love hypothesis characters star wars

'The Love Hypothesis' Author Ali Hazelwood on Getting Her Start in Fanfiction and Which Scene Didn't Make It Into the Final Book

She also teases a few details about her next romance novel.

The day before I was set to chat with Ali Hazelwood , the news broke that her debut novel The Love Hypothesis had officially become a New York Times bestseller , charting at #9 in print and at #11 on the combined print and ebook lists. Understandably, Hazelwood's recollection of the moment she found out about it from her editor at Berkley Publishing is a little hazy: "I think I had grilled cheese in my mouth. I have vague memories of trying not to choke."

But it's no surprise, taking into account that the book itself has been absolutely blowing up a certain section of TikTok lately — as well as considering The Love Hypothesis 's origin story. When Hazelwood decided to make the leap from writing fanfiction to becoming a published author, readers flocked in droves, and even though The Love Hypothesis is a completely original work, there are still some nods to its beginnings — like the cover, for example. In my conversation with Hazelwood, which you can read below, I spoke with her about how both her background in fanfic and in STEM informed the writing of The Love Hypothesis , the one steamy scene in particular that didn't make the final cut, and what she can tease about her next book.

COLLIDER: Congratulations on the book being out! I think some people know the backstory of how it came to be, but for those who don't, what's the genesis behind The Love Hypothesis ?

ALI HAZELWOOD: I think it was a lot of just luck and chances and opportunities. I was really, really into writing fanfiction, first for the Star Trek fandom and then for the Star Wars fandom. And I loved it. It was just, it was this amazing community. I made a lot of friends and I was just having a lot of fun. And then what happened is that I started slowly thinking about trying to write something original, just to challenge myself and to do something different. And while I was in that kind of mood, my agent started reading my fanfiction on AO3 and then she reached out with a DM. She was like, "I saw that you wrote something about maybe pulling some of your fics and reworking them. And I wanted to tell you that I'm a literary agent and I would love to see you some of your manuscripts, if you're interested in it."

And so that's how I took the fanfiction of mine that I thought was the most reworkable and I sent it to her and then I signed with her. And then after approximately 70 billion more revisions, both with her and an editor... we got a lot of RNRs [revise and resubmits] that didn't pan out but made the book better, because we got really good feedback. Then we ended up at Berkely with my current editor, Sarah [Blumenstock], who is amazing, and yeah, now it's out.

I feel like we're definitely seeing more authors who are like, "I totally got my background in fanfiction and there's nothing wrong with that." One of the more famous examples is obviously Christina Lauren.

HAZELWOOD: Christina Lauren. They're amazing.

Or even authors today who are like, "Oh yeah, I'm writing this mainstream book, but I still have an AO3 profile." So I appreciate that we're seeing the barriers break down around what the public perception of fanfiction is and how it really is such a great breeding ground for authors to find their voice.

HAZELWOOD: Absolutely. Fanfiction is just an amazing medium. It's great, like you said, to find your voice, to explore things that you usually don't find in traditional publishing. But it's also just great to feel a sense of community and to get to know people, to find someone who's like-minded and is interested in similar things. It's very hard to make friends as an adult. And I feel like I truly found my adult friends through fanfiction and through the fandom community.

And I just, I'm very grateful to my publisher that they embraced the fanfiction part. They were like, "Yes, we're going to own this. For the cover, we're going to use fanart made for the fanfiction, if you want to." They were just great with that. I do think traditional publishing is getting more and more interested in fanfiction and in embracing it. And maybe they're doing well because of money and marketing and stuff like that, but I'm just really happy that this is happening and that fanfiction is gaining legitimacy, because it always had legitimacy.

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I want to talk a little bit too about the setting of the book, and I know your personal background is in STEM. So did that inform your inspiration on where to set the story, drawing from your own experiences?

HAZELWOOD: Yeah, 100%. I'd been wanting to write fanfiction set in academia just because it's really... I'm a professor right now, but I feel like my entire adult life has been spent in academia. I feel like I would struggle to write any other setting, in a weird way. So it was just the more natural setting for a story. My next book is going to be set in academia and my third book is going to be in academia. And yeah, that's the easiest thing for me.

One of the things I personally love about the book is how it references romance tropes in the world, but then the book itself subverts the tropes. I'm thinking specifically about the only-one-bed scene, and then there's not only one bed, which felt like a really funny wink at romance readers. What made you decide to include that meta-awareness in the story?

HAZELWOOD: It's actually really funny. I never would have thought to include that if the story hadn't been fanfiction originally. I was posting it chapter by chapter and I was writing it chapter by chapter. And I remember all the comments saying, "They're going to go to the conference and there's going to be only one bed."

So it started as just like a conversation with other people in the fandom, who were at the same time writing fanfiction about other iterations of the same characters. It was just so much fun. It was kind of like a collective effort there.

You had talked about how when you were reworking the fic for publication, there were a lot of edits, and I'm assuming a lot of things ended up on the chopping block. Is there a deleted scene that didn't make it into the final novel that you maybe wished you could have kept in?

HAZELWOOD: So when Adam and Olive break up — not really break up, but when she goes to his hotel room and she's like, "It's over." Originally, they ended up having sex in that scene. And we took it out because we thought it was more poignant, or I don't know, more heartfelt if it was only a kiss. And it was, in a way, but the fanfiction person within me kind of misses...

Let them have one more time!

HAZELWOOD: The fanfiction ho within me was like, "I wish we had kept that sex scene." But honestly, honestly, we talked about it — my editor, my agent, and I — and it was a good call from a story-structure perspective.

So you mentioned you've got a second and third book in the works. I'm sure you probably can't really talk about book three yet, but is there anything you can tease about book two coming up?

HAZELWOOD: Book two is about a neuroscientist who is selected to work on a project at NASA. And she's super excited about it, until she gets told that the person she's going to co-lead the project with is an engineer that she used to work with in the past, and they're kind of enemies. Or at least she thinks they're enemies, one of those things. And that's the story of them working together on this project. And it's coming out in August 2022.

I thought it would be fun to wrap up with a couple of rapid-fire questions. Enemies-to-lovers, or friends-to-lovers?

HAZELWOOD: Enemies-to-lovers. Reylo forever.

Secret billionaire or secret baby?

HAZELWOOD: Secret billionaire.

Marriage of convenience or amnesia?

HAZELWOOD: Marriage of convenience.

Coffee or tea?

HAZELWOOD: Tea.

I feel like I know the answer to this last one, but I'm going to ask it anyway. Macfadyen Darcy or Firth Darcy?

HAZELWOOD: Macfadyen. I mean, 2005 forever. Even though I do appreciate Firth. He's a good high-quality Darcy, but it's just not my Darcy.

I feel like everybody has a very strong opinion, based on which one you saw first. That lake scene, I'm sure that's very formative.

HAZELWOOD: 100%.

But for me? He's walking through the field in the morning mist, and that's it. In the long coat.

HAZELWOOD: He says, "I love you" three times. I mean, she has bewitched him body and soul. Come on, come on. The hand flex!

The Love Hypothesis is currently available in print, e-book and audio wherever books are sold .

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Academic Romance Is My New Favorite Book Genre After Reading This Debut Novel

If you told me that my favorite book of 2021 would end up being about two fake-dating scientists whose characters are loosely based on Rey and Kylo Ren from Star Wars, I would not have believed you. Fake dating isn't my favorite trope, science was my worst school subject, and while I've always enjoyed watching Star Wars, I wouldn't exactly call myself a fan. But that was before I read The Love Hypothesis (out Sept. 14) by Ali Hazelwood.

In the novel, Olive Smith is a biology PhD student who is on a mission to convince her best friend that she's in a relationship. Considering she's definitely single, and worried that her friend will learn the truth, Olive randomly panic-kisses the first man she comes across in the lab — who just so happens to be the notoriously intimidating Dr. Adam Carlsen, a professor in her department. Nobody is more surprised than Olive when Adam agrees to go along with her charade. But how long can Olive keep up the ruse of fake dating when real feelings become involved?

I have a thing for love stories in which the guy has harbored a years-long crush on the girl while she remains endearingly clueless (don't worry, I'm not giving anything away — it's pretty obvious from the start how Adam feels about Olive), and so I knew by Olive and Adam's second interaction that I would LOVE this book. Olive is smart, ambitious, and funny, Adam is tender and thoughtful, and together their connection is pure slow-burning gold with lots of chemistry (both the literal and figurative kind).

Their connection is pure slow-burning gold with lots of chemistry (both the literal and figurative kind).

This is Hazelwood's debut novel, but she's been writing fan fiction for years. I read that this book was actually based on a previous, and hugely popular, Star Wars fan fiction story she wrote a few years ago. So if you're a Rey and Kylo Ren stan , you should probably read this book. I mean, just look at the cover!

Standout Quote

"His eyes were on her, now. There was light in them that she didn't understand. 'You are not mediocre, Olive. . . And the work you presented is important, rigorous, and brilliant.' He took a deep breath. His shoulders rose and fell in time with the thudding of her heart. 'I wish you could see yourself the way I see you.'"

Get ready to dive into all things academia: the politics, the research, the nerdy banter. It's like a world of its own and reminded me a little of my own college days. This book has some funny antics but doesn't shy away from diving into the more serious side of academia (including sexual harassment).

Where You Should Read It

Snuggled up at a student cafe with a pumpkin spice latte (Olive's drink of choice).

Read This If You Like . . .

Rey and Kylo Ren fanfic, romance stories set in academia like How to Fail at Flirting by Denise Williams , or a fake-dating trope.

POPSUGAR Reading Challenge Prompt(s)

This novel can check off more than one 2021 POPSUGAR Reading Challenge prompt; just pick the one that fits best for you.

A book that's published in 2021
A book about a subject you are passionate about
A book you think your best friend would like

How Long It Takes to Read

The story is 360 pages long, and I read it every spare second I could over a weekend — and then immediately started over again when I finished since I didn't want it to end.

Give This Book to . . .

Friends who love Star Wars or smart and science-y love stories, who work in STEM, or who have ever fantasized about dating that really hot professor from college.

The Sweet Spot Summary

The Love Hypothesis ($14) follows Olive, a PhD student, who fake dates the one professor her peers love to hate: the intimidating (and intimidatingly hot) Dr. Adam Carlsen. She doesn't really believe in love, but if there's anyone who can convince her, it just might be Adam.

Emoji Rating

👩‍🔬 + 👨‍🔬 + 🔬 + 🔥

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Love Your Shelf

The love hypothesis, by ali hazelwood.

This was initially pitched to me as “academic Kylo Ren and Rey fanfic,” and I was sold. Temporarily putting aside any and all feelings about The Last Jedi and The Rise of Skywalker and about the ~actual~ relationship or lack thereof between Rey and Kylo Ren in the movies, I absolutely loved this.

The novel told the story of Olive, a PhD student who is working to cure cancer, and Adam-Carlsen-Not-Driver, the gruff and brooding advisor in the department who has a reputation for being tough and unfriendly. After an attempt to convince her best friend Anh that she’s seeing someone goes awry, Olive and Adam enter into a fake-dating agreement, and at this point, you can probably guess where the story is going.

This was freakin’ adorable. I’m a sucker for a good fake dating trope, I’m a sucker for Star Wars, and just the sheer level of cuteness that was present in this book was too much for me. Adam-Not-Driver is a brooder in the best Darcy-esque way, and Olive had such a loving personality that made you just want to give her a hug…or rather, for Adam to give her a hug. As much as I love Star Wars , and as much as I loved the little nods Hazelwood made to this story’s origins (Adam being the overlooked child of a diplomat, anyone? and let’s not look over this cover art!), the characters held up on their own. Additionally, I thought Hazelwood masterfully wove trope after trope into the story, giving Olive an awareness of her position in a romance novel-y story itself that added both depth and comedic value, as well as some measure of realness:

“Adam.” She rubbed her forehead with her fingers. “There will only be one bed.”

He frowned. “No, as I said it’s a double–”

“It’s not. It won’t be. There will only be one bed, for sure.”

He gave her a puzzled look. “I got the booking confirmation the other day. I can forward it to you if you want, it says that–”

“It doesn’t matter what it says. It’s always one bed.”

In terms of drawbacks, my qualms are minimal. While I didn’t love the hefty age gap/power gap, I appreciated the fact that it was addressed within the story and it wasn’t too overwhelming given that Olive didn’t work directly under Adam. I also really wish there was more at the end, though as you’ll notice, that’s something of a trend for me – while there were cute moments scattered throughout, I wished there had been more pages and more story after the Tom debacle. Even though I’m sad there wasn’t, I’m willing to acknowledge that that’s the sign of a truly good book.

If you love Star Wars (or don’t), are a fan of academic romances and happily-ever-afters, or love a brooding Darcy character, this is the one for you.

Aaaand with that, I’m excited to give The Love Hypothesis a solid 5/5 stars and the power of my full recommendation.

“The Love Hypothesis” depicts love at Stanford and criticizes inequality in academia

A graphic depicting the book with a pair of glasses sitting on top of the book.

Spotted: a fake-relationship turned real romance between a biology Ph.D. student and a biology professor, set in the familiar terrain of our very own Stanford University. Although I am not the biggest fan of romance books, Ali Hazelwood’s debut novel immediately caught my attention. This is it , I thought to myself. This could be Stanford’s very own “Pride and Prejudice”! Then I bought the book right away.

In “The Love Hypothesis,” author and cognitive neuroscientist Ali Hazelwood combines her two passions, writing and science, to give her readers a contemporary love story that reflects Stanford students’ frustrations with the elite institution. While delivering readers’ favorite romance tropes, Hazelwood also explores the fascinating world of biology and critiques academia as it exists today. In order to convince her skeptical best friend Anh that she’s in a happy relationship, Olive Smith, our protagonist and a third-year Ph.D. candidate, kisses Adam Carlsen, a professor notorious for giving low grades and harsh critiques. After the incident, Olive and Adam decide to fake-date so that Anh will continue to buy Olive’s charade and Stanford, convinced Adam’s there to stay, will fund his research. The two make a peculiar and even problematic couple because of their faculty-student relationship, yet their fake-dating persists.

Hazelwood began her writing career with Star Trek and Star Wars fan fiction, which she wrote frequently during the last year of her Ph.D. program. Along with her personal experiences in academia, these media franchises significantly shaped her novel. “The Love Hypothesis” incorporates emails between students and faculty members regarding research collaborations, portrays the day-to-day life of Ph.D. students in and outside of their labs and frequently mentions Olive’s work investigating blood biomarkers as an early-detection mechanism for pancreatic cancer, a real-life popular research area. Although Olive’s fictitious life is not a realistic depiction of life at Stanford, Hazelwood adequately portrays common student struggles and the work of today’s biologists. In the book, the emphasis on collaboration within the field of biology, depicted through Olive’s desire to partner with computational modelers, or even small details such as a graduate students’ eagerness to use the PCR machine first, reflect Hazelwood’s own knowledge and passion for the field. In addition, her love of Star Wars comes out through the characters of Olive and Adam, the former with a shy yet bubbly persona like Rey and the latter emulating Kylo Ren’s angst and detached attitude.

Reading the book through a Cardinal lens, you realize Hazelwood is not exactly campus-fluent. When Olive and Adam are setting the rules for their fake relationship, they agree to meet at Starbucks every Wednesday morning to make their relationship look more convincing, yet not once do they go to CoHo or Coupa. During their Starbucks dates, Olive constantly gets pumpkin spice lattes, and the two never go out to get boba. Considering the popularity of boba shops all around Palo Alto and the frequent door-dash boba orders during on-calls, it was especially peculiar that Olive and Adam did not participate in the boba culture at Stanford. Later, when Olive goes to visit Adam, he’s surprised to learn she doesn’t drive but instead bikes, as if he’s not seen the profuse bikes around campus. Compounding our confusion, Olive complains about there being no bike lanes around, which is very unlike anywhere near Stanford. It is also surprising that Olive never uses the Marguerite to get to the School of Medicine, a common practice among Ph.D. students.

Aside from documenting the ups and downs of fake-dating on the Farm, “The Love Hypothesis” strikes a more sincere chord, as it doesn’t shy away from criticizing the world of academia. Hazelwood highlights how STEM academia is problematic through Olive’s experiences as well as those of her close friends and Adam. She acknowledges and critiques the chronic underpayment of student researchers, cultural sexism in academia, racism in higher education and the demoralizing attitudes of faculty toward beginner researchers.

“Committing to years of unappreciated, underpaid 80-hour workweeks might not be good for [Olive’s] mental health,” writes Hazelwood, condemning the lack of appreciation researchers express for student work from the very first page of her novel. She further depicts Olive’s struggle with rent and meals due to her low salary in an expensive city. Through Olive’s personal struggles, Hazelwood attests that current researchers are not paid adequately by the multimillion-dollar institutions they work in, which often withholds them from feeling passion for their jobs.

Moreover, she repeatedly criticizes the sexist and racist practices in academia: “[Olive] was the only woman in the room, virtually alone in a sea of white men,” Hazelwood writes to expose the structural inequalities in academia that refuse women and people of color seats at the table. She reiterates throughout the book how the lack of diversity in Olive’s professional and academic environments makes her feel out of place and pushes her to doubt her own abilities, resulting in tremendous anxiety and imposter syndrome.

A breath of fresh air, Olive’s best friend Anh is characterized by her enthusiasm and optimistic outlook throughout the book, even in the face of constant gender discrimination. She is also the head of Stanford Women in Science Association and director of outreach for the Organization of BIPOC Scientists. Anh’s passion within the field and her positive perception of the future reflects a hope for change and highlights the importance of such organizations to diversify the field and create safer environments for women.

While it doesn’t feel true to Stanford at all times, Hazelwood’s novel presents both the beauty of biology and the downfalls of academia, all while narrating a gripping romance. Meanwhile, Hazelwood herself proves that one can follow their passions in STEM and creative writing simultaneously by excelling as a researcher and a novelist. For those who live for classic romance tropes, love biology or are looking for examples of how to reach faculty through email, “The Love Hypothesis” has you covered!

Editor’s Note: This article is a review and includes subjective opinions, thoughts and critiques.

Leyla Yilmaz '25 is the vol. 264 Reads desk editor for the Arts & Life section. She is from Istanbul, Turkey and a prospective Biology major who enjoys frequent trips to the bookstore and collecting cacti. Contact the Daily's Arts & Life section at arts ‘at’ stanforddaily.com.

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The Spoiler Reviews

When you absolutely have to know what happens at every stage of a book before you actually read it..

The Love Hypothesis

By ali hazelwood.

Spoiler Alert: Adam Carlsen has always liked Olive, even when she didn’t know who he was.

Insight Into The Love Hypothesis

There are a lot of fandoms in the world: Avatar the Last Airbender, Harry Potter, Anime…the list goes on. Almost any piece of media has a group of loyal fans standing behind it. Though there are two that seem to get more attention than the others…Marvel and Star Wars. Personally, I’m a devoted follower of the former. (Scarlet Witch is the most powerful Avenger and I will not be taking questions at this time). But Star Wars has been the inspiration of many pieces of fiction, including The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood.

Spoiler-y Plot Summary

The Love Hypothesis follows Olive—based on the character Rey from the Star Wars sequel trilogy—a PhD student at Stanford. Three years prior to the start of this novel Olive was having a breakdown about going the academic route and a mysterious stranger convinced her it was worthwhile. This is important…and it’s also pretty predictable. In present time, Olive kisses Adam Carlsen—based on Kylo Ren from the same movie—a Stanford researcher, in a desperate attempt to convince her best friend she’s on a date.

At this point, a few things need to be cleared up:

Olive had an ex-boyfriend named Jeremy that her best friend, Anh, was interested in, but being the good friend she was, she backed off. However, Olive was all for it and to convince Anh she’d moved on, she told Anh she was going on a date only for Anh to walk into the lab where Olive was actually spending her night. Thus, she kissed the closest person to her: Adam.

No, it was not the most logical option available.

Adam threatens her with a Title IX lawsuit if she doesn’t explain, which she does before sprinting away, like any socially anxious person would. The next day, as Anh is demanding an explanation for what she saw, (why would Olive be kissing the notoriously scary professor?), Adam swoops in, acting like her boyfriend to prevent Olive from feeling awkward.

Following this encounter, the pair discuss acting like a couple for their individual reasons. Olive: so, Anh will feel comfortable dating her ex. Adam: so, the university will think he’s putting down roots and that he isn’t secretly planning to leave the university for another school. Thus, the fake-dating trope begins.

Meanwhile, Olive is researching modes of early detection for pancreatic cancer and is looking for a better lab to continue her work. Her plea for help is answered by Tom Benton, a professor from Harvard, who happens to be a friend of Adam’s. She is able to pitch her work to him while on a fake date with Adam, which Tom intruded on. Impressed with her work, he later offers her a spot in his lab.

Weeks pass, with many awkward encounters between Adam and Olive due to Anh’s pushing, and Olive is invited to speak about her work at a conference in Boston. Most hotels are booked, and she’s forced to share a room with Adam to aid in their charade. Unfortunately, Adam isn’t able to attend Olive’s speech because he has one simultaneously as the keynote speaker, but Tom Benton is in the audience.

After her speech, Tom begins to show his true colors and tries to force himself onto her. As she declines, he threatens to steal her work and publish it under his name. She flees to her room, and this is where Adam finds her. He comforts her, though she doesn’t tell him about Tom or his cruelty because she knows they’re friends. The next day, Olive breaks things off with Adam since they had succeeded in reaching their individual goals.

Later, Olive is reviewing a recording she had of her speech when she realizes she’d accidentally recorded Tom as well. Olive’s friends were in the room as this happened and they persuade her to report him since she has proof.

Furthermore, Adam planned to transfer to Harvard to work alongside Tom, though Tom would be getting more out of the arrangement—her friends convince Olive that Adam deserved to know who he was working with.

Appearing at the restaurant where Adam and Tom were meeting with higher-ups of Harvard, she asks to speak with Adam privately. Tom does not want this to happen and follows them, trying to interrupt her before Olive turns on the recording and Tom’s callousness is revealed. This lands him a punch in the face, courtesy of Adam. During the ensuing fight, Adam tells Tom, “say another word about the woman I love, if you look at her, if you even think of her—I’m going to [redacted] kill you.”

In the aftermath, Olive and Adam go on a double date with Malcolm (another friend of Olive’s) and Holden (another friend of Adam’s) who reveals that Adam has always pined after her since the time he found her crying on a bathroom floor because she didn’t know whether she should follow academia. Aww.

The book ends with Adam and Olive reenacting their first kiss on their one-year anniversary. Tom Benton has been fired from his job at Harvard. Olive has found a lab in California to continue her research with Adam remaining at Stanford so they can be together. All is right in the world.

Analysis: Should You Read It?

Overall, this book is adorable. If you’re looking for a deep thinker or something that inspires philosophical questions, this is about as far away as you can get. This book is perfect if you’re in the middle of a reading slump and need something easy to pull you out of it—it’s always my go-to in that case. The romance is easy to love, and the academic setting is greatly advantaged due to the author’s history in academia.

The characters are loveable even if you sometimes want to take their shoulders and shake them as you scream, “stop being stupid!” Olive is the quintessential sunshine-y, quirky girl who’s love of Star Wars reflects the author’s own passion. Adam is the classic, grumpy boy who emotes in tortured looks across rooms. Together, they’re the perfect duo even if they have no idea how to properly communicate their feelings to each other. However, the side characters are mostly 2-dimensional and aren’t really fleshed out other than providing means for a plot.

My biggest complaint is the cluelessness that Olive exhibits throughout the novel. While Adam never outright admitted his crush on Olive, the signs were all there. In bright red letters! Additionally, while this book has two of the greatest tropes, sunshine x grumpy and fake dating, it also has the absolute worst…miscommunication. While I’m grateful for the length of this novel, it doesn’t stop a person from being aggravated that all the issues could be solved in a single, honest discussion.

Ultimately, despite my grievances, this novel is one of my favorites to read and recommend. So much so that I’ve gifted this book to two separate people as birthday gifts. Ali Hazelwood is a fantastic author, and her books are incredibly enjoyable.

Recommendations

If you enjoy this book, I suggest The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang which also follows a woman in STEM and her journey to finding love. Additionally, I would suggest Fix Her Up by Tessa Bailey which shares the lightheartedness of this novel.

Entertainment

Beach Reads

The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood Book Review

Rey and kylo ren stans: you'll love this debut romance book from fanfic author ali hazelwood.

As POPSUGAR editors, we independently select and write about stuff we love and think you'll like too. If you buy a product we have recommended, we may receive affiliate commission, which in turn supports our work.

If you told me that my favourite book of 2021 would end up being about two fake dating scientists whose characters are loosely based on Rey and Kylo Ren from Star Wars , I would not have believed you. Fake dating isn't my favourite trope, science was my worst school subject, and while I've always enjoyed watching Star Wars , I wouldn't exactly call myself a fan. But that was before I read The Love Hypothesis (out Sept. 14) by Ali Hazelwood.

In the novel, Olive Smith is a biology Ph.D. student who is on a mission to convince her best friend that she's in a relationship. Considering she's definitely single, and worried that her friend will learn the truth, Olive randomly panic-kisses the first man she comes across in the lab — who just so happens to be the notoriously intimidating Dr. Adam Carlsen, a professor in her department. Nobody is more surprised than Olive when Adam agrees to go along with her charade. But how long can Olive keep up the ruse of fake dating when real feelings become involved?

Their connection is pure slow-burning gold with lots of chemistry (both the literal and figurative kind).

This is Hazelwood's debut novel, but she's been writing fanfiction for years. I read that this book was actually based on a previous, and hugely popular, Star Wars fanfiction story she wrote a few years ago. So if you're a Rey and Kylo Ren stan , you should probably read this book. I mean, just look at the cover!

Standout Quote

Where You Should Read It

Snuggled up at a student cafe with a pumpkin spice latte (Olive's drink of choice).

Read This If You Like . . .

Rey and Kylo Ren fanfic, romance stories set in academia like How to Fail at Flirting by Denise Williams , or a fake dating trope.

POPSUGAR Reading Challenge Prompt(s)

This novel can check off more than one 2021 POPSUGAR Reading Challenge prompt; just pick the one that fits best for you.

A book that's published in 2021
A book about a subject you are passionate about
A book you think your best friend would like

How Long It Takes to Read

The story is 360 pages long, and I read it every spare second I could over a weekend — and then immediately started over again when I finished since I didn't want it to end.

Give This Book to . . .

Friends who love Star Wars or smart and science-y love stories, who work in STEM, or who have ever fantasized about dating that really hot professor from college.

The Sweet Spot Summary

The Love Hypothesis ($14) follows Olive, a Ph.D. student, who fake dates the one professor her peers love to hate: the intimidating (and intimidatingly hot) Dr. Adam Carlsen. She doesn't really believe in love, but if there's anyone who can convince her, it just might be Adam.

Emoji Rating

👩‍🔬 + 👨‍🔬 + 🔬 + 🔥

The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood Book Review

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Bestselling Romance Novel Inspired By Fanfiction About Star Wars' Rey And Kylo Ren Is Becoming A Movie

The impact of Reylo lives on.

Adam Driver and Daisy Ridley as Rey and Kylo Ren kissing during Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

It’s more common these days for an author to be inspired by a popular love story and write one of their own than ever. The Dakota Johnson-led 50 Shades of Grey movies is based on erotica that started as Twilight fanfiction, and the After books and movies are based on Harry Styles fanfiction. The latest movie that will be influenced by imaginative shippers is The Love Hypothesis , a bestselling romance novel that began thanks to Star Wars’ Reylo.

Ah yes, Reylo. It was the controversial Star Wars relationship that was often at the center of the Sequel Trilogy and ended with a kiss between Daisy Ridley ’s Rey and Adam Driver ’s Kylo Ren/Ben Solo. The display of affection occurred in 2019’s The Rise of Skywalker before fans of the romance were crushed when Ben died in Rey’s arms just moments later. Ali Hazelwood was inspired by Reylo to write her 2021 novel The Love Hypothesis , which is now officially being adapted into a movie.

Per Deadline , the studio behind Netflix’s recent adaptation of Jane Austen’s Persuasion is tackling the movie version of The Love Hypothesis , a romantic comedy storyline with characters that were inspired by Daisy Ridley and Adam Driver’s Star Wars on-screen romance. Check out the cover of the New York Times bestseller and tell me you don’t see the resemblance:

The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood 2021 book bacsed on Reylo fanfiction

Now The Love Hypothesis is not a sci-fi romance set in Jakku. The story follows a third-year Ph.D. candidate named Olive Smith who is a cynic when it comes to lasting romances. Olive gets wrapped up in a classic rom-com scenario of finding a “fake boyfriend” in Adam Carlsen, a “young hotshot professor–and well-known ass” who agrees to take part in the charade with Olive. Down the road, obviously the pair fall for one another for real.

Not only do the main characters of The Love Hypothesis look just like Daisy Ridley and Adam Driver, “Adam” as a character name is also a nice nod. In the official synopsis of the novel, it’s described that it’s “going to take more than hand-wavy Jedi mind tricks” for Olive to fall in love. The subtle references are there, but all in all, the upcoming movie is very much its own thing just like 50 Shades of Grey and Twilight are much different, and the Harry Styles and After comparisons stop at Hero Fiennes Tiffin’s appearance.

Now the question is whether Daisy Ridley or Adam Driver would actually star in The Love Hypothesis . It’s what everyone wants, but we wouldn’t blame the actors if they want to distance themselves from Reylo after all the toxicity from Star Wars fandom over the years. While we anticipate The Love Hypothesis , check out the Star Wars movies in order and new episodes of Andor on Disney+ on Wednesdays.

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Sarah El-Mahmoud has been with CinemaBlend since 2018 after graduating from Cal State Fullerton with a degree in Journalism. In college, she was the Managing Editor of the award-winning college paper, The Daily Titan, where she specialized in writing/editing long-form features, profiles and arts & entertainment coverage, including her first run-in with movie reporting, with a phone interview with Guillermo del Toro for Best Picture winner, The Shape of Water. Now she's into covering YA television and movies, and plenty of horror. Word webslinger. All her writing should be read in Sarah Connor’s Terminator 2 voice over.

