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aldarakamey's review against another edition
4.0
This book felt so familiar to me, it's a book with an academia setting, world i am familiar with things that at first didn't like about her, like she being not like the other girls, it honestly was so normal, more than people think, specially in that context dominated by men, so we have to do a lot to fit in.
The love story was nice and the characters too, the way the author wrote it is so accurate for the context. really nice.
Recommend it if you like STEM situated books.
The love story was nice and the characters too, the way the author wrote it is so accurate for the context. really nice.
Recommend it if you like STEM situated books.
andrea_author's review against another edition
4.0
Professional rivals Liz and Tom discover that his mother is engaged to her father. Thrust together leading up to the wedding, can Liz and Tom resist the sensual attraction between them?
I enjoyed this author’s writing style. The storytelling is fun, the characters likable and engaging, the romance emotional and sensual. Tom’s behavior is problematic—he takes advantage of the power dynamic between them, then goes on to deceive and manipulate Liz. The fact that he recognizes the behavior, feels bad about it, yet does it anyway because he “loves” her, in no way excuses him. Liz deserved better. If a nice guy makes terrible choices, is he still a nice guy? He should have done more to redeem himself. I would have enjoyed the story more if the problematic parts had been removed. The plot didn’t require them.
Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.
I enjoyed this author’s writing style. The storytelling is fun, the characters likable and engaging, the romance emotional and sensual. Tom’s behavior is problematic—he takes advantage of the power dynamic between them, then goes on to deceive and manipulate Liz. The fact that he recognizes the behavior, feels bad about it, yet does it anyway because he “loves” her, in no way excuses him. Liz deserved better. If a nice guy makes terrible choices, is he still a nice guy? He should have done more to redeem himself. I would have enjoyed the story more if the problematic parts had been removed. The plot didn’t require them.
Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.
firefox's review against another edition
3.0
(Arc)
'The Unbalanced Equation' is conflicting to me. You see, I love the occasional enemies to lovers and I love a good STEM based romance. However, I always feel icky when I find out that the two MCs are techincally step siblings (Her dad, his mum)
I also didn't like the fact that Tom was very toxic in the beginning and self-destroying our MCs love life and living situation. Did he hold himself accountable in the end? Yes. But my goodness, he could have actually told her what he had done months prior before she had to find out from others.
The plot was great and I did enjoy the writing (there was a large amount of sex though, be warned!!) But idk, I'm just conflicted.
'The Unbalanced Equation' is conflicting to me. You see, I love the occasional enemies to lovers and I love a good STEM based romance. However, I always feel icky when I find out that the two MCs are techincally step siblings (Her dad, his mum)
I also didn't like the fact that Tom was very toxic in the beginning and self-destroying our MCs love life and living situation. Did he hold himself accountable in the end? Yes. But my goodness, he could have actually told her what he had done months prior before she had to find out from others.
The plot was great and I did enjoy the writing (there was a large amount of sex though, be warned!!) But idk, I'm just conflicted.
monicafrania's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
shxwnx's review against another edition
3.0
this book was 50/50 for me
during the first half, i was entertained by the characters, their angst and exchanges, the way everything led to them being together
during the second one, i was mostly bored as the story was unnecessarily long, again and again the same thing - the characters having a sexual moment then pushing the others away
it made me realize that there wasn’t a real connexion between them apart from their sexual attraction
i also didn’t like other things like the fact their parents are getting married and they like each other and the reasons behind their manipulative behaviors
2,5/5
during the first half, i was entertained by the characters, their angst and exchanges, the way everything led to them being together
during the second one, i was mostly bored as the story was unnecessarily long, again and again the same thing - the characters having a sexual moment then pushing the others away
it made me realize that there wasn’t a real connexion between them apart from their sexual attraction
i also didn’t like other things like the fact their parents are getting married and they like each other and the reasons behind their manipulative behaviors
2,5/5
theruinedwriter's review against another edition
I read my first ARC!! Super exciting I did a review on NetGalley so I’ll keep this short. It was an ok book not awful but not my favorite. I like Liz a lot she was very fierce. Tom at times was creepy but other than that it was a good book. I love Academia setting so if you like that then read it for sure.
