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Principles of (E)motion
A brilliant mind needs a strong heart.
Mathematical genius Dr. Meg Brightwood has just completed her life’s work—a proof of a problem so impenetrable it’s nicknamed the Impossible Theorem.
Reclusive and burdened by anxiety, Meg has long since been dismissed by academia. Now everyone wants to get their hands on what she alone possesses—especially her own mathematician father.
Having grown up a prodigy in a field plagued by sexism and plagiarism, Meg opts for a public presentation so there will be no doubt of her authorship. But a panic attack obliterates her plans. In defeat, she goes home and locks away the one and only manuscript of her proof.
Then chance sends her the unlikeliest of Isaac Wells—carpenter, high school dropout, in trouble with the law. And the one love of Meg’s life. Fifteen years ago, they did little more than hold hands. Now, they find a tenuous space where they can love and be loved for who they are—not who the world expects them to be.
But when Meg goes to retrieve the Impossible Theorem, she finds it missing. Her fight for the achievement of the century will test the limits of her brilliance and the endurance of two vulnerable hearts.
Mathematical genius Dr. Meg Brightwood has just completed her life’s work—a proof of a problem so impenetrable it’s nicknamed the Impossible Theorem.
Reclusive and burdened by anxiety, Meg has long since been dismissed by academia. Now everyone wants to get their hands on what she alone possesses—especially her own mathematician father.
Having grown up a prodigy in a field plagued by sexism and plagiarism, Meg opts for a public presentation so there will be no doubt of her authorship. But a panic attack obliterates her plans. In defeat, she goes home and locks away the one and only manuscript of her proof.
Then chance sends her the unlikeliest of Isaac Wells—carpenter, high school dropout, in trouble with the law. And the one love of Meg’s life. Fifteen years ago, they did little more than hold hands. Now, they find a tenuous space where they can love and be loved for who they are—not who the world expects them to be.
But when Meg goes to retrieve the Impossible Theorem, she finds it missing. Her fight for the achievement of the century will test the limits of her brilliance and the endurance of two vulnerable hearts.
304 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2024
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5294 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 138 reviews
January 23, 2024
A middle aged math genius with crippling anxiety and panic attacks solves a world changing equation after devoting twenty years of her life to it in this newest book from Sara Read. I really enjoyed the female STEM rep, the great mental health rep, the second chance romance and the FMC's journey to fight stand up for herself when her father tries to take credit for her achievement. Great on audio and perfect for fans of authors like Ali Hazelwood or Jen Devon. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review.
Steam level: some open door scenes
CW: depression, anxiety, panic attacks + side characters with drug and alcohol addiction and bipolar disorder
Steam level: some open door scenes
CW: depression, anxiety, panic attacks + side characters with drug and alcohol addiction and bipolar disorder
January 2, 2024
The book started slow but I hung in there. About 25% of the way through it became a good book and I ended up enjoying it. I now realize that the slow start was mainly setting the scene for an overly anxious, brilliant mathematician. She won big awards at a young age, had horrible family and could no longer function well. I appreciate the complimentary digital ARC provided by NetGalley and Grayson House. This is my own opinion.
January 10, 2024
A Modern and "Mathical" Fairy Tale
Every so often a book comes along that hits just the right points for me, and Sara Read’s PRINCIPLES OF (E)MOTION delighted me from the very first page. For one, I couldn’t decide on which genre to categorize it. Women’s Fiction? Book Club Fiction? Literary Fiction? Romance? All of the above?
Because the story is told from the female protagonist’s point of view, and because the plot, while very much a love story, more firmly hinges on her struggle and personal growth, I finally decided on Women’s Fiction (although I know the term may be deemed politically-incorrect, and for good reasons).
Told in the first person, Principles of (E)motion centers around Meg Brightwood (perfect fairy-tale name, no?). Meg's a brilliant mathematician as well as someone dealing with acute, chronic anxiety. In fact, Meg's mental health issues–stemming from a problematic relationship with her overbearing and ultimately unethical father and stunted childhood–have come between Meg and her enjoyment of life, have interfered with her career, and have kept her cut off from the world in a very real way.
Which brings me to the structure of this novel. Right away, I recognized this as a modern-day fairy tale. Fifteen years before the beginning of the story, Meg ran away from an academic career to live with–and eventually care for–her elderly paternal grandmother, Lila. Meg's anxiety locked her into a sprawling family home with an actual tower. When Meg arrived, Lila hired a handsome carpenter to work on the house. Isaac fixed Meg’s balcony (because every princess needs a balcony) and also created a wondrous, curving, built-in three-panel chalkboard with wooden chalk rail for the curved walls of Meg’s tower.
Meg spends the next fifteen years caring for Lila and working on a famous mathematical problem called Frieholdt’s Conjecture, a puzzle considered unsolvable. If unlocked, however, Frieholdt’s solution could change the course of history. Meg is nothing if not obsessed with finding the magical (mathical?) key.
At the time of Lila's death, Isaac re-enters Meg's life. He’s running from his own demons and an arrest warrant, but the two of them reconnect on an emotional level, rekindling a romance that had been interrupted when they were younger. The ensuing love plot hits all the regular points a romance reader expects and craves, but it never feels forced or cheesy. The sexy scenes are tender and move the story forward.
As for math, Meg continues to pursue Frieholdt’s, but her anxiety breathes its scorching Dragon fire, causing her to run away rather than stand her ground.
It’s this anxiety she must slay in order to have her happy ever after.
Important secondary characters include Meg's father, the Evil Sorcerer who longs to both use her and steal her talent, and her cousin, the Fairy Godmother who breezes in with a bippity-boppity-boo (aka kickbutt attitude) which bolsters Meg’s confidence when she needs it most. There’s even a humble cottage in the woods, albeit one with cell-phone service and what sounded like a wonderful Swedish-style tiled wood stove. Oh, and a blacksmith’s shop because, turns out, Isaac the carpenter is also a smithy! Dreamy, dreamy…
I don’t want to give away any spoilers, but suffice it to say, the plot had me hooked all the way through, and the writing style managed to tread the perfect line between the best contemporary book club fiction and more literary voices like my two favorite Anns: Tyler and Patchett. We need more female protagonists with STEM gifts and ambitions. For Bonnie Garmus (LESSONS IN CHEMISTRY) fans, this one is a must-read.
I’m so glad I was able to get my eyes on an ARC of this delightful book. I'll be adding this, and Read's debut novel, to my bookshelves. Consider me a new and enthusiastic fan. Five out of five stars for sure!
Every so often a book comes along that hits just the right points for me, and Sara Read’s PRINCIPLES OF (E)MOTION delighted me from the very first page. For one, I couldn’t decide on which genre to categorize it. Women’s Fiction? Book Club Fiction? Literary Fiction? Romance? All of the above?
Because the story is told from the female protagonist’s point of view, and because the plot, while very much a love story, more firmly hinges on her struggle and personal growth, I finally decided on Women’s Fiction (although I know the term may be deemed politically-incorrect, and for good reasons).
Told in the first person, Principles of (E)motion centers around Meg Brightwood (perfect fairy-tale name, no?). Meg's a brilliant mathematician as well as someone dealing with acute, chronic anxiety. In fact, Meg's mental health issues–stemming from a problematic relationship with her overbearing and ultimately unethical father and stunted childhood–have come between Meg and her enjoyment of life, have interfered with her career, and have kept her cut off from the world in a very real way.
Which brings me to the structure of this novel. Right away, I recognized this as a modern-day fairy tale. Fifteen years before the beginning of the story, Meg ran away from an academic career to live with–and eventually care for–her elderly paternal grandmother, Lila. Meg's anxiety locked her into a sprawling family home with an actual tower. When Meg arrived, Lila hired a handsome carpenter to work on the house. Isaac fixed Meg’s balcony (because every princess needs a balcony) and also created a wondrous, curving, built-in three-panel chalkboard with wooden chalk rail for the curved walls of Meg’s tower.
Meg spends the next fifteen years caring for Lila and working on a famous mathematical problem called Frieholdt’s Conjecture, a puzzle considered unsolvable. If unlocked, however, Frieholdt’s solution could change the course of history. Meg is nothing if not obsessed with finding the magical (mathical?) key.
At the time of Lila's death, Isaac re-enters Meg's life. He’s running from his own demons and an arrest warrant, but the two of them reconnect on an emotional level, rekindling a romance that had been interrupted when they were younger. The ensuing love plot hits all the regular points a romance reader expects and craves, but it never feels forced or cheesy. The sexy scenes are tender and move the story forward.
