I wasn't super into this book. I haven't read any Ali Hazelwood before this, and I'm not the biggest fan of both her writing, and the characters. I thought Rue and Eli were not super exciting, and I had a hard time finishing this book.

This was the most disappointing Hazlewood title I've read so far. The plot was thin and the characters were flat. I didn't feel either chemistry or love from either of the main love interests. The random insertion of hockey and ice skating felt out of place.
The tone was strange; switching between points of view and tenses could have worked with another style of writing, but it just felt clunky to read.

Not in Love is the latest quirky romance from author Ali Hazelwood proving that all is fair in love and science.

Rue Siebert might not have it all, but she's content with what she's got. Her world is stable, pleasant, and hard-fought. But when her existence is threatened by a hostile takeover and its equally offensive frontman, Rue finds herself in an unexpected predicament. Eli Killgore has his reasons for wanting the company Rue works for and isn't afraid to go after what he wants. Unfortunately, that will make Rue off-limits to Eli. Soon, Eli and Rue will find themselves torn and unable to deny their burning attraction. Will Rue and Eli go all in and put their hearts on the line? You're gonna have to pick up a copy of this book to find out...

I absolutely adored Not in Love. Eli and Rue were fun characters and I enjoyed their witty/quirky banter. I loved the push and pull between Eli and Rue. I thought it led to some great chemistry. I'm a sucker for forbidden romances, and when you add in grumpy sunshine and enemies-to-lovers vibes, I'm a complete goner.

As always with Ali Hazelwood, there's more to the story than meets the eye. Not in Love isn't just a romance, but a story that isn't afraid to dive into the tough topics. I enjoyed everything about this book from beginning to end.

4.5 ⭐️

ok this was actually so cute!!!!! ali mentioned as an authors note in the beginning that not in love is moreso an erotic romance rather than a romcom and I do agree with that! this one was spicy 🥵 but I loved it none the less!!!!

from the start I was so intrigued by the characters— rue and eli and I immediately wanted to know where their situationship would head!!! and in addition to that there’s the overall plot relating to rue’s workplace that also had me on the edge of my seat. so it’s safe to say I was locked in from the beginning! rue is such an interesting character, she’s a successful engineer who’s work was motivated by her past growing up with food insecurity. so she has been working as an engineer (don’t ask me which kind bc I already forgot lol) to develop a product that can make produce last longer so people don’t run into the issues she had when she was younger :( I mean come on that is beautiful 🥹

eli and rue first meet through a sexy time app 😛 but their first encounter/meet up doesn’t go according to plan due to rue’s annoying loser brother crashing the “date”. after their meet up they’re both left wondering what could have been but rue has a strict one meet up only with all her booty calls. so they think they’ve seen the last of each other. UNTIL eli shows up to rue’s place as part of the company who’s basically gonna take over her company’s business!!!!! this added such a fun plot twist to the story!!!!!!

eli was immediately shaking in his boots so happy at the opportunity to see rue again and she was trying stay far away lollll. but that obviously didn’t last long! these 2 could not stay away from each other. I liked how eli slowly weasled his way into rue’s life. over time he was able to understand her better and found a way to slowly be let in. and I absolutely adored seeing the progress of their situation and friendship into more. there were so many beautiful intimate moments between them where they started to break down the walls. they’d both been through some difficult things in their childhood and it was beautiful seeing how they could relate and comfort one another. and the physical intimacy y’all 😮‍💨😮‍💨😮‍💨 HOT HOT HOT!! I was actually drooling!!

my favorite aspect of the book was the way eli was so receptive to rue in every ways— sexually, emotionally, her past and at work. you can tell he adored her from the start!!!! he wanted to learn more about her and know how to be there for her. that made him so much hotter as a person I love him and want that for me :/

all in all I absolutely loved this book. I loved seeing how the plot relating to the workplace unfolded and everything in between! a captivating read from start to finish!!

First of all I’m so happy that Ali continues to write neuro diverse characters! Rue was an interesting character and I don’t think I’ve ever read someone like her, so I loved her and this aspect of the book.

However the insta love and Eli’s overall pov didn’t work for me. I have always said that I wanted a dual pov Ali Hazelwood book but it turns out reading the MMC siming this hard for the fmc isn’t really my thing.

This is just my personal preference, I think if people like insta love or the MMC falling this hard then they’d really love this book and love the dual pov component!

Overall, an easy read, with some science and some romance!

