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Chemistry Lessons #4
Applied Electromagnetism
A business trip with the office hottie turns into a road trip from hell.
Adam Cortinas may be gorgeous, but he’s made it clear he can’t stand Olivia—and the feeling is one hundred percent mutual. Too bad, because in order to bring the company’s new power plant online, they’re stuck with each other for the next week.
When their travel plans go horribly awry, Olivia finds herself stranded in the middle of nowhere with Adam, AKA the bane of her existence.
He’s in her space and in her head. All the forced proximity is driving Olivia insane. That’s the only explanation for these FEELINGS she’s suddenly having.
But it doesn’t change anything. They still hate each other.
Right?
Applied Electromagnetism is the fourth full-length novel in a series of standalone rom-coms about women in STEM fields.
Adam Cortinas may be gorgeous, but he’s made it clear he can’t stand Olivia—and the feeling is one hundred percent mutual. Too bad, because in order to bring the company’s new power plant online, they’re stuck with each other for the next week.
When their travel plans go horribly awry, Olivia finds herself stranded in the middle of nowhere with Adam, AKA the bane of her existence.
He’s in her space and in her head. All the forced proximity is driving Olivia insane. That’s the only explanation for these FEELINGS she’s suddenly having.
But it doesn’t change anything. They still hate each other.
Right?
Applied Electromagnetism is the fourth full-length novel in a series of standalone rom-coms about women in STEM fields.
262 pages, ebook
First published July 2, 2019
162 people are currently reading
1713 people want to read
About the author
Susannah Nix
60 books1,852 followersSusannah Nix is a RITA® Award-winning and USA Today bestselling author of rom-coms and contemporary romances who lives in Texas with her husband. On the rare occasions she's not writing, she can be found reading, knitting, lifting weights, drinking wine, or obsessively watching Ted Lasso on repeat to stave off existential angst.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 307 reviews
March 25, 2020
I was listening to this amid social distancing and work from home mode. And let me tell you, this book is perfect for the occasion. It is a sweet cute story about 2 people who have prejudice on the first glance.
They embark in a road trip from hell and finding out each other. Fall in love. Their romance progresses into getting to know each other during their isolation. It helps me entertain during all worse news around the world.
When you stuck at home,take time to get to know your family again. Or your loves one, ypur rommate etc. Believe we will be OK at the end.
4 stars
They embark in a road trip from hell and finding out each other. Fall in love. Their romance progresses into getting to know each other during their isolation. It helps me entertain during all worse news around the world.
When you stuck at home,take time to get to know your family again. Or your loves one, ypur rommate etc. Believe we will be OK at the end.
4 stars
June 21, 2019
***I voluntarily read an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review***
To be more accurate, I basically begged for an ARC of this book because I Love (capital L Love) everything this author has written, and I not so patiently await new-release dates. This book, thankfully, didn't disappoint.
Adam and Olivia are coworkers who intensely dislike each other and end up stranded together on a business trip. As they spend more time together, they actually begin to enjoy the bickering and actually start to like and respect each other.
I know this sounds like a common romance book theme - and I read a lot of them, so I'm aware it is - BUT the wonderful differences are what makes this book (and really every other one of her books) worth reading. As you can probably guess by the title, Applied Electromagnetism, the heroine of our story is intelligent. I truly enjoy reading stories where the author isn't afraid to make the female lead smart. And not just tell us she's smart, but actually have the level of writing reflect this. (I'm not saying you need an advanced degree to read it, just that it's very witty.) I also love the fact that although Olivia has had a crush on Adam for years, she doesn't act like a love-struck idiot who will put up with being treated badly; she stands up for herself. And Adam, while definitely being a swoon-worthy book boyfriend, has faults and makes missteps; however, he owns up to them and apologizes. I LOVE this aspect. Sometimes, to me, books fall a bit flat when the male (or female) lead only realizes his faults at the end of the story and does some huge romantic gesture to make up for it (don't worry, there's a romantic gesture and you'll love it). Adam, on the other hand, actively listens and evolves into a better person throughout the book.
Finally, this is a romantic comedy that is actually funny. The banter between the leads is fabulous and doesn't feel at all forced, which I so greatly appreciate. I actually found myself smiling through most of the book...and, really, can you ask for more than that?
