I feel like this read suffered from my reading slump. Or it brought me into a reading slump. I'm not sure. Eh.

I received a reviewer copy of Can’t Beat the Chemistry by Kat Colmer from the publisher Wombat Books through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

CW: Genetic illness,

What It’s About: MJ is a science rockstar, chemistry? Piece of cake! Genetics? AWESOME! And so it makes sense that she’s been on a trajectory to pursue her mother’s long lost dream of being a surgeon. So her senior year of high school is all about doing the work to get into a great medical college and convincing the genus boy in her cell bio class Jason, that they are perfect for another. Unfortunately, her plans get derailed when she is asked to tutor Luke, her brother’s best friend who is struggling with chemistry and balancing his responsibilities.

What I Loved: Okay, I love a book with a character who has Downs and whose family is supportive and loving, so the parts with Luke’s sister and her classmates were my clear favorite. Also, as a science nerd, I liked the chemistry and some of the biochemistry/genetics discussed.

What I Didn't Like So Much: There’s some tropes that I am not a fan of, including ‘dating lessons’. I also got annoyed with MJ being obsessed with Jason who was the worst. I honestly couldn’t understand any interest in him. I also found MJ totally unlikable and really didn’t necessarily want he main couple to get together, maybe I’m defensive because I’m a bit of an academic like MJ so seeing her flaws so blatantly frustrated me because I feel like that’s a misinterpretation and stereotyping of scientists.

Who Should Read This: People who like teen romances that center around a tutoring situation.

Quick Summary: Tutoring sessions in chemistry lead to chemistry.

This was an extremely fun book to read and so funny! I enjoyed the characters, their development, and the writing style. Definitely a must read!

This book’s font/typeface made it hard to read, so unfortunately I am unable to read and review this title.

Can't Beat the Chemistry is a cute and extremely relatable novel about the relationship between two people. I loved the way the man character is relatable to the reader because a lot of times, readers find it hard to relate to books because the message or writing is muddy. HOWEVER, this novel is different! The message is clear, there are very few grammar mistakes and it's just has a fun ton in general! I would recommend this to anyone who wants a cute, light-hearted take on love and relationships.

This book does a deep dive into the mind of an honour student who struggles with meeting her mother's expectations when her own career interests lie elsewhere. The boy who seems perfect for her isn't interested and the boy she must tutor in chemistry is absolutely ineligible. There's a roommate romantic triangle and some grim realities that can scar any family. The main character, MJ, wasn't easy to like at first but soon I was rooting for her to take a stand and make her life truly her own.

It’s pre-med brains that turn me on, not drum belting bleeding hearts.

Mj is often harsh and judgemental. She's very intelligent when it comes to studies but clueless at social situations and when she decided to tutor her brother's roommate, Luke, she often comes to realise that her judgements can be wrong.

Through the book, we see how she develops and turns into a girl that is not only more openminded but also more compassionate and kind.

Her parents - specifically her mother - are hard on her and want for her to become a doctor even though that is not what she really wants and MJ learns to fight back and speak up for what she thinks is right along the way.

Somewhere along the way, MJ starts falling for Luke instead of Jason - her brainy Science partner - which is the starting of a cute and authentic love story.

'Can't Beat the Chemistry' is a heartwarming tale about how people are not always what they seem to be and how they can have hidden depths in them that one could never imagine.
I am really glad I read this book because I really enjoyed it!

Oh, what a fitting title! This book was such a heartwarming, charming and sweet read, such a joy to read! I love that it's not only about romance but also friendship, family and growth, MJ and Luke are such great leads. The alternating POVs gave insights on how they thought about the other one and also showed their insecurities. Although hard to like at first, MJ slowly gets out of her comfort zone with the help of Luke and as himself, becomes the best version of herself. They both balance each other out so well, their respect and support was so well portrayed and made these two so mature which I really liked since I don't read that much YA anymore. Luke's relationship with his sister is absolutely adorable. I also enjoyed to see MJ and her brother start bonding again by the end of the book. Her friendship to her roommate was a little cut short but all in all, the pace was great, the storytelling smooth and easy and offered lots of laugh out loud moments, swooning and constant grinning from ear to ear. Little Hedgehog and Moonless Midnight? Ahh, my heart explodes just thinking back on it. So, so sweet these two! (Parakeet green eyes was repeated a lot!! which got a little annoying by the end but really, there's nothing else to complain about.) I will definitely grab a copy and reread in the future for a light and fluffy read.

Can't Beat the Chemistry by Kat Colmer is a very sweet young adult love story, that I really enjoyed. There is something so innocent about first loves. MJ is determined to win the heart of Jason, her chemistry lab partner, but when she starts tutoring Luke she starts to wonder. Luke is the opposite of what she wants in a boyfriend. I love the quirky people and situations in this book, and watching the characters grow. I found this book to be a quick read, and recommend it to all YA romance readers, young and old.

I reviewed a digital arc provided by NetGalley and the publisher. Thank you.

This was definitely such a cute read. While I wasn't sure what to expect, I was happy to discover that there is more than romance in this book. The struggle each character experiences were depicted really well in this book. I would recommend this book to everyone who enjoys YA romance!

This was a super cute, fun read! MJ and Luke are totally different people and that's what makes them good together. They clash constantly, she's a type A personality who wants to control everything and he is more relaxed and goes for what he wants. MJ and Luke had great chemistry and I had a great time watching their relationship develop and them bring out the best in each other.
MJ is a bit hard to like at first. She can be condescending and made snap judgments about Luke, but she grows gets better and I was happy for her at the end.
Definitely recommend this book!

"Attraction is a science. Inexact maybe, but still a science."

3.5 stars. To be honest, I wasn't sure if I was going to like this book at first. I don't usually read a lot of contemporary, but I quite enjoyed this one! I've never read anything by an Australian author before, so I'll admit a bit of the lingo was lost on me. It might have been a slight cultural barrier, but nothing I couldn't get past.

I really loved Luke's character all around. He was such a great friend, son, and brother. He's a very genuine person and just very likable overall. On the other hand, I found MJ hard to relate to, and she could get annoying at times. Her backstory was what connected me to her, and I like how the book touched on overbearing parents, especially mothers. I really liked the representation of down syndrome in Luke's sister, Rose. She was such a great character, and that representation isn't seen a lot.

This is an opposites-attract story with a nerdy science background, which is immediately what made me read it. I don't read a lot of romance centered stories, but the opposites-attract trope is my weakness. The romance was enjoyable, and this was a quick but fun read that I would recommend!

3.5/5 Stars
Disclaimer: This review MAY contain spoilers. I received an Advance Reader Copy at no cost from Netgalley. The opinions in my review are my own.

This is an opposites-attract story that touches on some important things. One major theme in this book is learning not to judge a book by its cover. Getting to know someone instead of making assumptions based on what you can see on the outside.

I liked seeing the Down Syndrome representation in Luke's sister, Rosie. She was such a great character and I loved her. I also liked how the theme of overbearing parents was touched on. MJ's mother puts too much pressure on her and is basically a helicopter parent wanting to live through her daughter by making her become a doctor. MJ struggles because she doesn't want to disappoint her mother and yet her dreams do not lie in medicine.

MJ and Luke are the main characters in this book and the story is told through their alternating POVs. I really liked Luke's character. He was a great friend, brother, son, and person. He was serious book boyfriend material. His kindness and genuine nature radiated from him. MJ, on the other hand, is a character that I could not connect with the least bit. I straight up hated her at the beginning of the book. She was judgmental and stuck up. She had serious blinders on when it came to the world around her. She was smart, but she was very socially inept. While her backstory did soften her to me a bit, I still never really liked her. Even with an overbearing mother ruling her life, I felt it unrealistic that she could still be so callous. It was a naivety that seemed too bizarre to feel real. I did like Luke and MJ's character journeys with regard to being judgmental. They both judged the other in the beginning but learn that there is more under the surface. I did like all of the side characters. They were all great and had the perfect impacts in the story.

