What a delightful & cute romcom!

The FMC Briana was super relatable. I really enjoyed her character and journey. I totally understood her struggles and sympathized. I also liked her disposition. She's a sweetheart. Roman is dreamy. I thought he was simply adorable. All the little things he did for Bri made me swoon. These two together had a lot of chemistry which made the forced proximity trope even better. This is a slow burn but twas worth the wait! The steam was great between these two.

I did like the plot and thought it was interesting. I don't think I've ever read a book where the characters are in a space simulation, very unique. The book gave me Abbott Elementary tv show vibes.

Would recommend if you enjoy Abbott Elementary and romcoms.

I enjoyed this book and was very happy with the ending. The Love Stimulation is the story of Brianna Rogers, who we met in The Kiss Countdown. We explore her struggles in her profession, personal, and love life. But with any struggle we know there will eventually be a happy ending. Brianna finds herself entering into a summer space stimulation with four of her colleagues in an effort to save her school’s library. But has she made the right choice? During this stimulation her professional boundaries and moral standards are tested. The story started out slow but the ending was pretty direct and to the point.

The Love Simulation delivers a fun romance following Brianna, a passionate vice principal, and Roman, a science teacher (and the principal’s son), as they compete for a grand prize to upgrade their school’s library. The premise was great, and the story was charmingly reminiscent of the show Abbott Elementary—full of humor and the relatable dynamics of a school setting but with a slight sci-fi twist. However, the romance itself didn’t quite land for me, the ending felt rushed, and I wish the outstanding supporting characters had been explored some more. Still, it certainly had a couple of truly touching moments, and its lighthearted, funny tone made for an enjoyable read. I will rate this book 3.5 stars.

A perfectly unique forced proximity romance that features two Black main characters who choose to spend their summer participating in a Mars Simulation contest in the hopes of winning $500,000 for their elementary school. Rivals to lovers has never been done so well in this fun, single POV story that will appeal to fans of authors like Denise Williams or Jasmine Guillory. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy and @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review! I would have liked it more as a dual POV book but it was still a solid read and while it's book 2 of a series can be easily read as a standalone.

Things I loved about this book: the representation, seeing Brianna’s close familial ties, relating to her feelings of imposter syndrome (a 30 year old school vice principal is quite accomplished even if she did feel less than b/c of the success of her siblings), and the unique setting of a Mars stimulation.

I did struggle with why Brianna liked Roman outside of looks as her crush for the first 30+% of the book seemed wholly physical and he had the personality of a doorknob. It made it more difficult to root for them as the story progressed. I wish we would have seen a more 3D version of Roman sooner.

I enjoyed The Love Simulation—it kept me hooked from start to finish. Brianna Rogers is a character with so much heart and determination, and I couldn’t help but admire her drive to make a real difference at her school, even when the odds seem stacked against her. How she throws herself into the Mars simulation to prove a point about the library upgrade is bold and relatable. Roman Major, the brooding yet charming science teacher, perfectly balances tension and intrigue. Their back-and-forth banter and undeniable chemistry made for some great moments, especially when they were forced to work together in such close quarters.
What I really appreciated was how the story explored more than just romance—it dealt with loyalty, the tension between personal goals and professional duty, and the struggle of putting everything on the line for a cause you believe in. The simmering conflict between Brianna and Roman as they navigate their feelings amidst the high-stakes competition was well done.
By the time the romance took center stage, I was already invested in the characters and found myself rooting for them to figure it out. I loved how the story balanced the romance with the drama of the simulation itself and how it reflected Brianna’s journey of self-discovery. Sure, the plot felt a bit predictable at times, but I didn’t mind—it was the perfect amount of tension and sweetness.
The ending left me satisfied, and I appreciated how the author wrapped everything up. Overall, The Love Simulation was a fun, engaging read that didn’t disappoint. The romance and the personal stakes were just the right amount of compelling, and I couldn’t put it down until I knew how everything would unfold.

