Ali Hazelwood has gone above and beyond with this rom-com. I laughed and cried throughout the entire book. The sexy scenes were very sexy. How could you not love this cute couple, Eli and Rue?

I didn't know scientist could be sexy, but boy was I wrong. I loved the sex forward thinking of this book. I had not heard this term before, but I enjoyed finding out what it meant.

This is a phenomenal book. Be aware she has kicked the STEAM up a notch. Be careful reading it in public on a Kindle with size 20 font.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I've read all of Ali Hazelwood's work. This title was more angsty and less cute rom com but still had that same flavor of romance that her fans will appreciate.

Although "Not in Love" suggests otherwise, the novel is a pretty classic romance. Rue is a straightforward scientist who doesn't do relationships, just one-time hookups. Eli works in finance after his science dreams fell though, but he is hung up on the past wrong-doing that caused his career change. After meeting on an app for a hookup, Eli and Rue feel sparks, although things are complicated when Rue discovers that her place of business is being taken over by Eli's financial group. As a close friend of the owner, Florence, Rue feels like pursuing anything with Eli is an act of betrayal, but she cannot stay away.

I liked this book. I read it in one sitting, and found it super engrossing. This title does explore some heavier topics, like food insecurity and poverty, and I can tell that a lot of care was put into it discussing the issue, but it didn't always feel authentic. The financial takeover plot was predictable. I knew immediately who not to trust, and I think the story could be improved if it had kept you guessing more. But overall, if you like spicy romance, this is a solid choice

Not in Love is another great one by Hazelwood! I always enjoy that her characters are relatable with backstories that create depth, and this one does not disappoint. While it's a little less STEM heavy, it is not forgotten and helps to drive the story. I like that Hazelwood is also becoming more brave with the spice without getting lost in it.

I love Ali Hazelwood, and I will obviously still consider her one of my favorite romcom authors after this book, but I wasn't a huge fan of this departure into erotic romance. Rue and Eli meet through a hook up app--Eli because...???... and Rue because she thinks she's too weird and standoffish to have actual relationships, or something. Her reasoning for hooking up once and done with men is nebulous at best--there's never any concrete reason why she acts this way with men and sex in particular. Eli, despite telling half this book from his perspective, is mostly a black box about it.

And this is why I found myself less and less enjoying Not In Love--I couldn't get a firm grasp on the characters or their motivations. I could guess the external motivations easily enough since that's a common problem in academia, but the characters and why they're throwing themselves into cheap sex to start, why Eli suddenly has this overwhelming obsession with her, why Rue is the way she is and how she breaks free of it...all a mystery. The book spends so much time on sex scenes (that were hot, I will admit it, even though after I couldn't keep count anymore they grew wearisome) that I found myself unable to understand how the characters developed.

I'm looking forward to the Bride sequel and all the other romcoms that will come from Ali Hazelwood, but this book was not it.

Wow. This was honestly so much more emotional and poignant than her other books about women in stem (and I loved those, too). These characters have more complexity than the grumpy/sunshine tropes we’ve become accustomed to in the Steminist series. This story didn’t feel like it was evolving around science and campy humor, but around the characters and their growth instead.

This story builds slowly, but once I got halfway I couldn’t put it down. Eli and Rue build a relationship by sharing their most shameful secrets with each other, and their strictly physical relationship grows into a beautiful dual POV about love, trauma, and feeling worthy of happiness. This book is heartfelt, he falls first, and is probably Ali’s steamiest stem book.

Ali Hazelwood’s newest novel is one to be read quickly, and hungrily, and will ultimately leave you wishing you had savored it more. I am still in the thrall of it. This is, by far, my favorite book from her yet.
If Bride was a departure from her earlier work, I’d argue that this is an even bigger one. No, there are no werewolves or any other kind of mythical creature, and yes, it still places a heavy focus on women in STEM and positive female friendships. But the tone is wholly new.
Not In Love is Hazelwood’s angstiest book - and also the most erotic. These are two very flawed people trying to figure out if they’re capable of feeling what is becoming more startlingly apparent between the two of them. Rue, the female lead, is a food scientist with strong neurodivergent tendencies, and she’s still struggling to overcome the trauma of food insecurity as a child. Eli is still isn’t sure what exactly love is supposed to look or feel like. They’re both fine in the assumption that there are no happily-ever-afters waiting for them. They are deeply flawed, and they know it - even go to lengths to remind themselves of it. And that’s what makes them jump off the page. The complexity of their personalities and relationships is portrayed vividly, with no clear villains and plenty of moral ambiguity. The characters are portrayed as nuanced, real human beings, making the story emotionally compelling and thought-provoking.
This is a great read for fans of Emily Henry (hi, it’s me) and those who like a male lead who is OBSESSED with the FMC. It’s sad, contemplative, hopeful, and pretty damn kinky to boot. Highly. Highly. HIGHLY recommend this one.

Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for the ARC of Not in Love by the iconic Ali Hazelwood!

Not in Love centers around Rue Seibert, whose loyalties are tested when a hook up gone wrong turns out to be a leading man in the business that’s planning to takeover the company she’s spent years working for. Everything’s she’s worked for as a biotech engineer is threatened the moment she realizes just who Eli Killgore is. But her feelings on relationships and love and truth are threatened just the same.

THIS BOOK!! The overall tone of this novel is very different from previous Ali books and I credit that to the protagonist, Rue. I see what you did with her Ali! Rue is midnight rain, she’s a dark forest, she’s black coffee, and I loved her.

Unpacking trauma from Rue and Eli’s lives were a big part of them building connections and I like how Ali included the bitter, ugly parts of life that most people want to hide.

This book isn’t sunshine and rainbows, but it’s still a beautiful romance that I hope finds the right readers. (It’s for the eldest sibling with years of guilt for leaving home, it’s for women that know what it’s like to fake it for male pleasure and learned they deserved better, it’s for people who fell victim to lies from someone you thought you could trust.)

Angst level 100000000. The sexual compatibility of these characters… so good. In it, the book explores what I would say is way more than the average romance book spice scenes. Ali really went all in here and I’m not mad at it!

Overall, I do wish we had a little more time to develop the mental connection, but a lot of it came from physical connection so I get it.

Another solid romance from the ever-talented Ali Hazelwood!

5 ⭐️
Ali Hazelwood does it again! This is now my favorite book by her & i’m actually obsessed with it!!

This is definitely Ali Hazelwood’s most adult book in terms of the themes mentioned & the development of the relationships in here. It didn’t focus as much on STEM as her other books, and I really enjoyed the way I just got to focus on the romance.

I have so much love for Rue. She is not your typical bubbly & bright girl, but she is just so alluring and interesting to read about. AND SHE’S TALL! (as a tall girl, I loved not having to read about how tiny the fmc always is) Rue has a rough childhood and her past definitely has an effect on how she is socially & emotionally. I found myself relating to her social anxiety and her issues with love. She’s my favorite Ali Hazelwood fmc for sure!


I loved the way Eli saw Rue for who she was, accepted her, and loved her unconditionally. They saw each other wholeheartedly and I think Ali did a great job at portraying their relationship and the growth they went through. The secrets they told each other, and the way they both accepted each other regardless of what was said was probably my favorite part of this book. Eli was such a comforting & lovable mmc! He was down sooo bad for Rue and I love him!!

This book was spicyyyy and yes I ate it up!!

Thank you Berkley and NetGalley for the arc!

ali published a literal omegaverse rom-com this year and somehow this book managed to be the most refreshing and strange of her collected works (and i mean that in the best possible way)

naturally i won’t be spoiling a thing, but there’s a lovely little letter at the beginning of this book from our stem queen that explains that we are in for a bit of a tonal shift. we’ve got dual pov and some previously unexplored topics. i prepared myself for that, but i was in no way ready for her two best characters to materialize out of thin air and win my heart in the opening chapter alone. it is absolutely smuttier than her previous works, but it’s done so differently. rue isn’t quirky, adorably awkward, and showing off a pair of galaxy tights (i love you ali but i have yet to recover from this). she is such a breath of fresh air as a romance character, and eli has moved to the top of my list forever.

even the stem aspect is really different from her other books. the conflict was real and understandable in a way that, in the past, just kind of sailed right over my head. the supporting cast is complex, lovable, a bit hatable - we’ve got some honest to god villains people!! no, it isn’t wildly unpredictable, but it put me through the ringer more than once.

