Forced to lie to protect her sister . . . From the New York Times Bestselling Author, Penny ReidOne week. Home alone. Girl genius. Unrepentant slacker. Big lie. What’s the worst that could happen? Mona is a smart girl and figured everything out a long time ago. She had to. She didn’t have a choice. When your parents are uber-celebrities and you graduate from high school at fifteen, finish college … uber-celebrities and you graduate from high school at fifteen, finish college at eighteen, and start your PhD program at nineteen, you don’t have time for distractions outside of your foci. Even fun is scheduled. Which is why Abram, her brother’s best friend, is such an irritant.
Abram is a talented guy, a supremely gifted musician, and has absolutely nothing figured out, nor does he seem to care. He does what he feels, when he feels, and—in Mona’s opinion—he makes her feel entirely too much.
Laws of Physics parts 1 (MOTION) & 2 (SPACE) end with a cliffhanger.
Part 1 (MOTION) will be released February 11, 2019
Part 2 (SPACE) will be released March 11, 2019.
Part 3 (TIME) will be released April 15, 2019
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This was such a great story, and such a page-turner, that really it’s 4.5 stars! If I hadn’t started reading this on a “school” night, I could see that I would probably have stayed up and read late into the next morning. I loved the characters a lot. There was one scene, with donuts, that was hilarious1 Of course, I had a few questions about how in the world they couldn’t guess something was up when for one thing, I don’t think that Mona’s sister would probably be much of a Harry Potter fan, like Mona was. So to me that seems like it would have sent up a red flag. But since she was discussing that with Abram’s mother and sister, I guess it isn’t as big of a deal. They wouldn’t know. Ugh, it ended on such a cliffhanger, and I need the next book now! Great story so far!
I guess I need to go back and read the Elements of Chemistry series too, so that I can get all the characters filled in. That is one thing I love about this author, how she can connect all these characters so easily. So that you’re getting a brand new story, standalone, but you get connections to other stories and characters you loved if you have already read the prior books.
I’ll admit…I’m not scientifically minded; my brain doesn’t compute in numbers and formulas. I’m a words’ girl, which is why Penny Reid’s stories make this nerdy word girl all kinds of happy; Reid easily incorporates her knowledge of the ‘science of things’ into her books, conveying the data and intricate details in a way that clearly illustrates their meaning through the characters’ internal musings and outward actions, which means that by the time readers finish one her smart romances, we’ve not only read an entertaining romance but, in some ways, we’ve been educated in any number of topics without feeling like our heads will explode with the information.
Penny Reid’s newest release, Motion, book one in her Laws of Physics series creatively weaves Newton’s Laws of Motion into a story line that forces two seemingly opposite characters together, shaking up the heroine’s carefully structured existence by placing her in an awkward, uncomfortable, and confusing situation with a gorgeous but messy hero who seems offended by her very presence due to a past encounter that the heroine has no recollection of since she’s pretending to be her twin sister – who she looks exactly like but is different in everything else when it comes to their lives and their personalities.
Like all of Reid’s heroines, I adored Mona – she’s quirky, brilliant, and moral, She’s guided by facts and reason, leaves nothing to chance, and doesn’t like the unknown, but therein lies the problem…there’s nothing logical or honest about what she’s agreed to do for her twin and the fact that she’s attracted to her ward – Abram, her brother’s best friend – only further complicates an already dicey situation. She’s not used to feeling the way she does around Abram and the fact that she’s essentially living a lie has disaster written all over it.
I don’t know quite what to think about Abram yet, but I’m eager to get more details about him in order to understand his attitude towards ‘Lisa’ at the beginning of Motion and the small changes in his demeanor as he gets to know this version of her – Mona’s version. It’s clear that he’s attracted to Mona, but it’s not something that she can rely on because she’s pretending to be her sister, and for someone who bases her decisions on factual data, Mona cannot reach any conclusions about Abram or the way he feels about her.
I can’t end my review of Motion before discussing one of the secondary characters who I seem to have a love/hate relationship with…Gabby. At the beginning of the book, I hated her and the way she treated Mona – who she used to be close to – but the further into the story I read, I started to see beneath her snark and vanity, and while I can’t say I want Mona to heed all of Gabby’s advice, what I can say is that Gabby does seem to be looking out for Mona more than she was, but I guess I’ll have to wait for the next book to confirm or deny my hypothesis!!
4.5 Poison Apples
4 stars. Motion was a really good beginning to this trilogy! This is book one in the Laws of Physics trilogy, which is loosely a spin off of the Elements of Chemistry series. We met Abram in Capture, where he was a bandmate/guitarist in Kaitlyn’s band. We also find out he is the younger brother of Marie from Datingish.
In Motion, we meet Mona. She is the daughter of two pop-culture celebrities and also a twin. But she is so much more. She is nineteen, extremely smart, went to college as a teenager and is now interviewing for doctorate programs in physics. Her twin, Lisa, is her complete opposite, a spoiled, dramatic party girl. But when Lisa gets arrested, she begs Mona to step in and take over her life for a week until she can get out of jail without their parents finding out. Already fed up with her wild behavior, even without knowing about her arrest, her parents have ordered Lisa home, under “house arrest” under the watchful eye of their brother’s good friend, Abram. So Mona flies home, pretending to be Lisa, and is stuck at home with Abram. It doesn’t help things that Abram is hot and a nice guy, but has a grudge against Lisa already. Mona is awkward and it is hard for her to not to act like herself. But as the two spend time together alone in a house for a week, they find they have chemistry, start to like each other and enjoy spending time together. Mona feels guilty lying to Abram and worries about what will happen when her sister returns. Will he find out she was lying to him?
This book was really good! I read the Elements of Chemistry series, in which the heroine, Kaitlyn, is also nineteen and while I enjoyed it, I felt the characters were immature at times and I didn’t love the angst level. However, in Motion, while Mona is nineteen, she is much more mature. She is extremely smart and has been away from her parents and through college already. Also, her upbringing was unconventional with her parents being a famous DJ/singer and a supermodel. Abram is several years older than her as well. So they are both more mature in the way they reacted to their situation. I really liked both Mona and Abram as characters and adored them together. I enjoyed seeing their relationship progress over the week they spent together. There is amazing tension, lots of feels and humor. There is also a pretty hefty cliffhanger. I can’t wait to see how these two work through the predicament they are left in.
Overall, this was a great start to this series! I hope the next two books come fast!
I was afraid to start this book. There were two words in the blurb that scared me…
Big lie.
Oh man. SECRETS.
So I chose to instead do my taxes and literally anything I could find to put off reading this book. And in hindsight, I was a big cowardly coward. Because this is Penny Reid! Why was I so afraid??
Mona is the perfect Penny Reid Heroine – quirky with hilarious inner monologue, yet hidden vulnerability. I felt on the edge of my seat the whole time; when would the secret be revealed? How would Mona and Abram deal with it? How am I going to survive until Space releases?
And of course it’s a cliffhanger. Although I was fully aware of that going in. Still makes my adrenaline rush though.
Overall this was a terrific read. I highly recommend you overcome your fear of the “big lie” (like me!) as Motion was filled with interesting characters and dialogue. Can’t wait for more.
I read this book while I was in a hospital and after an operation, a big mistake from my part because I couldn’t stop laughing from this fantastic story of pulling and push.
This book reminds the old movies of twins to change places and all the shenanigans involved, and this made love this book, even more, I love good drama and good shenanigans.
Imagine identical twins change places Lisa and Mona did that, Lisa evil party girl, Mona is quiet settle genius mind, and I love her, can be her, jealous much?
Now let us talk about the hot Abram, oh dear, what a piece of heaven, I think I swooned for him 100% in this book, he is dark at times, but he is kind, smart, witty, and he can melt your heart.
I spent all night long reading this book, and I couldn’t be happier, and I saw the sunrise at 6 am with beautiful pink colours in the sky, and when the nurse came to my room and asked you didn’t sleep yet? I just laughed because the book just ended with this cliffhanger and I was WHAT!!! I need more, common Penny, don’t do that with me; I’m sick hahaha.
I can’t wait for the second statement for this fantastic series.
Penny Reid you Rock
I’m not going to lie- I saw Penny Reid. and science and went- YES PLEASE! Completely not realizing that this is the first book of a trilogy. Yes, trilogy- so there’s your spoiler, Motion ends on a cliffhanger. But I’m not even mad about it.
