This STEM-set enemies-to-lovers rom-com offers sharp banter and academic tension when postdoc Liz is forced to work (and live) with Tom, her former PhD assessor-turned-reluctant-stepbrother. The witty dialogue and slow-burn chemistry shine, though Tom's years of intentional rudeness strain believability--he's HOW old again? While the academic setting and Scottish humor are enjoyable, repetitive beats and a rushed grand gesture weaken the payoff a bit. A solid but uneven debut for fans of The Love Hypothesis who enjoy messy academic drama.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

Set against the backdrop of the University of Glasgow, The Un-Balanced Equation offers a refreshing twist on the contemporary romance genre by diving into the world of post-doctoral academia. H.L. Macfarlane crafts a love story that is as brainy as it is heartfelt, featuring two whip-smart leads—Liz and Tom—whose chemistry practically sparks off the page.

One of the novel’s standout features is its unique setting. It’s not every day that a romance unfolds in the world of higher education, and the authenticity of the academic environment adds a fresh and intelligent layer to the narrative. Liz and Tom’s banter is quick, clever, and thoroughly enjoyable. Their dynamic strikes the perfect balance between teasing and tenderness, giving their relationship both depth and charm.

The pacing is another strength. At a length longer than many romances, the novel gives readers ample time to settle in with the characters and watch their relationship develop at a believable pace. It never feels rushed, and that makes the eventual payoff all the more satisfying. And for all its academic edge, the story never loses its sense of humor. One scene in particular, involving a hilariously timed interruption by lab students, had me laughing out loud.

If there’s one caveat, it’s that the academic detail—particularly references to genetics and the UK education system—might go over some readers' heads without a quick Google search. However, this hardly detracts from the overall enjoyment, and for many, it may even add to the authenticity and immersion of the world.

Overall, The Un-Balanced Equation is a witty, well-paced, and thoroughly satisfying romance that proves intelligence and humor are a perfect match.

Liz and Tom-two geneticists who are forced to work together…and then live together when their parents announce their impending marriage.

This book was such a fun read. Set in rainy Glasgow, it employed two classic romantic tropes-forced proximity and enemies to lovers to build a really engaging story about two geneticists and their hesitations about love. It also had a really lovely cast of side characters that I hope we get to see more of in the rest of the series.

This was a fun easy read with elements of spice.

For someone who has been looking to feel the exact feeling "The Love Hypothesis" has made her feel, this book was a blessing in disguise.

If you love a grumpy possessive man and a cool smartass gal and their fun and banter-filled romance in an academic setting(my soft spot!) be sure to pick this up!

This was a really cute book. I really enjoyed Tom and Elizabeth's dynamic. A strong, smart STEM-y FMC is always inspiring. This book definitely gave Love Hypothesis vibes but still had it's own differences to keep the story fresh.

I am a sucker for enemies to lovers and this did not disappoint! I really enjoyed this story and that it was bot predictable at all! As someone with a science background ai think the writing style made it to where anyone could read and understand the science aspects and relate to the storyline. I could connect with the characters easily making the reading experience really enjoyable. I enjoyed the tension and banter that comes from a good enemies to lovers as well as the sweet moments.

A hilarious, chaotic enemies-to-lovers romance with lots of banter and heart. Silly at times but a fun escape.

*The Unbalanced Equation* by H.L. Macfarlane is a quirky, chaotic, and totally fun enemies-to-lovers romp with just the right amount of steam and sass. It’s about a super smart (and kinda grumpy) guy and the woman who drives him absolutely nuts—in the best way. Their chemistry is off the charts, the banter is sharp, and yeah, it gets a little ridiculous at times, but that’s part of the charm. It’s messy, flirty, and a total blast if you’re into smart characters who are terrible at handling feelings.

I actually really enjoyed The Unbalanced Equation by H. L. Macfarlane. It was a fun, witty, and slightly chaotic romance that totally pulled me in. I loved the tension, the banter, and how entertaining the dynamic between the characters was. It had that perfect mix of sass, awkward situations, and slow-burn energy that just made it a really enjoyable read.

