A pretend relationship connects Olive Smith with Adam Carlsen in The Love Hypothesis. Olive, a biology PhD student, wants her friend Anh to believe she has a partner. An impulsive kiss involves the professor, whose difficult reputation makes his agreement to act as her boyfriend unexpected.

The arrangement also becomes part of Olive’s professional difficulties. When a scientific conference goes badly and threatens her career, Adam offers support. The novel brings the two scientists’ academic circumstances into the developing attraction between them.