The fake relationship Olive starts to protect her friendship with Anh gradually becomes real love between her and Adam. In this version, Anh knows from early on that the relationship is fake, a deliberate change from the book.
The dramatic turning point involves Tom Benton and something that happens to Olive in a hotel room, which she keeps to herself. The climax comes when Olive finally tells Anh the truth. Critics describe the moment as cathartic, because it releases what she has been carrying alone.
The ending is as expected: Olive and Adam confirm their relationship, and both get professional and personal closure. Seen afterward, the \"hypothesis\" of the title covers more than whether Adam could love her. It is also about whether Olive can trust other people with the truth and with her heart.