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Talking Nerdy #1
Beginner's Guide: Love and Other Chemical Reactions
Falling in love is a chemical reaction.
Just ask Kaya Rubio, twenty-five year-old Molecular Genetics graduate student and research assistant. Fed up with her spinster aunts' relentless reminders and unsolicited advice regarding her Single Since Birth status, she designs a scientific, evidence-based methodology to find her a suitable partner in time for her cousin's wedding. As any good scientist knows, any valid experimental design requires a negative control. Enter the most unsuitable candidate for a potential boyfriend: the messy, easygoing, café owner Nero Sison. Her null hypothesis? Going out with Nero would establish her baseline data without catalyzing the chemical reaction she seeks.
But when Kaya's recorded results refuse to make sense, she is forced to come to the conclusion that there are some things in life that are simply, by nature, irrational and illogical. And that sometimes, chemistry doesn't always happen inside a lab.
Just ask Kaya Rubio, twenty-five year-old Molecular Genetics graduate student and research assistant. Fed up with her spinster aunts' relentless reminders and unsolicited advice regarding her Single Since Birth status, she designs a scientific, evidence-based methodology to find her a suitable partner in time for her cousin's wedding. As any good scientist knows, any valid experimental design requires a negative control. Enter the most unsuitable candidate for a potential boyfriend: the messy, easygoing, café owner Nero Sison. Her null hypothesis? Going out with Nero would establish her baseline data without catalyzing the chemical reaction she seeks.
But when Kaya's recorded results refuse to make sense, she is forced to come to the conclusion that there are some things in life that are simply, by nature, irrational and illogical. And that sometimes, chemistry doesn't always happen inside a lab.
210 pages, Paperback
First published April 17, 2016
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2041 people want to read
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September 15, 2020
An extremely cute and nerdy contemporary romance, which unfortunately, didn't quite hit the mark for me
Kaya Rubio, a graduate student and research assistant, is fed up of her family questioning her about her single status, and has started to feel lonely, so she designs a scientific experiment to find a boyfriend! She decides to go on blind dates, with people who fit her specific criteria, but instead feels more drawn to Nero, her negative control. An arty, café owner, he is unsuitable for her in every way, but is he really?
After enjoying Feels Like Summer by Six de los Reyes a couple of years ago, I jumped at the chance to snap up another book by this author, and for only 77p! 🙌 Similarly to that book, this one again is set in the STEM world in the Philippines, where the author is from. This again has wonderfully smart, strong women working in the STEM field, and I loved that! I also loved the setting at the university in Manila. This was a cute read, and the two leads had sizzling chemistry, which built up nicely, but it didn't quite have enough steam for me, and I wanted more time with the two as a couple.
I loved Kaya's family, and her friends! The supporting characters were great, and I adored the way that they loved and supported Kaya just as she was. She was a workaholic, and most definitely on the Autistic spectrum, although this wasn't specifically talked about. Her loved ones didn't make a big thing out of this, or try to change her in any way, and that was great! The family gatherings were fun, with all the siblings and cousins getting involved, and I enjoyed that a lot!
Nero was ❤️ Smart, sexy and sensitive, he had his own family issues, but was totally adorable in how much he cared for Kaya. And I loved In Lab, his speciality tea café, I could really visualise it, and have decided that it actually exists somewhere out there!
As much as I applaud the author trying to write a different kind of heroine, I couldn't relate to Kaya. I think the writing style was too sciencey for me, and unlike in Feels Like Summer, a lot of it went over my head. Kaya viewed everything in a scientific way, and it was all over explained in scientific terms. I know that was the point, that instead of dating in a usual way, she set up the scientific experiment because that was what she was comfortable with, but it felt over done, and the chapters about her research slowed the pace of the book. There was almost too much science talk for me, and I found myself skimming those very dry parts. I also felt that perhaps Kaya was a bit of a stereotype of a scientist, being antisocial, and lacking social awareness, but then again the author works in STEM herself, so maybe it was based on real life?
So I obviously didn't enjoy this as much as this author's previous book, and I'm not sure if I will read the rest of the series, but if you work in STEM you may love this! If you don't mind reading about lab work, in amongst your romance, then definitely pick this one up, its definitely diverse and has a strong cast of feminist characters. I'm just sad that I couldn't connect more with Kaya, but many others loved this! 🥼🥼🥼
Kaya Rubio, a graduate student and research assistant, is fed up of her family questioning her about her single status, and has started to feel lonely, so she designs a scientific experiment to find a boyfriend! She decides to go on blind dates, with people who fit her specific criteria, but instead feels more drawn to Nero, her negative control. An arty, café owner, he is unsuitable for her in every way, but is he really?
After enjoying Feels Like Summer by Six de los Reyes a couple of years ago, I jumped at the chance to snap up another book by this author, and for only 77p! 🙌 Similarly to that book, this one again is set in the STEM world in the Philippines, where the author is from. This again has wonderfully smart, strong women working in the STEM field, and I loved that! I also loved the setting at the university in Manila. This was a cute read, and the two leads had sizzling chemistry, which built up nicely, but it didn't quite have enough steam for me, and I wanted more time with the two as a couple.
I loved Kaya's family, and her friends! The supporting characters were great, and I adored the way that they loved and supported Kaya just as she was. She was a workaholic, and most definitely on the Autistic spectrum, although this wasn't specifically talked about. Her loved ones didn't make a big thing out of this, or try to change her in any way, and that was great! The family gatherings were fun, with all the siblings and cousins getting involved, and I enjoyed that a lot!
Nero was ❤️ Smart, sexy and sensitive, he had his own family issues, but was totally adorable in how much he cared for Kaya. And I loved In Lab, his speciality tea café, I could really visualise it, and have decided that it actually exists somewhere out there!
As much as I applaud the author trying to write a different kind of heroine, I couldn't relate to Kaya. I think the writing style was too sciencey for me, and unlike in Feels Like Summer, a lot of it went over my head. Kaya viewed everything in a scientific way, and it was all over explained in scientific terms. I know that was the point, that instead of dating in a usual way, she set up the scientific experiment because that was what she was comfortable with, but it felt over done, and the chapters about her research slowed the pace of the book. There was almost too much science talk for me, and I found myself skimming those very dry parts. I also felt that perhaps Kaya was a bit of a stereotype of a scientist, being antisocial, and lacking social awareness, but then again the author works in STEM herself, so maybe it was based on real life?
So I obviously didn't enjoy this as much as this author's previous book, and I'm not sure if I will read the rest of the series, but if you work in STEM you may love this! If you don't mind reading about lab work, in amongst your romance, then definitely pick this one up, its definitely diverse and has a strong cast of feminist characters. I'm just sad that I couldn't connect more with Kaya, but many others loved this! 🥼🥼🥼
November 1, 2016
Beginner’s Guide is the toe curling nerdy contemporary romance you don’t want to missed.
Aside from Courtney Milan’s The Countess Conspiracy, I haven’t read a lot of romance books where the protagonist is a scientist where it’s filled with countless deduction. That book is subdue in terms of scientific exploration. Beginner's Guide: Love and Other Chemical Reactions on the other hand is swarming on it. If you’re not a science person as I do, I still reckon you’ll dig this story. As I’d like to call it, this is the tame modern version of A Week to Be Wicked by Tessa Dare.
