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Stella Blunt #1
Chemistry
He's offering her his heart.
Literally.
The award-winning girl-power twist on Twilight that readers fall in love with.
The characters jump off the page in this sassy, body-positive tale of love, life, and undeath from award-winning author C.L. Lynch.
"Stella is no Bella... not your run-of-the-mill zombie book, this title has heart." - School Library Journal
"Now love is in the air... even if it smells a bit like formaldehyde." - IndieReader Discovery Awards (Winner 2017)
17-year-old Stella Blunt has a big body and a bigger personality. She fends off bullies with her razor wit, foul mouth, and clenched fists.
Only one person can see beyond her defensive exterior.
Shy, geeky Howie Mullins loves Stella's brains, her wit, and her extra curves. From the moment she walks into his chemistry class, he is smitten.
Stella has no idea how to handle Howie. She's never had an admirer before, and he is cute, in an "adorkable" sort of way. But there's something strange about Howie.
Actually, there are a lot of strange things about Howie, from the way he talks to the way he eats. Oh, and he has a possibly-contagious, mysterious disease.
Just what everyone wants in a boyfriend.
Now undead hordes are showing up at Stella's door, and Howie might be to blame. Stella must decide who to trust, and quickly.
Will Stella take a chance on love? Or should she take it out with a meat cleaver?
Pick Chemistry up now, because you won't be able to put it down.
Literally.
The award-winning girl-power twist on Twilight that readers fall in love with.
The characters jump off the page in this sassy, body-positive tale of love, life, and undeath from award-winning author C.L. Lynch.
"Stella is no Bella... not your run-of-the-mill zombie book, this title has heart." - School Library Journal
"Now love is in the air... even if it smells a bit like formaldehyde." - IndieReader Discovery Awards (Winner 2017)
17-year-old Stella Blunt has a big body and a bigger personality. She fends off bullies with her razor wit, foul mouth, and clenched fists.
Only one person can see beyond her defensive exterior.
Shy, geeky Howie Mullins loves Stella's brains, her wit, and her extra curves. From the moment she walks into his chemistry class, he is smitten.
Stella has no idea how to handle Howie. She's never had an admirer before, and he is cute, in an "adorkable" sort of way. But there's something strange about Howie.
Actually, there are a lot of strange things about Howie, from the way he talks to the way he eats. Oh, and he has a possibly-contagious, mysterious disease.
Just what everyone wants in a boyfriend.
Now undead hordes are showing up at Stella's door, and Howie might be to blame. Stella must decide who to trust, and quickly.
Will Stella take a chance on love? Or should she take it out with a meat cleaver?
Pick Chemistry up now, because you won't be able to put it down.
374 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 23, 2016
477 people are currently reading
2017 people want to read
About the author
C.L. Lynch
8 books159 followersC.L. Lynch is a socially awkward introvert living in Vancouver, B.C. She wrote her first novel, Chemistry, because she wanted to write a book which was “the exact opposite of Twilight,” featuring an assertive heroine and a respectful love interest. She ended up with a snarky zombie rom-com which Foreword Magazine called "funny and irreverent" and YA Book Central called "awesomely sarcastic and completely witty".
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 185 reviews
August 11, 2020
CW: Gory scenes
I absolutely loved this audiobook. It was one of the funniest books I have ever read. FYI, spontaneously bursting out into hyena style laughter in the toilet paper aisle of your local supermarket results in people clutching their children close and giving you a wide berth. Sorry lady with the blue jacket on, I didn't mean to scare you. It's just that Howard Mullin's dad was reassuring Stella's dad about her safety.
"Are you telling me young Howard here is only interested in Stella because of her brain?"
Dad turned to look at Howie. My mother looked at my father with a furrowed brow. "That's supposed to be a good thing."
"Well not when you think about it from the point of view that he's a zombie."
Mr Mullin shook his head. "May I remind you that this whole family is infected with the same virus as Howard and that he is the only one interested in a romantic relationship with her. We are all aware of Stella's attractive qualities but we merely wish to eat her."
There was long pause. Hazel whispered in her father's ear.
"Ah yes, I realise that may not have been as reassuring as it was intended to be."
Gold. Absolute gold.
Stella is simply the best. I love zombie books and I totally enjoyed the Twilightesque parody vibe that was going on. I am actually going straight in for a re-listen but with a notebook close by to write down some of the zingers that Stella delivered to people she felt disdain towards...which was nearly everyone. Sit back with this one and just have fun!
Gotta love a smart, overweight and attitudinal heroine!
I absolutely loved this audiobook. It was one of the funniest books I have ever read. FYI, spontaneously bursting out into hyena style laughter in the toilet paper aisle of your local supermarket results in people clutching their children close and giving you a wide berth. Sorry lady with the blue jacket on, I didn't mean to scare you. It's just that Howard Mullin's dad was reassuring Stella's dad about her safety.
"Are you telling me young Howard here is only interested in Stella because of her brain?"
Dad turned to look at Howie. My mother looked at my father with a furrowed brow. "That's supposed to be a good thing."
"Well not when you think about it from the point of view that he's a zombie."
Mr Mullin shook his head. "May I remind you that this whole family is infected with the same virus as Howard and that he is the only one interested in a romantic relationship with her. We are all aware of Stella's attractive qualities but we merely wish to eat her."
There was long pause. Hazel whispered in her father's ear.
"Ah yes, I realise that may not have been as reassuring as it was intended to be."
Gold. Absolute gold.
Stella is simply the best. I love zombie books and I totally enjoyed the Twilightesque parody vibe that was going on. I am actually going straight in for a re-listen but with a notebook close by to write down some of the zingers that Stella delivered to people she felt disdain towards...which was nearly everyone. Sit back with this one and just have fun!
Gotta love a smart, overweight and attitudinal heroine!
December 29, 2016
I'm reasonably pleased with this book, and I hope to write even better ones in the future.
December 1, 2016
*I received a copy of the book via NetGally in exchange for a honest review , Thanks!*
Full review on A Book. A Thought.
This was so good guys, much better than I thought it would be.
When you see the book cover you probably think, what is this ?, a kind of Twilight with a zombie thing?.
Well the truth that is far from that, I've loved the way that writer to put everything in this story, the characters are incredible, each with a personality super different from the other, but what stands out more to this book, is that isn't at all a typical story, it's catchy, original and above all, super fun. I really like this book !!. , And although that isn't something that specifically searches in a book, but when humor is so cleverly incorporated to the plot, it just makes you enjoy it. it has been one of my easiest and quickest readings of the year!
A very good book debut for the author, without doubt I would like to read more of her work in the future! :)
August 14, 2018
You can find this review and more at Novel Notions.
If you put Warm Bodies and Twilight in a blender and add a heaping helping of sarcasm, you would end up with Chemistry. It’s billed as a “sassy, body-positive, snarky twist on Twilight,” and it is absolutely the truth. I love the Twilight Saga and probably always will; it’s incredibly addictive and one of my ultimate guilty pleasure reads, even though I know it’s problematic on multiple levels. But Lynch added an element to her parody that was missing in the original; humor in droves. While Twilight might make you giggle or roll your eyes in places, it never made me physically bust out laughing, which this book did countless times.
Stella, our main character, is a plus-sized teen who knows kung fu, but her greatest weapon is her bitingly sharp sarcasm. This girl is crazy smart, and fully embraces who she is, even when she’s bullied by others for her size. Her confidence was what I was hoping to see in Seanan McGuire’s Beneath the Sugar Sky, which fell very flat for me in this regard. Chemistry didn’t let me down. Stella Blunt is everything Bella Swan should have been in Twilight; she’s strong and smart and snarky and unerringly sees the value in herself. She doesn’t need someone to take care of her. Stella’s confidence in herself leaped off the page, and that confidence and her amazing brain attract some unwanted attention in the form of the biggest loser in school: Howard Mullins.
Howie is everything that Twilight’s Edward should have been, as well. He’s respectful and thoughtful and kind, a chivalrous gentleman caught in the wrong era. He isn’t at all pushy or controlling, and would happily settle for Stella’s friendship if that’s all she decided to offer. While Edward is a more attractive male lead, Howie is the one I would actually allow to date my daughter. Well, except for the fact that he’s kind of a zombie.
