When a fake relationship between scientists meets the irresistible force of attraction, it throws one woman’s carefully calculated theories on love into chaos.

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.

Book Type:

Romantic Comedy

Review: The Love Hypothesis

A fake relationship between scientists spirals when irresistible attraction and real feelings upend plans—in Ali Hazelwood’s knockout debut, THE LOVE HYPOTHESIS.

Biology Ph.D. candidate Olive Smith needs to convince her best friend Anh that she’s happy and dating, a feat she knows requires proof. Panicking, Olive kisses the first guy she sees… trouble is, that guy ends up being hot-shot Professor Adam Carlsen.

Carlsen’s infamy hails from his ruthless, tyrannic ways be it in the lab, or in a dissertation committee meeting. So Olive is struck speechless when he agrees to be her fake boyfriend, a temporary charade with mutually beneficial benefits.

News about their relationship sends both grad students and professors into a frenzied tailspin, especially as they’re forced to keep up the ruse publicly. But the more time Olive and Adam spend with each other, the more she sees a different side to him, and the more desire threatens to complicate their already precarious situation. Worse yet, as their time to end things looms, real feelings foreshadow inescapable heartache.

Hazelwood’s ‘opposites-attract’ love story is one of those rare gems that feels entirely fresh and fun to read. A once-Microbiology student myself, I loved the academic backdrop of the story which was buoyed by whip-smart banter and charm. Endearing characters bring this off-beat romcom to life in the most delightful way, making it the perfect one-weekend binge that is sure to leave you smiling.

You Might Also Like: