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00leah00's review
3.0
This is 3.5 stars for me. I liked it but the romance didn’t start until very late and then kind of came out of nowhere it seemed. I did enjoy reading about intelligent women taking down a homophobic man in the 90’s.
kjanie's review against another edition
3.0
3/5 stars
This was a mature romance book between a political science professor and her grad student, set in the 1990s. I think the setting was really interesting, like a near history, allowing the story to explore homophobia in academic institutions. All of the characters were well-written and flawed but likeable. Carmen was a great ice-queen characters, whereas Molly was a very passionate student. I’m a big fan of opposites attract tropes, so I was very excited to explore this trope here.
I definitely feel a bit crappy that I didn’t love this book as much as many of my mutuals did. It took me quite a while to get into the story and connect with the characters. And even when I was enjoying the story, the romance aspect didn’t feel as strong as I expected. It came right towards the end, and the chemistry didn’t really jump off the page like I wish it did. Don’t get me wrong, this was definitely a well-written and interesting book, especially given the setting and the content.
This was a mature romance book between a political science professor and her grad student, set in the 1990s. I think the setting was really interesting, like a near history, allowing the story to explore homophobia in academic institutions. All of the characters were well-written and flawed but likeable. Carmen was a great ice-queen characters, whereas Molly was a very passionate student. I’m a big fan of opposites attract tropes, so I was very excited to explore this trope here.
I definitely feel a bit crappy that I didn’t love this book as much as many of my mutuals did. It took me quite a while to get into the story and connect with the characters. And even when I was enjoying the story, the romance aspect didn’t feel as strong as I expected. It came right towards the end, and the chemistry didn’t really jump off the page like I wish it did. Don’t get me wrong, this was definitely a well-written and interesting book, especially given the setting and the content.
claudia_is_reading's review against another edition
3.0
I almost tagged this as historical, because is set in the 90s, but then I thought better and realize that some of my friends would kill me for calling them historical *laughs*
This is a nice romance, although, to be honest, that wasn't, at least for me, the best part. I really liked the way in which LGBT history and politics play into the story; the way in which the issues for women in academia were highlighted, and Carmen's self-discovery journey.
I liked Molly, too. The age gap with Carmen, although not very big, is evident in her attitude and the way in which she lives her life; but she too has some growing to do. And she really does it :)
Strong, smart and honest women, Carmen and Molly's slow-burn romance feels real and organic, and I enjoyed it when they finally got together.
And I really, really enjoyed Lori Prince's narration.
This is a nice romance, although, to be honest, that wasn't, at least for me, the best part. I really liked the way in which LGBT history and politics play into the story; the way in which the issues for women in academia were highlighted, and Carmen's self-discovery journey.
I liked Molly, too. The age gap with Carmen, although not very big, is evident in her attitude and the way in which she lives her life; but she too has some growing to do. And she really does it :)
Strong, smart and honest women, Carmen and Molly's slow-burn romance feels real and organic, and I enjoyed it when they finally got together.
And I really, really enjoyed Lori Prince's narration.
penandpages's review against another edition
lighthearted
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Rape
pandon's review against another edition
4.0
I loved the book and the characters. It funny how technically backwards the late 1990’s were. Landlines, paper road maps from gas stations.
caithxlyn's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
judeinthestars's review against another edition
4.0
I’ve been waiting for this book for what feels like forever. It’s a debut novel but Quinn Ivins has been entertaining me on social media and with her blog for months.
The Love Factor is set in 1997 and 1998, which is both a while ago and not that far in the past. It’s dedicated to “everyone who came out in the 90s”. Hey, that’s me! I came out in 1993. This story isn’t about me, however. At almost thirty, Molly Cook is a PhD student in political science in Maryland. Carmen Vaughn is her statistics professor. What appeals most to Molly at first is Carmen’s way of pushing her students. When she accidentally finds out that Carmen is a lesbian, her gorgeous but aloof teacher becomes even more interesting to Molly. Another not-so-accidental discovery about a homophobic teacher will bring them closer yet.
Most ice queens are wounded women hiding behind a facade so as not to get hurt again. Carmen isn’t so much wounded as scared to be. She’s a closeted tenured professor in a male-dominated field. She’s not out to her Roman Catholics parents either. She’s not out to anyone except her girlfriend and when that relationship ends (I’m not really spoiling, it’s very early in the story), she’s all alone. No one knows who she really is. There’s no one she can talk to about shared experience, no one she wants to talk to. But it’s the nineties, and Ellen DeGeneres is coming out and things are changing fast. Carmen’s journey is slow but inevitable.
