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A review by intensej
Not in Love by Ali Hazelwood
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Thank you to Edelweiss for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This is my new favorite Ali Hazelwood book. Rue Siebert is an engineer who focuses her research on food science. After experiencing food insecurity as a child, Rue is focused on her work at a start-up called Kline. Rue's world is turned upside down when Kline is purchased by a private equity firm. Rue is worried that the business her mentor, Florence Kline, created will become the victim of a hostile takeover by Eli Killgore and his business partners. Rue first meets Eli through a dating app, but she has a strict one night only rule. When she realizes that he is part of the group that is trying to take over Kline, she feels that she is betraying her mentor. Eli and his friends have a plan for Kline, and Eli's attraction (obsession?) with Rue is an obstacle they never expected.
I loved the friendship between Trish and Rue. The depictions of hunger from Rue's memories of her childhood were very dark, but I think Ali Hazelwood handled it well. I love love loved Eli and Rue together. They felt so real! I thought Eli's love of Rue was bordering on obsession, but it worked in this book. My only criticism of the book was that the whole Florence drama was very predictable, but it's not a deal breaker. Since Rue has had such disappointing past relationships, she puts a note in her dating app that she will not allow any penetration . The slow burn that starts between Rue and Eli in all of their scenes together were insanely steamy. Then, Ali Hazelwood throws another bomb into the smut: Eli's love of orgasm denial . First a knot in Bride and then this? I can't get enough of Ali Hazelwood's books. Also, how dare Ali Hazelwood introduce so many amazing characters in her books and then not give them their own books! Bring on the next book.
Content: food insecurity, explicit sex scenes, dysfunctional family relationships
This is my new favorite Ali Hazelwood book. Rue Siebert is an engineer who focuses her research on food science. After experiencing food insecurity as a child, Rue is focused on her work at a start-up called Kline. Rue's world is turned upside down when Kline is purchased by a private equity firm. Rue is worried that the business her mentor, Florence Kline, created will become the victim of a hostile takeover by Eli Killgore and his business partners. Rue first meets Eli through a dating app, but she has a strict one night only rule. When she realizes that he is part of the group that is trying to take over Kline, she feels that she is betraying her mentor. Eli and his friends have a plan for Kline, and Eli's attraction (obsession?) with Rue is an obstacle they never expected.
I loved the friendship between Trish and Rue. The depictions of hunger from Rue's memories of her childhood were very dark, but I think Ali Hazelwood handled it well. I love love loved Eli and Rue together. They felt so real! I thought Eli's love of Rue was bordering on obsession, but it worked in this book. My only criticism of the book was that the whole Florence drama was very predictable, but it's not a deal breaker. Since Rue has had such disappointing past relationships, she puts a note in her dating app that she will not allow any penetration . The slow burn that starts between Rue and Eli in all of their scenes together were insanely steamy. Then, Ali Hazelwood throws another bomb into the smut: Eli's love of orgasm denial . First a knot in Bride and then this? I can't get enough of Ali Hazelwood's books. Also, how dare Ali Hazelwood introduce so many amazing characters in her books and then not give them their own books! Bring on the next book.
Content: food insecurity, explicit sex scenes, dysfunctional family relationships
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Child abuse