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Grad or Die Romance #1
The Statistically Unlikely Rebound
What happens when two overthinking, super compatible nerds meet at exactly the wrong time?
When my fiancé dumps me 29 days before I'm supposed to move across the country to join him (in an apartment I've already contributed rent to) I am... shocked. Horrified. A tad worried about my impending homelessness.
Since I'm not about to back out of a MIT postdoc over a guy, I… move. So what if my bank account’s a dumpster fire and I don't know anyone else in the city?
Then, minutes before my housewarming, my downstairs neighbor –Professor Lars Berg-Anderson, the notoriously antisocial Ice Man of MIT– informs me Ethan's bringing his new, pregnant girlfriend.
In an absolute panic, I impulsively suggest Lars kiss me. Lars is… hot. Ethan hates him. Everyone will believe I'm the one who traded up.
From there, the ill-conceived, not-planned fake-dating just... happens. Yes, Lars is objectively attractive and we are stupidly compatible. But, I just got out of an engagement and Lars believes relationships have an “unfavorable benefit to effort ratio”. Thus, there's no way our for-show, utterly fake, rebound relationship can last… right?
The Statistically Unlikely Rebound is a nerdy, slow burn, spicy, standalone workplace romance. HEA guaranteed.
When my fiancé dumps me 29 days before I'm supposed to move across the country to join him (in an apartment I've already contributed rent to) I am... shocked. Horrified. A tad worried about my impending homelessness.
Since I'm not about to back out of a MIT postdoc over a guy, I… move. So what if my bank account’s a dumpster fire and I don't know anyone else in the city?
Then, minutes before my housewarming, my downstairs neighbor –Professor Lars Berg-Anderson, the notoriously antisocial Ice Man of MIT– informs me Ethan's bringing his new, pregnant girlfriend.
In an absolute panic, I impulsively suggest Lars kiss me. Lars is… hot. Ethan hates him. Everyone will believe I'm the one who traded up.
From there, the ill-conceived, not-planned fake-dating just... happens. Yes, Lars is objectively attractive and we are stupidly compatible. But, I just got out of an engagement and Lars believes relationships have an “unfavorable benefit to effort ratio”. Thus, there's no way our for-show, utterly fake, rebound relationship can last… right?
The Statistically Unlikely Rebound is a nerdy, slow burn, spicy, standalone workplace romance. HEA guaranteed.
422 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 14, 2026
About the author
Parker Elling
4 books93 followersI'm a former high school teacher and chemical engineer who thrives on reading and writing slow burn spicy romances focused on competent women who find their HEAs with fabulous book boyfriends.
From late 2024-2025 I actually wrote three very loosely/in-the-same universe contemporary romances... all of which are coming out in 2026.
Daisy's Story: The Statistically Unlikely Rebound was my first attempt at a fun/light contemporary. It features (potentially too many) geeky/nerd-culture board games and references, chaotic friends, found family and some graduate school/academic drama.
Lorelai's Story: The Statistically Unlikely Reunion is a far more angst-filled second-chance romance that takes place across two timelines (when they're college-aged and also, when they're reunited through a destination wedding). You'll still see those chaotic found-family friends, lots of accurate science details (that may or may not be your thing) and a well-earned HEA. While Daisy's story only has one epilogue, I really wanted to right that second bonus ending for Lorelai, and so there is a free secondary epilogue that is linked here: https://www.parkerelling.com/Lorelai
Though I WILL be getting to Gwendy's story soon (The Statistically Unlikely Meet-Cute, it's 2/5th written as of July 2026), I became so emotionally invested/distracted by a side character (Brody of bro-dude fame) from Lorelai's story... Brody's still-untitled novel is already complete and, after more rounds of editing, will be the next book out!
You can find out more about my books at www.parkerelling.com.
From late 2024-2025 I actually wrote three very loosely/in-the-same universe contemporary romances... all of which are coming out in 2026.
Daisy's Story: The Statistically Unlikely Rebound was my first attempt at a fun/light contemporary. It features (potentially too many) geeky/nerd-culture board games and references, chaotic friends, found family and some graduate school/academic drama.
Lorelai's Story: The Statistically Unlikely Reunion is a far more angst-filled second-chance romance that takes place across two timelines (when they're college-aged and also, when they're reunited through a destination wedding). You'll still see those chaotic found-family friends, lots of accurate science details (that may or may not be your thing) and a well-earned HEA. While Daisy's story only has one epilogue, I really wanted to right that second bonus ending for Lorelai, and so there is a free secondary epilogue that is linked here: https://www.parkerelling.com/Lorelai
Though I WILL be getting to Gwendy's story soon (The Statistically Unlikely Meet-Cute, it's 2/5th written as of July 2026), I became so emotionally invested/distracted by a side character (Brody of bro-dude fame) from Lorelai's story... Brody's still-untitled novel is already complete and, after more rounds of editing, will be the next book out!
You can find out more about my books at www.parkerelling.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 91 reviews
March 13, 2026
Two extremely intelligent people make increasingly questionable life decisions while pretending their feelings are just part of a very rational and totally normal “arrangement.”
Daisy gets dumped by her fiancé right before moving for a prestigious postdoc, but instead of canceling the move and hiding in a blanket like a human burrito (you know, like a normal person??) she commits to the chaos and ends up fake dating her ex’s academic rival. Full steam ahead into a highly questionable social experiment involving feelings and revenge dating.
Then we have Lars who starts off with all the emotional warmth of a spreadsheet. This dude approaches relationships like a cost-benefit analysis and seems convinced that feelings are an inefficient use of time. Watching him slowly realise he's developing those pesky emotions anyway is one of the funniest parts of the book. Every interaction feels like he's glitching 😂
These two are ridiculous because both of them insist they’re being super logical about the whole fake dating thing while spiraling into mutual pining and a slow emotional meltdown. The setting also adds this very specific flavour of drama where people are technically being polite but the tension is crazy thick.
The STEM setting actually matters. It's not just a backdrop. These aren't just “hot smart people who occasionally mention science.” They're full-blown mathematicians who approach emotions like they’re solving a theorem.
The middle drags a little and some beats are predictable if you read a lot of fake dating romances, but by that point I was fully invested in watching two emotionally repressed nerds try to out-logic their own feelings.
Daisy gets dumped by her fiancé right before moving for a prestigious postdoc, but instead of canceling the move and hiding in a blanket like a human burrito (you know, like a normal person??) she commits to the chaos and ends up fake dating her ex’s academic rival. Full steam ahead into a highly questionable social experiment involving feelings and revenge dating.
Then we have Lars who starts off with all the emotional warmth of a spreadsheet. This dude approaches relationships like a cost-benefit analysis and seems convinced that feelings are an inefficient use of time. Watching him slowly realise he's developing those pesky emotions anyway is one of the funniest parts of the book. Every interaction feels like he's glitching 😂
These two are ridiculous because both of them insist they’re being super logical about the whole fake dating thing while spiraling into mutual pining and a slow emotional meltdown. The setting also adds this very specific flavour of drama where people are technically being polite but the tension is crazy thick.
The STEM setting actually matters. It's not just a backdrop. These aren't just “hot smart people who occasionally mention science.” They're full-blown mathematicians who approach emotions like they’re solving a theorem.
The middle drags a little and some beats are predictable if you read a lot of fake dating romances, but by that point I was fully invested in watching two emotionally repressed nerds try to out-logic their own feelings.
February 19, 2026
I ate this up in a day. Did I have a meal of beets and crackers just to avoid making an actual dinner so I could keep reading? Yes. Yes, I did.
The fake dating trope is one of my absolute favourites and this delivered. The banter? Fun. The tension? Delicious. The emotional payoff? Fully earned.
And the MMC… oh my goodness. Was I googling “Norwegian accent” so I knew exactly what he sounded like when he says, “Stop me if anything I do makes you uncomfortable”? No shame.
Grumpy on the outside. Completely gone for her on the inside. He falls first, and hard. Supportive, attentive, quietly obsessed in the healthiest way possible. The kind of fictional man who makes you stare at the ceiling after finishing and forces you to reconsider your standards.
