# The Love Simulation by Etta Easton - Review

"The Love Simulation" delivers a fresh and captivating enemies-to-lovers romance set against the unique backdrop of a Mars habitat simulation. Brianna Rogers, a passionate vice principal fighting for her school's library, and Roman Major, the enigmatic science teacher with possible ulterior motives, create an irresistible dynamic as they navigate close quarters and competing interests.

What sets this book apart is Easton's skillful handling of the misunderstandings between the protagonists. Unlike many romances where miscommunications feel contrived, here they emerge organically from the characters' established personalities and histories. Brianna's impulsiveness and Roman's secretive nature create genuine obstacles that feel authentic rather than manufactured.

The Mars simulation setting provides both an innovative framework for forced proximity and clever parallels to the characters' emotional journeys. As Brianna and Roman adapt to their simulated environment, they simultaneously navigate the uncharted territory of their growing feelings.

My only minor critique is that I would have appreciated more development of the supporting cast, particularly the team member who initially spearheaded the Mars mission. These characters show promise but don't maintain their presence throughout the story as fully as I'd hoped.

Nevertheless, Easton crafts a compelling romance with the perfect balance of tension, humor, and heart. The chemistry between Brianna and Roman sizzles, and their individual character arcs are satisfying as they each confront their fears and assumptions.

As my first introduction to Etta Easton's work, "The Love Simulation" has certainly guaranteed I'll be seeking out more of her novels. Highly recommended for romance readers looking for something beyond the typical settings with characters who will steal your heart.

After reading the Kiss Countdown I was SO excited to pick up Etta Easton’s upcoming book. My review for The Kiss Countdown is coming up (waiting for my Afterlight Edition) but I finished The Love Simulation just as quickly! A group of teachers stuck in a Mars mission simulator for a whole summer to win a new library? Sounds like my kind of party!

I enjoyed the cameo appearances from all the characters I grew to love in the Kiss Countdown and also appreciated getting to know Brianna more intimately. I related to her ambition and drive, and also her self-doubt. Her character is resilient, if a little lost, and I appreciated her growth over the course of her time in the Mars simulation.

Roman’s character was a bit of an enigma to me, as I wasn’t entirely sure of his motives from start to finish. The romance between Brianna and Roman felt abrupt and I found myself divested from it by the time I hit 60% of the book. I was really more interested to see how they’d fare the rest of their time in the simulator.

While the romance was a let-down for me, I genuinely think this was a wonderful story that centers motivated Black educators in the face of a systemically broken education machine. Thank you to Etta Easton for highlighting book bans, the opportunity gap, systemic racism within American education! I appreciated the attention brought to the counter-productive nature of punitive measures in schools, leading to the school-to-prison pipeline.

Overall I’d recommend this book to folks seeking a unique romance plot, educators, and anyone who loved The Kiss Countdown as much as I did!

“I’ll take you however I can have you. In here, where it’s just us. Out there, in front of everybody. I’ll follow your lead.”

This felt like Abbott Elementary, but if Janine and Gregory were spicy. So I was ALL IN.

~ Vice principal and science teacher
~ Off-limits, forced proximity, and one bed
~ Tension building but they’re on camera with an audience
~ Race against the clock in a Mars simulation setting

Brianna is passionate about her job but she can’t seem to win with Principal Major set on squashing every idea she brings to the table. She doesn’t want to throw in the towel just yet, but if she can’t secure new books and a school library for the students, she’ll have to consider going where she’s respected. When she hears about a Mars simulation with a hefty grand prize attached, she trades her summer vacation basking under palm trees to join other teachers at the school for a months-long experience emulating space instead. It doesn’t hurt that the guarded and attractive science teacher (and principal’s son!) joins the simulation, creating opportunities to get close and personal while working toward their goal.

Etta Easton is an auto-read author for me and I’ll read anything she creates. These space romances are quickly becoming my favorite type of romance and Easton created another perfect love story with THE LOVE SIMULATION. I loved Brianna’s passion to bring diverse books to the kids, but y’all can have your red dirt and sulphur-tinged air because I wouldn't last five minutes in that simulation chamber. This can be read as a standalone but I liked how it brought back Vincent and Amerie from THE KISS COUNTDOWN, this time focusing on Vincent’s younger sister. The way Principal Majors treats Brianna really grinded my gears and I don’t get how she could look past that to be with his son. Tensions build quickly when locked in a space chamber together, but with cameras always live streaming for friends and family back home, they’ve got to stay focused on the task at hand, not each other. But don’t worry, they still have ways to get creative and they’ve got a whole summer to get to know each other.

Thanks @berkleyromance for the copy!

Thank you Netgalley & Berekly romance for an ARC in exchange for a honest review.

I really enjoyed the unique setting of being stuck in a Mars simulation as it helped add a great layer to the close proximity trope. I also really liked Roman; he came across as grounded, mature, and genuinely good-hearted.

Brianna, on the other hand, was a bit much at times. Her repeated inner monologue of liking Roman and then not liking him started to wear on me. Their dynamic reminded me a lot of Abbott Elementary’s Janine and Gregory! I was initially leaning toward a three-star rating, but Roman and those letters completely won me over. I also appreciated Brianna’s selflessness in choosing the Mars simulation for the children.

Now, I’m definitely planning to go back and read Book 1, I want to learn more about her brother’s love story!

I loved this! As a former teacher, the characters in this book were so fun and relatable. If you're a fan of Abbott Elementary, you'll enjoy it. This romance was full of pining and forbidden feelings, thrown into forced proximity. Lots of laughs, and kicking my feet. It was nice slipping back into the same world as the author's first book, The Kiss Countdown, and seeing where those characters are now. Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for this arc, all opinions are my own.

I enjoyed The Love Simulation overall! The characters had a fun, sitcom-like charm that reminded me of Abbott Elementary, and they made me laugh throughout. The story itself was solid, but it didn’t quite hit the same as The Kiss Countdown. There wasn't the same kind of excitement that comes along with fake dating. I think this story was more about instant love, but it was a little too instant. Some parts felt rushed, which took away from the buildup, but the ending was very sweet and heartwarming. If you’re looking for a light, fun read with lovable characters, this one is worth checking out!

Rating: 4/5

One of my favorite tropes in contemporary romance is forced proximity and The Love Simulation employs that trope with such an unique premise that really charmed me.

Brianna, the FMC, is a middle school vice-principal. Dedicated to her students and to her job, her main goal is to upgrade the library at her school so that her students have access to more current books. Unfortunately for her, the biggest roadblock to her endeavor is the school’s principal who uses the funding set aside to renovate the library to pay for a brand new football field.

To that end, Brianna decides to join some of the teachers at her school in a Mars simulation where the team will live and work in a habitat meant to feel and look like Mars for several weeks in order to win a grand prize that could help pay for her library upgrade. The only problem? The last minute addition of Roman Major, the science teacher she’s been crushing on for months…who also happens to be the son of the school principal and who was supposedly in line for the vice-principal job before Brianna was hired instead.

The whole Mars simulation thing feels a little like a reality show because they’re also being recorded and taped except for certain places in the Habitat including the bedroom which conveniently allows for the couple to engage in some shenanigans in relative privacy.

Before any shenanigans can occur however, Brianna and Roman have to clear the air. Brianna is suspicious of Roman’s motives and thinks his father sent him to sabotage the simulation in an effort to derail Brianna’s plans to upgrade the library. (Seriously, what is this man’s problem with kids reading and having access to books?!?! What’s he got against libraries?!?). Roman proves he’s willing to be a team player and do everything in his power to help them win the grand prize.

Part of the simulation involves wearing space suits and going out into fake Mars to run experiments and the team members have to be properly attired at all times and have their oxygen hooked up or else they risk “dying” (reality tv show elimination). To absolutely no one’s surprise, the team members eventually get picked off until it’s just Brianna and Roman in their cozy little Mars habitat and that eventually leads to shenanigans on the faux red planet.

Despite Brianna’s internal struggle to believe in Roman’s true motives, she gives in to her long standing crush even while debating the wisdom of hooking up with a teacher who works at the same school she does. She’s always been conscious of her role as vice-principal and created a boundary when it comes to forging friendships with her colleagues since she’s kind of their boss. So, for her to throw caution to the wind and embark on a fling with Roman speaks to just how deep her feelings run for him.

It’s the third act breakup that really feels like the weakest part of the book. I know the author felt that a third act breakup was needed and I don’t necessarily disagree, but I’m not sure the way it plays out in the book was the best way to do it. And then the actions taken by Brianna after the big fallout feels deeply uncharacteristic of her and I’m surprised the consequences of that partifcular choice aren’t bigger. In short, the resolution of the story feels rather quick and very abrupt after she chooses to do what she does.

I liked the story, it was engaging and the premise was fun. I loved the group stuff where they are trying to complete the missions on fake Mars and have to work together as a team and I loved the ways in which Roman and Brianna look out for each other and take care of each other. I also loved the reality tv aspect of it that allowed Brianna and Roman to end up by themselves on the Habitat once the rest of their team had been elinminated from the competition.

But I’m not sure about the way the third act was written and I’m not sure why the principal was so against Brianna and her plans for the library. That part was never fully explained to me and at the end of the book, everyone seems to be getting along well and there’s just a very cursory explanation of how those relationships were resolved. In short, I wish the book had dug just a little bit deeper and given us more in terms of how the relationship between Roman and his father was fixed and also, giving us more in terms of how Brianna and Roman repaired their relationship. The journal was a nice touch but I’m not sure it was enough.

Despite my feelings about the conclusion of the book, I still had a good time reading and I just liked the premise so much. Both Brianna and Roman were likable and engaging and I’m a sucker for close proximity and secret mutual pining. I liked that they acted like adults (for the most part) and had difficult conversations when needed (again, for the most part). All in all, it was a fun bit of escapism on a fake planet Mars.

This was a wonderful follow up to Easton's debut! I enjoyed getting to know more about Brianna, since she was one of my favorite characters from the last one (although to be fair I loved them all, even the somewhat overprotective mother). I think the author did a good job of showing the pressure that sometimes unintentionally can get put on Black people, especially when they're in a family of successful siblings.

Brianna also coming to the realization that she didn't want to be a Vice Principal after all she did to ensure the library would be built was also nice to see. Everyone told her she was good at it and even her nemesis Principal Major couldn't deny that. But just because someone is good at something doesn't mean that they should make a career out of it and Brianna wasn't cut out for that. Her finding her true calling at the end was nice to read.

Some people may think the back and forth between her trust of Roman was a bit much but I understood it because nothing ever showed that he really cared until almost the very end. And then she realized her mistake but he had also made some along the ways. So two flawed people recognized this, called themselves out on it, and wanted to work together to fix it so they could have a future. That was good to see as well.

I don't know if Easton's next book will be about a character we've met here or someone else but either way I'm eagerly looking forward to it. Because between the humor, heart, and heat, she is fast becoming a favorite author of mine.

I was so excited to get this story early from NetGalley after reading The Kiss Countdown which is about Brianna’s brother.

Roman and Brianna were a cute love story with a novel storyline. Brianna was a memorable character who was fighting for a school to get a library upgrade after the principal rescinds their agreement. When she joins a Mars simulation to support her school but has to spend the time with her secret crush, a hot science teacher who happens to be the principal’s son.

It didn’t hit me and make me swoon like The Kiss Countdown and the burn was too slow for me but enjoyed the read!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

Brianna Rodger’s is a middle school vice principal who is truly FOR the students & staff. She cares deeply about their well-being and getting the resources they deserve. When Principal Major decides last minute to reallocate the library refurbishment fund to the football field, Brianna is distraught. She impulsively joins a group of teachers for a Mars living simulation to raise new funds for the library. Being the sister of an astronaut, she feels like she has a good idea what is in store for her. But she is thrown off by the unexpected addition to the team, Roman Major (the principals son and 7th grade science teacher). Despite the tension that has been present since Brianna got the VP job over Roman, she still cannot stop herself from wanting to know him better.

Can they manage to keep their hands off each other long enough to finish the experiment and save the library, or will the tension between them lead to failure?

I LOVED this one. It was the perfect ratio of science and romance. Not too much science to where you felt stupid (well at least I didn’t, a 7th grade science teacher lol) and the romance plot still was very prevalent and well thought out.

The only part I wasn’t ecstatic about was toward the end when she had to make the decision to trust or not to trust (sorry to be vague, I don’t want to spoil anything!) It obviously in Brianna’s characterization to not trust easy, but I feel like after all that they had talked about and the trust that was gained, she could have given her trust a little easier. (But also I have trust issues too, so I would’ve been sus.)

The ending was such a great resolution and cap to the end of their story! I loved the storyline and the pacing was perfect.

Just absolutely adored everything baout this I LOVED The Kiss Countdown, one of my favorite 2024 reads, and I have been eagerly anticipating Etta Easton's second book. Highly recommend!

This has been one of my most anticipated reads this year since I finished The Kiss Countdown last year. I was feeling really down and out when i saw that this was added to the PRH app, and I just remember crying because it was a super bright spot in that terrible day. And it did NOT disappoint.

Did I like it more than TKC? No. But only because rivals to lovers is my least favorite trope. And Lordt I can’t begin to explain how mad I was at him this whole time lol He ANNOYED me to no end. I can’t believe that she literally asked him outright and he lied. But then said he didn’t think that way. And this is why I don’t like this trope. Because I would have thought the same thing she did. He was lying through his teeth and for no reason. Idc what you say I don’t trust it lol And the whole not going to bat for her thing when this one person was talking about her was NOT it. Y’all know I’m big on support, so this was a big one for me.

Ok so I said this was more serious than the other because Amerie was funny. And Brianna was not. She was sensitive and I had to realize it was a difference in characters and that wasn’t the author’s writing style. It was still very cute, but it wasn’t what I was expecting. I think I wanted that silly like we got in Amerie’s book, but Brianna is a whole different person. It was interesting to see the depth of Easton’s writing tho. And still, I can’t be too mad. I still got a glimpse of Vincent since that’s her brother.

The romance in this one was cute, but I can honestly say, Roman is not Vincent lol He was sweet at the end, but he was not it during the story. That ending tho, CHEF’S KISS. I wish someone would do that for me. But as a librarian I plan on doing that for myself somewhere anyway, but still, I thought this was a very nice choice. But just like with any slow burn and any rivals to lovers, I do wish there was more time with them together. I always feel like we didn’t get enough time with them together. And I know that doesn’t bother anyone else and I wish that was also my ministry, but it just doesn’t work for me.

This is still one of my favorite companion series, so don’t think because I gave it 4 stars that means I didn’t like it. i love seeing Black people in STEM, whether its their job or they’re supporting it. And this one falls into that for sure. I hope there’s more! I can’t wait to read more from this sciencey family. Also huge thanks to Easton for the library support in this book. Us librarians, ESPECIALLY in Houston, we love and we thank you!!!

I loved this book! It was such a fun, unique read that had me hooked from the very first page. As someone who’s fascinated by space, I was beyond excited to dive into this story.

The plot centers around Brianna, a vice principal who’s passionate about giving her students a library they can truly enjoy. When an opportunity arises for her to participate in a Mars simulation over the summer, she seizes it in hopes of winning the prize money to remodel the school library.

The concept of the Mars simulation was incredibly intriguing and made for such an exciting read!

Brianna was such a strong, and relatable character, and her flaws only made her more endearing. I couldn’t help but root for her throughout the entire book.

Roman, the MMC, was equally lovable. The things he did for Brianna throughout the story had me swooning. The way their relationship developed felt so natural and sweet, and the ending gave me all the feels. The HEA was absolutely perfect!

One of the things that really stood out to me was the author’s clear love for books, which was woven seamlessly into the story. It made the reading experience even more enjoyable and heartfelt.

I can’t wait to read more from Etta Easton! 🧡

The Love Simulation was a fun read. Kudos to Etta Easton for creating such a fun and unique plot. The Mars simulation was a fantastic way to organically create forced proximity and tension. I liked the storyline and how the simulation played out. Brianna's narrative was easy to read and her character was rootable. I enjoyed Brianna's character arc, especially with her career decision at the end. I thought Brianna and Roman were cute together. I do wish there were more getting to know each other scenes. It felt like they finally started having real conversations at the 60% mark. Although the back and forth pinning glances were perfectly angsty, it started to feel old halfway through. I wanted more depth and development with Roman and Brianna's relationship. I also wanted more from Roman's character. I left the book feeling like I could have learned more about him. The third-act drama didn't really hit for me. I wasn't a fan of Brianna's decision and I didn't care for how everything played out with that. Overall, this was an okay read! Despite the book feeling slow at points, I enjoyed myself. Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC.

