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The Love Hypothesis Kindle Edition

• Print length 383 pages
• Language English
• Sticky notes On Kindle Scribe
• Publisher Berkley
• Publication date September 14, 2021
• File size 3306 KB
• Page Flip Enabled
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Chapter One

Hypothesis: When given a choice between A (a slightly inconveniencing situation) and B (a colossal shitshow with devastating consequences), I will inevitably end up selecting B.

In Olive's defense, the man didn't seem to mind the kiss too much.

It did take him a moment to adjust-perfectly understandable, given the sudden circumstances. It was an awkward, uncomfortable, somewhat painful minute, in which Olive was simultaneously smashing her lips against his and pushing herself as high as her toes would extend to keep her mouth at the same level as his face. Did he have to be so tall? The kiss must have looked like some clumsy headbutt, and she grew anxious that she was not going to be able to pull the whole thing off. Her friend Anh, whom Olive had spotted coming her way a few seconds ago, was going to take one look at this and know at once that Olive and Kiss Dude couldn't possibly be two people in the middle of a date.

Then that agonizingly slow moment went by, and the kiss became . . . different. The man inhaled sharply and inclined his head a tiny bit, making Olive feel less like a squirrel monkey climbing a baobab tree, and his hands-which were large and pleasantly warm in the AC of the hallway-closed around her waist. They slid up a few inches, coming to wrap around Olive's rib cage and holding her to himself. Not too close, and not too far.

It was more of a prolonged peck than anything, but it was quite nice, and for the life span of a few seconds Olive forgot a large number of things, including the fact that she was pressed against a random, unknown dude. That she'd barely had the time to whisper "Can I please kiss you?" before locking lips with him. That what had originally driven her to put on this entire show was the hope of fooling Anh, her best friend in the whole world.

But a good kiss will do that: make a girl forget herself for a while. Olive found herself melting into a broad, solid chest that showed absolutely no give. Her hands traveled from a defined jaw into surprisingly thick and soft hair, and then-then she heard herself sigh, as if already out of breath, and that's when it hit her like a brick on the head, the realization that- No. No.

Nope, nope, no.

She should not be enjoying this. Random dude, and all that.

Olive gasped and pushed herself away from him, frantically looking for Anh. In the 11:00 p.m. bluish glow of the biology labs' hallway, her friend was nowhere to be seen. Weird. Olive was sure she had spotted her a few seconds earlier.

Kiss Dude, on the other hand, was standing right in front of her, lips parted, chest rising and a weird light flickering in his eyes, which was exactly when it dawned on her, the enormity of what she had just done. Of who she had just-

Fuck her life.

Fuck. Her. Life.

Because Dr. Adam Carlsen was a known ass.

This fact was not remarkable in and of itself, as in academia every position above the graduate student level (Olive's level, sadly) required some degree of assness in order to be held for any length of time, with tenured faculty at the very peak of the ass pyramid. Dr. Carlsen, though-he was exceptional. At least if the rumors were anything to go by.

He was the reason Olive's roommate, Malcolm, had to completely scrap two research projects and would likely end up graduating a year late; the one who had made Jeremy throw up from anxiety before his qualifying exams; the sole culprit for half the students in the department being forced to postpone their thesis defenses. Joe, who used to be in Olive's cohort and would take her to watch out-of-focus European movies with microscopic subtitles every Thursday night, had been a research assistant in Carlsen's lab, but he'd decided to drop out six months into it for "reasons." It was probably for the best, since most of Carlsen's remaining graduate assistants had perennially shaky hands and often looked like they hadn't slept in a year.

Dr. Carlsen might have been a young academic rock star and biology's wunderkind, but he was also mean and hypercritical, and it was obvious in the way he spoke, in the way he carried himself, that he thought himself the only person doing decent science within the Stanford biology department. Within the entire world, probably. He was a notoriously moody, obnoxious, terrifying dick.

And Olive had just kissed him.

She wasn't sure how long the silence lasted-only that he was the one to break it. He stood in front of Olive, ridiculously intimidating with dark eyes and even darker hair, staring down from who knows how many inches above six feet-he must have been over half a foot taller than she was. He scowled, an expression that she recognized from seeing him attend the departmental seminar, a look that usually preceded him raising his hand to point out some perceived fatal flaw in the speaker's work.

Adam Carlsen. Destroyer of research careers , Olive had once overheard her adviser say.

It's okay. It's fine. Totally fine. She was just going to pretend nothing had happened, nod at him politely, and tiptoe her way out of here. Yes, solid plan.

"Did you . . . Did you just kiss me?" He sounded puzzled, and maybe a little out of breath. His lips were full and plump and . . . God. Kissed. There was simply no way Olive could get away with denying what she had just done.

Still, it was worth a try.

Surprisingly, it seemed to work.

"Ah. Okay, then." Carlsen nodded and turned around, looking vaguely disoriented. He took a couple of steps down the hallway, reached the water fountain-maybe where he'd been headed in the first place.

Olive was starting to believe that she might actually be off the hook when he halted and turned back with a skeptical expression.

"Are you sure?"

"I-" She buried her face in her hands. "It's not the way it looks."

"Okay. I . . . Okay," he repeated slowly. His voice was deep and low and sounded a lot like he was on his way to get ting mad. Like maybe he was already mad. "What's going on here?"

There was simply no way to explain this. Any normal person would have found Olive's situation odd, but Adam Carlsen, who obviously considered empathy a bug and not a feature of humanity, could never understand. She let her hands fall to her sides and took a deep breath.

"I . . . listen, I don't mean to be rude, but this is really none of your business."

He stared at her for a moment, and then he nodded. "Yes. Of course." He must be getting back into his usual groove, because his tone had lost some of its surprise and was back to normal-dry. Laconic. "I'll just go back to my office and begin to work on my Title IX complaint."

Olive exhaled in relief. "Yeah. That would be great, since- Wait. Your what?"

He cocked his head. "Title IX is a federal law that protects against sexual misconduct within academic settings-"

"I know what Title IX is."

"I see. So you willfully chose to disregard it."

"I- What? No. No, I didn't!"

He shrugged. "I must be mistaken, then. Someone else must have assaulted me."

"Assault-I didn't 'assault' you."

"You did kiss me."

"But not really ."

"Without first securing my consent."

"I asked if I could kiss you!"

"And then did so without waiting for my response."

"What? You said yes."

"Excuse me?"

She frowned. "I asked if I could kiss you, and you said yes."

"Incorrect. You asked if you could kiss me and I snorted."

"I'm pretty sure I heard you said yes."

He lifted one eyebrow, and for a minute Olive let herself daydream of drowning someone. Dr. Carlsen. Herself. Both sounded like great options.

"Listen, I'm really sorry. It was a weird situation. Can we just forget that this happened?"

He studied her for a long moment, his angular face serious and something else, something that she couldn't quite decipher because she was too busy noticing all over again how damn towering and broad he was. Just massive. Olive had always been slight, just this side of too slender, but girls who are five eight rarely felt diminutive. At least until they found themselves standing next to Adam Carlsen. She'd known that he was tall, of course, from seeing him around the department or walking across campus, from sharing the elevator with him, but they'd never interacted. Never been this close.

Except for a second ago, Olive. When you almost put your tongue in his-

"Is something wrong?" He sounded almost concerned.

"What? No. No, there isn't."

"Because," he continued calmly, "kissing a stranger at midnight in a science lab might be a sign that there is."

"There isn't."

Carlsen nodded, thoughtful. "Very well. Expect mail in the next few days, then." He began to walk past her, and she turned to yell after him.

"You didn't even ask my name!"

"I'm sure anyone could figure it out, since you must have swiped your badge to get in the labs area after hours. Have a good night."

"Wait!" She leaned forward and stopped him with a hand on his wrist. He paused immediately, even though it was obvious that it would take him no effort to free himself, and stared pointedly at the spot where her fingers had wrapped around his skin-right below a wristwatch that probably cost half her yearly graduate salary. Or all of it.

She let go of him at once and took one step back. "Sorry, I didn't mean to-"

"The kiss. Explain."

