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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
zluvsreading's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I can’t function rn, ask me again later.
Hi, it’s later. I finished the book for the second time and I’m ready to spew my thoughts.
BRING BACK CLINGY PEOPLE IN RELATIONSHIPS. No but in all seriousness, I loved how absolutely WHIPPED Eli was for Rue. I can’t fathom the amount of love he has for her because it goes beyond realms.
Since it IS Ali Hazelwood, this had a chemical engineer as the FMC with a focus on food conservation and dealing with making foods last longer. The fact that she went into that industry/specialization due to the food insecurity she faced when she was a kid really broke my heart. She deserves the whole world I cannot.
It was quite fun to learn more about chemical engineering but also private equities and law stuff because of what was going on. I wouldn’t say I’m an EXPERT on it all, but it was nice that I understood a lot of what was being written/done in the book. The language was very digestible for outsiders, which I loved.
This novel is not complete without an animal companion! Eli has a huge dog who I’m obsessed with (dogs over cats any day) and it was funny to see Rue interact with the dog.
The familial aspects/relationships discussed and shown in here made me want to bawl. Both Eli and Rue are older siblings, but with different relationships with their younger siblings. I did like Maya and thought she was funny, however I hope that Vince got some help in the end. It did indicate that he had some alcohol issues so perhaps rehab would be a great place to start. I’m not sure what he is like when he is sober, but I hope their relationship gets some sort of relief/closure.
Now, this was Ali’s steamiest books yet and I can say that with complete confidence. If you have read Ali’s works before, you know they are open-door but this is bordering on erotic, which she said so herself. Let me just say, Miss Hazelwood knows how to write a fucking sex scene my geez. I also loved the care and consent/communication that the characters had with each other. Very refreshing and loved to read about it, since it was casual and not at all awkwardly written or forced.
Eli is a sex god and I’m convinced of that. The way he teased her and was commanding asf but in a green flag sort of way was so fucking hot. Have I ever read a book with a restraint sort of sex scene? If no, I need to read more. Eli Killgore, everybody. Rue was everything too omg, don’t even get me started. It’s so funny to me that she quickly realized that it wasn’t just sex, but she defaulted to that when things were getting too deep for her. I love her sm, I want to protect her with my life.
Platonic relationships go hard! Eli and Minami were very fun to read about. It’s interesting to me that he’s younger, but acts like her big brother half the time. Their friendship was so sweet omg, I cry.
Their little friend group was fun!! Eli, Hark, Minami, and Sul. How ironic of Eli to make fun of Sul for being whipped when he literally can’t stay away from Rue for longer than 2 seconds without combusting. LMAO. When they were making fun of Hark for golf, oml that was so fucking funny. Like yes, play into the stereotype! You’re hilarious.
I loved Tisha and her sister. Although her sister was only there in calls, she managed to make an impact and I’m glad she was a character in this. Tisha being her rock, and literal best friend turned sister, was everything to me. I’m glad Rue had her.
Overall, another banger from the queen of STEM romances. Definitely will be your cup of tea if you like spicier romances with STEM themes, scandals, and down-bad MMCs. Out on June 11 2024! Preorder now I beg of you.
Thank you to Edelweiss and the publishers for providing me with the e-ARC of this wonderful book!
Hi, it’s later. I finished the book for the second time and I’m ready to spew my thoughts.
BRING BACK CLINGY PEOPLE IN RELATIONSHIPS. No but in all seriousness, I loved how absolutely WHIPPED Eli was for Rue. I can’t fathom the amount of love he has for her because it goes beyond realms.
Since it IS Ali Hazelwood, this had a chemical engineer as the FMC with a focus on food conservation and dealing with making foods last longer.
It was quite fun to learn more about chemical engineering but also private equities and law stuff because of what was going on. I wouldn’t say I’m an EXPERT on it all, but it was nice that I understood a lot of what was being written/done in the book. The language was very digestible for outsiders, which I loved.
This novel is not complete without an animal companion! Eli has a huge dog who I’m obsessed with (dogs over cats any day) and it was funny to see Rue interact with the dog.
The familial aspects/relationships discussed and shown in here made me want to bawl. Both Eli and Rue are older siblings, but with different relationships with their younger siblings. I did like Maya and thought she was funny, however I hope that Vince got some help in the end.
Now, this was Ali’s steamiest books yet and I can say that with complete confidence. If you have read Ali’s works before, you know they are open-door but this is bordering on erotic, which she said so herself. Let me just say, Miss Hazelwood knows how to write a fucking sex scene my geez. I also loved the care and consent/communication that the characters had with each other. Very refreshing and loved to read about it, since it was casual and not at all awkwardly written or forced.
