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17 Heartwarming Books Like The Love Hypothesis

Last Updated on November 28, 2023 by Louisa

If you’re in the mood for a sweet, tender, and gripping romance novel, then it’s no surprise you’re looking for books like The Love Hypothesis.

Although fake relationship romances are nothing new, what I loved about The Love Hypothesis was that neither of the main characters needed love. Love found them.

In fact, I even got asexual vibes from our protagonist Olive, which is two thumbs up from Epic Book Society!

I’m not a fan of fairy tale romances. I like my love stories to be real, believable, and more than just falling in love.

The Love Hypothesis delivers this effortlessly.

But what other books are out there that offer the same kind of romance? Are there any similar books to The Love Hypothesis that have that believable, witty storyline? 

The simple answer is yes! Here are some of my favorite books like The Love Hypothesis for those who enjoy a heartwarming romance story.

Affiliate Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase through any of these links. 


Quick Answer: Top 3 Picks

But first, if you don’t have much time and need a book fast, take a look at my top three favorites:

Our Favourites!


The Spanish Love Deception: A Novel

#1 Best Highly Acclaimed Novel

The Spanish Love Deception by Elina Armas

  • Written by a New York Times and USA Today bestseller
  • Another fake relationship romance
  • A witty storyline with a slow-burning angst romance


People We Meet on Vacation

#2 Best in Contemporary Romance

People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry

  • An adorable friends to lovers romance story
  • From the New York Times bestselling author of Beach Read
  • Winner of the 2021 Goodreads Choice Awards for Best Romance


The Unhoneymooners

#3 Best Romantic Comedy

The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren

  • A funny enemies to lovers romance novel
  • A New York Times bestselling author
  • About a wedding where everyone gets food poisoning, except two enemies, who end up taking the honeymoon

Summary of The Love Hypothesis

But before I go into the top similar books, let’s quickly recap the story. Don’t worry, I won’t reveal any spoilers if you’re still reading!

The Love Hypothesis is a Tik-Tok sensation written by New York Times bestselling author, Ali Hazelwood. 

The story follows Olive Smith, a third-year PHD candidate who has always put her career first.

She has analyzed everything about her life and came to the conclusion that she doesn’t believe in long-term relationships.

However, her best friend is a hopeless romantic who won’t get off of her case.

In a rash decision to convince her best friend that her love life is fine, Olive kisses the first man she sees.

This man just happens to be Adam Carlson, a well-known hotshot professor. 

In a bid to get her friend off her case, the pair enter a fake relationship.

Despite his reputation for being a grade-A jerk, Adam surprises Olive with how supportive he is when she really needs someone in her corner. 

Could she be wrong about relationships all this time? This is a heartwarming medical romance novel with a fake relationship and a gripping storyline.


Books Like The Love Hypothesis

Now you remember what the story is about, it’s time to show you the top books similar to The Love Hypothesis

1. People We Meet on Vacation – Emily Henry


Unlikely best friends Poppy and Alex live apart year-round, except for a singular week during summer vacation, which they’ve been spending together every year for a decade.

Until one trip changes everything and creates a rift between them that lasts for two whole years.

Emily Henry’s People We Meet on Vacation is sure to quench your thirst for books like It The Love Hypothesis.

It explores the complicated truth that stands in the way of Alex and Poppy’s perfect reconciliation, juggling various complex characters and the nuances that make up their relationships. 

An adorable friends-to-lovers romance, and the winner of the 2021 Goodreads Choice Awards for Best Romance, People We Meet on Vacation is an ode to being true to yourself and your feelings.


2. The Unhoneymooners – Christina Lauren


In The Unhoneymooners, Olive Torres finds herself at her sister’s wedding and facing off against the handsome but irritating best man, Ethan Thomas – her nemesis.

Unfortunately, disaster strikes when the entire wedding party falls ill with food poisoning, leaving no one to take the honeymoon arranged for the bride and groom.

Ethan jumps at the chance to take it and Olive reluctantly agrees to join him in order to prevent him from going alone.

The pair travel to Maui for ten days of bliss in what should have been a straightforward holiday arrangement.

However, they soon find that pretending to be newlyweds is far more complicated than they anticipated as they start to succumb to their own desires.

Will this unlikely duo discover newfound love along with a beautiful island paradise?

In this romantic comedy, two unlikely individuals find themselves squared off in a love-hate match.