Olive bit into her lower lip. She had truly screwed herself over. She had to tell him, now. "Anh Pham." She looked around to make sure Anh was really gone. "The girl who was passing by. She's a graduate student in the biology department."

Carlsen gave no indication of knowing who Anh was.

"Anh has . . ." Olive pushed a strand of brown hair behind her ear. This was where the story became embarrassing. Complicated, and a little juvenile sounding. "I was seeing this guy in the department. Jeremy Langley, he has red hair and works with Dr. . . . Anyway, we went out just a couple of times, and then I brought him to Anh's birthday party, and they just sort of hit it off and-"

Olive shut her eyes. Which was probably a bad idea, because now she could see it painted on her lids, how her best friend and her date had bantered in that bowling alley, as if they'd known each other their whole lives; the never-exhausted topics of conversation, the laughter, and then, at the end of the night, Jeremy following Anh's every move with his gaze. It had been painfully clear who he was interested in. Olive waved a hand and tried for a smile.

"Long story short, after Jeremy and I ended things he asked Anh out. She said no because of . . . girl code and all that, but I can tell that she really likes him. She's afraid to hurt my feelings, and no matter how many times I told her it was fine she wouldn't believe me."

Not to mention that the other day I overheard her confess to our friend Malcolm that she thought Jeremy was awesome, but she could never betray me by going out with him, and she sounded so dejected. Disappointed and insecure, not at all like the spunky, larger-than-life Anh I am used to.

"So I just lied and told her that I was already dating someone else. Because she's one of my closest friends and I'd never seen her like a guy this much and I want her to have the good things she deserves and I'm positive that she would do the same for me and-" Olive realized that she was rambling and that Carlsen couldn't have cared less. She stopped and swallowed, even though her mouth felt dry. "Tonight. I told her I'd be on a date tonight ."

"Ah." His expression was unreadable.

"But I'm not. So I decided to come in to work on an experiment, but Anh showed up, too. She wasn't supposed to be here. But she was. Coming this way. And I panicked-well." Olive wiped a hand down her face. "I didn't really think."

Carlsen didn't say anything, but it was there in his eyes that he was thinking. Obviously.

"I just needed her to believe that I was on a date."

He nodded. "So you kissed the first person you saw in the hallway. Perfectly logical."

Olive winced. "When you put it like that, perhaps it wasn't my best moment."

"But it wasn't my worst, either! I'm pretty sure Anh saw us. Now she'll think that I was on a date with you and she'll hopefully feel free to go out with Jeremy and-" She shook her head. "Listen. I'm so, so sorry about the kiss."

"Please, don't report me. I really thought I heard you say yes. I promise I didn't mean to . . ."

Suddenly, the enormity of what she had just done fully dawned on her. She had just kissed a random guy, a guy who happened to be the most notoriously unpleasant faculty member in the biology department. She'd misunderstood a snort for consent, she'd basically attacked him in the hallway, and now he was staring at her in that odd, pensive way, so large and focused and close to her, and . . .

Maybe it was the late night. Maybe it was that her last coffee had been sixteen hours ago. Maybe it was Adam Carlsen looking down at her, like that. All of a sudden, this entire situation was just too much.

"Actually, you're absolutely right. And I am so sorry. If you felt in any way harassed by me, you really should report me, because it's only fair. It was a horrible thing to do, though I really didn't want to . . . Not that my intentions matter; it's more like your perception of . . ."

Crap, crap, crap.

"I'm going to leave now, okay? Thank you, and . . . I am so, so, so sorry." Olive spun around on her heels and ran away down the hallway.

"Olive," she heard him call after her. "Olive, wait-"

She didn't stop. She sprinted down the stairs to the first floor and then out the building and across the pathways of the sparsely lit Stanford campus, running past a girl walking her dog and a group of students laughing in front of the library. She continued until she was standing in front of her apartment's door, stopping only to unlock it, making a beeline for her room in the hope of avoiding her roommate and whoever he might have brought home tonight. It wasn’t until she slumped on her bed, staring at the glow‑in‑the- dark stars glued to her ceiling, that she realized that she had neglected to check on her lab mice. She had also left her laptop on her bench and her sweatshirt somewhere in the lab, and she had completely forgotten to stop at the store and buy the coffee she’d promised Malcolm she’d get for tomorrow morning. Shit. What a disaster of a day. It never occurred to Olive that Dr. Adam Carlsen— known ass— had called her by her name.

Product details

• ASIN ‏ : ‎ B08T6XN4FP
• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Berkley (September 14, 2021)
• Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 14, 2021
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• File size ‏ : ‎ 3306 KB
• Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
• Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
• Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
• X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
• Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
• Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
• Print length ‏ : ‎ 383 pages
• Page numbers source ISBN ‏ : ‎ 1408725762
• #47 in Workplace Romance eBooks
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• #423 in Romantic Comedy (Kindle Store)

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About the author

Ali hazelwood.

Ali Hazelwood is a multi-published author—alas, of peer-reviewed articles about brain science, in which no one makes out and the ever after is not always happy. Originally from Italy, she lived in Germany and Japan before moving to the U.S. to pursue a Ph.D. in neuroscience. She recently became a professor, which absolutely terrifies her. When Ali is not at work, she can be found running, crocheting, eating cake pops, or watching sci-fi movies with her two feline overlords (and her slightly-less-feline husband).

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The Love Hypothesis

48 pages • 1 hour read

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Prologue-Chapter 3

Chapters 4-6

Chapters 7-8

Chapters 9-11

Chapters 12-13

Chapters 14-15

Chapters 16-19

Chapter 20-Epilogue

Character Analysis

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

Different Types of Intelligence

Through the representation of academia , Olive’s difficulty to parse her emotions, and the differences between Olive and Malcolm , The Love Hypothesis shows how there are different types of intelligence. Olive, Adam, and others within the Stanford community possess intelligence, as evidenced by the fact they work in academia. Many of Olive’s thoughts about her experiment show how she understands the material and is always seeking new information with which to supplement what she already believes. Tom’s insults in later chapters reveal just how intelligent Olive is. While Tom also possesses a level of intelligence to remain in the field, even if that intelligence is only enough for him to copy and add to the work of others, his jealousy and view of Olive as a threat shows just how intelligent her thought processes are.

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The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood | Book Review

Posted August 12, 2021 by Jana in Adult Fiction , Book Review / 4 Comments

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.

So. I’m really not the best at reviewing books I absolutely loved because I don’t have many words! We all know I love fake dating romances, and I loved the idea of a STEM romance because science is cool and I really love and miss Big Bang Theory (and no, this isn’t like that per se, it’s just got super smart people spouting off science facts). Anyway, I immediately gravitated toward The Love Hypothesis because it sounded fresh and funny and unique. It was all those things and more! As always, my main points are bolded.

1. This book is so, so nerdy and I loved it. The people are a little awkward and extremely smart. There’s strong women in science, and I loved learning a little bit about the challenges women face in this field. Every chapter starts off with one of Olive’s hilarious little scientific hypotheses about love and life, each one teasing a bit about what’s coming up in that chapter. These made it very hard to stop reading because I’d get to the end of the chapter and decide to read and then BOOM. I’m intrigued again and must continue reading. Very clever. A lot of the book takes place on campus in the labs, and I thought it was such a fun setting with people working late and running experiments because science doesn’t wait for people to sleep or eat. There’s lots of science talk, there’s a science convention and people get all excited about presenting posters and attending talks and it’s all just so much fun. It reminded me a bit of Ross’s paleontology convention from Friends, just no Barbados.

2. Olive is sweet and strong. She’s smart and strong and totally dedicated to her cancer research. She’s looking for a lab that will accept her the following year so she can continue her testing with better equipment and proper funding. It matters more to her than pretty much anything. Everyone she’s ever loved has died, so she’s very reluctant to get too close to anyone except her two best friends. Relationships are scary and also a little confusing for her. It takes her a while to sort through her feelings and figure things out, and I loved watching her grow and evolve.

3. Dr. Carlsen (Adam) is a dreamboat. He’s seen as rude and lacking in compassion. He’s hard on his grad students, but it’s because he wants them to succeed. He’s super sexy and thoughtful and protective of those he cares about. He’s sarcastic, flirty, suave, and all the things I love in a hero. Olive is a little inexperienced in the love department, and there’s a scene where he puts all of his focus on taking care of her. Consent and comfort are so important to him, and the entire scene was him making sure she was ok. It just melted me, and I’ve never read another scene quite like this one.

4. The chemistry between Olive and Adam is insane. These two can throw the banter back and forth forever and get me laughing, but they can also build up a level of tension that makes you squirmy. There’s an age gap of about 8-9 years between these two, so Olive loves to make fun of him for being old. She also loves to make fun of his healthy eating habits. He likes to tease her about her love of sugar and poor taste in food. But then there’s a scene where Olive’s best friend kind of forces her to kiss Adam after he’s just pushed a car out of the road and is all sweaty, and wow. And then there’s a scene at the department picnic where Olive has no choice but to coat his muscley back in sunscreen (poor girl), and wow. Their relationship is sweet and spicy and tender, and I just love them.

5. Olive’s best friends, Anh and Malcolm, made me so happy. They are both scientists and work together, although their research is all different. Anh is the loyal best friend, who also mothers Olive and makes sure she doesn’t get skin cancer. Malcolm is Olive’s roommate, and he’s pretty much made of rainbows and sunshine. They love to discuss hot men and other fun things. I would love to be a part of this friend group. Adam’s friend, Holden, is another favorite character of mine. He gives great advice, really cares about his people, and is so happy all the time.

6. There’s some deeper issues at play that run throughout the story, including the #MeToo movement. All were treated with sensitivity and respect. 

7. There’s so, so much humor! I actually laughed out loud at one point, which never happens to me. I’ve been known to smile or silently laugh, but this was an actual audible laugh that startled me.

8. The writing is also spot on, and flowed so nicely that the pages practically turned on their own. 

All in all, this is a stunning debut for Ali Hazelwood. Strong women in science, a sexy doctor hero who values and supports those women, hilarious banter, strong friendships, and a very sweet love story all wrapped up into a glittery, sugary package. What’s not to love? I highly recommend The Love Hypothesis, and cannot wait to see what Ali Hazelwood does next!

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4 responses to “ The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood | Book Review ”

“insane chemistry?” Sounds fun!

Great review. I’ve been waiting for this book and I”m so glad you liked it so much!

I can’t wait to read this one! It’s one of my most anticipated releases and reading your review just bumped it up to multiple spots haha! CANNOT WAIT! Hasini @ Bibliosini recently posted… Can Books Be Effective Horror? // Let’s Talk Bookish

Book was insightful and inspiring, right mix of teasing, drama, and nerdy science. Once picked up, the book just can’t be put down Check out @thehazelwoodfangpage on Insta

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The love hypothesis.

Now see Adam pine for Olive in a special bonus chapter!

The Instant New York Times Bestseller and TikTok Sensation!

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A BuzzFeed Best Summer Read of 2021

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.

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The Love Hypothesis

by Ali Hazelwood

After a fake relationship generates real sparks, a rising scientist must decide if she's ready to experiment with love.

Good to know

Why i love it, rachael burlette, botm editorial team.

What is the formula for a perfect romance? For me, it’s about the sweet moments, the witty banter, and amazing chemistry. I’m particularly drawn to love stories that also go beyond falling in love, which is why I was excited to read about Olive’s journey as a young scientist. I loved her drive and ambition. Once I began reading The Love Hypothesis , I knew that it had all the right elements to become one of my new favorite romances.

Set in the world of academia, Olive is a Ph.D. biology student who spends most of her time in a lab. She certainly doesn’t have time for dating. So when she kisses a random person at her university to convince her best friend, Anh, that she is doing just fine, she finds herself entering into a fake dating agreement with the infamously grumpy Professor Carlsen. It’s the perfect plan: Olive’s friends will stop worrying about her and Adam’s bosses will believe he’s not leaving for a new job anytime soon. Adam and Olive just need to follow a few ground rules and not fall in love. What could possibly go wrong?

On the surface, this book is a fun romance about a hilarious fake dating scheme. But it’s also more than that. It’s a glimpse into the world of academia and the obstacles women face in the male-dominated STEM field. I found myself reading this book whenever I had the chance. I felt completely invested in Adam and Olive’s love story and how everything would unfold. The Love Hypothesis is everything that you’ll want in your next read. I have a theory you’ll love this book—I know I did!

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.

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The Love Hypothesis: The Tiktok sensation and romcom of the year!

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About the author

Ali Hazelwood is the New York Times and Sunday Times bestselling author of The Love Hypothesis, Love on the Brain and Love Theoretically as well as a writer of peer-reviewed articles about brain science, in which no one makes out and the ever after is not always happy. Originally from Italy, she lived in Germany and Japan before moving to the US to pursue a PhD in neuroscience. She recently became a professor, which absolutely terrifies her. When Ali is not at work, she can be found running, eating cake pops, or watching sci-fi movies with her two feline overlords (and her slightly-less-feline husband).

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Review: The Love Hypothesis, Ali Hazelwood

October 22, 2021

The Love Hypothesis was a fun contemporary romance new adult book . The story easily kept me entertained until the very last page! Read my review below to find out why!

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.

I received this book for free from Penguin Random House INTL in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

There are no spoilers in this review.

This blog post contains affiliate links. If you buy something on my recommendation, I will receive a small commission. Purchasing via these links will not cost you any extra and will help me cover the costs of book blogging. You will find more info on my  privacy policy  and  disclaimer  pages. Thank you!

I ENJOYED…

• The original context! I don’t know about you but I’ve NEVER read a book taking place in grad school (What is up with that? Am I living in a cave or are there really not that common?!). I loved the fact that the story took place during that both exciting and confusing time after high school and just before entering the job market. I also loved the fact that the focus was on a female scientist! Yaaayyy to female scientists! We need more of those! To be honest I was a bit scared that all the science talk would confuse me because it’s definitely not my cup of tea but it was not an issue at all.
• The relatable flawed main character . She’s this sweet, nerdy and quirky woman who tries to find the cure of pancreatic cancer. Olive is both insecure and really hard working, spending most of her time in the lab for her reasearch. I found myself easily rooting for her , getting frustrated for her, wanting her to reach all of her dreams.
• The fake dating trope! One of my favorite trope! Even if the reason behind it was a bit lame and the motivation to keep it up was a bit unconvincing (in my opinion!), I still found myself laughing out loud at all those unlikely situations. And the banter… oh yes, the banter was gold ! The dialogues were witty and snarky and I absolutely live for those!
• All those important topics that were beautifuly tackled. This book was light for sure and it will definitely make your heart melt. Nevertheless, it still tackled important issues like school pressure . It was really well depicted in this book. How hard you must work to achieve your goal. How burn-outs are quite litterally just around the corner. The public speaking anxiety was also on point! Suffering from that as well, I found myself seen and heard and it felt freaking good.

• Last but not least, this story was about women, women in a field surrounded by men . As you turn the pages, you can see how women can be denied opportunities just because of their gender. How women are having issues just getting to be believed in. How women can feel inferior despite all their hard work and talent. All those additional obstacles we encounter just because we’re young and female in a predominantly male-dominated field.

I HAD A HARD TIME WITH…

• I would have loved to see both POV! Unfortunately, Adam felt a bit bland. It was really hard for me to understand his personnality besides being constantly moody and sullen. I think that getting both POV would have made the character more lovable and the chemistry more “honest” and real.
• The sex part… I’ve got no issues with sex parts in books (beware, in case you didn’t see it up there this one is an adult book and sex is included) but I really don’t know how to feel about that particular part in this story. It felt like a lot, it was way too long for my liking without adding anything to the story.

If you’re looking for a fun, sweet and flirty read that’ll make your heart melt, The Love Hypothesis is the perfect match for you!

FINAL RATING : 3,5 drops!

📌 Pin the book review of The Love Hypothesis, by Ali Hazelwood on Pinterest!

📚 Books similar to The Love Hypothesis that I’d recommend:

• For more books with the fake-dating trope , check out our recommendations of YA books with fake-dating !

