What am amazing cute romance book about a teenager trying to figure out what it means to love someone. I loved every page of this book. The first chapter was a bit rough but it was smooth sailing from there. I want to punch Josh, and I’m falling in love with Ash myself! Lots of classics references. I loved this book!!!

I will be withholding my review due to the St. Martins press marketing boycott. Sadly, because I would love to go on and on about this book.

As you are likely aware, there is an active boycott of your publishing house due to the failure of St. Martin’s Press to ensure the safety of their Arab, Muslim, and Palestinian influencers. Over 7,500 influencers to date have signed the petition demanding that St. Martin’s Press meet the incredibly reasonable demands below.
Address and denounce the Islamophobia/racism from their employee.
Offer tangible steps for how they're going to mitigate the harm this employee caused.
Address how, moving forward, they will support and protect their Palestinian, Muslim, and Arab readers, influencers, and authors in addition to their BIPOC readers, influencers, and authors.

If and when the issues are addressed I will update my review here and on my goodreads page.

I really enjoyed this book. I read Serena Kaylor's debut novel and it was cute, but this one was even better. I loved the characters, they were very realistic and relatable for young adults, both as individuals and in their interactions with each other. I loved that Ash introduced her to a variety of romance novels and then this helped her connect with her mom as well. I also loved thinking back to my own first romance novel (Jude Deveraux The Summerhouse). Great character growth as well. Overall great YA book.

Before I get into the review, thank you to both NetGalley and the publishers over at Wednesday Books for allowing me access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review. The Calculation of You and Me follows Marlowe Meadows whose recent breakup has really gotten to her. After being told that "some people aren't built for love", she decides that the moody singer/song writer Ashton Hayes she's been paired up with for an English project would be the perfect person to teach her about the emotions she struggles to connect with and express. If Ash will agree to help her write some love notes to her ex, she'll help his band go viral. But as a semester filled with love notes, romance novels, and late nights with a boy she can't define goes on Marlowe starts to wonder if there's actually a solution for love. The Calculation of You and Me comes out on June 18th and is available for preorder now.

This was such a fun read for me. I've read from this author before and enjoyed her book then, but reading this one gave me so many fuzzy feelings that I've been longing for in a romance. There was just something about Ashton and Marlowe that made me feel so connected to them. I felt like Marlowe was relatable despite the fact that she's on the autism spectrum and I'm not. There's one particular line when she's comparing herself to her sister and it just hit me like a punch to the gut. I love Ashton because he's a realistic teenage boy, but there's also such contrasting aspects to his personality. Ash loves to read a decent amount of Romance novels, but he's also in a rock band with his rocker buddies. The aspects that make this one of the best YA Romance novels that I've read are the things that make this story so real for me: Ash messes up when trying to understand Marlowe and her autism but he's trying, Marlowe comes to her senses about her ex on her own and not because Ash is bringing him up over and over, Ash being hurt by Marlowe's choices and shutting down about it instead of creating conflict. The sweet moments hit me in the feels so hard and I was rooting for them from like page 10 (I don't even think we meet Ash by then, but you get my point). I was never not here for it.

I wish I had gotten more from certain aspects of the story. (This isn't a new thing for me, I always want more from stories I enjoy.) I would have loved to see more of the town (especially around the holiday based stuff that was happening during the story). I would have loved to gotten to know all of the band mates and best friends more. If we had all of the things I would have loved to see more of, this would easily have been a 450 page Romance novel, and who the heck would read that? Me, but besides me. I also felt like the ending came about too quickly. We were hanging on the edge of an emotional precipice and when the resolution came it wasn't there long enough to fully recover. But that could just be the whole thing where I can't get enough of good stories.

Overall, this is such a good and fun Romance novel. I love the couple, I love the way that real life hard issues are handled, and I love the humanity and reality that come through the pages.

I don't typically like high school romances but this one was just so endearing and honest, it's impossible to not fall in love with this story.

The Calculation of You and Me follows Marlowe, an autistic senior in high school. Over the summer Marlowe's All-American pretty boy boyfriend dumped her for not being romantic enough. Wanting to prove to him that she can be romantic Marlowe convinces resident goth boy and her group project partner, Ash, to give her lessons in romance. Along the way Marlowe realizes that maybe some relationships aren't worth fighting for.

I loved how authentic this story read. It really does lean into those feelings of new/young love but also those really hard feelings of first heartbreak. The whole cast of characters are so lovely with special attention on Marlowe and Ash. The slow build of their relationship was paced incredibly well.

The Calculation of You and Me is a cute YA romance with hilarious and supportive friends, Taylor Swift references, and a love interest who knows a thing or two about romance books.

When Marlowe Meadows is dumped by golden boy Josh for not being romantic enough, she refuses to sit back and do nothing. Enter Ashton Hayes, the prickly goth boy who could be the answer to Marlowe’s romance problems. In exchange for a band website and social media glow up, Marlowe proposes that Ash can teach her how to write love letters and be the romantic girlfriend Josh wants.

I can easily picture this book being the one to reach for after a first breakup or to cheer up after a bad day. I lost track of the number of times Odette made me laugh out loud! I loved the moments with her and Poppy because it reminded me so much of my own two best friends (the ones who have been by my side for the good and the bad since middle school!). But also, I think this book really looked at healing from a breakup and the difficulties of change. Looking in from the outside, it's easy to see that Marlowe deserves so much better than what she thinks is right for her. Being the one to live through the emotions and uncertainty that comes with a breakup, however, is completely different, and I think this book handles it well. I really wanted to jump into the story and give Marlowe a hug!

Note: Songs were constantly popping into my head while I was reading, so I thought I would put together a playlist! Here's the link: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4YuU8HVHLDpTfj5LN0i14N?si=874f1e4acd6148e6

I had such high hopes for this book. I liked the last book by this author so I couldn’t wait to read this one. It just didn’t hit the same as the last one. This character is stuck on an ex she has no chemistry with and decides to recruit another guy to help get him back. problem is she doesn’t have chemistry with the new guy either. I also didn’t really understand why she believed he knew anything about love. There plan was a stretch and seemed kind of immature for two high school seniors. The side characters also lacked depth except for the connection with her mom which was sweet. This story was just so so. Check it out if you really like cute, YA romances.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.

This book was very cute and I enjoyed the development of the romance. The characters were dynamic, and Marlow's character development was amazing. Overall a pretty good book!

Thank you Netgalley and publishers for the eARC!

The Calculation of You and Me, by Serena Kaylor, is a fun young adult romance that's the perfect fit for a beach day. The characters in this novel will keep you smiling as you navigate through their lives. The characters are diverse, yet work well together, as it should be! I hope we see more of these guys in future novels!
Thanks, NetGalley and the publisher, for providing me with the ARC ebook I read and reviewed. All opinions are my own.

"The Calculation of You and Me" by Serena Taylor is a book that, while aimed at a YA audience, feels a bit more juvenile than I expected. This isn't necessarily a flaw- it reflects a difference in target audience expectations. While the book didn't resonate with me as strongly as I had hoped, I can see its appeal for early teens, making it a great addition to classroom libraries. The lack of any mature content makes it especially suitable for younger readers.

One aspect I truly appreciated was the autistic representation. Serena Taylor did an admirable job in portraying the protagonist's experiences with authenticity and sensitivity. This kind of representation is crucial, and it's refreshing to see it handled well in YA literature.

Overall, while "The Calculation of You and Me" may not have been entirely to my taste, it has its merits and would likely be a hit with a younger audience. Its themes and characters are relatable and important, making it a worthy read for early teens.

Thank you so much Serena Kaylor, Wednesday Books, and NetGalley for the eARC copy of The Calculation of You and Me. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Ahh! The Calculation of You and Me is so good! Seriously, how could you possibly pass on a clean YA romance with prominent themes from classics like Wuthering Heights and Cyrano de Bergerac?!?! I simply HAD to request this title and I’m so glad I did. 🥳

The Calculation of You and Me follows FMC, Marlow Meadows, as she tries to navigate a difficult break up with her longtime boyfriend, Josh. I loved reading about the emotional grown Marlow experienced as she learned more about herself and embraced her own self-worth.

I also couldn’t get enough of the representation you’ll find in this book! Neurodivergence, the ACE spectrum, gender identity, and sexual orientation are all positively woven into the plot. It was so refreshing to see groups that have historically experienced underrepresentation in YA novels front and center.

The Calculation of You and Me, at its heart, is about asking yourself what you really want instead of settling for what you know. It’s about building strong, healthy relationships with your family and friends. It’s about accepting others for who they are without judging. Honestly, I really think the world needs more books like this. 🫶

In the pages, you will find:
❤️ Clean ya romance (kissing, off page s3x references)
📚 Discussions about classic novels
🎶 Metal garage bands
📖 An adorable romance book store
🤝 Strong friendships
💌 Letters from a secret admirer
🧑‍🧑‍🧒‍🧒 Healthy family relationships
🧠 Neurodivergent representation
❓Asking yourself the hard questions
👏 A great YA read!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫/5

For 2 years Marlowe and Josh were dating. Marlowe finally felt like she was part of the "normal" crowd, then out of the blue, Josh decides they are breaking up. Once Marlowe finds out why she was dumped, she enlists the help of the mysterious Ash to make her more romantic.

The "teach me to be better at romance" trope is one of my favorites and it does not disappoint here. We have jealousy, misunderstood feelings, and practice dates to move the plot along.

Marlowe has autism. While I do have family members on the spectrum I do not know enough in-depth information to say if she was written well for someone with autism. What I could relate to was how Marlowe felt anxious in social situations and how she felt she wasn't like the "normal" students.

Overall I had a fun time reading this book. The characters were adorable and the plot was interesting. I recommend if you're looking for a cute, fun, quirky read.

The Calculation of You and Me is a wonderful YA romance between two very special people. The story is sweet but also has a depth that made me feel invested in our two main characters' lives. Marlowe is neurodivergent and the author's representation of autism was pitch-perfect. I felt that while honoring that part of Marlowe, the author made sure her personality was not solely about it. Ashton is a wonderful balance for her. He is kind and supportive. I enjoyed their interactions as well as those with the secondary characters. It made for a well-rounded story. This YA romance highlighted the importance of not just finding yourself, but also valuing yourself.

Thank you Wednesday Books and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy.

I'm going to go ahead and give this book a solid 3.5

Starting off with how hard it was for me to get into this at first - I must've started this book atleast 3 times, the beginning just wasn't giving, couldn't grasp my attention literally at all.

I wish our main girl here thought more about herself and what she was feeling, not what everyone else expects of her or what they wanted from her. Taking the phrase "What does Marlowe want" to a whole different level. I feel like the whole story she was chasing the guy and what he wanted from her instead of doing things for herself.

I also wish the storyline between Marlowe and Ash was developed a bit differently, I feel like he was trying to make her see his feelings and she just brushed it off, didn't notice it etc and then when they finally got together it was like the last chapter was all we got of them and their happy ever after..

I will say - the story was an easy read, fast paced but not in a bad way. It had me hooked in a weird way where I wasn't heavily invested but I still wanted to pick up the book and find out what happens next, loved the representation and the different family dynamics.

overall - I wasn't obsessed with the book but it was a good and quick YA read, the format was super easy, I loved the short chapters but also how much we got in one chapter was great. The pacing of this book was overall really good.

Goodreads review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6300516413

Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

My no spoilers review:

Marlowe Meadows is a Southern, mushroom-obsessed math nerd who has been dumped by her golden boy boyfriend because she apparently was bad at being romantic. She starts the school year determined to prove him wrong and win him back by enlisting the help of her AP English project partner, the moody Ash Hayes whose rock band song lyrics make Marlowe believe he's the perfect love tutor who can help her.

This was a fun read that I obsessed over for the weekend because it hit the right notes of sweet and funny. Marlowe has autism, and her ex seemed to imply that he didn't think she loved him back because she just wasn't able to, which is objectively awful. Still, the author does a good job of developing why Marlowe is hung up on him despite that. They were in a relationship for two years and Marlowe was made to feel loved and special despite her tendencies to not always do/say the "right" things (again, yes, her ex is awful). Where Marlowe shines is when she is allowed to be herself, supported by her friends, family, and, of course, Ash.

Ash's character was almost too good to be true, but that's fine because this is a YA romance and a large part of the book is dissecting romance tropes. Ash works at a bookstore that exclusively sells romance books. This is not the first romance book I've read that decides to get a little meta with its own genre, and I think it works here.

