Trust and Betrayal in Not in Love by Ali Hazelwood

Thematic Claim

In Not in Love, Ali Hazelwood argues that trust is both fragile and necessary: betrayal can come from those closest to us, yet rebuilding trust through vulnerability is the only path to genuine connection. The novel traces how Rue and Eli each experience multiple layers of betrayal—from friends, family, and each other—before learning that love requires risking trust even after it has been broken.

Three Key Plot Threads

1. Florence’s Patent Theft and Lies

The earliest and most systemic betrayal in the novel is Florence Kline’s theft of intellectual property from her former graduate students, Eli, Hark, and Minami. Florence claims she “had to make very difficult choices” (Chapter 31) when she left academia and started her own company using Minami’s fermentation tech idea, excluding the others from the patent. Years later, she lies to Rue about not remembering Eli—“she says she doesn’t remember us, it’s a deliberate lie” (Chapter 30). The betrayal deepens when Rue learns that Florence also sold her own microbial-coating patent out from under her: “Florence has been selling intellectual property to gather funds to buy back the loan. And she already has a buyer for your tech” (Chapter 36). Florence’s betrayal is not a single act but a pattern of prioritizing her own survival at the expense of those who trusted her.

2. Rue’s Discovery of Eli’s Deposition

Rue’s trust in Eli is shattered when she finds a legal deposition in his glove compartment, dated two weeks earlier, showing that Florence was questioned under oath about knowing Eli—contradicting Florence’s claim (Chapter 25). Rue feels betrayed by both Florence and Eli: “Florence lied to me… And you—why didn’t you…” (Chapter 25). This moment forces Rue to confront that she has been putting her trust in people who keep secrets. Simultaneously, her brother Vincent pounds on her door, demanding she sign over their father’s cabin—a betrayal of family loyalty (Chapter 26). Rue’s isolation is complete; she cannot call Tisha (who hates Vince) or the police (due to childhood loyalty), so she whispers for help to Eli, her first step toward reaching out.

3. Eli’s Past and His Vulnerability

Eli’s own history of betrayal—Florence stole his and Minami’s work, and he later gained custody of his sister Maya after both parents died (Chapter 27)—shapes his fear of trusting others. When Rue goes to Hark instead of him, Eli’s rage dissolves into “soul-deep resignation” (Chapter 30). He confesses his love for Rue in Chapter 36, but her silence sends him away. Yet Eli continues to act on her behalf, giving up his Harkness advantage to secure her patent (Chapter 38). Minami advises Rue: “If your hesitation is fear, not disinterest, call him” (Chapter 38). Rue finally meets Eli at the ice rink, apologizes for her lack of trust, and says she loves him (Chapter 39). Eli reciprocates, describing a future of “devoted, clingy commitment” (Chapter 39). The resolution shows that trust can be rebuilt through mutual vulnerability.

Character and Symbol Connections

The theme of trust versus betrayal is embodied in the contrast between Florence and Eli. Florence uses the rhetoric of “difficult choices” to justify her actions, while Eli repeatedly sacrifices his own interests for Rue’s well-being. Rue herself struggles to distinguish between them: “But hadn’t Florence been my friend, too?” (Chapter 36). The microbial coating patent represents Rue’s life’s work and trust in her mentor; its theft symbolizes how professional betrayal destroys personal security. The disputed cabin in Indiana mirrors family betrayal—Vincent’s greed versus Rue’s desire to keep her father’s legacy. The ice rink and hockey become a space where Rue and Eli shed their defenses: Rue confesses “meeting him changed her belief that her story would always be a tragedy” (Chapter 39). Even the left-behind panties (from their first hookup) symbolize the vulnerability Rue tries to avoid by her “no repeats” rule—a self-protective boundary that betrays her own desires.

Complexity and Contradiction

The novel resists a simple binary of good betrayers versus innocent victims. Rue herself is not blameless: she initially lies to Eli by hiding her identity and her connection to Kline. She also admits to reciprocating his love but fears disappointing him (Chapter 38). Eli withholds the truth about his past with Florence, claiming he wanted to protect Rue but actually failing to trust her with the full story. The deposition scene shows that even well-intentioned secrecy feels like betrayal.

Furthermore, Florence’s perspective complicates the theme. She argues that “the world is not black and white. There are shades of gray” (Chapter 31). Rue rejects this as a justification: “Having it hard doesn’t give us a pass to cheat other people out of their work” (Chapter 31). Yet the novel acknowledges that institutional pressures—sexism in academia, financial desperation—can drive people to betray others. The key distinction is whether the betrayer later takes responsibility. Florence never does; Eli and Rue do.

Study Questions and Answers

1. How does Florence’s betrayal of Eli and Minami in the past parallel her betrayal of Rue in the present?

Florence stole the fermentation tech from her grad students (Eli, Hark, Minami) to start her own company, claiming they deserved no credit (Chapter 31). Years later, she withholds the final step of the patent contract from Rue and attempts to sell Rue’s microbial-coating tech to raise funds (Chapter 36). In both cases, Florence prioritizes her own career survival over the trust of people who relied on her, revealing a pattern of exploitative mentorship.

2. Why does Rue react so strongly to finding the deposition in Eli’s car? What does her reaction reveal about her view of trust?

Rue feels “betrayed by both Florence and Eli” (Chapter 25) because the deposition proves Florence lied about not knowing Eli—and Eli had been keeping this evidence from her. Her fury stems from the belief that trust requires full transparency. The betrayal cuts deeper because she had begun to trust Eli intimately, and the discovery echoes her earlier disillusionment with Florence. Rue’s reaction shows she equates trust with complete truth-telling, a standard she later learns is unsustainable without grace.

3. How does Eli’s past with his sister Maya shape his capacity to trust Rue?

Eli gained custody of Maya after both parents died (Chapter 27), a responsibility that forced him to become self-sufficient and protective. He tells Rue he “cannot stop wanting her,” but his fear of being abandoned makes him hesitate to fully reveal his feelings. When Rue asks if he was okay, “a question no one had ever posed” (Chapter 27), Eli’s vulnerability opens the door to trust. His experience with Florence’s betrayal also teaches him that secrecy hurts, which is why he eventually confesses the full story.

4. What role does vulnerability play in the resolution of the trust theme in Chapter 39?

Rue arranges to meet Eli at the ice rink to apologize for her earlier lack of trust. She explains that meeting him changed her belief that her story would always be a tragedy, and she confesses she loves him (Chapter 39). Eli responds by describing a future of “devoted, clingy commitment,” accepting that Rue will “never be easy.” The resolution shows that trust is rebuilt not by demanding perfect honesty, but by choosing to be vulnerable despite past hurt. Both characters risk rejection and find acceptance.

5. In what ways does the novel suggest that professional betrayal (like Florence’s) can be more damaging than personal betrayal?

Professional betrayal—stealing someone’s intellectual property or career opportunities—strikes at identity and livelihood. For Rue, losing the patent means losing the work she “cradled and nurtured” (Chapter 36). For Eli and Minami, it meant derailing their academic careers. Personal betrayal (like Vincent’s demand for the cabin) is painful but more easily compartmentalized. The novel suggests that professional betrayal erodes trust in institutions and mentors, making it harder for characters like Rue to trust anyone, including potential partners. Personal betrayal, by contrast, can be healed through direct apology and changed behavior, as seen in Rue and Eli’s reconciliation.

Explore more about Rue Siebert, Eli Killgore, Florence Kline, and other characters. Return to the book home page.