If you haven't read any of this author's books, what are you waiting for?? If you have, you already know the great read you have in store, and you're not going to be disappointed.
To be more accurate, I basically begged for an ARC of this book because I Love (capital L Love) everything this author has written, and I not so patiently await new-release dates. This book, thankfully, didn't disappoint.
Adam and Olivia are coworkers who intensely dislike each other and end up stranded together on a business trip. As they spend more time together, they actually begin to enjoy the bickering and actually start to like and respect each other.
I know this sounds like a common romance book theme - and I read a lot of them, so I'm aware it is - BUT the wonderful differences are what makes this book (and really every other one of her books) worth reading. As you can probably guess by the title, Applied Electromagnetism, the heroine of our story is intelligent. I truly enjoy reading stories where the author isn't afraid to make the female lead smart. And not just tell us she's smart, but actually have the level of writing reflect this. (I'm not saying you need an advanced degree to read it, just that it's very witty.) I also love the fact that although Olivia has had a crush on Adam for years, she doesn't act like a love-struck idiot who will put up with being treated badly; she stands up for herself. And Adam, while definitely being a swoon-worthy book boyfriend, has faults and makes missteps; however, he owns up to them and apologizes. I LOVE this aspect. Sometimes, to me, books fall a bit flat when the male (or female) lead only realizes his faults at the end of the story and does some huge romantic gesture to make up for it (don't worry, there's a romantic gesture and you'll love it). Adam, on the other hand, actively listens and evolves into a better person throughout the book.
Finally, this is a romantic comedy that is actually funny. The banter between the leads is fabulous and doesn't feel at all forced, which I so greatly appreciate. I actually found myself smiling through most of the book...and, really, can you ask for more than that?
If you haven't read any of this author's books, what are you waiting for?? If you have, you already know the great read you have in store, and you're not going to be disappointed.
Read
July 2, 2019
★☆★ NOW LIVE!!! ★☆★
APPLIED ELECTROMAGNETISM is available everywhere! This forced proximity road trip romance is the perfect summer read.
AMAZON ➤ https://amzn.to/2GpJV1E
APPLE ➤ https://apple.co/2XI1jWA
B&N ➤ http://bit.ly/2v9i1lv
KOBO ➤ http://bit.ly/2IrCSsV
GOOGLE PLAY ➤ http://bit.ly/2DmUAtt
November 6, 2022
(Just be aware that the steamy scenes are glossed over 😅)
September 3, 2021
Insta-love is so annoying just meh.
June 24, 2019
I loved this book! Adam and Olivia's story had everything I love in an enemies-to-lovers romance, and the chemistry between these two was off the charts. Highly highly recommend!
Read
July 8, 2019Review to come!
January 17, 2024
- “A kid’s meal? You got me a kid’s meal?”
- “You’re tiny,” he said with a shrug as he unwrapped a juicy double-cheeseburger. “I thought a regular-sized meal would be too much.”
Wow this the first time i feel myself getting the ICK. As much as i loved intermediate thermodynamics and as highly as i was anticipating this book, I'm DNF-ing at 15%. Very disappointed
- “You’re tiny,” he said with a shrug as he unwrapped a juicy double-cheeseburger. “I thought a regular-sized meal would be too much.”
Wow this the first time i feel myself getting the ICK. As much as i loved intermediate thermodynamics and as highly as i was anticipating this book, I'm DNF-ing at 15%. Very disappointed
July 25, 2019
It's... okay? The heroine starts off as a bit of a sop, which is deliberate, but also annoying. The hero is bland grumpy dude with a heart of gold. Really, the most interesting character in the whole story is the weather.
Still, it's tough to regret a few hours spent in a Nix romance.
Still, it's tough to regret a few hours spent in a Nix romance.
November 20, 2023
Absolutely loved it! This was just the perfect cute romance. I want to read all of Susannah Nix's books. And I'm out.
April 23, 2025
4,5 stjerner
Denne bog er nr. 4 i serien, men de hænger ikke sammen. De omhandler alle kvinder i STEM-området, og det er svært at undgå at få lidt Ali Hazelwood-vibes.
