What do you think?
Rate this book
Stubborn Hearts #1
The Love Experiment
Can you fall in love in thirty-six questions?
The closest rookie lifestyle writer Derelie Honeywell gets to megastar reporter Jackson Haley is an accidental shoulder brush in The Courier's elevator. That is, until the love a study designed to accelerate intimacy using thirty-six questions and four minutes of sustained eye contact.
As far as Derelie is concerned, Jack Haley has always been a man best imagined in his underwear. He's too intimidating otherwise. But participating in the love experiment is her make-or-break chance. With another round of layoffs looming, Derelie knows holding on to her job means getting the story no matter what. Even when the what is kissing Jack like a maniac.
Jack Haley has zero interest in participating in a clickbait story. He didn't plan on finding Derelie smart and feisty and being mesmerized by her eyes. He certainly had no intention at all of actually falling in love with her.
The conclusion to this experiment? Thirty-six questions might lead to love, but finding the answer to happily-ever-after is a lot more complicated.
This book is approximately 92,000 words
One-click with confidence. This title is part of the Carina Press Romance Promise : all the romance you're looking for with an HEA/HFN. It's a promise!
The closest rookie lifestyle writer Derelie Honeywell gets to megastar reporter Jackson Haley is an accidental shoulder brush in The Courier's elevator. That is, until the love a study designed to accelerate intimacy using thirty-six questions and four minutes of sustained eye contact.
As far as Derelie is concerned, Jack Haley has always been a man best imagined in his underwear. He's too intimidating otherwise. But participating in the love experiment is her make-or-break chance. With another round of layoffs looming, Derelie knows holding on to her job means getting the story no matter what. Even when the what is kissing Jack like a maniac.
Jack Haley has zero interest in participating in a clickbait story. He didn't plan on finding Derelie smart and feisty and being mesmerized by her eyes. He certainly had no intention at all of actually falling in love with her.
The conclusion to this experiment? Thirty-six questions might lead to love, but finding the answer to happily-ever-after is a lot more complicated.
This book is approximately 92,000 words
One-click with confidence. This title is part of the Carina Press Romance Promise : all the romance you're looking for with an HEA/HFN. It's a promise!
274 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 2, 2017
14 people are currently reading
474 people want to read
About the author
Ainslie Paton
40 books144 followersAinslie Paton always wanted to write stories to make people smile, but the need to eat, accumulate books, and have bedclothes to read under was ever present. She sold out, and worked as a flack, a suit, and a creative, ghosting for business leaders, rabble-rousers, and politicians, and making words happen for companies, governments, causes, conditions, high-profile CEOs, low-profile celebs, and the occasional misguided royal. She still does that. She also writes for love and so she can buy shoes, and the good cat food.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 101 reviews
October 3, 2017
I really liked the unique angle of this book. An experiment to determine whether 36 questions asked and answered honestly between two strangers can spark the emotion of love. It's an interesting theory and I enjoyed reading about how these two completely opposite co-workers attempted this challenge.
For the most part, I really liked reading this story. Watching two MCs go from enemies to lovers is always like book crack for me and made for some great push and pull. I do think this book could have used some content editing as it tended to feel long and really dragging in some areas. A bit too much inner dialogue which, incidentally, is the exact opposite of book crack for me. It's quite possibly the one of the quickest ways to get a reader to skim a book.
Another issue for me was that this book is set in Chicago with the H, Jackson Haley, being raised in the city and the h being born and bred in a Midwest small-town farming community an hour or more outside of the bright lights of the city. Fine... no problem there. I'm feeling the "Just a small town girl..... Just a city boy" Journey vibes.
*And, good luck dealing with that earworm going on and on and on and on. You're welcome.
However, being a Midwest small-town farming community girl myself, it was glaringly obvious this author is NOT entirely familiar with the lingo of a Midwest small town girl. Or even a city boy from Chicago. (Though I'm giving her a pass on that one because of the fact that Jack was born into a affluent family, had a privileged education, and is an eloquent journalist.) Now, I have no problem with authors writing stories based in areas outside of their own geographic location. Unfortunately, some of the offshore words and phrases occasionally took me out of the story.
That being said... I thought this was a very enjoyable read and loved the concept of this storyline. I was in lust with Jack and his swoon-worthy musings. I thought the h, Derelie (rhymes with merrily... and, yes, that rhyme was featured... and, yes, the name was a tad annoying to read) had great spunk and I liked that she wasn't a complete pushover with the more seasoned and intimidating Jack Haley. There was some titillating sexual tension and yummy sexy times between the two that were a delight to read. I would defintely recommend this book to those who enjoy a co-workers, enemies to friends, small-town girl/city boy love story with a HEA.
For the most part, I really liked reading this story. Watching two MCs go from enemies to lovers is always like book crack for me and made for some great push and pull. I do think this book could have used some content editing as it tended to feel long and really dragging in some areas. A bit too much inner dialogue which, incidentally, is the exact opposite of book crack for me. It's quite possibly the one of the quickest ways to get a reader to skim a book.
Another issue for me was that this book is set in Chicago with the H, Jackson Haley, being raised in the city and the h being born and bred in a Midwest small-town farming community an hour or more outside of the bright lights of the city. Fine... no problem there. I'm feeling the "Just a small town girl..... Just a city boy" Journey vibes.
*And, good luck dealing with that earworm going on and on and on and on. You're welcome.
However, being a Midwest small-town farming community girl myself, it was glaringly obvious this author is NOT entirely familiar with the lingo of a Midwest small town girl. Or even a city boy from Chicago. (Though I'm giving her a pass on that one because of the fact that Jack was born into a affluent family, had a privileged education, and is an eloquent journalist.) Now, I have no problem with authors writing stories based in areas outside of their own geographic location. Unfortunately, some of the offshore words and phrases occasionally took me out of the story.
That being said... I thought this was a very enjoyable read and loved the concept of this storyline. I was in lust with Jack and his swoon-worthy musings. I thought the h, Derelie (rhymes with merrily... and, yes, that rhyme was featured... and, yes, the name was a tad annoying to read) had great spunk and I liked that she wasn't a complete pushover with the more seasoned and intimidating Jack Haley. There was some titillating sexual tension and yummy sexy times between the two that were a delight to read. I would defintely recommend this book to those who enjoy a co-workers, enemies to friends, small-town girl/city boy love story with a HEA.
November 26, 2017
3.5-4 Stars. The writing was beautiful and hot, but it took me a while to warm up to the hero. He was a total ass for the first 25-30%, and then all of a sudden he was amazing.
I'm happy with how it all worked out, but I thought it wrapped up a little too quickly.
I'm happy with how it all worked out, but I thought it wrapped up a little too quickly.
October 17, 2017
4.5 stars
This book lived up to my hopes of an office love-hate and more. After reading the blurb, I knew this had potential and what I found was a funny, chemistry-laden office scenario, with characters who were superb. The story of THE LOVE EXPERIMENT built through the pages into what eventually became an intense love story.
Derelie (pronounced like merrily) was what seemed to be a mousy reporter doing lifestyle pieces. She slipped under the radar in meetings and in the office. She was commissioned to write a piece on a love experiment that was actually a robust piece of research including questions that promote connection. Derelie was forced to partner with the famous investigative reporter Jack and he was pretty disrespectful to Derelie and her work.
”Oh s***. He was a big city reporting god with his own dinkus and she was a small town mouse clickbait rookie.”
Over a few weeks though, a reluctant respect ensued and the chemistry started to simmer, then bubble and I was completely hooked on the ride.
”He needed to touch her like he needed the cigarettes he was addicted to. ‘I’m already on my knees, Derelie Honeywell.’”
The storyline in this book was strong and the characters were well developed. I wasn’t left needing anything more. I don’t want to say too much but this book fulfilled on chemistry and emotional connection and I loved where it culminated.
I’ve never read this author’s work before but I know I want to again. I cannot help but compare this book in context to The Hating Game and would recommend it to those of my friends looking for something similar.
A copy of this book was provided by the publisher through netgalley, in return for a honest review.
Reviewed for Jo&IsaLoveBooks Blog.
This book lived up to my hopes of an office love-hate and more. After reading the blurb, I knew this had potential and what I found was a funny, chemistry-laden office scenario, with characters who were superb. The story of THE LOVE EXPERIMENT built through the pages into what eventually became an intense love story.
Derelie (pronounced like merrily) was what seemed to be a mousy reporter doing lifestyle pieces. She slipped under the radar in meetings and in the office. She was commissioned to write a piece on a love experiment that was actually a robust piece of research including questions that promote connection. Derelie was forced to partner with the famous investigative reporter Jack and he was pretty disrespectful to Derelie and her work.
