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retrohalee's review against another edition
4.0
can't explain why this ISNT 5 stars because it honestly was amazing and i wouldn't change anything about it. 4.5!!
litzy221's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
kammmrynn's review against another edition
emotional
funny
medium-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? Yes
3.0
joanybingereader's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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? Yes
4.25
eternalspring's review against another edition
4.0
the app crashed 4 paragraphs into my fucking review.
okay, so back on it! I didn’t go into this book with many expectations especially knowing the fanfic background (not a flaw by any means, but the quality of the fanfic-turned-books being published recently is questionable at best), but my god did ali hazelwood turn out to be such a tasteful romance writer.
At no point did the book ever feel like it was dragging, the main conflict between both leads made complete sense and never felt like it was unrealistic, the motivations of Elsie and Jack were clear and Ali did a great job in explaining why and where they originated.
Regarding the characters, i think Jack might be my favorite male lead in a loooong while. He’s gentle, kind, respectful, but in no moment is he a pushover. Also, even though there was a clear conflict of interests he was never unfairly rude or disrespectful towards Elsie.
Contrary to Jack, Elsie is as much of a pushover as a person can be, but she’s also never annoying (she has her moments, but they are always justified), and her character growth is great to follow. Also, her insecurities were so relatable you can’t help but feel for her and cheer for her as she overcomes challenges in her personal and work relationships.
Honestly this has been one of the best modern romance books in terms of pacing that i have read in a long time, nothing felt unwarranted (looking directly at rhysand and feyre), the pacing was great, the ending was great, the romance was sweet.
okay, so back on it! I didn’t go into this book with many expectations especially knowing the fanfic background (not a flaw by any means, but the quality of the fanfic-turned-books being published recently is questionable at best), but my god did ali hazelwood turn out to be such a tasteful romance writer.
At no point did the book ever feel like it was dragging, the main conflict between both leads made complete sense and never felt like it was unrealistic, the motivations of Elsie and Jack were clear and Ali did a great job in explaining why and where they originated.
Regarding the characters, i think Jack might be my favorite male lead in a loooong while. He’s gentle, kind, respectful, but in no moment is he a pushover. Also, even though there was a clear conflict of interests he was never unfairly rude or disrespectful towards Elsie.
Contrary to Jack, Elsie is as much of a pushover as a person can be, but she’s also never annoying (she has her moments, but they are always justified), and her character growth is great to follow. Also, her insecurities were so relatable you can’t help but feel for her and cheer for her as she overcomes challenges in her personal and work relationships.
Honestly this has been one of the best modern romance books in terms of pacing that i have read in a long time, nothing felt unwarranted (looking directly at rhysand and feyre), the pacing was great, the ending was great, the romance was sweet.
aliciasrealm's review against another edition
4.0
Elsie Hannaway is a theoretical physicist, stuck working as an adjunct professor until she can land a better job that offers a liveable wage and health insurance. To make ends meet, she has a side gig as a fake girlfriend, a job that is perfectly complimented by her people pleasing nature. When she discovers that Jack, the older brother of her favorite client, is actually the infamous experimental physicist who singlehandedly destroyed her mentor's career and the entire field of theoretical physics, her side gig just might end up costing her career. But while Elsie has every reason to hate the man, his ability to make her feel like it's okay to be herself just might win her over.
On the surface, the setup feels expectedly similar to The Love Hypothesis and Love on the Brain, featuring a woman in STEM whose career aspirations are threatened by a man who is a complete jerk (but also handsome and intelligent). She's struggling financially while he has a great career. He's a hulk of a man who wears Henleys and feels the need to conceal his feelings for her. There's the fake dating plot and a fairly expected betrayal. Still, I can't deny that this was a fun read, and if you liked the two prior novels then you'll probably like this one.
I liked Elsie and Jack. The banter is fun. I really wish we could get one story that doesn't rely so much on miscommunication or deliberate withholding of information to create an unnecessary conflict, but at least in this one the worst example is resolved sooner than later, and the rest are somewhat tempered with some unexpectedly honest conversations early in the story. The main conflicts and resolutions are believable. I skimmed over the sex scenes so I won't comment on those. Overall, I liked this one a lot more than LotB, even if at the core it still feels formulaic.
On the surface, the setup feels expectedly similar to The Love Hypothesis and Love on the Brain, featuring a woman in STEM whose career aspirations are threatened by a man who is a complete jerk (but also handsome and intelligent). She's struggling financially while he has a great career. He's a hulk of a man who wears Henleys and feels the need to conceal his feelings for her. There's the fake dating plot and a fairly expected betrayal. Still, I can't deny that this was a fun read, and if you liked the two prior novels then you'll probably like this one.
I liked Elsie and Jack. The banter is fun. I really wish we could get one story that doesn't rely so much on miscommunication or deliberate withholding of information to create an unnecessary conflict, but at least in this one the worst example is resolved sooner than later, and the rest are somewhat tempered with some unexpectedly honest conversations early in the story. The main conflicts and resolutions are believable. I skimmed over the sex scenes so I won't comment on those. Overall, I liked this one a lot more than LotB, even if at the core it still feels formulaic.
mojidaa's review against another edition
4.0
A bit boring at the start, but once everything was set, pretty entertaining. Took me to the book slump for a while but it’s ok, I read 60% of the book in one go. Also. The plot is..starting to get repetitive. Academic rivals again? Though Jack and Elsie were great together. They were too cute. Also I hate people-pleaser.
dblanch's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
fast-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
4.5
martheisreading's review against another edition
4.5
My favorite Ali Hazelwood's books so far. It's been such a long time I didn't relate to a FL this much ! And Jack is my new bookboyfriend. ❤️
aleidner's review against another edition
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? Yes
3.5