Academic romances are so back! This was a slow burn, the tension was chef kiss. Fake dating to save their careers as post doc scientists. This was not fast paced and made me slow down a bit.

Arc Review!!

Tropes: enemies/rivals-to-lovers, fake dating, slow-burn, STEM/academia setting

I absolutely ate this book up as soon as I flipped past the very first page! I am such a big ali hazelwood girly and this was right there in that realm with the perfect mixture between academia and romance. The ending was honestly not how I thought it was going to fall in terms of her decision but it was better than I could have hoped.

If you love anything science-y and romance, you will definitely love this debut so add it to you tbr now!

Thank you NetGalley for the e-ARC!!

5/5 stars! I really enjoyed this book and could not put it down. I finished this book in one day. If you love Ali Hazelwood books, this is a book for you. In Love and Other Brain Experiments Frances is attending a conference held my her ex-boyfriend. Which results in her fake date her rival to show that she is fine and over her ex. Love and Other Brain Experiments is releasing February 3, 2026. Thank you so much to Hannah Brohm, Netgalley and Atria Books for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.

So Ali Hazelwood coded loved everything about Frances and Lewis post doc and grant proposals on neuroscience. I loved the fake dating trope and constant banter between the two. A must read!!!

Let me preface this review with the fact that I am NOT a STEM girlie but I ate this up like nobodies business.

This is a book about two rival scientists who end up next to each other on a plane to a conference where their relationship definitely takes a twist.

This book kept me hooked the whole time and I kept thinking about it when I wasn’t reading.

Both main characters were kinda PMO by the end. I was upset with Lewis for hiding what he did, but his apology and the revision letter were worth it. And I’m glad both characters got the healing they needed.

Overall was a phenomenal read.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC!

This was so cute! And so GOOD for a debut novel! It did not disappoint!
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It gave the same vibes as The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood, which I also loved! It gave an inside look into research and the world of higher academia.
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I really enjoyed how open and honest the MCs were with one another, even when the conversations were hard. I like how the past connection ended up coming full circle.
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Solid 4 ⭐️ read with this one and would definitely recommend! I will def read more by Hannah in the future!
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A big thank you to NetGalley and Atria books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I’m head over heels for Frances and Lewis 💗 not only are they the cutest, but their rivalry turned fake dating will grip you from the start.

Honestly, the way I gasped at the end of chapter one should be studied. Maybe Frances can add that to her list of research projects.

Frances, a neuroscientist, is on her way to a conference in New York when she realises she left her sleeping pills somewhere else before boarding her plane (she’s terrified of flying). When the flight attendant asks her if she’s available to help another passenger with their research abstract she immediately accepts, hoping this will distract her from the airplane’s turbulence. When she meets Lewis, the very attractive fellow academic who needs help, she quickly finds out he’s none other than the man who’s been making her research life impossible. But now they are both en route to the same conference and though Lewis is her biggest rival, he’s the only one to help her through her flying-induced panic attack mid-flight.

If you loved The Love Hypothesis, Hannah’s debut must absolutely be on your TBR! It’s funny, charming and has the glasses microtrope!! When you get to the hiking scene and the cabin scene, come back to this review because I need someone to talk to about this!

Anyway, if this book has no fans, then I’m dead. Basically, I will never shut up about how much I love this book!

🌶️🌶️/5
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

When I saw the comparisons to books by other authors I love, I knew I needed to read this title. I’m so happy I did. Brohm nails fake dating, and I was entertained throughout the story. The STEM and the HEAT were prevalent throughout. I hope a lot of people read this book because I’m telling all my bookish buddies about it. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

4.5 Stars rounded up to 5

This was a fantastic debut. It's a STEM academic rivals to lovers book with a fake dating premise and miscommunication trope all thrown in. Fans of Ali Hazelwood will eat this up.

Frances and Lewis find themselves in a situation where they need to fake date for the duration of a 2 week long scientific conference. I really enjoyed watching these two slowly go from butting heads to being vulnerable and supporting each other. The banter and chemistry and spice were top notch. As with any miscommunication trope, the choices they made were frustrating at times. Both characters definitely had their flaws, but I felt that their personal growth arcs were handled well.

As soon as I saw Love and Other Brain Experiments compared to Ali Hazelwood’s work, I jumped at the chance to read it. A STEM-centered romance with academic tension, emotional growth, and quirky leads? Count me in. And while there’s a lot to appreciate—especially the standout STEM setting and some solid character moments—the overall execution didn’t quite meet the expectations set by its premise.

Frances is a stubborn, brilliant protagonist, and Lewis—patient, emotionally grounded, and genuinely sweet—is easy to root for. Their personal development arcs are handled well, and I especially enjoyed how they communicated and worked through conflict. However, their romantic chemistry didn’t always fully land for me. There were flashes of charm, but the emotional depth often skimmed the surface, making the romance feel more conceptual than heartfelt.

The pacing also lagged in spots, and the third-act breakup felt unnecessarily drawn out due to repeated miscommunication—a frustrating trope that diluted some of the book’s impact. Still, readers who enjoy offbeat, experimental storytelling and academic settings will likely find this a charming, light read. While it doesn’t quite hit Hazelwood-level intensity or swoon, it’s a pleasant, palate-cleansing romance that brings science and heart together in its own unique way.

Thank you to NetGalley, Hannah Brohm, and Atria Books for the eARC.

3.5 stars!

This was such a cute story! I loved the premise, if you like Ali Hazelwood its definitely one you should read.

I really liked how this book split the enemies-to-lovers storyline between Frances and Lewis with Frances navigating her career in academia. This was a quick read, but at times I felt it was a bit rushed; I wish we got more glimpses into Lewis and Frances’ dynamic once their connection started to develop, especially on the upstate trip and the last week of the conference.