Kaya Rubio is your typical scientist who is very involved with her research; she doesn’t have any room for anything much less as love life. Growing up in a tight knit family, she’s constantly reminded of her otherness. She’s a woman of logic and pragmatism unlike her family who are chaotic and flamboyant. Everyone in her family have their own respective partner. This separates her from them even more. Because of that, this drove her to conduct an experiment. A foolpro0f project that guarantees, she’ll have a suitable boyfriend just in time for her cousin’s wedding.
The story chronicles her every step to failure and success.
Storytelling
I was initially intimated by the rational tone of the story-telling. Kaya’s voice isn’t brimming with emotions. I think that’s the intended point of the author not because she is a scientist and they’re incapable of human sensations, but because she’s firm and unbending. She functions with methodologically philosophy. It’s quite refreshing once you get use to the concept of the writing.
Characters
Kaya’s character speaks to me. There’s no cultural difference, since we’re both Filipinos. We are expected by our community to uphold our traditions. A lot of girls could relate at being constantly terrorized by their relatives because we don’t meet their certain standards, especially at finding your own partner. It’s not something any woman should feel inadequate about. Though somehow, it always niggles at the back of our mind that we are lacking. Kaya’s journey is a prime example of that.
Ensemble of Cast
As I always note in my reviews I love an ensemble of cast, even more so if they get together and form a certain bond. Beginner’s Guide is a total fanservice of that. We have an eccentric, but supportive family. There’s also the gradual buildup of camaraderie between colleagues that turns into friendship. I love it specifically since Kaya is terrible at making friends, but she tries.
Romance
The romance is definitely the cherry on top of this book. Nero and Kaya have the best build up in all history of buildup. They found familiarity within each other’s company despite their incompatibilities. It’s the toe curling romance that includes scientific experiments that involve around kissing.
“You’re not an experiment, Kaya. You’re not a problem to be solved.”
I cannot recommend this book enough.
Review also posted at Hollywood News Source.
Aside from Courtney Milan’s The Countess Conspiracy, I haven’t read a lot of romance books where the protagonist is a scientist where it’s filled with countless deduction. That book is subdue in terms of scientific exploration. Beginner's Guide: Love and Other Chemical Reactions on the other hand is swarming on it. If you’re not a science person as I do, I still reckon you’ll dig this story. As I’d like to call it, this is the tame modern version of A Week to Be Wicked by Tessa Dare.
Kaya Rubio is your typical scientist who is very involved with her research; she doesn’t have any room for anything much less as love life. Growing up in a tight knit family, she’s constantly reminded of her otherness. She’s a woman of logic and pragmatism unlike her family who are chaotic and flamboyant. Everyone in her family have their own respective partner. This separates her from them even more. Because of that, this drove her to conduct an experiment. A foolpro0f project that guarantees, she’ll have a suitable boyfriend just in time for her cousin’s wedding.
The story chronicles her every step to failure and success.
Storytelling
I was initially intimated by the rational tone of the story-telling. Kaya’s voice isn’t brimming with emotions. I think that’s the intended point of the author not because she is a scientist and they’re incapable of human sensations, but because she’s firm and unbending. She functions with methodologically philosophy. It’s quite refreshing once you get use to the concept of the writing.
Characters
Kaya’s character speaks to me. There’s no cultural difference, since we’re both Filipinos. We are expected by our community to uphold our traditions. A lot of girls could relate at being constantly terrorized by their relatives because we don’t meet their certain standards, especially at finding your own partner. It’s not something any woman should feel inadequate about. Though somehow, it always niggles at the back of our mind that we are lacking. Kaya’s journey is a prime example of that.
Ensemble of Cast
As I always note in my reviews I love an ensemble of cast, even more so if they get together and form a certain bond. Beginner’s Guide is a total fanservice of that. We have an eccentric, but supportive family. There’s also the gradual buildup of camaraderie between colleagues that turns into friendship. I love it specifically since Kaya is terrible at making friends, but she tries.
Romance
The romance is definitely the cherry on top of this book. Nero and Kaya have the best build up in all history of buildup. They found familiarity within each other’s company despite their incompatibilities. It’s the toe curling romance that includes scientific experiments that involve around kissing.
“You’re not an experiment, Kaya. You’re not a problem to be solved.”
I cannot recommend this book enough.
Review also posted at Hollywood News Source.
April 21, 2017
This is my first book by this author, and I'm hooked with the way she writes romance (really strong author voice) and her characters.
I've been intentionally seeking out Filipino authors who write romance either set in the Philippines or in the US (or wherever) this year and Six is one of the names that kept being recommended on Twitter. So I have expectations. Huge ones. And it did not disappoint.
Kaya is a geneticist who's self contained and has some preconceived notions about love. When she was again reminded by her meddling family about her single status, she sets out to find herself a boyfriend to introduce to her family. But unlike most people, she's going to use science-based methods to get herself one. Sounds like a plan, right? I mean, it's science. What could go wrong?
Despite stringent parameters on her scientific study, Kaya is unprepared for NeroAKA the negative control. Nero owns the cafe that Kaya and her friend frequents. He's seemingly unfazed and laid back, and despite being good-looking and charming, Kaya sees him as someone who is an unsuitable candidate for a long term commitment.
But plans, no matter how scientific, rarely goes according to plan, especially when it comes to matters of the heart and Kaya found this out the hard way. She found herself spending more time with Nero and because she's so set in her ways, it took a bit of time for her to let go of her preconceived ideas about love.
I started to get swept away with the story the moment things started to get interesting between Nero and Kaya. At first, I wasn't really sure because it was a bit slow for me. But man, that changed quickly once Nero and Kaya started spending more time together. I was swooning and couldn't stop myself from smiling.
I also loved the way the author included Kaya's family. Their meddling might be annoying to Kaya but it's clear that there's a lot of love there. And some of the funniest and sweetest scenes from the book involve her family and Nero.
Also NERO is everything. I am normally heroine centric but as much as I enjoyed Kaya's voice, it was Nero who really made this book for me. He's definitely book boyfriend material. *swoon
This book made me happy. And that ending...OMG. It's straight out of a telenovela and I loved it. It has the grand gesture and everything. I was in HEA heaven. So thank you Six for taking me there. :D
I've been intentionally seeking out Filipino authors who write romance either set in the Philippines or in the US (or wherever) this year and Six is one of the names that kept being recommended on Twitter. So I have expectations. Huge ones. And it did not disappoint.
If one were to define The Right Guy as a perfect genetic match, the odds of finding him are 1:300,000.
Kaya is a geneticist who's self contained and has some preconceived notions about love. When she was again reminded by her meddling family about her single status, she sets out to find herself a boyfriend to introduce to her family. But unlike most people, she's going to use science-based methods to get herself one. Sounds like a plan, right? I mean, it's science. What could go wrong?
Despite stringent parameters on her scientific study, Kaya is unprepared for NeroAKA the negative control. Nero owns the cafe that Kaya and her friend frequents. He's seemingly unfazed and laid back, and despite being good-looking and charming, Kaya sees him as someone who is an unsuitable candidate for a long term commitment.