Thank you so much @alihazelwood, @berkley, @penguinrandomhouse, and @netgalley for the eARC of Not In Love by Ali Hazelwood. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

As you all know, Ali Hazelwood is one of my all time favorite authors. I’m not exaggerating when I say that I cried a few happy tears when the invite to read Not in Love hit my inbox 😂.

I would never in a million years want to spoil anything about this book, because I know I would be devastated if it happened to me. Therefore, I solemnly swear on Dr. Adam Carlsen’s favorite lab coat 🥼 (you know he has one 👀), that I’ll keep my review spoiler free.

Ali Hazelwood states in the preface of Not in Love that this book is different from her previous releases…and she’s not wrong. Not in Love in goes much deeper than her prior books. It’s raw, honest, and emotional. You’ll learn so much more about the characters’ inner thought processes, as well as their backstories, than ever before. Make no mistake that I am Here. For. It! 👏👏👏

That being said, Not in Love still contains 100% of that Ali Hazelwood essence we’ve all fallen in love with. The witty banter is on point, the characters are unapologetically themselves, the spice is hot, and the STEM is present, but still accessible, to anyone who doesn’t have a PhD in biochemistry.

Bottom line:

🎓If Not in Love was a doctoral candidate, Dr. Adam Carlsen would give it its diploma.

🔭If Not in Love was an engineering project at NASA, Dr. Levi Ward would give it the green light.

🏫If Not in Love was a job applicant at MIT, Dr. Jack Smith would hire it for the job. (Yes, even if it was a theoretical physicist 😂).

In the pages you will find:

✌️Dual POV
🔬Science
🌶️ Spice
⛸️🏒Hockey AND figure skating!
🤝 Found family
🏠Complicated family dynamics
🐕An adorable dog 😍
📱Dating apps
🥚 An “Ali-verse” easter egg!
📖 Another unputdownable read by Ali Hazelwood!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

#alihazelwood #notinlove #thelovehypothesis #loveonthebrain #loathetoloveyou #lovetheoretically #checkandmate #Bridealihazelwood #berkleypublishing #penguinrandomhouse #netgalley #advancedreadercopy

What a fun read! Hazelwood brings her classic blend of snark, wit, humor, and heartbreak to this newest story. Though it has the usual tropes (namely "enemies to lovers"), Hazelwood always. puts a fresh spin on the romance genre through the thoughtful crafting of complex characters and multiple POVs, along with a surprisingly unpredictable plot. This is summer must-read for anyone looking for a side of spice with their science!

Not in Love was the sweetest and most angst-filled novel Ali Hazelwood has written to date and I absolutely loved it.

Eli and Rue meet for a one-night stand that crashes and burns before it ever begins. Finding out they are literally enemies complicates things even further: Eli’s company is threatening to destroy Florence, Rue’s boss and trusted mentor.

Eli and Rue stand on opposite sides, but their chemistry and attraction is undeniable and although they try, they simply cannot stay away from each other.

They initiate a secret affair and foolishly plan to keep it strictly physical. And, although they spend a great deal of time exploring the physical aspects of their relationship, they also find that their shared childhood trauma allows them to be honest with each other in a way they never expected.

I loved watching Eli and Rue break down their barriers, openly communicate throughout the entire story, and ultimately find love and safety in one another.

Also, it may be far-fetched, but I hope Ali Hazelwood gives Hark and Maya their own book.

Ali does it again!
She thrives in an academic world. The chosen family was wonderful. The complicated family dynamics was super relatable. The way the male MC stepped up to take care of his sister was commendable.

Advanced Reader Copy Review
Not In Love by Ali Hazelwood. I went back and forth on the rating between three and four stars, and I would give it a 3.75-star rating. There is a trigger warning page before the start of this book, with even Hazelwood discussing that this book might not be for everyone. Both main characters have experienced trauma in their past that leads them to have difficulties with relationships and processing emotions. So be sure to check that before reading the book. My primary thoughts about the teetering rating were that the plot was slow in the book's first half, and there wasn't a ton of character development. However, the plot exploded in the book's second half, leading to an overall understanding of the characters' actions. Overall, if you like Ali Hazewool, definitely read it. Just proceed with caution. Side note: Are we going to get a Hark and Maya book? I would be down for that!

Not in Love is a book that I’ve been incredibly excited about since I first saw the announcement last year, and it’s no secret that Ali Hazelwood is one of my absolute favorite authors.

I went into this book with the knowledge that it would have a different tone than Ali’s previous STEM romcoms. With the knowledge that it would deal with deeper topics such as grief and food insecurity, I went into it with an open mind, excited to see how such topics would be handled in the context of a secret relationship in the workplace between two rivals.

