Love, Theoretically

Overall, this might be an enjoyable read for those who haven't read her other books. It's a quick, light-hearted read, perfect for a vacation. But if you've read The Love Hypothesis or Love on the Brain, this book might not offer much novelty.

Now, onto the details... possible spoilers below.

Is this déjà vu? The characters in Love, Theoretically, felt like slight variations of those in Ali Hazelwood's previous books. It felt like I was re-reading The Love Hypothesis and Love on the Brain.

Both the characters and the story felt flat to me. By the end, it seemed as though 100 pages were missing. The MC felt like a template broody-but-pining character, and the sudden attachment he developed to the FC felt unbelievable as if he had a personality transplant halfway through the book.

While the spicy scenes were well-written, they seemed out of place. The intention seemed to be for the FC to slowly discover her sexuality, but isn't this a theme the author has explored in a very similar way? We start with an FC who isn't attracted to anyone and doesn't identify as a very sexual being. Then, enters a hot, tall, buff STEM guy, and shockingly she rediscovers her sexuality? It felt predictable and repetitive.

Additionally, the scene in which they first engage sexually was confusing. The MC's hesitation was unclear. At times, it felt as though we were veering into non-consensual territory. I guess I could assume the MC was trying to be selfless and deter the FC's people-pleasing tendencies, but it ended up feeling like conversations were happening in their heads and we were left to try and fill in the gaps.

I know this may be harsh, and I apologize because I recognize how hard it is to create and how vulnerable authors make themselves by sharing their ideas and work. Also, I recognize that it is supposed to be an uplifting love story. However, this book didn't bring much that was new.