The Uncontrolled Variables

by Jana E Foster

Every cure has a cost.

The question is simply whether it is worth the risk.

Emerging medical researcher Amara Ferguson prefers the precision of science over the messiness of people. Especially since her high school sweetheart dumped her without explanation. Science makes sense. People don't.

Her summer job at a prestigious research institute seems perfect: it's a step closer to becoming a renowned scientist and a distraction from her broken heart. And when she meets Robert, a charming PhD student, she gradually stops feeling miserable at all.

But as Amara's feelings for Robert begin to intensify, she discovers that he is keeping secrets. Dark truths about his involvement in medical research and the sacrifices made for the so-called greater good. Caught in the tangled lines of right and wrong, it is far too late by the time Amara realises:

Some cures are more dangerous than the diseases they’re meant to treat.

401 pages, Paperback

Published February 8, 2025

Reviews

[Kristina · Rating 3 out of 5]

It had me until the end

I don’t know how to rate this. It was a decent medical thriller, with a bit of a slow start but once it got going the premise was truly interesting and gripping, until the ending. It was abrupt and unsatisfying and didn’t fit with the dark features of the mystery. If I could rewrite the last four chapters I think this would be four stars but as it is? I dunno. I will give it a three for now because I feel very blah about it.
If this is a series or part one of two it would make more sense but I didn’t get the sense that there is more to the story. I need an epilogue or something because wtf?

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley, my opinions are my own.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

*thank you net-galley for an arc in return of an honest review*

WOW. I don’t think I’ve flown through a book quite as quickly as I have this one in so long. I started this 3 and a half hours ago!!!!!! It was fast paced, i got engaged with the characters, i got engaged with the story and there’s so many moments that gave me a little giggle. Publishes on the 18th of Feb, I’ll be waiting to get my trophy copy!!!!!

[Keri · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this book was great. When I first read the description of the book, I was expecting more of a serious medical thriller, but there were many moments of lightheartedness mixed in with the serious. It also made you think of the ethical situation involved with rolling the dice on potentially life saving medications and the risks that come with pushing medications quickly to human subjects. It’s amazing this is the authors first novel and I am very excited to see future books that the author puts out.

I received a free advanced copy of this novel and I am voluntarily leaving a review

[Diane Elizabeth Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

When heartbroken Amira meets Robert at her new place of work, things are finally looking positive for her. But are they? Amira is soon part of a huge web of promises made and broken, all in the quest to save lives and make the world a better place.
I loved the premise of this book and it has been meticulously researched. I quickly grew to really like Amira and to sympathise with her over her dysfunctional family. Her one constant was her lovely best friend Colleen.
Jana Foster's fabulous writing set the scene really well. All the characters had depth and the story was incredibly interesting. Thank you to BookSirens for the opportunity to read this book as an ARC. My review is honest and voluntary.
I haven't given this the full 5 stars as I felt the book didn't really start to move on and gain momentum until half way through and the ending was disappointing. After all that had happened, it felt rushed and incomplete.
However, this is still a fantastic book that will keep you turning those pages so I'd definitely recommend it.

[Elizabeth Cortinas · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all, thank you NetGalley and Jana Foster for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own!

Summary:
Emerging medical researcher Amara Ferguson prefers the precision of science over the messiness of people-especially since her high school sweetheart dumped her without explanation. Science makes sense. People don't.

Her summer job at a prestigious research institute seems perfect: it's a step closer to becoming a renowned scientist and a distraction from her broken heart. And when she meets Robert, a charming PhD student, she gradually stops feeling miserable altogether.

But as Amara's feelings for Robert begin to intensify, she discovers he is keeping secrets-dark truths about his involvement in medical research and the sacrifices made for the so-called greater good. Caught in the tangled lines of right and wrong, it's far too late by the time Amara realizes:

Some cures are more dangerous than the diseases they're meant to treat.

Review & opinions:

The beginning of the book kinda dragged and was confusing. But I loved Amara and Jamie’s relationship. What would you do if you could get the chance to help more people with treatments without waiting years for medications to be approved for individuals. As a nurse, I understand why Amara would join this dark-web medical research. As a nurse, I understand the unethical reasons. And as a nurse, I understand why it is so hard to destroy something that’s so unethical, but gains knowledge and money.

