For me, Ali Hazelwood has become an auto-buy author. I don't care what she writes, I'll read it. This was no exception. One thing I love about her books is how she always brings STEM-ist bad ass women. That said, Not In Love is a new take and dynamic on her romances. It explore the dynamic of a forbidden relationship in the mix of a company takeover. I loved this from page one. It's interesting, has great characters, and this time a different love story.

I can't wait for people to get their hands on this book.

Synopsis:
Dr. Rue Siebert might not have it all, but she has enough, including a few friends she can always count on. She works as a biotech engineer in the field of food science.

Eli and his business partners want Kline, Rue’s company, and they’ll stop at nothing. They have their reasons, and Eli gets what he wants. That is except for one exception, Rue. The woman always on his mind, and also off-limits.

Torn between loyalty and undeniable attraction, Rue and Eli throw caution out of the window for a no-strings attached steamy relationship.

Thoughts:
Every single time a new Ali Hazelwood book comes out, I immediately binge it, and then I say “this is my favorite one yet”. Yup, it happened again. The way she wrote the spice in this book was next level! Talk about taking consent up a notch! I had never really thought about some of the things the way that she presented them, and for a romance novel to make me stop and think, you know it must be good. I love how she explored kinks and being open with each other, as well as mutual agreeableness and communication. Being open and building trust is the key to any relationship.

I dare say that my favorite part of this book, well there were many, was that Dr. Rue wasn’t a tiny woman. I was glad that Dr. Rue was almost as tall as Eli! It made the story even more perfect for me. I have commented before that the female main characters tend to be small women who are rescued by big brawny men. There was none of that here. However, there was emotional saving, for which I am all for. Dr. Rue was plenty emotionally damaged, but Eli also had his scars. I really enjoyed the game they played where they shared secrets with each other, and slowly built them up. I think that this is a great way to get to know each other and build trust.

I’m not always a fan of the forbidden romance trope, but in this case, it worked for me. It was believable and didn’t make me feel like I needed a shower in a bad way. I loved that the characters had ethics, and the way this played out was great. I did get the feeling that things might be amiss early on but couldn’t quite put my finger on how it was all going to play out. I was excited to see and learn how it did end. While I wasn’t surprised by the ending, I was saddened by it because it felt all too real.

The writing is, as always, very polished and well done. I think that the story flows nicely and is well paced. While I didn’t want the story to end, I needed to know how all the pieces came together, and I didn’t want to put it down.

Ali continues to be the Queen of STEM but I will read everything she writes. You will want to run and buy a copy of this one, it is that good.

The Queen of STEM returns, crafting another gripping enemies-to-lovers tale that had me forgetting my own name with its steamy intensity. Brace yourself for the clash of love and hate as a brilliant yet sensitive heroine crosses paths with the founder of an infamous corporation, poised to seize control. Can you resist the allure of forbidden love when faced with a hot Scottish ex-hockey player, haunted by a mysterious past intertwined with science and emotional baggage that only serves to deepen his sensitivity and charm? Would you dare to give him a chance, even knowing he represents the very corporation that threatens all you've worked for?

Enter the tantalizing world of Ali Hazelwood's latest novel, where passion ignites, chemistry sizzles, and intrigue abounds. And let's take a moment to applaud the remarkable work of the cover artist—truly deserving of awards for their ability to capture the essence of sweetness, heat, and allure.

Meet Rue Siebert: navigating life with her dream job, a loyal boss who doubles as her best friend, and her trusted wingwoman and colleague, Trish. Scarred by a traumatic past at the hands of her mother and brother Vince—who continues to plague her with inheritance disputes—Rue guards her heart fiercely, preferring fleeting encounters over emotional entanglements. But when she crosses paths with Eli Kilgore through a dating app, she's tempted to reconsider her stance—until their second encounter, not in a hotel room but in Rue's workplace, reveals Eli's true intentions: a hostile takeover of her company.

With determination fueled by loyalty and a hint of resentment, Rue joins forces with her boss Florence and Trish's lawyer sister to thwart Eli's plans. But as their paths continue to intersect and hidden connections come to light, Rue finds herself torn between her attraction to Eli and her mission to protect all she holds dear. Can she risk her heart to a man set on dismantling everything she's built, or has she misjudged his motives from the start?

As expected, the chemistry between Eli and Rue is electric, their relationship evolving with captivating intensity. Eli emerges as a standout book boyfriend, embodying qualities of care, passion, loyalty, and honesty that make him irresistible to Rue—and to readers.

I devoured this STEM romance with relish, eagerly anticipating each twist and turn. It's undoubtedly one of my top picks for romance in 2024, and I've included it in my article on Medium.com, which you can find here: https://medium.com/@niluferyozmekik/valentines-day-special-best-romance-books-of-2024-ab14bf29b9a8. I highly recommend diving into this captivating read—it's simply too good to miss.

A heartfelt thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for providing me with a digital review copy of this exceptional book in exchange for my honest feedback—it's truly appreciated.