The Love Hypothesis
Author: Ali Hazelwood
Reviewer: Jen
Rating: A
What I’m Talking About:
In order to convince her best friend that she’s over her ex, Olive tells Ahn she’s on a date. But when it looks like Olive will be caught at the biology lab instead of on a date, she grabs the closest guy and kisses him. For better or worse, that guy happens to be Adam Carlsen, hotshot biology professor. Olive worries things will blow up and is pleasantly surprised that Adam is willing to go along with the charade.
The Love Hypothesis is an utterly delightful fake relationship romance featuring an adorable, geeky couple. I’ll just put this out there: Adam and Olive are meant to be. I enjoyed how they navigated their awkward chemistry and Olive’s over-analysis of her feelings. The story is shared completed from Olive’s (3rd person) POV. It causes the reader to rely on Olive’s assessment of situations and allows the author to suppress a few details that give more of a bang when they surface later in the story.
Set at Stanford University, The Love Hypothesis involves a third year PhD candidate and a slightly older professor in the same department. There is a potential for power imbalance, and the author doesn’t brush over the possible issues, yet never crosses the line into predator/prey territory. The characters smartly acknowledge the risks and address the situation appropriately. It’s also interesting and fun to witness the different reactions from each student, professor, and colleague to the news of their relationship.
It’s hard to put into words what precisely makes this such a wonderful story, but it’s all the little details. I loved watching Olive experience attraction and desire for the first time. I adored the quiet moments Olive and Adam share as they get to know one another. I appreciated the outward awkwardness of their attraction. The story was so engrossing because I genuinely wanted to see Olive and Adam succeed, both professionally and personally. And I appreciate that it’s not all sunshine and roses. Olive has to confront her feelings and make some difficult professional decisions. My heart ached for both as they navigated their way to an HEA.
In the end, I absolutely loved The Love Hypothesis. I adored Adam and Olive. I loved their genuine hearts and how they take the chance to find love. And I absolutely love the science. Overall, The Love Hypothesis is a feel-good story; reading it felt so cozy and comforting, even thought it also broke my heart at times.
My Rating: A, Loved It
Jen
About the Book:
As a third-year Ph.D. candidate, Olive Smith doesn’t believe in lasting romantic relationships–but her best friend does, and that’s what got her into this situation. Convincing Anh that Olive is dating and well on her way to a happily ever after was always going to take more than hand-wavy Jedi mind tricks: Scientists require proof. So, like any self-respecting biologist, Olive panics and kisses the first man she sees.
That man is none other than Adam Carlsen, a young hotshot professor–and well-known ass. Which is why Olive is positively floored when Stanford’s reigning lab tyrant agrees to keep her charade a secret and be her fake boyfriend. But when a big science conference goes haywire, putting Olive’s career on the Bunsen burner, Adam surprises her again with his unyielding support and even more unyielding…six-pack abs.
Suddenly their little experiment feels dangerously close to combustion. And Olive discovers that the only thing more complicated than a hypothesis on love is putting her own heart under the microscope.
Release Date: September 14, 2021
Publisher: Berkley
Series: Standalone
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Format(s): paperback (384 pages), e-book, audiobook
Book Source: Publisher/NetGalley
Purchase Info:
Amazon (affiliate link)