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A review by marimoose
Not in Love by Ali Hazelwood
emotional
funny
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I don't know why I turn into the most obnoxiously unwell romantic sap that I do when I read an Ali Hazelwood book. Without fail. In Ali I trust!
But no, seriously, this book. First of all, it's a dual POV, which means I get to see an actual Ali Hazelwood man simp so hard for the girl, and Eli is no different in that respect. However, I love the fact that the grumpy/sunshine trope is reversed here, and Rue is actually a tall woman standing at 6 feet (though Eli is still taller, just not by a marginally large difference), who is very sex positive, and a more somber, less excitable character than many of the other female main characters in Ali's other books. But that's okay, because she's the direct foil of Eli, who is very excitable, also sex positive, but also so observant that he is willing to cater to anything Rue practically asks of him. Because, again, he is a big ass SIMP!
Anyway, it's no surprise I loved this book too. I will say I kind of forgot science was involved in this book, because it was definitely heavy on the romance aspect. Also much steamier than her previous books in the same universe. It's also probably why Love, Theoretically still stands as my favorite, but Not in Love is a fairly close second for all the sobbing I did in the last few chapters. I'm telling ya, I'm such an effing SAP.
But no, seriously, this book. First of all, it's a dual POV, which means I get to see an actual Ali Hazelwood man simp so hard for the girl, and Eli is no different in that respect. However, I love the fact that the grumpy/sunshine trope is reversed here, and Rue is actually a tall woman standing at 6 feet (though Eli is still taller, just not by a marginally large difference), who is very sex positive, and a more somber, less excitable character than many of the other female main characters in Ali's other books. But that's okay, because she's the direct foil of Eli, who is very excitable, also sex positive, but also so observant that he is willing to cater to anything Rue practically asks of him. Because, again, he is a big ass SIMP!
Anyway, it's no surprise I loved this book too. I will say I kind of forgot science was involved in this book, because it was definitely heavy on the romance aspect. Also much steamier than her previous books in the same universe. It's also probably why Love, Theoretically still stands as my favorite, but Not in Love is a fairly close second for all the sobbing I did in the last few chapters. I'm telling ya, I'm such an effing SAP.