”Oh s***. He was a big city reporting god with his own dinkus and she was a small town mouse clickbait rookie.”
Over a few weeks though, a reluctant respect ensued and the chemistry started to simmer, then bubble and I was completely hooked on the ride.
”He needed to touch her like he needed the cigarettes he was addicted to. ‘I’m already on my knees, Derelie Honeywell.’”
The storyline in this book was strong and the characters were well developed. I wasn’t left needing anything more. I don’t want to say too much but this book fulfilled on chemistry and emotional connection and I loved where it culminated.
I’ve never read this author’s work before but I know I want to again. I cannot help but compare this book in context to The Hating Game and would recommend it to those of my friends looking for something similar.
A copy of this book was provided by the publisher through netgalley, in return for a honest review.
Reviewed for Jo&IsaLoveBooks Blog.
January 28, 2018
I heard about this book from Lucy Parker when she retweeted a link to it. I read the summary and was immediately intrigued. As much as I adore romance, there’s no denying that there’s sometimes a lack of creativity in the genre. So, the concept of The Love Experiment was a breath of fresh air. I just loved the idea of two people who would otherwise never connect falling in love through a proven survey experiment, and I thought Ainslie Paton worked with the concept beautifully.
One of the reasons why this book stands out is because of how well-developed the characters are. When authors take their time to build up their characters and flesh them out slowly over the course of the book, it makes any book a 1000 times more enjoyable. I loved what Ainslie Paton did here with our two protagonists, Derelie and Jack. Both could not be different from each other in terms of personalities, but we get to see growth and progression in both their personalities. Derelie was a lovely character. I think what works so well about her is that she’s a normal girl working at a normal job, so it’s easy to relate to her. You’ll find bits and pieces of yourself in her, and I love that she was so authentic. She’s hardworking, bubbly, kind and overall has a very pleasant personality. Jack, though, is the complete opposite of her! He’s a buttoned-up grump, who is very hard to get a read on at first. But then, we slowly see his personality emerge as we get to know him better, and argh! I loved him so much. I mean the guy may be stoic, introverted, but he also loves hopelessly and has a cat, so very hard not to adore him!
So you’d think, how would these two even work together as a couple? In comes the love experiment, which though does not start off the strongest for this pair, develops into a romance and relationship that had my heart racing and toes curling. Through the questions that Jack initially wants nothing to do with, the two form a connection, get to know each other intimately, and obviously fall in love. I just loved how slow-burn the whole thing was, and add to that all the sexual chemistry between the two, I couldn’t resist this pair. Seriously, folks, you all need to read and experience this romance on your own. I’m smiling like a dork just thinking about it! I also really loved how deeply Ainslie Paton goes into the lives of Derelie and Jackson as reporters. They are both in different fields, and we get to see both of them in action, which added another dimension to the story.
Anyways, I’ll leave this review with this: read The Love Experiment if you’re a lover all things romance, especially slow-burn romance. The writing is gorgeous, the characters are phenomenal, and the romance is simultaneously sweet and fan-yourself hot. Tell me that does not sound good?
September 24, 2017
Derelie is still trying to find her place at the Chicago Newspaper she's been working at for the last eight months.
And now here's her chance to prove herself.
She's been asked to do this Love Experiment / 36 Questions / Date thing with the star reporter of the paper: Jack Haley.
But Jack is so not on board with that stupid fluff piece. He has more important investigating to do.
But he's also very attracted to Derelie - maybe he should do it.
He hasn't dated in forever ....
What will happen with Derelie & Jack?
Will there be a HEA?
Read the book to find out! ☺
══════════════════════════
Well ... that was a really great book!
Ainslie's book are often a bit ... different. Which is SO not a bad thing.
I loved this story!
You immediately fall in love with both Derelie and Jack and you want them to end up together.
But of course we have this mega-long way to go until there might be a happily ever after in sight.
But we enjoy every single moment of that journey!
We have adorable moments. Funny moments. Frustrating moments.
Sexy moments. Exciting moments. Lots of newspaper office moments. Cute cat moments.
I just loved it!
THE LOVE EXPERIMENT was an amazingly different kind of love story! I loved it! I loved Derelie. I loved Jack. I loved the sparks and the talks and the fighting for their happily ever after ... I just loved everything! Perfect Book!
If I had to name some things I didn't love-love - it might have been a little bit too long.
It's like Ainslie was writing a sentence, and in the middle of the sentence another thought popped into her head, and she just added that thought to that sentence. That happens a lot in this book. It's not necessarily bad - but it was just a bit too long! And some of those sentences were too ten-dollar-ish for me. I didn't understand the meaning of a few of them at all! ☺
♡
♡
♡
♡
October 5, 2017
If you like snarky banter, strong heroines and thought-provoking stories, then you need to add Ainslie Paton to your reading list. In The Love Experiment, she’s taken a psychological study meant to enhance intimacy and paired two opposites in a sexy, unique romance.
36 Questions. 4 minutes of sustained eye contact. 1 love match? That’s what rookie reporter Derelie Honeywell is out to discover when she’s assigned the task of participating in a ‘love experiment’ as part of her lifestyle section in The Courier. With layoffs looming, she needs a dynamite story or she’ll be out on the street. But she’s already wondering if she should pack her bags and head back to her small town home when she’s paired up with megastar investigative reporter Jackson Haley, a very unwilling participant.
Jack doesn’t think much of ‘Clickbait’, the types of articles the online part of The Courier posts, and by extension his initial nickname for Derelie. His hard-hitting journalism uncovers scandals and misdeeds but comes with high legal costs, and he knows that his latest fraud investigation could go belly up. The last thing he wants to do is spend time delving into his psyche with a fresh-faced country girl. When he needs to work out his problems, he has them beaten out of him in an underground boxing ring, replete with an ex-priest to absolve him of his sins. But Derelie’s sincere optimism and dogged determination have him second-guessing his initial rude and arrogant reactions to her task. In short order, the sharing of memories and dreams (and fears and failures) lead to the kind of intimacy predicted by the experiment and some sizzling sexual encounters. But when the harsh realities of the world of real journalism threaten their fledgling relationship, will it all end in a cynical, bittersweet goodbye?
I loved this story! The concept is fresh and interesting and the questions range from innocuous (Would you like to be famous?) to funny (When did you last sing to yourself?) to intense (What is your most terrible memory?). The blending of how Derelie and Jack answer the questions with how they go from adversaries to friends to lovers makes for a really fun read. Plus, the sex scenes are pretty steamy once Jackson is sure that the attraction between them is not solely because of the situation they are in. Jack definitely has more demons to contend with than Derelie and I found the fight scenes really powerful and framed quite differently than I’d expected.
The timeliness of the plot is also worth noting. Thoughtful, detailed journalism has been taking a hit lately in the real world and fewer people are inclined to risk their livelihood for a story. Jack is that rare breed of investigative reporter who is fighting for the little guy but knows that his stories must be solidly researched and backed up with proof. His kind of stories cost money to produce, money that newspapers are seeing less of as their print subscribers switch to digital formats. The secondary plot that runs parallel to Jack and Derelie’s romance had some surprises and affects them directly. Though they have their ups and downs, the ending has a sweet gesture ( a totally ‘awww’ moment) and a lovely scene to cement their relationship. The Love Experiment is a sexy, funny, thoughtful romance with a couple who get the best possible outcome.
This review is also posted at: https://straightshootinbookreviews.co...
A copy of this story was provided by the publisher via NetGalley for review.
36 Questions. 4 minutes of sustained eye contact. 1 love match? That’s what rookie reporter Derelie Honeywell is out to discover when she’s assigned the task of participating in a ‘love experiment’ as part of her lifestyle section in The Courier. With layoffs looming, she needs a dynamite story or she’ll be out on the street. But she’s already wondering if she should pack her bags and head back to her small town home when she’s paired up with megastar investigative reporter Jackson Haley, a very unwilling participant.
Jack doesn’t think much of ‘Clickbait’, the types of articles the online part of The Courier posts, and by extension his initial nickname for Derelie. His hard-hitting journalism uncovers scandals and misdeeds but comes with high legal costs, and he knows that his latest fraud investigation could go belly up. The last thing he wants to do is spend time delving into his psyche with a fresh-faced country girl. When he needs to work out his problems, he has them beaten out of him in an underground boxing ring, replete with an ex-priest to absolve him of his sins. But Derelie’s sincere optimism and dogged determination have him second-guessing his initial rude and arrogant reactions to her task. In short order, the sharing of memories and dreams (and fears and failures) lead to the kind of intimacy predicted by the experiment and some sizzling sexual encounters. But when the harsh realities of the world of real journalism threaten their fledgling relationship, will it all end in a cynical, bittersweet goodbye?
