Atomic number: 8 Name of chemical element: Oxygen Symbol: OEvery theory has a test subject … even between best friends.The pact: Stanford. The betrayal: AJ attending Duke.The reason: She did something stupid like fall in love with Evan.The problem: Evan’s not ready to let this betrayal go so easily. The solution: Find AJ and fix them.The Theory of Unrequited, Book One in The Science of … of Unrequited, Book One in The Science of Unrequited: The Story of AJ & Evan
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OKAY, PEEPS.
Let’s start with, I’m still not over it. And I’m STILL mad at you, Len.
AJ and Evan remind me so much of my love life as a teen.
I think everyone can relate to some extent. Whether it’s through the science, the teen drama, loving your best friend, or even unrequited love.
I’m hoping like me, they’ll get their HEA. Because GOOD LORD, I want them to. I don’t think I’ve ever shipped a couple so HARD before.
AJ is crazy intelligent. I found myself awestruck with her and her brain. She was shy, but it was fitting to her personality, and I loved that.
Evan is blind not really, but REALLY. *insert eye roll*
I love them both, but I also hate Evan too lol. I can’t hate AJ, just can’t do it.
There are a million-and-one (not really/not possible) quotes that I loved in this book.
But this, this is my favorite.
“You’ll always be mine, Alexandra Parker.”
I mean, COME ON, EVAN
Eight protons.
Eight neutrons.
I’m over here crying. Even writing this review I’m crying, you dick!
You even confused me! I was confused. The moment you were introduced my heart palpitated, and I swear I loved you just as much as AJ.
You wrecked me, boy. And you better fix this shit, before I metaphorically come up to your fictional ass, and show you what is right in front of you.
Okay, C.L., calm TF down. *blows out exaggerated sassy breath*
Much better.
This right here, this wrecked me. I’m wrecked, I’m ruined, and it’s all thanks to Evan Gilmore.
(view spoiler) <-- ON Goodreads Why, Evan? WHY? Not to AJ, because I'm more hurt lol. BUT WHY BREAK ME LIKE THAT? WTF? I swear, I need you to pull your head outta your ass and figure this shit out. AND, LEN. What is going to happen with that door? I NEED details woman. A door/knock, has never made me so insecure, unsure, and upset before. I'm over here, weeks later, upset that you haven't given me more. My poor heart is full of emotions and turmoil. I NEED THIS. I NEED them to be okay. I NEED ANSWERS. C.L. OUT!
4.5 stars
“I would never be more. He would never love me. And that was the worst part. Because I still held hope that he might, even when I knew he wouldn’t.”
This book was my first book by Len Webster. And I totally fell in love with it. Even though is not written in the first POV, I had no trouble in relating to the characters and making their feelings my own. Right from the heartbreaking epilogue I knew I was up to some highly emotional read.
“But an easy life isn’t worth breathing for. Life is only as temporary as we make it.”
With each chapter, no matter if it was in the past – explaining happenings during last year of High School – or if it was what happened in the present, the knot in my stomach got tighter and tighter. IMO this story is angsty because you wish desperately for a happy ending knowing at the same time that you probably won’t get it.
“She loved him completely … and he loved her fractionally. Just enough to make her is best friend but not a sliver more.”
AJ and Evan are quite a pair. A love that was made in heaven, fulfilled on earth. And yes, sometimes you need to loose to realize what you love most.
Evan took AJ for granted. He cared for her deeply but she cared more for him. She was more selfless when it came to Evan than it was the other way around.
What I really enjoyed about those characters was that they truly behaved like young inexperienced teenagers finding their way in life. Their struggles felt real and yes, sometimes annoying. But we were all teenagers once and looking for our right way in life. They don’t have to be all grown up and make the right and most logic decisions.
“You’re the meaning of my life. You, Alexandra Parker, are my oxygen. My eight protons and eight neutrons.”
The Theory of Unrequited is a really great YA love story with the guarantee of a broken heart by the end of the book.
“Her soft, slightly warm lips were the life he needed. She breathed oxygen in him with each flutter of their kiss.”