cannot wait for this to come out and to hear what all you beauties make of it!! massive thank you to berkley for the arc - this is out june 11th so get your preorders in!! get excited!! because as if her entire trajectory wasn’t proof enough, ali brings it better and harder every single time.

also not one but two hazelwood books in my top reads of 2024, what a gift 🫶🏻

NOW THIS BOOK WAS SO INCREDIBLY GOOD. I love love love Ali Hazelwood and everything that she writes. This book was her but different. You can tell that her writing has evolved and improved from her first couple of books. I finished this book and I wanted to cry because it was over. Rue and Eli were just so freaking adorable. The way that he was ready to give up his LIFE'S WORK to make sure she was able to accomplish hers?????? It was just too good. UGH LITERALLY I CANT STOP THINKING ABOUT IT. I LOVED EVERY SINGLE SECOND OF IT AND I DIDNT WANT IT TO EVER EVER END.

Thank you so much to Berkley, Ali Hazelwood, and NetGalley for allowing me to read this!!!


100/100 STARS

Thank you NetGalley for providing this arc of Not in Love. I'm a fan of Ali Hazelwood's books, especially with Bride coming out this year as well. However, this book (as stated in the beginning) is a bit different from her other books in that it takes a more serious tone and more sex scenes (lol). While I loved the conflict and the resolution of the story, it was a bit hard to believe in the relationship that was trying to form. It talks about love when it's just sex between them. Nonetheless, I love that she's branching out to different genres and challenging her to write different stories that still has her writing and STEM in it.

This book is not only beautifully written but it has the perfect amount of heart and complex emotion while giving the doses of humor needed to keep you grounded and intimacy to keep you hooked. The characters feel alive and relatable even without the relatable circumstances. I loved getting to see character from Hazelwood with such a complex history and how she was able to keep her iconic tone while staying true to the characters trauma. As always Hazelwood makes her love for STEM and academia palatable for readers without said background while letting her love for science shine through. I loved this different yet familiar take from her and I hope to see more!

ughhhhh. I love Eli and Rue so much. Their story was so perfectly paced. Their communication was so good, especially on Eli’s front. He was so understanding of the entire situation and Rue’s feelings that it made him so much more likable. The plot itself puts Rue and Eli in a tough situation, but they really never let that stop them from feeling what they feel for each other. This book is a lot more physical than Hazelwood’s previous works, but it’s what worked for Rue. Without the physicality and intimacy of their relationship, it would’ve turned out differently in the end. Eli was patient and understanding, and their intimacy and communication is what opened the door for an honest and trusting relationship to flourish.

Seriously Ali Hazelwood's best work!!! I thought no book could replace Love Theoretically for me as my favourite book by her but this one has me in a chokehold right now

This book was definitely an emotional one and I think very different from her usual books, though it had a science element to it I think the focus was more on the romantic side which I loved so much! The slow burn between them had me hooked!

I always love how Ali writes her characters and I didn't feel any different while reading this. Rue is shown as a realist, her emotions are written all over her and she doesn't hold back from speaking her mind. I love that she's not shy to be 100% herself and fully lives by the statement "take me as I am". I loved to read about how she was herself throughout the book and Eli loved her for that exact reason. He never made her feel like she had to change herself or made her feel small for how she felt about certain things. The patience he has with her seriously warms me

The angst in this book was my FAV! not only was this book super spicy 🥵 but I loved to see Eli pining over her throughout. Rue is portrayed as somewhat emotionally unavailable but Eli truly brings out the best side to her and helps her see the good in life. I think after they both come from traumatic backgrounds, the bond they create is so special and they truly have my heart ❤️‍🩹

Thank you to netgalley and Berkley for this ARC!

