I really really loved this book!
First it has everything you need: Really great characters, ennemies to lovers and force proximity.

She is a badass, he has a HUGE crush on her, what more can I say.
AND ... they don't want to get married or have kids !! I didn't even know I needed a representation but it felt so good. This book will stay close to my heart thanks to that! (and this point didn't even change my rating on the book, that's how great I think this book is).


"Miss M-"
"Doctor"
"Of course. Doctor Maclean. I didn't mean to offend you."
"I'm sure, Doctor Henderson".
"It's Professor now."
"I know. I meant to offend you."

Age gap
Enemies to lovers
Workplace romance


Age gap is one trope that I either love or hate! This one was good, and I am really glad that I liked it. I tend to DNF book where the age gap is creepy. I love that the characters are individual academics in their own right.

The Unbalanced Equation was an enemies to lovers and usually I LOVE that in a book. However this book they seemed to have little reason to dislike each other. I am all about petty reasons to not be together, but this one was just shy of the mark for me.

Workplace romances are prime for tension and I love that. Building the tension is the perfect part of the plot and that is why I liked it so much.

I was really excited to read this book when I first saw the description. As a science PhD candidate, I’ve been loving the rise of academic romance!

But this one really felt exactly like the author said in the description; like a mixture of the Love Hypothesis and the Hating Game. There wasn’t much unique here, I felt like I was just reading snippets from other books I’ve read in the past that were collaged together into a new narrative.

Solid rom-com read
I loved the characters and loved the concept of how they start off not getting on to falling in love. The story is fast paced, funny and great!
Highly recommend

Definitely on the fanfiction side of Netgalley… not sure how I ended up here but we’re here! This one was definitely one of fanfiction for a devilishly handsome man, but it wasn’t it for this book. It was so.. flat. The plot was written well to start, and then it exploded and got worse. The STEM mentions were lovely, but definitely just an added feature and not a focus. The carrying out of the enemies to lovers plot was very much… not it. It just felt rushed, fake, and all around not good for a reader. I wanted to love it simply because of the female in STEM situation, but it just didn’t work out. Thank you for the opportunity!

Interesting plot and a lot of funny scenes. Both FMC and MMC have interesting and pretty similar characters. Although the MMC does some seriously messed up stuff.

It was fun, quick read with decent science jokes mixed in. Some of the drama felt unnecessary though. Overall, a great beach read.

This is a steamy STEM romcom. Elizabeth and Tom hate each other, but have to tolerate one another when an accident causes them to have to share a lab. Not to mention their parents are getting married. That’s a lot of coincidences! But, if you can suspend your belief, this one’s fun and quick and light hearted, and the main characters have lots of chemistry (ha, no pun intended).

I enjoyed it and am looking forward to checking out the second book in this series.

Thanks to Netgalley, Booksgosocial and HL Macfarlane for the ARC.

Thank you to Booksgosocial and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book put a fun twist on the grumpy/sunshine trope craze by instead being grumpy/grumpy. The cover is a bit misleading as it leaves you expecting a cutesy romcom but I guess you can’t judge this book by its cover. I didn’t connect with the characters but I think this book will be very appealing to the masses.

Sexy women in STEM, a brooding Love Interest and forced proximity? Sign me up!

Overall, I really enjoyed this book but it did feel a bit too much like The Love Hypothesis for me personally. I preferred H.L. Macfarlane's writing, but the similarity in plot threw me off quite a bit.

My review of The Unbalanced Equation by H.L. Macfarlane ♡︎

The Unbalanced Equation is a STEM romantic comedy that will have you turning every page to see what happens next.

Dr. Elizabeth Maclean is excited to finally be away from her rude PhD assessor, Dr. Thomas Henderson. Or so she thinks. When a fire goes off in Tom’s lab, they end up working in the same place, even on the same bench for three months. To make things even worse, Tom’s mom and Liz’s dad tell them they are engaged and having a Christmas wedding. Then, Liz’s landlord tells her she has days to move out. Now, they are forced to be around each other by both working together and living together while helping their parents plan the wedding. Will they be able to get to the same level they had when they first met?

I am not the biggest fan of the miscommunication trope, but I do think it was well done.

Some things I loved:

🤍 forced proximity

🤍 age gap

🤍 slow sizzling burn

🤍 I thought you hated me?

🤍 the tension! And the spice!

This book is perfect for those that enjoy Ali Hazelwood’s books!

Ratings:

★︎★︎★︎★︎. ➄︎ / ➎︎

🌶️🌶️/ ➎︎

I had the opportunity to read an advanced reader’s e-proof of The Unbalanced Equation by H.L. Macfarlane courtesy of Macfarlane Lantern Publishing via NetGalley. All opinions above are my own

A very fun read! The characters were so indescribable and unique. Pacing was a little slow at first but I really enjoyed the book once I got into it and the chemistry was undeniable.

"The Unbalanced Equation" by H. L. Macfarlane is a thought-provoking and engaging novel that delves into the complexities of human emotions and relationships. This book is a compelling exploration of the challenges and intricacies that define our connections with others.

Macfarlane's writing style is introspective and evocative, drawing readers into the minds and hearts of the characters. The characters in the novel are multi-layered and relatable, each grappling with their own internal struggles and desires.

At the core of the narrative is a nuanced portrayal of relationships and the delicate balance between love, expectations, and personal growth. The author's ability to capture the ebb and flow of emotions adds authenticity to the story.

"The Unbalanced Equation" successfully navigates themes of identity, self-discovery, and the impact of past experiences on present choices. The exploration of these themes adds depth to the story, making it resonate on a personal level.

In conclusion, "The Unbalanced Equation" is a compelling and introspective read that invites readers to reflect on the intricacies of human connections. If you're looking for a book that delves into the complexities of emotions and relationships while sparking introspection, this novel offers a thought-provoking and resonant narrative that will leave you contemplating long after you've turned the last page.

A run of the mill rom-com that will be enough to while away an evening but not going to set your summer on fire

I’m all for this new trend of women in stem getting banged while at work. Inappropriate in the read world, but so entertaining in the book world. If you love that type of thing, this one is for you.

I was provided a copy of this book by NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review.

The story is a sweet enemies to lovers involving scientists and it's Scottish setting to the best of its ability. Cute romcom.
However, the MMC drove me crazy with his immaturity. This book remains bingeable, if one can get past that.

Thank you Net Galley for this advanced copy! I’m sorry to say this book wasn’t my cup of tea! The plot is well thought but I don’t really like how so much stuff happened that it’s barely relatable to happen in real life, and I felt like the characters were more 18 than 30/40! But the banter and animosity was very good, and both characters were truly enjoyable.

3.5 stars 🌟
If you enjoyed the dynamic of The Love Hypothesis then you'll enjoy this read.
Although don't mistake this as basically a retelling as that it is not.
A spicy enemies to lovers read, enjoyable but I sometimes couldn't click with the writing style.
Will read more from this author though.

I've tried numerous times to finish this book, but unfortunately I decided to DNF it. As a women in the STEM world, I had such high hopes for this romcom, thinking that it would be as enjoyable as other recent STEM themed books.

I feel that the main issue I had while trying to read this was the ick factor I have with the particular trope chosen. I really am not a fan of characters who are step-siblings, regardless of how recent the inception of their sibling relationship.

I will still give other books by the author that are STEM based a try though.

I love romcoms! This was a quick fun read. Sorry for the late review- I read this book so quick I forgot to review it!

But I liked it!