★★★☆☆
Warning: This book contains an extra large dose of rom-com tropes. It literally has all of them – grumpy meets sunshine, fake dating, professor-student liaisons, miscommunication between love interests, and forced hotel room sharing.
The action starts when Stanford Ph.D. Candidate Olive Smith randomly kisses Professor Adam Carlsen in the hallway to convince her friend Anh that she is dating someone.
This book was complete fluff and escapism wrapped in a brainy package. It captures some aspects of academia really well, such as how some doctoral advisors treat students, the dependence on research funding, and the hierarchy among faculty.
Other elements were pretty far-fetched. I have been to my fair share of departmental picnics and academic conferences, and faculty and students aren’t sitting on each other’s laps or rubbing each other down with sunscreen. Thank goodness:-)
Despite the tropes, silly situations, and one of the cringiest sex scenes I’ve ever read, I am glad I picked up this book. The banter had me giggling, and I enjoyed how endearing Olive and Adam each were in their own ways.
I’d definitely read another book by Ali Hazelwood when I’m in the mood for her brand of romantic escapism in an academic setting.
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