I loved this story! The concept is fresh and interesting and the questions range from innocuous (Would you like to be famous?) to funny (When did you last sing to yourself?) to intense (What is your most terrible memory?). The blending of how Derelie and Jack answer the questions with how they go from adversaries to friends to lovers makes for a really fun read. Plus, the sex scenes are pretty steamy once Jackson is sure that the attraction between them is not solely because of the situation they are in. Jack definitely has more demons to contend with than Derelie and I found the fight scenes really powerful and framed quite differently than I’d expected.
The timeliness of the plot is also worth noting. Thoughtful, detailed journalism has been taking a hit lately in the real world and fewer people are inclined to risk their livelihood for a story. Jack is that rare breed of investigative reporter who is fighting for the little guy but knows that his stories must be solidly researched and backed up with proof. His kind of stories cost money to produce, money that newspapers are seeing less of as their print subscribers switch to digital formats. The secondary plot that runs parallel to Jack and Derelie’s romance had some surprises and affects them directly. Though they have their ups and downs, the ending has a sweet gesture ( a totally ‘awww’ moment) and a lovely scene to cement their relationship. The Love Experiment is a sexy, funny, thoughtful romance with a couple who get the best possible outcome.
This review is also posted at: https://straightshootinbookreviews.co...
A copy of this story was provided by the publisher via NetGalley for review.
December 18, 2017
I could break this up into thirds, I think: the first third was rough and choppy, and didn't build the enemies-to-lovers effectively for me. It's not that I couldn't sense the chemistry, I wasn't sure I cared at that point
Then, the 2nd third came.
We're a crash course in chemical attraction. we're lab rats let loose and juiced up on conversation. We're as ill-advised as we're inevitable. And I thought YES.
There is wonderful banter throughout, and Derelie may not appear tough, but she is tough- and love develops quickly thanks to the intimacy of the 36 questions/idea they need to work together when Jack would unexpectedly answer or Derelie would begin to piece his puzzle together despite his answers. But the 2nd third - the falling in love part was quite lovely.
She was curled on her side, with one hand under the pillow. He could see a bare shoulder. He could see a different kind of future in the shape of her, one where neither of them were alone...
At this stage they were open and honest, fumbling through the relationship together.
And (roughly) the final third, while it was still incredibly readable, somehow fizzled for me. A little tension from how to handle their relationship in public (at work), a little tension from Jack needing to get his story, a little tension from the slow death of journalism, a teensy bit of relationship tension. Though it meant to, this part just didn't end on a high note for me. I had my big buzz from the middle third, and it's not that I didn't care about the other stuff, I did, it's just that the source of the tension felt a little out of place.
3.5 overall.
Then, the 2nd third came.
We're a crash course in chemical attraction. we're lab rats let loose and juiced up on conversation. We're as ill-advised as we're inevitable. And I thought YES.
There is wonderful banter throughout, and Derelie may not appear tough, but she is tough- and love develops quickly thanks to the intimacy of the 36 questions/idea they need to work together when Jack would unexpectedly answer or Derelie would begin to piece his puzzle together despite his answers. But the 2nd third - the falling in love part was quite lovely.
She was curled on her side, with one hand under the pillow. He could see a bare shoulder. He could see a different kind of future in the shape of her, one where neither of them were alone...
At this stage they were open and honest, fumbling through the relationship together.
And (roughly) the final third, while it was still incredibly readable, somehow fizzled for me. A little tension from how to handle their relationship in public (at work), a little tension from Jack needing to get his story, a little tension from the slow death of journalism, a teensy bit of relationship tension. Though it meant to, this part just didn't end on a high note for me. I had my big buzz from the middle third, and it's not that I didn't care about the other stuff, I did, it's just that the source of the tension felt a little out of place.
3.5 overall.
February 11, 2018
First read: September 2017 (4 stars)
Also on Romances Ever After.
Derelie Honeywell and Jack Haley cannot be more wrong for each other. Derelie (“rhymes with merrily”) writes light-hearted, lifestyle pieces (that Jack snottily refers to as “clickbait”) for the online version of the paper they both work for, while Jack’s the star of the print version and has been dubbed the Saviour of the City for all the investigative reporting that he’s done. It took a while for them to get in sync (especially since Jack really did not want to do the experiment) but they just worked so well with each other.
I love Derelie with all my heart. She is such a nice person, full of kindness, very soft, I want to protect her forever. She has this innocence about her but she’s not naïve or a pushover. Jack was a straight-up ass in the beginning of the story, and naturally I love him too. He has a problem with feeling (he doesn’t do feelings) and his main coping mechanism for anything is beating the stuffing out of other people and had the stuffing beat out of him in an underground boxing gym.
Seriously, dude felt bad he was mean to Derelie, and he went into the ring to fight so he would be hurt in return. Unhealthy, man. Unhealthy.
Ms. Paton’s writing is so lovely and awesome; I have so many quotes highlighted in this book because the whole thing is just so quotable. I adore the banter exchange between Derelie and Jack, and I love how they grew closer together with every (much invasive, much deep) question they answered. I have a soft spot for heroes who fall head over heels for heroines and start worshiping the ground their heroines walk on. Jack comparing Derelie to sunshine and acknowledging her strength and power over him (“He wasn’t going to be allowed the luxury of acting the big man and saving her. She would save herself.”)? Mama, I love one (1) man and his name is Jackson Haley.
Also, did I mention that Jack has a cat?
Yep. He named her Martha.
Did I also mention how much I love Derelie? She left the small town she grew up in because she wanted more and moved to a big city where she had to work hard every single day to survive in, and I felt her loneliness and yearning in my gut. But Derelie is so brave, and I admire her grit and determination to make something more of herself. That strength played an important role in teaching Jack about life and love, and it’s wonderful to watch.
I could go on and on about this book and its characters, really. Jack and Derelie’s romance is so great it makes me, a cynical old lady, swoon buckets. The last chapter made me cry and I unashamedly admit that. This book has definitely landed itself into my favourite reads of the year list.
Fun fact: my friend told me about an article she read re: people falling in love with each other after answering a list of questions in one of our many conversations on Facebook a couple of years ago. Coincidentally when Facebook helpfully reminded me of that conversation, I was in the middle of reading The Love Experiment, and I immediately told said friend that oh my god Julie I’m reading a book about this RIGHT NOW!! YOU HAVE TO READ IT WHEN IT COMES OUT.
*Quote taken from ARC; may differ to finished copy.
E-ARC is received thanks to the publisher via Netgalley.
Reread: February 2018
Upping this a star because WHY NOT-
Reread this one because I miss the story and the characters. Man, I love Jack and Derelie so much. And I forgot how entertaining Martha is; she's a character of her own.
My reading thread on Twitter: HERE.
Also on Romances Ever After.
Derelie Honeywell and Jack Haley cannot be more wrong for each other. Derelie (“rhymes with merrily”) writes light-hearted, lifestyle pieces (that Jack snottily refers to as “clickbait”) for the online version of the paper they both work for, while Jack’s the star of the print version and has been dubbed the Saviour of the City for all the investigative reporting that he’s done. It took a while for them to get in sync (especially since Jack really did not want to do the experiment) but they just worked so well with each other.
I love Derelie with all my heart. She is such a nice person, full of kindness, very soft, I want to protect her forever. She has this innocence about her but she’s not naïve or a pushover. Jack was a straight-up ass in the beginning of the story, and naturally I love him too. He has a problem with feeling (he doesn’t do feelings) and his main coping mechanism for anything is beating the stuffing out of other people and had the stuffing beat out of him in an underground boxing gym.
Seriously, dude felt bad he was mean to Derelie, and he went into the ring to fight so he would be hurt in return. Unhealthy, man. Unhealthy.
Ms. Paton’s writing is so lovely and awesome; I have so many quotes highlighted in this book because the whole thing is just so quotable. I adore the banter exchange between Derelie and Jack, and I love how they grew closer together with every (much invasive, much deep) question they answered. I have a soft spot for heroes who fall head over heels for heroines and start worshiping the ground their heroines walk on. Jack comparing Derelie to sunshine and acknowledging her strength and power over him (“He wasn’t going to be allowed the luxury of acting the big man and saving her. She would save herself.”)? Mama, I love one (1) man and his name is Jackson Haley.
Also, did I mention that Jack has a cat?
Yep. He named her Martha.
Did I also mention how much I love Derelie? She left the small town she grew up in because she wanted more and moved to a big city where she had to work hard every single day to survive in, and I felt her loneliness and yearning in my gut. But Derelie is so brave, and I admire her grit and determination to make something more of herself. That strength played an important role in teaching Jack about life and love, and it’s wonderful to watch.
