Having been delighted by Love to Loathe You, Ali Hazelwood’s STEMinist novella collection, I’ve been looking forward to reading Love, Theoretically and thankfully it did not disappoint.

In order to service her student loans and make ends meet, theoretical physicist Dr. Elsie Hannaway supplements her low paying work as an adjunct professor by utilising her people-pleasing skills, and an app called Faux, to offer her services as a fake girlfriend. Unfortunately her two worlds collide when the deciding vote for Elsie’s appointment to her dream job at MIT turns out to be in the hands of the brother of a client, Jack Smith, who knows her only as a slightly vacuous children’s librarian.

Therein lies the ‘enemies-to-lovers’ set up, Jack suspects Elsie is a scheming liar, and as it happens, Jack, who is professionally known as Jonathan Smith-Turner, turns out to be the experimental physicist who once published a paper that humiliated Elsie’s field and nearly ended her mentor’s career. Sparks fly even as Elsie fights for her career, convinced that Jack is aiming to sabotage it. I really enjoyed the development of their relationship, there’s plenty of chemistry and banter, but they also share some touching and vulnerable moments.

There’s a lot of emphasis on Elsie’s people-pleasing nature, with Hazelwood making the point that though such a skill is useful, it can come at a cost. Elsie’s personal growth throughout the story is well paced and convincing. Also of note, Elsie is a Type 1 diabetic and Hazelwood works this into the story with ease.

Tall, smart, reliable, and honest, with a sympathetic background, I found Jack to be a very appealing lead. Several of the minor characters in the novel, including Elsie’s roommate, CeCe (and her pet hedgehog), Jack’s brother, Greg, and their sharp-tongued grandmother Millicent, in particular, are also a joy.

Hazelwood’s focus on women in STEM careers is a unique element of her romance novels. In Love, Theoretically the field is physics, of which I know almost nothing than what I gleaned from The Big Bang Theory, nevertheless I appreciate the way in which relevant detail is seamlessly integrated into the story. The author also highlights some of the issues in academia, including low pay, job insecurity, politics, and for women in particular, the plague of misogyny.

Witty, romantic and charming, I adored Love, Theoretically.

4 stars ✨

i don’t think Ali Hazelwood ever misses the mark because this was ANOTHER amazing read! The characters, the plot, the humour, the romance and Elsie’s personal growth was chefs kiss.

It had me full on giggling and kicking my feet in the middle on an airport, so much so my sister asked me what the hell was wrong with me. Jack, babes, blonde men don’t do it for me but you, i’ll do whatever you tell me to🧎🏽‍♀️

The middle did drag on just a little bit but i still loved it. I loved Elsie’s character so so so much, i related to her the most out of Bee and Olive so she holds a special place in my heart. But also can we talk about that Olive and Adam cameo 😭😭 my heart was so full and ugh it was so cute!

The many carefully-constructed Elsie Hannaways are about to come crashing down around her as the arrogant older brother of her favourite fake-dating client turns out to be the very man who ruined her mentor's career and now stands between Elsie and her dream job.

I think this is Hazelwood's best work yet, and my new favourite from her. It is very much quintessential Ali Hazelwood in plot and narrative voice, but does fix a few of the issues I've had with her previous works.
Elsie was quite a compelling protagonist (even if the people-pleaser in me was constantly being called out), she felt much more reasonable than say, Bee in Love on the Brain, she seemed less wilfully ignorant of Jack's obvious attraction to her which made for a much less frustrating reading experience. There was also much less emphasis on Elsie being really tiny in stature, which was one of my biggest pet peeves in TLH and LotB (we do still have a proclivity for fainting and the male love interest being really tall and broad, but it's an improvement and I'll take it).
Her narrative voice was very dramatic which did take me out of it at times as it seemed to hinder the forward motion of the plot, and as in her other books a lot of the supporting characters felt more like caricatures, purely existing for entertainment purposes.
But the central romance was lovely and easy to get invested in, and felt slightly less formulaic than her previous books.

