I was excited for this one because I have really liked all of this author’s books so far. Overall this wasn’t my favorite of her books, but it still had a lot of things in it that I did like. Honestly, for the first time I feel like finding out what was going on with Rue’s mentor was almost more the reason I kept going than the romance, which is unusual for me. Usually that aspect of the story is secondary as I’m really enjoying the romance.

I think because of some of that, it made it a little slower read for me, but then with all that has been going on in my life lately there are possibly other reasons it was slow for me that had nothing to do with the story.

As always, Hazelwood creates characters that may have some issues with intimacy. For example, when Rue met up with her hook-up dates, she took penetration off the list of acts they might engage in. However with Eli, things seemed different and she was able to try some new things and learned maybe her past experiences had more to do with the people as opposed to whether she would enjoy the acts or not. But I also don’t feel like it was set up that all of a sudden the right person made everything perfect in that way either. It had more to do with how Eli handled things and made sure she was enjoying what they did.

Eli’s character was charming and persistent, kind of like a puppy dog at times. In fact his dog and Rue’s attitude toward it was interesting. His POV when we got it was third person, whereas Rue’s was first person. We didn’t quite get the whole back story on Rue’s boss and why Eli and his friends were out to get her company from her, but it was obvious something bad had happened. And after we met his friends in the story, it was also obvious to me that it really must have been something that had been done to them, they were too nice/good of people to just be out for petty revenge.

As I mentioned it was needing to know just what their reasons were that kept me going in the story. Finding it out, and seeing how she reacted when confronted, well it was interesting, and also made Rue’s decision make a lot of sense for me. So while I did enjoy this story, and am glad I read it, it isn’t my favorite by the author, although there were parts that did stick out for me that I enjoyed. And one of the bedroom scenes was really, really hot. Which with how she kind of discussed the hook up with him at the beginning I wasn’t sure if I would be able to feel that way about those scenes in this book. But in the end, it was good!

As much as I've loved all of Ali Hazelwood’s books, her latest contemporary romance, Not in Love, impressed me. It’s her first with a dual perspective narration (first person from Rue; third person following Eli), and it also feels like her most mature and serious book to date.

Rue Siebert is unlike any of this author’s previous heroines. She’s not outgoing or fun or quirky. Rue is socially awkward, straight-forward, and claims to have no sense of humor. I could relate to her shyness and social ineptness, to a degree. (She’s far less of a people pleaser, though!) Similarly, Eli steps out of the bounds of previous Ali Hazelwood heroes: He’s confident, sociable, and easy-going (until his temper strikes). He’s an interesting contrast to Rue, and yet they’re also the perfect balance for each other.

Not in Love is very much about the world of biofuel and food technology, a subject I’ve only read about in one other romance (Kiss Me, Mi Amor by Alana Quintana Albertson). It’s totally STEM, based in the world of tech start-ups, and talks about finance and law quite a bit. This book will take some concentration and at least some enjoyment of the business world, but it’s not overdone. Trust me, even if you know nothing about any of those topics, it’s all spelled out easily enough here. Rue herself barely understands what’s happening, so readers can join her in a bit of confusion.

This book also dives into some tougher backstories. Early on, Rue and Eli begin bonding over their sharing of their worst stories, anecdotes from their personal lives that bring them shame. Rue once stole money from her best friend’s parents; Eli’s last words to his mother were horrible. Both have family traumas that they’re working through. Rue’s background, in particular, is hard: She was food insecure throughout her childhood, and it’s what led her to her passion for engineering improved food stability through her lab work.

Beyond their harsher confessions, Rue and Eli also bond in their physical connection. Rue is emotionally closed off, so real intimacy won’t come until much later. But the two do develop a strong sexual bond and eventually get into some kinkier activities. It’s more than I usually see in romances, but done so well here. It helps further their trust and emotional connection, even when everything else around them seems like an uphill battle.

