I love Ali's books so I had this one high on my anticipated June reads. While I did like it, I will say that it is probably my least favorite of hers only because I felt the spice was a bit over the top. To the point that it seemed to take over a lot of the storyline. If this is the kind of romance book you enjoy, then you'll like this  one more than me!

I'm never going to not say this. Ali Hazelwood is the real MVP when it comes to writing amazing women and men who actually like women.
It is always so refreshing to read one of her novels. To see women be accepted for who they are by men who just want to be near them.
The story is great also... just FYI ..

As always, easy to read, fast paced and discusses some complex issues and traumas in respectful and authentic ways.
I sincerely hope Hazelwood never runs out of things to write about because I'm going to need a new book every year for at least another 30 years. Okay. Thanks.

P.s thankyou to NetGalley for the review copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own... (obviously).

I typically love Ali Hazelwood books! Her writing is always fun and easy to read and I fall in love with the characters. But this one was a huge miss for me, unfortunately. I really didn’t like our two main characters, and I felt like they really didn’t have any chemistry romantically. There was a lot of spice in this book, which is fine, but it felt like it was the driving force of their relationship rather than anything emotional so I really didn’t feel anything when they got together.

I love Ali Hazelwood’s writing style and enjoy when she writes about women in science. This book follows Rue, who is a biotech engineer at Kline and Eli, who is working with his business partners to take over Kline. It has all the forbidden romance vibes and a bit of a darker undertone to it compared to her previous books. This is definitely Ali Hazelwood’s smuttiest book yet and I did enjoy both the characters, however I just felt that the storyline fell a little flat and it just wasn’t gripping my attention as much as her books usually do. I have seen great reviews for this book though so if you enjoy her previous work, you might love this one.

Ali Hazelwood, you have done it again - and this time even spicier! 🌶️

Rue was such a relatable character, and so confident in who she was, even with a lot of social anxiety (relatable), this made it so easy to love her.

Eli only had to meet Rue once when he became fixated on her, he knew that she was made for him - especially when she didn’t.

It didn’t help that his job was trying to ruin the career of her boss, mentor & friend - they couldn’t be in worse circumstances to start seeing eachother, but there was something there they had to reach out for.

There was such an emotional and tender bond between her and Eli, even with Rue being extremely unemotionally available and the enemies to lovers trope thrown in - the connection was formidable. 💗

This was definitely Ali’s spiciest book yet, if you love spicy romance this is a must read ! 🥵

Even though this is another STEM romance, like her other books - I never get bored and it never feels the same ! The twists and turns in this book had me hooked and made for so much personal development even with the side characters.

Thank you NetGalley for my advanced copy of this book / I cannot wait until it is out in the world for everyone to swoon over 💗

If the day comes that I do not absolutely melt in a puddle over an Ali Hazelwood book, then I am dead. But even my ghost would try to get a copy of this bad boy because it is that bloody good.

Quite simply no one writes banter like Ali. No one can have me cackling in one sentence, crying in the next while also getting a basic understanding of patents and research grants.

This book is all about how “to be loved is to be known” and I can’t get enough.

Thank you to Hachette for the ARC on NetGalley 🖤

This is nothing like any romance I have ever read.

Ali is an artist when it comes to developing characters in a really intimate way. Not in Love takes that intimate feeling we have already experienced with so many of her other characters and ramps it all the way up. Every word has a purpose, every observation, or kiss, or graze is there to develop this otherworldly connection between two characters that possibly need it the most.

The pain and struggles that our main characters, Rue and Eli deal with aren’t filling your mind up the way I find that trauma in books usually do. In this particular story, as readers we see their trauma come through in all the smaller behaviors and dialogue, which I think highlights the impact and importance of human connection for healing. I did find that those moments where you see their individual traumas and/or coping mechanisms coming through that the characters call themselves out, which is intriguing to say the very least. Ali has put a microscope on what could be considered a ‘toxic’ trait, and allows you to see it as exactly what it is; a result of what these characters have been through.