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Literature / The Love Hypothesis

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This novel contains examples of the following tropes:

All Girls Want Bad Boys : Averted. Despite being good-looking, Adam isn't pursued by women due to his asshole-tendencies. In fact, people are appalled about their relationship, and ask Olive if she is alright because she is dating a known jackass.
Amicable Exes : What Olive and Jeremy are. They went on a few dates, but broke up because he was more interested in Anh.
Anh and Jeremy.
Malcolm and Holden.
Big Man on Campus : Adam is this. So much so, that even Tom at Harvard heard of him dating Olive.
Break His Heart to Save Him : Olive tries to do this, and breaks up with Adam, so he can work with Tom. Once Holden tells her Adam could easily research without Tom, and that Tom is gunning for Adam's career for a long time, she shows Adam the proof of Tom blackmailing her.
Casting Couch : Tom tries it with Olive, making it clear that he'll only fund her research if she sleeps with him. If not, he'll steal it .
Character Tics : Olive is prone to silently weeping. “Apparently, weeping silently was her new baseline state.”
Compassionate Critic : Adam actually does mean well with his harsh criticism, wanting his students to become great scientists. He may not care about protecting anyone's feelings, but he does care about his students producing quality work and being able to thrive in the field.
Curves in All the Right Places : A male version in which Adam gets countless stares playing Frisbee shirtless. Apparently, his shoulders are swoon-worthy.
Deadpan Snarker : Adam snarks with every sentence.
Disappeared Dad : Olive's dad left before she was born. Once her mother died, she had to go to foster care.
When Olive kisses Adam, she quickly asks him if it is alright, and thought she heard a yes, which he denies. Turns out, he probably did say yes, since he was pining for her for about 3 years.
Anh asks Olive if Adam is blackmailing her to be in a relationship with him, which Olive thinks is ridiculous. Tom tries exactly that later to hurt Adam.
Fake Relationship : The entire premise. Olive wants Anh to date Jeremy without feeling bad, and Adam wants Stanford to think he will not move on to Harvard because his “girlfriend” is in Stanford.
Gay Best Friend : Olive and Adam have Malcolm and Holden respectively; they even end up becoming a couple. The two serve to give them some (sometimes biting) insight into their relationship and support them in times of strife.
Got Volunteered : This happens to Adam on a frequent basis. He doesn't care about social gatherings, but as a professor, he is in a rotation and has to go once in a while.
Jerk with a Heart of Gold : Adam. He doesn't believe in coddling other people's feelings in an academic setting, thinking it is more effective to get straight to the point. However, privately he is a genuinely nice person, a great friend and wants only the best for Olive.
Loophole Abuse : Professors dating students, even grad students, is very frowned upon. But, as Adam points out, since Olive is a grad student, she's not his advisee, and she's not a T.A. for any of his classes, them dating is technically not against regulations. He'd have to recuse himself in the event he was ever asked to review any of Olive's work if she was up for funding or something, but other than that, they won't cross paths academically.
Manipulative Bastard : Tom Benton. He tried to tear down Adam as a Ph.D. candidate whilst pretending to be his friend, and wanted to blackmail Olive into having sex with him to take something from Adam, because he was annoyed at his accomplishments.
Missing Mom : Olive's mom died of pancreatic cancer when Olive was a teenager, forcing her to live in foster care till she was able to emancipate herself. This is the reason she is studying this specific type of cancer.
Really Gets Around : Malcolm believes dating is an Olympic sport and is out to get gold.
Reasonable Authority Figure : Once the recording with Tom Benton's blackmail is in the hands of his boss, there are quick consequences.
Romantic Fake–Real Turn : Olive and Adam fall in love with each other for real.
Adam has the reputation of one, being known for harsh and biting criticism and having a massive stick up his ass. However, as Olive gets to know him, she realizes it's not true; he may not like the majority of his grad students, but he does want the best for them, and his critiques are usually accurate.
The real example would be Adam's adviser from back in his grad school days; cruel, domineering, abusive, and prone to messing with students just because he could and he liked having power over them. Adam is borderline traumatized by him.
Single-Target Sexuality : Olive is gray asexual, and Adam is the first person she is attracted to.
Stalker with a Crush : A mild example. Adam knows some things about Olive before they started fake dating. Turns out, he had a crush on her for the past couple years and was just too chicken to ask her out.
Teacher/Student Romance : Downplayed. Olive is a grad student and Adam is a professor; however, he has no power over her academically and she was never in his classes as an undergrad.
There Is Only One Bed : Discussed and ultimately averted. Olive is hesitant to share a hotel room with Adam because she's convinced they're going to end up with this trope. There are two beds.
Thinks Like a Romance Novel : Olive's more Thinks Like a Rom-Com. Having watched plenty of rom-com movies, she's already fully aware of the fake dating trope, There Is Only One Bed , and the like.
The Topic of Cancer : Constantly at the back of the story, since Olive researches pancreatic cancer, which her mother died of.
When She Smiles : Gender inverted with Adam. His usual version of a smile is slightly lifting the corners of his mouth. When he actually smiles, he is all dimples and teeth.
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Love Letters to the Dead
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clock This article was published more than 1 year ago

Ali Hazelwood’s sort-of-secret life as a best-selling author

Ali Hazelwood is hiding in plain sight. Search the best-selling romance author’s name online, and you’ll see plenty of photos of the smiling, spectacled brunette, not to mention a TikTok of her gamely autographing a fan’s chest (caption: “when getting the signed book isn’t enough”). But she’d rather not divulge her real name.

So who is the woman behind the pseudonym? Here’s what we know: She was born and raised in Italy and retains a charming accent. She’s a neuroscientist and professor living with her husband somewhere in the United States. And her age is …

“Can you just say I’m in my 30s?” she asks over Zoom. “I’m sorry. Is that weird? Am I being weird?”

“Weird,” like a lot of her words, comes out with an “a” on the end: weird-a. But the answer is no. Pen names are not at all out of the ordinary, particularly in the world of romance. And yet, she still seems conflicted about the whole thing.

The truth, as she explains it, is that she didn’t intend to keep her scientist identity separate from her author identity, because she didn’t intend to become an author. Creative writing — specifically the writing of erotic fan fiction about Star Trek’s Mr. Spock — was just a hobby, a way to unplug from the stressful world of academia.

Spock, though? Really? The one played by Zachary Quinto ? Oh no, she clarifies, Leonard Nimoy too.

“Even as a kid, I loved Spock so much,” she says with reverence. “He’s just this broody, emotionless science man, but every two or three episodes, something happens, and they just make him feel all the emotions.”

Hazelwood’s fan fiction showed her potential. One story, inspired by Kylo Ren and Rey from the Star Wars franchise, had enough depth and humanity — and the setting of STEM academia was different enough from “a galaxy far, far away” — that when literary agent Thao Le stumbled across it in 2020, she thought it already read like an original story.

“Honestly, if you didn’t know it was inspired by characters from ‘Star Wars,’ you wouldn’t even recognize them,” Le says.

21 books to read this summer

One fortuitous Twitter connection later and the pair were turning Hazelwood’s fan fiction into “ The Love Hypothesis .”

“She was the one who helped me make the leap from writing fictional characters making out to writing my fictional characters making out,” Hazelwood says.

And now here she is, less than a year after her debut became a bestseller and days from releasing her second novel, “ Love on the Brain .” Both are about female scientists who fall for, well, broody, emotionless science men. Hazelwood also published three novellas this year. (“I should be doing research,” she says, “but I’m doing this other thing.”)

Hazelwood’s novels fall into the growing genre of “STEMinist” fiction that also includes recent feel-good bestsellers “ Lessons in Chemistry ,” by Bonnie Garmus, and “ The Soulmate Equation ,” by Christina Lauren. “Love on the Brain” revolves around two scientists, Bee Königswasser and Levi Ward, who are working on a NASA project to create a helmet that uses transcranial magnetic stimulation to reduce an astronaut’s “attentional blinks,” which, as Bee describes it, are “those little lapses in awareness that are unavoidable when many things happen at once.”

There are plenty of breathless encounters in “Love on the Brain,” but the flirty banter isn’t typical romance stuff. It might consist of a scientific debate about why couples are destined to break up. “Emotions are transient by nature,” Bee schools Levi. “They’re temporary states brought on by neurophysical changes that aren’t meant to be long-lasting. The nervous system must revert back to homeostasis.” To which Levi responds: “What about prairie voles? They pair bond for life.” Swoon.

How the romance genre found its happily ever after

“The Love Hypothesis” has been hugely popular on TikTok, where young women sing its praises and quote its “spicy” passages. And that raises the question: Do Hazelwood’s students really not know about her alter-ego? What about her co-workers?

“No one has ever said anything to me,” Hazelwood says. “I don’t think they know. Maybe they don’t read romance. And there are many authors whose faces I wouldn’t know.”

It didn’t even occur to Hazelwood that she was living “this weird Hannah Montana life” until “ The Love Hypothesis ” started taking off, but by then she wasn’t sure how she would even broach the subject of her book with people who know her as a scientist.

“If, one day, someone comes into my office and says, ‘you wrote this,’ I’m going to own it,” she says. “Right now, the hard thing is just bringing it up to people, like, ‘oh, by the way, I wrote this book.’”

Pen names are common in the romance genre, which has historically been stigmatized and minimized despite massive and growing popularity. (Three romance authors — Colleen Hoover, Emily Henry and Taylor Jenkins Reid — are currently dominating the paperback bestsellers list.) But Hazelwood says she isn’t keeping her identity secret because she’s ashamed of writing about sex.

On TikTok, crying is encouraged. Colleen Hoover’s books get the job done.

She’s proud of writing romance. Ten years ago, maybe she would have been embarrassed, but the fan communities she belongs to have changed that.

“I found my people, and by finding my people I was able to accept myself better,” she says. “I find writing and reading stuff incredibly hot and, you know, it's something that makes me happy.”

Hazelwood has also found her people at book events, though she doesn’t do many readings. (She’s under the likely mistaken impression that her fans won’t appreciate her accent.)

“It’s a weird thing, because I’m not hiding,” she says, before stopping and starting a few times, weighing her words.

“The people who know me as Ali Hazelwood, the readers, I don’t want them to know my real name,” she says. “But I don’t mind if people who know my real name find out I’m Ali Hazelwood.”

That’s good, because with another romantic comedy ready to take TikTok by storm, it feels like it can only be a matter of time.

We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Book Review of The Love Hypothesis ( The Love Hypothesis #1 ) by Ali Hazelwood

Cover of The Love Hypothesis, featuring two people kissing in front of a science lab setup

About the Book

Ali Hazelwood
Adult Romance
Contemporary
Man-Woman Romance
White (Non-Specified)

Grading Scale

First Impressions: For Science What’s Your Type? Fake Dating, Grumpy/Sunshine, Slow Burn, Mutual Pining, Mutual Misunderstanding, Meta, Reylo Shipping The Lean : Like a Boulder We Need to Talk: Feeling the (Force) Dyad Was it Good For You? I Just Died in Your Arms Tonight

Content Warning: The Love Hypothesis includes elements of emotional and mental abuse, including bullying and gaslighting, and an attempted kiss without consent, that might be triggering for some readers.

First Impressions: For Science

When the influx of cartoon-like illustrated covers started, I really liked them. They allowed for more diversity than the standard stock models. But they’re the norm, now, and while I like this one a bunch—the people on the cover are actually what made me first want to read this book, but more on that below—it’s getting hard to really distinguish from one book to the next. ( Especially in the rom-com world.)

I do appreciate the inclusion of the scientific gear and the woman in her lab coat, though. Very story on-point.

What’s Your Type?

Fake Dating
Grumpy/Sunshine
Mutual Pining
Mutual Misunderstanding
Reylo Shipping

Dating Profile

Olive Smith is a rising third-year grad student in the biology department at Stanford. She’s passionate about her work—she’s doing research into pancreatic cancer detection—and doesn’t feel the need to have much of a life, other than spending time with her best friends Anh and Malcolm. But when a chance encounter brings Dr. Adam Carlsen into her life—the Dr. Carlsen who is the bane of most undergrad and grad students in the department’s lives—she suddenly finds herself juggling more than she can handle.

Especially when the encounter is part of a lie, a lie Olive staged to protect someone she cares about. And even more so when Adam agrees to be complicit in said lie, as it just so happens to help him out, too.

Olive and Adam have been a part of the same academic department for a couple of years, but it isn’t until The Night that Olive accosts him with a semi-consensual kiss to back up a lie about being on a date that they do more than cross paths in the hallway. The kiss leads to a fake dating situation, which Olive’s in to make sure her friends are happy and Adam’s in to make sure he gets the funding he needs to complete his research.

The Lean : Like a Boulder

Adam has a reputation amongst the biology department for being a complete hardass. He’s made more than a few people cry but doesn’t seem to care that he’s hated. Olive kicks herself at first for Adam being in the right place at the right time—she barely had a moment to realize who she was kissing before she did it—but soon she begins to realize that his outward stony exterior’s not actually all there is to him. He’s completely set in his ways, sure, but he’s also caring and supportive and delightfully sarcastic and kinda sexy with that extremely (surprisingly) fit physique and the somewhat exaggerated facial features that would look strange on anyone else, but there’s something about them on him …

For a romance book, there’s actually not a whole lot of romance , if you get my drift. Olive and Adam only share one very heated night of passion before plot gets in the way, but damn if it isn’t a supremely sexy night. Adam’s a caring and attentive lover, great for Olive who doesn’t have much experience—and who I believe is demi-sexual, although it’s not labeled in the book—but isn’t afraid to ask for what he wants in a sexily crass way.

Then Adam pulled out, pushed back in, and they annihilated the no-sex rule. In the span of a few seconds his thrusts went from tentative, exploratory, to fast and all-eclipsing. His hand slid to the small of her back, lifting her into him as he plied in, and in, and in again, rubbing inside her, against her, forcing pleasure to vibrate up her spine.

Ms. Perky’s Prize for Purplest Prose

This is the first book of Hazelwood’s I’ve read, but it certainly won’t be the last. I love her mix of wit and angst—two things any good rom-com should have in spades—and how realistic her characters are. Her writing is not at all flowery, unless you count the passages in which Hazlewood gives a close look at what’s happening in Olive’s brain:

In the span of a microsecond Olive’s entire brain burst into flames—and then crumbled into a pile of ashes. Just like that, one hundred billion neurons, one thousand billion glial cells, and who knew how many milliliters of cerebrospinal fluid, just ceased to exist. The rest of her body was not doing very well, either, since Olive could feel all her organs shut down in real time. From the very beginning of her acquaintance with Adam there had been about ten instances of Olive wishing to drop dead on the spot, for the earth to open and swallow her whole, for a cataclysm to hit and spare her from the embarrassment of their interactions. This time, though, it felt as though the end of the world might happen for real.

Our girl is a … tad … bit dramatic.

We Need to Talk: Feeling the (Force) Dyad

If you followed the discourse about this book around its release, you might know that it’s based on a Reylo (Rey and Kylo Ren from Star Wars ) fanfic. Which is honestly one of the reasons I wanted to read it—no shame in my ‘ship game—I can’t get enough of that problematic relationship. However, lest this turn you off from reading, The Love Hypothesis doesn’t read like a Star Wars fic and, unless you’re familiar with the characters in the movies, you’ll likely not even pick up on the small nods, which mostly remain with the characters’ looks (see my vague note in First Impressions), personalities, and relationships. Whatever the story started as, it was obviously a total AU (alternate universe) story—Rey and Kylo certainly aren’t biology researchers who go to/teach at Standford, respectively—and Olive and Adam, while being reminiscent of others, completely stand on their own.