I enjoyed this one. I feel that the third act conflict was unnecessary but I did enjoy this one. I will say that our FMC was very immature and it made me care less about what was going on during the simulation. I did like The Kiss Countdown more than this book but this was an average enjoyable read.

The Love Simulation was my first Etta Easton, and it won’t be my last! This is a fresh setting for a forced proximity trope, and I really enjoyed it! Easton’s character work was nicely done as I felt all characters main and minor were able to shine in their own way.

I immediately liked Brianna, and I empathized with her difficulty in balancing her professionalism as the vice principal with having any social relationship with the other teachers. Her drive to provide a better library to their students endeared me to her even more! Brianna is smitten with Roman from the start of the book, but in complete denial. Her inner monologue did get a bit repetitive at times, as she pined for Roman but didn’t trust him or allow herself to get close to him.

Roman on the other hand was always kind and attentive, dispite her distrust of him. I would have loved a second POV, but I do feel I was able to understand and appreciate Roman’s character without having one.

A sweet and quick read for those who enjoy STEM romances🔬 I know I’ll think of Etta Easton next time I’m in the mood for one, and I look forward to reading more from her!

**Thank you again to Berkley Romance and NetGalley for providing me an advanced copy. All opinions are my own**

A really cute rom-com with a fun plot line. I really enjoyed the idea of a Mars simulation and how that played a role in the book. Bri and Roman had a lot of chemistry but Bri had a lot of trust issues, which made sense with how the principal treated her. I liked the side characters as well and how the group stayed together after to have a book club and game nights. Overall well written and a fun story.

The Love Simulation is great for those looking to read…
❤️ Workplace Romance
❤️ Vice Principal x Science Teacher
❤️ Forced Proximity
❤️ Chronic Migraine Representation (Hero)
❤️ Life on Mars Simulation for Summer Break

I thought this was a really interesting premise. I loved that there was chronic migraine representation & I really appreciated the fact that there was chronic illness rep. with a hero because that is rare & so needed. I love the authors first book. I just didn’t connect with this one as much. This was still a very cute read & I loved how the author brings science into their romances. I would love to read another book from this author.


Massive thanks to NetGalley & Berkley Publishing for the gifted copy, which I voluntarily read & reviewed.

This book was absolutely adorable! I loved that it took place in the same world as The Kiss Countdown, and the mix of workplace romance and slow-burn tension kept me hooked. Brianna, the main character, had me punching the air—her struggle to balance professionalism with connecting to her colleagues (while secretly pining over Roman) felt so real. From her perspective, it was an enemies-to-lovers story, but if we had Roman’s POV, I don’t think he ever saw her as an enemy—just a guy trying to prove himself outside of his father’s shadow, all while being quietly smitten with Brianna. It honestly gave me Abbott Elementary vibes, which I loved.

That said, Brianna’s constant second-guessing at the beginning frustrated me, and the heavy miscommunication trope had me wanting to scream, “Just talk to each other already!” But at the same time, when a book makes me feel this way, I know I’m fully invested. I just wanted these two to be happy! My only real wish was that we got to see more of them as a couple at the end—I needed just a little more time with them together.

Overall, The Love Simulation was a fun, heartfelt read with great tension and endearing characters. If you love workplace romances, slow-burn tension, and a little bit of chaos, this one’s for you!

Short Synopsis:
Brianna is the Vice Principal of her school. But when I he principal takes the library funding away without her knowledge, Brianna signs up for a six-week Mars simulation where the winning team gets money for the school. The downside? The principal’s sexy son is also on the simulation.

My Thoughts:
This was a cute romcom! I loved the unique plot with Mars Simulation and the forced proximity of Brianna and Roman. They had cute banter and an obvious connection.

What You’ll Find:
Forced Proximity
Science + Space
He falls first
Forbidden romance
Teacher + Vice Principal
MMC with tattoos