"Nero belonged to a world that rarely collided with mine. A world that valued aesthetics and feelings more than they did fact and evidence."
But plans, no matter how scientific, rarely goes according to plan, especially when it comes to matters of the heart and Kaya found this out the hard way. She found herself spending more time with Nero and because she's so set in her ways, it took a bit of time for her to let go of her preconceived ideas about love.
I started to get swept away with the story the moment things started to get interesting between Nero and Kaya. At first, I wasn't really sure because it was a bit slow for me. But man, that changed quickly once Nero and Kaya started spending more time together. I was swooning and couldn't stop myself from smiling.
I also loved the way the author included Kaya's family. Their meddling might be annoying to Kaya but it's clear that there's a lot of love there. And some of the funniest and sweetest scenes from the book involve her family and Nero.
Also NERO is everything. I am normally heroine centric but as much as I enjoyed Kaya's voice, it was Nero who really made this book for me. He's definitely book boyfriend material. *swoon
First, there was Nero’s lips. Then there was his hands. Then his scent. And then his body. And then everything all at once.
This book made me happy. And that ending...OMG. It's straight out of a telenovela and I loved it. It has the grand gesture and everything. I was in HEA heaven. So thank you Six for taking me there. :D
“So go on. Just go full on science mode. Talk nerdy to me.”
Read
March 27, 2018A research scientist tired of being nagged about her single status designs a boyfriend experiment to trial suitable candidates, but finds herself more interested in the arty cafe owner instead. Kaya is a fun character, evidently on the autistic spectrum, very self-protective because she's aware other people find her odd, and hiding her loneliness and discomfort behind her work. Meanwhile the sexy free-spirited Nero turns out to have his own insecurities about not being clever or high-achieving enough. The romance is therefore mostly impeded by failures of mutual comprehension or emotional honesty, as Kaya's deflections hit Nero's insecurities, but the author pulls it off without the reader screaming "JUST TALK" at the book, which is impressive.
It's a fun read with an endearing heroine and a lovely supporting cast, and I very much liked that the heroine isn't forced to change--certainly not to give up or slack off her work, but also that she acquires a circle of friends and a lover and a better relationship with her family by knowing and liking herself better.
I found the heroine's scientific focus in plot and the narrative style a bit overdone, but then, I have seen lots of readers in STEM rave about this book so maybe that's just my artsy bias showing. It is also, unfortunately, not well edited: the text is full of random tense changes, flipping from past to present and back in a single para, which is pretty jarring and at some points quite confusing. But still an enjoyable read about an unusual heroine and setting, which is immensely welcome.
It's a fun read with an endearing heroine and a lovely supporting cast, and I very much liked that the heroine isn't forced to change--certainly not to give up or slack off her work, but also that she acquires a circle of friends and a lover and a better relationship with her family by knowing and liking herself better.
I found the heroine's scientific focus in plot and the narrative style a bit overdone, but then, I have seen lots of readers in STEM rave about this book so maybe that's just my artsy bias showing. It is also, unfortunately, not well edited: the text is full of random tense changes, flipping from past to present and back in a single para, which is pretty jarring and at some points quite confusing. But still an enjoyable read about an unusual heroine and setting, which is immensely welcome.
July 31, 2016
Originally posted at Chachic's Book Nook.
I've had Beginner's Guide: Love and Other Chemical Reactions by Six de los Reyes on my wishlist for a while now. And I was pushed to grab a copy when I saw historical romance author Courtney Milan raving about it. I didn't want to get left behind when it comes to supporting Filipino authors! I read it as soon as I could because I was curious. While I couldn't say that I loved it as much as Courtney Milan did, I had a lot of fun reading this nerdy Filipino romance. I will definitely be watching out for other books written by Six de los Reyes.
I've always thought of myself as a nerd because I studied in a high school that had a strong focus on science and math subjects, and I majored in electronics engineering in college. Beginner's Guide: Love and Other Chemical Reactions reminded me of all the subjects that I had in high school and college where we had to conduct various lab experiments. There was a time when I spent most of my hours in a lab too. I used to say that I loved science and math but they didn't love me back because I never found both to be easy. Which was probably why I didn't pursue a career in those fields.
Having read Beginner's Guide: Love and Other Chemical Reactions, I can definitely say that I'm nowhere near Kaya's level of nerdiness. It took a while for me to get used to her way of narrating but I eventually found her endearing. She's super smart, but she's socially awkward. The sad thing is she knows it too, and she's given up on pursuing stronger social connections because of previous failed attempts. I would gladly have been Kaya's friend if she was a real person! It's a good thing she has the support of her large and crazy family, so it's not like she's entirely alone. But it's also her family that drives her to try an unusual experiment to find a boyfriend. I think most Filipinos would be able to relate to Kaya's extended family, even if our own families don't plan such elaborate parties. The way the Rubio clan was described was just realistically Filipino. Including the presence of nosy relatives. And like Kaya, I have been the recipient of many, many questions about why I'm still single, when am I planning to find a boyfriend, and why haven't I settled down yet. I guess that's just how Filipino titas (aunts) are wired? So yes, I could understand why Kaya thought it would be worth her while to embark on an unusual experiment to find a boyfriend.
While Kaya's experimental dates were fun to read, I liked her interactions with her friends even better. She's always been on good terms with her colleague and flatmate Eugene, but their friendship becomes stronger as he tries to help her navigate the dating field. I hope Eugene will get his own HEA in a later book. Kaya also becomes more willing to open up to the interns in her lab, as well as other researchers in their science institute. And of course, there's Nero. Good-looking cafe owner, part-time graphic artist and definitely more experienced when it comes to relationships. On paper, it doesn't seem like Kaya and Nero would really get along but it was interesting to see them get to know each other. How they're both in totally different fields and have personalities that are poles apart but at their core, they're just both flawed individuals looking to find someone who can see and appreciate their true selves. I'm glad that Nero got enough page time for readers to understand him better, and to see that there's more to him than meets the eye.
Nerdy, sweet and cute, Beginner’s Guide: Love and Other Chemical Reactions is an enjoyable romance with strong Filipino values. I'm glad to have discovered a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) romance series that is set in the Philippines. Looking forward to the rest of the books in the series! I need to mention that this book is indie pubbed and there were some sections that could have been edited better (missing words, typos, tense changes, etc.) but I wasn't bothered enough to be pulled out of the story. Just wanted to give a warning in case that's something that other readers watch out for.
I've had Beginner's Guide: Love and Other Chemical Reactions by Six de los Reyes on my wishlist for a while now. And I was pushed to grab a copy when I saw historical romance author Courtney Milan raving about it. I didn't want to get left behind when it comes to supporting Filipino authors! I read it as soon as I could because I was curious. While I couldn't say that I loved it as much as Courtney Milan did, I had a lot of fun reading this nerdy Filipino romance. I will definitely be watching out for other books written by Six de los Reyes.
I've always thought of myself as a nerd because I studied in a high school that had a strong focus on science and math subjects, and I majored in electronics engineering in college. Beginner's Guide: Love and Other Chemical Reactions reminded me of all the subjects that I had in high school and college where we had to conduct various lab experiments. There was a time when I spent most of my hours in a lab too. I used to say that I loved science and math but they didn't love me back because I never found both to be easy. Which was probably why I didn't pursue a career in those fields.
