This is another fun read from Ali Hazelwood. Told in dual perspectives, which I love in romance novels, this book starts off with a bang - no slow burn here! As with all of Ali Hazelwood's stories, there is a lot of humor, and the banter between Rue and Eli is quite entertaining. I found Rue's story to be intriguing, and I loved that she isn't a typical romance FMC. Eli is just adorable; I think readers are going to fall in love with him immediately.
This is going to be a hit this summer! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

Not in Love is a deeply emotional romance. Rue and Eli both have dark pasts revolving around family abuse, neglect and food issues. When they meet via a one night stand hookup app, the chemistry is palpable, but they are interrupted by Rue's brother. Thinking the night is over, Rue goes home, only to be thrust into Eli's orbit at work when Eli's company comes to buy out the company Rue works for. They can't seem to stay away from each other and decide to "Get it out of their System" but the chemisty only gets stronger.

I loved this book. Yes, it's spicy, but the undertones of deeper emotional issues had me so invested in both Rue and Eli.

Ali Hazelwood is everything. That's the whole review.

Not really. This book is a little darker than her previous books. Our protagonists have dealt with food insecurity and absent parents (Rue) and being thrust into guardianship of a sibling (Eli). They have both experienced multiple, complex traumas and bring those with them into their relationship with each other. Rue and Eli meet for the first time on a failed hook up mission. They meet later at Rue's job as a biotech engineer at Kline, where she is working on technology that will extend food shelf life. Eli and his business partners are working to take Kline over. Their burning attraction is at odds with their professional interests, but neither can deny what they feel.

Things I loved: more representation of women in STEM (plus female villains in STEM!!!), representation of people experiencing complex PTSD, discussion of food insecurity, people talking openly and honestly about boundaries and needs in sex, self awareness of tropes, spice, the chemistry.

Things I didn't like: I missed a little bit of the humor that Ali Hazelwood's books usually have, but everything doesn't always have to be funny! Still easily a five star read!

Thanks to Berkley and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4⭐️

I don’t know what Ali hazelwood puts in her books, but I swear at this point its crack 😭 bc now where the hell am I supposed to find me a Eli??!

And Rue??? yeah thats my girl!! I absolutely adore her, and I wanna give her the best hug ever 🥹🫂 she’s incredible, and what she went through was heartbreaking. I am so glad that she has Eli, because my man will always be there for her!

Eli’s obsession with Rue was everything to me! like he was just so in love with her and I absolutely loved it! he was so patient with Rue, giving her time to come to terms with her feelings. like no man in real life would do that nowadays!! 😭

I don’t know what to tell y’all except that you HAVE to read this book!! I love it!!

Also it’s spicy 😏😏🌶️ more than her other books!

Thank you PRH Audio and Berkley Romance for my gifted copies. All opinions are my own.

I’ve been a fan of Ali Hazelwood ever since I read the Love Hypothesis! This was another win for her.

Rue and Eli initially meet through a dating app and meet up at a bar when her brother shows up and ruins their night. They are both surprised when Eli shows up at her employer the next day, having bought the company’s loan.

Despite the distrust Rue has for everyone, and especially Eli, as a member of Harkness, they develop a relationship. It starts as simple sexual, but becomes much more.

I liked how Rue and Eli shared the worst parts of themselves as they learn more about each other. They have to learn to trust each other despite the difficult situation they’re in. I loved how gone Eli was for Rue! This was steamy! It’s technically classified as erotica, but I’m not sure it was much steamier than others I’ve read. I was heartbroken for Rue and how the situation at Kline turned out.

The duet narration by Callie Dalton and Zachary Webber was perfect! I can’t wait for more books from Ali Hazelwood!

I am in love.

Ali's books just keep getting better and BETTER.

What I loved:
- dual POV. Please keep doing it Ali!! I felt like I could understand Eli's motivations during Rue's POV so much better, making the book less frustrating than if it was just single POV.
- the emotional depth to both characters and their motivations
- the slow burn of the relationship
- I was somehow enthralled by the patent war. If you told me I'd be reading romance books about biotech patents and racing through the ending because my heart was beating out of my chest to find out what was going to happen, I would have laughed at you.
- This is much spicier than Ali's previous work, but I thought it suited these two characters and the story very well. It felt so intentional and not just like it was written because that's what the market is looking for right now.
- As a second note to the intimacy in this book, I thought it was handled so thoughtfully, especially with Rue. Their intimate life was so intertwined with Rue's past and trauma, and the way they shared intimate details of their lives over time and grew closer was beautiful. Eli was such a great example of a communicator and someone that Rue could really trust.

Why is it in first and third person? I have no idea. But if it means she will keep writing in dual POV, I'll take it.

I love Ali Hazelwood's books, and even though this book is a bit different than her previous STEM books (not to mention Bride), I loved this one, too.

Like her previous STEM romances, our FMC is a scientist, working in the private sector for a company that is owned by one of her best friends. She's working on developing a food preservative, inspired by her own difficult childhood. But she doesn't have much of a social life outside of work- a couple of friends (including said boss), and a healthy string of one-night-stands. One of those one-night-stands happens to be our MMC, who, unbeknownst to both of them, has just acquired the company she works for. Suddenly they are on opposite sides of a corporate war, and fighting off the strongest attraction that either of them have ever experienced.

Ali Hazelwood's books are always steamy, but this one was the steamiest yet. It was also very much a rom-drama rather than rom-com, and deals with lots of heavy topics around family issues, food insecurity, and betrayals. It is also a super engaging read. If you love Ali Hazelwood, don't worry, you'll love Not in Love. And if you haven't read her books before because of the (wrong) claim that all of her books are the same... maybe this is the one to start with.

Hazelwood definitely has a genre type, character type, and MMC type.. Thank you @prhaudio for my early listening copy of Ali Hazelwood’s new novel, NOT IN LOVE.

The novel follows Rue who works in, of course a science field, and Eli who works for a company acquiring the one Rue works for. Alright, so I actually really liked Rue and Eli’s storyline, the problems with patents and the companies they worked for. That really worked for me. I liked the dual POV as well.

What didn’t work as well is that the more of Hazelwood’s novels I read the more I think she just threw cards in a Bingo cage and randomly drew out some stuff to spice it up and in Eli’s voice- MEH. This novel was next level on that (honestly, borning), and I am just not interested in reading it like that. I am sure some might like it, but really I just kept thinking, “she is a great writer, I really wish she would have written more about Rue and Eli and the novel’s conflict.” I don’t mind the romance, but yeah, she’s definitely changed since her first novel. And honestly can’t say there’s romance between Rue and Eli…like until the epilogue, honestly. It also didn’t work for me the endless levels of pop culture stuff she was again like a Bingo cage drawing out what to use next.

Overall, it is a miss for me and so very far from Love Hypothesis.

If you are unsure, reach out and I can share more about what to expect with this novel.

dear ali, thank you for your service!!!!! this is my favorite ali hazelwood book i’ve ever read. the character arcs, the forbidden love, the spice, the trust, the betrayal, the found family, it was all so wonderfully done. I need and eli in my life, right now actually please! I love the way this book was so similar to ali’s other works, and yet so so different. keeping with the women in STEM but offering a complete different look into so many aspects of it that I absolutely loved to see. I loved this book so much!!!!

I'm a bigAli Hazelwood fan, but this one didn't hit it out of the park for me. The pacing didn't work for me and the (not) love story wasn't compelling.

I never have anything but raving reviews to give Ali Hazlewood, and Not in Love is no exception. It is STEM, sincere, and full of spice. Plus, I love a good ”use me” moment. IYKYK 😏.

Showcasing non-typical topics and personalities is definitely one of Ali’s strong suits. I love how with Rue we see someone who is not only a hard-working female in STEM but someone who has had a tough past and affects how she can love. She’s slightly awkward and yet so truthful, and I adored it.

On the other side with Eli… Eli is one of those men who is just EVERYTHING. He’s intelligent, hard-working, considerate, and such an all-around good guy. He is a sexy cinnamon roll at its finest.


