“Not In Love” is different from Ali Hazelwood’s other novels, and thus less to my taste, but it’s a testament to her writing that I still enjoyed it. My favorite part of the plot wasn’t the writing but the discourse around STEM patents and the way academics can be screwed over when it comes to their own work. I also loved the platform this book gave food insecurity and the traumas it leaves behind. Seeing how food insecurity shaped Rue and her perspective toward not only hunger but love was heartbreaking. Rue in general was such a unique romance heroine in that she was unapologetically less expressive. The romance was lovely as well, though I’m not a huge fan of insta-love or maybe insta-lust in this case. I appreciated how the sex scenes modeled consent and negotiation in a healthy way, and how Rue and Eli’s sexualities were described without judgement. The ending was really strong, almost so strong that I wish there was no epilogue. Another book proving I would read anything Ali Hazelwood writes.