1.0 (1 rating)
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.
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.
Published: September 14, 2021
Pages: 336
ISBN: 9780593336823
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Available in: Paperback, Ebook, Hardcover, Misc. Supplies, Pocket Book, Bookmark, Library Binding
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1.0
1 rating
Read Letter D.
Feb 8, 2026
I have a really hard time rating this one, I thoroughly enjoyed chapters 1 -15 (minus ALL the reminders just how big/tall/broad/etc Adam is - that was exhausting the whole way through) but up to there it could have been a 4 star read. I was willing to ignore that Adam is a not-ever-sort-of-veiled copy of Adam Driver. And I am one of the readers who is a fan of the miscommunication trope... mostly.
But then... Chapter 16 - now, I dont have any issue with spicy books, but this scene(s) was terrible. When he 'could fit her whole breast into her mouth, I think I temporarily stopped having aphantasia just to picture him unhinging his jaw like a snake. Then we also added to the list of 'big, giant' Adam body parts and just...ugh.
And i found where my enjoyment of miscommunication ends - once the characters are doing the deed, if they still cannot.will not talk I am so over it. done. but I pressed on, event though it became abundantly clear where every thread was going.
When we *finally* find out that oh yes, Adam remembered her (!) it just feels like hes been super creepy this whole time, hes far too old (even if hes antisocial) to at the way he does around Olive.
Then I read the acknowledgements, and maybe this was common knowledge when the book came out, but this was fanfic. Now, I have nothing against fanfic, but if I want that I know where to go to find it. What I HATE is authors not even trying to disguise using real people (...actors) as their MMCs. It feels icky and creepy, and degrading. Sure pull your favorite parts of real people to create a character, but using their obvious physical description and literally their name?! such an ick for me.
I'm pretty blase on content warnings, but I think up-sold fanfic should have a CW.
I was totally bummed by this book as I saw all her books in my local library and was ready to work my way through them. now shes a DNR list author for me.
But then... Chapter 16 - now, I dont have any issue with spicy books, but this scene(s) was terrible. When he 'could fit her whole breast into her mouth, I think I temporarily stopped having aphantasia just to picture him unhinging his jaw like a snake. Then we also added to the list of 'big, giant' Adam body parts and just...ugh.
And i found where my enjoyment of miscommunication ends - once the characters are doing the deed, if they still cannot.will not talk I am so over it. done. but I pressed on, event though it became abundantly clear where every thread was going.
When we *finally* find out that oh yes, Adam remembered her (!) it just feels like hes been super creepy this whole time, hes far too old (even if hes antisocial) to at the way he does around Olive.
Then I read the acknowledgements, and maybe this was common knowledge when the book came out, but this was fanfic. Now, I have nothing against fanfic, but if I want that I know where to go to find it. What I HATE is authors not even trying to disguise using real people (...actors) as their MMCs. It feels icky and creepy, and degrading. Sure pull your favorite parts of real people to create a character, but using their obvious physical description and literally their name?! such an ick for me.
I'm pretty blase on content warnings, but I think up-sold fanfic should have a CW.
I was totally bummed by this book as I saw all her books in my local library and was ready to work my way through them. now shes a DNR list author for me.