Personally, I am not a STEMstress queen. However, when I started on Ali Hazelwood's books, I realized I don't have to be to love books in that vein! I know a STEM book is well written when I get fully invested in something I otherwise never understand. I was expecting a bit more of a rom-com, but I was just as enthralled by watching Meg fight for her work and go into her own little math world. This was really fun, and would be a huge draw for any math queens!

Reading this book was like eating dark chocolate; you literally just can’t stop but you love it so much. It’s comfortingly sweet and kinda dark with some serious themes, and when you reach the end, you’re left with a hauntingly beautiful yet bittersweet feeling in your chest. I didn’t want to say goodbye. Loved it.

Quiet and moving, Principles of Emotion explores a genius mathematician solving her life's work while experiencing severe anxiety and trying to find herself outside of the mathematical world.

Sara Read does a magnificent job showing us how Meg views and catalogues the world, whether it be through plant names, patterns, gripping fear, or paranoia. Solving the Impossible forces Meg to push herself out of her isolation and face the mathematical world again. But severe anxiety stops her from fully delivering her proof.

Meg's burden of genius and her complicated relationship with her father reminded me of the play, Proof, which was later made into a film with the same name starring Gwyneth Paltrow. Both this book and that film give us insight into what it's like to experience genius. I adored Read's language throughout the book, but I especially enjoyed how she described Meg finding her way through the Impossible. Likewise, the details of Meg's anxiety and panic attacks were so authentic, it felt like you were drowning along with her.

Meg was such a sympathetic character, and her arc was incredibly rewarding. I was invested in her relationship with Isaac and how it was complicated in such a different way than the one with her father. This book had me cheering for these two to find happiness the whole time.

I hope to see Principles of Emotion on many people's must-read lists. I highly recommend it!

If you appreciate novels about women in STEM (like I do!) this a perfect fit and a great read. It also centers around love, fighting for what you want & deserve and finding oneself. Don’t skip out on the author note/acknowledgments-I found that the author did a great job with the academia with her admission! The book picked up pace about a quarter way in and my empathy for Meg, the main female character, skyrocketed at 60%.

At this time, I have DNF this book after the first 10 chapter. I hoped it would get better, but it was a little over the top and hard to relate too. I just seemed like the main character was stuck in her head and not fully leaving life. I did like the fact that they are tackling mental health issues and this a leader in STEM, but just not relatable.

Math prodigy Dr. Meg Brightwood solved the Impossible Theorem. She's been a recluse and plagued with anxiety for years and was dismissed by academia. The field is sexist and often full of plagiarism, so Meg plans to publicly prove that she solved it. When a panic attack derails her plans, she locks away her proof. Carpenter Isaac Wells is on the run and once was the love of Meg’s life. While they reconnect, Meg's answer to the Impossible Theorem is missing. Proving her authorship will test her as well as the burgeoning relationship.

Meg spent fifteen years with her grandmother due to her anxiety and panic attacks, caregiving as her grandmother's health worsened. Her father and sister didn't help, and neither have sympathy for Meg's panic attacks or living situation and want her out of the house to sell the property to developers. Her theorem has the potential to make turbulence predictable, lowering the costs of fuel for flights and shipping, making her proof incredibly valuable. Her father cares more about looking good and having Meg's brilliant mind reflect on him and was too eager to help her after the panic attack kept her from presenting her work. I found him incredibly arrogant and hateful, which immediately gave all of my sympathy to Meg. He's a terrible father and a horrible person, and the rest of Meg’s family makes excuses for his behavior. Isaac's life hasn't gone in a good direction either, and she is incredibly forgiving and kind to him.

Meg and Isaac don't have a fairytale meet cute, and it sets the stage for their romance. They are hurt emotionally by those they care about, and believe themselves unworthy of love. Their connection is one of self-growth as much as becoming a couple, and I really enjoyed seeing that part of it. As Meg says, she doesn't deal with her fears just for his sake, but because she must do it for herself as well. I was just as invested in her confrontations, my heart pounding as if it were a thriller that I was reading. The romance had a happily ever after, but I'm just as proud of them for the individual emotional growth.

