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A review by oliviabrcka
The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
The Love Hypothesis follows graduate student Olive Smith in an attempt to convince her best friend to date her ex. In order to make her friend sure that she has moved on, Olive kisses a hotshot young professor while her friend is watching. From there, Adam and Olive begin a fake relationship, but fake dating can only stay fake for so long.
I bought The Love Hypothesis from Book of the Month, but it wasn't long before this book was all over TikTok, book tube, and Instagram recommendations. It has gotten a lot of hype, so I had high expectations going in. Although I can't say my expectations were fully met after reading, I did really enjoy this book and certainly couldn't put it down!
This was Ali Hazelwood's debut novel and I think she did an amazing job at reflecting Olive as a character through her writing. This book was fast-paced, easy to read, and addicting. Since this is an adaptation of a work of Star Wars fanfiction by Hazelwood, I was expecting it to read a bit more like Wattpad fanfic, but it felt completely organic and original to me.
Olive was a great fit for the main character of this story. She's smart, driven, purposeful, and kind, easy for any reader to love. She serves as a mouthpiece for the author to discuss the imbalance of women and BIPOC people in STEM, and she is relatable to any person who might feel as though no one that great could have feelings for them. Olive struggles with self-confidence in her appearance, her personality, and her smarts, making her a character that most audience members can connect with. She is a genuine, real character, and I really enjoyed reading from her perspective.
Since this is a grumpy-sunshine romance, Adam is less approachable than Olive, but it doesn't necessarily make him less lovable. He definitely has his faults, but that makes him feel more realistic. Eventually, he is able to open up to Olive and realize the shady things that his "friend" has been doing behind his back. However, even as he opens up, his personality traits stay consistent across the story (ie. he has never been afraid to be brutally honest, and he keeps that up in his confrontations with other characters).
This book doesn't only serve as a romance, but also as a commentary on the lack of women in STEM careers and academic circles, as well as the lack of racial representation. It explores, specifically, how women are mistreated when they are in these positions, or how they can be chosen based on their appeal rather than their character and achievements. I think it offers an important perspective on that issue specifically. Of course, the novel doesn't dive super deep into it because it is primarily a romance, but it is still a noticeable theme toward the end of the story.
I would definitely recommend this to someone craving a fact-paced, fluffy romance. I didn't give it five stars because I did feel underwhelmed after seeing all the hype surrounding the book, but I still really enjoyed it and am looking forward to seeing what Hazelwood comes up with next!
I bought The Love Hypothesis from Book of the Month, but it wasn't long before this book was all over TikTok, book tube, and Instagram recommendations. It has gotten a lot of hype, so I had high expectations going in. Although I can't say my expectations were fully met after reading, I did really enjoy this book and certainly couldn't put it down!
This was Ali Hazelwood's debut novel and I think she did an amazing job at reflecting Olive as a character through her writing. This book was fast-paced, easy to read, and addicting. Since this is an adaptation of a work of Star Wars fanfiction by Hazelwood, I was expecting it to read a bit more like Wattpad fanfic, but it felt completely organic and original to me.
Olive was a great fit for the main character of this story. She's smart, driven, purposeful, and kind, easy for any reader to love. She serves as a mouthpiece for the author to discuss the imbalance of women and BIPOC people in STEM, and she is relatable to any person who might feel as though no one that great could have feelings for them. Olive struggles with self-confidence in her appearance, her personality, and her smarts, making her a character that most audience members can connect with. She is a genuine, real character, and I really enjoyed reading from her perspective.
Since this is a grumpy-sunshine romance, Adam is less approachable than Olive, but it doesn't necessarily make him less lovable. He definitely has his faults, but that makes him feel more realistic. Eventually, he is able to open up to Olive and realize the shady things that his "friend" has been doing behind his back. However, even as he opens up, his personality traits stay consistent across the story (ie. he has never been afraid to be brutally honest, and he keeps that up in his confrontations with other characters).
This book doesn't only serve as a romance, but also as a commentary on the lack of women in STEM careers and academic circles, as well as the lack of racial representation. It explores, specifically, how women are mistreated when they are in these positions, or how they can be chosen based on their appeal rather than their character and achievements. I think it offers an important perspective on that issue specifically. Of course, the novel doesn't dive super deep into it because it is primarily a romance, but it is still a noticeable theme toward the end of the story.
I would definitely recommend this to someone craving a fact-paced, fluffy romance. I didn't give it five stars because I did feel underwhelmed after seeing all the hype surrounding the book, but I still really enjoyed it and am looking forward to seeing what Hazelwood comes up with next!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual harassment