First of all... thank you so much to Berkley publishing and Netgalley for allowing me to receive an ARC of this book. Ali Hazelwood stands to be one of my favorite and instant buy romance authors. I truly loved all her STEM romances, her YA debut Check and Mate, and her Omegaverse book Bride. I think ever since Check and Mate has come out (along with Bride after), it really gives me a glimpse of what a dynamic author Ali is. She crafts her characters in a way that is so endearing, lovable, and relatable; and still allowing them to have their own flaws and imperfections. Not In Love was definitely unexpected but so wonderful to read. This is definitely a different take than her usual format of STEM romances that have a sprinkle of rom-com in them. This one had my heart tugging and burning for these characters! I would say this book takes a more serious tone but not overly serious? Just less playful than her past STEM romances, yet still has all the elements to a classic Ali Hazelwood book that we know and love. Rue and Eli's journey to love was something so beautiful, I seriously could not put this down! Cheers to Ali for not being afraid to step out of her comfort zone in her writing! I look forward to more of her releases in the future! 5 STARS!!

BROCOLLI BROCOLLI BROCOLLI.

I've been a longtime Ali-stan and I truly don't know how she does it, every single book gets better and better. She's been branching out into other genres / sub genres - Young Adult Chess Romance, Paranormal Vampire / Werewolf romance, and NONE OF IT MISSES. However this….THIS. THIS IS IT PEOPLE.

This is my favorite Ali romance ever, by a mile and then some. It's deliciously angsty. It's surprisingly tender and intimate. It had me on a roller coast of emotions, I was tom cruise couch screaming-esque giddy at some scenes, then the sad hamster from the tiktok memes at others. The spice was SERVING, which I always love, but what caught me so off guard was the unexpected emotional depth of the story. I truly could not stop thinking about both characters and how different and specific, how very complete they each felt.

"Do you think that maybe there's another version of us, somewhere in another timeline? Where we're not just a messed-up lump of scar tissue, and we're whole enough to be capable of loving others the way they want to be loved?

Rue has many of the similar hallmarks we come to expect from Ali's FMCs, but she's also very different. She's complicated, her honesty is refreshing yet also unwittingly sharp and often times almost a bit unsettling and uncomfortable -- and this is by design. I found it fascinating honestly that I could relate to Rue in some moments and behaviors but also felt like I could also be one of those people that also writes her off as icy and standoffish. Ali could have set herself up to fail here with a FMC that could have run the course of being too bitchy and unlikeable for readers to take, but she manages to pull it off well and give us a character that feels really layered, albeit certainly flawed. Rue is of course a brilliant scientist, as is expected in a STEMinist romance from Ali, but where Ali's other FMCs still felt relatable form a social perspective -- they're quirky and cute, funny without trying, almost effortless, Rue feels like a very sharp contrast.

"If I were able to love someone, I would choose you. In that timeline, I want it to be you."

There's a sneaking vulnerability with Rue that really captured me, and the moments we're inside her head feel like a precious intimacy and peek behind the curtain that felt really special. Her wounds run deep and they've manifested in ways that have ultimately helped her succeed in some aspects, so it's difficult to break out of them. Relatable.

"But it was nice, having told someone. Taking this stinging pain inside me and putting it outside of my body for a little."

She's not the quintiesstial 'cool girl' or the 'not like other girls', this isn't some She's All That makeover where the nerd is actually secretly hot when you take off the glasses. No, Rue IS hot & she knows it, she's not afraid to ask for EXACTLY what she wants when it comes to sex, she knows what she wants to do with her science and time, BUT, everything else, everyday life in social situations… nothing about that is effortless, and often times they represent landmines of anxiety, self-recrimination, and judgement for Rue. She struggles with difficult family relationships and trauma. Despite her complete candor, she lacks communication skills. Where in previous books all the FMCs had some wounds and behaviors to address and come to terms with, Rue's run deep, and there's a level of acceptance that not all of these things can be addressed, should be, or will ever change for Rue. Removing this aspect of 'fixing' Rue or having her overcome some things helped make this feel grounded and real, something tangible and inexplicably human, instead of a simpler, easier HEA. It's this messiness that makes Rue so exciting, so interesting.

"You don't understand what you do to me. Because I don’t understand what you do to me."

Now for Eli….whew. He's entering my pantheon of book boyfriends. He's also so uniquely fascinating. In true Ali fashion of course he falls first. We know this is coming from Ali, we love it, BUT, the ways in which Eli falls, the lengths he goes to, is what really hooked me. Sure he's patient with Rue, he's got all the green flags we expect, but his banter and dialogue with Rue was something else. It wasn't just flirty, it felt like it immediately sliced through so many layers and got to the very marrow of them both. These are two people who both feel that they lack the ability to love in the 'expected' way. They don't believe that happy endings are accessible for them or that they deserve them. Yet what's interesting is how Eli recognizes this and begins to adapt his mentality. Having his POV feature heavily worked really well to show us the depth Ali built with him. His relationships and interactions outside of Rue were engaging and really helped flesh out his motivations and backstory. We love to see an introspective king, truly. And the way Eli both sees Rue for who she is and what she struggles with, but also knows there are facets of her still unknown made me swoon. It's so clear from the beginning that he's her person, he's her safe space, and seeing him fight to make sure Rue knows it gave me alllllll the feels.

"If her heart has to be broken, I'd rather it be me. That way I can help her pick up the pieces."

Their banter and moments were so full of exposure, all the lines about someone 'seeing right through you' I literally FELT as Eli and Rue find their paths crossing again and again. The chemistry and intimacy between these two was off the charts while also not feeling like some forced and unlikely insta-love. From their very first moment, you feel that they've each left an indelible mark on the other, they haunt each other's thoughts and waking moments. There's a distinct 'before' and 'after' for each of them after they meet that you as a reader feel to. What I loved most about their story is that while this is definitely sex forward (yay!), and Rue and Eli use sex as a means of communicating while their feelings catch up, the intimacy and development actually comes from so many of their quieter moments, many that come even before physical intimacy comes into play at all. Where most romances have sex be part of the overall feelings and intimacy journey, here it's something that comes almost as an afterthought in their development. Which is a nice twist. The sex is definitely steamy and well done, but its rare when I feel that the sex isn't even needed because the character connection and intimacy is already there and so strong on its own.

I could keep rambling but honestly, I can't wait for this book to come out and for more people to experience this. Whatever Ali is cooking up next, in whatever genre, I'm excited. And while she has said this was in her 'angsty' era, I do hope she hasn't closed the door on that era because I need more of these types of romances and characters.

Thank you NetGalley for the arc.

Hallmark movie formula? And writing spicy without making it a crime. Count me in!

Ali Hazelwood uses a formula like Hallmark movies do. That makes a lot of sense when you remember she’s a scientist herself:)

To start off, I am very shocked I got this arc. I made a NetGalley account on a whim and for my first arc ever I get the pleasure to read this! Wow! Crazy! So even though I’m preparing for exams (I’ve barely studied and instead dropped everything to read this. No, I am not disappointed with that decision but I might feel differently when final grades are posted. To me, that sounds like a then problem.) I dropped everything to read this.

There’s so much good in this book that it’s hard to pinpoint every little thing. Which is why I’m just going to list aspects I liked and write headings to organize my thoughts without giving away any spoilers.

Before I officially start, this book had much more sex in it compared to other Ali Hazelwood books. Don’t get me wrong, it
was still stem/academia but compared to Ali’s other books this was dialled up. (Probably because the relationship started off that way.) I’m not complaining because the synopsis/ note in the start essentially said just that. Just note that this isn’t a closed door romance and the sex is pretty graphic.

Dr. Rue Seibert
To me, Rue was the star. She felt relatable and I truly admired how ‘take it or leave it’ she is. I think women are conditioned to be ‘easy going’ and ‘chill’ and as someone who’s never been either of those things it’s nice to read about a main character who also isn’t. Especially, one who gets a passionate romance with a good guy! I should preface that, there’s nothing wrong with characters who are ‘chill’, cutesy’ and ‘bubbly’ but in my opinion it’s overdone and they seem to have a pattern of often letting their partner get away with poor behaviour. Or characters who are, ‘not like other girls’ [barf.] (I’m looking at you Bella from Twilight, and Tessa from After.)
Even better, Rue didn’t change for Eli! Shocking I know! None of that, ‘he made her better’ aka the author completely changes the character’s original personality to make it look like character growth.
However, Eli definitely comforted Rue and knew when to push and not to.

