3.5 ⭐This was overall a great colleagues to lovers STEM romance that is perfect for fans of Ali Hazelwood. This was easy to read with short chapters and likeable main characters including our swoony male love interest, the titular Hot Henry. There was some spice which was done well and was a good level of steam and there were a lot of reader favourite tropes used such as he falls first. I think where this didn't quite hit for me and so didn't get rated higher was that I found myself frustrated by the lack of communication and characters, mainly Clara, jumping to conclusions that if she'd just paused for a minute she would have realised wasn't at all logical.

STEM romances are my jam and I did really enjoy this read, will be checking out more from this author!

the cover really drew me in to this book, and it was charming, made me happy, and was just overall a really fun romcom. a lighthearted read was exactly what I was looking for to get me out of a reading slump.

👨🏻‍🔬STEM romance
👨🏻‍🔬friends to lovers
👨🏻‍🔬grumpy sunshine
👨🏻‍🔬workplace romance
👨🏻‍🔬second chance

4*

Very enjoyable book. It was a super cute and light hearted read. The progression of the story was very calm including different viewpoints from both parties. In the end the time jumps were a little bigger than the rest of the book, which felt a little rushed to me. I get that the storyline got less interesting once the romance was confirmed, so I wasn't too bothered by it. The only real critique I have is that the spice-rate is waaaay off. Only the last few chapters include quite some spicy scenes, but if you're picking this book for the spice you might want to skip to another one, even though the scenes were written nicely. All in all a cute romantic book.

Thanks to NetGalley and One More Chapter for providing me with an ARC to read ahead of publishing in return for an honest review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3.75/5 stars)

Equal parts reunited friends-to-lovers and workplace romance, 'The Hot Henry Effect' is a fun and light-hearted story where we follow Dr. Clara as she reconnects with her old friend Henry. The duo teams up on a new project, and sparks fly as they navigate working together after being apart for so long.

While the storyline is engaging, the use of the miscommunication trope felt a bit overdone and detracted from the overall enjoyment for me. At times, the flaws in the main characters felt unconvincing, and unexplored which made it hard to fully connect with them. However, the plot really picked up towards the end, delivering a satisfying conclusion that made the journey worthwhile.

If you're looking for an easy, readable romance with a mix of professional dynamics and personal growth, 'The Hot Henry Effect' is definitely worth picking up. It's perfect for a cozy weekend read.

Thank you to netgalley and the publichers for providing me with this ARC

The Hot Henry Effect is a second chance romcom, with a STEM backdrop and a swoony MMC.
Unfortunately, this didn't quite hit the mark with me - I found the MFC, Clara, to be quite immature and annoying particularly with her denial of Henry's obvious feelings, especially when everyone spelled everything out to her. I struggled with her narrative of being 'damaged goods' and 'unable to love' with just a few mentions of daddy issues and a few bad dates but not a lot of resolution. I also didn't quite understand why Henry was so obsessed with her.
I really did want to like this book as I love a book with women in STEM but I just found it wasn't as well done as I've read in other books.
Unfortunately, this wasn't the book for me.

The Hot Henry Effect is the latest in the STEM romance novel craze. We are first introduced to Clara when he is studying at university where her lab partner Henry who is in the lab temporarily is causing quite the stir among the scientists. Unfortunately, that atmosphere is not for him. Clara and Henry are friends but you don’t see much passed that. Following a time jump Clara is now a successful scientist in her field. She is doing her best to prove her worth in her male-dominated employment. A new partnership is formed with a business and Clara is front and centre, working hard to ensure it’s success. Turns out Arthur, the boss is actually Henry, as he uses his middle name on a more casual basis.
The two hit it off as it no time had passed with Henry helping out when Clara has an obsessive pursuer in her workplace.
Now for my opinion. Clara, for such an intelligent woman, sure says some dumb things. At times I felt like I was reading an old book that had misogynistic comments and thing said in bad taste. One thing that was near the beginning of the book was Clara commenting on her make-up saying she needed to make sure it wasn’t ‘slutty’. This just left a bad taste in my mouth. Do women need any more grief about their appearance? How much make-up you wear doesn’t mean you’re ‘slutty’. And labelling someone with that word is just sad.
A main plot point through the book is the uncomfortable pursuit one of Clara’s co-workers had. Clara said on a few occasions that she was not interested but ultimately is leads to a sexual assault which I definitely wasn’t expecting going into this book. Unfortunately it wasn’t handled the best way. I think it is dangerous to encourage the narrative of ‘well I acted in a certain way therefore I must deserve it’ and Clara is written in this way. I understand the message that Henry tells her she was not to blame, she was the victim etc, but I just felt sad reading it. It was quickly brushed away and that’s that. I don’t know, it didn’t sit right with me.
Unfortunately, this wasn’t the book for me. I’m glad others enjoyed it though!
Thank you for the eARC!

