Ali Hazelwood what was this?
I wanted more plot, and less smut in this. I love smut but this was just ... excessive. I felt like there was no plot to keep me invested. I would have loved to see more hockey / figure skating, more about Rue's food technology, or even more about the backstabbing that went on at the end. Overall, a miss for me, but they could never make me hate you Ali Hazelwood - I trust you will redeem yourself with Deep End.

Another solid 4-star read from Hazelwood.

I may be in the minority here, but "Not in Love" has to be my favorite published work from the author yet. It was a decided change of pace, a little more intense (emotionally), but all the while being just as cozy and fun as all her other works have been. For me, the characters were a little less "quirky" and jokish, and made feeling the story between Rue and Eli more intimate. And seriously, I LOVED the honest and blunt communication between the two even when everyone (and the plot) were against them. That right there, the communication alone, was what cemented it as a favorite for me.

To explain a bit better- on paper, this might be a book where less (plot wise) happens, but we just get two people navigating a stick situation. It becomes Rue and Eli versus their circumstances, not versus each other. Compared to other Hazelwood plots, I guess this one fell rather flat- but the change of pace worked excellently for me. I feel like I just got to relish in the characters development with each other, rather than biting my nails in worry as to how the break-up/miscommunication is going to pan out.

It's also good to note that I primarily listened to this in one go via audiobook on a *very* long roadtrip. It made for a very enjoyable 10 hours. Also huge shoutout to Callie Dalton for being the best narrator ever, and Jason Clarke with a perfect performance of Eli and Rue.

Hazelwood is an author where I will blindly read anything she publishes, but I just want to give an extra big shoutout to this work. I'll happily be the outlier in my opinions, because I really do just love this book. Might be a favorite read of 2024.

This is my first Ali Hazelwood book. She has been on my TBR list for a while now, and I've been excited to dive into one of her books, especially since Kayleigh is always raving about previous books. I have mixed feelings about Not in Love. I liked it at times, and at other times, I found myself drifting into LaLa land. This is a STEM romance, and all the characters in this book are brilliant. Seeing so many smart and strong women excel in science and engineering was great. My problem is that I am not a math, science, and engineering kind of person, and yes, I know, this is a STEM romance, and therefore, there is fossil ( aka work) talk in those fields. I don't mind STEM talk to a certain degree and have enjoyed other STEM romances, but this one has A LOT of STEM fossil talk in it, which meant that my mind tuned out what I was reading. I just wasn't interested in any of the work aspects of this book; therefore, I ended up skimming those parts of the book. But as I always say, not every book is meant for every reader, and this one probably isn't meant for me. If you are a bookworm who likes a romance with a heavier work/science focus, then you will probably enjoy this book.

I wasn't super fond of Rue's character. Not because there was anything wrong with her pre-say; I just didn't connect with her. Rue is that prickly, smart, not gonna show my feelings kind of heroine. Her passion is her work and everything and everyone else she keeps at arm's length. She has some childhood trauma that is probably the reason why she is so distant from everyone. Eli is the more outgoing of the two. I didn't mind him as the book's hero, but nothing really stood out for me to make him or her memorable. They just felt a little flat for me. Maybe it's because they have this more reserved way of keeping those emotions in check in their personalities.

The romance in this book is pretty good. It's very spicy, and if you are a fan of forbidden work romances, you will enjoy Eli and Rue's budding romance. I was a little confused about what was going on when they first met. It took me a hot minute to realize that they had been talking online and were meeting in person for the first time to hook up. Things didn't go as planned, and no hook-up was to be had. The next day, Rue finds out Eli is part of the company planning to take over the company for which she works, which means that Rue now views Eli as the enemy. The chemistry between these two was ok. Once again, because they both keep their emotions in check so much, it felt more rigid and lacking those big emotions I really enjoy in a romance. Now, Ali is known for her spice, which she delivers in this book. Things heat up between Eli and Rue, and they spend a lot of time learning each other's kinks in the bedroom and other places.

