2.5 stars

The Love Proof by Madeleine Henry is about a physics prodigy named Sophie Jones who plans to prove her theory about the nature of time while studying at Yale. But shortly after she arrives at school, she falls in love with Jake Kristopher. Their whirlwind romance distracts Sophie and ultimately leads her on a new mission to use physics to prove the correlation between love and time.

This book was a very unique love story, and it definitely didn't follow the patterns of a traditional romance. And it was not at all what I was expecting. I read a blurb that said it was perfect for fans of The Time Traveler's Wife, and I guess I was expecting actual time travel to happen in this book. But that didn't happen. This book is more of a philosophical and theoretical book about time, not a book about time travel. So I was a bit disappointed, because I kept waiting for something to happen. Instead it was mostly just the characters talking about their theories about time.

I didn't love the writing style. It is written in third person and shifts back and forth between explaining the thoughts and feelings of all the characters, and with all the shifting, I just never felt connected to any of them. It was also hard to root for Sophie and Jake, as their romance was so immediate. I didn't feel any connection build between them, so it was hard to emotionally connect with their story. I probably connected better with Sophie, but Jake was not an appealing character for me and I struggled to understand why Sophie was so in love with him.

So, this book was a bit of a miss for me. But I did appreciate the unique concept, and I may have enjoyed it more if I started the book with different expectations. If you enjoy a philosophical story with a lot of thinking and not a lot of action, this unformulaic romance might be a good fit.

Thanks to Netgalley and Atria Books for sending me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

In THE LOVE PROOF, Madeleine Henry tells the story of Sophie and Jake, who fall soul-deep into love in college at Yale and whose relationship threatens their potential futures and gifts to share with the world. Ultimately, the choice for each is between their inner gifts and their love -- and in this story, heart beats intellect, however brilliant and amazing that intellect might be. I so enjoyed this book for its lush descriptions, deep exploration into each character's brilliance and how one's genius works within one's life, one's family, work, and love. I thrilled at every turn of events, never knowing what was going to happen next, but trusting a terrific author and storyteller to tell this incredible story with rarely seen kindness, candor, and art. I received an early reader copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my unbiased review.

HJ Top Pick!Like a profound Greek Tragedy, The Love Proof is exquisite and acutely breathtaking - the type of book that will pluck chords in your soul and leave you with a belly full of catharsis. Our beautiful central character Sophie is a genius, who for all intents and purposes will become the next Einstein, and with her truly gifted mind comes the notoriety and expectation that she will deliver.

Gaining an instant and coveted invitation to study at Yale, Sophie begins her university journey full of hope, believing that she is on the path to discovering the answers to the broader metaphysical questions regarding time, which have largely been unsolvable. Quite simply, Sophie’s greatest desire is to know all that there is to know. Stunning, brilliant, humble, she was taught to be indomitably curious about the world by her incredibly intelligent mother and her wonderment expanded to all things including matters of the heart. But it isn’t until she meets Jake, whose desire and drive is parallel to her own, that she experiences the intensity of love firsthand, and subsequently feels true contentment that invariably creates a shift in her life’s focus. And sadly for Sophie, the world just won’t accept that falling in love is her one true purpose.

Jake, motivated to have all there is to have in the world, is pushed by his mother to fulfill his true potential no matter the cost. Having sacrificed her own life, including a loveless second marriage and a first love lost to addiction, Jake’s inherent motivations are plausible and realistic. And whilst both he and Sophie live and dream of nothing but each other, Jake soon realises that he is the only thing stopping her becoming who the world believes she needs to become. Whilst in many ways, Jake’s behaviour is utterly unselfish, it is a hard pill to swallow given the utter perfection of their relationship. And as he endeavours to do the unthinkable he has little to no concept of the powerful pull of his soul and the cost his decision will have on himself, Sophie, and vicariously the world.