I could go on and on about this book and its characters, really. Jack and Derelie’s romance is so great it makes me, a cynical old lady, swoon buckets. The last chapter made me cry and I unashamedly admit that. This book has definitely landed itself into my favourite reads of the year list.
Fun fact: my friend told me about an article she read re: people falling in love with each other after answering a list of questions in one of our many conversations on Facebook a couple of years ago. Coincidentally when Facebook helpfully reminded me of that conversation, I was in the middle of reading The Love Experiment, and I immediately told said friend that oh my god Julie I’m reading a book about this RIGHT NOW!! YOU HAVE TO READ IT WHEN IT COMES OUT.
*Quote taken from ARC; may differ to finished copy.
E-ARC is received thanks to the publisher via Netgalley.
Reread: February 2018
Upping this a star because WHY NOT-
Reread this one because I miss the story and the characters. Man, I love Jack and Derelie so much. And I forgot how entertaining Martha is; she's a character of her own.
My reading thread on Twitter: HERE.
September 19, 2020
Isn’t it the worst when you suddenly lose interest in a book/couple?
This was an office romance with a hate to love vibe. Two very different journalists who work for a floundering paper are forced into an experiment where a set of 36 questions is predicted to make the participants fall in love!
I absolutely loved the first half of this—LOVED. The writing was really good—unique, but reminiscent of other authors I favour.
I wont lie, an asshole male like Jack is right up my alley, and Derelie was all adorable charm, which you want for a female lead. These two were really something and I’m sad about how the second half/last third really let them down. It was unnecessary with conflict, but the truth of it is I wish they didn’t get together till the last 20%. They got really serious really fast—and I was a bit surprised as I felt like they were smart people. The middle could have contained a few road bumps to drag it better. I always have this problem when something incredible turns out not to be a slow burn after all—and who doesn’t want slow burn when the chemistry is red hot.
Lastly, the questions weren’t utilised to their full potential and they never did the eye contact exercise (unless I missed it in my skimming towards the end).
This was an office romance with a hate to love vibe. Two very different journalists who work for a floundering paper are forced into an experiment where a set of 36 questions is predicted to make the participants fall in love!
I absolutely loved the first half of this—LOVED. The writing was really good—unique, but reminiscent of other authors I favour.
I wont lie, an asshole male like Jack is right up my alley, and Derelie was all adorable charm, which you want for a female lead. These two were really something and I’m sad about how the second half/last third really let them down. It was unnecessary with conflict, but the truth of it is I wish they didn’t get together till the last 20%. They got really serious really fast—and I was a bit surprised as I felt like they were smart people. The middle could have contained a few road bumps to drag it better. I always have this problem when something incredible turns out not to be a slow burn after all—and who doesn’t want slow burn when the chemistry is red hot.
Lastly, the questions weren’t utilised to their full potential and they never did the eye contact exercise (unless I missed it in my skimming towards the end).
February 20, 2018
Although the book definitely delivers on its premise and I had a decent time reading it, I just couldn’t bring myself to really like it.
There were aspects of the story I truly enjoyed –like the church fighting and the whole newspaper atmosphere but, ultimately, I wasn’t invested on the relationship. I think I just didn’t like the couple at all. Not even as individuals.
The writing style was fine –it was your typical contemporary kind of telling but yeah, didn’t like the romance.
I hope to have better luck with the next book.
There were aspects of the story I truly enjoyed –like the church fighting and the whole newspaper atmosphere but, ultimately, I wasn’t invested on the relationship. I think I just didn’t like the couple at all. Not even as individuals.
The writing style was fine –it was your typical contemporary kind of telling but yeah, didn’t like the romance.
I hope to have better luck with the next book.
March 25, 2018
2.5 stars
I somehow found the book a drag, hero was horrid & heroine was meh.
I somehow found the book a drag, hero was horrid & heroine was meh.
September 28, 2017
Enjoyed it a lot! The ending felt a bit rushed, I would have love an epilogue, but other than that is was quite nice - fun and smart and serious.
This was my first book by this author and I enjoyed it a lot. It's a modern day sort of opposites-attract romance with complex character, a love story full of twists and turns unfolding at the background of the desperate struggle of old-school newspaper against going digital edition only. I'm in general wary of office romances but here the hero and heroine are colleagues, albeit he is much more professionally successful and influential (in a way) but there is none of the boss-employee dynamics which I find problematic.
The romance starts (or rather has a false start) with a very interesting premise - hero and heroine are cast to do a quistionnaire of 36 questions designed to help create connection/intimacy between people. It had all the possibilities - to be fun and friendly, flirty and playful, downright seductive but it was all a bust because of Jack's refusal to engage with it.
He is a city boy, investigative journalist, media star, defender of the people while she is a small town girl, trying to make it in the big city and find her place in the changing world of journalism. There is lots of tension between them both professional and on a personal level.
I liked the slow burn, the gradual change from outright dismissal on his side through interest and fascination to full-blown being completely smitten by her. And he didn't know how to react to that, what to do with his love for her.
There is a Fight Club element in his arc which is usually not my thing but worked brilliantly here. I was totally convinced of it being the right thing for Jack and could see how he needed/used it to cope with the pressures of his life.
One of the things I liked the most in this romance was that we saw so much of their life after they got together and all the efforts it took to make the relationship work. Falling in love is not a miracle cure for all your problems. They were happy together but they still have their professional struggles (and a bit of adversary to be honest). Hiding their relationship at work while each of them tried to make the best of a difficult professional situation was not easy and put a lot of strain of their relationship. We also get a glimpse of how difficult it is for someone used to live alone to learn to share their personal space, their daily routines with someone. It was new and unfamiliar territory for Jack, yet it made him so unspeakably happy, most of the time.
I found both Jack and Derelie and the supporting cast really interesting, realistic characters. I liked that neither was presented as perfect, they were human, made mistakes, learned some lessons the hard way, fought for their dreams (won some but also lost some and that was Ok in my book because that's how life is).
There was a big fight towards the end and a bit too much drama for my liking, all ending in what felt a somewhat rushed HEA but nevertheless, I liked the overall story very much. It's deep and thought provoking, a reflection of the times and the slow death of serious investigative journalist. i liked how it brought to the fore something I personally find very important - the ability to adapt to the changes in your personal and professional world, to dream new dreams for yourselves, to be open to give and receive love, to move forward and to be happy.
This was my first book by this author and I enjoyed it a lot. It's a modern day sort of opposites-attract romance with complex character, a love story full of twists and turns unfolding at the background of the desperate struggle of old-school newspaper against going digital edition only. I'm in general wary of office romances but here the hero and heroine are colleagues, albeit he is much more professionally successful and influential (in a way) but there is none of the boss-employee dynamics which I find problematic.
The romance starts (or rather has a false start) with a very interesting premise - hero and heroine are cast to do a quistionnaire of 36 questions designed to help create connection/intimacy between people. It had all the possibilities - to be fun and friendly, flirty and playful, downright seductive but it was all a bust because of Jack's refusal to engage with it.
He is a city boy, investigative journalist, media star, defender of the people while she is a small town girl, trying to make it in the big city and find her place in the changing world of journalism. There is lots of tension between them both professional and on a personal level.
I liked the slow burn, the gradual change from outright dismissal on his side through interest and fascination to full-blown being completely smitten by her. And he didn't know how to react to that, what to do with his love for her.
There is a Fight Club element in his arc which is usually not my thing but worked brilliantly here. I was totally convinced of it being the right thing for Jack and could see how he needed/used it to cope with the pressures of his life.
One of the things I liked the most in this romance was that we saw so much of their life after they got together and all the efforts it took to make the relationship work. Falling in love is not a miracle cure for all your problems. They were happy together but they still have their professional struggles (and a bit of adversary to be honest). Hiding their relationship at work while each of them tried to make the best of a difficult professional situation was not easy and put a lot of strain of their relationship. We also get a glimpse of how difficult it is for someone used to live alone to learn to share their personal space, their daily routines with someone. It was new and unfamiliar territory for Jack, yet it made him so unspeakably happy, most of the time.
I found both Jack and Derelie and the supporting cast really interesting, realistic characters. I liked that neither was presented as perfect, they were human, made mistakes, learned some lessons the hard way, fought for their dreams (won some but also lost some and that was Ok in my book because that's how life is).
There was a big fight towards the end and a bit too much drama for my liking, all ending in what felt a somewhat rushed HEA but nevertheless, I liked the overall story very much. It's deep and thought provoking, a reflection of the times and the slow death of serious investigative journalist. i liked how it brought to the fore something I personally find very important - the ability to adapt to the changes in your personal and professional world, to dream new dreams for yourselves, to be open to give and receive love, to move forward and to be happy.
November 5, 2017
4.5 stars, rounding up.
