I had higher expectations for this book, but unfortunately, it didn’t quite do it for me.
It’s an easy read—and at times, an enjoyable one—but I felt it lacked chemistry (pardon the pun!) between Xander and Ash.

Ash and Xander are participating in a sleep study where they have to share a bed for 30 days. They had met and hooked up once, 11 years ago, but she walked away—or more specifically, crawled away—from him.
Seeing each other again at the sleep study is a coincidence, and when they learn the scientists are looking for couples, they decide to pretend to be one.
Up to that point, the story had my attention. But it fell flat afterwards. The writing is average, and the main character annoyed me.

I know I’m not fully enjoying a story when I don’t care about the protagonist or what happens to them—and that’s exactly how I felt about Bed Chemistry.

It’s not horrible. It’s readable, but forgettable.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

3 star read. Thank you for letting me read this as an arc. I did enjoy the book and will be on the look out from more from this author

Bed Chemistry was a funny, banter-filled read with a unique-ish setup, but it struggled with believability and left me wishing for deeper character development and a more polished execution.

A quick, light comical read that some will enjoy for that alone. All the makings for a early 2000's rom-com.

Fake Dating
Second Chance
Dislike to Love
"Forced" Proximity

The concept was fun but many plot holes. It needed more for second chance romance. I wanted more heart more declaration.
I understood and resonated with Ashleigh her issues with relationships are written well based of her mother and child hood. However this really needed to be a dual pov, that would have added the depth we need.

(⭐3.25)

ᶻ 𝗓 𐰁 .ᐟ 1. First Impressions
My absolute first impression of this book was "Woah! Bed Chem! Sabrina!" 💃

Then, I took the time to read the synopsis, and what followed was an enthusiastic click on the 'request' button.

The premise of this book was so delightfully unique! I was positively buzzing in anticipation, checking my email over and over to see if I would get accepted for this one, because HOW CAN I RESIST A FORCED PROXIMITY ONE BED SITUATION THAT PERSISTS FOR 30 DAYS?!

If you're unaware, one bed situations and forced proximity almost never fails to make me giggle and kick my feet like a lovesick teenage girl (as if I'm not one already).

I am not ashamed to admit that I did let out a squeal of excitement when I was accepted to read this ARC, so thank you sososo much to Netgalley and Alcove Press again for this!! I'm overall so glad I read this 🥹💖

ᶻ 𝗓 𐰁 .ᐟ 2. Ashleigh...
I do regret to inform the jury that I did NOT like our FMC...

Hold your tomatoes and boos for the moment please, and let me explain my case! (Getting sick of the lawyer lingo? Blame Xander 😋)

She thinks men who wear fedoras are hot.

Yes, she's for real (for about half the book anyway) and yes, I have a more nuanced opinion on this. Hold please.

In all seriousness, I just simply didn't feel a connection with Ashleigh. And when the entire book is composed of her point of view and when we're in her brain 100% of the time, that gets a little disheartening. I felt like she was very hot-and-cold, and obviously her past had a great part to play in that, but I just got really tired of it by the end. I do have to admit I let out a groan at the third act conflict. Poor Xander was just there for her constantly and she just broke his (my) heart like that. Sigh.

I looooved Xander though, he was such a cutie patootie! He didn't deserve all of the switching up that Ash did on him 💔💔

ᶻ 𝗓 𐰁 .ᐟ 3. CHILLAX!
In the epilogue and the last few chapters, it really felt like everything was just smushed in to the last 20%. Everything was rushed and fell into place a bit too easily. Like you're telling me we're starting a court case like 15% from the end...? Dang 😔

Also HELLO THE SPICE SCENES?! This one was suuuuper heavy with the 🌶️ scenes and honestly, that's on me for not putting two and two together with the title 'Bed Chemistry'. My fault, my fault 😔🙏

ᶻ 𝗓 𐰁 .ᐟ 4. Final Thoughts
Overall, this one was definitely worth a read! I'm very glad I picked this up and I think it was overall a really cute romance. Great palate cleanser and very quick to read, just nothing overly special to me! Some of the humour and references were a bit cringe, but I honestly love when a book is happily cringe. They're not hurting anyone. Be cringe and free, my love.


ᶻ 𝗓 𐰁 .ᐟ pre-read:

okay, YES, i admit it, half of the reason i requested this because the title was SO sabrina carpenter. but the other half of the reason was that the premise of this sounds sososo good!! can’t wait to get into this one 🤭

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Alcove Press for providing me with the e-ARC!! Bed Chemistry will be released on December 9th!

I didn't love this one. It felt fairly unrealisitc and wasn't the steamy fun book the other reviewers promised.

This rom-com book was very fun to read with all the banter and the storyline. Although definitely cringe and slow at times, I still enjoyed the story. Both characters have good chemistry which I appreciated. I would recommend this book to anyone wanting a lighthearted rom-com. Thank you to NetGalley and Alcove Press for this ARC.

When I had the opportunity to read this book I was overjoyed. It had so many good tropes just waiting there to be handled with care and creativity. One bed, Check. Fake dating, Check. Second Chance, check.

I will say that I really liked this book, but I did not love it. For some reason, the plot seemed to be stretched way too long. The FMC's decision to remain single and not be attached was driven into the plot so hard it started to get annoying.

There were just elements throughout the book that brought it down from my anticipated 5 star rating to a 3. Was still a decent book. I am happy I went into reading it. Creative plot. Missed the mark a bit.

When I read the blurb for this book, I knew I was in
for a good time. It has some of my all-time favorite tropes and they are done so well!

Ash and Xander's chemistry is off the charts, the air is positively sizzling whenever they are in the same room, and their banter is just *chef's kiss*.
I read a big chunk of this on the train, so believe me when I tell you that I am very aware of every giggle and blush this book elicited.

One of my favorite things is Ash's friendship with Emily. She is undoubtedly the most important person in the FMC's life, and I just adore her. She is a true gem.

Going into this, I anticipated the banter, and I expected the spice, but the reason behind Ash's need to protect her heart caught me off guard. I think many parents aren't aware just how much their relationships impact their children. And Ash's parents really did a number on her, which I definitely can relate to. Seeing how she starts to question everything she was led to believe, and even confronts her mom about it, felt almost healing to me.

Highly recommend!

Thank you to Alcove Press and NetGalley for giving me an ARC of this, I wanted to read this for two reasons - the title was giving me Sabrina Carpenter vibes and I was in the mood for a rom-com. This is a cute, easy read - we have a chemistry teacher who gets fired from her job, she needs to make money so enters a sleep study - lo and behold, its couples only...let the fun times start! There is lots of banter, tension and I love that we get to see a skeptical FMC warm up to the idea of love.

This book was alright, but I wanted to like it a lot more than I did. the concept is really interesting, fake dating a one-night-stand you ghosted so you can both take part in a sleep trial - one of you desperate for money, the other, for much-needed sleep.

However, this didn't hit the mark. I think this would make an EXCELLENT rom-com film but the FMC was a little too flat for a book IMO. Which is a shame considering she carries around a lot of depth to her that just doesn't really go anywhere.

I did really enjoy the storyline around her parents, and I loved seeing a really positive best friend relationship that Em and Ash have. I also found some of the humour really funny and did read through this book relatively easily. It's a great lighthearted read if you're looking for something a bit more fun between heavier books.

Ashleigh's banter and antics with BFF, fellow teacher, Emily were more interesting than her romance with Xander.

Interactions with Em, whether it's chanting wildly inappropriate comments in a public space or a dressing room montage of outfit changes, were just plain hilarious and easily imaginable.

Her interactions with Xander seemed more superficial and physical, lacking any depth. Even with the author returning to their respective past didn't find much explanation of Xander's fascination with Ashleigh. Then there's Ash's relationship with her mom. At a pivotal scene at the dad's wedding then later private meeting between daughter and mother , wasn't sure if the author was striving to show regret or comeuppance for the mom. The uncertainty tainted the read.


This ARC was provided by the publisher, Alcove Press,,via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.



#BedChemistry #NetGalley

Thank you NetGalley and Alcove press for giving me chance to read this book before release date.

Bed Chemistry surprised me. I’ll be honest, the first bit of the book was slow for me and I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to finish it. I’m not the one to ever not finish a book, I will always power through. But once Ashleigh and Xander’s forced proximity sleep study really kicked in, and things started to flow I got hooked.

Ashleigh’s emotional walls took a long time to come down so much so that I found myself more frustrated with her than rooting for her at times, and Xander… well, let’s just say the man knows how to bring both tension and charm to every scene. Their banter felt natural, the awkward moments made me laugh, and when the slow burn finally started to get hot, I couldn’t put it down.

This is sweet, funny, and just the right amount of messy the kind of romance that sneaks up on you.

“What if pretending to sleep beside him every night is exactly the mistake that’ll wreck me or save me?”

This book had the potential to be a really cute rom com. Instead we were given a cringe worthy campy romance.

I mean come on the synopsis set this book up for success. We have recently fired chemistry teacher, Ash, who signs up for a sleep study to make rent money. Instead of doing the study by herself she’s forced to “fake date” an old one night stand, Xander. They have to survive a month of sleeping together. However, Xander still has hurt feelings after Ash left with no notice 11 years ago. Will they be able to get over their past in order to compete the study?!?!

Again come on that synopsis sounds perfect and hilarious. Plus in my opinion unique. I’ve never encountered any romcoms previously that used a sleep study as part of their forced proximity trope. However, even with all that going for it the execution just wasn’t there.

I struggled with Ash big time. She’s the “commitment phobe” so to speak in this romcom. Which is fine I enjoy when the typical stereo types are reversed. However, Ash just wasn’t likeable and her reasoning for lack emotional intimacy felt way too extreme. I understand she went through trauma watching her parents relationship fall apart. But her response to all love in general because of it felt immature.

The only reason I kept reading was for my love of Xander. I love that he was our sunshine romantic. But I do believe he deserves better than Ash (sorry not sorry). My only complaint was I wish we could’ve flushed out his character more.

Overall, this book wasn’t my favorite. I can’t honestly say if I’d recommend it so I’ll leave you guys with this. If you want a quick and easy romcom then pick it up. If you want a romcom with more substantial then keep on a moving.

Lastly thank you to NetGalley & Alcove Publishing for allowing me to read and review an ARC.

It's a very easy read. It's funny and keeps the reader hooked to see if our main character, Ash, can overcome her fears of love and commitment.
Reading Ash and Xander's story made me laugh out loud. The writing is easy to understand and follow. I would definitely recommend this to readers whose native language isn't English but who want to start reading in it.

If Christina Lauren gave us Love and Other Words, then Bed Chemistry might as well be Love, Lust, and Other Words. This debut contemporary romance from Elizabeth McKenzie—who’s no stranger to storytelling, having written screenplays for feature films—has a cinematic pace that makes it easy to imagine on the big screen. Just be warned: it’s a hefty read, full of subplots and emotional layers that make it more of a slow savor than a one-night binge—very much in the vein of Ali Hazelwood or L.J. Shen.

Synopsis:
Ashleigh Hutchinson, a no-strings-attached chemistry teacher, signs up for a couples-only sleep study to pay the bills, only to end up fake-dating (and bed-sharing) with Xander Miller, the one man who tempts her carefully guarded rules about love and lust.

What Works:
McKenzie’s knack for witty, self-deprecating humor shines through, and the protagonist’s inner monologue is laugh-out-loud funny. There’s a wonderful side character named Em who adds even more charm. But what really sets it apart is the deeper theme: inherited “commandments” about love and lust that the heroine must unlearn, adding layers beyond the rom-com beats.

Critiques:
Sometimes the tone veers a bit juvenile, but it’s all part of the charm. And while the pacing takes its time, that heft is what makes it a richer read—one that can’t be rushed through in a single night.