Not in Love is a decent STEM romance that Ali Hazelwood fans will surely enjoy.

LOVED this one! Definitely the absolute spiciest book of Hazelwood's that I've read, & I loved it all the same. I really appreciated Ali's disclaimer in the beginning of the book. She was clear on how this book is different and what this book is about. It's way more erotic romance in nature, so their physical connection came first. But don't worry, that emotional and mental connection do show up eventually ;)
The story was a bit darker and different than anything else she's put out there and I really enjoyed that. I'm getting a little tired of the same romance stories over and over, so it was refreshing to have something new in the genre.
I always love the academic/scientific background of Hazelwood's books and this one was no different. The main conflict was interesting and kept me reading to find out what would happen. It was almost a forbidden romance with their roles in the workplace which is so fun to me. The side characters were fleshed out and enjoyable, but Rue and Eli were the real stars.
Their chemistry was insane. The spice scenes were even MORE insane. They were quirky, smart, and extremely interesting. I loved all the darker mental health issues that were brought to light throughout. It made everything that much deeper.
Would recommend this to anyone looking for a little spice accompanied by a story with substance!

This might just be my new favorite Ali book yet! This book is so beautifully written and I am fully obsessed! I can't wait to read more from her!

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publishing Company for this Advanced Readers Copy of Not In Love by Ali Hazelwood!

So sexy and so smart. Ali Hazelwood writes about complicated people with real jobs and real lives/real issues SO well. This may be my favorite of hers!

I will always eat up a Hazelwood book, I don't care what it's about or if it's the same as all her other ones. While it still classifies under her usual STEM romances, there was no comedy! Each character was unique and I loved how this story played out. 10/10 will continue to read anything Hazelwood publishes.

I finished this book before its release, and then I never wrote my review, because I simply could not figure out how to put my thoughts into words. I love Ali Hazelwood. She was the author who got me into romance, and I think she is an incredibly skilled writer. This is the first of her full length novels that I found myself unable to give 5 stars, and I didn't know what to make of that. I enjoyed this book. It was well written, with Ali's trademark humor that had me chuckling more than once, and yet, I never fully connected with the characters. The chemistry between the two of them was palpable, but though there were emotional conversations had, they felt disconnected from the characters themselves. I was not convinced of any sort of emotional connection between the two of them, and that made the whole book ring slightly hollow to me. As much as I enjoyed Rue and Eli individually, I was never fully invested in their relationship, and thus couldn't enjoy the book as much as I wanted to. All in all, this is not a bad book by any means, but nonetheless, I had expected more and was disappointed.

I have really enjoyed all of the Ali Hazelwood books I’ve read so far, and Not in Love was no different, although this book did have a different feel to it than her other novels.

Not in Love had a more serious tone than other novels I’ve read from Ali. I really enjoyed Rue and Eli as main characters, both separately and together. Rue is a hardworking and serious woman who knows she wants and doesn’t compromise that. It wasn’t stated on page but she felt autistic-coded to me, which I appreciated because I haven’t read a female lead like her in quite some while. Eli is a sweetheart of a man even though he has an intimidating exterior.

The two form a forbidden romance of sorts as Eli is with the group trying to buy the company Rue works at, and she’s at risk of losing her job if he does so. She had to balance her desire for him with her desire for the job she loves. This was definitely an interesting dynamic, and it put a different spin on the office romance trope.

I enjoyed this book, but I don’t think it’s one I would reread. My favorite part was Rue’s character, and I also loved the ending. Romance fans are sure to love this novel just as much as Ali’s other novels.

I enjoyed this one! This was a very interesting deviation from Ali Hazelwood's usual style, while still maintaining a lot of the characteristics that make her stories so engaging. The protagonist was similar to other leads she's written in terms of her STEM background/career, but the romance itself was a spicier take than we normally get from her books (which already have a lot of heat!). This very much worked for me as a reader and I think would make a good pick for romance readers that want a bit more of an erotica vibe than a traditional romance.