Hazlewood’s grasp of actual science is an added bonus, too. I’m not a scientist, but I trust that she, someone who is, got all the bits and bobs right about the depictions of research in academia and what comes with it.

Was it Good For You? I Just Died in Your Arms Tonight

I really couldn’t have asked for more from a rom-com. I’m still a novice when it comes to romance books, so easing into the genre with books like this—books that make me smile long after I’ve finished reading with just the right amount of HOTTness—is exactly what I look for when I know I need a specific kind of pick me up. And I promise that you won’t feel like you’re reading a Star Wars story, but if you want any fic recs, you know where to find me.

FTC Full Disclosure: I bought a copy of this book with my own funds and got neither a private dance party with Tom Hiddleston nor money in exchange for this review. The Love Hypothesis is available now.

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workplace romance

Mandy (she/her) is a manager at a tech company who lives in Austin, TX, with her husband, son, and dogs. She loves superheroes and pretty much any show or movie with “Star” in the name.

6 thoughts on “ The Love Hypothesis (The Love Hypothesis #1) ”

Yes, please on the Reylo fanfic recs! I loved The Love Hypothesis.

I’ll put together a list! 😀

I have this on hold at the library. CANNOT WAIT.

It’s so, so cute. I hope you love it, too!

I read this in one day!!! It was so cute and slow burn romances like this are IMPOSSIBLE for me to put down.

From Fanfic to Bookshop Pick: The Love Hypothesis

By Emma Regan and Jordan Maxwell Ridgway

This article is the first in a series exploring the world of fanfiction. Fanfiction has not only been growing in popularity amongst readers over the years, but it is also proving to be prime training for writers wanting to break into the industry. This week we will be discussing The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood and its success.

Fanfiction is typically unauthorised material written by fans and based on existing works. There has been a full range of responses from authors and copyright owners, both positive and negative. The earliest cited use of the term ‘fanfiction’ dates back to 1939 and has deep roots in the fantasy and science fiction genres. However, all literary buffs are aware that writers, such as Shakespeare, were known to ‘borrow’ and put their own spin on existing characters and plots.

Today, fanfiction can be found on sites such as Wattpad and Archive of Our Own (AO3), amongst others. Fanfiction is believed to have a largely female-based reader and author demographic, but a growing portion of the transgender and non-binary or genderfluid community are reading and producing works of their own too. Fanfiction also appears to appeal to young people as a way to reimagine the content they love and hone their craft.

As Ali Hazelwood said in an interview with Collider , “It's great, like you said, to find your voice, to explore things that you usually don't find in traditional publishing.” In the same article, Hazelwood expresses her joy that publishing houses are taking a growing interest in fanfiction and its marketability, and how this is lending further “legitimacy” to the medium. Fanfiction has, over recent years, felt like a pejorative: a disclaimer to suggest the work should not be taken seriously in its own right. This likely stems from the work not being purely original, cited as enough cause for dismissal. But it could be said that Shakespeare may have created the term ‘star-cross’d lovers,’ but he hardly invented the trope.

It is notable that fanfiction is often based on the trials and tensions between characters from popular franchises, and so it is unsurprising that a lot of the successful examples of fanfiction translated into original works fit into the romance genre. Despite its profitability and demand, it is still a genre that can be dismissed as ‘fluff.’ Considering this fact, along with the dismissal of fanfiction, as well as its demographic, it’s hard not to see the compounded odds stacked against its favour in its quest for legitimacy, surely making successful transitions even more rejoiceful.

The Love Hypothesis is one of many book titles which have gained popularity via TikTok, through the ‘BookTok’ community. It is a romance book set in academia which follows the story of Ph.D. candidate Olive Smith and “young, hotshot professor” Adam Carlsen, as they manage to find themselves caught up in needing to portray a convincing, romantic relationship and includes various other tropes used in romance novels (with quite a few of those being subverted too).

However, you might notice the two people depicted on the book’s cover look eerily like characters from a popular franchise. Ali Hazelwood started off writing fanfiction on Archive of Our Own (AO3), first for the Star Trek fandom before moving onto writing Star Wars - if you haven’t figured it out yet, the main characters of The Love Hypothesis are based on Kylo Ren and Rey Skywalker from the latest Star Wars trilogy. AO3 is where The Love Hypothesis first started (although it was under a different title then) amongst all her other fanfiction. It was there where Hazelwood found a community of other ‘fanfic’ writers and gained a strong following of readers that were enamoured by her work. Soon after, Hazelwood started to consider the process of moving from fanfiction writing to producing original content, when a literary agent, who had been reading her work, reached out to her via social media and asked to read some of her manuscripts. It was then a process of working out which pieces of fanfiction Hazelwood had written that would be the easiest to adapt into an original novel.

The Love Hypothesis doesn’t shy away from its origins though. As mentioned above, the cover of the book distinctly shows who the main characters, Olive and Adam, are based on by using fanart that was produced when the story was merely fanfiction, something the author was adamant on. Adam Carlson is also close to the name of Kylo Ren’s actor, Adam Driver, so the links to the original piece of work are there. This shows just how much traditional publishing is embracing the concept of fanfiction and that it isn’t afraid to look at it for up-and-coming authors.

Moreover, We’d Know By Then by Kirsten Bohling is another book that has been recently published with origins as another ‘Reylo’ fanfic, this time, using the soulmate trope.

Could this be the new trend within traditional publishing? Or do you think original fanfiction is the best place to get your dose of romance?

Book Recommendations

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Book reviews and book adventures, review: the love hypothesis by ali hazelwood, the tiktok viral book delivers on troupe filled twists and turns..

The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood

Buy the book here
Page count: 384
Genre: Romance, comedy, contemporary, fiction
Content warning: Discussions of workplace harassment and assault

Ali Hazelwood’s The Love Hypothesis has earned the title of being a “BookTok book” through being heavily read and discussed by content creators on TikTok. The romance novel has earned both praise and criticism from the community, with some hailing it for being sweet and funny, and others hating it for feeling cringe.

There’s one obvious trait about the fanfiction that sets it apart from other romance novels: the book has roots in fanfiction. One look at the cover and any Star Wars fan (me, I am the Star Wars fan in question) will immediately notice the cover star characters bear a striking resemblance to two familiar faces. Author Ali Hazelwood has been open about her own start as a writer of fanfic and how this helped start getting her own original work published.

There is a lot of discourse surrounding the value and validity of fanfiction, but I tend to stand with the principle that spaces encouraging new creative writers are a good thing. For those without access to creative writing programs, writing groups, or publishing industry connections, fanfiction websites might be the first place a young writer is able to share their work and receive feedback from readers and other writers.

Ties to fanfiction aside, The Love Hypothesis is an original work with original characters. The story follows Olive, a third-year Ph.D candidate who enters a fake relationship with notoriously brooding professor Adam Carlsen to convince her friend Anh that she’s over another boy in their program.

I read this book in one day. I bought it, brought it to local cafe, and read the whole thing before dinner time. It moved that fast. Each chapter begins with a “hypothesis” that gives a little clue about the action of the chapter. While Olive and Adam start off the book as strangers, the antics of the well meaning Ahn force the two into intimate and often humorous situations that grow the bond between them.

Outside of the romance, the book focuses on misogyny experienced by women in STEM fields and provides a look at the specific challenges that women like Olive face everyday. It was nice to read a lighthearted book that focuses on this issue but also showed the passions and achievements of women in STEM. Ali Hazelwood, who has a STEM background herself , does a nice job portraying of what the experience of women in academia looks like.

This book kept me reading because it does a nice job of growing a genuine connection between the two lead characters. I’ll admit that the story felt a bit absurd at the beginning, but the longer things played out, the more I found myself rooting for Olive and Adam. Hazelwood’s best moments in this story are the lighthearted and comedic ones where she leans into the fact that this story is cheesy and goofy.

There’s a nice inkling of self-awareness in the book, too. Olive seems pretty aware that she’s living out the plot of a steamy romance movie, even quipping once that she and Adam will likely end up experiencing the classic “one bed” romance troupe if she agree to share a hotel room with him.

If you’ve read my discussion of Vampire Academy, you’ll know that I am tired of stories about power imbalance relationships , specifically those between older men and younger women. Although Adam is not Olive’s direct supervisor and they do not work together, he still holds a high position in the department where she is a candidate. I was frustrated that this book once again represented an unrealistic desirability of dating one’s superior. Powerful and strong women do not need to date older men with higher positions to “meet their match”. It would’ve been simple for this story to take place between two Ph.D. candidates.

Power dynamics aside, there is one thing in this book that I just cannot get past: the recurring Title IX jokes. For a book that makes a point to tackle sexism and harassment of women in the STEM fields, I am surprised by the jokes about Olive and Adam reporting each other to HR. Sexual harassment of women in academia continues to be an issue, and it felt in poor taste that these jokes were included in the story.

It has been a long time since I have read a happy romance novel. I can say this: I had fun reading The Love Hypothesis . The overall story provided a funny, if unrealistic, get-together between two characters who could not be more different from one another.

The Extremely Nerdy Love Stories That Are Burning Up the Bestseller List

How ali hazelwood’s stem romance novels took off..

Romance novels are hot right now , and super-involved readers on TikTok and Instagram tend to have very specific tastes—two related facts that have led to big sales for certain niche subgenres within romance writing. Ali Hazelwood, an Italian expat who has lived all over the world but eventually immigrated to the U.S. to pursue an academic career in neuroscience, is among the writers who’ve benefited. Hazelwood is a pseudonym that an anonymous professor, now employed full time in academia, uses to publish a series of novels that tend to get tagged “STEMinist” on BookTok. Her books follow women as they navigate the political, ever-confusing, and at times exploitative world of STEM academia, and have struck a serious chord with audiences.

The publication of Hazelwood’s first novel, The Love Hypothesis , was a result of a fortuitous stroke of luck after a literary agent stumbled across her Star Wars fan fiction. Hypothesis became a New York Times bestselling book in 2021, as well as a common entry into many annual best romance reads and best summer reads lists. Since then, the mysterious professor known as Ali Hazelwood has published Love on the Brain , as well as Loathe to Love You , a collection of three novellas, both of which were NYT bestsellers. The film rights to The Love Hypothesis were optioned last year.

Her new one, Love, Theoretically , which publishes on Tuesday, follows a physicist in the throes of an on-campus interview for a faculty job that will save her from the horrific world of adjuncting, who, of course, falls in love with the one person on the hiring committee who is hellbent on making sure she doesn’t get the gig. I spoke to Hazelwood about Love, Theoretically , the mini-genre of STEM-centric romance writing, and why she thinks her books have gained such a strong following. This conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity.

Nadira Goffe: What made you want to start writing “STEMinist” romance novels, as you call them?

Ali Hazelwood: I don’t think I did it on purpose. I don’t think I set out to be someone who just wrote about women in STEM. It was more that the first things that I wrote were fan fiction, and I was writing a lot of that when I was in grad school and doing my postdoc. And so it was really fun to take these characters that I loved and kind of transpose them into this setting that was so stressful for me and look at how they would’ve reacted if they had to defend their thesis or take comps or publish a paper.

It was very cathartic for me, especially at the beginning. There was this feeling that I was making fun of my entire professional life and environment by writing fan fiction about stuff like that. And then it kind of seeped into original writing, but mostly it was because I’ve spent my entire life in academia, so it’s what I know best and it’s what comes easiest to me.

You mentioned that STEMinist is a word that your publisher gave to your work. What does it mean to you now?

I don’t know who created [the word]. But to me, all STEMinist means is “as it pertains to women in STEM.” I have seen this a lot used as a hashtag. For example, for years before I published, I would follow a lot of influencers who are women in STEM who would produce content that was relatable to me, and they would sometimes use the hashtag #STEMinist.

But I think that, in the end, it’s really more about women in academia and my specific experience. I guess I am not familiar enough with the humanities environment [to write about it], and I feel like I would mess it up. And I’m sure that my personal experience in STEM is not the same as other women in STEM, you know?

But even then, you write about so many different sciences ! You’re a neuroscientist—how do you write about physicists, biologists, and more?

It’s a struggle. And I’m like, “I hope no one looks too closely at this.” You know, I research a lot. My first book was about a biologist, and I’m a neuroscientist, but in my graduate program I had a lot of friends who are biologists. There was a lot of cross-pollination with other programs where we would all hang out together. So, I sort of take a lot of what they would tell me and I remember the struggles that they would have. And sometimes I would just ask them questions when I was writing my fan fiction.

And then, for other things, it’s a matter of researching. One of the novellas that I wrote [ Below Zero ] I loved, loved, loved writing. It’s set in Antarctica and it’s set at this Mars analog location. And I didn’t even know what a Mars analog was, and I started researching it and it’s the coolest thing ever. So, basically the idea is that they prepare for these missions to Mars in the place that is closest to Mars on Earth. I remember, when I was searching for that, I found blogs written by scientists. This is from back when blogs were things, so, I don’t know, a decade ago? And I was reading these blogs written 10 years ago by these super cool scientists, and it was so much fun. And you get to pick little details and put them in the stories.

Your writing has very specific female protagonists that all have their own quirks, passions, and strong sense of determination. How do you set out to write your female protagonists?

I think I lean a lot into what their insecurities are. And I think it might be because of how the process of starting to write worked for me. Writing, originally, was this hobby that I really needed because I was spending my entire days writing my dissertation and working on something that was incredibly taxing. And so writing fan fiction was something that would allow me to explore more personal things. I try to be honest about what my insecurities are with myself, and I try to explore them with my characters. Like, “What is it that prevents this person from being happy right now, and how can this be fixed, and could this be a love story?”

Obviously there’s no way to know for sure, but if you had to guess, why do you think that you have such a large audience that loves your w riting?

I’m going to be honest: I think it’s timing and luck. I mean, I don’t think I’m writing anything that is substantially different from what other authors are writing, but I think I was very lucky because my book kind of came in the middle of the [COVID-19] pandemic and it was a kind of happy, feel-good romance novel, and we all needed that. And so I just kind of got this stroke of luck that my book was picked up by a lot of BookTokkers and Bookstagrammers. So it was kind of a perfect storm of a lot of factors. Because, if I think about it, there are so many other [similar] books that were written before mine that were like … I would say they were better.

About 10 years ago, Sherry Thomas, who’s my favorite writer, wrote this book called The One in My Heart , which is a contemporary romance about this professor of materials science. She’s a woman in STEM, and she ends up having this weird fake dating relationship with a doctor, and she’s a MacArthur fellow. It’s one of my favorite novels ever, but not a lot of people have read that book.

I haven’t heard of that! I will have to read it. But I do think you’re selling yourself a little bit short. I really enjoy your books, especially as a sort of escape even from my own world, journalism and media, which is and isn’t like academia in some ways.

So many people I’ve talked to are like, “I’m not in academia, but I am also in a generally male-dominated world that traditionally has taken people who are like me or look like me and has marginalized them.” A lot of people come to me and tell me that. And I really think it’s kind of the universal experience of feeling like you are the odd person out in a setting. I felt the same when, I don’t know, I was reading Jasmine Guillory’s books and she wrote about high-powered lawyers. I don’t know anything about law. But it still resonated with me the way sometimes characters were treated or the fact that they had to jump through all those hoops.