The time period The Love Factor is set in is an intriguing choice. Ellen’s coming out, Bill Clinton’s impeachment, they’re all events that had some sort of impact in many countries besides the U. S. And as I wrote above, for people my age (I’m forty-nine), they’re part both of History and of our memories. I remember Ellen’s Time cover. I remember being part of the team that worked all night to translate the most important parts of the Kenneth Starr report for the newspaper my mother and my girlfriend (now my wife) worked for. It’s not often that I get to read historical novels set in a past I remember, and that gave this one a different feel.
The only thing that didn’t convince me entirely is the romance or, rather, the physical component. I don’t really mind, though, because the build-up, the falling in love with a brilliant woman (on both sides), the intellectual chemistry, all of this rings true. That’s good enough for me, especially from a new author. And no pressure or anything, but now I’m looking forward to Quinn Ivins’ second book.
I received a copy from the publisher and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
The Love Factor is set in 1997 and 1998, which is both a while ago and not that far in the past. It’s dedicated to “everyone who came out in the 90s”. Hey, that’s me! I came out in 1993. This story isn’t about me, however. At almost thirty, Molly Cook is a PhD student in political science in Maryland. Carmen Vaughn is her statistics professor. What appeals most to Molly at first is Carmen’s way of pushing her students. When she accidentally finds out that Carmen is a lesbian, her gorgeous but aloof teacher becomes even more interesting to Molly. Another not-so-accidental discovery about a homophobic teacher will bring them closer yet.
Most ice queens are wounded women hiding behind a facade so as not to get hurt again. Carmen isn’t so much wounded as scared to be. She’s a closeted tenured professor in a male-dominated field. She’s not out to her Roman Catholics parents either. She’s not out to anyone except her girlfriend and when that relationship ends (I’m not really spoiling, it’s very early in the story), she’s all alone. No one knows who she really is. There’s no one she can talk to about shared experience, no one she wants to talk to. But it’s the nineties, and Ellen DeGeneres is coming out and things are changing fast. Carmen’s journey is slow but inevitable.
The time period The Love Factor is set in is an intriguing choice. Ellen’s coming out, Bill Clinton’s impeachment, they’re all events that had some sort of impact in many countries besides the U. S. And as I wrote above, for people my age (I’m forty-nine), they’re part both of History and of our memories. I remember Ellen’s Time cover. I remember being part of the team that worked all night to translate the most important parts of the Kenneth Starr report for the newspaper my mother and my girlfriend (now my wife) worked for. It’s not often that I get to read historical novels set in a past I remember, and that gave this one a different feel.
The only thing that didn’t convince me entirely is the romance or, rather, the physical component. I don’t really mind, though, because the build-up, the falling in love with a brilliant woman (on both sides), the intellectual chemistry, all of this rings true. That’s good enough for me, especially from a new author. And no pressure or anything, but now I’m looking forward to Quinn Ivins’ second book.
I received a copy from the publisher and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
wickedregal's review against another edition
3.0
I was really looking forward to reading this one but it just fell completely short for me. Not a fan of this one I'm sorry to say. I felt no chemistry between the two ladies, to be honest. As far as romance? To me there wasn't any. Maybe if feelings were either looked more into or expressed more sooner, then see struggle to maintain distance or something. I don't know. I felt the book was far too focused on the stereotypical black & white politics to where the details and scenes/steps to build a relationship were very little and then to just put the relationship out there at the end. Meh. Again just not a fan. The one thing I did enjoy in the book was one of the main ladies, Professor Carmen Vaughn. I liked her from the start and I enjoyed seeing her growth by the end.
chiwum's review against another edition
challenging
informative
lighthearted
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
a good read! i learned something about politics as well as math, not to mention, the romance is good albeit slow-paced.
verumsolum's review against another edition
5.0
This was a bit of a mind-warper for me. Because I really loved Molly and Carmen, but … I was reminded of my college days, which are complicated memories. Carmen initially reminded me of my music history prof, who reveled in her ability to scare new students: the last thing I personally needed. But I fondly remember some of the grad students I “met” online there. And, in the present day, more than two decades later, my wife is now a grad student (though simultaneously employed full-time).
Personally, if Goodreads allowed half stars, I might have lowered this to 4.5 stars, but that would probably be unfair, more about my history than the book itself.
Personally, if Goodreads allowed half stars, I might have lowered this to 4.5 stars, but that would probably be unfair, more about my history than the book itself.