Love and Science

The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood

This is the second book by this author that I have read, and I enjoyed this one immensely, just as I did the first one. One thing I can appreciate about this author is that she writes about women in STEM. I am not a sciencey girl myself, but I know that women are underrepresented in the field. And even though her books are STEM related, they are still relatable for those of us who aren't STEM oriented.

This book is about Olive, a grad student at Stanford. She kisses Adam, a professor/scientist in an attempt to show her best friend, Anh, that she has moved on from Jeremy, a guy she went out with a few times. Anh and Jeremy are smitten, but Anh won't date him because of girl code. Anyway, Olive and Adam decide to fake date for a while because it is mutually beneficial to them both. What Olive doesn't count on is discovering she has feelings for Adam. 

The premise, though overplayed in movies, is just fine here, and so cute. I don't want to say too much more because I will undoubtedly give it away. I will say this much: if you need a lighthearted, contemporary romance, this is for you. 

Not His Finest

 Try Not to Breathe by David Bell

If you go back to some of my prior years' posts, you'll see David Bell's work. He was an author I discovered quite by accident on July day at Barnes and Noble. I devoured that first book, and within days of finishing it, I ordered everything else he had published to date. I've read every book of his that has been published since, including a few that came out while I was not keeping up with my blog (I'll try to remember to review those soon). He's a fantastic writer, and for the most part, I enjoy his books. This one though, didn't grab me like his others.

First of all, when you read the blurb, it's about two sisters. One who is in her early 20s and is ignoring her family and school, and one who is in her late 20s/early 30s. According to the blurb, the younger sister refusing to talk to her family has her dad concerned, so he sends his oldest daughter, a former cop, to find her and bring her home. The book is very much about that for the first two-thirds, then there's a major plot twist that sends everything on its head. 

This took me more than a month to read. Sure, we could blame me going back to work for not getting to read much, and that would be true. We could blame my ADHD for not keeping me focused, and that would also be true. We could even blame the fact that this book just isn't as engaging as other of Bell's works. Personally, I think it is a combination of all three. 

I didn't feel satisfied at the end of this. I was glad it was over and I could move on with my life, but there was nothing that blew me away. This probably should've ended up in my DNR pile, except that I don't have one. 

Anyway, read this or not, as you see fit. As for me, I will just hope that his next book is on par with some of his others.

Up next though, Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood.