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The Naughty Professor
One shy professor. One seductive alter-ego. One dangerously sexy experiment.
Dr. Felix Sterling is a genius in the chemistry lab… and a total disaster everywhere else. Especially when it comes to charming the university’s golden boy, Professor Thorne Carr. Felix is awkward, anxious, and secretly head-over-lab goggles for the man—but confidence isn’t exactly something you can synthesize… or is it?
Desperate to impress, Felix whips up a serum designed to boost his boldness. What he gets is Jax—a dangerously hot, ridiculously smooth alter-ego who turns heads, breaks hearts, and flirts like it’s a sport. Jax doesn’t just talk to Thorne—he seduces him. Fast.
Thorne’s hooked. But the closer Jax gets, the more tangled things become. Because juggling a double life is volatile, and Jax’s ego isn’t just a side effect—it’s a full-blown takeover. Felix is left wondering if Thorne’s falling for him... or the fantasy he created.
Can Felix come clean before the truth detonates? Or is this one experiment destined to blow up in his face?
The Naughty Professor is a laugh-out-loud, steam-soaked MM rom-com full of lab shenanigans, fake identities, opposites-attract tension, and explosive chemistry—in and out of the classroom.
Dr. Felix Sterling is a genius in the chemistry lab… and a total disaster everywhere else. Especially when it comes to charming the university’s golden boy, Professor Thorne Carr. Felix is awkward, anxious, and secretly head-over-lab goggles for the man—but confidence isn’t exactly something you can synthesize… or is it?
Desperate to impress, Felix whips up a serum designed to boost his boldness. What he gets is Jax—a dangerously hot, ridiculously smooth alter-ego who turns heads, breaks hearts, and flirts like it’s a sport. Jax doesn’t just talk to Thorne—he seduces him. Fast.
Thorne’s hooked. But the closer Jax gets, the more tangled things become. Because juggling a double life is volatile, and Jax’s ego isn’t just a side effect—it’s a full-blown takeover. Felix is left wondering if Thorne’s falling for him... or the fantasy he created.
Can Felix come clean before the truth detonates? Or is this one experiment destined to blow up in his face?
The Naughty Professor is a laugh-out-loud, steam-soaked MM rom-com full of lab shenanigans, fake identities, opposites-attract tension, and explosive chemistry—in and out of the classroom.
195 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 16, 2025
About the author
Ian O. Lewis
51 books56 followersIan writes LGBTQ fiction, mainly romance. Growing up, he could never find many books portraying guys like him, so now he's helping to fill the shelves with gay-friendly tales. He tends to write more romance, because he loves nothing more than a happily ever after.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
Did Not Finish
September 9, 2026DNF. Well, that’s a first. A book by Ian O. Lewis that I couldn’t even finish. I made it about halfway and then Jax appeared. He was supposed to be sexy and charming. I found him boorish and obnoxious. I already thought the book had too much inner monologue, but I liked Felix much more than Jax. I guess it was supposed to be funny. It wasn’t.
November 28, 2025
Rating: ⭐⭐
Spice: 🌶️
The Naughty Professor starts with a premise that really grabbed me: Felix, the awkward and endearing chemistry professor, develops a serum that completely changes his personality, turning him into someone confident, bold, and charming. Paired with Thorne — the admired, polished philosophy professor — it sets the stage for what could have been a funny, touching romcom about self-worth and unexpected attraction.
But for me, the story never grows beyond that initial idea.
We watch Felix use the serum twice: the first time leads to a night with Thorne, and the second ends abruptly when the serum wears off mid-performance. Felix confesses everything — in front of Thorne and the whole audience — they hug, and then we’re immediately thrown into an epilogue five years later where they’re married and the serum is widely used.
And that’s where I struggled.
All the romance, all the emotional development, all the reasons why these two fall in love… happen off-page. We don’t see their relationship forming, we don’t know if Felix ever grows comfortable in his own skin, or even whether Thorne fell for him or for the serum-altered version.
Which leads to the part that sat uneasily with me: the message.
By the end, it feels like Felix’s happiness — and his chance at love — comes only after completely changing who he is. The book unintentionally suggests that being shy, insecure, or socially awkward means being overlooked, and the only solution is to become someone else entirely, even at great personal risk. I wish the story had explored this more, or challenged it, because there was a real opportunity for depth there.