One of my favorite things about Rue and Eli’s relationship is the sense of understanding and security Rue feels with him. As a shy person myself, I completely understand what it’s like to feel awkward with most people… and how magical it can be to instantly connect with someone who makes you feel normal and truly seen. That’s how it was when I first met my husband, and it’s something that Rue expresses several times throughout Not in Love. It made me love their relationship that much more.

Not in Love is different from Ali Hazelwood’s other books: Darker, more serious, steamier. But it also has her core elements: People in STEM, an important backdrop of workplace drama, and characters who are easy to like (at least, once you get to know them better!). I loved this one and can see how her writing and storytelling are evolving. This may appeal to different subsets of her readers, but for me, it’s among her best ones yet.

I love everything Ali Hazelwood puts out, and I’ve been super excited to see her branching out into different genres lately; Fantasy romance with Bride, erotic romance with Not in Love, and an anticipated college/sports romance Whet in 2025. With that said, I would like to provide the forward from Ali at the beginning of Not in Love:

Not in Love is, tonally, a little different from the works I’ve published in the past. Rue and Eli have dealt with – and still deal with – the fallout from issues such as grief, food insecurity, and child neglect. They are eager to make a connection but are not sure how to go about it except through a physical relationship. The result is, I think, less of a rom-com and more of an erotic romance.

Not an issue, my queen. Let’s get to the review.

What I liked about the book:
1. Along the lines of her forward, this is truly a different side of Ali. We still got the typical quick wit and cool girl snark that we love from her writing, but we got a lot more of a heavy tone. Both of our MCs come from less than happy backgrounds and Ali leaned into these experiences.

Rue and her younger brother came from a single parent upbringing that could only be described as inconsistent. There were times her mom had a job or support and they had enough food, and then there were times they would go days without food. Not only did this spur her working towards scientific food preservations methods in her career, but it continues to affect her in small and large ways throughout the story. From not wanting to be rushed to eat, to simply not eating enough at times, to not being able to have more than a one-night stand with someone because of the feeling that the tables were always going to turn any minute, Rue was an emotion-evoking character for sure. I especially loved that she came off cold, but she was really just super insecure and nervous. Me and my RBF can totally relate to that! Here is a good quote that sums it up:

If people perceived me as aloof and detached, then they would want to keep their distance. And if they kept their distance, then they wouldn’t notice how nervous and blundering and inadequate I was.

Eli had a slightly different life, wrapped in adversity/conflicts with his parents (more his father), and then the burden of taking on his sister who was ~14 years his junior when he was 25 and his parents died. At that age, he was not secure financially and often resented everyone, including his sister for the situation. An incredibly raw admission, but real and believable all the same.

2. I loved the way our MCs were able to connect: through telling each other increasingly worse stories about themselves, revealing some of the worst parts of themselves they hadn’t always told others, and seeing if the other backed away from it being too much. Hint: It never was!

This is such a vulnerable position to put themselves in, but it worked for them given they both had a lot of stories and were able to listen to the other person without judgment because of their mutually devastating backgrounds. While it killed the romance lover in me that they resisted getting together for so long, this is one of my favorite ways I’ve seen two characters connect and I want to see more of this in other stories! For two people coming from unhealthy places, this was a very healthy step towards their long awaited HEA.

3. I loved the side characters.

Tisha and her sister Nyota were hilarious, especially when they bickered like the sisters they were; they were definitely the comedic relief in this book. They also both had Rue’s back when needed, making them very loveable side characters.

Minami was one of the four heads of the acquiring company, and really the brains behind a lot of the science stuff. She was the epitome of a woman who straightens another woman’s crown and I LOVED HER! Even with what happened to her in her past (won’t be spoiling what though!), she definitely didn’t want to pass that experience forward onto another woman in science. True Queen move.

