Smitchy's Reviews > Not in Love

This is actually the first Ali Hazelwood I have read but it won't be the last! This is a fabulous contemporary romance with strong lead characters who aren't afraid to demand what they need - in and out of bed.
Rue is a successful bio-engineer at Kline. A job that has given her financial stability, a good friend and the freedom to pursue her dream project; which is finally almost ready to take to market. Dating isn't her thing, however sex definitely is. With a few rules: He has to follow her lead in bed and never, ever meet up again. So when she connects to Eli for a no strings attached evening she doesn't expect to see him heading up the hostile takeover of Kline the very next day.
Eli is as surprised as Rue. He never expected to see her again and isn't going to let this lucky chance get away. But taking over Kline has been years in the making and nothing can get in the way as it is not just his financial investment that has to be recouped. But the attraction is undeniable and as long as they keep this tryst on the downlow there is no reason not to act on it, is there?

Here is a steamy romance with minor angst and a believable plot. Lots of sex scenes which were more imaginative than most romances (all respectful/ consensual - which I am currently finding is not always guaranteed in contemporary romance so that was nice) and female centred. Rue is clearly neuro-divergent and it is great to see an author who has not made neuro-spiciness the character's entire personality. Eli and Rue have great chemistry and the minor characters were fleshed out enough that I actually had to check that some of them had not turned up in previous books (they have not).
Points off for repeated use of the words 'filthy' and 'obscene' while doing things that were not actually that