I read my first Ali Hazelwood book over a year ago. 'Love, Thereotically' was one of my favourite reads of 2024, I couldn't rave about it enough in the review I wrote about it. I really loved Ali's writing style and the book kept me hooked throughout. So, when I picked up 'Not In Love', I had high expectations.
Let's set the scene:
Rue Siebert may not have it all, but she has enough. She has a few good friends, a job as a biotech engineer, which she loves and financial stability, something she has craved since she was a teenager. She sees her world as stable, and wants to keep it that way, that's until Eli Killgore enters her life.
Eli and his business partners are planning a takeover of Kline, the company Rue works for. Eli has his own reasons for pushing this deal through, but as he gets to know Rue and can't stop thinking about her, the deal could get derailed.
Rue and Eli are torn between their undeniable attraction for one another and their loyalties. Rue wants to remain loyal to her boss, Florence. Eli wants to keep the deal going and make it happen. Their affair must remain secret, a no-strings-attached kind of deal. But can that really work?
What I liked about Not in Love?
I liked the main characters, to a certain extent. I didn't take to Rue at first, but she kind of redeemed herself at the end of the book.
STEM books seem to be my guilty pleasure, plus I learn a thing or two about science from reading that genre, too!
What I disliked about Not in Love?
I kind of felt like we were thrown into the story without any premise or background, if that makes sense. The start of the book felt like it should have happened about a quarter of the way through. It didn't make sense!
The whole takeover plot could have been delved into a bit more. There was no substance, like I had to predict how the takeover was going to happen.
The main characters were ok, but not the most likeable I've ever read. Also, Eli saying he has a "magic cock" - unless it says abracadabra, it's not magic.
My favourite moment of the book
Nothing, unfortunately.
Would I recommend Not in Love by Ali Hazelwood?
Hmm, sadly, no. As I said, I adored 'Love, Thereotically' and I was so eager to read another book by Ali, and I was so excited to read this one. But ultimately, I was disappointed.
The book fell really flat for me, and I just couldn't take to the story. That's why it's taken me so long to read, I stopped reading for days on end. However, I was determined to finish it as I was hoping there would be some kind of excitement or redemption at the end. Unfortunately, that didn't materialise.
There was no real chemistry between the protagonists; it felt more like a weird sexual infatuation with one another.
It's such a shame I didn't like this book. However, it's not going to stop me wanting to read another book by Ali Hazelwood in the future!
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