The Theory of Unrequited is the first book in Len Webster’s The Science of Unrequited series and I am officially addicted to this extraordinarily talented author’s writing style and brilliant storytelling ability. It is so hard to believe that it has taking me this freaking long to finally pick up one of her stories and now that I have there is no turning back.
This is just the beginning of AJ and Evan’s story and readers are in for a whirlwind ride of emotions. I devoured this phenomenal story in one sitting because it is one of those kind of reads that once you pick up you aren’t able to put it down until you have reached the last page. The author pulled tightly on my heartstrings and I found myself absolutely breathless as I inhaled every word on every page. I was wholeheartedly captivated by this story and there was so much to love. The perfectly intertwined past and present storyline was one of my favorite aspects and I felt as if the author did it so effortlessly that it was so brilliantly beautiful.
While the cliffhanger at the end had me screaming, (luckily for me I was able to dive right into book two, which I totally took advantage of within moments of reaching the end), it was the right place to end book one. Len Webster buckle up because you have a new stalker…I mean FAN! I CANNOT wait to read all of your books because I am in LOVE!
Readers if you haven’t picked up this book yet, please consider doing so because you won’t regret it! AJ and Evan’s story will have you on the edge of your seat in anticipation for the next chapter in their life and you will surely be shouting at them time and time again!
As I starting reading this book I became hooked so much do that I read it in one sitting and just ignored everything thing else.
I’m way past my teenage years but this story took me back to those times. I’m not sure how to quantify the book because it’s a love story but without the romance. I’m sure we’ve all had that one boy who you fancied but your firmly in the friend zone well that’s the essence of AJ and Evan’s story.
I loved these two just as much as they frustrated me I was literally screaming at them to talk to each other. I had to remind myself they were teenagers so my grow up philosophy was way off base. AJ made my heart hurt, Len portrayed all her feelings perfectly and effortlessly captured all the angst and pain.
The ending was a duff duff moment ( UK ) readers will get the reference. Can’t wait to get my hands on book two.
Teenage angst at its finest! This is my first book by Len Webster and god, the emotional turmoil was through the roof. There were times I wanted to smack these characters, but then I reminded myself that they’re young and have so much growing up to do. My heart broke for AJ as she loved Evan so deeply but kept her feelings locked deep within her heart. Evan—he loved AJ and needed his best friend by his side. If only he could see what was right in front of him!! I can’t wait to dive into book 2. I’m hooked!!!
This is the first in the series, so I don’t want to give too much away. Bottom line: You WILL be salivating for the next installment.
I was completely immersed in this book from the moment I started til I finished. I have to say I totally loved The Theory of Unrequited. Anything that has to do with a love that is not reciprocated is interesting to me to see if anything will eventually develop or not. It’s heartbreaking to have to read a book where one person is totally and utterly in love with the other and you don’t think the other person feels the same for you.
AJ and Evan have been friends since the moment they both knew what friendship was. They live next door to each other and they each know every single thing about each other. They have a friendship like no other. But as they get older and are now in high school, it seems like feelings are changing and they’re starting to develop more for each other, but neither one wants to acknowledge and/or voice how they feel about each other in fear that they will lose their friendship.
Now, I know how important friendship is but sometimes you need to take a risk and in this circumstance, neither one wanted to risk their friendship because they mean too much to each other. But how much can you possibly take, how much hurt can you endure from seeing your best friend either court other people or date other people?
I was hurting for these two and I was rooting hard for them to open up their eyes and express their feelings towards each other but it didn’t come. AJ has sacrificed so much for Evan and she’s hurt that he doesn’t acknowledge the great lengths she goes for him. The things she has sacrificed for him. What can AJ do to make Evan realize that her feelings for him are more than just platonic?
I guess her changing her tactics in the end and shutting him out was a way to get him to realize what he is missing and if he truly loves her, he’ll find a way to find her and get her back the way he should.
I enjoyed this book so much that I dived right in to the Solution of Unrequited because I need to know what’s going to happen with AJ and Evan. Will their love survive this, can Evan redeem himself and win AJ’s heart in the end?
