, was as someone who considers myself well educated, there were so many uses of unnecessarily large or overtly complex words that were unrelated to the science. As someone who is not a scientist by trade, I expect to not know all the science-y verbiage, but there were several situations where I found myself stopping to google a word that I was unfamiliar with, that was entirely unrelated to the science. It made me question my own vocabulary. I understand that Ali is an incredibly well educated woman, but some of the language and syntax felt unnecessarily complex.

Thank you to NetGalley, Berkeley Romance and Alida Hazelwood for the opportunity to read and advanced copy of Not In Love.

Not in Love was not an easy read for me. In fact, I had to put the book down for three weeks before I could start again. The book shares the story of Rue and Eli, two damaged souls who find happiness and love against the odds. What made it difficult for me is that Eli and his company are trying to take over the company Rue works for, one that is owned by her close friend and mentor, Florence. Right from the start, there are clear indicators that the group, especially Eli and Hark, has a personal issue with Florence, and they are working to get back at her for something. Eli keeps this from Rue, yet he pursues her with determination. I don’t like stories where one MC is actively working to bring down the other MC. So I pressed pause.

But I did start again because I adore Hazelwood’s characters and writing; she has yet to disappoint. Coming back to the book, I realized that I’d already read the worst of it, and that Rue goes into her chaotic affair with Eli knowing he’s actively trying to take over Florence’s company. She may not know why, but she’s aware it’s happening. It’s not a story of one character holding a secret over the other that will ruin everything. It’s a story about a woman who believes she’s incapable of loving someone and isn’t lovable herself. It’s a story about a man who doesn’t think he can be happy or love another in the way they deserve to be loved.

The pair have powerful chemistry. Yes, they have amazing sexual chemistry, but it’s way more. They click. Each makes the other think and feel things they haven’t before. The more time they spend together, the more they learn one another - not just about one another but how the other thinks, what they feel and what makes them feel good. They cannot stay away because their connection is so powerful and all-consuming. And I love when they stop pretending each hookup is the last one, because deep down, they know it’s something spectacular and worth defying the situation for.

Eli is kind and generous and loves Rue because of her quirks. He wants what is best for her, even if he ends up heartbroken. He’s patient, knowing Rue needs time and can’t always express her feelings. And he’s there for her when things fall apart. Seeing Rue accept his help and work out how to love Eli back is so rewarding.

In the end, I am so thankful I didn’t give up on Not in Love. It’s a delightful romance that warmed my heart. Eli and Rue are perfect for one another and I’m so happy I finished their story.

My Rating: B+

I finished this about a month ago and I'm still trying to work out how I feel about it. I honestly don't know how to rate it because the spice???? Her best yet. Off the charts, inSANELY horny. Even a little kinky??? 6⭐️. This man is down so bad for her it is pathetic in the most delicious way possible.

But I think the things that held me back from loving this the same way I have loved everything else Ali has written is that there are some big components of the story that feel underdeveloped. There are some very major pieces of Rue's backstory that are frequently talked about at surface level but never explored in a way that feels fully formed, namely her history with food insecurity, her brother, and both her and Eli's skating careers. Maybe this was an intentional writing choice because Rue is extremely closed off about her past, but I was so hungry for more information to help me better understand her. Ultimately, Rue firmly holds EVERYONE at arm's length–including the reader.

This is also very insta-lovey (insta-lusty?) romance, which I personally ate up like a feral little goblin, but it won't be everyone's cup of tea. The plot and pacing felt confusing and choppy at times, but the romance and spice were amazing as always. 🤷🏻‍♀️ Don't go into this expecting something similar to her other novels–come into it ready for something very different from her previous books in both plot and writing style!

After reading and loving everything Ali has previously written I couldn’t wait to get my hands on her new STEMinist novel. However this felt very different than her previous books.

What I liked:
- the focus on intelligent women making strides in a male dominated field.
- great communication and understanding between the characters
- The plot line as a whole, figuring out what would happen with the company she was so invested in.

What I didn’t like:
- The beginning was overly scientific and I felt lost and confused
- so many sex scenes. I don’t mind some spice in a book, but this was just too much.

I absolutely love Ali’s books. This one I would say kind of disappointed me. I love Ali’s STEM books and how we see women in STEM finding their way and finding love. This one felt different. It definitely felt more smutty and angsty rather than a fun cute romance. The story also felt like we could have had any job mentioned for the characters careers and didn’t really give me STEM vibes. The romance between Eli and Rue was kind of odd at times. They both just seemed detached and there wasn’t much banter or talking it was basically just hooking up with zero emotions/ one sided emotions. It definitely has the he falls first vibes and the guy is smitten if you’re into that. I think just overall I’m not convinced the characters really worked that well together. Eli by far seemed more fully fleshed out as a character. I understand Rue has a lot more growing to do but I felt like we never really got to know Rue beyond seeing bits of her through Eli’s POV and during her POV chapters she always seemed a bit melancholy and detached. I did love getting both POV’s and thought that the story progressed slowly in the beginning but after the 50% mark I was more invested. The big build up of why Eli’s company wanted to take over Rue’s was a little dissatisfying. I wanted a specific character to suffer a bit more but that’s just me. The epilogue was cute and I did love the name dropping of the Check & Mate characters little crossover. Overall this was decent and had some spicy scenes and a cute dog companion and would recommend it to fans of Ali’s books and people who like moody angsty romances. I think for me personally I just have Ali set at such a high standard I wanted more.

Huge thank you to Berkley for providing me with an eARC