The best STEM romance I could hope to get my hands on! Loved the main characters and their interaction. Highly recommended!

Love Theoretically is yet another incredible STEM romance by the incredible Ali Hazelwood. I knew from the moment I read the blurb that I would love this book and I am so glad that I was right!

Elsie is a theoretical physicist who also works as a fake girlfriend because she needs the money. The love interest, Jack, just so happens to be the older brother of one of her clients as well as a physicist, who she immensely hates. The romance was impeccable and full of all of my favourite tropes!

Ali Hazelwood completely drew me in and despite my disinterest is STEM, I still really enjoy her books and love reading about characters with completely different interests and motivations.

This book is utter perfection and I cannot wait until the next Ali Hazelwood romance!

5 stars!

I'm feeling very lucky that I was given the opportunity to read an arc of this book, because it will be one of my favourites of 2023.

Ali Hazelwood just keeps on getting better and you can tell this is a work of love.

We have rival physicists, academic feuds full of political intrigue, and a sweet sweet slow burn romance.

I can relate to Elsie's character on such a deep level, so reading about a love interest like Jack was an absolute dream. He is best book boyfriend material, no doubt.

This book is fun, it's sexy, it's full of stem goodness. Honestly, it's got everything.

If you've read the other books by this author, you're sure to love this one. If you've never read a book by Ali Hazelwood and are unsure whether to do it, I highly urge you to start with this one - you won't regret it.

I had the best time reading this. And I happened to thoroughly enjoy it over the weekend. It was a perfect blend of romance with a little dash of serious issues faced, especially by women in STEM. Overall, a perfect 5 stars read

Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood

OH ALI- I love your writing, your stories, and your ability to make me squeal and smile. 5 STAR.

Elsie is a theoretical physicist, who is juggling being an adjunct professor (It doesn’t pay well and it's draining BTW) with being a full-time people pleaser. In the evening, she becomes the best fake girlfriend money can buy. No sex or weird stuff but she’ll have your mum begging you to pop the question. It’s all going great until her favourite client's brother turns her life upside down. He is annoying and attractive, a stone-faced experimental physicist and happens to be sitting on the panel for a job at MIT that she needs to get. Elsie decides that she hates Jack immediately but something about him keeps dragging her back.

LISTEN TO ME. I WANT TO MARRY THIS BOOK. I loved Elsie, I am a goddamn people pleaser and I felt exposed and loved. This book struck the perfect balance of academic politics (I’ve worked in schools, so this is real) with character development and romance. I was invested in Elsie's life, and I wanted her to shine and grow but Ali drew attention to how competitive and hard it is for women in STEM. I know Ali has been doing this in all her books but I’m so happy to see her showing that this is multifaced and appears in a range of ways.

The relationships within Love, theoretically are wholesome and so well-developed. Ali always has some fantastic female friendships, and they never fade to the back even when romance blooms. The pace of this book was perfect. I was a little unsure when I saw the ‘fake girlfriend’ trope but this was done really well. I don’t know what recipe she used to make this book, but it’s come together like a Mary Berry Victoria sponge…PERFECTION.

Jess- tell us about Jack… FINE.
Ali writes my favourite kind of man. He calls you sweetheart, kisses your temple and is wicked in bed. A man after my own heart and I’ve loved her since I came across her on AO3 years ago. I’m going to sit on this for a little bit because I think… he might be my favourite boyfriend yet (ADAM! I’M SORRY!).

Love Theoretically is the best book yet from Ali Hazelwood and I’m a die-hard fan of the Love Hypothesis.
This is the perfect book that will have you laughing out loud, giggling into your book, pumping your fist (Elise is smart and it’s hot), blushing and kicking your feet with joy. Will be picking this up? OF COURSE, YOU WILL!
Love, Theoretically coming to you on the 13th of June <3

4.75 stars! I absolutely loved this book - It's definitely my favourite from Ali Hazelwood so far and I'm super excited to see what is to come. Jack and Elsie's story had me gripped from chapter one until the end. Jack helping her put herself and her own happiness above other peoples is one of my fav book moments to date...and I swear I've never related to a character more than I do Cece lol - the chaotic hedgehog mom energy was off the chart and I really hope we get a Cece/Kirk book! (Hedgie deserves her own book too)

When Ali first said she was writing a ‘brother’s best friend’ / ‘faking dating trope’ book, this was NOT what I imagined, but I am also very much not complaining. Ms Ali is a girl that knows her tropes and knows how to keep them trendy and different.

