Title: Love on the Brain
Author: Ali Hazelwood, narrated by Brooke Bloomingdale
Length: 11 hours, 7 minutes
Genre: romance (subgenre: enemies to lovers)
I discovered this book... because I am mildly obsessed with this author. I have all her books.
Published: August 23rd, 2022
Like an avenging, purple-haired Jedi bringing balance to the mansplained universe, Bee Königswasser lives by a simple code: What would Marie Curie do? If NASA offered her the lead on a neuroengineering project—a literal dream come true after years scraping by on the crumbs of academia—Marie would accept without hesitation. Duh. But the mother of modern physics never had to co-lead with Levi Ward.
Sure, Levi is attractive in a tall, dark, and piercing-eyes kind of way. And sure, he caught her in his powerfully corded arms like a romance novel hero when she accidentally damseled in distress on her first day in the lab. But Levi made his feelings toward Bee very clear in grad school—archenemies work best employed in their own galaxies far, far away.
Now, her equipment is missing, the staff is ignoring her, and Bee finds her floundering career in somewhat of a pickle. Perhaps it's her occipital cortex playing tricks on her, but Bee could swear she can see Levi softening into an ally, backing her plays, seconding her ideas…devouring her with those eyes. And the possibilities have all her neurons firing. But when it comes time to actually make a move and put her heart on the line, there's only one question that matters: What will Bee Königswasser do?
I need to start by stating that I finished this audiobook like two months ago and forgot to review. It's still fresh in my mind, but there's been time for me to possibly forget tiny details and nuances (especially since it was, like, eleven books ago. I am really behind on reviews). Like all her books, we have the incredibly smart male lead, confident in his area, sexy... and socially inept. This leads to a myriad of misunderstandings... and I am usually cool with that, it adds to the story... but it was definitely overused here.
Bee is smart and confident but she has a chip on her shoulder that can be seen from space. She wants desperately to be a role model for female scientists, so much so that she has a website: What Would Marie Curie Do? Here, she developed a forum where women can talk about their issues and support one another through their research. So when things start going wrong in the office, and there just happens to be a lead scientist that hated her, well... obviously he's the problem. No need to look elsewhere, right? Her bias against Levi got old fast. I get it, but my goodness....
Levi has watched Bee since grad school- obsessed with her. She's smart, beautiful, outgoing and basically perfect... and taken. He distanced himself back then for several reasons. He liked her so much he couldn't think straight. Obviously he couldn't work on a big project with her- he'd make a fool of himself! When Bee hears his refusal, though, she takes it as proof that Levi finds her inferior. Now it's war! Did we do our boy dirty by overplaying the social awkwardness? I would say so.
So now we have his dream girl, around him every day, working on a project for Nasa that he is pasionate about... and she thinks he's trying to sabotage her. He's still trying to keep his distance, assuming that she's seeing the boy she was with in grad school. Can he clear up the past misunderstandings, figure out the issues with the project, and keep her from finding out that he's been in love with her forever? It's a lot to unpack. Add an emo assistant, charming astronaut and possibly-nonexistant cat? Chaos.
Hazelwood brings her customary charm and humor, creating characters that you love even when you want to shake them. It's a fun, fast read with my favorite type of male lead. I really liked it! So why the complaints? I am spoiled. Levi has nothing on Adam or Jack. (The Love Hypothesis and Love, Theoretically respectively). I don't think this should be the first Hazelwood book anyone reads, because it was just okay. For me, it was four stars because it was really good, but her other books were better.
As far as adult content goes, there's language and sexual content (level three spice so still acceptable as new adult). Trigger warnings: some gaslighting and internet bullying. While geared toward adults, I would say sixteen and up.
The book is out! Have you read it?
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