Did not finish the book. Stopped at 31%.

I was excited to read this because I enjoyed The Kiss Countdown. This one didn't hit the same. I made it to 31%. It was not holding my attention, and I wasn't connecting with the main characters. I was more interested in if they'd win the Mars simulation contest than the love story.

Thank you partners for the gifted copies of this book! The premise of this book was super unique and I really liked that about the book. I love how both of Etta’s books have had to do with space because I don’t feel like we get enough space/astronaut type romances.

The Love Simulation follows Brianna Rogers (sister to Vincent from book 1), and she joins a space simulation to help upgrade the schools library where she works as a Vice Principal. The simulation should be a piece of cake, except Roman is there. Roman is the Principal's son who Brianna thinks hates her because he wanted her job. Their relationship has been hot and cold all year, and it isn't until they're stuck in this simulation that she really gets to know him and who he is.

There were parts of this story I really liked, but what I liked most was Brianna staying true to herself and not changing herself or her plans for this guy. There was a moment in the end where I was like FK YA BRI! The simulation felt real, and again, was different to read about and try to imagine. I don’t know I would survive the way they did.

I honestly love how the title matched the theme of the book. This was sweet and cute. The characters were relatable.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Berkley for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review!!

Oh my goodness; this book has truly changed the game for grumpy/sunshine novels going forward as the way in which Etta Easton wrote Roman was seriously next level. I absolutely adored the chemistry between Roman and Brianna and the slow burn was intense! It was this perfect blend of wit, a touch of drama, dazzling banter, next level chemistry until it all came to a head and exploded into a beautiful and spicy romance.

I really LOVED the STEM focus in this romance; especially the fact that black characters in a STEM romance. I don't read that nearly enough and WE.NEED.MORE! The entire MARS simulation was done so well and it was just unlike any other STEM romance I've ever read so it was just absolutely amazing to read.

I loved the characters and the amount of personal growth that they both showed - Brianna really found herself, found. her voice, and I just adored that.

I love Etta Easton and how she always has such a fresh and beautiful take on romances and can't wait to read even more from her in the future.

Berkley, you are the literal LOML, like 10s across the board, but I think I'm a little broken because this is SO sweet and I do fear I have to soft DNF. The writing style seems fine, the plot is there, I just don't think I'm a fluffy romance girl - will try it later but I do need a read that will damage me rn I'm so sorry.

Thank you thank you thank you - I will come back to this one later!!!

Nerdy Black Love, Enemies-to-Lovers, Workplace Romance, Simulation Adventure

The Love Simulation is a sweet and unexpected love story where good prevails and love shows up when—and where—you least expect it. Bri, a determined vice principal, and Roman, a charming science teacher (and the principal’s son!), find themselves as reluctant teammates in a high-stakes school-wide simulation that lands them "trapped" on Mars. The tension between them fuels both their in-game strategy and their romantic chemistry, making for a delightful will-they-won’t-they dynamic that blossoms beautifully.

This story had all the things I love—strong Black leads, nerdy tension, and a swoon-worthy payoff. The pacing was solid, the romance was believable, and the setting? So creative. As a frequent romance reader, it absolutely met my expectations.

Thank You To: NetGalley, Berkley Publishing Group, and Etta Easton for the advanced reader copy of this gem.

The Love Simulation by Etta Easton

⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3.5/5

This book was so cute!! 🪐 I had a lot of fun reading this one. It’s nothing too serious or crazy, just a simple, cozy, little read. The setting was so much fun, and I liked the characters a lot. I didn’t realize this was part of an interconnected standalone set, but it can absolutely be read by itself. I had no problem jumping right in.

The Love Simulation follows a group of teachers as they attempt to survive 6 weeks in a Mars simulation in order to raise money for a new school library. Brianna Rogers, vice principal, has been butting heads with the school’s principal all year trying to finally get the school library remodeled. When the principal goes back on his word and uses the money allocated for the library to upgrade the football field, Brianna is livid. He has been trying to run her off all year so his son can take her position as vice principal, but Brianna is stubborn. She isn’t going to let this be the nail in her coffin. So when Brianna hears about an opportunity to earn the money for the library a different way, she jumps at the chance.