As for math, Meg continues to pursue Frieholdt’s, but her anxiety breathes its scorching Dragon fire, causing her to run away rather than stand her ground.
It’s this anxiety she must slay in order to have her happy ever after.
Important secondary characters include Meg's father, the Evil Sorcerer who longs to both use her and steal her talent, and her cousin, the Fairy Godmother who breezes in with a bippity-boppity-boo (aka kickbutt attitude) which bolsters Meg’s confidence when she needs it most. There’s even a humble cottage in the woods, albeit one with cell-phone service and what sounded like a wonderful Swedish-style tiled wood stove. Oh, and a blacksmith’s shop because, turns out, Isaac the carpenter is also a smithy! Dreamy, dreamy…
I don’t want to give away any spoilers, but suffice it to say, the plot had me hooked all the way through, and the writing style managed to tread the perfect line between the best contemporary book club fiction and more literary voices like my two favorite Anns: Tyler and Patchett. We need more female protagonists with STEM gifts and ambitions. For Bonnie Garmus (LESSONS IN CHEMISTRY) fans, this one is a must-read.
I’m so glad I was able to get my eyes on an ARC of this delightful book. I'll be adding this, and Read's debut novel, to my bookshelves. Consider me a new and enthusiastic fan. Five out of five stars for sure!
January 8, 2024
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Fifteen years ago, Meg escaped academia and took refuge in her grandmother's home. Many of those years were spent as a caregiver. Following her grandmother's death, Meg was unmoored, trying to figure out what was next. When a spark of inspiration hit, she reignited her quest to solve the unsolvable Frieholdt’s conjecture which thrust her back into the world she fled. With her work missing, Meg was now in for a fight for both her deserved acclaim and her heart.
Full disclosure, I was the student who wanted to jump up and clap when my professors finished derivations in my physics and chemistry classes. I was drawn to this book because it featured a woman in STEM. Meg's struggles sounded all too familiar. Not being taken seriously because she was pretty, others taking the credit for her work, being labeled a hysterical/emotional female. But, man, when she talked about math, I could feel her love and passion. I found myself lost in it, as she waxed poetic about mathematics.
I really adored Meg, and though she could be seen as having great privilege due to her father's wealth, she never had the basics that children need - love. She was a math prodigy, and her father's love and approval came with a price. It was conditional on her performance, and when she didn't perform to his expectations, there was no love. He robbed her of her childhood and autonomy, and now he was attempting to steal her life's work. Needless to say, there was no love lost between me and dad.
Though Meg had support via her cousin Lizzie, it meant so much to me when she reconnected with Isaac. He was someone from her past who she shared a special connection with, and it was wonderful to see that whatever joined them had never weakened. With Isaac, Meg found that unconditional love that had eluded her for her whole life. He saw her at her worst and still loved her which helped Meg love herself. Her self love and acceptance gave her the strength to push forward in a life that had been in a sort of stasis for so long with her fear and anxiety holding her in place. Meg made some bold moves, and I was really proud of her. Watching her progress from the beginning of the story to the end was very rewarding.
In my mind, this was Meg's story. It wasn't a romance, but there was a strong romantic element which I think many will enjoy. Very opposites attract with some serious roadblocks to overcome. I admired their passion and the way they encouraged each other. Meg and Isaac both had so much baggage, but they were willing to share the load. Their love story was a definite highlight for me.
Overall, I found Meg's journey to be engaging and inspiring. I was so invested in seeing Meg succeed, and loved cheering her on as she made progress towards her personal goals and learned to love, accept and trust herself.
*ARC provided by publisher
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Fifteen years ago, Meg escaped academia and took refuge in her grandmother's home. Many of those years were spent as a caregiver. Following her grandmother's death, Meg was unmoored, trying to figure out what was next. When a spark of inspiration hit, she reignited her quest to solve the unsolvable Frieholdt’s conjecture which thrust her back into the world she fled. With her work missing, Meg was now in for a fight for both her deserved acclaim and her heart.
Full disclosure, I was the student who wanted to jump up and clap when my professors finished derivations in my physics and chemistry classes. I was drawn to this book because it featured a woman in STEM. Meg's struggles sounded all too familiar. Not being taken seriously because she was pretty, others taking the credit for her work, being labeled a hysterical/emotional female. But, man, when she talked about math, I could feel her love and passion. I found myself lost in it, as she waxed poetic about mathematics.
I really adored Meg, and though she could be seen as having great privilege due to her father's wealth, she never had the basics that children need - love. She was a math prodigy, and her father's love and approval came with a price. It was conditional on her performance, and when she didn't perform to his expectations, there was no love. He robbed her of her childhood and autonomy, and now he was attempting to steal her life's work. Needless to say, there was no love lost between me and dad.
Though Meg had support via her cousin Lizzie, it meant so much to me when she reconnected with Isaac. He was someone from her past who she shared a special connection with, and it was wonderful to see that whatever joined them had never weakened. With Isaac, Meg found that unconditional love that had eluded her for her whole life. He saw her at her worst and still loved her which helped Meg love herself. Her self love and acceptance gave her the strength to push forward in a life that had been in a sort of stasis for so long with her fear and anxiety holding her in place. Meg made some bold moves, and I was really proud of her. Watching her progress from the beginning of the story to the end was very rewarding.
In my mind, this was Meg's story. It wasn't a romance, but there was a strong romantic element which I think many will enjoy. Very opposites attract with some serious roadblocks to overcome. I admired their passion and the way they encouraged each other. Meg and Isaac both had so much baggage, but they were willing to share the load. Their love story was a definite highlight for me.
Overall, I found Meg's journey to be engaging and inspiring. I was so invested in seeing Meg succeed, and loved cheering her on as she made progress towards her personal goals and learned to love, accept and trust herself.
*ARC provided by publisher
BLOG | INSTAGRAM |TWITTER | BLOGLOVIN | FRIEND ME ON GOODREADS
January 2, 2024
My first book of the new year.
This was an absolute joy to read. I think that so many readers will resonate with the FMC’s experience with anxiety and panic attacks. To have that represented so accurately and carefully is amazing for those who feel like they’re alone in their experience with anxiety. I loved the character development in this as well.
This was an absolute joy to read. I think that so many readers will resonate with the FMC’s experience with anxiety and panic attacks. To have that represented so accurately and carefully is amazing for those who feel like they’re alone in their experience with anxiety. I loved the character development in this as well.
December 29, 2023
Sara Read has done it again! I loved her debut, so I leapt at the chance to receive an ARC of her sophomore novel and I'm so glad for the opportunity to read it. While both her books handle themes of rediscovery and the kind of unique exclusivity that is endemic to being any type of prodigy, this quieter novel pulls you into the tangle of Meg's mind as she navigates not only her own genius, but the trauma that genius has cost her. As someone who has a history with anxiety, I will say that the visceral descriptions may be mildly triggering, but they are also authentic portrayals of what it feels like to live daily with this condition and the work it takes to manage it. The internal conflict is the highest stakes, but the external conflict supports it and brings depth and nuance to Meg's journey. Sara writes absolutely fantastically in the upmarket genre with beautifully lyrical prose that remains firmly grounded in the understandable and accessible. (I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.)
January 6, 2024
I was provided an ARC of this book via Netgalley, all opinions are my own.
This was a really interesting look into mental health, family dynamics, trauma, and women in STEM. Meg is a brilliant mathematician, who's math abilities became apparent to her father at a very early age. A mathematician in his own right, he made it clear that her worth was equal to her academic ability because she wasn't like other girls her age. He also made it very clear that he was responsibly for all of her achievements. Meg decided to leave academia to become a caretaker for her ailing grandmother where she meets Isaac, a carpenter who doesn't understand math but he understands Meg. Isaac leaves to pursue a career in blacksmithing, while Meg works on solving an impossible math problem. Years later they are reunited, and they both need each other to support them through some tough times. Meg's father is trying to take credit for her life's work solving the impossible, and Isaac is in trouble with the law. They are both struggling with very real trauma in their lives and don't have much of a support system in place as they deal with the stressors in their lives. As they get to know each other again, they find it a bit easier to face life's problems with someone at their back.
I really enjoyed Isaac and Meg together. Life is always easier when you've got someone in your corner. Meg's family is horrible, except for her cousin Lizzie (she's great). Meg has very real anxiety and panic attacks, which I think the author did a good job portraying those. I appreciated that Meg was able to take charge of her situation and advocate for herself despite how uncomfortable it made her. This isn't a super fun happy rom come like I expected. It is kind of sad and bleak as Meg and Isaac deal with his legal troubles and she tries to get her intellectual property back and talks about math quite a bit. There are some intimate scenes, but they are fairly fade to black.