The Hot Henry Effect in 3 words - Fun. Spicy. Swoony!

I really enjoyed this, and would recommend it to fans of Ali Hazelwood for its similar themes - a blend of romance, science, drama, and humor. Don't be fooled by the cutesy cover, this book does have deeper issues and emotions at play.

It's a slooooow burn with SO many great 'WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR!' moments, and yes, Henry and Clara getting together was predictable, but it was still fun to read. And that moment when it all clicks... worth it!

TW: Sexual Harassment

Overall, 3.5 stars - Very good.

I really enjoyed this fast, easy read. I like that the characters are both intelligent but still have fun, quirky personalities that aren't over the top. The tension between them was so well done, and I loved their chemistry!

I recently had the pleasure of reading "The Hot Henry Effect" by Lucy Chalice, and it's a delightful and charming romantic comedy that will leave you with a smile on your face. The story follows Dr. Clara Clancy, whose career-defining presentation is derailed by a mishap with a pain au chocolat. Unexpectedly, Dr. Henry Fraser, a familiar face from her university days, comes to her rescue.

The novel cleverly explores the dynamics between Clara and Henry, delving into their past at Oxford and their rekindled friendship in the present. The concept of the "Hot Henry Effect" adds an intriguing and humorous element to the story, providing a unique twist to the typical romantic comedy.

Lucy Chalice has crafted a wonderful blend of science, humor, and romance, making "The Hot Henry Effect" a compelling and enjoyable read. The characters are endearing, and their interactions are filled with warmth and wit. The author skillfully weaves together a tale of friendship, secrets, and the complexities of falling in love.

Overall, "The Hot Henry Effect" is a fun and heartwarming novel that will appeal to fans of romantic comedies. Lucy Chalice's writing is engaging, and the story is brimming with both humor and heart. If you're looking for a sweet and entertaining read with a scientific twist, this book is definitely worth picking up.

This book was very intriguing and fun to read! I love STEM romances so much, and this was just one of the books that I can give high praise to for how well it was executed. It left me intrigued and hooked from beginning to end. I’m glad I got the chance to read it!

A really enjoyable fun read. Good characters and a great story.. it definitely kept me engaged to the very end.
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i thought this was cute but i couldn't really get into it until very late in the book. i love a slow burn but i think this might've been too slow for me? i think it was pretty funny, though!

I found The Hot Henry Effect to be a sweet, slow burn read with interesting characters.
I enjoyed the laugh out loud moments.
The spice level is there though not overly much.
Perfect summer/beach read!

Thank you NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

While there were elements of The Hot Henry Effect that I enjoyed, overall, it fell short of my expectations. The friends-to-lovers premise was fun, but I wish the writing had been stronger on the sentence level. There's also a subplot focused on a coworker whose harassment of the main character was not treated with the seriousness I would have wanted.

The story was a bit too slow for me personally. I had a hard time getting into the book, probably because of all the STEM terms (weird since I’m literally in the field professionally for a while). Maybe my expectations were a bit too high.. I think the book is meant for a very specific group of people, but if you’re into this kind of romance, then you would give it a chance.

A fun read the story of Henry and Clara, who meet again years after their phd's at Oxford. A work place romance, and will Clara see Henry this time round?

Absolutely cute! I enjoyed this a lot. Plus I kept picturing Henry Cavill, which is never a bad thing. The writing was really good, the story flowed well too. Will definitely read more from her!

A classic romance that felt like an Ali Hazelwood book, 'The Hot Henry Effect' was a cute read. It definitely followed the notes you'd expect and nothing was surprising, but I still enjoyed it and read it in one sitting.

There's definitely a lot of drama and the characters could be frustrating in the, "grrr, why don't THEY SEE IT. WHY ARE YOU-" Nonetheless, seeing Clara open up and finally see Henry was lovely because that man has been head-over-heels for her for YEARS.

We love Henry. Respectful, supportive, and so in love with Clara. I also liked that he knew how he should be treated, and kindly requested what he deserved and needed from a partner. Clara's defense mechanisms were tough to crack, which was understandable, so you're proud when she takes the risk for love as they're perfect for each other.

Thank you to One More Chapter, HarperCollins and Netgalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review!

CW: sexual harrassment and attempted SA

Read for: single POV, 32 yo FL, women in STEM, simp hero, awkward humor to cope with trauma, friends to lovers, so much frustration/angst, workplace romance

3 stars
1.5 spice

I loved the sound of this book and thought it looked a lot of fun. I quite enjoyed the friends to lovers trope and the growing relationship between Clara and Henry. The ease between the characters was obvious from the start and the post it notes were the cherry on top. I would say the spice level is at the lower end of the scale and it's use wasn't cringey.

My only criticism with the book was the back and forth between Clara and Henry. I loved them but they irritated me at times as well. Nevertheless this was an easy listen, that kept me entertained.