This is a YA romance that I can actually put in my classroom because it's not spicy at all. It's sweet! And to prove it, there are several occasions when Marlowe stress bakes mug cakes. You'll probably end up looking up your own mug cake recipe before you finish reading it.

There's so much to love about Serena Kaylor's books - chief among them is the delightful and unforgettable characters. I'll keep coming back for more.

Thanks to the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my review.

Thank you to Wednesday Books for the eARC, provided in exchange for an honest review.

I approached this one with caution -- autistic representation in books is SO important, and with an autistic daughter, I care deeply about seeing it done right.

Thank you, Serena Kaylor, for doing it right. Marlowe is a great character: I so appreciated the honesty with which she looks at herself, and the sometimes ferocious way that her friends and family defend her right to BE herself. It was painful to watch her encounter Josh's ableism, but ultimately so satisfying for her to realize what I hope every autistic person knows: there is nothing wrong or broken about them. Experiencing the world differently doesn't mean anything except that.

The book itself: loved it. Loved Ash, loved Marlowe's journey to learning more about herself through reading romance novels of all kinds, loved the wonderfully quirky supporting characters ... really loved how it all turned out in the end. This is exactly what I want from a YA book, and to have it feature such lovely neurodiverse representation makes it all the better. Serena Kaylor just became an auto-buy author for me.

This is a lovely love story. I love stories where opposites attract. I feel like it is beautiful to see that people can connect with someone they maybe didn’t expect to. The love story itself is just beautifully crafted and it is so fun to watch the growth that happens, especially with Marlowe. Her asking herself what I do want, I think is so important because sometimes people really don’t stop and check in with themselves enough when it comes to relationships. I also enjoyed the allusions Cyrano. I am a sucker for modern books drawing from the classics. I think overall teens will really enjoy this book. It is a fun read, that maybe will help them look at something in their own life just a smidge differently.
Thank you so much to St. Martins Press, Wednesday Books, and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this title.

Romance books. Mushrooms. Math. Heartfelt letters. Grand gestures and one broody musician.

We’re back!!!! I loved this journey of self-discovery and love and righting the wrongs of Wuthering Heights.

More, Serena!!!! Moreeeeeee

After spending a good part of Junior year as a couple, Josh dropped quite the bomb in Marlowe Meadows’ lap. He didn’t think she was reciprocating his romance very well, so he decided they needed a break. She did not agree with this assessment since she’s done nothing but everything he told her to. Suffice to say, Marlowe has been dealing with the rejection quite badly. But as senior year’s start approaches, she’s excited (and nervous) to see if he’s ready to get back together. Well, uhm, that break? It was actually a breakup. Why? Well, some people just aren’t built to be romantic the way he prefers, so buh-bye.

Marlowe is not ready to let go. She’s a level headed, science minded woman (who is also neurodivergent) she knows that the right kind of training can overcome this. Unfortunately, her besties Odette and Poppy cannot seem to help her. The romance novel her mom was reading seems to provide a good set of pointers, but what works on nabbing a fictional Duke just does not work for a real life high school football team player. She is going to need to consult a subject matter expert.

Enter Ashton Hayes. He’s a musician who is in touch with his feelings, and he has to know all about being romantic. Also, he stepped up to help her out of a bad embarrassment situation on two different occasions. Well, it takes some convincing and a contract where she agrees to revamp his band’s website in exchange for his services, but he finally, begrudgingly agrees to be her goth romance professor. This way she is sure to get her boyfriend back and return to her happy place, right?

Not unless they act quickly because Josh has set his sights on another girl. Hopefully, Marlowe is a quick study, otherwise her hopes will be sunk. However, Josh does not really deserve her attention and devotion. The real catch is someone she never considered before …

Serena Kaylor presents a lovely mix of romance and comedy in the socially awkward and utterly charming YA novel, The Calculation of You and Me.

