Enjoyable light romantic read. I just love Hazelwood’s writing style. Also it’s an interesting insight into academia!

I was so excited to read the new release by Ali Hazelwood. I totally adored The Love Hypothesis (not read Love on the Brain yet, my bad) but this one sounded like so much fun. I admit to not knowing a lot about science, STEM, MIT and all that jazz but I do enjoy a good love story.

I adored Elsie from the start. She was a riot and so adorably cute. I loved how she had the ability to read people and know just what version of herself to give them in order to maintain the status quo and be happy. But was she? I think she was happy enough, other than her lack of funding for basic healthcare (something as a Brit we take for granted) but she lacked that connection with someone that comes from being able to be yourself.

Enter Jack. She can't read him so can't be who he wants her to be so she has no option but to be herself, all entertainingly chaotic and random. But they are total enemies, not only in their fields of science but Elsie hates Jack for ruining her mentor's career, Jack hates the fact Elsie is hiding her real self from his brother (who she is fake dating). And Jack is standing between Elsie and her dream job because he favours the opposing candidate.

I loved how despite the fact they should have avoided each other, the universe was pushing them together in more and more situations and cackling as they collided with immense passion and longing.

I want more like this, I crave it like sugar

I think this was my favourite Ali Hazelwood so far! Regrettably, Elsie was a lot more relatable than I'd like to think. I absolutely loved her character arc, learning how to put herself first and question what she actually wants. Jack was a very romantic love interest and their relationship shows how a true partnership helps the other thrive.

Unfortunately I really struggled with this book and decided to DNF around a third of the way through. Unfortunately I feel Ali writing style just doesn't match with me. I'm really gutted as the premise of the book sounded right up my street. But this just wasn't a book I found myself reaching for. I tried jumping back in a few times but couldn't. The characters felt slightly flat and the story line just didn't grip me. Sorry!

Amazing from start to finish. I’ve read Ali Hazelwoods books in the past, and while they’re incredibly enjoyable, love theoretically holds a very special place in my heart. From all the silly twilight references that had my heart bursting with joy from nostalgia and the romance between jack and Elsie, I was so so happy reading this. I enjoyed the slow burn, but when they were finally together I didn’t realise one could smile so much.

Well, I have to say I am pleasantly surprised. As much as this didn’t grip me until about 50% through I did end up enjoying it.

Jack and Elise are so cute together and honest the slow burn was a bit of a killer. I just wanted them to get together and do it! 🤣. The sex was a bit too kiddy for me and the carry on they went on with is so off putting.

For me, this book was ok. It had a lot of similarities to TLH and the events that took place, I just kept going back to TLH except in different departments of science.

Elsie was a great FMC but she was also quite childish in many ways and she’s a total pushover. She is very much a people pleaser but it was a bit overboard.

Jack was cute. He was caring and honest. He done his best to speak his true feelings and show Elsie he was wanting to take things further. But, in some places of the book, he was a gigantic arse. He’s very stubborn and straight faced (if I could see) a lot. He doesn’t show emotion and keeps himself quite strict.

Overall it was a good book, it just didn’t grip me. I wanted more ‘adult’ romance - not even dirty - just more adult-ish.

Thank you to Netgalley, Little Brown Group and Ali Hazelwood for allowing me this ARC.

As a dedicated fan of Ali Hazelwood's work, I was thrilled to get my hands on an early proof of "Love Theoretically." This book seamlessly connects with her previous works and offers a unique twist by introducing secondary characters who will later take the spotlight in their own stories.

What truly stood out for me in "Love Theoretically" was the character development. Hazelwood masterfully crafts the growth of the main character, making their journey a captivating and rewarding experience.

The slow burn romance in this book is absolutely enchanting. The chemistry between the characters builds gradually, and the anticipation is simply delicious. Hazelwood's talent for weaving a slow-burning love story shines through brilliantly.

In short, "Love Theoretically" is a must-read for fans of Ali Hazelwood. With its well-crafted character development and irresistible slow burn, it's a delightful addition to her collection that leaves you eager for more.

Ali Hazelwood is officially one of my auto buy authors. I am obsessed with her stories and the way she combines romance, inspirational women and the complexity of what it’s like to be a woman in the world of male dominated stem. I will read anything she writes.

I really loved this one!
To start off with the characters Jack is amazing and I adore Elsie! I love the conversations around Elsie's mental health, and her people pleasing- how the book shows that it is OK to say no and you don't have to be perfect for everyone.
The side characters were great- Cece is a dream, I love Greg- especially his drug enduced capers! I also really liked having him aro/ace- it's not something you see a lot and I thought was perfect. I also really liked the fake dating app- I think it did well to highlight the struggles of academia finances. The emails from students scattered throughout were hilarious!
I did feel like the two twists were fairly obvious, but then again, I don't read romance for thrilling twists.
I gave this a 4.5*, really enjoyed it and will read more from this author.

I never ever thought another Ali Hazelwood book would ever top The Love Hypothesis but Love Theoretically might have done it.
Just like Elsie I, too, am a massive people pleaser who is madly in love with Jack Smith-Turner.
After reading Love Theoretically, I am a changed person. This book had me giggling and screaming at so many of the scenes between Elsie and Jack. The way Jack expresses his love to Elsie was everything to me.
I loved seeing the connection between Elsie and Jack and could not help but fall in love with both of them and their relationship.
Although the romance is the main plot of this book, there was so much other plot and storylines happening in Elsie's life and I was invested in all of them.
Once again, I loved Ali Hazelwoods writing and flew through this book because of how fast paced and easy her writing is to fall into.
All of the science stuff went completely over my head because I know nothing about science, but it did not deter me from loving this book as much as I did.
I cannot wait to read Ali Hazelwoods next book as this book has solidified her as one of my auto buy authors as I have loved absolutely everything she has written.