I bawled my eyes out several times reading this book. Jack has a very different vibe than Adam/Levi, not in a bad way but I definitely prefer my black haired boys.

Loved the STEM politics in this one. I got so emotionally invested in Elsie’s journey.

There are still a couple of typos but I’m sure they’ll be fixed before publication!

Adam and Olive cameo!!!!>>>>>

If it’s not broke, don’t fix it - Ali Hazelwood proves she has cracked the perfect romcom formula as she yet again delivers in her latest book, ‘Love Theoretically’.

As a chronic people pleaser, I couldn’t help but sympathise and fall in love with Elsie - who is always being what she thinks people want her to be, and unable to be herself. And when Jack encourages her to only be herself - swoon!

Aside from a swoon worthy romance that makes your toes curl with excitement, I also love that I learn things from these books. For instance in this novel I loved learning about Elsie’s diabetes management, and also learning there’s a difference between theoretical and experimental science. Who knew?!

Also, the steam has definitely been turned up a notch in this novel 🥵

By pure coincidence I was approved for this book whilst re-listening to the audio book of ‘The Love Hypothesis’, so the little cameo was extra delightful. Also, I have a theory that Ms Hazelwood is not a swift parallel parker…

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Little Brown Book Group for the ARC.

Ali Hazelwood has done it again and I will read everything she ever writes.

Elsie is an adjunct theoretical physics professor and having a nightmare time of it, she spends most of her time travelling to different university campuses and dealing with her students’ requests for extensions. Plus, even with the amount of work she puts in, she still ends up with no money and can barely afford the insulin she needs. To supplement her income she works as a fake-girlfriend, which is easy for her as she’s a chronic people pleaser and can make all of her fake-dates feel cared for, meeting all of their needs and losing herself in the process.
So when she gets the opportunity to apply for a tenured position, she is desperate to succeed. Unfortunately, the decision about her hiring is down to a group of physics professors, one of them being Jonathan Smith-Turner, who just so happens to have written an article years ago dismissing her entire area of academia, and who also happens to be the older brother of one of Elsie’s favourite fake-date clients, Greg. Normally, this wouldn’t be a problem for Elsie. She simply morphs herself into whoever she needs to be in order to please those around her. But she can’t get a good read on Jack Smith-Turner and her immediate reaction towards him is defensive. She convinces herself she hates him, even when he takes care of her not once, but twice, when her blood sugar gets too low and she almost faints. Throughout her interview process, Elsie works to blend in, to please those around her and finally get her dream job, even whilst she fights her attraction to Jack…

Love Theoretically is such a great read, it’s soaked in academia - she says that it’s her most ‘academic’ novel so far, and I would agree - and Ali Hazelwood provides insight into the politics behind American colleges, showing the challenges that adjunct professors face and the widening gap between their job security and that of a tenured professor in the same discipline.

I loved Elsie, her people pleasing is devastating to her life and happiness, especially when her mother keeps asking her to deal with her immature brothers. The break that Jack provides her from all the faking is a breath of fresh air for both the reader and Elsie. The tension between them is palpable from the offset and it delivers later on. Like many of Ali Hazelwood’s male protagonists, Jack is broody but secretly kind and immensely caring towards Elsie. I really enjoyed reading about the relationship between Jack and his very sweet brother Greg and Jack’s grandmother Millicent. It was also great to have a quick insight into Olive and Adam, post The Love Hypothesis and Jack’s other friends were developed and believable.

Overall, this is a wonderfully steamy and sweet romance similar to Hazelwood’s other works.

Review will be posted on Goodreads two weeks before publication. Thank you NetGalley and Little Brown Book group for the eARC!

"I'm a mirrorball
I can change everything about me to fit in"
- Taylor Swift

The song Mirrorball feels like it was made for Elsie Hannaway.

