Quick Thoughts: Love on the Brain by Ali Hazelwood

Love on the Brain

by Ali Hazelwood

August 23, 2022

Goodreads Summary:

A STEMinist rom-com in which a scientist is forced to work on a project with her nemesis--with explosive results.

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?

Review

Motivational, quirky and spicy, Love on the Brain was a treat! The story was so important and such a fun read.

What I Liked:

- the most riotous of dialogues

- I laughed out loud so many times

- lots of logical (relationship) observations

- the science was interesting

- fun made-up terms (see quote below) that were surprisingly relevant

- Bee and her overthinking brain was entertaining as hell

- Levi embodied perfection (he had legit reasons for every awkward, frosty moment between him and Bee)

- the pining was swoons

- the easy conversation/banter between Bee and Levi

- the steam *fans self*

- some hilarious and major blushing situations

- Rocío and Kaylee were adorable

- best sisterly interactions

- all the ladies/students speaking up

The Not So Much:

- sometimes the nerdy references run on and get confusing

- the predictability though I feel it was maybe on purpose?

"...having a man vouch for you will help you be taken seriously- the better-regarded the man, the higher his Sausage Referencing™ power." (p. 108)