A STEM-focused book with academic main characters may not be for everyone, but it certainly is for me. I.am.the.target.audience.for.this.book!

From the start, we get an original meet-cute between the two leads, who don’t immediately realize they are each other’s academic rivals. There’s fake-dating (for science) and they realize that an “exploratory study” complete with a full hypothesis is needed (i.e., explore their physical attraction). Nerdy/academic banter is apparently my book love language, but I loved how it never got jargon-filled in this story. On top of that, the two leads are likeable and relatable and (mostly) communicate well with each other. Hot. An MMC who admired the FMC’s brilliant brain before meeting her or knowing what she looks like? Also, hot. The story touches on issues women in STEM face and how their male counterparts respond to those inequities, but also the supportive women in the field who have each other's backs. We get slow-burn tension that builds up between the leads, but we also get such satisfying (individual) character growth for both of them. This author created thoughtful resolutions that were not rushed. This is a fantastic debut and this is an author that I’ll be watching for. I only wish this book existed when I was still in grad school. This one is for all the girlies who enjoyed Ali Hazelwood’s STEMnist novels and want more.

Thanks to the publisher (Atria Books) & NetGalley for an advanced reader copy - all opinions are my own!

4 stars
If you are a fan of Ali Hazelwood's stem novels that this is the book for you! This author was able to toe the line of incorporating enough stem material to make it a important plot point in the book, which also adding in cute rom-com moments that break up they more difficult subjects.
We have a FMC who is working postdoc and struggling to find funding to continue her research. She is slowly feeling defeated by the barrier she has to face in the field and finds herself falling out of love with her job.
We are introduced to the MMC early on, and learn that him and the FMC had a blossoming friendship 4 years ago that ended when the MMC used the FMC's ideas in his research paper and did not include her in the publication.
The two are forced together into a fake dating scenario when the FMC tells her ex-boyfriend's fiancé that they are together. It is pretty obvious, from the readers POV, that the MMC is crazy over the FMC and wants to be with her. However, with her previous relationships and her struggles in her job, she struggles to forgive and trust him.

Thank you to the publisher and thank you to NetGalley for the chance to review this e-ARC. Full review will be available soon

In the world of contemporary meet-cutes, this was an unique meeting between Francis and Lewis. His immediate blush and the forearm porn had me turning the page for more.
These two are ambitious in their studies, to the point that they've forgotten about the importance of personal connections: family, friends, and significant others. Through their, shall I say, fated meet-cute, they both heal, laugh, and discovery of a different kind of study: love.  
I’m holding out hope that we might get a few chapters from Lewis’s point of view in the future.
I, too, am a carrier of a notebook. And who knew glass cleaning was up there with hair braiding—my new favourite microtrope?

Single pov
Fake dating
STEM
Academic Rivals to Lovers
Intellectual sparring as foreplay
The hope of One Bed
Slow Burn

Thank you NetGalley and Hannah Brohm for the free eARC!
I received an advanced reader copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

A fresh STEM romance that I’ve been waiting for! Frances and Lewis are both academics that have worked remotely in the same field for years. They used to be friendly email buddies, swapping ideas and theories until 4 years ago something happened that lost Frances trust.
Now it’s present day and Frances is flying to a science conference. On the plane, the flight attendant has her swap seats and the meet cute of the century is born.
This romance was fast paced with themes of fake dating, past betrayal, miscommunication and the MMC absolutely obsessed with the FMC. It was a delight to read.

i admit that i'm going against the grain with this one...so far it's received mostly positive reviews and for good reason! i understand why someone would like this book, and more importantly, i can appreciate the representation of women in stem fields. however, something about this didn't quite hook me in. the focal point of the story was very much the relationship between the two main characters, but i would have appreciated a bit more building of the side characters, in particular, Frances's ex and his current fiancé play such a big role in the fake dating aspect, but really don't appear much on the page, nor is their complicated past explored as fully as i would have liked. in other aspects, the book was almost too realistic: i appreciated the complicated portrayal of the world of academia but was also frustrated by Frances's inability within the story to come to a happy ending within academia. it seemed as though the solution for her was choosing something else, while Lewis remains in that world. i understand the difficulty of being a woman in a male dominated academic field, but would have also liked to see her succeed in that same field without having to compromise what she was so set on from the beginning and turning to the old trope of her not really fully understanding what her dream career was. i think that sometimes we can be frustrated with the difficulties we face in a career field that is a dream job, while also wanting to continue to pursue that dream.

3.5/5 stars


This is a great story, I thought this will be like those predictable fake dating stories I read before but nope. This book got me guessing for the last 33% of the book. Also this is a very Stem heavy book, I got lost sometimes especially when they are discussing their topic and their relationship status too. I like how the Lewis is, though Franz makes me frustrated to the point I said "omg girl what are you doing."


With a heavy topic, the story flow is very easy to follow. A book that can be read in one sitting.

