Ali Hazelwood and this series has quickly become one of my favorites. Such an enjoyable swoony read that I couldn't put down. I think this series has a lot of mass appeal, especially for readers who like modern romcoms or enemies to lovers and workplace romance tropes. I enjoyed the secondary characters and setting, but the main draw was definitely the tension and chemistry between Bee and Levi - very satisfying.

This is a phenomenal sophomore novel from Ali Hazelwood, and I am already itching for more from her. I am pleased to report that Love on the Brain gave me the same feelings as Love Hypothesis did, which is to say, exactly what I wanted it to do. And there are certainly a lot of similarities between the two novels, with the Grumpy x Sunshine leads, the years-long pining, and a misunderstanding or two. But it's a formula that works fabulously, especially with Hazelwood's wit and charm woven throughout, so why mess with something that works. And this really, really works. Bee is so wonderful a lead here. Her spirit is free though her heart is guarded, and it makes for a character you can't not love and root for. Levi is everything you want him to be and somehow even more.
Then there's the science which is just fascinating in and of itself. I love this aspect of Hazelwood's novels even when the actual science is way over my head. It's just interesting, and even if you took all the romance plot out, there would still be an interesting story going on. But the romance is of course the star, do not get me wrong. It will fill your heart feel simultaneous like it's going by too slow because you just want to have ALL of it right away, and like it's going by way too fast because you're running out of pages and you don't want to be over. Which is equal parts satisfying and frustrating, so all we can do is wait for the next Hazelwood story and reread this and Love Hypothesis endlessly until that day comes. Hazelwood has officially cemented her status as an insta-buy author for me, as I'm sure will be the case with many, many others once they read this knockout of a story.

Ali Hazelwood has done it again. Did I read this entire book in one sitting? Yes. Did it leave me wanting more? Also yes. Am I excited for whatever Ali Hazelwood writes next? YES! As a woman in STEM - this new genre of STEM-inist rom-com has me absolutely HOOKED. Enemies to lovers, forced (work) proximity, witty banter, AND science? Be still my STEM-inist heart. I love Bee, love love love her. She is a badass who knows her worth (despite being terrified of commitment) and she is smart, she is funny, she is gorgeous, and she loves coffee. When she comes to work at NASA for a dream project to reach her goal of running her lab - enter forced work proximity with her nemesis - Levi. And man, while I'm not quite ready to say forget Adam Carlson - HELLOOOOO LEVI!

Love on the Brain is a stellar sophomore novel by Ali Hazelwood, and readers of her debut novel Love Hypothesis will also love this novel as well. Hazelwood provides a stellar cast of diverse characters and representation with a heaping dose of witty banter to go along with it. I absolutely ADORE Rocio, and want her to be my friend in real life. Also, science based cat names?!?! I AM SOLD. While this is still a slow burn romance, we do get more steamy scenes in this book which I am all for. Also, hello plot twist that my brain didn't see coming until right when it was about to occur.

Despite the rom-com of it all, Love on the Brain addresses serious topics that continue to be a major problem in the world of STEM such as toxic relationships, gender inequality, standardized testing, and inaccessibility to graduate education. As a woman in STEM academics, I appreciate the awareness that is being brought to these topics and the enjoyable ride we get along the way. I cannot WAIT to read more from Ali Hazelwood.

I really liked the love hypothesis and I enjoyed this one just as much. There were a lot of similarities between the two but that isn’t a bad thing. I liked the enemies to lovers storyline and I really liked her assistance. I enjoyed the focus on women in STEM and all the Marie Curie stuff as well

What would Marie Curie do?
🧪
Bee Konigswasser with her pink hair and tattoos love her life as a scientist and when she’s offered to work on a neuroengineering project at NASA—it’s a dream come true. Unfortunately her nemesis, Levi Ward, (who hates her for no good reason!) will be co-lead on the project. Levi has hated Bee since grad school and apparently nothing has changed in the passing years. As the two struggle to work together, it becomes clear there’s something between them, but what is the saying? There’s a thin line between love and hate.
👩🏻‍🔬
Honestly I thought Love Hypothesis might have been a fluke. Like I can’t remember a time I loved a debut adult romance as much as I loved that one. Boy, was I wrong! Ali Hazelwood is no fluke, y’all. She’s got IT and I’m obsessed! She is now one of my top writers in this genre and I can’t wait to read more by her. Combining STEM with romance (and possibly some neurodivergent characters, although it’s never expressly said that Bee is on the spectrum) has me recommending her to anyone that will listen. Her secondary characters are just as awesome as her main characters. Her writing is witty, charming and so detailed it makes it seem like these are real people! It’s an easy 5⭐️. This book releases 8.23. Preorder NOW!

