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Love Below Zero
Rebecca Baxter has killed James Reid multiple times. Well, the fictional version of him anyway.
As an astronomer, James likes debunking the “science” in science fiction books. As a romance author, Rebecca is more concerned with happy endings than string theory. After a video he made criticising her best selling sci-fi romance book sparked an online feud, the two of them can’t stand to be in the same room together. Still reeling from the writer’s block (and emotional damage) James’ review caused her, she works out her feelings by writing elaborate death scenes for him and vows to never speak to him again.
That is until they’re both selected for an analog Mars mission in Antarctica. They’ll be spending four months locked in a small dome, pretending they’re on another planet. Unfortunately, avoiding someone is extra difficult when you’re stuck on a barren continent and can’t stop daydreaming about kissing them.
These two are about to find out just how quickly hate can defrost into love…
Love Below Zero is an enemies to lovers STEM rom com with forced proximity, banter, lots of nerdy references, no third act break up, and a happily ever after.
As an astronomer, James likes debunking the “science” in science fiction books. As a romance author, Rebecca is more concerned with happy endings than string theory. After a video he made criticising her best selling sci-fi romance book sparked an online feud, the two of them can’t stand to be in the same room together. Still reeling from the writer’s block (and emotional damage) James’ review caused her, she works out her feelings by writing elaborate death scenes for him and vows to never speak to him again.
That is until they’re both selected for an analog Mars mission in Antarctica. They’ll be spending four months locked in a small dome, pretending they’re on another planet. Unfortunately, avoiding someone is extra difficult when you’re stuck on a barren continent and can’t stop daydreaming about kissing them.
These two are about to find out just how quickly hate can defrost into love…
Love Below Zero is an enemies to lovers STEM rom com with forced proximity, banter, lots of nerdy references, no third act break up, and a happily ever after.
332 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 10, 2025
35 people are currently reading
338 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews
March 29, 2025
Thank you to Bianca Blake and My Universe PR for this ARC!
I fell in love with this book while I was a beta reader and I’ll never stop recommending it !! I love anything space-related, so imagine how fast I jumped on the opportunity to read a book about a ESA and NASA mission. The setting is definitely one of the most interesting parts and what makes this book unique. I mean, a dome in the middle of Antarctica with nothing else to do than run experiments and work out your differences (with the help of meddling friends)? SIGN ME UP.
I just adore Rebecca and James, their relationship is amazing and I loved how they were portrayed individually. James was the perfect representation of a neurodivergent person, I connected with him a lot, he’s really relatable (I also love nerds). And Rebecca’s medical history was handled beautifully, as well as the portrayal of her anxiety and imposter syndrome. Again, she’s really relatable. Together they were AMAZING. They had a rocky start, but their relationship gradually evolved into an amazing friendship and eventually into a romance. I loved how they learned to read each other and help each other! How James was always there to pick Rebecca up from an anxiety episode, and how Rebecca respected James’ need of not being touched and needing time to decompress after being overstimulated.
I truly cannot recommend this book enough!
I fell in love with this book while I was a beta reader and I’ll never stop recommending it !! I love anything space-related, so imagine how fast I jumped on the opportunity to read a book about a ESA and NASA mission. The setting is definitely one of the most interesting parts and what makes this book unique. I mean, a dome in the middle of Antarctica with nothing else to do than run experiments and work out your differences (with the help of meddling friends)? SIGN ME UP.
I just adore Rebecca and James, their relationship is amazing and I loved how they were portrayed individually. James was the perfect representation of a neurodivergent person, I connected with him a lot, he’s really relatable (I also love nerds). And Rebecca’s medical history was handled beautifully, as well as the portrayal of her anxiety and imposter syndrome. Again, she’s really relatable. Together they were AMAZING. They had a rocky start, but their relationship gradually evolved into an amazing friendship and eventually into a romance. I loved how they learned to read each other and help each other! How James was always there to pick Rebecca up from an anxiety episode, and how Rebecca respected James’ need of not being touched and needing time to decompress after being overstimulated.
I truly cannot recommend this book enough!
April 10, 2025
You can find this review of Love Below Zero on my blog, Heart's Content!
A big shout out and thank you to My Universe PR and the author for including me in the blog tour for Love Below Zero and providing me with a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review!
If you’ve read the blurb for this book and walked in expecting a fiery and funny story that will melt the glaciers, you are in for a surprise. I did not expect, walking into Love Below Zero, that I would find a little bit of myself laid out on the pages for me to read. Because of this, I’m starting with the aspect of the book that appealed to me the most.
The theme of this book, in actuality, handles deeper, more vulnerable and sensitive aspects of someone’s life than one would expect. I’m not sure if it was the timing of when I read this book, or the depth with which I related to some of the themes in this book … that rendered me in near tears many times while reading. I can, for the first time, say that what meant to me more than anything else in a book was surprisingly not the love story between the characters, but the love story that was weaved within those very characters for their own self.
There was a great internal battle within many of the characters in this book, where they fought to understand, accept and love themselves once again with all their jagged edges and soft hearts. My favourite part was all the conversations that took place surrounding all this; I loved the way the author leads you by the hand through your typical thoughts and reminds you grass isn’t always greener. It was both a slap and a hug realizing that and it was also my favourite moment in the book. Thank you for the lesson and the love, Bianca Blake. 😭
My second favourite aspect of this book was all the platonic relationships the main characters have. I was exceptionally moved by nearly every single interaction that takes place between the FMC and the MMC and their respective friends. To see them turning up for one another, watching out for each another, gently pushing the other forward or holding space for them was all so so so lovely. This isn’t to say, they don’t mercilessly tease and laugh at one another, but there is only love to be seen in that and I was sat for it all.
There was a lot of representation in this book and all the moments where they’re communicated about meant the world to me. While I do not have the same struggles as the FMC and MMC, I (like most people, I’m sure) have my own moments of care and caution I need to extend to myself—that has become a part of my life now—and moments of overwhelm where I need to withdraw. I resonated so much with this book on those fronts.
Third act breaks ups have truly become the bane of most readers’ existence and to be able to read a book that does not threaten the reader with the possibility of it was such a relief. There was so much communication in this book, which I find surprising because its twin, missed moments of right communication, made nearly equal number of appearances as well! I don’t know how else to describe it. I think it’s quite normal in new relationships to presume someone’s actions are a direct reflection of their perspective of you, whereas in truth it might just be a reflection of their internal fears. I think we all stumble through finding even ground with one another, within ourselves and our place in this world. Pair that with our past wounds and scars that often only add to the time it takes heal to be able see past them in every interaction that’s often coloured with those painful thoughts/experiences from the past. You can expect to find Love Below Zero touching upon all these aspects.
The book explains it better, I swear.
I loved the set-up so much! It was such a unique idea to write for a forced proximity scenario. The psychology graduate in me absolutely enjoyed the author’s exploration of science and behaviour in controlled conditions which were ironically often influenced by unpredictable situations. Such an absolute breath of fresh air!
The pace was so wonderfully organic. It was truly like watching events take place around you. You don’t particularly calculate time until you’re out of it.
To me this book isn’t a love story. It’s a story of self-love. And that’s what surprised me the most and made me love it. I’m sure there are perhaps seven hundred and fifty million other things that the author intended her readers to hopefully take away, but I can’t see past that one aspect. Self-love.
Four stars! Please do check trigger warnings as there are themes in this book that can be difficult for some. Also! If you see the chapter headings and smile, think of me, ‘cos I did!
A big shout out and thank you to My Universe PR and the author for including me in the blog tour for Love Below Zero and providing me with a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review!
If you’ve read the blurb for this book and walked in expecting a fiery and funny story that will melt the glaciers, you are in for a surprise. I did not expect, walking into Love Below Zero, that I would find a little bit of myself laid out on the pages for me to read. Because of this, I’m starting with the aspect of the book that appealed to me the most.
The theme of this book, in actuality, handles deeper, more vulnerable and sensitive aspects of someone’s life than one would expect. I’m not sure if it was the timing of when I read this book, or the depth with which I related to some of the themes in this book … that rendered me in near tears many times while reading. I can, for the first time, say that what meant to me more than anything else in a book was surprisingly not the love story between the characters, but the love story that was weaved within those very characters for their own self.
There was a great internal battle within many of the characters in this book, where they fought to understand, accept and love themselves once again with all their jagged edges and soft hearts. My favourite part was all the conversations that took place surrounding all this; I loved the way the author leads you by the hand through your typical thoughts and reminds you grass isn’t always greener. It was both a slap and a hug realizing that and it was also my favourite moment in the book. Thank you for the lesson and the love, Bianca Blake. 😭
My second favourite aspect of this book was all the platonic relationships the main characters have. I was exceptionally moved by nearly every single interaction that takes place between the FMC and the MMC and their respective friends. To see them turning up for one another, watching out for each another, gently pushing the other forward or holding space for them was all so so so lovely. This isn’t to say, they don’t mercilessly tease and laugh at one another, but there is only love to be seen in that and I was sat for it all.
There was a lot of representation in this book and all the moments where they’re communicated about meant the world to me. While I do not have the same struggles as the FMC and MMC, I (like most people, I’m sure) have my own moments of care and caution I need to extend to myself—that has become a part of my life now—and moments of overwhelm where I need to withdraw. I resonated so much with this book on those fronts.
Third act breaks ups have truly become the bane of most readers’ existence and to be able to read a book that does not threaten the reader with the possibility of it was such a relief. There was so much communication in this book, which I find surprising because its twin, missed moments of right communication, made nearly equal number of appearances as well! I don’t know how else to describe it. I think it’s quite normal in new relationships to presume someone’s actions are a direct reflection of their perspective of you, whereas in truth it might just be a reflection of their internal fears. I think we all stumble through finding even ground with one another, within ourselves and our place in this world. Pair that with our past wounds and scars that often only add to the time it takes heal to be able see past them in every interaction that’s often coloured with those painful thoughts/experiences from the past. You can expect to find Love Below Zero touching upon all these aspects.
