The Love Hypothesis characters

Appears from the start

A doctoral student in biology at Stanford whose research aims to improve early detection of pancreatic cancer. Warm, anxious, and inclined to protect her friends at her own expense, she impulsively kisses a stranger in a dark laboratory so her best friend will believe she has moved on from a former date.

Appears from the start

A young Stanford biology professor with a strong research reputation and an equally strong reputation for reducing students to tears with blunt criticism. He is the stranger Olive kisses without warning in a dark laboratory.

Appears from the start

Olive's closest friend and another graduate student. Energetic, loyal, and committed to improving conditions for women in science, she has feelings for Jeremy but avoids pursuing them because she believes Olive may still want him.

First appears in chapter 2

Olive's roommate and fellow graduate student, whose friendship balances teasing with dependable support. He knows the department's personalities well and is one of the people Olive trusts most.

Appears from the start

A graduate student Olive dated briefly before deciding they had no romantic future. He remains part of the same social circle and is the person Anh would like to date once she is convinced that doing so will not hurt Olive.

First appears in chapter 2

Olive's faculty adviser, who supervises her graduate research. She supports Olive's project while expecting her to develop the professional contacts and resources needed to take it beyond Stanford.

First appears in chapter 9

Adam's longtime friend and a fellow scientist who knows that his intimidating professional manner is not the whole of his character. Sociable and observant, he quickly notices the tension around Adam's supposed relationship.

First appears in chapter 13

A prominent cancer researcher and Adam's friend, visiting Stanford before the Boston conference. His laboratory has the equipment Olive needs, and his apparent interest in her project offers a possible route for her next stage of research.

First appears in chapter 7

Olive's mother, remembered through Olive's account of losing her to pancreatic cancer. That loss gives Olive's research its personal urgency and shapes her determination to make earlier diagnosis possible for other families.