Hark is one of the four heads of the acquiring company, and arguably the head head if that makes sense. I loved how he was a bit of a hard character to like. Under everything, you can tell he is a good dude, but given his personal life being in shambles, his professional life is his baby. I couldn’t blame him for the thoughts he had, but I definitely want to see the grump fall in love! With Eli’s younger sister, Maya, already having a long-term crush on the man, I’m hoping to the GODS that Ali gives us a second story in this series involving an age-gap romance between these two. Don’t think I didn’t notice him asking about her and some of the looks he had when her name was brought up! I see you Hazelwood!

Sul was another one of the 4 heads of the acquiring company, and was also the husband of Minami. He kinda took a back seat in this book, but his support of Minami at all times was lovely.

4. As mentioned previously, we still got Ali’s trademark “cool girl snark”. I reserve the “cool girl snark” descriptor for the authors who write snarky characters and effortlessly sarcastic humor, similar speaking to how I imagine the really cool alt girls in school I was too intimidated to talk to spoke like. These are your Lorelai Gilmores, Stevie Budds, April Ludgates, and at least 2 of the Derry Girls. Ali is one of the authors in my illustrious “cool girl snark” club and I’m happy she has kept her place there with this title.

What I wasn’t a fan of:
1. With the forward talking of this being more of an erotic romance and the kinks being mentioned between the MCs, I guess I was just expecting a bit more in that department. There was nothing in the intimate times that really stood out to me, which is not typical of a Hazelwood book. Usually, I am lusting after the MMCs hardcore and am jealous of the FMCs. I can see why Hazelwood would say this was more erotic given the number of encounters, I just felt the encounters were not as sizzling as others I’ve read in her other books. DO NOT GET ME WRONG, this book was still swoony as hell, but not “erotic” in my own opinion.

2. I’m not sure if this was the case for her other books, but Rue’s chapters were written in first person while Eli’s were in third person. The inconsistency was not my favorite.

Thank you to NetGalley, Berkley Publishing Group, and Ali Hazelwood for the opportunity to read this book. The thoughts above are honest and my own.

Ali Hazelwood is coming at us hard with Not in Love. We consistently say that we enjoy her books, but we want something a little new from her. We sure got that with Bride, and now with Not in Love she's tweaking her formula (that's a STEMMy thing to say, right?). So sure, this is kind of the same thing we've read from Hazelwood before, but it's also a little bit different. For example, it's dual POV (her first?!); the MMC is a finance bro, not a scientist; the FMC is tall (!); and they both have interests outside of their jobs. Also, this is a sex book. Like, fully 30-40% of this book is sex, and up until 25% of the book no one bangs anyone. (As Laine says, hopefully you can extrapolate about the back 3/4 of the book.)

What's the setup? Rue and Eli meet after connecting on a hookup app. Although they don't immediately move into the one night stand, the attraction is there. The next day, they run into each other under very different circumstances: Eli's investment group hopes to acquire the tech startup where Rue works. Since Rue is besties with the founder and CEO, this means she and Eli are now mortal enemies. And we don't bang our enemies... do we? (Obviously we do, it's called "enemies to lovers" for a reason.)

Did we love this book? Well, kinda. We both inhaled it in one afternoon. Let's just say that Ali Hazelwood isn't leaving our TBR list anytime soon.

This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel.

I'm not really sure that this book should get a rating from me. It's not that I didn't enjoy reading it, but that I don't think Ali Hazelwood is the best author to tackle these characters. Rue and Eli aren't the idealistic MCs we typically see in trad published contemporaries; they're flawed, selfish, more comfortable with physical than emotional connection, and aren't necessarily looking to change any of that. It's a departure from her previous books and I'm not sure it quite landed with me.

Thanks to Berkley and Netgalley for my copy to review.