I loved how the characters progressed and not only found their liking for each other, but changed their overall mental attitudes.

Read my complete review of The Unhoneymooners here or you can find some similar titles to The Unhoneymooners here.


3. The Spanish Love Deception – Elena Armas


The Spanish Love Deception by Elena Armas ticks all the boxes if you’re looking for a sizzling enemies to lovers, fake relationship romance story. 

It’s playful and funny, and restores your faith in love. The story follows Catalina Martín’s desperate attempts to find someone who’ll pretend to be her boyfriend for a transatlantic journey to a wedding in Spain. 

Although she cannot tolerate him, her colleague Aaron Blackford seems like the unlikely best choice—rather, the only choice Catalina has—and they embark on a trip that will change their relationship forever. 

Swoon-worthy and steamy, The Spanish Love Deception is a story about the rambunctious wedding that brings Catalina and Aaron together.


4. The Deal – Elle Kennedy


The Deal is part of the ‘Off Campus’ series by Elle Kennedy but can be read as a standalone novel.

Hannah Wells is a good girl with an interest in a boy, but she’s not confident in the bedroom.

To get his attention, she decides to step out of her comfort zone and tutors the cocky captain of the Hockey Team so they can arrange a pretend date.

Garrett Graham has only ever wanted to play hockey professionally, but he needs to improve his GPA if he hopes to reach his goal.

He’s initially only interested in improving his grades when he meets Hannah Wells, thinking of her only as a means to an end.

But one passionate kiss between them leads to an unforgettable night together – and suddenly Garett is questioning what he really wants for himself and for their relationship.

Can their deal of one fake date to seduce each other keep Garrett satisfied?

The story follows two people from different worlds who slowly realize that they may not be so dissimilar as they once believed.

Read my complete review of The Deal by Elle Kennedy here or find some similar books to The Deal here.


5. Beautiful Disaster – Jamie McGuire


If you liked The Love Hypothesis, then you will love Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire.

Meet Abby Abernathy: a good girl focused on her first year at university, not one for drinking, smoking, or swearing. And then there’s Travis Maddox – the playboy who gambles, fights and charms his way through every girl he meets.

When Abby outright ignores Travis’ advances, he takes it upon himself to get into her books by making a bet involving moving in together for a month if either of them lose.

Will they be able to win this bet or will it bring them closer than ever before? It’s a brilliant light angst romance novel with an unforgettable bad boy as the main character.

Related Reading: Books like Beautiful Disaster


6. Ugly Love – Colleen Hoover


Colleen Hoover is well known for her powerful romance stories, with just the right amount of suspense and a believable storyline.

If you loved the slow-burn relationship of The Love Hypothesis, then Ugly Love should be added to your reading list.

Tate Collins and Miles Archer feel something more than just a passing attraction when they meet, but neither are ready for love.

They decide on a set of ‘rules’ to keep things simple – such as never asking about the past and not expecting a future – but soon their arrangement becomes more complicated than either of them anticipated.

Things start to break down and their love gets ugly, but Tate finds herself unable to stay away from Miles and the dangerous yet electrifying connection they have created.

Related Reading: Books like Ugly Love


7. Restore Me – J.L. Seegars


Restore Me is a forbidden romance novel about finding love after loss. It’s similar to The Love Hypothesis in the way that the main protagonists are not looking for love, but love finds them.

It follows Dominic Alexander and Sloane Kent who are falling for each other hard, only Dominic is Sloane’s late husband’s best friend. Eep! 

At first, they hate each other. Sloan finds Dominic arrogant and dismissive, and definitely off the table given their history.

But little does she know that Dominic’s attitude towards her isn’t because he hates her…rather the opposite.

After one drunken night, everything changes…

With plenty of feels, laughs, and unexpected twists, this novel is sure to leave readers feeling like they’ve experienced something special.

View it on:


8. Some Kind of Magic – Mary Ann Marlowe


Some Kind of Magic is the debut novel by Mary Ann Marlowe and what a first novel!

The story follows a hapless scientist who falls in love with a rock star — but is it love or chemical?

Eden Sinclair is a Biochemist and is unaware that the scent she spritzed on herself at the lab was not perfume, but an enhanced pheromone. 

When cute Adam Copeland, a grungy-looking guy she meets at a gig, who also happens to be a rock star who is loved by many women, she realizes the truth. Only she realizes after spending the night with him…

When this gorgeous rock god wants to see her again, Eden isn’t being honest about the spray. The thought that his attraction could be nothing more than a chemical reaction is too much to bear.

