The Love Hypothesis

“You can fall in love: someone will catch you.” What a cute and sweet story! I needed a good, lighthearted read and this one delivered! I absolutely loved the dynamic between the 2 MC’s, Olive and Adam. Gosh are they adorable together and I was rooting for them from the start! I absolutely loved their wit and banter, how they really connected on an emotional level by talking and getting to know one another first, how they stood up for each other and encouraged each other, and I really loved the care and tenderness Adam started showing Olive as their fake dating started to progress into real feelings for each other. I love a guy that stands up for his girl, so Adam definitely won brownie points from me on that aspect! And Olive was SO relatable to me. Connecting with an MC in a good read is always a bonus. The STEM aspect was fun and interesting, giving insight into some real issues in that field of study while not overly obsessing over them. That aspect was perfectly written in my opinion. All of the characters were so lovable (save but one sleazeball, but you’ll have to read the book for all the nitty gritty on that 🙃) and Olive was certainly blessed with her amazing support system of friends. I loved them, and what I wouldn’t give for friends like that! Adam had a real gift of a friend in Holden, too. I always love seeing good friendships portrayed! There was 1 open door scene that spanned over the course of 2 chapters, and though it was descriptive and not my cup of tea, I did appreciate that it was written in a respectful and consenting way. It’s also something that could be easily skipped over without really losing much of the storyline to those who are opposed to reading any spice. This book also has a few areas where gay relationships are portrayed, but Malcolm was such a loyal friend to Olive that you can’t help but love the guy. His moral compass may be different from my own, but his character was still well-written and very sweet. There was also some use of the “f” word and possibly a few other curse words I didn’t pick up on, but not at all obsessive like some other books I’ve read. I really have very few complaints about this book and just genuinely loved this sweet story. It captivated me from the start and left me with all the warm fuzzies I love in a good romance novel. 4.75 star, super close to a full 5 star for me. Easily one I would pick up and read again and would consider a comfort read! 🫶

Olive REALLY got on my nerves for a lot of this book, but Adam made it allllll better.

Fake dating trope and hating everyone but you.

I love Ali Hazelwood’s books. Romantic comedies with women in Stem jobs. Always have a laugh out loud moment or two.

For a full review, check out my blog: https://alyrusciano.wordpress.com/2022/02/19/the-love-hypothesis-review

Going into this book, I didn’t expect to relate to Olive so deeply. Like Olive, I don’t crush easily. I have to get to know someone well before developing feelings for them. At 22-years-old, I’ve gotten used to my own (or rather lack of) romantic experiences not being presented in pop culture or mainstream media. I’ve never seen myself in a romance novel until now, and I cannot thank Hazelwood enough for that.

THE LOVE HYPOTHESIS takes classic romance tropes and flips them on their side. By putting a character who doesn’t have a sexual side at the forefront of her novel, Hazelwood creates a refreshing and inclusive story that’s a snapshot of real life.