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reiverse's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Mental illness, Death of parent, Sexual harassment, Toxic friendship, Gaslighting, Panic attacks/disorders, Classism, and Abandonment
hannalizzy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Also all the student emails peppered in throughout the book were so whack and unbelievable (a student asking their physics professor to check a pimple for them? Come on.) I think she was really going for the “com” in romcom and the overwhelming amount of cringe quips made me lower the star rating bit by bit as I inched my way to the ending.
Overall, the main character was wayyy too self aware to believably be so misguided about herself and the way she viewed the world. I also wish that Hazelwood wouldn’t lean so far into the misunderstanding trope for almost every conflict, it gets so exhausting and makes me want to dnf when the problem could be solved in a single sentence that everyone’s refusing to say for the weakest reasons.
All that being said, Jack is hot asf. And if you have a size kink, know that Hazelwood’s got your back. Did appreciate the aro/ace rep and the main character being diabetic (plus him being all caring about her levels was adorable)
Graphic: Sexism, Sexual content, Cursing, and Death of parent
Moderate: Outing, Medical content, Toxic relationship, Sexual harassment, and Toxic friendship
theespressoedition's review against another edition
3.0
Graphic: Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Death of parent and Acephobia/Arophobia
laura_wild's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Graphic: Sexism, Classism, and Sexual content
Moderate: Misogyny, Sexual harassment, Animal cruelty, Cursing, Medical content, Emotional abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, Acephobia/Arophobia, Outing, Alcohol, and Toxic friendship
vrjul_'s review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Moderate: Sexism and Toxic friendship
memoirsofabooklover'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
it brought up a lot (for me as well i’m sure it did for others too) who have been in relationships (romantic and otherwise) where they make themselves what they think others want them to be until we can’t tell who we are and what we want apart from who we pretend to be.
i hate insta love and miscommunication trope usually but jack’s unrequited love for elsie throughout the book had me in a choke hold, it didn’t feel cheesy it just felt right. the miscommunication was done well enough that it didn’t feel dumb as they usually are, there was some genuine reason behind it, that no one would have realised in that situation.
i also loved sole aroace rep, it’s the one of the most forgotten about members of the lgbtq+ community and even though there wasn’t much about it, because it wasn’t the main characters, i think it was handled really beautifully, not overly-dramatised or glossed over.
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Toxic friendship, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Death of parent, Child abuse, Gaslighting, and Sexism
Minor: Alcohol, Cursing, Terminal illness, and Outing
makenna_reads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Toxic friendship, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Emotional abuse
naomi_k'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
Graphic: Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Acephobia/Arophobia, Cursing, and Sexual content
Minor: Death of parent, Classism, Sexual harassment, and Medical content
lovelymisanthrope's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
"Love, Theoretically" follows Elsie and Jack. Elsie is an adjunct professor that is barely making ends meet, so she also works as a fake girlfriend. She seems to be balancing her two worlds perfectly, until she discovers that the older brother of her favorite client, Jack, is also the guy who ruined her mentor's career, and who now has the power to influence her career.
Although I did enjoy that this story was a different academic plotline, this book still felt very similar to Ali Hazelwood's previous works. Her books all have the same ingredients, but the ultimate outcome varies from book to book. With that in mind, I did enjoy this book much more than her previous book, but not quite as much as her first book.
I really enjoyed how driven Elsie is, and how much of an impressive work ethic she possesses. She also is a diabetic, so it was nice to see some new representation in this book. Additionally, I enjoyed seeing the life of an adjunct professor. I also did enjoy Elsie and Jack's dynamic together. Jack is a misunderstood fella, and I enjoyed getting his full story.
The spicy scenes were written pretty well, and I definitely can see improvement in Ali Hazelwood's writing skills.
Overall, this was a fun book, that I enjoyed, but will probably not think too much about.
Graphic: Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Medical content, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Death of parent
happyreads's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Moderate: Sexual content and Sexism
Minor: Death of parent and Toxic friendship