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Love Study
Larissa Hanson is about to get her doctorate in psychology when she gets an idea to write a book about the science of love. Helping her will be her best friend forever, Harlow Madden, who gives Larissa the idea to interview people and ask them how they fell in love.
The only problem is that Harlow has been secretly in love with Larissa since they met over a decade ago, and listening to other people tell them their love stories makes her think that it might be now or never with her best friend.
After leaving her previous girlfriend, Harlow is once again staying in Larissa’s guest bedroom, and that, combined with these interviews, has her looking for a change in her living situation as quickly as possible because playing house with the woman she loves is too hard when she doesn’t believe that Larissa will ever return her feelings.
Spending time in these interviews makes Larissa think about her own lack of a love life and wonder more and more about Harlow, just as Harlow is contemplating pulling away.
Will either of them have the courage to tell the other how they feel before Harlow moves out or moves on?
The only problem is that Harlow has been secretly in love with Larissa since they met over a decade ago, and listening to other people tell them their love stories makes her think that it might be now or never with her best friend.
After leaving her previous girlfriend, Harlow is once again staying in Larissa’s guest bedroom, and that, combined with these interviews, has her looking for a change in her living situation as quickly as possible because playing house with the woman she loves is too hard when she doesn’t believe that Larissa will ever return her feelings.
Spending time in these interviews makes Larissa think about her own lack of a love life and wonder more and more about Harlow, just as Harlow is contemplating pulling away.
Will either of them have the courage to tell the other how they feel before Harlow moves out or moves on?
365 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 27, 2026
About the author
Nicole Pyland
84 books849 followersNicole Pyland is a bestselling author of lesbian romance novels, including No After You, All the Love Songs, Voyeur, Future Wife, and the series like Chicago, San Francisco, Tahoe, Boston, Celebrities, Holiday, Royalty, and Sports.
Since 2017, she’s published over 60 novels, 41 of which are also in audio, and more of her books are on their way!
Nicole grew up in Indiana, studying English & Film and then getting a master's degree in Behavior Analysis. She lives with her wife and their opinionated cat, who spends his evenings helping her write stories by occupying half the chair.
"I’ve always had fictional characters trapped inside my head. Now, I’m giving them their voices in my books. I started publishing in November 2017, but out of all the words I’ve ever used to describe myself, writer has been the only constant."
Newsletter: nicolepyland.com/newsletter
Since 2017, she’s published over 60 novels, 41 of which are also in audio, and more of her books are on their way!
Nicole grew up in Indiana, studying English & Film and then getting a master's degree in Behavior Analysis. She lives with her wife and their opinionated cat, who spends his evenings helping her write stories by occupying half the chair.
"I’ve always had fictional characters trapped inside my head. Now, I’m giving them their voices in my books. I started publishing in November 2017, but out of all the words I’ve ever used to describe myself, writer has been the only constant."
Newsletter: nicolepyland.com/newsletter
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
March 13, 2026
I'm not too happy with this. It's basically "AND THEY SHOULD HAVE SIMPLY TALKED" as book. It felt frustrating. IMHO: Most side characters overstep boundaries, which made me dislike them.
March 8, 2026
A delightfully frustrating slow dance around the obvious.
Larissa is in the final stretch of her PhD and—somewhat mysteriously, even to herself—decides to write a book about queer people and how they fell in love. Why she’s doing this is never entirely clear. Neither is what the book is supposed to become in the end. And honestly, it’s just as unclear why Harlow—who has temporarily moved back in with Larissa after yet another breakup—agrees to help with the project.
Harlow has been in love with Larissa since the moment they met. Larissa, meanwhile, is also in love with Harlow… she just hasn’t realized it yet. And the two of them spend a lot of time circling around that fact. At several points I nearly wanted to yell at the page: just tell her you’re in love already, you absolute fool! The emotional dithering reached levels that made me slightly restless.
And yet—somehow—it was still a genuinely enjoyable read. Nicole Pyland has that effect on me. Her books are consistently comforting to slip into. That said, I may have slightly overdone it lately: I’ve read eight of her books already this year, and it’s only March. Perhaps it’s time for a brief Pyland detox before I dive back in.
Larissa is in the final stretch of her PhD and—somewhat mysteriously, even to herself—decides to write a book about queer people and how they fell in love. Why she’s doing this is never entirely clear. Neither is what the book is supposed to become in the end. And honestly, it’s just as unclear why Harlow—who has temporarily moved back in with Larissa after yet another breakup—agrees to help with the project.
Harlow has been in love with Larissa since the moment they met. Larissa, meanwhile, is also in love with Harlow… she just hasn’t realized it yet. And the two of them spend a lot of time circling around that fact. At several points I nearly wanted to yell at the page: just tell her you’re in love already, you absolute fool! The emotional dithering reached levels that made me slightly restless.
