The Love Hypothesis Paperback – September 14, 2021

Alright you guys... Buckle up because this review is going to literally just be a random conglomeration of thoughts I typed out while reading this incredible book.First off... when I tell you I was giggling like a madwoman, screaming into an empty house laughing and also crying (both sad and happy tears)??? NO. JOKE.I LOVED the STEM in this book. As a science major (technically exercise science, but still close enough to where I took classes well into the science field), this was brilliant and so insanely fun to read! This setting was awesome because it was a school setting, however the ages were older than fresh into college. It was brilliant!When I tell you this book had all the best tropes in one... oh my god. Seriously!!!!! Grumpy hero, sunshine heroine, fake dating, slow burn... plus MORE??? Yes. I did say there's more! Isn't it wonderful??Before I go into more depth of my love for the main characters, I have to say the friendships and side characters in this book were amazing! I loved the combined group of friends from both Olive and Adam. They were so endearing and lovable and I can't wait for books about them (because there was definitely the hinted possibility for some of these characters to have their own books... I will do anything for more books of these characters by this author!!!)!Alrighty. Now onto some of my favorite characters: Olive and Adam. Like don't even get me started on this being a reconstructed Reylo story, because my heart legit sings for that!!! You can totally see the inspiration in these characters and it's incredible!Olive: this girl was just downright awesome. I would adore being her friend. And she is not only an incredible girl, but an outstanding friend. She is so selfless. The lengths that she goes through to make sure her best friend is happy is so heartwarming and you just can't help but fall in love with her heart because it is just pure and sweet.Adam. Freaking. Carlsen. That's it. He's perfect. The perfect broody man. PERFECT. PERFECT. PERFECT.Here's a glimpse into my brain during a scene:Adam... muscles... lotttttts of muscles... moving a truck with a dead battery... the sweat... What I wouldn't give to have Adam Carlsen call me a smarts with a small grin or smirk... To answer that question, I would give literally anything.Can you tell this broke my brain?The way that Adam cared for Olive (in all ways... wink wink) was absolutely beautiful. He learned her so well and was able to be the support and love she hadn't had in so long. And it broke my heart just as much as it halted it because my goodness... it was the sweetest thing to see him being everything he possibly could be for her. And only her.Alright, as you can tell, I easily became absolutely obsessed with this book. I have been looking forward to it ever since I first heard about it (before it became popular on the social media platforms, yes I'm very proud of that thank you very much) and it absolutely lived up to and absolutely exceed and obliterated all expectations I had. This book has engrained itself in my brain and my heart and is an all time favorite that I will be sure to force people to read for the rest of my life because it is sheer perfection.

The book is catchy but a bit confusing in the beginning. Once you get into the story, its a toe curling, giggling rom com. It's funny and shows that women are as strong as they want to be. It's a very cute and easy read.

5 -⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐"I'll just do what Dr. Aslan always says.""And what's that?""Carry myself with the confidence of a mediocre white man."The Love Hypothesis is an adult contemporary romance following third year Phd student, Olive Smith, as she seeks to convince her best friend that she is happy and not pining after the man said friend is now with. Yet in the case of Olive, her masterful plan to convince her friend of this is to kiss the nearest man beside her and announce they are dating...and it just so happens to be the infamous Adam Carlsen, a young, hot, and intimidating professor who has everyone on edge. For some strange reason though...he agrees to fake dating and the fun ensues.For me this was a delightful romp into a romance that was light and fluffy but still with substance to sink your teeth into. I enjoyed how Olive is this individual focused on the need for evidence to prove things and also the struggles she has as woman seeking to make it in the world of academia. Her doubts and also her successes drew me and had me rooting and commiserating.Adam is a unique character but in many of the traditional ways. He is this aloof figure to many of the other characters for his brutal honestly and inability to be nice about it. Yet with Olive we see him try. I appreciated how much he embraced himself as he was but also recognized that new relationships me new rules. This is a man with a hard exterior but once you crack it...he's is just adorable.This book does contain spice. I would say 2.5 spicy peppers out of 5 spicy peppers. It is a slow burn romance as these characters aren't really expecting something up it hits them upside the head but when it does it was well written and the scientist can be just as passionate and romantic as others."You're not mediocre, Olive... I wish you could see yourself the way I see you."In terms of world building, I felt it fit the perimeters of a traditional contemporary romance set in the now. I felt the world of academia was well established as it was shown, not told. I enjoyed the balance of exploring this world, having other characters paint it, and how well it gave light to the story.The story takes the delicious trope of fake dating and launches it into the world of academia with conferences, research proposals, and grant applications. It worked for me. I enjoyed the slices of life that were highly gratuitous (cough cough shirtless Adam scene cough cough) but gave a lightness to this book. It made it so the twist caught me off guard but then reminded me of the many issues that stem in male dominated academia sectors, though, it didn't really give light to the opposite side of the issue. I felt things tied themselves up well in the end and I was thoroughly satisfied with my read.If you love rom-coms with all the sexual tension in STEM worlds alongside fake dating, slow burn, and delightful banter you are in for a ride. I am on an Ali Hazelwood kick now!