“Just friends” is all Brooke and Dylan have ever been. (Except for that one night in high school, but they don’t talk about that.) Growing up, he was her protector. Her confidante. The one guy she could always trust.Now she’s a marine biologist working toward her PhD in California, and he’s an underwear model in New York. Dylan’s only in town for a few days, crashing on Brooke’s couch and … and repaying the favor by acting as her date to a friend’s wedding.
It was totally an accident she saw him naked.
After that, “just friends” goes out the window in favor of friends with benefits.
It’s all going great…until it isn’t.
Dylan’s got a ticket back to New York at the end of the week, and Brooke may have accidentally broken his heart. Can they navigate these uncharted relationship waters? Or has she tanked her oldest friendship?
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Old friends take their relationship to a steamy new level–but now what? Susannah Nix delivers every time!
A friend to lovers story between two characters whose relationship goes way back, plus a brainy STEM heroine. How could you possibly resist?
I love this series of STEM romances! Smart, funny and HEA guaranteed!
Disclaimer: I was provided an advance reader copy by the publisher in exchange for my unbiased review and opinions.
out of
Dylan and Brooke grew up together as best friends….except for that one kiss on prom night they both want to forget. Their lives took different paths; Brooke became a marine biologist and Dylan an underwear model. When work brings Dylan to Brooke’s city, he asks if he can crash on her couch. What could possibly go wrong?
I have really enjoyed the other two books I have read from this series, although it might be worth a re-read because the details are blurry. However, it wasn’t needed to enjoy this book. This book deals with some themes that might be distressing to some readers and the author does a great job offering a content warning. I believe content warnings show appreciation for the reader and after all, the reader can decide if they want to proceed.
The chemistry between Brooke and Dylan is delicious. These two have been in love since they were teens, they just didn’t know it. That of course, makes the journey worth it.FYI, there are no explicit sex scenes in this book. I don’t think any of these books have any explicit sex scenes.
For being a romance, this book felt heavy at times. I am not saying this to discourage you, I am saying it so you don’t come here expecting a romantic comedy. In a way, it’s one of the reasons why Ms. Nix’s books are so relatable. Life is hard, relationships require work and commitment.
I really enjoyed this book because it brings a dose of reality to a genre that sometimes has a lot of billionaires and CEOs. There’s nothing wrong with any of that. Yes, there’s an underwear model, but he’s not a gazillionaire. He’s endearingly real. And so is Brooke. Their problems are real. Sometimes you want to read about real. Sometimes you want to read something closer to home.
Another favorite story in the Chemistry Lessons series featuring women in STEM fields by Susannah Nix. This one hits close to my heart: the heroine, Brooke Hillard, is a nerdy, introverted PhD student in biology , studying whale earwax . I can see myself in Brooke, and her journey truly reflects what I had gone through during my PhD. She’s smart, hard working, motivated, curious, but emotionally constipated …
Our hero, Dylan Price, is perhaps one of the sweetest cinnamon rolls out there . He is Brooke’s best friend since they were in elementary school. Now at 26, he’s a successful underwear model in New York . He’s easy going, down-to-earth, loves reading romance novels (his favorite trope: best friends to lovers, duh!) He’s protective of Brooke, caring, and always shows up when she needs him most . While everyone sees Dylan for his great looks, Brookes knows the real person behind the shiny facade. Their beautiful friendship is just heartwarming and precious …
Dylan crashes at Brooke’s place during his one week business/vacation trip, and they pick up immediately after many years apart. Their mutual fondness and attraction quickly develop into sexual desire. While Dylan hopes to establish a future with Brooke, she is too scared of ruining their long-term friendship to take a risk in a romantic relationship with him. Will she be able to overcome her fear to take a chance with her childhood best friend?
I’ve really enjoyed this series, highlighting strong intelligent heroines in STEM fields and their cinnamon roll heroes. Ms Nix’s writing has a pleasant flow with light and fun narrative. This story is also sweet, emotional, and so relatable to me in many aspects. I’d recommend it if you’re looking for something with low angst and complex characters who struggle to overcome their real issues!
5 read for me!
*Special thanks to the author for sending me the ARC in exchange for an honest review.*
I love Brooke and Dylan’s story! And getting peeks of the couples from her other STEM series books. Brooke and Dylan were childhood best friends. They reconnected as adults and discovered a mutual more-than-friends attraction. As they explore their new dynamic, they each need to decide if it goes deeper than a friends with benefits type of feeling.
Friends to lovers. I loved it!
New release from Susannah Nix looks fun! Childhood friends to FWB to lovers. What an intriguing combination!!!
A marine biologist and an underwear model? Yes, please!
A slow-burn, friends-to-lovers romance with witty characters and plenty of heart. Love it!
All I can think of to say is WOW!!! I’m not even sure I can articulate how much I loved this book. Susannah Nix does it again. She brings in another intelligent heroine in the STEM field and pairs her with a swoon worthy hero (who happens to be a model). I fell in love with Dylan the moment we meet him and it’s not often I do. He knows what/who he wants and goes for it but not in the alpha way, which is a nice change of pace. I will admit that the moments Brooke has with her dad had me in tears, but it only made me want to keep reading even more.
This very well could be my favorite Chemistry Lessons book so far, but really…is it fair to compare them when they’re all so amazing?
If you’re unsure about reading this but love puns, this is enough of a reason to read the book. I promise you won’t be disappointed either way!
**ARC kindly provided by the author for an HONEST review (and this is completely honest to goodness how I feel about the book)!**
This book is the perfect combination of all the happy feels – Brooke is the girl you always wanted as a bestie, Dylan is super hot and super charming, the story unrolls with just enough angst, humor, smexy and romance to leave you smiling, sighing and ready for the next treat from Susannah Nix.
