Three single accountants. A Romance Risk Assessment Club. One romantic comedy... or a corporate catastrophe?
Meet Joan, Riley, and Ally--three fierce accountants determined to tackle the corporate jungle and their love lives with equal gusto!
Fed up with spreadsheets and being single, they hatch a brilliant plan: the Romance Risk Assessment Club! Armed with data and sass, they transform Joan's quest for love into a hysterical experiment. But when Joan's blind date turns out to be none other than the new boss, their office antics reach new heights of hilarity!
Amidst the chaos of late nights and blind dates, these ladies prove that friendship is the best formula for survival. With their humor as sharp as their pencil skirts, they navigate the ups and downs of workplace romance with style and sarcasm.
Can they balance boardroom drama with matters of the heart, or will their spreadsheet shenanigans lead to a corporate catastrophe?
As someone who gets nosebleeds when I see numbers, especially when they’re on spreadsheets, I didn’t know what to expect from this book. I thought I’d be reading a romance with formulas and whatnots that’re going to rattle my brain. But, Joline’s Love by the Numbers is that warm hug you wanted at the end of a long day, peppered with sass you might expect from a bestie, and a healthy dose of kilig moments. Joan, Riley, and Ally are your dream girl besties. And, Christian? Well, he might not have been the perfect blind date but he’s definitely the book boyfriend you’d want. Not only does he own a cafe, he also buys books he thinks you’ll love…I mean, erm…that Joan will love. (How did this girl get so lucky?)
Anyway, you’d want to devour this romcom if you love Filipino cuisine and a feel-good read. You’d love the friendship, the light banter, and the yummy…I mean, highly intelligent and capable book boyfriend in Christian.
Love By The Numbers is a romcom that checks all the boxes—and then some. It’s funny, quirky, and written with the kind of wit and heart that makes you laugh or chuckle with nearly every page. From the very first chapter, it’s clear this story was crafted by someone who understands the delicate balance between comedy and romance. The humor never feels forced, the banter sparkles--no, SHINES!!!- and the emotional beats land exactly where they should.
The characters are instantly lovable—endearing in their flaws, memorable in their quirks, and refreshingly real in the way they navigate love, life, and all the messy moments in between. The chemistry leaps off the page, and the dialogue? Both cute and punchy, with a rhythm that keeps you flipping pages just to hear what they’ll say next.
What really makes Love By The Numbers stand out is how effortlessly it blends lighthearted charm with genuine emotion. There’s an undeniable warmth to the storytelling, made even better by perfectly placed pop culture references that never feel gimmicky—they feel like inside jokes you’re lucky to be in on. The prose is smooth and vibrant, light yet meaningful, with just enough sparkle to make the whole thing feel cinematic.
I had so much fun reading this book—laughing out loud one minute, grinning the next, and rooting hard for the characters from start to finish. It’s the kind of story that reminds you why we love romcoms in the first place: for the joy, the tension, the unexpected tenderness, and the swoon-worthy moments that stay with you long after the final page.
If you’re looking for a feel-good romantic comedy that’s smart, sweet, and endlessly entertaining, this one’s an absolute must-read.
PS: Don't let the title fool you. I was afraid I'd run into accounting math because I failed accounting 2x during my days in university. Thankfully, the only numbers I feel compelled to give at this point is a rating. 5/5 stars!
Joan, Riley and Ally are best friends who worked in a company and all of them are single. Riley proposed an idea to create the Romance Risk Assessment Club, where they gather data, create spreadsheet and interpret statistics. Joan’s the first to go and when her blind date, turned out to be her boss, chaos ensued.
I am not a finance girlie but I can relate to these girls as a corporate slave. Joan’s independent and an overthinker, and capable in working with numbers. REAL lol! Every girls are different and yet I can relate to them all the same. I love their dynamic and I love seeing the girls’ friendship. It’s so genuine and authentic.
Joan and Christian’s relationship was so sweet. Their first meeting/blind date went wrong but it’s insane that we can feel their chemistry. As the story progressed, we saw that there’s more in Joan and Christian. I love their banter, their dynamic and the tension was top-tier.
Where can I find my own Christian? The one who buys books because he thought Joan might like it. Please, Lord me when? lol.
This author’s range in books are so wide and vast, I’m proud of her!
If you love The Bold Type, you will love this book.
Overall, I love this book with my heart and I can’t wait for the next one!
This book is an absolute gem of a romcom that I devoured in one sitting. It’s heart-fluttering, laugh-out-loud funny, and brimming with charm from start to finish. If you're looking for a feel-good story that feels like a warm hug (with a side of kilig!), this is the book for you.
The story follows Joan, a relatable and quietly strong woman just trying to figure things out, and Christian, the kind of guy who reminds you that sweet, thoughtful men still exist. He’s gentle, genuine, and just impossible not to fall for. Their relationship unfolds in the softest, most heart-fluttering way like a slow-burn romance that sneaks up on you. Watching them grow closer felt like being pulled into a comfort movie you never want to en. Filled with meaningful glances, subtle kilig, and so much warmth.
Here's some of the things that made me love this book even more: • Each chapter starts with a Taylor Swift lyric. A creative, emotional touch that had my Swiftie heart screaming!! • I also loved the mention of Filipino food throughout the book it added such a warm, relatable touch. But fair warning: do not read this before bed unless you’re ready to go to sleep hungry, haha! • There’s a charming Disney-inspired detail with Christian’s nieces being named Ana and Elsa. It was such a cute touch that made me smile! • The story introduces a cozy café that encourages a digital detox, which sounds like a dream spot I wish existed in real life (or maybe it does and I just don’t know where? 🤔). • Christian buying books for Joan? Be still, my heart. That gesture alone made me fall for him 🥰. • And let’s not forget Joan’s amazing best friends, Ally and Riley, who were always there to support her. Their friendship added so much heart and humor to the story.
This book gave me all the feels, light, fluffy, kilig-filled, and just the right amount of emotional depth. I already cannot wait to read Riley’s story next!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
If you’re in need of: - a light read - a romcom book - a nearly enemies to lovers trope - main characters that are work colleagues - and a male main character that is a Potterhead, his favorite book is POA, and his favorite character is Sirius Black aka a perfect MMC THIS IS EXACTLY THE BOOK THAT YOU’RE LOOKING FOR.
Love by the Numbers was such a cute and a fun read! It’s fast paced and absolutely very easy to get into. Aside from the fact that it’s based in the Philippines (because the author is a Filipino), most of our culture (especially the food) were represented and I really love it when it happens every time I read a book. Reading this was a delight, and I love the petty exchanges of banter between Joan and Christian. I don’t know what got me into reading this trope but lately, I found myself wanting to read more. 😅
This is also a short read (for me) and that was my own personal downside because I wanted more. I prefer a slow burn with extra long chapters when it comes to an enemies-to-lovers trope, but this did fine! I guess this was really meant for a short read and looking back, maybe they really weren’t meant to be “enemies” at all. This was more like a “palate-cleanser” and it did turn out well.
Also, might I add, I picture Christian as Wonwoo from Seventeen. HEHEHEHEHE 🥰
I’m so glad and so grateful for Joline for sending me a copy of her book! Love you always, Jo! I’ll always be supportive of you and your works. 🫶🏼
“Love by the Numbers”, available on Kindle Unlimited! Get yourself a copy now! #supportlocal
This book was like a cozy cup of coffee on a quiet afternoon—warm and comforting, with just the right amount of sweetness. Joline Lim does a great job of blending numbers and emotions. I loved how this story had a flow that was easy to fall into, and I honestly found myself wishing I could be part of Joan, Riley, and Ally’s girl group!
