The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood

In The Love Hypothesis, Ali Hazelwood drops us right into the messy, slightly chaotic life of Olive Smith, a biology Ph.D. student who’s just trying to survive grad school. Olive’s not a believer in happily-ever-after, but she wants to convince her best friend that she’s moved on from an old crush. Her solution? Kiss the first man she sees in the hallway. That man happens to be Dr. Adam Carlsen, a brilliant but infamously moody professor who has the power to make grad students cry.

Instead of calling campus security, Adam surprises her by agreeing to keep up the charade of being her boyfriend. The two strike a deal: Olive gets to prove she’s dating someone new, and Adam benefits from looking more “approachable” to the department. It’s supposed to be harmless, temporary, and strictly fake. But as they spend more time together, from lab experiments to research conferences, the line between fake and real starts to blur in ways neither of them expected.

What Makes It Fun

This book takes a classic rom-com setup, fake dating trope and gives it a STEM twist. The university research setting feels fresh, and the mix of lab coat banter, academic politics, and awkward encounters keeps things lively. Olive’s voice is easy to connect with; she’s funny, self-aware, and often finds herself in situations where the only option is to power through with humor.

Adam, on the other hand, is the perfect grumpy counterbalance. His dry humor and subtle gestures make their slow-burn romance believable. The tension builds nicely, and even though you know where the story is going, the journey is still satisfying. There are also some genuinely laugh-out-loud moments, especially when Olive’s plans go sideways and Adam has to step in.

Another fun layer is how the book plays with academic stereotypes without getting bogged down in jargon. You don’t have to know anything about research to enjoy it, the science is more of a backdrop for the romance than the focus.

My Thoughts

I enjoyed this as a quick, feel-good read. It’s not a book that will change your life, but it’s the kind you can breeze through in a weekend and come away smiling. The romance is sweet, the characters are likable, and the pacing keeps things moving. If you like a mix of witty banter, a little bit of awkward charm, and a slow build toward a satisfying payoff, this will hit the spot.

3.5/5 stars — light, charming, and perfect when you want a rom-com that’s easy to sink into, especially if you enjoy a “grumpy meets sunshine” dynamic with a nerdy twist.