Ali Hazelwood’s New STEMinist Rom-Com Has Off-the-Charts Chemistry

Not in Love by Ali Hazelwood

Ali Hazelwood shines as an author. She crafts bold, compelling romantic stories led by strong characters, who are predominantly women in STEM. Paired with men working in the same environment, these characters are able to learn from each other professionally. And then, love finds a way to creep into their lives.

After growing popular on Book Tok with her first novel, The Love Hypothesis, Hazelwood has gone on to pen stories equally romantic and full of lessons, snarky characters, and vivid writing. Her recently released Bride gave her the chance to tackle the urban fantasy genre, as a vampire and werewolf land in an unexpected marriage of convenience. 

This author is versatile and creative, not only in her writing, but in her own life as well. Ali Hazelwood is both an author and a neuroscience professor, making her well-versed in the topics and environments she includes in her books.

With her new novel, Not in Love (Berkley), Hazelwood bravely tackles themes of unexpected relationships, commitment trauma, and workplace drama will have readers devouring it quickly, as most of us do with her novels. 

Life Lessons Wrapped Up with Romance

Ali Hazelwood’s books are lighthearted romps filled with lessons. Even when characters struggle to understand their feelings for each other and face conflict, lots of laughs can be found in between the more serious moments.

In Not in Love, scientist Rue Siebert has given up on any sort of serious relationship. To her, friends and her job as a biotech engineer at Kline — a food science startup — are enough for her to be happy. But is she? As we follow Rue, we realize that she’s “damaged goods”, in the sense that she fears any sort of romantic encounter that would lead to more than a noncommittal one-night stand. 

The book’s story really blasts off when Rue meets the handsome and charming Eli Killgore and decides to go on a date with him. Afterward, Rue is desperate to run and never see him again, Eli seems completely smitten.

When Rue finds out that Eli’s current plan is to destroy Kline, the company where Rue has found her place, Rue finds herself at odds with him. Eli, however, has personal reasons for this plan, and his character seems like a corporate shark until we see his soft side through his thoughts about Rue.

The banter and the classic “we seem to hate each other, but we really love each other” trope thrives between Eli and Rue. These characters are arguably more complicated than others in Hazelwood’s past novels, and she tackles their issues head-on.

At first, Rue’s view on love seems quite pessimistic, but she is very shy and finds herself dealing with a heavy case of social anxiety that makes her appear aloof and distant. Eli’s personality might just let Rue finally share things about her past, who she is, and what struggles have led her on her own path. She is a multifaceted woman who is trying to heal from her own trauma.

The best part of the book is the Rue and Eli’s journey. They fall into what they first think is a passionate, no-strings affair, where there’s no connection beyond the bedroom. Yet, in the end, Not in Love proves that connections can be complicated, undeniable, and might even surprise us.

Real Encounters Full of Heart

Readers will relate to the characters’ emotional battles, especially as they navigate their feelings for each other and the terms of their relationship. 

Not in Love explores the results of corporate battles more than the happenings in the lab of a working scientist. Ali Hazelwood’s addition of more serious conversations and themes leads the story to shine with a balance of light and dark.

In the end, this a great book that will be a huge hit for readers who love her writing, or those who are discovering Hazelwood for the first time. Just get ready to be emotionally invested — you won’t be disappointed.