love hypothesis star wars fanfiction

Love Your Shelf

The love hypothesis, by ali hazelwood.

This was initially pitched to me as “academic Kylo Ren and Rey fanfic,” and I was sold. Temporarily putting aside any and all feelings about The Last Jedi and The Rise of Skywalker and about the ~actual~ relationship or lack thereof between Rey and Kylo Ren in the movies, I absolutely loved this.

The novel told the story of Olive, a PhD student who is working to cure cancer, and Adam-Carlsen-Not-Driver, the gruff and brooding advisor in the department who has a reputation for being tough and unfriendly. After an attempt to convince her best friend Anh that she’s seeing someone goes awry, Olive and Adam enter into a fake-dating agreement, and at this point, you can probably guess where the story is going.

This was freakin’ adorable. I’m a sucker for a good fake dating trope, I’m a sucker for Star Wars, and just the sheer level of cuteness that was present in this book was too much for me. Adam-Not-Driver is a brooder in the best Darcy-esque way, and Olive had such a loving personality that made you just want to give her a hug…or rather, for Adam to give her a hug. As much as I love Star Wars , and as much as I loved the little nods Hazelwood made to this story’s origins (Adam being the overlooked child of a diplomat, anyone? and let’s not look over this cover art!), the characters held up on their own. Additionally, I thought Hazelwood masterfully wove trope after trope into the story, giving Olive an awareness of her position in a romance novel-y story itself that added both depth and comedic value, as well as some measure of realness:

“Adam.” She rubbed her forehead with her fingers. “There will only be one bed.”

He frowned. “No, as I said it’s a double–”

“It’s not. It won’t be. There will only be one bed, for sure.”

He gave her a puzzled look. “I got the booking confirmation the other day. I can forward it to you if you want, it says that–”

“It doesn’t matter what it says. It’s always one bed.”

In terms of drawbacks, my qualms are minimal. While I didn’t love the hefty age gap/power gap, I appreciated the fact that it was addressed within the story and it wasn’t too overwhelming given that Olive didn’t work directly under Adam. I also really wish there was more at the end, though as you’ll notice, that’s something of a trend for me – while there were cute moments scattered throughout, I wished there had been more pages and more story after the Tom debacle. Even though I’m sad there wasn’t, I’m willing to acknowledge that that’s the sign of a truly good book.

If you love Star Wars (or don’t), are a fan of academic romances and happily-ever-afters, or love a brooding Darcy character, this is the one for you.

Aaaand with that, I’m excited to give The Love Hypothesis a solid 5/5 stars and the power of my full recommendation.

Academic Romance Is My New Favorite Book Genre After Reading This Debut Novel

Published on 8/31/2021 at 1:15 PM

If you told me that my favorite book of 2021 would end up being about two fake-dating scientists whose characters are loosely based on Rey and Kylo Ren from Star Wars, I would not have believed you. Fake dating isn't my favorite trope, science was my worst school subject, and while I've always enjoyed watching Star Wars, I wouldn't exactly call myself a fan. But that was before I read The Love Hypothesis (out Sept. 14) by Ali Hazelwood.

In the novel, Olive Smith is a biology PhD student who is on a mission to convince her best friend that she's in a relationship. Considering she's definitely single, and worried that her friend will learn the truth, Olive randomly panic-kisses the first man she comes across in the lab — who just so happens to be the notoriously intimidating Dr. Adam Carlsen, a professor in her department. Nobody is more surprised than Olive when Adam agrees to go along with her charade. But how long can Olive keep up the ruse of fake dating when real feelings become involved?

I have a thing for love stories in which the guy has harbored a years-long crush on the girl while she remains endearingly clueless (don't worry, I'm not giving anything away — it's pretty obvious from the start how Adam feels about Olive), and so I knew by Olive and Adam's second interaction that I would LOVE this book. Olive is smart, ambitious, and funny, Adam is tender and thoughtful, and together their connection is pure slow-burning gold with lots of chemistry (both the literal and figurative kind).

Their connection is pure slow-burning gold with lots of chemistry (both the literal and figurative kind).

This is Hazelwood's debut novel, but she's been writing fan fiction for years. I read that this book was actually based on a previous, and hugely popular, Star Wars fan fiction story she wrote a few years ago. So if you're a Rey and Kylo Ren stan , you should probably read this book. I mean, just look at the cover!

Standout Quote

"His eyes were on her, now. There was light in them that she didn't understand. 'You are not mediocre, Olive. . . And the work you presented is important, rigorous, and brilliant.' He took a deep breath. His shoulders rose and fell in time with the thudding of her heart. 'I wish you could see yourself the way I see you.'"

