Story-wise this isn't my favorite from Hazelwood. But SMUT WISE??????? Holy Shit this is her hottest book by a longshot! I am hesitant to say that there was "too much" smut in this because I enjoyed every scene we got and these two had sexual chemistry like none other that lasted the entirety of the novel. I love how much space Hazelwood allows her characters to talk about sex and work on their sexual relationship even if the sex is "already amazing".

However, I do wish there was more of a balance within their romantic relationship between the constant sex and the "talking/just hanging out/getting to know you/tender" aspect of their relationship. At the end of the novel once love confessions were made I was like "If you say so!" I had a little bit of a hard time buying into them loving one another for more than how good their sex was. There was even a moment at the end where Eli lists out for Rue all of the relationship things he wants to do with her now that they know they're in love. I just wish we got to see some of those things instead of being told.

Outside of the smut, it took me a moment to adjust to how Hazelwood approached writing her first dual pov book. I wish she would've written both POVs in third person or both in first person to make the writing more cohesive. I loved both characters a lot though especially Rue.

I found the pacing of this book to be quite odd at times. It would go from a few days to a few weeks then back to a few days. It didn't feel consistent or smooth. I also found the plot involving Rue and Florence SUPER predictable. I was bored with that aspect of the story and wish Hazelwood would have done something different instead of relying on the "mentor betrayal" trope. I did love Eli and his friends and wish we got more of them because they were fun!

I also think the book left quite a few loose ends. I especially wanted to know if Rue got another job. Did her brother leave her alone even after the contract was signed? What happened with Florence and the company now that Harkness is on the board? Did Tisha also leave the company?

Finally for the love of god(!!!!) I need Ali Hazelwood to start stating the races of their characters of color. What race was Tisha? Because all we know is that she had dark skin and an ethnic-sounding name. That can be a million different cultural backgrounds. Same for Minani. She is great at including POCs but needs to do better at making them as distinct as her white leads.

3.5 🌟

I enjoyed this, it just wasn’t a fav. I really liked Eli and Rue and I was absolutely rooting for them, but I just didn’t feel too connected to them or super invested in the story. Overall, it was a good time, I just didn’t get that 4-5 star feeling from it!

Not in Love is a forbidden steamy workplace romance that follows Rue & Eli. Rue is a biotech engineer who works at Kline. Eli and his business partner want Kline. Rue & Eli meet during an attempted one-night stand, but neither realize they are on opposite sides of a business deal. Torn between loyalty and an undeniable attraction, Rue and Eli fall into a secret no-strings attached affair.

Sadly, not my favorite from Ali Hazelwood. When Rue & Eli meet, there is no denying their physical attraction to one another. The romance felt a bit lust-driven and insta-love, making it difficult to believe the character’s connection. Now this is pretty STEAMY. I love a good spicy scene here and there, but personally I think this book almost had too many spicy scenes. Instead of enhancing the romance, the physical scenes took away from their emotional connection. The character development was lacking a bit. It didn't feel like they knew each other well. I wish there were more scenes of the characters sharing in depth conversations, we get spurs of facts they share between each other, which felt a bit random. Also, Eli kinda gave me the ick at times, not my favorite male MC.

Overall, I enjoyed this but it wasn’t my cup of tea. I thought the plot was ok, I was more invested in the business drama than the romance. If you enjoy books with lots of spicy scenes, this is the book for you!

Thank you Netgalley & Berkeley Romance for this arc!

Can I just say that I'm here for Ali Hazlewood branching out from her "traditional" rom-com style that we've seen from her? This is an excellent addition to her other works and will hit the spot for those readers who want to work a little harder for the happily ever after! Eli is a dreamboat and the conflict of what's keeping them apart is well-rounded and believable. Would absolutely recommend to anyone -- those new to Hazelwood's writing or old fans!

ALI CAN DO NO WRONG!!!! How her books sucked me in every time is mind blowing. I love her writing, and although it might be confusing with some scientific terms, I LOVE IT SO MUCH. The characters grew on me with every page I read. I loved the character development and how the female main character progressed through this book. The relationship felt real and raw and I enjoyed reading about it. I will always recommend Ali to all my friends!