🧪 Book Review 🧪

Not In Love by Ali Hazelwood
🧪
How is it possible that I love every new book Ali comes out with more than the last one? This is her spiciest book so far, and the first dual POV, and I devoured it! Rue is so relatable. She’s quirky, shy, and socially anxious, but feels things very deeply. Eli is incredibly sweet, utterly filthy, and completely obsessed with her. He falls first, and falls harder. He used to be a hockey player and is an ex-scientist with baggage, but all that only makes him more sensitive and caring. Their chemistry was explosive and uncontrollable, which led to some truly excellent spice. At the same time, they were tender and vulnerable with each other, and seeing their relationship grow into something real was super sweet. I adored everything about this book and want to reread it immediately.
🧪
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
🧪
Read if you like:
▫️women in STEM
▫️work romance
▫️enemies to lovers
▫️forbidden love
▫️“one night stand” never doing this again
▫️dual POV
🧪
Thank you to Berkley, Penguin Random House, NetGalley, and Ali Hazelwood for the ARC. I received an advanced copy for free, and am leaving this review voluntarily.

I really enjoyed this one, my favorite Hazelwood book yet. Despite the insta-love (which I typically don't like) I totally felt the chemistry between Eli and Rue and totally rooted for them. I liked them sharing about their past family lives and challenges with each other in an organic way. I think that's why it didn't feel like insta-love as much - because they did end up sharing so much about themselves with one another. I appreciated the discussion of food insecurity in this book as well, I haven't seen it addressed much in books and think it's something that should be talked about more. I loved the strong women in STEM representation as usual and while it was less science in this one it still covered a lot of issues that come up in the scientific world. And the steam was off the charts in this one! Definitely a spicy one! The only part I didn't love was the very ending. Like the epilogue. I don't think I really needed it, would've been happy with it ending right before the epilogue. The audiobook was fantasic, the narrators really brought the characters to life for me!

𝙂𝙚𝙣𝙧𝙚 🎭: romance
𝙎𝙥𝙞𝙘𝙚: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
𝙋𝙖𝙘𝙚 🏃🏼‍♀️: pretty fast
𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 🖤: edging & banter

I'm really loving this style of writing for Ali. I enjoyed this book a lot more than her previous STEM romances and I think she's really found a good rhythm with plot and romance.

I came for the plot but stayed for the spice. Holy banter. Some hints at more ✨taboo✨ themes in there 😉. The story definitely took a back seat at times but it worked for me.

The duet narration was great. I listened at 2x for the majority of the book. I do wish some of the side characters were duet narrated (Callie narrated some of the male side characters where it would have benefited from Jason narrating). Very enjoyable.

Ali Hazelwood brings the heat in this new spin on an enemies-to-lovers romance with a touch of the forbidden that will have you flipping pages and not wanting to put this story with the perfect blend of sweetness and spice down.

Biotech engineer Rue loves her job and has been working meticulously on a project that is very close to her heart. But when her company is being taken over by mysterious new partners, one being Rue’s previously dashing and handsome romantic connection, Eli, everything suddenly becomes more complicated. Lines are crossed and boundaries are drawn, but her pull to Eli remains the same—undeniably and unfortunately magnetic.

I literally read this book in two sittings! It was so easy to fall into this new story with chemistry-filled tension, angst, and tons of adorable romantic sparks. I loved the amount of depth Hazelwood brought to this love story. The romance was at the heart of Rue and Eli’s tale, and through that connection, they were able to grow and take control of the direction of their lives. It was very sweet to see unfold, and my heart was with them—through all the ups and downs. I am also such a sucker for the found family trope, and this has a touch of that as well.

This one is more on the steamier end of Hazelwood’s books but helped add to their overall journey, and *whew* I was here for it!

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.*

Thanks to Berkely via NetGalley for the eARC. All opinions are my own.

Not in Love is now my fave adult, contemporary, non-paranormal Ali Hazelwood book (Bride remains my all time fave!). The tone of the book is a bit darker than Ali's previous STEM books, and the MCs have dealt with/are dealing with some heavier issues. As someone who grew up lower-income, I could really appreciate the care Ali put into writing about these issues, including food insecurity, and the long-lasting impact it has on a person, even when life is a lot better.
I liked how we left the university setting in this book, and moved into a more corporate setting, though linkages with university research and culture is still present. It helps, I think, to foster a better understanding of what academics can experience when wanting to have ownership of their work. As to the cutthroat nature of said ownership.... it sadly wouldn't surprise me if that happens in real life.