Ahhhh, I can’t wait to find out!!
5 UNREQUITED STARS!!!
The Theory of Unrequited is a beautifully written NA Romance that features two best friends whose relationship evolved and twisted in ways neither of them saw coming.
AJ is a typical teenage girl in love, she’s strong, smart, and beautiful. But she also has all of the usual doubts and hangups that almost every girl deals with at some point. Evan is AJ’s best friend, he’s the captain of the high school baseball team, her next door neighbour, gorgeous, and supportive.
For this pair, there seems to be no separating them, like any best friend duo, they are basically joined at the hip. Their lives are full of promises and shared dreams. Until they aren’t.
This story managed to portray the full emotional spectrum with its pages. I felt happy, sad, isolated, angry, hurt, betrayed, hopeful, and full of promise right alongside the characters. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves angst filled stories with relatable characters.
“Eight Protons, Eight Neutrons”
Len Webster has a way with words like no other. The meaningful and powerful messages she portrays in this book is extraordinary. Her writing is extraordinary, like no other. And that makes this book so special. It’s not often that I read a book this powerful and emotional. I’m a sucker for friends-to-lovers-romance so I knew what I was getting into, but this. This was more than I expected. The heartbreak and the love in this book made me swoon and made me cry. A real masterpiece.
“She had promised him that nothing would come between them. Little did she know that her heart would be the one thing to change that could ruin everything.”
I don’t think I can find the words to describe how much this book means to me. It’s beautiful and heartbreaking. It’s about best friends and their love for each other. But it is also so much more. Because The Theory of Unrequited is not just a love story, it’s a story about friendship, betrayal, forgiveness, love, hate and about finding yourself.
“She loved him completely … and he loved her fractionally. Just enough to make her his best friend but not a sliver more.”
I love how Len portrayed the characters so well and made AJ, Evan and all their friends and family feel so real and heartfelt.
I adore AJ/Alex so much. She’s such a sweet, caring, loyal, patient and forgiving person. Everything about her called to me. I could relate to her and understand her feelings and her actions. She’s the best friend everyone could wish for. And Evan… oh Evan, he’s just lovely, he can be so sweet and caring but he can also be so freaking stupid! He just doesn’t see the way AJ feels for him. But his “side” of the story is also so beautiful and heartbreaking; I could feel all his pain and his love and friendship for AJ. She’s his everything. AJ and Evan just had my heart beating erratically. I was feeling with them and they stole my heart with their love and friendship.
And not to forget all the other characters in this book that just made me fall in love with them – Kyle, Connecticut, Savannah,…
To be honest when I first knew that this was going to be a 4 book series (about one couple) I was scared that the story would drag out, but not with this book. The Theory of Unrequited never felt anything but perfect. The words, the sentences and the chapters were everything and so much more. Yes, it may be a long series but AJ and Evan deserve their story and I am so proud to be able to read it. It’s perfect and in no way too much or dragged out. I wouldn’t change it for anything. The Theory of Unrequited is such an amazingly beautiful and heartbreaking story I couldn’t not fall in love with it.
I felt for AJ and Evan and loved how their friendship was evolving …or rather not evolving. All the love in this book just made me fall in love with them. Their memories, their firsts, their lasts and just everything about these two “best friends” called out to me and made me fall in love with The Theory of Unrequited.
But unfortunately every great story has to come to an end and this one ends bittersweet on an epic cliffhanger. It makes you want to know more and I can’t wait to read The solution to Unrequited.
PS: And the paperback is just utterly beautiful!! Stunning!
I enjoyed the adventure of watching friends struggle to stay within the lines defined by society and to watch them as they stumble along the tangled web of communication/miscommunication. The dual POV worked well with this book, and I could not wait to read the next chapter. I loved how the headings utilized the periodic table. The characters were well written and tug at my heartstrings. The cliffhanger was a doozy, but at least it stopped in a great spot, even though I turned the page expecting more. I feel like I know how the next book will go but for once, I hope it does not. I hope AJ will give the new guy a fighting chance. Either way, I am anxiously awaiting the next installment.
