Remedial Rocket Science by Susannah Nix
Series: Chemistry Lessons #1
Published by: Haver Street Press
Pub Date: January 17, 2017
Pages: 262
Format: e-book | Source: purchased
Genres: adult, contemporary romance
Rating:

Rocket science is no problem. Falling in love, on the other hand…

College student Melody Gage is craving a night of no-strings fun when she meets charming out-of-towner Jeremy, and that’s exactly what she gets. Until three years later, when Melody relocates to Los Angeles and finds herself thrust back into Jeremy’s orbit.

Not only does her hunky one-night stand work at the same aerospace company where she’s just started her dream job, he’s the CEO’s son. Jeremy’s got a girlfriend and a reputation as a bad boy, so Melody resolves to keep her distance. Despite her good intentions, a series of awkward circumstances—including an embarrassing crying jag, a latte vs. computer catastrophe, and an emergency fake date—throw her together with the heavenly-smelling paragon of hotness.

As the billionaire playboy and nerdy IT girl forge an unlikely friendship, Melody’s attraction to Jeremy grows deeper than she’s ready to admit. Will she risk it all for a shot at her happy ending?

This was so cute and so enjoyable I barely have the words. I loved Melody’s character so much, I loved Jeremy and ooooooh my goodness were they good together! I also really liked that there is a lot of friendship building in this book, and not just between Melody and Jeremy. There is some girl-hate on the surface but that gets flipped around pretty quick. I love the life that Melody builds for herself. It’s a really good “Young” adult novel, as in she’s a young 22 year old getting her first post-college job and moving to a new place and all that. Some of the backstory gets heavy but for better or worse it’s not delved into in much depth (tw: offpage suicide of character we don’t meet onpage, offpage death of parent from cancer). (Also TW for a nonviolent robbery and the anxiety that triggers.)

That all being said, this book is CUTE and SWOONY and REAL and was just a real joy to read. I so want to be Melody’s friend!! She collects Funko pops and knows cool astronomy facts and loves movies and books and Chris Evans and Friday Night Lights and we think a lot alike. And who wouldn’t want a Jeremy?! I love that we get a male love interest that is shown to have actually grown from his juvenile past, no backsliding, just real growth. Because it does happen! The ending is so very sweet and the sentiment is one I am lucky to have found in real life myself. Also JEREMY IS A LAKERS FAN! Very Important Information, obvs.

Intermediate Thermodynamics by Susannah Nix
Series: Chemistry Lessons #2
Published by: Haver Street Press
Pub Date: October 4, 2017
Pages: 310
Format: e-book | Source: purchased
Genres: adult, contemporary romance
Rating: 

Aerospace engineer Esther Abbott doesn’t believe in love, but she’s perfectly happy hating her screenwriter neighbor, Jonathan. Until she’s forced to make a devil’s bargain with him: if he distracts her best friend from a mouth-breather ex, Esther will be his science advisor for the sci-fi script he’s writing.

Her patience is put to the test when it’s time to fulfill her end of the deal. But the more time she spends with her nemesis, the more hate turns into attraction—and attraction into something much deeper. As Esther’s carefully-constructed defenses start to crumble, will love be her undoing or her salvation?

I really love how Susannah Nix writes! Can’t wait to read the next in the series. The first half was much better than the second half and I wish there was a bit more romance and less other drama, but I really enjoyed reading about Esther and Jonathan. They were individually quirky and quirky together- I loved the pacing of their romance and the development of their relationship, even if there was too much miscommunication for me in the second half. The secondary characters were nicely fleshed out as well, Esther’s knitting group is the best!

Advanced Physical Chemistry by Susannah Nix
Series: Chemistry Lessons #3
Published by: Haver Street Press
Pub Date: March 16, 2018
Pages: 274
Format: e-book | Source: purchased
Genres: adult, contemporary romance
Rating: 

After four lousy boyfriends in a row, chemical engineer Penny Popplestone swears off men until she can figure out why they keep cheating on her. But her no-men resolution hits a snag when the mysterious and superhumanly hot barista at her favorite coffee shop strikes up a friendship with her.

Penny strives to keep things platonic, but when Caleb gives her the kiss of her life, she realizes he wants to be more than just friends. Tired of always being “good little Penny,” she throws caution to the wind and pursues a no-strings fling with the hottie barista. It’s not like they have anything in common beyond scorching physical chemistry, so what does she have to lose?

Only her heart.

Now, this fanfic-reading, plus-size heroine faces an unsolvable problem. What do you do when being apart is unbearable…but being together is impossible?

I continue to love this author and how’s she’s able to write such REAL characters. Loved Poppy- she’s unapologetically fat with a penchant for fanfic and routine, a wicked sense of fashion, and a good sense of self. Caleb was a little frustrating but I liked him overall. Now that I think about it he had very Joshua Templeman (from The Hating Game) vibes. And I always enjoy the side characters sprinkled throughout the story and how they affect the main couple. The modernness and pop culture/LA speak never feels forced and I love that I feel like I’m reading about a real person. Plus this was so swoony!!

I can’t wait to read the next two books- Applied Electromagnetism is out now and Experimental Marine Biology is due in June! Have you read this delightful romance series yet? Are you a fan of companion series like I am? Let me know in the comments! (And thank you for sticking around on my blog <3)