Sara Read's book portrays the life of Dr. Meg Brightwood, who is a mathematical prodigy and solves the Impossible Theorem. The story focuses on Meg's struggle with anxiety, sexism in STEM, and emotional abuse from her father, who values her only for her academic abilities. As Meg tries to find her place in a male-dominated field, she reunites with her childhood love, Isaac Wells, who offers her the unconditional love and support she needs. The novel is about self-discovery, overcoming trauma, and fighting for recognition. Sara Read's writing beautifully captures Meg's battles and triumphs, making it an inspiring read. It profoundly resonates with themes of self-acceptance, resilience, and the courage to claim one's space.

I really liked reading “Principles of Emotion” for its representation of anxiety and the experience of women in STEM careers, Meg’s immense character development, and how the author portrayed the complicated family dynamics.

I was rooting so hard for Meg to finally have her time to shine after everything she’s had to endure because of her awful, pretentious father and by others due to her young age and gender. Her education and career, while intellectually stimulating, were fraught with problems.

My heart broke more and more for Meg the more we learned about her past leading up to her self-isolation and seeing what she experienced before, during and after panic attacks. It took a lot of setbacks and retrospection for Meg to get to a place where finally all of her needs were met and life felt fulfilling. I liked that she didn’t give up even when the anxious part of herself wanted to.

I’m very conflicted about the romance. I liked some parts of it, like how sweet Meg and Issac were together when their troubles weren’t weighing them down. They saw each other for who they were, flaws and all, and not by how others who tried to make them feel small defined them.

The romance escalated quickly. Even in hindsight, there didn’t seem to be enough substance/connection to support their strong desire to be together so immediately after reuniting. Especially considering Meg’s limited socialization beyond Lila (her grandmother whom she had lived with after leaving her job), Lizzie (her awesome cousin who’s been her rock for years), and periodically her dad and older sister (who she isn’t that close with). Not to mention Issac's precarious situation with the law.

I liked how natural math fitted into the story. The author noted in her acknowledgments that she did primary research and took creative liberties when it came to this aspect of the story. I'm so-so at math and didn’t understand some portions of the language used, but that didn’t detract from my reading experience.

“Principles of Emotion” took a different, much emotionally deeper direction than I expected based on the synopsis. The romance was so-so and somewhat likable. Meg’s character was a compelling, interesting, and fantastic lead who made the story enjoyable.

Thanks again Graydon House and NetGalley for the e-ARC to read in exchange for an honest review!

A Modern and "Mathical" Fairy Tale

Every so often a book comes along that hits just the right points for me, and Sara Read’s PRINCIPLES OF (E)MOTION delighted me from the very first page. For one, I couldn’t decide on which genre to categorize it. Women’s Fiction? Book Club Fiction? Literary Fiction? Romance? All of the above?

Because the story is told from the female protagonist’s point of view, and because the plot, while very much a love story, more firmly hinges on her struggle and personal growth, I finally decided on Women’s Fiction (although I know the term may be deemed politically-incorrect, and for good reasons).

Told in the first person, Principles of (E)motion centers around Meg Brightwood (perfect fairy-tale name, no?). Meg's a brilliant mathematician as well as someone dealing with acute, chronic anxiety. In fact, Meg's mental health issues–stemming from a problematic relationship with her overbearing and ultimately unethical father and stunted childhood–have come between Meg and her enjoyment of life, have interfered with her career, and have kept her cut off from the world in a very real way.

Which brings me to the structure of this novel. Right away, I recognized this as a modern-day fairy tale. Fifteen years before the beginning of the story, Meg ran away from an academic career to live with–and eventually care for–her elderly paternal grandmother, Lila. Meg's anxiety locked her into a sprawling family home with an actual tower. When Meg arrived, Lila hired a handsome carpenter to work on the house. Isaac fixed Meg’s balcony (because every princess needs a balcony) and also created a wondrous, curving, built-in three-panel chalkboard with wooden chalk rail for the curved walls of Meg’s tower.

