The Unbalanced Equation follows postdoc Liz, and grumpy professor Tom. They meet years ago, Tom develops feelings for a munch younger Liz, but keeps them suppressed. A fire in Tom's lab results in Tom & Liz having to work on the same bench. A classic enemies to lovers. Sunshine girl. Grumpy boy. Forced proximity.

This book really reminded me of Ali Hazelwood's The Love Hypothesis and her Stem themed novellas. I enjoyed the book. but I found the family situation a bit odd. It was also quite a slow burn. The book really picks up at 40% or so. Thank you to Netgally & the publishers for this ARC!

A fateful meeting four years prior for Tom and Liz turned into a nightmare for Liz during her postdoc when Tom became her hellish assessor. When she thought she was free of him, a fire, a family wedding, and an eviction bring their lives colliding together in this enemies to lovers trope.

I give this book 3.5 stars. It had ups and downs for me, creating a bit of a rocky read. I liked their banter and the overall story, but I struggled with the anime story lines, not knowing much about it, and also the two MC extremely frustrated me at times. There was so much manipulation and deceit, that it made them not very likable characters during several scenes of the novel. I loved supporting characters in the novel, and the story ended on a high note for me.

Thank you NetGalley for my ARC, in exchange for my honest feedback!

Right off the bat, I want to mention that I did not finish this book. I physically could not. From the get-go, I didn’t like it at all. I waited it out and read through chapter 6 before I decided to call it. This book isn’t for me at all.

Within the first 6 chapters, there were way too many cringey, coincidental scenes. The MMC spent 4 years being incredibly rude toward the FMC for a complete misunderstanding. But he’s liked her all this time but decided to be a dick to her instead. Ummm okay? And then it just so happens that his lab burns down and has to work with her. Okay, classic move in a romance book. Nothing bad to say about that. But then their parents decide to get married to each other after they’ve been dating for a year which no one even knew about. That’s weird. And then the FMC gets evicted from her apartment and has to stay with the MMC. No. This is where I quit. This book was just too weird and cringey that I couldn’t finish it. I wanted to quit within a few chapters but I saw that there were so many 4 and 5-star reviews that I felt like I needed to wait it out. But I really couldn’t.

The cringey scenes weren’t the only parts that I didn’t like from the few chapters I read. I also didn’t like the writing. I felt like H L Macfarlane was writing with a dictionary beside them, using big words that aren’t used daily. I felt like I had to look up words to even get the gist of what was going on. Needless to say, I won’t be finishing this book and I won’t be reading any other books written by Macfarlane.

The Love Hypothesis but make it British, age-gap, and a tad spicier.

I thought the conflict was unnecessary but it was resolved well and I honestly liked it a lot more than I anticipated at the beginning. Definitely recommend if you’re a fan of The Love Hypothesis/love women in STEM characters, and a good old slow burn romance :)

I genuinely liked this and it re-invigorated my love of British rom coms!

Cute little stem romcom with cute little characters has made my life complete yet again. I really enjoyed this book it was super cute and super fun I don’t think it was perfect seeing as Tom was just just a little bit creepy.

I really liked the character development if everyone and god is Daichi just the cutest. And their parents!!! JIM AND JENNY WERE EVERYTHING :)

Big ty to NetGalley and MacFarlane for an e-arc of this in exchange for an honest review!!

This was a fun, steamy romance. I really liked that it didn't just focus on the 'magic' of love but also the ups and downs people face in life (both romantically and otherwise). I also enjoyed the fact that both characters are 'nerdy' and not the typical protagonists of steamy rom-coms. I found this book enjoyable to read, but I have to say I personally couldn't get over being slightly disturbed by the fact that Tom and Liz are essentially step-siblings - personal preference but not the trope for me!

Ahhh I really loved this book. I loved the academic setting and the characters of Liz (who's a postdoc) and Tom (professor). I loved the banter between the two. The whole book is soo good.

3.5 stars

QUOTE
{ “I’m thinking”
“about what?”
“about you” … “I’m always thinking about you" }

4 years after their initial spark, Liz and Tom find themselves at the same table with their respective Dad and Mum smitten and already half way down the aisle
Too bad that Tom was a total arse in those 4 years as Liz’s PhD assessor, which dimmed their attraction at the time.
Through different circumstances Liz and Tom are forced together both at home (as soon to be step-siblings) and at work (sharing a lab-bench) re-lighting their initial chemistry.
Resulting in lots of tension, ridiculous events, witty banter and facing up to unshared feelings.

QUOTE
{ Ah, fuck
I really liked him. I genuinely liked Thomas Henderson in an unironic, I-want-to-be-with-you-and-not-just-as-a-hate-screw kind of way }

Where I liked the chemistry and witty banter of the main characters, I was less convinced by the parents’ story. I know it served its purpose for forced proximity and the final act, but their parts made me loose a bit of momentum and build up from time tot time.
I was also a bit lost in the anime references, but that’s more link to the fact that I know next to nothing about the genre. So it probably just went over my head.
The anime did contribute to the overall geeky feel of both main characters, and was an important connection for them.
I really liked Daichi as a side-character. He knew about Tom’s crush from the start as Tom’s best buddy. Who wouldn’t like a best friend to dress up with on Halloween, Good Omens style

QUOTE
{ Tom shrugged. “The entire lab has assumed we were in some stage of getting it on for weeks now. The only one who was in denial about that was you.”
“Tom!”
“And Peter, too. Major denial from him” }

Overall a fun romance with heaps of witty banter, a good dose of pinning and some spicy scenes .. making this an enjoyable read for every romance bookworm

Would recommend to people who love
- Enemies to Lovers
- Forced proximity
- Women in Science
- He falls First
- Dual POV

QUOTE
{ I knew I wanted more than what we currently had. I wanted it all.
Minus marriage, kids and that holiday in Tenerife, of course. Mine and Liz’s version of it all }

Thank you NetGalley for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

A quick fun, happy read that will leave you wanting more of their story. Reminded me a lot of Love Hypothesis.

As an anime fan I found it really enticing how the characters were introduced in a setting of an anime discussion. It was different and felt relatable.
From there on it was easy to engage with the characters and their personalities.
Although I didn't burn through this book as quickly as I do usually with romance novels, I don't necessarily think that's a bad thing as I enjoyed the story more and took my time absorbing the details of the additional characters.
I adore daichi's character and how wholesome and endearing he is. His humour and playfulness exposes Tom's character more than if he wasn't there.
Truly enjoyed this read, it was more tame than what I typically read but it was entirely refreshing and I loved it all the same.

The Unbalanced Equation by HL Macfarlane was such a good reward! I loved enemies to lovers aspect of the story. The writing was fas5 paced, with a great plot and storyline. I loved the chemistry between Tom and Liz and can’t wait to share more very soon. This will definitely be a title we are interested in acquiring.
5/5
Please see below for a summary of the book.

———

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 saviour, 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?

A smart, sexy enemies-to-lovers story perfect for fans of The Hating Game, Book Lovers and The Love Hypothesis, The Unbalanced Equation is H. L. Macfarlane’s first foray into contemporary rom-com territory. She swears there are no faeries this time.

The Unbalanced Equation is the first book in the Hot Mess Trilogy – a series of standalone but connected rom-coms set in Glasgow.

I usually teach young women English, and the all loved this book. Very entertaining. They absolutely enyojed the banter between Liz and Tom. At moments we did find a bin juvenile their decisitions, but that`s what made it so good to read.

I thoroughly enjoyed this one! The pacing kept it interesting, and the STEM “theme” didn’t overtake the entire story. The characters were just the right amount of unlikeable, and the dynamics between the 2 leads and the interesting side characters was fun to explore. I would definitely read
more from this author.

I absolutely devoured this book in one evening. So why then have I only given it 3 stars?

The book has a lot of potential (banter between the main characters that always leaves you smiling, a heartwarming contemporary romance, and the classic enemy-to-lovers whilst throwing in STEM) which is why I was so heartbroken that it just didn’t quite hit the mark. The main characters were immature and manipulative. Leaving a bitter taste in my mouth that I just couldn’t get past. The warped power dynamic and completely inappropriate behaviour from Tom completely ruined the book for me. It may just be some words on paper but romanticising that sort of behaviour sends the wrong message to impressionable young adults.

3 stars 🌟🌟🌟

This book was a rocky ride for me. There were times that I loved it and couldn’t stop then there were others where it felt like it dragged or that the characters were too annoying.

They pretty much both manipulate the other the whole book and honestly it got tiring and toxic. It felt so juvenile and just frustrating because then they would both get butt hurt as if the other wasn’t also being a jerk. I don’t know it was fine and it had great spicy moments but honestly it just felt like there was too much betrayal and lies which just made it tiring.

Thank you Netgalley for providing me a copy for an honest review!

Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐.5/5
Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5

This book was a fun and quick read that kept me hooked with lots of cute-funny moments for the first half. The writing style was easy to follow.

Postdoctoral researcher x Former Ph.D. Assessor
Liz & Tom met 4 years ago and were instantly captivated. But when you think it will go to the next base, they were interrupted. Nothing happened. Then life made him to be her Ph.D. Assessor, and of course he handled it in the most horrible way possible. Liz loathes him. Goodbye to those feelings.
Now, all the coincidences made them not only work together but live together, even plan their parents’ wedding together. What in the world will happen next?

At first, I was interested in this book because I heard this was an enemy-to-lovers relationship, similar to The Love Hypothesis, and I can tell you I LOVED The Love Hypothesis. But, I don’t think this book can be categorized as an enemy-to-lovers. Tom was pretty much enamored with Liz from the very beginning. The only thing the two books have in common is STEM-based romance.
The plot has so much coincidence for my liking and I think both of MC kinda toxic, honestly. But there’s lots of sarcastic bantering that made me laugh and it’s enough to keep me hooooooked. At least they figured out they were jerks, not only to each other but to other people.
Overall, I enjoyed this fun book.

Recommended for those who like:
• STEM Workplace romance
• Guy falls first
• Second chance love
• Age gap
• Forced proximity
• Fun banter
• Dual POV
• Steamy

Content Warnings: sexual content, swearing, toxic relationship, cancer-related parental death, alcohol.

*SPOILERS*

I didn't particularly enjoy this book. I will be honest and say that I ended up stopping around 53% because it just got too much to read. I was excited when I saw it was marketed as a sexy academic enemies-to-lovers romance, when it was really just the MMC acting horribly and both of them seeming too immature for a relationship.

The book is incredibly fast-paced in the beginning, with a considerable amount happening within the first 25%; coincidence after coincidence in quick succession that took away from a potentially good story. The MMC's lab burnt down. both their parents (who after a year of dating had never mentioned their relationship at all) suddenly announced their marriage, the FMC was then immediately evicted from her home, and then finally they were roommates; all within a short span of time. It felt overwhelming at times, turning the page and immediately expecting another twist to jump out.

So, what I really don't understand is the MC. He is (almost insta-love) smitten with the FMC, yet when the opportunity to get close to her arises, his 34-year-old brain is like, "I must make this woman's life living hell." Please...what??? After a four-year gap, he's now 38, yet still acting like a petty teenager, breaking into her phone, blocking guys on her dating apps, and doing everything to sabotage her from moving out. These two were an awkward pair and between the toxicity & miscommunication, I couldn't really get a feel they had any true chemistry.

On the positives, the book does have dual POV, it's easy to follow along, and I do think the cover is super cute; though I am a sucker for cartoon covers. I also understand that apparently there is a better explanation given for the MMC's attitude at the end, but I honestly can't bring myself to skip to that part.

>.I received this free copy from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review. <

I just finished reading The Love Hypothesis so when I saw this, I had to pick it up. Cute, fun, quick read, and well developed characters. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the free advanced copy.

This romcom starts out as your typical enemies to lovers troupe, but then it felt like it tried to as many of the other troupes in there as possible (workplace romance, age gap, ex lovers, living together etc). And while I enjoyed this book, it was a bit too long and felt like it was doing a bit too much. if you are looking for something to pick up that is similar to The Love Hypothesis - this would fit the bill.

Thanks, NetGalley for the ARC!

Nothing against H.L. Macfarlane, but I liked this story better when it was "the Love Hypothesis". This story was cute and spicy, but I think this genre will quickly become oversaturated.