In short, it was handled beautifully. Rue and Eli were two incredibly complex characters, individually working through their own complicated pasts in a way that brought them together: a sex forward dating app meant to match people who are looking for similar things. This becomes complicated when they realize Rue is a scientist at Kline, and Eli and his business partners are set on taking over the company and its biotech. But as relationships with such a gravitational pull as theirs goes, they decide to engage in a secret affair.

This book was spicier than Ali’s previous work, but each placement taught us more and more about the characters. As they worked through their traumas in a more physical way, we got to see their healing journeys and how they helped each other through it. Rue was a very, understandably, distrustful FMC because of her history, and it was beautiful to see how Eli met her where she was and never expected her to be anyone other than herself. Characters who show up for each other and let each other exist in the purest forms of themselves are beautiful to witness, and Ali delivered this very well. We got a slice of the classic banter while still managing to hold the hard topics up to the light in a way that kept them at the forefront of character development.

Beyond the main characters, we got to meet a whole cast of side characters who were not only well developed, but truly displayed how found family and community can really help the healing process.

I truly recommend this read, because it’s nothing short of amazing 🩷

Thank you Berkley and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

My love for this book is simply not enough to write in this tiny reviewer slot. I need loads of paper, endless amounts of pens and even quills, and finally all the time in the world. 😘🙌

This book was so different then what Ali usually writes, and I was utterly consumed by it. The tone of this book is much more serious and handles subjects like Grief, food insecurity, and child neglect.

It def is less of a rom-com and leans more towards another genre which Ali has dubbed "Erotic Romance." I think this is important to acknowledge because others might not enjoy this book for that very reason.

I personally fell in love with this book and everything it gave me 🧎🏻‍♀️.

Our two main characters are Eli and Rue who meet via a dating app (things don't quite work out the first time) but the sparks do fly. the following day they meet and it turns out that Eli and his business partners are trying to take over the company that Rue works for. And despite that... the attraction is THERE, therefore their affair begins. Leaving both Rue and Eli questioning everything.

This book had everything, Eli is a man who will HUMBLE himself before Rue. He is so whipped and in love that it fits like a glove 💋. If your man isn't as committed as Eli, you might want to THINK AGAIN 🫵.

The way that even fate was rooting for them too had me chuckling 🤭.

Rue and Eli are both individuals who struggle with the concept of dating. Some might find this annoying and therefore find this book not to be within their tastes and that's okay. But personally, I love it when two characters define their idea of love together rather than apart.

Rue was so me-coded, that I needed to catch my breath. She is a full-hearted introvert with very few friends and a lack of a social life. And yet, she is an amazing character that WINS you over. Despite her distant persona, she knows exactly what she wants and she is NOT apologetic about it. Rightfully so.

I would love to be your friend Rue!! I need you to teach me your ways so that I can also get myself a man like Eli 👀.

This was the perfect mix of Angst, Spice, and Drama wrapped up with a major bow of Horniness 🥵.

Ali and her work always manage to captivate me! And this book showcased exactly that.

I cannot wait for the world to have this book in their hands 🫶🏼.

This is not like any other Ali Hazelwoods and I am here for it!
Is 2024 the year of getting deep complicated romance characters?!
Everything in this book is different. The spicy sex scenes, the type of characters, even the amount of stem. But overall it is still a quick read and there is still an animal sidekick and free bride, Ali has proves she can do no wrong.

ali hazelwood’s novels will always be a hit for me. she is an auto-buy author and i will read any and everything she writes. not in love takes the cake for being my fav ali hazelwood to date. golden retriever x black cat will forever be my fav romance trope and eli + rue were so dang perfect. eli was such a lover boy and such a baby girl! i absolutely adored how he cared so deeply for rue. gimmie a mmc who is so obsessed with his girl and who will do any and everything for her. rue was and is MY GIRL. i related to her on such a visceral level. eli said it perfectly: “my sad, beautiful fortress girl” 🥹!!!!! the chemistry, tension, and swoony moments were there from the very start of this book. i was instantly rooting for them. not only was this top tier spice but it was also so emotional. i was one minute sweating from how hot they were and then the next minute crying bc i felt so deeply for these two. i can’t recommend this one enough and im so excited for you all to get your hands on it!!!

