You just finished another heart-wrenching story of love and loss. Now you need some happiness, some witty banter, and so, you pick up “The Love Hypothesis”. It gives you a thrill to read the back cover, now you have to read it. You dive in and what you find is even better than you anticipated.

When Olive needs a fake boyfriend to convince her friend that she is over her ex, her eyes land on Professor Adam Carlsen, after a mistaken kiss, the pair are thrust into a fake relationship with all eyes on them.

PhD candidate, Olive Smith has no desire for a relationship – in fact, she does not believe in love at all. When her friend is hesitant to move on with her ex, she finds herself in the arms of Dr. Adam Carlsen. Soon, the two have a need for a fake relationship, his funding is in jeopardy, and she is too nice to let her friend believe she’s heartbroken. Now the pair find themselves in a whirlwind of romance and research. 

The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood is an excellent palate cleanser. The story, published on September 14, 2021, is an easy read in between more serious books. It makes for a nice peaceful afternoon. Grumpy Adam balances out the sunshiny Olive, who refuses to believe in lasting relationships due to a personal tragedy in her life. The two are a hilarious duo who often have miscommunication issues and get bombarded by friends in their lives. Overall, they are a solid couple, and the story is well-written. 

Olive is a ray of sunshine without being walked all over. She is a strong and smart woman who makes her own decisions. Because of her own personal tragedy, she seeks to make advancements in the research of pancreatic cancer. Adam and Olive have great chemistry. They admit when they make mistakes, and learn and grow together throughout the novel.  

Adam is an extremely obtuse character except for when it comes to Olive. He is caring and attentive to her while also being stern at times. All he wants is to keep his research funding and continue his PhD. He cares for his friends, even when they annoy him, and he shows the same care for her friends. Overall, the story is well-written. The characters have great chemistry, and the tropes, although very common, bring the story together beautifully. 

The story has a lively cast of characters. Olive’s friends are supportive of her and tell her when she is wrong about Adam and how he’ll handle his friend who came on to her. They all have their own flaws and drama. The entire dynamic is super sweet and really refreshing for someone who needs a break from the real world.

Olive is super sweet and independent; she cares for her people, and they care for her too. Adam is very protective and a bit of a jerk at first, but then he softens for her and only her. Their relationship is super cute. The story is strongly written and the tropes are well-done. Adam and Olive’s friends are the best and tell them when they are wrong. The background characters are not stale and two-dimensional.

Mix some science and grumpy/sunshine romance together and boom, you get “The Love Hypothesis”!