Enjoy fast, free delivery, exclusive deals, and award-winning movies & TV shows with Prime
Try Prime and start saving today with fast, free delivery

Kindle
$10.99

Available instantly

Audiobook
$0.00
with membership trial

Hardcover
$16.35

Paperback
$11.46

$11.46 with 33 percent savings

List Price: $17.00

Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime FREE Returns

FREE delivery Saturday, May 11 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35

Or fastest delivery Friday, May 10. Order within 9 hrs 59 mins

Select delivery location

In Stock

$$11.46 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details

Ships from

Amazon.com

Ships from

Amazon.com

Sold by

Amazon.com

Sold by

Amazon.com

Returns

Eligible for Return, Refund or Replacement within 30 days of receipt

Returns

Eligible for Return, Refund or Replacement within 30 days of receipt

This item can be returned in its original condition for a full refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt.

Read full return policy

Payment

Secure transaction

Payment

Secure transaction

We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Learn more

Details

Add a gift receipt for easy returns

$10.63

Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime FREE Returns

Little to no damage on cover or pages. Item will come in original packaging. Little to no damage on cover or pages. Item will come in original packaging. See less

FREE delivery Monday, May 13 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35

Select delivery location

Only 2 left in stock - order soon.

$$11.46 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details

Access codes and supplements are not guaranteed with used items.

Enhancements you chose aren't available for this seller. Details

${cardName} not available for the seller you chose

${cardName} unavailable for quantities greater than ${maxQuantity}.

Sold by Amazon Warehouse and Fulfilled by Amazon.

Other sellers on Amazon

New & Used (101) from $4.61 + $3.99 shipping

HONEST Review of Love Theoretically! Should You Read? ✅ Annie’s Favorites Reviews ✅

Image Unavailable

Image not available for
Color:

To view this video download Flash Player

Follow the author

Ali Hazelwood

Follow

Love, Theoretically Paperback – June 13, 2023

by Ali Hazelwood (Author)

4.4 23,449 ratings

Editors' pick Best Books of the Year 2023

See all formats and editions

{"desktop_buybox_group_1":[{"displayPrice":"$11.46","priceAmount":11.46,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"11","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"46","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"mHr7yapzezOKc9elUydkEE7qiz9MjbtCuP69ym06C1N8QlSzuXD69kmgT1n3VDQvL2r3btSQweBOX64UzyPVlfFUVBG7IF%2BaYOK4Ldlq0zYHX3pGLBYqN24z5gsyYZtnsikQ8cbNn0o%2FXL7XSqsYlQ%3D%3D","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"NEW","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":0}, {"displayPrice":"$10.63","priceAmount":10.63,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"10","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"63","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"mHr7yapzezOKc9elUydkEE7qiz9MjbtCFzVg7z1lRV%2B7mKueIkUwZymz37p7GMHQTmYe7%2BPPuiydDl24YIhMU4mHoBOAfuZIybTNwPMfUbfCZSPx3pbxlK5pH56BdIKb%2F9dZMkOXDV%2FVh%2BB6zIKIyIUX%2FWiop1HlTCgJD%2FVtRz8XISOfRx8MHBx5HpnKhqxZ","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"USED","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":1}]}

Purchase options and add-ons

"The reigning queen of STEM romance."—The Washington Post

An Indie Next and Library Reads Pick!

Rival physicists collide in a vortex of academic feuds and fake dating shenanigans in this delightfully STEMinist romcom from the New York Times bestselling author of The Love Hypothesis and Love on the Brain.

The many lives of theoretical physicist Elsie Hannaway have finally caught up with her. By day, she’s an adjunct professor, toiling away at grading labs and teaching thermodynamics in the hopes of landing tenure. By other day, Elsie makes up for her non-existent paycheck by offering her services as a fake girlfriend, tapping into her expertly honed people-pleasing skills to embody whichever version of herself the client needs.

Honestly, it’s a pretty sweet gig—until her carefully constructed Elsie-verse comes crashing down. Because Jack Smith, the annoyingly attractive and arrogant older brother of her favorite client, turns out to be the cold-hearted experimental physicist who ruined her mentor’s career and undermined the reputation of theorists everywhere. And he’s the same Jack Smith who rules over the physics department at MIT, standing right between Elsie and her dream job.

