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3.2 AVERAGE
3.2 AVERAGE
This book did a really good job of not dumbing down a smart girl. Maya is intelligent, friendly, pretty, and conflicted like all normal teenagers are. She has baggage, from the death of her mother, and change is impending, with college starting at the end of summer, but she doesn't excuse herself from participating in her life. Even after her boyfriend dumps her she doesn't wallow in misery even though she is obviously sad. She keeps participating until she comes up with a plan to get him back using her mothers research.
Was anyone else concerned that Maya's mother's experiment was what led to her cancer metastizing? I was very concerned the whole book. I appreciated the way the ethics of what Maya and Ann were doing were explained and then rejected and then concluded. Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It was funny, quirky, and complicated. I just wish I got to know Bryan better, and I want more story about him!
Was anyone else concerned that Maya's mother's experiment was what led to her cancer metastizing? I was very concerned the whole book. I appreciated the way the ethics of what Maya and Ann were doing were explained and then rejected and then concluded. Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It was funny, quirky, and complicated. I just wish I got to know Bryan better, and I want more story about him!
I recently finished reading Chemistry Lessons, by Meredith Goldstein!
Oh look, I finished this book right on time for Valentine's day
Note: I received this book as an eARC from NetGalley! This does not affect my opinion on the storyline, plot, writing, or any other point of interest. Thank you for sending it to me!
This will be published on June 19th, 2018
This book was not what I expected, in any way! You have Maya, a student working on her internship before joining MIT to study epigenetics. Her mother died and dedicated her laboratory research to her - using a love interest's genes to alter your own genes to increase attraction via pheromones. Maya continues on this work on her own, testing the formula on three test subject - her friend, a stranger, and her ex. This secret project makes her realize the value of personal relationships of all kinds, and tests her in many situations that may happen to anyone.
This book was easily readable - it was smooth, there were no empty chapters, and the scientific ideas were easy understandable and well explained. Easy-reading contemporaries make for really nice summer reads!
I did have a little problem when it comes to the plot of the book, at first. It struck me as odd that the main character saw nothing strange in altering her own chemical signature in order to see if unknowing test subjects would feel any unusual romantic attraction to her. As someone who even finds online dating to be an uncomfortable idea, her lack of realization in the ethics of the experiment surprised me. Not only that, but as a scientist, it was obvious to me that the experiment had many flaws, namely the lack of regularity in the experiments. Her friend Bryan often had the same mindset as I did throughout the book, regarding Maya' s actions and decisions. However, Maya realizes all of this by the end of the book, and makes it up to everyone in various ways. This redeemed the book for me, however did not get rid of the fact that the first 90% of the book seemed odd both ethically and scientifically.
The book was overall a very light read. Where some contemporaries are heavy on mental illness or other topics, this was simply a college girl science-ing the hell out of trying to get back with her ex, and growing on the way. It was a cute, light read, good for anyone who wants to read something that is technically a science fiction but is disguised in a contemporary form. The mix of sub-genres including science, family, theater, love and growing up was a lovely blend that showed that anyone can find themselves in this story.
Finally, I appreciated the realism of the side characters in this book - they were a good representation of the people you may meet in college. Diverse characters, the best friend, the flamboyant guy who doesn't mind who he spends time with at a party, the unrealized crush, the one having a hard time getting over their ex, the ambitious one... it made it easy to find a place in the book as a reader!
I'm giving this book a 3.5/5 Feathers!
Oh look, I finished this book right on time for Valentine's day
Note: I received this book as an eARC from NetGalley! This does not affect my opinion on the storyline, plot, writing, or any other point of interest. Thank you for sending it to me!
This will be published on June 19th, 2018
This book was not what I expected, in any way! You have Maya, a student working on her internship before joining MIT to study epigenetics. Her mother died and dedicated her laboratory research to her - using a love interest's genes to alter your own genes to increase attraction via pheromones. Maya continues on this work on her own, testing the formula on three test subject - her friend, a stranger, and her ex. This secret project makes her realize the value of personal relationships of all kinds, and tests her in many situations that may happen to anyone.
This book was easily readable - it was smooth, there were no empty chapters, and the scientific ideas were easy understandable and well explained. Easy-reading contemporaries make for really nice summer reads!
I did have a little problem when it comes to the plot of the book, at first. It struck me as odd that the main character saw nothing strange in altering her own chemical signature in order to see if unknowing test subjects would feel any unusual romantic attraction to her. As someone who even finds online dating to be an uncomfortable idea, her lack of realization in the ethics of the experiment surprised me. Not only that, but as a scientist, it was obvious to me that the experiment had many flaws, namely the lack of regularity in the experiments. Her friend Bryan often had the same mindset as I did throughout the book, regarding Maya' s actions and decisions. However, Maya realizes all of this by the end of the book, and makes it up to everyone in various ways. This redeemed the book for me, however did not get rid of the fact that the first 90% of the book seemed odd both ethically and scientifically.
