Ali Hazelwood DOES NOT MISS!

In a slight deviation from her previous "steminist" novels, Not In Love does not offer the warm fuzzy rom-com feels we are used to, and takes on a more serious tone. Rue consistently struggles with social situations and trauma from food insecurity and that drives her character throughout the novel. However, the author makes this information known before going in with a short note to readers.

With that said, I thoroughly enjoyed the book. Rue and Eli have such great chemistry and you really feel their struggle to stay away from each other. As stated earlier, without the rom-com feel, this book really read like a very well written smut with depth (an actual plot) and I was not mad about it! The intimate scene did actually serve to move the plot forward as well since the basis of Rue and Eli's relationship is solely physical (at first).

Of course, the science element plays a huge role as well, which is typical for the author and another reason I love reading her books! Rue is working on a patent in food engineering and Eli works for a financial entity that builds up science-based businesses. This of course offers the source of the major conflict in the novel.

Overall, this was a spicy, fast-paced read with all the well-loved elements of a Ali Hazelwood novel (minus the fluff). If you have enjoyed her previous "steminist" type romances, I highly recommend this one as well!

Fabulous book! Not in her usuals rom-com style - which she outlines in her notes to readers, I will be buying this book for my store and hand selling like mad. Ali has a way to pull you into her characters' lives and minds and makes you feel everything! Thoroughly enjoyed this book!

They were in fact, in love.

An Ali Hazelwood classic. You should 100% read this book.

Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley publishing for allowing me to read this book early!

Is this the spiciest Ali Hazelwood book yet? (Maybe?!) It is VERY spicy and fun and leans more romance than stem, but still has a solid stem element for sure.

Follow Rue, a scientist and serial one night stand only woman. Her personality is cold, awkward and stilted to those that don't know her, but she has a few close friends that she can be herself with.

Eli and Rue match on a "dating" app that is purely for hookups..They have a bump in their evening when Rue's verbally abusive brother shows up and crashes their meet up and totally spoils their evening.

The next day, Rue is at work when she hears about a company buying out the loan for her workplace. She works for her good friend and mentor, Florence, and doesn't know what to think but she is worried. When Eli is part of the company that is taking over, she can't believe her luck. Determined to stay away from this irresistible stranger she makes herself very clear. They are enemies and they will not be hooking up.

The chemistry is off the charts between Eli and Rue and I enjoyed their truth bombs and revealing conversations.

If you enjoy romance with well developed characters and.great side characters that you are hoping will get their own books, this is for you!

Thank you to netgalley and Berkley Publishing for an ARC to review.

Like all of Ali Hazelwood's other books, this one did not disappoint. This one was more heavy on the sex than the science that is OK with me. The romance premise is the same as all her other STEM based books: female scientist thinks big, hunky male scientist is out to get her and her work but is proven wrong. This time, however, it was not made immediately clear that Eli Killgore was a scientist out for her work or job. The fact that it starts off with a planned sexual encounter at a hotel with no strings attached kind of set the mood for their relationship. The STEM took more of a backseat in this iteration and let the sex (which was a bit darker than her other romances) take center-stage.

Wow! 4.5 stars. Ali Hazelwood knows how to bring the spicy, and this book is definitely spicier than any of her other novels that I've read. She does admit that this book is a bit more erotica than romance before the novel even begins, in order to warn those that might not care for that. However, this is definitely still a love story and the chemistry between the two main characters kept me engaged throughout.

I loved this story. Eli was a complete sweetheart cinnamon roll love which I adore, and Rue, ugh. I loved her too. As a long time Ali Hazelwood fan, this book will easily bring more to her fan base.

Thank you for the ARC!

I love that the author has strong STEM oriented female characters. This book is not like her other books. It is darker, steamier and explores tough topics. It is still well written and will be a hit.

This was hot, sexy, vulnerable and I LOVED it.

Rue and Eli meet through a dating app. Rue has several rules, one of them being only one night stands, and no follow up meetings. Things take a turn when the next day she finds Eli at her workplace, as he’s planning on taking over the company she works for. Rue wants to be loyal to her boss and company. But she cannot seem to stay away from Eli.