This is definitely one of Ali’s most spicy books to date, and I am here for it. I think it fit with the story perfectly and I loved how Eli and Rue’s story progressed. Cannot wait to see what Ali has up her sleeves next.

Miss Hazelwood cranked up the heat a few notches in this one. And the drama!

This story is much more serious in tone than her previous novels, but I think it was poignant and made me cry near the end! Please note that this book deals with mental health, child neglect, food insecurity, grief, and anxiety before reading.

The characters feel very different from her other novels, which I think is a great change that was needed (I feel the same about Bride, loved those characters as well!). Rue has a more cold and detached front that when you delve deeper into her character and history, you realize the why behind it and it just makes you want to hug her! Eli is also a bit different from the usual MMCs in Hazelwood's books, and you learn much more about him and his personality by getting his point of view. Yes, finally a Hazelwood dual POV!! Also, Hazelwood, in true fashion, did write him as Large but Rue is tall, too, so I was happy to see that! I think the story really benefited from seeing both Eli and Rue's POVs, and it made me feel their connection and their personal struggles together and separately. Ultimately, this book was so heartfelt and it just made me feel warm inside by the end. I definitely recommend it!

Thank you to Berkley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

Although I've skipped/DNF her last few due the STEM angle being too repetitive, I really loved this. I felt like that was more in the background, and their relationship really took precedent over the science stuff. Loved the steam and chemistry, as well as the open dialogue. Highly recommend to romance fans! 4.5 stars

Not In Love by Ali Hazelwood
Pub day is 6/11 🎉

Absolutely hands down THE BEST Ali Hazelwood of them all!

There wasn't a single thing I didn't love. This book is perfect.

• STEM heroine
• dual POV - you will love them both
• not a romcom - I loved how serious these characters were! Vulnerable, honest, and mature.
• it felt like Ali poured her heart and soul into it.

Also, this cover makes me feral! Favorite cover of the year 😍😍 And it isn't even a vintage clinch!? Although it looks like a lot of editions will have an illustrated tipped in stepback! Love that. Keep doing it, publishers!

Here were some of my unedited notes while reading:

- She's tall lol but he's taller!
- Ali Hazelwood was like, I will create a tall heroine to shut you all up for the love of!!!! And then she was like, and I'll make this one so goshdarn different than the others, so no one will say it's too similar. And then she was like, it'll be kinky, too!! Muahaha!
- A "get it out of their systems" plan!!!! Yes!! And then they can literally not. Insatiable love muffins they do become!!

So ridiculously hot. Afraid of steam? Book's not for you! Its dripping with glorious, lusty, sexual tension and ALL of it suits the characters, strengthens the connection...just so well done.

It's for steam lovers! I am IN LOVE with the steam in this book and what it does for the character growth. It's totally possible that some people will read this and find it too steamy or too kinky--that's fine. But it's masterfully done. The characters are thoroughly changed through their connection and chemistry and it 👏 is 👏 okay 👏 for s*x to be an important part of a romance novel since it can also be an important part of real life, too!! I could go on and on. These scenes do so much!!! I'm so happy for Ali Hazelwood and Berkley for doing THIS!!!!!

Lastly, I loved the conflict and resolution. A meaningful, carefully crafted conflict! The angst was wonderful!

Thank you so much Netgalley and Berkley

Thank you so much to Ali Hazelwood, Berkley, and NetGalley for an ARC of one of my most anticipated books of the year!

New favorite (non-Bride) Ali Hazelwood? I have been begginggggg for a dual POV from Ali because I knew the men she writes would be so simpy in their own heads about their love interests and I was so happy to be correct😂

I also really loved and related to Rue. She’s giving STRONG neurodivergent (possibly autistic) vibes which I loved, and her standoffishness to other people, wariness about letting anyone in, and discomfort socializing were all so relatable. I’ve seen parts of myself in every Ali FMC, but I think I see the most of myself in Rue!

Ali was also not lying that this is her spiciest book yet. Whew boy, I’m a fan. Eli is my dream man, I need him to be written into my humble existence. Every part of him is perfect, no notes, gimme.