This book is filthy in the sense that it feels (on multiple occasions) like I am intruding on a deeply private moment. The spice is indeed spicy, but it reads like it is this cathartic point where Rue and Eli can finally feel safe and seen.

Not in Love is a fascinating read, and truly a book for anyone, romance lover or not. There is so much to learn, and for those that love to analyse and really get into the marrow of a book, this is absolutely one that you can flesh out.

This is a thoughtful, angsty and tender erotic romance. There’s lots of pain here, especially for food scientist Rue. She’s essentially neurodiverse and has a painful background that affects her self-esteem and ability to feel love. Luckily the gorgeous Eli (who is a little bit damaged himself) is very patient and is just gone for her. It’s not easy though - Rue has a lot to unpack. There’s no personality transplant and the emotional scars from her childhood do not just disappear.

Eli and Rue meet when his company buys a loan belonging to the business where Rue works. There’s issues of patent ownership and stolen intellectual property, as well as the ongoing challenges for women in STEM. It’s complicated and fascinating as Rue and Eli grapple with loyalty and revenge and all the tricky things while they navigate their chemistry.

There’s plenty of side characters, toxic and found family, home cooking and a cute dog. The point-of-view switches, so we are inside Rue’s mind (first person), but outside Eli’s (third)- this worked for me as we can see more of the world around him.

There’s an intimacy here that is so vivid that at times I felt like I was intruding - it felt almost voyeuristic but I couldn’t skip the pages. It’s pretty spicy steam 🌶️🌶️🌶️ as much because of how they bare themselves to each other as what they actually do. In the bedroom, their communication is brilliant - “… better than screaming ‘broccoli’ because you’re pulling my hair too hard’ 😄 It’s their main love language but even so I still believed in their connection and that as a couple they are better together. Just remarkable writing.

It’s another change-up for Ali Hazelwood so check the content warning - it’s not a fluffy romcom.

Thank you so much NetGalley, Ali Hazelwood and Hachette Australia for the ARC. Opinions are my own.

This book was definitely angsty and what can I say, I was Not in Love with it (sorry I had to)

We have two MC’s that weren’t unlikeable but were also not loveable or swoon worthy either. I felt the characters weren’t thoroughly fleshed out like the MMC is financially well off, he has a library card, no mention he’s a big reader - he isn’t a minimalist or an environmentalist; he’s sorta an overprotective man when he first meets fmc but also isn’t an overprotective brother. The dialogue was a bit patchy, I didnt feel any spark between the characters and I didn’t like the way he described her to his friends as a great lay, more than once, while he’s apparently falling in love with her.

Side character Minami was annoying and obnoxious (she does admit to this at the end) and totally unnecessary.

The chapter transitions werent smooth and felt like there’s a basic plot but someone’s just gone in to insert a bunch of smut. The end storyline felt transactional instead of romance-y but this fits in with the character personalities as well? So maybe that’s the point and I’ve completely missed it 🤔

I LOVEDDD the careful consent talk though because a lot of spicy books just sort of glance over it 🥦 iykyk.

Overall the characters were more like F buddies, they’re more flawed and realistic than the other Hazelwood books. So for this reason, there is a place for Not in Love on our shelves - it’s not like your typical romance book 🥲

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The set up for potential sequels in this universe is good - I would be keen to read Hark and Maya’s story with bros best friend + age gap romance as well as Trisha’s story.

Jack Smith from Love, Theoretically still reigns as # 1 Hazelwood husband for me 🫶🏼

Book aside, I also love that Hazelwood seems to be in her exploration era and challenging stereotypes in the romance genre.

Not in Love comes out on 11 June 2024. Thank you @netgalley and @thebookishtype_hau for my review copy 🫶🏼

I really really wanted to love this book. Ali Hazelwood is a mixed author for me where I have either absolutely loved her book, or just found it okay. This one falls into the okay pile. Something that I liked was the spice as I am currently that girl. Buuuut, I was switched off from this book because of the mix of first and third person, it just left me confused and I wasn’t a fan.

