4.5 stars. I absolutely loved this book! The MC's are so relatable even though they're pretty much geniuses :) I love the enemies-to-lovers progression. Tom= swoon :)

I mean, the epilogue was better than the entire book, but the book isn't that bad. Slightly intolerable at times but well multiple romances are then. Ehhhhh. Read it if you want to, don't if you don't want to. It's really mediocre.

I'm a sucker for enemies to lovers and anything in STEM. I loved the banter between Liz and Tom and they had wonderful chemistry. I also enjoyed the dual POV. Sometimes Tom came across as juvenile, however, the dual POV allowed us to "see" him which helped me understand his intentions, making him more likable overall. I was pleasantly surprised by this book, and it was steamier than I expected! Overall a solid, 3.5 star read I'll round up to 4! I recommend this to anyone who loves enemies-to-lovers, banter, and characters in STEM.

This was a DNF for me, although it sounded really good. I could not connect to the characters and the area of science didn’t interest me.

This may just not have been a book for me, but may work for someone else.

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy and all thoughts and opinions are my own.

this book was 50/50 for me

during the first half, i was entertained by the characters, their angst and exchanges, the way everything led to them being together

during the second one, i was mostly bored as the story was unnecessarily long, again and again the same thing - the characters having a sexual moment then pushing the others away

it made me realize that there wasn’t a real connexion between them apart from their sexual attraction

i also didn’t like other things like the fact their parents are getting married and they like each other and the reasons behind their manipulative behaviors

2,5/5

I couldn’t quite get into it. It felt like a knock-off of Ali Hazelwood books. A STEM romance with a cute cover.

3.5⭐️, but I rounded up. 2.5🌶️/5

I truly did not like either of the main characters, they both treated the other person absolutely horribly. But the writing was good and so was the spice so I’ll take it.

I liked this book for the most part but there was one thing I didn't like. I though Tom was really out of line for the things he did to Liz, even though he did it for important reasons. It still doesn't make it right to me though. Other than that I enjoyed the book, it was a fun read. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced reader copy.

This was such an excellent book: I was so genuinely surprised! As a fellow woman in STEM, it was great to see such a perfect focus on being in a biology/genomics lab. But in the same view, I thought it was great that this faded into the background a bit to clearly stand the romantic storyline front and center. It gave a backbone to Liz and Tom, but wasn't pushed too heavily.
The sexual scenes were incredibly well written, just the right blend of hot and heavy with descriptions, and the B story of the parental romance did serve the story really well.. If I had any criticism at all, and its minimal at best, it would be that the final 'conflict' between the leads seemed a bit forced, and I never once considered it a major obstacle. That is probably more of a reflection of how good they were as a partnership than poor writing, but just something to consider!

3.75
Thank you to Net Galley and the Publisher for providing me with an ARC of this book!
The Unbalanced Equation is a delight from the start to end. It begins with a meet-cute gone wrong and takes you through an unusual love story. The characters were really unique and had lots of chemistry! The manipulation was not something I personally enjoyed but it did not take away from the overall book.

I received an eARC of this book by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
I requested this book because of its beautiful cover and equally romantic and cheesy title. Also because I read that this book is about post-doc candidate and PhD assessor which actually gave me The Love Hypothesis vibes.
The story revolves around a post-doc student, Liz, and her phD assessor, Tom. Tom used to be brutally harsh and difficult when he was Liz’s assessor. But now that her phD is finally over, she is glad she would never have to see him again. But Destiny has other plans. When she starts her post-doc in another lab, Tom’s lab accidentally caught fire and he has to move his lab to the lab where Liz works. Now how would she be able to resist his charms when he has started behaving very politely and charmingly? Also Liz’s father met someone who is none other than Tom’s mother. Now she has to share not only her lab, but also her life with him?
The plot line was interesting and characters have potential. I liked Tom and Liz’s chemistry, but sometimes it felt like author is pushing too hard. Also the story line where Liz and Tom are half siblings and attracted to each other was also a buzzkill for me. Overall, it was a cute story. Some readers might like it very much, but it was not for me.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.

OK the book started off with a bang. with instant chemistry between Liz and Tom. Only for them to get interrupted before seeing where it could go.
When poor Tom gets blindsided to find he will be Liz's advisor. So what is Tom's response to this situation lets act like we never met and be mean. Cause that how adults act in this situations.
No the part of the book that got me was the manipulation-now neither party was innocent but it was more heavily Tom. At one point the invasion of privacy almost had me dnf the book.
But I am glad I pushed through cause ultimately it was a light and fun read.

Thanks to NetGalley and publisher for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I was intrigued by the blurb and I enjoyed this book a lot more than I expected!
I really love both of the characters, both as individuals, as scientists and anime lovers! Although there are some flaws in their personalities, it made them more relatable as if they're real person. Of course, I'm really enjoying all of their hilarious, flirty, and wit banter. It make the stories more alive and entertaining given the situation they're in. From strangers who attracted to each other, enemies, labmate, and *spoiler alert!* future step-siblings and housemate! This book has dual POVs that presents you... THE PINING THEY BOTH HAVE TO EACH OTHER FOR 2/3 OF THE STORY--which got me screaming so hard! Not to mention all their pranks and sexual tension!

Overall, this book is a hilarious rom-com filled with adorable side characters and was well-written. The author has doing a good job on narrating the feelings and frustration both main characters are having. And I think anyone who enjoyed The Love Hypothesis and My Mechanical Romance would enjoy this book too!

Overall rate: 4/5

4.5 stars! Amazingly fun, nerdy read with wonderful characters and a great setting. With a hysterical plot twist that had me actually laughing out loud and the delicious tension between Liz and Tom, this book hooked me from the start and kept me entertained the whole way through. Full of great banter, a badass female heroine kicking but at her job, and an incredible slow burn, this was a great read that put me through the entire spectrum of human emotions. Both heart wrenching and steamy, and packed with just enough nerdy goodness to make it perfect. Such a great read! *I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

When I found this book, I was really hoping that it would be very similar to Ali Hazelwood's "Love Hypothesis" or "Love on the Brain." Unfortunately, this book didn't exactly hit that (admittedly) high expectation.

Tom and Liz first met on a department social and are instantly attracted to each other. Before anything can happen, though, they're interrupted. Hoping to rekindle that spark the next day, Tom is dismayed to learn that he would be Liz's PhD assessor, meaning that any hopes of starting a relationship are now dashed. How does he handle this disappointment? He decides that he needs to distance himself from Liz by being a complete jerk. Problem solved, right?

After four long years of working toward her PhD with Tom constantly putting her down, Liz finally finishes it. Thinking she's wiped her hands of him forever, she's shocked to learn that not only does she have to work with him, but she will also forever be in his life due to Tom's mom marrying her dad. She's then kicked out of her apartment (perfect timing!) and now has to live with her dad, his bride-to-be, and of course, Tom.

The plot is at times just too convoluted and contrived for me to have completely enjoyed this book. Liz and Tom have great, sizzling chemistry, but all of the miscommunication between them is a bit too much to be an adorable trope. Tom was a bit too manipulative to be entirely endearing, and there were some moments when I actually rooted for Liz not to end up with him.

Despite its issues, I really did enjoy this book. It just didn't live up to the hype!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinions.

This was fun and steamy and full of all the tropes! A workplace, dual POV, enemies to lovers, second chance, forced proximity with pining and a strong female MC in STEM that I didn't want to put down. Highly recommended for fans of Ali Hazelwood! Much thanks to NetGalley and the author for a chance to read an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review. This was my first book by HL Macfarlane and I'm excited to read more. I especially enjoyed that the story was set in Scotland!

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I had high expectations because the main character is from STEM and the synopsis reminded me of the love hypothesis, which I loved.
However, I DNF this book @ 39%

My problem with this book is the characters:
First Tom and his attitude toward his crush on Elizabeth, especially when he discovers he will be her assessor. He behaves badly and I didn't like him.
And about Lizzie: I got frustrated with her, she says she wants revenge but until I read, she was like kind of oblivious to that and started enjoying the time with Tom.

The story had potential but it was really slow and I couldn't keep reading.

Thank you netgalley for a free e-arc, unfortunately I had to dnf at the 30% mark. There was too many coincidences that took place which didn't make the story believable and I couldn't focus on connecting with the characters.

I’m going to start by saying: I’m truly shocked at the low Goodreads ratings. I really enjoyed this book! I think if you liked The Love Hypothesis, you’d like this!
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Personally, I really enjoyed their first meet and what followed. I don’t think he needed to be *such* a jerk to her all those years he was her superior, but I can understand where he was trying to go with it. I’m also the kind of person who defaults to standoffish if I am trying to keep someone at bay, so I get it. I just think making her cry is a bit much. That being said, I thought this was a fun, lighter read with a nice blend of chemistry, STEM & a few great tropes thrown in!
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Here’s what to expect to in The Unbalanced Equation:
Enemies to Lovers
Workplace Romance
STEM
Age gap romance
Grumpy/Sunshine
He Falls First
Anime
NO marriage or baby at the end, just a HEA
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BLURB:
What do a bad landlord, a family wedding and a rogue Bunsen burner all have in common?

After suffering four years of scrutiny from her PhD assessor, Elizabeth Maclean believes she’s finally free of Dr Thomas Henderson’s tyranny when she begins her postdoc. But when a fire goes off in Tom’s lab (stupid undergrads) he ends up working in the same lab as Liz.
On the same bench, no less.
For three whole months.

To make matters worse – and much to their mutual surprise – Tom’s mum and Liz’s dad announce their impending marriage after a whirlwind romance. So when Liz’s landlord tells her to move out, pronto, it tips her over the edge. Desperate for a place to stay and in need of a savior, the last person Liz expects to offer her a temporary home is Tom himself.

Now stuck working together, living together and planning their parents’ Christmas wedding together, will Liz discover that Tom’s attitude over the last four years was all a ruse to hide his true feelings? Or are the two doomed to fail in their co-existence experiment?

This book was a cute enemies to lovers romance. Thomas meets Liz and has instant connection. Thomas finds out he will be over Liz in her postdoc program and determines that he must be very hard on her to hide his feelings. Liz winds up hating Thomas for how horrible he treats her. Fast forward four years - Thomas’s lab burns down and he has to work at a friend’s lab - who has just employed Liz. And to make matters worse - Tom’s mom is marrying Liz’s dad! They are put in the position where they have to be in close quarters, and they have to put the past to rest.