A Thesis on Faking It

Fake dating her terrifying professor was a calculated risk. Falling in love was an uncontrolled variable.

Nora Rossi is drowning. Between raising her six-year-old daughter on a shoestring budget and fighting off crushing imposter syndrome, the chaotic PhD candidate is one failed experiment away from losing her academic career.

Dr. Evelyn Ellish is the biology department’s resident ice queen. Flawless, ruthlessly logical, and completely untouchable, Evelyn demands perfection and despises bad science. And until recently, she seemingly despised Nora.

But when a draconian new university mandate threatens to destroy Nora’s groundbreaking research, Evelyn offers a highly illogical solution: a fake, very public relationship. The charade will bypass the department's red tape, giving Nora secret, midnight access to Evelyn’s state-of-the-art laboratory.

The parameters are strictly defined. No feelings. No distractions. Just pure data collection. But hypotheses rarely survive the actual experiment. As brutal midnight study sessions turn into whispered confessions, and the untouchable professor slowly melts under the vibrant, messy reality of Nora’s life, the boundaries of their contract begin to shatter.

With Nora’s oral defense looming and a vindictive Department Chair watching their every move, the two brilliant scientists are about to discover that the most dangerous element in the laboratory isn't the research. It’s the absolute, undeniable chemistry tra between them.

Perfect for fans of:
• Sapphic / F/F Romance
• Academic Rivals-to-Lovers
• Fake Dating
• Grumpy x Sunshine
• High-angst, slow-burn chemistry that catches fire!