This book felt very different to any Ali Hazelwood book before. The spice was definitely higher than all of her previous books, and I really loved both of the characters. I enjoyed the plot line of enemies with benefits to lovers. I also really liked how the male main character, despite kind of being her enemy, was very protective of the female main character. I liked the pacing of the book and finished it in one sitting!

Well this is the first book I've read by this author where I reckon the heroine is more standoffish than the man.

Rue has a bunch of reasons for that, of course, starting from childhood mistreatment and malnourishment, the poor relationship that's set up between herself and her brother growing up, and then the fact that she has exactly two friends in her adulthood. None of this is also helped by the fact that she's not made particularly comfortable by social situations.

So, yes, two friends. One of them, Tish, is from high school. And the other, Florence, is the woman who employs the two of them.

Honestly, though, with the exception of the role reversal between the male and female character, the trajectory of this novel was pretty much what one should usually expect from this author. There's the whole pining (this time from the part of Eli, which was a refreshing change) as he knows that he's come in to take over Rue's workplace with an undercurrent of revenge that he's not *super* proud of. The trying to stay away from each other in order to mitigate feelings (yeah, ok, on both sides because of the dual PoV of this novel). And, ultimately, when all of that goes to hell and the two of them start seeing each other regardless.

Also usual is the part where things aren't what they seem. Eli isn't some heartless monster for coming in and trying to take Florence's company for no good reason. Appearances are deceiving but, hey, that makes for some entertaining reading.

This book probably had a bit more explicit and on the page sex scenes than usual, but the emotional content between the characters, as well as the fleshing out of both characters, was about normal and just as satisfying.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

☆ workplace romance
☆ forbidden romance
☆ he falls first

This has been one of my most anticipated books of the year and it went beyond my expectations. I absolutely loved this.
I think this may be my favourite of all of Ali’s books.

I adore Rue and Eli as a couple. Their chemistry is fantastic and I love that they actually talk things through like adults.
They act their age which is something that I really need in a book.
I’m 30. I can’t enjoy something if the characters, that are around my age, are acting like they’re in high school.

Rue was extremely relatable to me. Terrible brother and likes to be alone.
Eli was kind and sweet and called people out for saying ‘girl’ instead of ‘woman’ which I LOVED!

Thank you to Hachette AU and NetGalley for providing an early copy for an honest review 🥰

Hazelwood’s new novel follows our FMC Rue (a biotech engineer) as she navigates a no strings attached affair with our MMC Eli (a business man trying to takeover the company Rue works for)

This has such a different feel to it compared to Hazelwood’s other books. The characters felt more fleshed out with their backstories which influenced their actions. I LOVED the dual POV, getting to read from Eli’s POV frequently really made you fall in love with his character! And you can always rely on Hazelwood to write strong FMC’s - Rue was always unapologetically herself and unwavering in her beliefs!

Ali Hazelwood - will forever be crushing it with her releases! 🫶🏼🫶🏼

I have loved all of Ali Hazelwood’s novels, and Not In Love did not disappoint! While it does have a slightly different tone to Hazelwood’s other novels, I enjoyed it just as much! The novel follows chemical engineer, Rue as she navigates work, life, and love. I saw a lot of myself in Rue and really appreciated seeing a character who struggled with interpersonal relationships being represented. Rue’s connection with Eli was so captivating to read and I really enjoyed both their characters and those surrounding them! Overall, I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend. Thank you to Hachette Australia & New Zealand and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to review this ARC!

Thank you to Netgalley and Hachette Australia & New Zealand for providing me with a free e-arc in exchange for an honest review <3 All opinions are my own! (This book is officially out 11 June!)