I was instantly hooked since page 1. Rue and Eli are extraordinary. Rue’s sense of humor is so dry, and Eli knows how to read her. They’ve both been through so much, which makes them mesh so well. Their chemistry is off the charts. I love how vulnerable they are with each other every time they share a story.

This is my third Ali Hazelwood book, and it was definitely steamier than the rest. I loved every second of it.

🩷 Enemies to lovers
🩷 Workplace romance
🩷 Grumpy / sunshine - she’s the grumpy one!
🩷 Dual POV

Thank you Berkley Publishing and NetGalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC.

Not gonna lie, as much as I love Ali Hazelwood, I went into this with doubts. Eli is in private equity, and that is an immediate red flag. But but but. She does it. Ali Hazelwood makes me love him. He has reasons. And he's not evil (despite the job description of private equity being "be evil"). I won't say anymore cause it's big spoilers.

In a complete coincidence, I read Not in Love right after reading a recent release, A Feather So Black by Lyra Selene. In many ways, these books are complete opposites. A Feather So Black is a high fantasy based on Celtic mythology, featuring the fae, changelings, and court intrigue. Not in Love is a contemporary romance with a heavy science bend. And yet. These two books are like mirrors to each other. Reading them back to back felt like the best possible reading experience, even if no one would expect it. They utilize some similar storytelling techniques, namely, how the characters exchange stories as a way of becoming closer while also pushing the plot and character development. Rue and Fia also felt similar in many ways and I just found it all very interesting.

Okay, has anyone else noticed that Ali Hazelwood keeps making autistic heroines, but not saying they're autistic? I highlighted a whole bunch of passages in the book that illustrate this, but obviously can't share them yet. Rue is textbook. Has trouble reading social cues, people mistake her for for being icy or thinking she's better than them when she's really just socially anxious and doesn't know how to interact, issues with food (a lot of this related to food insecurity as a child, but how it presents definitely reads as having an autism component). She has a single friend that is bubbly and outgoing that she made as a child and any social interaction comes via her, but the friends of her friend tend not to like her. Like, it's a little ridiculous. I felt the same thing about Elsie from Love, Theoretically, but Rue is even more obvious. With so few autistic heroines in the book world, I would love to see autism named in the text.

Okay, what you're actually here for: the romance. This book is SCORCHING! While it doesn't have the supernatural elements from Bride, I would argue Not in Love is Hazelwood's spiciest book yet. She even notes this in an author's note in the beginning that this book is less of a rom-com and more of an erotic romance.

Relatedly, do not go into this book expecting a light, fluffy read. Eli and Rue (her especially) both have some trauma they are overcoming. They work through that together, often in the bedroom. While it has the science aspect of her earlier books, it's not a comedy by any means. Both characters have deceased parents and that weighs heavily on the plot at times. I know some folks had cancer surprises in The Love Hypothesis, so wanted to share that while one of the parental deaths is cancer related, it isn't super present in the book. The book deals with the reality of childhood poverty and food insecurity, and the lasting effects is leaves on adults, even when they become financially secure.

All together, Not In Love is a spectacular romance novel. It balances the hard stuff with the spicy with the dramatic (there is, after all, a hostile takeover of a business happening). Characters feel realistic and three dimensional. There are several characters that could get spin-off romances if Hazelwood chose to do so. I personally loved Eli's younger sister Maya. Also, slightly hilariously given its current popularity, even though this is nowhere near a hockey romance, we do get a slight hockey/figure skating sub-plot. I highly recommend it, but folks will want to check out trigger warnings closer to release date so they can go in emotionally prepared.

I think Hazelwood might have heard us when we said that her last few offerings felt like a rinse and repeat of her first big hit. Not in Love still had all the scientific elements to it but the characters felt much more flawed and raw than previous ones. And they felt like they were standing more on equal footing in some ways than the man asserting all the power. Now - don’t get me wrong, there is still some savior complex damsel in distress action but the female MC Rue is very unique and finds her voice.

The sex scenes are spicy AF and there are a lot of them - but we are still relying on the “he’s almost too big to fit” line and idk about you guys but that’s definitely the exception not the rule IRL. But whatever - let’s escape into Giant Cock Land and lean in to the fantasy.

4.5 rounded up!

