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A review by msradiosilence
The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
0.25
As a grad student in a prestigious program, that was painful.
First of all, grad and PhD programs are not as…whatever the fuck they were in this books. One of my best friends is in a STEM PhD program, *thriving*, and she’s getting paid for it, housing and all. My other best friend is in not one, but two grad programs and teaches part time. I’m living happily, can afford food, and I’m in a STEM grad program. Olive and her classmates are just ridiculously annoying.
The whole premise of this book makes me so icky. A professor? Dating a student?? Gross. It doesn’t matter that Adam has nothing to do with Olive, her education, or her research, or even that the dean “doesn’t see an issue” (???). He still holds a position of authority within her department, and it’s inappropriate. No.
Adam. He is tall. And apparently an ass. And broccoli is mentioned six (or more?) times in conjunction with him. He may or may not be Jewish. And he’s a computational biologist, but fuck you if you want to know what he researches. But my main problem is his height. Olive is 5’8, but constantly talks about how Adam *towers* over her. She has to stand on her toes to kiss him, she’s eye level with his pecs, but he’s ONLY HALF A FOOT OR SO TALLER THAN HER. She says it, somewhere near the beginning, but the height thing is so ridiculous. It’s like Hazelwood wanted Olive to be this small, waiflike thing, but then constantly reminds us that she’s above-average in height, which makes every man that comes into contact with Olive a fucking giant and it’s RIDICULOUS. Also the amount of times Adam is described as an “asshole” or a “dick”, but then he isn’t? It’s all second hand from people who don’t seem to listen to what Adam’s saying and instead take it personally. Writing a good book is about showing, not telling, and this book is all about telling. And the broccoli thing? I don’t know where the fuck that came from, but it got old very fast. Adam is boring.
Speaking of boring, I’ve read a lot of Sarah J Maas’s shit, and she and Hazelwood could copy+paste their sex scenes and they would be the same. I mean that as disrespectfully as possible. How the fuck are you going to tell me you’re a neuroscientist in your author bio but you don’t know how sex works?? Or anatomy?? Come the fuck on. That was painful to read.
A fun drinking game: take a shot every time someone says academia or academic. And then read the book. I imagine it’d make the experience a lot better AND you won’t remember in the morning!! A win all around.
The miscommunication plot is tired. And old. And fucking stupid. Stop writing it.
Anyway. Olive was flat, boring, and a very “I’m not like *other* girls” character. Adam was mentioned above. Everyone else serves only to progress the plot (Anh) or be the gay best friend (Malcolm). Don’t waste your time on this book.
A better (scientific, sci-fi horror) recommendation? Into the Drowning Deep by Mira Grant. Mermaids, ocean science, a diverse cast (including a bi, autistic main character!) and no miscommunication plots! Huzzah!
First of all, grad and PhD programs are not as…whatever the fuck they were in this books. One of my best friends is in a STEM PhD program, *thriving*, and she’s getting paid for it, housing and all. My other best friend is in not one, but two grad programs and teaches part time. I’m living happily, can afford food, and I’m in a STEM grad program. Olive and her classmates are just ridiculously annoying.
The whole premise of this book makes me so icky. A professor? Dating a student?? Gross. It doesn’t matter that Adam has nothing to do with Olive, her education, or her research, or even that the dean “doesn’t see an issue” (???). He still holds a position of authority within her department, and it’s inappropriate. No.
Adam. He is tall. And apparently an ass. And broccoli is mentioned six (or more?) times in conjunction with him. He may or may not be Jewish. And he’s a computational biologist, but fuck you if you want to know what he researches. But my main problem is his height. Olive is 5’8, but constantly talks about how Adam *towers* over her. She has to stand on her toes to kiss him, she’s eye level with his pecs, but he’s ONLY HALF A FOOT OR SO TALLER THAN HER. She says it, somewhere near the beginning, but the height thing is so ridiculous. It’s like Hazelwood wanted Olive to be this small, waiflike thing, but then constantly reminds us that she’s above-average in height, which makes every man that comes into contact with Olive a fucking giant and it’s RIDICULOUS. Also the amount of times Adam is described as an “asshole” or a “dick”, but then he isn’t? It’s all second hand from people who don’t seem to listen to what Adam’s saying and instead take it personally. Writing a good book is about showing, not telling, and this book is all about telling. And the broccoli thing? I don’t know where the fuck that came from, but it got old very fast. Adam is boring.
Speaking of boring, I’ve read a lot of Sarah J Maas’s shit, and she and Hazelwood could copy+paste their sex scenes and they would be the same. I mean that as disrespectfully as possible. How the fuck are you going to tell me you’re a neuroscientist in your author bio but you don’t know how sex works?? Or anatomy?? Come the fuck on. That was painful to read.
A fun drinking game: take a shot every time someone says academia or academic. And then read the book. I imagine it’d make the experience a lot better AND you won’t remember in the morning!! A win all around.
The miscommunication plot is tired. And old. And fucking stupid. Stop writing it.
Anyway. Olive was flat, boring, and a very “I’m not like *other* girls” character. Adam was mentioned above. Everyone else serves only to progress the plot (Anh) or be the gay best friend (Malcolm). Don’t waste your time on this book.
A better (scientific, sci-fi horror) recommendation? Into the Drowning Deep by Mira Grant. Mermaids, ocean science, a diverse cast (including a bi, autistic main character!) and no miscommunication plots! Huzzah!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Cancer, Cursing, Death, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Death of parent, and Sexual harassment