Did you read The Love Hypothesis or do you want to? What’s the latest contemporary romance book you read and enjoyed? Let me know in comments!

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Keep on reading! You might also enjoy:

October 22, 2021 at 4:38 pm

I loved this book. I agree sex part was a bit long but I could overlook that as story was so amazing. Great review!

October 23, 2021 at 10:28 am

Yes, totally! Thank you so much! 😘😘

October 23, 2021 at 10:23 am

Great review! I also enjoyed this book and find it quite original and sooo funny.

October 23, 2021 at 10:29 am

Thank you so much! ☺️☺️ Yeeees, totally original and so funny 😁

October 24, 2021 at 1:29 pm

I really liked this book and ended up bumping up my rating to five stars just because of how much it cheered me up – I’m not very strict with ratings, lmao – but I definitely agree with the things you didn’t like. It would have been so much better to get both POVs! And the sex scene was extremely long – it made me feel like the author made it that long because it was the only sex scene in the book and there are usually multiple in adult romance novels. There was no need for it, tbh. Overall, this was a good romance novel, imo, but I’m a bit surprised by all the praise it’s gotten because I don’t think it’s as outstanding or unique as people have been saying. 😅

October 30, 2021 at 9:33 am

Glad to see I’m not the only one who felt that way!! YEEES! I totally agree! It was good but not THAT good 😅😅 Thank you so much for stopping by, happy reading 😘

October 25, 2021 at 4:37 pm

I absolutely adored this book! I didn’t really mind the sex part, I think it was necessary, especially since Olive is demisexual. I do wish this book had dual POV too though. Great review!

October 30, 2021 at 9:29 am

Yeees, a dual POV would have been awesome! Thank you so much for stopping by 😘😘

October 27, 2021 at 3:31 am

Have you read the bonus chapter with Adam’s POV?

October 30, 2021 at 9:28 am

Oh no 😱 There was a bonus chapter?! 😱

October 30, 2021 at 7:24 pm

Yes! You can read it via Ali’s newsletter

October 31, 2021 at 9:18 am

I need to check it out!! Thank you! 😊

October 27, 2021 at 4:44 pm

I completely agree with everything you said in this! I love that it took place in grad school, which I’ve also never read about. I also liked that she was a scientist and they talked basic science, but not enough to confuse us. While I love the fake dating trope, it definitely was a lame reasoning. I LOVED the banter, they were extremely funny. I agree with you, I’ve read sex scenes before, but I felt like this one was forced? Like it wasn’t necessarily at all, and could have been skipped over almost entirely. Great review! xx

Melina | http://www.melinaelisa.com

October 30, 2021 at 9:32 am

YES, YES, YES! I agree with all of your points! 😁 Thank you so much for stopping by and sharing your thoughts! 😘😘

October 31, 2021 at 3:48 pm

As a woman in STEM, I was looking forward to this book so very much and it didn’t disappoint me! There were so many relatable aspects of Olive’s experiences that were just so affirming to read about. And personally I really enjoyed the way Adam absolutely adored Olive and would do anything to make her happy. I understand your point about him not being the most fleshed out, but I did feel like we got to see different sides of him when he was with Olive or his friends, versus when he was in a professorial role.

But ultimately this book just made me so happy that I gave it five stars! It might not be an all time favorite, but it is a temporary favorite for the way it made me smile and perked me up during a stressful point in my semester!

Great review!

November 1, 2021 at 9:51 am

That’s awesome! 😊 Thank you so so much for stopping by and sharing your thoughts! 😘😘

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• Feb 26, 2022
• 15 min read

The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood

The Love Hypothesis

by Ali Hazelwood

Published by Berkley Books

Book 1 in the Love Hypothesis series

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.

This gif made me laugh.

Age Recommendation:

Contemporary Romance

The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood is the first book in her Love Hypothesis series . It centers around Olive, a third year Ph. D. candidate, who finds herself forced to prove to her best friend that she is happily dating - by panicking and kissing the first man she sees. That man being the incredibly successful, and brutal young professor - Adam. Adam is a known ass, so Olive is surprised when he agrees to pretend they are in a relationship. Everything is going well - except for those pesky feelings Olive is developing for the man. When events at a science conference go down, putting Olive's professional dreams in danger, she is unsure how to move forward. But when the truth comes out, she is surprised by the support Adam shows her, and that maybe she isn't the only one who fell in love.

The Love Hypothesis easily made it on to my TBR with the sheer amount of recommendations and praise it gets on #booktok . And since I'm currently trying to get through Go Tell The Bees That I'm Gone , and I tried rereading a book I once loved, only to discover some MAJOR problems this time around, which ruins it for me, I needed something to perk me up a little. So I bought The Love Hypothesis - and it worked. It totally invigorated me, and I ended up putting Outlander down for a day, because I couldn't stop reading. Listen - I love a grump/sunshine trope, and while The Love Hypothesis is a known fake relationship trope (and even pokes fun at itself for it), the grumpy Adam had me at the get-go. And I liked Olive too. The chemistry between these two characters was great, they conversations were lovely, and the side characters added a nice balance to the story. The plot didn't feel cheesy, and was truly entertaining.

One thing that I couldn't help but notice - and this is more with the #booktok community, and not the book itself - is the steaminess of this book. More often then not, The Love Hypothesis is listed as super steamy. And I won't lie, there is one part in the book that IS steamy and intense. Adam's enthusiasm was absolutely delicious . But I argue that The Love Hypothesis isn't as steamy as it is reviewed to be. There is exactly one sex scene in this book. I mean, it's a night, and its multiple times - but it's actually a rather small part of the book. And while it was steamy, I don't think it sets itself apart from other contemporary romances when it comes to the sex. The romance in this book is where its at. But yes ... that sex scene is hot .

I wouldn't go into The Love Hypothesis thinking you are about to read some hot smut. I did, because of all those reviews from #booktok , but luckily, I do LOVE romance, so I wasn't disappointed. I wasn't disappointed at all. Ali Hazelwood wrote a wonderful story, with both plot and characters being huge winners for me. The romance and sex was top notch. And honestly, this book saved me from entering that dreaded book slump us readers hate.

The first time they meet

Olive proposing they fake date - and Adam's joke about having a wife and kids

Olive sitting on Adam's lap

The kiss after Adam helped pushed a truck off the road

The sunscreen

Adam and Olive's talk in the break room

The flu shot

Holden telling Olive about the prom

Adam offering to help Olive with her talk

Their dinner at the all you can eat sushi place

OH MY GOD THEM HOOKING UP AND THE ENTHUSIAM *cue drooling*

Holden and Malcolm <3

The Uber driver

How the truth comes out

Olive telling Adam she loves him in dutch

Adam : "Academia’s a lot of bucks for very little bang. What matters is whether your reason to be in academia is good enough. So, why the Ph.D., Olive?”

Olive : “I have a question. A specific research question. Something that I want to find out. Something I’m afraid no one else will discover if I don’t.”

Adam : “A question?”

Olive : “Yes. Something that’s important to me. And—I don’t trust anyone else to do it. Because they haven’t so far. Because . . .”

Because something bad happened. Because I want to do my part so that it won’t happen again. Heavy thoughts to have in the presence of a stranger, in the darkness of her closed eyelids. So she cracked them open; her vision was still blurry, but the burning was mostly gone. The Guy was looking at her. Fuzzy around the edges, perhaps, but so very there, waiting patiently for her to continue.

Olive: “It’s important to me. The research that I want to do.”

He nodded but said nothing as he straightened and took a few steps toward the door. Clearly leaving.

Olive: “Is mine a good enough reason to go to grad school?”

Adam : “It’s the best one.” Anh : “Listen, do you remember last spring, when I held your hair back while you projectile vomited the five pounds of spoiled shrimp cocktail you ate at Dr. Park’s retirement party?”

Olive : “Oh, yes. I do.”

Olive cocked her head, pensive.

Olive: “You ate more than me and never got sick.”

Anh : “Because I’m made of sterner stuff, but never mind that. The point is: I am here for you, and always will be, no matter what. No matter how many pounds of spoiled shrimp cocktail you projectile vomit, you can trust me. We’re a team, you and I." Anh : “Is he blackmailing you?”

Olive : “Huh?”

Anh : “Carlsen. Is he blackmailing you? Did he find out that you’re an aberration and pee in the shower?”

Olive : “First of all, it’s time efficient.”

Olive glared.

Olive: “Second, I find it oddly flattering that you’d think Carlsen would go to these ridiculous lengths to get me to date him.”

Anh : “Anyone would, Ol. Because you’re awesome. Except when you’re peeing in the shower.” Adam : “Ground rules?”

Olive : “Yes. You know. What we are allowed and not allowed to do. What we can expect from this arrangement. I think that’s pretty standard protocol, before embarking on a fake-dating relationship.”

He tilted his head.

Adam : “Standard protocol?”

Olive : “Yup.”

Adam : “How many times have you done this?”

Olive : “Zero. But I am familiar with the trope.”

Adam : “The . . . what?”

He blinked at her, confused. Olive: “For this to work we should probably . . . do things together. Every once in a while.”

Adam : “Things?”

Olive : “Things. Stuff.”

Adam : “Stuff,”

Olive : “Yep. Stuff. What do you do for fun?”

He was probably into something atrocious, like cow-tipping excursions or Japanese beetle fighting. Maybe he collected porcelain dolls. Maybe he was an avid geocacher. Maybe he frequented vaping conventions. Oh God. Olive: “I would never fake-date a dude who thinks that he has to pay for my coffee just because he’s a dude.”

He lifted an eyebrow.

Adam: “I doubt a language exists in which the thing you just ordered could be referred to as ‘coffee.’ ” Olive : “Yes, I’m Olive Smith, the—”

Tom : “Girlfriend I’ve heard so much about?”

Shit. Shit, shit, shit. She swallowed.

Olive: “Um, actually I—”

Adam : “Heard from whom?”

Dr. Benton shrugged.

Tom: “Everyone.”

Adam : “Everyone,”

Adam repeated. He was scowling now.

Adam: “In Boston?”

Tom : “Yeah.”

Adam : “Why are people at Harvard talking about my girlfriend?”

Tom : “Because you’re you.”

Adam : “Because I’m me?”

Adam looked perplexed.

Tom: “There have been tears. Some hair-pulling. A few broken hearts. Don’t worry, they’ll get over it.” Anh : "You’re taking up space we don’t have, and it’s only logical that you use Carlsen as a chair. I would, but he’s your boyfriend, not mine.”

For a moment, Olive tried to imagine what Adam would do if Anh decided to sit on his lap, and figured that it would probably end up involving someone being murdered and someone doing the murdering—she wasn’t sure who’d be doing what. The mental image was so ridiculous that she almost giggled out loud. Then she noticed the way Anh was looking at her expectantly.

Olive: “Anh, I can’t.”

Anh : “Why?”

Olive : “Because. This is a scientific talk.”

Anh : “Psh. Remember last year, when Jess and Alex made out for half of that CRISPR lecture?”

Olive : “I do—and it was weird .” Olive was here. Sitting. On. Adam. This.

Yep, this. This was her life now. Adam: “This is dull.”

Olive : “Maybe you should ask a question. To liven this up.”

Adam turned slightly to her.

Adam: “Me?”

She angled her head to speak in his ear.

Olive: “I’m sure you can come up with something. Just raise your hand and make a mean observation with that tone of yours. Glare at him. It might devolve into an entertaining outbreak of fisticuffs.”

His cheek curved.

Adam: “You are such a smart-ass.” Olive : "See you Wed— Hey, what about the picnic?”

Adam : “The— Oh.”

Adam rolled his eyes, looking a little more like himself.

Adam: “Right. That fu— That picnic.”

She grinned.

Olive: “It’s on Monday.”

Adam: “I know.”

Olive : “You’re still going?”

He gave her a look that clearly stated: It’s not like I have a choice, even though I’d rather have my nails extracted one by one. With pliers. Olive laughed.

Olive: “Well. I’m going, too.”

Adam : “At least there’s that.”

Olive : “Are you bringing Tom?”

Adam : “Probably. He actually likes people.”

Olive : “Okay. I can network with him a bit, and you and I can show off how steady and committed we are to the department chair. You’ll look like a wingless bird. No flight risk whatsoever.”

Adam : “Perfect. I’ll bring a counterfeit marriage license to casually drop at his feet.” Olive : “What are they even playing?”

Anh : “Ultimate Frisbee, I think? I don’t know. Did you put on sunblock? You’re wearing a tank top and shorts, so you really should.”

Olive : “You Americans and your fake sports.”

Anh : “I’m pretty sure there are Canadian tournaments of Ultimate Frisbee, too. You know what’s not fake?”

Olive : “What?”

Anh : “Melanoma. Put on some sunscreen.” Anh : “Olive has way too much and was wondering what to do with it. She’ll put some on you!”

No. No, no, no.

Olive: “I can’t. It would be highly inappropriate.”

Anh : “Why? I put sunscreen on Jeremy all the time. Look”

—she squirted lotion on her hand and haphazardly slapped it across Jeremy’s face—

Anh: “I am putting sunscreen on my boyfriend. Because I don’t want him to get melanoma. Am I ‘inappropriate’?”

Olive was going to murder her. Olive was going to make her lick every drop of this stupid sunscreen and watch her writhe in pain as she slowly died of oxybenzone poisoning. Olive: “Hey, you want half of this? Since I fully plan to eat what’s left of your chips.”

Adam : “Nah.”

Olive : “You sure?”

Adam : “Can’t stand chocolate.”

Olive stared at him, shaking her head in disbelief.

Olive: “You would, wouldn’t you? Hate everything that is delicious and lovely and comforting.”

Adam : “Chocolate’s disgusting.”

Olive : “You just want to live in your dark, bitter world made of black coffee and plain bagels with plain cream cheese. And occasionally salt-and-vinegar chips.

Adam : "They are clearly your favorite chips—”

Olive : “Not the point.”

Adam : “—and I am flattered that you’ve memorized my orders.”

Olive : “It does help that they’re always the same.”

Adam : “At least I’ve never ordered something called a unicorn Frappuccino.”

Olive : “That was so good. It tasted like the rainbow.”

Adam : “Like sugar and food coloring?”

Olive : “My two favorite things in the universe." Olive : “I do get what you’re saying. About not wanting to form a new generation of crappy millennial scientists.”

Adam : “I don’t believe I’ve ever used the expression ‘crappy millennial scientists.’ ”

Olive : “But FYI, I still think that you don’t need to be that harsh when you give feedback. We get the gist of what you’re saying, even if you give criticism more nicely.”

He looked at her for a long time. Then he nodded, once.

Adam: “Noted.”

Olive : “Are you going to be less harsh, then?”

Adam : “Unlikely.”

She sighed.

Olive: “You know, when I have no more friends and everyone hates me because of this fake-dating thing, I’ll be super lonely and you are going to have to hang out with me every day. I’ll annoy you all the time. Is it really worth being mean to every grad in the program?”

Adam : “Absolutely.” Olive : “Aww.”

He pinned her with a withering look.

Adam: “Don’t aww me.” Adam : “Please.”

He looked pained.

Adam: “Don’t make me.”

He was so adorable.

Olive: “It’s for your own good. And for the good of the elderly people who might come in any proximity to you. Even more elderly than you, that is.”

He sighed, defeated.

Adam: “Olive.”

Olive : “Come on. Maybe we’re lucky and the chair will spot us. And I’ll buy you an ice cream sandwich afterward.”

Adam : “Will I be paying for this ice cream sandwich?”

He sounded resigned now.

Olive: “Likely. Actually, scratch that, you probably don’t like ice cream anyway, because you don’t enjoy anything that’s good in life.”

She kept on walking, pensively chewing on her lower lip.

Olive: “Maybe the cafeteria has some raw broccoli?”

Adam : “I don’t deserve this verbal abuse on top of the flu shot.” Olive glanced at her gloved hands, and then back at her mouse, who was still holding on to the wire.