Elsie is prepared for an all-out war of scholarly sabotage but…those long, penetrating looks? Not having to be anything other than her true self when she’s with him? Will falling into an experimentalist’s orbit finally tempt her to put her most guarded theories on love into practice?

Print length

400 pages
Language

English
Publication date

June 13, 2023
Dimensions

5.49 x 1.01 x 8.18 inches
ISBN-10

0593336860
ISBN-13

978-0593336861
See all details

Frequently bought together

$11.46

Get it as soon as Saturday, May 11

In Stock

Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.

+

$9.72

Get it as soon as Saturday, May 11

In Stock

Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.

+

$10.60

Get it as soon as Saturday, May 11

In Stock

Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.

Total price:

To see our price, add these items to your cart.

Try again!

Details

Added to Cart

Choose items to buy together.

Ali Hazelwood
23,831
Paperback
110 offers from $3.06
Ali Hazelwood
2,409
Paperback
78 offers from $2.95
Ashley Poston
10,953
Paperback
74 offers from $6.44
Sarah Adams
10,599
Paperback
83 offers from $4.95
Rebecca Ross
54,266
Hardcover
80 offers from $6.83
Ali Hazelwood
10,376
Paperback
89 offers from $3.40

Popular Highlights in this book

What are popular highlights?

“Have you considered that maybe you’re already the way I want you to be? That maybe there are no signals because nothing needs to be changed?”
Highlighted by 1,456 Kindle readers
“Jacky has a thing for you. Like, he stares all the time. And he asks so many questions about you.”
Highlighted by 1,170 Kindle readers

From the Publisher


	THE LOVE HYPOTHESIS	LOVE ON THE BRAIN	LOATHE TO LOVE YOU	LOVE, THEORETICALLY	CHECK & MATE

Customer Reviews	68,702	23,831	2,409	23,449	10,376
Price	$10.60	$9.72	$10.47	$11.46	$9.31
	A fake relationship between scientists meets the irresistible force of attraction.	A scientist is forced to work on a project with her nemesis—with explosive results.	A collection of novellas featuring a trio of engineers and their loves in loathing.	Rival physicists collide in a vortex of academic feuds and fake dating shenanigans.	In this YA debut, life’s moving pieces bring rival chess players together in a match for the heart.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Praise for Love, Theoretically

“It would be so easy to hate Ali—who is brilliant and funny and the most delightful writer…but it’s far more productive to create a shrine I can worship at, praying for her to finish another book quickly. LOVED. IT.”—#1 New York Times bestselling author Jodi Picoult

"Whenever I want a sexy, witty, delicious romance, told in a fresh and intelligent voice, I read Ali Hazelwood. Prepare to get addicted. Each book is pure joy."—Simone St. James, New York Times bestselling author

"The reigning queen of STEMinist rom-coms returns with a tale set in the cutthroat world of eliteacademia full of delightful humor, realistic emotions, and the messy search for self-acceptance."—Booklist, starred review

"A decidedly quirky and thoroughly charming tale...Geeky science jokes, humorous student emails, and expertly delivered snarky banter enhance the narrative. Readers will cheer for Jack and Elsie and their bumpy road to happily ever after."—Publishers Weekly, starred review

“Hazelwood’s latest STEM-set novel may be her best yet, addressing not only discrimination among different realms of physics, but the unconscious bias Elsie has to continually fight as a woman in her field...A dynamic rivals-to-lovers romance."—Kirkus, starred review

Praise for Ali Hazelwood

“Hazelwood is an absolute romance powerhouse.”—New York Times bestselling author Christina Lauren

“Hazelwood proves that she is the perfect writer to show that science is sexy as hell.”—#1 New York Times bestselling author Jodi Picoult

“Gloriously nerdy and sexy, with on-point commentary about women in STEM.”—New York Times bestselling author Helen Hoang on Love on the Brain

“Funny, sexy and smart, Ali Hazelwood did a terrific job with The Love Hypothesis.”—New York Times bestselling author Mariana Zapata

“STEMinists, assemble. Your world is about to be rocked.”—New York Times bestselling author Elena Armas on Love on the Brain

About the Author

Ali Hazelwood is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Love, Theoretically and The Love Hypothesis, as well as a writer of peer-reviewed articles about brain science, in which no one makes out and the ever after is not always happy. Originally from Italy, she lived in Germany and Japan before moving to the US to pursue a PhD in neuroscience. When Ali is not at work, she can be found running, eating cake pops, or watching sci-fi movies with her three feline overlords (and her slightly-less-feline husband).

