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lauramparis's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Cursing
Minor: Injury/Injury detail
asparagusisreading's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I am conflicted on my feelings about this book. Listening to the audio was a JOURNEY of emotions. Of all the STEMinist Novellas currently published, this one is my favorite. It was a really cute story that is exactly how it's described. I enjoyed both of the main characters individually and together. I liked that the female main character, Hannah, is comfortable in her own skin and knows what she wants.
However, the book started to feel real familiar and I couldn't figure out where it came from... and then I remembered who the author is. Ali Hazelwood does really well with a formulaic story, especially with tropes she and her audience enjoys. The issue I have with that is, why am I reading the exact same book but different cover 4+ times from the author? It feels like "copy my homework but change a few things so it isn't obvious you copied it" and then its blatantly obvious. If Ali Hazelwood is going to continue writing the same story, then why do I need t continue reading? I already know everything that happens. Even though I found this story cute and my favorite so far, I am growing bored with Ali Hazelwood and concerned if she can write something else.
Also, why in the world is this man comparing her body to Mars? Mars of all things! I know he meant well and it was a heat of the moment thing but the moment it was said, the moment was ruined. Last I checked Mars is red, plain, and dusty??? What's sexy about that? Now I'm sitting here thinking about how she could possibly look like Mars. I'm sorry but if we are in the middle of something intimate and you are comparing me to planets, we are ending it right there and you need to go home.
However, the book started to feel real familiar and I couldn't figure out where it came from... and then I remembered who the author is. Ali Hazelwood does really well with a formulaic story, especially with tropes she and her audience enjoys. The issue I have with that is, why am I reading the exact same book but different cover 4+ times from the author? It feels like "copy my homework but change a few things so it isn't obvious you copied it" and then its blatantly obvious. If Ali Hazelwood is going to continue writing the same story, then why do I need t continue reading? I already know everything that happens. Even though I found this story cute and my favorite so far, I am growing bored with Ali Hazelwood and concerned if she can write something else.
Also, why in the world is this man comparing her body to Mars? Mars of all things! I know he meant well and it was a heat of the moment thing but the moment it was said, the moment was ruined. Last I checked Mars is red, plain, and dusty??? What's sexy about that? Now I'm sitting here thinking about how she could possibly look like Mars. I'm sorry but if we are in the middle of something intimate and you are comparing me to planets, we are ending it right there and you need to go home.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Sexual content, and Injury/Injury detail
this_momma_is_booked's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
I really enjoyed The Love Hypothesis, so I was expecting to love these novellas as well. Unfortunately, Below Zero fell a bit flat. The whole miscommunication trope is a really tricky one because you need to make the miscommunication believable enough that you're on board with it and that's hard to do in an age when we have SO MANY WAYS to get our point across. I think a miscommunication trope in a novella is a bad call because there is simply not enough time to really dig deep into who these characters are and why they would fall prey to that issue in the first place.
Overall, the characters were fine. They weren't well-rounded (another casualty of a novella) and the whole thing felt rushed. It was an enjoyable enough listen, but I probably wouldn't recommend it.
Overall, the characters were fine. They weren't well-rounded (another casualty of a novella) and the whole thing felt rushed. It was an enjoyable enough listen, but I probably wouldn't recommend it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Abandonment
mmccombs's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
2.0
This was really short and still a waste of time. It kind of felt like the same exact plot as her book (small, tiny, kinda awkward girl meets big, large, brooding man) but with less depth and a plot that didn’t really make realistic sense. The writing was fine? I wouldn’t really recommend, I’m a bit disappointed because I did enjoy The Love Hypothesis! This one was just not quite there for me.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail
le3713's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
The plot of this one was implausible for me in ways that took away from my enjoyment, but still a cute, quick romance to close out the trilogy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement and Sexual content
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail
ronan_lesh's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
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
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail
samone2's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Sexual content, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Abandonment
Minor: Death, Misogyny, and Trafficking
lexa's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
3.5
I think I enjoyed this the most out of the trilogy. Kinda over the repetitive mentions of how huge the love interest is.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Trafficking
thevioletfoxbookshop's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
I recently listened to the audiobook version of Below Zero by Ali Hazelwood on Libro.fm. I'm very picky about audiobooks. For me, the narration, characters' voices, pace, and tone have to be just right. And Savannah Peachwood, who narrates Below Zero, does a great job!
Author Ali Hazelwood describes herself as an author of contemporary romcom novels about women in STEM and academia. Originally from Italy, Hazelwood has also lived in Germany and Japan and holds a PhD in neuroscience. Her debut novel, The Love Hypothesis, was an instant hit. And her newest novella, Below Zero, is going to be no different (literally, for better or worse).
Hannah and Ian have an unexplained gravitational pull towards each other. Opposites attract, especially in science, right? Hannah is self-assured, anti-social, brilliant, ambitious, and wants Ian in a way that even sexual chemistry can't explain. Ian is shy, loyal, a little unsure of himself despite being a genius, and wants to date Hannah in a traditional way. Or at least, that's how things begin. But life happens. And they end up being rivals. The tension between them mounts until Hannah consider Ian a nemesis. But when Hannah gets herself hurt and stuck at a remote Arctic research station, Ian is the only person willing to come to her rescue in such hazardous conditions. Hannah can't help but ask herself why? She's never been able to stop dreaming about him, even though he tried to ruin her career. So why is Ian risking his own life to be here? And which is more dangerous? Letting Ian into her heart or the impending snowstorm?
Below Zero is the perfect mix of nerdy science and romance. It's a quick read that you'll be devouring like ice-cream. It is heavy on the science - both in terms of character development and sexual innuendos - so if you wouldn't proudly call yourself a nerd, this may not be your thing, but honestly, it's such a cute love story, I'd recommend you give it a shot anyway. I learned a bunch of cool stuff about Mars and space exploration that I didn't know along the way, which was fun!
Does Below Zero follow the same basic recipe as The Love Hypothesis and Hazelwood's other STEM inspired romcom novellas? Yes. Am I mad about it? No. We don't watch Bridgerton for the surprise ending. And we don't listen to hits from the early 2000's because we want groundbreaking music. We know what to expect. We do it because we already know we're going to love it and we enjoy the ride! However, if you're looking for something unique with twists you'll never see coming, this might be a skip for you.
If you're looking for equal parts science and smut in a reliable romance recipe, then Below Zero is a perfect fit.
Below Zero is very spicy! I'd rate it a 5/5 on the spiciness scale. That ending was scalding!
Content Warnings include graphic sexual content, cursing, injury, and drug trafficking.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing and Sexual content
Minor: Trafficking and Injury/Injury detail
frantically's review against another edition
lighthearted
tense
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? Yes
3.0
Cute story but there were too many flashbacks and time skips for me to really get immersed into it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Injury/Injury detail