The Love Hypothesis: A TikTok sensation and must-read STEM romance Paperback – 21 Oct. 2021

The Love Hypothesis was the first rom-com trope book I ever read, and I loved it! From the very first pages, the story had such a captivating feel and vibe. The dynamics between Olive and Adam felt smooth and engaging, almost like Cheers in a science lab. I adore that unique atmosphere throughout the story. The side characters were also fantastic and humour-filled, which complemented Ali Hazelwood's superb writing. It was such an easy read that drew me in completely. I will check out more of the author's talented works and highly recommend this as a must-read!

I'm a little late to this party. It's been all over IG and TT for ages, and my step-daughter recommended it. I finally caved.It's an enjoyable read.The two main characters (Olive and Adam) are both very socially awkward. And as they're both academics, this is actually realistic.They embark on a fake date relationship, which opens them up to exploring what they were each too afraid to do in 'reality'.The chemistry between the pair is limited, if I'm honest. There is quite a bit of ogling the gorgeous man. It's more of a slow Bunsen burner. I'd say Olive is demisexual.There is a really good steamy scene which left me wishing for more of those.There are odd moments when a crescendo has built but there are gaps. e.g. a big presentation is sprung on her, but then we don't see the details leading up to it. It gets mentioned that Olive is scared, and people offer to help. But there are no rehearsal moments, no pulling together of notes. We just suddenly end up at the presentation itself.There are no massive surprises. We know the trope, which is even repeatedly mentioned in the book. You know what to expect, and there is comfort in that.The characters are fun to watch as they bumble along their path of lies. The side characters help colour the story with their own input.An enjoyable, fun read.A good 3.5*

I wasn't planning on reading this book through the night and being a zombie in the morning but y'know what? Olive and Adam are more than worth the dark circles and red eyes! I'm ngl, I went into this feeling more than a little nervous cos the hype is absolutely wild around it, but I'm beyond chuffed to say that it was *chefs kiss* and definitely lived up to all the hype! The academic setting, the endearingly awkward moments, the witty and cheeky banter, the CHEMISTRY! And bedroom Dr. Adam Carlsen? HELLO! It was unexpected (not sure why cos the man is fine) and it was hot AF. So wow (so wow)! 🥵 Like, I don't know if I can even form coherent and non-rambly sentences for this review because I loved it so much? I'm gonna try though but also who am I kidding? This is going to be rambly and gushing and probably a mess but I hope it convinces you to read the book! 😂You know when you start a new book and almost immediately know, within the first few pages, that you're going to love it? That was this book for me! Hazelwood's writing is so easy to read and full of quirky and humorous moments that made it so difficult to put this book down. I was surprised to find that I also really enjoyed the academic setting and I liked that it wasn't just a 'background' aspect to the story but an integral part of it. Although I'm not familiar with the academic world myself, I could tell that Hazelwood was and that came through clearly in the writing and it was immersive. It's a cutthroat world and the misogyny is rampant, as evidenced by Olive's and Ahn's experiences, and I appreciated that Hazelwood doesn't shy away from the harsh reality of what it's like to be in academia in general but specifically to be a woman in academia, in S.T.E.M.While the setting was great, it was the characters that won me over and I adored every single one of them. This book had such a fantastic cast of characters and I loved that the side characters felt well fleshed out too! I was immediately charmed by Olive's slightly chaotic and anxious but entirely adorable nerdy energy. She's wickedly smart and super passionate about her research into pancreatic cancer, but she's also witty and absolutely hilarious! She's a literal ray of sunshine and I loved being in her head so much that it was so easy to root for her success and happiness. I adored her friendships with Ahn and Malcolm, her ride or dies, and their friendly banter had me constantly laughing out loud (so much so that my sister asked me what I was reading that was so hilarious)! They were such a great group of friends and I loved seeing them achieve their dreams and finding their happiness alongside Olive. Now let's talk about the grumpy star of the show, Olive's long-time secret-admirer and everyone's favourite nightmare: Dr. Adam Carlsen. He's an absolute genius who takes his responsibilities as a science mentor very seriously and cares about his students and their success despite maybe not vocalising that in ways that people prefer. Underneath his gruff and intimidating exterior, he's loyal, so freaking cheeky and a total sweetheart, especially when it comes to Olive. I can't even describe the way my heart swooned at all the ways he was a simp for her but I am grinning big just thinking about it right now! Also, listen. I'm a big fan of hugely nerdy men that are hulkingly built (the contrast tho) and what can I say? This man was everything! And I mean, I already mentioned how knee-quakingly hot Adam is when he's unleashed in the bedroom so... I mean, I guess I'm just a fool for this man. 🙃Although their fake dating kicked off pretty early in the story, the progression of their romance from strangers who tolerate each other on weekly fake dates to tentative yet adorable friends to swoontastic lovers was immaculately done! Watching them slip into easy, comforting, and totally cheeky banter the more they spent time together made me ridiculously happy. There's no doubt that Hazelwood does the slow-burn build-up extremely well and the more they got to know each other and found themselves in relationship-esque situations that had me squealing and giggling with utter delight, the more invested I became in their relationship. I mean, there was hand-holding, lap-sitting, sunscreen applying on naked backs!!! And I. Pls. I swoon. I cannot. I loved it so much and it's rare that I immediately want to go back and read the swoony bits the minute I finish a romance, but I immediately want to go back and read the swoony bits in this book already! 😂I honestly don't know what else to say about this book other than to keep gushing about how swoony the romance was and how happy their interactions made me. I'm so glad that I finally shook off the nerves and dove into this because it was amazing. The only regret I have is that it's over and I already can't wait to read it again at some point because this has fast become one of my favourite romances—and definitely one of my top reads in 2021! All I can say is READ IT! Also, I thought I'd share some content warnings below because there are some topics and events that may be triggering for readers, so please read with care ❤️CW/TW: Sexual harassment, mental abuse (between mentor/mentee, recounted), death of a parent (pancreatic cancer)

This contemporary romance deserves all the hype and praise it's receiving!Rating: ★★★★★ (5/5)"The Love Hypothesis" by Ali Hazelwood is an enchanting and delightfully funny romantic comedy that adds an academic twist to the classic enemies-to-lovers trope. With its witty banter, endearing characters, and the perfect blend of humor and heart, this book had me hooked from the start.Olive Smith, a PhD student in biology, shows us the ups and downs of being a woman in STEM. Her career is put on the line after meeting the charming and enigmatic Dr. Adam Carlsen. Sparks fly and witty banter ensues in a strained proffessional partnership-turned-romance.This was such a refreshing read, with exciting plot twists and well-developed characters. The story went beyond the classic rom-com by incorporating intellectually stimulating details as well as an emotionally satisfying plot line (still thinking about their twitter banter). The perfect read for understanding the impacts of the glass ceiling for women in STEM, written by a woman in STEM. Considering this was her debut novel, I am thoroughly impressed!I also love Ali Hazelwood's writing style! I was engaged with laugh-out-loud moments and steamy one-liners; a well-paced, immersive read that I could not put down until completion + LOVE THE DEMISEXUAL REP, was amazing and heartwarming to see this rare bit of representation in fiction.Ultimately, "The Love Hypothesis" is not just a story about love; it's a celebration of passion, hard work, and the courage to follow one's heart. It reminds us that even science and logic can't always predict matters of the heart. Sometimes, love is most beautiful experiment of all.