The book explains it better, I swear.
I loved the set-up so much! It was such a unique idea to write for a forced proximity scenario. The psychology graduate in me absolutely enjoyed the author’s exploration of science and behaviour in controlled conditions which were ironically often influenced by unpredictable situations. Such an absolute breath of fresh air!
The pace was so wonderfully organic. It was truly like watching events take place around you. You don’t particularly calculate time until you’re out of it.
To me this book isn’t a love story. It’s a story of self-love. And that’s what surprised me the most and made me love it. I’m sure there are perhaps seven hundred and fifty million other things that the author intended her readers to hopefully take away, but I can’t see past that one aspect. Self-love.
Four stars! Please do check trigger warnings as there are themes in this book that can be difficult for some. Also! If you see the chapter headings and smile, think of me, ‘cos I did!
August 20, 2025
Rating -⭐⭐⭐⭐.25
Firstly, let me start by saying thank you so much to Bianca Blake & My Universe PR for letting me be an early stargazer by giving me an ARC read for 'Love Below Zero' this was my first ever STEM rom-com and I can honestly say it did not disappoint.
We follow Rebecca Baxter, a sci-fi romance author who’s been through a life-changing experience that has left her struggling with confidence and body image. She's plus-sized, witty, and incredibly resilient, and watching her journey towards self-love and acceptance was not only inspiring but often very emotional. ( I just wanted to give her a big hug )
Then there’s James, our grumpy, socially awkward astronomer (Who has a different tie for every occasion) he first makes Rebecca’s life miserable by publicly criticising her best-selling novel in a viral video. It was undeniable that although James couldn't fathom the inaccurate science in Baxter's books, he was definitely a fan of her work. ( maybe he didn't quite know himself how much ) James is written as neurodivergent and demisexual, and I thought Bianca Blake handled his character with such compassion.
The relationship between these two was arch-nemesis from the start. I mean, she literally wrote imaginary death scenes for him in her books this makes me think of the motto ( Don't get mad, get even ) The book is told in dual pov from Rebecca & James which is always a favourite of mine as you get to understand both characters better with their inner monologues.
Nothing screams forced proximity more than being stuck for 4 months in a dome in Antarctica for a Mars analog mission especially when you end up going with your arch-nemesis ( talk about tension ) Despite their rocky start, the slow-burn romance between Rebecca and James is incredibly satisfying. Watching their relationship evolve from enemies to reluctant teammates, to something deeper, was beautifully done.
Now a mention for the side characters that join them on the mission you have Frances who is the leader, her first introduction to the group made me think WOW! She's a cool person who wasn't opposed to her team indulging a little before they head off on their mission iykyk, she also gave some great advice to both Rebecca and James and I loved how clued in she was to their relationship even when they thought she wasn't.
Then you have Eli the geologist of the group (who I swear is the hotter version of Bert from The Big Bang Theory with his love for rocks) I found his and Joanna's constant bickering and bets amusing.
Which brings me to Joanna she is the engineer of the group she was a combat veteran, but now works for NASA and she was so inspiring the fact she had lost her leg and had to walk with a prosthetic just added to her strong character. Plus the fact she called James Dexter cracked me up!
(All the women written by Bianca in this book are inspiring in their own way ) And we can't forget Jules who is top tier best friend goals with James, he's very lucky to have her.
And shoutout to the cutest character Mr Spock.
One of my favourite quotes is
“I thought you hated messy.”
“Not if it’s you, my little bundle of chaos.”
Overall - All in all, Love Below Zero was a delightful surprise. It had everything I want in a romance, real characters with depth and flaws, tension and banter, emotional growth, and a romance that unfolds in a way that feels earned and sincere.
This was also my first ever buddy read, which made the whole experience even more fun. Especially when we would roll our eyes when James would say or do the completely wrong thing (and instantly catastrophically mess up). It's a good thing Rebecca was so understanding.
Also, fair warning! This book will make you crave brownies. I was smart enough to have a choc peanut one nearby (yummy)
Love Below Zero is set to be published on 10/04/2025 so get your pre-orders in now!
Firstly, let me start by saying thank you so much to Bianca Blake & My Universe PR for letting me be an early stargazer by giving me an ARC read for 'Love Below Zero' this was my first ever STEM rom-com and I can honestly say it did not disappoint.
We follow Rebecca Baxter, a sci-fi romance author who’s been through a life-changing experience that has left her struggling with confidence and body image. She's plus-sized, witty, and incredibly resilient, and watching her journey towards self-love and acceptance was not only inspiring but often very emotional. ( I just wanted to give her a big hug )
Then there’s James, our grumpy, socially awkward astronomer (Who has a different tie for every occasion) he first makes Rebecca’s life miserable by publicly criticising her best-selling novel in a viral video. It was undeniable that although James couldn't fathom the inaccurate science in Baxter's books, he was definitely a fan of her work. ( maybe he didn't quite know himself how much ) James is written as neurodivergent and demisexual, and I thought Bianca Blake handled his character with such compassion.
The relationship between these two was arch-nemesis from the start. I mean, she literally wrote imaginary death scenes for him in her books this makes me think of the motto ( Don't get mad, get even ) The book is told in dual pov from Rebecca & James which is always a favourite of mine as you get to understand both characters better with their inner monologues.
Nothing screams forced proximity more than being stuck for 4 months in a dome in Antarctica for a Mars analog mission especially when you end up going with your arch-nemesis ( talk about tension ) Despite their rocky start, the slow-burn romance between Rebecca and James is incredibly satisfying. Watching their relationship evolve from enemies to reluctant teammates, to something deeper, was beautifully done.
Now a mention for the side characters that join them on the mission you have Frances who is the leader, her first introduction to the group made me think WOW! She's a cool person who wasn't opposed to her team indulging a little before they head off on their mission iykyk, she also gave some great advice to both Rebecca and James and I loved how clued in she was to their relationship even when they thought she wasn't.
Then you have Eli the geologist of the group (who I swear is the hotter version of Bert from The Big Bang Theory with his love for rocks) I found his and Joanna's constant bickering and bets amusing.
Which brings me to Joanna she is the engineer of the group she was a combat veteran, but now works for NASA and she was so inspiring the fact she had lost her leg and had to walk with a prosthetic just added to her strong character. Plus the fact she called James Dexter cracked me up!
(All the women written by Bianca in this book are inspiring in their own way ) And we can't forget Jules who is top tier best friend goals with James, he's very lucky to have her.
And shoutout to the cutest character Mr Spock.
One of my favourite quotes is
“I thought you hated messy.”
“Not if it’s you, my little bundle of chaos.”
Overall - All in all, Love Below Zero was a delightful surprise. It had everything I want in a romance, real characters with depth and flaws, tension and banter, emotional growth, and a romance that unfolds in a way that feels earned and sincere.
This was also my first ever buddy read, which made the whole experience even more fun. Especially when we would roll our eyes when James would say or do the completely wrong thing (and instantly catastrophically mess up). It's a good thing Rebecca was so understanding.
Also, fair warning! This book will make you crave brownies. I was smart enough to have a choc peanut one nearby (yummy)
Love Below Zero is set to be published on 10/04/2025 so get your pre-orders in now!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 30, 2025
RELEASE DATE: APRIL 10th • PRE-ORDER NOW❗
{esp}
Primero que nada quiero darle las gracias a Bianca Blake y a My Universe PR por el arc.
¿Por qué no le di 5 estrellas? Para mi gusto quisquilloso le faltaron más escenas de interacción entre los personajes. Por momentos eran tan tiernos y dulces y me llenaba de incomodidad porque sentía que no tenían la confianza suficiente para esos tratos.
Dicho esto, el resto es maravilloso. El libro está lleno de rep: tenemos personajes de color, diferentes orientaciones sexuales, neurodivergencia, discapacidad con protesis. Y también muestra el lado de las personas diagnosticadas con prediabetes.
Es una historia muy tranquila, no tiene dramas innecesarios. La mayor parte del “drama” son los miedos internos de los protagonistas. Los personajes son bastante maduros y resuelven las cosas de esta manera. Tienen interacciones graciosas y serias, así que vas a divertirte pero a la vez podrás sentir que no es un libro juvenil. También fue interesante leer sobre las misiones que se llevan a cabo por la ESA y la NASA.
Lo recomiendo y más si estás buscando un romance STEM tranquilo, personajes reales y mucha representación.
Me divertí mucho con esta lectura y espero leer todo lo que traiga la autora.
[eng]
Firstly, I want to thank Bianca Blake and My Universe PR for the ARC.
Why didn't I give it 5 stars? In my picky opinion, it lacked more interaction scenes between the characters. At times, they were so sweet and cute, and it made me uncomfortable because I felt they didn't have enough trust for those kinds of interactions.
That being said, the rest is wonderful. The book is full of representation: we have characters of color, neurodivergent, with different sexual orientations, disability with prosthetics, and it also shows the perspective of people diagnosed with prediabetes.
It's a very calm story with no unnecessary drama. The majority of the "drama" is the protagonists' internal fears. The characters are quite mature, and they handle things this way. They have funny and serious interactions, so you'll have fun but also feel like it’s not a young adult book. It was also interesting to read about the missions carried out by the ESA and NASA.
I recommend it, especially if you're looking for a calm STEM romance, real characters, and lots of representation.
I had a great time with this read, and I look forward to reading everything the author brings.
{esp}
Primero que nada quiero darle las gracias a Bianca Blake y a My Universe PR por el arc.
you're trying really hard to get rid of me here. I believe in working through the problems. What are you afraid of?
¿Por qué no le di 5 estrellas? Para mi gusto quisquilloso le faltaron más escenas de interacción entre los personajes. Por momentos eran tan tiernos y dulces y me llenaba de incomodidad porque sentía que no tenían la confianza suficiente para esos tratos.
Dicho esto, el resto es maravilloso. El libro está lleno de rep: tenemos personajes de color, diferentes orientaciones sexuales, neurodivergencia, discapacidad con protesis. Y también muestra el lado de las personas diagnosticadas con prediabetes.
Es una historia muy tranquila, no tiene dramas innecesarios. La mayor parte del “drama” son los miedos internos de los protagonistas. Los personajes son bastante maduros y resuelven las cosas de esta manera. Tienen interacciones graciosas y serias, así que vas a divertirte pero a la vez podrás sentir que no es un libro juvenil. También fue interesante leer sobre las misiones que se llevan a cabo por la ESA y la NASA.
Lo recomiendo y más si estás buscando un romance STEM tranquilo, personajes reales y mucha representación.
Me divertí mucho con esta lectura y espero leer todo lo que traiga la autora.
[eng]
Firstly, I want to thank Bianca Blake and My Universe PR for the ARC.
you're trying really hard to get rid of me here. I believe in working through the problems. What are you afraid of?
Why didn't I give it 5 stars? In my picky opinion, it lacked more interaction scenes between the characters. At times, they were so sweet and cute, and it made me uncomfortable because I felt they didn't have enough trust for those kinds of interactions.
That being said, the rest is wonderful. The book is full of representation: we have characters of color, neurodivergent, with different sexual orientations, disability with prosthetics, and it also shows the perspective of people diagnosed with prediabetes.
It's a very calm story with no unnecessary drama. The majority of the "drama" is the protagonists' internal fears. The characters are quite mature, and they handle things this way. They have funny and serious interactions, so you'll have fun but also feel like it’s not a young adult book. It was also interesting to read about the missions carried out by the ESA and NASA.
I recommend it, especially if you're looking for a calm STEM romance, real characters, and lots of representation.
I had a great time with this read, and I look forward to reading everything the author brings.
March 18, 2025
4⭐️
A feuding astrologer and sci-fi romance writer get chosen for a Mars analog mission set in Antarctica! 🧊 Cue the forced proximity…
This is an enemies to lovers, slow burn, STEM romance with complex, realistic characters and amazing sass and banter! Perfect for fans of Ali Hazelwood!
Thank you to Bianca Blake and MyUniverse PR for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
A feuding astrologer and sci-fi romance writer get chosen for a Mars analog mission set in Antarctica! 🧊 Cue the forced proximity…
This is an enemies to lovers, slow burn, STEM romance with complex, realistic characters and amazing sass and banter! Perfect for fans of Ali Hazelwood!
Thank you to Bianca Blake and MyUniverse PR for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
April 10, 2025
“Any time spent together is better than having nothing at all.”
What to expect:
- STEM Romance
- Forced Proximity
- Dislike to Love
- Plus Size FMC
- Neurodivergent & Demi MMC
- Isolated Setting
“James Reid is going to destroy me, and I am going to let it happen.”
What would you do if you were stuck in an isolated environment with your arch nemesis for 4 months? Kill them? Make their lives hell? Count down the days until you're free? Fall in love? Well, the possibilities are endless but lucky for us, we can read about it all in Love Below Zero. LBZ has been on my radar since Bianca teased that she was releasing a book. A plus sized FMC, demi rep and forced proximity? Count me in. I have been sat since 2024 and I can confirm that the wait was absolutely worth it.
LBZ follows Rebecca, a successful author (who now has an unfortunate case of writer's block) and James, an astronomer (who once tore Rebecca to shreds in a YouTube review but is now obsessed with her books... and her). They both sign up to participate in an analog Mars mission to Antarctica and of course, as luck would have it they both get chosen.
I need to get this out of the way, James Reid can tie me up any day and I'd have a smile on my face and say thank you. This man really pulled out all the stops and had me gagging because the things he did, I did not expect.. and I loved it. I love seeing demi rep in books but I loved this even more as it showed that demi people can - and do - have kinks and know what they want when they're attracted to someone. I felt seen and validated.
I want to read Rebecca's books. There, I said it, I know we were all thinking it. I loved reading about Rebecca's internal struggles about body image, self worth and health issues. It felt so real and authentic with how it was represented. Bianca managed to write about real topics with grace and for that she needs to be applauded.
There were so many laugh out loud moments, the side characters added so much depth to the story without overshadowing the main characters. I was intrigued by a few of the side characters and I REALLY hope that we get a book two that's about a certain other couple.
This was an absolutely stunning debut and I can't wait to read whatever comes next (interconnected standalone series? I hope).
Thank you to the author and My Universe PR for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
-----
Counting the days until I can have this in my hands.
What to expect:
- STEM Romance
- Forced Proximity
- Dislike to Love
- Plus Size FMC
- Neurodivergent & Demi MMC
- Isolated Setting
“James Reid is going to destroy me, and I am going to let it happen.”
What would you do if you were stuck in an isolated environment with your arch nemesis for 4 months? Kill them? Make their lives hell? Count down the days until you're free? Fall in love? Well, the possibilities are endless but lucky for us, we can read about it all in Love Below Zero. LBZ has been on my radar since Bianca teased that she was releasing a book. A plus sized FMC, demi rep and forced proximity? Count me in. I have been sat since 2024 and I can confirm that the wait was absolutely worth it.
LBZ follows Rebecca, a successful author (who now has an unfortunate case of writer's block) and James, an astronomer (who once tore Rebecca to shreds in a YouTube review but is now obsessed with her books... and her). They both sign up to participate in an analog Mars mission to Antarctica and of course, as luck would have it they both get chosen.
I need to get this out of the way, James Reid can tie me up any day and I'd have a smile on my face and say thank you. This man really pulled out all the stops and had me gagging because the things he did, I did not expect.. and I loved it. I love seeing demi rep in books but I loved this even more as it showed that demi people can - and do - have kinks and know what they want when they're attracted to someone. I felt seen and validated.
I want to read Rebecca's books. There, I said it, I know we were all thinking it. I loved reading about Rebecca's internal struggles about body image, self worth and health issues. It felt so real and authentic with how it was represented. Bianca managed to write about real topics with grace and for that she needs to be applauded.
There were so many laugh out loud moments, the side characters added so much depth to the story without overshadowing the main characters. I was intrigued by a few of the side characters and I REALLY hope that we get a book two that's about a certain other couple.
This was an absolutely stunning debut and I can't wait to read whatever comes next (interconnected standalone series? I hope).
Thank you to the author and My Universe PR for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
-----
Counting the days until I can have this in my hands.
May 15, 2025
hot awkward nerds are always endearing
April 9, 2025
WOW! I’m very grateful to be one of the few people who got an ARC for this amazing book. Love Below Zero is the first STEM romance I read and I can say it won’t be the last. I read the book in two days and a half which is very fast considering I’m also a STEM girl.
Plot:
Rebecca Baxter is a sci-fi romance author and James Reid is an astronomer who makes videos in which he debunks the “science” in science-fiction books. In one of his videos, he criticizes her book series a lot and then they get into an online feud. They hate each other. The things he says in his video make her doubt herself and her writing, which gets her into a writer’s block.
They both get accepted for an analog Mars mission in Antarctica. The mission will be four months. It’ll be them and three other people inside a small dome the whole time so there is no escaping one another. They hate each other but they are also attracted to one another.
The plot was very entertaining. I didn’t feel it drag or be too fast. For me it was perfectly paced.
Characters:
James is a very good representation of a neurodivergent person. I’ve never related to a character so much. He is also very smart; doesn’t understand subtlety and he is a romantic.
Rebecca is pre-diabetic and her struggles with that are displayed very well and with care as is James’s neurodivergent and demi-sexual character. All the characters and their problems were very relatable. I felt like I saw myself in all of them in a different way.
Tropes:
• STEM romance
• Enemies to lovers
• Forced proximity
• Plus size FMC
• Neurodivergent and demi-sexual MMC
My favorite quotes:
“People are difficult, science is easy. If the laws that governed the universe applied to people, maybe I would be able to make sense of them”
“She’s just…” Chaos. Out of my control. Stunning. “… a distraction I don’t need right now”
“I don’t have a sweet tooth, but she smells like freshly baked brownies and it makes my mouth water”
“’Pretty’ is such a useless adjective. You don’t look up at the Milky Way and call it pretty, do you? You are magnificent. Stunning. Beyond comprehension. Otherworldly.”
“I’m sorry, love, I normally use softer rope”
“Stay for a bit?
I’ll stay forever, darling”
Plot:
Rebecca Baxter is a sci-fi romance author and James Reid is an astronomer who makes videos in which he debunks the “science” in science-fiction books. In one of his videos, he criticizes her book series a lot and then they get into an online feud. They hate each other. The things he says in his video make her doubt herself and her writing, which gets her into a writer’s block.
They both get accepted for an analog Mars mission in Antarctica. The mission will be four months. It’ll be them and three other people inside a small dome the whole time so there is no escaping one another. They hate each other but they are also attracted to one another.
The plot was very entertaining. I didn’t feel it drag or be too fast. For me it was perfectly paced.
Characters:
James is a very good representation of a neurodivergent person. I’ve never related to a character so much. He is also very smart; doesn’t understand subtlety and he is a romantic.