Elsie is mirrorball, a fake date for hire and a adjunct professor all in one. Elsie moulds herself into the perfect girlfriend and person for everyone she meets, until Johnathon "Jack" Turner-Smith - the brother of the guy she's fake dating.

I really loved this book, I think it's Ali Hazelwood's best book yet! 5 stars all around and one of my favourite books of 2023. Go read it!

Onto the review:
The plot was predictable but then again it's easy for a reader to spot the signs of a manipulative ass (you know who), there's also a bit of spice, guy falls first, lot's of science and ace/aro representation and executed it perfect Hazelwood fashion!
I preferred Love Theoretically to Love Hypothesis and Love on the Brain, mainly because Elsie really did take charge at the end; yes Jack did help her understanding but it was Elsie standing up for herself and taking control of her future - a mirrorball no more.
I loved Jack, I thought he was understanding and kind; conscious of Elsie was and making sure that everything was about what she wanted and not what Elsie thought Jack wanted. Elsie also has diabetes and Jack brings her almonds, it's like Adam with the chocolate bar and learns how to change her pump - how can you not love these two.
The Adam and Olive cameo is everything and I'm so happy we got a glimpse of them, I do hope other characters make a feature in future Hazelwood books.

Standout quotes:
"you have a pattern of doing things you don't enjoy for the sake of others, and I need to make sure the two of us don't fall into it."
"I bet he thinks in Fahrenheit."

thanks so much to Little, Brown Book Group UK and Ali Hazelwood for a chance to read and review Love Theoretically, all opinions are my own.

book #5 of 2023

Ali Hazelwood is the queen of writing stem romances and I won't have anyone say otherwise.

The love hypothesis was my favourite book but I think this might be my new favourite book!

I loved the very academic setting, the puns and the easter eggs from Hazelwood's other books, that make me smile from ear to ear! ( I may have squealed at one of them). If you liked the love hypothesis or Love on the brain read this, you won't regret it!

I have found nothing I didn't like about this book! It will be this year's comfort read!


Academic rivals to lovers
Enemies to lovers
T1 Diabetes rep
Ace rep
🌶️
Fake dating

I always enjoy Abi Hazelwood’s women in STEM finding love books and this new book is not exception. Open door sex scenes. Diabetes representation. Great read.

Another 5 star read for me. Love Ali Hazelwood’s books and this is no exception. This book was more focused on the growth of the two characters who I absolutely adored. Elsie the female lead is a firm favourite even more so than Olive and Bee (I know shocker). As always the main female character is a Theoretical Physicist (I mean the title fits now doesn't it?). She's not the top of her field, she is what I found out is a Professor but not the Ross Geller kind. She is an Adjunct Professor which basically means she teaches to everyone and has to deal with students. What amused me in the book was that you got to see emails that students sent to her - basically along the lines of the dog ate my homework. Elsie also has a chronic illness (Type I diabetes) it wasn’t the main focus of the book but it was present and informative at times.

The book is all about how Elsie grows as a person. She is a people pleaser, a kind of chameleon where she adapts herself to make others at ease. She does this even though she herself isn't happy. The male lead is one Johnathon "Jack" Turner-Smith, he is known to Elsie through his brother Greg who she is fake dating. He gives off the Broody Male vibes and you know he falls first (spoiler he does). I like Jack, he comes across as quite the Grump and Elsie that sunshine character. But boy does he fall hard and fast for her. He does things to make her comfortable, even learning how to change her Pod for her diabetes.

It was a fun read that had great characters, a hedgehog that I can’t wait to see artwork for, a plot that at times blew my mind with the scientific talk but overall a book that is all about the growth of the characters.

For me another fabulous Women in Stem book written by Hazelwood, it had the academia, the spice and the HEA everyone wants.

This was a quick, easy read and very similar to all Hazelwoods other books. So if you enjoyed them, then definitely pick this up.

I did read an early ARC of this and it does need a few more rounds of editing but overall I enjoyed the premise. The male main character did fall a little flat for me as he didn’t have much personality.

I did like the representation in this but felt it could’ve been explored a bit more.

3.5 stars.