The only problem is that the principal has sent his pesky son, Roman, with them into the simulation to keep an eye on things and potentially sabotage Brianna’s chance at success. Brianna and Roman have had a tense but friendly relationship all year, but when Roman starts to hint at wanting more, Brianna isn’t sure if he’s being sincere or just trying to throw her focus off of mission success. The more time they spend in close quarters, the more Brianna falls for Roman, and the more her mission and heart are in jeopardy. Six weeks is no biggie, right? But can Brianna maintain her professionalism even when her feelings are telling her to go for it? And can she actually trust Roman, or is it all going to blow up in her face along with her chances at remodeling the library …

Brianna is kind of a baddie 💪🏼. I have so much respect for her digging her heels in and not letting that horrid principal push her around. That man literally made me so mad! Like you’re telling me that you’re a principal, yet you’re actively working against getting a new library for your kids?? And are willing to go so far as to sabotage the project?? That is just insane to me. I have no idea how this man still has a job tbh. If I were Brianna, I would have been out of there so fast. Good for her for not letting him walk all over her.

I loved the setting of this! It was so much fun! The Mars simulation was such a unique setting for a romance. I haven’t read anything like it. It’s actually really fascinating to think about how people will respond in isolation like that. Almost a social experiment of sorts, like Survivor, which I LOVE! All of the side characters were so funny, especially Angie and Jordan. They had me cracking up!

I have mixed feelings on Roman … did he handle everything correctly? Absolutely not. I do feel like he did the best he could with the situation he was given, though. However, if I were Brianna, I would have done exactly what she did in the end to secure that money for the library. She kept her eye on the prize and got it done when everyone else couldn’t but was also able to recognize that she did not deserve to be treated the way she had and set fantastic boundaries to remedy that.

I really appreciate that Roman allowed her to set those boundaries and saw the value in her and the work she had been trying to do, even if his father couldn’t. I respect a man that can admit he’s in the wrong and apologize for it. That’s what Ms. Brianna deserved 👏🏼

Overall, this was such a cute read! I loved the space setting, the characters, and the story. 👩🏾‍🚀🔭☄️

Thank you to NetGalley, Etta Easton, and Berkley Publishing group for the eARC in exchange for an honest review! All opinions stated are my own.

this book started out strong and had a lot of potential, however, it fell flat for me. I was so bored and I didn't care about the MMC or really want them to be together. Overall, I just didn't really enjoy and it was a struggle to read.

Thank you Berkley Romance for the free copy of this book!

This was really cute.

This had:
- workplace rivals
- teacher/AP
- forced proximity
- summer romance
- NASA/Houston
- LOL moments
- teacher moments (this feels more like a trigger warning for me - a retired teacher haha)

Brianna is the AP at Roman’s school (his father is the principal) so nothing could ever happen between them. But when they’re thrown into a Mars simulation program to win some money, they cross paths more often and get to know each other more intimately. Or are they? Or is Roman working for his dad?

I really enjoyed their chemistry! They were hot and cold and cute and cheesy and sweet!! This was a perfect rom com. 🥹

I LOVED this book so much! I’m so glad I read it! I want to read so much more by Etta Easton!
The characters were dynamic and funny and just REAL

Ooooh I loved this. I instantly loved Brianna and connected with her. I love her passion, her personality, her humor. Also the set up of the Mars simulation was absolutely fascinating and so well done. And I love how we learned so much about Roman alongside Bri, as she slowly loses we assumptions about him. The romance was quite adorable and the locked room, have to keep it secret but everyone is watching, atmosphere really turned up the heat. I had so much fun reading this book!

THE LOVE SIMULATION – Etta Easton

Etta Easton’s latest romcom is a love letter to books, reading, and unexpected connections.

Brianna, a struggling vice principal, is determined to secure funding to update her school’s outdated library. Unfortunately, her biggest obstacle is the current principal, who would rather see his son, Roman, take her job. As a last-ditch effort, she joins a group of teachers in a Mars simulation program, where winning means securing the funds they desperately need. It seems like a straightforward plan—until Roman joins at the last minute. Brianna is convinced he’s there to sabotage her, but she can’t ignore the undeniable pull between them.

This is a sweet, feel-good story that you can devour in just a few sittings and finish with a smile. Brianna is deeply relatable—navigating adulthood, questioning her career path, and struggling with self-doubt, especially in the shadow of her wildly successful siblings. Meanwhile, Roman is the kind of romantic lead you can’t help but root for—reserved, kind, and genuinely deserving of the girl. His maturity adds depth to the story, and the chemistry between him and Brianna is off the charts.

If you love romcoms with forced proximity, STEM-adjacent settings, and slow-burn chemistry that pays off beautifully, The Love Simulation is a must-read. Perfect for fans of Ali Hazelwood and Emily Henry, this charming romance is one you won’t want to miss.

