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

Nobody writes a STEM romcom quite like Ali Hazelwood! This book had a lot of great elements - an interesting plot/conflict (even the third act conflict worked great for me here!), characters with a lot of depth, and fantastic chemistry. I especially loved the deep issues from both MC’s pasts that were uncovered, and Rue’s character arc of finding her self worth. Also of note, this book is SIGNIFICANTLY spicier than Ali's previous STEM novels. Unfortunately, Eli didn’t quite do it for me with his tech bro vibes, and the dynamics in the bedroom weren’t really my thing. Sorry! 🙈 Okay moving on to a note on the audio: I love that the dual POV chapters each have their own narrator, and I especially love when the dialogue is voiced by the correct narrator regardless of whose chapter it is. I really enjoyed Callie Dalton as Rue. Jason Clarke also did a great job as Eli, but (sensing a theme here) he nailed the tech bro vibe a little too well for me. Anyway this is a fun read, check it out for sure!

Read this if you like:
🧪 women in STEM
🧪 workplace romance
🧪 enemies to lovers
🧪 he falls first
🧪 SPICE

Ever since her debut novel, The Love Hypothesis, I have complicated and mixed feelings about Ali Hazelwood’s books. On the one hand, each novel since her debut has shown immense potential in the romance genre- specifically in terms of character development, relationship arcs and writing. Unfortunately, a lot of those aspects are muddled in Hazelwood’s need to include various smut scenes, which I believe is not her strongest suit.

Let me start by saying that there are certain romance tropes I don’t personally like. Most of the time the reason why I don’t like them is because either they’re executed horribly or I just don’t vibe with because it feels so superficial. A reason why I don’t like FWB (or enemies to benefits) to lovers is because most of the time there is not a lot of depth other than physical attraction and/or lust in love which frustrates me because then the romance feels jaded and artificial, and I question if the romance is actually romantic besides physical intimacy (this is my personal opinion, babes).

Unfortunately, Not In Love falls under those categories. There is a lot of potential for character development and emotional connection in both Rue and Eli but their growth is blurred by many sex scenes and it got tiring really quick. As a result, the good aspects that we normally see in Hazelwood’s books are left aside for moments in the characters’ sexual relationship, which left me wanting more in terms of the characters’ emotional bond.

I appreciate Ali Hazelwood delving in other troupes and settings - except for the petite woman and enormous male lead in almost all of her books - and I think Not In Love is a great example of Hazelwood delving into and subverting troupes and genres. However, I don’t think Not In Love is her best novel as now.

Nonetheless, I still enjoyed this novel. Hazelwood’s writing only gets better and I appreciate the inclusion of both lead characters’ point of views.

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for providing an advanced copy of this book in exchange of my honest opinions.

Eli and Rue are the perfect example of "to be loved is to be seen."
Eli truly sees Rue and continuously proves that he is willing and able to love her in the ways that she needs it most.
Their relationship is by no means traditional but their rocky start is what makes it both more relatable and stronger.
Trust didn't come easily for them but it was earned and that takes the kind of time only someone who truly loves you is willing to give.
Not only did I love the mushier parts of their relationship (aka Eli being utterly obsessed with Rue) but the spicier scenes were *chefs kiss*. Ali truly upped her game for this book and doused these pages with something I'm gonna need in a bottle.
This book was so perfect in every way.
If you enjoy romances where he's head over heels in love and obsessed with her, then this is the book for you. Eli Killgore is "he fell first and harder" to its very core.

This is an easy 5/5

I’m a big fan of Ali Hazelwood and loved all of her novels. Love Theoretically is my favorite! While Bride was different and added some paranormal flare to the mix 🪢 a bit out of my comfort zone, I still very much enjoyed it!

All this is to say I had pretty high expectations going in to Not in Love and it’s the first of Hazelwood’s to leave me a little disappointed.
( I have not read the novella anthology).

There is still very much to like in this romance. I loved Rue’s character right away. She is smart but also socially awkward in believable ways I could relate to. I appreciated her small but tight group of friends and the dynamic she had with her support system. Eli was also a very likable mmc and their instant attraction and workplace awkwardness worked well. He also came with an interesting set of friends that developed his character and provided some good humor. I was all set for another 5 star read.

About a third of the way in things took a turn that I’m sure many readers will like but wasn’t as much for me. Put simply, the percentage of pages devoted to spice is much higher than I’m used to from Hazelwood. My mild to medium preferences were not quite prepared it and, for me, the inclusion of so much more spice in the same amount of pages made the story feel a little flat and hurried.

In addition, it turned out both main characters were former athletes (ice skater and hockey player) and while this did add to the mix to make some cute scenes, it felt a little like Hazelwood wanted to throw in some sports to appeal to a wider audience than her usual nerd base. Again, nothing wrong with that, except that the story felt disjointed to me as a result and it left little space for the academic humor and parody I’ve come to love from her.

So, if you have been wanting more smut and less academic focus from her books, it’s likely this one will be a hit. I did enjoy it. It just wasn’t what I was expecting and I especially missed the nerdy aspects that made me feel more seen in some of her past novels.

Thanks to @berkleyromance and @netgalley for access to an e ARC for review purposes.

I truly wanted to love this book considering i am one of ali’s biggest fans, but i could not get past the insta love that didn’t exist. I felt like both characters were very unlikeable - rue was unfeeling, rude, and got away with her nonsense while eli was jusy desperate and pathetic. the sex scenes made me naseous. i really wish i had better things to say