Meg spends the next fifteen years caring for Lila and working on a famous mathematical problem called Frieholdt’s Conjecture, a puzzle considered unsolvable. If unlocked, however, Frieholdt’s solution could change the course of history. Meg is nothing if not obsessed with finding the magical (mathical?) key.

At the time of Lila's death, Isaac re-enters Meg's life. He’s running from his own demons and an arrest warrant, but the two of them reconnect on an emotional level, rekindling a romance that had been interrupted when they were younger. The ensuing love plot hits all the regular points a romance reader expects and craves, but it never feels forced or cheesy. The sexy scenes are tender and move the story forward.

As for math, Meg continues to pursue Frieholdt’s, but her anxiety breathes its scorching Dragon fire, causing her to run away rather than stand her ground.

It’s this anxiety she must slay in order to have her happy ever after.

Important secondary characters include Meg's father, the Evil Sorcerer who longs to both use her and steal her talent, and her cousin, the Fairy Godmother who breezes in with a bippity-boppity-boo (aka kickbutt attitude) which bolsters Meg’s confidence when she needs it most. There’s even a humble cottage in the woods, albeit one with cell-phone service and what sounded like a wonderful Swedish-style tiled wood stove. Oh, and a blacksmith’s shop because, turns out, Isaac the carpenter is also a smithy! Dreamy, dreamy…

I don’t want to give away any spoilers, but suffice it to say, the plot had me hooked all the way through, and the writing style managed to tread the perfect line between the best contemporary book club fiction and more literary voices like my two favorite Anns: Tyler and Patchett. We need more female protagonists with STEM gifts and ambitions. For Bonnie Garmus (LESSONS IN CHEMISTRY) fans, this one is a must-read.

I’m so glad I was able to get my eyes on an ARC of this delightful book. I'll be adding this, and Read's debut novel, to my bookshelves. Consider me a new and enthusiastic fan. Five out of five stars for sure!

Strong, Layered Romance With Atypical Lead. Up front, I'm a guy that got a degree in a mathematics related field (Computer Science) and because of the quirks of the way I attended college (also, as our lead here, at 16yo,fwiw) I came within just a couple of semesters of getting two other separate mathematics related degrees at the same time. Like our lead, I too had a flash of utter brilliance at that young age (well, in my case I was 20 yrs old) that is now, 20 yrs later, seemingly being realized in the real world. (Damn I wish I had applied for a patent, but I thought nothing of it other than as a paper for a Bachelor's Degree level class - even if Senior Year.) And yes, like our lead, I've also known close friends of that era later struggle with various legal issues. So maybe the book worked so well for me *because* I am in a rare position of having a similar enough background to *really* feel it. Perhaps. But I also think these issues and situations are still prevalent enough and general enough that even if you've never been in or near situations with these exact particulars, you've been in or around similar *general* situations (strains on parental relationships, lonely, questioning yourself even as a 30+ yr old adult who is "supposed" to "know what you're doing" by now, etc).

And that is what makes this book particularly great. Yes, it is messy. Yes, it can be convoluted at times. Yes, it may or may not feel particularly "swoon worthy" romantic at times. Hell, there are times when it feels like our lead exists for little more than sex. (That is rare, btw, but yes, "clean"/ "sweet" crowd... you've now been warned that this may be a bit racy for your tastes.) But all of this, to me, makes it feel all the more "real". Because let's face it, our lives rarely feel any of those things all the time (thank God, really).

And while some may scream at me "But I don't read romance to feel REAL!!!!! I *WANT THE FANTASY DAMMIT!!!!*", my argument here is that because this *is* more real, *knowing* that this book fulfills all romance requirements I am presently aware of means that despite the realism, *you still get the fantasy as well*. You still get that happy ending - at least one that works for this couple in this story in this world. You still get that "awww" and that catharsis that everything works out in the end, no matter how shitty and messy it gets in between.

And to me, that makes the story *stronger*. *Because* it was more real and more heartfelt.

This was my first book from this author. It very likely will not be the last.

Very much recommended.