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

1

Waves and Particles

Twenty-four hours earlier

All throughout middle school, my Halloween costume was the duality of light.

I made it with a marker, drawing a bunch of circles and zigzag lines all over one of Dad's white undershirts I'd rescued from the trash can. In hindsight, the production value was so low, not even the physics teacher managed to guess what it was. I never minded, though. I'd walk around the hallways hearing Bill Nye's voice in my head, his beautiful explanation of the ways light could be two different things at once, depending on what others wanted to see: a particle and a wave.

It seemed like a winning idea. And had me wondering if I, too, could contain two-no, a whole multitude of Elsies. Each one would be crafted, custom tailored, carefully curated with a different person in mind. I'd give everyone the me they wanted, needed, craved, and in exchange they'd care about me.

Easy peasy, photons squeezy.

Funny how my physics career and my people-pleasing career started around the same time. How I can draw a straight line from baby's first quantum mechanics concept to my current job. Actually, to both my current jobs. The day one, in which I earn next to nothing by hatching physical theories that explain why small molecules cluster together like cliques of mean girls during lunch hour. And the other one, in which . . .

Well. The other one, in which I pretend to be someone else, at least pays well.

"Uncle Paul will try to rope us into a threesome, again," Greg tells me, soulful brown eyes full of apologies, and I don't hesitate. I don't act annoyed. I don't shudder in revulsion thinking about Uncle Paul's sewage breath or his oily comb-over, which reminds me of pubic hair.

Okay, maybe I do shudder a little bit. But I cover it up with a smile and a professional "Got it."

"Also," he continues, running a hand through his messy curls, "Dad recently developed severe lactose intolerance but refuses to ease up on the dairy. There might be . . ."

"Gastrointestinal events." Understandable. I'd resist giving up cheese, too.

"And my cousin Izzy-she's known to become physically aggressive when people disagree with her over the literary value of the Twilight Saga."

I perk up. "Is she pro or against?"

"Against," Greg says darkly.

I love Twilight even more than cheese, but I can withhold my TED Talk on why Alice and Bella should have left all those idiots behind and ridden off into the sunset.

Team Bellice 4evah.

"Understood."

"Elsie, I'm sorry. It's Grandma's ninetieth. The whole family will be here." He sighs, breath smoky white in the night air of this icy Boston January. "Mom's going to be at her worst."

"Don't worry." I ring the doorbell of Greg's grandmother's town house and offer my most encouraging smile. He hired me to be his fake girlfriend, and he'll get the Elsie he wants me to be: reassuring, yes, but also gently bossy. A dominatrix who doesn't like to wield a whip-but could if necessary. "Remember our exit strategy?"

"Pinch your elbow twice."

"I'll say I'm feeling poorly, and we'll duck out. And when the threesome offer comes, heavily imply that I have gonorrhea."

"That wouldn't deter Uncle Paul."

"Genital warts?"

"Mmm. Maybe?" He massages his temple. "The only good thing is that my brother's coming."

I tense. "Jack?"

"Yeah."

Stupid question. Greg only has the one. "I thought you said he'd be gone?"

"His work dinner got canceled."

I groan inwardly.

"What?"

Shit, I groaned outwardly. "Nothing." I grin and squeeze his arm through his coat. Greg Smith is my favorite client, and I will see him through this evening unscathed. "Let me handle your family, okay? It's what you pay me for, after all."

It really is. And I'm grateful every day that I've never had to remind him. Many of my clients wonder more or less openly what other services I might offer, even though the terms of service in the Faux app are pretty explicit. They clear their throat, stroke their chin, and ask, "What exactly is included in this . . . fake-girlfriend rate?" I'm often tempted to roll my eyes and knee them in the nuts, but I try to not take offense, to smile kindly, and to say, "Not sex."

I also-to answer the standard follow-up questions-don't kiss, frot, dirty talk, get naked, do butt stuff, give BJs, HJs, TJs, and whatever other Js might exist that I'm not aware of. I don't let them pee on me or fondle my feet, nor do I facilitate and/or allow orgasms in my general vicinity.

