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A review by bibliomania_express
Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood
emotional
funny
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
4.0
Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood follows Elsie, a chronically people-pleasing theoretical physicist with a fake-girlfriend side hustle, and Jack, an experimental physicist who sparked a field-wide feud with theoretical physicists and the brother of Elsie's current fake date.
This book was fun and remarkably touching. Like all of Hazelwood's romances, it's a science-filled romance between a nerdy science girl up-and-coming in her career and a behemothly tall man well-established in his career. But this book is really about overcoming a people-pleasing mentality, drawing healthy boundaries, recognizing abuse and control in people you trust, and calling out well-meaning people when they cross the line.
I related a lot to Elsie. It's often hard to say no to people, especially when you think saying no will make them lose respect or liking for you. Elsie has to find herself and stand up for herself - even to Jack. And I enjoyed her friendship with CeCe, particularly the touching scene between them near the end.
I loved Jack's determination to break through Elsie's people pleasing and find out what she truly likes, but I did get annoyed with him a couple of times. I'm glad Elsie called him out, especially when he went too far into the patronizing/overprotective side of things.
I do wish there had been a bit more of Jack and Greg's brother relationship since it's so important to the first half of the book. I also think there wasn't enough exploration of how everything went down with the job interview process.
This book was fun and remarkably touching. Like all of Hazelwood's romances, it's a science-filled romance between a nerdy science girl up-and-coming in her career and a behemothly tall man well-established in his career. But this book is really about overcoming a people-pleasing mentality, drawing healthy boundaries, recognizing abuse and control in people you trust, and calling out well-meaning people when they cross the line.
I related a lot to Elsie. It's often hard to say no to people, especially when you think saying no will make them lose respect or liking for you. Elsie has to find herself and stand up for herself - even to Jack. And I enjoyed her friendship with CeCe, particularly the touching scene between them near the end.
I loved Jack's determination to break through Elsie's people pleasing and find out what she truly likes, but I did get annoyed with him a couple of times. I'm glad Elsie called him out, especially when he went too far into the patronizing/overprotective side of things.
I do wish there had been a bit more of Jack and Greg's brother relationship since it's so important to the first half of the book. I also think there wasn't enough exploration of how everything went down with the job interview process.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gaslighting