A review by schwrtzdnll28
Not in Love by Ali Hazelwood

4.25

Listen the only thing I ever needed to know about Eli is that he played college hockey in Minnesota!!! 

But really this was fantastic! The vibe is different than Ali’s other books, it is SPICY, she herself has said while her other books are at least romcom adjacent this is more erotic romance with lots angst and BOY WAS SHE RIGHT. And I loved every single second because while it was so much spice, but it was also so emotionally vulnerable and written so well.

Both Eli and Rue have trauma and while their childhoods were similar they still grew up and ended up differently. And so much of this was them sharing that, finally feeling seen by someone who just might get it, ignoring so many things, and honestly just doing it all of the time because of LUST. But the two of them together WERE SO SOFT. You have to look a little deeper than surface level!! And I did love them so so much!! Eli was borderline *obsessed* with Rue, but it was also so gentle and caring with her and she needed that. And she had a hard time in social situations and new people but there was something about Eli that felt so safe for her. 

And the whole story with Florence and the company and Eli’s company coming in and doing what they were doing - it was SO MESSY. And it was honestly a wild ride! Ali wrote it SO WELL and I was honestly surprised by it the entire time!

Thank you to Berkley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!!