I have never loved an Ali Hazelwood book more. I’ve loved the other books of hers that I’ve read, but this one just felt so much more personal to me, and was so precious and funny and I’m just obsessed. I really don’t know how Ali does it but I shall not question it. 

Elsie, postdoc theoretical physicist, suffering adjunct professor, and part time fake dater, is a people pleaser. Plain and simple. She chameleons her way through life, adjusting herself to be who she thinks everyone wants her to be. It’s exhausting, and when she realizes her arch nemesis, experimental physicist Jack, can see past the fake versions of her, it’s freeing - she only ever has to be herself with him, because he simply can’t be fooled by the other versions of herself she tries to be. And better yet, he encourages her to shed those versions, to voice her opinions and needs, and stand up for herself. But how could this be? He’s her enemy, her rival, and he attacked the integrity of her area of study!!! Confused, scared, and flustered by Jack’s incessant attention, Elsie goes on a journey of self-empowerment and self-love, and perhaps even finds some romance along the way??

This book was truly a love letter to those of us who maybe lose ourselves a little bit when trying to fit in. Who are scared of being completely ourselves. A reminder that the people who really love you will love you no matter what, and anyone who doesn’t maybe isn’t worth your efforts. 

This book is written so well, is so funny, is STEAMY (hello?!! the Twilight Marathon??), and is so painfully relatable but in the best way. I genuinely need to book a trip to MIT to find a sexy experimental physicist STAT.