Love on the Brain
A few open-door scenes, described but not lingered on.
Direct. Plain anatomical words, moderately crude dialogue.
Estimated from the blurb · 0 reader votes · Ending HEA
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Blurb
An Instant New York Times Bestseller A #1 LibraryReads and Indie Next Pick! From the New York Times bestselling author of The Love Hypothesis comes a new STEMinist rom-com in which a scientist is forced to work on a project with her nemesis—with explosive results. Like an avenging, purple-haired Jedi bringing balance to the mansplained universe, Bee Königswasser lives by a simple code: What would Marie Curie do? If NASA offered her the lead on a neuroengineering project—a literal dream come true after years scraping by on the crumbs of academia—Marie would accept without hesitation. Duh. But the mother of modern physics never had to co-lead with Levi Ward. Sure, Levi is attractive in a tall, dark, and piercing-eyes kind of way. And sure, he caught her in his powerfully corded arms like a romance novel hero when she accidentally damseled in distress on her first day in the lab. But Levi made his feelings toward Bee very clear in grad school—archenemies work best employed in their own galaxies far, far away. Now, her equipment is missing, the staff is ignoring her, and Bee finds her floundering career in somewhat of a pickle. Perhaps it’s her occipital cortex playing tricks on her, but Bee could swear she can see Levi softening into an ally, backing her plays, seconding her ideas…devouring her with those eyes. And the possibilities have all her neurons firing. But when it comes time to actually make a move and put her heart on the line, there’s only one question that matters: What will Bee Königswasser do?
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The Love Hypothesis
Same author's academia rivals-to-lovers with a heroine navigating sexist science departments, only here the tension runs on fake dating instead of a years-long grudge.
Two Can Play
Same author's mix of workplace rivals, forced teamwork and one-bed tension, but with a gaming-industry setting and noticeably hotter scenes.
Beach Read
Rivals stuck side by side with slow-burn banter, though the humor is quieter and grief gives it more emotional weight.
Icebreaker
Grumpy-caretaker hero and slow-burn forced proximity again, swapped into college hockey with far steamier, more frequent on-page scenes.
Ugly Love, Maybe Someday, and Maybe Not
Keeps the slow burn and intense pining, but trades workplace comedy for heavy angst and tough content warnings like cheating and loss.
Heart Bones
Another guarded hero circling a prickly heroine in close quarters over one summer, with a darker, grief-soaked tone and no lab banter.