Introduction
Published back in 2022 by the beloved author, Ali Hazelwood, Love on the Brain balances romance with real-life STEM conflicts to create an amazing story that’s perfect to read in one sitting.
A Summary
Love on the Brain follows Bee Königswasser, a neuroscientist whose life philosophy is basically “channel Marie Curie and hope for the best.” So when she’s chosen to help lead a major NASA project focused on cutting‑edge neuroengineering, she’s convinced the universe is finally throwing her a win. The excitement dims a little when she learns she’ll be sharing the role with Levi Ward, a man she’s pretty sure spent their entire grad school experience avoiding eye contact and silently wishing she’d evaporate. Determined not to let an old academic nemesis ruin her dream job, Bee arrives ready to focus on science. Instead, she finds herself dealing with missing equipment, unhelpful colleagues, and a workplace that seems oddly determined to pretend she doesn’t exist. The surprising part is that Levi keeps stepping in at exactly the right moments. He listens. He supports her ideas. He treats her like an equal. It’s confusing, and a little disarming, especially when she starts noticing the way he looks at her. As the project grows more complicated, Bee is forced to rethink everything she thought she knew about Levi, her career, and what she actually wants. The book blends slow‑burn tension, STEM chaos, and a heroine trying to figure out her place in a world that doesn’t always take women seriously. It’s a story about unexpected allies, second chances, and the possibility that the person you once wrote off might be the one who sees you most clearly.
Writing Style
Hazelwood’s writing style is exactly what I’ve come to love from her. It’s full of humour that feels natural rather than forced, the kind that sneaks into the dialogue and inner monologue in a way that makes the whole book feel light even when the themes get heavier. She also does yearning so well. It’s that slow, simmering kind of longing that builds through tiny moments, and thoughts the characters would never admit out loud. The story is told entirely through the singular POV of Bee Königswasser, who is written to be lovable, smart, and adorably petty. Her voice carries the book with this mix of vulnerability and sharp wit that makes her feel like someone you’d want to be friends with.
What I Loved
We all know by now that I’m a huge fan of Ali Hazelwood’s writing, and this book was absolutely no exception. She has this talent for creating stories that feel both comforting and exciting at the same time, and I fell straight into that familiar rhythm the moment I started reading. The humour was phenomenal too. It’s the kind of humour that feels effortless, the kind that sneaks up on you and makes you laugh out loud even though you swore you were going to stay composed. Very on-brand for her, and very appreciated by me. My favourite part, without question, was the messages between the main character and the love interest. I was genuinely smiling at the page every single time they appeared. Their dynamic felt so natural and sweet, and those little exchanges added so much charm to the story. And the love interest himself… honestly, perfection. Protective in a gentle way, shy in moments that made him feel grounded, and actually emotionally available. A man who communicates and self-reflects. We love to see it. Somehow, Ali Hazelwood even managed to make the over-used miscommunication trope feel brand new. I don’t know how she pulled that off, but it worked, and it worked well. The plot as a whole was incredibly engaging too. I was invested from the start, and I loved how it tackled the reality of how women are treated in STEM environments. It felt painfully relatable at times, but it never overshadowed the cuteness or the warmth of the story. It all blended together beautifully.
What I Didn’t Love
The only thing that didn’t fully land for me was the secondary plot. It wasn’t bad by any means, and everything tied up neatly in the end, but it just didn’t have the same spark or emotional punch that I’ve come to expect from Hazelwood’s books. Compared to how strong and engaging the main storyline was, this side thread felt a little less compelling and didn’t pull me in the way I hoped it would. It didn’t ruin anything, but it definitely sat in the shadow of the main romance and the STEM commentary, which were doing most of the heavy lifting.
Recommendation
This book is a no-brainer and I definitely recommend it to anyone who loves a good cozy rom-com. Don’t worry if you don’t understand STEM topics like engineering or neuroscience, Hazelwood covers the topics with regular people in mind, so there’s no problem.
Songs
Songs that I find reminiscent of the book:
I Wanna Be Yours by Arctic Monkeys
Remember When by Wallows
Ophelia by The Lumineers
(P.S. We made them links so feel free to click on them and get teleported straight into the vibes.)
