Neuroscientist Dr. Frances Silberstein has success on the brain. As a grad student, she was offered a job by her brilliant boyfriend, but determined to make it on her own, she turned it—and him—down. Now, stuck in postdoc purgatory with no job security and no personal life to speak of, Frances is desperate to make a breakthrough. Her best shot is a summer conference packed with her field’s leading scientists. The only problem? It’s organized by her ex, who has found the success that’s eluded her. But backing out is not an option, because Frances desperately needs to network to save her career.
Enter Dr. Lewis North: her perceptive, meticulous, and inconveniently attractive rival. When their academic sniping gets mistaken for flirtatious chemistry, Frances doesn’t deny it—putting her integrity and career on the line. As soon as her prefrontal cortex is operational again, Frances realizes she needs to keep up the charade, or risk everything she’s worked for. Faking data is out of the question, but fake dating? That might just be the solution she needs.
But as Lewis starts to make her reward centers spark and a major setback has Frances questioning everything, she must confront what she’s willing to chase—for love, for science, and for the future she thought she wanted.
Hannah Brohm’s Love and Other Brain Experiments is a strong debut contemporary romance with a sophisticated twist on the academic rivals-to-lovers and fake-dating tropes. The story has a mix of settings—from the main neuroscience conference in New York City to the Catskill Mountains and interesting locations in Holland—featuring a multinational cast that gives the novel a fresh, worldly feel!
The story follows Dr. Frances Silberstein, an overworked postdoctoral neuroscientist whose career is stalled. Hoping to revive her prospects, she attends a major neuroscience conference in New York City—only to discover it’s organized by her ex and that she must face her academic rival, Dr. Lewis North. When other attendees mistakenly assume they’re a couple, Frances and Lewis agree to a fake-dating arrangement for both their benefit. But it soon becomes something far more genuine, forcing them to confront feelings, clashing egos, and what they truly want from their futures.
The story is told entirely from Frances’s first-person POV, placing readers in her overthinking, sometimes self-absorbed head. Despite her good intentions and high intelligence, there are moments when she may get on your nerves. She’s constantly worried about securing funding and proving her worth in an unforgiving academic environment, and her monologues can feel a bit repetitive. She shares a close bond with her younger sister, though Frances often dominates their conversations, eventually creating some strain in their relationship. Thankfully, Frances experiences genuine growth and becomes more self-aware and considerate by the end!
If you enjoy slow-burn romance with realistic hurdles and honest, sometimes uncomfortable dialogue, the clash-of-egos-turned-pining evolution of Frances and Lewis’s relationship will absolutely hit the mark! Their conversations are packed with intellectual banter about memory and cognition, clever puns, and emotionally charged exchanges. Anyone who’s dated someone in a professional setting—or tried to make a long-distance relationship work—will likely find their dynamic refreshingly realistic and will be rooting for their romance!
One of the best things about this book is its steady, engaging pacing. Even with longer chapters, the characters and setting pull you in enough to keep turning pages to see what happens next. The author’s writing is clean and very relatable, making it easy to binge the book in one sitting. And if you prefer a realistic ending over a sappy HEA, this one delivers—there’s still a sense of warm closure, but the characters’ careers and ambitions remain intact, just as they would in real life. The epilogue feels like an added treat, offering a glimpse into Frances’s possible long-term future—with Lewis or not? You’ll have to read to find out!
Overall, this is a standout debut that feels original, thanks to its academic conference setting, its focus on brain research, and clashing professional egos—something you don’t often see in romance. It’s a perfect pick for readers who love academic rivals-to-lovers, fake dating, STEM romance, and relationships that feel real and are full of believable setbacks. If that sounds like your cup of tea, this one deserves a spot on your TBR!
Narrator Performance
The audiobook of Love and Other Brain Experiments is narrated by award-winning Carlotta Brentan, known for bringing characters to life with emotional depth.
Brentan gives protagonist Frances a voice that perfectly captures her intelligence, overthinking, and emotional guardedness, conveying both her career-driven personality and underlying self-doubt. In contrast, she portrays Lewis with confidence, wit, and subtle charm, making their chemistry evident from their very first encounter on the plane. Once Frances realizes he’s her academic rival, Brentan shifts her performance of Frances to emphasize her mistrust and irritation, making their interactions suddenly more tense and awkward!