Olive: “Dude, stop trying so hard.”

She kneeled until she was at eye level with the cage. The mouse kicked around with its little legs, its tail flopping back and forth.

Olive: “You’re supposed to be bad at this. And I’m supposed to write a dissertation about how bad you are. And then you get a chunk of cheese, and I get a real job that pays real money and the joy of saying ‘I’m not that kind of doctor’ when someone is having a stroke on my airplane.”

The mouse squeaked and let go of the wire, flopping on the floor of the testing cage with a thud.

Olive: “That’ll do it.”

Text: Adam: My arm hurts.

Olive : From the flu shot?

Adam : It’s really painful.

She giggled. She truly had not thought she was the type to, but here she was, covering her mouth with her hand and . . . yes, giggling like a fool in the middle of the lab. Her mouse was staring up at her, its tiny red eyes a mix of judgment and surprise. Olive hastily turned away and looked back at her phone.

Olive: Oh, Adam. I’m so sorry.

Olive : Should I come over and kiss it better?

Adam : You never said it would hurt so bad.

Olive : As someone once told me, it’s not my job to work on your emotion regulation skills.

Adam’s answer was one single emoji (a yellow hand with a raised middle finger), Olive: “How could this happen? I am not like this. This is not me. How could I—and Adam Carlsen, of everyone. Who is into Adam Carlsen?”

Malcolm snorted.

Malcolm: “Everyone, Ol. He’s a tall, broody, sullen hunk with a genius IQ. Everyone likes tall, broody, sullen hunks with genius IQs.”

Olive : “I don’t!”

Malcolm : “Clearly you do.”

She squeezed her eyes shut and whimpered.

Olive: “He’s really not that sullen.”

Malcolm : “Oh, he is. Just, you don’t notice, because you’re halfway gone for him.”

Olive : “I am not—”

She smacked her forehead. Repeatedly.

Olive: “Shit.” Holden : “You’re leaving for Boston tonight, right?”

Adam : “Yeah. Can you still give Tom and me a ride to the airport?”

Holden : “Depends.”

Adam : “On what?”

Holden : “Is Tom going to be gagged and tied up in the trunk?”

Adam sighed.

Adam: “Holden.”

Holden : “I’ll allow him in the back seat, but if he doesn’t keep his mouth shut, I’ll ditch him on the highway.”

Adam : “Fine. I’ll let him know.” Holden : “Picture this, Olive. Early two thousands. Preppy, ridiculously expensive all-male DC school. Two gay students in grade twelve. Well, two of us that were out, anyway. Richie Muller and I date for the entirety of senior year—and then he dumps me three days before prom for some guy he’d been having a thing with for months.”

Adam : “He was a prick,”

Holden : “I have three choices. Not go to the dance and mope at home. Go alone and mope at school. Or, have my best friend—who was planning on staying home and moping over gamma-aminobutyric acids—come as my date. Guess which?”

Olive gasped.

Olive: “How did you convince him?”

Holden : “That’s the thing, I didn’t. When I told him about what Richie did, he offered!”

Adam : “Don’t get used to it,”

Holden : “Can you believe it, Olive?”

That Adam would pretend to be in a relationship with someone to get them out of a miserable situation?

Olive: “Nope.”

Holden : “We held hands. We slow-danced. We made Richie spit out his punch and regret every single one of his wretched choices. Then we went home and played even more Final Fantasy. It was the shit.” Olive : “Adam. There will be only one bed.”

He frowned.

Adam: “No, as I said it’s a double—”

Olive : “It’s not. It won’t be. There will be only one bed, for sure.”

He gave her a puzzled look.

Adam: “I got the booking confirmation the other day. I can forward it to you if you want; it says that—”

Olive : “It doesn’t matter what it says. It’s always one bed.” Olive : “How likely is it that your feedback will cause me to cry under the shower?”

Adam : “That depends on the quality of your slides.”

She smiled.

Olive: “Don’t feel like you have to hold back.”

Adam : “Believe me, I don’t.” Adam : “Should I buy you that disgusting”

—Adam gestured toward the register—

Adam: “pumpkin sludge now?”

Olive: “Oh, yes. I mean, if you want to.”

Adam : “I’d rather buy you anything else.”

Olive : “Too bad.” Adam : "How are you?”

Olive : “Good. Fine. I mean, I wish I were dead. But aside from that.”

He laughed silently and moved closer.

Adam: “You’ll be okay.”

She had thought sweaters were a good look for him, but only because she’d never seen him wear a blazer. He had a secret weapon all along, she thought, trying not to stare too hard. And now he’s unleashing it. Damn him.

Olive: “Agreed. After I die.” You just had to go and make me fall for you, she thought, blinking against his skin. You absolute ass. Olive: “Awesome. We could chat about how nice this place is—”

Adam : “It’s appalling.”

Olive : “—or the taste of the sushi—”

Adam : “Foot.”

Olive : “—or the best movie in the Fast and Furious franchise—”

Adam : “ Fast Five . Though I have a feeling you’re going to say—”

Olive : “ Tokyo Drift .”

Adam : “Right.” Adam : “You are not mediocre, Olive. You were not invited to speak because people think that you are my girlfriend—there is no such thing, since SBD’s abstracts go through a blind review process. I would know, because I’ve been roped into reviewing them in the past. And the work you presented is important, rigorous, and brilliant.”

He took a deep breath. His shoulders rose and fell in time with the thudding of her heart.

Adam: “I wish you could see yourself the way I see you.” Olive : “You’re so big.”

He groaned into her neck. His entire body was vibrating with tension.

Adam: “You can take it.” The truth, Adam, is that your friend, your collaborator, a person you clearly love and are close to, is horrid and despicable. He told me things that might be truths, or maybe lies—I don’t know. I’m not sure. I’m not sure of anything anymore, and I would love to ask you, so badly. But I’m terrified that he might be right, and that you won’t believe me. And I’m even more terrified that you will believe me, and that what I tell you will force you to give up something that is very important to you: your friendship and your work with him. I’m terrified of everything, as you can see. So, instead of telling you that truth, I will tell you another truth. A truth that, I think, will be best for you. A truth that will take me out of the equation, but will make its result better. 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 . Anh: “I don’t hate you.”

Olive : “You . . . don’t?”

Anh : “Of course not.”

Anh was indignant.

Anh: “I low-key hate myself for forcing you to do all that stuff. Well, maybe not ‘hate,’ but I’d write myself a strongly worded email. And I’m incredibly flattered that you’d do something like that for me. I mean, it was misguided, and ridiculous, and needlessly convoluted, and you’re a living, breathing, rom-com trope machine, and . . . God, Ol, you’re such an idiot. But a very lovable idiot, and my idiot.” Adam : “I’m going to kill you. If you say another word about the woman I love, if you look at her, if you even think about her—I’m going to fucking kill you.” Adam : “I am going to take care of this. And then I’ll come find you, and I’ll take care of you.” Adam : “I’m not having dinner out,”

Holden frowned.

Holden: “Why?”

Adam : “I have better things to do.”

Holden : “Like what? Olive’s coming, too.”

Adam : “Leave Olive alone. She’s tired, and we’re busy.”

Holden : “I have access to your Google Calendar, asshole. You’re not busy. If you don’t want to hang out with me, you can just be honest.”

Adam : “I don’t want to hang out with you.”

Holden : “You little shit. After the week we just had. And on my birthday.”

Adam recoiled slightly.

Adam: “What? It’s not your birthday.”

Holden : “Yes, it is.”

Adam : “Your birthday is April tenth.”

Holden : “Is it, though?”

Adam closed his eyes, scratching his forehead.

Adam: “Holden, we’ve talked daily for the past twenty-five years, and I have been to at least five Power Rangers–themed birthday parties of yours. The last one was when you turned seventeen.”

Malcolm attempted to cover his laugh with a cough.

Adam: “I know when your birthday is.” Olive : “ Ik hou van jou, Adam.” Olive : “May I kiss you, Dr. Carlsen?”

#fakerelationship #workplace #loveatfirstsight #agegap #grump

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The Love Hypothesis

Description.