Overall I just think it's very clear that Ali Hazelwood writes what she knows and what she loves, and this passion really shines through and makes her books as enjoyable as they are.

Thank you NetGalley and Little Brown Book Group for my e-arc of this title, received in exchange for an honest review.

A cute fun read I really enjoyed. I like the authors writing style and the easy reading nature of the story. Perfect for summer holiday reading!

Love Theoretically is what love on the brain and the love Hypothesis were trying to be. Don't get me wrong, I love both of those stories, but this is just a cut above. The characters are likeable and relatable and the chemistry between them was just so much more magical. Not to mention that Jack is the best of Ali's men, sorry I said it, he isn't borderline creepy and obsessive he's an absolute sweetheart. Love theoretically is and academic rivals to Lovers romance that is like slipping on a pair of warm fuzzy socks and sipping a hot chocolate. It will no doubt become my new comfort read. Jack and Elsie are goals.

I swear everything that Ali Hazelwood writes is just perfection, she is one of my fave authors at the moment and I cannot express how much I love her plots. She makes science sexy and her book boys are everything you would ever want and more.

Ali Hazlewood’s “Love Theoretically” presents a quirky and unique take on the classic romantic comedy genre. With its playful premise and endearing characters, this book delivers an enjoyable read that earns its three-star rating.

The story follows Emma, a brilliant scientist who approaches love with the same analytical mindset she applies to her research. Her theory on love as a predictable equation is put to the test when she crosses paths with Drew, a charming and spontaneous musician. As their worlds collide, Emma must navigate the complexities of her feelings and come to terms with the unpredictability of love.

The concept of approaching love as a theoretical equation is an intriguing and refreshing twist on the genre. Hazlewood’s witty and lighthearted writing style complements the premise, infusing the narrative with humor and charm. The playful banter and moments of comedic relief add to the book’s overall appeal, creating an entertaining and light-hearted atmosphere.

Emma and Drew are well-developed characters with distinct personalities and chemistry. Their interactions are engaging, and the development of their relationship unfolds in a manner that keeps readers invested. However, some readers may find certain aspects of their dynamic predictable or wish for further depth in their individual character arcs.

While “Love Theoretically” is an enjoyable read, it does follow some well-trodden rom-com tropes, which may impact the overall originality of the story. Additionally, the pacing of the book may feel uneven at times, with certain plot points or character developments rushed or underexplored.

In conclusion, “Love Theoretically” is a fun and quirky romantic comedy that offers an entertaining twist on the genre. Ali Hazlewood’s playful writing style and endearing characters make this book a solid choice for fans of rom-coms. However, the predictable nature of some plot elements and pacing issues may prevent it from standing out as a standout in the genre. If you’re seeking a light and amusing read that offers a unique take on love and romance, “Love Theoretically” will likely satisfy your cravings for a charming and witty rom-com.

Elsie is a Dr in physics but her career is not going as planned. She’s struggling to make ends meet so she has a side hustle with a fake dating agency to help pay the bills. Elsie is a people pleaser, moulding the personality she shows to match what she thinks people want or need from her. That is until she meets Jack, the brother of the guy she’s fake dating. Elsie can’t read him and she finds him frustrating. She assumes a lot about him, thinks she knows who he is until she comes face to face with him at a social event wher trying to land her dream job. They both think they are liars but as this story of enemy to lovers unfolds Jack encourages Elsie to be herself and follow her dreams.

The story was a bit too predictable for me but it was a nice easy read. I really liked the characters. Loved the friendship between Elsie and Cece. Love the women in STEM representation and the highlight of the politics and the process of interviewing for a job, it sounded pretty exhausting to me.

My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Thanks @berkleyromance and @netgalley for the advanced copy. Love, Theoretically came out June 13.

