Kaitlyn Parker has no problem being the invisible girl, which is why she finds herself hiding in various cabinets and closets all over her college campus. Despite her best efforts, she can’t escape the notice of Martin Sandeke–bad boy, jerkface bully, and the universe’s hottest, wealthiest, and most unobtainable bachelor–who also happens to be Kaitlyn’s chemistry lab partner.
Kaitlyn might be … be the only girl who isn’t interested in exploiting his stunning rower’s build, chiseled features, and family’s billionaire fortune. Kaitlyn wants Martin for his brain, specifically to tabulate findings of trace elements in surface water.
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I was immediately drawn in the world of Caitlyn and Martin. I rooted for each of their growth as separate people and as a couple. This is the best of what New Adult can be (in my opinion)!
I love this series as a whole. However, I wasn’t a huge fan of Martin’s in the first two installments. And I don’t think I was supposed to be. But with the way he was raised, and by whom he was raised, that is completely understandable. By Capture that changes. He has matured and grown and become a decent person. And he loves passionately.
Kaitlyn is adorable. I love her distaste for foul language. As someone that doesn’t curse much I could really appreciate that about her. I also love her awkwardness and nerdiness. I am both of those things as well, though nowhere close to having the brains she has.
I love that both of these characters, so different from each other, compliment each other so well. They make each other a better person. Which is what should happen in a relationship.
*******3.75 Stars******
I read a Penny Reid books years ago and it wasn’t for but everyone said to just try another but I never did. Well, I had received Elements of Chemistry in a book box years ago and just sitting on my shelf waiting to be read. And two days ago the book called to me and decided why not what do I have to lose.
And all I have to say is I”m so glad I did. I really enjoyed the story of Martin and Kaitlyn. It was an exciting, fun, smart, and sexy read. It was an intense but lighthearted read and it was hard to put down. Their journey felt real and true, even when it turned ugly. I will say that the last part of the book dragged a bit too much (which is why it’s not a higher rating) us readers knew how it was going to end near the end but felt unnecessary dragged out. Otherwise, it’s a fantastic read and one that makes me excited to try another Ried book
Penny Reid’s writing continues to astonish me. She writes such complex characters. Kaitlyn & Martin are two of my favorite characters of Penny’s. This series has been my favorite so far. That is saying something as I loved The Winston Brothers series. I couldn’t wait to start the next book. Luckily I didn’t start reading till all books available. It would have been so hard to wait for the next release. Note the love story is not resolved till the end of 3rd book in the series.
Absolutely loved this book–it’s book 1 in a series of 3 and you will definitely want to read the next two books after finishing this one. If you like funny romances, you will like this. The dialogue is outstanding. Penny Reid has become my favorite romance writer!
There are a few stories that take up long term real estate in my brain. They can change over time, but these characters or situations seem to take on a life of their own outside their original narrative. Martin and Kaitlyn have occupied this position for years now. They keep me company in my own head. Why? I’m not sure. Some of it surely has to to do with how quirky both characters are — Kaitlyn with her adorkable obliviousness and Martin with his irascible obsessiveness. Together they are a formidable pair yet oh-so-vulnerable from being such a tight fit. Reid puts them through a torturous wringer before they earn their HEA — and maybe that’s part of it too. This three volume story was an epic journey but also an *ordeal* of sorts and one that ended up with me, somehow, bonded to them—in the very best way.
Favorite Quotes:
1 Attraction:
More precisely, since I had grossly limited experience in the kissing department, he was what I imagined a good kisser would kiss like. The kind girls fantasize about. The guy who just takes what he wants, like he’s hungry and you’re on the menu, but somehow makes it epic for both parties involved.
Sam wasn’t a frat party kind of girl either. Yes, she liked to get dressed up, but she called sorority girls ‘sorostitutes’ and fraternity buys ‘fratilos’. She labeled them ‘group thinkers’ and claimed they suffered from a herd mentality. She was kind of judgey that way.
But his laugh was a radioactive seduction and had a half-life of infinity. I wanted him to stop laughing never. It made his eyes crinkle and his mouth curve in a sinful smile, showcasing his excellent dental hygiene regimen.
2 Heat:
I’ve seen how he looks at you. He wants to have a penis party in your vagina.
Damn he was delicious. Being so close to him had my hormones throwing a parade and making a Slip ‘n Slide out of my pants.
If multiple orgasms are a myth, then you can call me Hercules.
3 Capture:
I’d always thought it funny that the US government took a recess, like little kids took recess I primary school. I imagined the Speaker of the House hanging upside down on monkey bars and the majority leader shaking down junior senators for lunch money.
“If he were an actual lightbulb, he’d be a twenty watt fluorescent. Hard to look at – because he was so pretty – but too dim to make a noticeable difference in any given room.”
“Just thinking about him with someone else made me want to throw a month-long drama parade.”
“I don’t want a beautiful week with you, I want a beautiful lifetime.”
My Review:
I am a total Penny Reid fan-girl, I would join her cult and sacrifice my kindle at her altar – well, maybe my old one… Her stellar writing is crisp and sparkling bright. There is witty banter, snark a-plenty, self-depreciating humor, and clever wit. Penny Reid is a master wordsmith. That is all that needs to be said. I could end the review there – but I read three books and 568 pages to complete this review – so I will further expound. Her writing is highly entertaining, multi-layered, seamless, insightful, observant, smart, and all-absorbing. I enjoyed it so much, it was hard to put my kindle down, so I took it everywhere. Her characters are complicated, intelligent, and intense. They were good for each other and I adored their verbal sparring. The story is told from the perspective of an intelligent yet romantically inexperienced/ nerdy/book-worm/virginal lamb who is totally out of her depth when her college chemistry lab partner of two semesters makes his move. She has an addiction to synonyms, as do I – so I loved her especially hard. The lab partner is a rich playboy/bored party-boy/jock/ and her secret crush. Dating and relationships are new to both of them, and they find it exciting, scary, thrilling, petrifying, agonizing, irritating, and heart pounding… and so did I as I read along. I was sad to see those dreaded words “The End” but was very pleased with the conclusion.