Reviews with content warning for Child abuse - Love, Theoretically

I initially wasn't fond of the main character, Elsie, because I usually find people who are unable to set boundaries or say "no" to be frustrating. However, Elsie grew on me the more I got to know her, and her character development was amazing. I disliked her family, especially her parents who made her feel like a burden because of her diabetes and gave her the trauma that probably led to her people pleasing personality.

I hated her mentor because he was an egotistical asshole who betrayed her trust by turning down multiple job offers without telling her despite knowing her financial struggles as an adjunct professor. When Elsie finally stands up for herself, he starts calling her a "silly, stubborn girl" and tells her that he doesn't have her best interests at heart and just wants to control her. Unbelievable. I'm glad she filed a complaint against him and wish we could have seen his downfall before the book ended.

I enjoyed following Elsie's journey in learning to stand up for herself and realizing that people who truly care about her will do so unconditionally. Her love interest, Jack, was super supportive and had a large part in helping Elsie realize that she deserves better. I also liked the other non-asshole characters who supported her, though it would have been nice for those characters to be more developed. All in all, great characters and relationships. The writing felt cringey at times but got better after the 50% mark.

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kelliereadsabit's review against another edition

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funny lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I am fuzzy on the details of the live hypothesis, but I do distinctly remember scenes I found less appealing and more problematic when reading it. With this one though I felt much more in line with the characters and their motivations even when they were experiencing problems or doing wrong things. Both characters were fun to learn about and spend time with, though I do think this book really would’ve gone to the next level if it were duel perspective.

This book was fun and funny and a great read for some solid relaxing crochet time. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys flawed main characters who actually recognize their problems and work on them. If you enjoyed other books by this author I’m confident this one will be close to the top of your list.

The main conflict and resolution was particularly refreshing. There was no miscommunication, more a reconciliation of old conflicts. The two characters both worked on their end of things and came together as adults who wanted the relationship to work. Very refreshing!!

This book as some spice, but I would say it’s pretty tame. The characters face misogyny and other concerning behaviors from outside characters, but it’s not the center of the story, and both characters work together to address it (also refreshing).

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wilybooklover's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

3.0

This is my first Ali Hazelwood book, and I have very mixed feelings.

First of all, if I had to hear ONE MORE TIME about how gigantic Jack was, I might have screamed. It was so repetitive and unnecessary — I promise that I won’t forget between page 35 and page 40 that he’s built like a refrigerator. Combined with how naïve and oblivious Elsie was, and how overbearing Jack was, I didn’t really enjoy the actual romance much. I found Jack quite creepy to be honest

(he keeps a photo of her in his bedside table when they genuinely barely know each other? He wants her to move in when they've barely been together for one weekend?? He wants to lock her in his room for two weeks??? WHAT).

He also came across as condescending most of the time to me, and like he infantilised the heroine. The sex scenes were so awkward and not in a cute way (although I liked the emphasis on consent). And what kind of Swedish surname is Turner? Then the villain seemed so flat and cartoonish, rather than a fully-fleshed out character, especially during the conflict. Also, this is very petty but I hate cheese and had to suffer through so much talk about cheese in this book. Enough about cheese already!!

On the other hand, there were some things I really liked. I loved Elsie’s character arc about learning how not to be such a people pleaser all the time, and how she ended up going to therapy at the end. I liked the setup for how the MCs meet (she’s fake dating his brother, and he begins to suspect something is off). I enjoyed the very realistic depiction of being a woman in STEM and how very science-y the whole book was. I really liked how much Jack just wanted to take care of Elsie, gave her space when she asked for it, and how he didn’t mess with her career even when he was suspicious of her (look, it's a low bar, but it’s disappointing how often that happens in romance). It was great how he completely respected her academic intellect and was so emotionally open with her as well... even if that openness is completely lost on her lol. I also liked how Elsie actually calls Jack out on how patronising he’s being by acting like she can’t make her own decisions. Plus, all of the major side characters besides the villain were well-drawn and enjoyable to read; I particularly liked Cece and Millicent.

One final thought: the STEMinist appellation promptly needs to die in a fire, thank you.

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nyquilla's review against another edition

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emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced

Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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memoirsofabooklover's review against another edition

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emotional funny reflective fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

this was by far my favourite ali hazelwood book that i’ve read. i loved jack with my whole entire heart. i saw a lot of myself in elsie and her struggles internally. jack’s patience and unwavering need to see the real her and learn to say how she truly feels and ask for what she wants is the what we all really want in a partner.
it brought up a lot (for me as well i’m sure it did for others too) who have been in relationships (romantic and otherwise) where they make themselves what they think others want them to be until we can’t tell who we are and what we want apart from who we pretend to be.
i hate insta love and miscommunication trope usually but jack’s unrequited love for elsie throughout the book had me in a choke hold, it didn’t feel cheesy it just felt right. the miscommunication was done well enough that it didn’t feel dumb as they usually are, there was some genuine reason behind it, that no one would have realised in that situation.
i also loved sole aroace rep, it’s the one of the most forgotten about members of the lgbtq+ community and even though there wasn’t much about it, because it wasn’t the main characters, i think it was handled really beautifully, not overly-dramatised or glossed over.

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chainsiren's review against another edition

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emotional funny informative lighthearted medium-paced

4.0

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beckyremillard's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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vreyna20_2004's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted relaxing sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Ali Hazelwood how the hell did you manage to one up Adam Fucking Carlsen? Reading this made my cheeks RED and it’s difficult for me to become red. There was also no miscommunication like with Olive who was in denial when she figured out she liked Adam. Elsie was just okay with it despite her not wanting to because of what Jack did and even still she didn’t care about it. The romance was cute and I love Jack’s witty remarks and the way he always (and I mean ALWAYS) pays attention to Elsie noticing that she is acting a way for people to like her so he makes her act herself around him just for her to stop pleasing people. ADORABLE!!

I wished Dr Laurendeau suffered a better consequence for what he did to Jack’s mother but it was still’s satisfying to read Elsie tell him off and to make him call her by the correct name. I just love the development of Elsie’s character and her finally having a backbone. This book may even outrank the Love Hypothesis for me and I like that book as well.

And chapter 19 😏 the way Jack begged my mouth was ON THE FLOOR. They didn’t have penetrative sex and it was still hot. I’ll forever think of Jack saying “There’s something really humbling your brother’s girlfriend in your head everytime you come” and "I did sometimes. For making me hate my brother, just because he was the one who got to eat you out” honestly the whole chapter 19 was just chefs kiss. I liked the others but chapter 19 would be stuck in my head till I die.

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