Ainslie Paton is a new-to-me author, so I wasn't sure what to expect with this book. I was so pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this!
I liked the premise of two journalists at the same newspaper being thrown together by their superiors for the "love experiment," which refers to a (real!) questionnaire that is supposed to develop intimacy with a series of questions that two people ask each other. This felt like an original twist on the newsroom romance. I do want to emphasize that this is not a fake relationship plot--it's more like forced proximity. The fact that they do start dating seriously independently of the "love experiment" is something the protagonists keep secret for various reasons.
Jack is such a textbook grumpy hero. I have such a soft spot for grumpy heroes--I've never been able to put my finger on why. Jack embodies so many of the characteristics that I usually find in this type of character. He's sarcastic. He gives the appearance of not caring about others' feelings (but this isn't actually true). He's not a people person at all, although his role as an investigative journalist means he has to interact with people all the time. He's not socially awkward; he just has so little time for certain social niceties. He was born and raised in Chicago (where this is set); he doesn't have a close relationship with anyone in his family; and he's a workaholic.
Derelie is a great foil for him, and I would definitely consider this an opposites attract romance. She's from a small town and moved to Chicago to experience 'city life.' She's very close to her parents, is generally very optimistic and upbeat, and ready to try this 'experiment' as a way to get the attention of the editors and climb the ladder at the newspaper. Jack derisively calls her "Clickbait" when they first meet--and this was after she had to clarify that she wasn't an intern straight out of college (she's a youthful 28 to his ancient 36). She works for the digital lifestyle section, which Jack very openly derides.
Jack had absolutely no desire to do a "love experiment" as he felt it was a waste of his time given he had a major story he was investigating, and while I found his attitude toward Derelie and her work condescending, it was also understandable that he did not want to take part in the story. His editor puts a lot of pressure on him to do it, and even then Derelie has a hard time getting him to participate.
One theme that runs throughout the book and that felt very relevant (for lack of a better word) is this distinction between the type of journalism Jack does--investigative stories that have earned him nicknames as defender of the city and put his face on buses--and the type of journalism Derelie does. Jack puts in hours and hours of work tracking down leads and sources, doing research, and writing about issues no one else wants to shine a light on. He is a print journalist who understands that the tide is turning against him as more and more papers go digital-only. His initial interactions with Derelie were rude to the point of being demeaning at times because he doesn't understand the value in what Derelie does.
What I liked is that I never felt Derelie was a pushover. She respects Jack as someone with a lot of experience and for her, this is her chance to make a career. If that means writing listicles, so be it. It takes Jack a while to realize that what she does might not be as "important" as what he does, but that doesn't mean she doesn't deserve his respect. Derelie writes "feel good" stories that are mostly assigned to her. The love experiment, while also assigned to her, is the first thing she has more control over.
I expected this to be a fluffier romance so I was also surprised by some of the more serious themes that come up in this book. I don't want to spoil all of them, but through Jack's character in particular, the author explores issues related to family expectations and interactions, self-worth being tied to one's job and employment, and so on.
Initially I felt like the book took a nosedive in the latter part as some Major Drama happens, but upon reflection, I appreciate that the author took it in that direction because again, it felt...relatable. It felt like the characters were dealing with shit that happens in real life, not just on the pages of a romance novel. And while I knew this would be resolved as a HEA, I didn't know how they'd get there.
The only things that made me knock this down from a full 5 stars are:
1. Sometimes the author's writing style was...hard to follow? I don't know if it just needed another round of editing, but there were so many long, often run-on sentences, awkward phrasing, etc. Overall I quite liked her voice, but there were times when I found this distracting.
2. I really did not like the side plot of Jack being involved in a 'fight club' of sorts. I did appreciate that this is woven into the story as something that actually has some significance but I'm just...meh. Not into this.
Note: This book fulfills "Quill" in the Letter Q Challenge.
Ainslie Paton is a new-to-me author, so I wasn't sure what to expect with this book. I was so pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this!
I liked the premise of two journalists at the same newspaper being thrown together by their superiors for the "love experiment," which refers to a (real!) questionnaire that is supposed to develop intimacy with a series of questions that two people ask each other. This felt like an original twist on the newsroom romance. I do want to emphasize that this is not a fake relationship plot--it's more like forced proximity. The fact that they do start dating seriously independently of the "love experiment" is something the protagonists keep secret for various reasons.
Jack is such a textbook grumpy hero. I have such a soft spot for grumpy heroes--I've never been able to put my finger on why. Jack embodies so many of the characteristics that I usually find in this type of character. He's sarcastic. He gives the appearance of not caring about others' feelings (but this isn't actually true). He's not a people person at all, although his role as an investigative journalist means he has to interact with people all the time. He's not socially awkward; he just has so little time for certain social niceties. He was born and raised in Chicago (where this is set); he doesn't have a close relationship with anyone in his family; and he's a workaholic.
Derelie is a great foil for him, and I would definitely consider this an opposites attract romance. She's from a small town and moved to Chicago to experience 'city life.' She's very close to her parents, is generally very optimistic and upbeat, and ready to try this 'experiment' as a way to get the attention of the editors and climb the ladder at the newspaper. Jack derisively calls her "Clickbait" when they first meet--and this was after she had to clarify that she wasn't an intern straight out of college (she's a youthful 28 to his ancient 36). She works for the digital lifestyle section, which Jack very openly derides.
Jack had absolutely no desire to do a "love experiment" as he felt it was a waste of his time given he had a major story he was investigating, and while I found his attitude toward Derelie and her work condescending, it was also understandable that he did not want to take part in the story. His editor puts a lot of pressure on him to do it, and even then Derelie has a hard time getting him to participate.
One theme that runs throughout the book and that felt very relevant (for lack of a better word) is this distinction between the type of journalism Jack does--investigative stories that have earned him nicknames as defender of the city and put his face on buses--and the type of journalism Derelie does. Jack puts in hours and hours of work tracking down leads and sources, doing research, and writing about issues no one else wants to shine a light on. He is a print journalist who understands that the tide is turning against him as more and more papers go digital-only. His initial interactions with Derelie were rude to the point of being demeaning at times because he doesn't understand the value in what Derelie does.
What I liked is that I never felt Derelie was a pushover. She respects Jack as someone with a lot of experience and for her, this is her chance to make a career. If that means writing listicles, so be it. It takes Jack a while to realize that what she does might not be as "important" as what he does, but that doesn't mean she doesn't deserve his respect. Derelie writes "feel good" stories that are mostly assigned to her. The love experiment, while also assigned to her, is the first thing she has more control over.
I expected this to be a fluffier romance so I was also surprised by some of the more serious themes that come up in this book. I don't want to spoil all of them, but through Jack's character in particular, the author explores issues related to family expectations and interactions, self-worth being tied to one's job and employment, and so on.
Initially I felt like the book took a nosedive in the latter part as some Major Drama happens, but upon reflection, I appreciate that the author took it in that direction because again, it felt...relatable. It felt like the characters were dealing with shit that happens in real life, not just on the pages of a romance novel. And while I knew this would be resolved as a HEA, I didn't know how they'd get there.
The only things that made me knock this down from a full 5 stars are:
1. Sometimes the author's writing style was...hard to follow? I don't know if it just needed another round of editing, but there were so many long, often run-on sentences, awkward phrasing, etc. Overall I quite liked her voice, but there were times when I found this distracting.
2. I really did not like the side plot of Jack being involved in a 'fight club' of sorts. I did appreciate that this is woven into the story as something that actually has some significance but I'm just...meh. Not into this.
Note: This book fulfills "Quill" in the Letter Q Challenge.
October 9, 2017
Ainslie Paton is a completely new author to me and it is always exciting to find a new author to admire and read. The Love Experiment was such an unexpected pleasure for many reasons but perhaps especially because it never followed a predictable plot. While it begins with a light-hearted and pretty hokey questionnaire that forces two very different and even antagonistic co-workers together to test their ability to withstand artificial forced intimacy, it goes to places I did not foresee. It is quite serious at times in its development of current social issues. It also has some poignant and highly emotional moments that really touched me. And at times it's still charming and quite funny, in keeping with the love experiment itself.