Jeg havde ikke tidligere læst noget af Susannah Nix, men jeg tænkte, at med den bagsidetekst kunne det ikke gå helt galt. Enemies to lovers er en af mine absolutte yndlingstroper, så jeg så virkelig frem til at læse den. Jeg må indrømme, at jeg er lidt skuffet over, at de ikke er enemies ret længe. Jeg vil gerne have haft mere had, men når man ser bort fra det, knuselskede jeg bogen.
Historien fortælles fra Olivias synsvinkel, og fordi Adam er mester i at gøre sit ansigt udtryksløst, har man ofte ingen anelse om, hvad der foregår i hans hoved. Mange romancer skrives fra begge hovedpersoners synsvinkel, men jeg synes faktisk, at det er sjovest, når man kun får en, så man også er forvirret og uvidende om den andens tanker og følelser.
Bogen er fyldt med gnistrende kemi, underholdende dialoger (især diskussionerne), romantiske øjeblikke, popkulturelle referencer og rørende afsløringer. Jeg var overordentligt godt underholdt, og derfor blev jeg naturligvis nødt til at bestille de øvrige bøger i serien.
Denne bog er nr. 4 i serien, men de hænger ikke sammen. De omhandler alle kvinder i STEM-området, og det er svært at undgå at få lidt Ali Hazelwood-vibes.
Jeg havde ikke tidligere læst noget af Susannah Nix, men jeg tænkte, at med den bagsidetekst kunne det ikke gå helt galt. Enemies to lovers er en af mine absolutte yndlingstroper, så jeg så virkelig frem til at læse den. Jeg må indrømme, at jeg er lidt skuffet over, at de ikke er enemies ret længe. Jeg vil gerne have haft mere had, men når man ser bort fra det, knuselskede jeg bogen.
Historien fortælles fra Olivias synsvinkel, og fordi Adam er mester i at gøre sit ansigt udtryksløst, har man ofte ingen anelse om, hvad der foregår i hans hoved. Mange romancer skrives fra begge hovedpersoners synsvinkel, men jeg synes faktisk, at det er sjovest, når man kun får en, så man også er forvirret og uvidende om den andens tanker og følelser.
Bogen er fyldt med gnistrende kemi, underholdende dialoger (især diskussionerne), romantiske øjeblikke, popkulturelle referencer og rørende afsløringer. Jeg var overordentligt godt underholdt, og derfor blev jeg naturligvis nødt til at bestille de øvrige bøger i serien.
March 21, 2020
The story of a business trip from hell that brings Olivia and her crush/nemesis together.
Adam has just , when the two are ordered to take a business trip together.
Olivia, who has been pretending to be a lot nicer than she really is at work, doesn't feel the need to do that with Adam anymore, so the two finally start getting to know each other without masks.
She learns that his aloof persona hides deep hurt, while he is fascinated by her strong will that he had never seen while they worked together.
A number of disasters later, the two have become closer than either imagined they would, but they will both have to get over their reservations about their relationship before eventually reaching their happily ever after ending.
Cute story that I would have enjoyed more, had Olivia not become so overwhelmed by her insecurities during the second half of the book.
The series continues with Experimental Marine Biology next.
Previous book reviews:
✦ Advanced Physical Chemistry (Chemistry Lessons, #3) ~ ★★★ (08/10/2018)
✦ Intermediate Thermodynamics (Chemistry Lessons, #2) ~ ★★★ (21/09/2018)
✦ Remedial Rocket Science (Chemistry Lessons, #1) ~ ★★★★ (08/07/2018)
Adam has just , when the two are ordered to take a business trip together.
Olivia, who has been pretending to be a lot nicer than she really is at work, doesn't feel the need to do that with Adam anymore, so the two finally start getting to know each other without masks.
She learns that his aloof persona hides deep hurt, while he is fascinated by her strong will that he had never seen while they worked together.
A number of disasters later, the two have become closer than either imagined they would, but they will both have to get over their reservations about their relationship before eventually reaching their happily ever after ending.
Cute story that I would have enjoyed more, had Olivia not become so overwhelmed by her insecurities during the second half of the book.