Rue and Eli's sexual chemistry is off the charts from the beginning, but whether it can be something more isn't as certain given Rue's reticence to be in a relationship, as well as the potential conflicts of interest given their work situation. But as they spend more time together, Rue learns to trust Eli, but more critically, to trust herself.

I really enjoyed the whole story beyond Rue and Eli's relationship.

The spice is definitely spicy in this book; moreso than Ali's previous books, so readers should be aware of that. Definitely read the author's note at the beginning before starting.

Not in Love has a preface by Hazelwood that it is more erotic romance than rom-com. I will say that it is more erotic romance than her other books, but for those of us who read spicy romance, this is NOT erotic romance. More sex scenes? Yes, but that is the only real difference.

Rue is a typical Hazelwood heroine-smart, goal oriented, and socially less skilled. But, she also struggles with issues from her childhood, making her more prickly. Eli is way into Rue from day 1, which I always love, but its more about her physical appearance, which I don't love. Don't get me wrong-he likes, her but he talks/thinks about her its about her looks. Not a fan. There is some other woman drama too that I was not a fan of. It isn't a big deal, but it was like an annoying gnat that you can't manage to swat away.

Not in Love has the typical banter one expects from Hazelwood's books and it is good. I liked Rue because it isn't so much that she can't socialize, its that she doesn't care to because she isn't going to pretend to be interested in other things for the sake of conversation. Overall, I enjoyed the story-good characters (including the side characters), intelligence on display, and an interesting story. Not my favorite Hazelwood read, but solid.

I think this might be Ali's spiciest book (although I haven't read Bride yet). I ate this UP! Rue is quirky and Eli is a hopeless romantic. He can't get enough of her and (in the beginning) she's like, you're cool I guess. Then BAM!

What I like about Ali's books is that I learn new things about STEM. I was super interested in Rue's research and totally wish something like it was on the market already.

If you liked Love Theoretically, I think you'll like this one! Kind of the same premise - enemies / rivals. The story was fast-paced and kept my attention!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Not In Love? More like I love this wholly with every part of my being.

I feel like Ali’s books just keep getting better and better. Not In Love was so f*cking good that I’m going to be shoving people out of the way (or stalking my mailman) so that I can get her next release in my hands faster.

I can’t decide if this is now my favorite book of hers or Bride. If this one had knotting, it would for sure be my favorite.

Not In Love is hands down Ali’s spiciest book yet. 🥵

Eli, like the rest of Ali’s MMC, is utterly perfect and I think I fell in love with him the second time he appeared on the page. And what is even better is that WE GET HIS POV. I’ve always wanted chapter’s from the man’s POV in Ali’s books and we finally got it with this one!

Rue’s grumpiness was the perfect contrast to Eli’s sunshine-y personality. Their chemistry was palpable and if I was forced to only read one book again, this would be a top contender.

I don’t know how she does it, but Hazelwood has such a skill for writing love stories that are exceptionally bingeable to me – no matter the tropes. Fast burn, “it’s just a hookup” romances featuring prickly, black cat heroines are usually not my favorites, but I ate this up in a single day. The chemistry between these two was palpable, the story was fresh and different, and I was completely immersed in the romance. It’s significantly spicier than Ali’s usual, with a couple who work out their frustrations and discover their compatibility in the bedroom before they let emotions get involved. It’s got definite “he falls first” vibes with a forbidden element and an edge of dislike, which made every interaction feel charged with tension. So good. It’s also truly dual perspective (unusual for the author), so I loved getting to see both sides of the story and scrutinizing every scene for the deeper meaning beneath the heat. It kept me on my toes and made me adore the couple in a way I didn’t expect – I loved it!