The only way to find out if the love is genuine is to ditch the perfume and see what happens…

The witty dialogue and thought-provoking conversations keep the pages turning as you follow this rock-star romance book with characters discovering love in a way neither one ever saw coming.


9. The Soulmate Equation – Christina Lauren


If you’ve already read The Unhoneymooners and you’re looking for other romantic comedies to get stuck into, then you’re going to love Christa Lauren’s other bestseller, The Soulmate Equation.

This book is similar to The Love Hypothesis in that it also has a storyline about two people bought together by science…or fate.

The story follows a single mom, Jess Davis, who is a statistics whizz. Her father was never around and her mother disappeared when she was six, and her ex decided he didn’t want to be a father – so she’s not overly fond of relationships.

But then Jess learns about a new DNA-based matchmaking company, GeneticAlly, and she’s intrigued. Can she find her soulmate through DNA?

When her test shows an impossible 98 percent match with the company’s founder, Dr. River Peña, she’s even more intrigued.

She already knows Dr. Peña and she knows he’s stubborn and arrogant. Hardly soul-mate material. But when she starts to get to know him, maybe the test wasn’t that far off…

Writing with insight and wit, this work is sure to leave readers captivated by its cleverly crafted characters searching for love despite the difficult obstacles they face.


10. Things We Never Got Over – Lucy Score


At first glance, you wouldn’t guess it from the cover, but Things We Never Got Over is a steamy bad boy romance book about Knox, a solitary barber. That is, until runaway bride Naomi shows up in town and turns his life upside down.

Naomi was running from her wedding and an evil twin who stole her car and cash – leaving her stuck with nowhere to go, not even a job. But what she doesn’t know is that she also has an 11-year-old niece in tow.

What started as a favor out of pity soon develops into something more as they both struggle against their own preconceived notions and try to find their happily ever after.

This single parent romance book brings together lust and love slowly as Knox realizes he’s found someone special despite wanting to stay away from high-maintenance women.

There are similarities between this book and The Love Hypothesis in that the love story is a slow burning story, but this one is more steamy!

View it on:


11. Ever After Always – Chloe Liese


Ever After Always is the third book in the Bergman Brothers series, but each book can be read as a standalone story.

The story follows Aiden and Freya who are about to embark on an emotional rollercoaster of a journey in a slow-burn, marriage-in-crisis romance story. It’s a book about making love stronger and long-lasting.

Aidan has been in love with Freya for 12 years. She’s his wife, and best friend, and he wants to give her everything. Except there’s one thing he can’t give her – a baby.

With the pressures of family asking when they can expect a child, he starts to freak out. He starts pulling away from her, and soon she has had enough and she kicks him out. 

After being forced together to celebrate her parent’s long and happy marriage, the pair must battle to save their marriage and overcome their insecurities.

A story about taking chances for real connection and dealing with unknown consequences, this book brings together themes of family dynamics, personal growth, friendship and secrets.


12. Love on the Brain – Ali Hazelwood


If you’re looking for books like The Love Hypothesis, you can’t go wrong with another book by the same author, right?

Love on the Brain is the 2022 release by Ali Hazelwood and if you loved The Love Hypothesis, you’re going to love this one!

It has similar themes in that it’s another scientist-themed rom-com where a scientist is forced to work with her nemesis.

It follows the story of Bee Königswasser who is asked to co-lead a project with her arch-enemy, Levi Ward.

But when her equipment goes missing and the staff ignores her, she realizes that she may need the help of her nemesis after all.

As they work more closely together, sparks begin to fly, and no, it’s not just chemicals reacting in the lab…

An adorable, laugh-out-loud romantic comedy about an unlikely duo, this novel is filled with twists and surprises that will keep readers turning the pages.


13. Book Lovers – Emily Henry


In Book Lovers, Nora and Charlie share a mutual love of literature, but their professional relationship is one of polite dislike.

As they coincidentally meet more often, the tension between them shifts and starts to warm into something more.

This slow-burning romance book follows the same kind of storyline as The Love Hypothesis, with a delightful mix of wit and charm.

It will leave readers eagerly awaiting the next chapter to find out if Nora and Charlie will finally realize that what started as a mutual loathing may actually have been something else all along.