What I loved most is that the fake dating setup actually mattered. It pushed both characters into vulnerability and forced them to confront what they really wanted. It wasn’t just a cute gimmick, it had stakes.
If you love:
• fake dating
• grumpy MMC who falls first
• spice with emotional substance
• tender but strong romantic growth
This one’s for you.
Grateful to Parker Elling and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this early.
The fake dating trope is one of my absolute favourites and this delivered. The banter? Fun. The tension? Delicious. The emotional payoff? Fully earned.
And the MMC… oh my goodness. Was I googling “Norwegian accent” so I knew exactly what he sounded like when he says, “Stop me if anything I do makes you uncomfortable”? No shame.
Grumpy on the outside. Completely gone for her on the inside. He falls first, and hard. Supportive, attentive, quietly obsessed in the healthiest way possible. The kind of fictional man who makes you stare at the ceiling after finishing and forces you to reconsider your standards.
What I loved most is that the fake dating setup actually mattered. It pushed both characters into vulnerability and forced them to confront what they really wanted. It wasn’t just a cute gimmick, it had stakes.
If you love:
• fake dating
• grumpy MMC who falls first
• spice with emotional substance
• tender but strong romantic growth
This one’s for you.
Grateful to Parker Elling and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this early.
February 20, 2026
I’m calling it: We've found Sophie Kinsella’s heir, and she comes armed with math jokes, group chat gremlins, and a Norwegian heartthrob who could make even Becky Bloomwood abandon a designer sale rack for a differential equation.
The Statistically Unlikely Rebound by Parker Elling is a fun, chaotic, heartfelt rom com with a brainy twist.
The protagonist is math prodigy Daisy, who, after being unceremoniously dumped by her long-term boyfriend, flees to Cambridge for a fresh start… only to end up living directly above a man who looks like he should be modeling Scandinavian knitwear but instead terrorizes chalkboards for a living: the infamously intense Dr. Lars Berg Anderson. Yes, the very same Lars her ex always said was “impossible.”
Spoiler: He is actually impossible. Impossible not to notice. Impossible not to banter with. Impossible not to accidentally flirt with over board games, proofs, and shared takeout.
Before she can even process her breakup, Daisy finds herself in the middle of a fake dating plan she absolutely did not think through, adopting a dog whom she names The Dog, board game flirting so intense it should count as foreplay and a chemistry strong enough to violate several lab safety protocols.
As equations turn electric and their “totally harmless” partnership gets increasingly less harmless, Daisy starts to wonder if the universe is nudging her toward the statistically unlikely rebound… that just might be the real deal.
So… so many good things in this book.
Let’s talk about the group chats! The book is sprinkled with actual text message chat threads between Daisy and her chaotic best friends — the kind of “Grad or Die” group chat where productivity goes to die and emojis go to be abused, and which absolutely makes the story feel like the funniest group project gone-feral you’ve ever been part of. Picture a chat of smart women devolving into gremlins the second they get behind a keyboard. It feels exactly like watching your group chat derail at 2am. They mirror how many of us actually navigate modern life: through group chats that know way too much about our love lives.
About Daisy, what to say? She’s the kind of protagonist you cannot not love: she catastrophizes at Olympic level, accidentally creates chaos wherever she goes, tries very hard to be a functioning adult and is smarter than she gives herself credit for.
In short, read it—it’s the STEM romance you need! You won't regret it!
Forever laughing at this quote:
“I once went home with two pounds of not on sale thickly sliced smoked turkey because, by the time I figured out how to tell the deli lady she’d grabbed the wrong meat, it felt too late to scream ‘roast beef’!”
“There’s an appropriate time to scream ‘roast beef’?”
“No, but she was pregnant.”
The Statistically Unlikely Rebound by Parker Elling is a fun, chaotic, heartfelt rom com with a brainy twist.
The protagonist is math prodigy Daisy, who, after being unceremoniously dumped by her long-term boyfriend, flees to Cambridge for a fresh start… only to end up living directly above a man who looks like he should be modeling Scandinavian knitwear but instead terrorizes chalkboards for a living: the infamously intense Dr. Lars Berg Anderson. Yes, the very same Lars her ex always said was “impossible.”
Spoiler: He is actually impossible. Impossible not to notice. Impossible not to banter with. Impossible not to accidentally flirt with over board games, proofs, and shared takeout.
Before she can even process her breakup, Daisy finds herself in the middle of a fake dating plan she absolutely did not think through, adopting a dog whom she names The Dog, board game flirting so intense it should count as foreplay and a chemistry strong enough to violate several lab safety protocols.
As equations turn electric and their “totally harmless” partnership gets increasingly less harmless, Daisy starts to wonder if the universe is nudging her toward the statistically unlikely rebound… that just might be the real deal.
So… so many good things in this book.
Let’s talk about the group chats! The book is sprinkled with actual text message chat threads between Daisy and her chaotic best friends — the kind of “Grad or Die” group chat where productivity goes to die and emojis go to be abused, and which absolutely makes the story feel like the funniest group project gone-feral you’ve ever been part of. Picture a chat of smart women devolving into gremlins the second they get behind a keyboard. It feels exactly like watching your group chat derail at 2am. They mirror how many of us actually navigate modern life: through group chats that know way too much about our love lives.
About Daisy, what to say? She’s the kind of protagonist you cannot not love: she catastrophizes at Olympic level, accidentally creates chaos wherever she goes, tries very hard to be a functioning adult and is smarter than she gives herself credit for.
In short, read it—it’s the STEM romance you need! You won't regret it!
Forever laughing at this quote:
“I once went home with two pounds of not on sale thickly sliced smoked turkey because, by the time I figured out how to tell the deli lady she’d grabbed the wrong meat, it felt too late to scream ‘roast beef’!”
“There’s an appropriate time to scream ‘roast beef’?”
“No, but she was pregnant.”
August 22, 2026
Llevo un parón de no encontrar nada largo y este libro tenía tantas ganas de llegar cada día a casa para poder leerlo. En realidad tendría 4.5 estrellas pero le doy 5 porque me ha entretenido mucho y me lo he pasado muy bien. Me gusta como que ella se va dando cuenta poco a poco de lo gilipollas que era el ex y que solo la utilizaba todo el rato y va intentando respetarse más a ella misma en adelante para que la respeten y que también ella tiene que luchar por ella misma. Me ha gustado como te muestra también la difícil relación que tiene con la madre y la relación tan bonita que tiene con sus amigas aunque estén lejos. La verdad que el libro es largo pero no he sentido que sobrara ni una escena, la autora escribe muy bonito y te hace sentir tan parte de la historia. Además, cómo la relación con el prota se va desarrollando poco a poco y él le deja todo el espacio que necesita porque sabe que acaba de salir de una relación difícil, cute. Un slow burn miy divertido que no me ha frustrado y que también le ha dado espacio a la protagonista para cambiar.
July 31, 2026
love this smart smut!
Such a cute, fun and smart book. Had so much fun reading! Love the characters so much. Love me some “smart smut!”
Such a cute, fun and smart book. Had so much fun reading! Love the characters so much. Love me some “smart smut!”
March 14, 2026
Minor Spoilers - The Statistically Unlikely Rebound by Parker Elling. Academic romances have always been a guilty pleasure of mine; I’ve worked for US Universities my entire career, and I always love seeing the egotistical villain of the story getting taken down a peg or three. Throughout the story, Parker did a great job getting the FMC and the MMC into close proximity in a way that felt natural, kept the faking dating scheme going without it becoming clunky, and the open door bedroom scenes were hot hot hot! The only thing that slowed me down were the numerous references the book made; I knew walking in that there would be math stuff I wouldn’t get, but there were also a lot of references to pop culture, philosophers, 19th century authors, clothing shops/brands, and musicals that had me running to Google pretty often. Just something to keep in mind.
Overall, I enjoyed the book and am looking forward to the rest of the books in the Grad or Die series!
Thank you to Parker Elling and Net Galley for an Advanced Reader Copy.