The novel also features one of my favorite tropes, which is the grumpy hero. And like the best of grumpy heroes, Jack Haley experiences real character growth in the course of falling in love. Jack, the uber-confident, cynical, and hard-bitten crime reporter, balks (quite understandably, in my opinion) at being assigned to complete "the love experiment" with a rookie lifestyle entertainment reporter who looks in Jack's estimate to be virtually a teen intern. We get to see Derelie Honeywell quite a bit through Jack's eyes though and so her kindness, generosity, intelligence and maturity are revealed slowly to us at the same time they are to Jack. I really appreciate books that can show us character development and ideas rather than just tell us about them. Though at the start of the novel Derelie's and Jack's pairing makes no sense, the way the romance unfolds through a series of curt encounters, revealing coffee dates, a near-romantic dinner date, and then a significant and humiliating rupture all paint a very moving portrait of a seemingly odd couple becoming the perfect pair for each other. Both Jack and Derelie are lonely and isolated and their union fills an important gap in both of their lives. The story is split equally between Derelie's loneliness as a newbie to Chicago from a small rural farming town and Jack's loneliness as an isolated investigative journalist in a world where fake news and clickbait predominate. I'm not sure which of the two grabbed more sympathy for me since both persevere in their lives and refuse to allow obstacles to hold them back, but I think in retrospect that Jack needs Derelie more. He doesn't necessarily become less of a curmudgeon but he softens and and grows realistically from their shared love.
There are a number of events I did not see coming that change things radically from start to finish and these are best experienced in the reading process. I went to Paton's website and notice that she considers herself a "hyper" realist author. I think this is true and when I gave this book to a fellow romance reader, she did not share my enthusiasm for it as she felt the intrusion of realism and life problems into the story detracted from the romance. For readers looking for escapism, this book does not really fit that requirement. It does though make me want to go back and read more in her backlist as I loved the overlapping of current cultural issues with the demands of building a romance in a difficult world.
The novel also features one of my favorite tropes, which is the grumpy hero. And like the best of grumpy heroes, Jack Haley experiences real character growth in the course of falling in love. Jack, the uber-confident, cynical, and hard-bitten crime reporter, balks (quite understandably, in my opinion) at being assigned to complete "the love experiment" with a rookie lifestyle entertainment reporter who looks in Jack's estimate to be virtually a teen intern. We get to see Derelie Honeywell quite a bit through Jack's eyes though and so her kindness, generosity, intelligence and maturity are revealed slowly to us at the same time they are to Jack. I really appreciate books that can show us character development and ideas rather than just tell us about them. Though at the start of the novel Derelie's and Jack's pairing makes no sense, the way the romance unfolds through a series of curt encounters, revealing coffee dates, a near-romantic dinner date, and then a significant and humiliating rupture all paint a very moving portrait of a seemingly odd couple becoming the perfect pair for each other. Both Jack and Derelie are lonely and isolated and their union fills an important gap in both of their lives. The story is split equally between Derelie's loneliness as a newbie to Chicago from a small rural farming town and Jack's loneliness as an isolated investigative journalist in a world where fake news and clickbait predominate. I'm not sure which of the two grabbed more sympathy for me since both persevere in their lives and refuse to allow obstacles to hold them back, but I think in retrospect that Jack needs Derelie more. He doesn't necessarily become less of a curmudgeon but he softens and and grows realistically from their shared love.
There are a number of events I did not see coming that change things radically from start to finish and these are best experienced in the reading process. I went to Paton's website and notice that she considers herself a "hyper" realist author. I think this is true and when I gave this book to a fellow romance reader, she did not share my enthusiasm for it as she felt the intrusion of realism and life problems into the story detracted from the romance. For readers looking for escapism, this book does not really fit that requirement. It does though make me want to go back and read more in her backlist as I loved the overlapping of current cultural issues with the demands of building a romance in a difficult world.
April 7, 2018
“The questionnaire didn’t give any hints of what you were supposed to do if you got beyond intimacy. That had to be what this was. An overwhelming desire not to be parted her, to know she was near, to hear her voice and see her smile. To know he could touch her in the most casual way and understand her in the most solemn. To feel in the core of his being that his own happiness was brought to life by hers. He didn’t know what do about feeling that way. What to call it except love.
3.5 stars
This book caught me off guard in the best way possible. On the surface it was an average opposites attract romance, but it ended up being so much more than that. The execution wasn’t perfect, but wow did the author get and keep my attention. No small feat, I assure you.
The Love Experiment begins just as the title alludes to; with a love experiment. The main characters are co-workers at a Chicago newspaper and are paired up to test if said love experiment, which is composed of a series of questions that promises to promote intimacy between partners that might eventually lead to love, really works. The hero is Jackson Haley, The Courier’s full time investigative reporter and part time jackass. His name is quite apt isn’t it? Meanwhile our heroine is one Derelie Honeywell *cue the laugh snorts* because yes, that is her actual name. Unlike Jack, Derelie works for the lifestyle section. Or as Jack so lovingly refers to it, she writes ‘clickbait’. Jack believes the love experiment is a hoax and a waste of his precious time. He’s got REAL news to cover afterall. While Derelie, the fresh off the farm rookie, just wants to keep her job, even if it means working with the intimidating and often times prickish Mr. Haley. What could possibly go wrong?
Despite everything I just said, I really liked Jack. Yes he was a bit of a douchebag, especially in the beginning (and much later at the end, grrr) BUT he was more than what he seemed. It was only after meeting Derelie, subsequently hurting and disrespecting her multiple times, that Jack actively started to change. He was self aware enough to see what a dick he was being and worked hard not to be moving forward. It is so rare to encounter a hero that realizes he could be and do better, and then does it, not just for the heroine’s sake, but for his own as well. Jack had many layers and areas of gray to him which made an interesting juxtaposition to the black and white, truth and lies work he did as a reporter. I loved watching Jack discover new sides of himself, softer, more tender sides through knowing and loving Derelie. Did I mention he had a cat named Martha after Gellhorn? SO MUCH LOVE.
I ended up liking Derelie a lot as well. She could’ve so easily become a cliche, what with her small town roots and arc of trying to find her footing in the big city, but she never lost sight of who she was and where she came from. Even when she tried to adapt more to quote unquote ‘city life’, like taking yoga classes and buying more trendy clothes, Derelie could never quite be anyone other than herself. She was “sunshine and birdsong” to Jack’s “concrete and steel”; they balanced each other perfectly. What also kept Derelie from being too one dimensional was her backbone and sharp wit. She kept the great Jack Haley on his toes and, when necessary, put him in his place more than once. Derelie might have had a ridiculous name, but she didn’t let a small town’s boundaries or city bigwigs stand in her way when it came to going after what she wanted.
The main hook of the story was, of course, the love experiment itself. I just loved the dynamic that was unexpectedly created between two strangers as they played what appeared to be a rather simple game of twenty questions, and how it eventually morphed into this complex and compelling meeting of the minds. Through the various questions asked and the different answers given, Derelie and Jack were able to cut through the bullshit and pretense that most people put up when first getting to know each other, and get to the heart of who they really were. It was effectively a shortcut to love, or instalove with depth. It was interesting and unexpectedly thrilling as it made me think long and hard about how and why do people fall in love. I’m always lamenting over instalove whenever I encounter it in books, so why was Derelie and Jack’s romance so different? Truth is: I HAVE NO IDEA. And maybe that’s the answer. Who really knows why two people fall in love. Is it a chemical reaction? Lust? Soulmate recognizing soulmate? Or placebo effects from a silly love experiment? I don’t know and the book never answers the question either.
What was perhaps even more interesting than the falling in love itself though, was what came AFTERWARD. The honeymoon phase is all well and fine of course, with lots of sexy times and mushy feels, but what happens after the glow begins to fade and reality sets in? Derelie and Jack are forced to confront a very different set of questions in the fallout. Such as, would what they had found together last? Were they worthy of the love they had each received? Was it even real, the love they were feeling? THE BOOK WAS PURE BRAIN CANDY, at least if you’re as analytical as I am. If you’re not, well, maybe you should think about skipping this one. Or don’t, and instead enjoy the incredible intimacy and potent chemistry the author was able to create between Derelie and Jack. As boring as it sounds, couples who talk, support each other and simply love being together will always be my catnip.
My biggest critiques of the book were 1) the way too rushed ending that featured dumbassery masquerading as noble idiocy and 2) the writing itself. There was something really off putting about some of Ainslie Paton’s sentence structures. I know, I sound like a English Lit major, I am not, but I’ve read enough books to know when something isn’t quite right. A lot of her paragraphs consisted of really long winded, run-on sentences that, in my opinion, should have been separated by more periods and/or commas. The way the words were written made concentrating extremely difficult at times, as if my brain didn’t have enough time to absorb what I was reading because there was no break inbetween sentences, which is what punctuation marks are for last time I checked. Perhaps the author was trying to mimic the pace of the book’s setting in the world of journalism which rarely slows down. Or it was bad editing. Or I’m just weird *shrug*
P.S. I NEED MORE REPORTER HEROES AND HEROINES IN MY LIFE ROMANCELAND. Please?
