I don’t do TikTok! But you cannot escape the influence it has on promoting certain books and authors and pushing up then the bestseller lists. Ali Hazelwood is definitely a Booktok favourite and Love on the Brain is my choice for this prompt.

What it’s about?

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 – 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. But Levi made his feelings toward Bee very clear in grad school – archenemies work best employed in their own galaxies far, far away.

But when her equipment starts to go missing and the staff ignore her, Bee could swear she sees Levi softening into an ally, backing her plays, seconding her ideas… devouring her with those eyes. 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?

What I think:

Ahh this was a fun holiday read.

I loved both Bee and Levi as characters. Smart and compassionate, ambitious and goofy, they are both interesting characters who ultimately compliment each other well.

In terms of plot, this is enemies ti lovers trope done well. Bee is convinced that Levi hates her and is convinced he is having an impact on her career. Of course, Levi doesn’t hate Bee, and it soon becomes apparent why.

Bee is such a great character. I think I would like to be friends with her! Her unconventional upbringing and her close relationship with her twin sister are poignant and funny. Her unsettled childhood means she is looking for security and stability. Sometimes in the wrong place.

Marie Curie looms large over the novel. I love how the snippets of her life and research, the prejudice and misogyny she faced are woven into Bee”s story to show how the scientific community has moved on and stayed the same. Women are still on the minority and Bee faces more than her fair share of sexism in the work place.

There are also some very entertaining cats in this book! And who doesn’t like that!

I’m definitely looking forward to my next instalment of Ali Hazelwood romance.