This is probably the twist to the Twilight story that delighted me the most. Instead of stunningly attractive vampires with morose backstories that have left them scarred, we have a family of awkward zombies who stumble through life as happily as they can. The zombie element accomplished everything that the vampire element did in Twilight, but in a way that was funnier and somehow lighter. There was so much more gore in this book than in Twilight, but the tone was still somehow brighter.
I also loved the fact that Stella’s parents were still together and that they had a fun, amazingly close relationship with each other and their daughter. They’re the dream family unit, and I love them so much. I feel like part of what attracted Bella to the Cullens family was the closeness they had with each other and her desire to experience that closeness. Stella didn’t need that, because she already had it. The relationships in the book were wonderful, and made me very happy.
Every major event and plot point in the first book of the Twilight Saga was mirrored in some form or fashion here. If you’ve read the Meyer’s series, you’ll really enjoy watching as parallel events unfold in Chemistry, but in ways that are often radically different. If you’ve never read Twilight and maybe never intend to because you know it just won’t be your thing, you can still undoubtedly enjoy this book without feeling like you’re missing anything; it definitely stands on its own and is a self-contained story in its own right.
I am so incredibly impressed by Lynch’s writing. This is a self-published novel, but suffered from none of the editing issues I’ve found in many other self-published works. Nor did this book ever suffer from pacing issues or stilted dialogue or anything else that might cause a sudden disconnect with the story. I can’t believe that this is a first novel, and I applaud the author for her transparency about being autistic. She has my respect and readership, and I’m super interested to see where she goes with this series. For once, I’m happy that I have to deal with ads, because if it wasn’t for a special offer on my Kindle’s lock screen, I would have never known this book existed. It’s a hidden gem that deserves so much more notoriety.
The only warning I feel needs to be attached to this review is a profanity alert. This is a great YA story, but it is filled with profanity. Seriously, so profane. So, if you’re a parent who is thinking about letting your teenager read these books, just be aware of that. But other than that, it’s pretty much perfect. I recommend Chemistry to anyone who loves strong heroines, quirky romances, and insane levels of snark.
If you put Warm Bodies and Twilight in a blender and add a heaping helping of sarcasm, you would end up with Chemistry. It’s billed as a “sassy, body-positive, snarky twist on Twilight,” and it is absolutely the truth. I love the Twilight Saga and probably always will; it’s incredibly addictive and one of my ultimate guilty pleasure reads, even though I know it’s problematic on multiple levels. But Lynch added an element to her parody that was missing in the original; humor in droves. While Twilight might make you giggle or roll your eyes in places, it never made me physically bust out laughing, which this book did countless times.
Stella, our main character, is a plus-sized teen who knows kung fu, but her greatest weapon is her bitingly sharp sarcasm. This girl is crazy smart, and fully embraces who she is, even when she’s bullied by others for her size. Her confidence was what I was hoping to see in Seanan McGuire’s Beneath the Sugar Sky, which fell very flat for me in this regard. Chemistry didn’t let me down. Stella Blunt is everything Bella Swan should have been in Twilight; she’s strong and smart and snarky and unerringly sees the value in herself. She doesn’t need someone to take care of her. Stella’s confidence in herself leaped off the page, and that confidence and her amazing brain attract some unwanted attention in the form of the biggest loser in school: Howard Mullins.
Howie is everything that Twilight’s Edward should have been, as well. He’s respectful and thoughtful and kind, a chivalrous gentleman caught in the wrong era. He isn’t at all pushy or controlling, and would happily settle for Stella’s friendship if that’s all she decided to offer. While Edward is a more attractive male lead, Howie is the one I would actually allow to date my daughter. Well, except for the fact that he’s kind of a zombie.
This is probably the twist to the Twilight story that delighted me the most. Instead of stunningly attractive vampires with morose backstories that have left them scarred, we have a family of awkward zombies who stumble through life as happily as they can. The zombie element accomplished everything that the vampire element did in Twilight, but in a way that was funnier and somehow lighter. There was so much more gore in this book than in Twilight, but the tone was still somehow brighter.
I also loved the fact that Stella’s parents were still together and that they had a fun, amazingly close relationship with each other and their daughter. They’re the dream family unit, and I love them so much. I feel like part of what attracted Bella to the Cullens family was the closeness they had with each other and her desire to experience that closeness. Stella didn’t need that, because she already had it. The relationships in the book were wonderful, and made me very happy.
Every major event and plot point in the first book of the Twilight Saga was mirrored in some form or fashion here. If you’ve read the Meyer’s series, you’ll really enjoy watching as parallel events unfold in Chemistry, but in ways that are often radically different. If you’ve never read Twilight and maybe never intend to because you know it just won’t be your thing, you can still undoubtedly enjoy this book without feeling like you’re missing anything; it definitely stands on its own and is a self-contained story in its own right.
I am so incredibly impressed by Lynch’s writing. This is a self-published novel, but suffered from none of the editing issues I’ve found in many other self-published works. Nor did this book ever suffer from pacing issues or stilted dialogue or anything else that might cause a sudden disconnect with the story. I can’t believe that this is a first novel, and I applaud the author for her transparency about being autistic. She has my respect and readership, and I’m super interested to see where she goes with this series. For once, I’m happy that I have to deal with ads, because if it wasn’t for a special offer on my Kindle’s lock screen, I would have never known this book existed. It’s a hidden gem that deserves so much more notoriety.
The only warning I feel needs to be attached to this review is a profanity alert. This is a great YA story, but it is filled with profanity. Seriously, so profane. So, if you’re a parent who is thinking about letting your teenager read these books, just be aware of that. But other than that, it’s pretty much perfect. I recommend Chemistry to anyone who loves strong heroines, quirky romances, and insane levels of snark.
March 11, 2017
First glance at the cover of this book and it resembles that of Twilight, until I looked closer and noticed that's a heart, not an apple. The character names are similar: Stella, Howard, Dr. Mullins. Also, Howie and his family are undead, but they aren't vampires. That's where the similarities end.
I consider this story to be a wonderful parody of Twilight. Stella is loudly opinionated and doesn't put up with crap from anyone. I absolutely love her sarcastic sense of humor and quick wit. Her self-confidence and ability to stand up for herself are admirable considering she was and is teased often. This may be a result of the positive relationship she has with her parents, as they seem to respect her as much as she respects them.
Howie is completely adorable and amusing without even trying. His undying (tee-hee) devotion to Stella is sweet and smile-worthy. Such a gentleman! No matter what happens to his dog Army, he can always be put back together. That's my kind of dog!!
This book is the first in the series and provides a sneak peek at the next book. I found this story hilarious and truly enjoyable.
I consider this story to be a wonderful parody of Twilight. Stella is loudly opinionated and doesn't put up with crap from anyone. I absolutely love her sarcastic sense of humor and quick wit. Her self-confidence and ability to stand up for herself are admirable considering she was and is teased often. This may be a result of the positive relationship she has with her parents, as they seem to respect her as much as she respects them.
Howie is completely adorable and amusing without even trying. His undying (tee-hee) devotion to Stella is sweet and smile-worthy. Such a gentleman! No matter what happens to his dog Army, he can always be put back together. That's my kind of dog!!
This book is the first in the series and provides a sneak peek at the next book. I found this story hilarious and truly enjoyable.
May 2, 2018
i'm sorry.
i just can't do it. reading the first chapters just killed my vibe.
stella just sounds like a petulant child. i don't have time for these games.
________
i know this is a knock off of twilight, but what the hell.
it's got zombies in it.
annnnnnd ... it's free on amazon.
why not?
November 19, 2016
**** 5 Cranky Stars ****
This one couldn’t have arrived in my kindle on a more perfect timing! One: I was in a book funk and everything I’ve been reading had been mediocre at best. Two: I was addicted to The Walking Dead TV series. Three: I was in need of a good laugh.
