10 Books to Read If You Love The Love Hypothesis: STEM Romance, Fake Dating, Slow Burn, and Grumpy x Sunshine Romance
If you adored The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood, you know exactly why this novel has become a modern romance staple. At its heart, it’s a STEM romance book spotlighting Olive Smith, a determined Ph.D. candidate in a rigorous academic setting. Her fake dating arrangement with the grumpy, reserved professor Adam Carlsen unfolds as a slow burn academic romance that deftly blends heartfelt emotion with witty banter. The signature grumpy x sunshine romance novels dynamic shines brightly, delivering a perfect balance of tension and warmth.
For fans hungry for more stories that combine these key elements—STEM or academic settings, fake dating romance books, gradual romantic buildup, and the classic grumpy x sunshine dynamic—this post presents 10 books to read if you love The Love Hypothesis. These picks emphasize nerdy protagonists, intellectual backgrounds, and a strong dose of heartfelt growth, ensuring you’ll find your next favorite in this curated list of best nerdy girl love stories.
What Are These Book Recommendations Based On?
The foundation of this list is a deep understanding of what makes The Love Hypothesis so irresistible. The recommended titles all share a nuanced blend of romance tropes and settings that readers cherish:
- Fake dating romance books lie at the core: pretend relationships that challenge the protagonists as their feelings grow more genuine. This trope builds tension and sparks that ignite emotional and romantic evolution.
- Slow burn academic romance captures romance unfolding gradually amid the high-pressure, intellectual worlds of academia or STEM fields. This pacing maximizes character development and relationship complexity.
- Grumpy x sunshine romance novels highlight the chemistry from clashing personalities—the grumpy, sometimes emotionally reserved male lead contrasts brilliantly with the bright, earnest, and charismatic female protagonist. This juxtaposition fuels warm conflict and satisfying resolution.
- Best nerdy girl love stories feature intelligent, ambitious, and often geeky heroines thriving in STEM, research, or scholarly environments, offering relatable representation for readers drawn to strong female leads who break stereotypes.
- STEM/academic settings—often involving scientists, Ph.D. candidates, engineers, or researchers—anchor these stories in professional, thoughtful contexts. This backdrop deepens the romance, adding layers of realism and charm.
- Across the board, these books emphasize witty, emotionally resonant dialogue, character-driven plots, and the kind of romantic tension that ensures an emotionally fulfilling read.
This blend of fake dating romance books, slow burn academic romance, grumpy x sunshine romance novels, stem romance books, and best nerdy girl love stories forms the backbone for each selection below.
10 Books to Read If You Love The Love Hypothesis
1. Love on the Brain by Ali Hazelwood (2022)
Genre: Contemporary Romance, STEM Romance
Themes & Tropes: Enemies-to-lovers, STEM/academic setting, grumpy x sunshine, workplace romance
One-Sentence Review: Hazelwood’s trademark swift intellect and chemistry return as a whip-smart heroine navigates a slow burn with a grumpy engineering professor amid STEM academia.
What You Can Expect:
- Slow burn romance featuring rivals-to-lovers tension
- Set firmly in a STEM research and academic environment
- Witty banter and high-stakes professional dilemmas
- A fiercely intelligent, nerdy female lead
For anyone craving more of Hazelwood’s signature mix of STEM romance books and grumpy x sunshine romance novels, Love on the Brain is a perfect next read among those 10 books to read if you love The Love Hypothesis.
2. The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang (2018)
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Themes & Tropes: Fake dating, neurodivergent heroine, slow burn romance, STEM background
One-Sentence Review: A brilliant mathematician with Asperger’s hires an escort to teach her about relationships, forming a heartfelt fake dating romance full of emotional depth.
What You Can Expect:
- Central fake dating romance with tender emotional growth
- Nerdy protagonist skilled in mathematics and STEM
- Slow burn pacing with rich humor and emotional nuance
- Inclusive representation of neurodiversity in best nerdy girl love stories
A standout among fake dating romance books and stem romance books, The Kiss Quotient offers a touching and witty read for fans seeking slow burn academic romance with fresh perspectives.
3. The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion (2013)
Genre: Romantic Comedy
Themes & Tropes: Academic setting, socially awkward lead, opposites attract, slow burn
One-Sentence Review: A genetics professor’s meticulously planned quest for love unravels into a charmingly awkward and humorous slow burn romance.
What You Can Expect:
- Focus on a STEM scientist with eccentric social quirks
- Slow burn romance with light-hearted wit and emotional exploration
- Intellectual, academic environment enhancing the romance
- A nerdy male lead offers a complementary perspective in nerdy love stories
If you appreciate slow burn academic romance and stem romance books revolving around social awkwardness and emotional growth, this is one of the top 10 books to read if you love The Love Hypothesis.
4. Take a Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert (2020)
Genre: Contemporary Romance.
Themes & Tropes: Fake dating, academic setting, grumpy x sunshine, racial diversity, witty banter.
One-Sentence Review: A smart, vivacious Ph.D. student and a sweet security guard fake date, creating sparks grounded in humor and intellectual chemistry.
