CHARACTERS: 3.5/5 ENTERTAINMENT: 4/5 PLOT: 4/5 OVERALL: 3.5/5
“It reminds me of grad school, when we couldn’t afford therapy and we’d engage in some healthy communal bitching every other night, just to survive the madness.”
– Ali Hazelwood, Loathe to Love You
Ali Hazelwood, the brilliant author of the bestselling novel, The Love Hypothesis, has once again left us spellbound with her latest literary creation, Loathe to Love You. This time, Hazelwood brings to life a collection of three novellas, each featuring powerful women in STEM.
As we dive into the world of Loathe to Love You, we are introduced to a trio of the closest of friends, each of whom is an engineer by profession. Despite their intelligence and success, these women have a shared disdain for the notion of love. They are the embodiment of the modern, independent woman who refuses to be defined by societal expectations.
In this review, I am going to delve into each of these novels one by one and express my thoughts on them.
Novella #1 Under One Roof
The story as it goes
Mara has to move for her new job as an environmental engineer and she decides to stay at a house that was gifted to her in a will when her mentor Helena passes away.
However, upon arriving at the property, Mara discovered that the house was jointly owned by Helena’s nephew, Liam. This revelation was not welcome news for Mara, considering Liam’s profession as a high-powered lawyer for an oil company that is notoriously known for its negative impact on the environment.
Liam too, wants nothing to do with Mara and tries to buy her half of the house but Mara refuses.
They each are on the other’s toes all the time. What with Mara loudly playing her Disney playlist and Liam having the thermostat always set at the lowest. But as they start living together and the more they find each other’s true self, can the Loathe turn to Love?
My thoughts
Reading these steamy novellas, all featuring women in STEM, was a refreshing break from my usual full-length novels. And as always, Ali’s steamy scenes were a delightful bonus. “Under One Roof” was my favourite of the three, with a great trope like enemies-to-lovers and forced proximity, along with some fantastic banter.
Ali’s focus on STEM is always crucial, especially given the way these fields are often undermined at work. However, I do wish we had more of Mara and Liam’s perspectives, especially Liam’s.
Novella #2 Stuck with You
The story as it goes
Sadie, a civil engineer at a small New York City firm, finds herself trapped in an elevator with the last person she wants to see – Erik, the very man who broke her heart.
So, what does one do in a situation like this? As they wait for rescue, Erik seizes the opportunity to apologize to Sadie. But his apology takes a surprising turn, as he starts to apologize for something completely different, leading to misunderstandings that could forever change how Sadie views him.
When the real reason comes out, will she be able to forgive him and move past their painful history?
My thoughts
This story is narrated from an alternative perspective, the tale revolves around Sadie and Erik’s whirlwind romance. Within a span of twenty-four hours, the couple falls head over heels in love with each other.
However, their love story takes an unexpected turn when Sadie discovers something that leads to radio silence between them. As fate would have it, they end up getting stuck in an elevator for an hour, where they pour their hearts out and rekindle their feelings for each other.
Although I usually have mixed feelings about instant love, this particular story failed to strike a chord with me. Moreover, Sadie’s superstitions seemed a tad too exaggerated for my liking, making it my least favourite of the three novellas.
Novella #3 Below Zero
The story as it goes
Hannah, a brilliant aerospace engineer employed by NASA, faces a perilous situation in a remote Arctic research station in Norway. Sustaining injuries and stranded in a nasty situation, she feels a sense of despair creeping in when her immediate supervisor rejects her request for help, citing the incoming storm as a hindrance.
However, just as all seems lost, she hears a familiar voice – that of Ian, the very man who tried to scuttle her expedition, and who is her long-standing rival. Bewildered and wondering what has brought Ian to this remote place, Hannah struggles to comprehend why he would risk his life to save hers.
My thoughts
I enjoyed the overall plot of NASA’s Mars expedition and how Hannah discovered her passion for space, prompted by a prom date invitation. This is especially inspiring as very few people know what they want to become at such a nascent age. This story could have easily received a 4-star rating from me.
However, I found the references to Mars rocks and contrasting body parts during the sexual scenes distasteful and unnecessary. It’s not something I want to imagine, so I could have done without those descriptions.
Overall, how is the book?
If you are looking for a break from your usual reading and looking for something light (with female protagonists as kick-ass ladies) then do check out Loathe to Love You with some good steamy scenes. Ali’s use of female protagonists from the STEM field is her current forte and she seems to be doing a good job of it.
The stories flow smoothly and there is enough banter and wit thrown in to keep them light-hearted. Overall, not Hazelwood’s best so far but still definitely worth a read.
Can’t wait to read it? Buy your copy of Loathe to Love You using the link below.
