ali hazelwood writes men that could never actually exist and that’s why i keep coming back for more. the things these men think and say KILL ME! the banter! the witty conversations! i need more from eli and rue asap!!

I love everything Ali writes and this one was no exception! It was PURE ANGST and steam and just amazingly written as usual! I can’t wait to scream about this one when it comes out!

I think this might be her best book yet. I loved it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC.

A very satisfying, originals romance! Rue and Eli were a great match-up. Loved how Eli saw the beauty in Rue, including her awkwardness, walls and all. Usually I love the spicy in romance, but for some reason they didn’t real click for me personally. However they really moved the relationship, so for that reason they worked. Definitely felt like an Ali hazelwood book for sure.

If there is one thing about me is that I will run to read an Ali Hazelwood book, and she did it again!
Not in Love was the perfect mix of humor, steam, heavy emotional baggage and academic politics. I'm usually not big on dual pov's but both characters were so interesting and had enough depth that it kept me reeled in every time there was a pov change. This was also very much her most angst-ridden book yet (and I'm here for it!!!) and ended being such a fun time following Eli & Rue.
In the end it's definitely up there with the love hypothesis and love theoretically for my favorites by Hazelwood!

An Electrifying Romance: "Not in Love" by Ali Hazelwood

Prepare to be swept off your feet and into a world of passion, intrigue, and undeniable chemistry with Ali Hazelwood's captivating novel, "Not in Love." From its pulse-pounding plot to its sizzling romance, this book is a rollercoaster ride of emotions that will leave readers breathless and begging for more.

At the center of the story is Rue Siebert, a fiercely independent biotech engineer whose world is turned upside down when her company, Kline, becomes the target of a hostile takeover led by the enigmatic Eli Killgore. Despite their undeniable attraction, Rue and Eli find themselves on opposite sides of a high-stakes business deal, torn between loyalty and desire.

What sets "Not in Love" apart is its electrifying romance, which crackles with tension and heat from the very first page. Ali Hazelwood has crafted a love story that is as forbidden as it is irresistible, drawing readers into a world of secrets, betrayal, and passion that will keep them guessing until the very end. Rue and Eli's chemistry is off the charts, igniting sparks that leap off the page and leave readers breathless with anticipation.

But "Not in Love" is more than just a steamy romance—it's a story about the power of love to transcend boundaries and defy expectations. As Rue and Eli navigate the treacherous waters of corporate espionage and personal desire, they must confront their own fears and insecurities, risking everything for a chance at happiness. Their journey is a testament to the transformative power of love, reminding readers that sometimes the greatest risks yield the greatest rewards.

Moreover, Ali Hazelwood's writing is nothing short of mesmerizing, weaving together a complex tapestry of emotions, suspense, and heart-stopping romance that will keep readers glued to the page until the very end. With its sharp dialogue, richly drawn characters, and pulse-pounding plot twists, "Not in Love" is a masterclass in storytelling that will leave readers craving more.

In conclusion, "Not in Love" is a must-read for fans of steamy romance and pulse-pounding suspense. With its captivating storyline, unforgettable characters, and sizzling chemistry, Ali Hazelwood has delivered a true gem of a novel that will leave readers swooning and clamoring for more. So grab a copy, buckle up, and get ready for a wild ride that will leave you breathless and begging for more.

Not my favorite of Hazelwood's - I didn't really love either main character and the crux of their conflict seemed to revolve almost solely around sex, which seemed like a change for this author. Lots of sexy times.

Ali Hazelwood does it again! I was not sold by the summary but I got sucked in. I read this in a day and loved the characters, the plot, and the spice.

ali hazewood books only get better and better! not in love varies from her past stem books, it felt more mature and poignant. the plot was fascinating and although i found myself getting really confused amidst all the legal talk: hazelwood's writing style helps the reader understand the basics of what's going on. in addition, rue and eli's romance doesn't revolve the repeated tropes present in her former novels. eli and rue have a deep, profound relationship (even before it's romantic) and it truly makes the book shine. the personalities, the struggles, and the connection between eli and rue make this book all the while. i cannot recommend this book enough! as always, thank you to netgalley and berkley publishing group for providing me with an arc!

Hazelwood did warn that this wasn't your typical rom-com, so I've no one to be disappointed in but myself for not loving this as much as I do her other books. Still, my least favorite Ali Hazelwood beats the best of most of my must-read romance authors, so.

I am a huge fan of Ali Hazelwood, so I was super excited to receive this ARC! Not In Love is one of my most anticipated releases of the year, and it did NOT disappoint. In fact, this might be my favourite Hazelwood book yet. I was on the edge of my seat from the first chapter. Perhaps my fav MMC from her as well. I LOVED that we got dual POV for this book - it added so much to the story and she wrote both POV's perfectly. Love love love

I loved this book! This was definitely Ali's spiciest read yet without a doubt. Eli was the best book boyfriend and I absolutely adored Rue. Even though I could guess the plot with Florence's the ending still made me cheer. A 10/10 read in my book.

I love Ali Hazelwood, but this is the first book of hers that I have mixed feelings about.

The dual-perspective romance is always a win for me and some of the silly stations that the MCs ended up in made me outright giggle on my flight back home. I adored some aspects of Eli and Rue's relationship, all the communication that happened between the characters is what I love about Ali's style of romance and I appreciated that some hard topics in this book started conversations about what emotional trauma and healing look like.