Love and Other Brain Experiments is a clever, witty romance that balances academic banter with heartfelt connection. While the academic setting hit a little close to home for me as I start my second year of doctoral research, I still found myself charmed by the story’s humor, energy, and tender moments. This book shines brightest in its sharp dialogue, playful tension, and the way it explores what happens when love collides with ambition.

If you enjoy academic rivals-to-lovers, miscommunications that make you grin, and romances that feel both smart and sweet, this one will keep you turning the pages.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC. I’m glad I got to experience this one.

Ugh… mixed feelings about this one. On the one hand, stem romance and this one does not disappoint on that aspect. On the other hand, the MMC screwing the FMC over, not once, but twice with virtually no consequences angers me deeply. Ultimately, the good overcomes the bad, 4 stars.

Thank you to Atria Books and Netgalley for the ARC.

On the flight from Berlin to New York, Lewis and Frances begin to fall for each other. They're both postdocs, she's beautiful and funny, he's kind and helps her feel safe as she works through a panic attack at 30, 000 ft. Before they land, they discover that the person next to them is none other than their academic rival and they're on their way to the same Neuroscience summer conference. Cue mean flirty banter, resentment and a whole heap of misunderstandings. Unfortunately, a fellow colleague misreads a situation and assumes them to be a couple. To save their pride and reputations, they begin none other than a fake relationship.

At times, this book felt even more science-y than Ali Hazelwood. Based within neuroscience academia, it’s clear that the author really knows both the world and the science. As far as romcoms go, this one feels like one of the most ‘human’ stories I’ve read. The premise and meet-cute is based on classic miscommunication/understanding. I know, I know there’s a lot of hate for this trope, but honestly it’s the most human of romance scenarios. The characters in the book make mistakes and assumptions based on their anxieties or past traumas that move the plot along. I appreciate that both characters are responsible for mistakes/misunderstandings and one is not portrayed as morally superior to the other. They both end up having to work through communication together and separately.

I love a good fake dating the ridiculousness of the situation is contrasted by their very human responses to it. There were parts of the story where I wondered whether they were necessary for the plot, and although strictly speaking, they weren’t, I quickly realized that I would’ve reacted (read overreacted) the exact same way as the characters. Although they were frustrating at times, they were also incredibly relatable. I loved the dynamic between the characters, there was super science-y foreplay, adorable awkward flirting and swoony moments. The book deals with a lot of the politics and frustrations of being of a woman in academia, and although I was often waiting for the other shoe to drop - to find out someone intentionally screwed them over or ratted them out - I appreciated that the tension between characters never came from malicious intent. Definitely a good read, I sped through it and ate it up.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of this book. As a science and previous research girly I liked this read, but it might not be everyone’s cup of tea. It was easy to read and the slow burn was good. Read it you liked The Love Hypothesis. 3.5 ⭐️

This book had me in the first three chapters. Not only was Frances and Lewis' meet-cute the perfect balance of heartwarming and funny once she discovered she just poured all of her worries and insecurities to her academic rival, but I also found a STEM romance that is adjacent enough to what I study to relate to the main character. I'm a psychology major and two of my favorite professors are cognitive neuroscientists like our main characters, and hearing Frances talking about her love for the brain was a breath of fresh air. While I'm not interested in research myself, I still have a lot of respect for those who do. As the cherry on top, Frances is going back to New York after years away, and I just bought tickets to go back as well. It's fair to say, I loved our main FMC! Was the reason behind the fake dating a bit far fetched? Yes, a conversation could have solved everything BUT I don't care because I love fake dating and I'll take it in every form and shape it's given to me. I was giggling and kicking my feet during multiple interactions between Frances and Lewis.

The quick comparison to Ali Hazelwood is easy since she has become the queen of STEM romances, but it also has the same charm and funny moments, making the comparison pretty accurate in my opinion. During the first half, I was feeling a 5-star vibe. Ultimately, I think the ending could have been stronger, and there were other small things that could have been better, like chapter transitions, but I still very much enjoyed the plot, the writing, and the main couple. Hannah Brohm just entered the list of authors I'm on the lookout for new releases!

Thank you to Netgalley, Atria Books, and the author for a copy of this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

3.5 stars!

This scratched the Ali Hazelwood STEM itch! For the most part, I really enjoyed the plot and how the romance came together, and the STEM aspects. However, the two main characters weren't really my favorite. Other than me wanting them to get together for the sake of the story, I was never compelled to like them. Frances' insecurities, and her getting over them, was a little bit too much for my taste. Lewis' actions in keeping information from Frances also rubbed me wrong, especially since he so-say 'learned from his mistakes' that he made in their past. They were cute together, I'll give them that.

Additionally, there were various things that seemed important to the plot, but ultimately weren't, but were also written in a way that you expected them to be VERY important. So when they actually didn't matter, I felt more confused than relieved (e.g. losing the notebook with their fake dating notes and the fear that they would be found out).

I still really enjoyed this book, but for those reasons, I couldn't rate it higher. For sure a good read for those who enjoy a fake dating - STEM romance!

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for the eARC!

I really loved this! Charming, sweet, smart, and heartfelt, with characters who had real depth and growth.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc! Opinions are my own.

What a lovely debut! the description is true — this is perfect for Ali Hazelwood fans. I absolutely ate this up, and really love the STEM PHD content. I really loved Lewis’s character and everything he was coping with — he was so endearing! Frances I found frustrated me more, and the conflict between her and Karo also took it out of me a bit…but I really loved her and Lewis’’s relationship. Highly recommend and I’m excited to see what she writes next!

A perfect book for fans of Ali Hazelwood and STEM romance, Love and Other Brain Experiments has characters that feel human and real without being perfect, with complex motivations and scars, and a romance that felt incredibly swoony. Also, as someone who had a front-row seat to a STEM postdoc/academic job hunt, every single academic-related detail here is spot on (which is no wonder, given Hannah Brohm's academic background). Would absolutely recommend this, and cannot wait for it to come out next year!

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for a digital ARC of Love and Other Brain Experiments.

I give this a 3.5, but rounded up. I see people compare this book to Ali Hazelwood's work, but other than STEM the writing style is completely different. That's not a bad thing, but just wanted to throw that out there.

I SO wanted this to be a five-star, and I can't quite put my finger on why I didn't rate it higher. I was engulfed, and finished in two days, but some parts were confusing. Maybe too much STEM talk? Some paragraphs were long and hard to follow, and the chapters were long for my taste too. I did love the premise and the MMC. The FMC got on my nerves a little towards the end, but that could be me. I don't love indesisive characters.

Overall I enjoyed it and think it will do great and I would read more of this author's work.

This is it!! The start of the wave of STEM romance a la Ali Hazelwood and I'm COMPLETELY here for it. I may not be in a Ph.D program, but it's clear that this author has done her research into the world (or is herself involved!) because I can completely see the anxiety and stress behind the fake dating in this book. Yes, there were moments that were somewhat absurd and required suspension of belief, but personally, I'm more than happy to do that. I'm excited to watch this author continue to grow and write!

A brilliant debut from Hannah Brohm! I adored Love and Other Brain Experiments--a STEM romance featuring a complex, messy FMC, and a man who shows his love by cleaning her glasses (absolute SWOON). Brohm not only expertly navigates fake dating, one of my favorite tropes, but she also gives true depth to her characters' female friendship and sister relationship. I truly did laugh and cry. I'll read anything Brohm writes.

5⭐️
I can't come up with enough words to describe the love and admiration i have for this debut novel. It has simply become one of my favorite books of all time and it was just utter perfection. As I was reading i was constantly in awe of the characters, the story, and the deeply rooted representation of academia. I could tell this book was crafted with so much love, thought, and effort and i cant believe its a debut novel because it was THAT good!!!

This is hands down my favorite read of August and one of my top five books of the year, I love stem romance and this one felt so creative, unique, and different. I may be biased because I completely fell in love with the banter and chemistry of Lewis and Frances from the first chapter but it felt so easy and organic between them that often times I felt like I wasn't reading and was only seeing these scenes in my head. I loved the way they communicated it felt refreshing and there was no miscommunication or misunderstandings which can often be seen or added as a subplot to the fake dating trope this was just SOOOO good i wish i could read 200+ more pages of Frances and Lewis bickering and being silly together.

Frances my girl!!!!! truly what a perfect depiction of the struggles and self doubt that come from academia. It can be a competitive and draining field to exist in and it was so widely represented in this book. Her fears and doubts all laid bare and there is evident growth in her persona and its amazing to see her fall back in love with academic pursuits that make her happy and finding love which she often shielded herself from. I loved how confident she way around those she loved, her strength and genius. Frances reminded me so much of Olive Smith from the Love Hypothesis because she had so many brilliant ideas and only needed someone to value her to find her purpose.

LEWIS my golden retriever man!!!! please can more men or mmc exist that act like him?!!! he made me giddy most of the book and i just adored how soft he was with Frances and he gave me Adam Carlsen vibes through and through. The way he cared but was so nervous, always blushing and trying to be the best he could be was everything. I enjoyed so many moments in which we saw softer sides of him with Frances since he was often serious and reserved but it goes to show that when you love deeply you begin to share parts of yourself with those you trust. He was giving yearning king, mr. darcy of stem.

LOVED this book so so much, i loved that it was set in multiple places since its also the reality of academia and it felt like it was thoroughly thought of and explored (book research/authenticity of content). Hannah Brohm has my most deep admiration and I can't wait to see what she comes out with next!

thank you infinitely to atria for the e-arc!!!