Reviews

The Love Factor by Quinn Ivins

shippychaos's review

4.0

this book was really well done. great comedic timing and delivery by lori prince, and it had me simply overflowing with nineties nostalgia. the plot was engaging and unique, and it didn’t really feel like it was written as a traditional “romance.” though there was an element of attraction, it seemed mostly one sided for the majority of the story.

wc4's review

4.0

Usually, I avoid teacher-student romances, as it's not a trope I like to read. However, after reading good reviews from people here on GR that I trust, decided to give this a go. This story is set in 1997 when Ellen took the huge step of coming out kn her sitcom. I remember the hubbub surrounding this. However, being not woke then, I wasn't very aware of how big an impact this really had. This was also the time of Monica Lewinsky/ Bill Clinton scandal. (Side note: I appreciate the author making note that Monica got the short end of the stick then. She became the butt of jokes when she was just a young intern who was taken advantage of by a man in a powerful position.)
These events are prominently mentioned since the main character, Molly, is a 30 year old political science grad student, with a heart for activism. We see her as she starts the term and meets Carmen, the Statistics professor with a reputation as a ruthless teacher. They're both in a conservative college where sexist, homophobic behaviours amongst the faculty and students are not unusual. Understandably, Carmen is very deep in the closet and very private and detached from her colleagues and friends as a result.
I enjoy this book a lot. The romance is slow burn, since Molly is Carmen's student. The chemistry is there though, simmering as it is under the surface. When they started working together to pick apart this other homophobic professor's research paper, we get to know both of them more personally. There's statistics jargon that I don't understand but that's okay. It did not detract from my reading experience. Overall, a wonderful read from a promising debut author.

camillessi's review

emotional hopeful inspiring medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I'm absolutely in love with this book. It's so unique compared to most lesbian romances, not just because of the late 90s setting (which was PERFECT—the nostalgia was just excellent, even though I, myself, was very young back then) but also because of the depth of the plot and the growth of the characters. It feels like so much more than a romance. It tackles LGBT+ history and politics, issues in academia, and self-discovery. The development of Molly and Carmen's relationship is so organic and the best kind of slow burn. By the time they finally get together, it feels absolutely earned. I couldn't have been more invested in the romance between these two. I also fell in love with them individually as characters, especially Carmen, who is the most perfect ice queen. This novel is so fantastic, especially for a debut. I can't wait to read more from this author. I'll be thinking about this one for a long, long time.

malini's review

funny informative lighthearted medium-paced

• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75