About The Book
Reluctant Ph.D. candidate Olive Smith fakes a relationship with notorious professor Adam Carlsen to appease her best friend. When Adam supports her at a chaotic science conference, unexpected attraction sparks between them. Olive navigates real feelings while balancing love and her academic dreams.
Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/3Wf0fe9

My Rating

I felt unsure about this book before picking it up. All I knew was that it had a lot of hype and centered around a STEM-based romance. Although I love reading adult romance, I hadn’t read one with a STEM focus before. But after the first ten chapters, I really got into it. So if you’re finding the beginning slow, try giving it at least until the halfway point.

The story follows Olive, a Ph.D. candidate who starts a fake-dating relationship with Adam Carlsen, a well-known young professor. It combines the fake-dating trope with a grumpy-sunshine dynamic. While everything kicks off a bit quickly—Olive practically jumps on Adam in the first chapter—I appreciated how the story eventually slowed down.

Olive’s character was likable, and I could understand why she struggled to let people in. That said, I’m not usually a fan of characters who miss what’s right in front of them. Adam, though, was an amazing love interest—and maybe I just have a thing for no-nonsense male characters. Their chemistry felt strong, with just the right amount of witty banter.

“That’s the thing with science. We’re drilled to believe that false positives are bad, but false negatives are just as terrifying.”

As for spiciness, I wouldn’t call it overly steamy, but it’s not a closed-door romance either. I’d give it a spicy rating of 2.5 out of 5. The one intimate scene the author included works well for readers who prefer a mostly clean romance with a hint of spice. In my opinion, it won’t make you blush, but it does offer a descriptive moment.

One of my favorite parts of the book focuses on how women in STEM get treated. The author highlights their struggles to be taken seriously in a male-dominated field, which sadly reflects reality. This added depth to the story and underscored the importance of having more women in STEM.

Overall, the writing style shines, and the plot keeps you engaged. If you don’t mind the third-act miscommunication trope when it’s executed well, you’ll enjoy this book. It serves as a fun read and a great palate cleanser between heavier books. I look forward to reading more from this author and believe this book absolutely lives up to the hype.

In the comments, let me know if you’ve read this book or any others by the author. Don’t forget to like and share this post with fellow book lovers. And if you enjoy book reviews, hit the follow button so you never miss a post!

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

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