The Love Hypothesis

What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedThe Love Hypothesis

Ali Hazelwood · Book · 2021

If you loved The Love Hypothesis, start with Love Is in the Air (Ayse Uber Kutlu, 2020) — a series on the same thread. Below: 4 films, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to The Love Hypothesis across media.

You loved The Love Hypothesis because you enjoy watching professional lives and carefully constructed plans unravel through unexpected, messy romantic entanglements.

Films on the same thread

The Proposal

The Proposal

Anne Fletcher · Film · 2009

Explores: Forced Proximity, Power Dynamics, Career-Driven Protagonist.

If you enjoyed the high-stakes fake dating dynamic in The Love Hypothesis, you will appreciate how this film uses a forced professional arrangement to spark an unlikely, chaotic romance.

People We Meet on Vacation

People We Meet on Vacation

Film · 2026

Explores: opposites attract, long-distance friendship, emotional intimacy.

Much like the emotional intimacy found in The Love Hypothesis, this story explores how long-term connections evolve into something deeper when the characters finally confront their true feelings.

My Oxford Year

My Oxford Year

Iain Morris · Film · 2025

Explores: Culture clash, Hidden illness, Life plan disruption.

Fans of the academic setting in The Love Hypothesis will recognize the tension of a life plan being derailed by a sudden, transformative connection in a scholarly environment.

The Hating Game

The Hating Game

Peter Hutchings · Film · 2021

Explores: Enemies to Lovers, Workplace Romance, Professional Ambition.

This film mirrors the workplace tension of The Love Hypothesis by forcing two ambitious rivals to navigate their professional animosity while their undeniable attraction starts to take hold.

Series on the same thread

Love Is in the Air

Love Is in the Air

Ayse Uber Kutlu · Series · 2020

Explores: Fake Relationship, Enemies to Lovers, Forced Proximity.

This series captures the exact fake dating trope that defined The Love Hypothesis, showing how a transactional agreement in a professional sphere inevitably leads to genuine romantic feelings.

Off Campus

Off Campus

Gina Fattore · Series · 2026

Shares a thread with The Love Hypothesis: Fake Dating.

If you appreciated the tutoring dynamic in The Love Hypothesis, you will enjoy this series where a practical arrangement between students slowly transforms into an authentic, healing romantic connection.

Business Proposal

Business Proposal

Han Sul-hee · Series · 2022

Shares a thread with The Love Hypothesis: Fake Dating.

This series offers the same delightful blend of workplace comedy and fake dating found in The Love Hypothesis, proving that even the most calculated schemes often lead to romance.

The Big Bang Theory

The Big Bang Theory

Chuck Lorre · Series · 2007

Explores: Friendship, Nerds, Fish-out-of-water.

For those who enjoyed the intellectual banter in The Love Hypothesis, this show highlights the humorous social friction that occurs when brilliant, science-focused minds attempt to navigate personal relationships.

Podcasts on the same thread

Ologies with Alie Ward

Ologies with Alie Ward

Alie Ward · Podcast · 2026

Explores: intellectual curiosity, scientific wonder, human obsession.

If the academic world of The Love Hypothesis felt like home, you will love this podcast for its deep, charming dive into the specific curiosities that fuel professional scientists.

Maintenance Phase

Maintenance Phase

Aubrey Gordon & Michael Hobbes · Podcast · 2026

Explores: scientific literacy, consumer protection, critical thinking.

Just as The Love Hypothesis centers on a scientist questioning established norms, this podcast applies a critical, evidence-based lens to debunk the junk science surrounding modern health fads.

Keep exploring

Common questions

Is The Love Hypothesis a standalone book?

Yes, The Love Hypothesis is a standalone novel by Ali Hazelwood. The story focuses on the life of Olive Smith, a third-year Ph.D. candidate, and there are no direct sequels or alternative versions mentioned in the official catalog.

What is the premise of The Love Hypothesis?

The Love Hypothesis follows Olive Smith, a Ph.D. candidate who does not believe in lasting romantic relationships. Her carefully calculated theories on love are thrown into chaos when she enters a fake relationship with a fellow scientist, leading to an irresistible force of attraction.

Was The Love Hypothesis a bestseller?

Yes, The Love Hypothesis is an instant New York Times bestseller. It gained significant popularity as a TikTok sensation and was featured on The View, in addition to being recognized as a BuzzFeed Best Summer Read of 2021.

Who is the main character in The Love Hypothesis?

The main character in The Love Hypothesis is Olive Smith. She is a third-year Ph.D. candidate who is skeptical about romantic relationships until her life is complicated by a fake relationship and an unexpected attraction to a colleague.

Want picks for your taste — not just one title's?

Try Tangent

Free, 30 seconds, no account.