Having read Beginner's Guide: Love and Other Chemical Reactions, I can definitely say that I'm nowhere near Kaya's level of nerdiness. It took a while for me to get used to her way of narrating but I eventually found her endearing. She's super smart, but she's socially awkward. The sad thing is she knows it too, and she's given up on pursuing stronger social connections because of previous failed attempts. I would gladly have been Kaya's friend if she was a real person! It's a good thing she has the support of her large and crazy family, so it's not like she's entirely alone. But it's also her family that drives her to try an unusual experiment to find a boyfriend. I think most Filipinos would be able to relate to Kaya's extended family, even if our own families don't plan such elaborate parties. The way the Rubio clan was described was just realistically Filipino. Including the presence of nosy relatives. And like Kaya, I have been the recipient of many, many questions about why I'm still single, when am I planning to find a boyfriend, and why haven't I settled down yet. I guess that's just how Filipino titas (aunts) are wired? So yes, I could understand why Kaya thought it would be worth her while to embark on an unusual experiment to find a boyfriend.
While Kaya's experimental dates were fun to read, I liked her interactions with her friends even better. She's always been on good terms with her colleague and flatmate Eugene, but their friendship becomes stronger as he tries to help her navigate the dating field. I hope Eugene will get his own HEA in a later book. Kaya also becomes more willing to open up to the interns in her lab, as well as other researchers in their science institute. And of course, there's Nero. Good-looking cafe owner, part-time graphic artist and definitely more experienced when it comes to relationships. On paper, it doesn't seem like Kaya and Nero would really get along but it was interesting to see them get to know each other. How they're both in totally different fields and have personalities that are poles apart but at their core, they're just both flawed individuals looking to find someone who can see and appreciate their true selves. I'm glad that Nero got enough page time for readers to understand him better, and to see that there's more to him than meets the eye.
Nerdy, sweet and cute, Beginner’s Guide: Love and Other Chemical Reactions is an enjoyable romance with strong Filipino values. I'm glad to have discovered a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) romance series that is set in the Philippines. Looking forward to the rest of the books in the series! I need to mention that this book is indie pubbed and there were some sections that could have been edited better (missing words, typos, tense changes, etc.) but I wasn't bothered enough to be pulled out of the story. Just wanted to give a warning in case that's something that other readers watch out for.
January 20, 2017
I really enjoyed this love story.
The writing style takes a while to get use to because it is so internal to the heroine's way of processing the world which is very scientific. Also, she knows where she is and who people are so she rarely signals these things to the reader. It took me forever to figure out she was in Manila.
This worldview is the joy of the book (and sometimes a drawback) as the reader is sitting in a room with a limited perspective and as her perspective grows so does the reader.
The is an extra pleasure for me here because this book is written with a full Filipino cast and location like a map with your own country at the center. I love reading books written by writers from other countries like this and feel so lucky this one is in English so I can sneak in.
The hero and the heroine are opposites which is always fun but it turns out the have lots in common which is why they fall in love. All the family and work backdrop make this a very special book with extra nerdy STEM and Arts love.
I wish there was a bit more steam and couple time at the end but overall the book was a pleasure.
Can't wait for the rest of the series!
The writing style takes a while to get use to because it is so internal to the heroine's way of processing the world which is very scientific. Also, she knows where she is and who people are so she rarely signals these things to the reader. It took me forever to figure out she was in Manila.
This worldview is the joy of the book (and sometimes a drawback) as the reader is sitting in a room with a limited perspective and as her perspective grows so does the reader.
The is an extra pleasure for me here because this book is written with a full Filipino cast and location like a map with your own country at the center. I love reading books written by writers from other countries like this and feel so lucky this one is in English so I can sneak in.
The hero and the heroine are opposites which is always fun but it turns out the have lots in common which is why they fall in love. All the family and work backdrop make this a very special book with extra nerdy STEM and Arts love.
I wish there was a bit more steam and couple time at the end but overall the book was a pleasure.
Can't wait for the rest of the series!
December 17, 2018
Honestly, this was just delightful to read all in all. I do enjoy a fun love story, and that was what this was!
February 5, 2017
It's been a really long time since I last read a New Adult novel. I don't know why but it seems like NA novels from western authors doesn't appeal much to me nowadays. Except, of course, from those that I've read and loved before. But hey, now I have learned my lesson. If ever, I find myself craving for a NA novel, I'll be looking at #romanceclass books! I'm happy to say that this book opened my world again to NA.
This is the first book I read from Six de los Reyes, and this wouldn't be the last! I really loved her writing style. This book is driven by character and voice. It's really interesting to see this kind of representation in books.
It was very easy to resonate with Kaya. In fact, I was able to relate and indentify with her since the first chapter. I guess it also goes along with the culture, mostly the university culture expressed in the book. It's very much a parallel of what I'm experiencing in Uni for the past five years. Kaya is a bioinformatics researcher and a grad student in Uni, so that's mainly molecular science. The terminologies used in the book are familiar to me as well. I'm a food science major in Uni, but since I've taken a few courses about Biotechnology and Biochemistry, it helped a lot to understand the science aspect of the book. See, I told you I could relate to Kaya that much. Another thing, I'm also part of the NBSB Club (No Boyfriend Since Birth). I could go on and on about the things I have in common with her but we need to be on track. Basically, Kaya is a little emotionally-detached. She's built herself a world where she has everything under control. She uses the scientific methods on a daily basis.
Being a bit fed up with the routine questions asked by her relatives whenever they get together in an occassion, Kaya started to formulate and plan, The Boyfriend Experiment, with her best friend Eugene. I quite enjoyed the use of statistics on this part, but I have to admit that statistics is one of my weakest subjects haha!
Kaya also enlisted the help of Nero, the owner of In Lab, the coffee shop where Kaya and Eugene usually hang out. Nero and Kaya aren't exactly friends but I love how their relationship blossomed from mere acquaintances to friends and even more! Nero is absolutely adorable and hot. I can imagine him as this hot, cute, tall guy with tattooed arms (tattoed arms are canon it's actually said in the book) sporting a disheveled hair. He's just so perfect, I could cry just by thinking about him. Add him to my list of book boyfriends, not to mention he's top one!
The secondary characters were very interesting as well! Phylle and Francis are funny, the Teddies remind me of FitzSimmons from Agents of SHIELD. However, I really wish I got to read more of Eugene. I guess he's still going to appear in the succeeding books and I really hope I get more from him.
Overall, this book exceeded my expectations. It's not everyday we get to read a love story that features someone working in the field of science with things as detailed as this being featured in the book. I'm really glad and thankful that Six put this story out. Also, I'm glad I buddy read it with Jem so I was able to immediately share the emotions I felt about this book, because they were so damn overwhelming. I'm also glad this book is getting recognition abroad. I've seen a lot of non-Filipinos read this book and they end up loving it! Honestly, this book was a quick read because you won't be able to put it down. It's a mix of drama, comedy, fluff, and steamy make out sessions so I suggest you pick it up!
This is the first book I read from Six de los Reyes, and this wouldn't be the last! I really loved her writing style. This book is driven by character and voice. It's really interesting to see this kind of representation in books.
