THIS BOOK WAS SO GOOD! I devoured this book, I didn’t want to put it down, every time I did I was thinking about it and the next I would be able to pick it up again. This book felt different from other Ali Hazelwood books, the characters were different, and they were both closed off and convinced they weren’t capable of love. This being said Eli was Obsessed with Rue from the moment he met her and it was so hot. Eli is so hot, Ali leveled up the spice in this one because some of the things this man said and did were so hot, that the spice had me blushing. In similar Ali Hazelwood fashion, I loved the representation of women in science I always feel like I learn something new about the field every time I read her books, and even though that’s the main point I enjoy it. I liked learning about the issues these characters had and how their life experiences shaped them. From the beginning, they knew they could trust each other and would share their terrible stories that they hadn’t and didn’t want anyone else to know it was so cute. This book ranks in my top two Ali books I think love theoretically is still my favourite but they are pretty close!

I also posted my review on GoodReads. Here is the link: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6303319750

I love reading Ali Hazelwood's books, so I was worried when she said this one was different due to the character's back stories/trauma and focus on adult content. I love Ali's MMCs, the smart, sciency women, small moments that mean so much, internal dialogues, ride or die friends, and even the villain storylines. The "he falls first" trope is seriously one of my favorites and she's a master at it! However, I do not love books that are "spicy" and filled with graphic content, because most follow the formula where the MMC is a Golden Retriever by day and then turns into a foul mouthed, alpha male by night. I don't want to read chapters full of crude language, potential consent issues, and very specific descriptions about their body parts and noises. It makes me cringe way more than swoon, so I was worried about not liking this book.

Although there are a lot of intimate scenes in Not in Love, I didn't find it crude or contradictory to the characters' personalities. They both have a lot of emotional traumas, especially Rue, and physical connection is their common language. It's safer than emotional feelings and both really enjoy it. So, physical intimacy is how they begin to connect emotionally, versus the other way around. But these interactions are full of understanding and trust, so the spicy scenes were also sweet. Eli knew how to care for Rue in the ways she was willing to accept, and consent is never questioned. He's a very gentle, intuitive, caring person and one of my favorite MMCs, aside from Jack in Love, Theoretically.

Okay, not as "good" as other Ali Hazelwood books, but fans are fairly warned at the beginning of this book about the differences between this book and what she's written in the past. I liked it because there's healthy sex communication included and it features an autistic MC. It doesn't quite hit a full 5 stars because it's more erotica (I'm not a huge fan).

This was the first title I read by Ali Hazelwood. i have heard great things about her earlier books and decided to give this one a try. I like both the main characters individually, but I found it hard to believe in the development of the relationship and feelings for each other with so much time spent apart for weeks at a time. I will still give Hazelwood's other books a shot when I get the chance to see what all the hype is about.

okay this is so entirely different from the books ali hardwood usually writes but i was pleasantly surprised by it. It still had that wholesome love story feel i get when i am reading her books but you get a deeper connection to the characters and their individual stories with this. It is also one of her most spicy books so i enjoyed that aspect as well

Not In Love does describe the way I feel about this book because I am very much in LOVE!
There has never been a Ali Hazelwood book I haven't liked and it's not starting now. While tonally different from her more light hearted rom coms, this book, which has been described as an "erotic romance, is full of angst and spice, a combination Hazelwood mixes together perfect.
With backstories much more harrowing than that of her previous books, these characters are rich with detail and trauma, making an enthralling book.
No one does a man obsessed better than Miss. Ali Hazelwood. And Eli Kilgore is OBSESSED. A truly down bad man who would do anything for the girl who doesn't even know if she likes him at all., he IS the standard.
Not in Love is everything I wanted and more and I wish I could read about Rue and Eli for the rest of time.