Get ready to dive into all things academia: the politics, the research, the nerdy banter. It's like a world of its own and reminded me a little of my own college days. This book has some funny antics but doesn't shy away from diving into the more serious side of academia (including sexual harassment).

Where You Should Read It

Snuggled up at a student cafe with a pumpkin spice latte (Olive's drink of choice).

Read This If You Like . . .

Rey and Kylo Ren fanfic, romance stories set in academia like How to Fail at Flirting by Denise Williams , or a fake-dating trope.

POPSUGAR Reading Challenge Prompt(s)

This novel can check off more than one 2021 POPSUGAR Reading Challenge prompt; just pick the one that fits best for you.

A book that's published in 2021
A book about a subject you are passionate about
A book you think your best friend would like

How Long It Takes to Read

The story is 360 pages long, and I read it every spare second I could over a weekend — and then immediately started over again when I finished since I didn't want it to end.

Give This Book to . . .

Friends who love Star Wars or smart and science-y love stories, who work in STEM, or who have ever fantasized about dating that really hot professor from college.

The Sweet Spot Summary

The Love Hypothesis ($14) follows Olive, a PhD student, who fake dates the one professor her peers love to hate: the intimidating (and intimidatingly hot) Dr. Adam Carlsen. She doesn't really believe in love, but if there's anyone who can convince her, it just might be Adam.

Emoji Rating

👩‍🔬 + 👨‍🔬 + 🔬 + 🔥

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'The Love Hypothesis' Author Ali Hazelwood on Getting Her Start in Fanfiction and Which Scene Didn't Make It Into the Final Book

She also teases a few details about her next romance novel.

The day before I was set to chat with Ali Hazelwood , the news broke that her debut novel The Love Hypothesis had officially become a New York Times bestseller , charting at #9 in print and at #11 on the combined print and ebook lists. Understandably, Hazelwood's recollection of the moment she found out about it from her editor at Berkley Publishing is a little hazy: "I think I had grilled cheese in my mouth. I have vague memories of trying not to choke."

But it's no surprise, taking into account that the book itself has been absolutely blowing up a certain section of TikTok lately — as well as considering The Love Hypothesis 's origin story. When Hazelwood decided to make the leap from writing fanfiction to becoming a published author, readers flocked in droves, and even though The Love Hypothesis is a completely original work, there are still some nods to its beginnings — like the cover, for example. In my conversation with Hazelwood, which you can read below, I spoke with her about how both her background in fanfic and in STEM informed the writing of The Love Hypothesis , the one steamy scene in particular that didn't make the final cut, and what she can tease about her next book.

COLLIDER: Congratulations on the book being out! I think some people know the backstory of how it came to be, but for those who don't, what's the genesis behind The Love Hypothesis ?

ALI HAZELWOOD: I think it was a lot of just luck and chances and opportunities. I was really, really into writing fanfiction, first for the Star Trek fandom and then for the Star Wars fandom. And I loved it. It was just, it was this amazing community. I made a lot of friends and I was just having a lot of fun. And then what happened is that I started slowly thinking about trying to write something original, just to challenge myself and to do something different. And while I was in that kind of mood, my agent started reading my fanfiction on AO3 and then she reached out with a DM. She was like, "I saw that you wrote something about maybe pulling some of your fics and reworking them. And I wanted to tell you that I'm a literary agent and I would love to see you some of your manuscripts, if you're interested in it."

And so that's how I took the fanfiction of mine that I thought was the most reworkable and I sent it to her and then I signed with her. And then after approximately 70 billion more revisions, both with her and an editor... we got a lot of RNRs [revise and resubmits] that didn't pan out but made the book better, because we got really good feedback. Then we ended up at Berkely with my current editor, Sarah [Blumenstock], who is amazing, and yeah, now it's out.

I feel like we're definitely seeing more authors who are like, "I totally got my background in fanfiction and there's nothing wrong with that." One of the more famous examples is obviously Christina Lauren.

HAZELWOOD: Christina Lauren. They're amazing.

Or even authors today who are like, "Oh yeah, I'm writing this mainstream book, but I still have an AO3 profile." So I appreciate that we're seeing the barriers break down around what the public perception of fanfiction is and how it really is such a great breeding ground for authors to find their voice.

HAZELWOOD: Absolutely. Fanfiction is just an amazing medium. It's great, like you said, to find your voice, to explore things that you usually don't find in traditional publishing. But it's also just great to feel a sense of community and to get to know people, to find someone who's like-minded and is interested in similar things. It's very hard to make friends as an adult. And I feel like I truly found my adult friends through fanfiction and through the fandom community.

