Review by lexi_charles - The Chemistry Test

lexi_charles 's review for:

The Chemistry Test by Georgina Frankie

3.5

inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

I love the concept of this book: A person with a visible disability (a wheelchair user with joint- and heart-related conditions) and one with an invisible disability (neurodivergent & dealing with depression) come together in a mistaken identity, friends-to-lovers situation. I think the execution could have been better, though.

I hate to fault a book because its marketing was off (that is not this author's fault at all), but the cover, copy, etc., for this book all point to it being an Ali Hazelwood-type adult STEMinst romance. It very much is not. The romance is minimal

the characters kiss once and don't even get together until about 95% of the way through the book

and there is a very YA feel. It's not just that there's no spice, it's that the plot is simple and repetitive. There's a lot of YA-type angst that could be prevented by simple, adult conversations. The message of empowerment for the disabled--while a great one--is also heavy-handed in the way a YA novel would be. Going forward, maybe YA is this debut author's niche. I'd love to see her keep honing her craft.

Content Warnings