Stella Blunt is a seventeen-year-old out-spoken teenager who had been forced to move to a completely different country and (worse!) a new high school in the middle of the school year in order for her mom to have her dream job. True to her surname, Stella is BLUNT in freaking capitals! If I could write this entire review in big capitals, I still think I wouldn’t have given Stella justice.
At first, I didn’t like her I have to admit. But I think it’s more to do with my personality than the story itself. I’m not one to swear out-loud and when I do, it would be because I was beyond angry. So for me to fall in love with a book with the heroine with swear words leaking out of her ears is nothing short of a miracle.
And that miracle is called Howie.
Howie is the high school zombie who fell in love with our unlikely heroine who made me fall in love with practically everyone in the story despite his almost robotic way of speaking and occasional lurching gait. As long as he’s had his daily brain rations, he’s good to go!
Stella is not your typical book girlfriend. She’s plus size and had suffered and triumphed over her bullies in her previous school. You can’t really blame her for acting out when that well-earned comfort/safe zone had been yanked out from under her with the move. Once again she has to face bullies, just now with a different accent. To make it worse, the biggest school nerd started drooling all over her!
I giggled, cringed and swooned over Howie throughout the book. I settled down to a nice young adult read then to my pleasant surprise, exciting things started to happen! BHAM! I was thrown into a zombie apocalypse. But this time, I was siding with the Team Zombie. What a twist of fate!
Suffice to say I really REALLY enjoyed this book. Plus, it gave me a heartbreaking peek of Howie’s story in book 2, History, which I can predict now, would make me ugly-cry!
This one couldn’t have arrived in my kindle on a more perfect timing! One: I was in a book funk and everything I’ve been reading had been mediocre at best. Two: I was addicted to The Walking Dead TV series. Three: I was in need of a good laugh.
Stella Blunt is a seventeen-year-old out-spoken teenager who had been forced to move to a completely different country and (worse!) a new high school in the middle of the school year in order for her mom to have her dream job. True to her surname, Stella is BLUNT in freaking capitals! If I could write this entire review in big capitals, I still think I wouldn’t have given Stella justice.
At first, I didn’t like her I have to admit. But I think it’s more to do with my personality than the story itself. I’m not one to swear out-loud and when I do, it would be because I was beyond angry. So for me to fall in love with a book with the heroine with swear words leaking out of her ears is nothing short of a miracle.
And that miracle is called Howie.
Howie is the high school zombie who fell in love with our unlikely heroine who made me fall in love with practically everyone in the story despite his almost robotic way of speaking and occasional lurching gait. As long as he’s had his daily brain rations, he’s good to go!
Stella is not your typical book girlfriend. She’s plus size and had suffered and triumphed over her bullies in her previous school. You can’t really blame her for acting out when that well-earned comfort/safe zone had been yanked out from under her with the move. Once again she has to face bullies, just now with a different accent. To make it worse, the biggest school nerd started drooling all over her!
I giggled, cringed and swooned over Howie throughout the book. I settled down to a nice young adult read then to my pleasant surprise, exciting things started to happen! BHAM! I was thrown into a zombie apocalypse. But this time, I was siding with the Team Zombie. What a twist of fate!
Suffice to say I really REALLY enjoyed this book. Plus, it gave me a heartbreaking peek of Howie’s story in book 2, History, which I can predict now, would make me ugly-cry!
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December 23, 2016
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This was an AMAZING book! I could not put it down. Chemistry by CL Lynch is everything Twilight should have been. It is funny, empowering, and still romantic. It is extremely telling how quickly I devoured it considering I absolutely hate anything zombies.
Lynch does a tremendous job keeping true to Twilight and keeping opposite. We have new student Stella Blunt who is large and in charge. This was so freaking great, to finally have a protagonist that can be good looking and large at the same time. Not curvy, large. She even makes jokes about it which endears her even more. Then, we have the actual realistic new student scenario where instead of being worshiped as Bella was, she is ostracized because really, who moves to a new school in the middle of the year just to be warmly welcomed by the student body when they never were at their old school?
The dynamic between Howard and Stella is fantastic. They joke about him being creepy and her warning him he better not watch her sleep, another great nod to Twilight. Howard is old fashioned, but apologizes for it and is awkward. He isn’t the suave brooder Edward was, which really, would someone that refuses to talk to the rest of the population actually be Mr Popularity?
Chemistry by CL Lynch reads much more true to life than Twilight. It’s funny and quirky with great pacing and an engaging storyline. Please, if you’ve read Twilight, do yourself a favor and pick this up. It is amazing!
// I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this title. //
January 2, 2017
*This book was received via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*
I really liked this book. When I read the blurb and was promised a zombie rom-com reminiscent of Warm Bodies I couldn't wait. Thankfully, I wasn't disappointed. Stella is a strong, independent heroine who is likable and I think relate-able to most teenagers. Howard is also a life-like character who is sweet and also a zombie. The whole idea that a virus could cause the body to die yet be augmented and controlled by the virus itself is fascinating. I really appreciated the science explained in this book and liked the explanation of how Howard was saved from becoming a mindless zombie. I did however find Howard's attraction and unwavering devotion to Stella a bit weird but am being open minded about it as we are, after all, dealing with the supernatural. I also felt sorry for Howard as he had to keep on eating brains to keep up with Stella's intelligence. I also really enjoyed the action within the book including the multiple zombie attacks and Stella's continual battles with her tormentors. Stella's relationship with Howard was also interesting as she despised him at first but eventually comes to love him. Finally, Stella's parents were also interesting characters and I especially liked their role in the final showdown with the zombies. Overall, this was a great read with interesting characters, an interesting plot and a unique take on the zombie apocalypse.
I really liked this book. When I read the blurb and was promised a zombie rom-com reminiscent of Warm Bodies I couldn't wait. Thankfully, I wasn't disappointed. Stella is a strong, independent heroine who is likable and I think relate-able to most teenagers. Howard is also a life-like character who is sweet and also a zombie. The whole idea that a virus could cause the body to die yet be augmented and controlled by the virus itself is fascinating. I really appreciated the science explained in this book and liked the explanation of how Howard was saved from becoming a mindless zombie. I did however find Howard's attraction and unwavering devotion to Stella a bit weird but am being open minded about it as we are, after all, dealing with the supernatural. I also felt sorry for Howard as he had to keep on eating brains to keep up with Stella's intelligence. I also really enjoyed the action within the book including the multiple zombie attacks and Stella's continual battles with her tormentors. Stella's relationship with Howard was also interesting as she despised him at first but eventually comes to love him. Finally, Stella's parents were also interesting characters and I especially liked their role in the final showdown with the zombies. Overall, this was a great read with interesting characters, an interesting plot and a unique take on the zombie apocalypse.
December 29, 2016
I didn't expect to fall in love with this story.
I have high respect with Stella because she is not the typical protagonist. She is a bad ass teenager with a loud personality!
Oh my heart, Howie! How can you be a romantic zombie? I adore his persistence and everything about him actually!
Stella's parents are so cool! Howie's family, especially his sister is incredibly creepy.
To everyone who is thinking this is a 'Twilight' spin off or what so ever, it is not. The cover is much like Twilight, but the story is definitely different.
Congratulations to C.L Lynch for your first book. I can't wait for HISTORY where it will be Howard's POV!
Thank you for the ARC: Netgalley and One Tall Tree Press!
I have high respect with Stella because she is not the typical protagonist. She is a bad ass teenager with a loud personality!
Oh my heart, Howie! How can you be a romantic zombie? I adore his persistence and everything about him actually!
Stella's parents are so cool! Howie's family, especially his sister is incredibly creepy.
To everyone who is thinking this is a 'Twilight' spin off or what so ever, it is not. The cover is much like Twilight, but the story is definitely different.
Congratulations to C.L Lynch for your first book. I can't wait for HISTORY where it will be Howard's POV!
Thank you for the ARC: Netgalley and One Tall Tree Press!
