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Pairing Science with Self-Discovery in Trope Filled, Charming Debut, Grumpy Meets Sunshine in Ali Hazelwood’s ‘The Love Hypothesis’

January 11, 2022       Leave a Comment

Ali Hazelwood conducts the experiment of a lifetime in The Love Hypothesis , a clever, self-aware contemporary romance that explores bias, harassment, and the stark reality of working in academia from the bold and quirky Olive Smith, a third year Ph.D. candidate at Stanford University.

hy∙poth∙e∙sis (noun) A supposition of proposed explanation made on the basis of limited evidence, as a starting point for further investigation. Example: Based on the available information and the data hitherto collected, my hypothesis is that the farther away I stay from love, the better off I will be. – excerpt from Ali Hazelwood’s The Love Hypothesis

Built from the ground up on theorems and hypotheses, Hazelwood deftly explores what it means to be a woman in STEM, launching each chapter with a hypothesis, curated from Olive’s day-to-day life, offering insight into her career path and relationships, beginning with her choice to pursue a Ph.D. and expand her work on pancreatic cancer. On edge about pursuing academia, a half-blind Olive stumbles into what she believes is the bathroom, only to be met with a tall, pensive presence.

Cool, confident and slightly stand-offish, the mystery man – later to be revealed as the prestigious young professor, Dr. Adam Carlsen – offers Olive valuable advice on her career path, giving her the push she needs to pursue the candidacy at Stanford. Although Olive believes the tall, blurry figure to be a student, his words carry her through the ups and downs of the program after her acceptance; a reminder that, in the end, the grueling hours, scant pay, and vigorous research will be worth it as she navigates her third year, intent on finding a fellowship in a cancer lab to further her study on biomarkers and their impact on early detection testing.

Desperate to make her best friend Anh believe that she no longer has feelings for her “ex” Jeremy, Olive kisses the first person she encounters on a late night in the biology department, the notoriously moody destroyer of careers, Dr. Adam Carlsen. Flustered – by the intensity of the kiss, and its recipient – Olive flees, but not before a bit of playful banter ensues, offering up a hint of chemistry alongside an important glimpse at sexual discrimination protocols and rights within the educational system in Adam’s mention of Title IX.

Filing a formal complaint would be well within his rights, and though he is joking, the mention of the law sets Olive on edge, determined to make amends. Before she has the chance to do so, rumors of her relationship spread like wildfire among faculty and students, igniting a charming fake-dating scenario and revealing a surprisingly soft side to the formerly unapproachable and antagonistic tenured professor. With Adam and Olive set to gain something from the arrangement (Olive a sense of freedom and satisfaction, Adam stability and funding), fake-dating Wednesdays – the first in a series of clever, self-aware inclusions of well-worn romance tropes, each carefully plotted and downright charming in execution – begin.

Hypothesis: Approximately two out of three fake-dating situations will involve room-sharing; 50 percent of room-sharing situations will be further complicated by the presence of only one bed. – excerpt from Ali Hazelwood’s The Love Hypothesis

Fifteen minute coffee dates on campus lead to delightful banter, Adam’s hatred of pumpkin spice lattes warring with his desire to keep Olive safe, obvious in his desire to pay for her meals and walk her home, born of his understanding of the frugal and frustrating state of being that is grad school life. His deadpan humor and relatively calm demeanor pair well with Olive’s frazzled yet bright state of mind, the duo opposites, one grumpy, one sunshine in an I-hate-everyone-but-you slow burn romance, spurred on by Olive’s closest friends: Anh and Malcolm.

From indulgent kisses prompted by peer pressure to sunscreen application in the name of melanoma prevention, Adam and Olive are forced into close proximity, their relationship a delicate slow burn that blossoms in the wake of a looming expiration date. Teasing quips and curiosity bring the duo closer together, well-written tropes uniting them when an annual science conference beckons, the duo expected to share a room due to their relationship status, wherein things heat up quickly, mutual desire leaving Adam speechless and Olive clumsy, yet bold following an impromptu dinner date. Consent is paramount as their relationship picks up speed, Hazelwood a master of pining and sensuality. While on the page sex was unexpected, Hazelwood writes with passion and enthusiasm, Adam and Olive exploring one another with reverence, even as the characters grapple with their feelings.

The casual domesticity of it – the thought that his day and hers would end in the same place, at the same time, soothed her like slow caress down her spine. – excerpt from Ali Hazelwood’s The Love Hypothesis

It is in these tender moments that sexuality is explored with care, Olive’s demisexuality explored with consideration and consent – a welcome sight in romance that lays bare the struggles that ace specs deal with on a daily basis, beginning with Olive’s difficulty in understanding Malcolm’s adventurous sex life and ending with her desire to fake-date Adam Carlsen: to get Anh to believe that she is over an ex that she wasn’t into from the start. Alongside a tantalizing slow burn, Hazelwood puts emphasis on the importance of trust in a demisexual relationship, all while showing that sexual attraction and pleasure don’t always go hand in hand, beginning with Olive’s first kiss with Adam – a thing that Olive recognizes is physically pleasurable, but that doesn’t necessarily equate to sexual attraction, chemistry, or desire.

Hazelwood paints a romance full of ups and downs, a thing of whimsy and absolute delight in its charm, Adam proving to be a pining mess, intent on lifting Olive up, even when he longs to protect her. There’s beauty in his subtle humor and intense gaze, even as the duo are fooled by their own lies, both believing that the other is in love with someone else, despite the obvious romantic connection between them, buoyed up by fake dating Wednesdays and a shared love of scientific discovery.

Impossible. Improbable. Inconceivable. Just like everything else about Adam and Olive. – excerpt from Ali Hazelwood’s The Love Hypothesis

While The Love Hypothesis focuses on Olive’s romantic journey, there is more to Hazelwood’s debut at stake. Written from the backdrop of the laboratory, Hazelwood sheds light on the very real struggles that grad students face from thesis rejections and tight, no-sleep deadlines, to wages and expectations, not to mention the treatment of women in academia (and beyond), in the form of harassment and plagiarism.

Mention of harassment rights through Title IX serve as a catalyst for banter and a forewarning, Hazelwood laying bare the harsh reality that is abuse, plagiarism and sexual harassment within the academic scene – first, in memories of Adam’s undergrad mentorship, and later, in a traumatic experience with a colleague and potential mentor, wherein Olive faces sexism, ultimatums, and physical harassment that put her in a difficult situation when it comes to furthering her research – and her budding relationship with Adam.

Hazelwood does not shy away from the truth, revealing scathing remarks alongside unwanted physical contact, exploring Olive’s trauma with grace, even as she is battered by cruel, misogynistic remarks on her ability and worth. Through it all, Olive perseveres – and, alongside Anh, who is a champion for BIPOC representation in STEM – proves to be a great mentor, a figure to look up to for her dedication, stubbornness, and inability to back down from a fight, no matter how tough it is.

While The Love Hypothesis could benefit from Adam’s POV to provide further background and emotional depth, Ali Hazelwood stuns in an emotionally impactful debut that uplifts women in STEM while providing much needed ace representation in romance. With clever, thoughtful use of age-old romance tropes, from fake dating to the notion that there might only be one bed, The Love Hypothesis is a must read drenched in longing, awkwardness, and innocent nerd charm so perfect you’ll want to devour it twice – in paper and audio.

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Parents' guide to, the love hypothesis.

• Common Sense Says
• Parents Say 3 Reviews
• Kids Say 2 Reviews

Common Sense Media Review

Uneven romance has explicit sex, features women in STEM.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Ali Hazelwood's The Love Hypothesis is an adult romance set in the higher levels of academia at Stanford University. Ph.D. candidate Olive starts a fake relationship with a professor in hopes of inspiring her best friend to go for the man she's really interested in. Other than a few…

Why Age 17+?

Other than a few kisses and some romantic tension, there's only one sex scene, b

"Bulls--t," "clit," "clusterf--k," "c--k," "d--k," "f--k," "f--king," "holy crap

An incident of verbal sexual assault with an attempted kiss and coercion. An exc

A few food and beverage brands, and a couple of entertainment franchises to esta

All characters are adults of legal drinking age in California, where the story i

Any Positive Content?

Olive and Ahn are good models of women in STEM. They're extremely loyal and supp

Olive reads as White, is from Canada, and is very slim. Adam implies he's Jewish

An author's note explains Title IX and offers websites supporting women and BIPO

You have to be strong and tough to make it in the academic world, especially in

Parents need to know that Ali Hazelwood's The Love Hypothesis is an adult romance set in the higher levels of academia at Stanford University. Ph.D. candidate Olive starts a fake relationship with a professor in hopes of inspiring her best friend to go for the man she's really interested in. Other than a few kisses and some romantic tension, there's only one sex scene, but it's extended, explicit, and meant to arouse. Oral and genital sex, manual stimulation, genital penetration, sucking nipples and genitals, and orgasm are described in detail with words like "clit" and "c--k." Main character Olive experiences verbal sexual assault, and an excerpt from another book in the back has sexual harassment and cyberbullying. Strong language includes "c--k," "d--k," "f--k," "pr--k," "s--t," and more. Adults mention past excessive drinking, look forward to free alcohol at university events, and have a weekly "beer and s'mores night." Two characters remember one of them projectile vomiting after eating bad shrimp, but it's not described. Olive is an orphan with no family. Her mother died of pancreatic cancer, so grief and loss are important themes, along with the struggles women still face in STEM-related fields.

Sex, Romance & Nudity

Other than a few kisses and some romantic tension, there's only one sex scene, but it's extended, explicit, and meant to arouse. Oral and genital sex, manual stimulation, genital penetration, sucking nipples and genitals, and orgasm are described in detail with some crude words like "clit" and "c--k." Good examples of consent are modeled, and birth control and being "clean" are talked about. A few times adults talk about sex or sex acts like sixty-nining, butt stuff, and getting a "hand job."

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.

"Bulls--t," "clit," "clusterf--k," "c--k," "d--k," "f--k," "f--king," "holy crap," "holy s--t," "pr--k," "s--t," "s--tshow," ass," "assness," "bitch," "bitching," "butt," "crap," "crapfest," "dammit," "goddamned," "hell," "jackass," "pee," "smart-ass." "Jesus" as an exclamation.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.

Violence & Scariness

An incident of verbal sexual assault with an attempted kiss and coercion. An excerpt at the end from a future book has sexual harassment and cyberbullying. A man pins another against a wall by the collar and threatens to kill him.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

Products & Purchases

A few food and beverage brands, and a couple of entertainment franchises to establish character and setting.

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

All characters are adults of legal drinking age in California, where the story is set. Very little actual drinking is depicted, but there are mentions of past drunkenness, a weekly beer and s'mores night, and taking advantage of free alcohol at academic meetings and conferences.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.

Positive Role Models

Olive and Ahn are good models of women in STEM. They're extremely loyal and supportive of each other, and Anh creates chances to support other women, especially BIPOC women in STEM. Adam is very protective and kind on a personal level toward Olive, but to his students he's harsh and uncompromising and seems uncaring. Olive makes a grand gesture out of compassion for Anh and models perseverance in advancing her research and career.

Diverse Representations

Olive reads as White, is from Canada, and is very slim. Adam implies he's Jewish and is very tall and powerfully built. Best friend Anh's family is from Vietnam, and she identifies as a woman of color. Roommate Malcolm reads as White, dates men, and enters a romantic relationship with another man. Olive wonders if she's asexual.

Did we miss something on diversity? Suggest an update .

Educational Value

An author's note explains Title IX and offers websites supporting women and BIPOC women in STEM academic fields. The overall story provides insight into graduate and postgraduate academic life and careers, especially in STEM fields.

Positive Messages

You have to be strong and tough to make it in the academic world, especially in STEM fields. Don't be afraid to speak up when you've been harmed or you learn about something unethical. Your web of lies will eventually come to light, and when it does, it may cause more hurt than being truthful from the start would have.

Where to Read

Parent and kid reviews.

• Parents say (3)
• Kids say (2)

Based on 3 parent reviews

This is a great book for mature 13+

Good for kids, what's the story.

THE LOVE HYPOTHESIS is about Stanford graduate student Olive, who needs to convince her best friend, Anh, that it's OK for Anh to date a guy Olive had recently been seeing but wasn't really interested in. So she hatches a plan to "fake-date" none other than the Biology department's most prestigious professor, Adam Carlsen, who's also a huge jerk. As Olive and Adam's ruse gets harder and harder to keep up, Olive starts to feel like she wishes their dating wasn't actually fake. Will she be able to untangle her web of lies without ruining everything, for everyone?

Is It Any Good?

This romance set in the lofty world of a prestigious graduate school program has its ups and downs. It's refreshing to see women in STEM represented and important to highlight how much many women struggle in that world. The Love Hypothesis has some funny banter, especially with colorful supporting characters. Readers who enjoy very familiar romcom tropes will feel at home here, because this story is chock-full of them. The one explicit sex scene is easy to skip for those who aren't interested. A big drawback is Olive's truly bad and unrealistic decision making, which strains believability and takes the reader outside the story.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about the graphic sex in The Love Hypothesis . Is it over-the-top? Realistic? Is reading about it different from seeing it in movies, videos, and other media?