Obviously you write romance novels, which means that they have some particularly steamy scenes. How do you build sexual tension and attraction between characters in settings like graduate student lounges and labs, which are known to be some of the dullest, most sterile of places?

OK, so I’m going to tell you the truth. In every single Ph.D. program at any given time, there are about 20 people who are having these weird kinds of relationships where everyone knows about it but also no one knows about it. I know from the outside it seems like a very sterile environment, but the truth is that a Ph.D. program takes, I don’t know, 10, 15, 20 young people, and yes, they are doing a lot of work, but they kind of also are young and a lot of them have a little bit of a “Work Hard, Play Hard” mentality.

I remember, whenever we would go to an academic conference, someone would hook up and something weirdly inappropriate would happen. I think the way I build tension in those settings is by introducing very inappropriate things. If you think about The Love Hypothesis , the protagonist is a grad student dating a professor, and they do things that, if I saw them happen in my program, I would be like, “No.” But I like doing that [in books]. That’s what I enjoy making fun of. It’s like when you watch a rom-com on TV and you see the character is having these totally weird experiences and you’re like, “Oh, I’m cringing so hard and I’m loving it.”

In addition to the steamy scenes, your writing also deals a lot with just the horrible things that women in academia have to go through, from being sexually harassed to propositioned as payment for mentorship, to running feminist STEM Twitter accounts to cope and seek or give help to other women in STEM. How much of what you write in terms of these conflicts are things that you or someone you know has personally experienced?

I’ve been relatively lucky. I had two mentors through my Ph.D., and they were women and they were amazing, and I feel like that shielded me from a lot of stuff. But I also was the only woman in my cohort. Out of eight of us, seven were American men, and I was this foreign girl coming in, and it was weird and it was isolating.

The truth is that there is a lot of very subtle sexism in academia that is not over the top, like someone necessarily openly sexually assaulting you. I can think of a million different little things that have happened even in my Ph.D. program, where, for example, a lot of female students knew that you would not want to be alone with this person. Stuff like that.

Love, Theoretically , you said in your author’s note, is maybe your most academic book so far. What did you mean by that?

I think it’s because it really goes into the politics of [what happens] when you have a faculty search. It’s kind of funny: In The Love Hypothesis , which was my first book, Olive is a graduate student, and then in Love on the Brain , Bee is a postdoc. And in the last few years, I myself have gone from being a graduate student to a postdoc to a professor. And the whole experience of interviewing for faculty jobs, applying for faculty jobs, it just is incredibly frustrating. And there are very few jobs. Being able to be in academia is getting harder and harder, getting funding is getting harder and harder, and there are so many politics at play. Adjuncting is getting more and more prevalent. So I just really wanted to talk about this really hard and sometimes ridiculous reality that my friends and I were facing in the last few years.

As far as I know, you have yet to write a sex scene that takes place in an actual lab, and would you? Because I feel like there’s a lot you can dramatically sweep off of a counter.

I 100 percent would. And I want to rectify this now that you have pointed it out. Thank you for letting me know. It will happen.

Welcome to Moviz Ark!

‘The Love Hypothesis’ Film Adaptation in the Works!!

Reylo stans rejoice! Bisous Pictures have partnered with author Ali Hazelwood on an adaption of her New York Times Best Selling novel, The Love Hypothesis . Deadline reports that a deal was struck between Elizabeth Cantillon and MRC Film to adapt the Berkley -published book.

The Love Hypothesis is one of a growing number of titles which gained popularity through the ‘BookTok’ community on TikTok. It is a romance book set amongst academia which follows the story of a young, hot, dreamy and talented – naturally – professor named (more on this later) Adam Carlsen, and a Ph.D. candidate, Olive Smith. The pair end up caught in a lie to portray a convincing and romantic couple, with the story portraying – and subverting – many tropes used in classic romance tales.

“Bisous Pictures is thrilled to be working with Ali to amplify her voice and bring this magical book to the screen,” said Cantillon, with Hazelwood adding: “It’s a true privilege to have Elizabeth and such a talented and experienced team of people working on adapting The Love Hypothesis, and I’m very excited for this next step in Olive and Adam’s story!”

Looking more closely at the cover of the novel, however, and you would be forgiven for thinking you might have seen the couple before. Hazelwood began writing fan fiction for the Star Trek fandom, before moving on to Star Wars. And yes, if you haven’t already figured it out, the main characters are based on Kylo Ren and Rey from the Star Wars sequel trilogy. Archive of Our Own is where The Love Hypothesis took flight, albeit under a different title, and where a legion of fans joined in Olive and Adam’s romance.

In a 2021 interview with Collider’s Carly Lane , the day after news broke that The Love Hypothesis officially became a New York Times bestseller , Hazelwood spoke at length about the freedom fan fiction offered. She explained how it was allowing writers to find their voice and express their feelings on mediums where they would find it harder to do in traditional publishing houses.

“I was really, really into writing fan fiction, first for the Star Trek fandom and then for the Star Wars fandom. And I loved it. It was just, it was this amazing community. I made a lot of friends and I was just having a lot of fun. And then what happened is that I started slowly thinking about trying to write something original, just to challenge myself and to do something different. And while I was in that kind of mood, my agent started reading my fan fiction on Archive of Our Own and then she reached out with a DM. She was like, “I saw that you wrote something about maybe pulling some of your fics and reworking them. And I wanted to tell you that I’m a literary agent and I would love to see you some of your manuscripts, if you’re interested in it.”

No release date has yet been announced for The Love Hypothesis, but the petition for Driver and Daisy Ridley to take on the lead roles is surely moments away from launching.

via Collider

Romance Books Becoming Movies

Emotional, butterfly-inducing, and sexy — Romance books have always provided great fodder to the film industry for movie adaptations. With a surge in popularity of the romance genre thanks to BookTok and Bookstagram, more and more love stories have become viral. The popularity of novels by authors like Taylor Jenkins Reid, Emily Henry and Ali Hazelwood has led to movie deals, and there is a slew of romance book adaptations on its way to the big screen.

Big ticket stars like Blake Lively and Nick Galitzine have signed up to bring to life the swoon-worthy characters from these romance novels. From The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo to Beach Read , these are the most hotly anticipated romance books getting the movie treatment.

Updated on May 24th, 2024 by Fawzia Khan: Romance lovers are in for a treat with a plethora of different book-to-movie adaptations that are slated to release soon. This list has been updated with more information about these adaptations and even more romance novels that are headed to the big screen.

10 Best Romance Movies on Hulu

The seven husbands of evelyn hugo is a beautiful forbidden romance.

Netflix announced back in March 2022 that Taylor Jenkins Reid's critically acclaimed novel, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo was going to be adapted into a movie by the streaming giant. While Reid will be involved in the development of the movie as executive producer, there are few updates about the cast or anything else about the movie.

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo tells the riveting story of legendary actress Evelyn Hugo, and her life of love and deception, framed by one true love that couldn't be matched by any of her other romances. Evelyn decides to go to an unknown journalist, Monique, to spill her life story to. While there has been plenty of fan casting, from Ana de Armas to Jessica Chastain, there has been no word on the actual actors involved in the movie.

Meet Me at the Lake Is A Heartwrenching Story of Love and Loss

10 best movie romances from the early 2000s, ranked.

Archewell Productions, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's company, acquired the rights to Carley Fortune's Meet Me at the Lake, a book that has themes of loss, grief, postnatal depression, and childhood trauma. It follows Will and Fern, who meet by chance in Toronto and spend the day together. They vow to meet again, but when Will doesn't show up, Fern moves on. However, their story is far from over.

After the announcement, the author confirmed "I'm so thrilled about working with Netflix and Archewell to bring Meet Me at the Lake to the screen. Will and Fern’s love story is dear to my heart, and I can’t imagine a more perfect partnership."

Hana Khan Carries On Has a Unique Cultural Twist

The tale of two opposing Halal shops, Hana Khan Carries On follows Hana, a waitress at Three Sisters Biryani Poutine, who can feel herself falling for Aydin, who works at the competing restaurant. This Muslim romance is a unique twist on the "shop around the corner trope", giving special insight from another community's perspective.

Mindy Kaling and Amazon Studios bought the rights to the romance novel, with Sahar Jahani set to write the script. There aren't any casting updates for the project, but since Mindy Kaling is known to produce touching and heartfelt South Asian stories, fans are eager to see how she's going to adapt this acclaimed novel and its love story.

The Love Hypothesis Made Science Scintillating

Why the love hypothesis could kickstart more romance film adaptations.

Move over high school romance movies — the era of science romances is upon us. Ali Hazelwood's New York Times bestseller, The Love Hypothesis revolves around Ph.D. hopeful Olive, who kickstarts a fake relationship with well-known grump and professor, Adam Carlsen. She wants to convince her best friend, Anh, that she has moved on from her ex and that Anh can now date him.

Set in the world of STEM, academic conferences, and graduate funding programs, Olive and Adam's fake-to-real romance is worth seeing on the big screen. Bisous Pictures is adapting the movie and is currently in preproduction. There has been no confirmed casting yet.

Book Lovers Has Pokes Fun at Tropes

With over a million copies sold, Emily Henry's Book Lovers takes on the beloved enemies-to-lovers trope but subverts it by applying it to a literary agent and an editor. It follows Nora Stephens, the stone-cold agent who agrees to vacation in North Carolina with her little sister Libby. What she doesn't expect is that she would keep bumping into surly Charlie Lastra, an editor with whom she had a disastrous first meeting.

With just the right doses of tragic backstories, sisterly dynamics, and sultry romance thrown in, Book Lovers is Henry's third book to be bought for a movie adaptation. Being produced by Tango Entertainment, it has Sarah Heyward of Girls and Modern Love fame attached for the screenplay.

The Spanish Love Deception Is Deliciously Romantic

15 best friends to lovers on tv.

The debut novel of author Elena Armas, The Spanish Love Deception, is a bright and buoyant love story about Catalina Martin, a young woman whose lies about a fake boyfriend become too big for her to handle. She knows she's in over her head when she has to go to a family wedding in Spain and find a real man to play her imaginary beau in front of her family.

Inexplicably, Catalina's number one nemesis at work, Aaron Blackford, agrees to fly from New York to Spain to do just that. What ensues is an epic slow-burn romance and some family drama. BCDF Pictures is working on The Spanish Love Deception, with director Peter Hutchings at the helm.

Beach Read Mixed Tragedy With Happy Endings Expertly

Another Emily Henry romance book tapped for the big screen by Original Film, Beach Read, tells the story of two authors from opposite ends of the genre spectrum. Augustus Everett is a highly awarded literary fiction maven, while January Andrews pens popular romance. When they end up in neighboring homes in North Bear Shores, Michigan, tensions rise and sparks fly.

Peppered with January and Augustus' histories, Beach Read gets the most interesting when the authors decide to exchange genres, each writing a book on them. Yulin Kuang is set to direct this swoon-worthy, beachy romance, but there's no word on a release date yet.

It Ends With Us Is A Tale of Flawed Love

Why gossip girl ended after season 6.

Colleen Hoover's It Ends With Us became a viral sensation on TikTok, revolving around the life of Lily Bloom, a young woman who witnesses abuse in her parents' marriage. Sadly, she is destined to fall for Ryle, a similarly abusive man she ends up marrying. The return of Lily's childhood love, Atlas Corrigan, holds both hope and despair for her.

Optioned by Justin Baldoni, the It Ends With Us movie has just given fans a first look with an emotional trailer set to Taylor Swift's "My Tears Ricochet". Starring Blake Lively, Brandon Sklenar, and Baldoni himself, it had to be put on hold owing to the 2023 WGA strike, which delayed it slightly. It is now set to release on August 9, 2024.

The Switch Is Heartwarming

Twenty-something Leena Cotton decided to switch places with her nearly ninety-year-old grandmother, Eileen when she bombs a big presentation at work. Leena is burnt out by the pressures of London life in her tiny apartment, while Eileen, newly single, is frustrated with her cooped-up life in Yorkshire, a town that lacks eligible bachelors for her to court.

Warm, delightful, and entertaining, The Switch by Beth O'Leary has a bit of everything, with romance. Produced by Steven Spielberg's Amblin Pictures, Rachel Brosnahan is set to play the lead in the movie, but there has been little to no update since this announcement in 2020.

People We Meet on Vacation Had Real, Authentic Lead Characters

People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry centers on Alex and Poppy, two polar opposites who manage to find common ground after a shared car ride in college and have been best friends since then. Through the years, straitlaced Alex and fiesty Poppy maintain their bond by going on holidays together, until one epic fallout.

When Poppy gets the chance to fix their friendship in one epic last trip, every emotion pent up within them flows out instead. 3000 Pictures is adapting this friends-to-lovers story that plays around with the concept of soulmates, with Brett Haley set to direct.

The Cuban Girl's Guide To Tea & Tomorrow Is A Coming of Age Opus

10 teen tropes that actually work.

A Latinx young adult novel, The Cuban Girl's Guide To Tea & Tomorrow is a gushy and tender story of Lila Reyes, a girl who had her future planned out to the tee. But when her Abuela dies, Lila's life starts to fall apart. In an effort to help her mental health, Lila's parents send her to the town of Winchester, England, for a well-deserved break, where she meets the sweet tea shop clerk, Orion Maxwell.

Between sightseeing, cups of tea, and the beginnings of love, Lila starts imagining a whole new future for herself. Producer Ace Entertainment has already begun production on the movie, which stars Maia Reficco, Kit Connor, and Kate Del Castillo.

It Happened One Summer Has Opposites Attract

Tessa Bailey's It Happened One Summer is the first of her Bellinger Sisters series, following glamorous LA It Girl Piper Bellinger. After one too many incidents that send her to jail, Piper is cut off by her wealthy father and sent away to the small town of Westport to live with her sister. Truly a fish out of water, Piper's stay in the town is made a lot more interesting by the presence of the surly local fisherman, Brendan.

BCDF Pictures and Frolic Media is set to adapt this bestseller, and Christina Mengert and Joseph Muszynski are in charge of the screenplay. The casting for vivacious Piper and handsome Brendan are yet to be announced, but fans of the book can't wait to see this feel-good rom-com on the big screen.

Star Wars: What Happened to Jar Jar Binks After Attack of the Clones, Explained

Jar Jar Binks, one of Star Wars' most infamous characters, mostly disappears after Attack of the Clones. What happened to the bombad Gungan afterward?

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What happened to jar jar during the clone wars, what happened to jar jar after order 66, what is jar jar's ultimate fate, ahmed best's star wars fate is much happier than jar jar's.

Jar Jar Binks may be one of the most infamous characters in the entire Star Wars franchise, and his fate in the galaxy far, far away has always been a big question for fans. While Jar Jar Binks was first seen as a clueless comedic character who was less than funny, he eventually grew to have a more meaningful relationship with characters and fans. Yet, despite having a significant impact on the events of the Prequel trilogy, Jar Jar Binks became a person who was shunned by the galaxy. He became an unwilling participant in the rise of Palpatine and the Empire.

Jar Jar also played a key role in multiple Star Wars films, including Star Wars: Attack of the Clones . It was in Attack of the Clones that all his trouble began. He introduced a motion into the Senate that gave Chancellor Sheev Palpatine emergency powers over the Republic just before the Clone Wars. This was the beginning of the end for Jar Jar and he was rarely seen again in any of the Star Wars movies. He made a brief appearance in Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith, but his fate is somewhat of a mystery after that. Yet, Jar Jar's fate was revealed eventually and Jar Jar became a symbol for how the entire fanbase felt about the character.