This was a good book. The ending definitely got to me and there is a TW of sexual abuse, fyi. So, avoid if SA is triggering for you. Overall, I give the book 4 ⭐️ and it does have some spicy scenes (nothing crazy). I would recommend this book to someone who likes medical thrillers with romance! 💘

[Adrianna Heaney-velu · Rating 4 out of 5]

“That was the problem with secrets. You could bury them as deep as you liked, do everything and anything to hide them, sink them until they were forgotten under murky waters. But all carcasses eventually float to the top, bloated and rotten, their putrid odor demanding attention.”

“The Uncontrolled Variables,” by Jana Foster

This book is about a research student wanting to create medicine that will cure people but the morality of what she is willing to do to help the mass of sick people despite potentially hurting and using the few leaves her to question her choices. I liked that it felt a little like a coming-of-age type book with her need and desire to be loved and to achieve greatness and it blinds her to her current reality, it was very dynamic. I liked the relationship and how it was built. It was a really good book that glued to the story the entire time. 4 out of 5 stars.

-Medical
-Contemporary

Thank you for the ARC, Booksirens.

[Abby May · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC review
4 🌟

This was a really interesting read - a mix of STEM (edging on sci-fi) romance and crime/mystery.
I was hooked from the first page and was gripped the whole way through.
The plot was really interesting and I liked that we switched between Amara and Sgt Lewis’ storylines (although I think I would have liked a bit more of Lewis’ storyline to balance it out more).

The ending was a bit abrupt and I’m wondering if there’s plans for a second book? If there is I would definitely pick it up!

[Moana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn't put it down!!! I'm an avid reader and I have to say that this was one of the best books that I've read so far in the past few years. The story centers around a young woman named Amara who is graduating from school and working at a medical lab, the kind where they are trying to find vaccines and cures for diseases. She's dealing with heartbreak since she and her longtime boyfriend just unexpectedly broke up, but she meets an attractive PhD student who is also working at the lab and as they embark on a new romance together, the story suddenly transforms to be not just about romance, but it's also a psychological and medical thriller. As I got closer to the end of the book, it felt like the layers of an onion were being peeled back to reveal the unexpected truths of assumptions that I made earlier in the book. This story was so complex and original that I'm blown away that this is Jana Foster's first fiction novel. It left such a strong impression on me that I haven't been able to stop thinking about the idea of having to sacrifice a few for the greater good of the rest of the population when it comes to the field of medicine. There is an ending to the story, but it's written in a way where there could be a sequel afterwards and I hope that there is because I can't wait to see more from this author.

[Kair · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Uncontrollable Variables by Jana Foster is a fast-paced psychological thriller that keeps the reader engaged and unable to put the book down. The book is about Amara a grad student who lands a prestigious summer job with her best friend Colleen at a research facility. Amara is hurting after breaking up with her boyfriend and hopes that she can focus on her graduate degree and research to cure her broken heart. While at the research facility Anna meets and falls for Robert, a PhD student. However, Robert is not who she thinks he is, and Anna gets caught up in an illegal medical research program. Some major themes in the book are; right versus wrong, ethical medical research, and how lies and deceit can impact your life and other people's lives in many different ways. The author did a great job setting the story and there was great dialog between the characters. The storyline had many twists and turns and unexpected situations that holds the reader’s interest. I enjoyed the book and found it a much different type of book than I normally read. I highly recommend it.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Jaime · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Uncontrolled Variables is a thrilling tale of science, romance and secrets. The story follows Amara Ferguson, a passionate research scientist, in her prestigious summer job whilst trying to heal her broken heart from her ex, Jamie. When Amara meets Robert, a PhD student at the institute who helps her to forget her heartbreak, she thinks her life is looking up. But if she doesn’t play her cards right, Jamie might not be the only thing she forgets. Introduced to the dark truths of medical research, Amara must battle with her ethics to decide which path she takes.

As a scientist myself, this book was thoroughly engaging and filled with excellent detail. The characters and their relationships throughout the book seemed genuine, and the friendship between Amara and Colleen was written brilliantly. I really enjoyed the plot and the twists drew me in more.

Thank you to BookSirens for an ARC copy of this book. This review was left voluntarily and honestly.

[Ina · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Uncontrolled Variables by Jana Foster | ARC Review

Thank you Jana Foster and NetGalley for sending me this ARC!