In the end, it felt like reading the beginning and the ending of a much larger story, without getting the actual journey in between — the one where the romance, growth, and emotional payoff should have been.
Spice: 🌶️
The Naughty Professor starts with a premise that really grabbed me: Felix, the awkward and endearing chemistry professor, develops a serum that completely changes his personality, turning him into someone confident, bold, and charming. Paired with Thorne — the admired, polished philosophy professor — it sets the stage for what could have been a funny, touching romcom about self-worth and unexpected attraction.
But for me, the story never grows beyond that initial idea.
We watch Felix use the serum twice: the first time leads to a night with Thorne, and the second ends abruptly when the serum wears off mid-performance. Felix confesses everything — in front of Thorne and the whole audience — they hug, and then we’re immediately thrown into an epilogue five years later where they’re married and the serum is widely used.
And that’s where I struggled.
All the romance, all the emotional development, all the reasons why these two fall in love… happen off-page. We don’t see their relationship forming, we don’t know if Felix ever grows comfortable in his own skin, or even whether Thorne fell for him or for the serum-altered version.
Which leads to the part that sat uneasily with me: the message.
By the end, it feels like Felix’s happiness — and his chance at love — comes only after completely changing who he is. The book unintentionally suggests that being shy, insecure, or socially awkward means being overlooked, and the only solution is to become someone else entirely, even at great personal risk. I wish the story had explored this more, or challenged it, because there was a real opportunity for depth there.
In the end, it felt like reading the beginning and the ending of a much larger story, without getting the actual journey in between — the one where the romance, growth, and emotional payoff should have been.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 28, 2026
The Naughty Professor was an absolute blast. Ian O. Lewis takes a wonderfully bonkers premise, a shy chemistry professor who creates a confidence serum that unleashes his charismatic alter ego, and turns it into a funny, sexy, and surprisingly heartfelt MM rom-com. I was hooked from the first chapter.
Felix is impossible not to root for. Watching him battle his anxiety while trying to win the attention of the handsome Professor Thorne Carr makes for a genuinely engaging romance. Then Jax arrives and the story kicks into another gear. I absolutely loved Jax. He was funny, fearless, sexy, and endlessly entertaining. More than that, I loved the idea that Jax wasn’t really someone else. He was the confident part of Felix that had always been there. I wanted to see Felix discover that Jax had never been a fantasy or a separate person. He had always been inside him, waiting for Felix to believe in himself.
For most of the novel, I was convinced this was going to be a five-star read.
Then I reached the final 40 pages.
The ending isn’t bad. I just wanted more. After spending so much time with these characters, I would happily have read another hundred pages. I wanted to see Felix and Thorne’s relationship develop beyond the happily ever after. I also wanted the novel to spend more time exploring what it really means to accept yourself and grow into the person you already have the potential to be, instead of relying on a chemical shortcut.
The emotional payoff came a little too quickly and easily for me, and I never got the chance to really enjoy the characters living their ending.
That said, this is still an easy recommendation. It’s witty, charming, delightfully steamy, and full of heart. I closed the book smiling. I just wish I’d had another hundred pages before I had to say goodbye.
Felix is impossible not to root for. Watching him battle his anxiety while trying to win the attention of the handsome Professor Thorne Carr makes for a genuinely engaging romance. Then Jax arrives and the story kicks into another gear. I absolutely loved Jax. He was funny, fearless, sexy, and endlessly entertaining. More than that, I loved the idea that Jax wasn’t really someone else. He was the confident part of Felix that had always been there. I wanted to see Felix discover that Jax had never been a fantasy or a separate person. He had always been inside him, waiting for Felix to believe in himself.
For most of the novel, I was convinced this was going to be a five-star read.
Then I reached the final 40 pages.
The ending isn’t bad. I just wanted more. After spending so much time with these characters, I would happily have read another hundred pages. I wanted to see Felix and Thorne’s relationship develop beyond the happily ever after. I also wanted the novel to spend more time exploring what it really means to accept yourself and grow into the person you already have the potential to be, instead of relying on a chemical shortcut.
The emotional payoff came a little too quickly and easily for me, and I never got the chance to really enjoy the characters living their ending.
That said, this is still an easy recommendation. It’s witty, charming, delightfully steamy, and full of heart. I closed the book smiling. I just wish I’d had another hundred pages before I had to say goodbye.
October 25, 2025
I started reading this book and was fascinated, curious, definitely committed to continuing. From the outset something about it was intriguing. The nerdy science professor, the off-limits history professor, the clingy head of faculty, the hilarious TA. It all melded perfectly with no hint of where it was going but enough information, character building, setting creation, to make it addictive!
Addictive could be a good word to describe where the story went next, at least in terms of what was happening to the characters who may or may not become addicted to the sensation of having an alter ego. How to explain this? Not so simple which is one of the joys of this book. It's deceptive. You begin thinking you are reading a nice, steamy, College professor romance, a sort of opposites attract. What is delivered is so much more and it has a fascinating message underlying it too - a debate about ethics, philosophy, and whether a chemically induced change is really what people need to find their inner selves, their bravery and courage.
Every step of the way I was fascinated by what Dr. Felix Sterling would do next, would he blow up the lab, cause himself irreparable damage or something much more unpredictable? Would Professor Thorne see the real Dr. Sterling? What about Jax, how would he cope... It was all fascinating, absorbing, hilarious and hot. The comedy is spot on, the reader should not take themselves or the characters too seriously when reading this and should certainly not try to do any of the experiments Delix tries. Other than that? Sit back and enjoy the ride. It's a wild one!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Addictive could be a good word to describe where the story went next, at least in terms of what was happening to the characters who may or may not become addicted to the sensation of having an alter ego. How to explain this? Not so simple which is one of the joys of this book. It's deceptive. You begin thinking you are reading a nice, steamy, College professor romance, a sort of opposites attract. What is delivered is so much more and it has a fascinating message underlying it too - a debate about ethics, philosophy, and whether a chemically induced change is really what people need to find their inner selves, their bravery and courage.
Every step of the way I was fascinated by what Dr. Felix Sterling would do next, would he blow up the lab, cause himself irreparable damage or something much more unpredictable? Would Professor Thorne see the real Dr. Sterling? What about Jax, how would he cope... It was all fascinating, absorbing, hilarious and hot. The comedy is spot on, the reader should not take themselves or the characters too seriously when reading this and should certainly not try to do any of the experiments Delix tries. Other than that? Sit back and enjoy the ride. It's a wild one!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
November 15, 2025
Felix/Jax and Thorne . . .
Dr. Felix Sterling has a shy personality but is an amazing chemist. He currently has an interest in Professor Thorne Carr, but his introvert personality makes him awkward and he knows he has no chance to win over Thorne... unless his could use chemistry to give him the attributes he needs. Felix wants to be bold and confident. So he creates Jax, an alter-ego who has the confidence to go after what he wants. But sometimes those bold, fearless attributes can go too far and end up breaking hearts and hurting people. But desperate times call for desperate measures, so Felix decides to give it a try. Felix can't help but wonder if Thorne's new interest in him is for "Felix" or for "Jax"? He really should confess to Thorne what he has done. It's not exactly fair to hide the truth from him. Will they both be hurt by what started out as his good intentions? Or is it always wise to be loved for who you are? Can any good come out of this situation?
Dr. Felix Sterling has a shy personality but is an amazing chemist. He currently has an interest in Professor Thorne Carr, but his introvert personality makes him awkward and he knows he has no chance to win over Thorne... unless his could use chemistry to give him the attributes he needs. Felix wants to be bold and confident. So he creates Jax, an alter-ego who has the confidence to go after what he wants. But sometimes those bold, fearless attributes can go too far and end up breaking hearts and hurting people. But desperate times call for desperate measures, so Felix decides to give it a try. Felix can't help but wonder if Thorne's new interest in him is for "Felix" or for "Jax"? He really should confess to Thorne what he has done. It's not exactly fair to hide the truth from him. Will they both be hurt by what started out as his good intentions? Or is it always wise to be loved for who you are? Can any good come out of this situation?