And I just, I'm very grateful to my publisher that they embraced the fanfiction part. They were like, "Yes, we're going to own this. For the cover, we're going to use fanart made for the fanfiction, if you want to." They were just great with that. I do think traditional publishing is getting more and more interested in fanfiction and in embracing it. And maybe they're doing well because of money and marketing and stuff like that, but I'm just really happy that this is happening and that fanfiction is gaining legitimacy, because it always had legitimacy.

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I want to talk a little bit too about the setting of the book, and I know your personal background is in STEM. So did that inform your inspiration on where to set the story, drawing from your own experiences?

HAZELWOOD: Yeah, 100%. I'd been wanting to write fanfiction set in academia just because it's really... I'm a professor right now, but I feel like my entire adult life has been spent in academia. I feel like I would struggle to write any other setting, in a weird way. So it was just the more natural setting for a story. My next book is going to be set in academia and my third book is going to be in academia. And yeah, that's the easiest thing for me.

One of the things I personally love about the book is how it references romance tropes in the world, but then the book itself subverts the tropes. I'm thinking specifically about the only-one-bed scene, and then there's not only one bed, which felt like a really funny wink at romance readers. What made you decide to include that meta-awareness in the story?

HAZELWOOD: It's actually really funny. I never would have thought to include that if the story hadn't been fanfiction originally. I was posting it chapter by chapter and I was writing it chapter by chapter. And I remember all the comments saying, "They're going to go to the conference and there's going to be only one bed."

So it started as just like a conversation with other people in the fandom, who were at the same time writing fanfiction about other iterations of the same characters. It was just so much fun. It was kind of like a collective effort there.

You had talked about how when you were reworking the fic for publication, there were a lot of edits, and I'm assuming a lot of things ended up on the chopping block. Is there a deleted scene that didn't make it into the final novel that you maybe wished you could have kept in?

HAZELWOOD: So when Adam and Olive break up — not really break up, but when she goes to his hotel room and she's like, "It's over." Originally, they ended up having sex in that scene. And we took it out because we thought it was more poignant, or I don't know, more heartfelt if it was only a kiss. And it was, in a way, but the fanfiction person within me kind of misses...

Let them have one more time!

HAZELWOOD: The fanfiction ho within me was like, "I wish we had kept that sex scene." But honestly, honestly, we talked about it — my editor, my agent, and I — and it was a good call from a story-structure perspective.

So you mentioned you've got a second and third book in the works. I'm sure you probably can't really talk about book three yet, but is there anything you can tease about book two coming up?

HAZELWOOD: Book two is about a neuroscientist who is selected to work on a project at NASA. And she's super excited about it, until she gets told that the person she's going to co-lead the project with is an engineer that she used to work with in the past, and they're kind of enemies. Or at least she thinks they're enemies, one of those things. And that's the story of them working together on this project. And it's coming out in August 2022.

I thought it would be fun to wrap up with a couple of rapid-fire questions. Enemies-to-lovers, or friends-to-lovers?

HAZELWOOD: Enemies-to-lovers. Reylo forever.

Secret billionaire or secret baby?

HAZELWOOD: Secret billionaire.

Marriage of convenience or amnesia?

HAZELWOOD: Marriage of convenience.

Coffee or tea?

HAZELWOOD: Tea.

I feel like I know the answer to this last one, but I'm going to ask it anyway. Macfadyen Darcy or Firth Darcy?

HAZELWOOD: Macfadyen. I mean, 2005 forever. Even though I do appreciate Firth. He's a good high-quality Darcy, but it's just not my Darcy.

I feel like everybody has a very strong opinion, based on which one you saw first. That lake scene, I'm sure that's very formative.

HAZELWOOD: 100%.

But for me? He's walking through the field in the morning mist, and that's it. In the long coat.

HAZELWOOD: He says, "I love you" three times. I mean, she has bewitched him body and soul. Come on, come on. The hand flex!

The Love Hypothesis is currently available in print, e-book and audio wherever books are sold .

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From Fanfic to Bookshop Pick: The Love Hypothesis

By Emma Regan and Jordan Maxwell Ridgway

This article is the first in a series exploring the world of fanfiction. Fanfiction has not only been growing in popularity amongst readers over the years, but it is also proving to be prime training for writers wanting to break into the industry. This week we will be discussing The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood and its success.