Notes:
Single first person POV (FML’s)
Close proximity
Fake Dating
Emotionless/Sunshine
Has a dog they jointly care for
#GradOrDie
##TheStatisticallyUnlikelyRebound
#NetGalley
#NerdRomance
#ParkerElling
Overall, I enjoyed the book and am looking forward to the rest of the books in the Grad or Die series!
Thank you to Parker Elling and Net Galley for an Advanced Reader Copy.
Notes:
Single first person POV (FML’s)
Close proximity
Fake Dating
Emotionless/Sunshine
Has a dog they jointly care for
#GradOrDie
##TheStatisticallyUnlikelyRebound
#NetGalley
#NerdRomance
#ParkerElling
February 27, 2026
The Statistically Unlikely Rebound was such a witty rom-com. I loved it! Daisy is a post-grad mathematician following her fiance, Ethan, in the academic world. Until Ethan breaks up with her 3 weeks before moving across the country to work and live with him. Somehow she finds a place to live in such short notice - enter Lars, her "Ice Man" downstairs neighbor and ex-fiance's arch-nemesis. Daisy and Lars bond over board games and nerdy t-shirts and start to fall into something more...
I truly enjoyed this book. I love a romance that can make me laugh and this one did it for me. It's giving The Love Hypothesis vibes which is a plus for me! I love a woman in STEM who is showing up all the men around her. Daisy is so relatable. She overthinks and word vomits too much. I loved her growth with her relationship with her mom too. And of course, Lars. He is literally the perfect MMC. Icy and stoic to the outside world, and a giant cinnamon roll to Daisy. I loved their relationship although Lars could have word vomited a little more IMO. Their banter was refreshing and fun!
Thank you to NetGalley and Parker Elling for the ARC!
I truly enjoyed this book. I love a romance that can make me laugh and this one did it for me. It's giving The Love Hypothesis vibes which is a plus for me! I love a woman in STEM who is showing up all the men around her. Daisy is so relatable. She overthinks and word vomits too much. I loved her growth with her relationship with her mom too. And of course, Lars. He is literally the perfect MMC. Icy and stoic to the outside world, and a giant cinnamon roll to Daisy. I loved their relationship although Lars could have word vomited a little more IMO. Their banter was refreshing and fun!
Thank you to NetGalley and Parker Elling for the ARC!
June 1, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Buckle up this is a long review☝️😅
The Statistically Unlikely Rebound isn’t the type of romance I usually pick up, but it ended up being such a fun read. If you enjoy books by Ali Hazelwood or Abby Jimenez, I think there’s a good chance you’ll enjoy this one too.
The story follows Daisy Zhang-Wainwright, a mathematician whose fiancé breaks up with her right before she’s supposed to move across the country for a new job. Instead of giving up the opportunity, she moves anyway, ends up living next door to Lars Berg-Anderson (her ex’s academic rival), and things spiral into fake dating from there.
One thing I really appreciated was how heavily STEM was woven into the story. Both Daisy and Lars are mathematicians, and their careers aren’t just mentioned in passing—they’re a huge part of the plot. As someone who absolutely despised math in school, I was surprised by how much I enjoyed that aspect of the book. It made the story feel unique, and I found myself genuinely interested in their work even though math is not normally my thing.
I also loved the character growth. Lars starts the book showing about as much emotion as a brick wall, so watching him slowly become more expressive was both hilarious and incredibly sweet. Daisy is much more emotional, but she has her own areas where she needs to grow, especially when it comes to setting boundaries. I thought they balanced each other out really well and helped each other become better versions of themselves.
The romance itself was adorable. Fake dating and close proximity are two tropes I almost always enjoy, and this book did them well. There were also some smaller moments that I loved, especially when Lars took care of Daisy while she wasn’t feeling well. Those kinds of scenes always get me.
Something else I appreciated was that, despite some unrealistic rom-com moments, a lot of the story felt very grounded. Daisy is struggling financially, living in a less-than-ideal apartment, dealing with an ex-fiancé she still has to see regularly, and navigating a complicated relationship with her mom. Those parts added depth to the story and made the characters feel more real.
That said, the romance was definitely more physical than I personally prefer. I tend to enjoy closed-door or fade-to-black romances, and this book has multiple open-door scenes. The physical side of the relationship also becomes important earlier than I typically like in a romance. That’s completely a personal preference issue, but it’s worth mentioning for readers who have similar tastes.
Overall, I had a great time with this book. I loved the characters, enjoyed the STEM setting much more than I expected, and found myself rooting for Daisy and Lars the entire time. I’m still undecided about whether I’ll continue with the rest of the series, mostly because I’m unsure if the spice level will work for me, but I definitely don’t regret picking this one up.
If you’re looking for a STEM romance with fake dating, close proximity, character growth, and a grumpy mathematician who slowly learns how to have feelings, this might be worth checking out.
Language: 🫢🫢🫢/4
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️.5/4 If you want to keep things more closed door here’s the chapters to skip and roughly what pages listed below based ofd the ebook.
Chapter 21 pages 180-181
Chapter 24 pages 190-197
Chapter 25 pages 199-200
Chapter 34 pages 247-249
Chapter 38 pages 274-279
Chapter 45 pages 327-330
Chapter 50 page 376
The Statistically Unlikely Rebound isn’t the type of romance I usually pick up, but it ended up being such a fun read. If you enjoy books by Ali Hazelwood or Abby Jimenez, I think there’s a good chance you’ll enjoy this one too.
The story follows Daisy Zhang-Wainwright, a mathematician whose fiancé breaks up with her right before she’s supposed to move across the country for a new job. Instead of giving up the opportunity, she moves anyway, ends up living next door to Lars Berg-Anderson (her ex’s academic rival), and things spiral into fake dating from there.
One thing I really appreciated was how heavily STEM was woven into the story. Both Daisy and Lars are mathematicians, and their careers aren’t just mentioned in passing—they’re a huge part of the plot. As someone who absolutely despised math in school, I was surprised by how much I enjoyed that aspect of the book. It made the story feel unique, and I found myself genuinely interested in their work even though math is not normally my thing.
I also loved the character growth. Lars starts the book showing about as much emotion as a brick wall, so watching him slowly become more expressive was both hilarious and incredibly sweet. Daisy is much more emotional, but she has her own areas where she needs to grow, especially when it comes to setting boundaries. I thought they balanced each other out really well and helped each other become better versions of themselves.
The romance itself was adorable. Fake dating and close proximity are two tropes I almost always enjoy, and this book did them well. There were also some smaller moments that I loved, especially when Lars took care of Daisy while she wasn’t feeling well. Those kinds of scenes always get me.
Something else I appreciated was that, despite some unrealistic rom-com moments, a lot of the story felt very grounded. Daisy is struggling financially, living in a less-than-ideal apartment, dealing with an ex-fiancé she still has to see regularly, and navigating a complicated relationship with her mom. Those parts added depth to the story and made the characters feel more real.
That said, the romance was definitely more physical than I personally prefer. I tend to enjoy closed-door or fade-to-black romances, and this book has multiple open-door scenes. The physical side of the relationship also becomes important earlier than I typically like in a romance. That’s completely a personal preference issue, but it’s worth mentioning for readers who have similar tastes.
Overall, I had a great time with this book. I loved the characters, enjoyed the STEM setting much more than I expected, and found myself rooting for Daisy and Lars the entire time. I’m still undecided about whether I’ll continue with the rest of the series, mostly because I’m unsure if the spice level will work for me, but I definitely don’t regret picking this one up.
If you’re looking for a STEM romance with fake dating, close proximity, character growth, and a grumpy mathematician who slowly learns how to have feelings, this might be worth checking out.
Language: 🫢🫢🫢/4
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️.5/4 If you want to keep things more closed door here’s the chapters to skip and roughly what pages listed below based ofd the ebook.