This was really fun! Such an interesting setting and fun plot to set this romance in. I really enjoyed this but I think I over hyped it in my head I thought I would be obsessed and while I did enjoy this it wasn’t perfect and I found myself being pulled out of it more than I wanted. I think it’s just that the Roman felt a little flat for me but otherwise I liked the characters but didn’t love them. It was a really fun read, compelling plot, and Etta is doing Black love so well! Overall I liked this book and would recommend! 3.5-3.75⭐️

Briana is a vice principal at a school and despite doing her best for the students she is frustrated by the limitation of her position. The principal is constantly trying to push her out in favor of his son, and the objection of Brianna’s daydreams, and the vain of her existence Roman. The final straw of Briana’s frustration comes when a planned and fully funded library is scrapped in favor of a new football field, Brianna decides to take matters into her own hands. When an opportunity to participate in Mars Simulation where the grand prize would be enough money to fund the new library, there is only one problem, Roman is a participant in the simulation and Briana doesn’t know if he is a friend or a foe.

The is a very interesting take on a love story. I have to admit the idea is what drew me into reading it. The slow burn between Roman and Briana was a fun read. I don’t normally enjoy only having one POV but in this book I think it worked better as a single POV. Briana was dealing with a lot, her feelings of being inadequate and the least successful of her siblings and the constant fights with her boss all come together to weigh on her throughout the simulation. Reading how Brianna and Roman realize they have feelings for each other but Briana struggles with how to trust not only Roman but herself, is a fun read. The love simulation has an interesting premise relatable characters and overall it was a fun read.

This story was cute and cozy. A sweet slow burn romance between a principal and teacher who don’t quite see eye to eye but come together on a mission to raise money to remodel their school’s library. The characters came off a bit childish to me to say they are thirty somethings. Bri spent so much time in her head. It would have been great to get Roman’s POV. I think it would have helped make the romance a bit more believable. My fav part of this book was the space Mars simulation adventure. This was so fun and unique. I enjoyed how the teachers worked together to problem solve and make their way through the different tasks and experiments they had to perform. If you enjoy forced proximity, workplace romance, enemies to lovers and a story that kind of gives an Abbott Elementary vibe you’ll enjoy this one.

A solid easy read. Nothing too noteworthy about it, but fun to read! Looking forward to the next by the author.

The Love Simulation was a great premise! I love the idea of a scientific simulation and forced proximity is my catnip.

Unfortunately, I thought the relationship lacked believability and the simulation played out in a way that felt overly dramatic. Since the simulation was the main setting and the central element of the plot, the fact that it was recorded meant that we got almost no open and honest communication between the main characters.

I would love to read another of Etta's books because the setting of this one unfortunately hindered the character and relationship development. But I can tell she is a talented storyteller and will definitely read her books in the future.

Thank you to Berkley Romance for the eARC. All thoughts are my own.

This was a delightful read, and if you're a fan of forced proximity and romcoms, you'll likely enjoy this one. The story centers around the female main character (FMC), who is the voice principal at her middle school. She grapples with her passion for the job while navigating her complicated relationship with the school’s principal. The FMC has a crush on the principal’s son, who also works as a teacher at the school, but professional boundaries keep her at a distance from all the staff. The plot takes an interesting turn when they both participate in a space simulation challenge, along with a few other teachers, to raise funds for a new library.

I really enjoyed the school setting and the teacher-focused storyline. The FMC's struggles with her job felt very relatable. The space simulation element was a fun twist, and I appreciate how the author often incorporates space-themed elements into her books. The romance was sweet and slow-burning, though I wanted a little more depth in their connection. While there were some adorable moments between the characters, a bit of miscommunication made it feel a bit shallow at times. However, it was still an enjoyable and steamy read when they finally came together.

I love romance that includes a stem focus, and this was such a unique choice. I loved the forced proximity in a Mars simulation. This was definitely a slow burn between Brianna and Roman, although their real life jobs and circumstances do make a relationship between them a little bit tricky. I enjoyed Brianna's journey to finding her passion and realizing that feeling like she was living in the shadow of her brother was actually clouding her from what she wanted in life. Roman is kind of a grump and serious so it was fun when she would get a smile out of him.

3.75 stars - I thought this was really sweet. I liked that the set up for this book was so different than other romances I've read and I'm always a sucker for forced proximity. I liked both main characters and thought their motivation for joining the simulation was interesting. Brianna's thoughts about remaining professional vs getting closer to Roman were a bit all over the place; in one moment she would declare that her crush was unequivocally over and in the next second be lusting over him again, which I get but it happened a lot and the back and forth was a little much for me.

All that said, I genuinely did enjoy this book and enjoyed the time I spent reading it. Thank you to Berkley Romance for the free book - all opinions are my own.