The story follows Rue, a scientist working on a project that is close to her heart. She’s friends with her boss and admires the woman’s accomplishments, so Rue is upset when some finance guys step in and attempt to do a hostile takeover of the company. Even worse, though? One of the guys is Eli, Rue’s failed hookup and unexpected connection from the night before. The two are on opposite sides of a very messy situation, but it’s impossible to deny that they’ve got a connection. A physical one, at least – Rue doesn’t let emotions get involved with anyone. But there’s something about Eli that keeps pulling her back in, even when she loathes everything he represents.

In some ways, this felt like a “Hazelwood” book, and in others it was very, very different. For starters, the spice level is MUCH higher than usual – perhaps even higher heat than a Tessa Bailey book, for example. It might not be for the same audience as The Love Hypothesis, but I read all heat levels, so I was happy to go along for the ride. The spice is also incredibly important to the relationship development, revealing things about these characters and the way they feel about each other. The spice is also intimate and fueled by sexual tension, so it lends plenty of depth to the story. The forbidden element was great, and I liked that more layers were revealed as the story progressed. I also loved that we got so much of Eli’s perspective – he is such a fantastic character, so steady and sure in some ways, yet so out of his element with his girl. Rue is a true black cat heroine, reluctant to get involved and a definite flight risk. They were fire together, and I loved them both more and more as the story progressed. This held my attention with ease, and showcased just how addictive Hazelwood’s writing style is to me.

THIS WAS SO GOOD. Ali's writing is clearly getting so much better with every single book and I TRULY loved this one. I was kicking my feet this entire time.

rue and eli are here! ali said that this is her angsiest yet, and boy did she mean it. these characters are so complex and fighting against so many external and internal forces and I ate it up. and eli is 👏 down bad👏

when rue’s lab is going under, eli and his company buy the loan. but it wasn’t the first time they met. they had a chaotic meet cute the night before after matching on a dating app. what follows is a delicious forbidden, forced proximity ✨we shouldn’t✨ romance that was so much fun to read.

also ali’s first dual pov romance was perfection.

I do have to say rue’s “I don’t do love” and eli’s lack of character development held this back from being a 5 star read for me. eli’s whole personality was being obsessed with rue at points and it got somewhat tired. I’m also not the biggest fan of workplace romances so I wasn’t as invested as others might be.

🎧 thank you so much to libro.fm for an alc. callie dalton and jason clarke brought these characters to life so perfectly.

thank you to berkley romance and netgalley for an earc!

read if you like
✨ forbidden
✨ workplace romance
✨ just once to get it out of our system

Ali Hazelwood’s novels typically run more towards a slow burn love story but Not In Love immediately introduces the heat and the flame just gets hotter as the story moves forward, never dimming. Not quite erotica, but the steamiest novel I’ve read in quite awhile. So, if you are leary of explicit scenes, especially in audio books, you may want to steer towards a paperback that you can skim through. This author has always done a great job at building up the tension in the two main characters, and because she’s taken away the ‘will they or won’t they’ build-up she supplies us with a really great subplot, the reason for Kline’s takeover.

In an interview I read with the author, she described this novel as being full of “angst”. I’d certainly agree. Rue delves into this secret relationship with Eli, has constant regrets, and her friends don’t want her to have this relationship. Eli, too, has friends who don’t agree with his pursuit of Rue. Reading both character’s POV’s help the reader understand these characters and definitely adds to the emotional tension. I was thankful for Eli’s point of view because Rue comes off as kind of a cold character, hiding all of her wants and needs behind this cool persona. A facade she uses to protect herself from hurt. If I hadn’t been able to see how Eli viewed Rue, it may have been difficult to get past her walls and identify with her and like her.

I truly enjoy these STEM romances by Hazelwood. She is now not the only one writing in this sub-sub genre, but I favor her style and look forward to seeing what aspects of real-life women she will write into her characters. Rue was a little more difficult to like, but I still appreciated her differences and loved how Eli viewed and was attracted to her character. Their love story was different, a little more antagonistic, and yes “angsty”, but I still enjoyed reading their story.

