2019 RITA® Award Winner for Contemporary Romance: Mid-Length!After four lousy boyfriends in a row, chemical engineer Penny Popplestone swears off men until she can figure out why they keep cheating on her. But her no-men resolution hits a snag when the mysterious and superhumanly hot barista at her favorite coffee shop strikes up a friendship with her.Penny strives to keep things platonic, but … strives to keep things platonic, but when Caleb gives her the kiss of her life, she realizes he wants to be more than just friends. Tired of always being “good little Penny,” she throws caution to the wind and pursues a no-strings fling with the hottie barista. It’s not like they have anything in common beyond scorching physical chemistry, so what does she have to lose?
Only her heart.
Now, this fanfic-reading, plus-size heroine faces an unsolvable problem. What do you do when being apart is unbearable…but being together is impossible?
This steamy, lighthearted romance is the third in a series of standalone rom-coms featuring geeky heroines who work in STEM fields.
THE CHEMISTRY LESSONS SERIES:
BOOK 1: Remedial Rocket Science
BOOK 2: Intermediate Thermodynamics
BOOK 3: Advanced Physical Chemistry
BOOK 4: Applied Electromagnetism
BOOK 5: Experimental Marine Biology
All books in the series can be read as standalones.
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I really enjoyed reading this book. In this story, Penny discovers a window out of all of her bad past relationships, even if it seems to only be a temporary solution. This story is cute and has it’s share of heated moments, and it’s so easy to fall in love with all of the characters. I would recommend this book to readers that enjoy romance with a chick-lit feel to it.
I loved it. LOVED it. Definitely my favorite (so far) of this series.
Right from the start – and I’m talking page one – I adored Penny. She is smart, funny, nice (perhaps too nice), quirky, likable, relatable.
As much as this is a love story, and it is, it’s also Penny figuring out who she is and who she wants to be. Learning to stand up for herself, and not lose herself in the guy she’s dating. Something I think a lot of us can understand.
Caleb. *swoon* He held himself apart, resistant, remaining a little mysterious even as we got to know him. But sweet, oh so sweet. Respectful. Human. Loving. Flawed. Helpful. I adored him. Hello, book boyfriend.
I usually make a point to re-read the first books of a series before I dive into a new release. I didn’t do that this time, and it did take me a little while for it all to come back. Thankfully with the knitting group and the yoga classes, we got to peek into the lives of the characters from the previous books, and it all came back to me. 🙂
Truly a great book!!! This one won a Romance Writers of America RITA award and was truly deserving of it! Fun, romantic, and totally a page-turner.
Extra cute, funny, and super sweet Advanced Physical Chemistry is a Book that had me smiling through every page. No angst, brooding, or drama in sight, this book is the perfect read to just relax and laugh with while you fall in love. Witty and lighthearted every character was adorable and someone you’d want to have as a friend.
Penny just may be the cutest person ever. From her adorable name to her quirky ways she was so much fun to read. Caleb was quite the mysterious sweetheart, I’d say brooding, but honestly that word has no place in any part of this book. Their story is so sweet and filled with the perfect amount of humor to keep you giggling.
I totally loved this book. As much as I liked the first and the second book of the series, this third one got me completely hooked and I couldn’t put it down. Both the main characters, Penny and Caleb, and the supporting ones like George are so relatable and easy to love it’s incredible.
Being a female engineering major myself I immediately felt sympathy for Penny, although I haven’t had the chance to meet my hottie barista yet. And Caleb is simply swoony and a perfect gentleman, caring and funny. It’s impossible not to fall in love with him, even if we try to like Penny. The nerdy references along the story are an absolute treat and interesting as usual in Nix’s work.
All in all I totally loved this book and would completely recommend it!
A hot quick read. Rowan and Marie have been best friends for years and never acted on their feelings in fear of losing their friendship. Once they confess their feelings for each other they are hot.
I absolutely love this book! I related to, and fell in love, with Penny from the very start. I seriously wanted to dance a happy jig for her at the end. Caleb, so swoon worthy…sigh, that is once he opened-up and let Penny in. I loved his latte art for her, his way of saying what he couldn’t. I loved Penny’s knitting group. Such a variety of people with a wonderful bond of true friendship, their conversations were a mix of sass, whit, wisdom, and fun, sexy innuendos.
This is such a well-written, relatable, fun, romantic read that I highly recommend! This entire series is fantastic, and I am looking forward to what Susannah has next!
Such a beautiful story! Compelling characters and an engaging premise.
Was given this book by the author to review, what a wonderful story about two insecure people who finally get together and find a way to form a lasting attachment
Loved this one. Nix writes great characters.