Thank you to Ali Hazelwood and Berkley for the e-ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

I AM AN ALI HAZELWOOD STAN!! Between this book and ‘Bride’, I am now obsessed with her. I cannot choose a favorite book of hers between those two, and I refuse to do so 🤚🏻

HOLY HOTNESS!! This is by farrrrrr the SPICEST book Ali has ever written. It’s one of the spicer rom-coms I have ever read. And it was FABULOUS!! Eli is my new favorite book boyfriend😩🫶🏼 he can do absolutely no wrong and I will fight for him until the end of time.

This story took me by absolute surprise because in the beginning, this book didn’t actually draw me in initially. I kinda struggled with it there for a minute. But the character development 😩🤌🏼 The pining 😩🤌🏼 The spice 😩🤌🏼 The relationship development 😩🤌🏼 it all gradually sucked me in that when the main character felt joy or defeat or liters abt emotion ever… I FELT THAT SHIT IN MY GUT.

I will never shut up about this book or Eli. EVER💕

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for providing a DRC of this title.

Not in Love felt like Ali Hazelwood stretching her wings as a writer-- introducing dual POV, varying up her characterization a bit, adding more spice-- and I loved it! Rue and Eli's rivals-with-benefits dynamic was compellingly-written, and I love the way that Hazelwood drew the gradual unfolding of their relationship as Rue and Eli learn to trust each other. Not in Love is now one of my favorites by Hazelwood, and I'm already eagerly anticipating her next book. Hazelwood will always be one of my go-to readers' advisory recommendations for romcoms, and I look forward to adding Not in Love to my list of recommended books. 5 stars/5.

Ali Hazelwood has written yet another damn near perfect, feminist romance! Every character is fully realized, especially our lovers... The sex scenes are always so HOT - consensual, normalizing using protection. The happy ending, although inevitable, isn't reached without a heart-wrenching struggle that ends with personal growth. So glad Hazelwood's romances and other writers like her are being published. May young people find these and read hard!

Sadly, not my favorite Ali Hazelwood but they can’t all be for me! The beginning starts off pretty chaotic. Hazelwood introduces our main character Rue (and her bff) with about a million little zingers that ensured I had no idea what was going on or who was talking. I might not have a PhD in anything, but I did eventually catch on.

The plot is fine, but let’s be real: I signed up for the romance. Rue and Eli meet on a tinder-esque date and it’s pretty much insta-love at first sight (or at least insta-obsession) for one party. I liked Eli and Rue and really appreciated the fact that they are very different from previous Hazelwood characters.

We do spend a LOT of time in the characters’ heads and I have to be honest, I didn’t love it. They have a lot of obsessions, quirks, and repetitive thoughts and at times that got a little exhausting. To be fair, I wouldn’t want anyone to spend that much time in my head.

There are a lot of side characters, some more likable than others, and some complicated legal/financial/science drama and I kind of hated the turn it all took.

This one is, not surprisingly, pretty spicy but I honestly needed more character development and less bedroom time. Again, I appreciated the uniqueness of the characters and the romance, especially coming from AH, but it just wasn’t really my cup of tea.

I know it probably sounds like I disliked this but it wasn’t bad by any means! It was a great story and unlike anything I’ve read before, it just wasn’t my personal favorite!

What starts as a one night stand turns into a sweet meet cute, Rue is sad about her rule to only meet once. But it turns out, Rue and Eli are in opposing sides of a company takeover. With Rue afraid to get hurt by showing her true self and Eli trying to right a long ago wrong, they still can't help but get close to each other.

One of my favorite things about Ali Hazelwood's books is her ability to make the conflict between characters not about the characters themselves. Like in this book, the two main characters didn't have a huge misunderstanding. At their core, they trusted each other and it was external forces that created the conflict. I appreciate that so much in romance novels. Miscommunication can feel so forced or fake. But in Not in Love, you can see why the characters are reacting how they are and withholding information from each other in a very normal way. As their trust deepens, they share more and more.

I loved Eli. I appreciate when my men are simps for their ladies. Eli is a smart man with a good job and emotional maturity. And he ADORES Rue from early on. I loved seeing in his head how much he cared about her, while he only shared things with her on the level she was comfortable with. This is why duel perspective can be so powerful!

My biggest struggle with the book was connecting with Rue. I think a lot of readers are going to connect with her because of her mental health struggles, as well as her past. As the story went on, I was definitely rooting for her. She was easy to cheer for. But I related a lot more with Eli. I'm sure I could go into a deep dive on attachment theory to explain why, but that is way too much for a review.