There was something so charming about Mona. She wasn’t the most personable. At times she was quite brash. But it was just how she was, straight forward and to the point. She is so smart. SO smart. Book smart, but she had a naiveté about her. Not a lot of life experience outside of a classroom or lab and it showed in the way she interacted with everyone around her. Especially when her twin gets her into an unbelievable situation.
Thrust out of her comfort zone and into close quarters with her polar opposite, Mona wavered between trying to “preform” and hide and just go with it and be herself. And Abram. Sweetness on a stick that man charmed the socks off her Mona. That’s not to say it happened overnight. It didn’t. In fact, things between these two were downright hostile at times. But when they were on the same page, it was a perfect reaction.
I loved seeing Abram bring out a playful side to Mona. In turn, she gave him some focus. Some drive and plenty of laughs. Just when I thought something was about to give, it did. Not in the way I was expecting, but I should’ve seen it coming. Motion, as with anything from Penny Reid, was smartly written. Full of awkwardness and charm that just endears you to the characters even more. Trust me when I say Abram and Mona had it in spades. From the one-liners to the drama to the revelations, this book was a non-stop joy ride. And I can not wait to see what is in store for them next!
Growing up in a wealthy family has its advantages and disadvantages. For Mona – the ability to explore her education at a level that only few experience has been the reality she faces day to day. This ‘advantage’ also left Mona outside of the star struck lifestyle that invaded her siblings’ lives. A fate that would have her feeling a bit on the outside.
Mona is somewhat of a science prodigy. Earning her college degree long before anyone else her age, Mona found that she has less in common with individuals her own age. With the call of physics ruling her life, Mona found little time for the normal teenage whims that encompassed her twin – Lisa’s – life. To say the two are complete opposites would be the understatement of the century.
Then a phone call managed to change the course of Mona’s life. No one ever expects to receive a call from a jail, let alone from the one person that Mona considers her polar opposite. Lisa calls Mona desperate for help, but it is not the kind of help you would expect from such a phone call. The purpose of Lisa’s phone call is to beg Mona to step into Lisa’s shoes. With the looming threat of having her financial stability cut off by their parents, Lisa asks Mona to become her (Lisa) until Lisa can resolve her incarceration issues. Doesn’t sound too hard does it? The one thing that this switch entails is fooling the one person who is supposed to be in charge of Lisa while the girls’ parents are out of town.
As a friend of their brother, Abram has been given the task to keep Lisa on the straight and narrow while under his watchful eye. The only problem with this scenario is the fact Lisa has met Abram before while Mona has not. Can Abram actually be fooled into believing that Mona is actually Lisa? With a little coaching, makeup, and hair styling, Mona sets out to pretend to be her sister. If the stress of that task wasn’t enough, Abram definitely evokes much more than platonic feelings for Mona. With an expiration date on their time together, Mona knows that Lisa’s fate is resting in her hands. Will this task be more that the studious twin can handle? What will Abram do when uncovers the secrets to Mona’s true identity?
Can I begin with a confession? Motion was absolutely a wonderful surprise that surprised me with each chapter!! Never have I read such an interesting tale about TWINS that find themselves with the ‘need’ to trade places. Don’t get me wrong – this isn’t what you expect at ALL!! In fact – I think it’s hard to put into words just how interesting following such an intellectual like Mona actually can be!
What I can tell you is Mona and Abram definitely posses a chemistry that will keep you invested in their journey. The humor and intrigue is mingled with a story plot that definitely will have you wondering what happens next. Don’t expect an ending that I will be able to talk about….nope!! Get ready for a cliffhanger that will leave you desperate to uncover what will transpire between Mona, Abram, and Lisa. As far as I am concerned – SPACE can’t get here soon enough!