3.5 stars
This book caught me off guard in the best way possible. On the surface it was an average opposites attract romance, but it ended up being so much more than that. The execution wasn’t perfect, but wow did the author get and keep my attention. No small feat, I assure you.
The Love Experiment begins just as the title alludes to; with a love experiment. The main characters are co-workers at a Chicago newspaper and are paired up to test if said love experiment, which is composed of a series of questions that promises to promote intimacy between partners that might eventually lead to love, really works. The hero is Jackson Haley, The Courier’s full time investigative reporter and part time jackass. His name is quite apt isn’t it? Meanwhile our heroine is one Derelie Honeywell *cue the laugh snorts* because yes, that is her actual name. Unlike Jack, Derelie works for the lifestyle section. Or as Jack so lovingly refers to it, she writes ‘clickbait’. Jack believes the love experiment is a hoax and a waste of his precious time. He’s got REAL news to cover afterall. While Derelie, the fresh off the farm rookie, just wants to keep her job, even if it means working with the intimidating and often times prickish Mr. Haley. What could possibly go wrong?
Despite everything I just said, I really liked Jack. Yes he was a bit of a douchebag, especially in the beginning (and much later at the end, grrr) BUT he was more than what he seemed. It was only after meeting Derelie, subsequently hurting and disrespecting her multiple times, that Jack actively started to change. He was self aware enough to see what a dick he was being and worked hard not to be moving forward. It is so rare to encounter a hero that realizes he could be and do better, and then does it, not just for the heroine’s sake, but for his own as well. Jack had many layers and areas of gray to him which made an interesting juxtaposition to the black and white, truth and lies work he did as a reporter. I loved watching Jack discover new sides of himself, softer, more tender sides through knowing and loving Derelie. Did I mention he had a cat named Martha after Gellhorn? SO MUCH LOVE.
I ended up liking Derelie a lot as well. She could’ve so easily become a cliche, what with her small town roots and arc of trying to find her footing in the big city, but she never lost sight of who she was and where she came from. Even when she tried to adapt more to quote unquote ‘city life’, like taking yoga classes and buying more trendy clothes, Derelie could never quite be anyone other than herself. She was “sunshine and birdsong” to Jack’s “concrete and steel”; they balanced each other perfectly. What also kept Derelie from being too one dimensional was her backbone and sharp wit. She kept the great Jack Haley on his toes and, when necessary, put him in his place more than once. Derelie might have had a ridiculous name, but she didn’t let a small town’s boundaries or city bigwigs stand in her way when it came to going after what she wanted.
The main hook of the story was, of course, the love experiment itself. I just loved the dynamic that was unexpectedly created between two strangers as they played what appeared to be a rather simple game of twenty questions, and how it eventually morphed into this complex and compelling meeting of the minds. Through the various questions asked and the different answers given, Derelie and Jack were able to cut through the bullshit and pretense that most people put up when first getting to know each other, and get to the heart of who they really were. It was effectively a shortcut to love, or instalove with depth. It was interesting and unexpectedly thrilling as it made me think long and hard about how and why do people fall in love. I’m always lamenting over instalove whenever I encounter it in books, so why was Derelie and Jack’s romance so different? Truth is: I HAVE NO IDEA. And maybe that’s the answer. Who really knows why two people fall in love. Is it a chemical reaction? Lust? Soulmate recognizing soulmate? Or placebo effects from a silly love experiment? I don’t know and the book never answers the question either.
What was perhaps even more interesting than the falling in love itself though, was what came AFTERWARD. The honeymoon phase is all well and fine of course, with lots of sexy times and mushy feels, but what happens after the glow begins to fade and reality sets in? Derelie and Jack are forced to confront a very different set of questions in the fallout. Such as, would what they had found together last? Were they worthy of the love they had each received? Was it even real, the love they were feeling? THE BOOK WAS PURE BRAIN CANDY, at least if you’re as analytical as I am. If you’re not, well, maybe you should think about skipping this one. Or don’t, and instead enjoy the incredible intimacy and potent chemistry the author was able to create between Derelie and Jack. As boring as it sounds, couples who talk, support each other and simply love being together will always be my catnip.
My biggest critiques of the book were 1) the way too rushed ending that featured dumbassery masquerading as noble idiocy and 2) the writing itself. There was something really off putting about some of Ainslie Paton’s sentence structures. I know, I sound like a English Lit major, I am not, but I’ve read enough books to know when something isn’t quite right. A lot of her paragraphs consisted of really long winded, run-on sentences that, in my opinion, should have been separated by more periods and/or commas. The way the words were written made concentrating extremely difficult at times, as if my brain didn’t have enough time to absorb what I was reading because there was no break inbetween sentences, which is what punctuation marks are for last time I checked. Perhaps the author was trying to mimic the pace of the book’s setting in the world of journalism which rarely slows down. Or it was bad editing. Or I’m just weird *shrug*
P.S. I NEED MORE REPORTER HEROES AND HEROINES IN MY LIFE ROMANCELAND. Please?
October 5, 2017
3.5 Stars, mostly because I felt like the relationship happened too fast but...it was sort of slowburn at the beginning, however once the relationship happened it moved waaaaay too fast, I still enjoyed it a lot because both main characters were complex and we got to know a lot about what made them act the way they acted, I'm also taking points down because I love epilogues and this one didn't have one!!!!! GIVE ME ALL THE CUTE YOU CAN POSSIBLY FIT INTO WORDS BRING IT ON I AM READY
October 10, 2017
I struggled with the writing style of this at first... but, I liked the premise and stuck with it, and I'm glad I did! Once I got used to the writing I really enjoyed the characters and their story. This is a simple, cute romance that is low on unnecessary angst (yay). I also appreciated having a likable heroine that didn't make stupid decisions (double yay). If you're looking for something light and sweet, this is a good one to try!
October 9, 2017
DNF 40%
I was bored and not at all interested in reading about the romance between two journalists.
"It's not you, it's me" 😉
Sorry. It just didn't click!
I was bored and not at all interested in reading about the romance between two journalists.
"It's not you, it's me" 😉
Sorry. It just didn't click!
October 3, 2017
This book had me turning the pages what a story it engages you from the start the banter and whit is so very entertaining there will be laughs and smiles as you get to know hero Jack Haley who is an investigative journalist with the Courier newspaper in Chicago, and new to the city journalist Derelie Honeywell who also works for the same paper although in the online department, sit back and enjoy.
Derelie was the girl from the country loved dogs comes from a fabulous family and was determined to do well she is strong and she is also never going to show her vulnerability to anyone especially the egotistical bastard Jack when they are thrown together to do a piece for the paper the love experiment 36 questions to see if a couple are compatible and it doesn’t take long for Derelie to make up her mind about the man Jack Haley is maybe not the egotistical bastard she first thought.
Jack is a loner he did not have the best family growing up he does his job with an tenacity that does not stop, he has ways of coping with anger and he loves his cat Martha and when he is told to do this love experiment Jack is not a happy man and does everything to get out of it, oh but Derelie gets under his skin and I loved seeing his emotions it is just the best, hang on to your seats as Jack shows his true colours.
I loved this story, I loved seeing Derelie stand up to Jack never giving in and to see Jack become his real self with her was an amazing journey, MS Paton nailed this story it is beautifully written it is moving and I fell for Jack big time. Derelie is such a beautiful heroine caring, strong with a fabulous sense of humour, I highly recommend this story so many emotions it is fun and fabulous. Thank you MS Paton for hours of reading enjoyment oh and I did love Martha and Ernest.
Derelie was the girl from the country loved dogs comes from a fabulous family and was determined to do well she is strong and she is also never going to show her vulnerability to anyone especially the egotistical bastard Jack when they are thrown together to do a piece for the paper the love experiment 36 questions to see if a couple are compatible and it doesn’t take long for Derelie to make up her mind about the man Jack Haley is maybe not the egotistical bastard she first thought.
Jack is a loner he did not have the best family growing up he does his job with an tenacity that does not stop, he has ways of coping with anger and he loves his cat Martha and when he is told to do this love experiment Jack is not a happy man and does everything to get out of it, oh but Derelie gets under his skin and I loved seeing his emotions it is just the best, hang on to your seats as Jack shows his true colours.
I loved this story, I loved seeing Derelie stand up to Jack never giving in and to see Jack become his real self with her was an amazing journey, MS Paton nailed this story it is beautifully written it is moving and I fell for Jack big time. Derelie is such a beautiful heroine caring, strong with a fabulous sense of humour, I highly recommend this story so many emotions it is fun and fabulous. Thank you MS Paton for hours of reading enjoyment oh and I did love Martha and Ernest.
February 9, 2019
I was surprised by how this book was more than just a romance. The realistic situations regarding the protagonist's professional lives were interesting to see.
