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The Love Hypothesis (Review, Synopsis & Summary)

By ali hazelwood.

Book review and synopsis for The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood, a delightful rom-com about a fake relationship between a biology Ph.D. student and a professor.

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...

(The Full Plot Summary is also available, below)

Full Plot Summary

Three years prior, Olive Smith talks to a guy when she's in the bathroom fixing her contacts (and can't see) after her Ph.D. candidate interview. She tells him about her passion for her research. She doesn't catch his name but remembers the conversation distinctly and wonders about the guy she met.

In present day, Olive is a biology Ph.D. student researching early detection methods for pancreatic cancer. She kisses a guy randomly in order to trick her best friend into thinking she's dating someone (so that her best friend Anh won't feel bad about dating Olive's ex). That guy turns out to be Dr. Adam Carlson , a young, handsome and highly-respected tenured faculty member in her department. He's also known for being hypercritical and moody.

Meanwhile, Adam's department chair is worried that he's planning on leaving for another university and has frozen some of his research funds. So, Adam he agrees to pretend to be in a relationship with Olive in order to give the impression he's putting down "roots" here, in hopes they will unfreeze the funds.

As Olive and Adam fake-date, they get to know each other. Olive sees that Adam is demanding and blunt towards his students, but not unkind or mean. Olive confides in him about her mother getting pancreatic cancer, which is why she's doing her research.

Olive soon realizes that she has feelings for Adam, but she's afraid to tell him. When he overhears her talking about a crush, she pretends it's about someone else. Olive also hears someone else refer to a woman Adam's been pining after for years and is surprised at how jealous she feels.

In the meantime, Olive needs more lab space and has been talking to Dr. Tom Benton for a spot at his lab at Harvard. When Tom arrives in town, it turns out he's friends with Adam. Adam and Tom are friends from grad school, and they have recently gotten a large grant for some joint research that Adam is excited about. After Olive completes a report on her research for Tom, he offers her a spot in his lab for the next year.

Olive and Adam's relationship continues to progress until they attend a science conference in Boston. Olive's research has been selected for a panel presentation, while Adam is a keynote speaker. There, Olive is sexually harassed by Tom, who makes advances on her. When she rejects him, he accuses her of someone who sleeps around to get ahead. He also says that he'll deny it if she tells anyone and that they won't believe her.

While Olive does finally sleep with Adam at the conference, she soon tearfully breaks things off since she doesn't want to complicate things with Adam's joint research project with Tom. Adam is also in the process of applying for a spot at Harvard.

Olive is certain no one will believe her about Tom until she realizes that the accidentally recorded the conversation where he made advances and threatened her. Meanwhile, Olive's roommate Malcolm has started seeing Dr. Holden Rodriguez, a faculty member who is a childhood friend of Adam's. Olive and Malcolm turn to Holden for advice, who encourages them to tell Adam about the recording. He points out that he thinks the main reason that Adam is considering a move to Harvard is because Olive is supposed to be going there.

Olive finds Adam and shows him the video. He is incensed at Tom and reports it to their faculty. When Adam returns from Boston, he reports that Tom has been fired. Meanwhile, Olive has been reaching out to other cancer researchers for spots at other labs, and she's gotten promising responses. Olive tells Adam that she loves him and that she never liked anyone else. Adam admits that he remembered her from the day he met her in the bathroom and that she's the one he's been interested in for years.

Ten months later at the anniversary of their first kiss, Olive and Adam re-create the kiss to mark their anniversary.

For more detail, see the full Chapter-by-Chapter Summary .

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Book Review

The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood came out a few months ago, and I didn’t really pay much attention to it. However, people seem to really be enjoying this book, and after reading The School for Good Mothers , I was really in mood for something light and fun.

In the Love Hypothesis, Olive is a third-year biology Ph.D. student at Stanford who ends up fake-dating a young and handsome tenured professor in her department. All the usual rom-com shenanigans ensue.

The Love Hypothesis is an unapologetically cheesy rom-com novel — with an upbeat attitude, meet cutes, fake-dating tropes, etc. — but it’s also a genuinely fun and often funny book. It hits a lot of familiar notes if you’re familiar with this genre, but somehow Ali Hazelwood has arranged them in a way that ends up being delightful and entertaining.

The book is super melodramatic at parts, uses so many tropes I couldn’t even list them all here if I was inclined to do so and is predictable in the way that rom-coms are always kind of predictable. That all said, I still had a fantastic time reading it and it flew by.

This is a short review because honestly it’s not that complicated to explain that this book is super cheesy and super fun.

Read it or Skip it?

If you like “chick lit” and rom-coms, you should definitely look into this book. I tend to be a little hypercritical of books in this genre, but I really enjoyed The Love Hypothesis . I found myself smiling and chuckling quite a bit as I read it.

This book is a straight-up cheesy rom-com — it is funny, melodramatic and fun as hell. I thought it was great.

See The Love Hypothesis on Amazon.

The Love Hypothesis Audiobook Review

Narrated by : Callie Dalton Length : 11 hours 8 minutes

I listened to about half of this on audiobook. I think the audiobook is solid. The narrator is easy to listen to and does a good job with it.

Hear a sample of The Love Hypothesis audiobook on Libro.fm.

Book Excerpt

Read the first pages of The Love Hypothesis

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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 on tour, by ali hazelwood on tour read by callie dalton and teddy hamilton, category: contemporary romance, category: contemporary romance | audiobooks.

Sep 14, 2021 | ISBN 9780593336823 | 5-1/2 x 8-1/4 --> | ISBN 9780593336823 --> Buy

Sep 14, 2021 | ISBN 9780593336830 | ISBN 9780593336830 --> Buy

Sep 14, 2021 | 712 Minutes | ISBN 9780593457573 --> Buy

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Sep 14, 2021 | ISBN 9780593336823

Sep 14, 2021 | ISBN 9780593336830

Sep 14, 2021 | ISBN 9780593457573

712 Minutes

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About The Love Hypothesis

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.

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.

Listen to a sample from The Love Hypothesis

Also by ali hazelwood.

About Ali Hazelwood

Ali Hazelwood is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Love, Theoretically and The Love Hypothesis, 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,… More about Ali Hazelwood

Product Details

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An Indie Next Pick! “A literary breakthrough… The Love Hypothesis is a self-assured debut, and we hypothesize it’s just the first bit of greatness we’ll see from an author who somehow has the audacity to be both an academic powerhouse and divinely talented novelist.”— Entertainment Weekly “ C ontemporary romance’s unicorn: the elusive marriage of deeply brainy and delightfully escapist… The Love Hypothesis has wild commercial appeal but the quieter secret is that there is a specific audience, made up of all of the Olives in the world, who have deeply, ardently waited for this exact book.”—Christina Lauren, New York Times bestselling author “Funny, sexy and smart, Ali Hazelwood did a terrific job with The Love Hypothesis .”—Mariana Zapata, New York Times bestselling author “This tackles one of my favorite tropes—Grumpy meets Sunshine—in a fun and utterly endearing way…I loved the nods towards fandom and romance novels, and I couldn’t put it down. Highly recommended!”—Jessica Clare, New York Times bestselling author “Pure slow-burning gold with lots of chemistry.”—Popsugar “A beautifully written romantic comedy with a heroine you will instantly fall in love with, The Love Hypothesis is destined to earn a place on your keeper shelf.”—Elizabeth Everett, author of A Lady’s Formula for Love “Smart, witty dialog and a diverse cast of likable secondary characters…A realistic, amusing novel that readers won’t be able to put down.”— Library Journal, starred review “Hilarious and heartwarming, The Love Hypothesis is romantic comedy at its best…a perfect amalgamation of sex and science, sure to appeal to readers of Christina Lauren or Abby Jimenez.”—Shelf Awareness “With whip-smart and endearing characters, snappy prose, and a quirky take on a favorite trope, Hazelwood convincingly navigates the fraught shoals of academia…This smart, sexy contemporary should delight a wide swath of romance lovers.”— Publishers Weekly

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Our Verdict

IndieBound Bestseller

THE LOVE HYPOTHESIS

by Ali Hazelwood ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 14, 2021

Fresh and upbeat, though not without flaws.

An earnest grad student and a faculty member with a bit of a jerkish reputation concoct a fake dating scheme in this nerdy, STEM-filled contemporary romance.

Olive Smith and professor Adam Carlsen first met in the bathroom of Adam's lab. Olive wore expired contact lenses, reducing her eyes to temporary tears, while Adam just needed to dispose of a solution. It's a memory that only one of them has held onto. Now, nearly three years later, Olive is fully committed to her research in pancreatic cancer at Stanford University's biology department. As a faculty member, Adam's reputation precedes him, since he's made many students cry or drop their programs entirely with his bluntness. When Olive needs her best friend, Anh, to think she's dating someone so Anh will feel more comfortable getting involved with Olive's barely-an-ex, Jeremy, she impulsively kisses Adam, who happens to be standing there when Anh walks by. But rumors start to spread, and the one-time kiss morphs into a fake relationship, especially as Adam sees there's a benefit for him. The university is withholding funds for Adam's research out of fear that he'll leave for a better position elsewhere. If he puts down more roots by getting involved with someone, his research funds could be released at the next budgeting meeting in about a month's time. After setting a few ground rules, Adam and Olive agree that come the end of September, they'll part ways, having gotten what they need from their arrangement. Hazelwood has a keen understanding of romance tropes and puts them to good use—in addition to fake dating, Olive and Adam are an opposites-attract pairing with their sunny and grumpy personalities—but there are a couple of weaknesses in this debut novel. Hazelwood manages to sidestep a lot of the complicated power dynamics of a student-faculty romance by putting Olive and Adam in different departments, but the impetus for their fake relationship has much higher stakes for Adam. Olive does reap the benefits of dating a faculty member, but in the end, she's still the one seemingly punished or taunted by her colleagues; readers may have been hoping for a more subversive twist. For a first novel, there's plenty of shine here, with clear signs that Hazelwood feels completely comfortable with happily-ever-afters.

Pub Date: Sept. 14, 2021

ISBN: 978-0-593-33682-3

Page Count: 384

Publisher: Berkley

Review Posted Online: July 27, 2021

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2021

ROMANCE | CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE | GENERAL ROMANCE

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BOOK REVIEW

by Ali Hazelwood

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PERSPECTIVES

by Ali Hazelwood ‧ RELEASE DATE: Feb. 6, 2024

Sink your teeth into this delightful paranormal romance with a modern twist.

A vampire and an Alpha werewolf enter into a marriage of convenience in order to ease tensions between their species.

As the only daughter of a prominent Vampyre councilman, Misery Lark has grown accustomed to having to playing the role that’s demanded of her—and now, her father is ordering her to be a part of yet another truce agreement. In an effort to maintain goodwill between the Vampyres and their longtime nemeses the Weres, Misery must wed their Alpha, Lowe Moreland. But it turns out that Misery has her own motivations for agreeing to this political marriage, including finding answers about what happened to her best friend, who went missing after setting up a meeting in Were territory. Isolated from her kind and surrounded on all sides by the enemy after the wedding, Misery refuses to let herself forget about her real mission. It doesn’t matter that Lowe is one of the most confounding and intense people she’s ever met, or that the connection building between them doesn’t feel like one born entirely of convenience. There’s also the possibility that Lowe may already have a Were mate of his own, but in spite of their biological differences, they may turn out to be the missing piece in each other’s lives. While this is Hazelwood’s first paranormal romance, and the book does lean on some hallmark tropes of the genre, the contemporary setting lends itself to the author’s trademark humor and makes the political plot more easily digestible. Misery and Lowe’s slow-burn romance is appealing enough that readers will readily devour every moment between them and hunger to return to them whenever the story diverts from their scenes together.

Pub Date: Feb. 6, 2024

ISBN: 9780593550403

Page Count: 416

Review Posted Online: Oct. 21, 2023

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2023

ROMANCE | PARANORMAL ROMANCE | GENERAL ROMANCE

New York Times Bestseller

IT ENDS WITH US

by Colleen Hoover ‧ RELEASE DATE: Aug. 2, 2016

Packed with riveting drama and painful truths, this book powerfully illustrates the devastation of abuse—and the strength of...

Hoover’s ( November 9 , 2015, etc.) latest tackles the difficult subject of domestic violence with romantic tenderness and emotional heft.

At first glance, the couple is edgy but cute: Lily Bloom runs a flower shop for people who hate flowers; Ryle Kincaid is a surgeon who says he never wants to get married or have kids. They meet on a rooftop in Boston on the night Ryle loses a patient and Lily attends her abusive father’s funeral. The provocative opening takes a dark turn when Lily receives a warning about Ryle’s intentions from his sister, who becomes Lily’s employee and close friend. Lily swears she’ll never end up in another abusive home, but when Ryle starts to show all the same warning signs that her mother ignored, Lily learns just how hard it is to say goodbye. When Ryle is not in the throes of a jealous rage, his redeeming qualities return, and Lily can justify his behavior: “I think we needed what happened on the stairwell to happen so that I would know his past and we’d be able to work on it together,” she tells herself. Lily marries Ryle hoping the good will outweigh the bad, and the mother-daughter dynamics evolve beautifully as Lily reflects on her childhood with fresh eyes. Diary entries fancifully addressed to TV host Ellen DeGeneres serve as flashbacks to Lily’s teenage years, when she met her first love, Atlas Corrigan, a homeless boy she found squatting in a neighbor’s house. When Atlas turns up in Boston, now a successful chef, he begs Lily to leave Ryle. Despite the better option right in front of her, an unexpected complication forces Lily to cut ties with Atlas, confront Ryle, and try to end the cycle of abuse before it’s too late. The relationships are portrayed with compassion and honesty, and the author’s note at the end that explains Hoover’s personal connection to the subject matter is a must-read.

Pub Date: Aug. 2, 2016

ISBN: 978-1-5011-1036-8

Page Count: 320

Publisher: Atria

Review Posted Online: May 30, 2016

Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2016

GENERAL ROMANCE | ROMANCE | CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE

More by Colleen Hoover

by Colleen Hoover

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The Love Hypothesis

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.

If you would like to read a list of content warnings for The Love Hypothesis (warning for mild spoilers), please click here . 

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The Love Hypothesis

Von ali hazelwood 4,6   sterne bei 224 bewertungen, neue kurzmeinungen.

DIE RomCom für Wissenschaft-Nerds ♥

Witziges, smartes und unterhaltsames Buch

Auf der Suche nach deinem neuen Lieblingsbuch? Melde dich bei LovelyBooks an, entdecke neuen Lesestoff und aufregende Buchaktionen.

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Rezensionen und bewertungen.

• 5 Sterne 155
• 4 Sterne 53
• 3 Sterne 12

Die Biologie-Doktorandin Olive gerät in eine ungewöhnliche Situation, als sie in einer Art Kurzschluss-Reaktion den Professor Adam Carlsen küsst. Um das Liebesleben ihrer Freundin nicht zu beeinflussen, gehen Adam und sie eine Fake-Beziehung ein. Das hört sich vielleicht etwas konfus an und in Olives Kopf fahren die Gedanken auch Achterbahn, aber die aus dieser Situation resultierenden Verwicklungen sind sowohl urkomisch als auch emotional. Mit diesem Roman hat Ali Hazelwood mich aufs Neue restlos begeistert und sich damit einen festen Platz in meiner Liste der Lieblingsautorinnen gesichert. Ihr humorvoller Schreibstil und die sarkastischen Bemerkungen scheinen so etwas wie ihr Markenzeichen zu sein. Ich habe den Roman auf Englisch gelesen und muss zugeben, dass einige wissenschaftliche Begriffe womöglich an mir vorbei gegangen sind, aber das tut der Geschichte insgesamt keinen Abbruch. Die Charaktere sind liebevoll ausgearbeitet, Adam war mir trotz seines Rufes sofort sympathisch und Olive weiß die chemische Reaktion zwischen ihnen lange Zeit nicht richtig einzuschätzen. In dieser Rom-Com werden aber auch ernstere Themen angesprochen und das gibt nochmal einen weiteren Pluspunkt. Insgesamt ist dieser Roman absolut empfehlenswert für alle, die nach einer charmanten Liebesgeschichte suchen.

"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." (S. 9)

Biologie-Doktorandin Olive ist einfach eine echt gute Freundin. Ansonsten würde sie wohl kaum den nächstbesten Fremden küssen, der ihr im Labor über den Weg läuft, nur um ihrer besten Freundin Anh zu beweisen, dass sie über ihren Ex hinweg ist und sie ihn daten kann. Dumm nur, dass der nächstbeste Fremde ausgerechnet ein sehr überrumpelter Dr. Adam Carlsen ist, der Schrecken aller Doktorand:innen, der schon einige mit seiner ungeschonten Kritik zum Aufgeben oder zumindest Weinen gebracht hat. Doch statt Olive wie erwartet wegen sexueller Belästigung am Arbeitsplatz anzuzeigen, schlägt Adam ihr verblüffenderweise vor, eine Fake-Beziehung zu führen, bis Olives Freundin von der Echtheit ihrer Gefühle überzeugt ist. Unter Einhaltung strenger Fake-Beziehungsvorschriften, natürlich. Was soll da schon schief gehen?  

Meine Güte, was habe ich dieses Buch verschlungen!!! Nie war Fake-Dating unterhaltsamer, nie waren Witze nerdiger und eine RomCom trotz ihrer vorhersehbaren Entwicklungen fesselnder ♥ Die Geschichte über Wissenschaftlerin Olive, die sich auf eine Scheinbeziehung einlässt und dabei ihr Herz verliert, hat mich herrlich amüsieren und ins Schwärmen bringen können. Zuletzt war es Wallbanger von Alice Clayton, welches mir dieses Lesegefühl verschafft hat, und auch wenn es da bedeutend mehr zur Sache ging, war der Vibe doch der gleiche. Es war mir ein Fest!