MOTION, the latest release by Penny Reid and book 1 in her new series Laws of Physics. This is Mona and Abram ‘s story that is told in that distinct Penny Reid voice. Wow, this is full of that intellectual, sassy, geeky, analytical, and yes, even at times a vulnerable tone. Mona and Abram had me on the edge of my bed and I couldn’t stop reading until I finished which meant staying up until 2am, finishing their unique and beautiful love story and what happens?? This book ends on a cliffhanger!!! I don’t want to give any spoilers away so I am trying to word my review in such away that readers know what a deliciously awesome read this is. What needs to happen next is for Mona and Abram –for them to get their HEA and the readers / characters FINALLY learn all of the secrets that were floating around this story. This is supposed to be a trilogy so lets hope that the next two books will be filled with more of those twists and also answers. I need that HEA to deliver. This was a great kickstarter to a sizzling new series. Loved Mona and Abram as main characters.
My Rating: 4.5 stars *****
A can’t put down read with intelligent and engaging characters
That wailing cry of “Noooooo!” you might have heard recently? Yeah, that was me hitting the cliffhanger at the end of Motion, the first book in the author’s new Laws of Physics series (so don’t say you haven’t been warned). Note that while this new series is loosely connected to the author’s other books, the Knitting in the City series for one, you don’t need to have read any of the earlier stories to enjoy this.
This author always does a superb job of crafting her characters, and both Mona and Abram shine here. I’m not always a fan of new adult stories, being well past that age myself, but Mona and Abram are intelligent and intriguing, and if Mona gets caught up in her sister’s drama, she does it out of love and caring. A slow burn story, I enjoyed watching their relationship develop even while I was on pins and needles waiting for the inevitable shoe to drop. Though aware it was coming, it was still a shock to hit that cliffy at the end, and I’m STILL on pins and needles, not only waiting for the next book, but with a bunch of questions left unanswered and knowing there’s a least one more shoe still coming. Arrrgh! So, yeah, you might say I’m a little invested, lol.
The only complaint I have—besides that the next book can’t come soon enough!—is I found it surprising someone with as much knowledge (as Janie-like, for KitC fans) as Mona wouldn’t know what ambergris is, especially with Moby Dick as a favorite book. Very minor, though, and not enough to detract from the story for me.
A can’t put down read with intelligent and engaging characters and one Venus of a cliffhanger (it’ll make sense when you read the book, *grins*), this was a stellar start to the new series and deserves all the stars. 5+
B2B Kelly
4.5 Stars
Motion is book 1 in the Laws of Physics trilogy, and I can’t wait for the next book!
For anyone who hasn’t read Penny Reid before, her books have their own brand of adorable quirkiness. Her characters are eccentric and stories are undeniably fun. While some might find them a bit too odd, I find them fascinating and quite often extremely endearing. Motion is no exception, kicking off this trilogy with an addicting story that I couldn’t put down and am now impatiently waiting for more of.
Mona is definitely an odd one, smart & nerdy but so likable. She’s the underdog, the wallflower, and the one you want to root for the most. While her twin grew up partying and chasing boys Mona grew up a child prodigy, spending her time studying and going to school for fun. So when her sister calls in the favor of all favors Mona needs to reign in her socially awkward status, and attempt to be normal.
Abram is charming, a musician & oh so drool worthy. He despises liars, is a secret romance junkie and is doing his best friend a huge favor by “babysitting” his sister. He’s expecting the wild, boy crazy girl he met in the past but is completely surprised when she shows up and is nothing like he expected.
As a huge romance lover, I’m used to books filled with steam & sex, and this book was a breath of fresh air. While the chemistry between the two sizzled the focus was more on the build-up, not the actual act. These characters got to know each other, bonded over books and had meaningful conversations, drawing you in and hooking you with the most delicious slow burn.
Please note: this book does end with a cliffhanger, and will leave you begging for more!
I forget between releases just how much I love this author’s storytelling. When I was describing the book to a friend today I said it’s what I call smart romance. Believable stories with strong, smart women I love!
Mona and Abram gave me all the heart eyes The banter and chemistry between the two was just perfect. I spent a lot of the book smiling like a loon. I loved how Mona didn’t even realise how funny she was
“Ignorance plus arrogance is why we can’t have nice things!”
That ending though – cliffhanger level 100 & I CANNOT wait for more.
Real life status update after finishing Motion by Penny Reid: My eyes are hurting from tears. My chest is aching from all the emotions. My cheeks are hurting from all the sarcasm and wits. My mind refuses to come down from the emotional high. And I have undoubtedly read one of my top read of 2019.
