STEM Romance Books like The Love Hypothesis

When we look back at the past few years, it should come as no surprise that romance is having a STEM moment. STEM romance books like The Love Hypothesis used to be far and few between. Women in STEM fields were widely underrepresented despite the reality that 82% of the genre’s readers are female. Publishers used to reject manuscripts with Asian main leads but the landscape has shifted.

Committing to read books like The Love Hypothesis with STEM heroines is a great way to support STEM diversity in contemporary romance and encourage #OwnVoices.

[Jump to Books Like The Love Hypothesis]

What is STEM Romance?

STEM Romance is a subgenre of romance literature that focuses on the love lives of characters who are involved in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields.

Even today women are less likely to join STEM careers as opposed to men. Ali Hazelwood uses the spin-off of the word feminist and describes her works as the STEMinist. So in honor of women who go into STEM or aspire to join, treat yourself with these nerdy but not so nerdy romance books.

Ali Hazelwood: From Fanfiction to The Love Hypothesis

Ali Hazelwood herself is an Italian neuroscientist and she writes STEMinist romcoms that feature headstrong female characters. Her impressive debut novel The Love Hypothesis which originally started out as a Reylo (Rey x Kylo Ren) “Star Wars” fanfiction, has garnered enormous success. It was one of the most hyped-up book recommendations for 2021 on BookTok. Her latest is a sequel series of 4 steminist romance novellas.

The Love Hypothesis is a feel-good, steamy and endearing romantic comedy set in a world of STEM academia. It’s the story of Olive, a PhD student who kisses the first man she sees. Why would she do that? She’s trying to convince her best friend that she is over her ex-boyfriend. To her surprise, the person turns out to be a grumpy hotshot professor, Adam Carlsen who plays along in a fake-dating relationship.

Overall, it’s a solid read featuring fun, trope-heavy and predictable romance. The novel goes very well with the fans of The Spanish Love Deception, The Unhoneymooners, or the Emily Henry books.

14 Books like The Love Hypothesis with STEM Vibes

The best thing about the present wave of contemporary romance books with flat covers illustrated in a Memphis style is that they are not only about desirable HEA tropes. Instead, this new cadre of romance writers goes further and beyond just like Ali Hazelwood’s The Love Hypothesis. They tackle a number of pressing and relevant issues in parallel to what is the core of a romance novel. They are inclusive in approach and make room for others — Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) people.

Dive into these 14 STEM Romance Books like The Love Hypothesis that are brimming with STEM, Steam and similar tropes.

1. Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert

What to expect?

Heroine is a Computer programmer
Chronic illness and introverted soul
Hate-to-love/opposite attracts
BIPOC representation
Light, fun and emotional

What it’s about?

Charming and sassy, the story follows Chloe, a computer nerd with chronic illness. After having a near-death experience, Chloe decides to live her life to the fullest and comes up with a list of shenanigans. She has already ticked one by moving out of her parent’s family mansion. But for other things, she hires a mysterious and attractive handyman named Red, who helps her tick all other boxes on her list.

Representative of many marginalized identities, Get a Life, Chloe Brown is like shooting serotonin into your veins. Talia Hibbert pairs two unlikely characters and turns their constant bickering into this incredible, hilarious, swoon-worthy, steamy, emotional romcom.

Watchout for: Emotional abuse in the past.

Available on: Amazon | Bookshop | Free Audible

2. The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang

What to expect?

Contemporary romcom
Heroine is econometrician
Ownvoices story
Strangers to lovers trope
Asian representation

What it’s about?

The Kiss Quotient is about a STEM girl Stella, who has succeeded in every aspect of life except love. She is poor with social interactions and completely naive when it comes to intimate relations. Convinced that she needs professional help, she hires a male escort Michael as a ‘practice’ boyfriend. He is no less than a hot K-drama star, who helps her tick all the lesson plans she has on her list. But little do they both know that the quotient for this ‘no string attached’ partnership will be falling for each other.

Although I mostly dabble in gothic romances, The Kiss Quotient with its representation of marginalized groups has rekindled my love for the romcom genre. It’s a refreshing subversion of the 90’s romantic comedy Pretty Woman with a flip of gender roles starring Julia Roberts and Richard Gere. Apart from being quick, fun and smutty; the novel is insightful in many ways.

This one is a lot like The Love Hypothesis but it came first. Next in the trilogy are The Bride Test and The Heart Principle.

Watchout for: Smutty scenes.

Available on: Amazon | Bookshop | Free Audible

3. Soulmate Equation by Christina Lauren

What to expect?

Heroine is Data Analyst
Single mom representation
DNA based matchmaking
Enemies to lovers trope
Feel good, quirky and humorous

What’s it about?

The premise of Soulmate Equation by Christina Lauren is set around a dating website that takes your DNA to find you a perfect match. How cool? Jessica is a single mom focused on her career and raising her daughter Juno. On a whim, she sends her DNA to GeneticAlly and gets a rare 98% soulmate match with Dr. River, the founder of the dating app — a guy she simply loathes.

