I just had a hard time connecting with this book. The writing was really well but it just wasn’t a story for me. I just could not connect to any parts of it.

This story follows Sarah and Molly after a traumatic event that makes them very close sisters who look out for each other through their relationships, work and various life challenges. ⁣
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I can’t give too much away without spoiling it, so you’ll simply have to read it! But I really enjoyed this book. It was easy to pick up and carry on where you left off, and the writing was very clear. I had strong feelings for the characters, particularly the women’s partners Ewan and Niall (not always for good reasons) 🤦🏼‍♀️ However the only reason I’ve knocked it down is because I think that one of the story lines about Molly needed a bit more detail, as I felt a bit lost with it at times.

I'm a sucker for stories that follow sisters. My sister is my best friend so I love reading about that close bond!

I found The Love Solution to be comical in all the right places, laugh out loud funny with a touch of emotion that completely sucked me in.

I loved the sprinkle of science and the originality to the plot that sets it aside from most romance/chick lit work I've read.

I also really enjoyed the writing style and think Ashley Croft did a fantastic job of painting 2 contrasting but close-knit sisters on this crazy journey together.

This was such a fun and sweet book!!! I have recently come into a niche where I am loving all of these sweet romantic comedies and this was right up there in that genre! From the first to last page I was invested in these lifelike characters and their journey through the ever day troubles of life and love. There was a character that I absolutely hated, while there were other characters that I adored with my whole heart. I couldn't get enough of the fun and flirty banter and the emotional moments of truth and reality. This was a perfect read for anyone who has loved and lost, or had to make a difficult decision whether to stay in a relationship because of certain circumstances, or move on knowing that's what is best for you in the end. I think this hit on some pretty big topics that are difficult to write and read about but the author did so in a gentle yet realistic way. There weren't feelings spared or rocks left unturned. Everything was pretty much out in the open and take it or leave it, that's just the way life works sometimes.

I will say though, the lingo and way that these characters talked was a lesson in UK slang and sayings! I loved learning new phrases that I didn't know what they meant and looking them up was a fun little side project as I read! You never know what you might learn reading a book! And this was full of fun little seek and finds throughout!

I would love to read this authors future books and keep up with her fun and real way of writing and her wonderful characters that seem to pop off the page into the real world!

Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

The Love Solution is a cute and enjoyable read. I liked the relationship between the two sisters, Sarah & Molly and the plot was fun and different. The writing was strong, I thought there was good character development and I would want to be friends with them!

It was a quick read and I'd recommend it!

I'm really torn about this one. It held promise at the start, but as the story continued I only kept noticing how there was so much missed potential for character development and deepening the plot. It's such a shame because I think it could've been a great read otherwise! A lot of the time I was confused because there's no indication of how much time has passed but considering how all of a sudden characters have become "very close", you can only assume a fair amount of time has passed. One thing I can say is that the story never really 'lagged'; at the same time, there wasn't a whole lot that happened.

I enjoyed the premise of following two sisters on their journey to finding love after losing their parents at such a young age. While the idea of one sister giving up her dreams to raise her younger sister so they won't get separated isn't anything we haven't seen before, I always love to see how this new dynamic has shaped them and their relationship with each other. I liked Molly and Sarah's characters initially but again, I felt like there was so much missed potential in developing them. We never really saw how they were affected by their parents' death or how it shaped their characters; whenever their parents would come up randomly in conversations, they'd move on so quickly and never touch the topic again. I also felt that their chapters were a bit repetitive after a while, with Sarah going back and forth on Niall, and Molly continuously thinking about having sex with Ewan everywhere. I wished that we got more beyond that! You could see that they both cared for and loved each other, but I also felt that was more told than actually shown through the writing. Can we also talk about how frustrating it is to watch characters make insanely stupid decisions -- that they also know are stupid -- and that you're going to have to watch it all play out anyway? Yep. That's exactly what happened here. It's like a train wreck you can see coming but can do nothing to stop it and I hate that feeling!

I was also not 100% sold on the romances, although Ewan and Molly's budding romance was a lot more believable than Sarah and Liam's. There was absolutely no development in the latter's relationship and yet we're meant to believe they've grown extremely fond of the other and might even be in love? I'm not sold. And I won't even go into how much I disliked Niall's spineless character. I didn't see what was great about him at all that Sarah would go to such lengths to make him grovel.

Overall, while I hoped to enjoy this read, it really fell short for me. It could've been so much more developed in so many aspects, and I was disappointed that it never happened. Thanks to Netgalley and Avon Books UK for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I did not finish this book. I was uninterested in the romantic relationships. I read enough of it to feel that my 1 star rating is warranted.

The biology teacher in me couldn’t resist a book about a behavioral ecologist! The Love Solution was an enjoyable read about two sisters and their trials and tribulations with love. My favorite part of this book was the relationship between Sarah and Molly - watching it evolve as their story unfolded. Their relationships and how they chose to deal with their issues were more than a little predictable and took some of the fun out of it for me. However, I did learn some British terms I’d never seen before - took a bit of Googling! Overall, a quick, fun read!

I never rule out a book just because of the morality of the characters. Even if I don't agree with their decisions, as long as I can understand where they're coming from, I can bear with the questionable morality. But that never happened in this book. Not only the way the author plays with morality and ethics portrayed in this story is hugely problematic; But I also could not make sense of any of their actions.

Take Molly for example. She's a scientist working on an important project which has to stay confidential. It's top-secret. And she discloses it to her sister Sarah without any qualms. That was the first strike for me.

The second strike was Sarah uses the secret project to get back her ex. Here's what the morality of the characters come into question. I was confounded by the utter disregard of the characters for all the ethical aspects of this action and ignorance of a concept as important as consent.

Look, if you want to sell a story about characters doing questionable things, at least take some time to justify their actions. But no, for the life of me, I couldn't understand what was so special about Sarah's ex that drove her so crazy in love. All the love interests were unimpressive. And where was the hell was the romance that the synopsis promises? The focus was on all the wrong things. I would've at least liked the bonding between the sisters, if not for my irritation at the two of them and their absurd stupidity.

This was just a very problematic story with little to offer.

This is a totally fine contemporary fiction/Women's fiction/Women's lit book, but it's NOT a romance. So, like, several stars off for misleading marketing, deeply dislike.

Oh, how I wish I could give this one a higher rating, because I enjoyed the writing style very much. In fact, that's why this book gets 3 instead of 2 stars in the end. I can't ignore that the storytelling was very smooth, but unfortunately I can't ignore that this book has a problematic plot element either. One akin to drugging and emotional abuse. It doesn't matter that one of the two main characters has a legitimate reason to be desperate and not thinking clearly, but it's a long way from thinking to actually trying to achieve the means to do it. And the other main character has no excuse, other than being a sister and there's a lot I would do for my siblings, but there are limits. I mean, I understand that there are individuals in the real world that lack this filter, that actually do horrible stuff to other people, but these two main characters just didn't read that way at first. There are so many ways the author could have spun this plot element without crossing the line. It's weird really, I can read about murder, psychopaths and violence without much trouble, but this plot element, in this type of book, made me pause. Maybe it's because I didn't expect it, wrong context or something, it's supposed to be a contemporary romance right? A bit of heart ache and drama is expected, but planning on taking away another's will? Akin to drugging them? It made me question if they were good at all and whether they deserved their happily ever afters. Not what you usually feel in a romance novel, even if a character misbehaves and make mistakes. Like I said, it could have been a really cute addition in the story, maybe a joke throughout the book or something. And maybe I'm reading to much into this, but that's how I felt and in the end this book wasn't for me.


The above aside, I did like the writing style enough that I won't hesitate to pick up another book by the same author!

Ok the blurb was interesting and cute. It’s all about Sarah and Molly, 2 sisters whose love lives are the book’s focus. Though I think Sarah should’ve just been the focus here... or maybe just Molly since it’s her “solution”. Either one really, though Molly”s would’ve been more interesting. Couldn’t put it down because I wondered how they’d muck things up and also because I wanted to get it over and done with, the book. Sigh. Not a good feeling when you’re reading. Anyway, it was a fast read, decent story.

Thank you Avon Books UK for the copy of this book!!

The Love Solution is a cute rom-com following orphan sisters Sarah and Molly. There are two simultaneous plots progressing very differently yet interconnectedly which make the book integrated and whole.

Molly is a scientist who is crushing on her boss, Ewan. At the New Year's Party, they kiss but it just leads to a disaster and Molly is devastated.

Sarah also has to face heartbreak on New Year and is left all alone to pick up the broken pieces that her relationship left behind.

Through the book, we follow the sisters as they try to mend their hearts and move on, still wanting to be with the men that broke their hearts.

The storyline was flat and the writing was boring for the first 50% and I debated DNFing it then but as we went ahead, moral ethics came into question and there was anticipation which made the book exciting and fun to read.

The characters evolved and became multidimensional only after 50% and it was only then that the romance began to feel realistic and believable.

I am glad I persevered through the first half of the book to get to the good parts, but the writing did not improve much according to me.

While the characters came to life, there could have been much more development even in the first part of the boo to make it interesting.

The book overall was a pretty decent read.

This was not the book for me. I really had to push myself to finish it. I could have easily DNF'd this at 10%.

A tandem, a science lab, two sisters and everything that happens gives this novel a real WOW factor. I really enjoyed this and even stayed up half the night to read it, I wanted to know how the story would end and I wasn't disappointed. Ashley Croft has written this book so well and I recommend everyone to go and get it to enjoy it as I have done.

A book set in a biochem lab - I'm up for that.

Molly and Sarah are sisters. Molly is a scientist, working on a thing that can help two people fall in love (possibly). Sarah is a jewellery maker who makes tiaras, who has just found out she's pregnant.

There are two romances in the story. Molly and her grumpy boss Ewan ... and Sarah with her love triangle. Molly is a little prickly, but I liked her scenes. Ewan running hot and cold on her was frustrating, but understandable because of what had happened to him before.
Sarah's story was a bit more difficult, not least because she tries to persuade Molly to take a huge risk with her career and basically do something unethical (this aspect is discussed quite a lot, which was good). Her plot arc with Liam was lovely. In fact, Liam was adorable.

This is a story about sisters, a bit of romance, quite a lot of riding about on a tandem. All in all a nice, light summer read. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC

Sarah and Molly are sisters, and after their parents were killed in a car accident, Sarah changed her life plans to take care of and push her sister Molly to fulfill her potential. While the two are close and share most everything: they couldn’t be more different. Sarah is settled (mostly) with her EMT partner Niall, they’ve bought a house and her little craft business, making tiaras, is growing. She’s got a love for sparkle and glam, and her little ‘shed’ in their backyard has everything she wants. Until her partner is caught cheating – in her bed – and her life falls to pieces. Being pushed to sell the house, move on or alternately forget his straying – she’s in a tumult about it all, and isn’t sure from one moment to the next if she wants him back or wants him gone. Painfully.

Molly, on the other hand is a talented scientist with no real experience with relationships as she’s always put school and her career first. She’s in a bit of a conundrum with her boss, however, as she has a massive crush on him – and can’t see that he’s even remotely interested in returning the affection. And, career-wise, it could be suicidal – having a relationship fail while still having to be the ‘lead’ tech on their current project – one that works with hormones, pheromones and DNA to increase or provide attraction between two people. Nicknamed the Love Bug, the nasally-delivered serum is in testing – with plenty of kinks to work out in this top secret experiment.

So we have two love-challenged sisters – and while one is clearly immature about emotional life (Molly) she is also the one who has been the supporter and ear for her now devastated sister. With Sarah’s vacillation between wanting her relationship back and not – and a very interesting student starting to take her tiara-making class, she’s got a ton of decisions and uses her connection with Molly and Molly’s work to break every rule imaginable and get the potion. There were so many things right with this story – and then so many wrong. Emotional blackmail from Sarah, Molly’s near cavalier (although considered and carefully crafted) creation of a potion for Sarah – endangering the lab, her job and her boss, the mix ups, some laugh out loud moments and, sadly, a few too many characters and names to integrate into the story with plenty of ‘color’ but little substance. It was, however, a quick read and entertaining – even as I wanted to smack both Sarah and Molly about – screaming grow up and think first – but while I had issues with Molly’s actions, I think Sarah was more troubling and less mature in her expectations and lack of decisive actions. It’s not a story without trouble – but the laboratory and tandem cycle bits are interesting, Sarah’s partner Niall trying to be charming and ‘adorable’ when he was simply smarmy, and the adorable boss, Evan are worth the read in this told in two perspectives (Molly’s and Sarah’s) story.

I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

Review first appeared at <a href=” https://wp.me/p3OmRo-avZ/” > <a> I am, Indeed</a>

this one really wasn't for me unfortunately, didn't click with the writing or the characters. could be a case of right book wrong time, or i don't know. sometimes it just doesn't work :)

I loved this book! I thought it was just going to be a light chick lit, which in many ways it was but it had real substance there too.
The characters had depth, and backstories that were to the point and well thought out.
I’m sad to have finished it actually and would quite like a follow up!

2.5 stars

If I had written a review for this book immediately after reading, I can tell you...that would have been one heated review. However, I have distanced myself and gave myself a day after finishing this to collect my thoughts. Hopefully, I'm able to get my thoughts across in an eloquent and calm manner.

First off....how DARE you.

Just kidding.

But really, I think the most disappointing thing of all when it comes to this novel was how much potential it had. The story started out so promising and then it hit a drastic decline.

What started out as a story of two parallel romances (technically three) became a game of 'hot and cold' for the duration of the novel. Understand me when I say that I LOVE a 'slow burn' romance but none of the relationships featured in this novel fall into that category. When I say it was 'hot and cold', I mean it. The romance would be going fine between a couple until it suddenly was not and then the cycle would start over again. It was not a read that kept me anticipating what was going to happen next because if anything, I became more and more frustrated with the characters and found myself liking them less and less. I know I'm supposed to be sympathetic towards Sarah's character especially but do not even get me started. I liked her least of all.

Regardless of what is mentioned above, there is a moment in the story that is the exact moment where all of my interest in this novel was lost. It was the introduction and involvement of a particular...solution. I mean, come on, seriously?! Prior to this 'ingredient' being involved in the story, I still had a little bit of hope that it would turn itself around. But this with the combination of the 'hot and cold' dance brought a resounding no from me.

Again, I'm so disappointed because the novel originally started out so promising! I don't know how it went from that to where the story eventually finished off.

***Thank you to the publisher for supplying me with a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review***