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Love Theoretically

From the bestselling author of The Love Hypothesis

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Love Theoretically

By: Ali Hazelwood
Narrated by: Therese Plummer
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About this listen

 From the author of TikTok sensations and global bestsellers The Love Hypothesis and Love on the Brain

Rival physicists collide in a vortex of academic feuds and fake dating shenanigans in this delightfully STEMinist romcom.

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 favourite 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?

Praise for Ali Hazelwood and her novels:

'Ali Hazelwood proves that science is sexy as hell, and that love can 'STEM' from the most unlikely places. She's my newest must-buy author.' Jodi Picoult

'I cannot get enough of her brand of brainy romance! Writing with an emotionally brilliant and witty pen, Hazelwood is an absolute romance powerhouse.' Christina Lauren, author of The Unhoneymooners

'Gloriously nerdy and sexy, with on-point commentary about women in STEM.' Helen Hoang, author of The Heart Principle

'Proves that STEM can be sexy!' Red

Readers love The Love Hypothesis:
'Did I read this in 24 hours? Yes.'
'Funny. Snarky. Intelligent. Real.'
'If you're even slightly thinking about getting this book to read, just go a head and do it'
'Ali Hazelwood has made herself an auto-buy author'
'It was just... perfect.'
'A heroine you will instantly fall in love with'



The Love Hypothesis was on the Sunday Times and New York Times bestseller lists in January 2022, Love on the Brain was also on the Sunday Times and New York Times bestseller list in August 2022. ©2023 Ali Hazelwood Contemporary Literature & Fiction Romance Romantic Comedy Women's Fiction Comedy Funny Heartfelt Witty Feel-Good Fake Relationship

Critic reviews

Your world is about to be rocked. (Elena Armas, author of The Spanish Love Deception (on Love on the Brain))
Hopelessly, brilliantly, wonderfully romantic. I loved it even more than The Love Hypothesis, and I didn't think that was possible (Cressida McLaughlin on Love on the Brain)
Ali Hazelwood proves that science is sexy as hell, and that love can 'STEM' from the most unlikely places. She's my newest must-buy author. (Jodi Picoult on Love on the Brain)
Gloriously nerdy and sexy, with on-point commentary about women in STEM. (Helen Hoang, author of The Heart Principle on Love on the Brain)
Proves that STEM can be sexy!
Contemporary romance's unicorn: the elusive marriage of deeply brainy and delightfully escapist. (Christina Lauren, author of The Unhoneymooners on The Love Hypothesis)
All stars
Most relevant
The first hour I struggled to get into the book, but maybe I was a bit distracted. But once I did, I really did! The story is great. It’s nice to hear things from an academical background as I don’t know that scene at all. But it’s so relatable and the development between Jack and Julia is so lovely. I’d definitely recommend.

Great story and narration

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I'm really enjoying these 'women in STEM' novels by Ali Hazelwood. It sends a message to young women, that STEM careers is an avenue that's not closed off to them.

Throw in some engaging characters and you're on to a winner.

I loved Elsie's quirky manner even though her desire to please everyone was a bit concerning. However, this was made all the sweeter when she eventually spoke up with honesty.

I loved that she was so unaware of Jack's attraction to her, and that she found it hard to believe when that information was shared. Equally, I was intrigued by how besotted Jack seemed with her.

Jack's seemingly perfect family life was far from what you'd expect and there were times when my heart broke for him.

Although Jack and Elsie's story is not necessarily what you'd expect, Lai Hazelwood thoroughly convinced The reader that they are meant to the together!

An enjoyable read for sure!




An enjoyable listen for sure

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Made me feel so happy and annoyed at the same time I would def recommend Ali has done it again!

Just perfect

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I really loved it, the characters, pleasantly funny. And I liked the narrator too! I think may be my fav so far, will deffo come back to this!

Love it and the humour was right up my ally

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Better representation of academia (which was something I was disappointed with, in her former book “love hypothesis”). More fleshed out main characters in this one. Secondary characters are also more interesting than in her previous books.
The plot was not entirely expectable at every turn and liked the links of Elsie to Jack’s mothers. Elsie’s academic difficulties are very much part of my and my family’s reality (I am an academic in a family of 3 academics). It would have been more relatable and grounded in reality if Elsie wasn’t the next Einstein in physics lol. I am a molecular and behavioural neurobiologist so I can’t judge the validity of the scientific statements in the book but they “felt” a bit generic and vague?…would have loved a physicist’s input on that.
Steamy chapters were steamy, if a bit too detailed (still).
Both main characters grew through the book’s narrative. I loved some parts of Jack but not sure of some others..he felt a bit controlling/obsessive but turned upside down in comparison to her academic mentor…I am not sure about that aspect because at times he was condescending/ patronising to Elsie. He was too much “therapising” her lol. She did call his bs once, so that was nice. I am also not entirely sure why he was sooooo much into her. Would have liked a bit more “showing” in that aspect (not that he is, but how and why and when he is in love with her, a bit more layers to that but definitely better than “love hypothesis”.

Good beach summer read! :)
Hope the author improves even more !

This is actually a better one from the author less fanfiction than the previous! And it has a plot!

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