The Love Hypothesis

Harlequin Junkie Top Pick - and 0n our Best Books of 2021 list!!

The Love Hypothesis has to be the most adorable, geektastic–but most importantly–smartly written debut I've read in…forever. Author Ali Hazelwood wowed me with a diverse cast that was quirky enough to make me grin, and with a wicked smart heroine who got herself into a predicament that you could tell was going to blow up in her face. And you know what? It was worth every sharp intake of breath, giggle-snort, and sigh of relief experienced.

This. Book. I am so in love with everything about it. I mean, first of all, get a load of that book cover! It's perfectly modern as well as being a scene ripped right from the story itself. And then there's the cast, most of whom I adored right away: Olive, Anh, Malcolm, Holden, and yes…even the Darcy-like Adam. The dialogue between them all was on point and seemed genuine, not forced. Including the good-natured teasing and nosiness from Olive's friends while she was fake-dating Adam–the "fake" part being unbeknownst to (most of) them.

On top of the cast of characters that I'd love to hang out with in real life, Hazelwood's storytelling was amazing. What could have been a straight up rom-com was peppered with bits of serious subjects and authentic situations that most of us will understand all too well. And it made The Love Hypothesis a multilayered story. One that explored a wide array of issues but ultimately was a sweet, oh so satisfying romance that warmed my heart.

An absolutely stellar fake romance between a grumpy professor and a well-meaning grad student, The Love Hypothesis was everything I love about contemporary romance. I think Ali Hazelwood's entertaining but still emotionally deep writing will spell nothing but success for her.

Hi! Hello, I cannot shut up about this book. I already emailed Berkley and Ali and basically sent the longest, gushiest blurb the world has ever seen but The Love Hypothesis is ADORABLE and wonderful in so many ways.

I won't summarize the book here because you can easily read the little blurb on NG, but here is a romance lovers dream read. It is snappy and fast-paced and swoony and sexy and funny. Ali gives us so much time with the leads together; I am not a reader who likes to get bogged down in multiple complex side stories - I like my romance with a side of romance - and let me tell you, this book has the PERFECT amount of setting and conflict and side characters without feeling like we ever lose track of the two people we REALLY WANT TO KISS EACH OTHER. The banter is so good. Their chemistry is A:DJKF:DJ: SO GOOD.

Adam is a great hero; even if we are in Olive's POV for the book, we always know more about what he's thinking that she does, and there's something so delicious about watching her figure it all out. PLUS she's a woman in STEM, written by a woman who is - that's right - IN STEM. The authenticity of the setting is so great and I, a scientist myself, really felt represented and grateful that Ali put this world in the book. Will it feel niche to some people? Maybe. Will it feel inaccessible to non sciency people? Nope! The things that Olive deals with and the fears/insecurities she has are totally universal.

The heat is HOT in this one, and even if Ali makes us wait for it, it's so worth it. I am sorry to be so inarticulate in this review. I promise I am more articulate as a writer. But did I mention I read this book twice in one weekend? I never do that! I have children and deadlines and a whole stack of other books but this one really stuck with me and I will be yelling about it from now until September 14th.