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

This book was a great follow up to the Kiss Countdown. In this book we meet Brianna who is a middle school bide principal but is having a little bit of an identity struggle but is trying her best at life. She has eyes for Roman, one of the teachers at the school but it won't work because his dad is her boss the principal. When Bri wants to do something good for the kids by having them get a new library, she finds the only way to get the money is to participate in a Mars simulation in close proximity with Roman. This was such a cute forced proximity romance with two MCs that had had great banter between them. We also got a great cast of supporting characters who had personalities of their own that I felt also was a plus for the book. I love Etta's writing and I think that she doesn't romance in such a cute, fun ad fluffy way that its always an enjoyable read for the folks who love contemporary romance.

This is an enemies to lovers romance about a group of school teachers, 2 in particular, who take part in a space simulation that puts them on Mars for 6 weeks. In return, the teachers get a bonus and their school gets a new library.
Brianna is the vice-principal of an elementary school, and Roman is a handsome teacher whose father is the school superintendent. Brianna and Roman engaged in some low level flirting during the school year. When he signs up for the Mars simulator, Brianna knows she’s in trouble.
I liked reading about life inside the simulator, the interpersonal dynamics are really interesting. I also liked how the romance developed, from stolen looks to a fully realized relationship. 4 stars.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley, I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

3.5/5⭐️
2/5🌶️

This story was cute! I liked the tension of the forced proximity and the rivals-to-lovers storyline. Roman was adorable and I just wanted to give him a hug the entire book, despite him being a little shifty and shady here and there. I liked the relationship and thought it was a cute, quick and fun read.

I loved the Kiss Countdown but I loved The Love Simulation even more! For reference, both are complete standalones. Tbh I almost thought I had the wrong book at first because I went in blind (something I rarely do) because this starts off at the FMC's workplace, a school where she works as the Vice Principal. Until Mars came into play as a simulation challenge a teacher convinces her and other coworkers to partake in, in efforts to win $ prize for themselves and a bonus for the school if they make it all 6 weeks.

Okay, the simulation sounded so freaking COOL. Where do I sign up?! I loved all those details. This book went by so fast because I was so locked in. There was humor of course that it was literally a simulation but at the same time this author really pulled off high feeling stakes. I also painfully related to the FMC creating boundaries with her colleagues in efforts to stay professional while feeling like an outsider looking in as a result. The side characters were also hilarious and had their own mini arcs. Loved the ace rep with one of them btw!

The romanceeee. Omg this man had been admiring her from afar for a WHILE. No notes. It was swoony and excellent. There is eventual on page spice, I'd say like 1.5 scenes and it takes a slow burn.

Thank you Berkley for the free book!

Vice Principal Brianna thinks she is going on a two week cruise when school is out for the summer, but instead she signs up for a 6 week Mars simulation with a small group of other teachers, in order to try to win the grand prize to fund a new library for her school. The funds were originally promised to her at the beginning of the school year, but they will instead be used to upgrade the middle school's football field, no thanks to the school's principal. Brianna knows her students can benefit from having a more diverse book selection and she knows how much the kids are missing out on with a limited selection. When she goes into training for the simulation, she learns that the cute science teacher Roman, and also the principal's son, is joining the group, and might try to sabotage her mission.

Brianna's love for books was so relatable, especially the fact that she loves books with werewolves, shifters, dragons, and aliens. The forced proximity aspect in a Mars-like environment was so fun and I liked reading about the different ways the group would keep themselves entertained. This was my first Etta Easton book and it was a breeze and I loved all the little references she would throw in like DBZ and different song titles. Overall, this was a great, light romance read!

Thank you NetGalley, Berkley Romance, and the author for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

While I personally did not love this despite LOVING The Kiss Countdown, I think that this would be a great book for people who enjoy slow burn, forced proximity, and workplace romances.

The first half of this book is incredibly boring because it feels like nothing is happening. On top of that Brianna's constant comparison of herself to her siblings and the pressure that only she places on herself is very annoying. She is constantly making up scenarios in her head with nothing to back them up. She not only does this with the expectations of her family but also with Roman and the way that she jumped to conclusions about him joining the simulation just to sabotage them.

I would definitely still read from this author and will always recommend The Kiss Countdown which was my #1 read of 2024.

The love simulation. This is a quick beach read romance book. When the new vice principal and the science teacher, who is the principals son. Sign up to do the summer project of a mars simulation There is a lot of learning of each other than mars. This clean romance is a good read for young adults

The Love Simulation by Etta Easton was such a fun and unique read! The whole concept of a Mars simulation as the setting for an enemies-to-lovers romance? Love it.

Brianna, our main character, is a vice principal who signs up for this six-week Mars simulation to win funding for her school’s library. Sounds easy enough, right? Except Roman—science teacher, son of the principal, and the one guy who really gets under her skin—ends up joining the team last minute. Cue the tension, banter, and so much forced proximity.

I liked how their relationship developed throughout the book. The back-and-forth between them was sharp and entertaining, and their chemistry felt really natural. It’s got that perfect mix of slow-burn frustration and sweet moments that make you root for them. Plus, the whole simulation aspect added an extra layer of excitement—like, how do you navigate romance when you're pretending to live on Mars?

My only small complaint was that some of Brianna’s inner struggles dragged a little at times, but honestly, it didn’t take away from my enjoyment. If you love a romance with a fresh setting, great banter, and just the right amount of emotional depth, definitely give this one a shot!

The Love Simulation presents a charming narrative featuring Brianna and Roman, whose longing for each other is palpable despite the challenges posed by their respective jobs. The chemistry between the main characters is truly engaging, and the side characters add depth to the storyline.

That said, there are a few areas where the story could be improved. At times, the narrative feels drawn out, and a more streamlined pace might enhance the reading experience. The term “slow burn” certainly applies here, so tightening up some sections would have made the emotional connection even between our couple more impactful.

Additionally, I would have loved to seen more of the relationship between Roman and his father explored, as this dynamic seemed to hold potential for greater depth. Lastly, the ending came across as a bit rushed; it would have been beneficial to see Principal Major apologize to Brianna on page, as this would have added resolution to the conflict.

Overall, while I found the book enjoyable, addressing these aspects could elevate it even further.

Thank you to the publisher for the opportunity to read and review.

The Love Simulation is so perfect!

Such great chemistry between two characters that were hesitant to even stand in the same room together. I love the build up tension with each scene of these two being alone together.
I appreciate the academic setting as well, it's nice to read about primary school workers deeply care about their students.

I also love the STEM aspects of this. A great romance for everyone to read!

Forced Proximity ✔️
Workplace Romance ✔️
He falls harder ✔️

This was my first book by Etta and I’m so excited to read more by her. It was lighthearted and fluffy in the way I love romances to be. I loved that I was able to relate to so much of the culture in the book being a black woman in corporate America. There was symbolism that I appreciated that was voiced in the book. I highly recommend reading if you’re interested in a strong and independent FMC. That you net galley for giving me the opportunity to read this!