Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood, narrated by Thérèse Plummer, was a fun romance in which theoretical physicist Elsie Hannaway meets her match in experimental physicist Jack Smith. They are like two atoms circling each other and unable to break away from the building tension/attraction. Elsie is an adjunct professor up for a job at MIT, and Jack just happens to be the man that ruined the career of her mentor. But like Elsie, not everything is as it seems.
Although I loved the back and forth and the relationship between Elsie and Jack’s brother, there were way too many references to how tall Jack was, which I am not sure were necessary. But that really is a minor issue with this story. I loved the melding of science and romance here, and the behind-the-scenes look at professorship and academia. If you think the corporate world is about back-biting and competition, you haven’t been in academia.
There is a great look at privilege juxtaposed with a struggling adjunct teaching too many classes to complete her research, as well as the blinders we often have about people who are mentors. When should we begin to think about our own wants and needs and break away from our mentors to find our own path? Are our mentors always thinking about us or do they have ulterior motives? And when do those rumors we heard about a certain academic rival become twisted into something more for a different purpose?
Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood is a delightful look at finding yourself in the most unlikely places and learning to love yourself even if you aren’t perfect. But it’s also about that gravitational pull of your soul make or match or whatever you want to call it.
RATING: Quatrain
About the Author:
Ali Hazelwood is originally from Italy, lived in Japan and Germany, and eventually moved to the United States to pursue a Ph.D. in Neuroscience. She recently became a professor, which absolutely terrifies her. When she’s not at work you can find her binge-watching shows with her three feline overlords (and slightly less feline husband), running, or eating candy.