Imposter Syndrome
Finding Your Calling
Trust
School Library
Letting Go of Built up Walls
I could not put this one down. I didn’t mean to finish it so fast but I did. This romance had all the feels and tension! I highly recommend it. From the space aspect to how Brianna feels with both her family and her career. Her passion to get those kids a library upgrade really spoke to me. I would say I related to her a bit. Her passion is similar if not the same as mine. Yes it a romance but it’s also so much more.
I’m at a lost for words! Just read it please! You won’t be disappointed! I’m trying my best to not spoil! Bear with me! He’s more open with her. She has her guard up because he’s her boss’s son. The Mars simulation bring them together along with 3 other teachers. She doesn’t want to cross the line of professionalism with personal BUT she feels lonely. She doesn’t get the gossip and she’s not particularly close to any of the staff. This simulation, if it’s a success, will get the school the library upgrade. Brianna thinks he’s there to sabotage everything. As you progress through this story, Brianna’s layers are peeled back little by little. She feels she doesn’t measure up and she has just this ONE goal in mind. For the kids. And don’t get me started on the ending. It may or may not have you feeling so much joy that you end in tears. It’s so beautiful.

Brianna Rogers has never shied away from a challenge. So when her principal decides to spend their budget on revamping the football field instead of the outdated library, Brianna decides to take matters into her own hands. She joins a group of teachers to participate in a six-week Mars simulation competition. As Vice Principal, Brianna has tried to keep her colleagues at arm's length, but she knows that prize money is just what the library needs, and she's willing to go out all to ensure she wins. But Brianna didn't count on Roman Major, the handsome science teacher and principal's son, to join their crew. Brianna and Roman have been hot and cold all year, and living in such tight quarters doesn't help their growing attraction. But when little things start going wrong with their mission, Brianna can't help but think that Roman has ulterior motives for being here. As the simulation winds down, Brianna has to choose between following reason or her heart.

I don't know what Easton puts in her books, but I'm hooked. I ate up her previous book, so it was no surprise that I did the same with this one. Her writing is breezy, and the sweet and steamy moments are perfectly balanced. I thought the premise of this was so fun. I loved the forced proximity we got from Brianna and Roman getting thrown together in small quarters. Watching them dance around one another before finally giving in to their feelings had me kicking my little feet. I saw how the third-act drama would play out, but I appreciated how quickly it resolved. The only other issue I had was that I wish Easton played up the competition element a little more because I kept forgetting that people could watch what they were doing in this Mars bubble. Other than that, I thought this was great, and I'll pick up whatever Easton comes out with next.

This was genuinely cute and also made me want to do a Mars simulation? I think I would love it without the actual threat of death, so it seems like a very exciting experience.

I loved Brianna’s closeness to her siblings in adulthood and the contrast of Roman’s dynamic with his own family - as well as how those played up the way they felt around each other.

Brianna is also absolutely ruthless and I adore her. No spoilers but when she made her choice I actually gasped and covered my mouth but I did not doubt her because she is smart and savvy.

And Roman is so sweet and respectful - even when it hurts his own feelings. He’s so into her and kind to her and even when he gives her space he doesn’t stop fighting for her.

Thank you for the free book, Berkley Romance! #berkleypartner #berkley #berkleybookstagram

Brianna is a vice principal who takes her role very seriously. She’s determined to earn money for the school library by participating in a teacher challenge to last for the whole summer in a Mars simulation. When she arrives, she’s shocked to see the her arch rival, the principal’s son, Roman there. She is sure he plans to sabotage her and ruin the mission, but Roman proves himself to be trustworthy. They find themselves falling for each other, but Brianna may have to make an impossible choice.

This was my first book from Etta Easton, and I really enjoyed it! Brianna was such a likable and relatable character. As a teacher, I appreciated her commitment and dedication to her students. The STEM and space aspect was a fun twist on the rom com, and a new spin on forced proximity. The chemistry between the two was palpable and created delicious slow building tension. I will definitely be looking forward to the author’s next book!

***Thank you Berkley Romance and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this eARC***
I really enjoyed this book! It was a quick read with great pacing throughout. I instantly was reminded of Abbott Elementary with the school dynamics. The space simulation was such a good plot and felt like I was watching a reality tv show or space themed movie with all the challenges. Definitely a fun new take on forced proximity.
Since it was single POV, I didn't feel like there was enough understanding of the MMC feelings. It felt like it came almost too quickly. Just a little more tension or build up maybe.
Overall, this was a fun, quick rom-com read and I can't wait to see what's next from this author!