April 23, 2018
This book was an absolute delight. It's the story that would happen if Warm Bodies, iZombie, and Pride and Prejudice and Zombies were all mashed up together. Like those stories, the zombie aspect is very present, but more as a set piece than a focus of the story, and it doesn't lean too heavily into the gore/gross factor that is inherent in zombie-ism, which I'm grateful for. It is a parody of Twilight in that it has a similar plot progression--and takes a ton of hilarious pot shots at the story that inspired it--but it can stand on its own two feet as a fun, well-plotted story. Having knowledge of the Twilight series will make some of the jokes funnier, but it's not necessary for enjoying this book.
Chemistry succeeds as an overtly feminist work, while managing to avoid being preachy, something I've seen hardly ever (maybe never?). Howie is a beautiful cinnamon roll, too precious for this world, and Stella kicks so much butt and is such a compelling character. She's one of the few protagonists I've encountered recently who is a well-rounded character with a rich inner life, rather than just being a benign lens through which to view the story happening around her, and it is so ridiculously refreshing.
In short, this book is still goofy on a number of levels, but has so much more depth, pathos, and enjoyment factor than I ever would have expected, and I'm so glad to have run across it. I'm glad there's a second book because I need way more of these characters.
Chemistry succeeds as an overtly feminist work, while managing to avoid being preachy, something I've seen hardly ever (maybe never?). Howie is a beautiful cinnamon roll, too precious for this world, and Stella kicks so much butt and is such a compelling character. She's one of the few protagonists I've encountered recently who is a well-rounded character with a rich inner life, rather than just being a benign lens through which to view the story happening around her, and it is so ridiculously refreshing.
In short, this book is still goofy on a number of levels, but has so much more depth, pathos, and enjoyment factor than I ever would have expected, and I'm so glad to have run across it. I'm glad there's a second book because I need way more of these characters.
December 30, 2018
Captivating and humorous, this book kept me laughing till the end.
Stella is a beautifully drawn character and her fiery temper and irascible natural talent for snide comments will endear her to any reader.
Howie is my favourite character for he absolutely seems to adore Stella without any inhibition (amazing brainwaves ,huh!).
I love the dialogue, it's positively delicious. It's crisp, funny and delivered with the right amount of cheesiness.
This is just the read I would suggest to someone in need of a good laugh.
More on my blog: https://soothingrays.wordpress.com
Stella is a beautifully drawn character and her fiery temper and irascible natural talent for snide comments will endear her to any reader.
Howie is my favourite character for he absolutely seems to adore Stella without any inhibition (amazing brainwaves ,huh!).
I love the dialogue, it's positively delicious. It's crisp, funny and delivered with the right amount of cheesiness.
This is just the read I would suggest to someone in need of a good laugh.
More on my blog: https://soothingrays.wordpress.com
Want to read
January 26, 2018💝 FREE on Amazon today (1/26/2018)! 💝
Blurb:
He loves her BRAINS
Winner of the 2017 IndieReader Discovery Awards (Humor)
Stella Blunt's world is ending. Her parents have dragged her across the country, and she has to start over in a new school. This is a big problem, because she doesn't make friends easily: she's large, she's loud, and she doesn't suffer fools gladly.
Within days, Stella has alienated half the school. Only one person seems to like her: Howard Mullins, the shy geek in her Chemistry class. He's the biggest loser in school, but he's a great listener, he's smart at science, and he loves her for her mind. Then again, he drinks brains from a thermos and walks with a lurch.
Now undead hordes are showing up at her door, and Howard Mullins might be to blame. Can Stella manage the bullies, figure out her complicated love life, and handle a chainsaw?
Chemistry is a girl-powered, irreverent twist on Twilight from award-winning author C.L. Lynch, who thinks zombies and big girls deserve love, too.
Blurb:
He loves her BRAINS
Winner of the 2017 IndieReader Discovery Awards (Humor)
Stella Blunt's world is ending. Her parents have dragged her across the country, and she has to start over in a new school. This is a big problem, because she doesn't make friends easily: she's large, she's loud, and she doesn't suffer fools gladly.
Within days, Stella has alienated half the school. Only one person seems to like her: Howard Mullins, the shy geek in her Chemistry class. He's the biggest loser in school, but he's a great listener, he's smart at science, and he loves her for her mind. Then again, he drinks brains from a thermos and walks with a lurch.
Now undead hordes are showing up at her door, and Howard Mullins might be to blame. Can Stella manage the bullies, figure out her complicated love life, and handle a chainsaw?
Chemistry is a girl-powered, irreverent twist on Twilight from award-winning author C.L. Lynch, who thinks zombies and big girls deserve love, too.
March 8, 2018
I am really wondering … (because I do not in any way want to offend an author) BUT …is “Chemistry” by C.L. Lynch meant to be a funny and humorous book? Because if so this author did a great job with her debut novel.
If I am allowed to not take it to serious (even given the paranormal factor I also take those books serious usually) than I have to say I really laughed my A** off .. (sorry for the language but it fits the book) …
I will go with this humorous streak of the novel because if I would think of it in a serious way I would have to really comment on the similarities to twilight being to heavy to ignore. And we do not want to go into that to deep as that would open Pandora’s books (ups BOX I meant) of fan opinions.
For me being a fan of the Twilight series that is a really generous thing to say.
Ok so this book is really hilarious (and I mean that in a good way not negative) It started with the cover that had me laughing and within the first few pages already the dialogue between Stella and her parents almost killed me.
Her sass is adorable.
And then there is Howie … he is really written as the perfect guy – giving his all and expecting nothing.
I think to describe the content the line in the Blurb I saw on Goodreads is really fitting … it is REALLY Like Twilight, but with zombies and - I would have said instead of “feminism” - a female heroin that really kicks dialogue ass.
If you are open to really laugh about something that might remind you of twiligt .. you really should read this book.
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November 27, 2016
Why you should read it: A straight up indie hit!
When I first saw the cover, I pretty much discounted the book as any sort of good read because I LOVE Twilight. But then I thought hey, I’m going to read the description and find out what this nonsense is all about and boy was I absolutely delighted!
The book is a charmingly hilarious rendition of a “zompocalypse” and Ms. Lynch has done wonderful things with a very large and in charge Stella Blunt who is both stellar and very blunt. And then there’s the Mullins’ family who are such awesome characters unto themselves with their spectacularly weird personalities. Let’s also not forget Stella’s parents who are probably the coolest parents in the universe.
Throughout the book I kept trying to find correlations between Chemistry and Twilight and I’m so happy that Chemistry can stand on its own and be an original story. I think the best part of the book is that nobody acts....normal? Or how we think people should act, especially Stella’s parents who are just so quirky and rolled with the punches...er....cleavers?
If you’re looking for a fun read that is imaginative, sassy and bright, give this a shot. You won’t be disappointed!
Rating: 4 Stars
December 14, 2016
Oh wow, I did NOT expect to love this book as much as I did. I got this babe from Netgalley from its publisher in exchange for my feedback, so here it goes!
The easiest way I can describe this book is Twilight with zombies instead of vampires, BUT HOLD ON! Don't go leaving the page just because I said Twilight because I promise that that is where the similarities end. The main character is not naive and super sweet and pliable, oh no, she is totally kick ass with a side of sass. Seriously, she is the absolute complete opposite of Bella and I loved it!
And the main guy? I mean, yeah it's the same instant allure to our MC, but he's attracted to her BRAIN not her smell, which kind of makes it all the better. Also, our MC is NOT a stick figure, she is curvy and it's wonderful. It was a breath of fresh air to read about a main female character who was not described as skinny, but instead as a size eighteen with a big bust. Why? Because as a plus size woman I like reading about women who are close to my size and still kick ass. And let me tell you, she kicks ass.
Our MC takes Kung Fu, she is super duper smart, she's sassy and sarcastic and doesn't take shit from anyone. It was wonderful to read about a character who stands up for herself and isn't the Chosen One in the pre-destined sense, but in the sense that because she is super smart she is the target.
But back to the zombies. So yeah, there are zombies and it is wonderful. I usually stay away from the zombie genre just because it doesn't really interest me (I can watch gore all day long, but apparently reading it does nothing for me) so I was a little bit apprehensive when I found out about it, but I quickly changed my mind. The zombie thing isn't The Walking Dead zombie, it's more medical virus/disease that they're looking for a cure for but until then they're making due. Like, they have brain substitute (haha, never thought I'd say that) and go to school/work and take special injections. I mean, yeah at one point you do get the shambling, run for your life zombies, but for the most part you could write these zombies off as people with a strange medical condition that you really hope isn't contagious.