Rebecca is pre-diabetic and her struggles with that are displayed very well and with care as is James’s neurodivergent and demi-sexual character. All the characters and their problems were very relatable. I felt like I saw myself in all of them in a different way.
Tropes:
• STEM romance
• Enemies to lovers
• Forced proximity
• Plus size FMC
• Neurodivergent and demi-sexual MMC
My favorite quotes:
“People are difficult, science is easy. If the laws that governed the universe applied to people, maybe I would be able to make sense of them”
“She’s just…” Chaos. Out of my control. Stunning. “… a distraction I don’t need right now”
“I don’t have a sweet tooth, but she smells like freshly baked brownies and it makes my mouth water”
“’Pretty’ is such a useless adjective. You don’t look up at the Milky Way and call it pretty, do you? You are magnificent. Stunning. Beyond comprehension. Otherworldly.”
“I’m sorry, love, I normally use softer rope”
“Stay for a bit?
I’ll stay forever, darling”
September 14, 2025
è stata una lettura molto divertente. Le situazioni comiche non sono mancate, anche se vengono affrontati temi importanti, come la percezione dei proprio corpo e la propria capacità di sentirsi bene in esso, la sindrome dell'impostore e il prediabete.
Becky è una protagonista che non crede in sè stessa, si sente un fallimento sia sul piano personale che lavorativo e le critiche di James le danno il colpo di grazia.
James mi ha fatto tanta tenerezza. Rientra nello spettro autistico e questo gli crea difficoltà a rapportarsi con gli altri e a capire il motivo per cui le sue critiche hanno sconvolto tanto Rebecca.
Aggiungiamoci che è demisessuale e abbiamo la ricetta per un personaggio per cui non si può non tifare.
Nella storia ci sono diverse incongruenze, come il fatto che dopo il video di James lei sia entrata in blocco ma lui sa che ha descritto diverse sue morti, o come il fatto che a lui non piace essere toccato ma diverse volte quando lei lo fa a lui piace, o come il fatto che si spogliano a una temperatura artica. Non mi hanno disturbato troppo, ma avrebbero potuto essere evitate.
Becky è una protagonista che non crede in sè stessa, si sente un fallimento sia sul piano personale che lavorativo e le critiche di James le danno il colpo di grazia.
James mi ha fatto tanta tenerezza. Rientra nello spettro autistico e questo gli crea difficoltà a rapportarsi con gli altri e a capire il motivo per cui le sue critiche hanno sconvolto tanto Rebecca.
Aggiungiamoci che è demisessuale e abbiamo la ricetta per un personaggio per cui non si può non tifare.
Nella storia ci sono diverse incongruenze, come il fatto che dopo il video di James lei sia entrata in blocco ma lui sa che ha descritto diverse sue morti, o come il fatto che a lui non piace essere toccato ma diverse volte quando lei lo fa a lui piace, o come il fatto che si spogliano a una temperatura artica. Non mi hanno disturbato troppo, ma avrebbero potuto essere evitate.
March 30, 2025
I started this book pretty much smiling like a goof right off the bat. She’s seriously annoyed with him, he’s secretly a little obsessed with her (and maybe doesn’t know it) and accidentally pissed her off. Then the forced proximity comes. Also they’re both nerdy. Add in some neurodiversity/neurodivergent rep. All of this lends to *chef’s kiss* 🤌🏻 🙌🏻 yess
I related to James on so many levels so I just adored him straight away. He’s clearly autistic and gets himself into situations where he’s just completely taken the wrong way and I just felt for him. I also felt for Rebecca who has her own struggles and worries which affect how she sees herself and how she thinks others see her. Both of them are also just so cute and nerdy.
In a lot of romances there’s the microtrope of the guy taking care of her when she’s down but in this one at one point it’s the other way around and I just melted. Melted.
This has a good balance of light-hearted romance but still a bit of gravity (ha ha) to it and a bit of heat. The writing is great, easy to read without being bland, you really get a feel for the characters and their voices and motivations. The ending was just so sweet it had me a bit teary.
I don’t really know what else to say, I just loved these two characters and really enjoyed the read, ate it all up in a day!
Can definitely recommend!
4/5 ⭐️
I received an advance copy of the book and have left my honest, influence-free review
I related to James on so many levels so I just adored him straight away. He’s clearly autistic and gets himself into situations where he’s just completely taken the wrong way and I just felt for him. I also felt for Rebecca who has her own struggles and worries which affect how she sees herself and how she thinks others see her. Both of them are also just so cute and nerdy.
In a lot of romances there’s the microtrope of the guy taking care of her when she’s down but in this one at one point it’s the other way around and I just melted. Melted.
This has a good balance of light-hearted romance but still a bit of gravity (ha ha) to it and a bit of heat. The writing is great, easy to read without being bland, you really get a feel for the characters and their voices and motivations. The ending was just so sweet it had me a bit teary.
I don’t really know what else to say, I just loved these two characters and really enjoyed the read, ate it all up in a day!
Can definitely recommend!
4/5 ⭐️
I received an advance copy of the book and have left my honest, influence-free review
March 24, 2025
4.75 ⭐️
|ARC|
⋆ slow burn
⋆ plus size FMC
⋆ STEM romance
⋆ dislike to lovers
⋆ forced proximity
⋆ they were dome-mates
⋆ neurodivergent & demisexual MMC
___________________
I have no idea where to start omg. I’m like actually obsessed. When I first read the Blurb I was like oh that sounds like a good book and now that I’ve finished it.. omg it has exceeded every expectation I had. The storyline, the setting, all of it was so interesting and I was hooked!! Love Below Zero is a forced proximity STEM romance where we follow our author FMC Rebecca as she tries to break her writers block that was most likely caused by a certain astronomers YouTube review, in order to keep her publishing contract and our astronomer MMC James as he works his way up towards a teaching position while educating the public about astronomy through his YouTube channel 😉 We watch through their eyes as they participate in a 4 month study where their tension slowly melts into romance.
I absolutely adore Rebecca and James. They truly have my heart. I loved how well they worked together and how they took the time to understand each other. Rebecca is chaos and James is control, completely different but you can’t have one without the other. Both characters are so complex and unique, it was like a breath of fresh air. I loved their banter and oh the tension my goodness. Rebecca is honestly iconic for killing off a character that resembles James in all her books. But also the fact that James is obsessed with the series like yes mhm as he should be! I honestly loved every character in this book and the character diversity was amazing!
The writing in this book was also so good. Bianca did an incredible job of putting us into the story and into Rebecca and James perspective. I could feel the tension, the love and so much more throughout, I literally cried at the end with Rebecca. I related so much to both Rebecca, James and even the rest of the characters as well. I saw myself in the writing, I felt seen. Thats how well it was written. The representation in this book is honestly so beautiful! The topics of neurodiversity, LGBTQIA+ and body image/weight is handled with such care but also is talked about in depth. It is really well done!
Overall, I loved this book and had such a good time reading it! I would like to thank both My Universe PR and Bianca Blake for trusting me with this debut ARC and I can’t wait to read more in the future!! 🔭📖💫
|ARC|
⋆ slow burn
⋆ plus size FMC
⋆ STEM romance
⋆ dislike to lovers
⋆ forced proximity
⋆ they were dome-mates
⋆ neurodivergent & demisexual MMC
___________________
I have no idea where to start omg. I’m like actually obsessed. When I first read the Blurb I was like oh that sounds like a good book and now that I’ve finished it.. omg it has exceeded every expectation I had. The storyline, the setting, all of it was so interesting and I was hooked!! Love Below Zero is a forced proximity STEM romance where we follow our author FMC Rebecca as she tries to break her writers block that was most likely caused by a certain astronomers YouTube review, in order to keep her publishing contract and our astronomer MMC James as he works his way up towards a teaching position while educating the public about astronomy through his YouTube channel 😉 We watch through their eyes as they participate in a 4 month study where their tension slowly melts into romance.
I absolutely adore Rebecca and James. They truly have my heart. I loved how well they worked together and how they took the time to understand each other. Rebecca is chaos and James is control, completely different but you can’t have one without the other. Both characters are so complex and unique, it was like a breath of fresh air. I loved their banter and oh the tension my goodness. Rebecca is honestly iconic for killing off a character that resembles James in all her books. But also the fact that James is obsessed with the series like yes mhm as he should be! I honestly loved every character in this book and the character diversity was amazing!
The writing in this book was also so good. Bianca did an incredible job of putting us into the story and into Rebecca and James perspective. I could feel the tension, the love and so much more throughout, I literally cried at the end with Rebecca. I related so much to both Rebecca, James and even the rest of the characters as well. I saw myself in the writing, I felt seen. Thats how well it was written. The representation in this book is honestly so beautiful! The topics of neurodiversity, LGBTQIA+ and body image/weight is handled with such care but also is talked about in depth. It is really well done!
Overall, I loved this book and had such a good time reading it! I would like to thank both My Universe PR and Bianca Blake for trusting me with this debut ARC and I can’t wait to read more in the future!! 🔭📖💫
March 11, 2025
First of all, thank you My Universe PR and Bianca Blake for giving me the opportunity to receive an ARC.
This book was frigging gorgeous, I loved it so so much. I couldn’t put it down, Becky and James’ story was so captivating and explosive.
Bianca Blake has this wonderful talent of pulling you through the story, hooking you up and never letting go: I felt like I was part of their world.
I loved how both of Rebecca and James were so gentle with each other insecurities (especially Becky’s insecurities about her curvy body), how they always see the better part of each other. Where James is order and rules, Becky is chaos, disorder and colours. But they complement each other. And that’s really so romantic and swoony, because despite of their differences, they still fit together perfectly. Better than, they fit perfectly together because of their unique traits.
All of this wrapped in a freezing cold land with quiet sparks of aurora borealis and some dashing and passionate moments, melting your soul.
Major points: STEM environment and romance genre represents the core values of the book.
Ps: a cute nerdy scientist with a filthy mind? My heart is still beating wildly.
Did I enjoy it? Yes, frigging yeeeees!
I’ll recommend it to everyone who will listen, even if they won’t because it was sooo good and people need to read it!
This book was frigging gorgeous, I loved it so so much. I couldn’t put it down, Becky and James’ story was so captivating and explosive.
Bianca Blake has this wonderful talent of pulling you through the story, hooking you up and never letting go: I felt like I was part of their world.
I loved how both of Rebecca and James were so gentle with each other insecurities (especially Becky’s insecurities about her curvy body), how they always see the better part of each other. Where James is order and rules, Becky is chaos, disorder and colours. But they complement each other. And that’s really so romantic and swoony, because despite of their differences, they still fit together perfectly. Better than, they fit perfectly together because of their unique traits.
All of this wrapped in a freezing cold land with quiet sparks of aurora borealis and some dashing and passionate moments, melting your soul.
Major points: STEM environment and romance genre represents the core values of the book.
Ps: a cute nerdy scientist with a filthy mind? My heart is still beating wildly.
Did I enjoy it? Yes, frigging yeeeees!
I’ll recommend it to everyone who will listen, even if they won’t because it was sooo good and people need to read it!
March 14, 2025
Thank you to Bianca Blake and MyUniversePR for the ARC of Love Below Zero!
I loved this book. I had originally intended to read this book slowly, but a few chapters in I couldn't put it down. I read it in just a few sittings, because I couldn't wait to see what happened next. The setting was so unique and well thought out! I really felt like I was in Antarctica with these characters. Also, I loved these characters. Something I really appreciated was Rebecca and James' development as a couple. They didn't go from enemies to lovers overnight. Instead, it was gradual, their relationship being fully fleshed out by the author. It felt so natural for them to fall in love.
I also really loved the representation that was in this book. Rebecca's weight was talked about in depth, but it was always handled with care and respect. I related so much to a lot of Rebecca's inner dialogue throughout this book. She's a character with a lot of anxiety and stress, something so many of us can relate to. She felt like someone I would want to get a coffee with.
I have so many good things to say about this book, I can't fit them all into one review. It was such a unique, special book that I truly loved. I 100% recommend this book to all the romance lovers out there.
I loved this book. I had originally intended to read this book slowly, but a few chapters in I couldn't put it down. I read it in just a few sittings, because I couldn't wait to see what happened next. The setting was so unique and well thought out! I really felt like I was in Antarctica with these characters. Also, I loved these characters. Something I really appreciated was Rebecca and James' development as a couple. They didn't go from enemies to lovers overnight. Instead, it was gradual, their relationship being fully fleshed out by the author. It felt so natural for them to fall in love.
I also really loved the representation that was in this book. Rebecca's weight was talked about in depth, but it was always handled with care and respect. I related so much to a lot of Rebecca's inner dialogue throughout this book. She's a character with a lot of anxiety and stress, something so many of us can relate to. She felt like someone I would want to get a coffee with.
I have so many good things to say about this book, I can't fit them all into one review. It was such a unique, special book that I truly loved. I 100% recommend this book to all the romance lovers out there.
March 10, 2025
This book was so freaking fun, you're going to love it! With an analog Mars mission, enemies to lovers, multiple types of representation, and a cat named Mr. Spock, every second of this read was wonderful. James and Rebecca are so different, but they fit so well together! There is so much banter and tension while waiting for them to get together and it was perfect for this story. I can't wait to read more from Bianca Blake and I hope to meet up with some of these characters again later!
March 30, 2025
This book is perfect for fans of Ali Hazelwood's The Love Hypothesis.
I haven't read a lot of books where the MMC has autism. It was a nice change of pace.
I really liked all the side characters, they felt actually real. I did want to see more about their life in the dome. We only saw what Becky was doing most of the time.
Thank you Bianca Blake and My Universe PR for the e-ARC. All thoughts are my own.
I haven't read a lot of books where the MMC has autism. It was a nice change of pace.
I really liked all the side characters, they felt actually real. I did want to see more about their life in the dome. We only saw what Becky was doing most of the time.
Thank you Bianca Blake and My Universe PR for the e-ARC. All thoughts are my own.
January 28, 2025
Your new STEM romcom obsession.
March 8, 2025
This was really cute. There was great neurodiversity rep, alongside showcasing some of the difficulties faced by women that don't fit the 'pefect' body type.
I really enjoyed this
I really enjoyed this
August 9, 2025
Enemies to lovers but make it stem? LOVED IT.
There was so much representation in this.
There was so much representation in this.
April 10, 2025
3.5⭐️
this was cute. The chemistry felt weird at first but it was cute read. Dealt with the sensitive topics well. Thank you to My Universe PR for the arc.
*might do a reread at some point*
this was cute. The chemistry felt weird at first but it was cute read. Dealt with the sensitive topics well. Thank you to My Universe PR for the arc.
*might do a reread at some point*
March 14, 2025
Thank you to My Universe PR and the author for the ARC!
Y'all... omg this book?? What an incredible debut!! It is rare for me to savor a book, but I took my time with this one. The writing, the characters, the premise - everything was executed so well and felt like such a breath of fresh air. I hope this book blows up because it deserves all of the love and praise.
Let me set it up for you... Rebecca and James are both chosen to participate in an analog Mars mission in Antarctica, where they have to spend 4 months secluded from the world in a small dome (along with the rest of their team) pretending they're on Mars. Tell me that is not the perfect recipe for some great tension and all of the very best things we get from forced proximity situations. It was perfect!!
This is also an enemies to lovers romance and I mean, a true enemies to lovers - Rebecca and James can barely be in the same room together at the beginning of this book without ripping each other's heads off. They definitely have their valid reasons (Rebecca more than James, really) but it was kind of fun to get all this snarky banter between them. Plus, the shift between enemies to lovers was chefs kiss.
Rebecca and James were both relatable in different ways. I related to Rebecca deeply when it came to not feeling like she was enough. It was difficult to see her be so hard on herself and overthink every good intention, but I totally understood because SAME GIRL. It made me incredibly happy to see the progress she made by the end of the book. She was also just effortlessly funny and I loved her character so much. James and me were like two peas in a pod. It's hard to put into words what it feels like to be overstimulated, overwhelmed, and not wanting to be touched, so I felt incredibly seen reading about James's experiences.
The romance between them was SO GOOD. It took some time for Rebecca to warm up to James (understandably so) but I loved all the ways that James made an effort to get her to see that he liked her and thought she was intelligent and beautiful and just overall wonderful. It was also really sweet the way Rebecca saw the moments where James was overwhelmed or didn't pick up on subtle social cues and gave him what he needed in that moment. I know how much he appreciated it and I could cry with the way she made him feel seen like he never had before. And omg the spice?? Unexpected and hot. I am obsessed with them.
Also, the side characters were such a fun part of this book. They felt like an integral part of the story and I genuinely loved reading all of the interactions with them. I am hoping this will be an interconnected standalone series because I need Jules and Eli's book immediately!!
I'm yapping so one more thing I wanna mention: one of my favorite parts was how the author exposed us to so many different walks of life through the characters in this book. I cannot overstate how much I LOVED reading about all of these different experiences and the representation that we got through James, Rebecca, and even the side characters. It was inherently clear that she wasn't just checking things off of a list, especially considering her own experiences closely related to Rebecca's that she wrote about in her author's note at the beginning. These characters were so well thought out and it was apparent how much care went into writing them.
Anyway, I obviously loved this book and I hope you decide to pick it up when it releases on April 10th! And with that, I'll leave you with some things you can expect from Love Below Zero in case you need more convincing hehe:
🪐 STEM romance
🪐 Neurodivergent and demisexual mmc
🪐 Plus size fmc
🪐 Forced proximity
🪐 Great banter
🪐 Iconic Vine references
Y'all... omg this book?? What an incredible debut!! It is rare for me to savor a book, but I took my time with this one. The writing, the characters, the premise - everything was executed so well and felt like such a breath of fresh air. I hope this book blows up because it deserves all of the love and praise.
Let me set it up for you... Rebecca and James are both chosen to participate in an analog Mars mission in Antarctica, where they have to spend 4 months secluded from the world in a small dome (along with the rest of their team) pretending they're on Mars. Tell me that is not the perfect recipe for some great tension and all of the very best things we get from forced proximity situations. It was perfect!!
This is also an enemies to lovers romance and I mean, a true enemies to lovers - Rebecca and James can barely be in the same room together at the beginning of this book without ripping each other's heads off. They definitely have their valid reasons (Rebecca more than James, really) but it was kind of fun to get all this snarky banter between them. Plus, the shift between enemies to lovers was chefs kiss.
Rebecca and James were both relatable in different ways. I related to Rebecca deeply when it came to not feeling like she was enough. It was difficult to see her be so hard on herself and overthink every good intention, but I totally understood because SAME GIRL. It made me incredibly happy to see the progress she made by the end of the book. She was also just effortlessly funny and I loved her character so much. James and me were like two peas in a pod. It's hard to put into words what it feels like to be overstimulated, overwhelmed, and not wanting to be touched, so I felt incredibly seen reading about James's experiences.
The romance between them was SO GOOD. It took some time for Rebecca to warm up to James (understandably so) but I loved all the ways that James made an effort to get her to see that he liked her and thought she was intelligent and beautiful and just overall wonderful. It was also really sweet the way Rebecca saw the moments where James was overwhelmed or didn't pick up on subtle social cues and gave him what he needed in that moment. I know how much he appreciated it and I could cry with the way she made him feel seen like he never had before. And omg the spice?? Unexpected and hot. I am obsessed with them.