⭐️rating: 4/5

I really enjoyed Principles of (E)motion! Similar to Ali Hazelwood’s books (one of my favorite authors), the story follows a woman in STEM who you can’t help but root for, though it’s less rom-commy than I initially thought. Being a woman in STEM myself, I enjoyed reading about Dr. Brightwood, math prodigy and genius, and I liked following her story.

It was wonderful writing and the characters are deep, real, and they grow so much together. You follow the FMC’s journey as she discovers who she is while she deals with the hardships in her life with the help of the MMC, the man she loved, lost, and found again.

Sara Read makes you root for the characters, rage against others, and get sucked up in all the emotions. Thankfully, there’s a HEA, even though it might not turn out how you might think, but it’s a very satisfying ending to the story. Overall, I definitely enjoyed this and would recommend.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this advanced copy of this book! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Principles of (E)Motion by Sara Read
This terrific novel finally comes out TOMORROW so what better time to share a review of Principles of (E)motion by Sara Read.

Dr. Meg Brightwood is a brilliant mathematician who also suffers from crippling anxiety, which has caused her to live like a recluse while taking care of her grandmother Lila. After Lila’s death, Meg copes the only way she knows how - by working on an impossible proof that she finally manages to crack. A panic attack prevents Meg from sharing her discovery with the math community, and she instead decides to lock her work away in a safe while she explores a relationship with Isaac, a handyman from her past who now finds himself in a sticky situation.

I loved the author’s first novel JOHANNA PORTER IS NOT SORRY and was excited to dive into this one. I enjoyed that the protagonist was older and more accomplished than characters we typically see in romance novels and thought the author did a great job capturing Meg’s struggle with anxiety.

My husband also got an ARC on NetGalley and thought the author created an intriguing series of obstacles for her to overcome in addition to her anxiety - the challenges associated with being an attractive woman in a STEM field (a la LESSONS IN CHEMISTRY,) her overbearing father, the family members who want to sell her beloved grandmother’s home, a love interest who thinks he’s being noble by pushing her away, and the impossible proof itself.

It was picked as an Amazon Editor’s Best Romance pick for January. But we wouldn’t call this book just a romance - the relationship arc between Meg and Isaac is only one of the threads interwoven throughout the novel, and the critical question of the book is less about whether Meg and Isaac will end up together but rather whether Meg will overcome her anxiety and stop her father from falsely claiming credit for her hard work.
Thank you to Graydon House Books and NetGalley for allowing my husband and I to read it.

There is much to compliment regarding Sara Read’s new novel. First, her brilliant portrayal of Meg, an extremely intelligent woman struggling to thrive in the world of mathematics, struggling to cope with anxiety and complex family dynamics, and wanting desperately to succeed when success seemed impossible.
My favorite part about Principles of Emotion is the love story that develops between Meg and Isaac. They are an unlikely match for sure, but as their relationship unfolds it's beautiful, and the lessons they learn about themselves and each other and the way their love carries them forward through trying circumstances… I just thought it was lovely and well-written.
Even though very few of us are brilliant mathematicians, there are themes in this novel that I feel are universal: finding our place in the world, seeking our family's approval, navigating estrangement and ultimately identifying what truly matters and pursuing that thing we're passionate about. There are places in this novel where the landscape feels bleak. To me, that's the mark of great writing when you feel the feelings of the fictional people and you want so much for their suffering to end. That's how this book was for me. I was rooting for Meg to find the affirmation, happiness, and wholeness that she desperately craved.
If you enjoyed Lessons in Chemistry or The Love Hypothesis you will probably enjoy Principles of Emotion. If you like reading a novel featuring a deep and rich story about characters whose experiences will take you on an emotional journey that resonates, then you'll want to read this one. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the complimentary copy. All opinions shared here are my own.

Meg has finally succeeded in solving the Impossible Theorem. It has been her life’s work. She has been reclusive and terrified of the world. But now that she has solved this mathematical problem. She must present it to the public. Unfortunately this plagues her with anxiety. So she hides the math problem in a safe. When she tries to retrieve it, she realizes it has been stolen…BY HER OWN FATHER.