What You Can Expect:
- Fake dating romance books with a clear grumpy x sunshine dynamic
- Academic and STEM student focus with emphasis on feminism and diversity
- Fast-paced, banter-heavy style blending humor with heartfelt moments
- Strong representation among best nerdy girl love stories
Take a Hint, Dani Brown is a must-read for fans who want authentic STEM romance books interlaced with sharp wit and intersectional diversity.
5. The Spanish Love Deception by Elena Armas (2021)
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Themes & Tropes: Fake dating, slow burn, workplace romance, intellectual rivalry
One-Sentence Review: Sparks ignite between a pragmatic engineer and her mysterious coworker during a fake dating scheme blending slow burn tension with professional rivalry.
What You Can Expect:
- Fake dating romance books front and center with simmering romantic tension
- STEM-rich environment featuring an engineer protagonist
- Slow burn academic romance that unpacks emotional baggage gradually
- Banter and office romance fused with grumpy x sunshine elements
Perfect for readers seeking a slow burn academic romance with crunchy STEM details and fake dating romance books hooks among the top 10 books to read if you love The Love Hypothesis.
6. Dating Dr. Dil by Nisha Sharma (2022)
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Themes & Tropes: Enemies-to-lovers, STEM professional setting, cultural diversity, witty banter.
One-Sentence Review: A witty doctor and a wellness podcaster clash and spark in a fresh take on enemies-to-lovers within a vibrant STEM framework.
What You Can Expect:
- STEM and medical background enhancing story authenticity
- Sharp banter with slow burn romantic tension
- Intersectional cultural and professional depth
- Strong, nerdy female characters within best nerdy girl love stories
Fans of slow burn academic romance and stem romance books with cultural nuance will find Dating Dr. Dil a rewarding next read from these 10 books to read if you love The Love Hypothesis.
7. Written in the Stars by Alexandria Bellefleur (2020)
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Queer Romance
Themes & Tropes: Fake dating, grumpy x sunshine, nerdy protagonist, data analytics and astrology
One-Sentence Review: A free-spirited astrologer and a buttoned-up actuary fake date, delivering a witty queer romance full of science and heartfelt humor.
What You Can Expect:
- Fake dating romance books with a sapphic twist
- STEM-adjacent backdrop in data analytics
- Classic grumpy x sunshine romance novels feel with fresh queer energy
- Nerdy girl love stories highlighting sharp, relatable protagonists
A diverse addition to the 10 books to read if you love The Love Hypothesis, this novel fuses STEM and romance with charming queerness and charm.
8. Begin Again by Emma Lord (2023)
Genre: YA Contemporary Romance
Themes & Tropes: College setting, academic overachiever, friends-to-lovers, nerdy character journey.
One-Sentence Review: An earnest transfer student discovers love and self-discovery in a smart, nerdy campus romance filled with heart and humor.
What You Can Expect:
- Academic setting akin to the Ph.D. world in The Love Hypothesis
- Slow burn academic romance with YA freshness
- Quirky, intellectual protagonist embodying best nerdy girl love stories
- Character-driven emotional growth with lighthearted romance
For fans of stem romance books intersecting with YA charm and slow burn academic romance, Begin Again offers an uplifting, relatable next step.
9. A Brush with Love by Mazey Eddings (2022)
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Themes & Tropes: Academic/professional, slow burn, anxiety and personal growth, STEM healthcare setting.
One-Sentence Review: Two dental students face ambition and anxiety in a heartfelt slow burn that balances nerdiness with vulnerability.
What You Can Expect:
- STEM-focused academic environment with healthcare authenticity
- Realistic portrayal of mental health challenges alongside romance
- Slow burn academic romance with well-crafted banter
- Nerdy protagonists delivering one of the best nerdy girl love stories
A beautifully raw and intelligent romance for readers seeking emotional depth in their stem romance books and slow burn academic romance.
10. The Soulmate Equation by Christina Lauren (2021)
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Themes & Tropes: Data science, single mother heroine, opposites attract, nerdy romance
One-Sentence Review: A statistician and a geneticist in a matchmaking tech startup collide in a smart, heartfelt romance blending STEM world and emotional truth.
What You Can Expect:
- STEM-heavy narrative rooted in data science and biotechnology
- Strong female lead balancing motherhood and intellect
- Slow burn romance with opposites attract and witty exchanges
- Representation among best nerdy girl love stories for STEM romance books fans
This thoughtfully crafted romance is an essential pick for anyone compiling their 10 books to read if you love The Love Hypothesis.
Conclusion
These 10 books to read if you love The Love Hypothesis encapsulate the exact blend of romance tropes and STEM/academic settings that made Ali Hazelwood’s novel a modern romance sensation. Whether you crave fake dating romance books, love the gradual charm of slow burn academic romance, are enchanted by grumpy x sunshine romance novels, or seek the best nerdy girl love stories featuring strong female leads in intellectually charged environments, this list delivers.
From queer romantic comedies to culturally rich narratives, from YA campus stories to emotional healthcare settings, this collection ensures every fan of The Love Hypothesis finds their next captivating read. Dive into these STEM romance books and fake dating romance books—it’s time to discover the perfect slow burn academic romance that will keep you turning pages late into the night.