POV: dual, first person and third person

You can expect: chemical engineer FMC, private equity partner MMC, forced proximity, coworkers to lovers, “just once to get it out of our systems”, forbidden relationship, he falls first.

Rep: neurodivergence (implied), queer side character.

Spice: 4/5

CW: childhood food insecurity (past), death of parents (off page), manipulative employer

✨Not in Love by Ali Hazelwood✨

Genre: Romance
Pages: 384
Pub Date: June 11

📚Rue Siebert might not have it all, but she has enough: a few friends she can always count on, the financial stability she yearned for as a kid, and a successful career as a biotech engineer at Kline, one of the most promising start-ups in the field of food science. Her world is stable, pleasant, and hard-fought. Until a hostile takeover and its offensively attractive front man threatens to bring it all crumbling down.

Eli Killgore and his business partners want Kline, period. Eli has his own reasons for pushing this deal through—and he’s a man who gets what he wants. With one burning exception: Rue. The woman he can’t stop thinking about. The woman who’s off-limits to him.

Torn between loyalty and an undeniable attraction, Rue and Eli throw caution out the lab and the boardroom windows. Their affair is secret, no-strings-attached, and has a built-in deadline: the day one of their companies will prevail. But the heart is risky business—one that plays for keeps.

📝I think I’ve read enough Ali Hazelwood to accept that her books are just not for me. I initially loved the STEM focus of her books, that was such a cool concept, especially considering the author’s scientific background. However, I have yet to find myself caring about any of her characters or their relationships.

This was, by far, my least favorite book by this author. Eli and Rue were not compelling characters and their relationship was uninspiring, just a series of random hookups. For adults with serious jobs, they struck me as incredibly juvenile.

I did enjoy the business plot. The theft of intellectual property/patents and the ethical implications is something that was worth exploring.

💫Thank you @netgalley @berkleypub for my #gifted copy💫

I put this one off for way too long. Rue thinks she is hard to love. She has so much trauma holding her back from relationships, but Eli is willing to push right through everything with her. Eli and Rue meet on a dating app, but the next day she realizes that he is part of the company that is trying to buy out hers.
Their love is forbidden, she would be betraying one of her best friends to be with him, but she can't stay away. Eli knows that there is magic between him and Rue. He has never felt this connection to anyone else ever, even his ex fiance. He knows this is real and needs to convince her he isn't going anywhere and they need to give it a real shot. He is only looking out for her best interest, but there are secrets that could destroy them both.
This one was a bit more angsty than I was used to with Ali, so I was scared, but I don't know why I waited so long to dive in. As soon as I picked it up I was hooked by both of them and didn't put it down till I was finished. It grabbed ahold of me and didn't let go, I was so in love with the both of them. They are a little bit broken, but together they just fit. 4.5 stars.
Thanks to Berkley, Ali Hazelwood and Netgalley for an early copy.

I say this pretty much after every Ali Hazelwood book, but this really was my favorite from the author so far. I've read most of Hazelwood's catalog over the last few months, and have been able to clearly trace her development as an author. Not in Love is far more complicated than any of her previous works. In most Hazelwood books, the romance takes center stage, understandably. But Not in Love was the first instance where I felt the external conflict had real stakes - I genuinely didn't know how the story would play out and had as much investment in that plotline as I did in our main couple.

Overall, I was glued to this story and it left me wanting so much more from Hazelwood.

I enjoyed this one but didn't love it. It had all of my favorite tropes: Guy falls first, rivals to lovers, dual POV, but I had a difficult time connecting with the story/characters. I think my favorite part of the whole book had little to do with the romance and more to do with the female friendship.

I absolutely adored this book. Eli and Rue were so sweet together and they brought out the best in each other. Eli was absolutely swoony and his complete adoration for Rue was so clear from the second they met. He was so patient with her and she grew so much throughout the book. I liked that Rue was just being herself throughout the story and she was able to figure out what was going on in a way that didn't feel overly dramatic and was realistic. I just couldn't get enough of this book and I am really hoping we get a book with Maya and Hark as the leads because that is a story that needs telling.