I loved this book! Alexandra aka AJ is an incredibly smart character who wants to major in physics in college and dreams of winning a Nobel Prize. How awesome is that! As a female in a male dominated profession (engineering) I love that AJ is so smart and she knows what she wants and she has for a long time. She just has no doubt that she will succeed. It’s so refreshing to read. But she has issues with her dating life. Not that she doesn’t have male admirers, she does. But she has two guys who feel it’s their duty in life to watch out for her and protect her. Evan is one of them. He’s totally oblivious until he loses AJ. And then the books ends…on a cliffhanger!! I can’t wait to read the second book. I definitely recommend reading this book with its strong female lead who decides she doesn’t want to take crap from anyone!
Reviewed by: Alexis B.
Eight protons. Eight neutrons.
I don’t think I have the words to describe how much this book has settled into my soul and captured my heart. It’s like nothing I have ever read before … a story told in past and present, where the main characters are in a situation that is difficult, different and realistic and where I spent the whole book with my heart slowly breaking AJ … Alex … Alexandra … Alexi … this young woman just fascinated me. Her love for Evan. Her love for Evan’s brother Kyle. Her love for her parents (squeeeee **claps hands excitedly**). Her possible love for Connecticut I could see so much of myself in AJ – her uncertainty in some aspects of her life and her confidence in others; her ability to love who she is and yet hate what others think of her; her desire to please everyone (Evan) first and put herself last. I was in awe of her and yet in no way envious of the decisions she had to make to save herself from what she felt was inevitable heartbreak, from her unrequited love.
And let’s not forget Evan. Gosh I wanted to smack that poor boy in the head But with the best of intentions. I honestly feel like Len has done a brilliant job of representing an 18 year old young man who just hasn’t worked out life yet. And how could he – with non-existent parents and a famous brother, Evan has never felt like anyone’s world… and his best friend AJ has always been there for him so why would that change… until it does and it leaves him totally shattered.
Len gives us a story of growing up. Of two people who cannot be together until they learn who they are apart. Of love and heartache, of hope and hurt. And you won’t be able to put it down – and then you’ll get a cliffhanger that will have your jaw dropping and you desperately wishing for the next book!! And knowing that AJ and Evan still have three more books in their story means that this isn’t going to be an easy journey.
I can’t forget to mention the fabulous secondary characters who I fell in love with too – Kyle, Savannah, Connecticut , AJ’s parents and her extended family. Len always ensures that the world in which her characters exist is whole and rich and feels so very real. And knowing we get to spend more time in this one has me super excited for the next three books.
The Theory of Unrequited is only the beginning and I cannot wait for more #AJandEvan — even if I suspect there’s going to be a lot of AJ … and … Evan
nicandbooks
Amazon/Goodreads
Ever since first learned about this book, I have been curious about The Theory of Unrequited. With limited information about this book, I dove in and like always I was blown away.
With the end of Webster’s long running series recently , I didn’t know if this series would replace the missing pieces of my heart that was taken away with The Thirty – Eight series. Well it did and more with the twists and turns that was waiting for me. It was a great set up and I love the connections between the leads and the suppprting character
There is a lot going on with this book and it’s only the beginning , as we explore theory behind unrequited. The way that Webster has deliver this story is perfect. I like the concept and it’s best to be discover for yourself to understand these two . It’s a friendship first , that turning into a mindfield of what if’s?
AJ and Evan’s story is one that is complex, formed on bonds of friendship but wanting so much more. AJ was seen as the that girl, the girl who was the best friend with Evan and they had dreams together. Only as friends though , never as a lovers.
However AJ wanted to cross the line and hence a beautiful heartbreaking story is formed. She made a decision that set the future spiraling. And open up Pandora box with her decision. It’s not an easy decision, AJ isn’t a girl who going to wait forever. She is smart and let her heart take control for too long. It’s take for the brain to take charge. Webster pegs her well, as she is struggling with this decision as this is only half of the story. There is Evan and his own feelings, ones complicated by his own story.