At times agonizing and torturous, The Love Proof was all-consuming from start to finish and had an anticipatory ending like no other. I literally had to force myself to read Part Two page by page; the desire to jump ahead simply magnetic in that everything that was created - the delight, misery and grief all could hopefully lead to only one thing that needed to be actualised. Undoubtedly, this isn’t a quiet or shy read and it will certainly present it’s reader with challenges that are typically painful to explore. It’s conceptually bold, thematically perfect and with thoughtfully constructed characters, it’s an all in all ingenious way to explore both metaphysics and love concurrently.

Abundant, rich and poignant, this is a romantically philosophical narrative that will leave every reader with the sublime sense of displeasure in the pleasure. For many, the Happily Every After will not be sufficient, but for some, be all the more powerful because of it’s ultimate connection to love’s timelessness and thus it’s absolute clarity in delivering thematic intent. And for this, I applaud Henry – this is the type of intelligent narrative that I genuinely can’t wait to share with my family and friends. Summarily, I highly recommend everyone reads The Love Proof, for if nothing else, it is a sensational piece of speculative fiction that indeed may just inspire a young metaphysicist to pursue the true nature of love and whether soulmates are something we can genuinely prove via the fourth dimension.

The Love Proof is a blend of romance, science, and philosophy. It touches on love, relationships, and how science and the world are connected to those two things. This book is unlike any other romance book I have read. The sole focus of the book isn't the romance between Jake and Sophie. This book also isn't written like a typical romance book.

Sophie and Jake meet at the beginning of their freshman year of college. From that first encounter, they can both sense a powerful connection. Soon they realize how similar they are and how easily they understand each other. On top of that, both are prodigies in their own right: Sophie in physics and Jake in finance.

As I mentioned earlier, this book isn’t solely focused on their romance. The author throws in topics that make the reader question whether they believe in soulmates and whether or not they believe love has the power to slow or enhance time. It’s hard to describe this book; it encapsulates so many themes.

The Love Proof is a special kind of book. It made me think. It made me smile. It made me cry. It also made me appreciate love and all of its complexities even more than I already did.

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

This is not your typical love story and I'm not sure how I really feel about it. The romance genre is my go to, but this was strangely different. Jake and Sophie meet their freshman year at Yale and were instantly drawn to each other. Sophie is a Physics prodigy who is going to study time theory. Their love grows quickly and soon they are spending all their time together and Sophie is neglecting her studies. Jake eventually sees this and breaks it off with Sophie as he thinks it is for the best.

This story spans decades and I wasn't too invested in it. I wanted to be as I hoped I knew where the story was heading in the end. I just didn't care for the whole events that took to get to that point.

4.5/5

This was a wholly unique love story, seriously I’ve never read anything quite like it before. Anytime I read a fresh and different book I’m always so happy, it’s so rare to find something truly special and this one definitely was.

This one follows Sophie and Jake over the course of several decades starting when they meet at Yale and feel an instant spark. The two quickly become inseparable to the point were you don’t even know were one of them begins and the other one ends. I was instantly drawn to both of them, Sophie is a bonafide prodigy and Jake is no slouch either and their intelligence combined with such a tender love for each other was such a winning combination. Since Sophie is a physicist there is a lot of scientific discussion that could seem a little overwhelming, but I was utterly fascinated by it. Overall this was a beautiful and bittersweet story that truly pulled on my heartstrings. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Sophie and Jake are two peas in a pod from the moment they met their freshman year at Yale. Sophie--a physics prodigy with the interest to study time theory, and Jake--a boy with a rough childhood, tutoring for money, with dreams to work for a New York investment firm. Their love develops quickly and becomes all-consuming to the point that Sophie starts to veer from her studies in order for Jake to pursue his dreams. Will Sophie discover and understand the true meaning of love?

Henry delivered such a stunning, intellectual, and riveting story about young love. As I was reading, I knew my heart was going to break. It was inevitable in the way Sophie and Jake's stories were interwoven and told. Once that pivotal moment hit, my stomach just fell down to the pits. But, the hope remained alive throughout, and I couldn't put it down. The character developments, the relationships, the support--all were present. And, the span of time that the story covered was also remarkably done, though the end... wasn't really an ending, but instead a new beginning.