It was very easy to resonate with Kaya. In fact, I was able to relate and indentify with her since the first chapter. I guess it also goes along with the culture, mostly the university culture expressed in the book. It's very much a parallel of what I'm experiencing in Uni for the past five years. Kaya is a bioinformatics researcher and a grad student in Uni, so that's mainly molecular science. The terminologies used in the book are familiar to me as well. I'm a food science major in Uni, but since I've taken a few courses about Biotechnology and Biochemistry, it helped a lot to understand the science aspect of the book. See, I told you I could relate to Kaya that much. Another thing, I'm also part of the NBSB Club (No Boyfriend Since Birth). I could go on and on about the things I have in common with her but we need to be on track. Basically, Kaya is a little emotionally-detached. She's built herself a world where she has everything under control. She uses the scientific methods on a daily basis.
Being a bit fed up with the routine questions asked by her relatives whenever they get together in an occassion, Kaya started to formulate and plan, The Boyfriend Experiment, with her best friend Eugene. I quite enjoyed the use of statistics on this part, but I have to admit that statistics is one of my weakest subjects haha!
Kaya also enlisted the help of Nero, the owner of In Lab, the coffee shop where Kaya and Eugene usually hang out. Nero and Kaya aren't exactly friends but I love how their relationship blossomed from mere acquaintances to friends and even more! Nero is absolutely adorable and hot. I can imagine him as this hot, cute, tall guy with tattooed arms (tattoed arms are canon it's actually said in the book) sporting a disheveled hair. He's just so perfect, I could cry just by thinking about him. Add him to my list of book boyfriends, not to mention he's top one!
The secondary characters were very interesting as well! Phylle and Francis are funny, the Teddies remind me of FitzSimmons from Agents of SHIELD. However, I really wish I got to read more of Eugene. I guess he's still going to appear in the succeeding books and I really hope I get more from him.
Overall, this book exceeded my expectations. It's not everyday we get to read a love story that features someone working in the field of science with things as detailed as this being featured in the book. I'm really glad and thankful that Six put this story out. Also, I'm glad I buddy read it with Jem so I was able to immediately share the emotions I felt about this book, because they were so damn overwhelming. I'm also glad this book is getting recognition abroad. I've seen a lot of non-Filipinos read this book and they end up loving it! Honestly, this book was a quick read because you won't be able to put it down. It's a mix of drama, comedy, fluff, and steamy make out sessions so I suggest you pick it up!
August 2, 2016
Full review at Book Thingo: link
It's difficult to pull off a socially awkward heroine, but Six de los Reyes does a great job. She surrounds Kaya with loyal friends, and a rambunctious family, which means Kaya can't be easily pigeonholed. Anyone who knows an introvert should understand some of what Kaya goes through. Nero is hot in an understated way. He's a bit too perfect, but never mind that -- Kaya wins and that's what matters.
I have huge issues with the editing of this book. There are tense changes everywhere and they did my head in until I decided to skim rather than read word for word. I did read all the dialogue, though. Those parts were fun. There are large chunks of internal monologues -- I didn't mind them, but they need to be broken up to make the reading experience more comfortable for those of us who rely on large fonts. There are also some awkward phrases that just need tidying up.
I'm a bit torn. Courtney Milan compared this to The Rosie Project, but that book had an entire editorial team behind it and it shows. I love the raw edges of Beginner's Guide. Kaya's narrative voice is strong and compelling. The sense of place and identity are part of what I love about the characters. But I can see the potential that a little more polish can bring to this story. Nevertheless, I can't wait for the next book in this series.
Click here for my full review.
It's difficult to pull off a socially awkward heroine, but Six de los Reyes does a great job. She surrounds Kaya with loyal friends, and a rambunctious family, which means Kaya can't be easily pigeonholed. Anyone who knows an introvert should understand some of what Kaya goes through. Nero is hot in an understated way. He's a bit too perfect, but never mind that -- Kaya wins and that's what matters.
I have huge issues with the editing of this book. There are tense changes everywhere and they did my head in until I decided to skim rather than read word for word. I did read all the dialogue, though. Those parts were fun. There are large chunks of internal monologues -- I didn't mind them, but they need to be broken up to make the reading experience more comfortable for those of us who rely on large fonts. There are also some awkward phrases that just need tidying up.
I'm a bit torn. Courtney Milan compared this to The Rosie Project, but that book had an entire editorial team behind it and it shows. I love the raw edges of Beginner's Guide. Kaya's narrative voice is strong and compelling. The sense of place and identity are part of what I love about the characters. But I can see the potential that a little more polish can bring to this story. Nevertheless, I can't wait for the next book in this series.
Click here for my full review.
April 25, 2019
Two adorable people connect unexpectedly
This was great, but as a caveat, I'm neurotypical. I can't possibly comment on the autistic coding of the heroine as I have no idea whether or not it's accurate or harmful or anything else. The only character like her that I've read was the heroine from The Kiss Quotient and she's substantially similar in my view. However, unlike in The Kiss Quotient, this heroine's family, friends, and work colleagues love her just as she is. There is no suggestion that she should be in any way different. They do express occasional concern and frustration, but at her unhappiness, not at her baseline state of being, the way especially the mother in The Kiss Quotient does. And when they push her about her lack of a relationship, it's contextually obvious that it's part of a loving, interfering family dynamic that they inflict on everyone. It's dysfunctional in a way, but it's evenly dysfunctional. I do believe it's stereotypical for the autistic-coded STEM heroine to be completely consumed by her work. But what can I say, this book worked for me completely. I loved the way everyone around the heroine treated her--with love, respect and not just effort but ability to connect with her in a way that worked for her, not forcing her to interact in a way that worked for them. Like, when she's feeling overstimulated during a family party, they let her go off on her own without comment or complaint. And she accepts that they're a bunch of party-loving extroverts and participates in their nutty schemes as is comfortable for her. It just seemed happy and functional and like how you'd treat anyone you loved, when in fiction I haven't seen that portrayed quite like that before.
As for the hero, he's adorably baffled by the heroine, which is basically my favorite way for a hero to be. It was a little uncomfortable for me at first because to be baffled by the way an autistic person looks at and interacts with the world might have been (might be) offensive, but I saw it as a reflection of the same sort of bafflement a hero who isn't looking for a relationship (he isn't) feels upon confronting the fact that he's in love.
In short, this may have worked for me because I am neurotypical, but it did work for me and I will definitely be reading more books by this author.
Minorly, this book needed another copy edit. Missing words, slightly incorrect tenses, etc. It did not interfere with my enjoyment of the book, but it was noticable and persistent.