Ali Hazelwood’s *Not in Love* presents an engaging blend of romance, corporate intrigue, and personal growth, all set against the backdrop of the competitive biotech industry. The novel revolves around Rue Siebert, a determined biotech engineer whose career at Kline, a rising star in food science, is jeopardized by a hostile takeover led by the charming but relentless Eli Killgore. This conflict sets the stage for a captivating exploration of loyalty and desire, pushing both characters into uncharted emotional territories. Rue is portrayed as a relatable and multi-dimensional protagonist; she embodies the challenges of balancing professional ambition with personal fulfillment. Her life seems meticulously curated, with supportive friends and financial stability that she fought hard to achieve. However, the sudden threat posed by Eli and his team throws her stability into disarray. Rue’s struggle to maintain her career while grappling with her feelings for Eli provides a compelling narrative thread that keeps readers invested in her journey. Eli Killgore, described as offensively attractive, is not simply a handsome foil to Rue’s character. He is a complex figure driven by personal motivations that add depth to the story. His attraction to Rue complicates his ruthless business tactics, creating a tension that resonates throughout the novel. As the story unfolds, readers witness Eli’s transition from a corporate predator to a man torn by genuine feelings for Rue, establishing a romantic tension that is both exciting and fraught with consequences. The secretive nature of Rue and Eli’s relationship introduces an element of suspense, as their no-strings-attached affair unfolds amidst a backdrop of corporate warfare. The ticking clock of a looming deadline—when one company must ultimately prevail—heightens the stakes, making every encounter between Rue and Eli feel charged with urgency. Their chemistry is palpable, and Hazelwood expertly navigates the push and pull of their relationship, showcasing the complexities of love in a high-stakes environment. Hazelwood’s writing shines in its ability to balance romantic tension with the realities of workplace politics. She skillfully weaves in themes of loyalty and ambition, challenging Rue and Eli to confront their priorities and the consequences of their choices. As the narrative unfolds, both characters must grapple with the implications of their relationship, ultimately leading to a poignant exploration of what it means to love and be vulnerable in a world that demands strength and control. In conclusion, *Not in Love* is a captivating read that deftly blends romance and professional ambition. Ali Hazelwood’s sharp prose and well-developed characters invite readers to reflect on the complexities of relationships forged in challenging circumstances. Rue and Eli’s journey is not just about love; it is about the sacrifices and choices that define us in the pursuit of happiness. For anyone looking for a novel that will keep them turning the pages with a mix of suspense, humor, and heartfelt moments, *Not in Love* is a must-read.

2.75 ⭐️!

i give 3 stars to books that weren’t my cup of tea but i’d still recommend & books with 2.5 stars & below are books i wouldn’t recommend & just weren’t good. this one is getting the weird 2.75 rating because although i wouldn’t recommend this to someone, i could see why someone would still want to pick it up.

i want to preface by saying that ali hazelwood is normally an autobuy author for me, & although she said this book was different than the others i don’t think it’s too far off. however, there were just some things i didn’t love this time.

for starters, why the heck was rue’s pov in first person & eli’s pov in third person? i’ve read that in fantasy when they are transitioning from a full book being in first to third, but my goodness. it felt like there wasn’t an editor for this book & it just kept taking me out of the story & building connections with the main characters.

speaking of which, i have lots of vvvvvv strong opinions about rue as a character, but frankly i think y’all need to make your own opinion on her. so i will keep this to myself unless asked.

with all this being said, the spice was spicinggggg. literally, this book felt like 75% spice & 25% plot. which i wasn’t necessarily mad at. in regards to plot, i did like the conflict & how everything resolved, but other than that i feel like nothing except insta lust & insta love took place in this book. it’s vvvvv insta lust/attraction & insta love.

if you want to read this book, go for it! i know some people who say this is their favorite ali hazelwood…it just wasn’t my cup of tea.

3.75 but rounding up to 4

Thanks Berkley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I really wanted to love this one because I’m a huge fan of Ali Hazelwood’s other books, but Not in Love didn’t quite hit the mark for me. The story itself was fine, and the steamy scenes were definitely a highlight, but I struggled to get into it.

I’m a mood reader, so it might just be that I wasn’t in the right headspace for this book. However, Rue is such a badass STEM woman that I couldn’t help but admire her. Despite not loving this one as much as her previous works, I still appreciate Ali Hazelwood’s writing and happily added this book to my shelf. Not a bad read at all—just didn’t resonate with me as much this time around!

It's a little difficult for me to know if this is objectively good because I read it so quickly. For about twelve hours counting an annoying break for sleeping in the middle, I became so invested in Rue and Eli. (It's a little PWP-y if we're being honest? And the actual plot is patent law?) It's a little angsty, sure, but not nearly as much as I was expecting because the main characters are such darn sweet and hurt little babies.

If there’s one thing about me it’s that I always have the innate urge to rate all Ali Hazelwood books immediately 5 stars and this is no exception. HOWEVER. I need to also note that this is 100% deserving and my favorite Ali book so far.

Rue and Eli felt like two of her most raw and real characters to date. With REAL issues and REAL ways of dealing with them. Like these are two deeply flawed individuals and watching them find each other and lean on eachother and TRUST eachother so deeply in ways they’ve never been able to before did something to my heart. You just can’t help but root for these two. This is BY FAR her steamiest book yet, and while is was almost too much, it still felt integral to their character development??? And I think was still the basis for why their emotional connection was able to form so deeply.

I also just found the general STEM related plot to be the most interesting and nuanced of all her novels like idk man I was just mad on everyone’s behalf constantly

ANYWAYS I loved this book I will sing it’s praises forever, in Ali we trust 💪

⭐⭐⭐⭐.5

*Not In Love* was unlike any Ali Hazelwood book I’ve read before, and I’ve read almost all of her work.

The difference wasn’t just in the content of the novel itself — obviously, this was much more reliant on the erotic side of the characters’ relationship — but the characters *themselves* were so drastically different than the “stencil” Ali often uses. What I mean by stencil is that, in her previous works (i.e *The Love Hypothesis, Love on the Brain,* and *Love Theoretically*) her MMCs are grumpy and keep to themselves, with the FMCs being a bit brighter and colorful. Rue and Eli, though? The roles were reversed for these two. And it was so *refreshing.*

Yes, I did enjoy the different stance Ali took when writing this story, making it a bit more of an erotica than a rom-com (while still having those beloved rom-com elements, of course) but I appreciated that she twisted things around a bit. This book definitely felt more serious that the other titles I’ve read by her and, again, I found it refreshing. I’ll be completely honest, I had a hard time recognizing Ali’s writing in this book given how different the main characters were to her other characters. I think I just got so used to each set of characters being similar to each other (which I didn’t particularly mind! I always enjoy her books and she’s an insta-buy author of mine) that meeting Rue and Eli caught me off guard. There wasn’t anything like the galaxy leggings from *Love on the Brain*, or anything that might’ve been deemed “quirky” by the reader community.

All in all, *Not in Love* (in my opinion) is definitely a stand-out novel on Ali’s list. I loved the characters, I loved the tension between Rue and Eli (and gosh, their CHEMISTRY!!!) I loved how whipped Eli was for Rue from the very beginning, I loved the bit of intrigue and betrayal as I kept reading, and I loved the ending. It was just the perfect summer read, and I ate it up in less than three days, so I absolutely had a great time reading it.

Thank you so much to Sabrina at PRH for sending me the e-galley of Ali’s new release. I genuinely had such a wonderful time!

Another hit in the STEMinist genre for Ali Hazelwood. This is in her wheelhouse and hits all the right notes.

Ali Hazelwood is always an automatic purchase for me. Not In Love is another hit! Women in STEM is always a favorite as a protagonist trope from Ali, and her characters are really awesome!

This is the latest in Hazelwoods STEM-centric novels. In Not in Love, Rue is an engineer working at a biotech lab. Her pet project is a coating to prolong the life of produce. She is awkward and avoids relationships, relegating intimacy to one night stands through a hook up app. Eli was her latest date, which due to unforeseen circumstances ends in a connection and no sex. Shortly after, Rue's employing labs funding loan is bought by Eli and his business partners. Her hook up and potential more quickly becomes enemy number one.

The focus of the book is the romance. It's front and center from the very beginning. Readers get glimpses into Rue's history and follow the story to discover Eli's past and his company's true motives. I adored the development of the story. Eli and Rue have plenty of heat. I learned as much from the characters through their interactions both casual and romantic. There is plenty of spice so if you like the heat, it's there. The scenes also have a lot of intimacy. While the plot with the biotech company is a bit predictable, I didn't think it dampened my enjoyment of the book. I also really liked the side characters and would love to see some of them get their own story. Compared to Hazlewood's other novels, I felt that this took a more direct romantic approach and development. The story was all about Eli and Rue from the beginning. While there is a story outside of their romance, it isn't the priority. I would also avoid calling Not in Love a rom-com. It's more of a pure romantic drama. Overall, I really enjoyed the book and look forward to adding it to my library.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🔥🔥🔥🔥
 
Quick Breakdown:
 
Workplace Adversaries
Black Cat x Golden Retriever
Bed First, Feelings Later
He Falls First
STEM Setting
Dual POV
Open Door – Explicit Detail

Thank you @berkleyromance for the gifted eARC & finished copy & @prhaudio for the gifted ALC #berkleypartner
 
Rue & Eli first meet after matching on a *winky face* hook up app, but their attempt goes askew after Rue’s estranged brother sets her on edge. Sparks fly & chemistry is palpable as he escorts her home for safety. She even considers breaking her one & done rule. The next day at work, she couldn’t be more shocked to find out he’s one of the partners from Harkness, the group that just is attempting to take over the biotech firm her mentor started.