thank you berkley for the ARC!!! i had the most wonderful time! pub date: june 11th 💖

ali hazelwood’s novels will always be a hit for me. she is an auto-buy author and i will read any and everything she writes. not in love takes the cake for being my fav ali hazelwood to date. golden retriever x black cat will forever be my fav romance trope and eli + rue were so dang perfect. eli was such a lover boy and such a baby girl! i absolutely adored how he cared so deeply for rue. gimmie a mmc who is so obsessed with his girl and who will do any and everything for her. rue was and is MY GIRL. i related to her on such a visceral level. eli said it perfectly: “my sad, beautiful fortress girl” 🥹!!!!! the chemistry, tension, and swoony moments were there from the very start of this book. i was instantly rooting for them. not only was this top tier spice but it was also so emotional. i was one minute sweating from how hot they were and then the next minute crying bc i felt so deeply for these two. i can’t recommend this one enough and im so excited for you all to get your hands on it!!!

thank you berkley for the ARC!!! i had the most wonderful time! pub date: june 11th 💖

First of all, I've loved being included in these blog tours and truly appreciate the opportunity to participate! I've loved most books I've read by Ali Hazelwood, up to this point, so I was excited to check this one out! Unfortunately, I have to admit up top that not only was this my least favorite book by Hazelwood so far, but it was a let down of a read for me in most ways. Now, of course, this is a subjective take, especially the things that didn't work for me, and many of my complaints may work great for others!

First of all, I was disappointed to find that this was a duel POV romance story. Hazelwood has always been a favorite of mine for the simple fact that she writes single POV love stories, something that I always prefer. And, I'm sorry to say, but I think the change in format was for the worse in general. More often than not, I feel like authors end up using duel POV as a crutch when conveying the a love story. Instead of showing the romance building, the narrative simply switches between POVs where both characters simply tell the reader how much they adore the other. And we had much of that here. Gone was much of the nuance and the romantic scenes/action that show the characters growing to love one another.

What's worse, given the nature of the way this relationship builds, instead of telling the reader how much they each are growing to care for one another, we ended up with a whole lot of inner thoughts about simply wanting to jump into bed with one another. The male POV was especially rough in this arena. I don't care to repeat the number of times he reflects on how great of a lay Rue is. This is all fine and dandy, but not something I need to be in someone's head to hear about repeatedly.

I also thought the balance was off in this book between the spice scenes and the emotional development: there was too much of the former and not enough of the latter. Rue, in particular, had an interesting background and I enjoyed learning more about her backstory and watching her come out of her shell a bit Eli. But for his part, Eli felt a bit too much like your standard "golden retriever esque tech bro" type character. He also seemed to immediately fall into instalove/lust with Rue from their very first scene together, which didn't leave the story anywhere to go for him.

Unfortunately, I didn't love this book, which I'm so disappointed to report. I've really enjoyed Hazelwood's romances in the past, but many aspects of this were just never going to be for me (the duel POVS, the balance of spice to plot, etc.). Others who like these elements may enjoy this one more.

Rating 6: The duel POV hampered rather than helped the love story, and the spice scenes were not the best and overshadowed the plot.

Ali Hazelwood is a star and an autoread for me. To surprise of no one, this book was absolutely fantastic and I highly recommend it. I love the STEMinist series. I love that the characters are strong and self-sufficient and smart and in science. I love the relationships she writes about even if her formula (enemies to lovers plus power imbalance) are two of my least favorite tropes in romance. But the good outweighs the not-favorite-tropes because how good of an author Ali Hazelwood is. So keep them coming! Ready for the next one!

I absolutely loved this one from Hazelwood - sometimes she is hit or miss for me but this one is probably my favorite of hers so far!
Thank you for the opportunity to read early!

This is Ali Hazelwood’s spiciest read, and I am here for that! While the beginning took some time to get into, I ended up really enjoying the story and of course, all the science!

Read if you like:
-STEM setting
-Forbidden romance
-Grumpy heroine
-Spice

This had many of the trappings of a classic Ali Hazelwood--women in STEM, enemies to lovers, workplace romance--but it just felt unfinished. I wasn't drawn in by Rue and Eli's attraction, and the central conflict didn't seem like as big a deal as they made it.

Hazelwood also made the strange choice to have one of her dual POV characters narrate in first person, and the other in third person. This was jarring every single time they switched, and I don't understand why she wouldn't just pick one or the other. (I can't remember if she has done in this in previous books, but if so it didn't bother me as much.) And it kept me as a reader further from getting into Eli's head, which meant his side of the story wasn't as strong.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for the ARC to review. All opinions are my own.