Since I do not include the book synopsis in my reviews, I’ve included direct links to the book details on both The StoryGraph and Goodreads for your convenience. There are affiliate links at the bottom should you feel compelled to purchase the book based off my review, and I will receive a small commission at no cost to you should you choose to support me in this way.
I kicked off the month of love with this hilarious debut from Ali Hazelwood, and I am happy to say I laughed out loud a few times as I read it. Featuring great banter, a prickly but lovable male love interest (Dr. Adam Carlsen), and a whip smart female protagonist (Olive Smith), The Love Hypothesis delivered on so many levels.
Things I loved about this book:
⭐️ The grumpy/sunshine trope was so wonderfully executed without being over the top. A lot of times, the grump is a little too difficult for me to bear, and other times, the sunshine character is overdone and way too happy to be real. These characters landed perfectly in the middle.
⭐️ As someone who struggled with math/science in school, I really enjoyed seeing a woman portrayed in STEM that was smart, sexy, and relatable. She knew who she was without coming across as arrogant. She held her own in a male dominated field.
⭐️ The academic setting was such a fun escape for me! It’s been a while since I attended college, but I spent my years at the University of Louisville (GO CARDS!) with my boyfriend/fiancee/now husband, so I think back on them fondly. It felt oddly nostalgic without being juvenile (for example, there are no 18 year olds sneaking into bars in this story) and made me think of all the stolen kisses and late nights studying with my husband.
⭐️ While this is a romance, yes, the healthy friendships in this book were top notch. Olive has some amazing sidekicks that make for a wonderful supporting cast, something not many novels do well.
One thing I did not like about this book:
⭐️ I needed more Holden! He was the best character! Maybe he will be featured in the sequel? I hope so!
All in all, I really, really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone who wants a fun, lighthearted romance!
Content warnings: cancer, death of a parent, sexual content, sexual harassment
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Jenna, Stop Reading! 