REVIEW: The Chemistry of Love by Sariah Wilson

The Chemistry of Love by Sariah Wilson: Cosmetic chemist Anna Ellis is hopelessly in love with her boss Craig Kimball. The only problem being Craig barely even knows that Anna exists! If this wasn’t bad enough in some failed attempt at a big romantic gesture Anna quit her job so that she can be with Craig only to learn that he is actually engaged to someone else! Which leads to a bit of pity drinking and an awkward mens room encounter with her former companies CEO and total hottie Marco Kimball, who also happens to be Craig’s half brother. Things surely could not get any weirder right?

Well things definitely do get weirder when Marco suggest that he has just the plan to help Anna bag Craig, all they have to do is fake date which will stir up a bit of competitive brother jealousy in Craig causing him to want to steal Anna away from Marco, calling of his wedding and all ends well! Sounds like a brilliant plan, right? Yeah, well Anna could not have factored in falling for the wrong brother in the process… but who is she to argue with clear chemistry?

After reading Roommaid, The Seat Filler and The Paid Bridesmaid, I was super eager to get my hands on Wilson’s newest book but I just couldn’t help but feel that The Chemistry Of Love let me down a tiny bit however this book was still a witty, cute, silly, nerd romcom that just left me in stitches. I loved that both main characters were such nerds and owned their love for all things Lord of the Rings and Star Wars. I think the only thing that irritated me a bit about this book was how long it took to really get things going, but this really wasn’t a major issue.

I think the best way to describe Anna would be to say that she is a bit quirky, and I actually really liked that about her. I will say that there were a few moments earlier on in the book that I found her to be a bit immature and annoying but still I could not help but find myself rooting her on as the story progressed. I really liked that she was so passionate about her work and really did not shy away from the fact that she was a smart woman doing a really technical job in a largely male dominated industry. Was the entire STEM topic over play? Maybe a little but this really wasn’t such a major thing.

I’m going to be honest and say it, the really draw to this book was Marco. Our hero was just the best. I loved the energy and life that he brought to the book and fact that he was actually this really smart guy just made me like him all the more. I loved all of the fake real dates and the way that Marco tired to make Anna feel less awkward about the entire situation but most all I loved getting to see her falling in love with him while still trying to convince herself that she is still only in it to get Craig.

As far as the steam factor goes, this was a pretty clean read. There were a few pretty hot make out sessions but that really was the extent to the steam in this book. The secondary characters were just great, I totally loved Anna’s grandfather and the relationship that they had and his weird and creative names that he gave to all of his birds! I will say that I was pleasantly surprised with the way things worked out for Leighton and that she really wasn’t this gold digger that we had pegged her for.

The Chemistry Of Love was a nice read, but it really did not blow me away. Would I recommend it, yeah definitely for all the silly little jokes that were laced throughout Anna and Marco’s fake turned real romance.

Book Info:

Publication: February 1st 2023 | Montlake |

How can Anna Ellis, a geeky, brilliant, and hopelessly smitten cosmetic chemist possibly win over Craig Kimball, the man of her dreams—who also happens to be her boss? The answer is Craig’s empathetic (and handsome) CEO half brother, Marco. The makeup mogul knows Craig for the ridiculously competitive rival he is. Whatever Marco has, Craig wants. That can be Anna, if she’s game to play.

All Anna and Marco have to do is pretend they’re falling in love and let the rumors begin. If the experiment in attraction works, a jealous Craig will swoop in and give Anna her happily ever after—if it weren’t for one hitch in the plan. There’s more to Marco than meets the eye. With every fake date, Anna’s feelings are starting to become dizzyingly real.

Blame it on chemistry. It’s unpredictable, exciting, and occasionally combustible. If Anna and Marco are really falling in love, who are they to argue with science?