3.5

OH MY GOODNESS HOW CUTE. This book was insanely adorable, and quite introspective for a romance book. I loved both the main leads, their chemistry and their interactions to the point where I couldn’t put it down!

I liked how this was an extremely easy read - the writing is so simple that you can probably read this in one sitting and there’s not much to think about with the story, so you can really turn your brain off and just enjoy the ride. Its simplistic nature does the story justice, it’s just a scientist and an actor who fall in love and the consequences that comes with fame. I think the characters were compatible and had great chemistry.

Some things I did not like was the inconsistencies in the story, they’re small things but it annoyed me that Christian knew were Lana lived after dropping her off once, but not even that, Lana moved houses and Christian just knows where it is? Also the fact that Lana doesn’t watch movies, but didn’t notice Christian’s face at all despite it having been plastered all over the city (this one is understandable, I also have facial blindness but like not that bad)? Another thing I did not like was how quickly everything moved. Like damn kids you’re still young, you don’t need to be moving like Formula 1, like actually take it slow? Lana also just left a 10 year relationship and has no trauma??? Side eye. More exploration on the cost of dating someone rich and famous would have been nice too, but I guess that’s not this book and it’s only meant to be mindless fun, so it’s fine.

ALSO NO SPICY SCENES ARE YOU JOKING??? I GOT BLUE BALLED AGAIN!!!!

This was cute, but a couple weeks after reading it, it doesn't jump out to me as a book that sticks out from the others I've read this year. I enjoyed the characters, especially Christian's assistant.

Lana is a really relatable character. I really enjoyed her. I enjoyed the way her relationship with Christian grew. Overall it was a good read.

I enjoyed this book, it had great characters and a good storyline. Bit predictable but most romcoms are!

⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌶️

CW
🔵 Cheating
🔵 Best Friend Betrayal


TROPES
🍿 Instalove
🍿 Forced Proximity Meeting + Adorable Meet Cute
🍿 Opposites Attract


The Love Theorem follows Lana, an aerospace engineering Ph.D. student that just found out her best friend and long-term boyfriend are having an affair, and Christian, an A-List movie star. After a chance encounter in a hotel closet, the two can’t stop thinking about each other. But, they live in two different worlds, and those worlds may not mesh together as well as they’d like them to.

As a fan of Ali Hazelwood, this really scratched the itch of wanting a STEM-based romance book. I am also a fan of one of the MCs being a celebrity in some way, so this book really checked a lot of boxes for me. It was a sweet story that moves quickly and is an easy read.

I particularly enjoyed how Christian tried to mesh their two worlds together in the final act. It did make sense, even if it may actually happen differently than that in the real world. I do think it’s a little far-fetched that he could get away with everything that he did on that film set, but it was cute to see play out.

I can’t necessarily explain what it was, but this book just worked. Were there some spots where the dialog felt silly or scenes felt clunky? Yes, but it worked with the quirkiness of the story and the vibe I got from it. If the book had another 50 pages, it could’ve remedied some of that, but ultimately I like how it all came together.

I wish there had been a bit more character development, particularly in the MCs as they did feel a bit surface-level, but for this kind of story, that’s okay.

As much as I love women in STEM rep that's popping up in romance now, this one read just a liiittle too close to trying to be "The Love Hypothesis" for me. Sure there were different twists so it wasn't a total rip off, but still.

Perhaps my biggest issue with this book was that I wasn't a huge fan of the FMC. I'm as aware of my carbon footprint as anyone, but saying libraries aren't eco-friendly because they print books? SERIOUSLY?! That's a pretty surefire way to get librarians to not like you, at least this one.

Overall, it was cute, it was short, I'll probably have forgotten the entire plot by the time my library gets it in circulation. But Lana wouldn't like that it's in print anyway.

Thanks, NetGalley!

These hot nerds had me giggling like crazy!!
This book was so much fun and I read it so quickly. The characters felt like real people and I appreciated that a lot.

*3.5

This was super cute and I really like Lana and Christian. This book is very much a fast burn and insta love. I like that the book didn't take too long to have it revealed that he's a celebrity. I just wish the book was a bit longer because I wanted there to be extensive groveling at the end.