But while I loved the complexity of Rue's storyline, the novel was missing some of my favorite Hazelwood aspects. I was looking for supportive side characters to have more screen time, I was looking for all the fun facts and information about a random yet super important field of science, and overall I had such an issue when Rue communicated boundaries about her spice preferences but then those preferences were not supported throughout the book. I am not a fan of the broken until the right person fixes me trope, and some key aspects of the story followed that narrative too much for my usual five-star rating.

Overall I had fun reading this ARC and thank Netgally so much for the advanced copy.

Shout out to Berkley and NetGalley for this ARC! Not in Love is very different in tone than Ali Hazelwood’s other novels and, as always, she does an incredible job. One thing about her books is you’ll also learn about science and, in this case, private equity. (I still don’t entirely understand private equity. I’m so sorry, Ali!) In any case, I loved this book. I always enjoy her books, that’s a given, but this one really hit hard and I couldn't put it down. She has a real talent for moving between genres and Not in Love is a really good mix of romance with more of a contemporary fiction feel. Throughout this book, I kept thinking about how good Ali Hazelwood would be at writing a book that’s all mystery, romance, and political intrigue. I’ll be waiting! Alexa please play Glitch by Taylor Swift.

Not my favorite — at least she moved on from the “I’m so petite” trope, but it was way spicier than I remember her books usually being?

Was reading on a flight and had to skip past large swaths bc I was pretty sure the teenage boy across the aisle was reading over my shoulder. 😂

I have loved Ali Hazelwood's books but this one just didn't do it for me. It felt a little darker maybe then some of her other ones. Eli also totally lost me because of how he reacted to her discomfort around his dog. Heads up dog people, just because you love your dog doesn't mean everyone else has to. If someone seems unconformable or afraid of your dog the correct response is not "You're not scare of them are you" or "he seems to like you". Control your pets and respect other peoples boundaries around them. I was so annoyed with him that I couldn't finish the book.

Rue Siebert is not interested in love. She happily uses a “hook-up” app for a no strings attached night and has a strict “no repeats” rule. Rue meets Eli Killgore one night through that app and, although their night is interpreted, sparks are undeniably flying. That is until Rue reports to the office the next day to find none other than Eli and his business partners looking to acquire the start-up she works at.
Rue hates everything Eli’s company aims to achieve, but they can’t seem to stay away from each other. Can a no-strings-attached agreement satisfy them? Or will workplace loyalty tear them apart?

2.5 stars rounded up. It breaks my heart to rate an Ali Hazelwood book this low! I didn’t hate it, but I also didn’t love it. I’ll admit, the insta-lust trope is a quick nope for me so if that’s your thing this might speak to you more! I didn’t connect with the characters and Rue/Eli’s chemistry feels forced until about 75% of the book, too late for me to fall in love. I wish that Rue’s backstory was expanded on earlier on in the book and that more time was devoted to it in general.

NIL didn’t follow the typical formula of Ali’s other STEM romance novels, which was much appreciated. Ali cranked up the steam in this one which I will never complain about. Keep up God’s work, girl! The supporting characters were great as per the usual, Ali has a way of creating a great support system around her main characters!

Overall, much to my dismay, this was a miss for me. I’m ready and looking forward to whatever the author does next!

Review will be posted to Goodreads on 6/4/24

Not in Love is out June 11, 2024.

Thanks to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Ugh, I have a bit of a book hangover with this one. I love, love, loved Eli and Rue! I have adored all of Ali Hazelwood's books, and this is no exception! Special thanks to NetGalley for an advanced copy.

Reading Not in Love brought me joy. I'm consumed with that joy as I write this review, so I'm going to give you bullet points of what I loved about this book.

* The writing! This book was steeped in STEM but didn't feel like a carbon copy of Hazelwood's previous romances. I did have to look up a couple of big words I wasn't sure of, but learning new things is cool.
* The plot was a lot of fun. I don't know that I've read a romance with a hostile workplace takeover before. 
* I loved how Rue and Eli met, their unexpected attraction and connection, and the way they got to know each other through the things they shared. Those things were such a cool way to make this book different and fun. 
* Rue was quirky. I don't think it was mentioned that Rue was neurodivergent, but certain characteristics led me to believe she was. She knew the things that made her different could be off-putting to some people. I loved that Eli didn't just see those things but cherished them. 
* I can't 100% confirm this, but the steam level was higher in this book then some of her others. It worked well with the context of the story.
* This is the second book with a character with food insecurity fears that I have read recently, and I like that it is getting a spotlight in romance. 
* Eli has an adorable dog.
* I loved the found families Rue and Eli had with their friends. I would love to see Hark get a book of his own.

If you're looking for a fun, steamy STEM romance, I highly recommend Not in Love. It's my new favorite book by Ali Hazelwood, which is starting to feel redundant to write because she is constantly writing her best book with each new release.

This was Ali's hottest book for sure and also, in my opinion, her best on a line level. The woman just gets better and better. Super spicy, deliciously angsty, and with a hottttttt hero in Eli, this was a total delight. While Ali writes a note at the top that this is a bit thematically different from her romcoms, I felt like her signature humor still played a big role. It's not ha-ha funny as much as, say, Bride was, but her clever wit was very much present, so even though there's heavier topics explored like food insecurity, you don't leave the book feeling weighed down. Ali is an auto-buy author for me and I hope she writes more in this vein!

Like seriously it was so hot I got UPSET because Eli doesn't exist RIP me UGH

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for my digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.