What a privilege to read this ARC. A gloriously written tale of love, with such careful thought to details I felt fully immersed in the worlds of Eleanor and Erwin.
Amidst their slow burn romance, blooming through the exchange of delightful letters, I enjoyed how each of them focused on their goals and growth until their paths could cross.

Wow, I truly loved this period piece from the early 20th century after WWI. It is a gentle love story and also a tale of creativity and self-exploration during a time of social strictures and expectations that didn't always allow for freedom of expression or opportunities to communicate regularly and freely, especially in person. It also speaks to the deep longing many women had in that period, when there was still a lot of traditional pressure on women to marry and "settle down", usually losing their capability to travel freely and widely, pursue further education, have a career, or choose to not have children. It's a little window into the mindset of yearning before the 20s came along and with it a shake-up of social norms that continued in fits and starts for the rest of the century. I enjoyed the pace of this novel and would recommend it to people who enjoy historical fiction set in the early 20th century for average people in the United States.

Thank you to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for the ARC.

"So many things Erwin wanted to say to Eleanor at that moment, but his mind could not form the words. That her presence energized him, and he wanted to know her, That, in her weightlessness, he had gone a hundred miles away and stayed a hundred years."

As a big lover of literary fiction and romance, this book was a wonderfully written combination of the two. In this genre it's not always about moving a plot forward specifically, but about giving you a better sense of the characters as it progresses. I thought Eleanor and Erwin were fantastic characters who prioritized their goals for themselves but also *for* the relationship they were building together. Finding out about the letters and their true nature in the acknowledgements was a very tender touch! You just root for them both in their endeavors both separately and romantically.

I am a sucker for this format, and this book is no exception. I loved reading each of the letters, and I thought the flow of everything was nicely done. It has a great feel of the classic romance novels without the language being overly flowery.

Some portions got a little *too* science heavy for me personally, but overall I enjoyed this very much! This will be a fantastic book to curl up with on a release date so close to Valentine's Day. Looking forward to any future works from this author!

*Love and Conductivity* by Erin Nieto is a beautifully written, slow-burn romance that feels like stepping into another time. Set in post-WWI America, it follows Eleanor Morgan, a poetry teacher with a restless soul and a heart set on adventure—just not the romantic kind. But everything changes when she meets Erwin Phipps, a charming chemist whose brief but electrifying presence lingers far longer than expected.

What makes this story so special is its quiet depth. Eleanor is a protagonist who feels wonderfully real—torn between her dreams of exploring the world and the pull of her own emotions. Erwin’s sincerity and thoughtfulness make him an unforgettable counterpart, and their eventual reunion is tender and heartwarming. Nieto's lyrical prose captures the era's charm while exploring themes of self-discovery, courage, and the unexpected nature of love. This novel is perfect for readers who enjoy historical romance with a touch of introspection and a dash of adventure.

During the Great War, Eleanor Morgan was allowed to teach English in her brother’s stead at Oklahoma University. She and her roommate, Helen Phipps, bonded since each had a brother “swept away by the draft”. In letters to her brother Erwin, Helen described Eleanor as “well-read, adventurous and perfectly sympathetic.” In 1918, with the war ended, Erwin passed through Norman, Oklahoma for a short visit to see Helen before embarking upon his chemical research studies at Berkeley. Uncomfortably corralled into a tea party, Eleanor and Erwin were about to cross paths. Erwin’s thoughts: “With a bow to Tennyson…[Eleanor was] wearing all that weight of learning, lightly, like a flower.” “A spark of something quite unexpected…as though she knew him…drawing him in with a magnetic pull.” Eleanor’s thoughts: “He couldn’t have known he had already carved out territory inside [my] heart…but…Eleanor couldn’t fall in love.” She longed to “wander off and indulge her own curiosity about the world…most of her girlfriends seemed intent now on charting their courses toward marriage…she was plagued instead by a longing for something else, something more.”

Back to the reality of life in the early 1920’s. Eleanor had been a placeholder in her brother Lawrence’s teaching position. She found a teaching job at Mississippi State College for Women. The mores of the times dictated that the poetry she taught needed to be “in harmony with the life and teachings of a good home .” “An unmarried woman was no longer sanctioned to move about the streets without consideration for propriety.” Meanwhile, Edwin’s chemical research trials at Berkeley were filled with frustrating lab mishaps as he tried to “unravel some of nature’s tangles, be a scientist.”

It started with just a New Year’s Greeting, a formal line or two, then very occasional notes exchanged on major holidays. Long spells between correspondence were created for protection of inner thoughts, work schedules, post office glitches or changes of residence. “How uncommon it really was to find intellectual companionship and perfect sympathy…how slender the thread of chance that brought them together. How wide the distance keeping them apart.”

Besides the proprietary norms of the early 20th century, family responsibility was at the forefront. Often a family member was resigned to an unfulfilling life caring for another. The early death of a mother might encourage the “auntie” to marry the widower and raise the children. “Papa” was in charge of greenlighting an appropriate husband. One could be disowned for not complying.

Through correspondence, Edwin drew “fortitude from words…Poetry…the only true form of alchemy…his outlook improved, will strengthened…she had become his catalyst.” Eleanor discussed poetry and books. Teaching “shouldn’t mean that she [must] narrow her student’s thoughts…but [rather] expand…ideas.”

“Love and Conductivity” by Erin Nieto is an epistolary novel based upon the correspondence between Eleanor Morgan and Edwin Phipps between 1918-1923, letters author Nieto discovered in her professional capacity as Appraiser of Art, evaluating collections at estate sales. A thoroughly enjoyable novel. Highly recommended.

Thank you BooksGoSocial/Koehler Books and Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was exactly
what I expected and gave more. The excitement of the setting and time period was extremely immerisve and had me rushing to finish this adventure. For fans of historical fiction you can't go wrong.

Thank you NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for the ARC!

What a great book!! Love and Conductivity by Erin Nieto is her brand new book releasing february 11, 2025. This is my first book by the author but it had me hooked from the first page and i couldn't put it down. I managed to finish it in a single setting because the storyline and characters were compelling to read. This one exceeded my expectations and I will pick up any other books in the future written by this wonderful author!