Mona is the genius scientist daughter of a famous DJ Duo. She is eccentric and I love her oddities with all my heart. She is so smart when it comes to particles, astrophysics and mathematical equations. But she can never figure out the common human interactions. So when she is forced to pose as her twin sister Lisa who is exactly opposite in personality, she lands in the biggest trouble of her life. Or she thinks so until she comes to know she has to share the house with Abram, genius musician and her brother’s best friend. She tries to tackle the situation like one of her experiments. With logic, sensibility and rationality. But soon pheromones and neurotransmitters cause mayhem and all her plans go out of window. Soon reality knocks at the door. Where will she go now? Well I DON’T KNOW AND I NEED ANSWERS.
Ok. Now let’s talk about the story and the writing. This is an unconventional love story to say the least. The lead characters don’t say the word. They don’t have sex.Yet this is one of the most intense, intimate and breathtaking romance I have ever read. The slow dance of their interactions were no less erotic than scorching hot sex scenes. The barely there touches filled my body and mind with excruciatingly painful anticipation. It was like drug and I was high like never before. Abram is beyond perfect with own imperfections. He is free spirited, creative, caring and passionate. He is breaking every preconceived notion in Mona’s mind. And reading the process was a delicious treat. I could not stop reading as I never wanted to come out of this magical story. In the end my heart is breaking for Mona. I need a HEA. Yes I know it’s a trilogy but my heart refuses to listen.
Penny Reid’s writing is unparalleled in this book. It is lyrical, poetic and majestic. This is my first book and I have become an instant dedicated fan. Her words burrowed inside me and evoked extreme emotions. I was feeling totally unhinged and dazed. I have so many words to describe this book. Amazing. Extraordinary. Brilliant. Genius. And yet none is enough to praise this epic creation.
(Received ARC for honest review)
Mona and Abram are what happens when you when type A meets her match. Mona has a place for everything and everything in its place. She is that prodigy kid every parent hopes for, but on her case it’s more of a safety net than a gift. Her famous parents had little to do with her and her genius, so she used it to persevere. She can’t stand aberrations, and that Abram through and through. He is a hippy dippy free spirit type of person and Mona needs order and sense to feel that up is up and right is right. When he blows with his heart on his sleeve, there is no escaping the laws of motion.
I voluntarily read an advance reader copy of this book
Motion is amazing! Smart, funny, slow-burn-SWOONY and angsty as heck!
Mona is a such a fun and quirky heroine. She knows she has to protect her sister Lisa, but she doesn’t have to like doing it. She is definitely not the best actress and lying is not her strong suit, but she loves her sister and will do her best to protect her.
“My eyes flew open just as Abram rounded the corner. Acting on some crazed instinct, I shoved Moby Dick between my legs (ha! . . . that’s what she said) and picked up my mug, holding it over my lap to obscure the book from view.”
Agh!!! I LOVE this book but that ending!!! I kept trying to flip for more pages but there weren’t any. I cannot wait for more physics humor!
-5 Stars!-
I was not prepared for the way this story sucked me in and held me captive! An intricate web of lies, misunderstandings and some pretty intense chemistry make this book one you won’t be able to put down! That ending though! I absolutely cannot wait for book 2!!
Law of Physics Book 1: Motion by Penny Reid
Why why whyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy did I pick up this arc fully aware that I’d be left with a goddamn cliffhanger??? And what a doozy of a cliffhanger it is! I even tried to flick the page but sadly, there was nothing there to satisfy my WTFery.
Mona gets The Call from her twin Lisa requiring her step in and pretend to be Lisa while Lisa languishes her days away in jail (and by God, we better get some answers there!). Twin guilt and loyalty kick in and Mona heads back home only to be babysat by their brothers best friend, Abram. While Mona is the serious and studious type, Lisa is something of a wild child so it’s not *just* a matter of pretending to be Lisa, Mona has to think, act, and reinvent herself in order to be believed and she has help in the form of Gabby, her sisters best friend.
I loved these characters and their story. Mona is a clever, quirky heroine and reminded me so much of one the authors other characters but in her own very unique way. She’s someone who I would love to sit and have a coffee (and donut) with and who I would find endlessly fascinating. Abram… first of all, he’s delicious. He’s a musician. He’s dimpled. And he’s ridiculously intriguing because he’s still such a mystery to me! I can’t wait to learn more about him in the next two books where I hope my curiosity will be well satisfied.