Updated by Jordan Iacobucci on May 13, 2024: As Star Wars continues to expand with new projects like The Acolyte and Tales of the Empire , dive back into the tragic fates of one of the franchise's most comedic characters.

10 Clone Wars Story Arcs That Deserve Film Adaptations

Jar Jar Binks appears in fourteen episodes of the animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars.
Ahmed Best only returns to voice Jar Jar in seven episodes of The Clone Wars , with Phil LaMarr taking over for the rest.
Jar Jar's final appearance in The Clone Wars is in the Season 6 two-part episode, "The Disappeared."

Portrayed by Ahmed Best, the Gungan was introduced to fans in Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace , where he became the companion of Qui-Gonn Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi. At this point, the Gungans considered Jar Jar next to useless. He was banished from his people because of his clumsiness. Yet, after an extensive mission to save the Queen of Naboo, Jar Jar proved himself a hero and was accepted back into the Gungan community, making him a general and later a representative in the Galactic Senate of the Republic. Jar Jar was able to prove his worth and in doing so, he gained respect from his people. This may even represent how some fans viewed Jar Jar, clumsy at first but respectable because of his bravery.

Jar Jar Binks goes on several adventures during the galaxy-wide conflict known as the Clone Wars. Jar Jar often appears in some of Star Wars: The Clone Wars ' filler episodes , where he goes on more misadventures. Among these is a mission to Rodia, where he impersonates a Jedi Master and saves Senator Padmé Amidala from a Separatist plot. Throughout the Clone Wars , he often teamed up with other notable political figures on diplomatic missions, including one particularly impactful trip to Toydaria alongside Bail Organa to get supplies to the dying people of Ryloth. In each of these adventures, Jar Jar grows as a character. While he may bumble his way through each encounter, his courage and unwavering support for the Republic are on full display. Jar Jar will throw himself into harm's way if it means being able to help his friends and complete his mission.

One of Jar Jar's final missions during the Clone Wars was alongside the powerful Jedi Master Mace Windu . The two unlikely partners are recruited to unravel the mysterious disappearances of several spiritual leaders on the planet Bardotta. There, Jar Jar encounters Queen Julia, who develops romantic feelings for him. Eventually, Jar Jar and Master Windu get to the bottom of the disappearances, uncovering a plot by Mother Talzin, a witch from Dathomir. They manage to rescue the kidnapped leaders and defeat Talzin, riding off into the sunset having saved Bardotta. His relationship with Queen Julia also shows that Jar Jar is more than just a comedic side character . He can create deep and impactful relationships with others, making his ultimate fate even more upsetting.

What Happened to the Jedi Temple in Star Wars After Order 66?

The Star Wars: Aftermath trilogy, by author Chuck Wendig, explored the galaxy after the fall of the Empire and the rise of the New Republic.
Aftermath was released in 2015 and was succeeded by two follow-ups, Life Debt in 2016 and Empire's End in 2017.
The Aftermath trilogy primarily tells the story of what happened to Wedge Antilles after the events of Return of the Jedi .

Jar Jar's fate after his adventures in Star Wars: The Clone Wars is unclear. He appears briefly in Revenge of the Sith, but this is mostly just a couple of shots of him in the background. He can be seen at Padmé's funeral, mourning the death of his friend. Padmé was a significant figure in Jar Jar's life. She is the first person on Naboo that believes in him and even asks for his help in defending his home. She trusted him to represent Naboo in her place, which is ultimately what causes her downfall. Palpatine used Jar Jar's respect and admiration for Padmé against him, manipulating Jar Jar into putting forth the bill to give him emergency powers. The Republic that Padmé fought so hard for has died along with her, and Jar Jar may feel the weight of that responsibility.

While Binks's fate isn't shown in the films, the novel Star Wars: Aftermath: Empire's End delves deeper into what happened to the wayward Gungan after Revenge of the Sith . According to the novel, written by Chuck Wendig, Jar Jar was once again exiled from the Gungan community for his inadvertent role in the Empire's rise to power. His people now didn't think he was clumsy, they believed him complicit in destroying the galaxy. Whether it was by accident or not, the Gungans didn't care. By putting the motion forward to give Palpatine emergency powers, Jar Jar accidentally started Palpatine's rise to ultimate power. Having lost any prospects for the future, Jar Jar returned to Naboo and settled down in the capital city of Theed, where he became a street performer. Eventually, Jar Jar encountered a young boy named Mapo and took him on as an apprentice, teaching Mapo how to become a performer like Jar Jar himself was.

Immortality in Star Wars, Explained

The novel, The Legends of Luke Skywalker , reveals that some citizens of the New Republic believed that Jar Jar Binks and Darth Vader were the same person.
Ahmed Best, who portrayed Jar Jar Binks in the Prequel Trilogy, also plays Jedi Knight Kelleran Beq in The Mandalorian .
Jar Jar was popular with children and unpopular with their parents as a clown. This is likely a reference to the character's role in the Star Wars fandom.

Unlike most other characters in the Star Wars universe, Jar Jar's ultimate fate is never explicitly explored. Even so, since the events of Star Wars: Aftermath take place after the Battle of Endor, fans can confirm that Jar Jar did survive the events of the Galactic Civil War. What happens to him after is largely unknown, though it can be assumed that he continued to work as a street performer in Theed until his death.

Aftermath makes Jar Jar one of the most tragic characters in Star Wars , as he is left to contemplate his role in the galaxy's political state. Jar Jar realized that he had everything he had wanted. His people believed in him as a leader, the Jedi and Padme trusted him to act in the Republic's best interest, and people respected his accomplishments. Palpatine tricked Jar Jar and his life was destroyed because of it. Despite his happy-go-lucky personality, Jar Jar carried a tremendous burden, knowing that he was partially responsible for the downfall of democracy . Though he lived long enough to see the New Republic right his wrongs, Jar Jar still knew that his actions had indirectly led to the deaths of billions, including some of his closest friends. What once started as a comic relief character now carries out what may be the most tragic story in the entire Star Wars franchise.

Star Wars: The Phantom Menace Had a Forgotten Mascot Who Wasn't Jar Jar

Ahmed Best has been open about the harsh fan backlash to Jar Jar Binks after The Phantom Menace 's release in 1999. Closely mirroring the debate surrounding certain aspects of the Sequel Trilogy, Jar Jar was ripped apart by fans, who detested the intensely childish character. The backlash even led Best to leave acting behind for a while when things became too toxic. Thankfully, Ahmed Best has a much happier ending than his Star Wars character.

Best made a surprise return in Season 3 of The Mandalorian , but not as his infamous Gungan character. Instead, the actor appeared without his typical motion capture suit, portraying the Jedi Knight Kelleran Beq , who is revealed to have been the one to save Grogu from the Temple on the night of Order 66 . Fan reaction to Best's return was overwhelmingly positive, giving the actor a role that gave him the respect that he had long deserved for his appearances in previous Star Wars projects. After years of backlash and abuse, Ahmed Best conquered the hate and became a beloved part of Star Wars lore.

Jar Jar Binks will forever be a controversial character, but Star Wars continues to find inventive ways to play with his legacy in the franchise. The character and the actor behind him endure very different fates, telling one story of tragedy and another of redemption.

The original trilogy depicts the heroic development of Luke Skywalker as a Jedi and his fight against Palpatine's Galactic Empire alongside his sister, Leia . The prequels tell the tragic backstory of their father, Anakin, who is corrupted by Palpatine and becomes Darth Vader.

George Lucas Dismisses Criticisms of Sexism and Racism in Star Wars Movies

George Lucas doesn't agree with the constant complaint that his early Star Wars movies were "full of white males."

Star Wars promotes equality and representation through diverse characters including aliens, women, and people of color.
Lucas refutes claims of racism and sexism in the franchise, highlighting strong female lead characters from Leia to Amidala.
The Star Wars franchise has faced backlash over representation, with new projects receiving criticism for lack of diversity.

George Lucas is unquestionably one of the most influential and visionary creators to have worked in the film industry, not least for the creation of the Star Wars universe. While his work has inspired many, there are those who still call out the franchise as being racist and sexist, especially in its early years, but this is something that Lucas wholeheartedly refutes.

In a candid conversation at this year’s Cannes Film Festival (as per Variety ), Lucas hit back at the way those who criticize Star Wars when it comes to representation seem to have missed the fact that the saga has never just been about white male saviors. Taking aim at those critics, Lucas said:

"Most of the people are aliens! The idea is you’re supposed to accept people for what they are, whether they’re big and furry or whether they’re green or whatever. The idea is all people are equal... In the first one, there were a few Tunisians who were dark, and in the second one I had Billy Williams, and the [prequels], which they were also criticizing, I had Sam Jackson. He wasn’t a scoundrel like Lando. He was one of the top Jedi."

Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope

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Lucas continued to add his view on how the role of women in the Star Wars universe is always overlooked when complaints are being made about the original trilogy/prequel trilogy’s lack of female representation in meaningful roles . He continued:

"Who do you think the heroes are in these stories? What do you think Princess Leia was? She’s the head of the rebellion. She’s the one that’s taking this young kid who doesn’t know anything and this boisterous, I-know-everything guy who can’t do anything and trying to save the rebellion with these clowns … And it’s the same thing with Queen Amidala. You can’t just put a woman in pants and expect her to be a hero. They can wear dresses, they can wear whatever they want. It’s their brains and their ability to think and plan and be logistical. That’s what the hero is."

The Star Wars Franchise Gains Significant Backlash Over Representation in Modern Projects

Although Lucas’ feelings about the Star Wars saga hold some truth, it is impossible to deny that at the time the original movies were made, the roles of both women and people of color were very different to those of their modern counterparts, and that could have played a part in the overall lack of diversity in the early films. Others have also argued that if some movies can have a predominantly Black cast, female cast, gay cast, etc, then why is it categorically wrong that the early Star Wars movies constantly featured mostly white stars?

It is unlikely that the arguments will stop anytime soon though, as any Star Wars project that attempts to diversify its cast receives a torrid time from that section of the fandom. At the same time, projects that do not offer a certain level of representation come under fire from other groups online.

Daisy Ridley Hopes to Reunite With John Boyega in New Star Wars Movie

In the last several years, the racism shown towards Black actors joining the Star Wars franchise has reached a level so bad that several stars were warned to expect backlash before even taking on any role in the saga. John Boyega, who played Finn in the sequel trilogy, found himself constantly on the receiving end of online abuse during his time in the franchise, something that also happened to Moses Ingram when she appeared in Obi-Wan Kenobi , and several stars of Ahsoka .

It is clear from Lucas’ statement that the Star Wars franchise was always meant to embrace all cultures, all colors, all races. While that is something that is still proving to be difficult almost five decades after the saga began, creators joining the story of the galaxy far, far away continue to attempt to bring Lucas’ vision of equality to screens.

The Star Wars Saga is streaming on Disney+.

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Which sith are you, based on your zodiac sign.

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Which Jedi Are You, Based On Your Zodiac Sign?

The 10 best dark side characters in star wars, ranked by threat level, daisy ridley reveals star wars stress gave her a "leaky gut" & ill health.

Darth Vader exemplifies the complex path to the dark side, showcasing the depth and nuances of Sith characters in Star Wars.
Each Sith in this list perfectly matches a Zodiac sign based on their unique flaws and compelling stories, beyond just being villains.
These 12 Sith, including characters like Darth Bane and Darth Tyranus, embody the traits associated with their respective Zodiac signs in the Star Wars universe.

These 12 Sith in Star Wars canon and Legends perfectly represent each of the Zodiac signs. Although many Sith in Star Wars movies and TV shows follow a similar pattern of apprentices seeking to overthrow their masters, they are incredibly unique characters. Indeed, many of Star Wars' most powerful Sith are so much more than simply villains of pure evil.

With Darth Vader as an excellent example, the fall to the dark side is often a complicated path, corrupting even the most well-intentioned Jedi and other Force-users. This is true across the Star Wars timeline and in both canon and Legends stories. Of all the Sith in Star Wars , these 12 are the best matches for each of the Zodiac signs, not only because of their flaws but also because of their more nuanced stories.

Of all the Jedi in Star Wars' movies and TV shows, these 12 perfectly represent each of the Zodiac signs—what does your sign reveal about you?

Darth Bane's Passion And Temper Make Him A Perfect Aries

The creator of the sith rule of two was nothing if not determined.

In Star Wars , Darth Bane is something of a legend. Like most Sith outside of those depicted in the Skywalker Saga, Darth Bane's story in the franchise has been fairly complicated due to the franchise re-organizing the continuity and making the Expanded Universe 'Legends.' However, Darth Bane entered the canon in Star Wars: The Clone Wars in a brilliant scene depicting Bane as a ghost confronting Master Yoda at his own tomb.

In canon, Darth Bane was the creator of the Sith Rule of Two , the doctrine that established one master and one apprentice, with the apprentice always seeking to take the power of the master. Bane's incredible impact therefore represents the passionate and motivated personality of Aries well. However, Aries, known for being somewhat temperamental, also fits Bane, who was prone to anger to say the least.

Extremely Loyal, Darth Talon Clearly Fits The Taurus Traits

Star wars' twi'lek sith was unwaveringly committed to darth krayt.

Darth Talon is yet another Sith who became part of Legends after Star Wars' re-organization, but audiences have long been eager to see her enter the canon. In fact, this almost came to be, as George Lucas' sequel trilogy plan would have seen Darth Maul as the main antagonist/the Sith master with Darth Talon at his side as his apprentice. Sadly, this did not come to be, which may mean Darth Talon is unlikely to become canon.

However, her Legends story alone is plenty interesting and makes her an obvious Taurus. Taurus, in addition to being primarily known for stubbornness, is also an unfailingly loyal sign. This certainly suits Darth Talon, who was willing to give her life (or take someone else's) at a moment's notice should Darth Krayt command her to . Of course, Taurus, ruled by Venus, is also considered the most sensual of the signs, and it's difficult to miss that aspect of Talon's character in her styling alone.

Easily The Most Charming Dark Side Character, Asajj Ventress Is A Gemini

Even some of star wars' most powerful jedi were drawn to ventress, asajj ventress.

Asajj Ventress is the only inclusion on this list who is not actually a Sith. Rather, Ventress entered canon in The Clone Wars as a dark side Force-user and Count Dooku's assassin. While she may have been acting as Dooku's apprentice in a way, Palpatine and Dooku were the clear master and apprentice Sith duo at the time. However, Ventress is so befitting a Gemini, she has more than earned her spot on this list.

Despite Ventress being on the dark side (although Star Wars: The Bad Batch may have suggested she'd joined the light side with Asajj Ventress' return to the franchise ), Ventress was incredibly likable. In fact, even the Jedi, Obi-Wan Kenobi especially, couldn't help but like her , and another Jedi, Quinlan Vos, even fell in love with her. This is no doubt in part due to her charming personality, complete with clever quips and even some subtle flirtations.

The Self-Protective Nature Of Cancers Is An Obvious Fit For Darth Plagueis

Palpatine's sith master was desperate for immortality.