CW: sabotage, parental death in a car accident (in the past), death of a friend in a rock climbing accident (in the past), seizure disorder in children, sexism in the workplace, sexual harassment, firearms and life-threatening situations (that do NOT result in death)

Ali Hazelwood is the BEST at writing funny, smart, and badass romance heroines. Fans of the popular The Love Hypothesis will not be disappointed in her latest STEM romance, Love on the Brain.

Bee gets the chance of a lifetime to work on a neuroscience project with NASA, but her joy is short-lived when she realizes she will be working alongside her longtime nemesis, Levi. I am sure you know where this is going because Hazelwood uses all the tropes. However, she does it in a way that honors the genre and makes you want to squeal with delight! A swooning protagonist? Not lame! Enemies to lovers? So satisfying! Even though some of the plot is easy to predict, the writing and the rounded characters make you hooked.

Highly recommend for those already immersed in the genre and those who think romances are too stuffy-- this one is modern and delightful!

Love on the Brain has great characters. I just adored Bee. I loved getting into her head with her sarcasm and digressions. All of her Marie Curie facts and WWMD (What Would Marie Do?) and how these affect her life and this story.
Every time her La Llorona loving, goth witch assistant Rocio is mentioned, it became one of the best parts of the book. What a fantastic character!
Other gems are Levi’s cat Schrodinger and her “cat” Felicette and how that plays out.
And finally, Levi, as we get to know him and how he reveals his adoration of Bee, he comes across as one of the great book boyfriends in contemporary romance.

The insights into the STEM world and what women have to endure just to do the science they love needs to be shouted from the rooftops. And Bee’s terms for when it’s only men in the room - priceless.

But…spoilers?
The plot elements of Love on the Brain were VERY similar to The Love Hypothesis.
Enemies to lovers
You know he’s been crushing all along
They go to a conference and drama ensues
NIce guy who turns out bad- The Hans Effect (The best Disney villain since he’s just too real)

These similarities did NOT prevent me from loving this book, but I hope that Ali Hazelwood’s next book uses a different trope or has dual POVs, for example.

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Still not really my personal cup of tea, but I'm pleased to report I enjoyed this one much more than the author's first book so I'm glad I gave her work another chance! I also liked the neuroscience bits--the chapter titles were a fun touch--as well as the academic politics and the secondary romance (the last enough that I'd be really curious to see what she does with a main pairing that isn't just another Reylo AU as far as the characters). More importantly, I know so many readers who will love Love on the Brain and I will definitely be purchasing and recommending it for them. Thanks to the publisher for giving me the chance to review!

A huge thank you to Berkley Romance for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

5🌟 4🌶

Ali Hazelwood never fails to write the most amazing stories that just sucks you in from the first page and leaves you feeling all these intense emotions and feels. The Love Hypothesis was my absolute favorite read of 2021 so this obviously ended up being my most anticipated read this year and omg, it exceeded my expectations! I loved this so much (given that I devoured this in a day!) and I can’t wait for more from Ali!

What I LOVED: Bee had me falling in love with her from the moment I met her! She was so colorful, empowering, quirky, strong and oh so intelligent. Not only was she a badass neurologist but she’s also a multilingual queen! I related to her love for animals especially kitties and thanks to her, I know more about Marie Curie than I ever would expected in this llifetime 🤣

Then we have Levi Ward, part cinammon roll and part swoony and intelligent hottie with killer green eyes. I fell in love with his broodiness and silence then the more I got to know his softer side, I was done for. The fact that he has a black cat like me gave him plus points!