Now see Adam pine for Olive in a special bonus chapter! The Instant New York Times Bestseller and TikTok Sensation! As seen on THE VIEW! A BuzzFeed Best Summer Read of 2021 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.

• Ali Hazelwood - Author
• Callie Dalton - Narrator
• Teddy Hamilton - Narrator

OverDrive Listen audiobook

• ISBN: 9780593457580
• File size: 341686 KB
• Release date: September 14, 2021
• Duration: 11:51:50

MP3 audiobook

• File size: 341731 KB
• Duration: 11:57:43
• Number of parts: 12

OverDrive Listen audiobook MP3 audiobook

Fiction Romance Humor (Fiction)

Publisher: Books on Tape Edition: Unabridged

OverDrive Listen audiobook ISBN: 9780593457580 File size: 341686 KB Release date: September 14, 2021 Duration: 11:51:50

MP3 audiobook ISBN: 9780593457580 File size: 341731 KB Release date: September 14, 2021 Duration: 11:57:43 Number of parts: 12

• Formats OverDrive Listen audiobook MP3 audiobook
• Languages English

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The love hypothesis, common sense media reviewers.

Uneven romance has explicit sex, features women in STEM.

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

An author's note explains Title IX and offers webs

You have to be strong and tough to make it in the

Olive and Ahn are good models of women in STEM. Th

Olive reads as White, is from Canada, and is very

An incident of verbal sexual assault with an attem

Other than a few kisses and some romantic tension,

"Bulls--t," "clit," "clusterf--k," "c--k," "d--k,"

A few food and beverage brands, and a couple of en

All characters are adults of legal drinking age 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…

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

Where to Read

Community reviews.

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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.

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The Love Hypothesis

By ali hazelwood read by callie dalton read by teddy hamilton.

30th September 2021

Price: £21.99

Fiction & Related Items / Romance / Adult & Contemporary Romance

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With an exclusive new bonus chapter… from Adam’s POV Based on the available information and the data hitherto collected, my hypothesis is that the further I stay away from love, the better off I will be. ‘Contemporary romance’s unicorn: the elusive marriage of deeply brainy and delightfully escapist.’ Christina Lauren, New York Times bestselling author of The Unhoneymooners

Ali hazelwood’s latest novel, love on the brain is out now., newsletter signup.

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From Fanfic to Bookshop Pick: The Love Hypothesis

By Emma Regan and Jordan Maxwell Ridgway

This article is the first in a series exploring the world of fanfiction. Fanfiction has not only been growing in popularity amongst readers over the years, but it is also proving to be prime training for writers wanting to break into the industry. This week we will be discussing The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood and its success.

Fanfiction is typically unauthorised material written by fans and based on existing works. There has been a full range of responses from authors and copyright owners, both positive and negative. The earliest cited use of the term ‘fanfiction’ dates back to 1939 and has deep roots in the fantasy and science fiction genres. However, all literary buffs are aware that writers, such as Shakespeare, were known to ‘borrow’ and put their own spin on existing characters and plots.

Today, fanfiction can be found on sites such as Wattpad and Archive of Our Own (AO3), amongst others. Fanfiction is believed to have a largely female-based reader and author demographic, but a growing portion of the transgender and non-binary or genderfluid community are reading and producing works of their own too. Fanfiction also appears to appeal to young people as a way to reimagine the content they love and hone their craft.

As Ali Hazelwood said in an interview with Collider , “It's great, like you said, to find your voice, to explore things that you usually don't find in traditional publishing.” In the same article, Hazelwood expresses her joy that publishing houses are taking a growing interest in fanfiction and its marketability, and how this is lending further “legitimacy” to the medium. Fanfiction has, over recent years, felt like a pejorative: a disclaimer to suggest the work should not be taken seriously in its own right. This likely stems from the work not being purely original, cited as enough cause for dismissal. But it could be said that Shakespeare may have created the term ‘star-cross’d lovers,’ but he hardly invented the trope.

It is notable that fanfiction is often based on the trials and tensions between characters from popular franchises, and so it is unsurprising that a lot of the successful examples of fanfiction translated into original works fit into the romance genre. Despite its profitability and demand, it is still a genre that can be dismissed as ‘fluff.’ Considering this fact, along with the dismissal of fanfiction, as well as its demographic, it’s hard not to see the compounded odds stacked against its favour in its quest for legitimacy, surely making successful transitions even more rejoiceful.

The Love Hypothesis is one of many book titles which have gained popularity via TikTok, through the ‘BookTok’ community. It is a romance book set in academia which follows the story of Ph.D. candidate Olive Smith and “young, hotshot professor” Adam Carlsen, as they manage to find themselves caught up in needing to portray a convincing, romantic relationship and includes various other tropes used in romance novels (with quite a few of those being subverted too).

However, you might notice the two people depicted on the book’s cover look eerily like characters from a popular franchise. Ali Hazelwood started off writing fanfiction on Archive of Our Own (AO3), first for the Star Trek fandom before moving onto writing Star Wars - if you haven’t figured it out yet, the main characters of The Love Hypothesis are based on Kylo Ren and Rey Skywalker from the latest Star Wars trilogy. AO3 is where The Love Hypothesis first started (although it was under a different title then) amongst all her other fanfiction. It was there where Hazelwood found a community of other ‘fanfic’ writers and gained a strong following of readers that were enamoured by her work. Soon after, Hazelwood started to consider the process of moving from fanfiction writing to producing original content, when a literary agent, who had been reading her work, reached out to her via social media and asked to read some of her manuscripts. It was then a process of working out which pieces of fanfiction Hazelwood had written that would be the easiest to adapt into an original novel.

The Love Hypothesis doesn’t shy away from its origins though. As mentioned above, the cover of the book distinctly shows who the main characters, Olive and Adam, are based on by using fanart that was produced when the story was merely fanfiction, something the author was adamant on. Adam Carlson is also close to the name of Kylo Ren’s actor, Adam Driver, so the links to the original piece of work are there. This shows just how much traditional publishing is embracing the concept of fanfiction and that it isn’t afraid to look at it for up-and-coming authors.

Moreover, We’d Know By Then by Kirsten Bohling is another book that has been recently published with origins as another ‘Reylo’ fanfic, this time, using the soulmate trope.

Could this be the new trend within traditional publishing? Or do you think original fanfiction is the best place to get your dose of romance?

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Why The Love Hypothesis Could Kickstart More Romance Film Adaptations

Quick links, what is the love hypothesis about, the love hypothesis could pave the way for other unconventional adaptations, are authors like ali hazelwood and emily henry changing the perception of romance.

• Ali Hazelwood's The Love Hypothesis originally began as a Rey and Kylo Ren fanfiction focusing on the characters in a STEM setting, and the novel has achieved great success.
• The upcoming film adaptation of The Love Hypothesis could pave the way for more unconventional book adaptations.
• Authors like Ali Hazelwood and Emily Henry and works like Bridgerton and Red, White and Royal Blue are changing the perception of romance novels.

Ali Hazelwood's romance novel The Love Hypothesis took BookTok by storm in 2021, and part of its whimsical appeal was that it began as Star Wars fan fiction. Originally published in 2018 on Archive of Our Own as a work called "Head Over Feet," it detailed a modern interpretation of the relationship between Rey and Kylo Ren set against the backdrop of Stanford's graduate program. Though all the references to Star Wars were cut in the final draft of the novel, the similarities in characters are still there, and it's been a major part of why the novel was so successful.

Successful enough, in fact, that in October 2022, it was announced that Bisous Pictures, which specializes in romantic films, acquired the rights to the novel. The film adaptation is currently in pre-production. Depending on how successful it is, The Love Hypothesis has the potential to pave the way for more romance adaptations -- especially those that originated in equally unconventional locations.

Updated on April 15th, 2024 by Fawzia Khan: While The Love Hypothesis movie is still very much in preproduction and there are few updates about it, fans stay on tenterhooks for the STEM romance to come to life on screen. Ali Hazelwood's book is truly an outlier -- a fanfiction work that was turned into an independent novel, set in STEM, a setting so unusual that it had not been explored before. However, Hazelwood's storytelling turns even the science lab into a romantic playground, giving impetus to all sorts of romance subgenres that might not have been greenlit earlier. This feature has been updated with further information about romance novel adaptations and their future.