December 31, 2025
Felix is a professor at the same university as Thorne. Felix is attracted to Thorne but becomes tongue-tied and all thumbs around Thorne. He has read about an experiment in one of his journals about a serum that changes a person's personality and confidence level. As he reads through it, he sees where the original experimenter went wrong. He decides he can improve on it. So he makes and takes the serum. He is turned into Jax, a well-built sexy stripper who attracts Thorne as well as most of the town. Will Thorne be attracted to Felix after he has had Jax? Can Felix develop the confidence he had as Jax?
I enjoyed this story a lot. It was fun and full of humor. You know, of course, the serum has problems. I liked the effect of Jax on the campus. I also liked the effect the serum had on his assistant. She was snarky before the serum.
This was one of my favorite reads of 2025. Mr. Lewis is becoming one of my favorite authors.
I enjoyed this story a lot. It was fun and full of humor. You know, of course, the serum has problems. I liked the effect of Jax on the campus. I also liked the effect the serum had on his assistant. She was snarky before the serum.
This was one of my favorite reads of 2025. Mr. Lewis is becoming one of my favorite authors.
November 20, 2025
THIS WAS A BREATH OF FRESH AIR!💕
I enjoy this writers writing style and this book was totally different from the usual and what a breath of fresh air it was!
A type of sexy Dr Jackal and shy Mr Hyde scenario ensues when a personality enhanced serum is improved by a shy chemistry professor Dr Felix Sterling who tests it on himself with hilarious consequences!
Jax is awakened to improve Felix’s introvert personality and maybe finally have the courage to ask his four year long crush out - Philosophy Professor Dr Thorn Carr, but Jax has other ideas…😈
I loved the side characters of the two female faculty members who were entranced by Jax/Felix and who played a major role in his time as Jax!
A lighthearted romcom with adorable characters with a moral storyline and a sweet epilogue five years later!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I enjoy this writers writing style and this book was totally different from the usual and what a breath of fresh air it was!
A type of sexy Dr Jackal and shy Mr Hyde scenario ensues when a personality enhanced serum is improved by a shy chemistry professor Dr Felix Sterling who tests it on himself with hilarious consequences!
Jax is awakened to improve Felix’s introvert personality and maybe finally have the courage to ask his four year long crush out - Philosophy Professor Dr Thorn Carr, but Jax has other ideas…😈
I loved the side characters of the two female faculty members who were entranced by Jax/Felix and who played a major role in his time as Jax!
A lighthearted romcom with adorable characters with a moral storyline and a sweet epilogue five years later!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
November 5, 2025
ARC review
This was something else. I'm still laughing, long after putting away the book. It was hilarious, crazy and catchy. I loved it. Not the usual book I would read, but now I'll look for more of this. I was engrossed in the story and switched between laughing or blushing.
A shy professor with absolutely no confidence gets his hands on a formula to a serum that brings forth his alter-ego. All this to get the attention of his co worker, professor Thorne Carr. The chemistry is explosive.
Very entertaining and well worth your time. If you love humor and witty banter take a chance on this one and let it brighten up your day.
This was something else. I'm still laughing, long after putting away the book. It was hilarious, crazy and catchy. I loved it. Not the usual book I would read, but now I'll look for more of this. I was engrossed in the story and switched between laughing or blushing.
A shy professor with absolutely no confidence gets his hands on a formula to a serum that brings forth his alter-ego. All this to get the attention of his co worker, professor Thorne Carr. The chemistry is explosive.
Very entertaining and well worth your time. If you love humor and witty banter take a chance on this one and let it brighten up your day.
November 25, 2025
'The formula was dangerous. It could kill me.
But what was worse— dying in the attempt, or living the rest of my life as the forgotten boy on the curb?'
I remember watching The Nutty Professor as a kid and thought it was fun and funny. What a fun concept to turn into a romance. I really enjoyed this book. Good world building and wonderful characters. I loved both Felix and Thorne. Felix's confident alter ego Jax is exactly how Felix wanted to be... wasn't he? I enjoyed this book, was curious to see where it would go, and liked the supporting characters. 5 stars
But what was worse— dying in the attempt, or living the rest of my life as the forgotten boy on the curb?'