I also loved how the spice was handled in this book. Rue knows exactly what she wants and where her lines are. Eli is incredibly respectful, while also showing how desperately he wants her. I appreciated that even though their early encounters are far from perfect, they are still good. They playfully acknowledge tropes in a genuine way. They feel realistic and relatable.

All in all, a solid addition to the Ali Hazelwood collection. Fans of her work will be thrilled to check out her newest.

Too much spice and not enough character development. I also felt like the main conflicts were all really predictable.

RATING: 3/5 STARS

Ali Hazelwood really shook up her formula with BRIDE, which I loved last year. Unfortunately, I was just not feeling this book. I think I'm just bored of her STEM romance books... this didn't feel fresh to me in any way. But if you enjoyed her prior books and want more of that I think NOT IN LOVE will deliver.

I always adore Ali Hazelwood books because she is the queen of yearning. This book was very good, but not my favorite of hers. Her books definitely follow similar trajectories — smart scientist women with some form of anxiety or trouble, a science figure in their life that’s a boss or authority figure doing something wrong/hurtful and a leading man of romantic interest who is also in some way related to science. This book follows that structure - I did find the dual POV wasn’t my style as much for her writing since the male MC came off as more obsessed with our main character Rue. I did appreciate that Ali finally wrote a non-tiny woman - Rue is tall, full-bodied and confident about her figure which is nice as opposed to her other MCs. Overall I did enjoy this plot and book and like all her other works, read it quickly!

4.9 Stars

Rue + Eli

Rue is a scientist working together with her childhood bestie for her dream company and her dream boss!
But now it's possible the company will be sold!
And who is standing in front of all employees with her boss to talk about the upcoming changes? None other than Eli. Her almost one-night-dating-app-stand from last night. A night that turned out completely different than expected. Which was a big surprise for Rue. And Eli. Who is super excited to see her again.
But are these the bestest of circumstances?

LET THE FUN TIMES BEGIN ...

══════════════════

ADORABLE!

Another perfect Ali Hazelwood STEM romance!
I so need to see all her books on TV one day!

Rue and Eli are just perfect for each other. But poor Rue is so inexperienced when it comes to relationships and love and just social settings in general. So adorable!
I just loved reading this.
I loved the friends and the dog. I loved the way Eli is just so adorably accepting of all of Rue's 'weirdnesses'! He's definitely superior book boyfriend material!
We get so many amazing moments in this book. Sexy ones. Funny ones. Sad and heartbreaking and emotional ones. So many moments. This was just a really great story for me!

NOT IN LOVE was such a sweet + funny + sexy + mysterious + exciting + just adorable love story. I loved reading it! Run to your nearest book seller for your own Eli - he will be so sold out in no time!

If you’re looking for a Typical Ali Hazelwood novel, I would say this definitely diverts from that. However, I really ended up liking this book. It has the right amount of Ali’s signature humor while still having a really interesting twist. There were some of her classic tropes that she usually has in her books. Of course, the hero is obsessed with the heroine. That being said, I thought main character, Rue, was actually pretty a-typical for her and I really liked that. It’s pretty dramatic, but I really love that part of Hazelwood books. Also it was steamy! You’ll blush!

Basically, they meet on a dating app. (If you even want to call it a dating app) Then, the next day it turns out that he is acquiring her company. It’s half in her perspective and half his. I think it’s a slightly angsty romance but I didn’t end up minding because it was such a fun read.

"Not in Love" by Ali Hazelwood dives headfirst into the world of academia and STEM, introducing Rue and Eli as a breath of fresh air compared to Hazelwood's usual Reylo protagonists. Their distinct personalities add layers to the narrative, stepping away from Hazelwood's typical tropes and creating a new dynamic.

True to Hazelwood's style, this novel is filled to the brim with heart, making it so lovely to read. The prose flows effortlessly, drawing readers into the story with ease. However, while I appreciated the level of intimacy, both physical and emotional, I couldn't help but feel it was a bit overwhelming at times. I feel like the amount of physical intimacy in this book made it difficult for our characters to develop more emotionally on page and hurt the story in the long run.