Also, the side characters were such a fun part of this book. They felt like an integral part of the story and I genuinely loved reading all of the interactions with them. I am hoping this will be an interconnected standalone series because I need Jules and Eli's book immediately!!
I'm yapping so one more thing I wanna mention: one of my favorite parts was how the author exposed us to so many different walks of life through the characters in this book. I cannot overstate how much I LOVED reading about all of these different experiences and the representation that we got through James, Rebecca, and even the side characters. It was inherently clear that she wasn't just checking things off of a list, especially considering her own experiences closely related to Rebecca's that she wrote about in her author's note at the beginning. These characters were so well thought out and it was apparent how much care went into writing them.
Anyway, I obviously loved this book and I hope you decide to pick it up when it releases on April 10th! And with that, I'll leave you with some things you can expect from Love Below Zero in case you need more convincing hehe:
🪐 STEM romance
🪐 Neurodivergent and demisexual mmc
🪐 Plus size fmc
🪐 Forced proximity
🪐 Great banter
🪐 Iconic Vine references
March 31, 2025
“Is inventing new and horrible ways for the fictional version of your archnemesis to die the healthiest coping mechanism? Maybe not. But he deserved it.”
Rebecca and James hate each other, ever since Rebecca called James out for his critical science review of her romance sci-fi book series. Things got heated. Rebecca hasn’t been able to write since, and James hasn’t posted a review since. Now, they’re stuck together in a Mars simulation in Antarctica. Just James, Rebecca, three other astronauts and the odd penguin shadow outside. Tensions rise and fall and they learn to be around the other, but soon they start to rely on the other and become something more than enemies. Perhaps even something more than friends…
Going into this arc read, I was just expecting a cute, fluffy, sci-fi, rom-com. Boy was I wrong. It was so much better! There was so much depth to the story. The main characters faced weight issues, diabetes, neurodivergence, queer identity and social anxiety, and each was handled with so much consideration I loved it. At first, when the FMC’s weight was mentioned, I was like, here we go again, another girl who thinks she's too big, then gets too skinny, but no! She struggles and misses her weight and acknowledges that it’s mostly just genes. She only loses weight for medical reasons (because doctors never take any woman’s problems seriously, let alone a woman who's not as thin as a stick). I’m so glad this was handled with care.
There was honestly only one thing I didn’t like about the text: there is a constant ‘will-they-won’t-they”, getting together and backing out, rinse and repeat. This is just a personal pet peeve of mine (it reminds me a lot of the Ross and Rachel story arc but with better characters) so if you like that trope, this is perfect!
A few favourite things:
- Taylor Swift inspired chapter titles
- Enemies to lovers x forced proximity
- I’d love you even if you were a worm
- British x South African
- Cute kitty called Mr. Spock
Favourite Quotes:
“Woman and fandom culture single-handedly saved that show, yet our presence in the space is barely tolerated.”
“I will not take advice from that man. I would rather be lobotomised.”
“Bill Nye the Science Guy, except hot.”
“Rocket science is easy. Feelings are hard.”
“‘Do you guys think rocks have feelings?’ Eli asks loudly, snapping us out of our conversation. ‘I swear to god I’m going to kill you and feed you to the penguins,’”
“Earth really is one-of-a-kind. I mean, it’s also the only planet with chocolate,”
Rebecca and James hate each other, ever since Rebecca called James out for his critical science review of her romance sci-fi book series. Things got heated. Rebecca hasn’t been able to write since, and James hasn’t posted a review since. Now, they’re stuck together in a Mars simulation in Antarctica. Just James, Rebecca, three other astronauts and the odd penguin shadow outside. Tensions rise and fall and they learn to be around the other, but soon they start to rely on the other and become something more than enemies. Perhaps even something more than friends…
Going into this arc read, I was just expecting a cute, fluffy, sci-fi, rom-com. Boy was I wrong. It was so much better! There was so much depth to the story. The main characters faced weight issues, diabetes, neurodivergence, queer identity and social anxiety, and each was handled with so much consideration I loved it. At first, when the FMC’s weight was mentioned, I was like, here we go again, another girl who thinks she's too big, then gets too skinny, but no! She struggles and misses her weight and acknowledges that it’s mostly just genes. She only loses weight for medical reasons (because doctors never take any woman’s problems seriously, let alone a woman who's not as thin as a stick). I’m so glad this was handled with care.
There was honestly only one thing I didn’t like about the text: there is a constant ‘will-they-won’t-they”, getting together and backing out, rinse and repeat. This is just a personal pet peeve of mine (it reminds me a lot of the Ross and Rachel story arc but with better characters) so if you like that trope, this is perfect!
A few favourite things:
- Taylor Swift inspired chapter titles
- Enemies to lovers x forced proximity
- I’d love you even if you were a worm
- British x South African
- Cute kitty called Mr. Spock
Favourite Quotes:
“Woman and fandom culture single-handedly saved that show, yet our presence in the space is barely tolerated.”
“I will not take advice from that man. I would rather be lobotomised.”
“Bill Nye the Science Guy, except hot.”
“Rocket science is easy. Feelings are hard.”
“‘Do you guys think rocks have feelings?’ Eli asks loudly, snapping us out of our conversation. ‘I swear to god I’m going to kill you and feed you to the penguins,’”
“Earth really is one-of-a-kind. I mean, it’s also the only planet with chocolate,”
April 4, 2025
This enemies to lovers, forced proximity, slow burn, is a story wrapped in a warm hug. You know the hugs you get from your grandma? Those ones.
There is something about when two people really don’t like each other that fuels the fire for me.
Bianca Blake does an excellent job of showcasing James who is a little bit different and demisexual. P.S. I love it when an author showcases the neurospicy folk because they often get overlooked in romance novels as a main character. Not to mention the fact he explains, when given the chance. He is what I call a high-functioning human being while not being emotionally intelligent he checks the boxes for everything else. Tall, smart, career driven, and a little broken.
Blake took care to ensure not only her MMC but her FMC’s strengths and well as their weaknesses were outlined and rounded out to have a full view of character development and plot. & let me tell you the plot was insanely engaging. Two enemies stuck in a dome for 4 months, sign me up to watch it all unfold.
Rebecca is just as broken as James and the rivalry does no good for her. It messes with not only her writing but her mind & her confidence. As a writer, she creates a world outside of what she lives in. She is managing her chronic illness, writer’s block and serious imposter syndrome. Rebecca, Becky, Baxter, is a character we root for because we want her to succeed. Is she perfect? No, but she calls it like she sees it with James; their relationship is not based on intimacy, but rather communicating, showing up for one another when they need it most, and allowing space for each other.
In most enemies to lovers there is not only yearning but building towards the eventual relationship. With this book, I was consumed with their singular journeys as characters as well as when they would interact. The inner monologues were helpful to understand what each was thinking. It made me feel like I was a fly on a wall.
Run do not walk to go place your pre-order this book does not disappoint. I finished it in one sitting.
There is something about when two people really don’t like each other that fuels the fire for me.
Bianca Blake does an excellent job of showcasing James who is a little bit different and demisexual. P.S. I love it when an author showcases the neurospicy folk because they often get overlooked in romance novels as a main character. Not to mention the fact he explains, when given the chance. He is what I call a high-functioning human being while not being emotionally intelligent he checks the boxes for everything else. Tall, smart, career driven, and a little broken.
Blake took care to ensure not only her MMC but her FMC’s strengths and well as their weaknesses were outlined and rounded out to have a full view of character development and plot. & let me tell you the plot was insanely engaging. Two enemies stuck in a dome for 4 months, sign me up to watch it all unfold.
Rebecca is just as broken as James and the rivalry does no good for her. It messes with not only her writing but her mind & her confidence. As a writer, she creates a world outside of what she lives in. She is managing her chronic illness, writer’s block and serious imposter syndrome. Rebecca, Becky, Baxter, is a character we root for because we want her to succeed. Is she perfect? No, but she calls it like she sees it with James; their relationship is not based on intimacy, but rather communicating, showing up for one another when they need it most, and allowing space for each other.
In most enemies to lovers there is not only yearning but building towards the eventual relationship. With this book, I was consumed with their singular journeys as characters as well as when they would interact. The inner monologues were helpful to understand what each was thinking. It made me feel like I was a fly on a wall.
Run do not walk to go place your pre-order this book does not disappoint. I finished it in one sitting.
March 10, 2025
Thank you to MyUniverse PR and Bianca Blake for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
—
Bianca Blake has successfully filled a gap in romance that has been needing repair for a long time. The diverse characters , the mental- health representation, the LGBTQ+ representation and the body inclusivity within this book all combine to make a refreshing and heartwarming romance.
Firstly, the couple in this book are so cute!
Blake manipulates the common distant, grumpy MMC into a man that has trouble with social interactions and struggles with non-verbal communication- finally giving romance readers a reason for his personality traits. The couple initially dislike each other because of the MMC’s struggles to communicate and is insensitive when reviewing Rebecca’s book. It was refreshing to see an MMC who owned up to their mistakes and tried to rectify their behaviour, as well as reading about a FMC who doesn’t forgive blindly.
I loved the comments made about romance genre. The book acknowledges that society perceives romance as ‘fodder for women’ but Bianca Blake reassures her readers that Romance is a legitimate genre deserving of respect. People shouldn’t be shamed for reading what they love.
The outlook on ‘Friendship ‘ within this book was incredibly endearing. Both main characters have trouble making friends. Blake explains that friendship is not finding someone who is exactly the same as you but finding someone who ‘fills in the gaps’. This message was so powerful and I am so glad to see this expressed in the book.
