I received a review copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. It has not affected my opinions.
Genre: Contemporary Romance (LGBT+) Age Range: YA Star Rating: 4 stars Series: Standalone
Synopsis:
Physics genius Caro Kerber-Murphy knows she’s smart. With straight As and a college scholarship already in the bag, she’s meeting her two dads’ colossal expectations and then some. But there’s one test she’s never quite been able to ace: love.
And when, in a particularly desperate moment, Caro discovers a (definitely questionable) scientific breakthrough that promises to make you irresistible to everyone around you, she wonders if this could be the key. What happens next will change everything Caro thought she knew chemistry – in the lab and in love.
Is her long-time crush Haruki with her of his own free will? Are her feelings for her best girl friend some sort of side-effect? Will her dog, Sirius, ever stop humping her leg?
Synopsis taken from Goodreads. Add to your shelves here.
Review:
A friend has been encouraging me to read Laura Steven’s books for a while, so I jumped on the chance to read this book. The humour perfectly balanced out the tangled love lives, while not concealing the book’s heart as Caro’s desire for love gets a little out of control…
THE LOVE HYPOTHESIS is an absolute laugh-out-loud book. The premise itself creates some bonkers moments (double dose of pheromones around teen boys is never going to go well) and the characters themselves are full of wisecracks. Plus there’s Caro’s snarky take on it all.
If you don’t like deliberate and constant fourth-wall breaks (“don’t judge me”), snarky comments, and somewhat crass humour, this isn’t a book for you. However, it sounds so authentic, like it really is the the thought process of a teen girl – and the teens feel like teens. This is not a YA with characters who feel like they’re in their 20s.
Hands down, Caro’s lovable oddball father Vati was my favourite character. He’s one of those guys who is so out there and eccentrically himself without caring what others think – genuine which makes his antics all the funnier. There is zumba in the living room, unsuccessful gardening that turns into sex-ed class and all the inappropriate gaffs.
Under all the jokes, there’s a really nuanced discussion of self-confidence and consent. THE LOVE HYPOTHESIS also looks at friendships that naturally fall apart as people find new interests that slowly reduce the shared experiences. This theme resonated the most with me, and I want to find more books that tackle this.
Read my reviews of other books by Laura Steven:
Standalones:
Sifa Elizabeth Reads 