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loveyoulike's review
emotional
funny
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
3.75
i was this close to rating this higher solely for the reading experience but the last few chapters were way too frustrating. in the first place i couldn't buy jack as a character. he feels like a mary sue but with a few added issues to progress the plot. i also personally don't like romance stories where one side always knows the best for the other character to the point that they appear like a teacher-caretaker.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Sexual content, and Sexism
Moderate: Misogyny, Outing, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Acephobia/Arophobia and Death of parent
one_more_chapter96's review against another edition
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
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
4.5
Thoroughly enjoyed, maybe the funniest / most witty book by Ali Hazelwood I’ve read so far which was really fun. Sad at times and makes you reflect on people pleasing and eldest daughter roles in a family. Great STEM rep and informative without being too much. The tension and slow build up of their relationship was good & I loved Jack overall as the MMC. Slightly disappointed by the ending but overall enjoyed the book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Chronic illness
Minor: Death of parent, Outing, and Sexism
meggiemeggie52's review against another edition
emotional
funny
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
4.0
This was so cute, but not a love for me. I loved Jack, the development of Elise and Jack's relationship, and how he helped her open up and be more honest with people... but Elsie not even knowing who *she* is or being able to tell her best friend she doesn't like the movies they watch together frustrated me on multiple occasions. It also annoyed me that Elsie refused to believe that Jack didn't actually hate her, even when he told her this (multiple times) to her face.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Gaslighting, Sexual content, and Medical content
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Death of parent, and Misogyny
Minor: Outing
memoirsofabooklover's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
fast-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
4.75
this was by far my favourite ali hazelwood book that i’ve read. i loved jack with my whole entire heart. i saw a lot of myself in elsie and her struggles internally. jack’s patience and unwavering need to see the real her and learn to say how she truly feels and ask for what she wants is the what we all really want in a partner.
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.
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Toxic friendship, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Death of parent, Child abuse, Gaslighting, and Sexism
Minor: Alcohol, Cursing, Terminal illness, and Outing
underscoresyd's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Chronic illness, and Sexual content
Moderate: Toxic relationship and Death of parent
Minor: Outing and Acephobia/Arophobia
ang3lina_'s review against another edition
emotional
funny
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Chronic illness, and Misogyny
Moderate: Death of parent and Emotional abuse
Minor: Acephobia/Arophobia and Outing
theverycraftyvegan's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Not my favourite by Ali Hazelwood and that’s a shame because I was so excited to read this!
MFC, Elsie, is the dumbest smart person out of all of Ali’s novels. She doesn’t speak up for herself. Ever. With anyone. She moulds herself into whoever she thinks the person she’s speaking with wants her to be—dates, her mother, best friend, mentor, coworkers, her students, random people she’s meeting for the first time. This is her personality and I guess her idea of survival mode in academia? But it is cringy to read.
Elsie and MMC, Jack, have a major height difference which is such a common trope I’m beyond tired of it. She needs to crane her neck to look up at him. She needs to stand on her tippy toes and pull his face towards her to kiss. His pen!s pokes her in the stomach. She’s a small-average height woman and he’s a giant. We get it.
Elsie and MMC, Jack, have a major height difference which is such a common trope I’m beyond tired of it. She needs to crane her neck to look up at him. She needs to stand on her tippy toes and pull his face towards her to kiss. His pen!s pokes her in the stomach. She’s a small-average height woman and he’s a giant. We get it.
Elsie’s interactions with her mother felt forced. Phone calls with and memories of mommy dearest are added sporadically throughout the book. Mom calls and expects Elsie to break up fights between her two older brothers—who are adults. We never meet the mother or the brothers so, even though their interactions give examples of Elsie putting up with a lot of garbage from a lot of people, they felt like unnecessary characters.
Elsie and her best friend/roommate have an odd cheese obsession. This is focused on so much it is actually a character trait. Cheese is one of the few things they have in common, but they make it work.
Elsie does grow throughout the book with Jack’s help. She starts to tell people what she thinks and how she feels which made me proud. One of Elsie‘s dislikes is her best friend ’s taste in movies. But even though Elsie starts voicing her opinions by the end of the book, in the epilogue she’s sitting through yet another movie she doesn’t want to be watching. Furthermore, the person she’s watching this movie with told her earlier in the book that they would never watch her favourite movies with her ever again. So Elsie is expected to compromise for their tastes, but they won’t compromise their’s for her? Eww. No thank you
The ending was meh for me. It didn’t feel as climatic as it could have been.
Sorry. This storyline and the characters just really weren’t for me.
Sorry. This storyline and the characters just really weren’t for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Chronic illness, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Misogyny, Abandonment, Acephobia/Arophobia, Death of parent, Medical content, Outing, and Sexism
chasingpages1's review against another edition
emotional
funny
informative
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- 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? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Sexual content, Chronic illness, Gaslighting, and Medical content
Moderate: Outing, Death of parent, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Grief, Acephobia/Arophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, and Mental illness
Minor: Cursing, Emotional abuse, Ableism, Classism, Alcohol, Pregnancy, and Drug use
meredith_williams_'s review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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? Yes
3.0
As an author, Ali Hazelwood falls into the same camp as Elena Armas for me. I know when I pick up one of her books I will have to endure a plethora of cringey elements to her writing style (the incomprehensible height difference between her MMC and FMC, the extremely millennial humor, the almost hyperbolic quirkiness of her main characters, etc.) but I’m willing to do so for her silly, smutty, STEM romcoms that are nothing short of a fun time! Did I like that there was a hedgehog subplot in this book? No. Did Twilight need to be brought up every 5-7 pages? No. Do I think any actual 27 year old girl would willingly pair a sweater dress with thigh highs and then leave her apartment for a date? No. But did I enjoy the academic enemies to lovers trope? Yes! Did the banter have me giggling and kicking my feet the whole time? Yes! Did I think the book explored some surprisingly deep truths on honesty and self advocacy as a form of love? Yes!
If you enjoyed The Love Hypothesis (or Love on the Brain, though personally I try to forget it exists!) then you’ll like Love, Theoretically. If you can’t put up with cringe in exchange for a fun plot then look elsewhere for your romcom fix!
If you enjoyed The Love Hypothesis (or Love on the Brain, though personally I try to forget it exists!) then you’ll like Love, Theoretically. If you can’t put up with cringe in exchange for a fun plot then look elsewhere for your romcom fix!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing and Sexual content
Moderate: Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, and Sexism
Minor: Outing
beesin03's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
tense
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Chronic illness, and Medical content
Moderate: Misogyny, Sexism, Emotional abuse, Bullying, Mental illness, and Gaslighting
Minor: Acephobia/Arophobia, Death of parent, and Outing