They’re not your typical rom-com leads—they’re accountants, and their whole "Romance Risk Assessment Club" idea was just so quirky and fun. I really enjoyed watching them try to tackle love the way they would a balance sheet—because, let’s face it, sometimes you just need a little order in all that chaos. The hilarious twist with Joan’s blind date being her boss really added to the office drama, and I was totally hooked on how they juggled it all. The dialogs between these characters especially the humour and banter was perfectly written.
There’s so much to love about this novel! It brought back memories of all my favorite rom-coms. We definitely need more Christians in the world—he’s such a catch! The supporting characters add a lot of fun to the story as well.
I also loved the mentions of authentic Filipino cuisine. They brought back some mouth-watering memories and added a nice cultural touch.
If you’re looking for a light-hearted, funny read with a lot of heart. This one’s definitely a win!
Big thanks to author Joline Lim for the ARC! Can’t wait to dive back into the RRAC world! 😍✨
Love by the Numbers was such a delightful surprise. Going into it, I expected a romance filled with formulas and spreadsheets that might make my head spin. Instead, what I found was a story that felt like a warm embrace—comforting, witty, and full of kilig.
Joan, Riley, and Ally were the kind of best friends every girl dreams of having: supportive, sassy, and endlessly fun. Their dynamic made the story even more enjoyable and grounded the romance in a sense of community and love. And then there’s Christian—who may not have been the perfect blind date, but quickly proved himself to be the perfect book boyfriend. A café owner who also buys books he thinks you’ll love? Swoon-worthy hardly even begins to cover it.
What makes this book stand out is how it balances humor, heart, and romance so effortlessly. The banter between the characters sparkled, the cultural and food references added so much flavor, and the romance unfolded with just the right mix of sweetness and swoon. It’s the kind of romcom that makes you laugh, smile, and believe in love all over again.
Love by the Numbers checks all the boxes for a feel-good, heartwarming read—and then some. 💖
If you're going to ask me why I rated this 5 stars, I wouldn't even bother telling you how this made me feel all the kilig out of the character's chemistry.
This is just a very normal romcom story but I guess after reading a number of that genre, I can say that this captured my heart the most. Christian and Joan's banter just made me giggle a lot. My husband even asked me what was I reading because of my reaction all throughout. Haha. Sobrang dali ko lang talaga sigurong madala when it comes to a good book.
I love that this does not have much spice (unlike the others) since I am not really a fan of it. I just enjoyed a very innocent, kilig-filled romcom book that made me chuckle so much.
Just to add Riley and Ally's characters made me look forward to a very mature and understanding type of friendship. I just hope that they would find their own partners soon. Hihi.
The ending's predictable but I enjoyed it. Simple yet moving and light.
ARC Review: 5🌟 It has everything you need for a quick romcom read. I love everything about this book! Christian and Joan nailed the banters. Their back and forth is literally funny, nothing beats good sarcasm. 😂🧑🍳 *chef’s kiss* Great introduction for the side characters as a setup for their upcoming stories as well (we even get a bonus sneak peek of the second installment 🤭). The trio (Joan Riley and Ally) is chaos wrapped in pure fun, fluff, and misadventure. Can’t wait for the rest of the books!
PS: Reading this will make you crave for Filipino food!!
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3 books with 3 different genres in one year - the author’s growth in writing has been nothing short of amazing!! As always, rooting for you miss maam.
This book was like eating your "Pork Humba" on a long weekend (since it features Filipino food); it's comforting and hearty, making readers truly enjoy it page by page. The idea of marrying romantic comedy and financial concepts in a novel is one-of-a-kind and offers exciting perspectives for those who want to explore the lives of people working in the financial/corporate world. The funny yet sarcastic banter between the two main characters, Joan and Christian, tickled my funny bone throughout. Joan's best friends, Riley and Ally, added even more depth to the overall comedic love story. If I had to choose a novel to enter the world of books I've read, I would definitely pick this one. Overall, this book is like that friend who lights up a room—very exciting and entertaining!