Das Leben von Doktorand:innen der Naturwissenschaften ist nicht leicht, wie ich in meinem eigenen Bekanntenkreis feststellen musste. Viel Arbeit, wenig Geld, viel Druck. In diesem Setting ist The Love Hypothesis angesiedelt. Olive arbeitet als Doktorandin der Biologie im dritten Jahr an ihrer Dissertation, ernährt sich von Ramen Nudeln und Chips aus dem Pausenraum-Automaten und verbringt die meiste Zeit im Labor. Wie gut, dass sie eh keinen Wert auf ein Privatleben oder eine Beziehung legt, denn dafür bliebe kaum Zeit. Doch all das ändert sich, als sie eines Abends aus der Not heraus Dr. Adam Carlsen küsst...

Ich liebe das Trope, welches hier bedient wird: quirlig trifft auf reserviert, tollpatschig auf kontrolliert. Olive und Adam scheinen wie Feuer und Wasser zu sein und trotzdem merkt man beim Lesen natürlich sofort, dass sie sich eigentlich perfekt ergänzen. Nur leider kann niemand in Olives Umfeld verstehen, wie sie mit jemandem wie "Dr. Carlsen" zusammen sein kann, der als Tyrann des Labors gilt und dessen Hobby es zu sein scheint, den noch so kleinsten methodischen Mangel in Forschungsprojekten bloßzustellen. Natüüürlich ist Adam aber nicht das herzlose, arrogante Ekel, für das ihn die meisten halten, und so konnte ich genau wie Olive nicht verhindern, dass ich langsam mein Herz an den schweigsamen Wissenschaftler verloren habe.

The Love Hypothesis ist eine ganz klassische, herrliche RomCom, mit jeder Menge kluger, witziger Dialoge und Zufallsbegegnungen, die Olive und Adam mehr Nähe aufzwingen, als sie in den Regeln für ihre Fake-Beziehung eigentlich festgelegt haben. Ich habe mich köstlich über den Humor von Ali Hazelwood amüsiert, der teilweise schon etwas speziell ist, da er viele Anspielungen aus dem wissenschaftlich-statistischen Kontext hat (wie z.B. warum der Dozent einen verächtlich anstarrt, wenn man den Mittel- statt des Modalwerts nutzt). Da Statistik einen großen Teil meines Psychologie-Studiums dargestellt hat, musste ich doch einige Male über mich selbst schmunzeln, weil ich genau wusste, worüber sie reden und ich über die nerdigen Statistik-Witze lachen konnte :-D

Wenn Olive doch einmal Freizeit hat, schaut sie gerne RomCom Filme mit ihrem Mitbewohner, weshalb ihr natürlich auch schnell klar wird, dass ihre Fake Beziehung mit Adam genau solch eine Richtung einschlägt. Und so nimmt die Autorin ihre Geschichte oftmals selbst auf die Schippe:

"HYPOTHESIS: Approximately two out of three fake-dating situations will eventually involve room-sharing; 50 percent of room-sharing situations will be further complicated by the presence of only one bed." (S. 204)

Obwohl Romantik und Humor hier ganz klar im Fokus stehen, spricht die quietschbunte Geschichte aber auch einige ernste Aspekte an, wie fehlende Chancengleichheit in der wissenschaftlichen Karriere, Erfolgsdruck und Missbrauch. Das Ganze lässt die Autorin aber so gekonnt einfließen, dass die Geschichte nie von ihrer heiteren Grundstimmung verliert.

Mein Fazit: The Love Hypothesis ist eine herrliche Feel-good Liebeskomödie, die mich total an die Seiten gefesselt hat. Olive und Adam dabei zuzusehen, wie sich ihre Fake Beziehung zu mehr entwickelt, war sooo lustig, romantisch und süß, dass ich unbedingt noch mehr von der Autorin lesen will. Ich kann euch The Love Hypothesis nur absolut begeistert ans Herz legen! Und für alle die lieber auf Deutsch lesen, habe ich noch eine gute Nachricht, denn schon im März erscheint die Geschichte in der Übersetzung als "Die theoretische Unwahrscheinlichkeit von Liebe" beim Aufbau Verlag. Also los, lesen und genießen!

"The Love Hypothesis" 

Es ist ein fesselnder Liebesroman, der von Ali Hazelwood geschrieben wurde. Die Geschichte dreht sich um Olive, eine Doktorandin in Physik, und Adam, einen anerkannten Professor. Als Olive sich entschließt, eine gefälschte Beziehung mit Adam einzugehen, um ihre Karriere zu retten, entwickelt sich zwischen ihnen jedoch etwas viel Tieferes. 

Das Buch ist voller Humor, Romantik und Chemie zwischen den Charakteren. Es ist eine süße und unterhaltsame Geschichte, die dich von Anfang bis Ende mitfiebern lässt. Die Charaktere sind gut entwickelt und die Dialoge sind witzig und clever. Wenn du nach einem Buch suchst, das dich zum Lachen bringt und gleichzeitig eine herzerwärmende Liebesgeschichte erzählt, ist "The Love Hypothesis" definitiv eine gute Wahl!

Der Schreibstil der Autorin ließ sich meiner Meinung nach sehr angenehm lesen und die Hypothesen zu Beginn jedes Kapitels fand ich ziemlich cool.

Geschrieben ist die Geschichte in der Er-/Sieg-Perspektive aus Olives Sicht, was definitiv nicht mein präferierte Erzählform für Romance-Bücher ist.

Olive ist intelligent und merkt es anscheinend nicht. Sie hat dieses Graue-Maus-Syndrom, was mich mittlerweile absolut nervt. Alle anderen sind ja ach so toll und sie hat das alles ja gar nicht verdient. Und was sieht Adam bloß in ihr? Seufz! 

