Not in Love by Ali Hazelwood Summary

Not in Love by Ali Hazelwood follows Dr. Rue Siebert, a biotech engineer at food science startup Kline, who enters a forbidden affair with Eli Killgore, a business partner attempting a hostile takeover of her company. After matching on a dating app for what should be a one-night stand, Rue and Eli discover their professional worlds collide the very next day. The novel explores their secret, no-strings-attached relationship against the backdrop of corporate intrigue, personal trauma, and undeniable chemistry in the competitive biotech industry.

Not in Love is ideal for readers who enjoy contemporary romance with women in STEM, forbidden workplace relationships, and dual POV narratives. Fans of Ali Hazelwood seeking more mature, erotic romance rather than her typical romcom style will appreciate this book. It suits readers interested in enemies-with-benefits dynamics, emotionally complex characters dealing with childhood trauma, and stories featuring food science and biotechnology. Those comfortable with explicit content and darker themes like food insecurity and grief will find this romance compelling.

Not in Love is worth reading if you're seeking Ali Hazelwood's signature STEM romance with significantly more spice and emotional depth. The book offers authentic character development, addressing trauma, grief, and self-growth within a forbidden romance framework. However, readers expecting Hazelwood's lighter romcom tone may find this departure disappointing. Reviews indicate mixed reception—some praise the realistic characters and intense chemistry, while others note it lacks the author's typical charm. Manage expectations knowing this is erotic romance, not fluffy escapism.

Not in Love is contemporary erotic romance with strong new adult elements, marking a departure from Ali Hazelwood's previous romcom style. The novel falls under women in STEM romance, featuring biotech and food science settings. It incorporates forbidden workplace romance, enemies-to-lovers dynamics, and corporate intrigue themes. Hazelwood describes this as her most distinct work, lacking her typically quirky, tiny heroines and grumpy male leads, instead offering realistic, complex characters in a more intense, mature narrative framework.

The central conflict in Not in Love revolves around the hostile takeover of Kline, Rue's biotech startup, by Harkness, the company Eli represents. Rue discovers her mentor Florence has betrayed her by concealing connections to Harkness and putting Rue's life work up for sale. This professional crisis intertwines with Rue's personal struggles—her troubled relationship with her alcoholic brother Vincent and their inherited family cabin. The forbidden attraction between Rue and Eli intensifies as they navigate corporate loyalties versus undeniable chemistry.

Rue Siebert is a biotech engineer specializing in food preservation at Kline, characterized as emotionally unavailable, cynical, and sexually confident with a strict no-repeats policy. She's described as potentially neurodivergent-coded, tall (unusual for Hazelwood heroines), and resilient despite childhood trauma from food insecurity. Eli Killgore is a thirty-four-year-old business partner pursuing Kline's acquisition, described as a "dominant cinnamon roll"—gentle, obsessed with Rue, hockey-playing, and physically imposing. Both characters navigate complex pasts while developing genuine emotional connection despite their professional opposition.

Not in Love differs significantly from Ali Hazelwood's previous STEM romances by prioritizing erotic content over romcom elements. Unlike The Love Hypothesis or Love on the Brain, this novel features substantially more explicit scenes, darker themes, and realistic rather than quirky characters. The writing style feels less playful and more intense. While maintaining Hazelwood's commitment to women in STEM representation, Not in Love lacks the typical grumpy-sunshine dynamic and instead offers dual POV, complex trauma exploration, and new adult sensibilities that distinguish it from her earlier, lighter works.

Not in Love contains significantly more explicit sexual content than Ali Hazelwood's previous books, earning its erotic romance classification. The novel features multiple detailed intimate scenes between Rue and Eli, with frank sexual language and mature themes throughout. Reviewers note Eli frequently references physical intimacy from his perspective in the dual POV narrative. Those seeking traditional closed-door or fade-to-black romance should avoid this book, while readers comfortable with graphic content will find the spice level substantially elevated compared to Hazelwood's earlier romcom-style novels.

Not in Love explores trauma and self-growth, examining how childhood neglect and food insecurity shape adult relationships. The novel addresses forbidden romance within corporate power dynamics and workplace loyalty conflicts. Key themes include emotional unavailability, trust issues stemming from parental abandonment, and the contrast between physical attraction and emotional vulnerability. Hazelwood incorporates food science as tragic irony—Rue works in food engineering despite experiencing childhood hunger. The story also examines sibling relationships complicated by guilt, codependency, and shared traumatic upbringing.

Common criticisms of Not in Love include feeling rushed and unpolished, with some readers experiencing emotional disconnect from the characters despite explicit content. Long-time Hazelwood fans express disappointment that the book lacks her signature charm, cute moments, and obsessed-hero appeal. Some reviewers critique awkward sexual dialogue and find the romance less compelling than her previous works. The shift toward erotic romance alienated readers expecting traditional romcom tone. Critics also note the hockey subplot feels tacked on and the corporate-finance angle sometimes reads as "capitalism-as-kink" rather than meaningful conflict.

Not in Love is set in the competitive food science biotech industry, centering on Kline, a startup developing innovative food preservation technology. Rue Siebert specializes in food engineering and nanotech research, working on an independent project funded by her mentor Florence. The food science setting serves as poignant symbolism—Rue's professional focus on food preservation contrasts with her childhood food insecurity. The hostile takeover plot involves Harkness attempting to reclaim allegedly stolen biofuel technology, creating authentic corporate intrigue within the STEM romance framework that Hazelwood consistently champions.

Not in Love follows traditional romance structure and delivers a happily-ever-after ending, with Rue and Eli overcoming corporate conflicts and personal trauma to commit to their relationship. Despite the forbidden nature of their affair and the built-in deadline of the company takeover, the couple navigates loyalty conflicts, betrayal by Rue's mentor Florence, and their individual emotional barriers. The resolution addresses both professional stakes and personal growth, allowing Rue to maintain her research independence while developing emotional availability, fulfilling the romance genre's promise of satisfying conclusion.