The subplot featuring Kline and Harkness was easily my favorite part. I loved learning about these two warring companies and found it more compelling than the romance. However, I still really liked our protagonists together. I loved Eli and Rue. Their individuality shines through, with Eli's snark and Rue's reserved nature forming a perfect contemporary romance pairing.

However, despite its strengths, "Not in Love" didn't quite hit the mark for me as much as Hazelwood's other works. While it's not without its merits, it fell slightly short of my expectations. It is sexually driven and messy, which I did not expect from Ali Hazelwood, but I am not mad at it. I am glad we are seeing more diversity in her writing style and shoutout to Rue, for fulfilling all of our tall girl fantasies.

3.5 Stars.

Well, this was delightful and fun. As always, Ali Hazelwood delivers on the swoon, the banter, and the heart. I will read everything she writes.

[ARC REVIEW]

4.25/5 (for now but it might go up to a 5)

LET ME HAVE A MOMENT TO GATHER MY THOUGHTS BECAUSE MY MIND HAS BEEN BLOWN.

Okay, I might be exaggerating, but this book was SO GOOD. Like, SO, SO, SO, SO GOOD. I'll write a list of "pros and cons"—meaning what I liked and what I didn't like as much—so I can explain myself better because... where do I even start? (no spoilers!!)

[song: sad, beautiful, tragic - t.s.]

"Do you think that maybe there's another version of us, somewhere in another timeline? Where we're not just a messed-up lump of scar tissue, and we're whole enough to be capable of loving others the way they want to be loved?"

p r o s:

- It wasn't "the same as her other books." The story had a different feel than the author's other works, making it unique in my eyes; it didn't feel as STEM-core. Yes, we got to see women and men in STEM, but something about this actual branch of STEM, the focus of the plot, and how the story was written made this novel feel almost like a regular workplace romance with a sprinkle of college/sports romance. And IT'S A GOOD THING, I PROMISE. It still has Ali's signature all over it, which is why it works so well!

- Eli <3!!!! This MMC was everything. EVERYTHING. Ali sets the bar so high EVERY SINGLE TIME. And EVERY SINGLE TIME, my expectations of men skyrocket. Eli is everything every girl needs. He's acceptance, patience, and love in human form. He deserves the world and he'll live in my head rent-free forever.

- I loved that I got to see more interactions between the two main characters, which gave me an insight into how they truly worked as a couple. It felt like I was seeing a relationship develop in front of my eyes, and it was so sweet and magical. I ADORED THAT. Unlike her other novels - which I love just as much - this one doesn't give you *everything* at the end. You get to see them (or her) slowly fall for each other. Yes, this is a HE-FALLS-FIRST story (<3!!!!!!).

- I LOVED RUE (FMC) as a character. She stole my heart, and now I can't find it. I related to her and her struggles so much that I became emotional more than once while reading the book. She's different from Ali's characters that I've read about before. She's reserved and doesn't try to fit in. She's guarded and good-hearted. She 100% deserved Eli, and I love her for it. [I'm saying this because not every female character I read about deserves the man she gets - which bothers me so much. So, I was happy to actually LIKE HER.]

- I love "imperfect" couples and unexpected pairings. I love when two people shouldn't fit together, but they do, and that's what "Not in Love" is about. Guys, this story is EVERYTHING, and I'm so obsessed. *cries happy tears, but also sad tears because the book is over*.

- The plot itself was interesting – a little slow in the beginning, but then it picked up. The *issue* had me on the edge of my seat, wondering what *this person* had done! The plot and the romance complemented each other perfectly.

c o n s:

- It was a little slow to get into, but take this with a grain of salt because I was actually pretty busy when I started this novel, and it still managed to get me out of a reading slump.

- It ended.


MY FINAL VERDICT IS: 20/10. SLAY QUEEN (Ali). A MUST READ. A NEW FAVORITE.

P.S. Could it be that there is a sequel in the works? Or am I simply wandering through Clownelia Street?

I read somewhere that Ali Hazelwood said she was in her "sad girl era" with this book. She isn't wrong, exactly, but there's still so much heart and love in this book, just like her others. These characters are perfectly written, and honestly this might be my favorite of hers to date! More melancholy please, Ali. It suits you.

Well oh my God. This book nearly set my house on fire. Also it's sweet and lovely. But spicy. SPICY.