Ali Hazelwood had a brand of romance & I am here for it. STEM romances, obsessed heroes, slightly oblivious heroines you can’t help but love. I loved Rue’s character arc & the slow burn realization that Eli was not who she thought he was.
 
The spice was ON POINT. I love a dominating hero as much as I love it when a strong-willed FMC inevitably realizes she enjoys relinquishing control. Pair all that with a hero who is fluffing GONE for the heroine. Rue’s & Eli’s relationship was heavily related to their sexual chemistry which may or may not be people’s cup of tea. Although here it fits the story, IMO, since Rue is very anti-commitment & Eli is such a simp for her. He’ll take anything he can get while he attempts to wear her down & show her how good it could be. There is a level of underlying trust & vulnerability needed with the amount of spice this one brings & for me, it laid the foundation for their relationship feeling like it could last.
 
I struggled a bit to get into the story & part of me is concerned it was from reading via audio. I am usually a HUGE Callie Dalton fan & Idk if she was trying to properly portray Rue’s personality or not, but her performance felt a bit robotic. It ended up taking me over a week to finish this, & while I definitely didn’t hate it, I didn’t end up my favorite either.

Rue has a successful career at a food science start up as a biotech engineer. But that career feels threatened when Eli Kilgore and his business partners arrive to take over the company. There’s an instant and undeniable chemistry between Rue and Eli, and as much as they want to fight it, they ultimately give in to the attraction and begin a secret, no-strings-attached affair. Even though they both claim this relationship is short-term, the heart wants what it wants.

Any fan of Ali’s signature women in STEM romances will definitely love this book. There are a few things that set this book apart from her previous work. First, there is the dual POV. I loved getting Eli’s perspective and knowing what was going on in his head. Then, this book is also far steamier than her earlier books. Do not recommend listening to this audiobook in public haha. Aside from these differences, there are a lot of the signature Ali Hazlewood touches that any fan will know and love: strong, smart female characters, incredible chemistry and banter, and a story that you fly through and can’t put down. This is another Ali win!

Thank you to Berkley Publishing and NetGalley for the advance copy.

Not the best Ali Hazelwood book but this one definitely bring a whole lot of emotions compared to the author's previous works

Thank you to PRH Audio & Berkeley Romance for the review copy!

Ali Hazelwood is the author that made me a romance reader, and I just love her brand of romantic tension. Not in Love was a little steamier and a little more melancholy than her past books have felt. I loved how she portrayed the complicated sibling dynamics created by living through childhood trauma. <spoiler> I really appreciated that she didn't have Rue's relationship with her brother solved neatly at the end of the book, while still creating an ending for that plotline. </spoiler>

🎧 LOVED the duet narration. Both narrators fit their characters so well. My one complaint was that they both spoke SO SLOWLY? I’m usually a 1.5-1.75x listener, but I had this book cranked up to 2x just to sound normal.

This is my first read by the author and it wasn’t what I was expecting. I was expecting a rom com and while this is a romance, it is a little weightier and a lot steamier than I expected. It was missing the com. Not totally bad, but threw me for a loop.

Pluses - the spice level is off the charts. There are many spicy scenes and they might make you blush if reading in public. Rue is a strong woman that knows what she wants. She’s had unconventional relationships and unconventional sex. Forbidden romance. I think this trope is growing on me.

Minuses - I am a fan of the comedic moments to break up a romance. But my biggest minus was I thought this one worked so hard (smile) at the spice, I know it is labeled an erotica romance, that the couple was lacking in those tender moments that along with sex, make up the relationship. Maybe that is just a preference of mine, but that usually sells me on the couple.

Overall, it took me a little while to connect to the romance, but I did end up liking and rooting for them to get their act together.

Callie Dalton and Jason Clarke narrated the story and did a good job with all that steam. I thought Callie sounded a little young compared to Jason’s voice, but I adapted quickly and listened to this one in just over a day. This might be my first time listening to a spicy romance and I might be won over.

I’ll have to check out her other more romcomy books, but I’ll definitely pick up her next one.