The series continues with Experimental Marine Biology next.
Previous book reviews:
✦ Advanced Physical Chemistry (Chemistry Lessons, #3) ~ ★★★ (08/10/2018)
✦ Intermediate Thermodynamics (Chemistry Lessons, #2) ~ ★★★ (21/09/2018)
✦ Remedial Rocket Science (Chemistry Lessons, #1) ~ ★★★★ (08/07/2018)
January 26, 2022
3.5/5; 4 stars
I almost gave up on this at the beginning because of the heroine’s obsessive thoughts about her co-worker but I’m glad I hung in there. The story was funny and interesting. Two people couldn’t possibly have more bad luck than these two did but the way they dealt with it and talked to each other was what made the story work for me.
Caitlin Kelly was a new to me narrator and I thought she did a good job.
I almost gave up on this at the beginning because of the heroine’s obsessive thoughts about her co-worker but I’m glad I hung in there. The story was funny and interesting. Two people couldn’t possibly have more bad luck than these two did but the way they dealt with it and talked to each other was what made the story work for me.
Caitlin Kelly was a new to me narrator and I thought she did a good job.
February 28, 2023
Help I’m about to cry happy tears this is my new comfort series
June 28, 2019
I really enjoyed this enemies to lovers workplace romance. Forced into awkward shared quarters due to a larger than life Texas storm, these two sort through their misconceptions about one another. I love a well developed heroine with the smart is sexy vibe about her. Olivia’s frustrations with the double standards in her work place treatment and others impressions of her due to being female, well it’s like the author had a window into my memories of working in a predominantly male field. 🤯 Such a sadly spot-on portrayal. 😕 Through it all these two found common ground, made me laugh and found their happily ever after. Perfect summertime reading!
June 29, 2019
This was one fun, sweet, rollercoaster ride!
I loved how true to life this is for women in the tech industry.
And the intellectual bantering! The one about real vs make-believe had me grinning from ear to ear. I've had these arguments. I just wasn't as well spoken as Olivia. I wanted to copy down all her points and share them with my friends.
I loved how true to life this is for women in the tech industry.
And the intellectual bantering! The one about real vs make-believe had me grinning from ear to ear. I've had these arguments. I just wasn't as well spoken as Olivia. I wanted to copy down all her points and share them with my friends.
June 27, 2019
I. Love. This. Series. And. I. Need. More.
Read
January 9, 2025*I received an ARC of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review*
I LOVED this book. Olivia and Adam were such a great match, and I loved their banter. They were such different people, but they fit together despite their pasts and preconceived notions of the other person. I'll start this review by saying: I know nothing about science or math or computers or anything even remotely resembling Adam and Olivia's jobs. They were talking and I had no clue what some of it meant, but it was so true to them as characters that I didn't need to know the specific terms or what exactly they did at their job to know that 1) it was important and 2) they were a great fit together. I love that Susannah Nix didn't simplify their jobs just to make it easier, because there are people who do these jobs and deserve to be reflected in books! Maybe I'll go out and learn all about it now, it was so interesting to be introduced to concepts I hadn't really considered before.
I loved that this was a work place romance outside of the workplace. It was so nice to see them face all sorts of outside forces together, and I have to say, if I faced the travel delays they did, I would not have handled it half as gracefully. There would have been tears. I actually read this book on a train journey with some friends, and we had an awful time getting home (three delays, a cancelled train, and running across a city to another station to catch the last train of the night) and I was still counting my lucky stars that it was no where near as bad as Adam and Olivia's delays. I think the extraordinary circumstances created a realistic instant bond between the two characters, and I love how they were also rational about it; Olivia questioned whether they could work outside of the circumstances they were in, and that really brought the characters to life for me.
My only complaint is that the book ended so quickly! I wanted more insight into how they dealt with their issues, and how their relationship changed their work dynamic. However, I did love that the epilogue gave us insight into how they would work in the future, and brought them back, full circle, to how their relationship started. I loved how Adam was overcoming his past experiences, and how he was trying his best to be aware of when they were affecting his decisions and still pushing past them. A lot of people (and characters) don't do that so rationally and early on, and it was wonderful to read!
