Ali Hazelwood is the pseudonym of an Italian-American writer who was a neuroscience professor until 2022. Her books are known for strong female scientists, grumpy love interests, and the way she exposes sexism in academia — wrapped in warm, humorous romance.
The Love Hypothesis made her world-famous. And now, a Prime Video movie is on the way. Here is the complete reading order for 2026.
Where to start with Ali Hazelwood?
Ali Hazelwood has three types of books:
Classic STEM Romances: The Love Hypothesis → Love on the Brain → Love, Theoretically
Shorter novellas: Under One Roof → Stuck with You → Below Zero
Steamier contemporary romance: Not in Love → Check & Mate → Two Can Play
Paranormal romance: Bride → Mate
Start with The Love Hypothesis if you're new — her most popular and highly recommended book.
The STEMinist Series — the main series
Ali Hazelwood's best-known books all revolve around scientists, academia, and the obstacles women face in science. The three main romances are standalone but set in the same academic universe.
| # | Dutch Title | English Title | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Love Hypothesis | The Love Hypothesis | 2021 |
| 2 | Love on the Brain | Love on the Brain | 2022 |
| 3 | Love, Theoretically | Love, Theoretically | 2023 |
The Love Hypothesis — Part 1
Olive Smith, a third-year PhD candidate, kisses the first man she sees in a moment of panic to convince her best friend that she is happily in love. That man turns out to be the notorious Professor Adam Carlsen — not known for kindness, but he agrees.
The Love Hypothesis started online as a Star Wars fanfiction about Rey and Kylo Ren — and grew into one of the most widely read romances on BookTok. The movie premiered on Prime Video on September 23, 2026, starring Lili Reinhart and Tom Bateman.
Trope: Fake dating + grumpy sunshine + academia
Spice level: 🌶️🌶️
Love on the Brain — Part 2
In the male-dominated world of neuroscience, Bee Königswasser's life motto is clear: what would Marie Curie do? When NASA puts her in charge of a dream project, she discovers that her co-lead is Levi Ward — her arch-rival from her student days.
Trope: Enemies to lovers + fake dating + NASA-setting
Spice level: 🌶️🌶️
Love, Theoretically — Part 3
A theoretical physicist who works as a fake girlfriend for lonely people by day — until she risks falling in love with someone she absolutely shouldn't.
Trope: Fake dating + opposites attract + academia
Spice level: 🌶️🌶️
💕 A fan of The Love Hypothesis?
The movie is on Prime Video — read our article about The Love Hypothesis on Prime Video for everything about the cast.
→ View romance bookmarks
Novellas: short but powerful
Ali Hazelwood has also written a series of shorter novellas set in the same academic universe.
| Title | Setting | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Under One Roof | Shared House | 2022 |
| Stuck with You | Elevator | 2022 |
| Below Zero | Polar Research Station | 2022 |
The three novellas are bundled as Loathe to Love You (2022) — ideal for those who quickly want more Ali Hazelwood after The Love Hypothesis.
Steamier romance: Not in Love and more
For readers who want more spice than the STEMinist series:
| Title | Year | Trope |
|---|---|---|
| Not in Love | 2024 | Forbidden romance + workplace |
| Check & Mate | 2023 | YA chess romance |
| Two Can Play | 2024 | Workplace romance |
| Deep End | 2025 | Pool setting, spicier |
Not in Love is Ali Hazelwood's first fully adult romance — steamier than her academic work and with a darker tone.
Paranormal romance: Bride and Mate
Ali Hazelwood has also written a paranormal series — a surprising step for a STEM-romance author.
| # | Title | Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bride | 2024 |
| 2 | Mate | 2025 |
| 3 | Bound and Unbound | October 2026 |
Bride is a vampire romance — darker, spicier, and totally different from the academic books. Bound and Unbound will be released in October 2026.
The complete reading order at a glance
For beginners:
- The Love Hypothesis
- Love on the Brain
- Love, Theoretically
- Loathe to Love You (novellas)
For steamier romance:
5. Not in Love
6. Two Can Play
7. Deep End
For paranormal romance:
8. Bride
9. Mate
10. Bound and Unbound (October 2026)
💕 The perfect Ali Hazelwood reading set:
✔ Romance bookmark — for the best fake dating pages
✔ Blind Date Book (Romance) — for your next academia romance surprise
✔ Book Review Notepad — record your thoughts per book
✔ Reading Log (€1.99) — keep track of all Ali Hazelwood books
✔ Glass Can — for your iced coffee or matcha while reading
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Happy reading — what would Marie Curie do? 💕📚
Frequently Asked Questions about Ali Hazelwood
Where do I start with Ali Hazelwood?
Start with The Love Hypothesis — her most popular book and the perfect entry point.
Are Ali Hazelwood's books available in Dutch?
Yes. The Love Hypothesis, Love on the Brain, and Love, Theoretically have been translated into Dutch by The House of Books.
Has The Love Hypothesis been adapted into a movie?
Yes — the movie premiered on Prime Video on September 23, 2026, starring Lili Reinhart as Olive and Tom Bateman as Adam.
What is the newest Ali Hazelwood book?
Bound and Unbound, the third installment in the paranormal series, will be released in October 2026.
Do Ali Hazelwood's books need to be read in order?
The STEMinist romances (The Love Hypothesis, Love on the Brain, Love, Theoretically) are standalones but are set in the same universe. You can start wherever you like, although The Love Hypothesis is the most recommended starting point.