Chapter 21 pages 180-181
Chapter 24 pages 190-197
Chapter 25 pages 199-200
Chapter 34 pages 247-249
Chapter 38 pages 274-279
Chapter 45 pages 327-330
Chapter 50 page 376
August 17, 2026
daisy and lars are everything and more to me.
daisy is going through a lot with moving across the country for work and what she thought was a life with her ex fiancé…instead she ends up with a nosy neighbor, a stray dog and just trying to figure out her life.
lars and daisy meet before they become neighbors and can i just say LARS IS DOWN BAD FOR DAISY!! like you can honestly just tell from the way he talked and acted towards her. he was caring, attentive, helpful and all around warm for her.
the way he slowly opens up to daisy and we see more and more of this softness that’s hidden under his exterior that everyone judges him for is everything and more.
their relationship is friends with benefits but they become domestic FAST and i loved every single minute like yessss!!!
when i tell you i annotated this book up..i did so, that my highlighter ran out…AND I STAYED UP UNTIL 2 a.m. reading it because their relationship was just that good. they captivated me and didn’t let me go from the very first interaction.
daisy is going through a lot with moving across the country for work and what she thought was a life with her ex fiancé…instead she ends up with a nosy neighbor, a stray dog and just trying to figure out her life.
lars and daisy meet before they become neighbors and can i just say LARS IS DOWN BAD FOR DAISY!! like you can honestly just tell from the way he talked and acted towards her. he was caring, attentive, helpful and all around warm for her.
the way he slowly opens up to daisy and we see more and more of this softness that’s hidden under his exterior that everyone judges him for is everything and more.
their relationship is friends with benefits but they become domestic FAST and i loved every single minute like yessss!!!
when i tell you i annotated this book up..i did so, that my highlighter ran out…AND I STAYED UP UNTIL 2 a.m. reading it because their relationship was just that good. they captivated me and didn’t let me go from the very first interaction.
March 26, 2026
this stressed me tf out. the toxic mother and cheating ex boyfriend being like main side characters was just too much drama for me. i wish she had yelled at them or stood up to them at some point. it just did not have a satisfying resolution which is a bummer bc the romance and fake dating bits were good.
July 13, 2026
This book was really fun. I ate it up. A lot of reviews and summaries compare this to Ali Hazelwood, and for those of you who didn't like Ali Hazelwood I'm here to say I liked this much much better. The sex is better, the pace is better, and the main character is not a door mat, the male lead is better - it's just all better. As an engineering PhD, STEMs romance is not the escapism I'm generally looking for, but this book really hit the spot. Characters were believable, STEMs academia setting was spot on, the romance was good, the sex was hot, and the male lead was just the right amount of perfect. The ex was also very believable - I liked the mix of incompetence to malice and generally found the ending satisfying in terms of just deserts. The romantic ending perfectly hit the spot -checking all the boxes without being cliché. I also loved the proud multi-cultural aspect of this romance. All in all, highly recommend. Excited to move on to her next book!
Things to note that may not be your cup of tea:
- One POV from main female character
- Clearly targeted at older millennials / genX in terms of culture and references
Things to note that may not be your cup of tea:
- One POV from main female character
- Clearly targeted at older millennials / genX in terms of culture and references
March 3, 2026
I DEVOURED this and I don’t even like math (the feeling is mutual so it’s fine).
Their immediate connection/chemistry as friends? The cautious and then wholehearted trust between the two of them? I am frothing at the mouth.
Daisy is such an icon and I love her. Who among us has not been severely disappointed by a man and then spiraled a little? But instead of letting it take over (which, like, she uprooted her entire life! So it would be valid!!!) she goes ALL IN. She makes her own life, her own friends, her own choices, and is immediately delighted by the joy she finds in it.
Meanwhile Lars is down bad immediately and obviously (to us), and will do whatever he needs to do to give her space while also allowing her to flourish in spite of the very aggressive curveballs she’s been thrown. He respects her boundaries and encourages her intelligence and cherishes every part of her.
I just love them. This book slaps.
Their immediate connection/chemistry as friends? The cautious and then wholehearted trust between the two of them? I am frothing at the mouth.
Daisy is such an icon and I love her. Who among us has not been severely disappointed by a man and then spiraled a little? But instead of letting it take over (which, like, she uprooted her entire life! So it would be valid!!!) she goes ALL IN. She makes her own life, her own friends, her own choices, and is immediately delighted by the joy she finds in it.
Meanwhile Lars is down bad immediately and obviously (to us), and will do whatever he needs to do to give her space while also allowing her to flourish in spite of the very aggressive curveballs she’s been thrown. He respects her boundaries and encourages her intelligence and cherishes every part of her.
I just love them. This book slaps.
August 31, 2026
I believe I’ve found a hidden gem.
Parker Elling has a way of writing that is easy to follow while still using rich vocabulary that makes the story feel sharp, thoughtful and somehow not repetitive at all. It has been a long time since a romance made me feel like this: I laughed out loud, stayed up way too late, and kept thinking about the characters whenever I wasn’t reading.
And the chemistry? Honestly, it almost made me feel like I was third-personing inside the book, awkwardly standing in the corner while these two were having moments I had absolutely no business witnessing. Their tension felt so natural and so well built that I didn’t just read their connection, I felt like I was intruding on it.
What I also loved is how genuinely funny the writing is. Not “trying too hard to be quirky” funny, but the kind of funny where a sentence catches you off guard and you have to pause for a second. Also, “it’s so haute it’s couture” has officially entered my vocabulary and will now be used whenever remotely possible.
Another thing I really appreciated was how Daisy’s two best friends stayed relevant throughout the story. There is nothing I hate more than a book making the main character depend on her besties, only for them to disappear after chapter three. Not here. They actually felt like part of her life, her choices and her story.
Parker, you are definitely in my top 5 writers. I can’t wait to start the next book, and I already know I’ll be anxiously waiting for whatever comes after that.
Parker Elling has a way of writing that is easy to follow while still using rich vocabulary that makes the story feel sharp, thoughtful and somehow not repetitive at all. It has been a long time since a romance made me feel like this: I laughed out loud, stayed up way too late, and kept thinking about the characters whenever I wasn’t reading.
And the chemistry? Honestly, it almost made me feel like I was third-personing inside the book, awkwardly standing in the corner while these two were having moments I had absolutely no business witnessing. Their tension felt so natural and so well built that I didn’t just read their connection, I felt like I was intruding on it.
What I also loved is how genuinely funny the writing is. Not “trying too hard to be quirky” funny, but the kind of funny where a sentence catches you off guard and you have to pause for a second. Also, “it’s so haute it’s couture” has officially entered my vocabulary and will now be used whenever remotely possible.
Another thing I really appreciated was how Daisy’s two best friends stayed relevant throughout the story. There is nothing I hate more than a book making the main character depend on her besties, only for them to disappear after chapter three. Not here. They actually felt like part of her life, her choices and her story.
Parker, you are definitely in my top 5 writers. I can’t wait to start the next book, and I already know I’ll be anxiously waiting for whatever comes after that.
March 15, 2026
It was good to read. I loved the smut and how you can see Lars likes Daisy. Even though I know ARCs have grammatical and spelling mistakes, this one had a lot of them, which really takes away the joy of reading. The mistakes will probably be fixed, but to me, at times, it felt like I was reading a draft and the book hadn't had any editing. I also didn't like Daisy much. She was smart, yes, but I never understood why she had apprehension about visiting Lars' apartment. He wanted her there, but they were always in her apartment, and when she got a chance, and he was like "seeing my apartment will answer many questions", she was like "well, there will be time for that later" and turned around. Which begs two questions: a) what on Earth did he have in his apartment (never revealed btw) and b) you are dating/having sex with this guy and never once been to his home??? because you are afraid of what exactly??? Why are you postponing??? I swear, she pissed me off at times with her evasiveness. It is such a shame because I did like the book and the smut, and I would love to read more in this series, but all the grammatical errors and unanswered questions left a bitter taste.
3.5-4 stars.
ARC was provided via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
April 11, 2026
read this in less than 4hrs if thats any indication of entertainment level…it satisfies the ali hazelwood-esque level of STEM romance in a way i enjoy! sometimes felt the FMC was a little too naive/felt like shouting at her “stand upp for yourself girll” and the MMC was perfect as always but hey this is fiction, let a girl have her dream man! also appreciated the references to chinese culture and her complicated relationship w her mom bc i get that. super down to read the rest of the series when it comes out!
