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kassiereadsbooks's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
goodreadswithgammy's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
5.0
PHENOMENAL!!! A HUGE thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for granting me access to this book in exchange for an honest review.
AHHH!!! My tears flow freely, for my heart is overwhelmed with adoration for this book!! The Queen of STEM romance reigns once more, presenting a sumptuously alluring, intellectually stimulating, and utterly delectable tale of enemies-to-lovers!! Truly, this opus stands as the author's greatest masterpiece yet!! Prepare for the inevitable clash of love and animosity as a fiercely intelligent woman encounters a charming, sexy man who is determined on overtaking the very company she works for. Within the narrative lies a forbidden romance brimming with passion, an electrifying chemistry, and a heartfelt, unbreakable bond. Intertwined with these elements are themes of poverty, food anxiety stemming from past traumas, and the intricate power dynamics prevalent in academia. As the story unfolds, our protagonists confront these challenges, delving into the depths of their emotions while navigating the complexities of their relationship. Their journey is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the transformative power of love amidst adversity. Describing this book as my favorite romance read of 2024 would be an understatement of epic proportions!! Ali Hazelwood has cemented her status as an auto-buy author in my book 💜💜💜💜💜!!!
In a tale where love and science collide, Rue Siebert finds herself entangled in a forbidden, secret affair that challenges the very foundations of her stable world. As a biotech engineer at Kline, she's accustomed to navigating the complexities of her career. However, when a hostile takeover led by the irresistibly charming Eli Killgore threatens everything she's worked for, Rue must confront her deepest desires. Eli, determined to acquire Kline at any cost, finds himself drawn to Rue in ways he never anticipated. Despite the risks, they embark on a secret, no-strings-attached affair with an impending deadline looming over their heads. As loyalty and attraction collide, Rue and Eli must navigate the treacherous waters of love and business. Their hearts are on the line, playing for keeps in a high-stakes game where winning may come at the ultimate price.
I was completely captivated from the very first page and found myself reluctant for it to conclude, yet driven by the need to witness how everything would seamlessly intertwine. I implore you, do not hesitate- rush to immerse yourself in this literary masterpiece! Do not merely walk, but run to acquire this gem. You simply cannot afford to overlook this extraordinary, unparalleled book. My enthusiasm knows no bounds in recommending it, as it unquestionably merits every accolade and all the stars it can receive💫💫💫💫💫!!!!!
AHHH!!! My tears flow freely, for my heart is overwhelmed with adoration for this book!! The Queen of STEM romance reigns once more, presenting a sumptuously alluring, intellectually stimulating, and utterly delectable tale of enemies-to-lovers!! Truly, this opus stands as the author's greatest masterpiece yet!! Prepare for the inevitable clash of love and animosity as a fiercely intelligent woman encounters a charming, sexy man who is determined on overtaking the very company she works for. Within the narrative lies a forbidden romance brimming with passion, an electrifying chemistry, and a heartfelt, unbreakable bond. Intertwined with these elements are themes of poverty, food anxiety stemming from past traumas, and the intricate power dynamics prevalent in academia. As the story unfolds, our protagonists confront these challenges, delving into the depths of their emotions while navigating the complexities of their relationship. Their journey is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the transformative power of love amidst adversity. Describing this book as my favorite romance read of 2024 would be an understatement of epic proportions!! Ali Hazelwood has cemented her status as an auto-buy author in my book 💜💜💜💜💜!!!
In a tale where love and science collide, Rue Siebert finds herself entangled in a forbidden, secret affair that challenges the very foundations of her stable world. As a biotech engineer at Kline, she's accustomed to navigating the complexities of her career. However, when a hostile takeover led by the irresistibly charming Eli Killgore threatens everything she's worked for, Rue must confront her deepest desires. Eli, determined to acquire Kline at any cost, finds himself drawn to Rue in ways he never anticipated. Despite the risks, they embark on a secret, no-strings-attached affair with an impending deadline looming over their heads. As loyalty and attraction collide, Rue and Eli must navigate the treacherous waters of love and business. Their hearts are on the line, playing for keeps in a high-stakes game where winning may come at the ultimate price.
I was completely captivated from the very first page and found myself reluctant for it to conclude, yet driven by the need to witness how everything would seamlessly intertwine. I implore you, do not hesitate- rush to immerse yourself in this literary masterpiece! Do not merely walk, but run to acquire this gem. You simply cannot afford to overlook this extraordinary, unparalleled book. My enthusiasm knows no bounds in recommending it, as it unquestionably merits every accolade and all the stars it can receive💫💫💫💫💫!!!!!
illstoptheworldandreadwithyou's review against another edition
4.5
What was supposed to be a one-night stand—but appears to have the potential for more—turns into an unexpected workplace romance in Ali Hazelwood’s Not in Love.
Rue Siebert is dedicated to her biotech engineering job and to her mentor, the the head of Kline, her employer. It may not be the fullest life, but she has her science, a few friends, and her plants. And whenever she feels the need for additional outlets, she uses apps to seek out one-time only hookups.
And that’s just fine—really, it is—until one of the men she with whom she matches shows up at her work as one of the business partners at a firm that wants to take over Kline and to dethrone Rue’s beloved mentor.
Eli wants Kline and its tech, but he also wants Rue. He feels a connection with her, and he wants more. He’s not just attracted to her; he likes her and wants to get to know her.
At a glance:
- Dual POV
- Women in STEM
- Found/chosen family
- Forbidden romance
- Higher heat / more open-door love scenes than previous Hazelwood novels
- Building a physical connection before opening up to more of an emotional one
- Both MCs with baggage they need to work through
My enjoyment of the book grew as Rue and Eli spent more and more time together. I especially loved the last third of the book.
Fair warning: this feels emotionally heavier than Hazelwood’s previous works. I highlighted multiple passages of dialogue and snippets of the characters’ internal monologues that ripped my heart wide open.
I received an advance copy of the book from Berkley and NetGalley. All review opinions are my own.
clerrb's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
3.5
readwithria's review against another edition
emotional
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Not In Love is a very different vibe of book from Ali Hazelwood’s previous works. While she did an amazing job with it, it was missing a little bit of the signature Ali ~sparkle~ for me.
Don’t get me wrong - I enjoyed the book! I think this was one of the strongest plots that she’s written so far. What I think struck me as a bit odd was the shift in the writing between Rue’s POV chapters and Eli’s POV chapters. Rue was written in first person, while Eli was written in third. It made for a bit of a weird reading experience, and also made the transition between POVs a little clunky. Now of course I read an ARC, not the finished copy, so there’s no guarantee that this stayed true to the end of the publication journey, but it seems unlikely that so much of the book would change between ARC distribution and final pass pages.
Now onto the things I did enjoy! I loved Rue and Eli’s sense of humor. Their banter was great, especially once Rue gets more comfortable. I also appreciate how Eli accepted Rue’s (imo autistic coded) personality for exactly who she is. She was one of the most distinct FMCs that Ali has written, and I really enjoyed reading her inner thoughts and watching her process things.
While this isn’t my favorite AH book, it still hit the spot. 4 stars.
Don’t get me wrong - I enjoyed the book! I think this was one of the strongest plots that she’s written so far. What I think struck me as a bit odd was the shift in the writing between Rue’s POV chapters and Eli’s POV chapters. Rue was written in first person, while Eli was written in third. It made for a bit of a weird reading experience, and also made the transition between POVs a little clunky. Now of course I read an ARC, not the finished copy, so there’s no guarantee that this stayed true to the end of the publication journey, but it seems unlikely that so much of the book would change between ARC distribution and final pass pages.
Now onto the things I did enjoy! I loved Rue and Eli’s sense of humor. Their banter was great, especially once Rue gets more comfortable. I also appreciate how Eli accepted Rue’s (imo autistic coded) personality for exactly who she is. She was one of the most distinct FMCs that Ali has written, and I really enjoyed reading her inner thoughts and watching her process things.
While this isn’t my favorite AH book, it still hit the spot. 4 stars.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Cursing
Moderate: Alcohol
booksbydann's review against another edition
3.0
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 life 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.
“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 life 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.
the_cover_contessa's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
the_bookish_dachshund's review against another edition
I’ve definitely griped about this before, but it really gets me when a book cover and description do not match up to the story content inside. I’ve enjoyed Ali H books in the past - they’ve all been romance or ya romance and overall have had a romcom type vibe. The description of this one and cover art? Very much in line with her others. The actual content? Not so much.
I get a sinking feeling as soon as I saw the authors note just before chapter one, but by that point it’s too late. I’d already committed to the book. Don’t get me wrong I very much appreciate and encourage authors notes and content warnings. However, I would have appreciated that the cover and blurb gave me an inkling to so I’d have known this one was not for me.
In case it wasn’t clear, this story was not one for me. Not my cup of tea at all. I had some issue with some of the content warning items that existed in the story. I’m not one for insta-lust and honestly this one had too much spice and not enough plot. I was disappointed.