The chemistry between Jess and River, and the adorable side characters will make you swoon over this grumpy/sunshine steminist romance. Plus, the book is also insightful on how technology shapes choices and day-to-day life. Must-have if you’re looking for contemporary romance books like The Love Hypothesis. Try an audiobook, the narrator is fantastic!

Available on: Amazon | Bookshop | Free Audible

4. The Trouble with Hating You by Sajni Patel

What to expect?

contemporary romance
Heroine is a biochemical engineer
Enemies to lovers trope
Indian culture and food
Strong female friendships

What it’s about?

Hard to put down, the story of Sajini Patel’s The Trouble with Hating You revolves around a very accomplished engineer Liya Thakkar. She bolts out of her parents’ dinner party upon realizing that they are trying to set her up for an arranged marriage. Next week, she gets knocked down with feathers when the same guy turns up at her office as a new company lawyer. Imagine how he would react after that humiliating fiasco?

Filled with office banters and late-night hangouts, The Trouble with Hating You is a fairly unique #OwnVoices story about overcoming adversity and falling in love. An absolutely interesting read with over-the-top world-building and characters.

Watchout for: sexual assault, trauma, victim-blaming.

Available on: Amazon | Bookshop | Free Audible

5. How to Love a Duke in 10 days by Kerrigan Byrne

What to expect?

Historical romance
Heroine is an archaeologist (social science)
Past trauma, mystery and revenge
Amazing girl squad friendship

What it’s about?

This one leans more on a Bridgerton side than a STEM. Famed archaeologist Lady Alexandra is known for her bold outlook. She knows how to fend for herself. But she is chained by her dark past and has been paying a blackmailer for the past 10 years to keep the secret buried. Now, her family is on the verge of bankruptcy whereas Piers Atherton, The Duke of Redmayne is looking for a wife to provide an heir and enact his revenge. However, few forces are standing in the way of their Happily Ever After.

If you haven’t got yourself into a historical genre yet, for you don’t know where to start then How to Love a Duke in 10 days is highly recommended. It’s steamy, angsty and swoony that doesn’t disappoint.

Watchout for: Sexual assault, murder.

Available on: Amazon | Bookshop | Free Audible

Also Check Out: These Gothic Romance Books Will Give You Literal Chills

6. Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

What to expect?

Historical Comedy
Protagonists is Chemist
Cooking lessons
Atheism and feminism
Fun, evocative and insightful

What it’s about?

Though it loosely ticks the books similar to Ali Hazelwood category with very little romance, Lessons in Chemistry is an interesting and uplifting historical fiction. The story revolves around Elizabeth Zott, a brilliant chemist in 1952s weary of her coworkers’ misogynistic behavior except for Calvin Evans — a Nobel-prize nominated scientist who treats her equally. Both find true chemistry with each other and fall in love. After trials and tribulations over 8 years, she is forced out of the profession and ends up becoming a famous cooking show. She has a daughter and a nerdy dog and together she turns the world upside down by empowering women.

The book is heralded as ‘laugh-out-funny’ and it does have a cast of quirky characters and many witty moments. Even so, it handles some serious issues of misogyny faced by women in male-dominated occupations with a grain of Sodium Chloride. Original and impressive, it’s of of the best books you would read after The Love Hypothesis.

It’s funny, it’s romantic but it’s not a romcom.

Watchout for: homophobia, suicide, rape, sexism.

Available on: Amazon | Bookshop | Free Audible

7. My Mechanical Romance by Alexene Farol Follmuth

What to expect?

PoC STEM Students
Academic rivals to lovers
Opposite attracts
Robotics club

What it’s about?

Adorable and witty, My Mechanical Romance is a coming-of-age STEM romance that follows Isabel and Mateo. Bel is unsure about what to do in the future, whereas Two has his whole life planned since childhood. These two academic rivals meet in a Robotics Club.

Besides the angsty-cute romance, this book also explores the difficulties faced by girls in a male-dominated field and the vulnerability of first love with unfailing wit and honesty. YA debut by the author of The Atlas Six, My Mechanical Romance is a swoon-worthy perfection if you’re looking for books similar to The Love Hypothesis in YA category.

Available on: Amazon | Bookshop | Free Audible

8. Anything You Can Do by R. S. Grey

What to expect?

Both are Doctors
Enemies-to-lovers
Her best friend’s brother
Small town romance
Sassy and Slow-burn

What it’s about?

Breathtaking and delectable, Anything You Can Do by R. S. Grey is about two doctors, Daisy and Lucas, whose fate has brought them together after eleven years. Arch-nemesis since childhood, Daisy Bell is hoping to wedge out Lucas Thatcher 2.0 from the local medical practice that she is planning to take over. But the battle changes its course when Lucas employs an unexpected tactic and strips her of her defenses.

It’s ripe with tons of banters and hilarious moments and the electrifying chemistry between them jumps off the pages. The book is along the lines of The Hating Game — whether you liked it or not, you can give this one a shot. It’s more of an adult version with STEM and steam.

If you’re looking for complete enjoyment, Anything You Can Do is a perfect escape. It has just the right amount of fun, charm, wit, tension, and sass!