When Frances and Lewis mutually agree to a fake-dating arrangement, Brentan’s narration captures their mix of reluctant cooperation and underlying attraction. She also gives distinct voices to side characters like Frances’s ex, Jacob, his new girlfriend Vivienne, and various convention attendees. Vivienne, in particular, comes across as so warm and welcoming that listeners can’t help but wonder about her true intentions. Another standout is the dialogue between Frances and her sister—Brentan emphasizes their authentic sisterly bond, making the later strain in their relationship feel both compelling and relatable. Frances’s flaws—self-absorption and defensiveness—are fully on display, and by the end, Brentan shifts her tone to reflect Frances’s growth, leaving listeners with a hopeful, realistic vibe in the epilogue!
This audiobook is perfect for listeners who enjoy character-driven contemporary romance, slow-burn rivals-to-lovers stories, and narrator performances with distinct voices, palpable chemistry, and emotional nuance!
Narrator Performance
The audiobook of Love and Other Brain Experiments is narrated by award-winning Carlotta Brentan, known for bringing characters to life with emotional depth.
Brentan gives protagonist Frances a voice that perfectly captures her intelligence, overthinking, and emotional guardedness, conveying both her career-driven personality and underlying self-doubt. In contrast, she portrays Lewis with confidence, wit, and subtle charm, making their chemistry evident from their very first encounter on the plane. Once Frances realizes he’s her academic rival, Brentan shifts her performance of Frances to emphasize her mistrust and irritation, making their interactions suddenly more tense and awkward!
When Frances and Lewis mutually agree to a fake-dating arrangement, Brentan’s narration captures their mix of reluctant cooperation and underlying attraction. She also gives distinct voices to side characters like Frances’s ex, Jacob, his new girlfriend Vivienne, and various convention attendees. Vivienne, in particular, comes across as so warm and welcoming that listeners can’t help but wonder about her true intentions. Another standout is the dialogue between Frances and her sister—Brentan emphasizes their authentic sisterly bond, making the later strain in their relationship feel both compelling and relatable. Frances’s flaws—self-absorption and defensiveness—are fully on display, and by the end, Brentan shifts her tone to reflect Frances’s growth, leaving listeners with a hopeful, realistic vibe in the epilogue!
This audiobook is perfect for listeners who enjoy character-driven contemporary romance, slow-burn rivals-to-lovers stories, and narrator performances with distinct voices, palpable chemistry, and emotional nuance!
The audiobook of Love and Other Brain Experiments is narrated by award-winning Carlotta Brentan, known for bringing characters to life with emotional depth.
Brentan gives protagonist Frances a voice that perfectly captures her intelligence, overthinking, and emotional guardedness, conveying both her career-driven personality and underlying self-doubt. In contrast, she portrays Lewis with confidence, wit, and subtle charm, making their chemistry evident from their very first encounter on the plane. Once Frances realizes he’s her academic rival, Brentan shifts her performance of Frances to emphasize her mistrust and irritation, making their interactions suddenly more tense and awkward!
When Frances and Lewis mutually agree to a fake-dating arrangement, Brentan’s narration captures their mix of reluctant cooperation and underlying attraction. She also gives distinct voices to side characters like Frances’s ex, Jacob, his new girlfriend Vivienne, and various convention attendees. Vivienne, in particular, comes across as so warm and welcoming that listeners can’t help but wonder about her true intentions. Another standout is the dialogue between Frances and her sister—Brentan emphasizes their authentic sisterly bond, making the later strain in their relationship feel both compelling and relatable. Frances’s flaws—self-absorption and defensiveness—are fully on display, and by the end, Brentan shifts her tone to reflect Frances’s growth, leaving listeners with a hopeful, realistic vibe in the epilogue!
This audiobook is perfect for listeners who enjoy character-driven contemporary romance, slow-burn rivals-to-lovers stories, and narrator performances with distinct voices, palpable chemistry, and emotional nuance!