Best Friends to Lovers – Should we risk it all?
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed this book as I have all the series! Now it is Brooke’s story we get to enjoy. She has a lot of family issues that have made her very weary of relationships and giving and opening herself entirely to someone.
Dylan on the other hand doesn’t think he is smart or good at anything and as he ages, he transforms from a “nerdy” average looking kid to a Super-Hot Underwear Model. BUT since he is a very deep, emotional guy this business is getting to him. He is not fake and living in a world where everyone is trying to take advantage of you and what you have to offer to make them succeed, he needs to reprieve and go outside of his world.
Who better to spend this cleansing time than his Best Friend Forever since childhood? However, it seems that both have been attracted to each other but have never gotten their signals to the same level until they are back and reunited for a short week.
Even if this is a short week vacation there is a lot of things happening in both their worlds that are intense and life changing on both characters. BUT the most important is the decision to make if they decide to be friends with benefits risking their long-time friendship or not.
This is a journey you will not be disappointed you took. Susannah Nix has done it again and oh so well!!! Can’t wait for the next installment in the series to come!
A friends to lovers book AND friends with benefits? I’m all in! Funny, sweet, sexy. Just what to expect from the amazing Susannah Nix. This is SUCH a treat!
A woman who was abandoned by her family over an event that happened in her teenage years leaving her insecure and lonely, her best friend who stood with her through thick and thin no matter what issues there were, Getting together and finding out that trust issues were involved, a sudden hospitalization, and so much more in this intriguing story
Brooke totally does not think of her underwear model childhood friend, Dylan, as more than a friend. And that is a good thing considering he’s going to be staying with her for a week while he’s in town for a photoshoot. Yep…
Except of course there are more than friendly feelings between them and of course they act on them. Now the only question is whether Brooke will run scared when Dylan lays his cards on the table, or if she’ll fight for them the way Dylan wants to.
For a supposedly lighthearted story, this one is not really fluff like I was expecting. There are a few serious subjects dealt with, and the emotion between these two friends is pretty intense. I enjoyed this read and loved seeing them finally get on the same page.
I adore Susannah Nix’s uber-smart, relatable heroines, and Brooke has officially become one of my favorites. I love how much she learns and grows (and of course, gets the hottie underwear model in the end!) The storyline with her father had me tearing up in several spots. Such a fabulous friends-to-lovers story!
[#partner @susannahnixauthor]
I was lucky enough to receive and advanced copy of Experimental Marine Biology for an honest review.
I want start by saying that I’ve been so excited for this book since I found out about it. Anyone who knows me knows that I’ve always wanted to be a marine biologist.
That being said, I love that the heroine, Brooke, is a marine biology major who spends the majority of her time studying whale ear wax. Lol. Until her best friend Dylan comes to visit that is.
@susannahnixauthor did a great job with this book, like usual. The book was such a light, easy read (aside from a couple touchy points). But I do have to say she touched on said points in a very good way.
I didn’t find myself growing bored while reading this book but did find myself wanting more and more. I definitely recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a fun read.
Thank you for the opportunity to read this @susannahnixauthor
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Friends to lovers. The Marine biologists (student) and the model.
Brooke and Dylan have been friends for a long time. Now Brookes working towards her PhD in California and Dylan’s living it up in New York. Business has brought Dylan to California and he’s more than happy to see Brooke. When a little flirting and a lot of chemistry appears to be happening between them, it makes Brooke question why this never dated when they where younger.
Experimental Marine Biology is a sweet story with a deeper under tone. Brooke isn’t in touch with her family much but Dylan brings news she never expected. Dylans story shows the less glamorous side to modelling.
5 out of 5. A fun story with gross (interesting) Whale facts and a friends to lovers story.
*I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Title – Experimental Marine Biology
By – Susannah Nix
Genre – Contemporary Romance
Key Words – Nerdy, Romance, Comedy, Friends to Lovers, Marine Biologist, Model, Family Conflict.
Rating (out of 5) – 4
Would I recommend – yes!
Explicit sexy time – whale, yes.
Spoilers? – No
Opinion – I like this book. I had just finished reading Intermediate Thermodynamics when I was offered an ARC of this book. Nerdy scientist finding romance? Sign. Me. Up.
Brooke and Dylan are both cute and I loved their interactions. Witty banter and innuendos galore. What follows when Brooke lets her guard down and starts to have fun with Dylan is Grade A bananas and very enjoyable. See the quotes below for a sampling of the next level witticisms you can come to expect from Susannah.
The only things I didn’t like was an invasion of privacy moment that made for a funny plot point, but would absolutely be a deal-breaker for me in real-life and some of the interactions with her family. Everything makes sense from a character development sense, but you better believe that if I was Olivia or Dylan I would have some real talk words to share with Brooke. Brooke’s friend Olivia is serving some serious Friend Goals. Dylan is a charmer and Brooke is ultimately worth rooting for. All things considered I like this book a lot. Enough to buy the Chemistry Lessons boxed set. I love that the genre is starting to have actually nerdy/smart contemporary romances. It isn’t enough to make a character’s job obscure if it doesn’t have adequate flavor. Susannah Nix has proven to me at least that she can expertly season (with a healthy dose of humor) an enjoyable nerdy ever after.
Favorite quotes:
“Come on. Has he got a half-pint wienie or a mighty man -hammer?”
“Let’s go back to my place so you can put your love dolphin in my blow hole.” He tugged her body flush against his, pressed a finger to her lips, and gazed deeply into her eyes. “Don’t ever, ever say that again. My god.”
“I nurture my grudges as if they were my children. I keep them healthy and well-fed, and make sure they take their vitamins every day. My grudges will outlive me.”