Scan barcode
heartscontent's review against another edition
5.0
You can find this review of Love, Theoretically on my blog Heart's Content!
There may be quite a few story-arc spoilers or character-arc spoilers, so if you haven’t read the book and want to not be spoiled, do not venture further, my friend.
When I started this book, I was sure it was going to be like all the other Ali Hazelwood books I’d read so far; AKA Love Hypothesis 2.0, then 3.0 and then again. Truly for a bit I was sure that’s where it was heading because the hero was once again big, big, muscles, big and the heroine was small, quirky, struggling. Nothing wrong with any of these things, except that’s all we ever see in all the other books too.
However, to my pleasant surprise, the book took a turn to different quite soon and I think this book has been the most successful in attacking my emotional centres. In my opinion, this book delves more into the personal lives of the characters than their professional lives—even though that’s certainly a part of the story. The fact that the characters don’t work together during the course of the book (like in the previous AH novels) helps in making the book feel more itself than like its predecessors.
One of my least favourite tropes is the miscommunication trope and I’m quite happy this book doesn’t feature it. Also, while the synopsis calls them “rivals” and the setup matches the description, the story doesn’t follow an enemies to lovers arc. The characters fairly get along even when they ‘hate’ each other. Also, the love interest is a typical AH hero, so… *shrug* expect devotion and obsession.
This book is, interestingly, mostly about Elsie finding herself. Yes, I know the other books also feature this aspect; but this is the book that does the most justice to it in my opinion. Elsie (as we’ve seen in some of the previous AH books, I think?) struggles to say no. She also often becomes the personality that she thinks the person in front of her wants her to be—which, given her fake-girlfriend gig is great, but personally not so much. Even if you don’t relate to this particular aspect of her, there’s something very heart-moving, raw and exposed about the book; especially in those moments when Jack (the love interest), sees right through her pretences and calls out her lies.
There’s a moment in this book when the heroine makes a momentary mistake that I thought was a very natural response to pain and societal conditioning. I like that she internally struggled, apologised and spoke about it and I personally respect the author more for having had her character make that slip. It’s that conditioning we need to fight, even at our weakest not just at our strongest.
The female friendship in this book is lovely, I love that her friend has a distinct personality and she’s known to drop the odd gem. There’s a particular moment when she gives her opinion about Elsie’s (and the reader’s) idea of something and calls it what it is.
Talking about friendships, I’m super happy to say the hero of this book, Jack, had fantastic friendships. Bless his soul. After the past few books being all about the love interest’s best friend being the main antagonist of the story, I’m super happy to see an AH book with a hero with heathy platonic relationships and a family in friends. All these interactions were so lovely.
Jack was a bit of a surprise. He was introduced a certain way and then revealed to be very different from that. My favourite part of how his character is written is how up-front he was about his feelings. Usually the confession in Hazelwood’s books are towards the end to solve the miscommunication trope (*bombastic side-eye*). But in this book the confession happens at exactly the perfect time. (SEE! STOP MAKING MISCOMMUNICATION A TROPE PEOPLE. ITS TIME IS OVER IN THE BOOK WORLD, LET IT RIP.) However, being the person that constantly watches out for Elsie’s wants and needs, it often feels like he’s overlooking his own OR he’s taking decisions that warp the natural flow with which something would happen. This too, was addressed and I enjoyed that it wasn’t overlooked and the hero wasn’t perfect. Heck, the heroine calls him out on something and he behaves exactly the way he would expect Elsie to when she’s called out.
The diabetes rep was definitely one of my favourite parts of the book. It wasn’t thrown in as an add-on and was given importance. I personally loved it, however since I haven’t lived with the condition I can’t attest for how accurate it was. So I apologise if I’ve missed something important that wasn’t done right.
There’s a lot of strength, vulnerability and determination in this book and it’s closest to being my favourite Ali Hazelwood book so far (and no, Love Hypothesis never was my favourite; *hides from thrown stones coming her way*).
Four stars! Only knocking off a star because as different as the book was, the characters were quite the same and the general task the MC has to achieve is fairly the same. Also, the book kiiinda reads like a mild fan-fiction of The Hating Game. Happy reading!
There may be quite a few story-arc spoilers or character-arc spoilers, so if you haven’t read the book and want to not be spoiled, do not venture further, my friend.
When I started this book, I was sure it was going to be like all the other Ali Hazelwood books I’d read so far; AKA Love Hypothesis 2.0, then 3.0 and then again. Truly for a bit I was sure that’s where it was heading because the hero was once again big, big, muscles, big and the heroine was small, quirky, struggling. Nothing wrong with any of these things, except that’s all we ever see in all the other books too.
However, to my pleasant surprise, the book took a turn to different quite soon and I think this book has been the most successful in attacking my emotional centres. In my opinion, this book delves more into the personal lives of the characters than their professional lives—even though that’s certainly a part of the story. The fact that the characters don’t work together during the course of the book (like in the previous AH novels) helps in making the book feel more itself than like its predecessors.
One of my least favourite tropes is the miscommunication trope and I’m quite happy this book doesn’t feature it. Also, while the synopsis calls them “rivals” and the setup matches the description, the story doesn’t follow an enemies to lovers arc. The characters fairly get along even when they ‘hate’ each other. Also, the love interest is a typical AH hero, so… *shrug* expect devotion and obsession.
This book is, interestingly, mostly about Elsie finding herself. Yes, I know the other books also feature this aspect; but this is the book that does the most justice to it in my opinion. Elsie (as we’ve seen in some of the previous AH books, I think?) struggles to say no. She also often becomes the personality that she thinks the person in front of her wants her to be—which, given her fake-girlfriend gig is great, but personally not so much. Even if you don’t relate to this particular aspect of her, there’s something very heart-moving, raw and exposed about the book; especially in those moments when Jack (the love interest), sees right through her pretences and calls out her lies.
There’s a moment in this book when the heroine makes a momentary mistake that I thought was a very natural response to pain and societal conditioning. I like that she internally struggled, apologised and spoke about it and I personally respect the author more for having had her character make that slip. It’s that conditioning we need to fight, even at our weakest not just at our strongest.
The female friendship in this book is lovely, I love that her friend has a distinct personality and she’s known to drop the odd gem. There’s a particular moment when she gives her opinion about Elsie’s (and the reader’s) idea of something and calls it what it is.
Talking about friendships, I’m super happy to say the hero of this book, Jack, had fantastic friendships. Bless his soul. After the past few books being all about the love interest’s best friend being the main antagonist of the story, I’m super happy to see an AH book with a hero with heathy platonic relationships and a family in friends. All these interactions were so lovely.
Jack was a bit of a surprise. He was introduced a certain way and then revealed to be very different from that. My favourite part of how his character is written is how up-front he was about his feelings. Usually the confession in Hazelwood’s books are towards the end to solve the miscommunication trope (*bombastic side-eye*). But in this book the confession happens at exactly the perfect time. (SEE! STOP MAKING MISCOMMUNICATION A TROPE PEOPLE. ITS TIME IS OVER IN THE BOOK WORLD, LET IT RIP.) However, being the person that constantly watches out for Elsie’s wants and needs, it often feels like he’s overlooking his own OR he’s taking decisions that warp the natural flow with which something would happen. This too, was addressed and I enjoyed that it wasn’t overlooked and the hero wasn’t perfect. Heck, the heroine calls him out on something and he behaves exactly the way he would expect Elsie to when she’s called out.
The diabetes rep was definitely one of my favourite parts of the book. It wasn’t thrown in as an add-on and was given importance. I personally loved it, however since I haven’t lived with the condition I can’t attest for how accurate it was. So I apologise if I’ve missed something important that wasn’t done right.