What are some concerns about reading or watching explicit sex ? Do you compare yourself or your body to the characters? Does it make you afraid, feel creepy, or unsure about what sex is like for real people?

What about all the strong language? Is it realistic? Is it a big deal? Why, or why not?

Talk about women studying and working in STEM fields. What are some of the challenges Olive and Ahn face? How do they deal with them? Who supports them? What can men do to make STEM fields more welcoming and inclusive?

Book Details

• Author : Ali Hazelwood
• Genre : Romance
• Topics : STEM , Friendship , Great Girl Role Models
• Character Strengths : Compassion , Perseverance
• Book type : Fiction
• Publisher : Berkley
• Publication date : September 14, 2021
• Publisher's recommended age(s) : 18 - 18
• Number of pages : 400
• Available on : Paperback, Audiobook (unabridged), iBooks, Kindle
• Last updated : April 2, 2024

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

Suggest an Update

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Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

'The Love Hypothesis' won Amazon's best romance book of 2021, has a near-perfect rating on Goodreads, and is all over TikTok. Here's why it's such a unique love story.

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• " The Love Hypothesis " grabbed the attention of romance readers everywhere in 2021.
• It was named Amazon's Best Romance Novel of 2021 and was nominated for a Goodreads Choice Award.
• This book checks off all my boxes for a great romance read and is definitely worth the hype.

This year, Amazon named " The Love Hypothesis " by Ali Hazelwood the best romance book of the year. Even though it was only recently published in September 2021, "The Love Hypothesis" has quickly become a fan-favorite, with 88% of Goodreads reviewers giving it four- or five-star-level praise .

It was also nominated for a Goodreads Choice Award and is hugely popular amongst Book of the Month members , with only 1% of readers giving it a "disliked" rating.

"The Love Hypothesis" is about Olive Smith, a third-year Ph.D. candidate studying pancreatic cancer at Stanford. In an attempt to convince one of her best friends that she's moved on from an old crush, she impulsively kisses Dr. Adam Carlsen, the department's notoriously brutal (but undeniably attractive) professor. After the kiss, Adam and Olive agree to fake a relationship so she can prove to her friend that she's happily dating and he can convince their department that he isn't planning to leave anytime soon.

I'm a little picky about my romance novels , so giving this read every bit of a five-star review didn't come lightly. My standards are high because the best romance novels have the potential to expose readers to authentic and imperfect relationships and offer new topics of discussion without making us feel like it's a story we've already read. 

With all the hype surrounding this new romance read, I couldn't resist picking it up.

Here's why "The Love Hypothesis" is one of my favorite recent romance books:

1. the story focuses a lot on olive and adam's lives outside their romance, making their love story more believable and interesting..

Romance novels tend to fall into a few popular tropes such as " enemies-to-lovers " or "forbidden love." "The Love Hypothesis" combines two of the most popular tropes right now, "Fake dating" and "grumpy/sunshine," really well — I loved the contrast between Adam's serious attitude to Olive's bright and sugary one. 

But despite following these tropes, the story feels fresh because it's also largely about Olive's work and its meaning to her. The only other romance book I've read featuring a STEM heroine is "The Kiss Quotient" , so I loved seeing that representation and learning about something new. 

The story honestly reflected the challenges Ph.D. candidates face in academia and that authenticity — deepened by the author's personal experiences — brought the characters, the settings, and the romance to life even more as Olive and Adam faced challenges with funding, time-consuming research, and questioning their sense of purpose.

2. The steamier scenes are also awkward and realistic, which made them even better.

In romance books, there are a few different levels of how graphic a steamy scene can get , from little-to-no detail to explicitly outlined movements. (I personally prefer mine to "fade to black.")

There was only one chapter with adult content, and it was definitely graphic. While I made a ton of ridiculous faces while reading and tried to skim past the parts that made me audibly gasp, I loved that it wasn't a movie-made, perfect sex scene with graceful movements and smooth dialogue. The scene was a little awkward, imperfect, and full of consent and conversation, making it refreshingly real.

3. The book deals with other topics besides the main love story, making it a much deeper read.

While it's wonderful to get swept up in the magic of a romantic storyline, having a secondary plot that addresses real issues is what makes a romance novel truly great . 

Mild spoilers and content warnings ahead: While "The Love Hypothesis" is a fun romantic read, it also addresses the pain of familial death, power differentials, intimacy challenges, and, most prevalently, workplace sexual harassment. 

