I loved the Dual POV and the college romance aspect of it. The disability and mental illness awareness brought tears to my eyes. LOVED

thanks to amazon publishing uk and netgalley for this arc.

i thought this was a cute book. i appreciated the disability rep as you dont see that often enough in romance books, or popular books in general. decent plot, good characters.

I’m very much here for representation and this is one of the first books I’ve read with physical disabilities that aren’t like blindness. I just felt like things were happening but not happening at the same time. I also found the FMC’s constant need to downplay or find excuses to not make the relationship work annoying. Glad Cam/CJ was a very grounded character. Its also very funny to see typical British things in a book as someone from London and who went to university in Kent.

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

I really enjoyed this book! I especially appreciated that Penny, the main character, is in a wheelchair — as someone who uses a wheelchair myself, it’s rare to see that kind of representation in romance, and it meant a lot to me.

Both Penny and Cam were great characters. I related strongly to Cam’s struggles with depression and Penny’s experience with disability. Their shared love of science was such a fun touch (as a fellow science nerd, I adored this detail).

And the kittens! I absolutely loved them — and appreciated that there was no animal death in the story.

The plot was engaging, balancing sweet romance with some tougher, heavier topics. Those themes were handled with care and never felt overwhelming, which kept the story heartfelt and hopeful.

For a debut, this was a strong, heartfelt read — I’ll definitely be looking forward to more from Georgina Frankie.

DNF @ 20%
I picked this up because I appreciate more disability rep being added into stories, especially for younger people at points in their life where going off to university is already a big change, and having to navigate that, along with not feeling entirely isolated with chronic illness or mental health barriers, isn't always easy. And whilst I'm sure this book could provide some aspects of what I was hoping to read, sadly, I struggled to find any interest in either main character to continue reading.
There is little structure, with many time jumps within the first 20% I read, and I wish the author had focused more on building a solid foundation than progressing the story. That, along with the entire construction of Cam, left me feel really confused on what the author was attempting to achieve here. So instead of hate-reading to the end, as soon as I noticed I was leaning towards being too critical towards this, I stopped reading.

This light and sweet romance offers a charming premise and an accessible, easy-to-follow plot. While the story is emotionally sincere and features open, heartfelt conversations, the character development and narrative complexity fall a bit short. The conflict feels somewhat rushed, and the emotional beats—though well-intentioned—can become repetitive. It read like a YA book rather than New Adult.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

I liked the disability highlight of it and our fmc did not in one moment felt that was dragging out the plot. I liked it a lot

These are some of my favourite characters ever in a romance book. They are both so relatable in their own ways, so realistically written, and they both experience so many things that they learn from, and that readers can learn from as well.

Penny is such a lovely character. I absolutely adored the way her disabilities are represented, especially as a disabled person myself. She made me feel so seen, especially in our shared struggles of lack of energy and thinking we are bothersome simply by existing. The way she deals with these issues made me connect with her character even more. Cam is also such a wonderful character. The way he learns to find hope in himself and others is heartwarming, and the way he portrays himself is so enjoyable to read about.

The writing style was perfect and really appropriate for the age and personalities of the characters. There is a type of youthful wittiness incorporated, while also being mature.

I loved this book so much, and I would highly recommend. Thank you so much to the author Georgina Frankie and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Penny is plucky, which I love. I learned more about POTS than I ever expected but I was always impressed with Penny's attitude and demeanor. CJ is fun counterpart in that he seems to be a positive guy, but is dealing with a lot under the surface. I thought his foster cats added a fun element to the story and let us see a part of him that we wouldn't have otherwise.

This book is well written and does a fantastic job addressing some often overlooked topics. I really appreciated how it tackled invisible disabilities, diving into the inner thoughts of characters who face challenges in different ways. The focus was very much on the friendship, and honestly, that’s refreshing. It emphasizes that strong, lasting relationships are built on a solid foundation of friendship, which can sometimes get overlooked in romance stories.