There’s a lot of strength, vulnerability and determination in this book and it’s closest to being my favourite Ali Hazelwood book so far (and no, Love Hypothesis never was my favourite; *hides from thrown stones coming her way*).
Four stars! Only knocking off a star because as different as the book was, the characters were quite the same and the general task the MC has to achieve is fairly the same. Also, the book kiiinda reads like a mild fan-fiction of The Hating Game. Happy reading!
jubeanny's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
shonberg's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- 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
4.0
jlsrau's review against another edition
I just couldn't get in to this one. The protagonist was kind of annoying and the science stuff wasn't really interesting in the context of a romance.
imwildfire's review against another edition
5.0
I sometimes read romcom books with art covers and enjoy it ironically. But this one oh my god. This book made me REALLY EMOTIONAL i don’t usually laugh and cry while reading but this made me do both.
Idk is it because I relate to elsie’s messiness or what. Also jack is the best book boyfriend ever. He won. Give him his crown rn.
I really loved this books so much and I recommend reading it.
Not ironically tho. Seriously
Idk is it because I relate to elsie’s messiness or what. Also jack is the best book boyfriend ever. He won. Give him his crown rn.
I really loved this books so much and I recommend reading it.
Not ironically tho. Seriously
rallan1305's review against another edition
2.0
I really enjoyed Love Hypothesis, then struggled with Love on the Brain…I really hoped I’d enjoy this one, but I just felt disappointed. I understand these are books about women jn STEM which I think is amazing, but sometimes I feel like the content isn’t meant for people who aren’t in STEM, almost like the book is meant to convey that people in STEM are superior to those who aren’t.
The pacing also just felt a little all over the place. The beginning seemed so long, then it felt like conflict and resolution were rushed in the last 10% of the book. Unfortunately I think this might be my last Hazelwood book.
The pacing also just felt a little all over the place. The beginning seemed so long, then it felt like conflict and resolution were rushed in the last 10% of the book. Unfortunately I think this might be my last Hazelwood book.
layal_pdf's review against another edition
5.0
i know that this is a 5 stars bcz i’m still thinking about this
alana_reads25's review against another edition
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
I’ve read most of Ali’s books besides Love on the brain and Not in love and all of them are 3-3.5 stars but this was sooo good! Almost a 5 star! Just some nitpicking stuff and some things I’d tweak but loved this one. The best by far.
graciegrace1178's review against another edition
5.0
HAZELWOOOOOODDDD!!!!
The audiobook reader says “never” like Rebecca Soler. “*nehh [stretched and emphasized syllable]- vurr”
It’s honestly so crazy how Hazelwood has the capacity to bring such joy to my life. I am but a wee monstera, sitting in a ledge, sad and underwatered with my leaves drooping and Hazelwood is the person pouring the watering can over me.
Edit: literally this book is THE reason I have made it through this (spring 2024) semester with at least SOME of my former grasp on reality intact. Hazelwood, you have kept me sane. As sane as academia would allow anyway.
Grad school guiding star: I owe so much to Elsie and her relationships with various sucky individuals for helping me figure out the nightmare of academia politics. She is my guiding star rn. Honestly, I know this book is known for the romcom-ish-ness, but I don’t read (and reread and reread and reread and reread-) this for the romance. I read it as a guidebook for getting through grad school with no guiding template or sense of like,, what to Do ever. Truly, GENUINELY, cannot express enough how much this book means to me for actually TALKING about grad school life and academia life in REAL LIFE TERMS when NOBODY ELSE DOES. It’s like talking to an older, wiser sister who Knows Things and still Makes Mistakes but wants to impart wisdom to make your (the reader’s) life easier.
Chameleon-ing: other people??? Have systems for it too???? To hear it articulated like this???? I’m in shock. I have BEEN in shock since I first picked this up. Nobody talks about this e v e r and the concept of chameleon-ing as public dialogue is just,,, holy smokes.
