PLOT: 5/5 CHARACTERS: 5/5 ENTERTAINMENT: 5/5 STEAM: 4.5/5 OVERALL: 5/5
“I’m starting to wonder if this is what being in love is. Being okay with ripping yourself to shreds, so the other person can stay whole.”
– Ali Hazelwood, The Love Hypothesis
Have you ever wanted to read or finish a book really bad, yet at the same time wanted to read it ever so slowly, savouring every dialogue, every situation, so that it never ends?
Well, this gem of a book is one such read. I had a copy of The Love Hypothesis with me for the past few months, and now I regret not reading it soon enough. But enough said about it, let’s get this reviewing business done. Do continue reading, for you are sure to be thanking me later.
Tropes covered
- Fake dating
- Grumpy vs sunshine
- Slight age gap
- Academia/college romance
The story as it goes
Olive Smith is a 3rd-year Ph.D. student who doesn’t believe in long-term relationships. Olive’s best friend Anh is silently crushing on Olive’s ex but doesn’t want to take it forward for the fear of hurting Olive’s feelings.
To prove to Anh that she is over him, and in a quick spur-of-the-moment decision, Olive panics and kisses the first man she lays her eyes on.
As fate would have it, it turns out to be none other than Dr. Adam Carlson, a young brilliant professor, known for his notorious harshness towards his students, his overtly critical nature, and moodiness.
“He’d clearly never seen a rom-com or read a romance novel in his life.”
So, it comes to Olive as a big surprise when he agrees to be her secret boyfriend to help convince her friend.
But what happens when during a big science conference things go wrong for Olive? Adam surprises her yet again by supporting her.
Will Olive’s hypothesis on love change as things start getting serious between Olive and Adam?
My thoughts
I loved this book. And that’s an understatement. Being a science nerd myself, I quite enjoyed the whole academic setting of this book. I am all for finding non-invasive techniques for the early detection of cancer, so it was refreshing, and a new premise to read in a book.
STEM as a field is difficult for women, given their struggles and difficulties. These day-to-day hindrances due to being in a male-dominated field are highlighted quite well in the book, without it being overbearing. And with Olive playing the main character who is so innocent and adorable, one cannot help but root for her. She is the perfect sunshine to Adam’s grumpiness.
To top it all, the witty banter between these two was so funny, I do not remember the last time I chuckled so much because of a book. And each time Adam ends up calling Olive ‘You’re SmartAss’, the reader in me is in love.
“You kiss him and next thing you know he’s saving your ass and he’s buying you scones and calling you a smart-ass in a weirdly affectionate tone”
Coming to the passion and its intensity, there isn’t too much steam, though. It only comes towards the end, but even then, it is so worth reading.
And what to say about Adam Carlson! with all his quirkiness, and never-deviate-from-the-routine attitude, he has become my new favourite.
There is just one thing, though, I wish there was a chapter from Adam’s point of view, maybe a bonus chapter or an extra epilogue. Hell, anything would have worked.
Nonetheless, with a good plot, some great writing, and amazing character development, The Love Hypothesis is a 5⭐book for me, and clearly justifies all the hype it has been getting.
Can’t wait to read it? Buy your copy of The Love Hypothesis using the link below.
This review is contributed by Dr. Nitisha Shah. Nitisha is a 37-year consulting homeopathic physician based in Mumbai. You can connect with her on her Instagram page @our_readingjourney, which she started in January 2021 to talk about her and her 7yr old daughter’s reading journey.