My first Etta Easton book! Why did this make me wanna find a mars simulation and sign up for it, knowing my ass would not survive like that? Lord help me. This was a really great book especially for it taking place in mostly one setting. It reminded me of when I watched 47 meters down and how intrigued I was at the amount of storytelling someone could do in one place. This book was quick, witty, steamy, tension-filled, and emotional all in one. I might need to go back and read the kiss countdown bc this was just a ton of fun & one of the only books I felt the FMC made logical decisions throughout the entire book LOL

3.5 ⭐️ this was so cute and unique! I’ve enjoyed Etta’s stories involving space and the Mars simulation was so cool to read about, it almost felt like a reality tv show.

I definitely understood Brianna’s trust issues and setting her guard up around others and I melted anytime Roman took the extra time to reassure and validate her. I think there were some moments between them felt a little too surface level and I wanted a bit more within their forced proximity and forbidden romance, but I still thought it was cutie!

Thank you Berkley and NetGalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review!

I loved the unique concept of this romance!

Vice Principal Brianna and 4 teachers from her school decide to spend six weeks of their summer participating in a Mars simulation, trying to win money for their school to get a whole new library. She doesn’t count on Roman coming along, the one teacher she has had a crush on and the son of the Principal she doesn’t get along with.

The simulation added so many fun elements to the story with all of the tasks the teachers are required to do and the emergencies they are forced to respond to. It made me want to participate in one of these scenarios of my own, though maybe not for a full six weeks! The forced proximity begins to weigh heavily on our characters as time goes on and their team size shrinks down, leaving a smaller team that is forced to rely on one another.

There is a lot of internal conflict for Brianna throughout this book, as she faces whether or not a VP should be able to build friendships and relationships with her coworkers. She tends to close herself off from others rather than open up, and I was dying for her to feel comfortable with everyone and like she was an important part of the team. Her thoughts felt on brand and authenic to her character even if they did make me crazy a few times!

Overall this was a cute second book about the Rogers siblings after we got her brother Vincent’s love story last year. Will we get a third book for sibling three??

Thank you to Berkley for the arc. All opinions are my own.

"Life isn't a race to see who can get it together first."

"A passionate vice principal and a guarded science teacher compete for a grand prize, only to realize their budding relationship might be the real jackpot."

Two characters confined in a Mars simulation - this was one of the more unique romances I've read as of late, and I enjoyed it! The romance between Brianna and Roman was cute, and it was fun to read as the two characters navigated their personal and professional relationship at school. I do wish we could've gotten Roman's POV in this one.

One other note, I related to Brianna's struggle with finding a career/job to be passionate about. I appreciated her journey and wanting to leave a mark in her profession. I think that is relatable for so many of us and is one of the areas where this book shines.
 
Read if you enjoy:
- forced proximity / slow burns
- lower stakes conflict
- workplace romance / STEM
- attentive and caring MMC's

Thank you so much @berkleyromance for the free copy of The Love Simulation by Etta Easton!
Pub Date - March 4, 2025

Read This Book If…you love Abbott Elementary!

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫/5
The Love Simulation by Etta Easton

Genre: romance
Spice Level: 3/5🌶, 1-2 open door scenes
Setting: Houston, TX
POV: single, 1st person, present tense
Tropes: rivals to lovers, workplace romance, forced proximity, longtime crush

My Thoughts:
Ohhh the days of having a crush on someone just because you could see them every day! This story had a bit of a slow start to get to the main plot, but overall it was very cute.

Brianna got in her own way a lot of the time, both with personal and professional matters. If Roman had spoken up at any point, a lot of their issues would have been solved.

I thought the romance was sweet but felt a little rushed/surface-level, considering how close these two were forced to be.

Memorable Quote: “I’m not a nice man. My dad made sure of it. But you know what I am? A man who goes after what he wants.”

Thank you to the publisher for my advance copy!

3.5 stars

This was cute and I loved the STEM part of the narrative as well as school library and literacy angle. I do wish this had dual POV, though. This is one story that would have definitely benefitted with including Roman's point of view beyond Brianna's. It was nice to see cameos by Vincent and Amerie from the first book, and of course Bri's older sister Camille and her family. (Not to forget Bri's adorable dog, Sheba!)

3.5 stars! i really enjoyed the space aspect and the simulation plot, very unique and interesting. however, i do wish we had dual pov, i feel we would have benefitted getting roman’s inner dialogue and feelings to develop their romance. i would recommend for anyone looking for a short and fun romance!!!

