Q&A: Hannah Brohm, Author of ‘Love and Other Brain Experiments’

We chat with author Hannah Brohm about Love and Other Brain Experiments, which is an academic-rivals-to-lovers rom-com set at a New York conference about two neuroscientists who are forced to pretend they’re dating, leading to unexpected chemistry and a heartfelt journey of self-discovery.

Hi, Hannah! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?

Hi, I’m Hannah Brohm, a romance author and neuroscientist. When I’m not busy studying human emotions in the lab, I write about them (preferably between two people falling in love), which is how my debut novel Love and Other Brain Experiments came to be. I’m originally from Germany, and moved around a lot for my scientific career, but now I’m settled in London, and since I don’t have to pack my suitcases all the time anymore, I can happily fill my apartment with all the books and yarn I want (I’m a big knitter, too).

When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?

I used to think I started writing when I was a teenager, but recently my mom showed me song lyrics and short stories I wrote as soon as I was able to hold a pen, so apparently it’s been a forever-thing. But consciously, I got into it when I was around twelve, first through fan fiction, and eventually by also writing original stories. When I was fifteen, I wrote a murder mystery paranormal romance, which, to this day, I’m proud of, but also glad that it only exists on my parents’ old computer.

Quick lightning round! Tell us:

• The first book you ever remember reading: Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren
• The one that made you want to become an author: Twilight by Stephenie Meyer as a teen, The Ex Talk by Rachel Lynn Solomon as an adult
• The one that you can’t stop thinking about: Perfect Fit by Clare Gilmore. I love everything Clare writes!

Your debut novel, Love and Other Brain Experiments, is out February 3^rd! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?

Smart, swoony, vulnerable, heat-and-heart filled.

What can readers expect?

Love and Other Brain Experiments is about two academic rivals who need to keep up appearances after a mistaken assumption that they’re a couple, forcing them to fake date at a conference that could make or break their careers.

Besides a deep-dive into STEM academia, readers can expect a slow burn love story between two real and sometimes messy characters who have made mistakes in the past but are trying their best. And beyond that, themes of ambition and career burnout, all set against the backdrop of a New York summer. There’s also banter, a little spice and what has been called “the most romantic PowerPoint presentation” by one of the lovely authors who blurbed my book.

Where did the inspiration for Love and Other Brain Experiments come from?

I got the idea for Love and Other Brain Experiments while I was in grad school and having a tough time, not only because my boyfriend had just moved across the Atlantic to New York, but also because my experiments weren’t working out the way I wanted. During the research process, there are so many hurdles to overcome, and I got the idea to spin those frustrating situations into cute romance moments, like a meet cute. I was reading a lot of romance novels and loved how they they comforted me despite challenges the protagonists were facing, so I thought: why not try to recreate that fuzzy, good feeling with a story embedded in the context I know so well.

Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?

The meet cute! Before I first wrote it, I’d just flown across the Atlantic to see my boyfriend, and the first chapter came pouring out of me while I was on the train from the airport to the city. It was so magical, I knew I needed to stick to this story and find out everything I could about these characters. But I also loved writing a certain scene featuring a cashew, Brady’s character, and all the back and forth between the protagonists.

Did you face any challenges whilst writing? How did you overcome them?

Besides the fact that I was also working on my PhD and had to take long breaks from revision while I was focusing on writing my thesis, it was probably to make decisions about the story. I sometimes experience this paralysis when it comes to figuring out what needs to happen, but it always helps me to check back in with my reader-side: Would I love to read this? Ultimately, my first goal is to write my favorite book and reminding myself of that helps with a lot of decisions.

This is your debut novel! What was the road to becoming a published author like for you?

I consider myself very lucky because this was my first book I wrote as an adult and it got me both an agent and a publishing deal. I’ve had almost two years to get used to this now, and it still feels strange to say it. But one big factor in my road to publication was SmoochPit, a mentorship program where romance writers partner up with agented authors, and get mentored through the revision and querying process. I applied in 2023 and am very grateful for all the help I got from my mentor, and the community was crucial to keep my head up during the querying process.

What’s next for you?

I’m currently finishing up my draft of something that I can’t talk about too much yet, but it will feature a woman in STEM. Though the context isn’t STEM, I hope readers will love this one just as much. And I have a few more ideas cooking that I hope can be found on shelves one day.

Lastly, what books are you looking forward to picking up this year?

In the lead-up to publishing my debut novel, I’ve gotten to know so many amazing authors and learned about their upcoming books, so I could probably go on for days (I’m aware that this is a good problem to have). But to name a few: Chase Me If You Can by Heather Frances and In Stormy Weather by Chelsea Curto which are both storm chaser romances (think Twisters but with more kissing!), and Strange Familiars by Keshe Chow and Maggie’s and Arthur’s Magic Moment by Leslie René which both give my favourite tope (academic rivals) a magical twist. And these are only a few—2026 is stacked with great new releases.

Will you be picking up Love and Other Brain Experiments? Tell us in the comments below!