Available on: Amazon | Bookshop | Free Audible

Also check out: Best Romance Books for Couples to Read

9. How to Fail at Flirting by Denise William

What to expect?

Heroine is a math professor
Fling trope and bucket list
Strong female lead
Sweet, steamy and emotional

What it’s about?

Heartbreaking yet empowering, Denise William’s How to Fail at Flirting is about an overachieving woman who after years of introverted secluded life tries to get back into the dating arena by having a one-night stand, and failing spectacularly by falling in love.

Naya’s job as a professor is on the line as the university is making cuts. Her friends convince her to tackle a different type of to-do list to push her back into the extrovert life she once had. During a night out, she meets Jake who helps her tick some of the things on her list.

It’s an incredible story about overcoming adversity and finding a voice. If you are after books like The Love Hypothesis, give it a try. It has heat, heart, humor and healing.

Watchout for: domestics abuse, gaslighting

Available on: Amazon | Bookshop | Free Audible

10. Honey Girl by Morgan Rogers

What to expect?

Heroine is PhD in astronomy
Mild F/F romance
Existential life crisis
Married in Vegas trope
BIPOC representation

What it’s about?

An absolutely exquisite and solid debut, Honey Girl follows the story of 28-year-old Grace Porter who after finishing her PhD goes on an all-girls celebratory trip to Vegas to let off some steam. The next morning she hazily remembers marrying a woman whose name she doesn’t know. It’s least expected of a work-through summer and straight-A Grace, strictly raised by a military family, to get so wasted. Can she piece together her life back or will she defy her family’s expectations?

Honey Girl is more focused on the existential dread of a person in her twenties than a queer romance. The book deftly tackles the issues of sexism, burnout and society’s definition of success. It’s an uplifting emotional ride with a lonely creature.

Watchout for: Mental illness, self-harm, racism. Appropriate for age 17+ (see content warnings by author)

Available on: Amazon | Bookshop | Free Audible

11. Pulling Double by Christina C. Jones

What to expect?

Medical romcom
Heroine is nurse
Enemies-to-lovers
Black characters, family saga
Differently-abled persons

What it’s about?

Pulling Doubles is the second book in the Wright Brothers series and a standalone, by famed Christina C Jones. It’s a workplace romance and follows the story of Nurse practitioner Devyn who is interning at a University Hospital. She is assigned to Dr. Joseph Wright, a know-it-all arrogant who gets on her nerves. Nonetheless, when you’re pulling double with someone you can’t stand, chemistry sparks.

A light-hearted, fluffy yet steamy romance with all the black love you wish to see in a workplace romcom. This novella is perfect for the fans of Grey’s Anatomy.

Watch out for: Medical gore, past abusive relationships.

Available on: Amazon | Bookshop | Free Audible

12. When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon

What to expect?

Contemporary YA rom-com
Heroine is passionate about coding and apps
Arranged marriage, Opposite attracts
Indian representation
WebDev Hackathon

What it’s about?

Cute and endearing, the story of is set around the arranged marriage of two Indian-American teenagers. Rishi, a hopeless romantic, is all ready to embrace the decision of his parents but Dimple is kept in the dark by them. She is a rebel and hates the restriction of cultural traditions. Nonetheless, Dimple’s parents set up a meet-up with Rishi at a summer coding school that turns out to be an epic disaster.

If you like coming-of-age YA books, and this genre then you would love the clash of opposites in When Dimple Met Rishi by New York Times bestselling author Sandhya Menon. Although the book has universal appeal even if you’re not desi, it better resonates with Asians and Kdrama fans.

Available on: Amazon | Bookshop | Free Audible

13. The Boyfriend Project by Farrah Rochon

What to expect?

Woman in the tech industry
BIPOC representation
Strong feminist friendships
Catfishing
A secret agent

What it’s about?

Witty and riveting, the story of The Boyfriend Project revolves around Samiah Brooks. She is an independent and highly successful Black woman in tech, recently catfished by her boyfriend. Super badass and wickedly smart Samiah after her sweet revenge enters into a pact with her three new besties and forms ‘The Boyfriend Project’ for the next six months. But then a new hire at her workplace, Daniel Collins – who is sexy and honey-eyed – makes Samiah conflicted between her pact and growing feelings.

For fans of The Wedding Date and You Had Me at Hola, it’s a refreshing and tad-bit steamy office romance driven by STEM characters. Recommended if you’re in search of a diverse, ownvoices read with discussions and privileges for women in the tech industry. However, I would not suggest this book solely for the romance plot line.

Available on: Amazon | Bookshop | Free Audible

14. Under One Roof by Ali Hazelwood

What to expect?

STEMinist romance series #1
Heroine is Environmental Engineer
Forced proximity
Slightly enemies to lovers
Cute and spicy

What it’s about?

Short and sweet, Under One Roof is the first in a series of STEMinist romance novellas by everyone’s favorite Ali Hazelwood. An interesting situation brings Mara and Liam to live together under one roof. With their interests clashing, they gradually open up to each other. But will they just remain friends?

The book features spicy romance, ambitious woman and hilarious dialogues. If you are in the mood for a light romance to binge through, pick this one.

Available on: Amazon | Free Audible