Darth Plagueis was established in the canon as Palpatine's previous Sith master in Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith when Palpatine asked Anakin Skywalker if he had ever heard the tragedy of Darth Plagueis. That story, effectively, was of Plagueis' quest for immortality, which sadly (for Plagueis) failed when Palpatine killed him in his sleep. However, the goal itself reveals Plagueis' desperate self-preservation, linked to one prominent trait of Cancers .

While Cancers outside the galaxy far, far away might not be trying to live forever, the very symbol of Cancer, the crab, reflects a need to protect oneself in addition to having a hard exterior. In real life, that can manifest as maintaining a long-standing grudge or holding others at arm's length. This can also lead to intense suspicion of others, which, simply given the nature of the Sith Rule of Two, Plagueis would have been prone to—although, arguably, not quite suspicious enough, given how he died.

Darth Vader's Strength (And Arrogance) Make Him An Obvious Leo

Darth vader could only be a fire sign, anakin skywalker/darth vader.

Any Leo would be thrilled by the idea that they are the Chosen One, as Leos can be egotistical and arrogant. These traits are certainly true of Darth Vader, who not only was confident that he was the one foretold in the Chosen One prophecy but also was capable of killing Palpatine almost immediately after becoming his Sith apprentice. However, underneath the mask and the suit, Darth Vader is still Anakin Skywalker (despite his insistence to the contrary) and therefore shares more positive traits as well.

Any Leo would be thrilled by the idea that they are the Chosen One.

Prior to falling to the dark side, Anakin was an incredible leader in the Clone Wars, boldly running headfirst into battle. He was also rather charismatic (that's how he won over Padmé, after all) and was unfailingly loyal, even to a fault. However, as a Sith, he certainly fit the bill for many of the more negative traits associated with Leo .

Practical But Controlling, Darth Sidious Could Only Be A Virgo

Despite using his abilities for evil, palpatine did (sort of) unify a galaxy, emperor palpatine / darth sidious.

Virgos are known for being practical perfectionists, which can lead them to become a bit controlling. Because Virgos tend to be so detail-oriented and strategic, they may believe they know best, coming off as a bit 'bossy' to others. While he certainly used those traits for evil (and thinking about Palpatine as bossy is humorous given the extent of his power and dangerousness), Emperor Palpatine is an excellent fit for Virgo .

Like most Sith, Palpatine takes the traits of his Zodiac sign to an extreme level. For example, Virgos are known for being organized and hard-working, which Palpatine certainly is given his ability to establish an entire Galactic Empire under his rule. Of course, this is taking the Zodiac sign at its worst; while a Sith like Palpatine might play to a sign's most negative traits, there's plenty to love about Virgos in real life.

Darth Revan's Idealism Makes Him A Clear Libra

Darth revan sought peace but fell victim to the dark side.

Darth Revan is an incredibly popular character, although he has yet to appear on-screen in Star Wars canon. He came close to doing so in Star Wars: The Clone Wars , but that scene ultimately didn't make the cut. However, he is technically canonized, as one of the Sith legions in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker bore his name.

While this means that Revan's canon story is unclear, his Legends story is fascinating and aligns him with Libra. Despite going to the dark side of the Force, Revan had clear ideals—even after he had fallen. In fact, even as a Sith, Revan sought order for the galaxy , believing the ends justified the means. Libras are also known for seeking balance, which is particularly interesting given Revan's history with both the light and dark side of the Force.

Darth Maul's Ability To Work In The Shadows Is Perfect For Scorpios

Some even argue that maul is the real phantom menace.

Darth Maul is an incredible Star Wars character who has only become more interesting as the franchise has gone on. Introduced in Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace , Maul was at first a terrifying Sith who was more mysterious than anything else. However, The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels both fleshed him out wonderfully, proving him to be cunning and determined .

These traits make Maul an excellent fit for Scorpio; in fact, the symbol of Scorpio, the scorpion, is a creature known to strike at the right moment. This is absolutely true of Maul, who worked in the shadows throughout The Phantom Menace , The Clone Wars , and Rebels . Some even believe Maul to be the titular phantom menace, although others argue it was Palpatine. Moreover, Scorpios are well-known for being secretive, something that describes Maul perfectly.

Some even believe Maul to be the titular phantom menace.

Intelligent But Fickle, Darth Tyranus Is Definitely A Sagittarius

Count dooku was known for being wise, even to the jedi.

Count Dooku, also called Darth Tyranus, is a clear Sagittarius . For one, Sagittarius is a sign associated with being philosophical and intellectual. While Count Dooku had many flaws, both of these traits certainly fit him well. In some ways, he seemed the wisest of the Sith in the Skywalker Saga, calculating and logical even as he was leading a war against the Republic.

In fact, Sagittarius men in particular are known for being deep thinkers and confident. However, that confidence in particular can lend itself to being boastful, one of the more negative Sagittarius traits. This holds true for Count Dooku, who was certainly boastful and full of bravado throughout his appearances in the Star Wars prequel trilogy and The Clone Wars . This unfortunately contributed to his death in Revenge of the Sith , when he was astonished to discover his master, Palpatine, was plotting to kill him.

Ambitious And Strategic, Darth Zannah Makes An Excellent Capricorn

Darth zannah began the pattern of the apprentice usurping the master.

Darth Zannah is a fascinating character in Star Wars . Serving as Darth Bane's Sith apprentice, Zannah had an impact on generations to come; in fact, her influence can still be seen in Star Wars' most recent Sith. While her master may have established the Sith Rule of Two, she effectively began the long-standing practice of the apprentice seeking to overthrow the master.

This has permeated the Sith ever since , with Sith apprentices including Darth Maul and Darth Vader seeking to usurp their Sith masters (or previous master, in Maul's case). Although not technically a Sith, even Kylo Ren perpetuated this cycle by killing his master, Snoke, in Star Wars: The Last Jedi . This aligns Darth Zannah with the extreme ambition Capricorns are known for. Indeed, few things in Star Wars could be considered more goal-oriented than wanting to kill a Sith master and take the power for oneself.

This aligns Darth Zannah with the extreme ambition Capricorns are known for.

Aquarius' Highly Intelligent Nature Is A Perfect Fit For Darth Tenebrous

Darth tenebrous was one of star wars' most brilliant sith.

In addition to being one of Star Wars' most powerful Sith, Darth Tenebrous, who was Darth Plagueis' Sith master, was incredibly intelligent. Although his story, like most on this list, is a bit confusing in Star Wars because he has been included in both canon and Legends, it's clear that he possessed both power and knowledge that even prominent Sith such as Darth Sidious did not have. In fact, Tenebrous was able to foresee his own death, and he understood midi-chlorians to a degree no one else did .

Given Aquarius' high intellect as an air sign, and their analytical nature, this sign perfectly matches Tenebrous' unique skill set. In fact, especially given the sign's creative, inventive traits, Aquarius is a perfect fit for Tenebrous, who even created maxi-chlorians himself. While the exact details of Tenebrous' canon story are unclear, it's possible those questions may be answered soon. In a recent trailer for Star Wars: The Acolyte , a mysterious masked Sith figure may be Tenebrous himself (although that's just a theory for now).

In a recent trailer for Star Wars: The Acolyte , a mysterious masked Sith figure may be Tenebrous himself.

Oddly Compassionate (For A Sith), Darth Caedus Is A Perfect Pisces

Darth cadeus' turn to the dark side was more complicated than most.

Darth Caedus is arguably one of the most complex Sith in Star Wars . Although solely a Legends character, and likely to stay that way given the characters and events of the Star Wars sequel trilogy, Caedus remains an important and popular Sith. In fact, in Legends, Caedus is none other than one of the children of Leia Organa and Han Solo. Born as Jacen Solo, twin to Jaina, Caedus fascinatingly joined the dark side in an attempt to save the galaxy, due to the power the dark side offered.

While certainly a misguided effort, this makes Caedus the best Sith match for Pisces, a sign known for empathy and generosity. Unfortunately, as is the nature of the dark side, those good intentions were corrupted, and Caedus went so far as to kill his aunt, Mara Jade Skywalker. Even so, given his show of selflessness—a prominent trait in Pisces—Darth Caedus is an excellent fit for this sign. Truly, these 12 Sith are the best matches for these respective Zodiac signs, reflecting some of the most significant dark side Force-users in all of Star Wars .

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21 wild movie theories that completely change the meaning of great films

Louis chilton takes a look at some of the craziest bits of cinematic speculation out there... that could well be true.

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T he very best films grow richer with each viewing, unfurling new depths of meaning each time.

But what happens when viewers look to create their own meaning?

So-called fan theories have become a booming talking point in the age of the internet, with film-lovers often scrutinising their favourite movies for hints of some secret narrative or dark twist.

While many of the theories shared – for example, on Reddit’s “fan theories” forum – are far-fetched and thinly substantiated, every so often someone is able to put a spin on a film that gives you pause for thought.

Sometimes they sound utterly ludicrous (Jar-Jar Binks being the devil in disguise?) but then when you hear the evidence, you can’t help but wonder.

13 movie franchises that should have quit while they were ahead

Here are 21 of the most popular and interesting fan theories about famous movies.

The ‘ Pixar Theory’

One of the most notorious fan theories in cinema, this spurious hypothesis seeks to situate all films produced by Pixar within the same canonical universe. There’s fodder enough to support this idea – characters are constantly cropping up in other films, in blink-and-you’ll-miss-’em Easter eggs – and, sure enough, in 2017 Pixar shared a video that seemed to confirm that this theory had legs . With each new release, however, the theory becomes a little bit more tenuous.

Star Wars – Jar Jar Binks is a Sith Lord

This notorious theory posits that Jar-Jar Binks – the buffoonish, amphibious alien that became a hate figure within the Star Wars fanbase following the release of The Phantom Menace – was, in fact, a skilled villain the whole time. There are a number of curiously convincing pieces of supporting evidence for this theory. His chaotic, fumbling movements that “shockingly” manage to defeat opponents in battle somewhat resemble the fighting style of Zui quan , or “drunken boxing”. He uses hand gestures when trying to convince people of things – a Jedi mind trick? And he ends up insinuating himself into a senatorial position, ultimately putting in place Palpatine’s takeover of the empire. Far-fetched? Meesa think not.

The ‘Tarantino theory’

Much like the Pixar theory, this argument revolves around the idea that every film made by Quentin Tarantino in fact takes place in one universe. There are tidbits that support this theory – Pulp Fiction ’s Vincent Vega and Reservoir Dogs ’s Vic Vega are brothers; Donnie Donowitz from Inglorious Basterds is father to Lee Donowitz in True Romance ; all characters smoke the same brand of fictional cigarettes (Red Apple).

The theory is based on the idea that films such as Reservoir Dogs and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood take place in an alternate reality – one where Adolf Hitler was killed in a hail of bullets and fire at the end of Inglourious Basterds . Tarantino himself has partially confirmed the theory to be true, but stipulated that there are in fact not one but two shared universes his films occupy .

Guardians of the Galaxy – Everyone is swearing (except Peter Quill)

As shared on Reddit by u/freelanceastronaut, this theory explains why all the characters in Guardians of the Galaxy cuss and swear like they’re in a film for kids. In the movie, many of the alien characters are not in fact speaking English, but are having their language translated for Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) and the audience via Quill’s universal translator.

Quill, however, was abducted from Earth when he was still a small child – meaning the kind of swear words that these rough-and-ready rogues are using simply wouldn’t be in his vocabulary.

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Charlie and the Chocolate Factory – Not a reward, but a punishment

Willy Wonka is a sicko. There’s no hiding this, of course – the man spends the majority of the film’s runtime doling out bespoke punishments to a gaggle of small children. At the end, he rewards the pure-hearted Charlie Bucket with inheritance of his magical chocolate factory.

What this theory, put forward by Reddit user u/MasterLawlz, posits, is that the ending is not a happy one at all. Rather, by bestowing the factory on little Charlie, Wonka is inflicting his worst punishment of all: a lifetime spent being a dysfunctional, vindictive recluse. The theory casts a pretty dark pall over what was already a prickly, sharp-edged kids’ fable.

Dark chocolatier: Gene Wilder’s Wonka may have had nefarious intentions

Aladdin – One wish left

At the start of Disney’s animated classic Aladdin (and, I suppose, the dire live-action remake), down-on-his-luck pauper Aladdin discovers the magic lamp and uses his first wish to ask the genie (Robin Williams/Will Smith) to make him a prince. This happens, of course, and he is transformed into “Prince Ali Ababwa”, intending to court princess Jasmine. As the plan goes awry, he has to use up his second wish to save his own life.

After using the third and final wish to free the genie, all ends up happily after all: the sultan allows Aladdin and Jasmine to marry anyway, turning him into a prince . Given that the genie has the ability to see centuries into the future, it’s entirely possible that everything that happens after wish number one was simply a circuitous means of transforming Aladdin into a prince – which would also mean that he still has one wish remaining at the end of the story. Did somebody say sequel?

Toy Story – Andy’s parents are divorcing

The Toy Story films are never really about the humans: Andy and his family exist on the periphery of the first three films, despite their monolithic importance to Woody and co. Regardless, eagle-eyed fans of the series have claimed to track a narrative running through the glimpses we get of Andy’s life – and it’s not an entirely happy one. It’s hardly an open-and-dry case but there are some reasonably sturdy bits of evidence: the fact that Andy’s father is never seen, and the lack of a wedding ring on the mother’s finger.

The Rock – Secret Bond sequel

Michael Bay’s 1996 escape-from-prison thriller sees Sean Connery play a disavowed ex-spy who had been sentenced to years in a high-security prison. According to this theory, Connery’s character, referred to as John Mason, is in fact an older version of James Bond. The timeline adds up, and it’s stated in the film that John Mason isn’t his real name. The theory is certainly compelling, but maybe not intentional: producer Jerry Bruckheimer denied that the thought had entered the writers’ minds.

Inside Llewyn Davis – Mike is a Gorfein

The Coen brothers’ masterful folk elegy Inside Llewyn Davis sees Oscar Isaac’s prickly musician haunted by unspoken grief, after the suicide of his friend and singing partner Mike Timlin. While the film sees Llewyn bounce from sofa to sofa, cadging a bed from any casual acquaintance, he comes back multiple times to Mitch and Lillian Gorfein (Ethan Phillips and Robin Bartlett), whose relationship with him is never explained.

There are several subtle hints, however, that they are in fact Mike’s parents: their house is located near the bridge he jumped off; Lillian refers to the late character as “Mikey”, and knows his harmonies; “Timlin” would be a plausible stage name for an aspiring singer named Gorfein. Of course, the notoriously explanation-averse Coens have never clarified whether this theory is true.

Mad Max – There is only one story

The chronology of the Mad Max franchise is hard to get your head around. Is Fury Road a remake of Mad Max? The world seems to change between each film, as does Max himself. What this intriguing theory claims is that all the films are in fact the same story, about the same man – only told by different people. In this interpretation, the story of Mad Max is something like a folk legend, a tale that keeps being re-shared with a different spin on it.

Skyfall – Bond revisited

Another 007-related fan theory here, and a popular one at that. The line of thinking goes that Kincade, the shotgun-toting Scottish recluse played by Albert Finney in 2012’s Skyfall , was in fact a part written for Sean Connery – making the character in fact an older incarnation of Connery’s James Bond.