Again while not my cup of tea, I’ve heard from many that they really liked it or loved it. So for fans of the author, those who prefer a bit more spice and/or darker tones to their romance this might be the book for you.
thebookstagrambabe's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I absolutely adored this book! We have ourselves a little forbidden love story between Rue, a biotech engineer at Kline, one of the most promising start-ups in the field of food science, and Eli the man trying to steal the tech behind her friend's company. Talk about a scandal! They meet by chance through a dating app only to find themselves tangled in a secret workplace romance. Rue was bristly and stubborn yet I still related to her so hard. Eli, oh boy, he knew what he wanted and didn't let anything get in the way! I loved him so much as the romantic hero. I loved that they both had this traumatic family upbringing that gave them scars from the past. While the difficulties with their families were very different, it still gave them something to bond over and made them feel more like real people and not perfect storybook characters This was definitely one of Ali Hazelwood's steamiest books yet. the spice was so good and felt it was all relatable to the story and not just spice for spice's sake. But besides the steam and the romance, I loved that this really questioned the perspective on who the good and bad guys were throughout the book. Read if you like, enemies to lovers, dual POV and STEM-focused roles.
Thanks to the publisher for the ARC in return for an honest review. This book releases 6/11
Thanks to the publisher for the ARC in return for an honest review. This book releases 6/11
intensej's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Thank you to Edelweiss for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This is my new favorite Ali Hazelwood book. Rue Siebert is an engineer who focuses her research on food science. After experiencing food insecurity as a child, Rue is focused on her work at a start-up called Kline. Rue's world is turned upside down when Kline is purchased by a private equity firm. Rue is worried that the business her mentor, Florence Kline, created will become the victim of a hostile takeover by Eli Killgore and his business partners. Rue first meets Eli through a dating app, but she has a strict one night only rule. When she realizes that he is part of the group that is trying to take over Kline, she feels that she is betraying her mentor. Eli and his friends have a plan for Kline, and Eli's attraction (obsession?) with Rue is an obstacle they never expected.
I loved the friendship between Trish and Rue. The depictions of hunger from Rue's memories of her childhood were very dark, but I think Ali Hazelwood handled it well. I love love loved Eli and Rue together. They felt so real! I thought Eli's love of Rue was bordering on obsession, but it worked in this book. My only criticism of the book was that the whole Florence drama was very predictable, but it's not a deal breaker. Since Rue has had such disappointing past relationships, she puts a note in her dating app that she will not allow any penetration . The slow burn that starts between Rue and Eli in all of their scenes together were insanely steamy. Then, Ali Hazelwood throws another bomb into the smut: Eli's love of orgasm denial . First a knot in Bride and then this? I can't get enough of Ali Hazelwood's books. Also, how dare Ali Hazelwood introduce so many amazing characters in her books and then not give them their own books! Bring on the next book.
Content: food insecurity, explicit sex scenes, dysfunctional family relationships
This is my new favorite Ali Hazelwood book. Rue Siebert is an engineer who focuses her research on food science. After experiencing food insecurity as a child, Rue is focused on her work at a start-up called Kline. Rue's world is turned upside down when Kline is purchased by a private equity firm. Rue is worried that the business her mentor, Florence Kline, created will become the victim of a hostile takeover by Eli Killgore and his business partners. Rue first meets Eli through a dating app, but she has a strict one night only rule. When she realizes that he is part of the group that is trying to take over Kline, she feels that she is betraying her mentor. Eli and his friends have a plan for Kline, and Eli's attraction (obsession?) with Rue is an obstacle they never expected.
I loved the friendship between Trish and Rue. The depictions of hunger from Rue's memories of her childhood were very dark, but I think Ali Hazelwood handled it well. I love love loved Eli and Rue together. They felt so real! I thought Eli's love of Rue was bordering on obsession, but it worked in this book. My only criticism of the book was that the whole Florence drama was very predictable, but it's not a deal breaker. Since Rue has had such disappointing past relationships, she puts a note in her dating app that she will not allow any penetration . The slow burn that starts between Rue and Eli in all of their scenes together were insanely steamy. Then, Ali Hazelwood throws another bomb into the smut: Eli's love of orgasm denial . First a knot in Bride and then this? I can't get enough of Ali Hazelwood's books. Also, how dare Ali Hazelwood introduce so many amazing characters in her books and then not give them their own books! Bring on the next book.
Content: food insecurity, explicit sex scenes, dysfunctional family relationships
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Child abuse