The Love Hypothesis
by Ali Hazelwood
🌶️ Quick Spice Verdict
Heat Level
Moderate with excellent buildup
Spicy Scenes
~1 scene
POV Style
Third person limited (Olive)
About The Love Hypothesis
When biology PhD candidate Olive Smith fabricates a relationship by kissing the first man she sees, she doesn't expect it to be Professor Adam Carlsen — the most feared man in Stanford's biology department. And she definitely doesn't expect him to play along.
Reading Vibes
🌶️ Spice Level Breakdown
The Love Hypothesis is moderately spicy — it's more of a slow burn that builds to a satisfying payoff. There's one major spicy scene that's well-written and detailed enough to earn its spice-3 rating. The tension between Olive and Adam builds through small touches, loaded glances, and the fake dating charade. When they finally get together physically, it's sweet, funny, and hot in equal measure. Ali Hazelwood writes consent beautifully — Adam constantly checks in, which many readers find even more attractive. It's not wall-to-wall spice, but the one big scene is memorable.
Tropes in The Love Hypothesis
A pretend relationship that becomes real
Characters forced into close quarters, sparking attraction
One brooding character paired with an optimistic one
The male lead catches feelings before the female lead
Content Warnings
⚠️ Content Warnings
- Sexual harassment themes
- Power imbalance (professor/student adjacent)
- Sexual content
- Academic pressure
- Anxiety
Should You Read The Love Hypothesis?
✅ Perfect For You If...
- •STEM nerds who want to see themselves in romance
- •Fake dating trope enthusiasts
- •Readers who love a grumpy hero who's soft for one person
- •Those who enjoy academic settings
- •Readers who want romance that's funny AND sweet
⛔ Skip This If...
- •You want frequent, explicit spice throughout
- •Professor-student adjacent dynamics bother you
- •You prefer fantasy or historical settings
- •You want a complex plot beyond the romance
Our Take
The Love Hypothesis is the book that proved STEM romance is a thing, and a wildly popular one at that. Ali Hazelwood, herself a neuroscientist, brings authenticity to the academic setting that makes the story feel grounded even when the premise is delightfully absurd. Adam Carlsen is peak grumpy-sunshine hero — terrifying to everyone except Olive, for whom he'll move mountains while pretending he doesn't care. The humor is genuine and nerdy (biology jokes that actually land), and the fake dating setup creates endless opportunities for adorable awkwardness. The spice is moderate but perfectly placed — the buildup is so good that when it pays off, it feels earned. The subplot about sexism in academia adds real stakes. This is the perfect entry point for readers who think they don't like romance novels.
What Readers Say
Average community spice rating: 2.7/5
academic.reads
2024-11-08
“I'd rate this closer to a 2.5 on spice. There's one explicit scene and some tension throughout, but it's primarily a romantic comedy. And that's totally fine! Not every book needs to be a 5. The humor is genuine, the characters are lovable, and the subplot about sexism in academia adds real depth. Perfect for readers who want romance with substance but lower heat.”
romcom.lover
2024-10-18
“This is the book I give to people who say they don't like romance. It's funny, smart, and the fake dating setup is adorable. The spice level is moderate — don't go in expecting wall-to-wall steam. But the ONE big scene is well-written and sweet. Adam checking in with Olive during intimate moments? That's the real spice. Consent is hot, people.”
stem.girlie
2024-08-30
“As a PhD student, this book SEEN me. The academic setting is so accurate it hurts. Adam Carlsen is the ultimate grumpy professor who's secretly soft. The spice is moderate — there's really one major scene — but the buildup is SO good that it feels like more. The consent in that scene is *beautiful*. Ali Hazelwood writes the best nerdy romance.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Love Hypothesis spicy?
Yes, The Love Hypothesis has a spice level of 3/5 on our scale, which we rate as "Spicy (Moderate Scenes)." Explicit intimate scenes, moderately described. The Love Hypothesis is moderately spicy — it's more of a slow burn that builds to a satisfying payoff. There's one major spicy scene that's well-written and detailed enough to earn its spice-3 rating. The tension between Olive and Adam builds through small touches, loaded glances, and the fake dating charade. When they finally get together physically, it's sweet, funny, and hot in equal measure. Ali Hazelwood writes consent beautifully — Adam constantly checks in, which many readers find even more attractive. It's not wall-to-wall spice, but the one big scene is memorable.
What is the spice level of The Love Hypothesis?
The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood is rated 3 out of 5 on the SpicyBooks spice scale. This means it's "Spicy (Moderate Scenes)" — explicit intimate scenes, moderately described. The steam level is: Moderate with excellent buildup.
How many spicy scenes are in The Love Hypothesis?
The Love Hypothesis contains approximately 1 intimate/spicy scene. The Love Hypothesis is moderately spicy — it's more of a slow burn that builds to a satisfying payoff. There's one major spicy scene that's well-written and detailed enough to earn its spice-3 rating. The tension between Olive and Adam builds through small touches, loaded glances, and the fake dating charade. When they finally get together physically, it's sweet, funny, and hot in equal measure. Ali Hazelwood writes consent beautifully — Adam constantly checks in, which many readers find even more attractive. It's not wall-to-wall spice, but the one big scene is memorable.
What tropes are in The Love Hypothesis?
The Love Hypothesis features the following romance tropes: 💍 Fake Dating, 🏠 Forced Proximity, 🌤️ Grumpy / Sunshine, 💘 He Falls First. These tropes are central to the story and shape the romantic dynamic between the characters.
Does The Love Hypothesis have content warnings?
Yes, readers should be aware of the following content warnings for The Love Hypothesis: Sexual harassment themes, Power imbalance (professor/student adjacent), Sexual content, Academic pressure, Anxiety. We always recommend checking content warnings before reading if you have specific sensitivities.
Is The Love Hypothesis a standalone?
The Love Hypothesis can be read as a standalone novel. You don't need to read any other books before or after to enjoy the full story.
Who would enjoy The Love Hypothesis?
The Love Hypothesis is perfect for: STEM nerds who want to see themselves in romance; Fake dating trope enthusiasts; Readers who love a grumpy hero who's soft for one person. The reading vibes are: Funny, Sweet, Nerdy, Heartwarming, Light.
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Ready to Read The Love Hypothesis?
Now that you know the spice level, tropes, and content warnings — grab your copy!