About the Book
Olive Smith doesn’t believe in love — she’s a third-year PhD candidate who believes in facts, and the fact is her best friend needs to believe Olive has moved on. So when Olive impulsively kisses the first man she sees to convince her friend she’s dating someone, that man turns out to be Adam Carlsen, the young, intimidating, notoriously unpleasant professor of her department. What starts as a fake relationship of convenience — useful cover for both of them, for very different reasons — quickly stops feeling like an experiment at all.
Why Readers Love This Book
- A viral BookTok sensation that became a global bestseller and launched Ali Hazelwood’s STEM romance brand
- A fake-dating trope executed with genuine chemistry, banter, and emotional payoff
- Written by a real neuroscience academic, giving the STEM/lab-life setting authentic texture
- Balances laugh-out-loud humor with a grumpy, protective love interest readers adore
Who Should Read The Love Hypothesis
For romance readers who love fake-dating tropes, grumpy/sunshine dynamics, and smart, competent heroines in STEM settings — fans of workplace and academic romance with real emotional stakes underneath the comedy. Suggested reading age 16 years and up.
About the Author
Ali Hazelwood is a neuroscientist-turned-author whose STEM-focused romance novels, starting with The Love Hypothesis, have become a defining voice in the genre.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Love Hypothesis a standalone book?
Yes — it’s a standalone romance, though Ali Hazelwood has written other STEM romance novels in a similar style.
Is The Love Hypothesis appropriate for younger readers?
The publisher suggests a reading age of 16 and up, given its romantic and mature content.
What trope is The Love Hypothesis built around?
A fake dating/relationship of convenience trope between two scientists, evolving into a grumpy/sunshine academic romance.
How much of the science in this book is realistic?
Author Ali Hazelwood is a real neuroscientist, and the academic and lab settings draw on her own STEM background for authenticity.
Specifications
| Title | The Love Hypothesis |
| Author | Ali Hazelwood |
| Publisher | Sphere |
| Publication Date | 21 October 2021 |
| Language | English |
| Binding | Paperback |
| Pages | 384 |
| ISBN-10 | 1408725762 |
| ISBN-13 | 978-1408725764 |
| Reading Age | 16 years and up |
| Weight | 278 g |
| Dimensions | 12.6 x 2.8 x 19.6 cm |
| Genre | Romance / STEM Romantic Comedy |
People Also Ask
Is The Love Hypothesis similar to Better Than the Movies?
Both are witty rom-coms with movie/pop-culture-literate narrators, but The Love Hypothesis is a New Adult academic romance, while Better Than the Movies is YA/high school.
What other books has Ali Hazelwood written?
Ali Hazelwood has written several other STEM-focused romance novels following The Love Hypothesis, in a similar academic setting.
Is The Love Hypothesis a spicy or clean romance?
It includes romantic and sexual content typical of adult contemporary romance, reflected in its 16+ suggested reading age.
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