Who else was counting down the days for the movie The Love Hypothesis to be released? I know I was – for over a year.
It all started when Lili Reinhart posted a TikTok on July 16, 2025, saying “I’m looking for a book that could be turned into a really good romantic comedy that I could possibly be the lead of.” I was already excited, not even caring what book she would be the lead in because of how much I love her and her acting. Then they announced The Love Hypothesis. I went insane the next day when Reinhart dropped another TikTok with Tom Bateman introducing him as our Adam Carlsen.
Ali Hazelwood, author of The Love Hypothesis, was the second book to introduce me to the fake dating trope after To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han. The Love Hypothesis turned me into a forever fan of the trope and a romance reader. Knowing there was going to be a book adaptation was making me absolutely feral.
The movie came out September 23rd, 2026 on Prime Video. However, the promotion leading up to the film’s release was where it was at. Reinhart’s outfits during the press tour had all of social media gagged, as she recreated iconic outfits from notable rom-coms such as How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days and 13 Going on 30.
Now for the nitty-gritty of contrasting the book and movie adaptation. I want to make it clear that I understand that when films are made from novels, not all details can be recreated, and creative liberties are taken by the director, screenwriter, and even the actors. The film had the stamp of approval from Ali Hazelwood, and honestly, that’s all that really matters.
- WHERE WAS HOLDEN RODRIGUEZ??
How could they not include Holden! He is such an important character to the story and to the characters. One of my favorite scenes in the book is when Olive, Adam, and Holden are at Starbucks together and Holden reveals that Adam was his prom date their senior year. When Holden leaves Olive and Adam have a cute moment about her not being his first fake date. Holden adds a lot of character depth to Adam from the grumpy character we are first portrayed.
Holden gives the readers a reason to be suspicious of Tom Benton, which later turns out to be valid. When we met him, Adam tells Olive how his two friends do not like each other. AGAIN, for valid reasons.
Our side plot of romance was taken from us. Holden and Malcom would have been iconic in the film. They stole the show during the ending of the book. Their double date around the end would have added a sense of levity during all the harsh stuff Olive was going through in the movie.
- One of the Best Fake-Dating Moments Was Missing
This scene was such a big moment for their fake dating relationship. Ahn, Olive’s best friend, tells her to sit on Adam’s lap to make space in the crowded lecture room. Olive does it unwillingly but understands that she has a role to play.
When she first sits on his lap, they are both a bit uncomfortable but able to joke it off. As time goes by, she gets more comfortable and relaxes onto him. Adam ends up holding her up as she starts to fall asleep on him.
After this scene Olive watches as Adam pushes the department secretary Cherie’s truck out of the way clearing a traffic jam. This includes another awkward kiss from these two characters that was completely missed from the movie.
- Olive’s Presentation Wasn’t Quite the Same
In the book, Olive records her talk at the conference to show her mentor and advisor, Dr. Aysegul Aslan, since she can not be there. It later benefits her having a voice recording of Benton sexually harassing her for usage of his lab, funds, and collaboration.
In the movie this is handled very differently, and I’m still not sure I like it. Nevermind, I KNOW I don’t like it.
In the movie, he implies to Adam that he would be a distraction to Olive when she moved to Boston to study under him, creating doubt in Adam’s mind. Tom then goes up to Olive and Adam’s hotel room and brings her coffee, all STEM students weakness. They talk in good nature about her moving to Boston and how he will let her into his lab and access whatever she needs to accomplish her goals. With the condition that she has sex with him.
Obviously, a dealbreaker because she is in love with Adam and because eww. I HATE TOM BENTON!
Anyways, the audio recording was integral in the book and was skipped over in the movie. The recording helps take him down which leads to the next point; the VERY public fight in front of important Harvard people, that could make or break people’s careers.
- The Adam and Tom Showdown We Never Got
Adam Carson does not play about his woman, Olive Smith. “If you say another word about the woman I love, if you look at her, if you even think about her – I’m going to f*cking k*ll you.” Does this sound like a nonchalant guy? No! Why did the movie play this scene off like it wasn’t already a masterpiece?
In the book, it happens in public during a dinner trying to recruit Adam to move to Boston and work for Harvard. The only reason Adam entertains it is because that’s where he thinks Olive will be moving too. He wants to stay close with her in any way she will let him.
However, in the movie this is completely different. Ahn is actually the one that tells Adam what Tom said to Olive. It leads to Adam looking for Tom in his classroom and threatening him, stating “You go near her again, you even think about her. I’m going to k*ll you.” During the threat the students were live on Instagram and Olive finds out through that of what Adam did.
Not a single punch was thrown in the movie but let me guarantee you there was a fight to be had in the book. Adam pinned Tom to the wall, choking him out. Also, why could they not add in the script the whole book quote? I NEED TOM BENTON TO SAY THAT!
- Small Changes that Readers will Notice
- TWO YEARS OF YEARNING AND PINNING GONE
- Movie Malcolm was not there for Olive’s presentation, book Malcolm would never miss his best friends present at such an important conference
- Movie Adam and Olive at parties? Book Adam and Olive would never be caught outside of the lab
- Adam said “carry yourself with the confidence of a mediocre white man” instead of Dr. Aysegul Aslan
- Halfway through the movie, Adam and Olive find out that he is “the guy”