A review by bruts_bane
Not in Love by Ali Hazelwood

emotional hopeful fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

Don’t go into this book thinking it’s a romcom like other Ali Hazlewood books. There’s a warning at the start that you should consider. 
Why was Eli so crass the whole entire time. Do men actually think these thoughts? I like romance books but some of the things he thought about the girl made me go HUHHHHH , just made me so uncomfortable. Both characters are also boring.

How come in every Ali Hazlewood book there’s the most predictable villain who the male lead must save the female lead from??? Her depictions of women with trauma can be hurtful, like we aren’t just dumb and trusting and need a man to save us.

Ali Hazlewood always gives her characters deeply rooted trauma then just makes them a bit stoic and acts like that’s enough representation. Maybe if this book was set out to be a lighter that would be okay, but it seems like it’s meant to be deep.