Firmly in the friendship zone. Clara and Henry meet up as colleagues seven years as they met at Oxford university as PhD students.
Is it just friendship or more? Oblivious to the attraction, Clara feels that she will never be good enough for someone to love her exactly as she is .
Can honesty make the difference.
A make you smile book as you read about your own imperfections and insecurities.
Cross your fingers for a happy ever after.

This book was a cute rom com story. I can’t wait to read more books by Lucy Chalice as they become available.

It took me about 60 pages to find the rhythm of this book, but I wound up really enjoying it. Henry is an absolute delight and the banter was great. Clara felt a little manic pixie dream girl for me, but she got better as the book went on. I saw some reviews saying that her sarcasm bordered on rude, but I honestly assumed she was on the Autism scale and that's why she had so much trouble reading social cues and interacting with people. I have no idea if this was intentional, but that's how she struck me.

Overall the two major issues for me in the book were Clara's unnecessary abandonment backstory (sometimes people just don't care about romantic relationships, they don't have to have a tragic backstory) and the unnecessary drama at the end. Everything was hunky dory and then she reads an email that sends her on a spiral of being upset and ignoring Henry again after the grand gesture was already completed. It did give them some good conversation, but it felt totally unnecessary.

All that said, I will definitely be picking up the next book in this series and overall enjoyed the writing and plot. A really great debut by Lucy Chalice!

2/5 Stars

Thank you to Netgalley and One More Chapter for providing me with an arc.

I grabbed this because it had a cute cover and on netgalley one of the categories listed for it was Erotica so I expected a lot of spice. Only to then find out the couple doesn’t get together until over 70% through the book and there was one spicy scene that was possibly the worst I’ve read. The book overall was fine, I don’t have anything super negative or positive to say other than it was marketed wrong on Netgalley. When I see the erotica tag on netgalley I expect it to be one of the spicier books I have read as that is what erotica is. It is high heat and the plot is the smut, that isn’t what this is. When I messaged some of my bookish friends saying I was 70% through this book and there was not a single spicy scene yet and it was labeled erotica, they thought I was joking at first. How a book is presented to me does change my expectations and this didn’t fit my expectations at all.

If you are looking for a very low heat book with some fun forced proximity this could be for you. This just wasn’t for me.

The banter in this book is excellent! Henry and Clara tease each other and joke around so much. Between their banter and Clara's friends, I was laughing so much.

It was cute and funny while still having up and downs -- like the creepy coworker and learning to deal with their emotions/feelings.

While I enjoyed the book and it was very well paced, the ending felt a little weird to me. They go to visit his parents for one of his brothers' birthdays and then it sort of trails off. My only thought was that maybe this ending is a set up for another book with one of his single brothers (there are 2 single brothers).

Thank you to NetGalley, HarperCollins/One More Chapter, and Lucy Chalice for an ARC of this book!

This was a really cute and fun read. This book gave me major Ali Hazelwood vibes so if you enjoy her books you’ll definitely like this one! It was a very easy read and the plot was quite simple and enjoyable.

I liked the chemistry between Henry and Clara. Both characters were likeable even if Clara’s insecurities frustrated me a few times. I think the 7 years apart and the characters background could’ve been more developed.

My only complaint would be the ending. It felt too fast paced and i thought the scene where Clara meets Henry’s parents should’ve happened earlier in the book. I also wished the epilogue took place a few months later and not just hours after the last chapter, but overall it was a nice book with lots of cute romantic clichés.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for providing me this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

It seems like STEM romances have a unique charm, and "The Henry Hot Effect" is a prime example of why they're so irresistible! 🤓❤️ Henry, an engineer clueless about his own appeal, meets Clara, seemingly immune to his allure, as they work together during their doctoral studies together. But a chance encounter seven years later, marked by a memorable chocolate stain, proves Clara might not be as resistant to the Henry Hot phenomenon as she once thought.