I'm a huge fan of Ali Hazelwood and knew I was going to love this. It's different than her other books for two main reasons: it's dual POV and spicier than any novel she's written so far. Safe to say that these are NOT negatives and I enjoyed these aspects very much!

I loved Rue. I related to her on a deep level. Her feelings of not being lovable, being "too fucked up" to ever be loved wholly by another person with all of the mistakes she's made. I related to the way she was in social situations (to a degree) and her lack of reading cues, basically being socially inept unlike other people. I always admired how Ali Hazelwood would write FMC's with completely different personalities than fmc's in other books. Kind of adverse to sex, social interactions, love, etc. on a level that isn't just "I'm too scared" to love, but fundamental differences between her and others. It's always done so flawlessly that I always love. I can see myself in so many of them, too, and feel so seen.

Eli was... WOW. Just wow. I'd say one of the most dynamic of all of Ali's MMC's, for sure. His past was just as gritty and ugly as Rue's which was what drew them together (aside from their insane sexual attraction, of course). I loved his resilience and his acknowledgement as to the mistakes he's made. I loved how he tries his very best to atone for those mistakes, specifically with Maya, and tries his best to prevent Rue from going through what he did. Not to mention the MOUTH on this man? Holy. Shit. If Ali stops writing spice like this I will cry because this was e v e r y t h i n g I needed from her. He was head over heels in love. There are fewer chapters of Eli's where he's talking about himself or his life and more chapters where he's completely OBSESSING over Rue. Literally saying that she unhinged him, that she controlled him (in a sexy way, of course), that she was the center of his entire world. And literally before they even had sex! Like if you want a MALE OBSESSEDmmc then this book is for you. He tops all of Ali's other mmc's in terms of obsessed. He brought it to a whole new level. The way he showed up for her every single time, (call me if you need me, call me even if you don't), with Vincent especially, with EVERYTHING. Idk the way this man was written I can just see him perfectly in my mind and I want my own Eli !!!!

The two of them together were electric. I loved the relationship they built and the connection that fused between them. The way they'd tell each other snippets of their own terrible stories, because they were terrible people, and they accepted each other despite it, or maybe because of it, and showed each other that love could grow even in the darkest, coldest conditions. Eli was patient with Rue, didn't rush her, didn't force words in her mouth when she wasn't being sociable. I loved that. I loved how he accepted her for every single part of who she was and never tried to change him. Their sexual relationship was the least of their worries. I loved to hear him call her baby, sweetheart, love. I feel like pet names are grossly underused when it comes to Hazelwood's books (with just reason) and there was a total dump of them in this book? I was shook. Absolutely shook.

The drama surrounding Kline and Harkness was engaging. Of course, there had to be a villain and of course it was the person that Rue had entrusted her life with. I really did love the parallels between Rue's current situation and Eli's past situation with Florence (and I was screaming when I realized about the patent before they even mentioned it!!!)

The only reason this isn't a five star read (which if I reread it, it probably would be) is because 1) they mentioned a lot of kinks and barely any of the aforementioned kinks were implemented as much as I thought they'd be); 2) I'm not going to lie, I was confused for the first few chapters which is probably (definitely) a me problem, but it was a little flip-floppy to have her POV in first person and his in third person. It was jarring and took me a little bit to get used to especially since Ali never did dual pov before.

thank you so much for the arc!

The company that Rue Siebert, a biotech engineer, works for has been bought via a seemingly hostile takeover by a finance company. What’s worse? Heading the company is a man that Rue /almost/ had a ‘casual meet up’ with the night before.

There’s an undeniable attraction between Eli and Rue, however, and secrets unfold that truly tell that the takeover is more than what it seems.

Hazelwood has outshone herself in this novel. She’s branched out within her genre and is truly putting her all into her characters. I love seeing something different from her and can’t wait to see what she does next.

Hmmmmm. I finished it and I said “huh” out loud. Because I don’t think I have ever contemplated giving an Ali Hazelwood book anything other than ALL the stars. And I considered what to do for a time with this one. And the overriding reason for the four is not the writing style or the characterizations or the setting or the story line or any of the things that it would normally be. And when I say that it was about the sex, please know that I am not a prude and I actually enjoyed that element in all of her previous books…and even, to a lesser degree, in this one. What I found difficult about the sex in this title was my inability to relate to that drive. I mean, this book was all about the sex in a way that her other books were not. It didn’t end up being all about the sex, but for a good 75% of the book, it really was. And I have no way to relate to that life, that reality, that level of gettin’ after it. I don’t judge it, nor do I crave it for me. I just can’t say that I understand it even a little. So that took something away for me.