4.5 stars (rounded up)! I really enjoyed this story. I love the rivals-to-lovers trope and the forced proximity. The story itself was pretty steady pacing and I found it was a really quick and easy read. I ended up finishing this book in two days.

The FMC was spot on when it comes to the youngest sibling and feelings of insecurities in my opinion. And I thought the MMC’s complicated relationship with his father was a good added layer. I liked the banter between the FMC and MMC. I especially loved the sister relationship between Brianna and Camille. I loved everything about that. I also truly felt for Camille who is trying to do it all being a mother myself. The twist with Roman and his father towards the end of the book was shocking and the scene where she locks him out felt like I was watching a movie. Great book!

This time around, we’re getting Brianna’s story who is Vincent’s sister from the first book. She has recently become a vice principal. The only problem is that she’s harboring a small crush on one of the teachers: Roman Major who is the son of the school’s principal. Did I mention that said principal has been making Bri’s life miserable for the entire school year?

The final straw comes when he allocates funds for library updates to build a new football field and Bri decides to take matters into her own hands. She ends up joining the team of teachers who are headed to a Mars simulation. The winners get a cash prize to be able to help out their school despite it taking place during their summer vacation.

At first, Bri is able to relax until Roman ends up replacing one of their teammates and she has a choice but to either ignore her feelings or confront them. The two end up tip-toeing around each other as the Mars mission is most important along with winning the money. However as the pool gets smaller, the two are unable to face their attraction any longer but it doesn’t come without its issues.

Honestly, the third-act conflict Etta Easton chose to add won’t be for everyone, but I loved it. I know why the characters made the choice they did and it was just delicious. While it’s slightly dramatic, it truly made me gasp and I can’t believe she did that. Frankly, it makes me respect Etta Easton all the more because making that choice couldn’t have been easy.

As much as I adored The Kiss Countdown, I can say that The Love Stimulation is even better and it’s clear Etta Easton is on the star path to becoming one of my favorite authors. I can only hope we get another book in this series in 2026.

This book was absolutely charming! I really enjoyed The Kiss Countdown, but I loved this one even more.

Brianna Rogers is known for acting on impulse, and when her school’s principal goes back on his approval for a much-needed library upgrade, she jumps into action. To raise funds, she joins a group of teachers participating in a six-week Mars simulation. Spending the summer with colleagues seems manageable—until a last-minute swap brings in Roman, her longtime crush, and the principal’s son, making things far more complicated than she expected.

The Love Simulation by Etta Easton is a beautifully written, Hallmark-style romance and the perfect way to ease into February after I have been knee deep in unhinged Urban Fiction.

Tropes & Themes: Forced proximity, workplace/forbidden romance, STEM, a touch of spice, and the ever-delicate balance between professional and personal boundaries.

FMC Brianna Rogers, a dedicated vice principal, is all about maintaining strict boundaries—until a series of unexpected events forces her into close quarters with Roman, the school’s charming science teacher. Their witty banter and undeniable chemistry had me grinning the whole way through!

While I loved the romance, I do wish the story had a dual POV. Since we only get Brianna’s perspective, Roman’s character depth felt a bit underdeveloped, leaving us to interpret his emotions and motives through her lens.

Beyond the romance, I really appreciated how the book tackled real issues—specifically, the importance of school libraries. Brianna’s passion for fighting to secure a much-needed library renovation, despite budget cuts favoring a state-of-the-art football field, resonated deeply. A Mars simulation challenge becomes her shot at securing funding, but it also means more one-on-one time with Roman… 👀

If you love rom-com-style romances with heart, humor, character growth, and just the right amount of spice (Brianna kept asking for "More" -iykyk), definitely pick this one up! I have The Kiss Countdown and definitely planning on reading it this month.

Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher, for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

#BookReview #TheLoveSimulation #EttaEaston #RomanceBooks #Bookstagram #ForcedProximity #WorkplaceRomance #STEMRomance #NetGalley #BooksWithHeart

If you’re into romance with a bit of tension, some fun competition, and a unique twist, The Love Simulation is definitely worth checking out! Brianna Rogers is a vice principal who’s determined to save her school’s library after the principal cuts the funding for it in favor of a football field. So, she jumps headfirst into a Mars simulation with a chance to win the prize money. But things get complicated when Roman Major, the handsome (and frustrating) science teacher and son of the principal, joins the team.