clare_s2395's review
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
nilasrealm's review
2.75
Whilst the premise of this book with two scientists who are anime nerds intrigued me, I was absolutely hating the fact that their parents were getting married and they were getting together with such a big misunderstanding. Despite that I did manage to enjoy a lot of the book, the friendships felt organic and the chemistry between the main characters was absolutely great - I just couldn’t see them ending up together however. I think the premise of Tom being an asshole cause he’s attracted to her and then stopping her moving out process as well as dates is rightfully called out in the book but due to how late it was I don’t believe the resolution was good enough and I don’t feel like it reflects how creepy those actions were. I did like that Daichi was at least calling Tom out so it’s not like it was being condoned but I just didn’t like how much of the book is Liz falling for Tom and whilst knowing so little of the truth like there’s just so much manipulation.
emily_loves_2_read's review against another edition
4.0
The Unbalanced Equation
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: Romance
Format: Kindle eBook
Date Published: 9/15/22
Author: H.L. Macfarlane
Publisher: BooksGoSocial
Pages: 416
Goodreads Rating: 3.48
I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley and BooksGoSocial and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.
Synopsis: After suffering four years of scrutiny from her PhD assessor, Elizabeth Maclean believes she’s finally free of Dr Thomas Henderson’s tyranny when she begins her postdoc. But when a fire goes off in Tom’s lab (stupid undergrads) he ends up working in the same lab as Liz. To make matters worse, Tom’s mum and Liz’s dad announce their impending marriage after a whirlwind romance. So when Liz’s landlord tells her to move out, pronto, it tips her over the edge. Desperate for a place to stay and in need of a saviour, the last person Liz expects to offer her a temporary home is Tom himself.
My Thoughts: My favorite trope is the enemies to lovers trope and this one is 100% with STEM and forced proximity splashed in. This was a feel good romcom that I devoured pretty quickly. The story is narrated by Liz and Tom, in a dual POV. I love when you get both sides of the romance, it gives you the full story. The characters were well developed with depth, witty banter, chemistry, tension, and creatively written. The author’s writing style was complex, had steamy tension, created that wonderful banter, and kept me engaged. If you love The Love Hypothesis or The Hating Game, this is the book for you! I absolutely adored this book. This book releases on 9/15/22 and I would suggest preordering!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: Romance
Format: Kindle eBook
Date Published: 9/15/22
Author: H.L. Macfarlane
Publisher: BooksGoSocial
Pages: 416
Goodreads Rating: 3.48
I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley and BooksGoSocial and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.
Synopsis: After suffering four years of scrutiny from her PhD assessor, Elizabeth Maclean believes she’s finally free of Dr Thomas Henderson’s tyranny when she begins her postdoc. But when a fire goes off in Tom’s lab (stupid undergrads) he ends up working in the same lab as Liz. To make matters worse, Tom’s mum and Liz’s dad announce their impending marriage after a whirlwind romance. So when Liz’s landlord tells her to move out, pronto, it tips her over the edge. Desperate for a place to stay and in need of a saviour, the last person Liz expects to offer her a temporary home is Tom himself.
My Thoughts: My favorite trope is the enemies to lovers trope and this one is 100% with STEM and forced proximity splashed in. This was a feel good romcom that I devoured pretty quickly. The story is narrated by Liz and Tom, in a dual POV. I love when you get both sides of the romance, it gives you the full story. The characters were well developed with depth, witty banter, chemistry, tension, and creatively written. The author’s writing style was complex, had steamy tension, created that wonderful banter, and kept me engaged. If you love The Love Hypothesis or The Hating Game, this is the book for you! I absolutely adored this book. This book releases on 9/15/22 and I would suggest preordering!
norassick's review against another edition
3.0
Insane actually.
Loved how this started, because tom is like? this little fucked up babygirl but HE'S A GROWN ASS DOCTOR. and you know what? I stand by what i said.
He's a baby girl. the babiest. all the pining? The enemies to lovers-esque because homeboy was pining. Liz? i LOVE LOVE YOU (but like lmfao did the parents really really have to)
all in all, thank you netgalley for this i loved her<33
Loved how this started, because tom is like? this little fucked up babygirl but HE'S A GROWN ASS DOCTOR. and you know what? I stand by what i said.
He's a baby girl. the babiest. all the pining? The enemies to lovers-esque because homeboy was pining. Liz? i LOVE LOVE YOU (but like lmfao did the parents really really have to)
all in all, thank you netgalley for this i loved her<33