Fanfiction is typically unauthorised material written by fans and based on existing works. There has been a full range of responses from authors and copyright owners, both positive and negative. The earliest cited use of the term ‘fanfiction’ dates back to 1939 and has deep roots in the fantasy and science fiction genres. However, all literary buffs are aware that writers, such as Shakespeare, were known to ‘borrow’ and put their own spin on existing characters and plots.

Today, fanfiction can be found on sites such as Wattpad and Archive of Our Own (AO3), amongst others. Fanfiction is believed to have a largely female-based reader and author demographic, but a growing portion of the transgender and non-binary or genderfluid community are reading and producing works of their own too. Fanfiction also appears to appeal to young people as a way to reimagine the content they love and hone their craft.

As Ali Hazelwood said in an interview with Collider , “It's great, like you said, to find your voice, to explore things that you usually don't find in traditional publishing.” In the same article, Hazelwood expresses her joy that publishing houses are taking a growing interest in fanfiction and its marketability, and how this is lending further “legitimacy” to the medium. Fanfiction has, over recent years, felt like a pejorative: a disclaimer to suggest the work should not be taken seriously in its own right. This likely stems from the work not being purely original, cited as enough cause for dismissal. But it could be said that Shakespeare may have created the term ‘star-cross’d lovers,’ but he hardly invented the trope.

It is notable that fanfiction is often based on the trials and tensions between characters from popular franchises, and so it is unsurprising that a lot of the successful examples of fanfiction translated into original works fit into the romance genre. Despite its profitability and demand, it is still a genre that can be dismissed as ‘fluff.’ Considering this fact, along with the dismissal of fanfiction, as well as its demographic, it’s hard not to see the compounded odds stacked against its favour in its quest for legitimacy, surely making successful transitions even more rejoiceful.

The Love Hypothesis is one of many book titles which have gained popularity via TikTok, through the ‘BookTok’ community. It is a romance book set in academia which follows the story of Ph.D. candidate Olive Smith and “young, hotshot professor” Adam Carlsen, as they manage to find themselves caught up in needing to portray a convincing, romantic relationship and includes various other tropes used in romance novels (with quite a few of those being subverted too).

However, you might notice the two people depicted on the book’s cover look eerily like characters from a popular franchise. Ali Hazelwood started off writing fanfiction on Archive of Our Own (AO3), first for the Star Trek fandom before moving onto writing Star Wars - if you haven’t figured it out yet, the main characters of The Love Hypothesis are based on Kylo Ren and Rey Skywalker from the latest Star Wars trilogy. AO3 is where The Love Hypothesis first started (although it was under a different title then) amongst all her other fanfiction. It was there where Hazelwood found a community of other ‘fanfic’ writers and gained a strong following of readers that were enamoured by her work. Soon after, Hazelwood started to consider the process of moving from fanfiction writing to producing original content, when a literary agent, who had been reading her work, reached out to her via social media and asked to read some of her manuscripts. It was then a process of working out which pieces of fanfiction Hazelwood had written that would be the easiest to adapt into an original novel.

The Love Hypothesis doesn’t shy away from its origins though. As mentioned above, the cover of the book distinctly shows who the main characters, Olive and Adam, are based on by using fanart that was produced when the story was merely fanfiction, something the author was adamant on. Adam Carlson is also close to the name of Kylo Ren’s actor, Adam Driver, so the links to the original piece of work are there. This shows just how much traditional publishing is embracing the concept of fanfiction and that it isn’t afraid to look at it for up-and-coming authors.

Moreover, We’d Know By Then by Kirsten Bohling is another book that has been recently published with origins as another ‘Reylo’ fanfic, this time, using the soulmate trope.

Could this be the new trend within traditional publishing? Or do you think original fanfiction is the best place to get your dose of romance?

Book Recommendations

Why The Love Hypothesis Could Kickstart More Romance Film Adaptations

Quick links, what is the love hypothesis about, the love hypothesis could pave the way for other unconventional adaptations, are authors like ali hazelwood and emily henry changing the perception of romance.

Ali Hazelwood's The Love Hypothesis originally began as a Rey and Kylo Ren fanfiction focusing on the characters in a STEM setting, and the novel has achieved great success.
The upcoming film adaptation of The Love Hypothesis could pave the way for more unconventional book adaptations.
Authors like Ali Hazelwood and Emily Henry and works like Bridgerton and Red, White and Royal Blue are changing the perception of romance novels.

Ali Hazelwood's romance novel The Love Hypothesis took BookTok by storm in 2021, and part of its whimsical appeal was that it began as Star Wars fan fiction. Originally published in 2018 on Archive of Our Own as a work called "Head Over Feet," it detailed a modern interpretation of the relationship between Rey and Kylo Ren set against the backdrop of Stanford's graduate program. Though all the references to Star Wars were cut in the final draft of the novel, the similarities in characters are still there, and it's been a major part of why the novel was so successful.

