The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! š
annabananadel's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
"I need you to pace us, because wherever it is that weāre goingā¦ Iām here. Iām already right here."
What can I say except that I'm running out of banter and funny annotation tabs? I can't help but laugh out loud.Ā
Also, thank you, Ali, for the Adam x Olive cameo. One that is not really necessary but gave me a lot of feelings. I moss them already and would definitely reread TLH in the future.Ā
Love, Theoretically is definitely a 5 š rating. Itās been a long time since I actually LOL-ed. The comedic scenes and lines, topped up with the banters are chefās kiss- amazing.Ā
It also showed how bad academic politics really is. Ali really is an amazing writer because she conveyed how hard it really is to be a woman in STEM - but also showed how people like Jack who doesnāt judge them with anything but their outputs.Ā
Elsie x Jack story is one of my favorites so far. The banter + emotional connection is on point and will make you fall in love with them both. Elsieās mind is also amazingly written and Iām super glad that sheās in therapy.Ā
Graphic: Chronic illness, Sexual content, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Abandonment, Misogyny, Sexism, and Death of parent
Minor: Mental illness
lmy612's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Elsie and MMC, Jack, have a major height difference which is such a common trope Iām beyond tired of it. She needs to crane her neck to look up at him. She needs to stand on her tippy toes and pull his face towards her to kiss. His pen!s pokes her in the stomach. Sheās a small-average height woman and heās a giant. We get it.Ā
Sorry. This storyline and the characters just really werenāt for me. Ā
Graphic: Classism, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Chronic illness, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Misogyny, Abandonment, Acephobia/Arophobia, Death of parent, Medical content, Outing, and Sexism
chainsiren's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Child abuse, Sexual content, Abandonment, Drug use, and Gaslighting
notmollie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Sexual content, Cursing, and Chronic illness
Moderate: Gaslighting
Minor: Abandonment, Acephobia/Arophobia, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Body shaming, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Alcohol, and Toxic relationship
lermaline's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Death of parent, Abandonment, and Emotional abuse
chekwube's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
When I think about the book in its entirety, I realize we learn a lot about her (Elsie). We learn about why she does the things she does and we learn about her struggles and we see how Jack is able to get past the defenses she puts up with everyone else (which is cute to say the least). But we donāt really learn a lot about Jack and thats what Elsie complains about and when he responds, he just talks about being obsessed with her.Ā
I guess, as much as I was learning about her quirks, I wanted to learn about his and what quirks of his attracted her to him beyond the chemistry unexplainable-type romance. I wanted to know more about how his childhood affected him beyond just leading him to write an article at 17. I donāt know, I feel like the book was very Elsie and academia centered which honestly I didnāt hate. It was just an observation that we eventually didnāt learn more about Jack and his history. Like his exes (what was that whole thing with Andrea about? And why was it never resolved?
But those are just my curiosities. Beyond that, Iām a romantic at heart and Jack being an acts of service guy just made me sooooo happy because it so beautifully complemented Elsieās need for someone who would take care of her as well.
It was also so interesting to learn about the world of academia and mentorship and job searches post graduation. Thatās one thing I love about Ali Hazelwoodās books. Sheās so perfect in articulating academia in an intriguing and non-boring way. Itās never like I want to gorge my eyes out. Itās always like āwow this is really coolā and even with how she puts in characters who donāt know anything about it that make the mistakes ordinary non-science people would make to sort of put us back on track. For instance, Elsieās best-friend Cece would call the crystals āsparklesā which is a mistake Iād also make if someone had asked me what the book was about. But after Cece does that, Elise corrects her which also in a way corrects me and constantly reminds me whatās being talked about.
Great book overall though!
And I definitely noticed the reference to āWhat Would Marie Doā from Hazelwoodās second book I believe it was!
Moderate: Death of parent, Sexism, and Abandonment
cibani's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Minor: Abandonment, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, and Toxic relationship
av0universe's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Musically, I should hire a tuba to follow me around.
Elsie is so effortlessly hilarious, I love her. Also loved the Olive and Adam's cameo. Don't tell them that possibly I love this book more than I did theirs oops-
Graphic: Gaslighting, Misogyny, Abandonment, Cursing, Sexual content, and Chronic illness
Moderate: Alcohol, Abandonment, Outing, and Mental illness
itschelseaw's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
The trope of "big, strong tall man" and "tiny woman he can fit in his pocket" remains strong with her writing, but this time it included calling Jack's hands "paws" which is an immediate ick for me (see my dislike of "Bittersweet" by Sarina Bowen for more). Knocked down 1/2 a star just for that tbh.
I think the premise was interesting, but all of the characters felt so 1-2d that it fell flat in a major way. I wanted to know more about Cece and her life, and treat her as an actual 3d character but I didn't even learn she majored in humanities until the very end of the book.
I'm glad Elsie eventually stuck up for herself, but MAN it was grueling getting there at times. Girl needs therapy!!!
Jack's whole personality is: brooding, secretly feminist, desperately in love with Elsie, a woman he thought was dating his brother and he only knew lies about up until she was interviewing for the position at MIT (but he was already basically in love with her at that point AND IT WAS ALL A LIE????? I'm honestly just?????). Jack feels like he SHOULD be a dream, but all I got was red flag after red flag with him.
Listen, Hazlewood got her start writing fanfic, and good for her! It's just obvious that she's still essentially writing fanfic with the same tropes that she used before, and after 3 books it's repetitive and boring. Do I love fanfics? Absolutely! But there's a difference (for me) between fanfic, where you're using fandom inspired and related tropes (Rylo tropes included), but once you switch to published fiction it's really difficult to use the same tropes and make it feel fresh. The tropes in this one felt on the verge of expired. I don't think I'll be checking out her future books because I don't trust that she'll move away from the tropes she's been using for the past 3.
Moderate: Sexism, Misogyny, Abandonment, and Death of parent
a_libra_library's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Abandonment, Death of parent, Cursing, Grief, Chronic illness, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexual content