Series Review: The STEMinist Novellas by Ali Hazelwood

 After loving Deep End earlier this year, I wanted to give Ali Hazelwood another shot and after I found a copy of the STEMinist Novellas at a local used bookstore, I decided to start there. Overall, I thought they were fun but they are definitely not a favorite of mine. 

Under One Roof

I enjoyed the first 80% of this. It's definitely silly - Mara is instantly rude to Liam despite moving into his home that he has been living in and refusing to budge on letting him buy her out of owning part of it - Like, yes, her beloved Mentor left her half of the house but it's not like the man wanted to kick her out onto the street, he wanted to pay her to let him completely own the home. I liked the way they warmed up to each other, it was funny. The last 20% though - the smut scene. I disliked A LOT. The best word I could use to describe it is awkward. I know that not every real-life sex situation is perfect, but this was painful to read. He physically comes on to her with no warning, no conversation or consent. She's realized she's into him so she's on board but when they move to the bedroom, he tells her he doesn't even like sex and that he was just doing this because he overheard her saying it was what she wanted! Like excuse me, why are you doing this to yourself instead of having a conversation with her first. 

Stuck With You

This was my favorite of the three. It's kind of instalove, like they meet and develop a good connection in one day, but it was still fun to read. Erik was a three-course meal, from his personality to how he was in the smut scene. I typically am not a fan of miscommunication in novels but as this was related to their jobs, I actually did not hate it. I feel like a work-related rumor that involves someone stealing your ideas is a valid thing to be upset over. I think it was funny that getting stuck in an elevator forced her to have a conversation with him about what really happened.

Below Zero

This is the second time recently where I have been the most excited for the third book in an interconnected set of standalones and it let me down. While in the background of the first two novella's Hannah seemed so interesting and fun. The Hannah in this book was not interesting or fun. She was kind of a bitch. I am all for characters being a bit slutty, you want to sleep around and not get attached? that is awesome for you, but she was so weird about him NOT wanting that. Later they both end up working for NASA and mind you, he has so much seniority over her. She throws a fit when he declines research she wants to do because it's DANGEROUS and she doesn't listen when he tells her that the person that says they'll pay for the trip doesn't have her best interest in mind and then he has to risk his life to come save her when she gets hurt & stuck. She doesn't deserve him at all.