Successful enough, in fact, that in October 2022, it was announced that Bisous Pictures, which specializes in romantic films, acquired the rights to the novel. The film adaptation is currently in pre-production. Depending on how successful it is, The Love Hypothesis has the potential to pave the way for more romance adaptations -- especially those that originated in equally unconventional locations.

Updated on April 15th, 2024 by Fawzia Khan: While The Love Hypothesis movie is still very much in preproduction and there are few updates about it, fans stay on tenterhooks for the STEM romance to come to life on screen. Ali Hazelwood's book is truly an outlier -- a fanfiction work that was turned into an independent novel, set in STEM, a setting so unusual that it had not been explored before. However, Hazelwood's storytelling turns even the science lab into a romantic playground, giving impetus to all sorts of romance subgenres that might not have been greenlit earlier. This feature has been updated with further information about romance novel adaptations and their future.

10 High Fantasy Romance Movies That Combine Love with Adventure

Star wars rebels foreshadowed rey and kylo ren's force bond.

The Love Hypothesis begins explosively: Stanford graduate student Olive plants a kiss on Dr. Adam Carlsen, a known grump who has gained a reputation for tanking the research dreams of many students. The kiss culminates into something bigger, and Olive decides to enter a fake relationship with Adam Carlsen in order to convince her best friend, Anh that she is over her ex-boyfriend Jeremy, whom Anh has feelings for. While Olive wants Anh to pursue happiness, Adam's motivations for the fake relationship lie in his research funding, which has been frozen by the university as they predict that he will leave their lab and move to another. Being in a relationship would give him a sense of permanence at Stanford, and Olive would regain a sense of dignity once Anh would pursue her romance without guilt. Neither Olive nor Adam is too enthused about this arrangement -- after all, Adam Carlsen is the bane of most graduate students' existence, and he's known throughout the program for his ruthlessness and, at times, rudeness. The Love Hypothesis has all the makings of a romance book headed to the big screen.

The Love Hypothesis was published on September 14, 2021.
It has a 4.15/5 rating on Goodreads, with nearly 150,000 reviews.

However, as their relationship progresses, they each have to come to terms with their feelings, which are beginning to transcend far beyond what their initial arrangement entailed. Their romance may be a farce, but Hazelwood uses well-known tropes in a fresh manner to make audiences feel butterflies as the two protagonists interact. The realities of life in academia, and Olive's own tragic backstory bring a lot of depth into the plot. Their growing love for each other is marred many times, especially when Adam's old friend, Dr. Tom Benton, decides to harrass Olive and derail her research, which makes her distance herself from him. The Love Hypothesis is a beautiful love story that will translate flawlessly to the big screen , especially because of how unique it is.

10 Best Magical Romance Movies With The Most Whimsical Plots

The Love Hypothesis is the most recent in a long line of movies adapted from fan works. In fact, Ali Hazelwood's trajectory from fanfic writer to New York Times bestselling author happened when Thao Le from the Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency saw her works online and reached out to her to submit. In the past, authors like E.L. James have tried to downplay that the origins of their novels (the Fifty Shades trilogy, in this case) lay in fiction that was associated with existing properties. Seeing how the success of The Love Hypothesis was intrinsically tied up with the appeal of the Star Wars couple, it is becoming clear that the landscape of publication and cinematic adaptation has had a total overhaul. Increasingly, publishing houses are turning to well-known fan fiction authors to revise their works and send them out into the world. Often, these books sell well in part because of their obvious association with a better-known intellectual property, which then makes them prime candidates to be turned into films.

Similarly, the City of Bones series (including the associated movies and Shadowhunters television show ) has its roots in the Harry Potter series. If fan fiction evolves into a prevalent source for movies, the possibilities for future adaptations are endless. Films and TV shows based on graphic novels, such as Nimona and Heartstopper, have recently gained traction . Video game movies, no matter how controversial they tend to be, are slowly making their way into the cultural eye with big titles such as Uncharted or Five Nights at Freddy's . Though romantic movies in the past have been primarily based on published novels or entirely original, the increasing number of fan fiction and graphic novel adaptations could lead to a broader future for the romantic genre. If The Love Hypothesis is successful (which it likely will be), rom-coms may see a major renaissance, and perhaps the source material for them will be diversified as well.

