Not in Love is a contemporary romance novel by bestselling author Ali Hazelwood. Hazelwood typically sets her stories within the world of STEM, adding a fresh twist to the romance genre. However, Not in Love offers more spice and emotional depth than her previous works, giving it a grittier edge.
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Book Blurb
Rue Siebert has built a stable life: close friends, financial security, and a successful career as a biotech engineer at Kline, a leading startup in food science. However, when a hostile takeover led by the irresistibly charming Eli Killgore threatens her world, everything she’s worked for is at risk.
Eli is determined to acquire Kline for his own reasons, but Rue, the woman he desires, complicates his plans. Despite their mutual attraction and growing intimacy, their relationship is forbidden by the impending business deal.
Caught between loyalty and passion, Rue and Eli embark on a secret affair with an expiration date tied to their corporate battle. But affairs of the heart are unpredictable and play for keeps, challenging them to confront their desires and the consequences of their actions.
Not in Love Book Review
Ali Hazelwood states in her author’s note that this is her spiciest novel yet and so I was expecting a change of pace from her usual style. However, I just felt it lacked some of the charm that I’ve come to love in her other works.
Not in Love is definitely steamier than her usual books, but I did feel the sex scenes weren’t gratuitous as they did add to the plot. Rue is emotionally and physically insecure, avoiding any relationships that involve feelings or vulnerability. Her encounters are purely physical until Eli comes into the picture and challenges her emotional walls. So, while the sex scenes were more prominent, they served a purpose in breaking down her defences and adding layers to her character.
I wasn’t a huge fan of Eli as a male lead. He was nice enough but almost a little TOO perfect. He falls for Rue almost instantly, and his obsession with her felt a bit over the top at times. I’m not a fan of insta-love/lust in romance novels, so his constant longing for Rue felt excessive. I found myself thinking he could really do with reigning it in a bit. His personality didn’t seem to go beyond his attraction to her.
Rue, on the other hand, was a more compelling character. She was spiky, awkward, and emotionally guarded, which made her more relatable and refreshing compared to the typical female romance leads who often swoon over emotionally unavailable men. I enjoyed reading about her growth and watching her wrestle with her feelings for Eli. Since I can be a bit prickly and socially awkward myself, I could see parts of myself in her character.
I definitely wouldn’t classify this book as a rom-com as it had its darker and grittier moments. Her childhood hardships gave the story more emotional weight, setting it apart from Hazelwood’s more lighthearted STEM romances.
Overall, Not in Love was a decent read, but I preferred Hazelwood’s other novels. While this book offered more heat and emotional complexity, it didn’t quite hit the mark for me.
Has Ali Hazelwood written any other novels?
Ali Hazelwood has written several other novels. If you’ve enjoyed her other standalone novels such Check & Mate and Bride, I’d suggest reading the books in her Love Hypothesis series next.
The below link contains a full list of Ali Hazelwood books in order if you’re interested in finding out more.
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