This delightful page-turner captivates with its blend of humor, deep friendship, and obviously romance. The tension is the perfect mix of friendly vibes, attraction, and the tantalizing question of what happens if they dare to cross that line. A rom-com with a science twist, this book ticks all the boxes.

Tropes:
🧪Friends to lovers
🧪Time skip (7 years)
🧪FMC Scientist x MMC Engineer
🧪He falls first
🧪First Person POV
🧪Mental Health Topics ("Am I good enough?")

I thought this was an okay read, perhaps more suited to younger readers! the story was a typical friends to lovers set in a chemistry lab style which is so popular nowadays, it was enjoyable enough but I felt the characters weren't really strong enough to carry the story

This very much read like a mash up of Henry Cavill fanfic and The Love Hypothesis and while overall it was enjoyable, I doubt it will leave a lasting impression. I just felt like all of the characters were a bit surface level, without any substantial backstories to back up their current behaviours or make them feel more fleshed out. I also absitelt hate pop culture references, and as our male lead here is clearly inspired by Henry Cavill, we have a litany of Superman references which just pulled me out of the story.

I also found the structure of the plot to be a little all over the place too, with our two characters meeting at uni, becoming friends, loosing touch and then meeting again seven years later and then kind of bumbling around each other. A two minute conversation would have solved all their problems, and the romance felt very one sided. Add in a lot of daddy issues from Clara to try and create drama and tension into the non existent plot, and by the third act I just found the whole story limped along to the end.

Decent writing, but the plot doesn't really go anywhere and the romance lacked a lot of chemistry for me. Sadly a miss for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for an advance e-copy of The Hot Henry Effect in exchange of an honest review.

"The Henry Effect" by Lucy Chalice is a delightful romantic comedy that exceeded all my expectations. The storyline is engaging, filled with charming characters and witty humor that kept me entertained from start to finish. I found myself giggling and smiling throughout the book, thanks to the lovable and relatable characters, like Dr. Clara Clancy and Dr. Henry Fraser. The concept of "The Hot Henry Effect" added an intriguing twist to the plot, making the dynamics between Clara and Henry even more captivating. Their rekindled friendship was heartwarming, and the gradual unraveling of their secrets kept me on the edge of my seat. Lucy Chalice's writing style is engaging and flows effortlessly, making it easy to get lost in the story. I highly recommend "The Henry Effect" to anyone looking for a fun and heartwarming read in the romance genre. It's a perfect blend of humor, romance, and relatable moments that will leave you with a smile on your face. I found myself giggling and smiling throughout the book, thoroughly enjoying the charming moments.

The Hot Henry Effect is a rom-com set in the STEM world that is perfect for fans of The Love Hypothesis!

You have academia, STEM, "I always loved you", second chance, and he falls first - I was here for it!

Clara, a scientist, was Henry’s mentor and she was always laughing at "the Hot Henry Effect", a phenomenon where all the girls around him fall for his good looks and charm. These two reunite years later and she starts realizing how easy it is for everyone to fall for him! (She may even be falling into the Hot Henry Effect herself!).

This book draws you in to their dynamic. You keep thinking they will get together, and then ANOTHER miscommunication happens that prevents it (I love a good slow burn!!).

I really enjoyed all the Superman references and nicknames for each other - they had such a cute and unique relationship!

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Ali Hazelwood please take note, this is how you write a women of STEM romance.
This book was such a fresh breeze.
It was so well written with perfect balance of banter and seriousness. If a man doesn't love you as Henry loves Clara, is it even worth it?
I can't wait to read all future books by Lucy Chalice.
Thank you netgalley and the publisher for providing me with this ARC!

This was a really fun read! I love STEM romances as they are relatively new and really interesting, and the characters in this book were really interesting. The love story was really sweet and the book was beautifully written. I would definitely recommend this to any fans of science-related romance, especially any fans of The Love Hypothesis! The Hot Henry Effect was amazing and I can’t wait to read more by this author.

The Hot Henry Effect by Lucy Chalice is a charming romance with a sprinkle of nostalgia. The premise of Clara's mishap and Henry's unexpected rescue sets the stage for a delightful journey. The dynamics between Clara and Henry, infused with their shared history at Oxford, create a warm and inviting atmosphere.

