“He’d clearly never seen a rom-com or read a romance novel in his life.”
Ali Hazelwood is the pen name of a serial New York Times bestselling romance author and neuroscience professor. Her first novel, The Love Hypothesis, was first published in September 2021, and immediately became a global bestseller, sitting on the NYT list for over forty weeks. Having lived in Italy, Japan and Germany before moving to the US to pursue a PhD in neuroscience, she currently lives with her husband and three cats. Since the release of The Love Hypothesis, Hazelwood has become renowned as one of the best romance writers for stories that centre on women in STEM fields and academia. This blend of passions for rom-coms and science have made her books the go-tos for any readers looking for wise-cracking rivals-to-lovers, fake relationships and grump-sunshine stories. Join us today at What We Reading as we run you through every Ali Hazelwood book in order!
The Love Hypothesis (2021)
First up on our list of Ali Hazelwood books in order is, of course, The Love Hypothesis. First published in September 2021 and originally a piece of Star Wars fan-fiction by Hazelwood, third-year PhD candidate Olive Smith doesn’t believe in lasting romantic relationships. But, her best friend does. Convincing Anh that she is well on her way to a happily ever after takes more than some Jedi mind tricks. So, to prove to her friend that she is dating, she kisses the first man she sees.
That man is none other than Adam Carlsen, a young handsome professor, and certified jerk. To Olive’s surprise, Stanford’s reining lab tyrant agrees to help keep her charade a secret and fake being in a relationship. Soon, the pair’s small experiment starts to feel unnervingly close to combustion. Olive discovers that the only thing more complicated than an assessment of love is examining her own heart under the microscope.
Check Out The Best Books Like The Love Hypothesis
Love On The Brain (2022)
Another STEMinist romance book, Love on the Brain was published in August 2022. Bee Konigswasser lives by a simple rule: what would Marie Curie do? If NASA offered her the lead on a major neuroengineering project, Marie would have obviously accepted. But, she wouldn’t have had to be co-lead alongside the attractive Levi Ward.
Levi made his feelings about Bee very clear back in grad school. Archenemies work better employed in their own galaxies far, far away. But, when her equipment starts to go missing and none of her colleagues seems to take any notice, Bee can see something softening in Levi. Yet, when it comes to laying it all on the line, there’s only one question that really matters: what would Bee Konigswasser do?
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Love, Theoretically (2023)
Another one of the bestselling Ali Hazelwood books, 2023’s Love, Theoretically was nominated for Best Romance in the Goodreads Choice Awards. By day, theoretical physicist Elsie Hannaway is a professor toiling away with teaching thermodynamics. By other day, Elsie fills in the gaps in her paycheck by being a fake girlfriend, using her immense people-pleasing skills to be whoever her clients need her to be.
Her sweet gig appears to be going well until her carefully constructed Elsie-verse is totally upended. Jack Smith, the annoyingly attractive older brother of her favourite client turns out to be the experimental physicist who ruined the reputation of her mother and theorists everywhere. Now, Jack is the head of the committee at MIT. Between Elsie and her dream job. But, as she prepares for a war of scholarly sabotage, she can’t help but feel those long, penetrating looks between them may point to there being more on the table.
Check & Mate – Ali Hazelwood (2023)
Marking the first departure from the world of STEM romance, Check & Mate was published in November 2023 and won Best Young Adult Fiction in the Goodreads Choice Awards. For Mallory Greenleaf, all of her focus is on her mum, her sisters, and the dead-end job she has that just about keeps the lights on. But, things change when she wins a charity tournament, wiping the floor with the notorious world champion and bad boy of the chess world, Nolan Sawyer.
Mallory’s surprising victory opens the door to more tournaments and, more importantly, more cash prizes. As she rockets up the ranks, Mallory struggles to keep her family separated from the game that wrecked it in the first place. Nevertheless, she soon begins to rekindle her passion for the game she wants to hate. And, Mallory soon discovers that the games aren’t only on the board, the spotlight is hotter than she imagined, and that the competition is fierce(-ly attractive, intelligent and infuriating).
Bride (2024)
Misery Lark, the only daughter of the most powerful Vampyre councilman in the Southwest, is an outcast. Again. After spending her days living amongst the humans, she has been summoned back to partake in a historic peacekeeping tradition between her kind and their mortal enemies, the Weres.
Weres are ruthless and unpredictable. Their alpha, Lowe Moreland, is no exception to this. It’s clear from the way he treats Misery that he doesn’t trust her. If only he knew how right he was. Misery has her reasons for agreeing to this marriage of convenience. Reasons that have nothing to do with politics, but everything to do with the only thing she has ever cared about. She is willing to do whatever it takes to get back what is hers, even if it means being alone with the wolf. Published in February 2024, Bride marks Ali Hazelwood’s first major foray into the worlds of dark fantasy and paranormal romance.
Check Out The Best Romance Books From 2024
Not In Love (2024)
Rue Siebert may not have it all, but she has enough. Friends who support her, financial stability and a successful career at Kline, one of the most exciting up-and-coming start-ups in food science. Her world is steady and hard-fought. Until a hostile takeover and an offensively attractive man at the head of it threatens to rip it all away from her.
Eli Killgore and his business partners all want Kline. He’s a man used to getting what he wants, and he has his own reasons for pushing the deal over the line. For Eli, Rue is the one woman he cannot stop thinking about. The one who is off-limits to him. Split between loyalty and a burning undeniable attraction to one another, Rue and Eli embark on a secret, no-strings-attached affair. One of the most distinctive Ali Hazelwood books, 2024’s Not in Love is a steamy, spicy and intense new adult reading ride.
Part-time reader, part-time rambler, and full-time Horror enthusiast, James has been writing for What We Reading since 2022. His earliest reading memories involved Historical Fiction, Fantasy and Horror tales, which he has continued to take with him to this day. James’ favourite books include The Last (Hanna Jameson), The Troop (Nick Cutter) and Chasing The Boogeyman (Richard Chizmar).