At some level, I can relate to Meg. I can relate to her reclusiveness. I would definitely stay at home all the time. I know, I know, that is not exactly her issue. I absolutely loved her. I loved her intelligence and how she grows throughout this story. She develops a backbone and it is a joy when she does!

Oh and how could I not talk about Isaac. At first, I was not sure if I should trust Isaac. I really thought he could be the bad guy in this. But he turns out to be a jewel and Meg’s champion.

I absolutely loved this authors first book Johanna Porter is Not Sorry. And I also enjoyed this one. This author is quickly becoming a mainstay for me. Her characters are so real! And this story puts a smile on your face!


Need a brilliant romance to take you away…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

Principles of Emotion-a standalone
by Sara Read-new author for me
Page Count: 304
Rating: 4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Publication 1-9-24, read 1-8-24

Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing/Graydon House for this ARC💖! I voluntarily give my honest review and all opinions expressed are my own.

✔️ Adult Fic
✔️ STEMinist h
✔️opposites attract
✔️ 2nd chance romance

Summary-Dr. Margaret "Meg" Brightwood suffers from anxiety and panic attacks that have kept her secluded for years. She's a mathematical prodigy with a wealthy father who is a mathematician as well. She has been working on Frieholdt's Conjecture AKA The Impossible Theorem. It's a mathematical problem widely regarded as unsolvable until now. She has to fight sexism and plagiarism while her own father tries to take credit for her work. While locked away at her grandmother's house, she sees carpenter Isaac Wells-a boy she befriended when she was fifteen. Together they reconnect, face their demons, and fall in love.

The characters- I loved Lila and Lizzie who saw Meg without the math and still loved her. Henry's love was always based on her accomplishments. I was very familiar with the physical and mental effects Meg had when she was anxious. I also spent a lot of time as a hermit with literature instead of math to keep me company. The romance between Isaac and Meg was a subplot. Meg spent most of her time dealing with her mental health when she wasn't working. I liked that Isaac was wanted and hid out with Meg for a time. They got to know each other, and Isaac helped Meg's self confidence

Overall, I liked this contemporary, adult, fiction with a romance. It had a few slow parts (mainly the beginning), but Meg's determination and Isaac's need for justice kept me rooting for them

This was an overall sweet and enjoyable read. It took me some time to get into it, but once I did, I found it to easy to love the main characters’ adorable relationship.

Rating: 4.5 Stars

Fifteen years ago, Meg escaped academia and took refuge in her grandmother's home. Many of those years were spent as a caregiver. Following her grandmother's death, Meg was unmoored, trying to figure out what was next. When a spark of inspiration hit, she reignited her quest to solve the unsolvable Frieholdt’s conjecture which thrust her back into the world she fled. With her work missing, Meg was now in for a fight for both her deserved acclaim and her heart.

Full disclosure, I was the student who wanted to jump up and clap when my professors finished derivations in my physics and chemistry classes. I was drawn to this book because it featured a woman in STEM. Meg's struggles sounded all too familiar. Not being taken seriously because she was pretty, others taking the credit for her work, being labeled a hysterical/emotional female. But, man, when she talked about math, I could feel her love and passion. I found myself lost in it, as she waxed poetic about mathematics.

I really adored Meg, and though she could be seen as having great privilege due to her father's wealth, she never had the basics that children need - love. She was a math prodigy, and her father's love and approval came with a price. It was conditional on her performance, and when she didn't perform to his expectations, there was no love. He robbed her of her childhood and autonomy, and now he was attempting to steal her life's work. Needless to say, there was no love lost between me and dad.

Though Meg had support via her cousin Lizzie, it meant so much to me when she reconnected with Isaac. He was someone from her past who she shared a special connection with, and it was wonderful to see that whatever joined them had never weakened. With Isaac, Meg found that unconditional love that had eluded her for her whole life. He saw her at her worst and still loved her which helped Meg love herself. Her self love and acceptance gave her the strength to push forward in a life that had been in a sort of stasis for so long with her fear and anxiety holding her in place. Meg made some bold moves, and I was really proud of her. Watching her progress from the beginning of the story to the end was very rewarding.