This was great, but as a caveat, I'm neurotypical. I can't possibly comment on the autistic coding of the heroine as I have no idea whether or not it's accurate or harmful or anything else. The only character like her that I've read was the heroine from The Kiss Quotient and she's substantially similar in my view. However, unlike in The Kiss Quotient, this heroine's family, friends, and work colleagues love her just as she is. There is no suggestion that she should be in any way different. They do express occasional concern and frustration, but at her unhappiness, not at her baseline state of being, the way especially the mother in The Kiss Quotient does. And when they push her about her lack of a relationship, it's contextually obvious that it's part of a loving, interfering family dynamic that they inflict on everyone. It's dysfunctional in a way, but it's evenly dysfunctional. I do believe it's stereotypical for the autistic-coded STEM heroine to be completely consumed by her work. But what can I say, this book worked for me completely. I loved the way everyone around the heroine treated her--with love, respect and not just effort but ability to connect with her in a way that worked for her, not forcing her to interact in a way that worked for them. Like, when she's feeling overstimulated during a family party, they let her go off on her own without comment or complaint. And she accepts that they're a bunch of party-loving extroverts and participates in their nutty schemes as is comfortable for her. It just seemed happy and functional and like how you'd treat anyone you loved, when in fiction I haven't seen that portrayed quite like that before.
As for the hero, he's adorably baffled by the heroine, which is basically my favorite way for a hero to be. It was a little uncomfortable for me at first because to be baffled by the way an autistic person looks at and interacts with the world might have been (might be) offensive, but I saw it as a reflection of the same sort of bafflement a hero who isn't looking for a relationship (he isn't) feels upon confronting the fact that he's in love.
In short, this may have worked for me because I am neurotypical, but it did work for me and I will definitely be reading more books by this author.
Minorly, this book needed another copy edit. Missing words, slightly incorrect tenses, etc. It did not interfere with my enjoyment of the book, but it was noticable and persistent.
October 3, 2016
Some things in life just don't make sense. It's like all the confounding factors in the world decided to gang up on you. It's like doing everything right, the protocol, the materials, the equipment, everything is right and you still can't get it right. Or the result that you want.
Ok this has officially become one of my favorite contemporary romances. Everything about this was just so beautiful, I wanted the book to go on forever and ever. I wanted to see Kaya and Nero together afterwards, I just wanted MORE.
Kaya was such an interesting character, her social anxiety and alienation from the world introduced her to a lot of struggles, and it made her stick to her comfort zone. Except more than once she was forced to face the decisions she had to make when science couldn't help her. I absolutely loved how her friendships in particular grew throughout the book without her controlling it. The way she realized that people actually enjoyed being around her. I loved how she ended up with more friends than she ever thought was possible.
As for Nero. Oh boy! LISTEN I AM SO IN LOVE WITH HIM *deep breaths* he had me from the minute he showed up while they were conducting the boyfriend experiment and started calling it the human sacrifice. He was so patient and understanding with Kaya. AND THAT STEAMY SCENE ON THE SECOND FLOOR OF THE IN LAB LOLOL BYE!! rip I DIED.
I'll probably reread this over and over again because I'm desperate for a sequel or a novella or just anything tbh.
August 5, 2016
I just found my favorite book in the whole wide world. I am so in love, while reading this book and the after-effect of finishing it. Beginner's Guide: Love and Other Chemical Reactions was so romantic and made my heart beat so fast. Kaya and Nero are definitely my new favorite IT ship and I want to reread their scenes just for this feeling to never go away.
If you like MCs that are scientists
If you like LI that are artists, own a cute cafe and have tattoos, also pretty adorable
If you like crazy situations that will make you squeal and laugh
If you like big families that remind you of your own
If you like ROMANCE and FALLING IN LOVE WITH SOMEONE THAT YOU DIDN'T EXPECT
......
Read this book please!
Will probably write a better review on the blog.
If you like MCs that are scientists
If you like LI that are artists, own a cute cafe and have tattoos, also pretty adorable
If you like crazy situations that will make you squeal and laugh
If you like big families that remind you of your own
If you like ROMANCE and FALLING IN LOVE WITH SOMEONE THAT YOU DIDN'T EXPECT
......
Read this book please!
Will probably write a better review on the blog.
April 22, 2017
While this was a cute book, it was a little too scientific for me. I like a nerdy heroine but I needed a little break from all the “nerdy talk” and would’ve loved a look into what the hero thought and felt. It had a lot of potential and if you enjoy a book full of science this could work for you. The hero is not an alpha, the heroine is a virgin and never been kissed, there is a bit of humor – especially with her family, and there isn’t much steam at all – absolutely no sex if you’re wondering.
April 26, 2017
You had me at Science.
August 25, 2020
I think that not loving this one is mostly on me *sad face*
I have been a fan before of the way Six de los Reyes writes heroines. Her books Feels Like Summer and Sounds Like Summer have some of the best written female characters I've read in Romance. Aaaaand the way the author approaches complex relationships between women makes for some of the most feminist portrayals of characters I have found in YA and New Adult contemporary books.
So it came as a surprise that I couldn't ever connect with Kaya here. My flaw more than anything.
I had a hard time navigating the difference between when Kaya's neurodivergence turned into her simply not caring. It is amply shown that Kaya understands and comprehends social cues. She just mostly chooses to not engage with them and thus, for me, crosses the line to being an asshole instead of being naive or ignorant of a certain set of actions and reactions. To me, particularly at the end, she deliberately and purposefully hurts Nero. And then she excuses that provoked hurt as her not fully understanding the situation. And I call bullshit.
On an unrelated topic it was particularly frustrating to me here that the author doesn't seem to have a webpage or something of the sort. I *loathe* not having full info. Characters from other Six de los Reyes's books make constant appereances in other installments and I want to have a full chart of who is who and how are they connected. But I can't even figure out intended order of reading. And it's making me go nuts xD
A very similar thing happens to me with Mariana Zapata
But, as always, reading about settings outside the US brings joy to my heart. Very often reading about the Philippines feels so much like reading about México. I keep being stupidly suprised with how similar our cultures are. Everything from the importance of food to family dinamics reads like my lived experience. Mostly Six de los Reyes always makes me feel like I'm reading while breathing fresh air. You read about a Philippine lifestyle that rarely gets shown in mainstream media. Her books are always about young people navigating work, fun and relationships in a way that is completely relatable. Something that usually gets lost in outsiders' view of the country and their people.
Anyway, not my favourite of her books. But I'm still a fan. I would love a book on Kaya's younger sister Tala.
I have been a fan before of the way Six de los Reyes writes heroines. Her books Feels Like Summer and Sounds Like Summer have some of the best written female characters I've read in Romance. Aaaaand the way the author approaches complex relationships between women makes for some of the most feminist portrayals of characters I have found in YA and New Adult contemporary books.
So it came as a surprise that I couldn't ever connect with Kaya here. My flaw more than anything.
I had a hard time navigating the difference between when Kaya's neurodivergence turned into her simply not caring. It is amply shown that Kaya understands and comprehends social cues. She just mostly chooses to not engage with them and thus, for me, crosses the line to being an asshole instead of being naive or ignorant of a certain set of actions and reactions. To me, particularly at the end, she deliberately and purposefully hurts Nero. And then she excuses that provoked hurt as her not fully understanding the situation. And I call bullshit.
On an unrelated topic it was particularly frustrating to me here that the author doesn't seem to have a webpage or something of the sort. I *loathe* not having full info. Characters from other Six de los Reyes's books make constant appereances in other installments and I want to have a full chart of who is who and how are they connected. But I can't even figure out intended order of reading. And it's making me go nuts xD
A very similar thing happens to me with Mariana Zapata
But, as always, reading about settings outside the US brings joy to my heart. Very often reading about the Philippines feels so much like reading about México. I keep being stupidly suprised with how similar our cultures are. Everything from the importance of food to family dinamics reads like my lived experience. Mostly Six de los Reyes always makes me feel like I'm reading while breathing fresh air. You read about a Philippine lifestyle that rarely gets shown in mainstream media. Her books are always about young people navigating work, fun and relationships in a way that is completely relatable. Something that usually gets lost in outsiders' view of the country and their people.
Anyway, not my favourite of her books. But I'm still a fan. I would love a book on Kaya's younger sister Tala.
August 7, 2016
I love me a good nerd-finds-love story, and they don't come nerdier than Kaya, the clueless heroine of LaOCR. This is, I think, a debut novel and a good one too.
The plot is not terribly original (you'll find the same thing in Graeme Simsion's hilarious The Rosie Project) - Kaya persuades herself that she needs to experience dating and goes on a number of mediocre dates, only to find true love elsewhere. Six de los Reyes makes a very pleasant story out of this (using the unusual setting of Manila) and the HEA is very sweet indeed. My reservation about the book is that Kaya's nerdiness is both overdone and a little difficult to account for, given her large loving family - it feels more like a plot point than a organic part of her character. But definitely worth reading, and I'll look out for the author's next book - Just for the Record.
The plot is not terribly original (you'll find the same thing in Graeme Simsion's hilarious The Rosie Project) - Kaya persuades herself that she needs to experience dating and goes on a number of mediocre dates, only to find true love elsewhere. Six de los Reyes makes a very pleasant story out of this (using the unusual setting of Manila) and the HEA is very sweet indeed. My reservation about the book is that Kaya's nerdiness is both overdone and a little difficult to account for, given her large loving family - it feels more like a plot point than a organic part of her character. But definitely worth reading, and I'll look out for the author's next book - Just for the Record.
December 11, 2016
Really truly enjoyed this. Like, read-until-3AM enjoyed this.:)
February 27, 2022
I don't think I've ever been as disappointed with a book as I was with this one.
Hear me out.
I'm a scientist at heart. But more than that, I pursued a university degree in chemistry. Being in the lab, with my lab coat, gloves and goggles was and still is one of my favorite things to do. So you can extrapolate how much this book was right up my alley (there were even paper citations at the very end!)
I low-key fangirled over all the scientific terminology and unashamed nerd talk.
And I think this would have been a 4⭐ book for me, but the lack of editing completely ruined the whole thing. The verbal tense use was an outright mess. There was no consistency whatsoever. It kept switching between past and present and made the whole thing pretty much painful to read. It legitimately hurt my brain. I really dislike books written in present tense, but I would have found a way to be okay with that, soldier through if that had been the only issue. But the use of both tenses simultaneously, and even within the same paragraphs made me want to throw my kindle at the wall.
With how few STEM romances with proper representation are out there, I was sad how epic of a failure this book was. Especially when an editor and a red pen could have whipped it into form so easily. I'm upset, disappointed and angry.
I guess the conclusion and findings of this experiment were that books should always be run through an editor, or at the very least through someone savvy on the correct use of the English language before publishing them.
September 23, 2017
As a graduate student in STEM myself, I found this hyperbolic and a little offensive at how scientists are portrayed. Yes, Kaya is an extreme version, but I think that made it even less convincing how drastically and inexplicably she went from robot with no feelings to explicit and sappy romantic. I thought at first the book was a satire and meant to be over the top but it wasn't hilarious enough to convince me of such and so I was left grateful that it was at least short and that I wasn't too upset for reading it as it didn't engage my emotions or investment for the characters. Maybe I'm too close to the subject matter--a hard-working scientist often in the lab and worrying about work-life balance--to have found it funny or endearing (if that was the intention), so proceed with caution if you are in STEM and if not, then perhaps you are the target audience who will enjoy it more.
October 15, 2016
One of the most adorable romances I've ever read. A grad student who finds it easier to lose herself in her work in the lab than deal with messy emotions is convinced by her father she's not following good scientific protocol if she doesn't at least test her hypothesis that life is easier/better alone. Commence the Boyfriend Experiment, and a series of adorably dorky dates and misunderstandings among the all too familiar pressures of work/life balance in a career that expects 24/7 of you.
April 18, 2018
"It's not boring to you. You're a scientist. This is your thing. This is what you willingly lose sleep for. It's not boring or not important. It's your life. I'm sorry you had someone tell you to stop talking about the things you love. I might not understand everything you say, but I'll never, never tell you to shut up."
This book is a must read friends. <3
This book is a must read friends. <3
October 10, 2016
I think I may be in love with this book... It was so great to have a main character who was a scientist, which we do not get enough of. All of the characters were great, and I loved seeing Kaya grow throughout this book. I think I may be in love with Nero. More like this please!
December 6, 2019
What a surprise this book was! Beginner's Guide: Love and Other Chemical Reactions is a romance that is set in the Philippines, with Filipino characters, and a heroine in both academia and STEM who is likely on the autism spectrum (though it is never called out as such).
During a visit to her big, extended family's hometown for her cousin's engagement party, heroine Kaya is made to feel uncomfortable for being single, amidst all the happy couples around her. In the only way she knows how, as a scientist, she begins to conduct an experiment with the assistance of her lab mate: to find herself a romantic partner, or to determine conclusively once and for all that she's not suitable for relationships, as she suspects. Oops! She falls in love. :)
Her relationship with Nero, the man who owns the coffee shop Kaya and her lab mate always hang out at, is really sweet. There's no actual sex, but the chemistry between them is obvious (and hot). The book is very oriented around Kaya's relationship with her family members, and it's clear how important they are to her, and how much their opinions matter to her. I really enjoyed it, especially once I got used to being inside Kaya's very-logical head.
What was, to me, so interesting about the way the story was set up, was that the setting, the characters, were never described. As a western reader, I recognize this as my own bias in that I tend to mentally place stories in places I know, if it's not explicitly called out, so I mistakenly assumed Beginner's Guide was set in the U.S. or U.K. Kaya is not really interested in describing the world around her, and so I was already a decent way into the book when I realized that the university she works at was set in the Philippines. (And really, I only realized that because she said she was going to visit her extended family in Tagaytay, and I looked it up on my Kindle because I didn't know where that city was.) I think it's neat, and good, to have my expectations and assumptions thwarted. Hopefully I'll learn to stop assuming I know stuff when I don't.
It's a great story, with wonderful supporting characters and lots of love and care and honesty.
Read for #RomanceSparksJoy. (I think this might be #ownvoices? I'm not positive. I've done some googling and it looks like Six de los Reyes is a pen name, and I couldn't find much about her.)
During a visit to her big, extended family's hometown for her cousin's engagement party, heroine Kaya is made to feel uncomfortable for being single, amidst all the happy couples around her. In the only way she knows how, as a scientist, she begins to conduct an experiment with the assistance of her lab mate: to find herself a romantic partner, or to determine conclusively once and for all that she's not suitable for relationships, as she suspects. Oops! She falls in love. :)
Her relationship with Nero, the man who owns the coffee shop Kaya and her lab mate always hang out at, is really sweet. There's no actual sex, but the chemistry between them is obvious (and hot). The book is very oriented around Kaya's relationship with her family members, and it's clear how important they are to her, and how much their opinions matter to her. I really enjoyed it, especially once I got used to being inside Kaya's very-logical head.