When curvy Penny Popplestone was in her favorite coffee shop Antidote and she saw something that devasted her so she ran away into the bathroom and she was shocked when the most unlikely person came to check on her it was Caleb one of the Antidote’s barista’s she thought he hated her, even though she was bright and cheery to him all the time and another like George the widower who came in every day just like she did as well, she has other activities she participated in and around the Antidote. She met Kenneth her current boyfriend there not having any idea what was next for her. Caleb started talking to her and she could not understand why it took him so long to be nice to her and she is shocked to her toes once Caleb gives her the skinny on what has been happening and she gets another shock but through it all, she keeps her head up but it seems that things just seem to be changing so fast for her lately, she finally decides that if she doesn’t stand up for what she wants who will. She gives us all hope. I received an ARC via Bookfunnel without obligation. I volunteered an honest review.
I like how the book shows that a woman doesn’t have to be a size 0 to find love. Penny shows the importance of self-love and accepting who you are…flaws and all.
This is a new take on a “Friends” style coffee shop romance. Again, the characters are very relatable – Penny for her lack of self-esteem and inability to recognize a good man, even when he is right in front of her nose; and, Caleb, for his shyness and sensitivity to parental pressure. This was a sweet romance, despite the very steamy athletics described.
I received a copy of this from the author and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
I adored the heroine’s confidence – it was refreshing and joyful.
The chemistry between the protagonists was indeed very advanced, hand-fanning-face stuff. She broke a couple of rules of romance and that might annoy people, but overall a good book about interesting people.
Penny Popplestone, the living definition of a nice girl, is recovering from a bruised ego after she catches her current boyfriend cheating on her. She’s going to stand up for herself, face the world with more confidence and determination.
She finds help from an unexpected source—Caleb, the hottie barista.
Attraction with caution becomes a fling. They agree to have no strings attached and to part when Caleb is scheduled to move to med school. It sounds simple. But it gets complicated when that non-string is attached to a heart.
This sexy romp includes an interesting cast of secondary characters and plenty of science references. The best of two worlds.
Advanced Physical Chemistry is the 3rd book in the Chemistry Lessons series by susannahnix, winner of the RITA Award 2019 for Contemporary Romance, Mid-Length category, and it is my most favorite of the series so far.
While Penny was sweet, caring, smart and capable at her job, she was insecure with her body weight. After being cheated on by previous boyfriends, she was determined to make changes, including loving and caring more for herself, taking more risks, and enjoying and taking control of her own life. After one hot kiss with the Hottie Barista, whom she had a crush on, she decided to go on a no-strings whirlwind fling with him, thinking she would not be attached to him, and it was all just for fun… Little did she know…
Hottie Barista, Caleb, worked at the cafe where Penny was a regular customer. He was often closed off, indifferent to her, ignoring the countless times she had tried to make a conversation with him. And he had a good reason for it… Unable to resist their attraction to each other, their hot fling had developed into something much deeper, despite knowing there might not be a future ahead for them.
Once again, I really enjoy Ms Nix’s writing style, it’s pleasant, light, and easy to read. The storyline is cute and fun. This book particularly highlights the process of self-improvement, overcoming insecurities, and building one’s strength. A 5- read, and I’d highly recommend it.
Will the sexy barista help Penny break her romantic losing streak?!
March 15, 2018
Format: Paperback
I loved this story! Heroine chemist/patent reviewer Penny seems relationship-challenged despite her ability to make friends with just about anyone. Her brave attempt to break her losing streak with handsome barista Caleb from her neighborhood coffee shop is out of character and leads to some major angst for both her and Caleb. Expect some steam along with gallons of meaningful glances across the coffee bar. I really got attached and wanted their badly-timed relationship to somehow resolve happily. Both of the MCs are endearing and Caleb has managed to turn out a shy and kind human being despite an awful upbringing.
Their story is so well-written that it was over before I knew it. I wanted their HEA but I also wanted more time with them. This is the third novel I’ve read by Ms Nix and I’ve never been disappointed. The fact that all of her heroines are smart and science-minded women who don’t ignore their friends for the latest man in their life is a bonus. I am so glad I came across her work and can’t wait for the next.
I read a complimentary advance copy of the book and this is my voluntary and honest review.
Here I thought that Intermediate Thermondynamics would always be my favorite in the series (because, well, Esther…), but Penny and Caleb are giving Esther and Jonathan a run for their money in that regard.
Following Penny on her journey from “good girl” to “fun Penny” made me smile a lot (and occasionally laugh out loud).
Caleb is one of the good guys, though I’ll admit I got a bit frustrated at times with his “on” and “off” switch. I think a dual POV might have helped me understand him a bit better.
Bonus points for the supporting characters: especially George, who helped put certain things in perspective, but also Penny’s knitting group (old friends from the previous books), and her BFF Olivia who always had Penny’s back.
Fun series