Love, Theoretically
"The reigning queen of STEM romance."âThe Washington Post
An Indie Next and Library Reads Pick!
Rival physicists collide in a vortex of academic feuds and fake dating shenanigans in this delightfully STEMinist romcom from the New York Times bestselling author of The Love Hypothesis and Love on the Brain.
The many lives of theoretical physicist Elsie Hannaway have finally caught up with her. By day, sheâs an adjunct professor, toiling away at grading labs and teaching thermodynamics in the hopes of landing tenure. By other day, Elsie makes up for her non-existent paycheck by offering her services as a fake girlfriend, tapping into her expertly honed people-pleasing skills to embody whichever version of herself the client needs.
Honestly, itâs a pretty sweet gigâuntil her carefully constructed Elsie-verse comes crashing down. Because Jack Smith, the annoyingly attractive and arrogant older brother of her favorite client, turns out to be the cold-hearted experimental physicist who ruined her mentorâs career and undermined the reputation of theorists everywhere. And heâs the same Jack Smith who rules over the physics department at MIT, standing right between Elsie and her dream job.
Elsie is prepared for an all-out war of scholarly sabotage butâŚthose long, penetrating looks? Not having to be anything other than her true self when sheâs with him? Will falling into an experimentalistâs orbit finally tempt her to put her most guarded theories on love into practice?
An Indie Next and Library Reads Pick!
Rival physicists collide in a vortex of academic feuds and fake dating shenanigans in this delightfully STEMinist romcom from the New York Times bestselling author of The Love Hypothesis and Love on the Brain.
The many lives of theoretical physicist Elsie Hannaway have finally caught up with her. By day, sheâs an adjunct professor, toiling away at grading labs and teaching thermodynamics in the hopes of landing tenure. By other day, Elsie makes up for her non-existent paycheck by offering her services as a fake girlfriend, tapping into her expertly honed people-pleasing skills to embody whichever version of herself the client needs.
Honestly, itâs a pretty sweet gigâuntil her carefully constructed Elsie-verse comes crashing down. Because Jack Smith, the annoyingly attractive and arrogant older brother of her favorite client, turns out to be the cold-hearted experimental physicist who ruined her mentorâs career and undermined the reputation of theorists everywhere. And heâs the same Jack Smith who rules over the physics department at MIT, standing right between Elsie and her dream job.
Elsie is prepared for an all-out war of scholarly sabotage butâŚthose long, penetrating looks? Not having to be anything other than her true self when sheâs with him? Will falling into an experimentalistâs orbit finally tempt her to put her most guarded theories on love into practice?
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Community Reviews
âSomewhere along the way your wires got crossed. Your brain decided that you're not worth people's time and effort, and that if you ask for anything, they won't just say no, they'll also leave youâŚThat's not how love works, Elsie. But don't worry for now. I'll show you."
I enjoyed the comedy of this book first, then the romance. Even with all the science lingo and academia talk it was an excellent read as usual.
Different, but in a good nerdy way! Enemies to lovers, and self discovery all while chasing dreams and a dash of spice. I listened to it but finished in 4 days!! A little redundant at times but I really enjoyed it!
4.5/5
Okay I actually really enjoyed this book!! Lots of my fav tropes such as enemies to lovers but also really enjoyed so much more. While some parts made me want to slap Elsie I really do love Jack for her. Big fan of the book and great first book for our book club Lyla!!
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