The Love Code

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a cute romance!! Melody and Jeremy had a one night stand because they live in different cities but still exchange numbers just in case one visits the others city in the future. Cut to Melody having an interview in Jeremy's city and she reaches out to see if he wants to grab coffee. They reconnect but Jeremy has a girlfriend so Melody settles for just being friends while growing close to his girlfriend and trying to create a life for herself in LA.

The chemistry between Melody and Jeremy is undeniable. They always had a flirty aspect to their friendship so when they were finally able to be together it was such a satisfying ending. Definitely recommend if you are looking for a quick romance.

Note: Melody is hesitant to enter into relationships because her last boyfriend committed suicide the previous year. If this is a trigger for you, be aware before going into this one.

A novel for the STEM girlies. If you like Ali Hazelwood’s STEM rom-coms, you’ll love The Love Code. Filled with subtle puns, sly nerd references & moments where you think to yourself, “I’ve been there”. The perfect balance of drama, love triangles, 2SLGBTQ+ representation & a reminder that women can be both/and.

So, I’m a big Susannah Nix fan, and have read the majority of her catalogue. I once upon a time bought the entire series of Chemistry Lessons, both ebooks and audiobooks. When I saw she was re-title’ing, and re-covering the series with a modern update, I wanted to pick up the arc to see how much had been changed.

In all honesty… even though I had the whole original series, I only read a couple books in the middle - I hadn’t read this one, previously titled “Remedial Rocket Science.” I listened to the audio while I read along (audio from 2017, with the newly re-released ebook from 2024). Other than a word here and there, it was identical. A couple words are often different between ebooks and audiobooks anyway. If you’re rushing out to get a brand new, re-written book, you’re only going to be getting a different title and cover. The content has not changed.

The story, which as I mentioned is my first time reading/listening (great narration by a long-time fave Caitlin Kelly), was one that I’m sure went over fine in 2017, 7 years ago… but in this changing world of 2024, won’t go over as well with a character like Jeremy. When he saves Melody from a terrible guy hitting on her at a bar at the beginning and after a great evening of chatting, they have a one night thing… several years later they end up working together. She finds out from his current girlfriend that he was dating her sister at the time of the original meeting.

The cheating storyline and a serial cheating character these days doesn’t go over well with most audiences, but the rest of the story and Nix’s brilliant writing (which has gotten even better over the time since this one originally released), made up for that part of the plot, to me, and Jeremy redeems himself in so very many other things that he does throughout the book. Fantastic banter, great friendships, and perfect character growth.

Overall and aside from that character flaw (and a plot I try to avoid like the plague, the cheating), I can definitely recommend this book for all, because she’s one of my top go-to authors, a brilliant storyteller, this book is truly excellent - and perfectly steamy. Gotta love a woman in STEM!

I received an advance copy from NetGalley and Pan Macmillan, and this is my honest feedback.