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miszjeanie's review
5.0
e-ARC provided by Rhiza Edge
Full review: https://readingmiddlegrade.com/cant-beat-the-chemistry-review/
Full review: https://readingmiddlegrade.com/cant-beat-the-chemistry-review/
quillify_'s review
5.0
I really, really loved the character development and writing style in this one! I normally don’t like first person POV but this one was so engaging, and it helped a lot that both the leads were fully fleshed out, with their own character arcs and paths to follow. Also appreciated the discussion on academic pressure and the role moms can play in saddling kids with expectations. My only gripe is that all these issues were resolved a little too fast for the book to end. That’s all.
litloulou's review
4.0
4 stars!
This was light and kinda precious. I thought MJ would be a bit too cliche but she did things that surprised me so she wasn't as flat as she originally seemed. A few cute side characters too. Overall a feel good story. Will say I finished it same day, but I had to slow it down to keep up with the accent on the audiobook. Didn't like there was not a boy narrator but that doesn't make it or break it.
This was light and kinda precious. I thought MJ would be a bit too cliche but she did things that surprised me so she wasn't as flat as she originally seemed. A few cute side characters too. Overall a feel good story. Will say I finished it same day, but I had to slow it down to keep up with the accent on the audiobook. Didn't like there was not a boy narrator but that doesn't make it or break it.
emilyheart's review
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
milkteajeon's review
2.5; mj..... her difficulty with social interaction started to feel more like an excuse the more i read. luke is sweet and i couldn't stand to read any more of mj being incredible judgmental and just putting him down over and over again.
booksare42's review
5.0
I received an advanced copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.
MJ is smart, driven, and focused on getting the grades required to fulfill her mother’s dreams of her becoming a surgeon. She thinks that tutoring her brother’s roommate, Luke, in chemistry is a waste of her time. She thinks that Luke is a deadbeat drummer and she’d rather focus on impressing her science partner, Jason. As the story unfolds, MJ discovers that people are so much more than they seem and that first impressions are often very wrong.
My favourite thing about this book was the characters. I absolutely loved MJ and Luke because even though they’re meant to be opposites, they’re quite similar. They both have drive and determination, and a voice in their head that won’t leave them alone. They’re both incredibly caring, and they help each other face some difficult demons and to make the decision that is best for them, not for everyone else. They’re both cinnamon rolls, and I will ship them forever.
I liked that this book was so much more than the bad boy and the good girl falling for each other. It’s a book about facing hard truths and making difficult decisions that might end up hurting people. It’s about re-examining your decisions and deciding to put yourself first. It’s about learning to believe in yourself when you’ve spent your entire life doubting everything. It’s about a brilliant group of kids with developmental disorders rocking out because someone took the time to believe in them.
The other reason why I loved this book is that it hit painfully close to home for me. MJ’s true interest is genetics because she discovered that there’s a genetic disorder in her family. When I was a little bit younger than MJ, I discovered that there was a genetic disorder in my family, and ten years later, I still haven’t dealt with it. This is the first book that I’ve read that deals with a teenager discovering something like this. I was able to relate to MJ because of her mixed reaction and emotions.
Overall, I recommend this book to anyone who likes books with cinnamon roll characters, a shippable pair, and dramatic realizations and love confessions.
MJ is smart, driven, and focused on getting the grades required to fulfill her mother’s dreams of her becoming a surgeon. She thinks that tutoring her brother’s roommate, Luke, in chemistry is a waste of her time. She thinks that Luke is a deadbeat drummer and she’d rather focus on impressing her science partner, Jason. As the story unfolds, MJ discovers that people are so much more than they seem and that first impressions are often very wrong.
My favourite thing about this book was the characters. I absolutely loved MJ and Luke because even though they’re meant to be opposites, they’re quite similar. They both have drive and determination, and a voice in their head that won’t leave them alone. They’re both incredibly caring, and they help each other face some difficult demons and to make the decision that is best for them, not for everyone else. They’re both cinnamon rolls, and I will ship them forever.
I liked that this book was so much more than the bad boy and the good girl falling for each other. It’s a book about facing hard truths and making difficult decisions that might end up hurting people. It’s about re-examining your decisions and deciding to put yourself first. It’s about learning to believe in yourself when you’ve spent your entire life doubting everything. It’s about a brilliant group of kids with developmental disorders rocking out because someone took the time to believe in them.
The other reason why I loved this book is that it hit painfully close to home for me. MJ’s true interest is genetics because she discovered that there’s a genetic disorder in her family. When I was a little bit younger than MJ, I discovered that there was a genetic disorder in my family, and ten years later, I still haven’t dealt with it. This is the first book that I’ve read that deals with a teenager discovering something like this. I was able to relate to MJ because of her mixed reaction and emotions.
