Book review: The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood

[bibliollama]

Title: The Love Hypothesis
Author: Ali Hazelwood
Dates read: 08/03/25 - 21/03/25
Rating 5/5

Publisher: Berkley Books
Number of pages: 356
Fiction or non-fiction: fiction
Subject or genre: contemporary, romance

Book blurb:
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.

How I discovered or acquired this book: I bought this years ago when it first came out and everyone was raving about it. I then proceeded to keep buying more (read: all) of Ali Hazelwood's books... despite not actually having read anything by her. It got to the point where I realised I kinda had to read them. It was worth the fucking wait.

Notable quotes 'Carry yourself with the confidence of a mediocre white man'

My thoughts The Love Hypothesis is pure serotonin in paperback form. I went in expecting lighthearted romance, but what I got was a story packed with heart, nerdy charm, and characters I couldn’t help but adore.

Olive is the kind of protagonist you root for from page one — awkward, brilliant, deeply human — and Adam? Let’s just say the “grumpy but soft” trope has never worn a lab coat better. Their fake-dating arrangement is full of witty banter, slow-burn tension, and the kind of chemistry that makes you want to scream at the pages.

Beyond the romance, Hazelwood writes so beautifully about the struggles and joys of academia, the feeling of being underestimated, and the importance of found family. It’s a story that’s as smart as it is sweet.

If you love fake dating, sharp writing, and an unapologetically geeky love story, The Love Hypothesis will absolutely win your heart.