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.
I feel like Love, Theoretically has made me a card-carrying member of the Ali Hazelwood fan club. I loved her two previous novels, but this one solidified what I adore about her writing and her romances. And while itâs impossible for me to pick a favorite, I feel like this one may be the one thatâs the most all-round success. There was never a point in the book when I felt pulled out of the story, and thatâs how I know a book has consumed me.
Love, Theoretically is hard for me to review because I think readers should go into it as blindly as I did. I barely even read the synopsis before I dove right in. If youâve read and loved any of the authorâs other books, you should love this one, as well, and thatâs all the information you really need. Her signature humor and compelling storytelling are both present.
BUT if you insist on knowing more, then please keep reading.
I love how complicated Hazelwoodâs characters always are. They have meaningful backstories and traits that always surprise me. In Love, Theoretically, Elsie and Jack have complicated relationships with their families. And Elsieâs biggest complication is that she is a people-pleaser. She changes herself, even discrediting her wants and desires for those of others. Itâs something sheâs been doing for years, even with her closest friends and family. And it was a character trait that hit close to home for me at times, but I loved watching Elsie find her truth. With Jackâs help, of course.
I always believe in the chemistry between Hazelwoodâs characters. They make sense together, and Iâm usually rooting for both leads equally. Iâm not sure, but I feel like this one was even more of a slow-burn than her other novels. I didnât mind at all. It was deliciously excruciating waiting for these two to finally come together.
And letâs not forget her side characters. They can hold their own. Sometimes they even deserve their own books. Especially Elsieâs quirky best friend and Jackâs brother. And sometimes they already have their own books. Yes, Olive and Adam from The Love Hypothesis make a special appearance in this one!
I think this is Hazelwoodâs most science-y book yet. Pretty much everything science-related that was mentioned went over my head. Way over my head. But I didnât mind at all. Iâd like to think I learned a few things, but probably not. Iâve never been able to retain much math or science information. My brain was made only for words.
Itâs hard for me to know if I loved this book because of the story or the many, many Twilight references. And while I am (mostly) joking, when Twilight was first mentioned, I had a moment of panic. Is the author about to make fun of Twilight, and therefore all its fans?! Nope! Elsie loves Twilight, and I had so much fun with all the references. I feel seen. Thank you, Ali Hazelwood!
Love, Theoretically is Hazelwoodâs best yet, and thatâs saying a lot since Iâve adored all her books. But this one had something even extra-special. This one lands solidly on my âbooks to re-readâ stack!
Keep reading for some random minor spoiler-y thoughts:
Iâve seen others complain that Hazelwood can only write male lead characters that are tall, dark, and handsome. Not to mention extremely fit and well-endowed. Well, Jack, at least, is blonde. But seriously, itâs not a complaint for meâI donât mind if she has a typeâbut I would love to see her write an average size and average built man. And woman! Her female leads are always ultra tiny compared to the men. Do it just for kicks, Ali! Letâs see what happens. (And maybe sheâs already done this in her novellas. I havenât read them yet.) One thing I would never want her to change is how wonderfully supportive her male leads always are of their female leadsâin and out of the bedroom. Itâs refreshing to read about a man who is patient, putting the womanâs needs before his own, asking permission, never jumping to his own conclusions. Letâs keep making this the norm in romance (and real life)!
Check out my reviews and playlists at A Book Wanderer
#popsugarreadingchallenge2023 (prompt #40 - A book by an author with the same initials as you---I'm cheating and using my middle and maiden name)
Love, Theoretically is hard for me to review because I think readers should go into it as blindly as I did. I barely even read the synopsis before I dove right in. If youâve read and loved any of the authorâs other books, you should love this one, as well, and thatâs all the information you really need. Her signature humor and compelling storytelling are both present.
BUT if you insist on knowing more, then please keep reading.
I love how complicated Hazelwoodâs characters always are. They have meaningful backstories and traits that always surprise me. In Love, Theoretically, Elsie and Jack have complicated relationships with their families. And Elsieâs biggest complication is that she is a people-pleaser. She changes herself, even discrediting her wants and desires for those of others. Itâs something sheâs been doing for years, even with her closest friends and family. And it was a character trait that hit close to home for me at times, but I loved watching Elsie find her truth. With Jackâs help, of course.
I always believe in the chemistry between Hazelwoodâs characters. They make sense together, and Iâm usually rooting for both leads equally. Iâm not sure, but I feel like this one was even more of a slow-burn than her other novels. I didnât mind at all. It was deliciously excruciating waiting for these two to finally come together.
And letâs not forget her side characters. They can hold their own. Sometimes they even deserve their own books. Especially Elsieâs quirky best friend and Jackâs brother. And sometimes they already have their own books. Yes, Olive and Adam from The Love Hypothesis make a special appearance in this one!