Platonic relationships go hard! Eli and Minami were very fun to read about. It’s interesting to me that he’s younger, but acts like her big brother half the time. Their friendship was so sweet omg, I cry.
Their little friend group was fun!! Eli, Hark, Minami, and Sul. How ironic of Eli to make fun of Sul for being whipped when he literally can’t stay away from Rue for longer than 2 seconds without combusting. LMAO.
I loved Tisha and her sister. Although her sister was only there in calls, she managed to make an impact and I’m glad she was a character in this. Tisha being her rock, and literal best friend turned sister, was everything to me. I’m glad Rue had her.
Overall, another banger from the queen of STEM romances. Definitely will be your cup of tea if you like spicier romances with STEM themes, scandals, and down-bad MMCs. Out on June 11 2024! Preorder now I beg of you.
Thank you to Edelweiss and the publishers for providing me with the e-ARC of this wonderful book!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse and Sexual content
Moderate: Cursing, Death of parent, and Violence
Minor: Car accident
booksinherhead's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Since leaving academia, Rue Siebert has poured herself into a biotech startup that allows her to pursue her own research. When she first meets Eli, their chemistry leaves them both breathless. Imagine their horror when 24 hours later they find themselves on opposite sides of a hostile corporate takeover. Their secret affair can't stay a secret forever...With NOT IN LOVE Ali Hazelwood shows her readers how artfully she can write characters with emotional depth. This is sexy, emotional, and quick to read. Hazelwood's best yet!
I think the 'boss is taking advantage of intellectual property and the love interest knows the boss is shady' is kinda an overdone trope, but I think it worked for this book and I DID enjoy seeing it done within the academia/biotech sphere.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Death of parent, and Stalking
Major content warnings forgemloukay's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Biotech engineer Dr Rue Siebert and Financial Wiz Eli Killgore are on opposite sides of a hostile takeover fight for the company Rue works for. But just before it begins, they meet each other via a sex-forward dating app and sparks fly.
This is a deviation from Hazelwood’s previous books (and the preface warned me as much), being very much a work of erotic fiction of characters with serious trauma in their pasts that still haunts them every day. Most of the light rom-com elements of her previous novels (will they/wont they and off page sex for the most part) are gone and there’s lots of “they most certainly will and they’re going to describe to you their sexual exploration” in its place. That being said, it’s well written smut (this is far beyond “spice”) with characters that share their traumas as they explore each other. Rue is shy, and I would say neurodivergent too, but knows what she wants in the bedroom. She’s empowered in that way and not willing to accept anything else. Eli has his own traumas to battle and from the get-go isn’t your typical alpha male that often appears in erotic fiction. He goes out of his way right to make her feel safe right from their first encounter.
In short, this feels like a much more mature Ali Hazelwood book than say Check & Mate (which is referenced briefly!). Still well-rounded in both plot and characterisation, but with a hell of a lot of consensual sexual exploration!
This is a deviation from Hazelwood’s previous books (and the preface warned me as much), being very much a work of erotic fiction of characters with serious trauma in their pasts that still haunts them every day. Most of the light rom-com elements of her previous novels (will they/wont they and off page sex for the most part) are gone and there’s lots of “they most certainly will and they’re going to describe to you their sexual exploration” in its place. That being said, it’s well written smut (this is far beyond “spice”) with characters that share their traumas as they explore each other. Rue is shy, and I would say neurodivergent too, but knows what she wants in the bedroom. She’s empowered in that way and not willing to accept anything else. Eli has his own traumas to battle and from the get-go isn’t your typical alpha male that often appears in erotic fiction. He goes out of his way right to make her feel safe right from their first encounter.
In short, this feels like a much more mature Ali Hazelwood book than say Check & Mate (which is referenced briefly!). Still well-rounded in both plot and characterisation, but with a hell of a lot of consensual sexual exploration!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Child abuse, Death of parent, and Eating disorder
Minor: Emotional abuse, Terminal illness, Car accident, and Death of parent
meganpbell's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Ali Hazelwood writes my favorite rom-coms. I count on her for making me giggle and kick my lil feet while two people fall for each other despite each other. I’m not the first to say her novels tend to be similar, but I’d argue this one departs in major ways, particularly tone. While I enjoyed the science-set plot as always, and I think this will appeal to the Emily Henry girlies, its angst made me miss the FUN I always have while reading Hazelwood.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Eating disorder, Stalking, Toxic friendship, Death of parent, Child abuse, and Pregnancy
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