Overall, I would rate this 4.5/5 stars!
I LOVED this book. Olivia and Adam were such a great match, and I loved their banter. They were such different people, but they fit together despite their pasts and preconceived notions of the other person. I'll start this review by saying: I know nothing about science or math or computers or anything even remotely resembling Adam and Olivia's jobs. They were talking and I had no clue what some of it meant, but it was so true to them as characters that I didn't need to know the specific terms or what exactly they did at their job to know that 1) it was important and 2) they were a great fit together. I love that Susannah Nix didn't simplify their jobs just to make it easier, because there are people who do these jobs and deserve to be reflected in books! Maybe I'll go out and learn all about it now, it was so interesting to be introduced to concepts I hadn't really considered before.
I loved that this was a work place romance outside of the workplace. It was so nice to see them face all sorts of outside forces together, and I have to say, if I faced the travel delays they did, I would not have handled it half as gracefully. There would have been tears. I actually read this book on a train journey with some friends, and we had an awful time getting home (three delays, a cancelled train, and running across a city to another station to catch the last train of the night) and I was still counting my lucky stars that it was no where near as bad as Adam and Olivia's delays. I think the extraordinary circumstances created a realistic instant bond between the two characters, and I love how they were also rational about it; Olivia questioned whether they could work outside of the circumstances they were in, and that really brought the characters to life for me.
My only complaint is that the book ended so quickly! I wanted more insight into how they dealt with their issues, and how their relationship changed their work dynamic. However, I did love that the epilogue gave us insight into how they would work in the future, and brought them back, full circle, to how their relationship started. I loved how Adam was overcoming his past experiences, and how he was trying his best to be aware of when they were affecting his decisions and still pushing past them. A lot of people (and characters) don't do that so rationally and early on, and it was wonderful to read!
Overall, I would rate this 4.5/5 stars!
December 2, 2019
Some of the best tropes: forced proximity, hate-to-love, there's-only-one-bed...and then throw in humor, a smart heroine, and knitting and you have the perfect Heather-book!
This is the first book I've actually read in a long time. I generally listen to audiobooks while I knit or spin, but this wasn't available on audio and I didn't want to miss out.
Cover: Adorable and perfect with the series.
Narrator: na
Hogwarts Sorting Hat: Olivia is a Ravenclaw and Adam is a little harder to classify. I'm going to put him in Hufflepuff although he's masquerading as a Slytherin.
Themes: NE Texas, road trip, bad weather (rain), flooding, power plant, civil engineers
This is the first book I've actually read in a long time. I generally listen to audiobooks while I knit or spin, but this wasn't available on audio and I didn't want to miss out.
Cover: Adorable and perfect with the series.
Narrator: na
Hogwarts Sorting Hat: Olivia is a Ravenclaw and Adam is a little harder to classify. I'm going to put him in Hufflepuff although he's masquerading as a Slytherin.
Themes: NE Texas, road trip, bad weather (rain), flooding, power plant, civil engineers
June 28, 2021
Loved this, and not just for catnip reasons (road trip!) or the feminism that's evident throughout the series. It is great to see an intelligent, ambitious female protagonist working in STEM--but even more so given that she has AD/HD. I have it as well, and the representation feels truly authentic. (This book is actually the first time I encountered the term "rejection sensitive dysphoria," which was honestly a revelation for me.) Overall, it's a really fun, witty, potentially enlightening read, and probably my favorite in the series.
June 30, 2019
Susannah Nix is back with her delightful Chemistry Lessons series. If forced proximity is your thing, this is the book for you! The bulk of the book takes place over the course of a couple of days while Adam and Olivia are out of town for work. I hope I never have their bad travel luck (speaking of, don’t start this while you’re on a plane) but at least they had each other. They had such crackling chemistry and it was a relief when they finally got together. The scene of them kissing in the rain was basically my dream come true.
I would have preferred we get to see more of what their relationship looked like after they got back from the trip, instead of Olivia working through her worries and anxiety of what might happen. We do get an epilogue for six months later, which was nice to see, but I wanted more of the day to day after the fact.