I really loved the plot. The premise for this story was one that caught my attention right away. I always love an opposites-attract story and this one had a lot of potential. I found it lacking in a lot of ways and this mostly boils down to the execution of the story. I found the storytelling hard to follow at times and a bit choppy. The writing voice isn't one that I connected with. It occurred to me while reading this that some of the dialogue was unusual to me. I found this hard to get used to at first. I gathered that this book takes place in Australia (where I do not live) and I came to wonder if perhaps it came down to a cultural barrier of some kind for me. The characters said things and used slang and abbreviations that I was unfamiliar with. Once I got used to the difference it was a bit easier to read.

The romance was enjoyable. MJ and Luke are pushed together and they both dislike the other in the beginning. Through their tutoring sessions and the weekend that MJ spends with Luke and his family, they learn more about each other and a friendship forms that turns into more. They both find that their original assumptions of the other is not the complete picture and that there is more to the other than they originally thought. They both encourage each other in ways that matter. I also liked how MJ started to realize her feelings for Jason were unwarranted because he didn't make her feel the things that Luke did. He didn't encourage her.

Overall, this was an entertaining opposites-attract romance that kept my interest. I enjoyed the romance and though I had issues with one of the main characters, I still enjoyed the book as a whole. It didn't knock me out of the water but it did rock the boat. It's a fun and quick read.

Rating: 5/5
Queer: Very briefly mentions that one side character is gay (I would love a follow-up book about him falling in love)
ARC: Yes, I received an ARC for an honest review.
Summary: MJ might not always know what the right thing to say is, and she might be quick to judge people, so when she’s asked to tutor her brother’s friend and roommate, Luke, she’s hesitant. He strikes her as a deadbeat drummer with no aspirations and he disappears every weekend. But in time, MJ learns that she’s pegged Luke all wrong, and together, they lift each other up and make one another braver.

Review:

I’ll say this: Can’t Be the Chemistry reminded me a bit of Pride and Prejudice with MJ as Elizabeth Bennet and Luke as Mr. Darcy.

This book is incredibly fun, and perhaps a little frustrating because MJ isn’t exactly the best at intrapersonal or interpersonal stuff. But it makes the journey all the more worth it when she finally stands up for herself and goes for what she really wants, even if it doesn’t make sense on paper. I loved watching MJ grow, and loved her interactions with people. She tries, even if she doesn’t always get it right. I love that when MJ realized she made a mistake in judging, she was bold enough to apologize for getting it wrong, and that she let herself be open to learning more about Luke.

And Luke? I adored Luke. Not just because he had some very real insecurities of not being good enough, or the fact that he called MJ his little hedgehog in his mind, but also because he stumbled a little bit too. Watching his confidence grow, watching him get excited about peeling back another layer of MJ, and how he pushed her to step out of her comfort zone was just a lot of fun. I appreciated that they had open communication, and that they went out of their way to make sure the other was okay. Luke’s point of view constantly had me smiling.

I really, really, really enjoyed this book. I loved how much they pushed each other to be the best versions of themselves without overstepping boundaries. I loved how much they believed in the other. The mutual respect they had once they got past the initial hiccups. How clear Luke was about his feelings towards MJ and others near the end of the book.

I’m definitely going to check out more from this author and cross my fingers there’s a sequel book with MJ’s brother/Luke’s friend/roommate, Theo. I think it would be so much fun to watch Theo fall in love, and to see more of MJ and Luke in the background.

ALSO, this book hit so many good tropes: enemies-to-friends-to-lovers, tutor/student, a dash of fake relationship, road trip/weekend away, and falling for a sibling’s best friend / best friend’s sibling. Lots of snark, lots of soft moments, lots of growth, and lots of fun. How can you go wrong?

I knew just by looking at the title and the blurb that this book would be just the type for me i.e a huge sucker for romantic comedies and romantic drama (actually, anything to do with romance)

MJ a smart, overachiever in science wants to become a genetic scientist, however, she is instead chasing her moms dreams of becoming something else. MJ is someone who I can personally relate to, a mixed child with a Chinese and Norwegian background, (breaking the stereotype that Asians are tiger parents because her mom is actually the one with the Norwegian background). And MJ is also a boarder, a weekly one to be exact. As a mixed child and an (ex) border, I can tell you this book holds true to its world. The beginning of the book PERFECTLY described what it's like to have a boy in the house (especially cause I go to an all girls boarding school), every single detail of boarding is true, from the weekend to leaves, to getting home by six, and I praise Kat so much for getting every finer detail right.

I fell in love with Luke while reading his book because behind that façade dead beat drummer vibe, there is a gentle young man who cares and loves his down syndrome sister so much that he does voluntary teaching for special ed kids. His determination and charm is what surprised me so much about his character, yes I had to admit I was expecting a 'bad boy' persona from him, but instead, I get this beautiful loving side of this character.

The chemistry (haha) between MJ and Luke is not obvious at the start, but as the book progresses you can clearly see it's two complete polar opposites trying to bring out the best in each other.

The basic storyline (without me trying to reveal any spoilers) is that Luke is struggling with first-year uni chemistry, so he asks his roommate Theo, who is also MJ's brother if he can have help from MJ. Reluctantly MJ agrees in exchange for drum lessons for her best friend Sandy.

This YA story is by far one of the best because there is so much I can relate in this book, and Kat Colmer's writing is absolutely beautiful. I sped through this book in about two days staying up on school nights to read it!

Ultimately this book is about (trying not to sound cheesy here) finding who you really are and overcoming those fears you have. It's about discovering yourself, what you what in life and choosing that path. Finally, it's about finding love in the most unlikely of places and people and embracing that.
I received an ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Seventeen year old MJ (Macca, Mackenzie Jane) Olsen-Wang is a bit of an overachiever. She is in her last year of school and is also taking some university courses to help her get into a top medical program. She is studious, organised, focused…and totally clueless as far as reading people and subtle social clues are concerned. She fancies Jason, a fellow brainiac and her project partner, but she doesn’t really know how to go about it apart from being super prepared on her science article notes.
Luke is her brother Theo’s roommate. He is a drummer and is failing Introductory Chemistry, a course Macca excelled at. Theo’s trying to help by insisting Macca tutor Luke in exchange for some drumming lessons for her friend Sally. Macca is extremely reluctant to do it. She has already made a lot of assumptions about Luke, but what if she is wrong?
'Can’t beat the chemistry' is a sweet and heartwarming story of an unlikely bond forming between two people who need a little help from each other to work out what they want from life. I loved the main characters, although Luke seemed a little too perfect, despite his difficult past and self-doubts. The double POV works really well in this novel, as it gives you an insight into how similar the protagonists are and how great they would be together.
There are some difficult issues touched upon in the novel: overbearing, overdemanding parents who try to live their dream through their children, raising children with special needs and the strain it might put on the parents, dealing with a genetic disorder which runs in your family.
I really enjoyed this charming story with a great message of ‘caring about people, not their achievements’.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC provided in exchange for an honest opinion.

MJ is a rational girl who believes that in order to know if a couple is going to work, just ask some basic and logical questions and everything will turn out to be ok. She is a dedicated student, a nerd and intends to study medicine and has her whole life planned.



Luke is a drummer boy, a talented musician who wants to teach his passion for children and adolescents but begins to have some difficulties in Chemistry which can make difficult the realization of that dream. As a friend of MJ's brother Theo, he see his intercedes his sister to give some lessons to him so he can get better grades.



MJ does not like very much the idea of ​​teaching a musician and since the first encounters with Luke she demonstrates this clearly leaving the boy frustrated, but at Theo's insistence, MJ continues tutoring Luke and gradually realizes far than the exterior and the image that boy transmits. Both end up fondling and helping each other in their personal and professional lives, because as we know it is very difficult to beat Chemistry.



I really enjoyed the reading mainly because it was written in English from Australia, I always love to understand the linguistic differences of each country and to learn about some cultural details as well.



Even MJ irritating most of the book with her way of being a preposterous nerd, I loved this book so much as the writer led her and Luke's story. Only detail that did not please me was the epilogue I hoped for a better closure of MJ's story with her mother and a greater confrontation about her future and her motives of choice.



I loved the cover and the choice of title.

