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savvyrosereads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Rating: 5/5 stars
Rue and Eli are on opposite sides of a hostile takeover of the food tech start-up where she works—but their attraction might prove impossible to resist.
Are you tired of hearing about how much I love Ali Hazelwood? If so, TOO BAD. Every time I read a new book by this woman I become even more in awe, because there is truly nothing she can’t write: STEM rom-coms? Check. Novellas? Check. Young adult romance? Check. Paranormal romance? Check. And now, erotic romance with SO MUCH heart and an absolutely beautiful character arc about realizing your own worth and learning to love others and yourself????? CHECK ONCE AGAIN.
This was genuinely one of the most lovely and poignant books I’ve ever read, while also being one of the swooniest and spiciest. I love a “he falls first” book, and Eli fell HARD, y’all. This man was down bad and I loved every single second of it. I’m also so picky about third act conflicts but this one was PERFECT—it made sense in the context of their relationship and added stakes to the story without feeling over-dramatic or unnecessary.
Truly, my only complaint about this book is that I have now finished it, because I never wanted it to end.
CW: Poverty/food insecurity/child neglect; mentions of death of parent
Graphic: Death of parent, Sexual content, and Toxic friendship
Food insecurity/povertyreadwithria's review against another edition
- 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
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.
Graphic: Sexual content and Cursing
Moderate: Alcohol
intensej's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
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
Graphic: Sexual content and Child abuse
zluvsreading's review against another edition
- 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
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!
Graphic: Child abuse and Sexual content
Moderate: Cursing, Death of parent, and Violence
Minor: Car accident
gemloukay's review against another edition
- 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
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!
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
- 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
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Eating disorder, Stalking, Toxic friendship, Death of parent, Child abuse, and Pregnancy
naluminum's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Stalking