August 7, 2026
I picked this up for the STEM romance setup, but I stayed for Daisy and Lars. Their banter is sharp without feeling forced, the chemistry builds in such a satisfying way, and the academic world actually feels woven into the story rather than just sprinkled on top. Daisy’s voice is funny, messy, and easy to root for, while Lars has that quiet, steady kind of charm that sneaks up on you. It’s nerdy, romantic, warm, and genuinely fun. Exactly the kind of rom-com that makes you say “just one more chapter” until you realize you’ve finished the book.
June 10, 2026
Can what starts out as a fake romance really turn into true love? Scientists Lars and Daisy A/B test their way through multiple scenarios on the way to answering that question. I found myself throughly invested in the characters in this novel, loving some and hating others. This is a truly fun book for romance lovers!
February 26, 2026
always glad to see a smart and hardworking mfl in a romance! I get to relive some of my school years with this read. ❤️❤️
July 28, 2026
So bad it’s good ya know
July 25, 2026
Phenomenally entertaining read! LOVED the characters and the story line! Can’t wait to read the next one!
September 1, 2026
Thanks to the author, Parker Elling, for reaching out to ask if I'd like a copy of this book to review. It was comped to books by Ali Hazelwood - her women in STEM romances - and I've read and enjoyed a couple of those (The Love Hypothesis and Problematic Summer Romance) so I figured I'd give this one a try.
First of all, let me just say that the comp to Hazelwood is spot on. The academic vibes (math instead of sciences, in this case) in both the setting and the women-experienced version of it, the friend groups, the family drama, the gruff male lead...lots of parallels. However, it maintained an originality of plot and relationship development. So basically, if you like that type of romance book, you'll like this one. Now, I will say that there were a few typos and grammatical errors in this book that may have been caught in a more traditional publishing situation. So, please be aware of that. However, it was not enough of an issue to detract from my overall reading experience, which was definitely a positive one.
First of all, I have to say all signs pointed to the positive for me when Set was mentioned in the first few pages. That is one of my absolutely favorite games ever (I too unapologetically smash opponents while playing...I see you Daisy) and I have never seen it referenced in a book (or rarely even IRL) before. So, I was weirdly hype and on board from that alone! Haha. There were some other small things throughout that I really enjoyed as well, like the dog named The Dog (lolz), funny chapter titles, and a hilarious group chat between Daisy and her friends. All really fun aspects of the reading experience.
As far as the relationships... I was on board with Daisy and Lars right from the start. They had great chemistry and their banter is funny, smart and punny and fast. I am a sucker for a "he falls first" situation and Elling writes that super well here, as Lars is so soft and patient with Daisy, letting her decide her own timeline, that she’s ready, giving her agency she’d never gotten before, and it’s perfect. Plus, he's a "quiet kindness over grand gestures" type guy and that’s also a trope I love. All the little things that get noticed and gifted and remembered mean so much more. I did get a little frustrated with how long Daisy took to let herself realize that there was more to Lars (I guessed his role/background not too long into the novel), and to their relationship, and let herself feel things for real. I get why, and the slow development made sense and was well written, I just wanted it to happen a *little* faster. That being said, again, I get why it took that long. Daisy's ex, Ethan, was literally the worst. He was giving Warner, from Legally Blonde, vibes to an extreme...and he kept getting worse as the story progressed. I was over him from the beginning, and by the end? I was pissed at the ending he got. I know it's how the world actually works, but damn he got off so easily. Daisy deserved better, Christine deserved better...I just hate awesome women having to lower standards for immature men. Anyways, there were lots of reveals in the last quarter of the book and, while I had seen most of them coming, I enjoyed watching them unfold regardless. Plus, I thought the ending for Daisy was so good - she got her flowers, her man, her future, her peace (her mom off her back) - and she deserved it all.
Anyways, a really solid romance, Well paced, interesting plot, great academia setting, fun romance tropes, reasonably spicy, and really quite what I'd hoped for from it, across the board.
“The length of a relationship doesn’t define its depth.”
First of all, let me just say that the comp to Hazelwood is spot on. The academic vibes (math instead of sciences, in this case) in both the setting and the women-experienced version of it, the friend groups, the family drama, the gruff male lead...lots of parallels. However, it maintained an originality of plot and relationship development. So basically, if you like that type of romance book, you'll like this one. Now, I will say that there were a few typos and grammatical errors in this book that may have been caught in a more traditional publishing situation. So, please be aware of that. However, it was not enough of an issue to detract from my overall reading experience, which was definitely a positive one.
First of all, I have to say all signs pointed to the positive for me when Set was mentioned in the first few pages. That is one of my absolutely favorite games ever (I too unapologetically smash opponents while playing...I see you Daisy) and I have never seen it referenced in a book (or rarely even IRL) before. So, I was weirdly hype and on board from that alone! Haha. There were some other small things throughout that I really enjoyed as well, like the dog named The Dog (lolz), funny chapter titles, and a hilarious group chat between Daisy and her friends. All really fun aspects of the reading experience.
As far as the relationships... I was on board with Daisy and Lars right from the start. They had great chemistry and their banter is funny, smart and punny and fast. I am a sucker for a "he falls first" situation and Elling writes that super well here, as Lars is so soft and patient with Daisy, letting her decide her own timeline, that she’s ready, giving her agency she’d never gotten before, and it’s perfect. Plus, he's a "quiet kindness over grand gestures" type guy and that’s also a trope I love. All the little things that get noticed and gifted and remembered mean so much more. I did get a little frustrated with how long Daisy took to let herself realize that there was more to Lars (I guessed his role/background not too long into the novel), and to their relationship, and let herself feel things for real. I get why, and the slow development made sense and was well written, I just wanted it to happen a *little* faster. That being said, again, I get why it took that long. Daisy's ex, Ethan, was literally the worst. He was giving Warner, from Legally Blonde, vibes to an extreme...and he kept getting worse as the story progressed. I was over him from the beginning, and by the end? I was pissed at the ending he got. I know it's how the world actually works, but damn he got off so easily. Daisy deserved better, Christine deserved better...I just hate awesome women having to lower standards for immature men. Anyways, there were lots of reveals in the last quarter of the book and, while I had seen most of them coming, I enjoyed watching them unfold regardless. Plus, I thought the ending for Daisy was so good - she got her flowers, her man, her future, her peace (her mom off her back) - and she deserved it all.
Anyways, a really solid romance, Well paced, interesting plot, great academia setting, fun romance tropes, reasonably spicy, and really quite what I'd hoped for from it, across the board.
“The length of a relationship doesn’t define its depth.”
February 27, 2026
Take a bow, Parker Elling! The chemistry between the two nerds in this book was off the charts and the banter was incredibly well written. It was incredibly hard not to like these two characters, particularly when together. Rarely have I felt so much like a side character in watching two friends smack together like magnets as I did in this one. Even when I felt myself eyerolling (non derogatory lol) at the two smartest people in the room nerding out over board games and math, it was impossible not to love how they were meant for each other. The Grad or Die group chat and Weronika were also very enjoyable parts of this book. Elling has an absolute gift for making you like and dislike characters, even if heavyhanded at times.
There were a couple things that kept me from giving this a five though. It was a bit too long, with some uneven pacing in my opinion. I think it was 100 pages (mobile reader) until any real stakes started to come into the picture. Which isn't to say there wasn't tension, but I found myself waiting for the plot to happen and would've liked some more of that pining and fake dating in settings other than her apartment. The spicy scenes are fantastic but there's maybe one too many. Idk, I think a darling or two needed to be culled for it to flow a little more smoothly.
Another gripe I had was how much (entirely realistically to be fair) some of the guys in this book just sort of get away with things. Ethan is quite possibly one of the most villainous people I've seen in contemporary romance. Why Daisy allows this man in her life in any capacity at all is beyond me. Like she has a legitimate case to pursue criminal charges against this guy. I get we're made to hate him and the author makes that very clear, but it's overdone to the point that by the end of it it's hard not to feel like he faced any repercussions for his actions, criminal actions, really. And he's not the only one. Daisy gets sexually harassed in a way that felt like it was going very south very fast and decides to let him off with a warning and some sensitivity training. I don't know, it just left a bad taste in my mouth that even in fiction I have to see truly disgusting men just get away with light slaps on the wrist by women who have to be the bigger person.