In my mind, this was Meg's story. It wasn't a romance, but there was a strong romantic element which I think many will enjoy. Very opposites attract with some serious roadblocks to overcome. I admired their passion and the way they encouraged each other. Meg and Isaac both had so much baggage, but they were willing to share the load. Their love story was a definite highlight for me.

Overall, I found Meg's journey to be engaging and inspiring. I was so invested in seeing Meg succeed, and loved cheering her on as she made progress towards her personal goals and learned to love, accept and trust herself.

I am not a math person in the slightest, but there was something about the synopsis of this that drew me to it. Unfortunately, the book didn’t quite hit me the way the synopsis did.
Meg Brightwood is a math prodigy, but suffers from debilitating panic attacks. At 23, after only two years of being a math professor at her father’s prestigious university, she left the field and sequestered herself away in her grandmother’s mansion with the pretense of being caring for her grandmother and working on solving a theorem that was unsolvable. Now, 15 years later her grandmother has died and the theorem is solved. After suffering yet another debilitating panic attack, she spies her grandmother’s carpenter, the guy who she loved and who her grandmother deemed not good enough, across the street and opens her door to him. Together she and Isaac come to see that they are the answers to each other’s problems.
While I was drawn to this because of Meg’s anxiety, overall the story fell flat. With the exception of one side character, all of the characters had major flaws that ended up making them more annoying than endearing, including Meg. Generally, when the protagonist has anxiety or depression I tend to feel empathetic towards them, but by the middle of the book I was ready for her to get her act together.
I found this to be extremely slow moving and if it wasn’t a NetGalley I likely would have DNF’d it. Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the advanced copy. This hits the shelves on January 9th.

I was provided an ARC of this book via Netgalley, all opinions are my own.

This was a really interesting look into mental health, family dynamics, trauma, and women in STEM. Meg is a brilliant mathematician, who's math abilities became apparent to her father at a very early age. A mathematician in his own right, he made it clear that her worth was equal to her academic ability because she wasn't like other girls her age. He also made it very clear that he was responsibly for all of her achievements. Meg decided to leave academia to become a caretaker for her ailing grandmother where she meets Isaac, a carpenter who doesn't understand math but he understands Meg. Isaac leaves to pursue a career in blacksmithing, while Meg works on solving an impossible math problem. Years later they are reunited, and they both need each other to support them through some tough times. Meg's father is trying to take credit for her life's work solving the impossible, and Isaac is in trouble with the law. They are both struggling with very real trauma in their lives and don't have much of a support system in place as they deal with the stressors in their lives. As they get to know each other again, they find it a bit easier to face life's problems with someone at their back.

I really enjoyed Isaac and Meg together. Life is always easier when you've got someone in your corner. Meg's family is horrible, except for her cousin Lizzie (she's great). Meg has very real anxiety and panic attacks, which I think the author did a good job portraying those. I appreciated that Meg was able to take charge of her situation and advocate for herself despite how uncomfortable it made her. This isn't a super fun happy rom come like I expected. It is kind of sad and bleak as Meg and Isaac deal with his legal troubles and she tries to get her intellectual property back and talks about math quite a bit. There are some intimate scenes, but they are fairly fade to black.

This book isn't going to be for everyone. It is heavy on the math, and the romance is more on the sweet side than the spicy side. This does cover some heavy topics, and I thought the author did a good job addressing them.

Unfortunately, Principles of (E)motion by Sara Read missed the mark for me. It sounded fun and I love seeing more women in STEM in books but I wasn't feeling this story.

Meg's a mathematical genius who has been a recluse but finally has solved an impossible theorem but when she tries to present her work she has a panic attack. She falls in love with Isaac who she hasn't seen since they were teenagers but he's in trouble with the law.

I couldn't get behind their relationship and the whole Isaac running from the law was just too weird. I felt like the was so much potential with this book but it was too flat for me with characters I didn't like. More people are liking this on reviews so I may be an outlier.

Thanks to @htpbooks and @graydonhousebooks for an advanced copy! It comes out Tuesday -January 9th.