STEM

Love On The Brain | Book Review

- Bunny Leave a comment

About The Book
Bee Königswasser, a neuroengineer, lands her dream project at NASA but must co-lead with her old grad school nemesis, Levi Ward. Despite his heroics and undeniable attraction, Levi once made it clear they were enemies. As Bee’s career hits snags with missing equipment and uncooperative staff, she notices Levi becoming more of an ally. Torn between her growing feelings and the risks involved, Bee must decide what her next move will be.
Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/4czbnHn

My Rating

I’ve heard this book compared a lot to ‘The Love Hypothesis,’ Ali Hazelwood’s first STEM romance, with people saying it has a very similar plot. However, I don’t see that at all, apart from the sunshiny and somewhat clueless main female character, and of course, the STEM setting. There aren’t many similarities between the books, and the tropes in each are completely different.

Honestly, as someone who loved ‘The Love Hypothesis,’ I enjoyed this one slightly more and think it’s an underrated novel where Ali Hazelwood is concerned. The main female character, Bee, is a Marie Curie-obsessed scientist who is offered her dream job working on a project for NASA. Unfortunately, she has to work with her grad school nemesis, Levi.

You might think this is an enemies-to-lovers story with a touch of workplace romance. However, that’s not the case; there is so much more to the plot. I loved Bee and Levi’s interactions throughout the book. She was so sure that he hated her, but that simply wasn’t true. And yes, one could say she was oblivious, but I found it hilarious.

“Science is reliable in its variability. Science does whatever the fuck it wants. God, I love science.”

There was this whole ‘You’ve Got Mail’-esque plot that I didn’t expect but loved. I’m a big fan of secret pen pals or, in this case, online friends. It adds such a fun layer to the story, and I couldn’t wait for things to be revealed. I will say that this book wasn’t a quick read, but the plot was more than just romance; a lot happened within 350 pages.

The characters Ali writes are amazing, and all you want is for them to get their HEA. For me, Bee and Levi complemented each other wonderfully, and they might even be one of my new favorite couples. However, I have a feeling I’ll be saying that about all the couples in Ali Hazelwood’s books.

Overall, I think this book shouldn’t be disregarded. The plot is interesting, the side characters are great, the banter is wonderful but not overwhelming, and the romance is fantastic. Also, the spice in this book is great! It’s open-door, and I would rate it a 3 out of 5 on the steamy scale, but that might be a bit too high.

Please let me know in the comments if you’ve read this book. Also, feel free to follow me on Instagram for more bookish content. And if you enjoy my blog, please show some love by giving it a quick follow.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

The Love Hypothesis | Book Review

- Bunny 1 Comment

About The Book
Reluctant Ph.D. candidate Olive Smith fakes a relationship with notorious professor Adam Carlsen to appease her best friend. When Adam supports her at a chaotic science conference, unexpected attraction sparks between them. Olive navigates real feelings while balancing love and her academic dreams.
Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/3Wf0fe9

My Rating

I felt unsure about this book before picking it up. All I knew was that it had a lot of hype and centered around a STEM-based romance. Although I love reading adult romance, I hadn’t read one with a STEM focus before. But after the first ten chapters, I really got into it. So if you’re finding the beginning slow, try giving it at least until the halfway point.

The story follows Olive, a Ph.D. candidate who starts a fake-dating relationship with Adam Carlsen, a well-known young professor. It combines the fake-dating trope with a grumpy-sunshine dynamic. While everything kicks off a bit quickly—Olive practically jumps on Adam in the first chapter—I appreciated how the story eventually slowed down.

Olive’s character was likable, and I could understand why she struggled to let people in. That said, I’m not usually a fan of characters who miss what’s right in front of them. Adam, though, was an amazing love interest—and maybe I just have a thing for no-nonsense male characters. Their chemistry felt strong, with just the right amount of witty banter.

“That’s the thing with science. We’re drilled to believe that false positives are bad, but false negatives are just as terrifying.”

As for spiciness, I wouldn’t call it overly steamy, but it’s not a closed-door romance either. I’d give it a spicy rating of 2.5 out of 5. The one intimate scene the author included works well for readers who prefer a mostly clean romance with a hint of spice. In my opinion, it won’t make you blush, but it does offer a descriptive moment.

One of my favorite parts of the book focuses on how women in STEM get treated. The author highlights their struggles to be taken seriously in a male-dominated field, which sadly reflects reality. This added depth to the story and underscored the importance of having more women in STEM.

Overall, the writing style shines, and the plot keeps you engaged. If you don’t mind the third-act miscommunication trope when it’s executed well, you’ll enjoy this book. It serves as a fun read and a great palate cleanser between heavier books. I look forward to reading more from this author and believe this book absolutely lives up to the hype.

In the comments, let me know if you’ve read this book or any others by the author. Don’t forget to like and share this post with fellow book lovers. And if you enjoy book reviews, hit the follow button so you never miss a post!

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

If you want your reading experience to be more unique and personalized, the Custom Keychains of “The Love Hypothesis” will keep the love going.