When I opened this book and was met with the preface that this was more spicy than Ali Hazelwood's previous books, I wasn't sure if it was going to be for me. The first third of the book was definitely not my cup of tea at all, but as the book continued I found myself so intrigued with the plot and the story behind the characters beyond the physical intimacy...

Learning more about Rue and Eli as they got to know each other was SO good, and to watch their relationship develop beyond purely sex is one I loved. Add in their academia backgrounds, forbidden romance and slight enemy status, and im totally sold!

Although I'm not a lover and not very aware of spicy scenes, there was some aspects of them that I didn't really like - especially the ideas surrounding penetrative sex and the effects the sex had on Rue - but it wasn't anything I really hated/completely turned me off.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book in the end, and found myself settling into and liking the dual POV perspective, with the mix of both third and first person narration which is something new to me. Unfortunately it did lose a few points for the level of spice, something which is just personal preference (I am not an overall spicy lover).

"Torn between loyalty and an undeniable attraction, Rue and Eli throw caution out the lab and the boardroom windows. Their affair is secret, no-strings-attached, and has a built-in deadline: the day one of their companies will prevail. But the heart is risky business - one that plays for keeps."
I am always loving an enemies to lovers trope and this one is no exception. STEM books are always awesome and Ali Hazelwood is definitely a favourite of mine.
Not in love is a good book, not my favourite one of Ali's but it is fun, sexy and full of laughs. An easy book to sell!

If Ali Hazelwood has 100 fans, I’m one of them. If she has 1 fan, it’s me. 0 fans, I’ve died.

Not In Love is such a great novel 🤩

Rue is so unlike any character I’ve ever read. She is so strong but also shows weaknesses, so self assured but insecure. She was complex and interesting. I LOVE HER.

Eli wasn’t a golden retriever or overly optimistic, which was refreshing. He was a realist who still had high hopes.

Slow burn, interesting characters, STEAMY smut.

Beautiful ☀️

Read Time ⏱️ 3.5 hours

******

"I forget to look at other things, when you're around."

“You're enough, Rue. And if you aren't ... I just don't mind."

"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?"

Thank you NetGalley and Hachette ANZ for this ARC! I literally screamed and ran to NetGalley to request this once it was announced and I prayed to my lord and saviour (Ali Hazelwood) that it would be accepted. Still cannot believe it. Thank you Hachette!! On a similar note, WHAT DO I NEED TO DO IN ORDER TO GET A PROOF COPY!??! Because this book was crack - the good kind - and I devoured it all in basically one sitting.

Ali has done it again. I had no doubts tbh. As always, a super bingeable read full of witty banter and lovable characters. I especially adored the friendship between Rue and Tisha which was so genuinely wholesome I wanted to cry. This strong female friendship aspect is present in all of Ali Hazelwood's works and I'm stoked that it's continued on. And don't get me started with Rue and Eli. My boy Eli is soooo down bad for her I actually cannot handle it. So many swoon-worthy moments. The tension and chemistry even after they finally got together?! I got no words *chefs kiss*

I loved that even though the book was fast paced and so bloody cute, it still delved into deeper topics and handled them well. I could really see what makes these characters tick and what motivates them. Both main characters are so well-rounded and stayed true to themselves throughout the entire journey of their character development which was refreshing to read about. Like everything they did made sense. It's a masterpiece. It is one of Ali Hazelwood's most mature works to date, yet it still has the addictive Ali Hazelwood flare that we all know and love.

Would definitely read again. So glad one of my most anticipated releases went above and beyond (i.e. obliterated) my expectations. Already pre-ordered some special editions of the book. I'm already going feral and gnawing on the bars of my enclosure for the next book Ali Hazelwood announced.

Overall rating: 5/5

This may be Ali’s most mature book yet.

She threads history of trauma perfectly into the usual love trope.

Eli and Rue are probably the most imperfect characters in her books but they’re my favourite because they’re probably the realest.

I am happy they found their happy ending.