The story does a nice job of examining sexism at work and I especially liked Adam’s growth as he contemplated how his ex hurt him and the ways he’s been hiding ever since. He may have started out as a bewildering man for Olivia but by the end, he was a dream of a hero.
While I enjoyed this overall, it's worth mentioning that I have questions about Adam’s Latinx representation. We don’t find out his ethnicity until page 56 which mentions his “Latino complexion” (I don’t know what that means.) I was a bit surprised to learn he was a character of color so far in to the book. “Latino complexion” does not indicate to me he’s white-passing, in which case it would have been Adam mentioning to Olivia that he’s Latinx. There is a brief mention of him speaking Spanish to the mechanics farther in but that’s about it. Maybe that’s enough and I’m overthinking this but I always have questions about what good representation looks like when white authors write diverse characters. I’m white so I’ll defer to Latinx reviewers.
CW: strained family relations, sexism, past infidelity, Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria, ADHD
Disclosure: I received an advanced copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.
I would have preferred we get to see more of what their relationship looked like after they got back from the trip, instead of Olivia working through her worries and anxiety of what might happen. We do get an epilogue for six months later, which was nice to see, but I wanted more of the day to day after the fact.
The story does a nice job of examining sexism at work and I especially liked Adam’s growth as he contemplated how his ex hurt him and the ways he’s been hiding ever since. He may have started out as a bewildering man for Olivia but by the end, he was a dream of a hero.
While I enjoyed this overall, it's worth mentioning that I have questions about Adam’s Latinx representation. We don’t find out his ethnicity until page 56 which mentions his “Latino complexion” (I don’t know what that means.) I was a bit surprised to learn he was a character of color so far in to the book. “Latino complexion” does not indicate to me he’s white-passing, in which case it would have been Adam mentioning to Olivia that he’s Latinx. There is a brief mention of him speaking Spanish to the mechanics farther in but that’s about it. Maybe that’s enough and I’m overthinking this but I always have questions about what good representation looks like when white authors write diverse characters. I’m white so I’ll defer to Latinx reviewers.
CW: strained family relations, sexism, past infidelity, Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria, ADHD
Disclosure: I received an advanced copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.
April 29, 2020
abandoned the books im reading for this, did not regret a thing <3
thought u should know:
-grumpy/sunshine trope (but the sunshine part,,, is not what it seems,,,hmm?) so yeah opposites attract trope <3
-when he calls her by her last name,,,, yeah,,, that’s hot,,,
-theyre so flippin cute like???? 😩
-adam cortinas,,,, i am looking,,,, 👁👄👁
-colleague romance <3
-adhd rep
-the way they act like a married couple when they werent even together yet <3
-there’s only one bed trope <3
-the twenty questions scene u guys,,,,
-the way they delivered the (redacted) kiss,,,, powerful,,, they really did that,,,
-Team Olivia 🥺
thought u should know:
-grumpy/sunshine trope (but the sunshine part,,, is not what it seems,,,hmm?) so yeah opposites attract trope <3
-when he calls her by her last name,,,, yeah,,, that’s hot,,,
-theyre so flippin cute like???? 😩
-adam cortinas,,,, i am looking,,,, 👁👄👁
-colleague romance <3
-adhd rep
-the way they act like a married couple when they werent even together yet <3
-there’s only one bed trope <3
-the twenty questions scene u guys,,,,
-the way they delivered the (redacted) kiss,,,, powerful,,, they really did that,,,
-Team Olivia 🥺
March 31, 2022
took me a little to get into the story and warm up with the characters, but then it was a cute light read with some classic tropes like co-workers, enemies to lover, having to share a bed and grump x sunshine and some women in stem-representation.
May 23, 2023
This was good until you realize that it all takes place within four days. Get over your frustration, outrage, a lifetime of esteem issues and slide into sex all within four/five days? Sure, that’s realistic! But then you want your romance to be just a little bit unbelievable, right?
June 27, 2020
Adam and Olivia work for the same electrical company. Olivia is infatuated with Adam, until he refuses to give her a reference for a promotional course she wants to take. Afterwards, she is seriously pissed at him.