Adam. Ja, Adam.. Zu ihm kann ich eigentlich nicht allzu viel sagen. Außer dass er groß ist. Sehr groß. Alles an ihm ist groß. Seine Hände, sein Körper und... anscheinend auch sein Mund. Like... How is this even possible? (Mund + Brust = häh?) Und er ist beschützend und ziemlich intelligent. Im Grunde habe ich diesen grumpy guy irgendwie gemocht.

Die Geschichte war ganz süß, keine Frage, und definitiv unterhaltsam. Und die Message in Bezug auf Vorurteile gegenüber Frauen in der Wissenschaft hat mir wirklich gut gefallen.

Aber... Ich habe das Fake Dating - auch wenn es an sich Spaß gemacht hat - nicht wirklich verstanden. Warum das Ganze? Meiner Meinung nach, hat das doch alles, die ganzen Gerüchte und Vorurteile doch nur schlimmer gemacht. Oder nicht?

Die Geschichte war süß, stellenweise romantisch und emotional, alles in allem aber nur eine nette Geschichte für zwischendurch, die man definitiv nicht unbedingt lesen muss.

Von mir gibt es 2,5-3 Sterne. 

"He turned to look at her, and there were entire worlds in his eyes."

Aus unerfindlichen liegt dieses Buch schon länger auf meinem SuB, und ich hatte es jetzt erst für meinen Urlaub dabei. Ich kann euch sagen, es im Hinflug zu lesen und dann einige Tage warten zu müssen, bis man weiterlesen konnte, war DAS SCHLIMMSTE!

"The Love Hypothesis" ist absolute Perfektion. Hands down, 10 outta 10. Mein letztes Highlight war schon einige Zeit her, und dann kam dieses Buch. Es ist witzig, romantisch, absolut emotional, herzzerreißend, motivierend und so viele andere Dinge! Es war mein erstes Buch mit STEM-Setting, und da Ali Hazelwood bekannte Autorin für dieses Setting ist, habe ich mir danach alle ihre restlichen Bücher gekauft. Das sagt glaube ich alles aus, in welcher Beziehung ich zu dem Buch und dem Setting stehe.

Erstmal - Dr. Adam Carlsen, neuer Bookboyfriend. Er ist Mister Grumpy, von der Studentenschaft gehasst für seine nofilter-Aussagen, groß, hot und intelligent. Der Beste in seinem Fachgebiet. Aber er ist so viel mehr, was erst durch Olive zum Vorschein kommt. Er ist witzig, sarkastisch geradezu, empathisch, ehrlich und liebt mit seinem ganzen Sein. Packen wir Olive dazu, die gerade ihren Doktor macht, oft Selbstzweifel hat und nun quasi aus Versehen eine Fake-Dating-Beziehung mit Adam eingeht. Mister Grumpy und Miss Sunshine, auf diesen Trope gehe ich ja immer total ab. Die Gefühle zwischen beiden sind so raw, so ehrlich, voller Feuerwerk und gegenseitige Unterstützung. Ich würde sterben, um dieses Buch und ihre Beziehung noch einmal ohne Vorwissen lesen zu können.

Dazu gibt es so viele süße Szenen zwischen beide, die mich im Flugzeug nur dumm grinsen lassen haben, die Schmetterlinge in meinem Bauch waren absolut ecstatic! Es ist aber nicht nur die Beziehung zwischen Olive und Adam, die das Buch zu einem Jahreshighlight werden lassen haben, sondern auch die Freunde von den beiden Protas waren super greifbare Charaktere mit eigenen Geschichte, die den Plot rund gemacht haben. Dazu das wissenschaftliche Setting mit Laborarbeit und der Stress der Studierenden und all die ganzen anderen kleinen Dinge, die das Buch einfach perfekt gemacht haben. Ich habe wirklich gar nichts auszusetzen, war vom ersten Satz an voll dabei und habe jede Seite inhaliert. Das Buch ist ich und das Buch bin ich.

"The Love Hypothesis" bekommt natürlich volle 5/5 Sterne und eine dicke fette Leseempfehlung!

Ich lese sehr selten englische Bücher, da ich befürchte nicht alle Zusammenhänge zu verstehen. Dieses Buch ist auf meiner 23 für 23 Liste und ich war sehr neugierig darauf, da ich bereits viel Gutes gehört habe und wollte es nun endlich lesen. Zuerst war ich erstaunt, wie viel ich verstehe, obwohl viele naturwissenschaftliche Fachbegriffe vorkommen, so dass ich gut in die Geschichte gestartet bin. Der Schreibstil, der Humor und die Ideen von Ali haben dann dazu geführt, dass ich in dem Buch versinken bin und erst dann wieder aufgetaucht bin, als das Buch beendet war. Ich liebe einfach den Humor in dieser Geschichte, ich musste oft laut lachen oder schmunzeln. Allgemein ist die Chemie zwischen Olive und Adam von Anfang an zu spüren, macht die Handlung spannend und man fiebert mit den Beiden mit. Eingerahmt wird die Geschichte mit den engen Freunden von Olive und Adam sowie dem naturwissenschaftlichen Uni Setting. Dieses macht das Buch für mich einzigartig und besonders. Eine RomCom ganz nach Olives Geschmack. Ich bin begeistert und freue mich schon darauf die weiteren Bücher von Ali zu lesen.

Ich habe mich in das Buch einfach nur verliebt. Ich wusste eigentlich gar nicht so recht, worauf ich mich da einlasse, da ich es aus dem Affekt mitgenommen habe, nachdem ich es online so oft gesehen habe. Aber ich habe es keine Sekunde bereut. 

Die Geschichte von Olive und Adam war einfach zuckersüß und angenehm zwischendurch. Es wurden auch ernste Themen behandelt, was ich gut fand, aber größtenteils war es einfach eine schöne Liebesgeschichte mit viel Humor und Charme. 

Den Schreibstil fand ich sehr angenehm, daher bin ich auch so gut durchs Buch gekommen. 

Olive und Adam habe ich beide einfach nur geliebt. Beide waren wundervolle Persönlichkeiten, die mir mit ihren Eigenheiten gut gefallen und mich oft zum Schmunzeln gebracht haben. Auch die Freunde der beiden fand ich super schön integriert und möchte jeden auf seine Art gerne.

Meiner Meinung nach ist es dem Hype absolut gerecht gewor den. 💕

In dem Buch geht es um Olive, die als Biologie-Doktorandin an der Stanford University forscht. Um Ihre beste Freundin davon zu überzeugen, dass sie nicht mehr auf deren Schwarm steht, lässt sie sich eine Notlüge einfallen und küsst im wahrsten Sinne des Wortes den erstbesten Typen der ihr über den Weg läuft. Als sie jedoch danach richtig hinschaut sieht sie, dass sie soeben den am Campus unbeliebten Professoren Adam Carlsen geküsst hat. Zu Ihrer Überraschung, lässt sich Adam auf eine Fake-Beziehung ein, doch die anbahnenden Gefühle machen diese immer komplizierter. "Die theoretische Unwahrscheinlichkeit von Liebe" war mein erstes Buch der Autorin. Der Schreibstil ließ sich flüssig und schnell lesen. Ich wollte immer wissen wie es weiter geht und konnte deshalb das Buch kaum aus den Händen legen. Ich fand den Bezug auf Biologie in dem Buch total interessant und es war auch nicht zu unverständlich geschrieben. Allgemein war es eine sehr schöne Geschichte mit humorvollen Charakteren. Ich kann das Buch sehr empfehlen!

„Love Hypothesis“ von Ali Hazelwood hat mir als Taschenbuch gut gefallen. Ich habe es bereits Anfang 2023 gelesen, rezensiere es jedoch jetzt zum ersten Mal.

Olive ist ein guter Mensch. Und damit sich ihre Freundin Anh auf eine neue Liebe, genauer gesagt Olives Exfreund, einlassen kann, ist sie zu einer außergewöhnlichen Tat in der Lage. Sie küsst jemanden, den sie gar nicht kennt und ahnt nicht, dass es sich dabei um einen Professor ihrer Universität handelt. Den jungen, gut aussehenden, leicht umstrittenen Adam. Was folgt ist eine Lüge, die nach und nach echte Sympathie weckt und noch mehr … 

Das Buch habe ich mir vor dem großen Hype gelesen, da mir das Cover gut gefallen hat und es einen Rabatt auf englische Bücher bei Thalia gab :) 

Ehrlich gesagt kann ich die übergroße Begeisterung leider nicht teilen. Zugegeben, die Geschichte ist gut geschrieben, teils witzig und die Grundidee auf jeden Fall toll.

Aber schon nach kurzer Zeit wirkte Olive sehr bedürftig auf mich, so als habe sie kaum eigene Stärke, obwohl sie doch schon als Studentin viel erreicht hat und mehr als nur eine gut aussehende Partymaus ist. 

Adam wirkte von Beginn an auf mich sehr abweisend, was so auf jeden Fall gewollt war. Auch er hatte schließlich ein Motiv, warum er Olive an seiner Seite gesehen haben wollte. 

Als sie Sympathie und schließlich Verliebtheit dazu kam hat mir die Magie gefehlt, das Knistern, die Tiefe in den Gesprächen und auch das Ende hätte noch schöner sein können. 

Ein Buch, dass dem Hype der dann folgte nicht vollends gerecht wird, sich dennoch solide lesen lässt. 

Olive hat ein riesen Problem: ihre beste Freundin Anh hat sich in Olives' Ex Jeremy verliebt. Für Olive an sich kein Problem, doch Anh möchte ihrer Liebe nicht nachgeben, da sie denkt, Olive würde immer noch an ihm hängen (was sie nicht tut, sie war eher aus Langeweile mit ihm ausgegangen). Um Anh zu beweisen, dass sie über Jeremy hinweg ist, küsst sie den nächst besten Typen vor Anhs Augen. Blöd nur, dass sie damit einen der renommiertesten und wohl gemeinsten Professoren, nämlich Adam Carlsen, erwischt hat.

Ich habe mir das Buch gekauft, da ich Fake-Dating mit einer Prise Enemies-to-Lovers nicht widerstehen konnte, und ich muss sagen: es hat sich absolut gelohnt, so sehr mochte ich ein Buch schon lange nicht mehr.

Dieses Buch beinhaltet so viel Humor und Comedy, dazu aber auch so viel Vertrauen, Zuneigung und Liebe, so etwas können nur wenige Autor*innen. Noch dazu wurden wichtige Themen angesprochen und nicht alles war purer Sonnenschein. 

Die Charaktere fand ich persönlich super, besonders die Freundschaft zwischen Olive und Anh. Adam ist natürlich auch ein super Typ, aber irgendwie war er dann wieder so gutaussehend und nett zu Frauen, dass mein Männer-Standard ganz weit nach oben gestiegen ist und ich deswegen vermutlich als alte Jungfer mit 20 Katzen ende. Natürlich trotzdem schön, dass zumindest "fictional men" meinen Standards entsprechen.

Alles in allem klare Kaufempfehlung an alle, ich habe es auch direkt schon einer Freundin aufgedrückt. Dieses Buch ist einfach nur perfekt, Kritikpunkte habe ich gar keine!

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Das Debut von Ali Hazelwood wird gerade nicht ohne Grund in der englischen Book community gefeiert. Ich kann es nicht glauben, dass hier mit mir nur zwei Leserinnen das Buch gelesen haben. Es ist wirklich fantastisch geschrieben!

Ja oder! Ich konnte es nicht aus der Hand legen!

Stöbern in Liebesromane

Community-statistik.

in 342 Bibliotheken

auf 44 Merkzettel

von 11 Leser*innen aktuell gelesen

Worum geht es im Buch?

Listen zum buch, bücher des autors.

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 Kindle Edition

• Print length 383 pages
• Language English
• Sticky notes On Kindle Scribe
• Publisher Berkley
• Publication date September 14, 2021
• File size 3306 KB
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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
• #39 in Workplace Romance eBooks
• #47 in Workplace Romance
• #322 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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Helpful Book Guide: The Love Hypothesis Spicy Chapters List and Review

Posted on Published: July 27, 2023  - Last updated: October 23, 2023

Categories Book Guide , Spicy Chapters

What are The Love Hypothesis spicy chapters? Well, this guide is for you! Though this book is not very spicy, it is still my responsibility to squeeze out the spiciest The Love Hypothesis spicy chapters possible for you. It’s also a book I recommend with the ‘who did this to you” trope!

Table of Contents

The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood

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.

The Love Hypothesis Review

The Love Hypothesis is a captivating and heartwarming romance that delves into the complexities of academia and love. The story revolves around Olive Smith, a dedicated PhD student, and Adam Carlsen, a charming and cocky professor. Both characters are beautifully crafted with depth and vulnerability, making them relatable and endearing to readers.

The romance between Olive and Adam is a slow-burn delight, filled with moments of vulnerability and tenderness that will leave you swooning. Their undeniable chemistry and emotional connection create an engaging and satisfying love story. The witty banter between the two adds a delightful touch to their interactions.

Ali Hazelwood’s writing is both engaging and emotionally resonant, effortlessly drawing readers into the world of academia and scientific research. The novel’s exploration of the characters’ hidden depths and vulnerability adds layers to the story, making it a truly captivating read from beginning to end. “The Love Hypothesis” is a must-read for anyone looking for a heartwarming and well-developed romance that will stay with you long after you’ve turned the last page.

books like the Love Hypothesis

The Spanish Love Deception by Elena Armas

Catalina Martín desperately needs a date to her sister’s wedding. Especially since her little white lie about her American boyfriend has spiralled out of control. Now everyone she knows—including her ex and his fiancée—will be there and eager to meet him.

She only has four weeks to find someone willing to cross the Atlantic and aid in her deception. New York to Spain is no short flight and her raucous family won’t be easy to fool.

Enter Aaron Blackford—her tall, handsome, condescending colleague—who surprisingly offers to step in. She’d rather refuse; never has there been a more aggravating, blood-boiling, and insufferable man.

But Catalina is desperate, and as the wedding draws nearer, Aaron looks like her best option. And she begins to realize he might not be as terrible in the real world as he is at the office.

This book was cute to read! Also have the only one bed trope and enemies to lovers (of course).

Twisted Games by Ana Huang

She can never be his…but he’s taking her anyway.

Stoic, broody, and arrogant, elite bodyguard Rhys Larsen has two rules: 1) Protect his clients at all costs 2) Do not become emotionally involved. Ever.

He has never once been tempted to break those rules…until  her.

Bridget von Ascheberg. A princess with a stubborn streak that matches his own and a hidden fire that reduces his rules to ash. She’s nothing he expected and everything he never knew he needed.

Day by day, inch by inch, she breaks down his defences until he’s faced with a truth he can no longer deny: he swore an oath to protect her, but all he wants is to ruin her. Take her.

Because she’s his.

His princess. His forbidden fruit. His every depraved fantasy.

Regal, strong-willed, and bound by the chains of duty, Princess Bridget dreams of the freedom to live and love as she chooses.

But when her brother abdicates, she’s suddenly faced with the prospect of a loveless, politically expedient marriage and a throne she never wanted.

And as she navigates the intricacies—and treacheries—of her new role, she must also hide her desire for a man she can’t have.

Her bodyguard. Her protector. Her ultimate ruin.

Unexpected and forbidden, theirs is a love that could destroy a kingdom…and doom them both.

Icebreaker by Hannah Grace

Anastasia Allen has worked her entire life for a shot at Team USA.

A competitive figure skater since she was five years old, a full college scholarship thanks to her place on the Maple Hills skating team, and a schedule that would make even the most driven person weep, Stassie comes to win.

No exceptions.

Nathan Hawkins has never had a problem he couldn’t solve. As captain of the Maple Hills Titans, he knows the responsibility of keeping the hockey team on the ice rests on his shoulders.

When a misunderstanding results in the two teams sharing a rink, and Anastasia’s partner gets hurt in the aftermath, Nate finds himself swapping his stick for tights, and one scary coach for an even scarier one.

The pair find themselves stuck together in more ways than one, but it’s fine, because Anastasia doesn’t even like hockey players…right?

Twisted Hate by Ana Huang

He hates her…almost as much as he wants her.

Gorgeous, cocky, and fast on his way to becoming a hotshot doctor, Josh Chen has never met a woman he couldn’t charm—except for Jules f**king Ambrose.

The beautiful redhead has been a thorn in his side since they met, but she also consumes his thoughts in a way no woman ever has.

When their animosity explodes into one unforgettable night, he proposes a solution that’ll get her out of his system once and for all: an enemies with benefits arrangement with simple rules.

No jealousy.

No strings attached.

And absolutely no falling in love.

Outgoing and ambitious, Jules Ambrose is a former party girl who’s focused on one thing: passing the attorney’s bar exam.

The last thing she needs is to get involved with a doctor who puts the SUFFER in insufferable…no matter how good-looking he is.

But the more she gets to know him, the more she realizes there’s more than meets the eye to the man she’s hated for so long.

Her best friend’s brother.

Her nemesis.

And her only salvation.

Theirs is a match made in hell, and when the demons from their past catch up with them, they’re faced with truths that could either save them …or destroy everything they’ve worked for.

Twisted Hate is a steamy enemies with benefits/enemies to lovers romance. It’s book three in the Twisted series but can be read as a standalone.

Abou t The Fine Print by Lauren Asher

A typical billionaire romance that is quite popular. It’s one of the more famous ones of the genre, especially on Kindle Unlimited.