Not that there would be anything wrong: sex work is legitimate work, and people who engage in it are just as deserving of respect as ballerinas, or firefighters, or hedge fund managers. But ten months ago, when I graduated with a Ph.D. in theoretical physics from Northeastern, I figured that by now I'd have a reasonably remunerated academic position. I did not imagine that at twenty-seven I'd be paying my water bill by helping adult men pretend that they have dating lives. And yet here I am, fake-girlfriending my way through my student loans.

Not to kill anyone's buzz, but I'm starting to suspect that life might not always turn out the way you want. An unavoidable loss of faith: there are only so many times one can be hired to project the idea that a client is a charming, well-adjusted, emotionally available human being capable of holding on to a medium-term relationship with an equally high-functioning adult, in order to . . . Well, it varies. I've never asked Greg why Caroline Smith is so obsessed with the idea of her thirty-year-old son having a significant other. Based on snippets of overheard conversations within the Smith Cinematic Universe, I suspect it has to do with the massive estate that will come into play once the matriarch dies, and with the belief that if he provided the first great-grandchild, he'd be more likely to inherit . . . a diamond-studded water hose, I assume?

Rich people. They're just like us.

But Greg's nosy mom is still much better than his brother, who's bad news for a whole bunch of reasons that do not bear contemplating. Frankly, it's a relief that she is my target. It means that when the front door of Smith Manor opens, I can focus solely on her: the withholding, PVC-hearted woman who manages to air-kiss us, fuss with Greg's hair, and push two full glasses of wine into our hands all at once.

"How's life in finance, Gregory?" Caroline asks her son. He downs half of his drink in a single gulp-I suspect because I've heard him explain that he does not, in fact, work in finance. At least four times. "And you, Elsie?" she adds without waiting for a reply. "How are things at the library?"

Following Faux's guidelines, I tell my clients nothing about myself-not my full name, not my day job, not my true opinions on cilantro (excellent, if you enjoy eating soap). And that, in a nutshell, is what fake-girlfriending is about. It initially seemed sketchy that people would pay for a fake date in the age of Tinder and Pornhub, and that they'd pay me-unremarkable Elsie Hannaway of the medium everything. Medium height. Medium-brown hair and eyes. Medium nose, butt, feet, legs, breasts. Pretty, yeah, sure, but in a medium, nondescript way. And yet, my medium mediumness is the perfect blank slate to fill. An empty canvas to paint on. A mirror, reflecting only what others care to project. A bolt of fabric that can be custom tailored to-well. I'm sure everyone's tracking the metaphor.

The Elsie that Caroline Smith wants is someone able to fit in with people who use summer as a verb, not flashy enough to attract a better catch than Greg, and with the nurturing instincts to take care of the son she might love but cannot be bothered to know. Children's librarian seemed like a great fake profession. It's been fun scouring online forums in search of charming anecdotes.

"Today I found three Goldfish crackers in our best copy of Matilda," I say with a smile. Or at least, Reddit user iluvbigbooks did.

"That is hilarious," Caroline says without laughing, smiling, or otherwise displaying amusement. Then she leans closer, whispering as though her son, who's a foot away, cannot hear us. "We are so glad that you're here, Elsie." We, I believe, includes Greg's dad, who stands silently next to her, popping three cubes of colby jack into his mouth with the vacant smile of someone who's been dissociating since 1999. "We were so worried about Gregory. But now he's with you, and he's never been happier." Has he, though? "Gregory, make sure to spend lots of quality time with your grandmother tonight. Izzy is taking pics with her Polaroid to give her at the end of the night-make sure you're in all of them."

"I'll make sure he is, Mrs. Smith," I promise, weaving my arm through Greg's. I break that promise fifteen seconds later, at the end of the glitzy hallway. He downs what's left of his wine, steals two large gulps of mine, and then stage-whispers "See you in ten minutes" before locking himself inside the bathroom.

I laugh and let him be. I feel protective of him-enough to break Faux standard protocol and agree to repeat fake dates, enough to want to defend him from muggers and pirates and his extended family. Maybe it's that his first sentence to me was a panicky "My mother won't stop asking why I don't date," followed by a hesitant, frazzled explanation of why that wasn't going to happen anytime soon-an explanation that hit too close to home. Maybe it's that he always looks like how I feel: tired and overwhelmed. In another timeline we'd be best friends, bonding over the unavoidable stress ulcers that will soon ravage the linings of our stomachs.

I find the empty kitchen, duck inside, and watch the red swirl down the drain as I pour what's left of my glass into the sink. A waste. I should have just refused it, but that would lead to questions, and I don't want to explain that alcohol is a dangerous, glycemic terrorist and that my struggling pancreas does not negotiate with-

"Not to your taste?"

I jump. And yelp. And almost drop the glass, which probably costs more than my graduate education.

I thought I was alone. Wasn't I alone? I was alone. But Greg's older brother is in the room, leaning against the marble counter, arms crossed over his chest. Those unique multicolored eyes of his are staring at me with the usual inscrutable expression. I'm standing between him and the only entrance-either I overlooked him, or he bent the space-time continuum.

Or I mixed him up with the refrigerator. They are similarly sized, after all.

"Are you okay?" he asks.

"I-yes. Yes, sorry. I just . . ." I force a smile. "Hi, Jack."

"Hi, Elsie." He says my name like it's familiar to him. The first word he ever learned. Second nature, and not just a bunch of vowels and consonants he's barely had reason to use before.

He doesn't smile, of course. Well, he does smile, but never at me. Whenever we're in the same room, he's an imposing, sky-soaring, stern presence whose main pastime appears to be judging me unworthy of Greg.

"Don't like the wine?"

"That's not it." I blink, flustered. There's a tattoo on his forearm, just peeking out of the rolled-up sleeve of his shirt. Because of course he's wearing jeans and a plaid shirt, even though the Evite specifically asked for semiformal.

But he's Jack Smith. He can do whatever he wants. He probably has a permit carved in those ridiculous biceps of his. Stamped on the blue quarter of his right eye, the one that sticks out like a sore thumb in the chestnut of his irises.

"The wine was great," I say, collecting myself. "But there was a fly in it."

"Was there?"

He doesn't believe me. I don't know how I know, but I know. And he knows that I know. I can see it, no-I can feel it. There's a tingle at the base of my spine, liquid and sparkly and warm. Careful, Elsie, it says. He'll have you arrested for crimes against grapes. You'll spend the rest of your life in federal prison. He'll visit once a week to stare through the plexiglass and make you uncomfortable.

"Izzy must be looking for you," I say, hoping to get rid of him. "She's upstairs."

"I know," he replies, not heading upstairs. He just studies me-attentive, calm, like he knows something secret about me. That I floss once a week, tops. That I can't figure out what the Dow Jones is, even after reading the Wikipedia entry. Other, scarier, darker things.

"Is your girlfriend here?" I ask to fill the silence. He once brought someone to a family thing. A geologist. The most beautiful woman I've ever seen. Nice. Funny, too. I wish I could say she was out of his league.

"No."

Silence, again. More staring. I smile to hide how aggressively I'm grinding my teeth. "It's been a while."

"Since Labor Day."

"Oh, right. I forgot."

I did not forget. Before today, I've met Jack twice, as in two times, one and then another, and they're both stubbornly wedged in my brain, as pleasant as spinach leaves stuck between molars.

The first was Greg's birthday dinner, when Jack and I shook hands and he nodded back at me tightly, when he spent the night giving me long, searching glances, when I overheard him ask Greg, "Where did you meet her?" and "How long has it been?" and "How serious is this?" with an inquisitive, deceptively casual tone that sent an odd shiver down my spine.

So Jack Smith wasn't a fan. Okay. Fine. Whatever.

And then there was the second. Late in the summer, at the Smiths' Labor Day pool party, where I didn't swim. Because there's no way to hide my pod in a bikini.

I'm not embarrassed to be diabetic. I've had nearly two decades to make peace with my overactive immune system, which has way too much fun destroying necessary cells. But people's reactions to the knowledge that I must pump insulin into my body on the reg can be unpredictable. When I was diagnosed (at ten, after a seizure in the school gym that earned me the cruel but uncreative nickname of Shaky Elsie), I overheard my parents chat, low whispers behind the hospital room's divider curtains.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Berkley (June 13, 2023)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 400 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0593336860
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0593336861
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 12 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.49 x 1.01 x 8.18 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #4,221 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #88 in Workplace Romance
- #640 in Romantic Comedy (Books)
- #2,354 in Contemporary Romance (Books)

Customer Reviews:
4.4 23,449 ratings

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.

Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Upload your video

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.

Ali Hazelwood

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.

Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Ali Hazelwood is a multi-published author—alas, of peer-reviewed articles about brain science, in which no one makes out and the ever after is not always happy. Originally from Italy, she lived in Germany and Japan before moving to the U.S. to pursue a Ph.D. in neuroscience. She recently became a professor, which absolutely terrifies her. When Ali is not at work, she can be found running, crocheting, eating cake pops, or watching sci-fi movies with her two feline overlords (and her slightly-less-feline husband).

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5

23,449 global ratings

1 star

0%

How customer reviews and ratings work

Reviews with images

See all photos

Sort reviews by

Top reviews from the United States

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.

Deis&Daughter

Cozy and Easy and Soft to Read

Reviewed in the United States on June 16, 2023

Verified Purchase

Thank you, Ali, for giving us another hunky, mountain-sized man. I know the massive guy/smaller girl cliche is hated but . . . I kinda love it. And it's a Hazelwood staple. So thanks.

But on to the book:
The romance was whirlwind once started—though true enemies-to-lovers at the beginning. There's miscommunication, but not to a frightening extent (I like that trope tho, so can you really believe me?), but the book's otherwise pretty trope-less and original. I ADORED seeing a diabetic character as a protagonist and not making her whole arc or every interaction about diabetes!

There was a lot of screen time to the academic side. Almost too much for your average layperson, but not quite. I found I wasn't as bored by it as I was reading her other book, Love on the Brain, though it has more than The Love Hypothesis. (Though as a person employed at an institution mentioned in the book, some of the academic aspects hit hard.)

I didn't feel like the mental aspect went too far down the rabbit hole. In some ways, Elsie's problems are relatable to everyone, even if not at this level. I was really nervous that the focus would become ENTIRELY on that plotline—mental health—but it was just an important aspect instead of the entire focus. The MC also didn't overdo the tough love aspect, as far as him demanding her to be forthcoming (though a few things skirted the line, and I worried with the whole 'I want you because you've never shown your OG self and I like things that have never happened before' aspect might lead to him breaking up with her once he HAS seen all the new things, but the deep commitment romantic whirlwind that felt a little unrealistic actually evened out this fear lol.) I've seen that dominating-guy-commands-her-to-speak-thoughts done wrong in other romance books, but it didn't go far enough to feel icky in this one.

Hazelwood has such a way of writing modern characters. Maybe it's her fanfiction background, but the stories feel so alive in the way fanfiction does, except polished. It does throw me when I read references to things so recent, though! (For example, referencing Young Sheldon tv show season 7, which was just announced a few months ago? Or AOC references? You on the ball, Ali!)

Reaching the character growth in this book made me realize that while The Love Hypothesis is my all-time favorite book, the characters don't really grow in it. Olive is wonderful at the start and Olive is wonderful at the finish. But Elsie's transformation is really distinguishable between chapter one and the end of the book. Jacks too, in some ways, but let me focus

All in all, Love, Theoretically didn't sing to me like TLH, but it was wonderful nonetheless. I laughed, I misted a little, and I read it all in one sitting. I feel like I got COVID-quarantine vibes from this book. It was cozy and easy and soft to read.

20 people found this helpful

Helpful

Megan Stahmann

My Favorite Ali Hazelwood Novel So Far

Reviewed in the United States on March 29, 2024

Verified Purchase

This has been my favorite Ali Hazelwood novel to date. I quite enjoyed watching Elsie grow as a character. She reminded me of an alternate-reality boggart from Harry Potter, that molds herself into whatever a person needs her to be. It was satisfying to follow her journey to a little self-discovery and a lot of standing up for her damn self.

I appreciated Jack’s role in helping her discover those parts of herself and also loved that there was some depth for the MMC. Jack had a solid history that you could see molded him into the character he is. I actually felt like I knew Jack as a character while reading this book (as opposed to Adam in TLH. In fact, I think I learned more about Adam in this book than I did in the entire book that he starred in).

The humor in this book was delightful, I enjoyed the banter between the characters. George was a delight and I want to know everything about her. I would pay to read some bonus content of the rest of Greg and Jack’s night after Elsie left following Greg’s dental emergency and asparapee (haha)!

Many of Ali’s usual tropes are present and she definitely has go-to phrases that reappear from previous stories as well as the Ali Hazelwood requirement of a giant MMC (like, seriously, he’s big. They’re all big, we get it lol). Nothing against that but, like, let’s tone it down, just a little. Overall, it was a fun read.