My favourite character was definitely Eli. His ponderings on the ‘feelings’ of rocks were hilarious and I hope to see a future book with him as a MC!
—
Bianca Blake has successfully filled a gap in romance that has been needing repair for a long time. The diverse characters , the mental- health representation, the LGBTQ+ representation and the body inclusivity within this book all combine to make a refreshing and heartwarming romance.
Firstly, the couple in this book are so cute!
Blake manipulates the common distant, grumpy MMC into a man that has trouble with social interactions and struggles with non-verbal communication- finally giving romance readers a reason for his personality traits. The couple initially dislike each other because of the MMC’s struggles to communicate and is insensitive when reviewing Rebecca’s book. It was refreshing to see an MMC who owned up to their mistakes and tried to rectify their behaviour, as well as reading about a FMC who doesn’t forgive blindly.
I loved the comments made about romance genre. The book acknowledges that society perceives romance as ‘fodder for women’ but Bianca Blake reassures her readers that Romance is a legitimate genre deserving of respect. People shouldn’t be shamed for reading what they love.
The outlook on ‘Friendship ‘ within this book was incredibly endearing. Both main characters have trouble making friends. Blake explains that friendship is not finding someone who is exactly the same as you but finding someone who ‘fills in the gaps’. This message was so powerful and I am so glad to see this expressed in the book.
My favourite character was definitely Eli. His ponderings on the ‘feelings’ of rocks were hilarious and I hope to see a future book with him as a MC!
April 4, 2025
This book was really fun and sweet. I thoroughly enjoyed the characters and the concept. And I now know that no, I absolutely would not survive an experiment like this. Eight minute showers once a week? No, no thank you, ma'am.
Rebecca/Becky is a sci fi romance author with a physics degree. James is a space scientist with a book review YouTube channel. She wrote a book series. He reviewed her book. It was not nice. They fought. Things got ugly - online and in real life. And then she barfed on him.
She now hates his guts. He is now obsessed with her books. They both get picked for the Mars mission in Antarctica. Things are rough at the start, although it is immediately obvious that there is a lot more like & attraction than hate between them.
Their journey of learning about each other, recognizing triggers, addressing their own hangups, and practicing communication was really interesting and heartwarming.
Becky is struggling. She has writer's block and her contract is at risk. She has health issues she is dealing with and trying to address & manage. She has a lot of negrmative & toxic thought patterns & self talk habits she needs to change. Her inner dialogue about weight and body size was well-written and accurate.
James is a hot scientist who is autistic, and his approach to life is very specific and so, so relateable. He doesn't always get the joke, is used to being on the outside, says what he thinks and means what he says which people don't always appreciate, and he likes rules & structure. He is my favourite.
I received this book as an ARC and my review is based solely on my thoughts and feelings about the content of the story, nothing else.
Rebecca/Becky is a sci fi romance author with a physics degree. James is a space scientist with a book review YouTube channel. She wrote a book series. He reviewed her book. It was not nice. They fought. Things got ugly - online and in real life. And then she barfed on him.
She now hates his guts. He is now obsessed with her books. They both get picked for the Mars mission in Antarctica. Things are rough at the start, although it is immediately obvious that there is a lot more like & attraction than hate between them.
Their journey of learning about each other, recognizing triggers, addressing their own hangups, and practicing communication was really interesting and heartwarming.
Becky is struggling. She has writer's block and her contract is at risk. She has health issues she is dealing with and trying to address & manage. She has a lot of negrmative & toxic thought patterns & self talk habits she needs to change. Her inner dialogue about weight and body size was well-written and accurate.
James is a hot scientist who is autistic, and his approach to life is very specific and so, so relateable. He doesn't always get the joke, is used to being on the outside, says what he thinks and means what he says which people don't always appreciate, and he likes rules & structure. He is my favourite.
I received this book as an ARC and my review is based solely on my thoughts and feelings about the content of the story, nothing else.
March 10, 2025
I absolutely LOVED this! Rebecca is going through it after Reid drags her Sci-Fi Romance books in a review. She copes by murdering him in every. Single. Book. 😂
𝑭𝒖𝒄𝒌 𝒚𝒐𝒖, 𝑱𝒂𝒎𝒆𝒔 𝑹𝒆𝒊𝒅
Bianca did such a great job creating our two MCs. They felt like real people, not just characters in a book. I cried quite a few times since a lot of Rebecca’s inner struggles have been things I’ve slowly overcome over the years. Even some of Reid’s struggles I was able to relate to. This was so much more than just a rivals to lovers, forced proximity, STEM romance and it will always hold a special place in my heart 🥹 Even the side characters made me feel some type of way. Each one was supportive in their own way, and are the kind of people you want as friends/family yourself.
“𝑰 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒉𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒎𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒚.“
“𝑵𝒐𝒕 𝒊𝒇 𝒊𝒕’𝒔 𝒚𝒐𝒖, 𝒎𝒚 𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒕𝒍𝒆 𝒃𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒍𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒐𝒔.“
Rebecca and Reid’s love story is chaos vs organization, and I loved it! There was no “I’m sorry —> I love you” type of timeline. The dual POV really showed both of their struggles, hurdles, and things they both had misunderstood from the other. They worked it out like adults (sarcastic, bantering adults sometimes), but it also showed how even if something makes sense logically, until we hear it a few times we don’t believe it about ourselves. Their HEA was perfect, I absolutely devoured this book in one day, and I’m upset at myself that I wasn’t able to read it slower because I’m sad it’s over🥹🖤
Thank you so, so much for the author and My Universe PR!🫶🏻
𝑭𝒖𝒄𝒌 𝒚𝒐𝒖, 𝑱𝒂𝒎𝒆𝒔 𝑹𝒆𝒊𝒅
Bianca did such a great job creating our two MCs. They felt like real people, not just characters in a book. I cried quite a few times since a lot of Rebecca’s inner struggles have been things I’ve slowly overcome over the years. Even some of Reid’s struggles I was able to relate to. This was so much more than just a rivals to lovers, forced proximity, STEM romance and it will always hold a special place in my heart 🥹 Even the side characters made me feel some type of way. Each one was supportive in their own way, and are the kind of people you want as friends/family yourself.
“𝑰 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒉𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒎𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒚.“
“𝑵𝒐𝒕 𝒊𝒇 𝒊𝒕’𝒔 𝒚𝒐𝒖, 𝒎𝒚 𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒕𝒍𝒆 𝒃𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒍𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒐𝒔.“
Rebecca and Reid’s love story is chaos vs organization, and I loved it! There was no “I’m sorry —> I love you” type of timeline. The dual POV really showed both of their struggles, hurdles, and things they both had misunderstood from the other. They worked it out like adults (sarcastic, bantering adults sometimes), but it also showed how even if something makes sense logically, until we hear it a few times we don’t believe it about ourselves. Their HEA was perfect, I absolutely devoured this book in one day, and I’m upset at myself that I wasn’t able to read it slower because I’m sad it’s over🥹🖤
Thank you so, so much for the author and My Universe PR!🫶🏻
March 30, 2025
When Rebecca, the sci-fi author, ends up stuck with her archnemesis James, the astronomer, for FOUR FRICKING MONTHS after an online argument over his review of her book, you would think it is your typical dislike to love story. But here is the twist. James already likes her more than he wants to admit. He is neurospicy and DEMI so a lot of his reactions make sense.
I liked JoJo. I was with James when he asked, "which Dexter are we talking about? 🤔" As an Ace who devours smut (I know, how is that even possible 🤣), this might be my second ACE rep read. Oops, I did not even realize Ali’s The Love Hypothesis had ACE rep.
“𝘐’𝘮 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘨𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘪𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘯 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘢 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘮. 𝘐’𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢 𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘳𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘶𝘮 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘥𝘢𝘺. 𝘙𝘦𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘤𝘢 𝘉𝘢𝘹𝘵𝘦𝘳, 𝘐 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶, 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬. 𝘓𝘦𝘵’𝘴 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬.”
Omg, the chocolate cake part had me laughing so hard! 🤣 The spice was definitely on the fluffier side for me but I love a consent king who actually asks what SHE WANTS. Oh James, you get brownie points for that. I related so much to Rebecca’s insecurities and this man THE REASSURANCE HE GIVES HER EVEN WHEN HE IS AFRAID 🥹🤌🏻.
“𝘓𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘪𝘴𝘯’𝘵 𝘵𝘰𝘰 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘦. 𝘠𝘦𝘴, 𝘸𝘦 𝘮𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘦𝘹𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘧𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳’𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵’𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘦𝘯𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘺𝘰𝘶. 𝘛𝘰 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘦 𝘐 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦.”
The ending was so beautiful I did not even feel like this was Bianca’s debut. This is my honest opinion for the ARC I received. Thank you so much Bianca and My Universe PR for this opportunity!
I liked JoJo. I was with James when he asked, "which Dexter are we talking about? 🤔" As an Ace who devours smut (I know, how is that even possible 🤣), this might be my second ACE rep read. Oops, I did not even realize Ali’s The Love Hypothesis had ACE rep.
“𝘐’𝘮 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘨𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘪𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘯 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘢 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘮. 𝘐’𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢 𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘳𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘶𝘮 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘥𝘢𝘺. 𝘙𝘦𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘤𝘢 𝘉𝘢𝘹𝘵𝘦𝘳, 𝘐 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶, 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬. 𝘓𝘦𝘵’𝘴 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬.”
Omg, the chocolate cake part had me laughing so hard! 🤣 The spice was definitely on the fluffier side for me but I love a consent king who actually asks what SHE WANTS. Oh James, you get brownie points for that. I related so much to Rebecca’s insecurities and this man THE REASSURANCE HE GIVES HER EVEN WHEN HE IS AFRAID 🥹🤌🏻.
