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A review by catisbookish
Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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
4.0
As always with Hazelwood’s books, I had a million and one problems and little things that irked me, which include but are not limited to:
- her hero and heroines literally being the same people copy pasted in all of her books
- the over-the-top descriptions of how GIGANTIC HUMONGOUS GIANT BIGBIGBIG MUSCLE MAN the hero is
- the fact that for some reason, her heroines lie like all the time and we’re supposed to find it endearing instead of wondering why the hero puts up with her bullshit all the time
- millenial quirk levels so high that you are in danger of dying from cringe
- peerection??????
But despite all of my grievances, both big and small, bitch this shit SLAPPED. I think that Ali has a lot of things to work on as an author, particularly in coming up with characters that aren’t the same carbon copy over and over, but what that woman knows how to do is write some damn spice honey!! Like!! I!! Was!! Quaking!! In!! My!! Boots!!!!! After about 40% in my brain short circuited and next thing I new I had spent all night reading and it was 5am.
Other than the spice, there were also clear improvements from The Love Hypothesis and Love On The Brain. I felt this book was less bogged down by its tropes and focused a lot more on the personal development of Elsie and her relationship with Jack, as well as her career and her friends. The narrative felt well balanced. We spent a lot less time than previous books on having forced-proximity shenanigans (fun in moderation, a little ridiculous in excess, in my opinion at least) and more time having the characters experience meaningful interactions with each other. The beginning was still tropey and quirky and a little over-the-top, but the book found its groove quickly and I found myself overlooking my mild annoyances. Then I was fully invested until the very end. But like. The things Jack says to her? Does for her? Beyond sweet and clearly a man who has a kink for caring for his partner and I just melted. That really got me 😅
- her hero and heroines literally being the same people copy pasted in all of her books
- the over-the-top descriptions of how GIGANTIC HUMONGOUS GIANT BIGBIGBIG MUSCLE MAN the hero is
- the fact that for some reason, her heroines lie like all the time and we’re supposed to find it endearing instead of wondering why the hero puts up with her bullshit all the time
- millenial quirk levels so high that you are in danger of dying from cringe
- peerection??????
But despite all of my grievances, both big and small, bitch this shit SLAPPED. I think that Ali has a lot of things to work on as an author, particularly in coming up with characters that aren’t the same carbon copy over and over, but what that woman knows how to do is write some damn spice honey!! Like!! I!! Was!! Quaking!! In!! My!! Boots!!!!! After about 40% in my brain short circuited and next thing I new I had spent all night reading and it was 5am.
Other than the spice, there were also clear improvements from The Love Hypothesis and Love On The Brain. I felt this book was less bogged down by its tropes and focused a lot more on the personal development of Elsie and her relationship with Jack, as well as her career and her friends. The narrative felt well balanced. We spent a lot less time than previous books on having forced-proximity shenanigans (fun in moderation, a little ridiculous in excess, in my opinion at least) and more time having the characters experience meaningful interactions with each other. The beginning was still tropey and quirky and a little over-the-top, but the book found its groove quickly and I found myself overlooking my mild annoyances. Then I was fully invested until the very end. But like. The things Jack says to her? Does for her? Beyond sweet and clearly a man who has a kink for caring for his partner and I just melted. That really got me 😅