Ali Hazelwood has done it once again.

A book I could not put down and had to finish the day of, despite working early the next day.

Never back down, never what?

Never give up.

“Love, Theoretically” tells the story of Elsie Hannaway, the theoretical physicist with a double life crazier than James Bond. By day, she’s a brainy adjunct professor, juggling equations and grading papers, all in pursuit of that elusive tenure. But when the sun sets, Elsie’s alter ego emerges—she becomes the ultimate fake girlfriend, using her chameleon-like people-pleasing skills to become anyone her clients desire.

It’s all fun and games in Elsie’s world until it crashes down like a poorly balanced particle accelerator. Why, you ask? Because of Jack Smith, her top client’s infuriatingly handsome and moody older brother. Jack’s not just a thorn in her side; he’s the very experimental physicist who ruined her mentor’s career and tarnished the reputation of theorists everywhere. And, oh, the irony! Jack is conveniently placed on the MIT hiring committee, standing right between Elsie and her dream job.

Elsie’s initial plan? To wage an all-out war of scholarly sabotage. But here’s the twist: those intense, lingering stares from Jack are making her equations all fuzzy, and suddenly, being herself around him feels oddly refreshing. Could Elsie, the queen of theoretical love theories, finally be tempted to put her theories into experimental practice?

Review

This book has become by far my favorite Ali Hazelwood novel. It has everything a romance reader would want: enemies to lovers, work adversaries, opposites attract, sunny vs. grumpy, and so many more. The banter between Elsie and Jack was so entertaining, I found myself kicking my legs in the air like a teenager again.

I also appreciated learning more about women’s experiences in the STEM field. As someone who works in Business, I am not exposed to the same challenges and biases that exist in these fields. However, it was interesting to see commonality through my experiences, and Elsie’s. This awareness led me to a greater understanding of the need for gender equality and diversity for women in the workplace in all fields.

Lastly, I enjoyed how Elsie’s character broke stereotypes in a historically male-dominated industry. In fact, she excelled at her job. Reading about characters like Elsie challenges preconceived notions and demonstrates to readers that anyone, regardless of gender, can pursue a career in STEM.

Conclusion

Get ready for a hilarious collision of academic rivalries and romantic experiments in this out-of-this-world tale of love, physics, and the unpredictable laws of attraction. Will Elsie’s heart become the newest subject of her scientific curiosity? Stay tuned for a rollercoaster ride through the wacky world of academia and love, where the only constants are chaos and chemistry!