‘Not in Love’ is the fourth entry in Ali Hazelwood’s ‘STEMinist’ series of rom-coms, and marks a slight departure from her tried and tested formula. Instead of focusing on pure academia, this moves into the world of science industry – and instead of a single POV, this is the first to feature dual perspectives, switching between the protagonists first-person narration and the love interest’s third-person. However, it still feels very much like an Ali Hazelwood book, and fans of the others will find plenty to enjoy here.
Rue’s life might not be perfect, but she’s getting by. She has a solid job at a promising food tech firm, friends she can count on, and a degree of financial security. She maintains the status quo with a few simple rules – that is, until an investment company starts trying to take over her workplace, and one of the investors turns out to be her one-night-stand from the night before. Even worse, his constant presence and threat to her job security isn’t lessening his attractiveness. The two find themselves falling into a no-strings-attached affair – except neither of them is very good at no-strings-attached, and real life won’t leave them alone for long.
Hazelwood has honed her craft writing anxious scientist female protagonists, but this marks her first attempt at writing from the man’s point of view too. Like in all Hazelwood’s romances, the man falls first and harder, and Eli’s sections are packed full of insta-lust which borders on obsessive – but overall, Hazelwood does a reasonable job at exploring both her protagonists and making them believable. Both perspectives are engaging, and different in tone without giving the reader whiplash. While Rue remains the easier to relate to character, Hazelwood succeeds in adding an interesting new dimension with the second perspective.
Where previous entries have followed a clear rom-com formula, Hazelwood describes ‘Not in Love’ as more of an erotic romance, and there’s certainly plenty of on-page sex. The two characters have clear chemistry, and the scenes are reasonably well written, although do improve as the emotional intimacy ramps up. That being said, this is definitely still a rom-com, with plenty of dry humour mixed in throughout.
The plot balances well against the central eroticism and romance. It isn’t the most complicated, but explores some interesting themes around the lingering effects of poverty and growing up hungry, as well as self-acceptance. Manipultation by adult mentors is a theme Hazelwood explores in multiple books and returns again here, with a slightly different spin on it. ‘Not in Love’ is easily readable throughout, and the friendship between Rue and Trish is a real highlight too.
Overall, ‘Not in Love’ is very much recognisable as an Ali Hazelwood book, but succeeds in trying something a little different. Fans of her work who don’t mind something a bit spicier, or those looking for an erotica with a bit of substance, should give this a go.
Published by Sphere (Hachette)
Paperback: 11th June 2024
For more by Ali Hazelwood, check out the rest of the STEMinist rom-coms The Love Hypothesis, Love on the Brain, and Love, Theoretically or her paranormal romance Bride