I wanted to love this book. The whole "academic rivals falling for each other" thing? That's totally my jam. But, honestly, it was a bit of a rollercoaster, and not always in a good way.
Look, there were parts I really enjoyed. The author definitely nailed the whole "stuck in academia" vibe, and I could totally relate to the characters' passion for their work. And when they were bantering? Some of those lines were genuinely funny.
But then... things got a little wonky. It felt like the story couldn't decide if it wanted to be a slow-burn romance or a fast-paced plot-driven thing. So, we'd have these long, drawn-out scenes, and then BAM! Everything would suddenly happen super quickly, and I'd be like, "Wait, what just happened?"
And the characters? I liked them, I really did. But sometimes they'd do stuff that just didn't make sense. Like, their "enemies" thing would flip on and off like a light switch, and the romance felt a little... forced at times. I wanted that slow, delicious build-up, but it just wasn't always there.
Honestly, it felt like the book had all the ingredients for a great story, but the recipe was a little off. It's not a terrible read, and if you're looking for something light and fluffy, you might enjoy it. But for me? It was just... okay. Like, a solid "meh." So, I'm landing on a 2 and a half stars (rounded to 2). It's a "could have been better" kind of situation.

I enjoyed this story with all the characters. The main characters were Elizabeth Maclean and Thomas Henderson.

Elizabeth Maclean is a PhD. assessor, she is starting her postdoc. She is happy that she won't be having to see Dr. Thomas Henderson again. He was not nice to her during her assessor classes.

Dr. Thomas Henderson lab is out of commission because of a fire. His friend offered up some space in his lab for Dr. Thomas to work at. Dr. Thomas is surprised to see Elizabeth Maclean there in his friend lab.

This was a fun story to read. It had action and drama throughout. There were quite a few giggles within.

I received a complimentary copy via Netgalley. This is my honest, unbiased opinion.

I really Loved this story with relatable characters, awesome levels of steam and great, witty dialogue and lots of heart! Go read it now!

Two of my favorite love plots: enemies-to-lovers and stem. Book didn't disappoint. Love both characters and reminds me a bit love hypothesis.

Not what I was expecting at all but a good reading in the end. I love Stem books and characters of the Stem world and this book delivers that in a good way. Enjoyable plot and characters, lovely writing and structuring of the story. A quick read that it wasn´t a favorite but one I recommend nonetheless.

Book was boring and I couldn't stomach it. Tom's behaviour really peeved me off which made the book really unenjoyable for me.

I was unable to get this title downloaded before it was archived. I am not able to leave a proper review due to the inability to listen to the title. Thanks!

Enemies-to-lovers? Sign me up! I was eager to dive into this book, knowing I’d get a good dose of angst and fiery tension. However, while the premise was promising, I struggled to connect with the characters. I understand that the initial discomfort and friction are part of the trope’s charm, but something about these characters felt too distant, leaving me without much to adore about them.

The writing also had moments that felt a bit off for me, making it hard to fully immerse myself in the story. That said, I can absolutely see why fans of *The Love Hypothesis* will enjoy this one. The characters are fun, realistically flawed, and the tension between them is *chef’s kiss*.

The pacing is spot-on, keeping the story moving without feeling rushed, and the romance builds up beautifully, with just the right amount of spice to keep things steamy but not overwhelming. While it wasn’t quite my cup of tea, I can appreciate how well-crafted the dynamics and banter were.

If you’re a fan of enemies-to-lovers with sharp dialogue, sizzling chemistry, and a satisfying arc, this book is definitely worth a read!

The Unbalanced Equation by H.L. Macfarlane is a delightful enemies-to-lovers rom-com with a unique academic twist and plenty of laughs. Liz thinks she’s finally free of her critical PhD assessor, Dr. Tom Henderson—until a lab fire forces them to share not just a workspace but, after a family surprise, a temporary home. The added chaos of planning their parents’ wedding only heightens the tension (and sparks) between them. Macfarlane masterfully combines sharp humor, sizzling chemistry, and heartwarming moments, making this an irresistible read for fans of witty, slow-burn romances like The Hating Game and The Love Hypothesis.

This was a great easy read. The author did a great job keeping the reader engaged and hooked into the book

This book has all of my favorite tropes - enemies to lovers, workplace romance, forced proximity... Definitely a spicy book, but felt like there could be a little bit more depth to it. A good pallet cleanser.