4⭐️//2🌶️

This book was not at all what I anticipated, but it was a riveting story. Amara Ferguson is an aspiring scientist; since she was little she has dreamt of one day winning the Nobel prize for advances in science. After being heartbroken without explanation, Amara begins working at a research institute alongside her best friend Coleen. Shortly after beginning to work at the institute, Amara meets Robert, a PhD Candidate who instantly catches her attention, and makes her feel less lonely and dejected. The more she gets to know him, the more secrets she uncovers about his involvement with a secret organization that conducts medical research, with promises to make new and ground-breaking drugs available to the larger population. Soon Amara learns that the secrets Robert keeps will test the limits to what ethical medical research entails, and how far Amara is willing to go for the greater good.

There were so many twisty turns in this book that I did not anticipate, but when I reached the end of the book and saw the full picture, all the pieces fell into place. There were moments when I was questioning whether Amara knew what is happening, but was purposefully avoiding them, just to protect herself from all the terrible things happening to and around her. Seeing her trying to rebuild herself after heartbreak, to experiencing being ignored and put down by her mother, to feeling as an outsider in most social situations, Amara has always felt like she is cannot be enough for the people in her life. A lot of the decisions she made throughout the book made so much sense when you see how other treat her. Her emotional growth throughout the book, and the way she learned to stand up for herself was incredibly gratifying.

[Daria · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Uncontrolled Variables by Jana Foster is a medical thriller crossed with science fiction. Amara Ferguson is a soon to be science graduate who begins a summer job at a medical research institute before she starts her PhD studies. It's there she meets Robert, a charming and smart PhD student. He helps her forget about her high school sweetheart and their breakup which she still has no explanation for. Amara has always dreamt of creating a treatment that saves lives and winning a Nobel Prize. As her relationship with Robert develops she is introduced to a secret organisation which steals research and provides patients with treatments before they've been fully tested. Amara is torn between following the long and tedious scientific process of drug creation and the possibility of accelerating the release of live saving drugs.

I found the story engaging and well balanced with a nice blend of mystery, action and romance. Each character shaped Amara in some way and they each had a purpose in the story. I particularly liked the friendship with her best friend Colleen, it was honest and for the most part wholesome. I was not expecting spice but it was fun and not tacky. The pacing and length of the chapters made it easy to read when I only had small amounts of time available. Towards the end it seemed like we were being set up for a second novel but then the story seemed to end kind of abruptly. Overall I enjoyed this, I thought whole idea of this rogue pharmaceutical company was exciting. I give it a 3.5/5 stars.

Thank you Jana Foster and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of The Uncontrolled Variables. It will be published on February 18th 2025.

[TheLisaD · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jana Foster’s The Uncontrolled Variables is a surreal and thought-provoking novel that blurs the lines between fiction and reality, leaving readers questioning just how plausible its premise might be in today’s world. With an intriguing concept and a narrative that keeps the reader engaged, Foster crafts a story that is both unsettling and captivating.

One of the novel’s greatest strengths lies in its ability to create a world that feels eerily possible, drawing the reader into a reality that is both familiar and unsettlingly unpredictable. The themes explored are timely and relevant, making the story resonate on a deeper level. Foster’s writing is immersive, and the book’s unique premise ensures that it lingers in the reader’s mind long after the final page.

However, there are moments where the pacing and complexity of the narrative make certain elements difficult to follow. Some sections could have benefited from further development, allowing for greater clarity and depth in the storytelling. While the novel’s unpredictability adds to its intrigue, a more seamless connection between certain plot points would have strengthened the overall impact.

Despite these minor challenges, The Uncontrolled Variables is a compelling read that pushes the boundaries of reality and fiction. Fans of speculative fiction and thought-provoking narratives will find much to appreciate in Foster’s storytelling, even if some moments leave them wanting just a little more depth.

[aims.readsalot · Rating 4 out of 5]

An ARC I acquired via Book Sirens and flew through in two sittings!

‘The Uncontrolled Variables’ is a medical thriller following Amara, a researcher who secretly joins an illegal operation to fast-track trials for groundbreaking treatments and cures - putting ethics aside and risking lives in the hope of saving more.

This was my first read of something like this, but as mentioned above, I was completely hooked from start to finish. It’s one of those books you can’t put down or stop thinking about, and I loved the insight it provided towards the high-stakes world of clinical research.

While I know this was a debut, I do hope there’s more to come for these characters, because it could be the start of a great series - and side note, the snippets of romance were a nice surprise too!

Thank you to Jana Foster and Book Sirens for the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review.