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Way better than Love On The Brain, but I still think I preferred The Love Hypothesis. The relationship between Elsie and Jack was very believable and genuine - I was definitely rooting for them.

Loved the first book, the second one was a little more meh, this one though! I love it, I felt I really connected with the characters and I loved their cheeky relationship. I would whole heartedly recommend this book, take it on your summer holiday with you!

Way better than Love On The Brain, but I still think I preferred The Love Hypothesis. The relationship between Elsie and Jack was very believable and genuine - I was definitely rooting for them.

I am in love with this book and everything about it. I read it in one sitting. I'm in love with Jack and Elsie 🌼😭

This was by far my favourite by Ali, she only improves over time and I loved this more than TLH.

The writing was effortlessly funny, the situation was so perfect and the characters are so well developed.

An AMAZING read. I loved the big bang references, and the academic politics were so well done and easy to follow!

Did I feel a little like I was reading every other one of Ali Hazelwood's books? Yes
Did I love it anyway? Yes

Love Theoretically pulls from very similar tropes that we know Hazelwood loves to use (giant brooding man, ray of sunshine woman), however it works for me everytime. Our main character Elsie is really likeable in this book and wonderfully infuriating in such a relatable fashion.

I flew through this & as a woman in STEM myself I'll never not love the science!

My favourite of Hazelwood's works so far. The chemistry was off the charts and I adored the character development. Just such a fun and heartwarming read

I loved this book!

My 3rd by Ali Hazelwood and by far my favourite!

Great characters and a well paced storyline!

5*

Elise is an adjunct professor who doesn't earn enough so she also works as a fake girlfriend on the side. Jack is an attractive experimental physicist who undermined the reputation of theorists everywhere so it is safe to say Elsie is not a fan. He also happens to be the older brother of one of Elise's clients and is on the interview board for her dream job at MIT. What could possibly go wrong?

I am giving this a 3.5 stars but rounding up to 4 stars.

This is the second Ali Hazelwood book I have read, the first being the love hypothesis. I have to say I didn't enjoy this one quite a much. I do enjoy a hate to lovers romance and the build up of tension between Jack and Elsie was great to begin with. However, it started fizzled out at about 50% probably due to the main plot point at that point finishing. Whilst I think it is great that Hazelwood is representing women in STEM more in her books I feel like we got a lot of the same things as the love hypothesis, Tall guy/small woman, power dynamic with higher an established professor. I hope that in her next book we get something a little but different.

But I have to say I did love Jack and thought he was a great male love interest. I also liked the fact that Elsie wasn't really quirky like the other female love interests in other books. This was a fun and quick read.

Thank you NetGalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK, for my ARC in exchange the review.

i do just have a soft spot for ali hazelwood’s books, they do always involve suspending your disbelief a lot but they’re always lighthearted, fun and easy to fly through. my main criticism of her previous books was that they were too similar but whilst this one briefly starts off with the enemies to lovers trope, it becomes less heavy on the angst earlier on. it didn’t feel as much like a reused story with the characters names swapped out. i feel like both of the main characters were likeable and easy to root for, i liked that there was character progression for both of them in terms of their communication styles. their backgrounds were developed enough that their character flaws had grounds and made sense. the cameos were a nice touch too. it was as usual really addictive and the perfect read for if you’re looking for a rom com with a bit more plot to it.

Could not finish this, gave up about half way through. Cheesy, predictable, really not for me at all.

Love Theoretically was another absolute knock out from Ali Hazelwood. I absolutely adore the characters that they create and I can't wait to see what comes next.

I absolutely loved this book, it was so gushy and easy to read. A perfect summer read. I found the scientific language in the book quite an education, but so cleverly written. I thought the dynamic between Elsie and Jack was great, I love the enemies to lovers troupe. The book was paced well, the story just flowed. This is the first book I’ve read of Ali Hazelwood’s, she writes romcom so well I’ll definitely pick up more of her books.