What I Didn't Like:
Grammar: ERG! I am a total grammar freak, so when I read something any little mistake pulls me out of the story and drives me insane. I'm not sure if the mistakes were there because it wasn't a finished edition or if I received a rough copy, but it killed me. One or two mistakes I can understand, because no matter how many times it's edited, things slip through the cracks, but this was more than a few mistakes. Some of them were minor, but a few were things that really pulled me from the story and caused me to reread the sentence/paragraph so I could figure out what was trying to be said. Seriously, the grammar mistakes are my biggest issue with this story.
The Love: I get that this is a YA story and the characters are supposed to be all lovey dovey, but I felt like it didn't flow well with how the MC acted. Like, I completely expected it from the main guy since he was entranced with her from day one, but not from her. I mean, she's this snarky, bad ass girl who pushed everyone away so I understood her pushing him away too and when she did start to let him in she was still super snarky, but then it felt weird when all of a sudden she was just telling him that she loved him. Like, what? She is this super smart, cynic, realist and she just falls in love with him in a few days? It felt out of character to me and made me question why the author decided to do it.
What I Did Like:
The Main Character: I just can't stop raving about her, I love her so much! She is so fierce and real and wonderful! She is bullied because of her size (been there so much I have a season pass), she is used by the popular because she's so smart AND THEN she puts that bitch in her place when she tries accusing her of cheating. Like really, even I knew that bitch was dumb. She didn't back down from a rude teacher who obviously hated her life, she didn't let the bullies win and by the end she was totally in everyone's face about her relationship with the main male. Seriously, I loved her vulgar language and no bullshit attitude. I loved her sarcasm and sass and refusal to back down. I love that chick, I want to be her BFF.
The Plot: I really enjoyed the plot. It was filled with teen angst (gag me), it wasn't super science fiction, it flowed nicely from beginning to end, and it really didn't leave me with any questions after I finished (besides what happens next, anyway). I didn't feel like any point I was lost or confused, I never felt like I needed to pull out my dictionary or pull up Google in order to understand what was being said, and the ending made me happy. I love when a plot falls together.
The Realism: Aside from the whole zombie thing this story just felt real. I mean, if you took out the whole zombie thing this story would just be about a girl being forced to move, getting bullied in high school and falling for the loser. But, it's more than that. It's the perfect weaving of words that made the story feel real. It was the author's ability to tell the tale that made me cheer for the MC and boo at the bad guy. This story felt real, even with the zombies.
In Conclusion:
This story was the shit. I love the main character and her love interest. I love how relate able it all is and how I want the sequel NOW. I love when I fall in love with a story that I didn't even expect to like. I highly recommend this baby and hope everyone will give it a chance. It has a totally kick ass heroine, zombies, action, a little bit of love and a wonderful helping of sticking it to The Man.
Rating:
4 out of 5 stars and I highly recommend!
The easiest way I can describe this book is Twilight with zombies instead of vampires, BUT HOLD ON! Don't go leaving the page just because I said Twilight because I promise that that is where the similarities end. The main character is not naive and super sweet and pliable, oh no, she is totally kick ass with a side of sass. Seriously, she is the absolute complete opposite of Bella and I loved it!
And the main guy? I mean, yeah it's the same instant allure to our MC, but he's attracted to her BRAIN not her smell, which kind of makes it all the better. Also, our MC is NOT a stick figure, she is curvy and it's wonderful. It was a breath of fresh air to read about a main female character who was not described as skinny, but instead as a size eighteen with a big bust. Why? Because as a plus size woman I like reading about women who are close to my size and still kick ass. And let me tell you, she kicks ass.
Our MC takes Kung Fu, she is super duper smart, she's sassy and sarcastic and doesn't take shit from anyone. It was wonderful to read about a character who stands up for herself and isn't the Chosen One in the pre-destined sense, but in the sense that because she is super smart she is the target.
But back to the zombies. So yeah, there are zombies and it is wonderful. I usually stay away from the zombie genre just because it doesn't really interest me (I can watch gore all day long, but apparently reading it does nothing for me) so I was a little bit apprehensive when I found out about it, but I quickly changed my mind. The zombie thing isn't The Walking Dead zombie, it's more medical virus/disease that they're looking for a cure for but until then they're making due. Like, they have brain substitute (haha, never thought I'd say that) and go to school/work and take special injections. I mean, yeah at one point you do get the shambling, run for your life zombies, but for the most part you could write these zombies off as people with a strange medical condition that you really hope isn't contagious.
What I Didn't Like:
Grammar: ERG! I am a total grammar freak, so when I read something any little mistake pulls me out of the story and drives me insane. I'm not sure if the mistakes were there because it wasn't a finished edition or if I received a rough copy, but it killed me. One or two mistakes I can understand, because no matter how many times it's edited, things slip through the cracks, but this was more than a few mistakes. Some of them were minor, but a few were things that really pulled me from the story and caused me to reread the sentence/paragraph so I could figure out what was trying to be said. Seriously, the grammar mistakes are my biggest issue with this story.
The Love: I get that this is a YA story and the characters are supposed to be all lovey dovey, but I felt like it didn't flow well with how the MC acted. Like, I completely expected it from the main guy since he was entranced with her from day one, but not from her. I mean, she's this snarky, bad ass girl who pushed everyone away so I understood her pushing him away too and when she did start to let him in she was still super snarky, but then it felt weird when all of a sudden she was just telling him that she loved him. Like, what? She is this super smart, cynic, realist and she just falls in love with him in a few days? It felt out of character to me and made me question why the author decided to do it.
What I Did Like:
The Main Character: I just can't stop raving about her, I love her so much! She is so fierce and real and wonderful! She is bullied because of her size (been there so much I have a season pass), she is used by the popular because she's so smart AND THEN she puts that bitch in her place when she tries accusing her of cheating. Like really, even I knew that bitch was dumb. She didn't back down from a rude teacher who obviously hated her life, she didn't let the bullies win and by the end she was totally in everyone's face about her relationship with the main male. Seriously, I loved her vulgar language and no bullshit attitude. I loved her sarcasm and sass and refusal to back down. I love that chick, I want to be her BFF.
The Plot: I really enjoyed the plot. It was filled with teen angst (gag me), it wasn't super science fiction, it flowed nicely from beginning to end, and it really didn't leave me with any questions after I finished (besides what happens next, anyway). I didn't feel like any point I was lost or confused, I never felt like I needed to pull out my dictionary or pull up Google in order to understand what was being said, and the ending made me happy. I love when a plot falls together.
The Realism: Aside from the whole zombie thing this story just felt real. I mean, if you took out the whole zombie thing this story would just be about a girl being forced to move, getting bullied in high school and falling for the loser. But, it's more than that. It's the perfect weaving of words that made the story feel real. It was the author's ability to tell the tale that made me cheer for the MC and boo at the bad guy. This story felt real, even with the zombies.
In Conclusion:
This story was the shit. I love the main character and her love interest. I love how relate able it all is and how I want the sequel NOW. I love when I fall in love with a story that I didn't even expect to like. I highly recommend this baby and hope everyone will give it a chance. It has a totally kick ass heroine, zombies, action, a little bit of love and a wonderful helping of sticking it to The Man.
Rating:
4 out of 5 stars and I highly recommend!
February 7, 2017
**Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for sending me an ARC in return for an honest review.
2.5 to 3 stars!!! (I'm still unsure about this)
Well, for starters, I can say that yes this book is based on the Twilight series but the only difference is that it has zombies. From, the blurb I was pretty excited to delve into the story even though I'm not a huge Twilight fan. I can safely say now, that the book starts of pretty strong but then it got pretty boring towards the end. Hence, my rating.