However, still a delightful, funny, sad (more than any of her others), real, STEM-sational read! I dug it. 💜📚

5/5

I am a huge Ali Hazelwood fan, so I had high hopes for this book. I was NOT disappointed. This is another women-in-stem romance, but it is definitely a different vibe than her other books. Less of a fluffy romance and more of a real life romance. This book is more than just a romance, it includes friendships, betrayal, loss, grief and so much more. I grew so attached to Rue and Eli; their relationship had me giddy. Highly recommended.

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Company for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Ali Hazelwood's best book yet! It was nice to see a different dynamic between the two main characters and I loved it. Who doesn't love when the guy falls first?

Ali Hazelwood maintains her status as the queen of pining/tension filled romance and I love it! I really enjoyed how these characters came with deep backstories and were absolutely not perfect. The flaws helped them become so entangled in each other and it was just great. Loved the spice also! I hope she continues the erotica journey for all of our sakes.

This book was so good, but if super spicy isnt your thing then move along, however it is done really well. I really enjoyed reading about these characters. THey were really fun and easy to relate to and I love to read about women in stem. I love that they both have alot of baggage and they arent scared to share it with the other.

3.5 stars!

In terms of the spice and romance, there was a lot more spice than I was expecting and I was pleasantly surprised! I appreciated that the STEM aspects of the book wasn't overwhelming and the spicy scenes felt a lot more natural than some of her other books. However, it still felt very insta-lust. There was barely any development in their relationship before they started to act on their physical attraction and even after that, I didn't feel like they knew much about each other. This book was fine, but that's about it, I didn't really find anything particularly unique about the plot and I wasn't really connected to any of the characters. Rue and Eli's relationship is definitely more lust-driven and while I think the author did a good job making the story flow well, the story itself wasn't all that memorable. It's a simple and quick read but I just wish there was... more.

✨️Thanks to Netgalley and Berkley Romance for the E-Arc of this book.✨️

“Being with you was a betrayal from the very start. I just couldn’t stay away.”

Not in Love is the first book by Ali Hazelwood that I couldn't fully connect with.

When I was 20% into the book, I suddenly realized that I was not liking it. In the end, I wouldn't have finished if I hadn't been hooked or liked it in some way, but for most of the book, I was lacking the connection I always feel with Ali Hazelwood's books.

I have mixed feelings about this book, and I don't know how to order everything I think about it, so let's organize what I liked from what I didn't.

Some things I liked:
-All the honest discussions about sexual relationships and how explorative the book is in that aspect.
-The talks about food insecurity. I really appreciate how Ali incorporated it into this book and how it was portrayed.
-Rue! I couldn't completely connect with her, but I liked that Ali wrote a character as complex as her ♥️
-Tiny. We love big dogs with ridiculous names here.
-I loved all the legal/financial drama.


Things that didn't work out for me:

-First of all, even though I wanted more than anything for a book by Ali to be narrated in dual POV, I didn't like it in this book. I think I would have enjoyed it more if the chapters narrated by Eli had been fewer and farther between. Most of his perspectives revolve around lusting over Rue. I love a male character who is completely gone for the female MC, but this was too much.
- Is it possible to say too much spice? Beyond 2-3 steamy scenes in a romance book, they seem unnecessary to me. When a book has too many sex scenes, it becomes boring very quickly for me, so I wasn't a big fan of that aspect.
- The initial interactions between Rue and Eli felt too anticlimactic and forced. It wasn't until 30-40% into the book that their 'situationship' started to feel more natural for me.
- I would have appreciated more character development instead of focusing solely on the sex scenes. I also think that the amount of sex scenes
took away the potential for a deeper emotional connection between the characters. I only felt their emotional connection towards the end.

At first, I thought I was going to give it a 3.5 star rating, but the aspects I disliked or didn't work for me were more significant than I initially realized.

It's not a bad book, just not entirely my cup of tea.