Health and chameleon-ing and kindnesses: This book covers like the whole Chameleon thing FOR A CHARACTER WITH A SIGNIFICANT HEALTH ISSUE which is worthy of an essay all its own, but I’ll spare you all. Just. Nobody does that. Nobody DOES that. This is one of the very very rare books that feels like a support I didn’t know I could have or want. Like. I DIDNT know people could interact with Chameleon Disability Folks like that. I didn’t know that was an option. I didn’t know that there could be kindness and understanding like that!!!! I didn’t know that!!!!!!!!!! I’m in tears actually over the kindnesses of getting to know a person and their medical history and helping them to take care of themselves and EVEN OFFERING ADDITIONAL CARE JUST COS. And not even using their medical issues as a weapon against them!!! Treating another person bc it’s good for the mental health of BOTH parties.
Auditory anxiolytic: yea.
Puns: Elsie’s character is a wee bit inconsistent on puns it seems, but the puns are still high quality, and for that I cackle.
Edit for May 18 reread: i have probably reread this three full times in this “one” reread, but I’m just jumping all over the place in chapters. This book is Everything to me. Maybe I will write essays on it honestly. Maybe I would do well to tattoo the whole thing on my body. Additional notes:
Audiobook reader: i am in love with her
The audiobook reader says “never” like Rebecca Soler. “*nehh [stretched and emphasized syllable]- vurr”
It’s honestly so crazy how Hazelwood has the capacity to bring such joy to my life. I am but a wee monstera, sitting in a ledge, sad and underwatered with my leaves drooping and Hazelwood is the person pouring the watering can over me.
Edit: literally this book is THE reason I have made it through this (spring 2024) semester with at least SOME of my former grasp on reality intact. Hazelwood, you have kept me sane. As sane as academia would allow anyway.
Grad school guiding star: I owe so much to Elsie and her relationships with various sucky individuals for helping me figure out the nightmare of academia politics. She is my guiding star rn. Honestly, I know this book is known for the romcom-ish-ness, but I don’t read (and reread and reread and reread and reread-) this for the romance. I read it as a guidebook for getting through grad school with no guiding template or sense of like,, what to Do ever. Truly, GENUINELY, cannot express enough how much this book means to me for actually TALKING about grad school life and academia life in REAL LIFE TERMS when NOBODY ELSE DOES. It’s like talking to an older, wiser sister who Knows Things and still Makes Mistakes but wants to impart wisdom to make your (the reader’s) life easier.
Chameleon-ing: other people??? Have systems for it too???? To hear it articulated like this???? I’m in shock. I have BEEN in shock since I first picked this up. Nobody talks about this e v e r and the concept of chameleon-ing as public dialogue is just,,, holy smokes.
Health and chameleon-ing and kindnesses: This book covers like the whole Chameleon thing FOR A CHARACTER WITH A SIGNIFICANT HEALTH ISSUE which is worthy of an essay all its own, but I’ll spare you all. Just. Nobody does that. Nobody DOES that. This is one of the very very rare books that feels like a support I didn’t know I could have or want. Like. I DIDNT know people could interact with Chameleon Disability Folks like that. I didn’t know that was an option. I didn’t know that there could be kindness and understanding like that!!!! I didn’t know that!!!!!!!!!! I’m in tears actually over the kindnesses of getting to know a person and their medical history and helping them to take care of themselves and EVEN OFFERING ADDITIONAL CARE JUST COS. And not even using their medical issues as a weapon against them!!! Treating another person bc it’s good for the mental health of BOTH parties.
Auditory anxiolytic: yea.
Puns: Elsie’s character is a wee bit inconsistent on puns it seems, but the puns are still high quality, and for that I cackle.
Edit for May 18 reread: i have probably reread this three full times in this “one” reread, but I’m just jumping all over the place in chapters. This book is Everything to me. Maybe I will write essays on it honestly. Maybe I would do well to tattoo the whole thing on my body. Additional notes:
Audiobook reader: i am in love with her