The supporting characters, particularly Clara's friends, inject additional levity into the narrative, making the story more vibrant. However, I found myself wishing for deeper exploration of the main characters' backgrounds. While their reunion after seven years is a central theme, it felt like their personal growth during this time was overlooked, leaving their development somewhat stagnant.

Henry's character shines brightly throughout the book. His intelligence, charm, and unwavering support for Clara make him a standout protagonist. Unfortunately, Clara's characterization fell short for me. Her sarcasm often bordered on rudeness, making it difficult to fully connect with her.

Additionally, while the story is cute and enjoyable overall, it occasionally feels weighed down by excessive pop-culture references. Furthermore, the inclusion of a subplot involving sensitive subject matter, without much contribution to the main storyline, felt unnecessary.

The Hot Henry Effect is a cute read with its fair share of ups and downs. If you're in the mood for a light-hearted romance with a dash of nostalgia, it's worth checking out for fans of contemporary romance.

Unfortunately, this one just didn’t sit right with me. From the first page, I was constantly cringing. I felt like the story was forced, and I didn’t enjoy either of the MC’s personalities. It was a struggle for me to get through this story, and I was sorely disappointed that it wasn’t what I had hoped!

Overall, it is an entertaining book to read. It has a fairly simple plot and that makes it very easy to read. Besides we have had an enemies to lovers for years and that is a cliché that many of us love, so it adds points.
The truth is that I had a hard time getting into the novel, not so much in the sense of reading it easily but being really hooked to what I was reading. What's more, I think that except for the end, I didn't really feel that I was really hooked to the story. It was very easy to read and I wasn't bored, but I didn't feel a real connection with the characters or the story. I read it, it's entertaining, and that's it.
To me it has entertained me a lot because at the end it has a cliché that I like and it is a romantic comedy, it is a story that at least I like and I also liked it. But as I say, I missed the point of connecting with the characters to the point of empathizing with them to really enjoy this novel. I think that in romantic comedies, where the plots are usually quite predictable, the important thing is that you connect with the characters in order to enjoy them. So, even though I found that point lacking, I think it's something very personal and I don't consider it a bad story, for me it was just an entertaining read and that's it.

As a woman in STEM myself I absolutely love these types of romances. This book was very cute and very fast paced.
The chapters were short and there was never a dull moment. I basically read it in one sitting.

I really liked the relationship between Henry and Clara. Their friendship at the beginning was very cute and the banter was incredible. They got along so so well.
I also absolutely loved that there was no third act break up and... No miscommunication trope 🙌🏻
The romance is very slow burn but once you get there it's very sweet.

If you like Ali Hazelwood's book then definitely keep an eye out for this one. It does not disappoint.

3.5⭐️

**ARC provided by the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**

Reading this book was a tad hard. It felt too slow and too descriptive, but at the same time, I felt like it lacked context. At times, I didn't understand what was going on or, more importantly, why. It felt like reading with some kind of blindfold on. But I still wanted to do it, because I loved Clara and Henry.

I was sad because the summary made it seem enjoyable. It had a lot of potential. The characters were quite cute and lovable. Especially Henry, given all the long paragraphs dedicated to describing his attractiveness.

I do think all the British slang featured in this book deserves an honorable mention. It definitely made an impact, haha

BTW, I thought the Spotify Playlist was pretty good.

This was so charming. I loved her slow burn of finding out that Henry is into her. I loved the STEM rep and the smart female protagonist. I loved that he falls first and is just so gone for her. I loved her grand gesture of going to his office.
I also particularly liked that she was a somewhat unreliable narrator. She tells us that all women look at Henry as if he’s the hottest thing but is that just because she’s so into him? It was a great subplot.

Super cute, easy breezy read with likable characters. I love how the author chose to feature scientists and that the main character was more of a normal girl than any of the other romance books I usually read. Predictable but sweet ending. I hope she does a second!