The romance was not the traditional fluff, did not have typical angst, nor was there banter. But, it was beautifully heartbreaking in a captivating way. I recommend to fans of One True Loves (with a scientific twist).

Sophie and Jake share a love story for the ages. The story presents the physical feelings that a person can experience when they find that one true love. It explores what happens to Sophie and Jake when they make decisions that test their love. It is not the typical love story but is still thoroughly enjoyable.

Thanks to Atria Books for an advanced copy of The Love Proof.

I loved the idea of using physics to prove love but unfortunately this book wasn't for me. This was a unique and different book.

- space and time and special relativity and math; all my favorite things, i am a huge math nerd
- touches on technical physics concepts but explains them in a way that is accessible to everyone so don’t let solely that aspect deter you from reading this!
- loved the setting, yale and new england, since i am from connecticut (references to blue state coffee and insomnia cookies)
- my favorite parts were the beginning of their relationship while they were at yale, the decisions that were made post graduation were frustrating as heck
- emphasizes the value of love and human connection in our lives
- overall a non-steamy love story that transcends time and provokes a lot of reflection about the parts of the world we can’t see


thank you to net galley and atria books for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!! pub date 2/9

This was such a sweet love story for the ages, and is one of those books that would make a fabulous movie. The journey that both Jake and Sophie go on is so different, yet propelled by each other. I love how they both evolved within the book as they become adults and come into their own. Sophie’s accomplishments made me so happy as well, even though she did some things I was unsure of at the end. All of this makes me wonder what Madeleine Henry was inspired by as she wrote this novel.

This was an easy, smooth book to read, and I highly recommend it if you want a love story for February.

I feel so mixed on this book. On the one hand, I enjoyed the characters and the story. On the other hand, I dislike that she pretty much gave up on her passion for a while because of him.

Sophie Jones has been a prodigy her entire life. Different from all the other children her parents were determined to make sure she always felt surrounded by love and kindness. When she begins at Yale, Sophie is set to change the world. Her theories and mathematical skills precede her arrival as it is decided which professor she will work with. A week into the first semester, quiet, sweet Sophie meets Jake and her life is changed forever. Mesmerized by this new and physical love she has never experienced, Sophie is slowly drained of her aspirations, intent on spending as much time with Jake as possible. But Jake has his own journey to travel. After a difficult and stormy childhood Jake is determined to make a lot of money, take care of his mother and have all the things that have always been out of reach. Understanding Sophies gift to the world, Jake is devastated that he has inadvertently led Sophie astray from her study of time theory and must find a way to get her back on track. After years of painful separation and near misses, the two cannot fight their true love connection. An eccentric and memorable love story, this is not your average romance.

The Love Proof was a philosophical, scientific, and romance book all wrapped into one. It was very easy to read and get engrossed in - I read it in two sittings! I really enjoyed Sophie and Jake's instant connection and how their support of and love for each other was so pure.

That said, it was hard to see Sophie completely lose herself in the relationship. Learning how driven she was for her entire life up until that point, it was hard for me to suspend my disbelief and accept that she would really throw away everything that she worked for just to be in a relationship, especially when she had a partner that encouraged her to pursue her studies. However, I also remember how all-encompassing first love can be, and I, too, threw away some of my dreams for a boy. So perhaps I should be more sympathetic towards Sophie and her choices.

I was also disheartened to see how destroyed Sophie remained, even a year after the breakup. Her behaviors bordered on unhealthy, and it was disappointing to see such a strong female character go down that type of path. However, it set up the story for her to focus her studies on how love and time are connected, so it did make sense as part of the plot.

I think I gasped when I got to the part of the book that said "25 years later". I was so sad that they never reconnected up to that point, especially just because it was all based on Jake seeing Sophie in an interview, stating "I have ideas". I was frustrated with Jake for letting that be the thing that stopped him from reaching out, though I also realized he believed he was doing so out of love. He didn't want Sophie to lose herself again, so even if he suffered without her, he was doing it out of love.