“𝘓𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘪𝘴𝘯’𝘵 𝘵𝘰𝘰 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘦. 𝘠𝘦𝘴, 𝘸𝘦 𝘮𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘦𝘹𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘧𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳’𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵’𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘦𝘯𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘺𝘰𝘶. 𝘛𝘰 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘦 𝘐 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦.”
The ending was so beautiful I did not even feel like this was Bianca’s debut. This is my honest opinion for the ARC I received. Thank you so much Bianca and My Universe PR for this opportunity!
April 11, 2025
Tropes:-
❄️Forced proximity
❄️Dislike to Love
❄️Neurodivergent and Demi MMC
❄️STEM Romance
❄️Plus Size FMC
❄️Isolated Setting
Spice level:- 🌶🌶🌶
ARC REVIEW:-
This was such cute and fun book, I absolutely loved it❤️ The chemistry between the couple and also the banter between them was amazing. This book also beautifully portrayed the message of body positivity, as someone who has always struggled with their body this book felt like a warm hug to me❤️.
I absolutely loved James, he was such a gentleman and a gem of a person. He literally bought the special version of Rebecca's book even after their argument when they were enemies and he literally annotated the whole book beautiful and gave the book yo Rebecca when she was hoing through a writers block. Also he never gave up on Rebecca when she thought it was best if they broke up, even though he has suffered in the past.
I also loved the character of Rebecca, she was such a strong character. Even though she felt like giving up on her writing career, she later didn't and worked upon herself and finally wrote the book.
I also absolutely loved the side characters in this book , they were so funny and supportive.
Overall, I loved this book❤️If you love reading Ali Hazelwood books with women in STEM and enemies to lovers with the bonus of Dual POV's then you will love this book.
Thank you so much My Universe PR and Author Bianca Blake for providing me with the ARC 😊 ❤️.
❄️Forced proximity
❄️Dislike to Love
❄️Neurodivergent and Demi MMC
❄️STEM Romance
❄️Plus Size FMC
❄️Isolated Setting
Spice level:- 🌶🌶🌶
ARC REVIEW:-
This was such cute and fun book, I absolutely loved it❤️ The chemistry between the couple and also the banter between them was amazing. This book also beautifully portrayed the message of body positivity, as someone who has always struggled with their body this book felt like a warm hug to me❤️.
I absolutely loved James, he was such a gentleman and a gem of a person. He literally bought the special version of Rebecca's book even after their argument when they were enemies and he literally annotated the whole book beautiful and gave the book yo Rebecca when she was hoing through a writers block. Also he never gave up on Rebecca when she thought it was best if they broke up, even though he has suffered in the past.
I also loved the character of Rebecca, she was such a strong character. Even though she felt like giving up on her writing career, she later didn't and worked upon herself and finally wrote the book.
I also absolutely loved the side characters in this book , they were so funny and supportive.
Overall, I loved this book❤️If you love reading Ali Hazelwood books with women in STEM and enemies to lovers with the bonus of Dual POV's then you will love this book.
Thank you so much My Universe PR and Author Bianca Blake for providing me with the ARC 😊 ❤️.
March 31, 2025
My oh my, is this going to be your next romcom obsession for sure 🪐👽
Love Below Zero is a dual POV romcom that is perfect for fans of Ali Hazelwood (and no, it’s not just because they both have to do with ✨science✨). With witty banter and clever writing, this was such a fun and original story with memorable characters. Becca and James had such good chemistry, and as the book progressed, it was apparent that they understood one another on a fundamental level which made the relationship all more believable. Our main characters also had discussions regarding neurodiversity, chronic illness, mental health, and body weight/image and these were handled with a lot of care.
Is it just me, or is there a resurgence in blonde MMCs that I’m actually rooting for?
An aspect that I felt was handled so well is that both Becca and James had their own journeys to undertake during the book that was a healthy addition to their love story. I appreciated the characterisation of the side characters to be more than just props in the background — even though it’s a romcom, friendship is so important and I love seeing healthy friendships depicted in books as well. I really enjoyed Jules’ character and would love to hopefully see her in her own book one day!
Thank you to My Universe PR and Bianca Blake for sending me this ARC. This was a strong debut and I can’t wait to see what Bianca does next!
Love Below Zero is a dual POV romcom that is perfect for fans of Ali Hazelwood (and no, it’s not just because they both have to do with ✨science✨). With witty banter and clever writing, this was such a fun and original story with memorable characters. Becca and James had such good chemistry, and as the book progressed, it was apparent that they understood one another on a fundamental level which made the relationship all more believable. Our main characters also had discussions regarding neurodiversity, chronic illness, mental health, and body weight/image and these were handled with a lot of care.
Is it just me, or is there a resurgence in blonde MMCs that I’m actually rooting for?
An aspect that I felt was handled so well is that both Becca and James had their own journeys to undertake during the book that was a healthy addition to their love story. I appreciated the characterisation of the side characters to be more than just props in the background — even though it’s a romcom, friendship is so important and I love seeing healthy friendships depicted in books as well. I really enjoyed Jules’ character and would love to hopefully see her in her own book one day!
Thank you to My Universe PR and Bianca Blake for sending me this ARC. This was a strong debut and I can’t wait to see what Bianca does next!
April 6, 2025
Love Below Zero by Bianca Blake
Out April 10th!
Thank you, My Universe PR, for entrusting me with an early copy!
Dual POV, STEM romance, hate to love, sci-fi romance author FMC, demisexual, neurodivergent MMC, mental health rep, banter, good girl, she unalives him in her books, did I mention the BANTER, FMC and MMC in 30s, dealing with health issues, no third act break up, standalone, HEA
Becky is an author who writes romantic space operas. Well, she does for now, if she doesn't lose her contract. She has been having a terrible case of writer's block that stemmed from the very man she now is going to have to spend 4 months with. James didn't intend for his book review to turn into a feud, and now he regrets it, but when he and Becky interact they seem to not be able to help but bicker. But they are now going to be on a 5 person mission in Antarctica for a study replicating a Mars mission. Can they overcome their difference and work together?
This book was SO good. It made me feel all the feels and I cried during it and then at the end with happy tears. I adore representation of different expressions of love and neurodivergent individuals. That plus the health struggles Becky was going through made this book so real and relatable! I also very much appreciated how Becky and James handled their third act not break up conversation. This is Bianca's debut book, but she is now an auto buy author for me!
Out April 10th!
Thank you, My Universe PR, for entrusting me with an early copy!
Dual POV, STEM romance, hate to love, sci-fi romance author FMC, demisexual, neurodivergent MMC, mental health rep, banter, good girl, she unalives him in her books, did I mention the BANTER, FMC and MMC in 30s, dealing with health issues, no third act break up, standalone, HEA
Becky is an author who writes romantic space operas. Well, she does for now, if she doesn't lose her contract. She has been having a terrible case of writer's block that stemmed from the very man she now is going to have to spend 4 months with. James didn't intend for his book review to turn into a feud, and now he regrets it, but when he and Becky interact they seem to not be able to help but bicker. But they are now going to be on a 5 person mission in Antarctica for a study replicating a Mars mission. Can they overcome their difference and work together?
This book was SO good. It made me feel all the feels and I cried during it and then at the end with happy tears. I adore representation of different expressions of love and neurodivergent individuals. That plus the health struggles Becky was going through made this book so real and relatable! I also very much appreciated how Becky and James handled their third act not break up conversation. This is Bianca's debut book, but she is now an auto buy author for me!
April 28, 2025
First of all, I want to thank Bianca Blake for generously giving me an ARC of this story.
This is my new favorite romance story. Possibly my new favorite book. I’m not joking. This book has literally changed my perspective on romance. On sci-fi. On spice.
I was not really a fan of either of those before starting Love Below Zero, but wow, am I so glad I read this book. It’s sexy, yet sweet. Blake writes in a style that’s easy to read, fast-paced, and approachable.
Can we talk about the enemies to lovers arc too? Because this book has some of the best tension I’ve read in a very long time. I was laughing out loud. Then screaming out loud. Then banging my knee, slapping the table because I was rooting for these two so hard.
I think we can all see ourselves, or at least parts of ourselves in James and Rebecca, and Blake does an amazing job of characterizing them. They have fears. Flaws. But most importantly, they work so well together. They care about each other. And (no spoilers) end on such a sweet note.
This book is so original, too. Such a breath of fresh air in the romance genre. And with great representation too—for disabilities, for autism, for the LGBTQ+ community—I could go on and on.
Please do yourself a favor and pick up this book. You won’t regret it. And I’m highly looking forward to Blake’s next reads too.
Thanks again to Bianca Blake for the ARC!
This is my new favorite romance story. Possibly my new favorite book. I’m not joking. This book has literally changed my perspective on romance. On sci-fi. On spice.
I was not really a fan of either of those before starting Love Below Zero, but wow, am I so glad I read this book. It’s sexy, yet sweet. Blake writes in a style that’s easy to read, fast-paced, and approachable.
Can we talk about the enemies to lovers arc too? Because this book has some of the best tension I’ve read in a very long time. I was laughing out loud. Then screaming out loud. Then banging my knee, slapping the table because I was rooting for these two so hard.
I think we can all see ourselves, or at least parts of ourselves in James and Rebecca, and Blake does an amazing job of characterizing them. They have fears. Flaws. But most importantly, they work so well together. They care about each other. And (no spoilers) end on such a sweet note.
This book is so original, too. Such a breath of fresh air in the romance genre. And with great representation too—for disabilities, for autism, for the LGBTQ+ community—I could go on and on.
Please do yourself a favor and pick up this book. You won’t regret it. And I’m highly looking forward to Blake’s next reads too.
Thanks again to Bianca Blake for the ARC!
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