Not a Perfect Science
A Novel
by Hadley Leggett
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Pub Date Nov 10 2026 | Archive Date Nov 24 2026
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Description
When the secretly miserable wife of a renowned marriage expert accidentally befriends the undercover journalist investigating him for fraud, all three must confront the consequences of their deceptions.
Dr. Darren Mitchell’s groundbreaking research can measure love on a brain scan, and he’s built an empire teaching couples how to make marriage last. Meanwhile, Nora Mitchell has played the devoted wife and mother, sacrificing her dream of becoming a journalist to support Darren’s skyrocketing career. She keeps her resentment buried deep—until a glamorous new neighbor moves next door.
A successful journalist and recent divorcée, Erika is everything Nora longs to be: bold, unapologetic, and fiercely independent. Their instant friendship awakens a dangerous desire in Nora to imagine herself outside her husband’s shadow. But unbeknownst to Nora, Erika didn’t arrive by accident. She’s investigating an anonymous tip alleging every scrap of Darren’s award-winning research is fake.
As Nora’s unwitting revelations lead Erika closer to the truth, and as Erika’s influence drives a deepening wedge in Nora’s marriage, both women must ask themselves: What are we willing to destroy to have the lives we were meant to live?
A Note From the Publisher
Hadley Leggett writes twisty family dramas exploring truth in shades of gray. She holds a doctorate in medicine from the University of California, San Francisco, and is a graduate of the science communication program at UC Santa Cruz. After moving all over the United States during her childhood, she now lives in Seattle with her husband and three children, as well as three cats and a very sassy rescue pup. She published her first novel, the award-winning All They Ask Is Everything, in 2024. Learn more at https://hadley.ink.
Advance Praise
“A science test that claims to accurately screen for proof of love is the clever and original background for this satisfyingly emotional novel by Hadley Leggett. Two very different women bitterly regret taking part in the test—an overburdened mother who happens to be married to the man behind the test, and a journalist out for revenge. Waiting for the truth about both the test’s authenticity and each woman’s motive to be revealed was a true on-the-edge-of-my-seat reading experience. Women’s fiction at its exciting best.” —Kitty Johnson, Amazon bestselling author of Five Winters and Where the Sea Lavender Grows
“What if love could be measured via a brain scan? As soon as we heard the premise for Not a Perfect Science by Hadley Leggett, we were hooked! We loved this compelling deep dive into a celebrity marriage in trouble, a mother yearning for her lost identity, a perilous love triangle, and a neighbor determined to stir up big trouble. Underlying it all is Leggett’s trademark sharp commentary, this time trained on gender dynamics in both the home and workplace. Kudos to Leggett for another thought-provoking page-turner!” —Tracy Dobmeier and Wendy Katzman, coauthors of Ten Thousand Light Years from Okay
“Hadley Leggett deftly weaves a story of female friendship, marital distress, and betrayal while shining a light on the inherited systems that don’t always serve us. Not a Perfect Science is a delightful exploration of messy relationships, beautifully illustrating that true love, in all its forms, can’t be measured by any machine. Beautifully written and thought-provoking!” —Laura Barrow, author of Call the Canaries Home and The Marriage Slip
Praise for All They Ask Is Everything
“A relevant and absorbing exploration into parenting, foster care, and love.” —Ann Garvin, USA Today bestselling author of There’s No Coming Back from This
“A riveting, heartfelt debut that examines all the nuances of motherhood. I didn’t want it to end.” —Tara Conklin, New York Times bestselling author of The Last Romantics and Community Board
“I loved every page of this engrossing and empathetic story about motherhood and the risks—and rewards—of being a woman in this world.” —Camille Pagán, bestselling author of Good for You
“Unputdownable, laugh-out-loud funny, and thought provoking all at the same time. You’ll wonder if Hadley Leggett is eavesdropping on your life in this relatable exploration of marriage, motherhood, friendship, and the art—and science—of love.” —Christine Gunderson, bestselling author of Friends with Secrets
Available Editions
| EDITION | Paperback |
| ISBN | 9781662544989 |
| PRICE | $13.83 (USD) |
| PAGES | 319 |