First, I will tick of the positives. I thought that the MC Stella was pretty phenomenal. I liked the fact that she was not your stereotypical cookie-cutter girl who looks very pretty, slim and what not. Not only is she plus sized, but she has an amazing personality. Although, there was plenty of cussing throughout the book, I didn't mind it too much because that added to her quirkiness. She doesn't take crap and she tells it like it is. I also found her parents to be very amusing and endearing. Overall, I liked their eccentric way and appreciated the fact that they were central to the storyline and were not merely serving a secondary role to the story.
Howard was pretty cute too in his zombie way. I preferred him over Edward Cullen any given day. However, I found his clingyness and attachment to Stella very off-putting. This reminded me of the total gag nature of the Twilight series. The romance was way over rushed. I like relationships that are built up over time and that have a strong foundation. This one was way too cliched for my liking and the reasoning behind it was a bit too flimsy.
The story progresses fairly quickly. We are given a background as to how the virus works and such but I found these areas of the book bordered on info-dumping. This made the writing very tedious and boring at times. I feel the author should have spaced it out more or introduced it in a better way for the reader. On the other hand, the story was humorous. I did have some laugh out moments, at the beginning, but this thinned out towards the end as more focus was given towards the romance. I also felt some revelations were rather far fetched and lacked credibility. I get that the book is a work of fiction but it should still make sense. We do get some action scenes and heart stopping moments which are noteworthy. However, some plot devices were rather unnecessary to the storyline. I would have liked to see more zombies and blood/gore.
Overall, it was an okay read. I wouldn't say it is the best in the genre. I'm not too keen on the follow up to this series. Maybe fans of Twilight will appreciate it more than I did.
2.5 to 3 stars!!! (I'm still unsure about this)
Well, for starters, I can say that yes this book is based on the Twilight series but the only difference is that it has zombies. From, the blurb I was pretty excited to delve into the story even though I'm not a huge Twilight fan. I can safely say now, that the book starts of pretty strong but then it got pretty boring towards the end. Hence, my rating.
First, I will tick of the positives. I thought that the MC Stella was pretty phenomenal. I liked the fact that she was not your stereotypical cookie-cutter girl who looks very pretty, slim and what not. Not only is she plus sized, but she has an amazing personality. Although, there was plenty of cussing throughout the book, I didn't mind it too much because that added to her quirkiness. She doesn't take crap and she tells it like it is. I also found her parents to be very amusing and endearing. Overall, I liked their eccentric way and appreciated the fact that they were central to the storyline and were not merely serving a secondary role to the story.
Howard was pretty cute too in his zombie way. I preferred him over Edward Cullen any given day. However, I found his clingyness and attachment to Stella very off-putting. This reminded me of the total gag nature of the Twilight series. The romance was way over rushed. I like relationships that are built up over time and that have a strong foundation. This one was way too cliched for my liking and the reasoning behind it was a bit too flimsy.
The story progresses fairly quickly. We are given a background as to how the virus works and such but I found these areas of the book bordered on info-dumping. This made the writing very tedious and boring at times. I feel the author should have spaced it out more or introduced it in a better way for the reader. On the other hand, the story was humorous. I did have some laugh out moments, at the beginning, but this thinned out towards the end as more focus was given towards the romance. I also felt some revelations were rather far fetched and lacked credibility. I get that the book is a work of fiction but it should still make sense. We do get some action scenes and heart stopping moments which are noteworthy. However, some plot devices were rather unnecessary to the storyline. I would have liked to see more zombies and blood/gore.
Overall, it was an okay read. I wouldn't say it is the best in the genre. I'm not too keen on the follow up to this series. Maybe fans of Twilight will appreciate it more than I did.
January 23, 2020
So I gathered a little more decision, on my rating at least, and decided just to stick at 2 stars. The only reason I am even giving it 2 stars is because I laughed in 2 or 3 places, but overall, I'm just annoyed with Stella and disappointed I spent time on this book. Howie was just... off. Stella was an annoying, whiny twat. Stella's father mentioning twice about her cleavage? Yeah, okay. Also, just to point out, some places were slow, and others were overloading my brain with information that just simply didn't need to be there. It also wasn't consistent in my opinion, one moment Stella was sitting and the next standing, with no mention of standing up. One minute Howie's not there and the next, BAM! There he is! You get the point. I just... had so many issues with this book that I feel miffed to even type about it all right at the moment. I feel as if it could've served as a parody fanfiction elsewhere. That's the other thing, is it a parody or just a fanfiction? Is it both? What is this sorcery? Some parts of the book felt like it was just the author's take on Twilight and other's mocking it. I seen places say it's one or the other. I don't know and at this point, I simply don't care. I'd also like to know how this is a YA book, but that's just me.
One thing I will say, is I did find her take on zombies in general to be intriguing in itself and would have enjoyed it more than I did if it had just been it's own thing. Maybe. I'm not sure. But I did like her take on them. Suffice to say, I will not be reading the rest of this series. Everyone is entitled to their opinion and I can see why people liked/loved it, but it just wasn't for me.
_____________________________________________
Maybe 2 stars? 2.5 stars? 3 stars tops? I have no idea how to feel about this book honestly. I need to go gather my thoughts.
One thing I will say, is I did find her take on zombies in general to be intriguing in itself and would have enjoyed it more than I did if it had just been it's own thing. Maybe. I'm not sure. But I did like her take on them. Suffice to say, I will not be reading the rest of this series. Everyone is entitled to their opinion and I can see why people liked/loved it, but it just wasn't for me.
_____________________________________________
Maybe 2 stars? 2.5 stars? 3 stars tops? I have no idea how to feel about this book honestly. I need to go gather my thoughts.
January 20, 2018
Received from: One Tall Tree Press
Received Via: NetGalley.com
THE REVIEW
Why this book?
I love zombie books
What I thought
I loved this book!! I still wouldn't give it 5 stars or call it amazing or anything, but I still loved it! It was hilarious and not only was Stella hilarious but her parents OMG I loved her parents
“If we’re sticking with gender stereotypes, I'm pretty sure that as your father
I am obligated to threaten him with a rifle.”
“You don't have a gun, Dad,” I reached for another drumstick.
“I could get a Nerf gun. There’s a really cool Nerf rifle I've always kind of wanted to have,” he said. “And they can't arrest me for shooting a teenage boy with a Nerf gun, right? I mean, who doesn't want to shoot a Nerf gun at teenage boys?”
I also really like her relationship with Howie sure it was unusual and the L word came way too fast but it worked. What really bugged me was the whole Kelly fiasco that was completely unnecessary. The Zombie action didn't disappoint though you get plenty. All in all this was a fun and entertaining read that I recommend to someone who wants a laugh or loves zombies.
Dr. Mullins nodded at me gravely. “Good morning, Stella. Your mind was in fine tune this morning.”Oh for fuck’s sake. I was going to have to get a tinfoil hat or something
Merged review:
I still love this book!!!!
"Want some lasagna with your brains"
Reread because reading the first novella I was like " I don't know these people anymore" so i'm going back to the first book and reading it again before I start the others. Oh and don't think I didn't love the book. I just take a lot of meds and my memory sucks.
Received Via: NetGalley.com
THE REVIEW
Why this book?
I love zombie books
What I thought
I loved this book!! I still wouldn't give it 5 stars or call it amazing or anything, but I still loved it! It was hilarious and not only was Stella hilarious but her parents OMG I loved her parents
“If we’re sticking with gender stereotypes, I'm pretty sure that as your father
I am obligated to threaten him with a rifle.”
“You don't have a gun, Dad,” I reached for another drumstick.
“I could get a Nerf gun. There’s a really cool Nerf rifle I've always kind of wanted to have,” he said. “And they can't arrest me for shooting a teenage boy with a Nerf gun, right? I mean, who doesn't want to shoot a Nerf gun at teenage boys?”
I also really like her relationship with Howie sure it was unusual and the L word came way too fast but it worked. What really bugged me was the whole Kelly fiasco that was completely unnecessary. The Zombie action didn't disappoint though you get plenty. All in all this was a fun and entertaining read that I recommend to someone who wants a laugh or loves zombies.
Dr. Mullins nodded at me gravely. “Good morning, Stella. Your mind was in fine tune this morning.”Oh for fuck’s sake. I was going to have to get a tinfoil hat or something
Merged review:
I still love this book!!!!
"Want some lasagna with your brains"
Reread because reading the first novella I was like " I don't know these people anymore" so i'm going back to the first book and reading it again before I start the others. Oh and don't think I didn't love the book. I just take a lot of meds and my memory sucks.
December 30, 2016
Chemistry by C L Lynch is a sci-fi and fantasy and teens and ya read.
"I'm not moving to a whole new school! I'll be eaten alive!"
Stella Blunt's world is ending. Her parents have dragged her across the country, and she has to start over in a new school. This is a big problem, because she doesn't make friends easily: she's large, she's loud, and she doesn't suffer fools gladly.
The only person who likes her is the cute geek in her Chemistry class. He's a great listener, he's smart at science, and he loves her for her mind. Then again, she's not sure whether that's a good thing, considering that he also drinks brains from a thermos.
To complicate matters, undead hordes have started showing up at her door.
Can Stella take on a new school, an undead romance, AND
handle a chainsaw?
This was a good read with good characters. I liked the story although a little slow. Howie and Stella were my favourite characters. Can't wait for next part. Highly recommended. 5*. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book from netgalley.
"I'm not moving to a whole new school! I'll be eaten alive!"
Stella Blunt's world is ending. Her parents have dragged her across the country, and she has to start over in a new school. This is a big problem, because she doesn't make friends easily: she's large, she's loud, and she doesn't suffer fools gladly.
The only person who likes her is the cute geek in her Chemistry class. He's a great listener, he's smart at science, and he loves her for her mind. Then again, she's not sure whether that's a good thing, considering that he also drinks brains from a thermos.
To complicate matters, undead hordes have started showing up at her door.
Can Stella take on a new school, an undead romance, AND
handle a chainsaw?
This was a good read with good characters. I liked the story although a little slow. Howie and Stella were my favourite characters. Can't wait for next part. Highly recommended. 5*. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book from netgalley.
October 10, 2016
Stella is larger than life. No, really she larger than anyone in school. Loud and proud she takes no prisoners when teased about her Junoesque proportions. A family move to the other side of Canada leaves her angry and hurt with her parents disruption of her life.She has to start all over, making new friends which does not come easy. Smart and sassy, her brains are often overlooked by her generous size, that is until she meets Howard. Howard is that weird kid in the corner shunned by the entire school. Howard is different and in his oddness, he is able to see the beauty of Stella's most important asset, her brains.
Delightfully funny, wickedly sharp Chemistry will tickle your fancy. CL Lynch has a way with words that will make you smile at the right time and perhaps even tear up with the unconventional romance that blooms between two people society has thrown away.
I voluntarily read this book in one night because I couldn't put it down.
Delightfully funny, wickedly sharp Chemistry will tickle your fancy. CL Lynch has a way with words that will make you smile at the right time and perhaps even tear up with the unconventional romance that blooms between two people society has thrown away.
I voluntarily read this book in one night because I couldn't put it down.
February 7, 2017
Fans of twilight (and those who hated it) will enjoy this spoof. Despite a few shaky technical aspects of the novel, there are some truly hilarious scenes. It contains subtle digs at the twilight series that you must pay attention to pick up—and some really obvious ones. The author’s take on this popular series is awesomely sarcastic and completely witty.
Read my full review at YA Books Central: http://www.yabookscentral.com/yaindie...
Read my full review at YA Books Central: http://www.yabookscentral.com/yaindie...
January 2, 2017
I would never pickup a book with Zombies in it. Not my thing. But, knowing the author's writing style made me give it a go. I couldn't put it down. So smart and funny and clever you'll find the characters endearing and realistic. Great job on the first novel! To many more :)
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November 13, 2016
I absolutely loved it. Review coming soon!!
May 14, 2018
Not a better love story than Twilight…
When I saw that this was supposed to be a parody of Twilight, I was expecting something a little bit different. I didn’t know it would be exactly like Twilight except with zombies instead of vampires. It’s unfortunate because the author had some good ideas when it came to the source of the zombie outbreak and the way that zombies exist in the world. I’ve never read any ideas like it. However, I couldn’t stand how closely the plot followed that of Twilight. In some areas, I had to skim through.
With that being said, I did love the characters in this book. Stella in particular had me laughing out loud on a few occasions because of her abrasiveness and just how little she cared about what others thought of her. I felt like she and Howie balanced each other well and made for some interesting conversations and character contrasts.
Read at your own risk. If you didn’t like Twilight, I wouldn’t really recommend this book since it feels quite similar. However, as I mentioned above, the ideas the author had about zombies were really original so for zombie fans this might definitely be a book worth reading. All depends on what you’re looking for in a book.
When I saw that this was supposed to be a parody of Twilight, I was expecting something a little bit different. I didn’t know it would be exactly like Twilight except with zombies instead of vampires. It’s unfortunate because the author had some good ideas when it came to the source of the zombie outbreak and the way that zombies exist in the world. I’ve never read any ideas like it. However, I couldn’t stand how closely the plot followed that of Twilight. In some areas, I had to skim through.
With that being said, I did love the characters in this book. Stella in particular had me laughing out loud on a few occasions because of her abrasiveness and just how little she cared about what others thought of her. I felt like she and Howie balanced each other well and made for some interesting conversations and character contrasts.
Read at your own risk. If you didn’t like Twilight, I wouldn’t really recommend this book since it feels quite similar. However, as I mentioned above, the ideas the author had about zombies were really original so for zombie fans this might definitely be a book worth reading. All depends on what you’re looking for in a book.
March 20, 2021
Cheesy version of Twilight but Zombies instead of Vampires.
March 10, 2017
So much fun. There were a lot of things I loved about this book, but I want to do it justice with a longer review, so stay tuned.
April 10, 2017
Light-hearted, fun and charming!
Chemistry by C.L. Lynch is the first book in the Stella Blunt series. It’s a YA, romantic comedy with a bit of horror and a lot of explicit language. This book may not be suitable for all readers.
Stella Blunt has never fit in. She is overweight, not confident and has some serious anger management issues. It took her years to make two friends at her previous school and now her parents are moving her to Vancouver. She is dreading the torment she will likely receive at new school. Sure enough, the first class of her first day, she is literally being drooled over by the biggest loser in the school. Then after a cheating scandal with one of the popular girls, she cannot walk down the halls without being verbally assaulted.
Howie, the drooling boy, has decided that Stella is the most perfect creature on the planet. He will do anything to be with her and he doesn’t listen when she continually tells him to go away. When he finally wears her down and she lets him in, she finds out that he has a big secret…and he may not be entirely human.
I loved this book. It was so silly and fun and sometimes that is the perfect read. This book was a play on the Twilight Saga, right down to the brilliant cover. Instead of the pale hands holding an apple, its pale hands holding a human heart. The main female character is Stella instead of Bella and her love interest is Howard Mullins and not Edward Cullen. Although some of the circumstances are similar, (ie. a school dance, a fortuitous meeting in a book store, and a supernatural hero) the characters and specific details are not. Stella is not a popular girl and tends to yell throughout the majority of the book. I could have done with a bit less of that but it didn’t take away from my enjoyment. Howie’s idiosyncrasies leave him friendless apart from his brother and sister who also attend the high school.
The story moves from Stella’s abuse of Howie to a serious love connection. Then to an apocalyptic event that may not only take away Stella’s relationship, but may also take her life. Although there are persistent similarities to Twilight, this felt like an entirely different story with endearing characters that I could relate to considerably easier than the sparkly vampires.
I give this story a 5 out of 5. I cannot wait for the next book entitled History. Chemistry included a preview that promises another hilarious and fun read.
I reviewed this book for the North of Normal Book Reviews blog.
Chemistry by C.L. Lynch is the first book in the Stella Blunt series. It’s a YA, romantic comedy with a bit of horror and a lot of explicit language. This book may not be suitable for all readers.