And yet—somehow—it was still a genuinely enjoyable read. Nicole Pyland has that effect on me. Her books are consistently comforting to slip into. That said, I may have slightly overdone it lately: I’ve read eight of her books already this year, and it’s only March. Perhaps it’s time for a brief Pyland detox before I dive back in.
March 30, 2026
A Frustrating Love Study Experience!
I love Nicole Pyland’s stand alone stories. I read the reviews and was looking forward to this book and its storyline. As entertaining as it could be, I found some of the verbage lacking in substance. It felt a little repetitive and a little disjointed. The characters were set and the supporting cast was doing their part but the span of the history and storyline didn’t seem to flow as her stories normally would. I do like the last few chapters where things take a different turn, finally but I took longer to read this book than I normally would. I did like it in the end but it took longer to get there.
I love Nicole Pyland’s stand alone stories. I read the reviews and was looking forward to this book and its storyline. As entertaining as it could be, I found some of the verbage lacking in substance. It felt a little repetitive and a little disjointed. The characters were set and the supporting cast was doing their part but the span of the history and storyline didn’t seem to flow as her stories normally would. I do like the last few chapters where things take a different turn, finally but I took longer to read this book than I normally would. I did like it in the end but it took longer to get there.
March 3, 2026
Personally I loved the story. It was different and that is what makes for a break in the usual lesbian stories. While reading I wondered if the author had actually interviewed numerous couples at one point in her life or if she had drawn on either her own experiences, the experiences of friends or if it was just all in the wonderful imagination of an author. I wonder if anyone else found how much they could relate to the character of Harlow. Life is always more wonderful when you fall in love with your best friend and you discover they feel the same way.
March 13, 2026
cute but rough
I liked the concept, but the story wasn’t as snappy as usual. It feels a bit disjointed, like it needed another round of refining. It bogged a little in places, but the soul of it is there, and it’s cute. To be fair, this would be a challenge due to the technical information. I’d say the level of numbskull between the two characters is hard to believe, but I’ve lived long enough at this point that I realize some people are extremely in denial and have bad timing.
I liked the concept, but the story wasn’t as snappy as usual. It feels a bit disjointed, like it needed another round of refining. It bogged a little in places, but the soul of it is there, and it’s cute. To be fair, this would be a challenge due to the technical information. I’d say the level of numbskull between the two characters is hard to believe, but I’ve lived long enough at this point that I realize some people are extremely in denial and have bad timing.
April 3, 2026
I quite honestly got extremely bored of this book halfway through. I was trying to compare this book to “On the same page”, but they were just simply not the same. Mostly the characters weren’t the same, which is good, but I just felt that Larissa specifically bored me to tears. She also happened to irritate the absolute hell out of me because I detest dense characters, but overall this was a good book. Anyway, decent book.
March 14, 2026
beautiful
Sometimes it takes time to see that what is in front of you is the one that matters and is the one for you. The universe typically will let you know that they are the one if only giving you that push you need to find your happily ever after.
Sometimes it takes time to see that what is in front of you is the one that matters and is the one for you. The universe typically will let you know that they are the one if only giving you that push you need to find your happily ever after.
April 9, 2026
Another fine Nicole Pyland entry. The book was fun, sweet and ultimately very sexy. I always look forward to her books. Her books can take you in many different directions. And she is so prolific.
March 2, 2026
I enjoyed this book, maybe not as much as others written by this author but it was still enjoyable. I like that there was no 3rd act break up out of nowhere.
April 13, 2026
3.5 stars and 3 spice
I thought this was a decently well-done book. I think that the description of it made me think it would be very sciencey, and I'm not sure it hit that mark for me. There was a lot more dialogue than there was description. It didn't necessarily do the book a disservice, but it wasn't my favorite. I think having some more time inside the characters' heads would have been nice.
Overall, I think it was a nice easy read. It was for sure a best friends-to-lovers book where you want to bang your head against a wall for them to just talk to each other. There was no random third-act break, though, which was very nice to see. It wasn't my favorite of Nicole's books, but it wasn't bad either. Just more in the middle to me.
I thought this was a decently well-done book. I think that the description of it made me think it would be very sciencey, and I'm not sure it hit that mark for me. There was a lot more dialogue than there was description. It didn't necessarily do the book a disservice, but it wasn't my favorite. I think having some more time inside the characters' heads would have been nice.
Overall, I think it was a nice easy read. It was for sure a best friends-to-lovers book where you want to bang your head against a wall for them to just talk to each other. There was no random third-act break, though, which was very nice to see. It wasn't my favorite of Nicole's books, but it wasn't bad either. Just more in the middle to me.
May 10, 2026
All the way through I was wondering how the collected data could ever be used in publication as there didn’t appear to be ethical approval in place. Difficult to suspend belief… otherwise it was fine
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews