Quick Stats
Age Rating: 18+
Spice Level: 2.5/5
Over All: 5 stars
Plot: 5/5
Characters: 5/5
Setting: 5/5
Writing: 5/5

Special thanks to Berkley Romance and NetGalley for an eARC of this book! All thoughts and opinions reflected in this review are my own.

I think I might have a new favorite Ali Hazelwood book???
Is it still very very similar to TLH and LotB? Yes. If you’re looking for something different, look elsewhere. But the similarities in Ali Hazelwood’s stories have never bothered me. It’s like they don’t even register while I’m reading because I’m just having so much fun.
Unlike her previous full length novels, Love, Theoretically is written in first person. I’m always a bit nervous when authors venture into different POVs, but this is just as well written as its predecessors—if not better.
I have nothing negative to say about this book. I was just kicking my feet and squealing with excitement the whole time I was reading it. Reading this was the most fun I’ve had in ages!
Elsie, our main character was easy to love and easy to see myself in. I adored her voice and being inside her head. She also has type 1 diabetes, and I really enjoyed the discussions around her disability and health insurance and how much the current health systems in America suck. I don’t believe this is #ownvoices, and I don’t have T1D, so I can’t speak for the accuracy of the representation, but from what I could tell it was handled with tact and care.
I absolutely adore Elsie and Jack. They have impeccable chemistry, but I also could viscerally feel the development of their emotional connection as well. Jack is definitely my favorite AH love interest so far. He felt much more developed than his predecessors, and he and Elsie are my favorite couple. I loved the Adam and Olive cameo and I desperately want an Elsie and Jack cameo in one of the future books!
Another of my favorite aspects of the book is the demi rep. That is one of the things that has kept The Love Hypothesis at the top of my favorites list, so I was really excited to see that rep here again. It’s never explicitly stated, but it is a topic that is subtly explored in a way that really resonated with me and my experiences.
Say what you want about Ali Hazelwood and the cheesiness of lightheartedness of her books—she is an undeniably talented writer. Her prose is so easy to digest. It’s simple, yes, but not in a way that comes off as immature. There’s something about her writing style that feels almost smooth. I think her skill with prose and pacing is often overlooked because her books are “tropey” and “fun”, but they are very well written as well.
I cannot recommend this book enough. I already want to reread it!