I received an advanced copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

MJ is smart, driven, and focused on getting the grades required to fulfill her mother’s dreams of her becoming a surgeon. She thinks that tutoring her brother’s roommate, Luke, in chemistry is a waste of her time. She thinks that Luke is a deadbeat drummer and she’d rather focus on impressing her science partner, Jason. As the story unfolds, MJ discovers that people are so much more than they seem and that first impressions are often very wrong.

My favourite thing about this book was the characters. I absolutely loved MJ and Luke because even though they’re meant to be opposites, they’re quite similar. They both have drive and determination, and a voice in their head that won’t leave them alone. They’re both incredibly caring, and they help each other face some difficult demons and to make the decision that is best for them, not for everyone else. They’re both cinnamon rolls, and I will ship them forever.

I liked that this book was so much more than the bad boy and the good girl falling for each other. It’s a book about facing hard truths and making difficult decisions that might end up hurting people. It’s about re-examining your decisions and deciding to put yourself first. It’s about learning to believe in yourself when you’ve spent your entire life doubting everything. It’s about a brilliant group of kids with developmental disorders rocking out because someone took the time to believe in them.

The other reason why I loved this book is that it hit painfully close to home for me. MJ’s true interest is genetics because she discovered that there’s a genetic disorder in her family. When I was a little bit younger than MJ, I discovered that there was a genetic disorder in my family, and ten years later, I still haven’t dealt with it. This is the first book that I’ve read that deals with a teenager discovering something like this. I was able to relate to MJ because of her mixed reaction and emotions.

Overall, I recommend this book to anyone who likes books with cinnamon roll characters, a shippable pair, and dramatic realizations and love confessions.

I enjoyed the book and really liked it. Waiting to hear more from the author. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the arc.

If you are looking for a fun and lighthearted YA romance, then you’ll love Can’t Beat The Chemistry by Kat Colmer. Music, chemistry, hate-to-love romance and great character development, Can’t Beat The Chemistry has a winning combination of elements to produce a thoroughly enjoyable novel.

MJ is finishing her final year of high school while also taking two university courses. It’s all part of her mother’s plan for her to become a doctor. MJ would rather study genetics but after the falling out between her mother and brother, MJ knows better than to deviate from the plan. That’s why she need glowing grades. The chance to work with Jason (smart and super focused) on their group project doesn’t hurt. But when MJ’s brother asks her to help tutor his best friend Luke in chemistry, MJ is sure she doesn’t have time to waste with the slack, disorganised drummer. Yet it seems MJ has something she could learn from Luke about family, commitment and maybe even love.

Can’t Beat The Chemistry fills a nice gap for crossover YA that is still clean and suitable for younger readers. It has a young and fresh tone to the writing, but MJ is finalising her last year of high school while also completing university classes (which are the focus of the setting and plot) and Luke is a first year uni student, which gives the book a mature edge, not in content so much as perspective. And bonus, it is written by an Australian and set in Australia. There are just a few mentions of settings and Aussie culture, but it give a nice familiarity (for us Aussie readers) yet will appeal to all readers.

I enjoyed the blooming relationship between MJ and Luke. They do not have a smooth start - MJ is judgemental and Luke understandably withdrawn. As they begin to work together, learn each other’s story and experience the other’s world, they develop a nice friendship. I really liked that the chemistry and romantic feelings came much later in their relationship and wasn’t a quick (or unbelievable) flip from not-quite-enemies-but-certainly-not-friends to friends and then something a little more romantic..

MJ has a lot to learn about friendship, relationships and expectations of other people. She is judgemental. But, through her time spent with Luke and his family, she learns not to limit her judgements to her jaded point of view and to be surprised about people. From Luke’s delightful younger sister, his hobbies, friends and constant giving spirit, he is unexpected and teaches MJ a lot. And MJ is open to learning - in fact learning is something she does really well. My only concern with the story was regarding MJ’s friendship with Sandy. When MJ starts falling for the boy Sandy likes I thought there would be more drama. Instead Sandy simply bows to MJ. It’s very supportive of her, yet MJ doesn’t ever seem to return that support.

Can’t Beat The Chemistry is a fun and lighthearted novel with a great message about true intelligence, judging others and fighting for your dreams.

The publishers provided an advanced readers copy of this book for reviewing purposes. All opinions are my own.