Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. If you’ve read Hazelwood’s other novels, how do they compare and contrast to The Love Hypothesis? What makes this story stand out from the rest of the author’s work?

2. What did you think of the revelation that Adam was the one who encouraged Olive three years ago? Did you see this coming, and, if so, what helped you anticipate this big reveal?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. One of the novel’s major themes is Balancing Work with Personal Life. How have you felt this tension in your own life, and what are some specific things you do to maintain a healthy work-life balance?

2. Both Olive and Adam experience unfair situations at school and work. Have you ever had to defend yourself in a similar situation? What did this experience teach you?

3. Hazelwood’s story celebrates The Value of Emotional Intelligence. Which types of intelligence do you consider your personal strengths, and how have they helped you in life?

4. Olive’s friendships with Anh and Malcolm are an important part of her support system. Share a story about a time when a friend supported you or when you supported a friend.

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. What message does Hazelwood offer about the pressure placed on graduate students through Olive’s story? 

2. What lessons can Tom’s character offer about the ways authority figures abuse their privileges? How does the novel’s resolution offer a way to address this issue?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. How does telling the story from Olive’s perspective influence the story’s characterization and suspense?

2. How does Hazelwood’s focus on STEM shape the theme of Balancing Work with Personal Life? Mention specific evidence from the text. 

3. How does The Love Hypothesis compare and contrast to other fake-dating romance novels you may have read, such as Elena Armas’s The Spanish Love Deception (2021)?

4. How does Dr. Aslan offer an alternative model from the authority figures who leverage their power against others in keeping with the theme of Systemic Inequality in Academia?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. Imagine a sequel to the book. What new challenges and triumphs might Olive and Adam experience in the next phase of their careers and relationship?

2. Many of the novel’s key moments take place in coffee shops. Design a café menu inspired by the development of Olive and Adam’s love story. What drinks or other items would you use to represent their dynamic at the beginning, middle, and end of the novel, and why?