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3.56 AVERAGE
3.56 AVERAGE
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
This was really cute and a fun premise, but the FMC used a little too much slang/trendy phrases in her internal monologue for my personal preference
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Minor: Gaslighting, Alcohol
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This wasn’t my favorite. I enjoyed Etta Easton’s debut, The Kiss Countdown, though I found some parts of that to be a bit clunky. Unfortunately, The Love Simulation didn’t work as well for me. The story focused too much on the simulation, and we never really got to see Brianna and Roman’s relationship develop. Because of that, I didn’t feel much when they finally got together. I think a dual POV would’ve helped. The novel also felt too short at under 300 pages. It might have been stronger with more time to flesh out the story. Also, I really hated that “delulu” was used multiple times. I say it out loud to be funny, but to see it in a book as part of a character’s inner dialogue was…something lol.
That said, it was a quick read and gets points for being creative with the Mars simulation aspect.
That said, it was a quick read and gets points for being creative with the Mars simulation aspect.
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The Love Simulation by Etta Easton is the perfect he-falls-first workplace adjacent rivals to lovers story. Brianna is a vice-principal who just wants to get a library remodel built after the old library was partially destroyed. Her principal is trying to get her out by any means necessary to get his son (Roman) the job so he uses the money assigned to the library remodel to a new football field. To keep her word, Brianna decides to participate in a reality show competition that would pay for the remodel with some of her colleagues who are there for their own reasons. Roman shows up out of now "Houston, we've got a problem" because she just knows he is there to sabotage her so he can get her job. However, not everything is at seems and they start developing a friendship that could easily turn into more.
Okay so I loved this book. This book reminded me of the book "The Martian" in a "what if this was a love story?" sort of way. I thought the book was fast paced and the characters were very lovable. I also really liked that Brianna was trying to keep her professional boundaries as much as she could while also integrating herself into the group. I also loved the end of the simulation which might be a controversial take, I don't know but it made a lot of sense. Basically, if you like a closed door rivals to lovers story I think you will really like this book!
Tropes: workplace adjacent, rivals to lovers, he-falls-first
Thank you to NetGalley, Berkley Publishing Group | Berkley, and Etta Easton for giving me the opportunity to review this book. All opinions are my own.
Okay so I loved this book. This book reminded me of the book "The Martian" in a "what if this was a love story?" sort of way. I thought the book was fast paced and the characters were very lovable. I also really liked that Brianna was trying to keep her professional boundaries as much as she could while also integrating herself into the group. I also loved the end of the simulation which might be a controversial take, I don't know but it made a lot of sense. Basically, if you like a closed door rivals to lovers story I think you will really like this book!
Tropes: workplace adjacent, rivals to lovers, he-falls-first
Thank you to NetGalley, Berkley Publishing Group | Berkley, and Etta Easton for giving me the opportunity to review this book. All opinions are my own.
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I liked the kiss countdown more than this one but still enjoyed the idea of the stimulation. Found Brianna to be kind of annoying worrying sooo much about her “career” the ending felt a bit rushed.
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated