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krystalreadsstuff's review against another edition
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
⭐⭐⭐ .25
Okay. Okay. ....Okay.
This book would have been just 3 stars, but I added a .25 because Hazelwood DID warn us it was going to a much different tone compared to her previous work.
This book was decent, I suppose, but I doubt I will return to it for any rereads, which is a first for a Hazelwood book. There were makings of a good store and plot, but it was so drawn out and wedged between an honestly inordinate number of sex scenes. I am definitely not against sex scenes except when it starts to take place of the plot, and that is fully what occurred in this book. Side characters were not fully realized beyond being fully committed to their one allotted personality trait (ex: aloof, chaotic, broody), and the main character arcs were lacking. I also missed the overt STEM/academia settings; instead, the characters' proximity to chemical engineering and working with patents in biotechnology felt a lackluster plot point, poorly detailed, and shoe-horned in to fit the author's niche genre of STEM romance. As a mildly positive point, I found the depiction of a character with implied-but-never-explicitly-stated autism to be well-done.
It genuinely pains me to say it, but this book was a letdown. It was (in my opinion) overly smutty and beyond angsty. Hopefully this is not indicative of all her future publications, and she will continue to warn readers when this it the tone of the book.
Okay. Okay. ....Okay.
This book would have been just 3 stars, but I added a .25 because Hazelwood DID warn us it was going to a much different tone compared to her previous work.
This book was decent, I suppose, but I doubt I will return to it for any rereads, which is a first for a Hazelwood book. There were makings of a good store and plot, but it was so drawn out and wedged between an honestly inordinate number of sex scenes. I am definitely not against sex scenes except when it starts to take place of the plot, and that is fully what occurred in this book. Side characters were not fully realized beyond being fully committed to their one allotted personality trait (ex: aloof, chaotic, broody), and the main character arcs were lacking. I also missed the overt STEM/academia settings; instead, the characters' proximity to chemical engineering and working with patents in biotechnology felt a lackluster plot point, poorly detailed, and shoe-horned in to fit the author's niche genre of STEM romance. As a mildly positive point, I found the depiction of a character with implied-but-never-explicitly-stated autism to be well-done.
It genuinely pains me to say it, but this book was a letdown. It was (in my opinion) overly smutty and beyond angsty. Hopefully this is not indicative of all her future publications, and she will continue to warn readers when this it the tone of the book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Stalking, Bullying, Sexual content, Eating disorder, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Abandonment, Stalking, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Domestic abuse, Grief, Addiction, Alcoholism, Eating disorder, Physical abuse, Cursing, Gaslighting, and Mental illness
uranaishi's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
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? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Cursing, and Alcohol
Minor: Child abuse, Classism, Death, Gaslighting, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Addiction, Cancer, Car accident, Death of parent, Eating disorder, Terminal illness, Drug abuse, and Grief
sarahyjackson's review against another edition
emotional
funny
sad
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? It's complicated
5.0
Ali Hazlewood could hit me with a car.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Toxic friendship, Domestic abuse, and Grief
Minor: Death of parent
purplepenning's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
3.0
I forgot I was reading this book — twice — so it's fair to say that I didn't find it riveting.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Abandonment, Alcohol, Cursing, Toxic friendship, Stalking, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Gaslighting
Child neglect, food insecurityhellowildflower's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
sad
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
5.0
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
☆ workplace romance
☆ forbidden romance
☆ he falls first
This has been one of my most anticipated books of the year and it went beyond my expectations. I absolutely loved this.
I think this may be my favourite of all of Ali’s books.
I adore Rue and Eli as a couple. Their chemistry is fantastic and I love that they actually talk things through like adults.
They act their age which is something that I really need in a book.
I’m 30. I can’t enjoy something if the characters, that are around my age, are acting like they’re in high school.
Rue was extremely relatable to me. Terrible brother and likes to be alone.
Eli was kind and sweet and called people out for saying ‘girl’ instead of ‘woman’ which I LOVED!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Death of parent, Toxic friendship, and Child abuse
savvyrosereads's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
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? It's complicated
5.0
Thank you SO MUCH to the publisher for providing me a free eARC for review! This one is out June 11!
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
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Sexual content, and Toxic friendship
Food insecurity/povertymeganpbell'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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