14. Make It Sweet – Kristen Callihan


Make It Sweet is an emotional romance novel about finding an unlikely love.

Emma has made a name for herself playing Princess Anya on a TV series, Dark Castle, but when her character gets killed off, it all starts going downhill for her. 

Soon after she’s canceled, she finds her boyfriend in bed with another woman.

She needs to get away. So she heads to the stunning estate of Rosemont, California for some much-needed relaxation and escape.

Only, things get complicated when she meets the owner’s gorgeous grandson and ex-hockey player.

It’s clear they have a growing attraction to one another, and yet they avoid each other.

But then one impromptu nighttime skinny dip changes everything.

This is the story of two people with broken hearts, trying to mend them again. Perhaps their hearts fit together after all…

Following a mismatched pair at the center of it all, it paints a vivid picture of what it’s like to balance love and reality in a charade of romance.

View it on:


15. Must Love Cowboys – Carly Bloom


Must Love Cowboys is the third in the Once Upon A Time in Texas series, but each novel can be read as a standalone novel.

This is a sexy cowboy romance novel about a bookish beautiful librarian who is in need of a fake boyfriend for an upcoming wedding. 

After she starts tutoring a gorgeous cowboy, Beau Montgomery, who really needs help managing his spreadsheets, she asks him if he would mind being her date.

And he agrees. Only he has a secret – he’s had a crush on her since junior high!

To make matters worse, the town’s gossip mill forces them to keep their fake romance deal a secret and to continue after the wedding… what happens when all these secrets come pouring out?

With its combination of lovable characters, delightful moments of humor, and a chemistry that will keep you guessing until the end, this book will make you believe in the power of true love all over again.


16. A Not So Meet Cute – Meghan Quinn


Meghan Quinn is a USA Today bestselling author, and A Not So Meet Cute is one of my favorite pieces of hers. 

It’s a romantic comedy about a desperate billionaire looking to find a fiancée.

Often described as a modern-day Pretty Woman, this hilarious billionaire romance novel will have you howling throughout.

It starts when Lottie, a good girl who was just fired, decides to stroll around a wealthy neighborhood in Beverly Hills to search for a husband.

That’s when she bumps into Huxley, a man she takes an instant dislike to…but agrees to marry him anyway. Wait what…? 

In this romantic comedy, expectations are defied and hearts are won in surprising ways.

Readers can look forward to a refreshingly unpredictable journey filled with delicious tension, witty dialogue, and unexpected affection.

View it on:


17. The Summer Proposal – Vi Keeland


Another romance author I love is Vi Keeland, who, like Ali Hazelwood, is really good at combining humor with a romantic storyline I can believe.

The Summer Proposal is all about what happens after a blind date goes terribly wrong…

Georgia’s summer is about to get a lot more interesting when she meets Max, a captivating billionaire hockey player on the New York team.

As the sparks fly and the chemistry sizzles, it turns out that Max might be even more amazing than his dimpled smile suggests!

As they embark on a romantic adventure meant to help Georgia forget an old flame, they soon find themselves wondering if what they have can really only last one summer.

Will they take a chance and try to make it work, or will their romance be just another sweet memory?

This steaming hot sports romance novel that is sizzling with fire and passion. It’s a page-turner alright, and as it’s a steamy standalone novel, there’s no cliffhanger to spoil it.


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books like the love hypothesis

Final Word on Books Like The Love Hypothesis

The Love Hypothesis kept me hooked from start to finish and always intrigued by where the main characters would go.

I loved the slow-burning romance, the concept of a fake relationship, and a friendship turning intimate.

If you like these themes in your romance novels, then you are going to love the books highlighted in this guide!

If you have any more books like The Love Hypothesis that you’ve read and would like to share with other readers, let me know in the comments.

Headshot of Louisa

About Louisa Smith

Editor/Founder - Epic Book Society

Louisa is the Founder, Editor, and Head Honcho of Epic Book Society. She was born and raised in the United Kingdom and graduated from the University for the Creative Arts with a degree in Journalism. Louisa began her writing career at the age of 7 when her poetry was published in an anthology of poems to celebrate the Queen's Jubilee. Upon graduating university, she spent several years working as a journalist writing about books before transitioning to become a Primary School Teacher. Louisa loves all genres of books, but her favorites are Sci-Fi, Romance, Fantasy, and Young Adult Fiction. Read more Louisa's story here.

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