This book isn't going to be for everyone. It is heavy on the math, and the romance is more on the sweet side than the spicy side. This does cover some heavy topics, and I thought the author did a good job addressing them.
This was a really interesting look into mental health, family dynamics, trauma, and women in STEM. Meg is a brilliant mathematician, who's math abilities became apparent to her father at a very early age. A mathematician in his own right, he made it clear that her worth was equal to her academic ability because she wasn't like other girls her age. He also made it very clear that he was responsibly for all of her achievements. Meg decided to leave academia to become a caretaker for her ailing grandmother where she meets Isaac, a carpenter who doesn't understand math but he understands Meg. Isaac leaves to pursue a career in blacksmithing, while Meg works on solving an impossible math problem. Years later they are reunited, and they both need each other to support them through some tough times. Meg's father is trying to take credit for her life's work solving the impossible, and Isaac is in trouble with the law. They are both struggling with very real trauma in their lives and don't have much of a support system in place as they deal with the stressors in their lives. As they get to know each other again, they find it a bit easier to face life's problems with someone at their back.
I really enjoyed Isaac and Meg together. Life is always easier when you've got someone in your corner. Meg's family is horrible, except for her cousin Lizzie (she's great). Meg has very real anxiety and panic attacks, which I think the author did a good job portraying those. I appreciated that Meg was able to take charge of her situation and advocate for herself despite how uncomfortable it made her. This isn't a super fun happy rom come like I expected. It is kind of sad and bleak as Meg and Isaac deal with his legal troubles and she tries to get her intellectual property back and talks about math quite a bit. There are some intimate scenes, but they are fairly fade to black.
This book isn't going to be for everyone. It is heavy on the math, and the romance is more on the sweet side than the spicy side. This does cover some heavy topics, and I thought the author did a good job addressing them.
January 3, 2024
I would avoid considering this book a contemporary romance, perhaps along the lines of Ali Hazelwood, just because the main protagonist is a mathematician. You may be disappointed. It is not a cheerful story and is full of pain and despair; I almost feel that the happy ending was imposed by the publisher. However it turned out, the book ends well in the end, but it almost fails to make up for what happens before.
Eviterei di considerare questo libro un contemporary romance, magari sulla scia di Ali Hazelwood, solo perché la protagonista principale é una matematica. potreste rimanere delusi. Non é una storia allegra ed é piena di dolore e disperazione, mi viene quasi da pensare che il lieto fine sia stato imposto dalla casa editrice. Comunque sia andata, alla fine il libro finisce bene, ma quasi non riesce a compensare quanto accade in precedenza.
I received from the Publisher a complimentary digital advanced review copy of the book in exchange for a honest review.
Eviterei di considerare questo libro un contemporary romance, magari sulla scia di Ali Hazelwood, solo perché la protagonista principale é una matematica. potreste rimanere delusi. Non é una storia allegra ed é piena di dolore e disperazione, mi viene quasi da pensare che il lieto fine sia stato imposto dalla casa editrice. Comunque sia andata, alla fine il libro finisce bene, ma quasi non riesce a compensare quanto accade in precedenza.
I received from the Publisher a complimentary digital advanced review copy of the book in exchange for a honest review.
February 26, 2024
I felt like the book lacked heart. I had difficulty caring much about the characters.
December 31, 2023
If you like Ali Hazelwood and STEM you will enjoy this book! —Fifteen years earlier, Meg escaped academia —She took refuge in her grandmother's home and eventually became her grandmother’s caregiver— after her grandmother’s death. Her grief sparks her mind back into mathematical action and she solves the unsolvable Frieholdt’s conjecture which thrusts her back into the world she fled. The story has a love interest come into play and her important proof goes missing. Meg now has to fight for both her deserved acclaim for her work and her heart with the man she loves.
I was interested in this book as STEM fiction is becoming more popular and I wanted to see what it was all about— the writing is really good and you can feel Meg`s passion and love for math. This book deals with many controversial issues — emotional abuse, women working in STEM and the prejudices, plagiarism/stealing others’ hard work and mental health issues.
In my opinion, this was about Meg and her growth it wasn`t a romance— though there was a time in the book where the romantic element was strong— and others many enjoy that part of the story.
My favourite parts of this book were when Meg was in her zone with the math — and fighting to get recognized for her work. The love interest Isacc — in my opinion, was more of a side story and it didn`t hold my interest as much as Meg`s growth with her mental health and her career. Watching her progress from the beginning of the story to the end was rewarding. I was so invested in seeing Meg succeed, that I felt her anger and became emotionally involved in her fight and cheered for her towards winning in her goals.
Thank you to Netgalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing/ Graydon House for this ARC. This is my honest review.
I was interested in this book as STEM fiction is becoming more popular and I wanted to see what it was all about— the writing is really good and you can feel Meg`s passion and love for math. This book deals with many controversial issues — emotional abuse, women working in STEM and the prejudices, plagiarism/stealing others’ hard work and mental health issues.
In my opinion, this was about Meg and her growth it wasn`t a romance— though there was a time in the book where the romantic element was strong— and others many enjoy that part of the story.
My favourite parts of this book were when Meg was in her zone with the math — and fighting to get recognized for her work. The love interest Isacc — in my opinion, was more of a side story and it didn`t hold my interest as much as Meg`s growth with her mental health and her career. Watching her progress from the beginning of the story to the end was rewarding. I was so invested in seeing Meg succeed, that I felt her anger and became emotionally involved in her fight and cheered for her towards winning in her goals.
Thank you to Netgalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing/ Graydon House for this ARC. This is my honest review.
January 8, 2024
I am not a math person in the slightest, but there was something about the synopsis of this that drew me to it. Unfortunately, the book didn’t quite hit me the way the synopsis did.
Meg Brightwood is a math prodigy, but suffers from debilitating panic attacks. At 23, after only two years of being a math professor at her father’s prestigious university, she left the field and sequestered herself away in her grandmother’s mansion with the pretense of being caring for her grandmother and working on solving a theorem that was unsolvable. Now, 15 years later her grandmother has died and the theorem is solved. After suffering yet another debilitating panic attack, she spies her grandmother’s carpenter, the guy who she loved and who her grandmother deemed not good enough, across the street and opens her door to him. Together she and Isaac come to see that they are the answers to each other’s problems.
While I was drawn to this because of Meg’s anxiety, overall the story fell flat. With the exception of one side character, all of the characters had major flaws that ended up making them more annoying than endearing, including Meg. Generally, when the protagonist has anxiety or depression I tend to feel empathetic towards them, but by the middle of the book I was ready for her to get her act together.
I found this to be extremely slow moving and if it wasn’t a NetGalley I likely would have DNF’d it. Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the advanced copy. This hits the shelves on January 9th.
Meg Brightwood is a math prodigy, but suffers from debilitating panic attacks. At 23, after only two years of being a math professor at her father’s prestigious university, she left the field and sequestered herself away in her grandmother’s mansion with the pretense of being caring for her grandmother and working on solving a theorem that was unsolvable. Now, 15 years later her grandmother has died and the theorem is solved. After suffering yet another debilitating panic attack, she spies her grandmother’s carpenter, the guy who she loved and who her grandmother deemed not good enough, across the street and opens her door to him. Together she and Isaac come to see that they are the answers to each other’s problems.
While I was drawn to this because of Meg’s anxiety, overall the story fell flat. With the exception of one side character, all of the characters had major flaws that ended up making them more annoying than endearing, including Meg. Generally, when the protagonist has anxiety or depression I tend to feel empathetic towards them, but by the middle of the book I was ready for her to get her act together.
I found this to be extremely slow moving and if it wasn’t a NetGalley I likely would have DNF’d it. Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the advanced copy. This hits the shelves on January 9th.
February 24, 2024
Dr. Meg Brightwood is an amazing mathematician who has spent her life in her father's shadow, but she is far more academic than her dad is. The thing though is that Meg has panic attacks and presenting in front of others causes her to break down. When the pressure got too much, she escaped to live with her Aunt and when her Aunt got sick, she became her carer. While at the same time busy working on what was called "The Impossible Theorem". Finally, after 15 years, she has figured it out and solved the equation. This is the paper that will help her make history and a name for herself if only she has the confidence to present in front of a room. Families are a tricky thing though as everyone knows her father as this brilliant Professor, what happens when her father steals her research and tries to pass it off as her own? Can Meg with the help of her cousin and a fellow female academic, help Meg get back her research and finally stand up to her father? This is the year for Meg as not only does she get her breakthrough in the academic world, but she is also about to embark on a romantic relationship with a blast from her past who has turned back up in the house opposite hers. If you love STEM novels and geeky female characters that are on the awkward, nerdy side like most of us readers, then Sara Reads's - Principles of E(motion) is the read for you and one to be added to your 2024 reading lists. It's one maths equation, we readers won't be discouraged to read and look at.
January 24, 2024
Elements (yes, that’s intentional) of both Lessons in Chemistry and Good Will Hunting. Anxiety-producing in the way watching an episode of The Bear can be. Slow yet compelling. Provocative with a deep, underlying sadness.
March 12, 2024
I think the author is a fantastic writer and the characters were great.
September 14, 2025
Genius mathematician with ceiling social anxiety and a narcissistic father
May 4, 2024
Good story including how anxiety works. Flashbacks were difficult to understand when they were occurring. Typical romance novel that could have ended much earlier.
March 4, 2024
Overall this book had a lot of heart and by the time I got to the 50% mark, I couldn't put it down. The romance was so-so for me; I didn't totally buy their connection at first, because there wasn't a lot of lead up to it, and I wasn't terribly invested in it. It felt too rushed in the beginning, but I think the pacing worked from the halfway point on for the romance storyline.
Meg's storyline regarding her work is what made this a 4 star book for me. Her journey from the beginning to the end of the book was believable, heartbreaking, and in the end, satisfying. I thought the depiction of day-to-day, very-real, very-crippling anxiety was thoughtfully done and made Meg a sympathetic character that you couldn't help but root for. I loved being able to experience the growth through the author's words and to see her ultimately succeed despite the obstacles set in her path. Like, I said, I couldn't put it down once I got halfway through; I had to know how it ended!
I'm grateful for the opportunity to be an ARC for this book. Sara Read is an author to watch!
Meg's storyline regarding her work is what made this a 4 star book for me. Her journey from the beginning to the end of the book was believable, heartbreaking, and in the end, satisfying. I thought the depiction of day-to-day, very-real, very-crippling anxiety was thoughtfully done and made Meg a sympathetic character that you couldn't help but root for. I loved being able to experience the growth through the author's words and to see her ultimately succeed despite the obstacles set in her path. Like, I said, I couldn't put it down once I got halfway through; I had to know how it ended!
I'm grateful for the opportunity to be an ARC for this book. Sara Read is an author to watch!
November 28, 2023
3 ⭐ || 2 🌶️
This story offers a unique blend of romance, self-reflection, and intellectual pursuit as Meg, a former child prodigy, unravels a two-decade-long quest to solve a challenging mathematical proof. The main storyline is peppered with the revelation of hard truths about her family and the obstacles she faces as a woman in STEM.
While the novel has its strengths, it falls short of a higher rating due to certain aspects. The portrayal of the challenges Meg faces at times feels overly dramatic, almost bordering on cliché. The obstacles she encounters as a woman in academia, while important to address, are presented in a way that occasionally detracts from the overall narrative. The reunion with Isaac, the man from Meg's past, adds a romantic layer to the story, but the development of their relationship lacks the depth and complexity one might expect in a narrative that explores self-discovery and empowerment. The dynamics between the characters, while touching on opposites attracting, could have been more finely nuanced to elevate the romantic aspect of the plot. At times it felt incredibly heavy and not like a romance novel at all.
Despite these drawbacks, the novel succeeds in creating a lovable and root-worthy protagonist. Meg is relatable, and the reader can easily empathize with her journey of overcoming obstacles and finding solace in unexpected places! The book is worth exploring for its unique premise, but other readers should be prepared for moments where the narrative veers into predictable territory.
Thank you to Net Galley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the ARC!
This story offers a unique blend of romance, self-reflection, and intellectual pursuit as Meg, a former child prodigy, unravels a two-decade-long quest to solve a challenging mathematical proof. The main storyline is peppered with the revelation of hard truths about her family and the obstacles she faces as a woman in STEM.
While the novel has its strengths, it falls short of a higher rating due to certain aspects. The portrayal of the challenges Meg faces at times feels overly dramatic, almost bordering on cliché. The obstacles she encounters as a woman in academia, while important to address, are presented in a way that occasionally detracts from the overall narrative. The reunion with Isaac, the man from Meg's past, adds a romantic layer to the story, but the development of their relationship lacks the depth and complexity one might expect in a narrative that explores self-discovery and empowerment. The dynamics between the characters, while touching on opposites attracting, could have been more finely nuanced to elevate the romantic aspect of the plot. At times it felt incredibly heavy and not like a romance novel at all.
Despite these drawbacks, the novel succeeds in creating a lovable and root-worthy protagonist. Meg is relatable, and the reader can easily empathize with her journey of overcoming obstacles and finding solace in unexpected places! The book is worth exploring for its unique premise, but other readers should be prepared for moments where the narrative veers into predictable territory.
Thank you to Net Galley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the ARC!
April 9, 2024
Maybe others will enjoy it more than I did, but it was unbelievably slow to start. And even after the story line built, and the love story started to unfold, I still struggled all the way to end of the book to get into it. I considered not finishing it multiple times, but just kept hoping it’d get better, pushed through, and was bummed it never sparked a lot of interest for me personally. Not to say it won’t for others, but I had to really push myself to finish this.
May 16, 2024
This book was disappointing. I finished it because it kept just enough of my attention. I found the main characters flat and difficult to relate to. The math sections were baffling. The city setting seemed oddly nonspecific and the rules of geography seemed to not apply. (Can someone really drive from Philadelphia to North Carolina as quickly as implied in this book?)
I ended up skimming large chunks of it to find out the ending. Don’t waste your time on this one.
I ended up skimming large chunks of it to find out the ending. Don’t waste your time on this one.
June 8, 2024
My favorite part was when Isaac refused to give Meg his phone number bc he was scared of police tracking it but then had 0 issues posting tiktoks of her doing math from his phone ??? make it make sense
January 17, 2024
The first I read of books that combine science and love- was Ali Hazelwood and Love on the Brain. Since then, she has written a few books but I have finally found an author who revels Hazelwood when I came upon Sara Read and her new release, Principles of (E)motion. While both present Science along with a love story in their books, Read and Hazelwood made totally separate presentations- and feel worlds apart- as if they are in separate genres.
Maybe it is that Hazelwood and her lovers both work in Science while Read's character in this book is a mathematician who has fallen in love with an ever-present person who would become part of the rest of their life- all that is outside Science and with everything they do- outside Science. The thing the lovers do not share is their love of science- like Hazelwood's (who do share a love of Science). And I appreciated this wholly original, inventive, and new story that I immediately fell in love with upon opening to the first page…
That is where readers meet Dr. Meg Brightwood, in her moment of despair and who will soon- achieve the greatest work of her whole life- essentially, what she has been working toward for a lifetime and what others have tried to solve for over 200 years. Meg is no ordinary genius- she is a mathematical guru who has made it her life's work to solve Frieholdt's Conjecture- though others have deemed it impossible.
The night before her grandmother's funeral while mourning the loss of the woman she lived with and then cared for as she lay dying- for the last fifteen years of her life- Frieholdt's is solved. However- when it comes to the presentation, Meg can't get over all of her nerves and the psychological issues she has carried since she stepped away from academia when she first moved in with her grandmother. And this presentation- is just as important- if not more so, than the solution itself. Because at some point- it needs to be presented to the mathematical community- or, at least- this is what Meg wants.
Meg does get the opportunity to sell the solution- in the form of Anna, the vice president of Nautilus (which is compared to Tesla, in the book, only for ships)- the corporate negotiator. Though there is only the rumor that Meg has solved the problem- Anna comes to personally see Meg and offers her a good chunk of money just to use the formula for five years- as it has large real-life applications that can help to make lots of money. But that is something that Meg does not want- no matter what fortune it will bring her, she wants the solution to help the world- not just one company with their profit margin.
A blast from the past also appears in the form of a man Meg never got her chance with- Issac Wells. When she first moved in Isaac had been hired by her grandmother to do jobs around the house and Meg, many of the times, helped (if she could). And though there seemed to be something between the pair, Issac left to train as an apprentice.
However, Issac doesn't bring just the same heat that was between the pair- he brings a slew of heat from the real-world problems he finds himself in with him. Running from the law he is wanted for murder- though the situation, from Issac, sounds like justified self-defense. But all those who are a part of the real world know that some situations are interpreted differently for different people- based on how you are judged by the world- especially in the place where you grew up and lived. Because when you shoot a bad man- if you are a man who grew up like Issac did- you don't want him to have a family in positions of authority- like the local police. A warrant has been issued and Issac, even though he was being shot at- when shooting back, shot and killed the shooter in the neck- is wanted for murder.
All this time- Meg's solution to Frieholdt's lies in the safe in the basement- as she does not know what she wants to do with it. All she knows is that she is falling in love- starting right where the pair left off many years ago. It is like no time passed at all. She has offers from her father to help publish- though the fear that he will take all the credit.
When Meg's Freidolt's proof goes missing there seems to be no other decision Meg can make- until she finds out what happened to her work- which had been locked in the basement safe. Meg had been under the impression that she was the only one with the combination and now she must find out who has it- and what happened to it- or her life's work- will only benefit a thief.
Sara Read gives readers a tale of love, betrayal with a strong main character- whom readers can learn from- as she overcomes all the hurdles that are placed in front of her- the worst of them being- herself. Thoroughly entertaining from page one, this book won’t disappoint- even readers who aren’t lovers of love stories will love this tale.
Happy Reading.
Maybe it is that Hazelwood and her lovers both work in Science while Read's character in this book is a mathematician who has fallen in love with an ever-present person who would become part of the rest of their life- all that is outside Science and with everything they do- outside Science. The thing the lovers do not share is their love of science- like Hazelwood's (who do share a love of Science). And I appreciated this wholly original, inventive, and new story that I immediately fell in love with upon opening to the first page…
That is where readers meet Dr. Meg Brightwood, in her moment of despair and who will soon- achieve the greatest work of her whole life- essentially, what she has been working toward for a lifetime and what others have tried to solve for over 200 years. Meg is no ordinary genius- she is a mathematical guru who has made it her life's work to solve Frieholdt's Conjecture- though others have deemed it impossible.
The night before her grandmother's funeral while mourning the loss of the woman she lived with and then cared for as she lay dying- for the last fifteen years of her life- Frieholdt's is solved. However- when it comes to the presentation, Meg can't get over all of her nerves and the psychological issues she has carried since she stepped away from academia when she first moved in with her grandmother. And this presentation- is just as important- if not more so, than the solution itself. Because at some point- it needs to be presented to the mathematical community- or, at least- this is what Meg wants.
Meg does get the opportunity to sell the solution- in the form of Anna, the vice president of Nautilus (which is compared to Tesla, in the book, only for ships)- the corporate negotiator. Though there is only the rumor that Meg has solved the problem- Anna comes to personally see Meg and offers her a good chunk of money just to use the formula for five years- as it has large real-life applications that can help to make lots of money. But that is something that Meg does not want- no matter what fortune it will bring her, she wants the solution to help the world- not just one company with their profit margin.
A blast from the past also appears in the form of a man Meg never got her chance with- Issac Wells. When she first moved in Isaac had been hired by her grandmother to do jobs around the house and Meg, many of the times, helped (if she could). And though there seemed to be something between the pair, Issac left to train as an apprentice.
However, Issac doesn't bring just the same heat that was between the pair- he brings a slew of heat from the real-world problems he finds himself in with him. Running from the law he is wanted for murder- though the situation, from Issac, sounds like justified self-defense. But all those who are a part of the real world know that some situations are interpreted differently for different people- based on how you are judged by the world- especially in the place where you grew up and lived. Because when you shoot a bad man- if you are a man who grew up like Issac did- you don't want him to have a family in positions of authority- like the local police. A warrant has been issued and Issac, even though he was being shot at- when shooting back, shot and killed the shooter in the neck- is wanted for murder.
All this time- Meg's solution to Frieholdt's lies in the safe in the basement- as she does not know what she wants to do with it. All she knows is that she is falling in love- starting right where the pair left off many years ago. It is like no time passed at all. She has offers from her father to help publish- though the fear that he will take all the credit.
When Meg's Freidolt's proof goes missing there seems to be no other decision Meg can make- until she finds out what happened to her work- which had been locked in the basement safe. Meg had been under the impression that she was the only one with the combination and now she must find out who has it- and what happened to it- or her life's work- will only benefit a thief.
Sara Read gives readers a tale of love, betrayal with a strong main character- whom readers can learn from- as she overcomes all the hurdles that are placed in front of her- the worst of them being- herself. Thoroughly entertaining from page one, this book won’t disappoint- even readers who aren’t lovers of love stories will love this tale.
Happy Reading.
December 1, 2023
Book: Principles of Emotion
Author: Sara Read
Rating: 4 Out of 5 Stars
I would like to thank the publisher, Graydon House, for sending me ARC. I will say that if you enjoy Ali Hazelwood’s work, then you will probably love this one.
In this one, we follow Meg Brightwood. She is a brain at math and even holds a PHD in it. She has dedicated her life to solving this theorem that is supposed to be impossible to solve. She has been kind of blacklisted from the academic world. For the past couple of years, she has been taking care of her grandmother and not really interacting with anyone. When her grandmother passes, Meg finds out that she only two years to live in the house. She doesn’t know what do. Issac, an old crush, gets a job at the house next door. The two rekindle with one another and the sparks begin to fly. However, things are not what them seem. It turns out that Issac has a past, one that could very well end up changing the course of their relationship and maybe not for the better. Yet, she wants this and wants him. She has to decide is she going to stay in her comfort zone or she is going to take a chance.
Now, I know what you are thinking. This sounds like a romance book. Yes, it is. However, it also does a deep dive into anxiety and how it can affect people. It shows how people who have anxiety view the world and how difficult it can be for them to have to get out of their comfort zone. It shows how difficult it can be for people with anxiety to put themselves out there. We see Meg’s struggle. She wants to comfort her father, but she can’t make herself form the words. There are days that she finds herself unable to even get out of bed, let alone function. There are people in her life who don’t understand what she is going through and how she feels. They tell her just to snap out of it and to get over it. She can’t and few people seem to understand that. I do think that books like this one will hopefully help people understand what it is like to have anxiety. It’s not a matter of not being able to do something, but can’t and having to come over both people telling you it’s all in your head and dealing with your own feelings.
I enjoyed the slow burn between Meg and Issac. Both are a little unsure of each other, but they both need each other in their lives. They don’t really know this. As the book goes on, they slowly start to develop a relationship. They both have something that is holding them back from truly expressing their feelings. I can’t really say what that is without giving away too much. I will say that when the truth does come out, the fight and the desire to hold onto what they have is amazing. It’s more on one side than the other. The other side is more worried about getting the other one in some major trouble.
This book also shows the struggle that women face in STEM. Despite Meg being brilliant at what she does, she is not respected and valued the same as her male counterparts. She has to hide her appearance, because she will be judged on being pretty. She has to work twice as hard to prove herself. What she does is not seen as value, unless she has a man on the paper. People want to say that all of this is not true. Even if you are not in STEM, take a look around. Women do have to work twice as hard at the same job as a man in order to prove that they have the same value. Women always have to prove themselves in ways that men do not.
Overall, I did enjoy this book. I think if you like Ali Hazelwood, I think you will enjoy this one.
This book comes out on January 1, 2024.
Youtube: https://youtu.be/v97RapLvnjs
Author: Sara Read
Rating: 4 Out of 5 Stars
I would like to thank the publisher, Graydon House, for sending me ARC. I will say that if you enjoy Ali Hazelwood’s work, then you will probably love this one.
In this one, we follow Meg Brightwood. She is a brain at math and even holds a PHD in it. She has dedicated her life to solving this theorem that is supposed to be impossible to solve. She has been kind of blacklisted from the academic world. For the past couple of years, she has been taking care of her grandmother and not really interacting with anyone. When her grandmother passes, Meg finds out that she only two years to live in the house. She doesn’t know what do. Issac, an old crush, gets a job at the house next door. The two rekindle with one another and the sparks begin to fly. However, things are not what them seem. It turns out that Issac has a past, one that could very well end up changing the course of their relationship and maybe not for the better. Yet, she wants this and wants him. She has to decide is she going to stay in her comfort zone or she is going to take a chance.
Now, I know what you are thinking. This sounds like a romance book. Yes, it is. However, it also does a deep dive into anxiety and how it can affect people. It shows how people who have anxiety view the world and how difficult it can be for them to have to get out of their comfort zone. It shows how difficult it can be for people with anxiety to put themselves out there. We see Meg’s struggle. She wants to comfort her father, but she can’t make herself form the words. There are days that she finds herself unable to even get out of bed, let alone function. There are people in her life who don’t understand what she is going through and how she feels. They tell her just to snap out of it and to get over it. She can’t and few people seem to understand that. I do think that books like this one will hopefully help people understand what it is like to have anxiety. It’s not a matter of not being able to do something, but can’t and having to come over both people telling you it’s all in your head and dealing with your own feelings.
I enjoyed the slow burn between Meg and Issac. Both are a little unsure of each other, but they both need each other in their lives. They don’t really know this. As the book goes on, they slowly start to develop a relationship. They both have something that is holding them back from truly expressing their feelings. I can’t really say what that is without giving away too much. I will say that when the truth does come out, the fight and the desire to hold onto what they have is amazing. It’s more on one side than the other. The other side is more worried about getting the other one in some major trouble.
This book also shows the struggle that women face in STEM. Despite Meg being brilliant at what she does, she is not respected and valued the same as her male counterparts. She has to hide her appearance, because she will be judged on being pretty. She has to work twice as hard to prove herself. What she does is not seen as value, unless she has a man on the paper. People want to say that all of this is not true. Even if you are not in STEM, take a look around. Women do have to work twice as hard at the same job as a man in order to prove that they have the same value. Women always have to prove themselves in ways that men do not.
Overall, I did enjoy this book. I think if you like Ali Hazelwood, I think you will enjoy this one.
This book comes out on January 1, 2024.
Youtube: https://youtu.be/v97RapLvnjs
January 8, 2024
I received this book for free, this does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review
Suddenly we really saw each other, and it surprised us both.
Meg has lived hidden away for the last fifteen years at her grandmother's home, showing up at twenty-three when a panic attack finally chased her away from a professorship. In the beginning, genius Dr. Meg Brightwood worked to solve a centuries old mathematical proof, nicknamed “The Impossible Theorem” but the last few years have been caregiver to her grandmother. When her grandmother dies, Meg finds her safe, secure world starting to come apart. Her father, who never stopped pressuring her growing up, and uncle want her out of the house, but a will gives her two years in the home. It all becomes moot though, when Meg actually solves the proof and the boy she loved comes back into her life.
I wasn't a scared little girl anymore. I was a scared grown woman---which is different.
This was a contemporary fiction, lit fic, and romance story that I hope gets put on a lot of people's radar. Told all from Meg's point-of-view, I could feel her choking and helplessness during her panic attacks, they don't get magically solved at the end and still suffers from them but her character growth from the first page to the last allows her to become better equipped to handle them. Even though this was mainly Meg's story, Isaac, the troubled youth boy that used to do handy work around the grandmother's house, got a full character story. His troubled childhood of having a bi-polar mother, take her anger out on him grandmother, and older sister that tried to raise him but ran into her own problems with drugs, not so oddly gave him common ground and understanding with Meg, the come from money mathematical genius with a father who didn't let her have a childhood and jealous of the attention older sister. There were a couple flashbacks to when she was twenty-three and he nineteen, learning each other and talking to give the reader some foundation for why they're drawn to each other when they meet back up again fifteen years later but most of the meat of their togetherness is in the present, with open-door scenes.
One thing I knew---we both needed contact, each the anchor to the other's faltering ship.
This had a little bit of a slower start but if you're a frequent lit fic reader, it wouldn't faze you, there were a few times where the writing went to lit prose and therefore felt a bit overwritten to me but the emotions are there, making this a story that hits you. The second half didn't have the pacing issue of the first and Meg must deal with her father trying to steal her work and helping Isaac deal with a huge issue hanging over his head, all while they both try to navigate their love for each other; I'm not good enough for you, I'll ruin/be a pain in your life, etc. A cousin of Meg's and Isaac's older sister were fantastic secondary character additions, each bringing out a part of Meg and Isaac's character. There's not a lot of “math” talk, think a watered down movie Queen's Gambit but sexism, misogyny in the mathematical world, academia, is discussed and how Meg was affected by it for some of that world setting. This wasn't light or fluffy but will have your mired in the emotions, wanting Meg to stand up for herself and Isaac to allow her to fight for him.
Suddenly we really saw each other, and it surprised us both.
Meg has lived hidden away for the last fifteen years at her grandmother's home, showing up at twenty-three when a panic attack finally chased her away from a professorship. In the beginning, genius Dr. Meg Brightwood worked to solve a centuries old mathematical proof, nicknamed “The Impossible Theorem” but the last few years have been caregiver to her grandmother. When her grandmother dies, Meg finds her safe, secure world starting to come apart. Her father, who never stopped pressuring her growing up, and uncle want her out of the house, but a will gives her two years in the home. It all becomes moot though, when Meg actually solves the proof and the boy she loved comes back into her life.
I wasn't a scared little girl anymore. I was a scared grown woman---which is different.
This was a contemporary fiction, lit fic, and romance story that I hope gets put on a lot of people's radar. Told all from Meg's point-of-view, I could feel her choking and helplessness during her panic attacks, they don't get magically solved at the end and still suffers from them but her character growth from the first page to the last allows her to become better equipped to handle them. Even though this was mainly Meg's story, Isaac, the troubled youth boy that used to do handy work around the grandmother's house, got a full character story. His troubled childhood of having a bi-polar mother, take her anger out on him grandmother, and older sister that tried to raise him but ran into her own problems with drugs, not so oddly gave him common ground and understanding with Meg, the come from money mathematical genius with a father who didn't let her have a childhood and jealous of the attention older sister. There were a couple flashbacks to when she was twenty-three and he nineteen, learning each other and talking to give the reader some foundation for why they're drawn to each other when they meet back up again fifteen years later but most of the meat of their togetherness is in the present, with open-door scenes.
One thing I knew---we both needed contact, each the anchor to the other's faltering ship.
This had a little bit of a slower start but if you're a frequent lit fic reader, it wouldn't faze you, there were a few times where the writing went to lit prose and therefore felt a bit overwritten to me but the emotions are there, making this a story that hits you. The second half didn't have the pacing issue of the first and Meg must deal with her father trying to steal her work and helping Isaac deal with a huge issue hanging over his head, all while they both try to navigate their love for each other; I'm not good enough for you, I'll ruin/be a pain in your life, etc. A cousin of Meg's and Isaac's older sister were fantastic secondary character additions, each bringing out a part of Meg and Isaac's character. There's not a lot of “math” talk, think a watered down movie Queen's Gambit but sexism, misogyny in the mathematical world, academia, is discussed and how Meg was affected by it for some of that world setting. This wasn't light or fluffy but will have your mired in the emotions, wanting Meg to stand up for herself and Isaac to allow her to fight for him.
January 10, 2024
Strong, Layered Romance With Atypical Lead. Up front, I'm a guy that got a degree in a mathematics related field (Computer Science) and because of the quirks of the way I attended college (also, as our lead here, at 16yo,fwiw) I came within just a couple of semesters of getting two other separate mathematics related degrees at the same time. Like our lead, I too had a flash of utter brilliance at that young age (well, in my case I was 20 yrs old) that is now, 20 yrs later, seemingly being realized in the real world. (Damn I wish I had applied for a patent, but I thought nothing of it other than as a paper for a Bachelor's Degree level class - even if Senior Year.) And yes, like our lead, I've also known close friends of that era later struggle with various legal issues. So maybe the book worked so well for me *because* I am in a rare position of having a similar enough background to *really* feel it. Perhaps. But I also think these issues and situations are still prevalent enough and general enough that even if you've never been in or near situations with these exact particulars, you've been in or around similar *general* situations (strains on parental relationships, lonely, questioning yourself even as a 30+ yr old adult who is "supposed" to "know what you're doing" by now, etc).
And that is what makes this book particularly great. Yes, it is messy. Yes, it can be convoluted at times. Yes, it may or may not feel particularly "swoon worthy" romantic at times. Hell, there are times when it feels like our lead exists for little more than sex. (That is rare, btw, but yes, "clean"/ "sweet" crowd... you've now been warned that this may be a bit racy for your tastes.) But all of this, to me, makes it feel all the more "real". Because let's face it, our lives rarely feel any of those things all the time (thank God, really).
And while some may scream at me "But I don't read romance to feel REAL!!!!! I *WANT THE FANTASY DAMMIT!!!!*", my argument here is that because this *is* more real, *knowing* that this book fulfills all romance requirements I am presently aware of means that despite the realism, *you still get the fantasy as well*. You still get that happy ending - at least one that works for this couple in this story in this world. You still get that "awww" and that catharsis that everything works out in the end, no matter how shitty and messy it gets in between.
And to me, that makes the story *stronger*. *Because* it was more real and more heartfelt.
This was my first book from this author. It very likely will not be the last.
Very much recommended.
This review also appears on BookAnon.com.
And that is what makes this book particularly great. Yes, it is messy. Yes, it can be convoluted at times. Yes, it may or may not feel particularly "swoon worthy" romantic at times. Hell, there are times when it feels like our lead exists for little more than sex. (That is rare, btw, but yes, "clean"/ "sweet" crowd... you've now been warned that this may be a bit racy for your tastes.) But all of this, to me, makes it feel all the more "real". Because let's face it, our lives rarely feel any of those things all the time (thank God, really).
And while some may scream at me "But I don't read romance to feel REAL!!!!! I *WANT THE FANTASY DAMMIT!!!!*", my argument here is that because this *is* more real, *knowing* that this book fulfills all romance requirements I am presently aware of means that despite the realism, *you still get the fantasy as well*. You still get that happy ending - at least one that works for this couple in this story in this world. You still get that "awww" and that catharsis that everything works out in the end, no matter how shitty and messy it gets in between.
And to me, that makes the story *stronger*. *Because* it was more real and more heartfelt.
This was my first book from this author. It very likely will not be the last.
Very much recommended.
This review also appears on BookAnon.com.
June 19, 2024
I chose this book for the math, and the logical way of thinking, and yes, that part was good.
I also enjoyed the theme of how the main character came to terms with her childhood, being pushed to excel as a mathematician, and resisting her overbearing father and his intellectual theft.
Oddly enough, I have had another engineer steal my work once. I ended up putting my name on everything, and then, once when he went to give a presentation, there was still my name on the slides. I thought it was funny. The important people at my company knew who'd really done the work. Others thought we were just bickering "like children." I felt like he looked like an idiot presenting something with my name on it.
The descriptions of Meg's social anxiety were compelling. It's sad that she could do such amazing math, but then felt compelled to hide, and it was interesting to see her coming to terms with it, and working through that.
I did like the healing power of Isaac's affections and companionship on her.
Her relationship postulates were funny, and how she revised them, but I can also identify with using technical forms of thought for non-technical subjects.
The story about her quest for Frieholdt's Conjecture also made me think of my own dad's quest for Fermat's Last Theorem.
I thought this would be a murder mystery, but it was more of a romance, which I am less likely to read and enjoy. We are told who did what up front and why.
I almost did not finish this book (a DNR) partly because of all the cussing. I usually don't mind a little, or hardly even notice it, but this was excessive. The people just liked to swear, even when they had no reason. I know that some real people do talk like that. It doesn't mean I want to read it.
Also, this was not as clean of a romance as I generally read on the rare occasion that I read a romance novel.
I ended up just skimming the rest of the book to find out what happened with the overbearing dad and the murder accusation.
I suppose it rates a little higher than a true DNR (1-star) because I did skim through the rest of it to see what happened. Also, portions of it were well told, both the math and the description. So, 2-stars it is then.
I also enjoyed the theme of how the main character came to terms with her childhood, being pushed to excel as a mathematician, and resisting her overbearing father and his intellectual theft.
Oddly enough, I have had another engineer steal my work once. I ended up putting my name on everything, and then, once when he went to give a presentation, there was still my name on the slides. I thought it was funny. The important people at my company knew who'd really done the work. Others thought we were just bickering "like children." I felt like he looked like an idiot presenting something with my name on it.
The descriptions of Meg's social anxiety were compelling. It's sad that she could do such amazing math, but then felt compelled to hide, and it was interesting to see her coming to terms with it, and working through that.
I did like the healing power of Isaac's affections and companionship on her.
Her relationship postulates were funny, and how she revised them, but I can also identify with using technical forms of thought for non-technical subjects.
The story about her quest for Frieholdt's Conjecture also made me think of my own dad's quest for Fermat's Last Theorem.
I thought this would be a murder mystery, but it was more of a romance, which I am less likely to read and enjoy. We are told who did what up front and why.
I almost did not finish this book (a DNR) partly because of all the cussing. I usually don't mind a little, or hardly even notice it, but this was excessive. The people just liked to swear, even when they had no reason. I know that some real people do talk like that. It doesn't mean I want to read it.
Also, this was not as clean of a romance as I generally read on the rare occasion that I read a romance novel.
I ended up just skimming the rest of the book to find out what happened with the overbearing dad and the murder accusation.
I suppose it rates a little higher than a true DNR (1-star) because I did skim through the rest of it to see what happened. Also, portions of it were well told, both the math and the description. So, 2-stars it is then.
January 13, 2024
Math prodigy Dr. Meg Brightwood solved the Impossible Theorem. She's been a recluse and plagued with anxiety for years and was dismissed by academia. The field is sexist and often full of plagiarism, so Meg plans to publicly prove that she solved it. When a panic attack derails her plans, she locks away her proof. Carpenter Isaac Wells is on the run and once was the love of Meg’s life. While they reconnect, Meg's answer to the Impossible Theorem is missing. Proving her authorship will test her as well as the burgeoning relationship.
Meg spent fifteen years with her grandmother due to her anxiety and panic attacks, caregiving as her grandmother's health worsened. Her father and sister didn't help, and neither have sympathy for Meg's panic attacks or living situation and want her out of the house to sell the property to developers. Her theorem has the potential to make turbulence predictable, lowering the costs of fuel for flights and shipping, making her proof incredibly valuable. Her father cares more about looking good and having Meg's brilliant mind reflect on him and was too eager to help her after the panic attack kept her from presenting her work. I found him incredibly arrogant and hateful, which immediately gave all of my sympathy to Meg. He's a terrible father and a horrible person, and the rest of Meg’s family makes excuses for his behavior. Isaac's life hasn't gone in a good direction either, and she is incredibly forgiving and kind to him.
Meg and Isaac don't have a fairytale meet cute, and it sets the stage for their romance. They are hurt emotionally by those they care about, and believe themselves unworthy of love. Their connection is one of self-growth as much as becoming a couple, and I really enjoyed seeing that part of it. As Meg says, she doesn't deal with her fears just for his sake, but because she must do it for herself as well. I was just as invested in her confrontations, my heart pounding as if it were a thriller that I was reading. The romance had a happily ever after, but I'm just as proud of them for the individual emotional growth.
Meg spent fifteen years with her grandmother due to her anxiety and panic attacks, caregiving as her grandmother's health worsened. Her father and sister didn't help, and neither have sympathy for Meg's panic attacks or living situation and want her out of the house to sell the property to developers. Her theorem has the potential to make turbulence predictable, lowering the costs of fuel for flights and shipping, making her proof incredibly valuable. Her father cares more about looking good and having Meg's brilliant mind reflect on him and was too eager to help her after the panic attack kept her from presenting her work. I found him incredibly arrogant and hateful, which immediately gave all of my sympathy to Meg. He's a terrible father and a horrible person, and the rest of Meg’s family makes excuses for his behavior. Isaac's life hasn't gone in a good direction either, and she is incredibly forgiving and kind to him.
Meg and Isaac don't have a fairytale meet cute, and it sets the stage for their romance. They are hurt emotionally by those they care about, and believe themselves unworthy of love. Their connection is one of self-growth as much as becoming a couple, and I really enjoyed seeing that part of it. As Meg says, she doesn't deal with her fears just for his sake, but because she must do it for herself as well. I was just as invested in her confrontations, my heart pounding as if it were a thriller that I was reading. The romance had a happily ever after, but I'm just as proud of them for the individual emotional growth.
August 13, 2025
My library had this available on kindle and I went for it without reading the blurb because it's about a woman in STEM.
Totally unexpected. The fuchsia cover is really not the vibe, nor the red lips. Dr. Brightwood specifically applies lip color that is the same color as her lips. I wish we could have had a cover that was Meg's tower room with the giant chalkboard wall and handmade chalk tray and the door to the balcony and the rug, and Meg wearing gray, writing in a notebook. And freckles.
Sara Read has given us two characters in Meg and Isaac that are living extremes: a child prodigy mathematical genius and a wanted man. (Or, head case and a fuck-up, as they deem themselves.) It's all very highly unlikely, and oh so very relatable. Because that's what fiction can do. I don't have panic attacks like Meg, but gosh, they were so real to me, so viscerally described. I was immediately drawn in by these characters and their struggles. Isn't it heartbreaking how much we doubt how lovable we are?
