The Love Hypothesis
If you're obsessed with fake dating between a PhD student and her intimidating professor, this academic romance is scientifically perfect!
What I loved most about Olive is how real she feels as a grad student. Her impostor syndrome, the way she second-guesses herself constantly despite being genuinely brilliant, that weird mix of confidence in the lab and complete social awkwardness everywhere else - it's as if Hazelwood actually lived through a Ph.D. program. I found myself nodding along to Olive's internal spiral about whether she belongs in academia, because honestly, who hasn't been there?
And can we talk about Adam Carlsen? The man starts as this intimidating grump who everyone thinks is a complete nightmare, but Hazelwood slowly peels back these layers to show us someone who's actually incredibly thoughtful and supportive. The way he quietly champions Olive's research and calls out the sexist garbage she deals with? Chef's kiss. Their banter is absolutely perfect - sharp and funny without ever feeling mean-spirited.
The fake dating setup could have been cheesy, but Hazelwood makes it work by grounding it in this very specific academic world. The conference scenes, the lab politics, even the way Olive approaches their "relationship" like a research project - it all feels authentic and adds this extra layer of tension to their slow burn.
What really got me, though, was how the book handles the reality of being a woman in STEM. The casual sexism, the funding struggles, the way Olive constantly has to prove herself - Hazelwood doesn't shy away from showing how exhausting and demoralizing it can be. But she also shows Olive finding her voice and her place, which felt genuinely empowering.
The romance itself is beautifully paced. These two are perfect for each other, but watching them figure that out while navigating all their personal baggage and professional complications kept me completely hooked. When they finally get their act together, it feels so earned and satisfying.
If you want a romance that's smart, swoony, and has something meaningful to say about women in academia, definitely pick this up. It's the kind of book that makes you believe in love while also making you think about bigger issues, which is exactly what I want from contemporary romance.
Rating: 3.5/5 Lab Scenes✨