"I'd rather not surround myself with someone who'll hurt me just to get ahead."

To tell you the full and entire truth, I apply for arcs of Ali Hazelwood for my very best friend, who loves her as much as I love Nora Roberts. She gets to devour them, and I get to enjoy the journey of watching her love an author so entirely. It's not that I don't enjoy Ali's books, because I do, and more so with each that I read, it's just that I wouldn't pick them up on my own time if I didn't have a reason to do so.

I think that has officially changed with Not in Love. I love when you can watch an artist build their craft over time, come into themselves, and find who they are in whatever they create. Ali's voice gets more and more clear with each story she tells us, and this one really hit for me. I loved Rue's reasoning for what she does, how she feels, and how unapologetic she is at being herself. It's so rare to see a female character not be made to change while also remaining kind-hearted and good. She never pushes who she is into other people's faces, doesn't expect them to like her, and keeps to herself whenever she feels like a bit too much for the world.

Some may say she puts herself into a box. I say that she respects her boundaries and never pushes herself to be something she isn't. It's beautiful, creative, and entertaining. I was lost in getting to know her. It was so relaxing to watch someone fall in love with a person and not an idea. Because I think that's what Rue and Eli had been missing, why they thought they would never find a person to love. They didn't take a moment to understand that it comes from falling in love with a soul. Choosing someone, no matter how broken you feel or act. Being there for all the parts of someone they believe isn't enough.

And while all of Ali Hazelwood's books are love stories in one way or another, this one was a friendship story as well. Of how sometimes friends break your heart, and sometimes that hurts so much more than any other. How sometimes you trust the wrong people, and sometimes it isn't because they're terrible, but because they thought they were doing the right thing, selfishly, for themselves.

Eli and his friends joke about how "it's the friends you make along the way" that matter, but I think that is the true gift of this story. That it is the friends you make along the way. That it always should be. That they're going to encourage and embrace you for all you are without any gains or expectations other than a shared joy in never holding yourself back.

I loved this book. I'm so grateful to my own very best friend that gets me to read things I never would have picked up on my own. I can't imagine not having been able to read this, experience it, love it. Thank you to netgalley for giving me the opportunity to slow-burn fall in love with Ali Hazelwood. I hope you can feel just how truly honest this review is.

Book Review: Not in Love by Ali Hazelwood

"Not in Love" by Ali Hazelwood is a delightful, heartwarming, and romantic read.
Rue Siebert, a biotech engineer, has her world turned upside down by a hostile takeover led by the irresistibly attractive Eli Killgore. Despite being on opposite sides, Rue and Eli can't deny their attraction, leading to a secret, no-strings-attached affair.
The story is engaging and romantic, with a perfect mix of workplace drama and tender moments. The characters are well-developed, hardworking, and loyal. The push-pull dynamic between Rue and Eli kept me hooked, and their chemistry is undeniable.
Ali Hazelwood's writing is heartfelt and light, making it easy to root for Rue and Eli. Even though it's different from her usual STEM-focused romances, Hazelwood's storytelling captivates me every time. This book is a must-read for romance fans looking for an entertaining and steamy love story.
Very grateful to the publisher for my copy, opinions are my own

I had to read this book two times in order for me to form a cohesive thought about it. To me, this is by far Ali’s best book and that’s high praise from me given the fact that I have been eating her books up since The Love Hypothesis release day. I loved this book so much (if you couldn’t tell already). I loved the depth of these characters, the tell-me-something-you-haven’t-told-anyone-else before that existed throughout Rue and Eli’s forbidden and steamy situation-ship. Eli is THE epitome of boy-obsessed, he is the blueprint. Rue’s character was amazing and I just love her and the development her character had. I like that even when she has an aloof personality, you can tell how much she cares and knows exactly what she wants.

I absolutely loved how even though Eli and Rue had trouble with the concept of dating, this “enemies with benefits” situation led them to find comfort and learn how to love one another. I am obsessed with this book, I can’t stop talking about it!