Books Like The Love Hypothesis For Readers Who Loved STEM Romance
There is a reason The Love Hypothesis became such a romance reader favorite.
It has that perfect mix of STEM academia, fake dating, forced proximity, a sunshine heroine trying to hold everything together, and a quiet, intimidating hero who turns out to be far softer for her than anyone expected.
If what you loved most was Olive and Adam’s chemistry, the academic setting, the “wait, is this fake or not?” tension, or the emotional payoff of a guarded hero truly seeing the heroine, these are the books I’d put on your TBR next.
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⭐ Start Here: Books Most Like The Love Hypothesis
👉 Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood – If you want more STEM academia, fake dating complications, and a quiet, powerful hero who sees through every mask.
👉 The Fake Mate by Lana Ferguson – If you loved the fake relationship setup but want it steamier, paranormal, and set between two doctors.
👉 The Soulmate Equation by Christina Lauren – If the science-meets-romance angle was your favorite part and you want a smart, modern dating setup.
👉 The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang – If you loved a brilliant heroine navigating intimacy, vulnerability, and a hero who pays attention.
👉 Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez – If you want another doctor romance with fake dating, emotional tenderness, and a hero who feels like a safe place.
The Best Books Like The Love Hypothesis
Love, Theoretically
by Ali Hazelwood
STEM Academia, Enemies to Lovers, Fake Dating
This is the most natural next read after The Love Hypothesis because Ali Hazelwood gives you exactly what she does best: a woman in STEM fighting to be taken seriously, an intimidating hero who is impossible to read, and an academic world full of pressure, politics, and emotional landmines.
Elsie’s story stands out because the romance is deeply tied to her personal growth. Jack doesn’t just fall for her – he sees the version of her she keeps hiding to make everyone else comfortable.
This is for readers who want another quiet alpha hero, a struggling heroine with a big emotional arc, and that Hazelwood blend of banter, yearning, and STEM-world chaos.
The Fake Mate
by Lana Ferguson
Fake Relationship, Doctor Romance, Paranormal Romance
If you loved the fake dating setup in The Love Hypothesis but want the heat turned way up, The Fake Mate is such a fun next pick. Mackenzie and Noah are both doctors, but instead of pretending to date for academia-related reasons, they’re pretending to be mates.
The fake relationship tension works so well here because the stakes are personal and professional. Noah is a controlled, emotionally guarded cardiologist hiding part of himself, while Mackenzie needs a fake boyfriend to get her family off her back.
It’s steamier, more paranormal, and far more feral than Olive and Adam, but it scratches that same itch of two competent professionals pretending nothing real is happening when absolutely everything is.
The Soulmate Equation
by Christina Lauren
Science Romance, Forced Proximity, Slow Burn
This is the book I’d recommend if the STEM angle of The Love Hypothesis was what hooked you. Instead of academia, Christina Lauren plays with DNA-based matchmaking and the deliciously complicated question of whether science can predict romantic compatibility.
River has that socially awkward, arrogant-at-first scientist energy that becomes much more endearing once you understand him. Jess brings the emotional weight as a single mom who has every reason to be cautious before trusting a match that feels too scientifically convenient.
It’s less fake dating and more “science made this weird,” but the appeal is similar: smart people trying to rationalize feelings that refuse to stay rational.
The Kiss Quotient
by Helen Hoang
Relationship Lessons, Brilliant Heroine, High Chemistry
For readers who loved Olive’s intelligence, vulnerability, and emotional uncertainty, The Kiss Quotient is a great emotional companion. Stella is brilliant and capable, but intimacy and dating don’t come easily to her, so she hires Michael to help her learn.
This one stands out because the chemistry is much hotter than you may expect, but the heart of the book is Stella feeling safe enough to be fully herself. Michael is attentive in a way romance readers notice immediately.
It’s not a STEM workplace romance in the same way as The Love Hypothesis, but it shares that deeply satisfying dynamic of a heroine who thinks she is “too much” or “not enough” being loved with care and intention.
Yours Truly
by Abby Jimenez
Doctor Romance, Fake Dating, Emotional Angst
Yours Truly is the pick for readers who want the fake dating and doctor-world proximity, but with a much bigger emotional punch. Briana and Jacob start off on the wrong foot, only for their relationship to unfold through letters, understanding, and one of the softest fake dating setups.
Jacob is the reason this belongs on the list. He has anxiety, a huge heart, and the kind of quiet devotion that makes you understand why guarded heroines finally let themselves trust again.
This is less bantery academia and more tissue-box romance, but it gives you that same payoff of a good man quietly proving he is safe to love.
Business or Pleasure
by Rachel Lynn Solomon
Relationship Coach, Forced Proximity, Writer Romance
This is the most adjacent pick on the list, but it earns its spot through the awkward-intimacy angle. Chandler is a ghostwriter who ends up traveling with Finn, a C-list actor and her disappointing one-night stand, while helping him become better in bed.
What connects it to The Love Hypothesis is not the STEM setting but the vulnerability. This is a romance about two people having very honest conversations about desire, confidence, and the gap between what you think you know and what you’re brave enough to ask for.
It’s especially worth reading if you like romance where the physical relationship becomes a doorway into deeper emotional honesty.
Where You’re Planted
by Melanie Sweeney
Workplace Romance, Forced Proximity, Slow Burn
Where You’re Planted is a quieter recommendation for readers who want the workplace closeness and emotionally awkward competence of The Love Hypothesis without needing an identical setup.
This one works because it leans into the kind of romance where proximity slowly chips away at assumptions. It’s less about big trope fireworks and more about watching two people notice each other in ways that start to matter.
Choose this when you want a softer, more grounded read that still gives you smart characters, workplace tension, and a romance that grows through attention rather than instant declarations.
More Books Like The Love Hypothesis
- Dating-ish by Penny Reid – Pick this up if you want a brainy romance with a stronger STEM thread, intellectual banter, and Penny Reid’s signature mix of quirk, emotion, and slow-burn connection.
- Ten Trends to Seduce Your Best Friend by Penny Reid – This is a good fit if you want a science-minded heroine, a grumpy hero, social media-fueled forced proximity, and the slow realization that he has been feeling more than he lets on. → Read my full review.
- Take a Number by Amy Daws – Read this if what you want most is another fake dating setup with a career-focused heroine, flirty banter, and a hero who helps her remember there is more to life than work. → Read my full review.
How to Pick Your Next Read
Want more STEM academia + grumpy genius hero?
→ Love, Theoretically
Want the fake dating turned steamier?
→ The Fake Mate
Want more science-meets-romance vibes?
→ The Soulmate Equation
Want another emotionally awkward but brilliant heroine?
→ The Kiss Quotient
Want a softer hero with huge emotional payoff?
→ Yours Truly
Want more relationship coaching and strong chemistry?
→ Business or Pleasure
Want quieter workplace chemistry and slow burn tension?
→ Where You’re Planted
Want more brainy banter and STEM energy?
→ Dating-ish or Ten Trends to Seduce Your Best Friend
📚 Explore More Romance Books Like These
- Books by Ali Hazelwood
- Best Fake Dating Romance Books
- Best Grumpy Sunshine Romance Books
- Best Office Romance Books
- Best Slow Burn Romance Books
📩 Get More Romance Recommendations
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