*For my personal thoughts on If the Shoe Fits check out my review of the book.
Author: Ali Hazelwood
Title: The Love Hypothesis
Category/Type: Adult Fiction
Genre: Romance
Subgenre: Contemporary Romance; STEM Romance, Romantic Comedy
Publication Date: September 14, 2021
Number of Pages: 352 pages of story text; includes author’s note, acknowledgements, and a preview of the author’s forthcoming STEM Romance
Geographical Setting: Primarily Stanford University and Palo Alto, California; some crucial events take place at a conference in Boston.
Time Period: Present day
Series (if applicable): This book is not part of a series
Plot Summary: Ph.D student Olive struggles with romance but her friends want her to find her happily ever after. Of course Olive would do anything for her friends, including kissing the first guy she sees in the hallway just to prove to her best friend that she can be in a relationship too. Except that guy Olive kissed almost without his consent is none other than the notoriously grouchy and feared faculty member Adam Carlsen. Miraculously, instead of a filing a Title IX complaint against her, he agrees to help her out and fake date her. As they enter into an agreement, Olive finds she doesn’t mind her regular “dates” with Adam and he doesn’t seem to be that bothered with buying her unicorn lattes all the time. As their fake dating contract wraps up, drama occurs behinds the scenes at a big science conference; will Adam come through for Olive or will Olive keep quiet so the two can go their separate ways?
Content warnings (from the author’s website) SLIGHT SPOILERS: Death of one of the main characters’ parents in the past (due to cancer), workplace sexual harassment of the main character (NOT from Adam, the love interest), power differential (Olive is a student and Adam is a professor; they clear out their fake relationship with the Dean early in the story and no abuse of power occurs), explicit and graphic sexual content, cursing and vulgar language.
Subject Headings: Romance - Contemporary, Romance - Workplace, Romance - Romantic Comedy, STEM Romance (I made this subject heading up but it should exist and I believe will appeal to a subset of readers).
Representation:
Well-developed BIPOC supporting characters
LGBTQIA representation in well-developed supporting characters
Asexual representation- the protagonist, Olive, is most likely demisexual although this word is not used directly when she describes her sexuality (but an almost textbook definition is used).
Appeal/Characteristics of Romance Fiction
Emotionally satisfying, happy ending- This book has an endearing “happy for now” ending. Also the sexual harassment conflict is wonderfully resolved with the aid of the romantic interest, setting up Olive for both a happy romantic and scientific ending.
Characters are vividly, if quickly drawn. Men are powerful, confident, and slightly dangerous, women are strong, bright, and independent- Both Olive and Adam match this description while also defying it, as many cis-het Romances have been doing lately. Adam is powerful but does show lack of confidence and isn’t “slightly dangerous” so much as kind of jerk (not to Olive); he has things to work on. Olive is bright and strong and independent but also has a difficult past that drives her forward, and she experiences both doubt and anxiety. Olive and Adam also challenge traditional gender norms and while Adam saves the day a bit at the end, he would not be able to do that if Olive hadn’t been strong enough to set him up for the rescue.
A misunderstanding between the protagonists followed by a satisfactory resolution of the romantic relationship- There is a misunderstanding around the three-quarters mark. This book involves the fake dating trope and so the fake relationship is ended despite feelings that each character has developed for the other. This lack of communication is resolved in short order for a satisfying ending
Engaging details of time and place attract readers, and these historical, cultural, and social particulars often frame the stories- This book is set in academia and accurately portrays what’s it’s like to be a grad student, a tenure track faculty member, and the sexism that exists within the scientific community. These details are key to understanding the story and its characters as well as the events that take place in the book.
Love on all levels- Multiple levels of love can be seen from both the characters. Olive has a small but solid and supporting friend group and her love for her mother drives her to where she is and what she is doing when the story begins. Adam’s passion for science and his love for his best friend are also clearly defined and key to the book’s progression.
Well-developed and interesting secondary characters- The friends of both Olive and Adam as well as some of the other grad students, faculty, and the villain of the tale are well-developed. It is easy to understand their purpose and for readers to love, hate, or relate to them as needed for the story.
3 terms that best describe this book:
Charming
Smart
Steamy
Fiction Read-alikes
Loathe at First Sight by Suzanne Park- Melody has finally broken into the male-dominated video game industry as a junior producer. The job is made difficult thanks to the sexism she faces in her workplace and an annoying but handsome intern. Melody and the intern are forced to work together when Melody gets assigned to a project with a seemingly impossible deadline that will prove the company isn’t sexist. Difficult work scenarios, sexism in the work place, and love in STEM fields are all connections between this title and The Love Hypothesis.
The Soulmate Equation by Christina Lauren- Jess is a data wiz but, as a single mother, has no interest in dating. Still, she is intrigued by a new dating app that matches people based on their DNA; even if the grumpy founder of the company insulted her recently. When Jess and the grumpy founder prove to be matches for each other, will they be able to overcome their personalities and trust in science? The combination of science and love as well as a grumpy male love interest are likely to draw fans of The Love Hypothesis.
How to Fail at Flirting by Denise Williams- Naya always puts her career in academia (teaching and research) first, especially after her last relationship ended with that ex continuing to harass her. Still, Naya’s friends think she needs a social life and give her a list of tasks that result in her flirting with and then eagerly dating a guy at a bar. Will work and their awkwardness in dating bring them closer together or tear them apart? Similar to The Love Hypothesis, this book features awkwardness in dating, harassment in academia, and women in STEM.
Non-Fiction Read-alikes
Saints and Scamps: Ethics in Academia by Stephen M. Cahn- This book looks at the responsibilities and pressures placed on academic faculty as well as ethics and special situations in graduate programs. Though though this is likely to be a much drier read than The Love Hypothesis, fans of the book interested in learning more about the ins and outs of academia will find this book helpful.
Wonder Women: 25 Innovators, Inventors, and Trailblazers Who Changed History by Sam Maggs- While the STEM field is still largely dominated by men, there have been women who have altered the course of science throughout history. This book explores the stories of 25 of these women. In The Love Hypothesis, Olive is one of just a few women studying science in her graduate program and this book will help shed more light on real-life women in the field.
Pancreatic Cancer: Current and Emerging Trends in Detection and Treatment by Amy Sterling Casil- This book explains what pancreatic cancer is as well as the ways its detected and new innovations in the field. Though an older book, it could be helpful for readers of The Love Hypothesis who want to better understand Olive’s research project in pancreatic cancer detection.
Citations
Characteristics of Romance Fiction taken from
Wyatt, N. and Saricks, J. (2019). The readers' advisory guide to genre fiction. Third edition. ALA Editions.