Told in the first person, Kaylor’s book relays Marlowe’s journey in a surprisingly immersive and intimate fashion. Our protagonist is a young woman in touch with her own emotions, but who nevertheless lives a life of the mind. When confronted with a Hallmark Channel story of romance about a woman who gives up her job for a career in cookie crafting and the love of the hunky fireman next door, Marlowe thinks that would be fun for a long weekend. She has her eyes set on a career in biotech and the mind to make it. If only she could make the rest of her life work …

What she fails to see, and what we readers see all too clearly, is that she’s pining for the wrong love interest. Josh might be easy on the eyes, and his kisses might be swell, but damn if he isn’t a self-absorbed and manipulative tool. Gaslighting is not yet in his repertoire of offenses, but only because he hasn’t figured out an effective way to employ it yet.

And yet, falling for him is an honest mistake on Marlowe’s part. He is the first guy to look past the girl everyone teased since elementary school for being different, for saying occasionally crazy things, for being an embarrassment to everyone around her, and to ask her out. Kindness and attention is some powerful magic for someone who is not used to it. We cannot help but spend a good part of the book trying to figure out if Josh is playing some kind of cruel long game or if we should simply take him at face value.

And yet, Marlowe has a decent support group. Sure, her mom is clueless as to her daughter’s real needs, her little sister is all about the popularity and prettiness games, her divorced dad checks in regularly and supports as well as he can but he’s halfway across the country in Denver. Odette and Poppy are solidly on Marlowe’s side, young women who balance brains, sarcasm, charm, and support. However, Marlowe herself is just incapable of expressing her needs and wants in ways that others seem capable of understanding.

Being a transplant to the small Georgia town that Marlowe calls home, Ashton has a special and wildly different perspective to the others. So, he is best equipped to help her, even though he is reluctant to do so from the beginning.

Eschewing the meetcute aspects of romantic-comedies that often appeal to me, Kaylor instead offers up a smorgasbord of cute moments, social awkwardness that can send folks sensitized to such material screaming, clever turns of phrase, and believable but nevertheless comic situations. This is not necessarily laugh aloud material. It’s a book where we might giggle, certainly smile, occasionally roll our eyes in sympathy, and otherwise have a fine old time.

One of the nicer touches is the clever use of literary allusion. Marlowe and her friends chat about Cyrano de Bergerac, citing it’s grosser elements (well, gross if taken from a 21st century high schooler perspective), but it’s nevertheless a book that Marlowe subconsciously appeals to when she asks Ashton to write her some romantic letters she might use. Likewise, Wuthering Heights is a work that gets mention early on, a book that she and Ashton are teamed up to write about and prepare a presentation on. Marlowe is a quick read in the nonfiction realm, but fiction gives her plenty of trouble, so she does not read it as quickly as her partner. Those in the know can see how it will tie into her story as well.

The author’s presentation of the romance, the coming of age elements, and the general journey is done in as engaging a fashion as possible. This is solidly written material, and it is enjoyable as hell.

The writing style is what we might expect from Marlowe, as it is first person and told from her perspective. Instead of lengthy paragraphs, they are all concise. There is little time for rambling, we get cut and dried details and quick conclusions. The reliability is called into question by the responses from other characters, emotional cues that the narrator does not necessarily understand but nevertheless records.

Ashton is a terrific foil for Marlowe. Sure, he wears all black, is prone to moodiness, but he also gets some of the funniest lines in the book. He’s got more than enough of those Lord Darcy qualities to make him intriguing. However, this is Darcy with a rock ‘n roll pulse. H possesses a cutting sense of humor and a quick mind. He may be a musician who works in a romance novel bookstore, but he is not a cookie cutter character by any means. There are layers here, which we will want to explore far sooner than Marlowe does.

Readers looking for even a dollop of suspense are encouraged to go elsewhere. The Calculation of You and Me is a charming story with a foregone, happy ending that we get a pretty clear sense of from early on. However, the joy of the book is in following Marlowe, her friends, her family, and her new professor around to see how they get from the opening scenario to the happily-for-now conclusion.

Kaylor’s novel is a captivating read, the sort of page turner than makes time itself evaporate in service to the story. This is a stay up late read, a don’t even think about doing anything else until you’re done kind of book. Witty and funny, heartbreaking and bold, emotionally honest and oh so sweet, it blends all the colors of wonder into its pages. Well worth seeking out for readers looking for a joyful excursion into high school rom-com territory.
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A special thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.