Ali Hazelwood is at it again, proving that she is one of the best romance writers in the industry with Love, Theoretically. This one is for the academics and people pleasers alike, as main character Elsie makes a living as an adjunct professor and fake dating extraordinaire. Her side hustle leads her down the possible path of a whimsical romance with the brother of her most favorite client, but that’s not her goal. She wants to stop teaching and focus on her research, and will do just about anything to make that happen. Throw in a few betrayals, confessions, and a cameo that I just about died over, this work does a great job of showcasing near-perfect characterization skills and what it truly means to love what you do.   

Of all her works, I think it might just be the one where Hazelwood makes me a fan for life. I’ve read everything she’s published, and it keeps getting better. I love that Elsie’s life is truly a reflection of what a life in academia looks like, as it seems as though there’s too many misconceptions about the field amongst the general population. Elsie has to take on other tasks in order to make ends meet, something that I’m not too sure most people are aware of. Not only that, but I do like the highlight of the struggling arts roommate because it demonstrates that education does not equal success. 

This book does not have many faults, and I loved the added bonus of seeing Adam and Olive (if you know, you know). The friendship between our beloved science jocks was unexpected , to say the least, but I enjoyed how they were tied together through the very thing that landed them in relationships: science. However, on the topic of friendship, I do wish we got to see a little bit more of Elsie interact with Greg, the brother. I am all for Elsie spending the majority of the book with Jack, but I do think there is something to be said about the friendship that has been forged between Greg and Elsie. This proved to be a pivotal relationship throughout the book, because Elsie and Jack would not have had the opportunities to forge any sort of relationship without the fake dating.

Even the distrustful and advertently controversial mentor had a place in this work, as even though I haven’t experienced such a thing myself, I have heard horror stories throughout my own experience in academia. I thought that this storyline was a little bit too far fetched, but I can understand the points that Hazelwood was trying to make. I can’t see a teenager being able to credibly discuss the topic in the way that Jack did without any formal education, but I did think it was a nice touch to see him avenge someone that was so important to him in a way that isn’t necessarily villainous, but rather endearing. 

Love,Theoretically is a hit, and it’s definitely getting the recognition it deserves among popular book websites. I will admit to now being a sucker for academia, and workplace romances, and I have no one but Ali Hazelwood to blame. So, with that being said, I would definitely give this book four out of five stars, and as I’ve mentioned before, if Ali Hazelwood writes it, you bet I’m gonna read it.