I have enjoyed several of Ali Hazelwood’s books and was excited for this one. I like that she writes about STEM characters, especially the women because enough of that just doesn’t exist. I wanted to like this book so much more than I ended up liking it. I liked the two main characters a lot. I liked the side characters. I didn’t love the office plot but it wasn’t bad. I should preface my opinions with this book might have not really been for me. It starts with insta-love (masked as lust for a bit) which is one of my least favorite tropes. I also didn’t care for a lot of the spicier stuff because no matter how good things were going when Eli said “good girl” to Rue I lost all interest. Maybe it turns some people on, but it’s the opposite for me. Rue has mastered app led one night stands. She knows she comes across as cold and unsocial so she avoids the relationship part of it. When a night doesn’t go as planned but she gives the guy her number she’s shocked to find him at her office as part of a hedge fund that is trying to steal the company she works for. Despite being on opposite sides of things their attraction is strong and proves difficult to resist for both Rue and Eli. In many ways Eli is exactly what I wanted in a protagonist/love interest.

Thank you to @netgalley @berkleypub and @berkleyromance for a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

A Fiery Romance with Corporate Intrigue

Rue and Eli is a captivating novel that blends scorching romance with high-stakes corporate drama. The chemistry between the two protagonists is undeniable, and their passionate encounters are both explicit and emotionally charged.

The author skillfully navigates the complex relationship between Rue and Eli, exploring the power dynamics and the intense emotions that fuel their connection. The tension between their professional rivalry and personal attraction adds depth and complexity to the story.

While the explicit nature of the romance may not be for everyone, it's clear that the author has a talent for creating passionate and believable characters. The plot, filled with corporate intrigue and unexpected twists, keeps readers engaged from start to finish.

If you're looking for a steamy romance with a side of corporate drama, Rue and Eli is definitely worth checking out.

4 stars

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As much as the authors books feel very similar each time I pick one up I somehow still get sucked into her world! The stem aspect is always appreciated and it was well done here and the heat was cranked up to high!!! While it’s not my fave from the author I did like it and it was everything I expected it to be.

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

Of all of Ali Hazelwood's books, "Not in Love" ranks pretty low on the list. It's certainly different than her other books, but not in a way that worked for me. It's too instalove for me, and any emotional connection between Rue and Eli got lost in the physical aspect of their relationship. Mostly, it lacks the sparkle that makes Hazelwood's work so special.

Rating: 2.75 rounded up

Thanks to the author, NetGalley and Berkley for the advance copy in exchange for my review.

Not In Love By: Ali Hazelwood A clandestine secret affair proves that all s fair in love and science. Eli can't stop thinking about Rue. There's some angst and drama. Once again this is a scientific love story. Do Eli and Rue truly have enough CHEMISTRY to make a relationship work or will this experiment be an epic fail. What's your hypothesis. Happy reading!

This wasn’t like anything Hazelwood has written before, and I loved it. Don’t get me wrong, her rom-coms are top tier, but this one had an edge. It was grittier and more raw than her others, and I really enjoyed the characters flaws and vulnerabilities.

I am always a fan of an Ali Hazelwood title and Not in Love was no different. I enjoyed that the story was a bit darker, a bit edgier than previous installments have been, and I'm always here for the male love interest falling first and harder. I would definitely recommend this to Ali Hazelwood fans that are looking for something that pushes the boundaries just a little bit more.

3.5⭐️ I’ve enjoyed so many of Ali’s STEMinist books, and knew going in that this would be different.

The story follows Rue, a biotech engineer, and Eli, who works in finance. When Eli and his partners takeover the company Rue works for, their connection and romance must stay hidden. I love a forbidden romance, but I really struggled with the plot, and tone. I did love the spice, but didn’t connect to the characters until more than halfway through.

*many thanks to Berkley Romance and PRH audio and Netgalley for the gifted copy for review