The speculation was partly confirmed by director Sam Mendes, who admitted that producers had had a “definite discussion” about Connery playing the role. What does this all mean? Skyfall more or less ties both Craig and Connery’s Bond films into the same universe – and, arguably, all the other Bond films by extension. Taken as canon, this would confirm the theory that “James Bond” is nothing more than a codename – that there have been a line of different Bonds taking the role after each other.

Beau is Afraid

Ari Aster’s recent surrealist comedy Beau is Afraid is a treasure trove of symbolism and Easter eggs; it is pure unfettered theory fodder. One of the darkest theories, however, concerns an unnamed character who is glimpsed in the background of several scenes during a flashback to a cruise Beau (played as an adult by Joaquin Phoenix) went on as a child. The sinister figure is easy to miss – appearing on the edge of the frame eating an ice cream, or simply lurking. Given Beau is Afraid ’s broader fixation with sexual dysfunction and trauma, people have suggested that the figure was in fact a child sexual predator, and that the film is subtly hinting that Beau was abused while on the cruise. Aster himself has hinted at this in interviews.

Bird Box – The Rapture

In Netflix’s hit thriller Bird Box , the mere sight of the unseen monsters drives people to brutally kill themselves – prompting survivors to live their lives blindfolded every time they leave their house. One popular theory, however, posits that the monsters were in fact angels, and the film was depicting the rapture.

The Blair Witch Project – There is no Blair Witch

The seminal 1999 indie horror is built almost entirely around the implication of danger, with the titular Blair Witch never actually appearing in the film. Because of this, some fans have theorised that the creature does not in fact exist – aspiring documentarians Mike (Michael Williams) and Josh (Joshua Leonard) had lured Heather (Heather Donahue) out to the woods, staged some of the spooky occurrences, and then murdered her. There are some logistical reasons why this was almost certainly not the canonical explanation, but it nonetheless adds a chilling new dimension to the film.

Inception – The totem

In Christopher Nolan’s dream-diving thriller Inception , characters are told to create a personalised “totem” to help them determine if they’re in the real world, or a dream. It is suggested in the film that Cobb’s (Leonardo DiCaprio) totem was the spinning top inherited from his late wife Mal (Marion Cotillard). It is this spinning top on which the film is ended, with audiences unsure whether Cobb is still in a dream world or not. However, many viewers have pointed out that Cobb would have had his own totem, with some suggesting it was in fact Cobb’s ring. In the final scene, Cobb is seen without his ring – suggesting that he is satisfied that his reality is the real deal.

Marvel – Stan Lee is the Watcher

Before his death in 2018, legendary comic book artist Stan Lee appeared in a multitude of small cameos in adaptations of his work – including every film within the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) franchise. These appearances were seemingly unconnected, with Lee playing everyone from a bus driver, to an alien’s servant, to “himself”. However, after a while, fans began theorising that Lee was in fact playing one character the whole time: an intergalactic observer known in the Marvel Comics as The Watcher. Writers soon cottoned onto the theory: in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2 , Lee’s character, now an astronaut, is seen speaking to two watchers, making reference to his past exploits.

Get Out – It’s all in Rod’s head

In Jordan Peele’s acclaimed satire, Lil Rel Howery plays Rod Williams, a TSA Airport police officer and best friend to Daniel Kaluuya’s Chris. This fan theory argues that the events of the film after Chris heads to meet girlfriend Rose’s (Allison Williams) parents are in fact the fearful imaginings of Rod. This would supposedly explain the film’s ending, which sees Rod show up to save the day. However, Peele has debunked this theory in an interview.

Jurassic Park – Owen Grady met Alan Grant as a child

At the start of the original Jurassic Park , Dr Grant (Sam Neill) scares the bejesus out of a cocksure child using a velociraptor claw. Was this in fact the child that grew up to be Owen Grady (Chris Pratt) by the time of Jurassic World ? The ages match up, and it would certainly explain Owen’s respect for raptors. Pratt, however, has said he doesn’t see it.

Star Wars: Episode VIII – Snoke is Plagueis

The backstory of the villainous Supreme Leader Snoke is left frustratingly vague in the Star Wars sequel trilogy – with Andy Serkis’s character being unexpectedly sliced in half towards the end of The Last Jedi . However, some fans have suggested he was in fact the much-talked-about Darth Plagueis, Palpatine’s former master whom the nefarious Sith one day usurped and, it was believed, killed. That would certainly explain the scarring on Snoke’s body – and the Snoke musical motif that fans also identified in the Revenge of the Sith scene covering Plagueis.

Shrek – Donkey was a Pleasure Island child

The beloved children’s animation Shrek draws from a plethora of classic children’s fairytales, giving them an irreverent 21st-century spin. Eddie Murphy’s Donkey, however, was one of the few characters not rooted in a famous story… or was he? Viewers have speculated that Donkey is in fact one of the wayward children from Pinocchio , who is transformed into a donkey on Pleasure Island and sold into slavery. There are nuggets that support this interpretation, of course: the character makes fleeting references to past, seemingly human experiences (e.g. “wedgies”), and no one seems to have seen a talking donkey before.

Donkey (Eddie Murphy) and Shrek (Mike Myers) in the original ‘Shrek’

The Shining – Kubrick’s moon landing confession

I’m not sure any film has been as endlessly theorised about as Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining. So deep and labyrinthine were the theories that there was a whole documentary film focusing on some of the biggest ones, called Room 237 . One outlandish theory argued that Kubrick had used the film to admit his involvement in faking the Apollo 11 moon landing, and had even used his 1968 film 2001: A Space Odyssey as a research and development project. The evidence is dubious, naturally – an Apollo 11 sweater, landing pad-esque shapes in the carpet – and Kubrick’s right-hand man Leon Vitali has described “70 to 80 per cent” of Room 237 as “pure gibberish”.

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The Love Hypothesis
The Love Hypothesis is a romance novel by Ali Hazelwood, published September 14, 2021 by Berkley Books.Originally published online in 2018 as Head Over Feet, a Star Wars fan fiction work about the "Reylo" ship between Rey and Kylo Ren, the novel follows a Ph.D. candidate and a professor at Stanford University who pretend to be in a relationship.
The Love Hypothesis, Who is who? : r/reylo
I love The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood, and I know it was originally a fanfic published on AO3. I've read the book at least three times, and I've been trying to figure out which Star Wars characters some of the side characters are based on. I don't know why it's so important to me, but I've been trying to figure it out for weeks!
BOOK LOOK: Outfits Inspired by THE LOVE HYPOTHESIS Characters
the Love Hypothesis originally started as a fan fiction on the relationship between Star Wars characters Rey and Kylo Ren. The novel opted out the futuristic sci-fi setting for a classic modern-day university romance with Adam Carlsen as Kylo Ren and Olive Smith as Rey. The story centers around Olive Smith, a third-year PhD student who is ...
The Love Hypothesis Film Adaptation Announced at Bisous Pictures
Hazelwood began writing fan fiction for the Star Trek fandom, before moving on to Star Wars. And yes, if you haven't already figured it out, the main characters are based on Kylo Ren and Rey from ...
The Love Hypothesis Author Ali Hazelwood on Getting Her ...
Carly Lane is an Atlanta-based writer and critic who considers herself a lifelong Star Wars fan, newbie Trekker, diehard romance/sci-fi/fantasy reader, and nascent horror lover.
The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood Book Review
If you told me that my favorite book of 2021 would end up being about two fake-dating scientists whose characters are loosely based on Rey and Kylo Ren from Star Wars, I would not have believed ...
The Love Hypothesis
If you love Star Wars (or don't), are a fan of academic romances and happily-ever-afters, or love a brooding Darcy character, this is the one for you. Aaaand with that, I'm excited to give The Love Hypothesis a solid 5/5 stars and the power of my full recommendation. Academic Romance, Ali Hazelwood, Fake Dating!, Romance, Star Wars. Share ...
"The Love Hypothesis" depicts love at Stanford and criticizes
In addition, her love of Star Wars comes out through the characters of Olive and Adam, the former with a shy yet bubbly persona like Rey and the latter emulating Kylo Ren's angst and detached ...
REVIEW: The Love Hypothesis
The Love Hypothesis follows Olive—based on the character Rey from the Star Wars sequel trilogy—a PhD student at Stanford. Three years prior to the start of this novel Olive was having a breakdown about going the academic route and a mysterious stranger convinced her it was worthwhile.
The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood Book Review
If you told me that my favourite book of 2021 would end up being about two fake dating scientists whose characters are loosely based on Rey and Kylo Ren from Star Wars, I would not have believed ...
Bestselling Romance Novel Inspired By Fanfiction About Star Wars' Rey
The latest movie that will be influenced by imaginative shippers is The Love Hypothesis, a bestselling romance novel that began thanks to Star Wars' Reylo. Ah yes, Reylo.
Why The Love Hypothesis Could Kickstart More Romance Film Adaptations
Ali Hazelwood's romance novel The Love Hypothesis took BookTok by storm in 2021, and part of its whimsical appeal was that it began as Star Wars fan fiction. Originally published in 2018 on Archive of Our Own as a work called "Head Over Feet," it detailed a modern interpretation of the relationship between Rey and Kylo Ren set against the backdrop of Stanford's graduate program.
The Love Hypothesis (Literature)
Create New. The Love Hypothesis is a 2021 Rom Com novel written by Italian author Ali Hazelwood. Third-year Ph.D. candidate Olive told her best friend, Anh, that she is on a date. Alas, she is not. She was only pretending to make Anh believe she is really, actually, over her last date, Jeremy. When she sees Anh walking towards her that night ...
Ali Hazelwood talks 'Love Hypothesis,' 'Love on the Brain'
Hazelwood's fan fiction showed her potential. One story, inspired by Kylo Ren and Rey from the Star Wars franchise, had enough depth and humanity — and the setting of STEM academia was ...
The Love Hypothesis (The Love Hypothesis #1)
Content Warning: The Love Hypothesis includes elements of emotional and mental abuse, including bullying and gaslighting, ... However, lest this turn you off from reading, The Love Hypothesis doesn't read like a Star Wars fic and, unless you're familiar with the characters in the movies, you'll likely not even pick up on the small nods ...
From Fanfic to Bookshop Pick: The Love Hypothesis
Ali Hazelwood started off writing fanfiction on Archive of Our Own (AO3), first for the Star Trek fandom before moving onto writing Star Wars - if you haven't figured it out yet, the main characters of The Love Hypothesis are based on Kylo Ren and Rey Skywalker from the latest Star Wars trilogy. AO3 is where The Love Hypothesis first started ...
Love Hypothesis is a fanfiction? : r/RomanceBooks
The Love Hypothesis was originally one of many alt-universe Reylo fanfictions, which was converted into an original novel by changing the character names and making a few other modifications. Neither the original fic nor the novel have anything to do with the Star Wars universe. As someone who's read a fair amount of Reylo fanfiction, I thought ...
Ali Hazelwood's 'The Love Hypothesis' is a Charming and Romantic Page
I love novels that are inspired by Star Wars. One of my favorites, ... The Love Hypothesis is a brilliant novel, jampacked with delicious tropes, badass women in STEM, steamy romance, amusing shenanigans, well-rounded characters, comeuppance for bad guys, and so much heart. I look forward to reading everything Ali Hazelwood gifts readers with ...
Review: The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood
The TikTok viral book delivers on troupe filled twists and turns. (Image: The Love Hypothesis) The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood ★★★★ Buy the book herePage count: 384Genre: Romance, comedy, contemporary, fictionContent warning: Discussions of workplace harassment and assault Ali Hazelwood's The Love Hypothesis has earned the title of being a "BookTok book" through being…
The Extremely Nerdy Love Stories That Are Burning Up the Bestseller List
The publication of Hazelwood's first novel, The Love Hypothesis, was a result of a fortuitous stroke of luck after a literary agent stumbled across her Star Wars fan fiction. Hypothesis became a ...
'The Love Hypothesis' Film Adaptation in the Works!!
And yes, if you haven't already figured it out, the main characters are based on Kylo Ren and Rey from the Star Wars sequel trilogy. Archive of Our Own is where The Love Hypothesis took flight, albeit under a different title, and where a legion of fans joined in Olive and Adam's romance.
Olive Smith (The Love Hypothesis)
The Love Hypothesis - Ali Hazelwood (190) Star Wars - All Media Types (5) Star Wars Sequel Trilogy (2) STEMinist Series - Ali Hazelwood (2) ... Portal (Video Game) (1) Harry Potter - J. K. Rowling (1) 2 Broke Girls (1) Include Characters Olive Smith (The Love Hypothesis) (191) Adam Carlsen (186) Holden Rodrigues (87) Malcolm (The Love ...
Chewbacca
Chewbacca (/ tʃ uː ˈ b ɑː k ə / choo-BAH-kə), nicknamed "Chewie", is a character in the Star Wars franchise created by George Lucas.He is a Wookiee—a tall, hairy, highly intelligent species originating from the fictional planet Kashyyyk. He first appears in the original film trilogy as the loyal friend of the smuggler Han Solo.He is also the co-pilot of Han's starship, the Millennium ...
Yoda
Yoda (/ ˈ j oʊ d ə /) is a character in the Star Wars franchise. He is a small, green humanoid alien who is powerful with The Force.He is a Jedi Master and a leader in the Jedi Order. Frank Oz voices and puppeteers Yoda in the 1980 film The Empire Strikes Back, which was the character's first appearance.Oz voices Yoda in five additional films, puppeteering him in three of them.
Romance Books Becoming Movies
Ali Hazelwood's Star Wars fanfiction The Love Hypothesis is being made into a movie, and it could begin a trend of unconventional adaptations. Move over high school romance movies — the era of ...
Quinlan Vos
Join us as we take a look at our first character in this series; Quinlan Vos, a character well known to most fans who read the Legends books and comics. Quinlan Vos first appeared as a background character in The Phantom Menace while Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon visited Mos Espa. His facial tattoos and long hair were memorable enough that Star Wars comic writers brought him back as a full-fledged Jedi ...
The Fate of Jar Jar Binks in Star Wars, Explained
The Star Wars: Aftermath trilogy, by author Chuck Wendig, explored the galaxy after the fall of the Empire and the rise of the New Republic.; Aftermath was released in 2015 and was succeeded by two follow-ups, Life Debt in 2016 and Empire's End in 2017.; The Aftermath trilogy primarily tells the story of what happened to Wedge Antilles after the events of Return of the Jedi.
George Lucas Dismisses Criticisms of Sexism and Racism in Star Wars Movies
Star Wars promotes equality and representation through diverse characters including aliens, women, and people of color.; Lucas refutes claims of racism and sexism in the franchise, highlighting ...
Which Sith Are You, Based On Your Zodiac Sign?
These 12 Sith in Star Wars canon and Legends perfectly represent each of the Zodiac signs. Although many Sith in Star Wars movies and TV shows follow a similar pattern of apprentices seeking to overthrow their masters, they are incredibly unique characters. Indeed, many of Star Wars' most powerful Sith are so much more than simply villains of pure evil.
21 wild movie theories that completely change the meaning of famous
Star Wars - Jar Jar Binks is a Sith Lord. This notorious theory posits that Jar-Jar Binks - the buffoonish, amphibious alien that became a hate figure within the Star Wars fanbase following ...

'The Love Hypothesis' Author Ali Hazelwood on Getting Her Start in Fanfiction and Which Scene Didn't Make It Into the Final Book

Academic Romance Is My New Favorite Book Genre After Reading This Debut Novel

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