Love and Other Brain Experiments by Hannah Brohm (Feb 3, 2026) Thank you, @simon.audio and @atriabooks for the gifted audio copy! #simonaudioinfluencer
Dr. Frances Silberstein is stuck in the exhausting loop of short-term postdoc appointments after turning down a job offer years earlier (one that came from her then-boyfriend) because she was determined to make it on her own. With opportunities for continuing her research drying up, she heads to a major academic conference in NYC hoping to network her way into her next position.
Unfortunately, this particular conference is being organized by her ex and attended by her academic nemesis, Dr. Lewis North. When Frances and Lewis’s long-standing bickering is mistaken for flirting and people assume they’re dating, Frances freezes and doesn’t correct the record. By the time she realizes the damage, coming clean would seriously undermine her professional credibility. The only logical solution? Convince Lewis to fake date her for the full two-week conference. Obviously.
This was such a fun, charming read. If you loved The Love Hypothesis, this one is an easy recommendation. The “rivals who are actually perfectly matched” dynamic is delightful, and I really appreciated how thoughtfully the book explores the pressures of academic careers – especially gendered expectations, career instability, and the challenges of partners trying to land at the same institution. Frances and Lewis both grow meaningfully over the course of the conference, and I loved that their connection was built on a combination of years of shared history rather AND insta-attraction.
While the third act felt a little messy to me, the emotional payoff at the end was so genuine and satisfying that it more than made up for it. Smart, nerdy, and warm-hearted – this is a rom-com that understands both ambition and vulnerability.
🎧 Audiobook Thoughts: Carlotta Brentan, who also narrated one of my favorites, Saltwater – delivers another excellent performance here. Her solo narration captures both the humor and the emotional nuance beautifully. (12h 29m)
📖 Book: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
🎧 Audio Performance: 🌟🌟🌟🌟💫
🔥 Spice: 🌶️🌶️
Book Smart Kate 