I was also a bit disappointed about the epilogue, considering the major decision Frances made at the end. Overall, I just had minor issues with not only the pacing but also the third act break-up, and how the characters were portrayed through that. Even though this didn’t click with me, I would definitely recommend!

It's time. For what, you may ask?

To clear up some space on your bookshelf, Kindle, Kobo or Nook, to savor (nay, I say, devour) this exceptional STEM romance.

This read was exceptional. It stands alongside the select but mighty group of books by female authors who excel in highlighting female protagonists in the academic, scientific profession.

Frances' character was multi-faceted. She's driven to not just succeed in her profession but to reach its pinnacle. Her personal relationship in the past alongside with her interaction with her nemesis turned loved interest propels her. With that comes, unfortunately, a lack of self awareness when it comes to her relationship with her supportive younger sister. Her tunnel vision almost but not quite hinders her.

Lewis' character with his vulnerabilities resulting from a toxic home life affects his interaction with Frances that gets misinterpreted. Their mutual decision to fake date allows them the space to really 'see' each other. The author does a wonderful job with the transformation of their hereto hostile (albeit, one sided) relationship.

Frances' objectification of Lewis' physical attributes are tastefully done. More often than not, authors focus on female protagonists so this was nice to see.

This was a slow burn where the author draws out their attraction as the book progresses keeping the reader riveted till the very end.

This ARC was provided by the publisher, Atria Books, via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

As soon as I read the description and saw it compared to Ali Hazelwood’s work, I hit request without hesitation. A STEM-focused romance with quirky characters and academic tension? Yes, please. Unfortunately, Love and Other Brain Experiments didn’t quite deliver on the promise.

The premise had potential—science, love, and a woman navigating both—but the execution felt a bit underwhelming. I didn’t feel the spark between the characters, and while the writing had its moments, the pacing dragged in places and the emotional connection just didn’t land for me. It felt more like a series of quirky setups than a cohesive, swoon-worthy romance.

This one might work better for readers who enjoy a more experimental or offbeat storytelling style, but if you're hoping for Hazelwood-level chemistry and tension, you may walk away a bit disappointed.

This was adorable, total Ali Hazelwood vibes from the start! I love an academic rivals/fake dating trope. Lewis is genuinely such an amazing mmc and Frances is such a strong mmc the way she stays true to herself and doesn’t let men push her around in the academic field is so inspiring, I loved this book so much!

Thank you NetGalley, Atria books and Hannah Brohm for the eARC!

Thank you so much to the publisher and NetGalley for an arc of this book.
I really liked this book. The STEM world is a mystery to me but I always enjoy reading books in that setting. Frances and Lewis meet cute was done so well. I liked how Frances realized that her academic rival was not so mean in the end. The banter was so good, it truly was was entertaining and had me giggling while reading. The fake dating trope was also done really well. Some rom-com can sometimes be surface level but this one was not. Frances and Lewis went through an amazing growth which made it satisfactory. I hope there’s more in this world !

This is a smart and sweet romance set in the world of academia. The story follows two scientists, Frances and Lewis, who start off as academic rivals and find themselves in a fake dating situation. Their relationship slowly shifts from tension to genuine feelings, and I felt like it was a fun take on the enemies to lovers and fake dating tropes.

The academic setting and STEM elements really stand out in this book, and if you are a fan of Ali Hazelwood, you will who enjoy this too. Frances is stubborn and brilliant, while Lewis is patient and emotionally mature, and such a sweetheart. Their personal growth journey was fun to read, and I loved how they communicated and worked through their issues.

I did find the third act breakup frustrating, especially because it felt like there was just too much miscommunication. At times, I also felt like the romance between Frances and Lewis lacked some chemistry, but overall, it was a cute and fun read and a perfect palate cleanser, especially if you are a fan of STEM romances.

Thank you to NetGalley, Hannah Brohm, and Atria Books for the eARC of this book.

i really enjoyed this book! the academic aspect was so fun and i loved the enemies to lovers dynamic that they had going on. i could have done without the third act breakup.

This was absolutely adorable! This one is for the nerds and the s.t.e.m. Lovers like myself! Lots of steam, banter, nerdy jokes and lots and lots of science! I loved the science aspects and information because I’m such a stem girlie but some might find it a lot as it does slow the storyline down. This is a fake dating, rivals to lovers romance with lots of character flaws that forces them to grow and really look at themselves, who they are and what they want! The characters are lovable although both of them had their moments where I was like wowwww really!!! But that’s the part of their growth and I loved that! If you aren’t big into stem or slow burn this may not be for you but i definitely recommend it! I really enjoyed it.

Thank you to atria books and netgalley for this arc.

'Perfect for fans of Ali Hazelwood' SOLD. It really was perfect. The writing style is amazing and it gives that same feeling.

Loved the academic setting and the fact that it was done well, very true to how it usually is.. Huge props to the author for this reason! In fact, the setting was done even better than..(dare I say!).. the ones I find in Ali Hazelwood's books..Very realistic characters, grounded and vulnerable.

My issue is with the chemistry between the characters. Even though the fake dating trope is one of the age-old ones in this genre, I still feel like it could have been executed better. The chemistry felt stiff and banter almost non-existent (IMO, a good banter in a romance book is half the job done!). That being said, I am not sure if this was intentional- the MCs are academics, who are supposed to be socially awkward, hence a lack of banter/good chemistry perhaps?! Honestly, I couldn't tell.

Another reason for less than 5 stars was the miscommunication leading to a third act breakup..seemed like history repeated itself taking us back to why they started off as rivals! At that point, I almost groaned in frustration as it does make the FMC seem like not a great judge of character and it fails to elicit a redeeming arc for the MMC..

Overall, I recommend this for anyone interested in an academic romance!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
#NetGalley