Kink/Eli Killgore (I actually laughed out loud when Rue was making fun of his name.)
For someone who says more than once she doesn’t have a personality, she’s sure funny.
Kink was explored in this novel and Eli really exemplifies how someone should be dominant in the bedroom. I don’t think I’ve ever read a romance novel that openly talks about consent in such a clear cut way. ESPECIALLY with kink. There was no blushing virgin, shame/ embarrassment, slang for body parts and refusal to ask for what you want. Eli made sure to verbally say what he was wanted to do and made sure to tell her that if she ever wanted to stop for any reason that would be the end of it. Now, that I’m thinking about it that’s pretty much the bare minimum but for some reason you don’t see really see actual consent given in romance novels. It’s usually something like ‘I didn’t want him to but deep down he knew that I did.’ [Insert second barf]. I think in some cases, the dominant/submissive thing and ‘dark romance’ has glorified r*ape and this was like ‘step aside, let me show you how to write spicy without making it a crime.’


Criticism
Have I read this before?
I would say this book is a combination of Love Theoretically and From Lukov With Love by Mariana Zapata. With LT it had the same ‘plot twist’ (not a spoiler because it’s so apparent and in your face from the start) and with FLWL figure skating was obviously there but even the back story with Rue felt very similar to what Zapata writes. This isn’t necessarily a fault is because I love both those books but it felt like I’ve already read this before. The problem is, both are so great, in my opinion this wasn’t at the same level. However, I think if you haven’t read both or even one of them this will probably feel very organic and fresh to you.

Predictable.
The biggest problem was how predictable this was. All of Ali Hazelwoods ‘villains’ are the same in EVERY SINGLE BOOK. It’s gotten to the point that you would think someone, her publisher, editor, friend, etc would comment on it. I would be lying if I said it didn’t take away from the overall experience of reading her books and the actual story. FYI, I don’t think this counts as a spoiler because it’s extremely obvious from the start of the novel who the ‘ villain’ is.

Hallmark movies
I do think certain parts of Hazelwood’s stories are repetitive but hear me out… maybe that’s okay? To me, it’s like watching a Hallmark movie, it makes me happy and is enjoyable. Sure, it’s predictable and there are many shared tropes between different Hallmark movies but so? Who cares? I do think it’s important to note that there was an effort to differentiate this but I personally think it failed. Rue was different from Ali’s other heroines but that was pretty much it. Eli felt warmer which is interesting because he was much more demanding in the bedroom but still managed to give off total golden retriever vibes which Adam could never do. I also think if I hadn’t read Bride I would feel a larger difference between the characters because Eli really reminded me of Lowe. Come to think of it, Rue definitely had some Misery in her. Even Trish felt like all the other best friends in Hazelwood books.

Ending
The ending was cutesy and made my black heart expand. I appreciated that it wasn’t an ultimatum and more importantly that Rue was still the same person; just happier.

Overall thoughts.
This was enjoyable and is a great escape. However, it’s not an original story and not extremely memorable. I believe if you’re newer to romance and haven’t read much of Ali Hazelwood you will enjoy this much more. Four stars feels right, right now but I am aware that could be too high. Maybe a 3.5 is more accurate to some people but I really appreciate Rue’s character, the way sex was talked about in this book and the escape it gave me at this time in my life.

Ali Hazelwood's books are one of a kind. She skillfully combines romance with science in a way that is both steamy and captivating. This story dives deeper into the STEM world than her other books. The romance is darker and more intense, yet equally addictive to read. I appreciated how Rue and Eli met under normal circumstances and instantly connected. Their bond grows stronger as their lives become more intertwined. I also liked that there wasn't a grumpy vs. sunshine dynamic in this book since sometimes that troupe is overdone. Eli knew what he wanted from the start and showed Rue how much he cared for her through small but meaningful actions. It was also refreshing to see both characters being emotionally vulnerable and willing to put everything on the line. This book might be my new favorite by Hazelwood!

Thank you to NetGallery and to Harequin Publishling for giving me a copy of the book.

A MILLION STARS! A huge huge thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for granting me access to this book for an honest review.

Ali Hazelwood is truly a unicorn..a magical unicorn..she can do and write NO WRONG! Whether it’s a rom-com, paranormal romance or even a romance with a blend of erotica (aka Not in Love)…she is magic!

I read this book in less than 12 hours and loved every minute of it! Rue and Eli are everything and this book is perfect for any reader who loves: forbidden romance, enemies with benefits, past trauma and slow-delicious burn.

Officially official, Ali Hazelwood has cemented herself as an auto-buy for me! Please run, don’t walk to read this book!