Their relationship has been full of ups and downs all year, and living in close quarters only makes things more intense. As they work together, Brianna finds herself falling for him, even though she’s not sure she can trust him. It’s a great mix of tension, chemistry, and a little bit of mystery. I couldn’t put it down!

This forced-proximity, workplace romance, in which a vice principal and the off-limits teacher she's attracted to both join a six-week Mars simulation, was...fine. Middling. Aggressively okay.

The premise was cute, but I had difficulty accepting that NASA would run a weeks-long residential experiment with virtually zero preparation requirements. I could have come to terms with this had the characterization been more robust. As it is, there's just not enough of a foundation for me to sympathize with Briana or to appreciate her insecurities. I mean, we get this refrain of her being "the token wild child" who doesn't live up to the high bar set by her siblings and whose job history is sort of all over the place, but none of it seems grounded in the text. Not only do we never see anybody compare her, unfavorably or not, to her older sibs, but the last time I checked, moving from classroom teacher to guidance counselor to vice principal was the opposite of sporadic.

Ultimately, The Love Simulation is a quick read that desperately needed stronger character development and more rigor put into establishing the STEM premise.

3.5 ⭐️

I loved that we got more space information in this book. That was something I really wanted in book 1. I loved the simulation aspect of the story line. It felt like a reality tv show but with out the unnecessary drama. I really feel like this book could have benefited from dual pov. Not having Roman’s inner thoughts was frustrating. There were moments where our FMC would pretend to know what he was thinking, as if they were having these telepathy conversations. It would have been more enjoyable to know his actual thoughts and feelings. Also only getting Bri’s thoughts really made my girl seem thirsty! There were so many times where I wanted to tell her to STAND UP! If those thoughts were reciprocated from Romans POV it wouldn’t have felt so one sided.

Overall I love this authors writing style. Something about this book gave me abbott elementary vibes and I loved that. 🥰 I would recommend to anyone who wants a fun sweet romance.

This book was so adorable and cute! I loved the first book in this series, "The Kiss Countdown", but I loved this one even more.

Brianna Rogers has a reputation for jumping into things without thinking. But when the principal of her school decides to rescind his approval for a library upgrade, Brianna decides to join a team of teachers who will spend their summer in a Mars simulation to win money for their school. 6 weeks with her co-workers who be hard, right? But when one of the teachers is replaced by Roman, her crush, and the principal's son joins them, things get complicated.

I can't say enough great things about this book. It's sweet, emotional, and fun. Etta does a great job of really crafting a beautiful arc for Brianna and the premise is just chef's kiss.

I highly recommend this one. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an arc of this book!

This book was so cute!

Middle school vice principal Brianna joins several colleagues, including her sort-of-rival Roman, a closed-off science teacher, in a Mars simulation to compete for a prize that will fund a library remodel at their school. Roman's dad is the principal, who has been making Brianna's life miserable since she became the vice principal. When Roman joins the simulation crew, Brianna can't help but suspect that he intends to sabotage the tasks the team must complete to win the money.

Forced into close quarters and filmed on a 24/7 livestream, Brianna has to contend with the loneliness of keeping strict boundaries between herself and her coworkers and decide whether she will give in to friendship with them. As time goes on, she also has to contend with giving in to deeper romantic feelings for Roman.

I loved the high-stakes feel of this book without the stress of actually worrying about characters dying tragic deaths. Because they must complete spacewalks and missions during their Mars simulation, the team of educators must work together and risk "dying" (having to leave the simulation) by running out of oxygen, getting lost on the red planet, and dealing with frequent dust storms. I also loved how Brianna slowly opened herself up to friendships and personal connections with her colleagues in a way that was only possible because of their close quarters in the simulation.

This book is connected with Etta Easton's The Kiss Countdown, but can be read as a standalone.

Thank you so much to Berkley and NetGalley for the free ARC in exchange for my honest review!