A review by thevioletfoxbookshop
Below Zero by Ali Hazelwood

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.25

 I recently listened to the audiobook version of Below Zero by Ali Hazelwood on Libro.fm. I'm very picky about audiobooks. For me, the narration, characters' voices, pace, and tone have to be just right. And Savannah Peachwood, who narrates Below Zero, does a great job!

Author Ali Hazelwood describes herself as an author of contemporary romcom novels about women in STEM and academia. Originally from Italy, Hazelwood has also lived in Germany and Japan and holds a PhD in neuroscience. Her debut novel, The Love Hypothesis, was an instant hit. And her newest novella, Below Zero, is going to be no different (literally, for better or worse).

Hannah and Ian have an unexplained gravitational pull towards each other. Opposites attract, especially in science, right? Hannah is self-assured, anti-social, brilliant, ambitious, and wants Ian in a way that even sexual chemistry can't explain. Ian is shy, loyal, a little unsure of himself despite being a genius, and wants to date Hannah in a traditional way. Or at least, that's how things begin. But life happens. And they end up being rivals. The tension between them mounts until Hannah consider Ian a nemesis. But when Hannah gets herself hurt and stuck at a remote Arctic research station, Ian is the only person willing to come to her rescue in such hazardous conditions. Hannah can't help but ask herself why? She's never been able to stop dreaming about him, even though he tried to ruin her career. So why is Ian risking his own life to be here? And which is more dangerous? Letting Ian into her heart or the impending snowstorm?

Below Zero is the perfect mix of nerdy science and romance. It's a quick read that you'll be devouring like ice-cream. It is heavy on the science - both in terms of character development and sexual innuendos - so if you wouldn't proudly call yourself a nerd, this may not be your thing, but honestly, it's such a cute love story, I'd recommend you give it a shot anyway. I learned a bunch of cool stuff about Mars and space exploration that I didn't know along the way, which was fun!

Does Below Zero follow the same basic recipe as The Love Hypothesis and Hazelwood's other STEM inspired romcom novellas? Yes. Am I mad about it? No. We don't watch Bridgerton for the surprise ending. And we don't listen to hits from the early 2000's because we want groundbreaking music. We know what to expect. We do it because we already know we're going to love it and we enjoy the ride! However, if you're looking for something unique with twists you'll never see coming, this might be a skip for you.

If you're looking for equal parts science and smut in a reliable romance recipe, then Below Zero is a perfect fit.

Below Zero is very spicy! I'd rate it a 5/5 on the spiciness scale. That ending was scalding!
Content Warnings include  graphic sexual content, cursing, injury, and drug trafficking.
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