What was, to me, so interesting about the way the story was set up, was that the setting, the characters, were never described. As a western reader, I recognize this as my own bias in that I tend to mentally place stories in places I know, if it's not explicitly called out, so I mistakenly assumed Beginner's Guide was set in the U.S. or U.K. Kaya is not really interested in describing the world around her, and so I was already a decent way into the book when I realized that the university she works at was set in the Philippines. (And really, I only realized that because she said she was going to visit her extended family in Tagaytay, and I looked it up on my Kindle because I didn't know where that city was.) I think it's neat, and good, to have my expectations and assumptions thwarted. Hopefully I'll learn to stop assuming I know stuff when I don't.
It's a great story, with wonderful supporting characters and lots of love and care and honesty.
Read for #RomanceSparksJoy. (I think this might be #ownvoices? I'm not positive. I've done some googling and it looks like Six de los Reyes is a pen name, and I couldn't find much about her.)
July 29, 2018
I sadly didn't like this as much as I expected. The LI was great and I loved the MC's family and friends a lot, but there was so much science-y talk. Normally I don't mind that at all, but it got a little boring...
April 3, 2017
Romance and science combined in one book? How could I not love it?
April 23, 2017
love love love it kaya is so relatable and her family and friends are so funny + great this entire book was amazing
June 14, 2019
Actual rating: 5/5
I will always have a special place in my heart for books with women in STEM (mostly because I am envious as hell of them), and Beginner’s Guide is the exactly the kind of women in STEM romance that I adore. Kaya is a wonderful, multidimensional character, with so many aspects to her besides her “search” for a boyfriend. I love how Kaya’s character arc touches not just on falling in love, but also on her difficulties as a whole with interpersonal relationships. In fact, while Six de los Reyes touches on the fact that Kaya might be depressed, I can’t help but wonder if Kaya has Asperger’s. (Please note that this is just speculation on my part and if I’m wrong, I apologize.)
Nero, the love interest, is a great character as well. While Kaya’s conflict is centered on who she relates to others, Nero’s conflict lies in going after his dreams. This is something I – and a whole host of readers, to be honest – can relate to. He’s a sweet, nice guy who’s always willing to help Kaya out, and is very respectful of her boundaries while at the same time encouraging her to leave her comfort zone. (Anybody beginning to notice that the love interests in romance books that I end up adoring are the dorky, helpful sweethearts? Fuck alpha males, tbh.) The fact that he’s a hot artist with lots of tattoos is just a major plus.
Find more from me:
Blog | Twitter | Instagram | Youtube
I will always have a special place in my heart for books with women in STEM (mostly because I am envious as hell of them), and Beginner’s Guide is the exactly the kind of women in STEM romance that I adore. Kaya is a wonderful, multidimensional character, with so many aspects to her besides her “search” for a boyfriend. I love how Kaya’s character arc touches not just on falling in love, but also on her difficulties as a whole with interpersonal relationships. In fact, while Six de los Reyes touches on the fact that Kaya might be depressed, I can’t help but wonder if Kaya has Asperger’s. (Please note that this is just speculation on my part and if I’m wrong, I apologize.)
Nero, the love interest, is a great character as well. While Kaya’s conflict is centered on who she relates to others, Nero’s conflict lies in going after his dreams. This is something I – and a whole host of readers, to be honest – can relate to. He’s a sweet, nice guy who’s always willing to help Kaya out, and is very respectful of her boundaries while at the same time encouraging her to leave her comfort zone. (Anybody beginning to notice that the love interests in romance books that I end up adoring are the dorky, helpful sweethearts? Fuck alpha males, tbh.) The fact that he’s a hot artist with lots of tattoos is just a major plus.
Find more from me:
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August 5, 2016
Pitched to me by a trusted book blogger as a Filipino THE ROSIE PROJECT but with a female lead, I was determined to give this one a go.
Kaya is a no-nonsense scientist who has never been in a romantic relationship. Heck, even her friendships are pretty businesslike! But after feeling the boyfriend pressure from her over-involved family, she decides to get make some changes, get out there and date...by creating a scientific experiment. Like that's not gonna turn out well :\ With the help of her lab partner and the owner of a local cafe, Nero, Kaya sets out to systematically find a boyfriend.
BEGINNER'S GUIDE opens strongly and Kaya is endearing in her academic single-mindedness. I mean, this type of driven, successful woman story is my personal catnip. Plus, SCIENCE! Yay for smart women!! And while the story was believable with likable characters, my biggest struggle was the obvious need for a very strong edit. Too often the author falls into patterns of showing not telling (especially in the case of her eccentric family, who definitely needed more detailed interactions) and not getting to the heart of the Kaya's relationships. Basically, I wanted more! Which makes me sad because I really wanted to like it more than I did.
Kaya is a no-nonsense scientist who has never been in a romantic relationship. Heck, even her friendships are pretty businesslike! But after feeling the boyfriend pressure from her over-involved family, she decides to get make some changes, get out there and date...by creating a scientific experiment. Like that's not gonna turn out well :\ With the help of her lab partner and the owner of a local cafe, Nero, Kaya sets out to systematically find a boyfriend.
BEGINNER'S GUIDE opens strongly and Kaya is endearing in her academic single-mindedness. I mean, this type of driven, successful woman story is my personal catnip. Plus, SCIENCE! Yay for smart women!! And while the story was believable with likable characters, my biggest struggle was the obvious need for a very strong edit. Too often the author falls into patterns of showing not telling (especially in the case of her eccentric family, who definitely needed more detailed interactions) and not getting to the heart of the Kaya's relationships. Basically, I wanted more! Which makes me sad because I really wanted to like it more than I did.
May 5, 2025
I LOVE THIS BOOK SO SO MUCH!!!!
Full review to be posted soon!
Full review to be posted soon!
December 13, 2017
The book was not perfect but i don’t give a damn about that. The story made me happy at a time when I needed that feeling and for that alone I’m going to be eternally in love with the book. I’m sure that while I was reading it, I had this stupid happy look on my face that translates to swooning. Just thinking about the book is enough to put a ridiculous smile on my face.
Until one by one, my senses had come back to life. First, there was Nero’s lips. Then there was his hands. Then his scent. And then his body. And then everything all at once
The romance was sweet, charismatic and so very endearing. the chemistry was on fire. this is a chemical reaction with no need to a catalyst. the connection burns through the pages naturally and in a way that will leave you breathless. And for those who like their romance hot an heavy, don't worry, the sexiness is unreal too.
I’d recommend this book for any one in need of a miraculous doze of happiness.
Until one by one, my senses had come back to life. First, there was Nero’s lips. Then there was his hands. Then his scent. And then his body. And then everything all at once
The romance was sweet, charismatic and so very endearing. the chemistry was on fire. this is a chemical reaction with no need to a catalyst. the connection burns through the pages naturally and in a way that will leave you breathless. And for those who like their romance hot an heavy, don't worry, the sexiness is unreal too.
I’d recommend this book for any one in need of a miraculous doze of happiness.
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