I loved this book even more than the first one!

This book is basically the definition of forced proximity but she is his boss, but also his dad is her boss. The vibes were immaculate! I am obsessed with this plot, the side characters, the themes, the tension, the banter, and the chemistry between Bri and Roman.

10/10 romance book and I can't wait from more from this author. SHe has quickly become an insta buy author for me!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Berkley pub for providing me with an advanced copy of this book.

3.5 Rounded up to 4

Thank you Berkley Romance and NetGalley for an eARC of The Love Simulation in exchange for a review!

The Love Simulation follows Vice Principal Brianna Rogers as she competes with other teachers in a Mars simulation for a grand prize - enough money to renovate the crumbling library at her school.

I loved the concept - mean ol principal making her life harder than it needs to be, Brianna showing him how far she could go to get the kids what they need, but her attraction to the principal's son/teacher at the school could throw a wrench in everything she's worked for!

We had a lot of Brianna isolating herself in the book - it's a fine line of being professional and friendly, but Brianna wouldn't allow herself an inch of grace until weeks into the simulation. I wanted a little more from her internal dialogue other than keeping herself from her colleagues and thinking how good looking Roman was.
Roman's betrayal/not-betrayal was enough conflict to keep the storyline pushing, but I didn't feel their romantic connection as much as I had hoped for.

Overall, a low stake/high reward cutesy romance read to add to your list this year!

This is the perfect work place, sort of rivals to lovers but also we very much are pining after each other the whole time and then are doing this Mars simulation together to get money for the school library! I loved The Kiss Countdown! And being back in this universe was so much fun! I LOVE that even though no one was an astronaut this time around we got to stay in the NASA theme. It’s really such a fun back drop!!

I loved Briana and Roman. Their chemistry was so good! Even when she was SURE he didn’t like her, especially then really. Because she desperately didn’t want to like him…but did anyway…and he clearly was picking that up!! And when the tension finally breaks and she realized he DOES like her!! And he WANTS her!! And then they’re ALONE!! Delicious really.

I also loved how Briana’s job and how much she WANTED to like it was written. She loved it, right! She was doing what she wanted! But it wasn’t going the way she necessarily wanted?? She wanted to do being doing MORE. Which is true for so many people. And her boss was annoying…and prioritizing the wrong things, and pushing her to go to another school…And being the vice principal she isolated herself, since she had the authority, and that was making things hard for her too. I just thought it was written so well!

I’m already excited for whatever Etta writes next!

Thanks to Berkley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Thanks to NetGalley, Edelweiss, and Berkley for the arc and to PRH Audio for the ALC.

This was a charming rom com about a group of colleagues from a school that participate in a simulation to explore Mars. I thought this was a cute love story and I enjoyed the chemistry between Brianna and Roman.

As for the audiobook, I enjoyed the voice of the narrator Sisi Aisha Johnson and I would definitely consider listening to more audiobooks narrated by her in the future.

I am very much looking forward to seeing what Etta Easton writes next!

I have been following Etta Easton sine the Kiss Countdown and I look forward to every book she will ever create. She is the first author I have actually followed from the beginning. The Love Simulation is an amazing book that I could not put down. It was so nice to contine the story of the Rogers family and see how Brianna can find love. Brianna and Sheba were lovely side characters in the Kiss Countdown, and they did not disappoing in their own novel. The forced proximity that Roman and Brianna had was just the right amount of tension. Etta writes such real characters that have flaws and situations just like real people. It allows you to really dive into the book. I will devour EVERY SINGLE BOOK that she writes, and that's a fact.

Thank you Berkley for the Free Digital ARC! 🫶🏾🫶🏾

I enjoyed the idea of a vice principal and a teacher who have a crush on one another working together in a space simulation! Sign me up for all the Forced Proximity.🤭

I love that Bri was able to find a job that matched her passion. She was able to combine her love for books and helping kids. I adored the little crumbs in the story that talked about reading and books. Of course I did as a book lover, not surprising! I also smiled to myself when Kimberly Lemming’s book series was mentioned. AHHH!! One of my favs. What I found really heartwarming was the journal entries from Roman, especially the last one. 🥹🥰 Lastly, I enjoyed the epilogue so much! The whole simulation team coming back together, being friends and creating a book club together was everything I needed. I was happy that Bri got her library and that Roman had it named after her.🥹🥹

The only reason I did not rate this higher is because I found myself craving and wanting more throughout the book. Especially in the Romance aspect between Roman and Bri. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a slow burn girl. But I like it when the author gives us bits and pieces along the way. You know, like tension and banter. It builds the relationship along the way and makes me really root for them to get together. I think the romance fell a little short for me. There wasn’t enough between the MCs for me to die hard root for them to get together.