I think there were some transition scenes a little boring, others a little repetitive but in the end I was glad the couple seemed to be a good match. After a certain conflict, though, I did expect the end to be a little sweeter or, at least, for the book to have a cute epilogue. It would have been a good balance to the less-than-easy situations going on.
I think there were some transition scenes a little boring, others a little repetitive but in the end I was glad the couple seemed to be a good match. After a certain conflict, though, I did expect the end to be a little sweeter or, at least, for the book to have a cute epilogue. It would have been a good balance to the less-than-easy situations going on.
September 11, 2017
I loved reading about the characters of Derelie Honeywell and Jackson Haley in author Ainslie Paton's newest novel, The Love Experiment. A feel good read that I could not put down. Ms Paton is fast becoming my go-to author for unmissable reads.
Review copy received from Carina Press via Netgalley
Review copy received from Carina Press via Netgalley
August 28, 2017
Ainslie Paton has the gift to create a page turner. I loved this story from beginning to end. The hero is broody and mean, ala James Dean, yet you can't help but fall in love with him. The heroine is sassy and strong. She takes no nonsense from him, but when he does bruise her heart, boy, do you feel it like an arrow through yours. The emotional ride is spectacular, the characters come to life on the page. Ms Paton is a genius storyteller, and if you like hard-hitting, edge-of-the-seat, gritty-yet-knee-buckling romance, be sure not to miss this one.
I received an ARC for honest review.
I received an ARC for honest review.
January 28, 2018
Why did I let this sit in my tbr pile for so long? This book was amazing! Jack and Derelie both work for a Chicago newspaper. Jack is a cynical Investigative Journalist and Derelie is a country girl in the big city doing the "click bait" info-tainment stories for the online paper.
They both get roped into doing a story about The Love Experiment, a set of 36 questions said to promote intimacy. Jack is adamant about not getting involved in this fluff and he is quite an a$$ to Derelie for a large part of the beginning of the book. Derelie is generous, honest, funny and tough (no doormat here). She's also just what Jack needs and she has him on his knees before he knows what happened.
This story is funny, sweet, romantic and interesting. There is a lot of commentary about the future of journalism and important things that are being lost. Jack, who I found it hard to like at the start, became a real sweetheart. The plot took me places I wasn't expecting. I definitely recommend this book.
Safety: This book is 100% safe.
They both get roped into doing a story about The Love Experiment, a set of 36 questions said to promote intimacy. Jack is adamant about not getting involved in this fluff and he is quite an a$$ to Derelie for a large part of the beginning of the book. Derelie is generous, honest, funny and tough (no doormat here). She's also just what Jack needs and she has him on his knees before he knows what happened.
This story is funny, sweet, romantic and interesting. There is a lot of commentary about the future of journalism and important things that are being lost. Jack, who I found it hard to like at the start, became a real sweetheart. The plot took me places I wasn't expecting. I definitely recommend this book.
Safety: This book is 100% safe.
August 9, 2017
The premise of this book is quite interesting but I had a hard time getting into it. I felt detached from the main characters and I think that is mainly because of the writing style.
There was (too) much focus on journalism and the changing times, where papers are starting to get obsolete and the internet is taking over. The Hero is old school, writes investigative pieces. He is thrown together with the heroine for a piece called The love experiment and they start a relationship, but when he encounters trouble will their blossoming romance survive?
Although obviously well researched this story was not my cup of tea. This is however my personal opinion and I do think the author has found an original premise. At the end of the book you will find the 36 questions of the mentioned study (or Love experiment) so you can try it yourself.
I requested and received an ARC through Netgalley and this is my honest review.
There was (too) much focus on journalism and the changing times, where papers are starting to get obsolete and the internet is taking over. The Hero is old school, writes investigative pieces. He is thrown together with the heroine for a piece called The love experiment and they start a relationship, but when he encounters trouble will their blossoming romance survive?
Although obviously well researched this story was not my cup of tea. This is however my personal opinion and I do think the author has found an original premise. At the end of the book you will find the 36 questions of the mentioned study (or Love experiment) so you can try it yourself.
I requested and received an ARC through Netgalley and this is my honest review.
December 15, 2017
mignon et assez drôle. La romance qui fait du bien.
January 11, 2018
Reviewed for Dear Author.
http://dearauthor.com/book-reviews/ov...
http://dearauthor.com/book-reviews/ov...
October 1, 2017
Copy received from the author for an honest review
An Aislie Paton book is like Forrest Gump's box of chocolates - you never know what you're going to get.
I love that they are a little bit left of centre, that the characters are quirky and fun.
Whilst The Love Experiment is a little more "normal" than her other works, I adored it just as much.
You can't help but love both Derelie (rhymes with merrily!) and Jack. Their relationship is not all fun and games, and you know it is going to be a loooong time before they maybe find their HEA.
This story is full of snark, witty banter, laughter and sparks. Oh the sparks, do they fly! The UST between our lovelies could start a bushfire!
There is also a cat with attitude, that even this dog lover couldn't help but adore.
I really enjoyed The Love Experiment, and can't wait to see what Ms Paton brings us next.
An Aislie Paton book is like Forrest Gump's box of chocolates - you never know what you're going to get.
I love that they are a little bit left of centre, that the characters are quirky and fun.
Whilst The Love Experiment is a little more "normal" than her other works, I adored it just as much.
You can't help but love both Derelie (rhymes with merrily!) and Jack. Their relationship is not all fun and games, and you know it is going to be a loooong time before they maybe find their HEA.
This story is full of snark, witty banter, laughter and sparks. Oh the sparks, do they fly! The UST between our lovelies could start a bushfire!
There is also a cat with attitude, that even this dog lover couldn't help but adore.
I really enjoyed The Love Experiment, and can't wait to see what Ms Paton brings us next.
November 22, 2017
There was a section in the middle - after they got together (!!! yes there are CHAPTERS of them after they've gotten together!!! my fave kind of romance!!!!) - where I was certain I'd be giving this five stars. The way the leads settle into each other and keep learning about each other while knowing each other at a gut level at the same time was kind of wonderful. I especially loved seeing the building confidence with their relationship, from both sides; and how both of them were equally capable of visibly knocking the other over. I always love when no one has the obvious upper hand. I liked that neither lead was explicitly described in terms of how they look (which is apparently a new sticking point for me now) and I liked everything about them depended on the way they talked around these questions.
I'm also impressed how much I liked the professional side of this story - when romance novels brush against competence and work, I'm always conscious of how weirdly clinical and detached the story gets, and I'm always conscious of how that inevitably ends up following the rest of the romance as well, even outside of the workplace (honestly I'm mainly thinking of Julie James right now). Paton does an incredible job at making every part of this, even the carefully worded bits, feel earnest and keen and emotional; even the quiet parts felt meditative and full of feeling in a way that really got to me. I adored that.
That said! There were parts at the beginning where Jack leaned too close to rude for my liking, though he did redeem himself with aplomb and without bad excuses; and I found the two chapters before the ending a little bit frustrating, though I could see why it happened and even why it was necessary for the kind of characters both of them are. The first reason in particular is enough that I'm not sure if I could rec this to people.
But I really enjoyed this one overall.
I'm also impressed how much I liked the professional side of this story - when romance novels brush against competence and work, I'm always conscious of how weirdly clinical and detached the story gets, and I'm always conscious of how that inevitably ends up following the rest of the romance as well, even outside of the workplace (honestly I'm mainly thinking of Julie James right now). Paton does an incredible job at making every part of this, even the carefully worded bits, feel earnest and keen and emotional; even the quiet parts felt meditative and full of feeling in a way that really got to me. I adored that.
That said! There were parts at the beginning where Jack leaned too close to rude for my liking, though he did redeem himself with aplomb and without bad excuses; and I found the two chapters before the ending a little bit frustrating, though I could see why it happened and even why it was necessary for the kind of characters both of them are. The first reason in particular is enough that I'm not sure if I could rec this to people.
But I really enjoyed this one overall.
October 7, 2017
This is a fun one called The Love Experiment by Ainslee Paton with an Investigative Journalist and a ClickBait writer at a newspaper in Chicago. The humor was lively, especially in the beginning, when they are thrown together for an article about an Intimacy Experiment. There is insight into the changes in the newspaper publishing business as well as a farm girl adjusting to living in the big city.
October 19, 2017
I enjoyed the two main characters and their give-and-take dialogue. They built an interesting dynamic through the novel. Derelie developed as a character throughout and proved to be a nice balance for Jack. Sadly personal dislike of certain background concepts prevent me from rating this higher—that said I can understand why I’ve seen a few people compare this to “The Hating Game”. It’s not the same but the dialogue has a certain spark that is lacking in other books.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 101 reviews