10 Best TV Series With Amazing Romances

In short, yes. Both romance novels and fanfiction were long considered guilty pleasure genres, consumed by those who liked reading adult or "spicy" content. Fortunately, the success of The Love Hypothesis and other such books has brought this genre into the mainstream, as larger and larger studios are queuing up to adapt romance novels into movies. As "women-centric" movies become box office hits, romance novels have further opportunities for getting that coveted adaptation. In addition to Ali Hazelwood, Emily Henry has become a studio favorite, with every one of her romance novels getting the go-ahead for big-screen adaptations.

Additionally, romance is no longer just about heterosexual couples. Red, White, and Royal Blue proved that LGBTQ+ love stories are very much the next step for the romance genre; a much-needed update to keep it current and with the times. Bridgerton's roaring success also brought forth an important aspect: romance fans want to hear diverse stories of different cultures too to reaffirm their belief that love is love, no matter where one is from. A growing acceptance of the romance genre, and the recognition of it as a true art form worthy of investment and adaptation has brought fresh growth to it, as well as to cinema.

Why The Love Hypothesis Could Kickstart More Romance Film Adaptations

Bestselling Romance Novel Inspired By Fanfiction About Star Wars' Rey And Kylo Ren Is Becoming A Movie

The impact of Reylo lives on.

Adam Driver and Daisy Ridley as Rey and Kylo Ren kissing during Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

It’s more common these days for an author to be inspired by a popular love story and write one of their own than ever. The Dakota Johnson-led 50 Shades of Grey movies is based on erotica that started as Twilight fanfiction, and the After books and movies are based on Harry Styles fanfiction. The latest movie that will be influenced by imaginative shippers is The Love Hypothesis , a bestselling romance novel that began thanks to Star Wars’ Reylo.

Ah yes, Reylo. It was the controversial Star Wars relationship that was often at the center of the Sequel Trilogy and ended with a kiss between Daisy Ridley ’s Rey and Adam Driver ’s Kylo Ren/Ben Solo. The display of affection occurred in 2019’s The Rise of Skywalker before fans of the romance were crushed when Ben died in Rey’s arms just moments later. Ali Hazelwood was inspired by Reylo to write her 2021 novel The Love Hypothesis , which is now officially being adapted into a movie.

Per Deadline , the studio behind Netflix’s recent adaptation of Jane Austen’s Persuasion is tackling the movie version of The Love Hypothesis , a romantic comedy storyline with characters that were inspired by Daisy Ridley and Adam Driver’s Star Wars on-screen romance. Check out the cover of the New York Times bestseller and tell me you don’t see the resemblance:

The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood 2021 book bacsed on Reylo fanfiction

Now The Love Hypothesis is not a sci-fi romance set in Jakku. The story follows a third-year Ph.D. candidate named Olive Smith who is a cynic when it comes to lasting romances. Olive gets wrapped up in a classic rom-com scenario of finding a “fake boyfriend” in Adam Carlsen, a “young hotshot professor–and well-known ass” who agrees to take part in the charade with Olive. Down the road, obviously the pair fall for one another for real.

Not only do the main characters of The Love Hypothesis look just like Daisy Ridley and Adam Driver, “Adam” as a character name is also a nice nod. In the official synopsis of the novel, it’s described that it’s “going to take more than hand-wavy Jedi mind tricks” for Olive to fall in love. The subtle references are there, but all in all, the upcoming movie is very much its own thing just like 50 Shades of Grey and Twilight are much different, and the Harry Styles and After comparisons stop at Hero Fiennes Tiffin’s appearance.

Now the question is whether Daisy Ridley or Adam Driver would actually star in The Love Hypothesis . It’s what everyone wants, but we wouldn’t blame the actors if they want to distance themselves from Reylo after all the toxicity from Star Wars fandom over the years. While we anticipate The Love Hypothesis , check out the Star Wars movies in order and new episodes of Andor on Disney+ on Wednesdays.

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2 Ways to Read Ali Hazelwood Books in Order [Ultimate Guide]

Do you enjoy nerdy culture, the science side of academia, steamy romance, or all of the above? If so, then you will enjoy reading the Ali Hazelwood books in order.

While she has only been publishing contemporary romance stories for a couple of years, she has already become a fan favorite. Amidst a very busy life with her husband, two cats, and a whole other career, Hazelwood has already published a handful of titles in that short span.

There is also more to come from this author, so now is a great time to get caught up by reading all of Ali Hazelwood’s books.

Who is Ali Hazelwood?

She’s a newcomer onto the scene with her debut publication in 2021, but Ali Hazelwood is a force to be reckoned with. She has been writing for much longer than just the past year of romance fame too.

Hazelwood is a neuroscientist and has written many articles and studies within the world of academia before she found her way into fandom and fanfiction.

That’s how she got her start in fiction writing. A popular Star Wars fanfiction evolved into her debut publication: The Love Hypothesis. It immediately became a bestseller and a viral sensation.

As of August 2022 , the hashtag for The Love Hypothesis on TikTok has more than 300 million views. Hazelwood has also received praise from authors such as Jodi Picoult , while continuing to pen more STEM-themed books.

Amidst the whirlwind of multiple publications in quick succession Hazelwood has also continued to work within academia. She has, so far, managed to keep those two worlds separate.

That’s because Ali Hazelwood is a pseudonym for the scientist and author. She was born in Italy and lived in Germany and Japan before moving to the US for her PhD studies. It was never intentional to keep her two careers so separate, but it is how things have evolved.

She says she will own her writing career if one of her colleagues or students approaches her about it. However, she doesn’t want readers to know her real name.

But using a moniker is nothing new. It certainly hasn’t stopped Hazelwood from climbing to great heights within her first years as an author of contemporary romance. Her books revel in fandom culture, embrace tropes readers love, and peel back the curtain of STEM academia in a fun and approachable way.

#1 Ali Hazelwood Books in Order of Publication

The first way to read the Ali Hazelwood books in order is by reading all of her titles in order of publication. This will see you start with her debut, The Love Hypothesis, before moving next to her interconnected novellas, and then reading her other available books.

Hazelwood’s upcoming releases see her venturing into different genres with a young adult contemporary and paranormal romance offering.

All of the titles below can be read as standalones. However, the STEMinist novellas do concern the same group of friends and it will make the most sense to read them in order of publication . This will let you follow along as the relationships develop between different characters.

The Love Hypothesis (2021)
Under One Roof (2022) (Novella)
Stuck with You (2022) (Novella)
Below Zero (2022) (Novella)
Love on the Brain (2022)
Love, Theoretically (June 2023)
From a Certain Point of View: Return of the Jedi (August 2023) (Anthology)
Check & Mate (November 2023)
Bride (February 2024)
Not in Love (Expected: June 11, 2024)

#2 Ali Hazelwood Books in Order of Type

The second way to read the Ali Hazelwood books in order is by separating her books from her novellas. This would be a better way to read her works if you’re not keen on novellas or are under a time crunch. Her slim novellas can be read in one sitting for a quick burst of joy, while her novels will take you a little bit longer, but also dive deeper into the characters, relationship, and setting.

Contemporary Romance

She currently has three full-length novels in print and three more with publication dates. Her first three books revolve around STEM and academia, while her fourth full-length novel will be a young adult contemporary.

Hazelwood will publish her sixth overall novel in June, which is another contemporary romance that revolves around a STEM female lead and a secret, forbidden love affair.

The Love Hypothesis
Love on the Brain

Ali Hazelwood STEMinist Novellas

Her STEMinist novellas were first released as audiobooks, before becoming available in print. Earlier this year a bind-up edition of all three novellas became available with a special exclusive chapter.

Under One Roof
Stuck with You
Loathe to Love You (Bind-Up) (2023)

Paranormal Romance

Ali Hazelwood’s fifth overall novel was published in February 2024. It is a paranormal romance between a vampyre and a werewolf with a marriage of convenience, forbidden love, fated mates, and a dangerous alliance.

Ali Hazelwood Anthologies

Most recently it was announced that Ali Hazelwood has contributed a short story, “The Last Flight,” to a Star Wars anthology. This is a full circle moment for Hazelwood who began writing with Star Wars fanfiction. Her popular fanfic became her debut novel and now, less than two years later, she is writing for the franchise itself.

From a Certain Point of View: Return of the Jedi (2023)

A Summary of Ali Hazelwood Books in Order

Below you will find summaries for all the Ali Hazelwood books in order of publication. This will let you know a little bit more about each title and the tropes Hazelwood plays with before you start reading.

The Love Hypothesis Ali Hazelwood Books in Order

1. The Love Hypothesis

Olive Smith is a third-year PhD candidate who doesn’t believe in long-term romance, but her best friend does. In an attempt to placate Anh and convince her that Olive is living in her own happily-ever-after, Olive kisses the first man she sees.

Unluckily for her, that man turns out to be the young professor Adam Carlsen who is as well-known for his prickly demeanor as his good looks. For some unknown reason, however, Adam agrees to Olive’s ruse and agrees to be her fake boyfriend.

The charade is going perfect until Olive’s career is put on the line at a big science conference. But Adam surprises her again by being incredibly supportive. Suddenly, Olive can feel their game of make-believe becoming all too real.