Love on the Brain by Ali Hazelwood

Bee Königswasser lives by a simple code: What would Marie Curie do? If NASA offered her the lead on a neuroengineering project – a literal dream come true – Marie would accept without hesitation. Duh. But the mother of modern physics never had to co-lead with Levi Ward.

Sure, Levi is attractive in a tall, dark, and piercing-eyes kind of way. But Levi made his feelings toward Bee very clear in grad school – archenemies work best employed in their own galaxies far, far away.

But when her equipment starts to go missing and the staff ignore her, Bee could swear she sees Levi softening into an ally, backing her plays, seconding her ideas… devouring her with those eyes. The possibilities have all her neurons firing.

But when it comes time to actually make a move and put her heart on the line, there’s only one question that matters: What will Bee Königswasser do?

It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey

Piper Bellinger is fashionable, influential, and her reputation as a wild child means the paparazzi are constantly on her heels. When too much champagne and an out-of-control rooftop party lands Piper in the slammer, her stepfather decides enough is enough. So he cuts her off, and sends Piper and her sister to learn some responsibility running their late father’s dive bar… in Washington.

Piper hasn’t even been in Westport for five minutes when she meets big, bearded sea captain Brendan, who thinks she won’t last a week outside of Beverly Hills. So what if Piper can’t do math, and the idea of sleeping in a shabby apartment with bunk beds gives her hives. How bad could it really be? She’s determined to show her stepfather—and the hot, grumpy local—that she’s more than a pretty face.

Except it’s a small town and everywhere she turns, she bumps into Brendan. The fun-loving socialite and the gruff fisherman are polar opposites, but there’s an undeniable attraction simmering between them. Piper doesn’t want any distractions, especially feelings for a man who sails off into the sunset for weeks at a time.

Yet as she reconnects with her past and begins to feel at home in Westport, Piper starts to wonder if the cold, glamorous life she knew is what she truly wants. LA is calling her name, but Brendan—and this town full of memories—may have already caught her heart. 

Romance between a sunshine fashionable “it” celebrity girl with grumpy sea sailor local. Bright cheerful icon x cold ordinary sailor combo meal.

The Love Hypothesis Spicy Chapters

As many readers may know (especially romance book readers), oftentimes we like to seek out book tropes and read romance books that include the book tropes we usually like and the book tropes we want to read at the moment. It’s what drives a lot of book recommendations and is a common way we seek out books to read. If you are a reader who is interested in:

• Tracking tropes that you have already read
• Tracking tropes that you would want to read in the future
• Collect original trope ideas that you came up with (and haven’t come across before)

Then this book trope reading journal is perfectly made for you!

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Dries Van Noten Announces Retirement

The Belgian designer, known for his glorious use of color and prints, remained independent for years. Now he’s going out on his own terms.

By Vanessa Friedman and Jessica Testa

In a shock to the fashion world, Dries Van Noten announced that he was stepping down as creative director of the brand that bears his name. His fall 2024 men’s show, scheduled to take place in Paris in June, will be his last.

“My dream was to have a voice in fashion,” Mr. Van Noten, 65, wrote in a letter sent to editors. “That dream came true. Now, I want to shift my focus to all the things I never had time for.”

Mr. Van Noten was an original member of the Antwerp Six, the group of Belgian designers who changed fashion when they arrived in Paris in the early 1980s. In his statement, he wrote that he had been “preparing for this moment for a while, and I feel it’s time to leave room for a new generation of talents to bring their vision to the brand.”

In an industry in which founders often cling to their positions well into their 80s and rarely engage in succession planning, Mr. Van Noten’s move stands out as a rare example of a designer ceding power by his own choice — and at the height of his skills. His last women’s show , held in late February in Paris, was an emotional, generous paean to style over fashion and the creativity of dressing oneself.

But the consideration, originality, grace and attention to detail that marked his clothes, and that inspired a 2014 solo exhibition at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris and a 2017 documentary about his work, have also marked his approach to his business.

Mr. Van Noten had been taking steps to ensure the future of his brand, which he founded in 1986, since 2018, when he sold a majority stake to the Puig fashion and fragrance business, agreeing to stay on as chief creative officer and chairman of the board. It was a big step for a designer who prided himself on independence. But he had just turned 60, he told The New York Times in 2022 , and he found himself thinking about his health and the future.

“Do we have enough heritage?” he said. “Is there enough reason that the company can continue the moment that I would stop?”

The partnership with Puig allowed the brand to increase its team and expand into new categories, including beauty and fragrance. But even after relinquishing some control of his business, the pace of the industry could still frustrate Mr. Van Noten.

“After a career of all these years, you never can take six months off, or even two months off,” he said, adding that the longest break he’d ever taken was two weeks. “I think it’s the dream of every designer to just, at a certain moment, be able to skip one season.”

In 2020, he cowrote an open letter with other designers about the need to fix the seasonal shopping calendar so that brands could find a more sustainable production rhythm and break the cycle of extreme discounting.

But he also knew that fashion’s impossible pace could be a good thing, mentally, for a designer. If a collection wasn’t received well by critics or shoppers, there was no time to mope. “You have to move on,” he told The Times. “You have to forget. You have to start again. And I think that’s really amazing. That’s quite addictive and I think that’s also what keeps me continuing.”

Mr. Van Noten, who received the international designer of the year award from the Council of Fashion Designers of America, was named an Officier de L’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by France and was anointed a baron by the King of Belgium, said in his letter that a new designer would be announced in “due time.” He would remain involved in the brand, though did not specify the role.

He is a passionate gardener — the flowers at his home outside Antwerp inspired many of the gloriously colored textiles and styles that were his signature — and often goes on garden tours with Ann Demeulemeester, another member of the Antwerp Six who stepped back from her own brand.

Whatever avenue he chooses to pursue, however, what is certain is that, just as he and his peers once set a new tone for the industry, Mr. Van Noten is now revolutionizing how departure can look.

Vanessa Friedman has been the fashion director and chief fashion critic for The Times since 2014. More about Vanessa Friedman

Jessica Testa is a Times reporter covering the worlds of style and fashion. More about Jessica Testa

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