And the writing was so good that I almost didn't notice it. Which is exactly what I want. I want to be swept into the story, not cringing at clunky writing or rolling my eyes at cliches. I loved the creaking old mansion and the little cabin in the meadow. I loved the characters I was meant to love and wanted to growl at the ones I was meant to growl at.
I do have some questions. Quibbles. Where did the original notebook end up? Are we to assume Ann received a copy? She said she had it. Henry must have needed it to make his presentation, but it's never mentioned. It's all in Meg's handwriting, which doesn't prove anything, I know, but still.
Right book at the right time for me. Loved it. Love the author's disclaimer about math in the acknowledgments too.
"As much as mathematicians love the concrete certainty of logic, we understand the power of ambiguity--those places that seem uncertain, even dangerous, where what is known, or believed to be known, falls into a healthy, fertile doubt" (285).
Wouldn't it be great if humans were better at doubting what we believe we know?
Totally unexpected. The fuchsia cover is really not the vibe, nor the red lips. Dr. Brightwood specifically applies lip color that is the same color as her lips. I wish we could have had a cover that was Meg's tower room with the giant chalkboard wall and handmade chalk tray and the door to the balcony and the rug, and Meg wearing gray, writing in a notebook. And freckles.
Sara Read has given us two characters in Meg and Isaac that are living extremes: a child prodigy mathematical genius and a wanted man. (Or, head case and a fuck-up, as they deem themselves.) It's all very highly unlikely, and oh so very relatable. Because that's what fiction can do. I don't have panic attacks like Meg, but gosh, they were so real to me, so viscerally described. I was immediately drawn in by these characters and their struggles. Isn't it heartbreaking how much we doubt how lovable we are?
And the writing was so good that I almost didn't notice it. Which is exactly what I want. I want to be swept into the story, not cringing at clunky writing or rolling my eyes at cliches. I loved the creaking old mansion and the little cabin in the meadow. I loved the characters I was meant to love and wanted to growl at the ones I was meant to growl at.
I do have some questions. Quibbles. Where did the original notebook end up? Are we to assume Ann received a copy? She said she had it. Henry must have needed it to make his presentation, but it's never mentioned. It's all in Meg's handwriting, which doesn't prove anything, I know, but still.
Right book at the right time for me. Loved it. Love the author's disclaimer about math in the acknowledgments too.
"As much as mathematicians love the concrete certainty of logic, we understand the power of ambiguity--those places that seem uncertain, even dangerous, where what is known, or believed to be known, falls into a healthy, fertile doubt" (285).
Wouldn't it be great if humans were better at doubting what we believe we know?
January 6, 2024
Thank you to Netgalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and Graydon House for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Dr. Meg Brightwood is a mathematical genius who has struggled to be recognized and respected in her field. More than a decade ago she left her life in academia when her anxiety reached levels she could not handle. She went to live with her grandmother who took her in, and she spent the next 15 years working on a proof for an impossible theorem. On the day of her grandmother's funeral, she finally finishes the proof.
This is where the real trouble begins, her narcissistic father begins to circle her, to piggyback onto her success. She has a panic attack trying to present her work, which leads her to lock it away until she is ready to try again, but it is stolen in the meantime. She finds an ally in Isaac, a boy she knew when she was 15, she has loved him since, and now he is back in her life but he has demons and baggage of his own. Together they will overcome everything they have been trying to outrun, finally feel the love they have both craved.
To call and market this as a romance does it a disservice. Although it has all the elements of a romance, the focus is not on the relationship between the characters, but on growing and accepting oneself. There is a lot of trauma, baggage, and bleak moments. The characters did not grow and nurture a relationship, they just picked up their feelings from when they knew each other when they were young. The writing was not the most accessible in my opinion, it felt like it was trying hard to be flowery but did not succeed. Also there truly were not enough lighter moments to balance of the heaviness. I felt compelled to DNF this book multiple times but I pushed through, and it had enough to keep me in the story, but they payoff at the end was not exactly worth it.
Dr. Meg Brightwood is a mathematical genius who has struggled to be recognized and respected in her field. More than a decade ago she left her life in academia when her anxiety reached levels she could not handle. She went to live with her grandmother who took her in, and she spent the next 15 years working on a proof for an impossible theorem. On the day of her grandmother's funeral, she finally finishes the proof.
This is where the real trouble begins, her narcissistic father begins to circle her, to piggyback onto her success. She has a panic attack trying to present her work, which leads her to lock it away until she is ready to try again, but it is stolen in the meantime. She finds an ally in Isaac, a boy she knew when she was 15, she has loved him since, and now he is back in her life but he has demons and baggage of his own. Together they will overcome everything they have been trying to outrun, finally feel the love they have both craved.
To call and market this as a romance does it a disservice. Although it has all the elements of a romance, the focus is not on the relationship between the characters, but on growing and accepting oneself. There is a lot of trauma, baggage, and bleak moments. The characters did not grow and nurture a relationship, they just picked up their feelings from when they knew each other when they were young. The writing was not the most accessible in my opinion, it felt like it was trying hard to be flowery but did not succeed. Also there truly were not enough lighter moments to balance of the heaviness. I felt compelled to DNF this book multiple times but I pushed through, and it had enough to keep me in the story, but they payoff at the end was not exactly worth it.
January 10, 2024
Principles of Emotion-a standalone
by Sara Read-new author for me
Page Count: 304
Rating: 4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Publication 1-9-24, read 1-8-24
Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing/Graydon House for this ARC💖! I voluntarily give my honest review and all opinions expressed are my own.
✔️ Adult Fic
✔️ STEMinist h
✔️opposites attract
✔️ 2nd chance romance
Summary-Dr. Margaret "Meg" Brightwood suffers from anxiety and panic attacks that have kept her secluded for years. She's a mathematical prodigy with a wealthy father who is a mathematician as well. She has been working on Frieholdt's Conjecture AKA The Impossible Theorem. It's a mathematical problem widely regarded as unsolvable until now. She has to fight sexism and plagiarism while her own father tries to take credit for her work. While locked away at her grandmother's house, she sees carpenter Isaac Wells-a boy she befriended when she was fifteen. Together they reconnect, face their demons, and fall in love.
The characters- I loved Lila and Lizzie who saw Meg without the math and still loved her. Henry's love was always based on her accomplishments. I was very familiar with the physical and mental effects Meg had when she was anxious. I also spent a lot of time as a hermit with literature instead of math to keep me company. The romance between Isaac and Meg was a subplot. Meg spent most of her time dealing with her mental health when she wasn't working. I liked that Isaac was wanted and hid out with Meg for a time. They got to know each other, and Isaac helped Meg's self confidence
Overall, I liked this contemporary, adult, fiction with a romance. It had a few slow parts (mainly the beginning), but Meg's determination and Isaac's need for justice kept me rooting for them
by Sara Read-new author for me
Page Count: 304
Rating: 4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Publication 1-9-24, read 1-8-24
Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing/Graydon House for this ARC💖! I voluntarily give my honest review and all opinions expressed are my own.
✔️ Adult Fic
✔️ STEMinist h
✔️opposites attract
✔️ 2nd chance romance
Summary-Dr. Margaret "Meg" Brightwood suffers from anxiety and panic attacks that have kept her secluded for years. She's a mathematical prodigy with a wealthy father who is a mathematician as well. She has been working on Frieholdt's Conjecture AKA The Impossible Theorem. It's a mathematical problem widely regarded as unsolvable until now. She has to fight sexism and plagiarism while her own father tries to take credit for her work. While locked away at her grandmother's house, she sees carpenter Isaac Wells-a boy she befriended when she was fifteen. Together they reconnect, face their demons, and fall in love.
The characters- I loved Lila and Lizzie who saw Meg without the math and still loved her. Henry's love was always based on her accomplishments. I was very familiar with the physical and mental effects Meg had when she was anxious. I also spent a lot of time as a hermit with literature instead of math to keep me company. The romance between Isaac and Meg was a subplot. Meg spent most of her time dealing with her mental health when she wasn't working. I liked that Isaac was wanted and hid out with Meg for a time. They got to know each other, and Isaac helped Meg's self confidence
Overall, I liked this contemporary, adult, fiction with a romance. It had a few slow parts (mainly the beginning), but Meg's determination and Isaac's need for justice kept me rooting for them
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