[Debra Tunnicliffe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emerging medical researcher Amara Ferguson works a summer job at a prestigious research institute seems perfect.
Everything is great until she meets Robert a PHD student who is working on a mysterious medical breakthrough and asks Amara to take part which she is excited about as they embark on a sexual relationship.
When Amara notices the drug may not be safe she starts to doubt what Robert is doing. Throw in her ex boyfriend Jamie who dumped her for no reason and Amara finds out Jamie is on the drug trial she is worried.
This is a brilliant tense medical drama full of twists.
Would recommend for a fast and tense story.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Maureen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to BookSirens for an ARC of The Uncontrolled Variables by Jana Foster.

I really thought this book would be amazing. It seemed like a bit of a nerdy rom-com which I've been enjoying of late, but it has a much darker theme and although I enjoyed it, it left me feeling icky, for lack of a better word.

Amara is a science researcher and she's secured the summer internship of her dreams. And she meets a cute guy on her first day so things are looking up. Robert charms the pants of of Amara, literally.

But then things get dark. Robert is working on a project that has ethical questions surrounding it. This is where the book stopped working for me.

I did read the whole thing but the second half just didn't work.

I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Cecellia Ko · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found myself immersed in a compelling blend of personal struggles and societal pressures that really resonated with me. The way the story unfolds highlights how individuals navigate their paths amid uncertainty, which is something I can relate to.

I particularly enjoyed following Amara’s journey, especially for her friendship with Colleen added a warm and wholesome element to the narrative. Their bond felt genuine and offered a sense of comfort amidst the chaos of their lives. The cozy mystery and suspense woven throughout kept me hooked, making it hard to put the book down. Overall, it was a good read.

Thank you NetGalley and Victoria Editing for the ARC.

[Hot Mess Book Lover]

"Uncontrolled Variables" presents a slow-paced narrative that delves into complex medical and scientific concepts, showcasing the author's evident research and education in the field. While the intricate jargon adds a layer of authenticity, it may also alienate readers not familiar with such terminology.

The story includes one explicit scene, which, although provocative, feels somewhat disjointed from the overall plot and might leave readers questioning its relevance. Additionally, the book suffers from noticeable plot holes and lacks the thrill or suspense that one might expect from this genre. Overall, it ultimately didn't resonate with me as I hoped it would, leaving a sense of disappointment.

[J Kromrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

Uncontrolled Variables is a masterfully told story about big pharma and the lengths they will go to control the narrative. Although fictionally based, it makes one consider omniscient power.

Along the way, we make the journey with a couple of young female research assistants, and with the protagonist this story becomes a much larger novel about familial betrayal, truth, and even a love story.

I greatly enjoyed this read and a personal note for the author "keep writing, and your audience will keep reading your books".

I am looking forward to the next heartfelt exploration from this talented author.

[Sarah Hanson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have not read a medical thriller like this before, so I was eager to give it a chance. I felt the police chapters were well-written and built intensity into the plot. I have never hated a character more than one of the male leads, and that’s all I can say without giving a spoiler. Reflecting on the ethics of medical trials is what kept me going in this book. Some parts of the plot lost me and could have been better developed. I do think the friendship component was great and I wish there was a through line closer to the college party game scene, which established the characters well. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Annetra Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for the e-arc of this book.

This was one of my first medical thrillers and I went in not knowing what to expect. As a science and medical nerd I did love this. It was a little slow in the beginning but then picked up and was gripping. It honestly makes you think about medical advancements as well as morals. Now i hope there is a sequel because the way it ended left a lot to be desired. It felt like a rushed ending without much of a satisfying conclusion. This book does have a lot of potential though and I can see it as a series and also maybe even a show.

[LeeAnn Bringas · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Uncontrolled Variable is a fast paced, addictive psychological thriller. I could not put this book down! The author did an amazing job with settings, descriptions and dialogue. The plot was so twisty and had so many surprises that kept the reading enthralled. I genuinely did not see many of these things coming! I would highly recommend this book to everyone!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[celines_reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Read. I’ll preface by saying I don’t usually read medical thrillers. I thought it would be heavier on the medical terms, but it was medically « light ».

The FMC was fairly relatable, but a bit sheltered and innocent. Her family was detestable. The beginning of the book spends a bit of time building the characters, which seem irrelevant once the story gets going but it makes sense in the end.

I felt there was a lot unresolved at the end.

[Catherine Corry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. Totally believable and would be surprised if this isn't happening today. Really liked this book and was sat when it was over.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting read. I’ve been on a thriller kick lately and this was a good mix of a medical thriller and the unpredictability of the relationships we form with others. It was a bit darker than I originally expected it to be but that just made it even better.