I received an arc through netgalley.

A delightful light romance. From the meet cute to the finale, the rocket scientist and actor seem to find happiness with one another. Thanks to the publisher for providing a copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary.

A cute STEM based romance that is toted to be similar to the style of Ali Hazelwood, I went into The Love Theorem with high expectations. Aside from a quirky, female lead that is employed in/pursuing the STEM field of education, I can say that this is alike to Hazelwood in the way that all fantasy (no matter the actual content) is alike to Game of Thrones…simply put it isn’t really. While a cute read it is fairly fast paced, heavily instalovey and angsty and the “spice” is a fade to black/closed door romance.

All of that being said, it is a cute story for what it is. A cheesy STEM oriented, oriented girl next door meets a Hollywood heartthrob (unbeknownst to her of course) and love ensues. There is plenty of angst, drama and surface level romance that is sure to entertain. While I found many concepts of Lana and Christian’s relationship to be cutesy, I also have to admit that I found Lana to be very judgmental and irritating at times and Christian to be fairly vapid and out of touch. Overall this ended up being a 3 star read for me but I’d certainly consider reading more of Isley’s works in the future.

Can Christian, handsome and famous actor, convince rocket scientist Lana that what they share is real love and it’s worth fighting for? They met in a closet by fate but life is threatening to break them apart even if they are made for each other. Sweet and fun love story

I really enjoyed this read, and had a hard time putting it down!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
🚪 (closed door)

Lana and Christian meet in the most adorable way, with them both hiding out in a hotel broom closet, but for very different reasons.
Lana has discovered her long-time boyfriend and best friend sleeping together, and Christian is hiding from the paparazzi.

These two couldn’t be more different - Lana is a PhD student in aerospace engineering, who doesn’t even own a tv. Christian Slade is an extremely famous, British, Hollywood actor, in the center of the limelight - and Lana has no clue who he is.

As they begin to date, Christian keeps his identity hidden, enjoying for once that someone actually likes him for who he is, and not just his fame. What will happen when Lana finds out the truth?

I flew through this book - didn’t realize it’s only 231 pages on kindle! These 2 fell hard and fast for each other, and I found them simply adorable.

Read if you enjoy:
🧪 Insta-love
🧪 Heroine in STEM (engineer)
🧪 Celebrity hero (actor)
🧪 Hidden identity
🧪 Environmentalist heroine
🧪 Short, quick read
🧪 Dual POV/first person

Thank you to NetGalley & Boldwood Books for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

Opposites attract and in a big way in this rom com! A quiet homebody and scientist striving for her PhD meets a handsome brit who turns out to be the sexiest man alive according to the gossip rags, can two people so completely different be a match? While this is an opposites attract book, it also could be about two people who speak totally different languages as their differences are so vast, but never fear as this is story also has an HEA! Great characters who are fun to follow along with and I'm really excited to see that there will be a follow up book with more from one of the supporting characters. I love it when I find characters that I like and an author with a good sense of humor to keep following along with! Looking for a fun rom com, then this one should be on your radar!

Thanks to Boldwood Books, Negalley and the author for an ARC of this book. I am leaving this unbiased review voluntarily.

This was a really sweet book about a woman in STEM who is cheated on by her long-term boyfriend and ends up meeting a movie star. They fall for each other without her understanding the extent of his fame and both have to make adjustments in their lives to learn to accept their 'new normal'.

I liked the story overall but I have to say that when a publisher markets a book for fans of Ali Hazelwood, there is a certain expectation, and you have to be really confident that the comparison is genuine, otherwise the readers can feel a little cheated (like I did). If the comparison had not been made then I would probably not have had such high expectations of the book and enjoyed it for what it was - a lighthearted romance.

There wasn't anywhere near the level of 'steam in STEM' that one can find in a Hazelwood book, and I didn't feel the level of angst and connection to the characters that I expected. Having said that, the nerdy elements were great fun to read and I liked Christian and Lana, although, for me they both lacked a bit of depth.

After careful consideration, I am giving this book a 3 stars. The book is enjoyable, and I would like to read more from this author. I just wish that I hadn't read the blurb.

