Published 12th February 2026 by Aria.
From the cover of the book:
Fake data is out of the question . . . but fake dating?
Neuroscientist Dr. Frances Silberstein has always had success on the brain. In grad school, she turned down a job - and her accomplished boyfriend - to forge her own academic path. Five years later, she's still single, hustling from project to project, and about to face her ex at a high-stakes conference - the same ex who once told her she'd never make it on her own.
When an argument with her meticulous and infuriatingly attractive rival Dr. Lewis North leads to a mistaken assumption that they're a couple, Frances accidentally confirms the misconception, inadvertently putting both their careers at stake. Forced to keep up appearances, Frances and Lewis know that for any scientist worth their salt, faking data is out of the question. But fake dating?
That might just be genius.
***********
Neuroscientist Dr. Frances Silberstein is determined to be a success in her field, but that elusive goal of tenure seems as far away as ever. Awaiting the result of yet another application for funding, she sets off to New York for a conference that might help her career along. The only problem is that it is being organised by her former boyfriend, Jacob, now an accomplished professor - the man she turned down years ago to forger her own path.... the man who said she would never make it on her own.
To say she is nervous would be an understatement, and when her anxiety transforms into a full-blown panic attack in the air, she is relieved to find a handsome fellow scientist on the flight who distracts her from her over-wrought state, only to find he is the man who launched his career using her research - her arch nemesis, Dr Lewis North.
Somehow, when they both arrive at the conference, Frances accidentally confirms the impression that she and Lewis are an item. To keep their professional reputations intact, they now have to pretend they are a couple for the entire two weeks...
Oh, how I adored this! Hannah Brohm weaves a delicious will-they-won't-they romance between Frances and Lewis that is full of fabulous tropes around enemies-to-lovers, fake dating, and forced proximity; and is packed with really insightful themes around the nature of academic research.
Frances and Lewis both come to this story with a lot of emotional baggage, not to mention a history of academic rivalry that began with Lewis acting so unprofessionally. As the conference progresses, Frances begins to see a different side to Lewis, and the competitive spark between them develops into attraction. But is it real or fake?
The irresistible chemistry between these two dominates as they get closer, and I was here for all the heat! Lashings of messy family stuff gets thrown up in the process, and they both learn things about themselves, and what they want, on the way to the sob-fest finale.
I am so impressed by how much Brohm explores about women in science, and the shifting global nature of the research community in this story, by touching on how the relentless pressure of results, publishing, peer-reviewing, obtaining funding, and doing good science affects both Frances and Lewis. The fine-line between rivalry and collaboration is examined so well, as well as the real danger of losing sight of the bigger picture, and the risk of burnout. This all adds to the tension between the two, professionally and romantically.
This has everything I want in a kick-ass romance: a smart story written with heart, humour, and HEAT; a great setting; and a stellar supporting cast (Brady was such fun). It gave me ALL the feels.
What a fabulous debut! More please Hannah Brohm!
Love and Other Brain Experiments is available to buy now in paperback, ebook and audio formats.
Thank you to Aria for sending me a copy of this book in return for an honest review.
About the author:
Hannah Brohm penned her first novel when she was a teen, and yes, it was about vampires.
Fascinated by the human mind, she studied psychology in university and graduated with a PhD in neuroscience. After years of investigating memory and emotion, she rediscovered her passion for storytelling and swapped writing articles about brain science for nerdy romance novels.
Born and raised in Germany, Hannah lived in the Netherlands and the US, before moving to London, where she now lives together with her husband and an ever-growing collection of books and hand-knit sweaters.
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