When they’re both sent to Texas to do a job together, it turns into a road trip from hell. Or rather a business trip from hell. Everything that could go wrong for our heroes does, except the work they were sent to do. Their plane gets detoured. Their rental car gets a flat tire. A heavy storm washes out the road to their work site, stranding them in a tiny motel room with no power and no cell phone reception.
On the other hand, all those disasters and mishaps give Olivia and Adam a chance to get to know each other, to lose their misconceptions about each other. Their forced time together leads them into intimacy and mutual understanding as nothing else would.
I liked their story. Olivia’s insecurities felt totally real for me. I rooted for her. Adam was a more complicated character, and his about-face felt a little too abrupt, a little too fictional. I didn’t quite believe it, and Olivia shared my uncertainty. Of course, as it is a romance, they’ve got their HEA in the end, but … I’m still not sure.
Overall, it was a quick and easy read, although too many references to the popular culture of games and TV shows were all lost on me.
I’m not in raptures about this story as I was about the author’s previous novels of this series, but I still liked it enough to buy the next book.
When they’re both sent to Texas to do a job together, it turns into a road trip from hell. Or rather a business trip from hell. Everything that could go wrong for our heroes does, except the work they were sent to do. Their plane gets detoured. Their rental car gets a flat tire. A heavy storm washes out the road to their work site, stranding them in a tiny motel room with no power and no cell phone reception.
On the other hand, all those disasters and mishaps give Olivia and Adam a chance to get to know each other, to lose their misconceptions about each other. Their forced time together leads them into intimacy and mutual understanding as nothing else would.
I liked their story. Olivia’s insecurities felt totally real for me. I rooted for her. Adam was a more complicated character, and his about-face felt a little too abrupt, a little too fictional. I didn’t quite believe it, and Olivia shared my uncertainty. Of course, as it is a romance, they’ve got their HEA in the end, but … I’m still not sure.
Overall, it was a quick and easy read, although too many references to the popular culture of games and TV shows were all lost on me.
I’m not in raptures about this story as I was about the author’s previous novels of this series, but I still liked it enough to buy the next book.
July 3, 2019
In "Applied Electromagnetism," Olivia Woerner and Adam Cortinas are colleagues forced together on the road trip from hell when they are assigned to work together to bring their company's newly acquired power plant online. I'm a sucker for a good road trip story, and when combined with a dash of office romance and a touch of enemies-to-lovers thrown in for good measure, the result is delightful. Adam and Olivia make for incredibly likeable, endearingly awkward, and relatable protagonists, and I loved watching them get to know each other better and slowly come to realize that they are perfect for each other. Their banter is a lot of fun and provides quite a number of laugh-out-loud moments over the course of the story.
Overall, I loved this book and can't recommend it (and the rest of Susannah Nix's books) highly enough.
*ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Overall, I loved this book and can't recommend it (and the rest of Susannah Nix's books) highly enough.
*ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
February 22, 2021
A pretty low-stakes book- I wasn't massively invested in their relationship, their first interaction had Olivia going literally coherent with lust, Adam was a bit of a prick as well- all intentional, but didn't make my impatience with them any less. The romance, to me at least, came out of nowhere and I didn't really buy them as a couple. I feel like with the power outage scenario the sexual tension could have really been ramped up considerably. The conflict at the end was absolutely laughable, and the declaration of love in the last chapter was unbearably cheesey for me.
August 7, 2019
3.5 stars
I didn‘t round up, because I didn‘t really connect with the characters. But I really like some parts and was entertained by the rest, so it was still a satisfying read.
I didn‘t round up, because I didn‘t really connect with the characters. But I really like some parts and was entertained by the rest, so it was still a satisfying read.
June 26, 2019
**NOTE: I received an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review**
I've only truly gotten into the romance genre over the past year or so (the escape the genre gives me from real life seems like a survival strategy more than anything lately), and I've read a lot of different romance authors, but Nix is far and away my favorite. Every new book of hers feels comfortable and familiar, but not in a boring way.
Here's what you get with this book (and all of Nix's books): a smart heroine. I love her STEM series and that the characters are so incredibly intelligent, successful and relatable. I love how conversations feel real and authentic - whether talking about mansplaining, Comic Con or the challenges women face in a male dominated industry (or world in general). Olivia is another great, fleshed out and nuanced character who feels like someone I know or would want to know.