I really love that Reid always has a supportive female cast. In this instance it was Gabby who, while she used to be besties with both Lisa and Mona, now only has a relationship with the former. Given the reasons why she no longer has a friendship with Mona, I half expected her to not be as supportive and kind to Mona as she was and was happily surprised (and should have known better) with her caring and thoughtfulness.
I have to be completely honest. I didn’t love Reid’s Elements of Chemistry series for reasons I can’t even remember so I really didn’t anticipate that I’d move beyond ‘it was ok’ for Motion. However, given how I feel about this book, I’m going to go back and re-Reid EoC because maybe I just wasn’t in the right frame of mind when I read it the first time. Reid has given warning after warning that this book will end in a cliffhanger and so, disregarding my dismay at the start of this review, it really was no surprise. Having said that, the book ended in the perfect place and while I most certainly am going to hunt for clues for books two and three, it made perfect sense to stop there.
*I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.
*Reviewed by Melinda for Joandisalovebooks Blog
I can’t get enough of Mona and Abram! I wanted to go into this one completely blind. I intentionally scrolled on by teasers and talk about the book on fb. Mona is such a fascinating character. I thought I would be super intimidated by her smarty physics talk and world because it is not in my wheelhouse, but I understood more than I thought (thanks Big Bang Theory). And then there’s Abram. *girly sigh* I kinda sorta remember him but I don’t recall that much. I wish we could get his POV, but since it’s all in Mona’s, you don’t really know that much about him. But that’s okay because boy is he ever something. The ending wasn’t too bad. The whole book had me hooked and I certainly can not wait to see what’s going to happen between these two in the next one.
***5 Stars***
*Sharp inhalation of breath as my finger wildly taps the edge of the kindle and I realize there are NO. MORE. WORDS*
No. NO NO NO NO…GAH…
*Slow exhalation of that breath as I pout*
Yes. I knew there was going to be a lovely (not so lovely) little (not so little) cliffy, but it still doesn’t negate my reaction because of how invested I became in Mona and Abram…Well, mostly Mona at this point in time, though this isn’t to say that I’m not into Abram because he is quite fascinating and I’m definitely feeling him. But, Mona is kind of everything. She’s unique, sweet, adorkable and I LOVE her mind. It’s that mix of complex and simple that I love because it keeps me on my toes and has me waiting to see what she will do next.
As for the situation Mona finds herself in with Abram. It definitely had my gut twisted up in knots because while I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop, I kept flip flopping over HOW I felt about the situation. Half of my mind kept chanting “Don’t do it. Don’t do it.” while the other half was chanting “Do it. Do it.” and they weren’t always for the same reasons. I know, it makes no sense whatsoever, but it will when you read it, because there was so much goodness going on between Abram and Mona that it was hard not to cheer for them, even knowing what could happen.
This book had me on pins and needles the entire time. The feels I had about the characters and the situation they were in were intense and real and it has me worried about what is coming up next ~ since this IS just the first book in the trilogy ~ but also has me NEEDING Space in my hands like…yesterday. But since that isn’t going to happen I shall do my best to #practicepatience even as my mind drives me wonky with theories about what will happen next!
~ Copy provided by Social Butterfly PR & voluntarily reviewed ~
Copy received from author for an honest review
I haven’t read the final Elements book Heat, and I have such terrible bookzheimer’s that I have completely forgotten who Abram is – but that did not affect my reading of Motion.
I adore Mona and Abram’s story. I gotta say, there were a couple of characters in the first couple of chapters that I thought I was going to t want to throw my kindle at -gees, they got to me! But some of them were a little bit better as the story progresses – but not all of them.
I loved the snark and banter between our lovelies. Even knowing what is going on between the, you can feel the push/pull. And the sexual tension leaps off the pages.
I laughed out loud at times, particularly with Mona. I so want to be friends with her.
I knew this book was going to end on a cliffhanger, however I was completely engrossed in this story, until BAM – I had hit the end.
Thankfully we don’t have too long to wait until the next book, however I am sitting here, wondering, waiting, needing to know what happens next.