I read this book when it first released as To The Stars And Back. Loved rereading it again years later. Lana just confirmed that her boyfriend has been cheating on her with her best friend. She was overcome with all the emotions and hid in the first open door she could find which was a supply closet at the hotel she was at. Minutes later mega star Christian joins her as he is trying to dodge paparazzi. She has no idea who he is, and he wants to get to know her. Their lives are so different yet, it works!

This love story is so cute! It is fast paced and I was definitely laughing at some points. Although this can be read as a standalone, year ago when I read it was a part of a series where some characters are referenced in the book.

Thank you so much NetGalley, Boldwood Books and Camilla Isley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

thank you to netgalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

I wish there was more to say, other than that this book wasn't memorable to me, at all. it was nice, but it didn't pack a punch, it didn't wow me. the chemistry wasn't there, the story felt incredibly rushed and the 'break-up' was utterly ridiculous, it had me questioning whether I read it right. also, I would not have forgiven his shenanigans after the break-up, at all. if someone makes me look a fool in front of the entire world, he better run and hide.

The love theorem

The love theorem (originally titled to the stars and back) follows rocket scientist Lana and famous actor Christian who have one of the more interesting meet cutes I've read lately. She's sobbing in a hotel supply cupboard, and he joins her, trying to hide from the press. I've rated it 4 stars. It's a cute, quick read, and I enjoyed it.

We go with them as Lana navigates her boyfriend cheating with her best friend and then as she and Christian start their own relationship. The catch, lana has no idea who he is because she doesn't watch movies or tv. He's doesn't lie, which I liked, but he doesn't tell her the full extent of his fame, and she finds out in a not so fun way.

I will say it's not exactly believable that she's never seen an add or tabloid with him on. Not in the land of smartphones and huge ads on buildings. He's apparently on cereal boxes, too. But it is set in LA, and I can see why she would take actor with a pinch of salt and assume small roles.

I liked them both as characters. Lana is a strong woman in STEM, and she refuses to allow anyone to take that from her. Christian is a sweetie, and I liked the extent he went to trying to ensure they could have "normal" couple things.

I prefer the title to the stars and back, but I guess it was changed to draw on the hype of the love hypothesis and the kiss quotient type books. I'm not sure if any of the book has changed, but the original is listed as book 4 of a series of standalones. Some of our side characters have their own books, and admittedly, i am interested in checking those out.

I kind of expect this from romances now, but I wish it had been made obvious in the information that theres connected books. It looks as though 3 of the others have been republished too, but they aren't listed as a series on goodreads or amazon. Maybe it's just me, but I would rather connected standalones be listed as series at this point because it happens so often.

I received an advance review copy of this book, and this review represents my honest opinion. Thank you to netgalley, Camila Isley, and the publisher for the opportunity to read the book.

Review posted to netgalley, goodreads and storygraph. Will be posted to amazon on release date

A cute, fast read. My only criticism is that is needed a bit more depth. This felt like reading an upscale fan fiction. I just wanted more detail and development.

In this book, a rocket scientist and Hollywood star meet and start to fall in love. One catch…she doesn’t know he’s famous until the press shows up.

This was a quick and enjoyable read. Christian should never have tried to fool Lana. Lana had some of her own quirks. Things moved a bit fast for me, but I can overlook that and I enjoyed the story overall. In the end, I think they worked well together and it was a good read.

I'm a sucker for anything science and romance combined, so I loved this one! It did not disappoint and if you're a fan of both of those things (think along the lines of Ali Hazelwood), then you will like this too. It was a book that made me happy the whole way through. The book starts with Lana crying in a supply closet after finding her boyfriend sleeping with her best friend, and into the closet comes a handsome superstar actor. Christian is hiding from the paparazzi, and he and Lana spend a lot of time in the closet getting to know each other. Christian falls for Lana because she’s lovely, smart, and best of all, she has no idea who he is. I thought it was a really cute, quick read. I loved that there was talk of females in STEM. The side characters didn't add much but I think that helped keep the focused on the two main characters and their love story. I would recommend this book if you want something lighter and fun to read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an eARC of this book.