Physical Chemistry

Title: Physical Chemistry
Author: Jana Downs
Cover Artist: Reese Dante
Publisher: Silver Publishing
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Genre: contemporary, romance
Length: Novella (87 pages/17704 words)
Rating: 4 stars out of 5

A Guest Review by Larissa

Review Summary: a sweet, funny, nerdy frenemy story that gives new meaning to the word chemistry

 Blurb

Nico Johnston doesn’t care that fellow chemist, Jin, is gorgeous, kind, and talented; Nico can’t risk getting involved with a man like Jin. Together for a semester, Jin hopes their shared project will lead to more than good test results.

Nico Johnston is a nerd with a grudge. Top of his class in the Chemical Engineering department, Nico’s academic career is set. Until Jin Rogers transfers from Penn State and usurps his position as highest-ranked student. To add insult to injury, Jin joins the research project Nico is conducting for the department head. It doesn’t matter that Jin is gorgeous, kind, and talented, Nico can’t risk getting even involved with a man like Jin again.

Jin Rogers falls for Nico the second he sees him. Nico is intelligent, talented, and driven, qualities which intrigue Jin. Unfortunately, Nico is oblivious to Jin’s crush. Their shared research project is Jin’s only hope.

Tempers and passions flare as they are forced into constant, close contact during the semester. Can Jin overcome his imperfections and can Nico give himself a chance at happiness?

Review

When Nico decides he doesn’t like someone, he does so with the flare of a five year old. All screeching and stomping his foot. It would be annoying if it wasn’t slightly cute, even for a grown up.

Poor Jin, recently transferred from Penn State dared to enter Nico’s world and take his spot as a highest ranking student. Oh the insult! Kingdoms have fallen over less! Or so Nico thinks. So he does everything in his power to hate poor Jin, who has the biggest crush on Nico in return. Really. Poor unfortunate kid. What was he thinking?!

Luckily, Jin is pretty persistent and has a trebuchet that keeps battering at Nico’s walls. Will he be successful?

Physical Chemistry is a very sweet, uncomplicated, funny and geeky story. As far as I know it’s the author’s first attempt at a contemporary romance after having written mostly paranormal and urban fantasy and she did a good job. Mind you, Physical Romance is not an in depth story, but more a funny light hearted read that will pick you up and have you laughing in no time.

The story is told from Nico’s point of view; hence he becomes the more rounded character. Nico comes across as the biggest arrogant idiot. Albeit a very nerdy one. He lives in his head and he lives for science. Nothing else matters. Except his studies and his sister.

From the start it is pretty clear he has a wall built around him to rival Fort Knox and it’s there for a reason. Once the reader gets to know him a little better, he’s not so bad. Even though there were a few instances I really wanted to kick his ass.

The reader gets less info on Jin, which is a shame. He is viewed through Nico and we get titbits from his roommate Carl – who is probably the worst matchmaker in the history of matchmakers.

Jin comes across as an easy going person with a little bit of arrogance because of his academic achievements. Like Nico, he lives in his head, but not as much. He is actually very sweet and caring. Stubborn too. Very very stubborn! Fortunately for us!

It’s clear from the story that we’re dealing with two nerds of the highest order and that comes back in the conversations and the romances. It had me cracking up. Brilliant! At some point in the story Jin gives Nico the perfect nerdy gift. If you want to know what, you’ll just have to pick up the story, I’m not telling!

Overall, Physical Chemistry is a nice light story to read on a sunny afternoon. The story will probably appeal more to the more geeky reader, who gets some of the references, but they are not too bad.