2. Under One Roof

Mara, Sadie, and Hannah are best friends, no matter where in the world their jobs take them. These three STEMinist novellas follow each of the friends as they fall in love.

Mara’s mentor Helena left her an inheritance in the form of a house, but it appears that Helena also left the house to her nephew Liam. So begins the stand-off between the two of them with neither agreeing to leave the house. Mara is an environmental engineer, while Liam is a big-oil lawyer and the two of them seemingly have nothing in common.

Mara hates the way he won’t leave the thermostat alone and how he steals her food, but the longer they live together, the more she gets to know him. And the harder it is to hate him.

3. Stuck with You

Ali Hazelwood’s next STEMinist novella follows Sadie’s story within this group of three best friends and scientists.

Sadie has found herself stuck in an elevator with Erik, the man who broke her heart. She knows that as a civil engineer she is supposed to build bridges, but this is one that she would rather see burn to the ground.

But stuck together for hours in the tiny New York elevator means it is impossible for Sadie to ignore Erik forever. Soon she is discovering that there is more to him than meets the eye.

4. Below Zero

The third and final STEMinist novella follows Hannah’s path to love. It takes place amidst the frosty terrain of the Arctic as the passion between two rival scientists burns hot.

Hannah is a NASA aerospace engineer who has found herself injured and stranded near a remote research station. She understands the risks that would come with a rescue mission and is trying to accept the disaster of her situation when the most unlikely person volunteers to risk life and limb to save her.

Ian tried to veto her expedition and ruin her career. It makes no sense to Hannah that he would be the one risking everything on a mission to save her, but he is. Ian has also been the star of Hannah’s most lurid dreams, and his presence feels just as dangerous as the impending storm.

Love on the Brain Ali Hazelwood Books in Order

5. Love on the Brain

Bee Königswasser lives by a simple code: What would Marie Curie do?

It’s the question she asks herself when NASA offers her the lead on a neuroengineering project. It is a dream come true and Bee knows Marie Curie would accept without hesitation. But the project is being co-led by Levi Ward.

Levi is tall, dark, and attractive. He also caught her in his arms during her first day in the lab like some romance novel hero. But then he made his feelings, or lack thereof, abundantly clear every other day in grad school.

The project has Bee’s career floundering though, and through their proximity she can see Levi becoming an ally, and perhaps something more.

6. Love, Theoretically

During the day Elsie Hannaway is an adjunct theoretical physic professor, but to make up for the horrible pay, she also provides her services as a fake girlfriend. She is a people-pleasing expert and knows just what version of herself to become for her client’s needs. But then her two worlds collide.

That’s because Jack Smith, the annoyingly attractive older brother of her favorite client, is an experimental physicist. The same cold-hearted physicist who ruined her mentor’s career and the reputation of theorists everywhere. He is also on the hiring committee at MIT, standing between Elsie and her dream job.

Elsie has prepared herself for a war of scholarly sabotage, but she did not prepare herself for the way Jack looks at her or the way he makes her feel.

Check and Mate Ali Hazelwood Books in Order

7. Check & Mate

Ali Hazelwood’s young adult debut brings together two rival chess players in a match for love.

Mallory Greenleaf has turned her back on chess after it tore her family apart, but she agrees to play in one last charity tournament. She unexpectedly ends up defeating the current world champion, “Kingkiller” Nolan Sawyer and the upset shocks everyone.

Nolan wants nothing more to play against Mallory again and while Mallory wants to walk away, her win has brought the possibility of some much-needed cash prizes. Despite everything, she also finds herself drawn to Nolan…

As the only daughter of the most powerful Vampyre councilman of the Southwest, Misery Lark must secure an alliance between the Vampyres and the Weres, their mortal enemies, through marriage.

Her marriage will be to Lowe Moreland, the leader of his pack and a ruler with absolute authority. Lowe tracks Misery’s every movement and doesn’t trust her. With good reason too, because Misery has agreed to this marriage of convenience for her own reasons, which have nothing to do with politics or alliances.

That’s because Misery is willing to do whatever it takes to get back what is hers. Even if that means a life alone in Were territory.

Final thoughts on Ali Hazelwood books in order

Ali Hazelwood writes books for readers that have always felt as if they don’t quite fit in, and offers a wonderful, romantic, escapist delight. Her characters are funny and charming with plenty of banter as she evokes tropes such as opposites attract or enemies to lovers.

There are two ways to read the Ali Hazelwood books in order, depending on whether you enjoy novellas, but there is sure to be plenty more to come from this popular author as she embarks on her career in publishing fiction.