Love is beautiful, fun, and amazing, but "The Love Hypothesis" takes the opportunity to also include conversations about serious issues. While these topics may be tough for some readers, I think these plot points, hard conversations, and complicated emotions take "The Love Hypothesis" to the next level and make it a five-star read. 

The bottom line

"The Love Hypothesis" has everything I personally look for in a romance novel: A unique storyline, authentic characters, and an important message. If you're looking for a perfectly balanced romance read, "The Love Hypothesis" is worth the hype and definitely one of the best romance books to come out in the past year.

• Main content

• Everything about the best romance books

• Enemies to Lovers
• Fake Dating
• Grumpy Sunshine
• Office Romance

Book Review: The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood

Are you looking for a new spicy romance book to read and are looking for a review of The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood?

You’ve come to the right place!

Published in 2021, The Love Hypothesis has quickly become a Booktok sensation and one of the best examples of spicy romance books with a female character in STEM.

It’s a great book for people looking for a rom com with some twists.

In this article, I tell you everything you need to know about the Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood.

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no extra cost for you!

The Love Hypothesis Cover and Quick Introduction

Author : Ali Hazelwood

Published : 2021

Number of pages : 352

Category : Contemporary Spicy Romance

Themes and tropes: Fake Dating, Age Gap, College Romance, Teacher, Opposite personalities, Grumpy sunshine, STEM

Set in: Stanford, California and Boston

Where to buy: Amazon | AbeBooks

Rating : ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Boyfriend Rating: 💍💍💍

Likelihood of reading a sequel: ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

The Love Hypothesis Summary

The Love Hypothesis is the story of Olive, a 3rd-year Ph.D. student in biology at Stanford and Dr Adam Carlsen, a scholar.

It all starts when Olive randomly kisses Adam so her best friend would think she is dating someone.

Her best friend likes Olive’s ex and Olive wants them to go out together but Anh refuses because, you know, girls code. And while honourable, it’s not actually what Olive wants since she has never really been into that guy.

After the kiss, things take a bit more proportion than anticipated and her and Adam end up agreeing on fake dating for a while.

Adam is completely different from Olive. They have different tastes in pretty much everything (especially food and movies). But as the fake dating game goes along, Olive starts developing feelings for his fake boyfriend.

I won’t tell you much more about it but there are also a lot of elements regarding academia, grants and their careers as a general thing.

The Love Hypothesis: Is it for you?

Yes it is for you for if you love:

• Spicy romance
• Book turners (I read it in a day so that’s how good it is)
• Fake dating tropes

No it’s not for you if you don’t like:

• Books that take place in a school environment (well college, they are in their late 20s and 30s)

I also wouldn’t recommend it if you are triggered by the following topics: loss of a parent, illness of a parent.

The Love Hypothesis Review: My Opinion

This book is a real page turner. I read it in a day! And while I do love a good rom com, it usually takes more time than a day to finish a book.

Overall, I thought it was a great story and very well written.

A lot of romance books can be a bit of slow burns and while Olive and Adam don’t actually get together until the end, there isn’t a single moment where you’re bored. There is always something happening.

Yet, it doesn’t feel like there are too many levels to the story. It just perfectly works together.

Things I loved about the Love Hypothesis

There are many things that I loved about the Love Hypothesis but the main one is that I thought Olive was a very strong character.

She works in science, which is an area that is notorious for being mainly male. It’s so amazing to see a female character evolving in this male dominated industry.

You will see that she faces mainly challenges because she is a woman and I loved how all these challenges were tackled. Because whether we like it or not, this is the reality of being a woman.

We are often undermined by men unfortunately and I loved the fact that the author tackled these topics.

I also loved the character of Adam. He is quite shy and doesn’t speak that much but you can just tell that he really likes Olive and that even though they are completely different, he loves her for who she is.

I also loved the secondary characters. They are funny and bring a lot to the story.

Things I didn’t like about the Love Hypothesis

There is actually barely anything that I didn’t like about this book. I thought it was rather perfect but if I were to point out some things, I wished there were more spicy parts. There is only one chapter really and a bit more would have been nice.

It would also have been nice to have a longer epilogue with more insight on their future life.

The Love Hypothesis Review: The Characters Ranked

Here are my favourite characters in the Love Hypothesis.

• Olive. She is just a lovely character. She is modest, incredibly smart, funny, and quite shy at times. She simply has it all.
• Holden Rodrigues. He is just the best friend we all want and brings a lot to the story. He is the one who pushes Olive to believe in herself and in Adam without even realising it.
• Adam. I loved how he stood by Olive and just did the right thing. Also, I always have a soft spot for boyfriends who fell in love first.

Best The Love Hypothesis Quotes

• “And then I’ll come find you, and I’ll take care of you.” – Adam
• “Carry yourself with the confidence of a mediocre white man.”
• “Because I’m starting to wonder if this is what being in love is. Being okay with ripping yourself to shreds, so the other person can stay whole.”
• “I am going to take care of this,”
• “I know it’s scary, being vulnerable, but you can allow yourself to care. You can want to be with people as more than just friends or casual acquaintances.”

FAQs about The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood

Now that you know everything about our review of the book, it’s time to answer some of the most frequently asked questions about The Love Hypothesis.

What is the genre of The Love Hypothesis?

The Love Hypothesis is a contemporary spicy romance book featuring characters working in STEM.

Is the Love Hypothesis part of a series?

Unfortunately no but Ali Hazelwood has published other books such as Love Theoretically or Love on the Brain.

Is Love Hypothesis a spicy book?

Yes it is! There is one spicy chapter in the Love Hypothesis. It’s not as spicy as others but it’s still good.

Can a 14 year old read The Love Hypothesis?

No, there is one very spicy scene so this book is for 18+.

Is the Love Hypothesis a LGBTQ book?

Yes and no. The main characters are a straight couple however, two of the secondary characters are gay men.

What are the spicy chapters in the Love Hypothesis?

They are chapter 15 and 16 but mainly chapter 16.

How old is Adam Carlsen in The Love Hypothesis?

Adam Carlsen is 34 years old and Olive is 26.

Do Adam and Olive sleep together?

Of course they do. We won’t spoil it but it’s towards the end of the book.

Does The Love Hypothesis have a love triangle?

Not really. Both Olive and Adam think that there is a third person involved at some point but there actually isn’t.

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Hey, my name is Pauline and I'm a romance books lover on a mission to share everything I know about romance literature.

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BOOK REVIEW: The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood

Synopsis: 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.

The Love Hypothesis snuck up on me and captured my heart.  It was addicting, sexy, angsty and thoroughly intoxicating!  I’m sure a huge fan of the fake dating trope and it not only made this book a ton of fun but it had a lot of emotional power too.  With a broody male, a quirky girl and a story filled with science, contemporary romance lovers will fall head over heels in love with this book!

“Have you considered getting a real girlfriend?” His eyebrow lifted. “Have you considered getting a real date?” “Touché.”

The prologue quickly pulled me in.  Not only was the meet cute beyond adorable and memorable , but it was laced with emotion too.  When we jumped two years and eleven months into the future in chapter one, we found Olive fake kissing some random guy.  I was like what is even going on?!   But it was because she hoped that her best friend would see her liking someone else and would then start dating her ex, who she never had feelings for. So to prove to her bestie that she had moved on, she kissed the first guy she saw. And it was Adam Carlsen who was a professor at her school and a complete jerk. It led to them fake dating and there’s so much more to the story then this but eeps I loved every minute of it!

“People who date, they—they talk. A lot. More than just greetings in the  hallway. They know each other’s favorite colors, and where they were  born, and they . . . they hold hands. They kiss.” Adam pressed his lips  together as if to suppress a smile. “We could never do that .” A fresh  wave of mortification crashed into Olive. “I am sorry about the kiss. I  really didn’t think, and—” He shook his head. “It’s fine.”

Olive was a brilliant scientist in grad school, but she was a little unsure of herself at times.  It took me a little while to warm up to her, and I wanted to shake her a time or two about her lying.  I wanted her to be upfront and honest but as the story unfolded and we learned the whys behind her actions it was impossible not to love her.  Her past and present helped mold who she was nowadays and we get to know every part of Olive.  So during moments like when she explained why she was so passionate about her research, I got tears in my eyes.  I loved her determination and dedication! And when she found her voice and the courage to say and do what she wanted, I was so proud of how far Olive grew from that first page till the last!

Olive laughed, and the way he looked at her, kind and curious and  patient . . . she must be hallucinating it. Her head was not right. She  should have brought a sun hat.

Adam Carlsen was such an unknown besides his reputation as an arrogant asshole. Yet each time we learned a little something more about Adam, I kept falling harder and harder.  Adam knew how to take control and be in charge of a situation.  Yes it sometimes made him come across as a complete and total jerk but other times it came across so hot *fans face*.  He left me feeling beyond happy, giddy and counting down till his next interaction with Olive!  But with Adam, I loved how he commanded attention from others without even trying. I also loved how his humor was so subtle and effortless; each time he made me laugh out loud he snagged another piece of my heart. Adam was caring, strong, beautiful, someone so easy to become obsessed with and the moments he was thoughtful made my heart exploded. I was absolutely obsessed with this broody man who oh so easily got added to my book boyfriend list!

“We are friends, right?” His frown deepened. “Friends?” “Yes. You and I.” He studied for a long moment. Something new passed through his face,  stark and a little sad. Too fleeting to interpret. “Yes, Olive.”

Olive and Adam’s moments together created even more speculation and gossip of what was truly happening between them.  So it easily led to them fake dating. They both had reasons behind wanting to do that. So each time they were together, I desperately wanted them never to part. I was obsessed with their coffee dates or when they ran into each other. Because even the most simplistic moments between them, like listening to a presentation or a school picnic, made me have butterflies in my stomach. The chemistry between them was through the roof hot. And while I guessed how quite a few things would play out, it never once took away from my love of this story.  But one thing I didn’t guess correctly was how unbelievably sexy this book was.  Pages upon pages of scenes had me melting into a pile on the floor.  Together they were sigh worthy!

He took a deep breath. His shoulders rose and fell in time with the  thudding of her heart. “I wish you could see yourself the way I see  you.”

The Love Hypothesis was a mixture of steamy and adorable, and landed right on my favorites list! It was impossible not to cry tears or stop the smiles that constantly appeared on my face. Ohhh plus it was so cute that Olive kept thinking of them as a book trope, like the fake boyfriend, possible one bed, her wearing his shirt and he’s speechless.  It truly didn’t even matter that I’ve read so many of these tropes countless times, Olive and Adam made it feel unique on every single page. Now I now can’t wait to read whatever else Ali Hazelwood releases!

He tilted his head. “Standard protocol?” “Yup.” “How many times have you  done this?” “Zero. But I am familiar with the trope.” “The . . . what?” He  blinked at her, confused.

“It was good, wasn’t it?” Olive asked, with a small, wistful smile. She  wasn’t herself sure what she was referring to. Maybe his arms around  her. Maybe this last kiss. Maybe everything else. The sunscreen, his  ridiculous answers on his favorite color, the quiet conversations late  at night . . . all of it had been so very good. “It was.” Adam’s voice  sounded too deep to be his own. When he pressed his lips against her  forehead one last time, she felt her love for him swell fuller than a  river in flood. 

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Adult Romance

March 16, 2022 at 11:05 am

March 23, 2022 at 12:09 pm

A million times yes! You’re making me want to re-read this one *sigh*!

March 21, 2022 at 11:05 am

March 23, 2022 at 12:11 pm

Thank you! I’m so happy to hear that it lived up to the hype for you, yay! This book was such a wonderful surprise, I was hoping to enjoy it and loved that I loved it so deeply!

March 23, 2022 at 2:16 am

March 23, 2022 at 12:23 pm

Personally I’m not a fan of the cover at all *shrugs and then hides face* lol. But it was the fake dating trope that pulled me in and I’m so glad I did because the story was so fun and the chemistry was amazing!

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Unlike Real Science, “The Love Hypothesis” Struggles with Realism in Characters, Plot

This article discusses sexual assault. Please refer to the end of the article for on- and off-campus resources.

Fake dating, STEM, academia and an attractive love interest — what more could you want from your standard rom-com? 

Ali Hazelwood’s debut novel “The Love Hypothesis” begins when Olive Smith, a Stanford PhD candidate, kisses Adam Carlsen, a young professor well known for his harsh disposition. The two then enter into a fake relationship — Olive to prove to her best friend Anh that she is over her ex-boyfriend and Adam for his own mysterious reasons. Of course, these fake feelings become much more real with every weekly Wednesday date and instance of forced proximity. 

This contemporary romcom was released in September 2021, quickly rising to fame on the novel-reviewing side of TikTok, aptly called BookTok , where the tag #thelovehypothesis has reached almost 50 million views. Fitting well into the romance literature trend that has taken over online reading platforms, TikTok reviewers have specifically noted that the book possesses many of the current popular romantic tropes frequently discussed in the app’s literary community, such as the fake dating trope.

The narrative success of “The Love Hypothesis” seems to lie in its uniquely scientific setting. Hazelwood, a romance writer and professor, initially moved to the United States to pursue a PhD in neuroscience. Her expertise in the field shines throughout the novel, as readers are able to gain a fascinating and almost horrifying insight into the world of academia, rife with abuses of power, low wages and a lack of diversity.

Olive and Anh experience imposter syndrome and blatant sexism in both implicit and prominent ways within their program at Stanford. Hazelwood skillfully navigates the feelings of shame, anxiety and anger after an instance of sexual harassment.

However, the novel’s reliance on the tropes of miscommunication and forced intimacy, in addition to its relatively typical characterization of the leads, are some of its most frustrating aspects. For instance, the primary love interest Adam is one-dimensional, feeding the cliche of the brooding man with a tragic backstory. Adam’s past is certainly sad, but he does not have a character beyond it. Despite 300-plus pages of seeing Adam from Olive’s perspective, it is still unclear why she loves him at the end of the story. Is it just that he is nice to her? Or that he is smart? That he’s hot?

Other characters in the novel are similarly flat, as Olive’s roommate and Adam’s best friend are just accessories to the romance, lacking individual personalities. While Olive herself does feel like a fully developed person, some of her decisions are narratively questionable, completely taking the reader out of the novel. In one scene, she literally sits on Adam’s lap during a lecture because of a lack of space. All of us have been in crowded classrooms before and have somehow managed not to sit on our professors’ laps!

The most concerning aspect of this novel however, is the way that Olive and Adam begin their fake relationship. Olive kisses Adam in the lab, trying to fool a friend into thinking she was on a date. She asks for consent before doing so, yet Adam actually does not reply before she thinks she hears a yes. 

Though many fake dating tropes start with such an “unexpected” kiss, it is confusing why this book does, considering its large attention to consent. While Olive is regretful and apologetic, if the roles were reversed — an older male professor kissing a younger female student in a professional space — it would instantly be questioned. This scene feels like a workaround to the complex issue of consent, which is at odds with the careful consideration given to consent throughout the rest of the novel. 

At its heart, however, “The Love Hypothesis” is enjoyable to read and hard to put down. It is the type of romance novel that feels a little bit like cotton candy — sweet, fun and fairly delicious, but somewhat tooth-rotting. So if you are just looking for a good romance to distract from never-ending exams and papers, “The Love Hypothesis” is the perfect choice. Otherwise, temper your expectations!

Resources: On-campus resources include Health Education Services (202-687-8949) and Counseling and Psychiatric Service (202-687-6985)); additional off-campus resources include the D.C. Rape Crisis Center (202-333-7273) and the D.C. Forensic Nurse Examiner Washington Hospital Center (844-443-5732). If you or anyone you know would like to receive a sexual assault forensic examination or other medical care — including emergency contraception — call the Network for Victim Recovery of D.C. (202-742-1727). To report sexual misconduct, you can contact Georgetown’s Title IX coordinator (202-687-9183) or file an online report here. Emergency contraception is available at the CVS located at 1403 Wisconsin Ave NW and through H*yas for Choice. For more information, visit sexualassault.georgetown.edu.

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Comments (2)

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ju • Sep 10, 2022 at 11:58 am

SO TRUE!! most of the article is just saying horrible stuff about the book, only to say it’s a good read at the end. it does have few clingy moments but the book is amazing overall i love it

Ally • Feb 19, 2022 at 5:25 am

Nice review but I have to disagree with some aspects, especially the characters being flat! “Despite 300-plus pages of seeing Adam from Olive’s perspective, it is still unclear why she loves him at the end of the story. Is it just that he is nice to her? Or that he is smart? That he’s hot?” Actually, what else does someone need to fall in love with a guy? Lol. Though, we also learn that Adam remained strongly ethical even if he holds power, doesn’t have a big ego, thinks of others’ wellbeing, that he’s a good friend, he has grand emotions when he’s in love, has a unique sense of humour, learns from experience…The list goes on. He’s definitely not one dimentional, in my opinion. Nor the side characters. “Flat” is injustice to these characters, again, in my opinion. The “sit on lap” scene was unrealistic and cringy, I agree to that one. Reminded me of the weird situations in shojo mangas where you want to just get up and leave. But overall, very good romance book in my opinion! It also made me laugh more than a few times, also. Nice sense of humour! Recommended! (My screen name is really Ally, by the way. I’m not a fan of Ali Hazelwood, read her work for the first time.)