Stella Blunt has never fit in. She is overweight, not confident and has some serious anger management issues. It took her years to make two friends at her previous school and now her parents are moving her to Vancouver. She is dreading the torment she will likely receive at new school. Sure enough, the first class of her first day, she is literally being drooled over by the biggest loser in the school. Then after a cheating scandal with one of the popular girls, she cannot walk down the halls without being verbally assaulted.
Howie, the drooling boy, has decided that Stella is the most perfect creature on the planet. He will do anything to be with her and he doesn’t listen when she continually tells him to go away. When he finally wears her down and she lets him in, she finds out that he has a big secret…and he may not be entirely human.
I loved this book. It was so silly and fun and sometimes that is the perfect read. This book was a play on the Twilight Saga, right down to the brilliant cover. Instead of the pale hands holding an apple, its pale hands holding a human heart. The main female character is Stella instead of Bella and her love interest is Howard Mullins and not Edward Cullen. Although some of the circumstances are similar, (ie. a school dance, a fortuitous meeting in a book store, and a supernatural hero) the characters and specific details are not. Stella is not a popular girl and tends to yell throughout the majority of the book. I could have done with a bit less of that but it didn’t take away from my enjoyment. Howie’s idiosyncrasies leave him friendless apart from his brother and sister who also attend the high school.
The story moves from Stella’s abuse of Howie to a serious love connection. Then to an apocalyptic event that may not only take away Stella’s relationship, but may also take her life. Although there are persistent similarities to Twilight, this felt like an entirely different story with endearing characters that I could relate to considerably easier than the sparkly vampires.
I give this story a 5 out of 5. I cannot wait for the next book entitled History. Chemistry included a preview that promises another hilarious and fun read.
I reviewed this book for the North of Normal Book Reviews blog.
June 28, 2022
Highshcooler, Stella Blunt has just received the worst news of her life- her mother has gotten a new job and they will be moving from Nova Scotia to Vancouver. Stella is on the heavier side, tends to say what she thinks and knows kung-fu, making friends is not her forte. Stella puts on her big girl panties, as her dad says and makes the best of her first day at her new school. Stella hears a wide variety of fat jokes, and her chemistry lab partner, Howard apparently can't do much except ogle and drool directly at Stella. Stella is having a hard enough time without the one person at school who might have a lower social status then herself crushing hard on her; but the next day Howard is completely different- polite, charming and interesting. Howard can't help but be around Stella and a relationship forms, but Stella knows that Howard and his family are different. As soon as Howard spills the beans about essentially being a zombie, an outbreak happens. They all seem to want Stella's brain in particular and the Feds are blaming Howard's family for the whole thing.
Chemistry is a play on the Twilight series that fixes many of the criticisms that Twilight garnered. Stella herself is outspoken, not afraid to ask questions, tough and not your typical body type. Stella's parents are also very present, supportive and hilarious. They are involved in her life and have plenty of awkward conversations, just like real highschool kids have to go though. One of my favorite lines was " ...while I completely acknowledge and recognize that you are not responsible for men's reactions to you, teenage boy's brains do tend to shut down when they see a pretty girl. "It's all about the boobs," said my father." Howard also isn't your typical pretty boy and because of his condition, he is seen as an outcast. However, because of his elongated time as a teenage boy, he has a gentle nature and a lot of insight. I did like how the Z03818 virus was explained and how Howie and his family were still more on the living side of the virus than the dead. The romance in the story did move pretty quickly with love found within a matter of days. Although, the action, mystery and suspense of the zombie outbreak was on point and was a great blend of conspiracy, danger and chainsaw actions. Overall, a perfect read for paranormal romance lovers!
Chemistry is a play on the Twilight series that fixes many of the criticisms that Twilight garnered. Stella herself is outspoken, not afraid to ask questions, tough and not your typical body type. Stella's parents are also very present, supportive and hilarious. They are involved in her life and have plenty of awkward conversations, just like real highschool kids have to go though. One of my favorite lines was " ...while I completely acknowledge and recognize that you are not responsible for men's reactions to you, teenage boy's brains do tend to shut down when they see a pretty girl. "It's all about the boobs," said my father." Howard also isn't your typical pretty boy and because of his condition, he is seen as an outcast. However, because of his elongated time as a teenage boy, he has a gentle nature and a lot of insight. I did like how the Z03818 virus was explained and how Howie and his family were still more on the living side of the virus than the dead. The romance in the story did move pretty quickly with love found within a matter of days. Although, the action, mystery and suspense of the zombie outbreak was on point and was a great blend of conspiracy, danger and chainsaw actions. Overall, a perfect read for paranormal romance lovers!
August 10, 2017
This book was entered and was a FINALIST in The 2016 Wishing Shelf Book Awards. This is what our readers thought:
Title: Chemistry
Author: C L Lynch
Star Rating: 5 Stars
Number of Readers: 25
Stats
Editing: 10/10
Writing Style: 9/10
Content: 10/10
Cover: 10/10
Of the 25 readers:
23 would read another book by this author.
25 thought the cover was good or excellent.
24 felt it was easy to follow.
23 would recommend this story to another reader to try.
3 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘plotting a story’.
6 felt the author’ strongest skill was ‘developing the characters’.
16 felt the author’ strongest skill was ‘comedy in speech’.
24 felt the pacing was good or excellent.
23 thought the author understood the readership and what they wanted.
Readers’ Comments
‘This is very funny. I liked all of it. The cover’s also so good.’ Girl, aged 15
‘I liked Twilight a lot so I was up for this book. It is very much a play on Twilight and the plot pretty much follows it. But, it’s different. Why? It’s funny. Really, really funny. Stella is the best character ever. She’s fat and angry – most of the time! She’s totally different to Bella from Twilight. If you enjoyed Twilight and need a good laugh, this book is for you.’ Girl, aged 15
‘This author is brilliant at dialogue. She should write comedy scripts. I laughed at every page.’ Boy, aged 14
‘There’s a lot of swearing in this book but that was okay with me. I hated Twilight. A lot of romantic tosh. But this is good. Funny with a fantastic character called Stella who is like a bulldozer on legs. I would not mess with this girl. She’s actually far more interesting than the boring Bella girl from Twilight who reminded me of a wet lettuce. I will read the next.’ By, age 15
‘I loved Stella!’ Girl, aged 16
‘A fantastically funny play on Twilight. Stella (not Bella) will stay with you long after you finish the book. A FINALIST and highly recommended. ’ The Wishing Shelf Book Awards
Title: Chemistry
Author: C L Lynch
Star Rating: 5 Stars
Number of Readers: 25
Stats
Editing: 10/10
Writing Style: 9/10
Content: 10/10
Cover: 10/10
Of the 25 readers:
23 would read another book by this author.
25 thought the cover was good or excellent.
24 felt it was easy to follow.
23 would recommend this story to another reader to try.
3 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘plotting a story’.
6 felt the author’ strongest skill was ‘developing the characters’.
16 felt the author’ strongest skill was ‘comedy in speech’.
24 felt the pacing was good or excellent.
23 thought the author understood the readership and what they wanted.
Readers’ Comments
‘This is very funny. I liked all of it. The cover’s also so good.’ Girl, aged 15
‘I liked Twilight a lot so I was up for this book. It is very much a play on Twilight and the plot pretty much follows it. But, it’s different. Why? It’s funny. Really, really funny. Stella is the best character ever. She’s fat and angry – most of the time! She’s totally different to Bella from Twilight. If you enjoyed Twilight and need a good laugh, this book is for you.’ Girl, aged 15
‘This author is brilliant at dialogue. She should write comedy scripts. I laughed at every page.’ Boy, aged 14
‘There’s a lot of swearing in this book but that was okay with me. I hated Twilight. A lot of romantic tosh. But this is good. Funny with a fantastic character called Stella who is like a bulldozer on legs. I would not mess with this girl. She’s actually far more interesting than the boring Bella girl from Twilight who reminded me of a wet lettuce. I will read the next.’ By, age 15
‘I loved Stella!’ Girl, aged 16
‘A fantastically funny play on Twilight. Stella (not Bella) will stay with you long after you finish the book. A FINALIST and highly recommended. ’ The Wishing Shelf Book Awards
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