Overall, I recommend this book to anyone who likes books with cinnamon roll characters, a shippable pair, and dramatic realizations and love confessions.
felicitysbooks's review
5.0
Great holiday read - romantic, with real characters, and laughs. MJ is book smart, but a klutz with romance. Luke has great arms and a great heart. The kissing scenes were A++, hot but clean, a Kat Colmer trademark. Definitely recommended!
ashleigh_genevieve's review
5.0
I knew just by looking at the title and the blurb that this book would be just the type for me i.e a huge sucker for romantic comedies and romantic drama (actually, anything to do with romance)
MJ a smart, overachiever in science wants to become a genetic scientist, however, she is instead chasing her moms dreams of becoming something else. MJ is someone who I can personally relate to, a mixed child with a Chinese and Norwegian background, (breaking the stereotype that Asians are tiger parents because her mom is actually the one with the Norwegian background). And MJ is also a boarder, a weekly one to be exact. As a mixed child and an (ex) border, I can tell you this book holds true to its world. The beginning of the book PERFECTLY described what it's like to have a boy in the house (especially cause I go to an all girls boarding school), every single detail of boarding is true, from the weekend to leaves, to getting home by six, and I praise Kat so much for getting every finer detail right.
I fell in love with Luke while reading his book because behind that façade dead beat drummer vibe, there is a gentle young man who cares and loves his down syndrome sister so much that he does voluntary teaching for special ed kids. His determination and charm is what surprised me so much about his character, yes I had to admit I was expecting a 'bad boy' persona from him, but instead, I get this beautiful loving side of this character.
The chemistry (haha) between MJ and Luke is not obvious at the start, but as the book progresses you can clearly see it's two complete polar opposites trying to bring out the best in each other.
The basic storyline (without me trying to reveal any spoilers) is that Luke is struggling with first-year uni chemistry, so he asks his roommate Theo, who is also MJ's brother if he can have help from MJ. Reluctantly MJ agrees in exchange for drum lessons for her best friend Sandy.
This YA story is by far one of the best because there is so much I can relate in this book, and Kat Colmer's writing is absolutely beautiful. I sped through this book in about two days staying up on school nights to read it!
Ultimately this book is about (trying not to sound cheesy here) finding who you really are and overcoming those fears you have. It's about discovering yourself, what you what in life and choosing that path. Finally, it's about finding love in the most unlikely of places and people and embracing that.
I received an ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
MJ a smart, overachiever in science wants to become a genetic scientist, however, she is instead chasing her moms dreams of becoming something else. MJ is someone who I can personally relate to, a mixed child with a Chinese and Norwegian background, (breaking the stereotype that Asians are tiger parents because her mom is actually the one with the Norwegian background). And MJ is also a boarder, a weekly one to be exact. As a mixed child and an (ex) border, I can tell you this book holds true to its world. The beginning of the book PERFECTLY described what it's like to have a boy in the house (especially cause I go to an all girls boarding school), every single detail of boarding is true, from the weekend to leaves, to getting home by six, and I praise Kat so much for getting every finer detail right.
I fell in love with Luke while reading his book because behind that façade dead beat drummer vibe, there is a gentle young man who cares and loves his down syndrome sister so much that he does voluntary teaching for special ed kids. His determination and charm is what surprised me so much about his character, yes I had to admit I was expecting a 'bad boy' persona from him, but instead, I get this beautiful loving side of this character.
The chemistry (haha) between MJ and Luke is not obvious at the start, but as the book progresses you can clearly see it's two complete polar opposites trying to bring out the best in each other.
The basic storyline (without me trying to reveal any spoilers) is that Luke is struggling with first-year uni chemistry, so he asks his roommate Theo, who is also MJ's brother if he can have help from MJ. Reluctantly MJ agrees in exchange for drum lessons for her best friend Sandy.
This YA story is by far one of the best because there is so much I can relate in this book, and Kat Colmer's writing is absolutely beautiful. I sped through this book in about two days staying up on school nights to read it!
Ultimately this book is about (trying not to sound cheesy here) finding who you really are and overcoming those fears you have. It's about discovering yourself, what you what in life and choosing that path. Finally, it's about finding love in the most unlikely of places and people and embracing that.
I received an ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
jayati's review
4.0
It’s pre-med brains that turn me on, not drum belting bleeding hearts.
Mj is often harsh and judgemental. She's very intelligent when it comes to studies but clueless at social situations and when she decided to tutor her brother's roommate, Luke, she often comes to realise that her judgements can be wrong.
Through the book, we see how she develops and turns into a girl that is not only more openminded but also more compassionate and kind.
Her parents - specifically her mother - are hard on her and want for her to become a doctor even though that is not what she really wants and MJ learns to fight back and speak up for what she thinks is right along the way.
Somewhere along the way, MJ starts falling for Luke instead of Jason - her brainy Science partner - which is the starting of a cute and authentic love story.
'Can't Beat the Chemistry' is a heartwarming tale about how people are not always what they seem to be and how they can have hidden depths in them that one could never imagine.
I am really glad I read this book because I really enjoyed it!
Mj is often harsh and judgemental. She's very intelligent when it comes to studies but clueless at social situations and when she decided to tutor her brother's roommate, Luke, she often comes to realise that her judgements can be wrong.
Through the book, we see how she develops and turns into a girl that is not only more openminded but also more compassionate and kind.
Her parents - specifically her mother - are hard on her and want for her to become a doctor even though that is not what she really wants and MJ learns to fight back and speak up for what she thinks is right along the way.
Somewhere along the way, MJ starts falling for Luke instead of Jason - her brainy Science partner - which is the starting of a cute and authentic love story.
'Can't Beat the Chemistry' is a heartwarming tale about how people are not always what they seem to be and how they can have hidden depths in them that one could never imagine.
I am really glad I read this book because I really enjoyed it!