This is now the third book I've read of Ali's, and safe to say, it's my favorite. I've adored all of Ali's past books, as they keep being exactly what I needed at the time, but this one really takes the cake for me!

First off, I'd love to thank Netgalley and the publisher so much for giving me early access to this book! As always, all thoughts and opinions are still my own, and I read an earlier version of the book, meaning some things may have changed between this version and the published version!

I feel like anyone who was worried that Ali's stories would begin to feel too formulaic after Love on the Brain needs to read this book. It really feels like Ali is really coming into her own with this book, and showing her strengths and capabilities as a romance author, beyond the fantastic fanfic we know her for! While Love, Theoretically is still very much an 'Ali' book, it also shows her potential for range and variation in her characters and plots, while still keeping a strong, connected feel to her books. Jack and Elsie are not just another copy of Adam and Olive, but their own characters in their own right, and I love how deeply this book explores and proves that to us.

In general, there is so much more depth here. In her author's note, Ali says this book is the most academic one she's ever written, and she's right! There is even more focus on this side of the characters' lives, and it comes to life as more than just a background that the romance takes place in. But somehow, Ali also manages to balance this with a strong romance as well, blending the two together in such a way that they manage to hold each other up. I also feel like this book has so much more emotional and character depth as well, on an individual level. Elsie is a people-pleaser, consistently putting her pieces together in different ways to best make the people around her happy. She's a thousand different Elsies, a mosaic of Elsies, and it's honestly heart-wrenching to see her start to see herself, know herself, and choose herself. And it's also beautiful to see the line of Elsies begin to fall away, and become just Elsie. I always thought that the strongest aspect of Ali's books would be the romance, but honestly, I love what she did here with Elsie's character, and I'd recommend it just for that part alone (though I of course adored the romance as well!!!)

Ali's past works have already made me a lifelong fan, but this book truly cements that. I'm left excited and refreshed and feeling so whole and happy. This book was just a wonderful way to spend an hour, an evening, a whole day, and I'm left brimming with excitement for all her future works (and excited to see everyone else fall in love with Elsie and Jack just like I did!)