Reviewed in the United States on November 10, 2023

Verified Purchase

TOP READ 2023
Best work of the author to date!
I don't know how this author does it but her books just keep getting better and better, if you loved her previous books, you're going to love this one, with her distinctive writing style and set in the STEM world, Love, Theoretically is the perfect combination of hilarious banter, sizzling chemistry and an intense slow burn romance, it is UNPUTDOWNABLE!

Jack is a dreamy book boyfriend, so smart, broody, sweet and intense, he made me smile so much, always putting Elsie's needs first, I love how patient and loving he is with her, my heart almost explodes with emotion with his sweet but passionate dialogues, I adore him. Elsie is the perfect heroine, so funny; sassy, and kind, but her life is a mess, with debts, financial problems and several jobs that are not the best, however now she is about to land her dream job to help her out of her mess.

The story confronts Jack and Elsie, he is part of the hiring committee for her dream job but due to some misunderstandings Jack thinks that she is lying to him, and because they are academic rivals he supports another candidate to obtain the position, but Elsie is not willing to give up so easily.

Though they start as enemies, their intense attraction is evident from their first meeting. I loved the way the author narrates the evolution of the relationship, the tension is off the charts, the slow burn romance almost gave me instant combustion, their deep emotional connection is everything, and their clever and funny dialogues are in a league of their own.

Addictive, captivating and so funny, this is my new favorite book of this author that gave all the feelings, perfect for fans of
Enemies to lovers
Slow burn
STEM Romance
Boy falls first
Witty banter
Steamy
Romcom

7 people found this helpful

Helpful

stephanie

STEM love

Reviewed in the United States on January 24, 2024

Verified Purchase

Good read. Predictable beats. Nice character development. I had a hard time believing Elsie really put that much faith into her mentor when he didn’t even know her name after 6 years of working together, and her desire for his approval was a pivotal part of the plot.

One person found this helpful

Helpful

Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English

Kadbury

Love the representation (NO SPOILERS!)

Reviewed in Canada on April 23, 2024

Verified Purchase

I really enjoyed this novel, even more than Hazelwood's Love Theoretically. I felt the characters were built well and the story progressed very naturally. There was also a genuine reason why the female character didn't just blab the main secret to the male protagonist unlike in other books where there is an annoying miscommunication trope or the female is just annoying in general.

As I don't wish to give more spoilers, one thing I would say is that this book is unfortunately a very realistic portrayal of how academia works as well as the peanuts the individuals generally get paid. If you work in that field and are up for tenure you may not find an escape or comfort in this book

Jeanka

Edição capa dura é Linda demais porém veio um pouco sujinho

Reviewed in Brazil on March 1, 2024

Verified Purchase

The media could not be loaded.

Entrega foi super rápida e o livro é lindo, nunca tinha visto a edição capa dura e achei linda demais. Único porém é que veio um pouco sujinho e seria melhor se estivesse embalado ainda, pra chegar 100%. Vou conseguir limpar a jacket e a capa mas a lombada é quase impossível.
Mas fora isso é uma edição belíssima!

Translate review to English

Renee Mahr

Mi favorito de Ali, hasta ahora

Reviewed in Mexico on December 9, 2023

Verified Purchase

Si leíste la hipótesis del amor o la química del amor, y te gustaron a “pesar” de ser muy parecidos creo que este te va encantar a parte de tener un pequeño guiño de la autora para quienes leyeron la hipótesis del amor, esté tiene tiene un giro refrescante cada uno de los personajes, se sienten más complejos, más entrañables y Jack ¡por Dios! acaba de desbloquear un nuevo estándar de hombre para mí, termine total y completamente enamorada. Me hizo creer volver a enamorarme y ahora si aventarme el doctorado jaja. Si querías una señal para leer este libro es ¡ESTA!

4 people found this helpful

Translate review to English

Verónica S.

Auto-buy author for sure

Reviewed in Spain on April 19, 2024

Verified Purchase

Another one I loved with all my heart!!!

Nina

Must read

Reviewed in Germany on March 27, 2024

Verified Purchase

Ich liebe ja alle Bücher von Ali Hazelwood und genau das war auch der Fall bei diesem. Kam auch in einem super Zustand an.

Translate review to English

See more reviews

Return this item for free

Return this item for free

Image Unavailable

Follow the author