Where he didn’t see AJ as the way she saw him, until he is tested. Which leads to what happens if feelings are unrequited with young love. Webster takes us through the past and present, showing the entwining story of these two . Showing the highs and lows and beginning of what will be an epic lovers to friend story.
I didn’t think I would be falling in love with new characters so soon from Webster because of my past adoration for others. However these two will steal hearts and I can’t wait for the rest of their story.
I binged this NA story in one session. Alex/AJ is a fantastic nerd girl character who is way more than she realises. I adored her. Falling in love with her best friend Evan is her biggest mistake. I felt her teenage pain – it was so real. Determined to work out who she is she breaks a promise and disappears from his life. Great angsty read – the story had me so hooked I didn’t even notice there were no sexy times til I finished. Gotta be a great story to do that!
Have to warn you though it ends on a cliffy that had me yelling at my IPad. Cannot wait for book 2.
To be honest, I wasn’t sure what to expect when I started reading this book. The cover looked promising, the blurb sounding intriguing, and my interest was peaked. I’m glad I gave this book a chance. AJ (Alex and she’d prefer to be called) and Evan were in interesting pair. Best friends for as long as they can remember they were each other’s everything. They were young and naive so it doesn’t surprise me that they didn’t see what was in front of them until it was gone, especially Evan (he is a guy after all). I felt bad for Alex and her struggles but I’m glad that she started to see the mistakes she made it handling this situation near the end of this story. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I understand the whole wanting to learn to live for yourself thing, but she could have handled it more maturely. That ending… so simple yet so not at the same time. I dislike cliffhangers because I just want to continue reading and get to their HEA. I’ll definitely be patiently (hopefully) waiting for the conclusion to AJ and Evan!
4.5 stars
It hurts.
Love hurts.
Unrequited love tears the soul apart.
Unrequited love with your oldest and dearest friend is a splitting of your soul. Tearing one whole part into two jagged edged pieces.
The Theory of Unrequited is heartache and love. It’s grief and mourning. It’s young love and epiphanies. It’s growing up.- I never want to grow up. Len Webster ruined it for me. I never want to live in reality if the it is at the expense of the dream. Let me explain in all my crazy…
I have always wanted AJ and Evan’s relationship. I have always longed for the best friend that grew up with you and knows you. The one person who could understand without being spoken to. I am jealous of the fairy tale. But the reality of it hurts!!! Because ignorance is bliss right? Before feelings were realized, it was everything. Now we are left picking up the shattered remains of broken hearts and dreams…So I opt for the fairy tale.
OR…perhaps The Solution To Unrequited! Like right now!!!!!! are you seeing this Ms. Webster? I could fly there and read it over your shoulder as you type because I need it more than i need 8 protons and 8 neutrons to breathe!
I teared up. I had tears flowing. I gasped. I choked on a sob (multiple times). I shook with anger. I shook with grief. I was shocked and appalled. I fell in love. I got hurt. I hit hard. I may have switched loyalties due to some not so wonderful behavior…But in the end, I want only one thing and even I’m not willing to ruin the allure of fairy tales by saying it in this review.
Please Ms. Webster give us all something wonderful to cry about. I don’t want to hurt anymore. (Okay, that was a lie. I’m a masochist when it comes to angst. Just give me more!)
reviewed for the Sweet Spot Sisterhood
P.S. those that know me and my grabby hands for more (always more) will be shocked to hear that I am avoiding the bonus section of book 2 like the plague. I don’t want the tease. I don’t need the temptation. I’m already on edge. I will probably cave soon though.
By listening to her head, she not only broke her own heart, but ruined an always constant friendship. Sometimes the most difficult choice can be the most enlightening in the end. Evan and AJ have mastered the equation of friendship, but what happens when love walks in? Len Webster has crafted a masterful tale of friendship, betrayal and love. Filled with youthful angst, adult themed drama and the hope of a chance to set things right. The ending is only the beginning.