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edensreadingcorner's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Violence, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Child abuse and Death of parent
laurenvoice's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
Love on the Brain was a fun read with a hint of mystery. I really enjoyed the development of Bee's and Levi's relationship; once they finally communicated with each other. They make the cutest couple - although I do agree with most reviewers, Levi looks an awful lot like Adam from the Love Hypothesis; Levi just has a better personality.
My favourite part of Love on the Brain was the evil villain subplot; it added a sense of mystery. However, that ending to the subplot was way too rushed for me. It would have been good to delve into that background a bit more. Especially since it involved some of the serious topics many people who don't identify as cis-male face every day.
Moderate: Misogyny, Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Death, and Sexism
Minor: Toxic relationship and Death of parent
sami_leigh's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
‘There’s someone in my corner. A guy who loves Star Wars, and is too tall for space, and will take care of a kitten for half his life.’
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Death of parent, Infidelity, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, and Sexism
Minor: Animal death, Gun violence, Death, and Emotional abuse
thatswhatshanread'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? It's complicated
4.0
I love Levi, and I love Adam. But Olive >>> Bee for sure. Moving on.
For a neuroscientist working on a NASA-funded project, Dr. Bee Königswasser is quite the oblivious Damsel in Distress™ when it comes to her supposed grad school nemesis, Dr. Levi Ward. She is Tiny and Clumsy and Alternative Hair. He is Massive and Closed Off and Beautiful Green Eyes. Levi avoided her in grad school at all costs because He Hated Her So Much And There Is No Other Explanation.
It’s your typical enemies-to-lovers romance, but I appreciated that the “enemies” part didn’t fester long. We all know the “enemies” trope is never that accurate considering at least one party is secretly in love the entire time. In this case, it’s glaringly obvious to everyone except our stubborn MC.
I enjoyed this novel, but it didn’t give me all of the swooning and butterflies that TLH gave me. Which, understandably, is hard to achieve. Still, I think it has long been a dream of mine to score a NASA scientist who named his cat Schrödinger.
Extra points for the extra steam in this one, though 🔥
Graphic: Death, Toxic relationship, Animal cruelty, Chronic illness, Gaslighting, Animal death, Cursing, Death of parent, Infidelity, Sexual content, Toxic friendship, Sexism, Medical content, and Misogyny
Moderate: Abandonment, Stalking, Bullying, Car accident, Injury/Injury detail, Alcohol, Panic attacks/disorders, Emotional abuse, and Grief
Minor: Gun violence
soniajoy98's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Graphic: Alcohol, Misogyny, Gun violence, Sexual content, Sexism, Abandonment, and Cursing
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Infidelity, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Gaslighting
stardustandrockets's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
I know a lot of people had issues with this one (I see you, twitter discourse), but I enjoyed it overall. Though do I agree that all the male leads are basically carbon copies of each other in some form or fashion? 100%. Are they giants with large dicks? Absolutely. Weirdos in bed? Yup. (That's also coming from a sex-repulsed asexual, so take it with a grain or five of salt.)
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexism, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Gun violence and Death of parent
lovelymisanthrope's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
"Love on the Brain" follows Bee, a young woman who has been struggling to make a name for herself in her academic field, neuroengineering. When she gets offered her dream job to work with NASA she is elated...until she finds out her co lead is Levi, a man who has hated her since grad school, seemingly for no reason. Bee relocates to Texas to start her new job and is frustrated not only to see that Levi is the same guy, but that she still has to deal with the sexist politics she has always had to face. Can Bee succeed with her project and finally prove to everyone that women are just as capable as men, and can her and Levi resolve their differences?
I think it is pretty obvious that this story centralizes as a love story between Bee and Levi. I am normally not a big fan of enemies to lovers, but their story overall did work for me. I loved seeing their love story, and I really enjoyed that they already had a past together, so it kind of felt like a second chance romance. I did think Bee was incredibly annoying at times. I understand an empathize that she is going through a difficult time and trying to heal from her past trainwreck of a relationship, but she is entirely convinced that Levi is the enemy and will not even give him a chance. I also understand that woman, especially in the science fields, have to work twice as hard because of their sexist male counterparts, and I love to see Ali Hazelwood's characters kickass and show how smart and capable they are, but I am getting a little bored that all of her characters seem to have the same jaded outlook. I would love to see her write a woman character who is a little less jaded by the struggles woman face. Again, I get it, and it sucks that we still live in a world where women are seen as inferior, just from a fictional standpoint, I would love to see a variety.
The ending of this book is CRAZY. The story takes a dramatic, Hollywood -like turn and becomes a high action, higher stakes adventure for a hot second, which I did not see coming. This is where the story lost me. I did not need that intense scene, and it seemed way too over the time to be plausible.
I will definitely read from Ali Hazelwood again, but I do hope she writes a different story in the future!
Graphic: Sexual content, Gun violence, Sexism, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, Bullying, and Physical abuse
Minor: Death of parent and Death
kottengoesbork's review against another edition
- 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
4.25
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Sexual content, and Death
Minor: Gun violence
kaylin_m'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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Sexual content and Misogyny
Moderate: Death of parent and Death
Minor: Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, Toxic friendship, and Cursing
luciferosiris's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Chronic illness, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Death of parent, Sexism, and Injury/Injury detail