The other issue I had was the proof plot. It was so very obvious what was going to happen in regards to the notebook that I nearly DNF'd from not wanting to go through the hundred or so pages of it. It was like watching a bad horror movie where the character makes such a bite-them-in-the-ass decision that it bordered on insulting. Continued in hopes for a subversion that didn't really happen, and limped my way to the finish line by staying up until 2am to get it over with because I knew if I stopped I'd never pick it back up.
While I wrote a lot about my issues with this book, it's just easier to let that kind of feedback fly. This book absolutely earned a 4 star rating, even if it has weird bits of product placement. Parker Elling is one to watch.
There were a couple things that kept me from giving this a five though. It was a bit too long, with some uneven pacing in my opinion. I think it was 100 pages (mobile reader) until any real stakes started to come into the picture. Which isn't to say there wasn't tension, but I found myself waiting for the plot to happen and would've liked some more of that pining and fake dating in settings other than her apartment. The spicy scenes are fantastic but there's maybe one too many. Idk, I think a darling or two needed to be culled for it to flow a little more smoothly.
Another gripe I had was how much (entirely realistically to be fair) some of the guys in this book just sort of get away with things. Ethan is quite possibly one of the most villainous people I've seen in contemporary romance. Why Daisy allows this man in her life in any capacity at all is beyond me. Like she has a legitimate case to pursue criminal charges against this guy. I get we're made to hate him and the author makes that very clear, but it's overdone to the point that by the end of it it's hard not to feel like he faced any repercussions for his actions, criminal actions, really. And he's not the only one. Daisy gets sexually harassed in a way that felt like it was going very south very fast and decides to let him off with a warning and some sensitivity training. I don't know, it just left a bad taste in my mouth that even in fiction I have to see truly disgusting men just get away with light slaps on the wrist by women who have to be the bigger person.
The other issue I had was the proof plot. It was so very obvious what was going to happen in regards to the notebook that I nearly DNF'd from not wanting to go through the hundred or so pages of it. It was like watching a bad horror movie where the character makes such a bite-them-in-the-ass decision that it bordered on insulting. Continued in hopes for a subversion that didn't really happen, and limped my way to the finish line by staying up until 2am to get it over with because I knew if I stopped I'd never pick it back up.
While I wrote a lot about my issues with this book, it's just easier to let that kind of feedback fly. This book absolutely earned a 4 star rating, even if it has weird bits of product placement. Parker Elling is one to watch.
August 2, 2026
Just 29 days before moving across the country, mathematician Daisy Zhang-Wainwright gets unceremoniously dumped by her fiancé, Ethan. Refusing to let a breakup derail her career, Daisy pushes forward with her MIT postdoc, moves into a noisy Boston apartment with a stray dog, and braces herself to navigate the same academic ecosystem as her ex.
The situation spirals when Daisy discovers Ethan’s new partner—a potential colleague—is already pregnant, exposing a timeline that definitely overlapped. Cornered at her own housewarming party with her ex in attendance, Daisy impulsively fake-kisses her stoic, notoriously antisocial downstairs neighbor: Professor Lars Berg-Anderson, who happens to be Ethan’s primary academic rival. What starts as a spontaneous "for science" fake-dating arrangement between two emotionally guarded academics quickly blurs the line between a controlled experiment and real feelings.
😊 YAY for
• A MMC who feels like a dream combination of classic nerdy STEM archetypes: stiff, quiet, blonde, gray-eyed, surprisingly vocal when the bedroom doors close
• A relatable, quirky FMC who manages to stay endearing without crossing into cartoonish "weirdo" territory
• The timeless, fanfiction-favorite "for science" trope, executed with plenty of fun academic banter and high-comfort energy
• A fast-paced, highly readable setup that delivers instant comfort-read satisfaction
🤔 NAY for
• The classic romance magic-wand trope: an MMC who claims to only do casual one-night stands, yet somehow "just knows" every button to press on night one for an FMC who has literally never orgasmed with another partner in her life ("he knows me better than I know myself" is a bit much!)
• (Debatable) A dynamic that leans heavily into the signature Ali Hazelwood blueprint—a framework people either love or feel has gotten a bit formulaic
• A romance that relies more on instant physical lust and trope execution than gradual, grounded emotional development (though personally, I love a story where they hook up early and reluctantly catch big feelings later, even if it's not everyone's cup of tea)
Petra’s Comment
The Statistically Unlikely Rebound hits every comfort-read button for fans of the grumpy-academic/STEM-romance subgenre. Lars is the ultimate "ice man" hero—buttoned-up and reserved in the hallway, but surprisingly wordy where it counts—and Daisy’s grounded, relatable perspective keeps the fake-dating/“for science” dynamic engaging from the jump.
However, from an analytical perspective, the book operates squarely within the familiar Ali Hazelwood blueprint. While the STEM-rivalry setup and secret-longing dynamics deliver the expected heat, the story relies heavily on physical lust and well-worn romance shortcuts. The execution stretches believability a bit too thin in the bedroom: asking us to buy that a emotionally distant guy who only does casual hookups somehow possesses instant, telepathic mastery over a heroine who has never climaxed with a partner before is a stretch, even for fiction. Outside of the spice, secondary arcs feel somewhat underbaked, leaving the broader world-building on the lighter side.
Critically, these structural shortcuts keep the book at a 3.5 stars. But on a purely subjective level? Having a hero who feels like he was pulled directly out of my own long-running internal daydreams makes this an undeniable guilty pleasure. Upgraded to a solid 4 stars because I know I’ll be revisiting this one again.
The situation spirals when Daisy discovers Ethan’s new partner—a potential colleague—is already pregnant, exposing a timeline that definitely overlapped. Cornered at her own housewarming party with her ex in attendance, Daisy impulsively fake-kisses her stoic, notoriously antisocial downstairs neighbor: Professor Lars Berg-Anderson, who happens to be Ethan’s primary academic rival. What starts as a spontaneous "for science" fake-dating arrangement between two emotionally guarded academics quickly blurs the line between a controlled experiment and real feelings.
😊 YAY for
• A MMC who feels like a dream combination of classic nerdy STEM archetypes: stiff, quiet, blonde, gray-eyed, surprisingly vocal when the bedroom doors close
• A relatable, quirky FMC who manages to stay endearing without crossing into cartoonish "weirdo" territory
• The timeless, fanfiction-favorite "for science" trope, executed with plenty of fun academic banter and high-comfort energy
• A fast-paced, highly readable setup that delivers instant comfort-read satisfaction
🤔 NAY for
• The classic romance magic-wand trope: an MMC who claims to only do casual one-night stands, yet somehow "just knows" every button to press on night one for an FMC who has literally never orgasmed with another partner in her life ("he knows me better than I know myself" is a bit much!)
• (Debatable) A dynamic that leans heavily into the signature Ali Hazelwood blueprint—a framework people either love or feel has gotten a bit formulaic
• A romance that relies more on instant physical lust and trope execution than gradual, grounded emotional development (though personally, I love a story where they hook up early and reluctantly catch big feelings later, even if it's not everyone's cup of tea)
Petra’s Comment
The Statistically Unlikely Rebound hits every comfort-read button for fans of the grumpy-academic/STEM-romance subgenre. Lars is the ultimate "ice man" hero—buttoned-up and reserved in the hallway, but surprisingly wordy where it counts—and Daisy’s grounded, relatable perspective keeps the fake-dating/“for science” dynamic engaging from the jump.
However, from an analytical perspective, the book operates squarely within the familiar Ali Hazelwood blueprint. While the STEM-rivalry setup and secret-longing dynamics deliver the expected heat, the story relies heavily on physical lust and well-worn romance shortcuts. The execution stretches believability a bit too thin in the bedroom: asking us to buy that a emotionally distant guy who only does casual hookups somehow possesses instant, telepathic mastery over a heroine who has never climaxed with a partner before is a stretch, even for fiction. Outside of the spice, secondary arcs feel somewhat underbaked, leaving the broader world-building on the lighter side.
Critically, these structural shortcuts keep the book at a 3.5 stars. But on a purely subjective level? Having a hero who feels like he was pulled directly out of my own long-running internal daydreams makes this an undeniable guilty pleasure. Upgraded to a solid 4 stars because I know I’ll be revisiting this one again.
May 12, 2026
This is a fun fake dating rom com that was a quick read. At the start of the story the FMC is about to move across the country to move in with her fiancé, though he dumps her just before the move. She goes through with the cross-country move anyway for a postdoc position, where she still has to interact with the ex-fiancé due to their shared academic circles. Faced with her ex-fiancé's new relationship, she pretends to be an item with the ex's rival.
The banter between the main characters is fun and charming and is the highlight to the book. Although I spend a little more time on critiques in this review based on the points I can articulate, I did actually enjoy the writing, and marked a number of places where there were certain lines that amused me. I was around 40% of the way through the book when I thought to myself that this book could use some more nerdy content (it had some, I just thought it could use more)...and then subsequently saw that there were spicy scenes involving A/B testing, which was an application of nerdiness I had not even contemplated.
There were things here and there that I didn't love though - none of them significantly took away from my overall enjoyment, but I did find them distracting. One of them, is that I actually thought there was too much spice in the book, even though that kind of feels weird to say - it was written well, rather than being cringey or anything, but I actually thought it seemed to distract from development of the plot.
Part of what the FMC has to deal with is her interactions with her mom, who is written as an extreme caricature in how unsupportive she is, although she does grow late in the story. I feel like I've read multiple stories recently that have kind of a one dimensional or extreme family character, and it never sits that well with me. I have no problem with family tensions being part of the story, but it often just feels off to me when a character is too one sided. This book remedies it, but it didn't start off well on that aspect.
Although it's a little funny saying this didn't distract from my enjoyment of the story...I didn't think there was enough description about what was supposed to be attractive or likeable about the FMC. I feel like this book has an issue I've noticed in some other rom coms as well, where there's a lot of focus on the hurdles/issues that the FMC has to overcome (in this case professional, family, and relationship issues), rather than any description of why the MMC would be into her in the first place (and in this case immediately head over heels interested). The interactions are still good, but I just wish the FMC was rounded out a bit more. Without any spoilers, the FMC also makes a decision late in the story that I think was intended to show her growth, but just struck me as unrealistic in a professional setting. That actually did distract me a little, but was something I could get over.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.
The banter between the main characters is fun and charming and is the highlight to the book. Although I spend a little more time on critiques in this review based on the points I can articulate, I did actually enjoy the writing, and marked a number of places where there were certain lines that amused me. I was around 40% of the way through the book when I thought to myself that this book could use some more nerdy content (it had some, I just thought it could use more)...and then subsequently saw that there were spicy scenes involving A/B testing, which was an application of nerdiness I had not even contemplated.
There were things here and there that I didn't love though - none of them significantly took away from my overall enjoyment, but I did find them distracting. One of them, is that I actually thought there was too much spice in the book, even though that kind of feels weird to say - it was written well, rather than being cringey or anything, but I actually thought it seemed to distract from development of the plot.
Part of what the FMC has to deal with is her interactions with her mom, who is written as an extreme caricature in how unsupportive she is, although she does grow late in the story. I feel like I've read multiple stories recently that have kind of a one dimensional or extreme family character, and it never sits that well with me. I have no problem with family tensions being part of the story, but it often just feels off to me when a character is too one sided. This book remedies it, but it didn't start off well on that aspect.
Although it's a little funny saying this didn't distract from my enjoyment of the story...I didn't think there was enough description about what was supposed to be attractive or likeable about the FMC. I feel like this book has an issue I've noticed in some other rom coms as well, where there's a lot of focus on the hurdles/issues that the FMC has to overcome (in this case professional, family, and relationship issues), rather than any description of why the MMC would be into her in the first place (and in this case immediately head over heels interested). The interactions are still good, but I just wish the FMC was rounded out a bit more. Without any spoilers, the FMC also makes a decision late in the story that I think was intended to show her growth, but just struck me as unrealistic in a professional setting. That actually did distract me a little, but was something I could get over.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.
April 10, 2026
I crushed through this book. I loved the banter and the chemistry between the FMC and the MMC. And I also liked the we go on a personal growth journey with the FMC and how that leads to a healthy romantic relationship with the MMC.
Also, love that we got a Chinese-American FMC and some of that culture was represented in the book. I always enjoy reading about different cultures even if it’s not the main focal point of the story.
My only concern going into this book was that I wouldn’t understand some of it because it’s about mathematicians falling in love but that wasn’t an issue at all. The math parts were written in a way that was easy to understand (including the math puns).
I had a couple of issues with this book and unfortunately the main one was the typos. Most books have typos, especially ARCs, however, at some point there were so many that it became distracting. Also, especially in the case of misplaced commas, it made the story difficult to understand.
The other thing I didn’t like, which is a pet peeve of mine and may not be a big deal to others, is the pop culture references. Luckily, I understood most of them but sometimes I didn’t and it just made me feel lost over something that wasn’t necessary. It’s also just a bummer because whenever a book has pop culture references, I know there’s certain people I can’t recommend the book to because they won’t understand the references and makes it hard to relate to the characters.
In terms of the story, the only thing that bothered me was that the ex and awful co-worker didn’t really face any repercussions for their actions. I would love to say I’m mature and it’s great that they probably grew and learned from their mistakes but I’m petty. Also, the ex’s treatment of the FMC was so gross, he really needed to get hit with a whole lot of karma.
*I received an ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.
Also, love that we got a Chinese-American FMC and some of that culture was represented in the book. I always enjoy reading about different cultures even if it’s not the main focal point of the story.
My only concern going into this book was that I wouldn’t understand some of it because it’s about mathematicians falling in love but that wasn’t an issue at all. The math parts were written in a way that was easy to understand (including the math puns).
I had a couple of issues with this book and unfortunately the main one was the typos. Most books have typos, especially ARCs, however, at some point there were so many that it became distracting. Also, especially in the case of misplaced commas, it made the story difficult to understand.
The other thing I didn’t like, which is a pet peeve of mine and may not be a big deal to others, is the pop culture references. Luckily, I understood most of them but sometimes I didn’t and it just made me feel lost over something that wasn’t necessary. It’s also just a bummer because whenever a book has pop culture references, I know there’s certain people I can’t recommend the book to because they won’t understand the references and makes it hard to relate to the characters.
In terms of the story, the only thing that bothered me was that the ex and awful co-worker didn’t really face any repercussions for their actions. I would love to say I’m mature and it’s great that they probably grew and learned from their mistakes but I’m petty. Also, the ex’s treatment of the FMC was so gross, he really needed to get hit with a whole lot of karma.
*I received an ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 17, 2026
THE REVIEW
This is a compelling and intellectual workplace romance novel. The author does a great job of leaning into the romance tropes of this book and building from slow burn to opposites-attract and beyond. The even pacing allows the author plenty of room to grow these characters and develop a world that feels accessible and immersive to the reader through powerful imagery and a balance of humor, wit, and heart.
The main drive of the story, of course, is in the character development. The drama that ensues after the protagonist discovers the shocking revelations behind her now-ex-fiancé's new romance spirals into a journey of a fake relationship that turns into a powerful connection. The bond between Daisy and Lars is palpable, creating both tension and heat as their story shifts from opportunistic to heartfelt, emotional, and passionate.
THE VERDICT
Enthralling, captivating, and memorable, author Parker Elling’s “The Statistically Unlikely Rebound” is a must-read workplace romance, adult novel. The more adult-themed romance tropes that the author delves into give readers the heat and passion they seek from this genre, while the emotional crux of the relationship that develops helps cultivate rich and dynamic characters that readers will not want to miss, and creates a shared universe where the book can stand on its own, while also connecting to the larger world.
This is a compelling and intellectual workplace romance novel. The author does a great job of leaning into the romance tropes of this book and building from slow burn to opposites-attract and beyond. The even pacing allows the author plenty of room to grow these characters and develop a world that feels accessible and immersive to the reader through powerful imagery and a balance of humor, wit, and heart.
The main drive of the story, of course, is in the character development. The drama that ensues after the protagonist discovers the shocking revelations behind her now-ex-fiancé's new romance spirals into a journey of a fake relationship that turns into a powerful connection. The bond between Daisy and Lars is palpable, creating both tension and heat as their story shifts from opportunistic to heartfelt, emotional, and passionate.
THE VERDICT
Enthralling, captivating, and memorable, author Parker Elling’s “The Statistically Unlikely Rebound” is a must-read workplace romance, adult novel. The more adult-themed romance tropes that the author delves into give readers the heat and passion they seek from this genre, while the emotional crux of the relationship that develops helps cultivate rich and dynamic characters that readers will not want to miss, and creates a shared universe where the book can stand on its own, while also connecting to the larger world.
August 24, 2026
The Statistically Unlikely Rebound • Parker Elling
Grad or Die Romance #1
One phrase: fake dating for emotionally repressed nerds 📊💕
This was such a witty, sweet, nerdy romcom.
Daisy gets dumped by her fiancé three weeks before moving across the country for her MIT postdoc. Then she finds out he is already with her new potential colleague, who is also pregnant.
So when her ex shows up at her housewarming party, Daisy does the logical thing.
She asks Lars, her icy downstairs neighbor and Ethan’s academic rival, to kiss her.
Fake dating happens. Obviously.
I loved the banter, the board games, the nerdy shirts, the STEM setting, and Daisy’s anxious overthinking. Lars was perfection. Cold to everyone else, soft and quietly obsessed with Daisy. Grumpy on the outside, completely gone for her on the inside.
The fake dating actually mattered too. It pushed them into vulnerability, and the emotional payoff felt earned.
✨ Tropes and vibes:
💗 fake dating
📊 STEM romance
🧊 grumpy MMC
🥹 he falls first
🏫 MIT setting
💋 panic kiss
🐢 slow burn
💬 banter
🐶 stray dog
🌶 spice with feelings
📚 Read this if you like:
Fake dating, nerdy romcoms, women in STEM, grumpy men who fall hard, academic rivals, emotional slow burns, and cinnamon roll MMCs hiding behind an icy reputation.
Cute, funny, tender, and Lars raised the standard.
#TheStatisticallyUnlikelyRebound #ParkerElling #FakeDating #RomComBooks #BookReview
Grad or Die Romance #1
One phrase: fake dating for emotionally repressed nerds 📊💕
This was such a witty, sweet, nerdy romcom.
Daisy gets dumped by her fiancé three weeks before moving across the country for her MIT postdoc. Then she finds out he is already with her new potential colleague, who is also pregnant.
So when her ex shows up at her housewarming party, Daisy does the logical thing.
She asks Lars, her icy downstairs neighbor and Ethan’s academic rival, to kiss her.
Fake dating happens. Obviously.
I loved the banter, the board games, the nerdy shirts, the STEM setting, and Daisy’s anxious overthinking. Lars was perfection. Cold to everyone else, soft and quietly obsessed with Daisy. Grumpy on the outside, completely gone for her on the inside.
The fake dating actually mattered too. It pushed them into vulnerability, and the emotional payoff felt earned.
✨ Tropes and vibes:
💗 fake dating
📊 STEM romance
🧊 grumpy MMC
🥹 he falls first
🏫 MIT setting
💋 panic kiss
🐢 slow burn
💬 banter
🐶 stray dog
🌶 spice with feelings
📚 Read this if you like:
Fake dating, nerdy romcoms, women in STEM, grumpy men who fall hard, academic rivals, emotional slow burns, and cinnamon roll MMCs hiding behind an icy reputation.
Cute, funny, tender, and Lars raised the standard.
#TheStatisticallyUnlikelyRebound #ParkerElling #FakeDating #RomComBooks #BookReview
February 20, 2026
It took me a little bit to get into this book, trying to work out how the large number of characters thrown into the first few chapters fit into Daisy's narrative (particularly the whole MIT/Harvard setup). Once she and Lars started their neighbourly relationship, however, I was pulled in by the sharp banter and chemistry between them, plus I always enjoy a scenario where one character is clearly smitten and the other (narrating) character takes a while to catch up. Daisy is nuanced, relatable, and has a humorous, sometimes self-deprecating voice; I liked how she tries to deal with the situations she finds herself in, particularly around Ethan and the 'Chinese filial guilt' triggered by her mother, while working out who she really wants to be outside their wishes and expectations. Lars is steadfastly supportive of her, while also grappling with the onset of feelings he's never had to manage before. This is most definitely Ali Hazelwood-coded, as others have mentioned, and leans quite heavily on the academia side with a lot going on, but it's definitely recommended for those who like a STEM romance with a variety of well-developed characters and plenty of (slightly chaotic) humour and spice.
July 18, 2026
Daisy is all packed and ready to leave California behind to start a new life in Cambridge with her fiancé, Ethan, after two years together. But at the last minute, he tells her he’s having second thoughts and calls off the wedding. Since Daisy has already committed to the college and her career, she decides to make the move anyway. After finding a last-minute apartment, she discovers her downstairs neighbor is none other than Lars—Ethan’s academic rival, better known as the “IceMan.”
When Ethan unexpectedly shows up to Daisy’s housewarming party with his new fiancée, Daisy impulsively asks Lars to kiss her. What starts as a fake dating arrangement quickly turns into something much deeper.
I really enjoyed the dynamic between Daisy and Lars. She’s spent her life being a people pleaser, while he’s more of a loner, and it was fun watching them truly understand and support each other. The more time they spent together, the more the “end date” on their fake relationship kept getting pushed back, making it impossible not to root for them.
Overall, this was a fun, heartwarming fake dating romance with great chemistry and character growth.
Thank you to NetGalley and Parker Elling for providing me with a free advanced copy of this book. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
When Ethan unexpectedly shows up to Daisy’s housewarming party with his new fiancée, Daisy impulsively asks Lars to kiss her. What starts as a fake dating arrangement quickly turns into something much deeper.
I really enjoyed the dynamic between Daisy and Lars. She’s spent her life being a people pleaser, while he’s more of a loner, and it was fun watching them truly understand and support each other. The more time they spent together, the more the “end date” on their fake relationship kept getting pushed back, making it impossible not to root for them.
Overall, this was a fun, heartwarming fake dating romance with great chemistry and character growth.
Thank you to NetGalley and Parker Elling for providing me with a free advanced copy of this book. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
February 19, 2026
This was an enjoyable read from a first time contemporary novel for Parker Elling. The STEM romance sub-genre is increasingly popular thanks to authors like Ali Hazelwood, and this one kept pace well with that style. The banter was excellent, The side characters were developed enough to keep us interested for the remainder of the series.
I thought the spice was well-written and contributed to the plot, instead of being a placeholder as often can happen. Lars was an A+ MMC, and usually when I really love a MMC, the FMC is a letdown. Not in this instance. Daisy was compelling and flawed and relatable.
I fully appreciated a contemporary romance without a third act breakup! So very refreshing. There was plenty of conflict and plot development without it. It's such a crutch that is very overused. Big kudos for not doing so in this one.
Thank you to Parker Elling and BookBuzz.net for the e-ARC. All opinions are my own, and I am happy to recommend this book. I look forward to the next installment in the series.
I thought the spice was well-written and contributed to the plot, instead of being a placeholder as often can happen. Lars was an A+ MMC, and usually when I really love a MMC, the FMC is a letdown. Not in this instance. Daisy was compelling and flawed and relatable.
I fully appreciated a contemporary romance without a third act breakup! So very refreshing. There was plenty of conflict and plot development without it. It's such a crutch that is very overused. Big kudos for not doing so in this one.
Thank you to Parker Elling and BookBuzz.net for the e-ARC. All opinions are my own, and I am happy to recommend this book. I look forward to the next installment in the series.
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