I think this is Hazelwoodâs most science-y book yet. Pretty much everything science-related that was mentioned went over my head. Way over my head. But I didnât mind at all. Iâd like to think I learned a few things, but probably not. Iâve never been able to retain much math or science information. My brain was made only for words.
Itâs hard for me to know if I loved this book because of the story or the many, many Twilight references. And while I am (mostly) joking, when Twilight was first mentioned, I had a moment of panic. Is the author about to make fun of Twilight, and therefore all its fans?! Nope! Elsie loves Twilight, and I had so much fun with all the references. I feel seen. Thank you, Ali Hazelwood!
Love, Theoretically is Hazelwoodâs best yet, and thatâs saying a lot since Iâve adored all her books. But this one had something even extra-special. This one lands solidly on my âbooks to re-readâ stack!
Keep reading for some random minor spoiler-y thoughts:
Iâve seen others complain that Hazelwood can only write male lead characters that are tall, dark, and handsome. Not to mention extremely fit and well-endowed. Well, Jack, at least, is blonde. But seriously, itâs not a complaint for meâI donât mind if she has a typeâbut I would love to see her write an average size and average built man. And woman! Her female leads are always ultra tiny compared to the men. Do it just for kicks, Ali! Letâs see what happens. (And maybe sheâs already done this in her novellas. I havenât read them yet.) One thing I would never want her to change is how wonderfully supportive her male leads always are of their female leadsâin and out of the bedroom. Itâs refreshing to read about a man who is patient, putting the womanâs needs before his own, asking permission, never jumping to his own conclusions. Letâs keep making this the norm in romance (and real life)!
Check out my reviews and playlists at A Book Wanderer
#popsugarreadingchallenge2023 (prompt #40 - A book by an author with the same initials as you---I'm cheating and using my middle and maiden name)
"Bold of you to assume that the real me is my best hand." "Foolish of you to think it isn't."
I confess, all right. Ali Hazelwood is my go-to for reading slumps, heavy weeks, and sunny Saturdays. She's the absolute queen of her own subgenre, if 'academia related romance' could be described as such. And this delivers as well as her previous books I've read: she holds the crown steady.
Overall, I love Ali's protagonists, because they're always just the right touch of annoying. A protagonist that's not even a little annoying has to be bland; and one that is over the top annoying just turns me off my reading because I want to reach into the page and bash their head in. Elsie is a lovely balance. I could relate to her annoyingness, I guess is what I'm saying. And she's funny, which I appreciate. Ali's funny, but she translates different kinds of humor into her characters, and I like that very much.
Jack is... well. A new obsession of mine, I imagine. Ali writes men like they take the time to truly peer into our souls and love every bit of it, and although I strongly doubt she has ever met any real men (or at least that she thinks of them while writing), I still love it. Jack's personality was a breath of fresh air from many male leads I've read in the past, whose 'wisdom' always seemed too rehearsed or completely and utterly worthless. I love him, is what I'm saying this time.
The Olive and Adam cameo? I love them. I LOVE THEM, okay? Leave me alone.
A solid read, overall. Why four and not five stars? Well, let's just say I'm not big on sex scenes, and Ali... well. She packs them a little heavy.
Aside from that, 10/10, would do it again.
I confess, all right. Ali Hazelwood is my go-to for reading slumps, heavy weeks, and sunny Saturdays. She's the absolute queen of her own subgenre, if 'academia related romance' could be described as such. And this delivers as well as her previous books I've read: she holds the crown steady.
Overall, I love Ali's protagonists, because they're always just the right touch of annoying. A protagonist that's not even a little annoying has to be bland; and one that is over the top annoying just turns me off my reading because I want to reach into the page and bash their head in. Elsie is a lovely balance. I could relate to her annoyingness, I guess is what I'm saying. And she's funny, which I appreciate. Ali's funny, but she translates different kinds of humor into her characters, and I like that very much.
Jack is... well. A new obsession of mine, I imagine. Ali writes men like they take the time to truly peer into our souls and love every bit of it, and although I strongly doubt she has ever met any real men (or at least that she thinks of them while writing), I still love it. Jack's personality was a breath of fresh air from many male leads I've read in the past, whose 'wisdom' always seemed too rehearsed or completely and utterly worthless. I love him, is what I'm saying this time.
The Olive and Adam cameo? I love them. I LOVE THEM, okay? Leave me alone.
A solid read, overall. Why four and not five stars? Well, let's just say I'm not big on sex scenes, and Ali... well. She packs them a little heavy.
Aside from that, 10/10, would do it again.
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