The Chemistry of Love Review

Author: Sariah Wilson

Genre: Romance

Publisher: Montlake

Release Date: Feb. 1, 2023

Order Link: Amazon

Special thanks to the publisher for an arc.

3 Fake Hearts

Review:

Anna Ellis is a talented cosmetic chemist working at Minx Cosmetics where she struggles with a misogynist supervisor who refuses to listen to her great ideas - one of which she's sure will revolutionize the cosmetic industry. Ann is secretly "in love" with the company's boss Craig, although he's only actually spoken to her twice in the two years she's worked there. We're talking fantasy land here.  After a nasty confrontation with her supervisor, Anna up and quits her job determined to start her own company, but she still goes to the company's big staff party that night on the chance she'll run into Craig . . . who'll realize he's loved her all along, right? In reality, Craig announces his engagement to someone else, and Anna drowns her sorrow in alcohol while sitting crying on the men's bathroom floor. Enter Prince Charming who just happens to be the CEO of the cosmetic company, Craig's older half-brother. Marco is gorgeous, but also kind and caring, and he steps in to offer his help to Anna. After learning of her infatuation with Craig, he offers her a fake relationship to make Craig jealous upon which time, he'll come and swoop her off her feet with a glass slipper no doubt. As the story unfolds, the chemistry between Anna and Marco intensifies as they bond over their mutual love of all things nerdy including Star Wars. While Marco recognizes the real thing when he sees it, Anna is confused by her growing feelings for him while clinging to her puppy love for Craig. Will she come to her senses before she loses her shot with Marco?

The Chemistry of Love is a cute, fake dating romance albeit a bit unrealistic. Anna is an immature geek with stars in her eyes and totally blind when it comes to scumbag Craig, and Marco is almost too good to be true. I enjoyed the banter between Anna and Marco even as I wanted to scream at Anna to wake up and smell the roses - to grab the prince in front of her if she wanted a real glass slipper. There are some interesting side characters, and I found myself laughing out loud a time or two. While the plot is predictable, The Chemistry of Love is highly readable and entertaining. Highly recommended to fans of romance and the fake dating trope.

Synopsis:

How can Anna Ellis, a geeky, brilliant, and hopelessly smitten cosmetic chemist possibly win over Craig Kimball, the man of her dreams—who also happens to be her boss? The answer is Craig’s empathetic (and handsome) CEO half brother, Marco. The makeup mogul knows Craig for the ridiculously competitive rival he is. Whatever Marco has, Craig wants. That can be Anna, if she’s game to play. All Anna and Marco have to do is pretend they’re falling in love and let the rumors begin. If the experiment in attraction works, a jealous Craig will swoop in and give Anna her happily ever after—if it weren’t for one hitch in the plan. There’s more to Marco than meets the eye. With every fake date, Anna’s feelings are starting to become dizzyingly real.