The Love Hypothesis

Hypothesis: If you read The Love Hypothesis then I predict you will experience swoopy butterflies and grin-inducing feelings from start to finish, stay up until 4 am to read every last word, and will 100% want to reread the book in its entirety immediately upon completion.

Result: It is me. I am proof positive that this hypothesis is true.

Ok, as illogical as it sounds, I have the hardest time reviewing books that I absolutely love—and I really really loved this one.

I mean, fake dating, grumpy and mysterious hero, super smart and awkward heroine, and an undiscovered unrequited crush that lasts for years? What’s not to love?!?

As a huge fan of women in STEM + nerdy heroes, it checks so many of my ‘love to read tropes’ boxes.

The Love Hypothesis Summary

Olive is an adorkable Ph.D. student (and the sunshine in this story) who is trying to prove to her best friend that she’s ready to date by grabbing a random guy in the lab and kissing him.  Thankfully, even after the ambush smooch, Dr Carlson agrees to fake dating to keep up the farce.

Adam is a driven and hard-nosed professor (and the grump / I hate everyone but you hero) who is unexpectedly kissed by the object of his unrequited crush from afar.  Fake dating is harder than it looks when real feelings are involved.

Slow Burn Grumpy/Sunshine Romance Goodness!

Olive and Adam’s journey is not only sweet, but there’s fantastic banter, excellent side characters, interesting academia politics, and gives us a fresh perspective on familiar romance tropes.

This is a debut that definitely doesn’t read like one, and I devoured all of the cuteness in one sitting.  I then re-read it on audiobook and loved it the second time around just as much.

I didn’t know at the time I read this (in April 2021) that this actually began as Reylo fan fiction. I don’t follow Star Wars, so this didn’t even occur to me nor did it influence my reading experience. However, if you are a Reylo ‘shipper, you might devour this book whole!