I have no idea what made Ali Hazelwood wake up one day and decide that on top of having a PhD in neuroscience (which has led to her being a professor) she also wanted to write romance novels that have been climbing the best-sellers lists since her debut novel The Love Hypothesis was published in 2021. Whatever it was, I love it.
Love, Theoretically follows people-pleasing Elsie Hannaway as she navigates her professional life and personal relationships after getting her PhD in theoretical physics. As an adjunct professor, Elsie’s workload is heavy with very little fiscal reward, so when the opportunity for a research position at MIT opens up, she jumps at the opportunity. However, the hiring board includes experimental physicist, Jack Smith, known for his hatred of theoretical physics and also the surly brother of one of Elsie’s clients from her side job as a professional fake girlfriend. Overcoming the barrier between her and her dream job becomes more complicated when Elsie begins catching on to the true feelings at play between her and Jack.
Ali Hazelwood is most known at this point for writing women in STEM, and her protagonists are a fantastic addition to the romance genre, in my opinion. Something I wish people spoke about more is the representation for demisexuality (a sexual orientation representing people who only feel sexual attraction after they form a strong emotional bond). Both her debut novel and Love, Theoretically show this orientation. And Love, Theoretically in particular also shows representation of Type 1 Diabetes.
My experience with her women in STEM focused novels and novellas also shows her penitent toward a slower burn when it comes to the physical and sexual aspect of her characters’ relationships overall, so the books have a smaller amount of graphic sexual content than some other modern romance novels (typically one whole chapter and a few other scattered scenes).
Of her women in STEM focused novels, I think Love, Theoretically is the most relatable for people who may not be in STEM fields while also focusing quite a bit on the professional struggle of academic fields. I think many people in their 20s will be able to understand the struggle of having to hold down multiple, unfulfilling jobs to make ends meet while you work toward your true dream career, and it was really interesting to see that aspect of the academic, STEM career path.
This is a rom com and should be treated as such going in. While there are some deeper conversations, it understandably holds true to some of the less realistic stereotypes and tropes of a romance novel for which I am admittedly kind of a sucker. Ali Hazelwood’s protagonists, Olive and Adam, from her debut novel do make a cameo appearance in this book, so keep that in mind if you have yet to read The Love Hypothesis. I loved it seeing as I loved that book and pretty much every other book I have read by Hazelwood so far (which is all but Check & Mate and the soon-to-be-released, Not in Love).
Next time I talk about Ali Hazelwood, I will be delving into her foray into supernatural romance when I review her book, Bride. In the meantime, I recommend ya’ll pick up her other books and let me know what you think on the Instagram post (@susqulib).
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