Personally, I’m not a fan of the pacing. I love a good slow burn, but in this case, it just never really picked up. The first half of the book is all about their growing friendship with those quiet, unspoken romantic feelings simmering underneath. Then, the next section deals with a breakup that doesn’t really feel like it’s rooted in anything more than friendship. That breakup felt real, though, and it’s often underappreciated in stories. Friendship breakups are tough and can be just as heartbreaking as romantic ones.

The last bit of the book, with just a half-chapter and an epilogue, feels like a rushed tie-up to what could have been a much deeper exploration of the relationship. I know this “slow burn, short conclusion” is a trend in romance lately, and while some readers really enjoy it, I was left wanting more. If you’re into that style, you’ll probably appreciate the ending.

All in all, I’d say it’s a great read, but more for fans of character driven stories than pure romance. The exploration of invisible disability, especially when it comes to self-doubt in relationships, is very well done. However, it leans more into questioning whether a person with an invisible disability should even pursue a relationship, rather than showing the complexities of how it might feel once they’re actually in one.

Soo… this one was a bit of a rollercoaster. Mostly because while it had potential and several moments I enjoyed, it didn’t fully click for me.

The Chemistry Test is a sweet, wholesome, and informative coming of age romance novel that explores self discovery, grief, chronic illness/disability, and love.

In this story, we’re following Penny and Cam. Penny is a firecracker, brilliant beyond her years, and resilient. Cam, loveable in every way, is a caring cat dad finally ready to take back his life after going through a difficult time himself. The two meet in one of those ways that really set up the book for the rest of its story!

I really enjoyed the diverse representation and how each character had their own complex journeys to navigate. The author’s voice is fun and the writing style is one that I can see myself reading more of in the future.

But overall, something just didn’t quite do it for me. Pacing, maybe? It felt off in parts and the chemistry (which due to the title I expected a bit more of) didn’t build in a way that swept me away. I wasn’t fully convinced the two would truly want to be anything more than friends by the end. While their friendship felt deep, the rest felt surface level and very very stunted and young. Which is at odds with how wise both characters come across.

There were some inconsistencies that pulled me out of the book and without spoiling too much, I’ll just say I would’ve loved to see Cam’s learning disability show up more in the academic scenes. It struck me as odd that it was mentioned and discussed at length when it came to his work, but a nonissue for school. Definitely could see how we didn’t want to take away from Penny’s navigation of accessibility at university, but it would have given them a bit more to share… I hope that makes sense!

I’d still recommend this book for my sweet, no spice, romance lovers who like more depth to their stories and characters. Penny and Cam were battling some serious issues! Overcoming obstacles by leaning on each other, friends, and family. The support they each received is so strong and heartwarming. It truly was a feel good book.

I liked it and enjoyed it a lot and will definitely read another of Georgina Frankie’s books.

Thank you Netgalley for this arc!

The Chemistry Test by Georgina Frankie is a heartwarming romance between CJ and Penny that beautifully portrays disability in a positive light. Penny’s journey and her relationship with CJ are both tender and inspiring, showing that love thrives when two people overcome challenges together. I truly enjoyed this story—the characters were wonderful, the romance touching, and I’d highly recommend it! Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for this ARC in exchange for a honest review.

Penny is so ready to take on life (but love? That’s a trickier experiment). Enter CJ, the charming actor in her class, and suddenly sparks are flying both IRL and online.

Watching these two fall for each other while lifting each other up (some times literally) gave me all the feels. Sweet, swoony, and surprisingly empowering—this book totally shifted how I see contemporary romance.

Huge thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

The Chemistry Test was an overall 3 ⭐️ read for me. I loved the premise of it and liked the fact that the FMC and MMC were in touch with their feelings in the face of compromised immune systems and health issues. Penny and Cam’s initial meeting was a bit slower than I would have liked to be able to get into the book but I did like that the storyline was set up nicely before delving into it more.

This was a slower read for me since it was a bit harder to keep engaged. I loved them being emotionally competent and relative but they did seem to expand more on their feelings and past emotions rather than growing throughout the story.

Thank you NetGalley for this arc and allowing me to share my opinions on it!

Goodreads review posted on: 08/21/2025

The characters were incredibly sweet and I thoroughly enjoyed them as individuals. The romance itself was lacking for me, they just felt like really good friends, which is a big yikes for a romance book...

Side note: the cover is SO cute!!

The Chemistry Test had such a good premise and amazing characters but just lacked the sizzle and snap of a romance. It read like the two MCs were building this phenomenal friendship, which they were, but a platonic friendship. It became awkward not only in the writing, but the reading when the two started to feel jealous, or anger towards the other for perceived slights that they had no rights to. This was a slow paced book on top of everything that it made those tough parts really long. I didn’t buy the ending, because I never saw the spark. Not even in the end.

I received an eARC of #TheChemistryTest from #NetGalley in lieu of my honest review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Chemistry Test is a heartfelt, swoony college romance that blends STEM vibes, slow-burn tension, and a beautiful message about strength, vulnerability, and love.

Penny is such a refreshing heroine—smart, witty, and determined to embrace independence while navigating college life with her wheelchair and chronic illness. Her resilience shines, but what really stood out to me was how real and honest her insecurities felt. It’s rare to see disability representation handled with so much warmth and respect, and Georgina Frankie did a wonderful job of making Penny both relatable and empowering.

CJ, the charming actor-turned-student, was a great balance to Penny’s more guarded personality. Their banter was adorable, their friendship-turned-romance had just the right amount of slow-burn sweetness, and I loved the way they inspired each other to take risks and believe in themselves. The grumpy/sunshine energy really worked here, and I flew through the pages.

If you enjoy STEM romances with emotional depth, disability rep, and all the feels of a college rom-com, this book is definitely worth picking up. It’s uplifting, romantic, and thoughtful—an absolute win.

The Chemistry Test is a heartwarming and touching novel set in a university environment, where science and romance come together beautifully.

Story:
The book follows Penny, a young woman with a chronic condition starting her first year at university. She meets CJ, a charming actor taking a break from his career. Despite their different backgrounds, they develop a special connection built on mutual respect and understanding.

What I loved:
• Authentic representation: Penny’s experiences with her condition are portrayed honestly and respectfully, making the story feel very real.
• Emotional depth: Themes like self-discovery, friendship, and love are explored in a way that feels both light and meaningful.
• Chemistry between the characters: Penny and CJ’s relationship develops naturally and believably, making the story really engaging.

What I liked less:
Some secondary storylines and characters could have had more depth, which made a few parts feel slightly less dynamic.

Conclusion:
Overall, The Chemistry Test is a lovely novel that entertains while also giving you something to think about. I’d recommend it to readers who enjoy heartfelt stories with genuine emotion.

Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC copy of this book.

Firstly, the cover picture?
Absolutely adorable.
I’m in love with the cartoon cutesy looking covers, the cover is what drew me towards the book.

I enjoyed the book, it was a fairly nice read.
I loved how the author wrote Penny’s disability — the author also makes it very clear that although Penny does have a challenge, it doesn’t define who she is.

I liked CJ, he’s a sweet MMC.
And who doesn’t love a man who loves kittens?
The story surrounding his relationship with his grandma was very sweet.
I didn’t much care for the acting storyline — even though I know it adds to the grandma side of things — I feel like the book would have been just fine without it.

I liked how they started talking to each other over her website, but I do wish the author made it a little bit harder for us to figure out who it was that she was talking to.
We are somewhat thrown into a chapter talking about her blog and suddenly there is Cam… and the whole story regarding that is kinda obvious.

Side point —
For a book that’s literally themed around STEM…. It wasn’t really about that..

Also.. MISCOMMUNICATION?
This is an overused plot device — authors, find something new. This is annoying and not funny, and it’s usually over dumb stuff.

Overall rating.
It was an okay book. Probably not something I’ll read again but still enjoyable.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ 1/2 ( the extra 1/2 is for the kittens )