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A review by blewballoon
Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood
emotional
funny
informative
lighthearted
medium-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
4.0
This is my first time reading Ali Hazelwood. I picked this book up just after finishing an awesome series of books by another author, so she was starting at a disadvantage. I also had an idea of what to expect based on what I've heard people say about Hazelwood's other books, I wasn't sure how I'd feel about them though. In the end, I liked this one despite everything going against it.
I did predict every single reveal, but to me that's often a sign that a book is well plotted. As someone who reads for characters more than plot, I did like these characters. I liked Jack very much, but that may partially be because we don't get his perspective. Elsie was okay, but she did the thing that annoys me in enemies-to-lovers FMCs where she is overly antagonistic and refuses to give any benefit of the doubt even though the animosity is one sided or could easily be resolved by a rational conversation.
I didn't love the audiobook narrator's actual voice, but I think their narration itself was fun and expressive. It was hard to tell, though, when she had switched from internal monologue to actually speaking out loud.
I did predict every single reveal, but to me that's often a sign that a book is well plotted. As someone who reads for characters more than plot, I did like these characters. I liked Jack very much, but that may partially be because we don't get his perspective. Elsie was okay, but she did the thing that annoys me in enemies-to-lovers FMCs where she is overly antagonistic and refuses to give any benefit of the doubt even though the animosity is one sided or could easily be resolved by a rational conversation.
I didn't love the audiobook narrator's actual voice, but I think their narration itself was fun and expressive. It was hard to tell, though, when she had switched from internal monologue to actually speaking out loud.
Graphic: Chronic illness and Sexism
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexual content, and Death of parent
Minor: Toxic relationship, Acephobia/Arophobia, and Outing