Book Review: Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood
Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Tropes: Grumpy x Sunshine, Fake Dating, Professor x Grad Student (not forbidden)
Rating: ★★★★⯨
Binge: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
WORTH THE READ?
Yes! A great time with nerdy science-loving main characters. Also, who doesn’t love a good fake dating rom-com?
“Carry yourself with the confidence of a mediocre white man”
THE REVIEW
I really enjoyed this book! Fake dating is one of my favourite tropes, so when our FMC, Olive, proposes the idea to our MMC, Adam, I may or may not have been giggling and kicking my feet like a teenage schoolgirl.
Now, I won’t lie, the reason for the fake relationship was a little far-fetched, but once you get to know Olive’s character, her reasoning for proposing the idea makes sense. I also really enjoyed the single-POV format of this book. I found it was a great way to experience the yearning between Olive and Adam.
“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.”
There is a bit of a professor x grad student relationship here, but Adam isn’t Olive’s actual professor, so it isn’t an actual forbidden relationship. Adam is an established doctor with tenure, however, and is a few years older than Olive. Personally, I didn’t mind the age gap between these two, as they felt more like similarly aged adults. However, I can totally see why some people might not love this kind of relationship. I definitely recommend giving this book a try before you pass it up, though!
Olive and Adam’s friends are entertaining side characters. I found Malcolm really funny, while Ahn was a bit annoying at times, but she had Olive’s back when it mattered.
I really like Ali Hazelwood’s overall writing style, too! She really knows how to write a good rom-com and has perfect comedic timing while still giving the serious topics equal attention. I really liked how she addresses the challenges women in STEM face even today.
“You can fall in love: someone will catch you.”
I liked the overall pacing, but I did find the plot somewhat predictable, as one does with most romance books. It’s still a great read despite being predictable, but it’s why I held the book back to 4.5 stars.
Also, Adam? CONSENT KING. He’s so respectful, but when you read his bonus chapter, you find out just how filthy his thoughts were. He’s so protective, but not in an overbearing way. He’s a bit of a grump, but he’s so whipped for Olive, and I loved when he would just cave and do whatever she says (walk him like a dog girl).
I really enjoyed the spice in this book, too. No cringey words used to describe the fun parts, so it’s an easy win for me.
🚨 IF YOU'RE STILL HERE... Click for major spoilers for the entire book below.
Man, screw Tom! I’m not a STEM girlie, but I’ve heard the horror stories and the kind of behaviours women in STEM have to deal with in a male-dominated field. I understood why Olive felt like she couldn’t reveal the truth about her sexual harassment. Also, given Olive’s history of losing family members, it makes sense that she pushes Adam away to avoid losing him too. I loved that Adam was so protective of Olive when she eventually confesses what happened to him, but wasn’t cringe about it.
BINGE FACTOR
I absolutely DEVOURED this book. Seriously. I finished it in under 24 hours, and I genuinely could not stop thinking about it. If you’re looking for a fun read, this book is definitely for you!
WHO SHOULD READ THIS?
Read if... you love fake dating, fun rom-coms, or need a good palate cleanser
Skip if... you’re not a huge fan of age gaps
IF YOU WANT MORE...
faking dating, academic settings, or books with romantic comedy.
Pick up:
The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang — for fake dating and a nerdy FMC
Scoring Wilder by R.S Grey — for a hilarious soccer college romance
Part of Your World by Abby Jimenez — for a rom-com with another woman in STEM
Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!
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