Another thing Nix usually does well and really succeeds with this book is giving her male characters depth. Adam is complex and interesting and - my favorite thing about him - a guy who is not afraid to apologize or see the world from a different perspective. He felt real and I feel like often characters in romance are flat; Nix avoids this. They are imperfect people, because: aren't we all?
The familiar romantic tropes are here: enemies to lovers, forced proximity: all done well. But one other thing I love is that usually the climax revolves around misunderstandings that threaten the relationship - here, Nix doesn't play so much with misunderstandings, but actual difficult situations that the characters work through because they care and because they changed.
It's heavy on great conversations, sweet romance, real emotions: but it's light on sex scenes, which is fine with me. Although much of the action is behind closed doors, the lack of any graphic action actually makes their story seem rooted in the romance/sweetness of it, and our minds can fill in the dirty details. :)
I heavily recommend all of Susannah Nix's books. I haven't been let down yet.
I've only truly gotten into the romance genre over the past year or so (the escape the genre gives me from real life seems like a survival strategy more than anything lately), and I've read a lot of different romance authors, but Nix is far and away my favorite. Every new book of hers feels comfortable and familiar, but not in a boring way.
Here's what you get with this book (and all of Nix's books): a smart heroine. I love her STEM series and that the characters are so incredibly intelligent, successful and relatable. I love how conversations feel real and authentic - whether talking about mansplaining, Comic Con or the challenges women face in a male dominated industry (or world in general). Olivia is another great, fleshed out and nuanced character who feels like someone I know or would want to know.
Another thing Nix usually does well and really succeeds with this book is giving her male characters depth. Adam is complex and interesting and - my favorite thing about him - a guy who is not afraid to apologize or see the world from a different perspective. He felt real and I feel like often characters in romance are flat; Nix avoids this. They are imperfect people, because: aren't we all?
The familiar romantic tropes are here: enemies to lovers, forced proximity: all done well. But one other thing I love is that usually the climax revolves around misunderstandings that threaten the relationship - here, Nix doesn't play so much with misunderstandings, but actual difficult situations that the characters work through because they care and because they changed.
It's heavy on great conversations, sweet romance, real emotions: but it's light on sex scenes, which is fine with me. Although much of the action is behind closed doors, the lack of any graphic action actually makes their story seem rooted in the romance/sweetness of it, and our minds can fill in the dirty details. :)
I heavily recommend all of Susannah Nix's books. I haven't been let down yet.
July 20, 2019
Applied Electromagnetism is the long-awaited (to me, at any rate) fourth novel in Susannah Nix’s Chemistry Lessons series, all featuring geeky heroines working in STEM. The science part, I cannot relate to, but the way these heroines geek out over everything from Doctor Who to Star Trek? – RELATABLE. I devoured the first three books in this series last year and feared Nix had moved on to writing other fiction, and so was THRILLED when Olivia and Adam’s story was announced. If enemies-to-lovers or forced proximity are your catnip, you get BOTH tropes here used to great effect. As is Nix’s norm, her heroines unapologetically smart. Olivia is great at her job and knows it, and here Nix confronts casual workplace sexism in a manner that is both authentic and eye-opening. Olivia doesn’t deal with sexual harassment, but the easy way in which she can be overlooked or ignored and struggles to compensate in a male-dominated workplace is relatable and heartbreakingly authentic. It’s the casual slights or assumptions that can sometimes sting the most, and being seen and realized by Adam and watching his perspective shift is gratifying to say the least. While this isn’t quite my favorite in the series (that honor still belongs to book #2, Intermediate Thermodynamics), it’s a close second. There is plenty of relationship development, and while there is loads of electricity sparking between Adam and Olivia, Nix is fairly restrained when it comes to the physical side of their relationship. They talk, A LOT, and I love that. I just wish Olivia’s swearing had been somewhat reined in – while I am not a prude when it comes to language in fiction her more colorful and frequent turns of phrase felt somewhat out of step with the overall sunny rom-com tone of the novel. I really hope Nix continues this series as it has become a contemporary romance favorite!
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