Episode 137: Not in Love // Ali Hazelwood

Find Me in a Book

I found that Ali Hazelwood is a pretty divisive author. Her stories often feature a heroine that does not fit in. Which say hello to Rue, a food scientist who isn’t very personable

Once the story is set up and the main characters are consistently in each other's orbit, the intimacy develops in a natural and satisfying way, both through sex and through conversations they share. I loved the complexity of the characters and their relationship but I never fully warmed up to Rue, since I felt we as readers were not really allowed to get to know her beyond her social anxiety, but I loved Eli and rooted for the two of them together because I wanted him to have everything he wanted

I really liked Rue and Eli together, from how they met to how they traded terrible stories to how they connected on their rough upbringings. Rue was obviously much more closed off and detached and didn't want anything to do with anyone, while Eli was much more sunshine and sweet and fell for Rue hard and fast

They both have a lot of emotional traumas, especially Rue, and physical connection is their common language. It's safer than emotional feelings and both really enjoy it. So, physical intimacy is how they begin to connect emotionally, versus the other way around. But these interactions are full of understanding and trust, so the spicy scenes were also sweet.

Overall I very much enjoyed this book!