Verdict:
In the end, Bed Chemistry is a sexy, emotionally layered story that would make an amazing rom-com—just keep that inner monologue intact! Huge thanks to NetGalley and Elizabeth McKenzie for the ARC; all opinions are my own. Fans of The Love Hypothesis and The Paradise Problem will find a lot to love, laugh at, and think about here.

The two characters definitely have chemistry. I liked how I could feel Xavier yearning for Ash throughout the book. I only wish the two main characters got to know each other more.

When I saw the description of this book, I knew that it was going to be exactly my kind of thing, so I requested it and was lucky enough to get it. Thanks!

Ash is so devastated by her parents' relationship and divorce that she decides to live by her mum's book and never catch feelings to avoid getting hurt. She only has one-night stands and never dates.

She finds herself needing money after having lost her job, so her friend Em convinces her to sign in for a sleep study to be able to cover rent before finding another job. That's where she reunites with Xander, the only man who ever made her doubt her no-relationships rule. He suffers from insomnia and really needs to take part in the study, so when they tell them they only need couples, they lie to be accepted and have to sleep in the same bed for a month.

From then on, their banter is phenomenal and Ash starts to question herself regarding her rules because maybe not all men are unfaithful cheaters like her father. Their chemistry is off the charts and Ash tries (not successfully) to convince herself that is only a sexual thing.

The journey of self-discovery she goes through and the way she gets Xander back until they finally get their well deserved HEA is precious.

100% recommended.
Happy reading! ❤️

so was bed chem by sabrina carpenter on repeat? definitely.

ashleigh had such a funny personality and i really loved the references she (along with em) made throughout the book! also tiny abba mention >>

if i had to describe xander in one emoji it would be 😛

it had the perfect amount of spice and tension that definitely had me kicking my feet. and let me just say that elevator scene 😮‍💨.

the concept of the book was really interesting and i loved it. overall it was a great read and definitely 4 stars!

thank you netgalley for the ARC!

(Contains some spoilers)

This book was a cute, funny, easy to read rom-com. So many moments had me laughing / smiling or very close to. I think this author has a lot of potential and I am genuinely excited to read their next book!

I liked the whole fake dating, sharing a bed idea and how problems kept arising which nearly led to their cover being blown a couple of times. As mentioned, I loved the banter. I really liked the relationship between the FMC and her best friend - I need a friendship like that. I also liked how despite everything, the MMC was actively working to help the FMC out with her work problem - though I’m not sure how I felt about the ending / her career change.

My only issue - so the MMC claims to have been in love with her since university (or college, I can’t remember sorry)… but then entered into a 5 year relationship with another woman. If after meeting her again, he realised he still had feelings no issue. But if he knew he was in love with her but led another woman on… I can’t do that.

I also hate this cover. The hot pink colour stands out way too much, and I can’t pinpoint what exactly the problem is but the people… look weird. I might buy the kindle copy, but I’m sorry to say I would never buy the physical book.

I had a fun time, and I would recommend this book.

Thank you so much NetGalley and Alcove Press for the eARC of this book!

Oh man, I had trouble getting on board with Ash’s personality. She is like a shotgun blast of horniness, cynicism, and immaturity. It would’ve been great to see a few more lovable qualities in her, especially at the start of the book to get the reader on her team.

Though I think this is such an interesting story premise, I kind of feel like it would be better suited for two strangers. Maybe if Ash had a stuffy, cold acquaintance from school that also randomly signed up for the study that might’ve worked better for me? The couple’s history of the one night stand made everything feel messy, right from the start. Then, any tension that might’ve been built between the pair went right out the window by 25% into the book. I had trouble believing Ash was so obsessed with hookups that she couldn’t hold back for a month, even though she is broke, jobless, and it was pretty much the only rule of the sleep study.

I did appreciate the author’s sense of humor. I found myself chuckling out loud at some of the ridiculous situations Ash got herself into and her unhinged inner thoughts.

Unfortunately, this one was not for me. It definitely had its funny moments and a creative premise, but I couldn’t get on board and root for the female main character. The book felt a little Meghan Quinn to me (mostly in the unhinged shenanigans), but had little of the tension and slow burn that both Ali Hazelwood and Christina Lauren excel at.