I remember watching The Nutty Professor as a kid and thought it was fun and funny. What a fun concept to turn into a romance. I really enjoyed this book. Good world building and wonderful characters. I loved both Felix and Thorne. Felix's confident alter ego Jax is exactly how Felix wanted to be... wasn't he? I enjoyed this book, was curious to see where it would go, and liked the supporting characters. 5 stars
October 19, 2025
Loved this. Trying to escape his boring life Felix, refines a cocktail he read about and injects it. It turns him into Jax. A man with lots of confidence who goes after what he wants. One evening he is dancing on stage in a local gay bar and his crush, Thorne comes in.
At the end of the book the author does say he loved the Nutty Professor, so do I could see Jerry Lewis as Felix.
An entertaining read.
At the end of the book the author does say he loved the Nutty Professor, so do I could see Jerry Lewis as Felix.
An entertaining read.
October 28, 2025
This story isn't bad but there are so many caricatures in here it was hard to like anyone. The whole thing left a bad taste in my mouth. The main MMCs barely got to know each other on page and the epilogue was so far in the future, you really don't get to know how they got to where they are. The spice was hot for once scene, and that's it. Overall, I feel very meh about the story and a bit disappointed.
Read
November 16, 2025Absolutely Delightful! Felix, is a shy supernerd with no chill. He crushes on Thorne and creates a solution that creates a totally hot irresistable alter ego, Jax. It works and Thorne swallows the bait, whole. Then Felix doubts his solution. Funny, hot, delightful with a hot mess chill. Ian created crazy funny hot sexy characters. Well done! Love the cover art! I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving a review.
September 7, 2026
So funny but also philosophical
A hilarious story about a scientist who wants to become a more confident version of himself and get the guy he's been crushing on. Great characters, both male and female, but the best part is the lesson that maybe what we want is already inside us. Very well told.
A hilarious story about a scientist who wants to become a more confident version of himself and get the guy he's been crushing on. Great characters, both male and female, but the best part is the lesson that maybe what we want is already inside us. Very well told.
October 31, 2025
I love this retelling of the Jerry Lewis movie, The Nutty Professor!
There were a few times that I didn't like Jax, but overall, he was funny. I loved Felix because I saw parts of him in myself.
It's been a bit since I had a book that I couldn't put down and read it in a day.
There were a few times that I didn't like Jax, but overall, he was funny. I loved Felix because I saw parts of him in myself.
It's been a bit since I had a book that I couldn't put down and read it in a day.
November 22, 2025
The Naughty Professor was such a fun book. This is a steamy, opposites attract read about Felix/Jax and Thorn. Anyone who lived in the 90's might remember this was a storyline on one of the TGIF shows, and I loved it as much now as I did then.
April 27, 2026
It's fluff. Felix is a chemistry professor, and Thorne is a philosophy professor. Felix wants Thorne so he comes up with a formula that changes him into Jax. Thorne bites. The formula goes worldwide and nobody is the wiser,
November 14, 2025
I really liked this story, it was a sweet and fun read about Professor Felix Sterling who gets an alter ego called Jax as he tries and succeeds to win over Professor Thorne Carr.
August 31, 2026
The story was too crazy and bizarre for me. The romance was barely there, epilogue jumped ahead skipping all the relationship development. The message of the book was also weak
November 11, 2025
I've recently become of huge fan of Ian O. Lewis, so I picked up this book and started it without knowing anything more than the title and I was sure in for a surprise.
A take on The Nutty Professor, our dorky, lovable chemistry professor Felix whips up a serum to help him become someone better. A sexier, more confident version of himself named Jax. And hilarity ensues...
It was a very cute and fun story. I will admit that its not my cup of tea exactly, because I don't really go for the sillier side of things, but thats personal taste. Silly, fun, and fantastical is exactly what it was going for and it hit the nail on the head.
If you're in the mood for something lighthearted and with a cute romance, this is a perfect pick. The whole thing, including the minor character is real hoot and worth your time.
A take on The Nutty Professor, our dorky, lovable chemistry professor Felix whips up a serum to help him become someone better. A sexier, more confident version of himself named Jax. And hilarity ensues...
It was a very cute and fun story. I will admit that its not my cup of tea exactly, because I don't really go for the sillier side of things, but thats personal taste. Silly, fun, and fantastical is exactly what it was going for and it hit the nail on the head.
If you're in the mood for something lighthearted and with a cute romance, this is a perfect pick. The whole thing, including the minor character is real hoot and worth your time.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews