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Grad or Die Romance #1
The Statistically Unlikely Rebound
Win a free print copy of this book!
0 days and 12:12:57
12 copies available
U.S. only
What happens when two overthinking, super compatible nerds meet at exactly the wrong time?
🔥 Slow Burn
💕 Fake Dating
💕 Forced Proximity
💕 Workplace Romance
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.
🔥 Slow Burn
💕 Fake Dating
💕 Forced Proximity
💕 Workplace Romance
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.
424 pages, Paperback
Published February 14, 2026
About the author
Parker Elling
7 books115 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 came 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
Gwendy was supposed to be next... but I got distracted and wrote a full spin-off for Brody, the comedic relief from Lorelai's book, which I published in October, 2026.
The first draft of Gwendy's story (The Statistically Unlikely Meet-Cute) is also done but still going through developmental editing so I'm expecting to publish that in early 2027.
Find out more at: www.parkerelling.com.
From late 2024-2025 I actually wrote three very loosely/in-the-same universe contemporary romances... all of which came 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
Gwendy was supposed to be next... but I got distracted and wrote a full spin-off for Brody, the comedic relief from Lorelai's book, which I published in October, 2026.
The first draft of Gwendy's story (The Statistically Unlikely Meet-Cute) is also done but still going through developmental editing so I'm expecting to publish that in early 2027.
Find out more at: www.parkerelling.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 123 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.
October 4, 2026
I really enjoyed this one! Daisy gets dumped by her fiancé right before she’s supposed to move with him, so she ends up renting an apartment and meeting her grumpy neighbour. They’re both super smart, nerdy, have similar interests and the same sense of humour, so their fake dating arrangement felt like a lot of fun.
I really liked how their relationship slowly developed from the fake dating arrangement into something much more real. They’re both mathematicians, and I loved how their personalities and shared interests made their connection feel so natural.
The banter was probably my favourite part. And Daisy making a whole PowerPoint presentation to explain how their relationship is real was absolutely hilarious and so fitting for her.
A fun, light romance with great banter, fake dating and two nerds who definitely didn’t expect their fake relationship to turn into something real.
I really liked how their relationship slowly developed from the fake dating arrangement into something much more real. They’re both mathematicians, and I loved how their personalities and shared interests made their connection feel so natural.
The banter was probably my favourite part. And Daisy making a whole PowerPoint presentation to explain how their relationship is real was absolutely hilarious and so fitting for her.
A fun, light romance with great banter, fake dating and two nerds who definitely didn’t expect their fake relationship to turn into something real.
October 8, 2026
I won this book as a Goodreads giveaway! I have to admit, I absolutely love nerdy romances! The main characters are “adorkable,” and I enjoyed their slow burn romance. Lars was the perfect, patient, generous, and swoon worthy MMC. Daisy was the strong intelligent woman making her own way in the world that I hoped she would be. The supporting characters were also fun and I’m excited to know that Lorelei gets to have her own story in this series! I only hope her texting gets easier to read in the next book. Haha! I especially loved how Daisy’s mom came into her own and while still not perfect, she was trying her best for Daisy and herself. As a side note, any book that references “the Good Place” multiple times, is automatically bumped up a star by me. Super cute book!
September 7, 2026
I really do just love a nerdy romance set in the STEM world. I ate this up. I loved Daisy and Lars together. I really loved when Daisy realized that Lars may not make big grand gestures, but he loved with quiet, consistent care. That reminded me of my husband ❤️
4.5⭐️ rounded up
4.5⭐️ rounded up
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!”
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
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!
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.
September 27, 2026
Who says nerds aren’t HOT?!
I absolutely binged this book in 24 hours and honestly, I was having the BEST time.
If you loved other STEM romances in the The Love Hypothesis-adjacent category, this will absolutely tick all your boxes. We’ve got fake dating, forced proximity, workplace romance AND a whole lot of nerdy banter and the fake dating trope was done SO well in this book!
I absolutely adored the banter and quirkyness between our FMC and MMC. And if you like your MMCs intelligent, a little grumpy (except for her 😉) and just an all-round green flag, you are going to DEVOUR this.
And the spice?! TOP. TIER.
Basically, give me nerdy romance with good banter, a grumpy-but-sweet MMC and fake dating and I am VERY easily pleased.
💗 Slow Burn
💗 Fake Dating
💗 Forced Proximity
💗 Workplace Romance
💗 First Person, Single POV
I’ll absolutely be back for more from this author!
I received a review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I absolutely binged this book in 24 hours and honestly, I was having the BEST time.
If you loved other STEM romances in the The Love Hypothesis-adjacent category, this will absolutely tick all your boxes. We’ve got fake dating, forced proximity, workplace romance AND a whole lot of nerdy banter and the fake dating trope was done SO well in this book!
I absolutely adored the banter and quirkyness between our FMC and MMC. And if you like your MMCs intelligent, a little grumpy (except for her 😉) and just an all-round green flag, you are going to DEVOUR this.
And the spice?! TOP. TIER.
Basically, give me nerdy romance with good banter, a grumpy-but-sweet MMC and fake dating and I am VERY easily pleased.
💗 Slow Burn
💗 Fake Dating
💗 Forced Proximity
💗 Workplace Romance
💗 First Person, Single POV
I’ll absolutely be back for more from this author!
I received a review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 15, 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.
October 6, 2026
6⭐️
Este libro es el romance perfecto, 2 protagonistas con luchas internas reales, con personalidades únicas. Está extremadamente bien escrito, el nivel de spicy es perfecto, sentí mariposas con Lars cuando hablaba y decia lo necesario. La evolución de Daisy, superar sus dudas, dejar de pensar en el que diran y encontrar a tan hermoso compañero de vida, aprender a quererse como es sin necesidad de tener que cambiar por el otro, es de lo mas lindo del libro.
Ser visto y entendido es ser amado y esa es precisamente el lenguaje del amor de Lars hacia Daisy. La declaración final de amor es lo más perfecto que he leído y con lo que se puede soñar.
Si tuviera que decir algo ¨negativo¨ sería que no me gusto como al final no supimos que pasó con la mamá de Daisy si al fin puso su negocio o si lo abandono en una semana, fue un personaje que impactó mucho en la evolución de la FMC así que me hubiera gustado saber.
Este libro es el romance perfecto, 2 protagonistas con luchas internas reales, con personalidades únicas. Está extremadamente bien escrito, el nivel de spicy es perfecto, sentí mariposas con Lars cuando hablaba y decia lo necesario. La evolución de Daisy, superar sus dudas, dejar de pensar en el que diran y encontrar a tan hermoso compañero de vida, aprender a quererse como es sin necesidad de tener que cambiar por el otro, es de lo mas lindo del libro.
Ser visto y entendido es ser amado y esa es precisamente el lenguaje del amor de Lars hacia Daisy. La declaración final de amor es lo más perfecto que he leído y con lo que se puede soñar.
Si tuviera que decir algo ¨negativo¨ sería que no me gusto como al final no supimos que pasó con la mamá de Daisy si al fin puso su negocio o si lo abandono en una semana, fue un personaje que impactó mucho en la evolución de la FMC así que me hubiera gustado saber.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 12, 2026
I really enjoyed this book: the characters were mostly believable, the spice was the right level, the plot was complex enough especially given the genre, and the context of academics was situated in reality.
I read it in two days purely because I couldn’t put down this fun and adorable academic story except to continue my academic real life story.
Those were Gilmore girls references snuck in, right? Loralei? Luke’s lobster (if so, how dare this book reference vineyard valentines, just kidding)?
I read it in two days purely because I couldn’t put down this fun and adorable academic story except to continue my academic real life story.
Those were Gilmore girls references snuck in, right? Loralei? Luke’s lobster (if so, how dare this book reference vineyard valentines, just kidding)?
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.
September 9, 2026
Pretty good, but it was kinda missing an umph for such a long book. Or alternatively it could have been like a 100 pages shorter
September 23, 2026
This book would make a cute show
September 26, 2026
For people who love nerdy, flirty, and fun rom-coms.
If you love books like the Love Hypothesis, Legally Blonde, and Cosplay and Consequences, then Parker Elling's Grad or Die series is for you!
If you love books like the Love Hypothesis, Legally Blonde, and Cosplay and Consequences, then Parker Elling's Grad or Die series is for you!
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
September 21, 2026
The best rom com I have read in a long time. I’m so thrilled I stumbled upon it! Gives me similar vibes to The Love Hypothesis for those that enjoyed that book.
September 19, 2026
Absolutely loved this book!
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.
September 12, 2026
Tropes:
Slown Burn
Fake dating
Forced Proximity
Workplace Romance
Blurb:
"When my fiance 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 and horrified. A tad worried about my impending homelessness.
Since I am not about to back out of a MIT postdoc over a guy ...I move. So what if my bank account is a dumpster fire and I don't know anyone else in the city?
Then, minutes before my housewarming party, 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. What could go wrong?"
This is a nerdy, slow burn, spicy standalone workplace romance.
I absolutely loved this book! I devoured it in 24 hours!!
I was hooked from the beginning of the book. From Daisy, the FMC and her roomates/best friends who's banter with each other in their "Grad or Die" group chat will keep you laughing throughout the story. To how they will always drop everything to help each other when they need it, no questions asked.
To when we meet Lars the grumpy MMC. Though he is grumpy to everyone but Daisy. The banter and the tension between them!! From how he only made exceptions to his own rules but only for her. The level of patience he has for her and how he is always helping her, standing beside her, helping her become the best version of herself! I absolutely loved their story. I highly recommend this book to anyone that is looking for their next slow burn, workplace romance!
Slown Burn
Fake dating
Forced Proximity
Workplace Romance
Blurb:
"When my fiance 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 and horrified. A tad worried about my impending homelessness.
Since I am not about to back out of a MIT postdoc over a guy ...I move. So what if my bank account is a dumpster fire and I don't know anyone else in the city?
Then, minutes before my housewarming party, 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. What could go wrong?"
This is a nerdy, slow burn, spicy standalone workplace romance.
I absolutely loved this book! I devoured it in 24 hours!!
I was hooked from the beginning of the book. From Daisy, the FMC and her roomates/best friends who's banter with each other in their "Grad or Die" group chat will keep you laughing throughout the story. To how they will always drop everything to help each other when they need it, no questions asked.
To when we meet Lars the grumpy MMC. Though he is grumpy to everyone but Daisy. The banter and the tension between them!! From how he only made exceptions to his own rules but only for her. The level of patience he has for her and how he is always helping her, standing beside her, helping her become the best version of herself! I absolutely loved their story. I highly recommend this book to anyone that is looking for their next slow burn, workplace romance!
October 2, 2026
4.5/5
I loved this book so much there's something about stem books that always makes me giddy. Probably because I'm also in that industry so i can relate to it but this was so so much fun.
I love how they didn't make a big deal of him being the owner even though the problem followed a little but it wasn't at all a mean to a break up and i must say i figuired it out since the first few chapters it was so obvious also the whole dating an undergrad. Like sure daisy isn't the best communicator but they talked through most things and they didnt let them grow big. The points which i would imagine other books would make it a conflict.
And i am so so so happy that the third act conflict didn't include a break up or a miscommunication but it was something about actual work like thank god. But on another note my god plagiarism. It makes the blood under my skin crawl there is a special place in hell for people that steal other people's hard work and claim ownership. I worked so hard myself on some things and it would have killed me if all that work would go for nothing because i had a few classmates where this happened to them but it was their supervisor who stole the work and its bad so had. So devastating i would not wish it on my biggest enemy.
My god did the mom drive me crazy in this book. I was screaming everytime she opens her mouth. and sure I'm not asian but I'm arab so i can relate a little but that woman made me want to kill someone.
Oh and fuck ethan!
I wanted to keep going with book 2. I like the girls and all but i saw its a second chance romance and i would not want to make myself suffer because i hate that trope. Its sad but oh well.
I loved this book so much there's something about stem books that always makes me giddy. Probably because I'm also in that industry so i can relate to it but this was so so much fun.
I love how they didn't make a big deal of him being the owner even though the problem followed a little but it wasn't at all a mean to a break up and i must say i figuired it out since the first few chapters it was so obvious also the whole dating an undergrad. Like sure daisy isn't the best communicator but they talked through most things and they didnt let them grow big. The points which i would imagine other books would make it a conflict.
And i am so so so happy that the third act conflict didn't include a break up or a miscommunication but it was something about actual work like thank god. But on another note my god plagiarism. It makes the blood under my skin crawl there is a special place in hell for people that steal other people's hard work and claim ownership. I worked so hard myself on some things and it would have killed me if all that work would go for nothing because i had a few classmates where this happened to them but it was their supervisor who stole the work and its bad so had. So devastating i would not wish it on my biggest enemy.
My god did the mom drive me crazy in this book. I was screaming everytime she opens her mouth. and sure I'm not asian but I'm arab so i can relate a little but that woman made me want to kill someone.
Oh and fuck ethan!
I wanted to keep going with book 2. I like the girls and all but i saw its a second chance romance and i would not want to make myself suffer because i hate that trope. Its sad but oh well.
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.
September 1, 2026
Wonderful book with superb characters! The characters have flaws and accept them, the banter is out of this world, and the nerdiness is turned all the way up! Daisy and Lars had quite possible the most relatable meet cute I have ever seen and I want one (not Set though; I’m thinking Uno).
The Dog to Lars having a glasses rotation to the hilariously dated references to Lorelei not being able to text == one of the best romcoms I have ever read.
I have definitely expanded my vocabulary in this book! Thank goodness for kindle having a lookup feature. Lots of big words I will be trying to insert into conversations. For example: effrontery, alacrity, perfidy, askance. All impressive words, all I had to look up.
The Dog to Lars having a glasses rotation to the hilariously dated references to Lorelei not being able to text == one of the best romcoms I have ever read.
I have definitely expanded my vocabulary in this book! Thank goodness for kindle having a lookup feature. Lots of big words I will be trying to insert into conversations. For example: effrontery, alacrity, perfidy, askance. All impressive words, all I had to look up.
October 1, 2026
I listened to The Statistically Unlikely Rebound by Parker Elling on Audible - Narrated by Cindy Kay in one sitting!
I was compelled to listen to The Statistically Unlikely Rebound after hearing non-stop praises.
Parker sure knows how to write a STEM romance that captures one's full attention. 😮💨
Cindy Kay brought the voices of Lars and Daisy to life. She's officially considered a legend in my eyes. You haven't "listened" to an audiobook until you've heard the angelic voice of Cindy Kay.
It's book #1 of 2 in A Grad or Die Romance Series. It's all you could ever want + more. I'm not going to spoil anything for you. No notes; just read it or listen to it!
I was compelled to listen to The Statistically Unlikely Rebound after hearing non-stop praises.
Parker sure knows how to write a STEM romance that captures one's full attention. 😮💨
Cindy Kay brought the voices of Lars and Daisy to life. She's officially considered a legend in my eyes. You haven't "listened" to an audiobook until you've heard the angelic voice of Cindy Kay.
It's book #1 of 2 in A Grad or Die Romance Series. It's all you could ever want + more. I'm not going to spoil anything for you. No notes; just read it or listen to it!
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!
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