The romance in this book was EVERYTHING! Their enemies to lovers, academic rivals romance was so genuine in the beginning that I felt the anger and hatred due to all the miscommunication but as they finally got talking and laid their weapons down, the friendship between them was *chef’s kiss* I loved their banter and immediate chemistry and the surprise looks on their face every time they realize how similar they were was so worth the ride. I also enjoyed the hidden identities trope they had on the side (As an avid user of Twitter, I enjoyed the role it had on their story!) They gave more proof that it was obvious from the get go just how perfect they were for each other!

If you’re curious about the steam level, I would say that this was The Love Hypothesis TIMES THREE 😋 Levi Ward can get it any day 😋

What I LIKED: Alongside all the swoon and steam, I really enjoyed how this booo dealt with so much serious topics that aren’t only an issue in the academia setting but in life in general such as toxic masculinity, toxic partners/friends and gender inequality

The side character in this were so easy to love!!! Besides the adorable kitties, I really liked Bee’s assistant and twin sister!

What I DIDN’T ENJOY: Everyone underestimating Bee!! Levi’s boring ass family!! And of course, the “villain” that I least expected but also was sus about. It was just heartbreaking seeing them be the bad person in this amazing story.

THIS BOOK IS PERFECT FOR: fans of Ali Hazelwood. That’s it 🤣

I adore the science of this book, it adds good depth to this story just like Ali Hazelwood's first book, and I also adore the use of social media as a liberation tool but also an Achilles heel! She created a well-rounded background from which to unspool the romance. I loved our heroine's backstory with the globe-trotting twin and tragic past, but wanted to hear her speak more German.

However (did you see that coming) I was not that invested in the romance! I could see what was happening, and I figured out how all the pieces might fall together, and I didn't care that much. I feel badly, but I felt their lives were already magical and maybe they didn't need love? Perhaps I should take a break from romance for a bit.. I was more worried about the cats than the main characters.

Thanks to NetGalley for the early look! I appreciate it.

This book had me in a chokehold for a full 24 hours. It was smart and sexy, and SO un-put-down-able that I was essentially like "I'll see you tomorrow" to my entire family.

Bee and Levi were such a delicious pair. I'm in the minority in that I don't mind misunderstandings in fiction as long as they're realistic (real humans have misunderstandings constantly, as evidenced by Twitter) and I felt like the reasons Bee thought Levi hated her were incredibly well done. Levi was absolutely the pining, brooding hero we deserve in 2022, and the sex scenes were steamy AND emotional, my favorite combination. And I'm going to keep it real: I am not a Science Girl, but I felt like the external plot was written in a way that even a layman like me could say "oh, I get it!" I really enjoyed the pacing, Ali's writing style, and, of course, the love story.

Such a fantastic read to finish out January! This is a must-read for any romance fan.

Thoroughly charming. It's a little close to The Love Hypothesis -- tall, dark, and brooding hero; tiny, brilliant, and quirky heroine -- but Hazelwood's writing is real and funny and it's so great to read about smart women doing things AND getting swoony.

Thanks to NetGalley for the advance copy.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Neuroscientist Bee Königswasser is chosen as a co-lead, along with her archnemisis Levi, for a groundbreaking NIH/NASA project. This book is laugh out loud funny -Bee calls Levi a ""walnut" at one point, which is THE best insult I have ever heard, aside from calling someone a "muppet". The pacing was perfect. I couldn't put it down. Loaded with quirky characters. If you like your romance heroines smart, funny and capable, Love on the Brain is an excellent choice. Recommended for fans of How to Fail at Flirting, Take a Hint, Dani Brown, and The Kiss Quotient.

Enjoyable read. Honestly, I preferred this plot over The Love Hypothesis (which I enjoyed but the unprofessionalism between the main leads really took me out of the story). My main issue with this story are the main characters seem almost exactly the same as Adam and Olive. Almost the same exact physical descriptions (strange emphasis on the big and tall ML and the small and tiny FL in both stories) and very similar backgrounds/personalities which made it harder for me to connect to the characters. I would be more interested in reading about main characters that come from a low/lower middle class background or first generation American that goes into STEM.

Overall, I thought this so similar to The Love Hypothesis, but had a better plot line. I decided to give this three stars because it is an enjoyable read, but I can’t say it’s my favorite or that I’ll see myself rereading it. I love the idea of women in STEM romance, but the series is very limited in what it touches on. I think it would be more interesting if there was a book where the main characters were not from a well-off or European expat type background. It seems to be based on the author’s own experiences, but as a reader I was not that invested because it felt like I was reading a different version of The Love Hypothesis instead of what should be an entirely different book in a series.

My review of Love on the Brain will be publicly available on my blog (giareadsbooks.com) on August 16th, 2022. You can find it with this link: www.giareadsbooks.com/book-reviews/love-on-the-brain

Genre: Romance
Rating: 5 Stars
Spice Rating: 3.5 Stars*
*I didn’t feel like going and seeing a priest.....but it was pretty descriptive. TW: Negative attitude/offensive behavior & language towards women in STEM. Mentions of death, seizure, etc. Content warning from Hazelwood (includes spoilers): here.

Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group, Ali Hazelwood, and NetGalley for sending me a copy of Love on the Brain in exchange for an honest review.

Science is SEXY! There - I said it. Hazelwood’s sophomore novel, Love on the Brain, has officially proven that if you’re a good enough writer, you can make anything sound steamy. Bee Königswasser is a neuroscientist who’s tasked with leading a team of NASA engineers as they try to go where no neuroengineering project has gone before. After scraping by for years, this is exactly the kind of news she needs to hear. That is, until Levi Ward, Bee’s arch nemesis from grad school, is announced as her co-leader. Can Bee and Levi let bygones be bygones, or will they let their festering anger get the best of them?

I’m not ashamed to say that I binged this book in less than 12 hours. If I didn’t have to eat, hydrate, or sleep, I probably could’ve finished it in less. Hazelwood has mastered the art of writing an un-put-downable book. Like her debut (The Love Hypothesis), Love on the Brain hinges its success off a relatable main character, a totally adorable love interest, and a fast-paced, but well-developed plot. If you’re looking for your next romance, look no further! Mrs. Hazelwood doesn’t disappoint.

I really don’t want to give ANYTHING away because every little thing counts towards the plot in some way, but here are a few of my absolute favorite things from this novel:

The setting! I’m from Houston and the majority of this novel takes place in Houston (duh – did NASA not give that away?), so revisiting it with this book was super fun. And she’s right – it's big...and humid. Every time Bee made a reference to the Houston skyline at night, I couldn’t help but sigh. I miss it sometimes.

It’s a feminist forward novel and it absolutely dives into the everyday reality for women in STEM. It’s incredibly raw and hard to read at times because of how accurate it is, but it made me love Bee even more. She’s smart, she knows it, and she’s not afraid to show it.

The science! Hazelwood is pursuing a PhD in neuroscience, so it surprises me that she’s able to explain the science in a way that us non-science people can understand. And even better – she makes it interesting! I may not know much (or anything, really) about the brain, but now I know how brain stimulation works (sorta?), and that made this book even more enjoyable for me. It wasn’t preachy about the science, but it explained what it needed to for you to understand it’s importance in the plot.

I really don’t think it’s necessary for me to tell you how eager I am to read Hazelwood’s next book/novella. I would read anything by Hazelwood, and you should too!

The most neuroscience romance that ever neuroscienced. Another great romance from Ali Hazelwood. It has women in STEM rep, cats both elder and mysterious, academic enemies to lovers, and astronauts! The dialogue is witty and enjoyable, especially between Bee and her research assistant. For readers looking for spice, I would say the spice is moderate in this one. Without spoiling anything, there is an epistolary subplot that does not really drive the story. It could be taken out altogether and the two main characters would have the same resolution. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC, I decided to leave a review for fellow romance readers.

I absolutely adored The Love Hypothesis, so when I saw Love on the Brain, i was so excited to get the opportunity to read it. I was also hesitant and afraid because I have often found that I overhype books in my brain after reading one really remarkable piece by an author. I am happy to say, Ali Hazelwood has done it again! I didn't think I could love a book couple as much as Adam and Olive from TLP, but Bee and Levi definitely rose to the challenge! This book definitely had higher stakes at the end of the novel, and they very easily could have been cheesy or seem overdramatic, but Hazelwood really nailed it once again. The plot, characters, dialogue...I do enjoy romance novels, but i normally find parts of them to be eye-roll-y and cringe-y. If you love romance novels, I cannot recommend either of her first two books enough!

I'll start by saying that I actually enjoyed The Love Hypothesis so I had some hope for Love on the Brain. This book fell a bit short for me. It seemed to be missing something and I think i just disliked the way the dialogue was presented. I'm all for back and forth banter in an enemies to lovers situation, but NOT when the banter is utterly juvenile. I also didn't care for the constant references to the female character being small and dainty--you don't need your characters to be this way in order for them to be perceived as feminine. At one point, the main character says "I'm wearing a sleeveless top I've owned since middle school" and I just want to vomit. The infantilization of female protagonists in romance needs to end. If you're writing about adult women, then write about adult women. Dr. Bee Königswasser is supposed to be an accomplished woman with a PhD working for NASA........yet Hazelwood chose to consciously say weird things like this throughout the book.

Anyway, I didn't hate this book, but it could've been so much better.

*Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review*

I wish I could give this more than 5 stars!!! Ali Hazelwood is fast becoming one of the best authors I have ever had the pleasure of reading. I don’t know how she did it, but Love on the Brain surpassed The Love Hypothesis and didn’t even dip towards the sophomore slump that so many authors fall into.

Bee is a neuroscientist. Levi is an engineer. The two were grad school nemesises (nemisi?)…well at least Bee thought they were. When the two co-lead a NASA project, a new light gets shed on their shared history and Bee slowly starts to understand that what she thought was animosity is anything but.

The witty banter, the puns (oh god the puns!), the Marie Curie references, the slow burn (dear GOD the slow burn!) were all so beautifully done that I never wanted the book to end. The representation of women in STEAM and the blatant sexism they face was wonderfully written and Bee’s coined phrases were *chef’s kiss*.

Loved this on every level!

Thanks to Ali Hazelwood & Berkley for hooking me up with an ARC via NetGalley. Love on the Brain will be released on August 23, 2022.

Marie Curie super-fan Dr. Bee Konigswasser is over the moon when she's invited to lead a team developing brain-stimulating astronaut helmets at NASA, but that excitement is quickly dampened when she learns that she will be in fact co-leading with her grad school nemesis Levi Ward. Bee isn't entirely sure how they will co-lead when he could barely stand the sight of her and refused to work together on projects in school. The trajectory of her career depends on the success of this project, so it's alarming when Bee finds her equipment missing and emails unanswered, all signs point to a certain nemesis...

As you can imagine (it is a Romance, after all), things are not quite what they seem and soon Bee and Levi are significantly more intimate than co-leads. ;)

Bee is the product of an unstable childhood and desperately seeks stability. She's on a mission to shake up STEM and make systemic changes to not only help women, but change the entire landscape of graduate admissions via a secret Twitter identity. She's dealing with some heavy trust issues and has her walls up high.

Levi is one of my favorite types of heros. At first glance he's a big grumpy boy, but soon you learn that he's actually all kinds of soft, caring and spicy underneath it all. He's loyal, well respected and funny.

Chapter 16 of The Love Hypothesis lives rent free in my brain, so naturally I was delighted by the fact we (we being smut loving readers, of course) get multiple spicy scenes in Love on the Brain. I won't spoil, but readers won't be disappointed.

If you enjoyed The Love Hypothesis, I'm positive you will also adore Love on the Brain. Ali Hazelwood's hilarious banter is just as prominent in this book, and likely more chaotic due to the ever so quirky goth RA, Rocio. The story is heartfelt and highlights the challenges of being a woman in STEM, and having a career in a relatively small world where bumping into familiar faces is easier than you'd think.

Preorder ASAP!!!

Overall Rating: 5
Smut Score: 4 - Spicy n Kinky