10 High Fantasy Romance Movies That Combine Love with Adventure

Star wars rebels foreshadowed rey and kylo ren's force bond.

The Love Hypothesis begins explosively: Stanford graduate student Olive plants a kiss on Dr. Adam Carlsen, a known grump who has gained a reputation for tanking the research dreams of many students. The kiss culminates into something bigger, and Olive decides to enter a fake relationship with Adam Carlsen in order to convince her best friend, Anh that she is over her ex-boyfriend Jeremy, whom Anh has feelings for. While Olive wants Anh to pursue happiness, Adam's motivations for the fake relationship lie in his research funding, which has been frozen by the university as they predict that he will leave their lab and move to another. Being in a relationship would give him a sense of permanence at Stanford, and Olive would regain a sense of dignity once Anh would pursue her romance without guilt. Neither Olive nor Adam is too enthused about this arrangement -- after all, Adam Carlsen is the bane of most graduate students' existence, and he's known throughout the program for his ruthlessness and, at times, rudeness. The Love Hypothesis has all the makings of a romance book headed to the big screen.

• The Love Hypothesis was published on September 14, 2021.
• It has a 4.15/5 rating on Goodreads, with nearly 150,000 reviews.

However, as their relationship progresses, they each have to come to terms with their feelings, which are beginning to transcend far beyond what their initial arrangement entailed. Their romance may be a farce, but Hazelwood uses well-known tropes in a fresh manner to make audiences feel butterflies as the two protagonists interact. The realities of life in academia, and Olive's own tragic backstory bring a lot of depth into the plot. Their growing love for each other is marred many times, especially when Adam's old friend, Dr. Tom Benton, decides to harrass Olive and derail her research, which makes her distance herself from him. The Love Hypothesis is a beautiful love story that will translate flawlessly to the big screen , especially because of how unique it is.

10 Best Magical Romance Movies With The Most Whimsical Plots

The Love Hypothesis is the most recent in a long line of movies adapted from fan works. In fact, Ali Hazelwood's trajectory from fanfic writer to New York Times bestselling author happened when Thao Le from the Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency saw her works online and reached out to her to submit. In the past, authors like E.L. James have tried to downplay that the origins of their novels (the Fifty Shades trilogy, in this case) lay in fiction that was associated with existing properties. Seeing how the success of The Love Hypothesis was intrinsically tied up with the appeal of the Star Wars couple, it is becoming clear that the landscape of publication and cinematic adaptation has had a total overhaul. Increasingly, publishing houses are turning to well-known fan fiction authors to revise their works and send them out into the world. Often, these books sell well in part because of their obvious association with a better-known intellectual property, which then makes them prime candidates to be turned into films.

Similarly, the City of Bones series (including the associated movies and Shadowhunters television show ) has its roots in the Harry Potter series. If fan fiction evolves into a prevalent source for movies, the possibilities for future adaptations are endless. Films and TV shows based on graphic novels, such as Nimona and Heartstopper, have recently gained traction . Video game movies, no matter how controversial they tend to be, are slowly making their way into the cultural eye with big titles such as Uncharted or Five Nights at Freddy's . Though romantic movies in the past have been primarily based on published novels or entirely original, the increasing number of fan fiction and graphic novel adaptations could lead to a broader future for the romantic genre. If The Love Hypothesis is successful (which it likely will be), rom-coms may see a major renaissance, and perhaps the source material for them will be diversified as well.

10 Best TV Series With Amazing Romances

In short, yes. Both romance novels and fanfiction were long considered guilty pleasure genres, consumed by those who liked reading adult or "spicy" content. Fortunately, the success of The Love Hypothesis and other such books has brought this genre into the mainstream, as larger and larger studios are queuing up to adapt romance novels into movies. As "women-centric" movies become box office hits, romance novels have further opportunities for getting that coveted adaptation. In addition to Ali Hazelwood, Emily Henry has become a studio favorite, with every one of her romance novels getting the go-ahead for big-screen adaptations.

Additionally, romance is no longer just about heterosexual couples. Red, White, and Royal Blue proved that LGBTQ+ love stories are very much the next step for the romance genre; a much-needed update to keep it current and with the times. Bridgerton's roaring success also brought forth an important aspect: romance fans want to hear diverse stories of different cultures too to reaffirm their belief that love is love, no matter where one is from. A growing acceptance of the romance genre, and the recognition of it as a true art form worthy of investment and adaptation has brought fresh growth to it, as well as to cinema.

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The Love Hypothesis

Description.

Now see Adam pine for Olive in a special bonus chapter! The Instant New York Times Bestseller and TikTok Sensation! As seen on THE VIEW! A BuzzFeed Best Summer Read of 2021 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.

• Ali Hazelwood - Author
• Callie Dalton - Narrator
• Teddy Hamilton - Narrator

OverDrive Listen audiobook

• ISBN: 9780593457580
• File size: 341686 KB
• Release date: September 14, 2021
• Duration: 11:51:50

MP3 audiobook

• File size: 341731 KB
• Duration: 11:57:43
• Number of parts: 12

OverDrive Listen audiobook MP3 audiobook

Fiction Romance Humor (Fiction)

Publisher: Books on Tape Edition: Unabridged

OverDrive Listen audiobook ISBN: 9780593457580 File size: 341686 KB Release date: September 14, 2021 Duration: 11:51:50

MP3 audiobook ISBN: 9780593457580 File size: 341731 KB Release date: September 14, 2021 Duration: 11:57:43 Number of parts: 12

• Formats OverDrive Listen audiobook MP3 audiobook
• Languages English

Why is availability limited?

Availability can change throughout the month based on the library's budget. You can still place a hold on the title, and your hold will be automatically filled as soon as the title is available again.

The Kindle Book format for this title is not supported on:

Read-along ebook.

The OverDrive Read format of this ebook has professional narration that plays while you read in your browser. Learn more here.

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The Love Hypothesis Movie: What We Know

The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood has a movie adaptation in the works. For all the details about this film adaptation of The Love Hypothesis, here’s what’s we know about The Love Hypothesis movie:

What’s it about? What’s the plot of The Love Hypothesis?

In The Love Hypothesis , Olive is a third-year biology Ph.D. candidate who shares a kiss with a handsome stranger in order make her friend think that she’s in a relationship. She’s horrified when she realizes the “stranger” is Dr. Adam Carlson, a prominent professor in her department who is known for being a hypercritical and moody tyrant.

She and Adam each have reasons for needing to be in a relationship, and they agree to pretend to date for the sake of appearances. Of course, as she gets to know Adam, it’s only a matter of time before she starts feeling something for him, and it becomes clear that her little experiment in fake-dating just might combust…

See the Full Review and Summary of The Love Hypothesis from The Bibliofile.

What format will it be? Will the The Love Hypothesis adaptation be a Movie or a Series?

It’s planned as a feature movie .

Who’s behind it?

Bisous Pictures owns the rights to The Love Hypothesis.

From author Ali Hazelwood: “It’s a true privilege to have Elizabeth and such a talented and experienced team of people working on adapting The Love Hypothesis, and I’m very excited for this next step in Olive and Adam’s story!”

What’s the status of the The Love Hypothesis adaptation?

The adaptation is currently In Development . In an interview in July 2023 , Ali Hazelwood discussed her excitement at receiving the script for the upcoming adaptation and how the project was paused during the writer’s strike.

Who’s in the cast?

No casting details have been released yet.

See the full cast (when available) on IMDB .

When will it be released?

Currently unknown.

Is there a trailer or teaser available?

Not yet! Stay tuned.

The Love Hypothesis Movie Development Timeline

September 14, 2021 The Love Hypothesis (novel) is released.

October 7, 2022 Bisous Pictures Lands Rights To Ali Hazelwood’s ‘The Love Hypothesis’

July 7 2023 Ali Hazelwood discusses receiving the script for the The Love Hypothesis movie adaptation

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