Book of the Week #59: Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood
Hello fellow book lover, it’s been a while.
I just came back from holidays, and I have to say, nothing gets me more excited to read than spending a full week soaking up the sun and exploring a new city.
In case you didn’t read my latest Bookish Update, March was a slow reading month for me.
And to be honest, April wasn’t looking much brighter.
But after returning from my holidays, I finally managed to get back into the flow, and I'm starting to see some progress in my reading.
Honestly, there's nothing worse than being in the mood to read but finding it hard to concentrate on what you're reading.
I gave myself a little break from A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas and delved into Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood.
I'm so glad I did because it was the palate cleanser I needed to pull myself out of what could have been one of my worst reading slumps.
So, if you're looking for something lighthearted, cute, and easy to read, this one's for you.
Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood
What It’s About
The many lives of theoretical physicist Elsie Hannaway have finally caught up with her. By day, she’s an adjunct professor, toiling away at grading labs and teaching thermodynamics in the hopes of landing tenure. By other day, Elsie makes up for her non-existent paycheck by offering her services as a fake girlfriend, tapping into her expertly honed people pleasing skills to embody whichever version of herself the client needs.
Honestly, it’s a pretty sweet gig—until her carefully constructed Elsie-verse comes crashing down. Because Jack Smith, the annoyingly attractive and broody older brother of her favorite client, turns out to be the cold-hearted experimental physicist who ruined her mentor’s career and undermined the reputation of theorists everywhere. And that same Jack who now sits on the hiring committee at MIT, right between Elsie and her dream job.
Elsie is prepared for an all-out war of scholarly sabotage but…those long, penetrating looks? Not having to be anything other than her true self when she’s with him? Will falling into an experimentalist’s orbit finally tempt her to put her most guarded theories on love into practice?
What I Liked About This Book
Academic Setting
Ali Hazelwood is known for her romances set in an academic backdrop, but this is the most academic book she has ever written.
In this book, we not only get a cute romance story, but we also get the inside scoop on academic politics.
From the lack of financial security to the soul-crushing job interviews, from the rivalries between disciplines to the mentor-mentee power dynamics, nothing is spared.
Reading this, I couldn't help but wish for similar transparency in other industries. It feels almost unfair to enter a world without a glimpse behind the curtain.
But I guess that wouldn’t be any fun, would it? 🙂
So, next time you find yourself writing an email to your professor, take a moment to reflect. Remember, professors are people too.
The unique relationship between the main characters
The relationship between Elsie and Jack is hard to explain without spoiling anything but as the story unfolded, I found myself deeply connected to them.
They are unique and fully fleshed-out characters, which is essential for me in a romance novel.
You see them slowly open up to each other and push each other to work through their issues while being understanding and supportive.
Their banter is the classic heartwarming and funny Ali Hazelwood banter that will make you smile like an idiot.
I recommend this book to anyone in need of a little uplift.
If you’re interested in reading this book, get it here: US, UK.
What to read more? Browse the archives or check out my Medium page for more book reviews and bookish articles.
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