The book was overall a very light read. Where some contemporaries are heavy on mental illness or other topics, this was simply a college girl science-ing the hell out of trying to get back with her ex, and growing on the way. It was a cute, light read, good for anyone who wants to read something that is technically a science fiction but is disguised in a contemporary form. The mix of sub-genres including science, family, theater, love and growing up was a lovely blend that showed that anyone can find themselves in this story.
Finally, I appreciated the realism of the side characters in this book - they were a good representation of the people you may meet in college. Diverse characters, the best friend, the flamboyant guy who doesn't mind who he spends time with at a party, the unrealized crush, the one having a hard time getting over their ex, the ambitious one... it made it easy to find a place in the book as a reader!
I'm giving this book a 3.5/5 Feathers!
Soooo.... It wasn't a bad book but I do feel like not a lot happened. It was just a lot of chatter.
It was like a YA retelling of Love Potion #9 where she finds her late mother's old research to try and make a serum that would like her now ex boyfriend want her back. Of course she has to test on other unexpecting boys to see if it works. Which that causes it's own set of problems.
Science wise it's an interesting concept.
I think this would have been better if it was New Adult, have her in actual college and it could potentially add spice.
It was like a YA retelling of Love Potion #9 where she finds her late mother's old research to try and make a serum that would like her now ex boyfriend want her back. Of course she has to test on other unexpecting boys to see if it works. Which that causes it's own set of problems.
Science wise it's an interesting concept.
I think this would have been better if it was New Adult, have her in actual college and it could potentially add spice.
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
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:
Complicated
Super cute little romance
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Tests a serum on 3 guys (gets three make outs which for a nerd seems more unrealistic than the serum). A easy, unsubstaintial, fun read.
This book had an interesting premise. What if you could create a love serum that could make someone fall for you using your pheromones? When Maya’s boyfriend dumps her, she’s desperate to get him back. Her mother’s old chemistry journals detail an experiment in its early stages that could potentially help. With the aid of an old lab partner, they set about testing the serum on a series of unsuspecting boys.
"Because if anyone could fix a breakup with science, it was my mother."
Basic storyline - high school chemistry intern decides to carry on her dead scientist mom's research into pheremones, in an attempt to get her boyfriend to get back together with her.
"Losing a partner to a breakup is sometimes more difficult than losing a partner to death."
Basic storyline - high school chemistry intern decides to carry on her dead scientist mom's research into pheremones, in an attempt to get her boyfriend to get back together with her.
"Losing a partner to a breakup is sometimes more difficult than losing a partner to death."
emotional
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:
Yes
Sometimes you just need a cheesey, science-filled, romantic comedy to fill your time!
Chemistry Lessons by Meredith Goldstein is a marvellous contemporary fiction read about a seventeen year old girl named Maya who is trying to develop a concoction (started by her Mother) to manipulate pheromones to increase human attraction. Maya is depressed - her Mom has passed away and now her boyfriend breaks up with her right before their big deal to consummate their relationship. Boys suck, am I right? She's working at MIT as an intern before her university career starts and she happens to stumble across her Mom's original work. When the opportunity presents itself, Maya jumps! She tests this concoction on three people she knows, and in the end... she learns just what love and attraction is all about.
Realistic? No. Incredibly fun? Yes!
We've all thought up the magical love potion to win someone over (or back!), and Meredith Goldstein turned this dream into an incredible book. It's goofy, scientific, and just downright fun. It has the right mix of romance and comedy, while also keeping it "real" enough to feel like someone might actually try this experiment.
Overall, I liked this book! Seeing Maya's connection with friends, acquaintances, and romantic partners (or ex partners...) and her experiment was incredibly fun. I definitely want to pick up more books by Meredith Goldstein in the future.
Four out of five stars!
Chemistry Lessons by Meredith Goldstein is a marvellous contemporary fiction read about a seventeen year old girl named Maya who is trying to develop a concoction (started by her Mother) to manipulate pheromones to increase human attraction. Maya is depressed - her Mom has passed away and now her boyfriend breaks up with her right before their big deal to consummate their relationship. Boys suck, am I right? She's working at MIT as an intern before her university career starts and she happens to stumble across her Mom's original work. When the opportunity presents itself, Maya jumps! She tests this concoction on three people she knows, and in the end... she learns just what love and attraction is all about.
Realistic? No. Incredibly fun? Yes!
We've all thought up the magical love potion to win someone over (or back!), and Meredith Goldstein turned this dream into an incredible book. It's goofy, scientific, and just downright fun. It has the right mix of romance and comedy, while also keeping it "real" enough to feel like someone might actually try this experiment.
Overall, I liked this book! Seeing Maya's connection with friends, acquaintances, and romantic partners (or ex partners...) and her experiment was incredibly fun. I definitely want to pick up more books by Meredith Goldstein in the future.
Four out of five stars!
Didn’t like it. Characters not engaging, dull unbelievable plot.