Overall, I did think it was a really interesting, engaging story. There were a few points where the science went a bit over my head, but never so much that I lost interest in the book. If I had any critique, it would simply be that the ending felt very rushed and abrupt. I didn't feel like there were loose ends, which I appreciate, but I think as a reader, I pined for them to reunite and having them do so just a few pages before the end of the book did not feel like enough of a payoff. I wanted more! I suppose that's a testament to how drawn into Sophie and Jake's story I really was.

The Love Proof is a delightful love story!!!!!!! Told over a span of decades Sophie & Jake go through their love story w/trials and tribulations but always come back to each other. I enjoyed reading this story immensely and highly recommend it. Thank you to Netgalley and Simon and Schuster for my early review copy

Advanced copy received from the publisher/netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

The Love Proof was a philosophical romance that really made me think about the power of love and it's ability to transcend almost everything. While some of this was over my head (respect for the author!), for the most part this book took a complex topic, explained it well without making the reader feel dumb, and weaved it throughout a love story that spans generations.

The Love Proof was not predictable. It was a unique book with an interesting concept and a love story at its core. I wish there was more initial depth and development to Sophie's character, especially since she was represented as such a smart female hero. But overall, I'd recommend this book for romance lovers, looking for something that surpasses the genre, mixes in some physics, and makes you think about what love really can do.

Sophie and Jake meet at Yale. She's a genius and possibly the future of physics and he's into finance. As their relationship deepens, she pays less attention to her research, which bothers Jake more than it does Sophie. So much so that he breaks up with her, leaving her to mourn the love she thought would be forever. Then she lands upon a solution- she'll use physics to prove that love crosses all sorts of things. Yes there's physics in here but don't worry if you, like me, only know it from the Big Bang theory = Henry wisely never goes too deep (I wonder what those who do know physics think). I did learn a bit. I also found myself caught up in the love story = these are two wonderful characters. You could term it a second chance romance but that would diminish some of the other themes such as finding oneself. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. It's a surprising novel with a huge heart.

The Love Proof was well written and a very interesting storyline. Unfortunately, the physics and science were far too academic for me. I found it to be confusing and ultimately taking away from how I felt about Sophie and Jake’s relationship. The romance part of the book was a bit lacking for me although the themes and subject matter were definitely thought provoking. So many people have raved about this book so I truly believe it’s just a case of a book just not being for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the opportunity to read this arc in exchange for my honest feedback.

This is my first book by Madeleine Henry and it seemed like the perfect book to read for Valentine’s Day!
Sophie and Jake meet during their first week at Yale and instantly they feel like they’ve known each from somewhere before. Their relationship begins but then after something happens they decide to go their own ways. Sophie tries desperately to use physics to make sense of her life. They end up finding each other again decades later and this is the story and love and loss and time.
I loved this story and felt invested in these characters from the beginning. I kept reading because I had to know what was going to happen to them. Great book for February or anytime you want a heartwarming story!
Thank you #netgalley and #atria #atriabooks for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Thank you Atria and Netgalley for the gifted e-copy.

To be honest, I expected The Love Proof to be more of a rom com - my own fault for not paying close enough attention to the synopsis. I'm really glad it wasn't though, because it wouldn't have worked. The story of Sophie and Jake had me captivated, and I was feeling all the feels.

Both freshmen at Yale, Sophie is a prodigy studying physics - specifically time. She wants to "see time". Jake is a finance major with dreams of working for his idol one day managing funds. They meet, and immediately fall in love, but towards the end of college, Jake is noticing that Sophie isn't giving her all to her work anymore. So he lets her go.

The Love Proof takes place over several decades, following Jake and Sophie and their successes as individuals...but are they truly apart? I don't want to say much else because *spoilers* but their story is a good one.

The only things I wish were different are relatively minor. First, I do wish there was more steam and less "fade to black" or closed door. But that's just my personal preference. Second, I think some of the physics terminology could have been explained a little better.