I still hope to read more from Etta Easton in the future🫶🏾😃. I absolutely adored The Kiss Countdown and it seems that Etta has a talent for coming up with unique storylines.

Brianna joins a Mars simulation team to win prize money for her school’s library. She clashes with Roman, the principal’s son, who’s also on the team. Their rivalry turns to romance, but Brianna suspects Roman is hiding something—forcing her to choose between the school and her growing feelings for him.

I really enjoy this author’s writing style. The plot is interesting if a little slow-paced. The characters are likeable and well-developed.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

I write haiku reviews on Instagram and Goodreads but am happy to provide more feedback, if requested.

The coziest love story but also with some soul searching! I absolutely loved this story and can’t wait to read more by this author. It was my first read from Etta and I want disappointed!

What I absolutely adored about this was how refreshing the setting and the characters were! Academia vibes, forced proximity and a fun setting?! YES. I need to read more by Etta Easton STAT.

Thank you so much to Berkley publishing for my ARC!

4/5

Thank you so much to Berkley Romance for the advance copy of this!

This book will be out in March 4th.

The Kiss Countdown was Etta Easton's debut book and was absolutely charming! I was not sure if this book was going to be its own new story or set in the same universe as TKC. Turns out our female lead is the little sister of the male, Vincent, from The Kiss Countdown.

Just like with the first one, this was just also enjoyable!! Brianna is a Vice Principal with a very difficult principal and is upset when he chooses to use funds to redo the football field instead of a new library, she takes matters in her own hands. There was this cool opportunity to be a part of a Mars simulation with other staff members for a chance to a good chunk of money that would be used to upgrade the library.

Six weeks in a Mars simulation? Should be no issue but what Brianna was not expecting is to be trapped with her workplace crush and the principal's son Roman. She already is nervous around him but this is going to have them force to work together. I felt kind of bad for Roman because Brianna thought the worst of him. She thought he was there to jeopardize her chance at getting the funds. And this was throughout majority of the book.

Then you have Roman who never gave her any reason to doubt him besides being the son of her boss. He was doing his best in achieving the different missions. He was very open with his crush on Brianna. It was hard for her to navigate their mutual feelings for one another. She was technically his superior and even though they weren't in school, it still was a school event and was with other peers. No matter how much she tried, she just could not resist him. I know they were in this simulation and its not like they could properly date but I would have love to have seen them get to know each other more. It kind of was like "oh I like you, let's sleep together." Which yes happens but we usually get to see the couple get to know one another and build an intimacy.

Easton did not spend too much time with giving insight into the first book. But just enough of VIncent (he is a astronaut) and Amerie to give insight into their lives currently. Also got to see some of Brianna's relationship with her sister Camille who seems like such a wonderful person.

i love the concept of being in this controlled environment away from everyone over the summer. In my head I just picture the movie The Martian and the different space tasks that they had to do.

Looking forward to see if Easton sticks with space theme books (which I would be here for) or where she would pivot too!

In Etta’s debut THE KISS COUNTDOWN, we met Brianna an assistant principal who’s now agreed to spend their summer vacation in a Mars simulation in hopes of winning the prize money to upgrade the school’s library. Her principal’s son, Roman, a science teacher at the school joins the mission and now she has to decide if doing it for the right reasons, or trying to sabotage her chances when she starts to fall for him.

It’s got forced proximity, enemies to lovers and a great group of co-workers who will keep you entertained as the pressure heats up — and so do their feelings for each other!

Thank you to Berkley Romance and The Gloss Book Club for the chance to read and review this title, check out my full review on the Gloss blog!

Thanks so much to @berkleypub @berkleyromance @acebookspub for the free book!

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a very cute read. Brianna is always looking out for others but she is also looking to make her mark in her profession as Vice Principal. Roman is the science teacher who she has a crush on but is also the principals son, who is putting a block in her plans. The story is a slow burn, great message about learning and finding your passion in life and it even had some funny moments. I loved the simulation aspect of the story and I love that it was about teachers and trying to save the school library. Definitely would recommend for cute and charming read. 3.5 ⭐️

Release Date: March 4, 2025