Book Review: Below Zero by Ali Hazelwood

Title: Below Zero

Author: Ali Hazelwood

Series/Standalone: The STEMinist Novellas (Book #3)

Genre: Romance, Contemporary, Novella

Pages: 139

Publisher: Berkley

Year Published: 2022

Format: Audiobook

"It will take the frosty terrain of the Arctic to show these rival scientists that their chemistry burns hot.

Mara, Sadie and Hannah are friends first, scientists always. Though their fields of study might take them to different corners of the world, they can all agree on this universal truth: when it comes to love and science, opposites attract and rivals make you burn...

Hannah's got a bad feeling about him. Not only has NASA aerospace engineer found herself injured and stranded at a remote Arctic research station- but the one person willing to undertake the hazardous rescue mission is her longtime rival. 

Ian has been many things to Hannah: the villain who tried to veto her expedition and ruin her career, the man who stars in her most deliciously lurid dreams... but he's never played the hero. So why is he risking everything to be here? And why does his presence seem just as dangerous to her heart as the coming snowstorm?"

My Rating:  2.5/5

This one was my least favourite out of the three novellas that I read from this author. it just didn't go the way I expected which is fine, but I think this one could have benefited from being a full-length novel. It just didn't have the traction that other pieces of her work had. I liked it, it was fun, but it wasn't all I thought it could be. 

Thanks for reading, 

Sidny

Book Review: Stuck With You by Ali Hazelwood

Title: Stuck with You

Author: Ali Hazelwood

Series/Standalone: The STEMinist Novellas (Book #2)

Genre: Romance, Novella, Smut

Pages: 127

Publisher: Berkley

Year Published: 2022

Format: Audiobook

"Nothing like a little rivalry between scientists to take love to the next level.

Mara, Saide and Hannah are friends first, scientists always. Though their fields of study might take them to different corners of the world, they can all agree on this universal truth: when it comes to love and science, opposites attract and rivals make you burn...

Logically, Sadie knows that civil engineers are supposed to build bridges. However, as a woman of STEM she also understands that variables can change, and when you are stuck for hours in a tiny New York elevator with the man who broke your heart,  you earn the right to burn that brawny, blond bridge to the ground. Erik can apologize all he wants, but to quote her rebel leader- she'd just as soon kiss a Wookiee.

Not even the most sophisticated of Sadie's superstitious rituals could have predicted such a disastrous reunion. But while she refuses to acknowledge the siren call of Erik's steely forearms or the way his voice softens when he offers her his sweater, Sadie can't help but wonder if there might be more layers to her cold-hearted nemesis than meet the eye. Maybe, possibly, even burned bridges can still be crossed...."

My Rating: 4/5

I have really enjoyed these smutty little novellas. The smut is great, the plot is fun and they are a quick little read for on-the-go. I do have a complaint that our heroine is constantly the same archetype. She is so small, awkward, petite and has the same interests stereotypically (we did see a flux with some interest in soccer here). The male lead is also very similar. Tall, muscular and for the first time this one had a bit of a different look. But overall I can't distinguish any of the heroes or heroines written by the author. I would just like to see a bit more of a diverse range of characters. 

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: Under One Roof by Ali Hazelwood

Title: Under One Roof

Author: Ali Hazelwood

Series/Standalone: The STEMinist Novellas (Book #1)

Genre: Romance, Smut, Novella

Pages: 112

Publisher: Berkley

Year Published: 2022

Format: Audiobook

"A scientist should never cohabitate with her annoyingly hot nemesis- it leads to combustion.

Mara, Sadie and Hannah are friends first, scientists always. Though their fields of study might take them to different corners of the world, they can all agree on this universal truth: when it comes to love and science, opposites attract and rivals make you burn...

As an environmental engineer, Mara knows all about the delicate nature of ecosystems. They require balance. And leaving the thermostat alone. And not stealing someone else's food. And other rules Liam, her detestable big-oil lawyer of a roommate, knows nothing about. Okay, sure, technically she's the interloper. Liam was already entrenched in his aunt's house like some glowering grumpy giant when Mara moved in, with his big muscles and kissable mouth just sitting there on the couch tempting respectable scientists to the dark side... but Helena was her mentor and Mara's not about to move out and give her inheritance without a fight. 

The problem is, living with someone means getting to know them. And the more Mara finds out about Liam, the harder it is to loathe him... and the easier it is to love him."

My Rating: 4.5/5

This is what I expect from a four-hour romance novella audio. This was smut! It was fun, it was a bit of pining but mostly knowing that by the end the people are getting together and it's gonna be fun to read about. If you've read Ali Hazelwood's other work you might want to take a minute in between this and the rest as I'm finding that most of her female main characters are fairly similar. That being said if it isn't broken, don't fix it!

Thanks for reading,

Sidny