I absolutely loved this book.

I really enjoyed learning about STEM science.

I loved the competition between the main characters.

The writing style is easy to follow.

Overall, a fantastic read.

A brilliant read and one I really enjoyed. The characters are loveable and varied, the plot is one that is engaging and medium paced. I found myself completely drawn into the story and enjoyed the writing style.

Initially, I did not think I would enjoy this novel but I ended up loving it. Elsie and Jack were just so likable and I really enjoyed the chemistry between them and the care Jack showed for Elsie. A great read.

Love Theoretically - 4 ⭐
By day, Elsie is a struggling university professor and by night she has a side business of being a “fake girlfriend”. When her dream job comes up at MIT, there's only one thing getting in her way. Jack Smith. Responsible for ruining her mentors reputation and also the brother of one of Elsie's long term clients, it's going to be one hell of a contest as Jack has his own candidate to put forward for the job.

✅ Women in STEM
✅ Hilarious one liners
✅ Enemies to Lovers
❌ Bit samey as her other books

I really enjoy reading anything by Ali Hazelwood. I know there will be strong characters, a fun plot and of course a gorgeous romance. Plus you get a lovely dose of STEM academia that always gives her books a little edge. So of course I couldn’t wait to see how everything would play out in Love, Theoretically. In this book we meet Elsie who is an adjunct professor and also has another job on the side as a fake girlfriend for hire. Well, let’s just say these two worlds collide in an unexpected way. It all combined to give me a brilliant story that made me smile from start to finish.

The plot itself moved at a great pace and I loved every moment with these characters. The chemistry was spot on, there was not only work life tension but enemies to lovers tension too. I thought Elsie was a brilliant character and I really enjoyed her journey and how she became more confident in who she really was. Jack, was definitely hero material and I couldn’t help but fall a little myself. I thought the author did a wonderful job of bringing out his personality even more so when you got to know his back story.

The romance was more of a slow burn and it worked so well along with sizzling at all the right times too. Love, Theoretically ticked all the boxes for me. Great characters, a fun plot and a romance that made me sigh!

So it’s pretty clear that Ali Hazelwood has found a formula that works for her and she’s doggedly sticking to it. So we have a man and a woman in science and they are rivals. This time it’s theoretical physics vs experimental physical, the nerds vs the jocks of physics. So far so Hazelwood. This time our heroine is the ultimate people pleaser and she makes money on the side being the perfect fake girlfriend (no funny business included), her favourite client takes her to a family dinner and it just so happens that the hulking, hot blond in the corner with the chip on his shoulder is the number one experimental physicist who single handed lay wrote a letter that brought the entire field of theoretical science to its knees. He’s that powerful and smart and respected and hot.
This was entertaining enough but our heroine was all over the shop. At the beginning shes confident enough to reem out our hero no holds barred but then she becomes entirely passive even though everyone around her tells her how great she is all the time and our hero takes all the shit she flings at him for no good reason. He’s pretty bland for most of the book actually, at points she’s pretty awful to him and he just accepts it. If the genders were swapped it wouldn’t fly. And she never apologised for it, he has to do all the grovelling, which he needed to do. Also the old professor dude yuck, it was pretty clear what was happening there and our heroine, who is supposed to be smart, took soooooo long to catch up. It was just a bit meh.

✔ enemies to lovers
✔ fake dating
✔ slow-burn
✔ STEM
✔ HEA

This book was such a delight to read! I couldn't get enough, so, naturally, I read it in less than 24 hrs. Yes, it's that good. It's lovely, charming, witty, and has excellent characters, chemistry, and relationship dynamics. This book promises and delivers. I've loved all of Ali Hazelwood's books so far, so it didn't surprise me that I loved this one. It had all the essential and crucial things we need in a rom-com, but with a marvellous and unique touch, only Ali can add. Even though it is fiction, it still has some realistic aspects, especially when talking about the characters' issues and struggles. Those are so relatable.

As usual, I love so much how Ali submerges us in the STEM world and makes us love it. Whether you are into STEM or not, it doesn't matter; you will love it after reading Ali Hazelwood.

Elsie was fun and such a relatable character at times. And I can't even express how much I love Jack. Ugh, that man has my heart! Their romance was cute, genuine, and deep. There's respect, care, support, everything. And their story, for sure, will make you smile, laugh, and wish you had a Jack for yourself.

Thank you NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Love Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood is a charming and heartwarming debut novel that explores the complexities of love, family, and identity. The story follows the journey of a brilliant but socially awkward PhD student, Elsie, who is struggling to navigate her personal and professional life.

The characters are well-developed and relatable, and the chemistry between Elsie and her love interest, Jack, is electric. The writing is witty and engaging, and the plot is filled with unexpected twists and turns that kept me hooked until the very end.

What I particularly liked about this book is the way it portrays the importance of self-acceptance and self-love. It is a reminder that it's okay to be different and that we should embrace our quirks and idiosyncrasies.

Overall, Love Theoretically is a delightful and uplifting read that will leave you with a smile on your face. I would highly recommend it to anyone who loves a good romance with a strong emotional core.

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an eARC of Love Theoretically in exchange for my honest review.

A really enjoyable read. I have really enjoyed Ali’s previous books and really enjoyed this one as well. Would definitely recommend reading if you are a fan of Romance

A fantastic read that had me falling in love and wanting more as soon as I finished I absolutely loved it and couldn't put it down