What do you think?
Rate this book
Talking Nerdy #2
Field Guide: Love and Other Natural Disasters
Falling in love is nothing short of a natural disaster. Just ask Phylle, climate scientist on board a research cruise off to unexplored waters. She’s finally on the brink of a personal epiphany—while battling her scientific demons—and she’s determined not to be distracted from her cause. Dakila knows that what he has is less of a full-time job and more of a calling. As an award-winning journalist, he has stood in the path of typhoons and faced danger head-on in war zones, but nothing could have ever prepared him for the storm that is Phylle. Phylle and Dakila both understand that saving the Earth means no time for relationships, but every dive and surface interval leads them closer and closer to a different kind of discovery. One neither of them could have ever trained for. Maybe it’s about time they ask What's a sustainable future without someone to share it with?
- GenresRomance
235 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 22, 2020
4 people are currently reading
171 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
April 26, 2020
“You deserve more than a fraction of my time. You’re more than just a fragment in my life. I know you don’t need me to do anything for you, but let me do this for you. I want to do this for you.”
📚 Series: Yes, but can be read as a standalone.
📚 Genre: Contemporary Romance
📚 POV: Third person.
📚 Cliffhanger: No.
Hooray for a #romanceclass read! I have been craving for a quick romance read and my wish has been granted. Very thankful to be sent a copy of this book for review.
It's my first Six de los Reyes book, but I have to admit I am in love with her writing!
The concept of Field Guide is so enticing -- which is why I did not think twice about requesting for it. A climate scientist female lead, Phylle, who goes hard for all her science-y stuff and a pogi famous journalist, Dakila, together in a research cruise to explore the big blue sea!!!
Okay. I knew I was in for a lot of awkward nerdy flirty things -- but I was not expecting to go crazy over the dialogues. I loved the banter and how the female lead, Phylle, can talk in tangents over science and life in general. And not only when she is flustered. I love it because it made her more real and relatable for a nerd like me!
Field Guide is the second book in a series, but I did not feel lost. It was an easy breeze. Though there were a lot of characters, perhaps some from the first installment, I still had a grasp of who they are in Phylle's life. In fact, the dynamic of the other characters in this book gave the story something extra.
Plus points for all the deep thoughts and lines along the pages of this book. I was expecting some cute romance, also some steamy scenes, but I was also blown away by the depth I found here. Loneliness. Isolation. Future. Self-realizations. Purpose. Passion. Love(?).
On a lighter note, I had some trouble with digesting 'Dax' as the name of the male lead. If you are a Filipino, you would understand. *smirk* Also, for some reason, I felt Atom Araullo vibes with his characteristization.. (also a Filipino thing.) These things are not negative, by the way. These points made me feel connected to the story even more.
Overall, this was a fun adventure and I am happy that I had a glimpse of Phylle and Dax's journey. I am planning to get a copy of the first book of the series for some extra dose of nerd!!!
☁ THE CRITERIA ☁
🌼 Blurb:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌼 Main Character:⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
🌼 Significant Other: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌼 Support Characters:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌼 Writing Style:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌼 Character Development:⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
🌼 Romance: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌼 Pacing: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
🌼 Ending: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌼 Unputdownability: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
🌼 Book Cover:⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
☁FINAL VERDICT: 4.55/5 ☁
Much thanks to the author for this complimentary copy. This review is voluntary and opinions are fully my own. Also, all quotes are taken from the ARC and may be different in the final published copy.
📚 Blog ♡ Bookstagram ♡ Facebook ♡ Twitter 📚
June 7, 2020
2020 Ripped Bodice Summer Bingo: I'm on a Boat
Could've used another round of proofreading to catch a couple errors, but it didn't jerk me out of the book or anything (it was 95% fine, just wanted to note that there are a few typoes). I liked this. Unique romantic conflict, low-angst, lots of debates about climate change and personal ethical responsibility, adorably nerdy heroine, etc.
Disclaimer: I received a free e-ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Could've used another round of proofreading to catch a couple errors, but it didn't jerk me out of the book or anything (it was 95% fine, just wanted to note that there are a few typoes). I liked this. Unique romantic conflict, low-angst, lots of debates about climate change and personal ethical responsibility, adorably nerdy heroine, etc.
Disclaimer: I received a free e-ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.
April 22, 2020
4.5 stars.
Okay, let me just tell you how much I love Phylle. She's filter-free, smart as hell, and so driven. And also flawed in interesting, so human ways. I loved the story, with its focus on climate justice and the pressures that being a change-maker can bring (from both characters - they're both very high-octane and demand a lot of themselves). The extended cast of characters was also incredibly well-drawn, real, and nuanced.
The slight ding is for the bleak moment - it really came from out of nowhere for me and jarred me out of the story a little as I tried to make sense of it. But after that, we get this:
I received an Advance Reader's Copy in exchange for an honest review.
Okay, let me just tell you how much I love Phylle. She's filter-free, smart as hell, and so driven. And also flawed in interesting, so human ways. I loved the story, with its focus on climate justice and the pressures that being a change-maker can bring (from both characters - they're both very high-octane and demand a lot of themselves). The extended cast of characters was also incredibly well-drawn, real, and nuanced.
The slight ding is for the bleak moment - it really came from out of nowhere for me and jarred me out of the story a little as I tried to make sense of it. But after that, we get this:
"...Whatever you decide, I want to be the one running"-he breathed out a laugh-"or swimming to you with an alternate air source. If you're crashing, crash into me. I want to be the first to hear whatever news you have. Good or bad. I don't care.
"The world is a better place when I am where you are."
I received an Advance Reader's Copy in exchange for an honest review.
Read
April 22, 2020"Ten days at sea, my dude. Anything can happen."
•
This is the first book I read this month and it started the awesome (and unusually speedy) TBR slaying streak I've been riding on since. It's so good, you guys, I can't say it enough!
It features climate scientist and part-time mermaid Phylle (Noah's living partner) and her longtime not-so-secret crush, Dax. They first meet on a boat, where Phylle has to do her science things and Dax has to do his documentary things with her and the instant attraction is so strong that despite their personal hang-ups (there are a lot!) they end up being together, and kept at it longer than both of them thought they would initially.
What I loved are the different, but similar depictions of loneliness and isolation (maybe bec we've been in quarantine for so long now, that was what's most noticeable for me?). In Phylle, she has this loneliness she'd grew up with, being different and all; while in Dax, he has created gaps in relationships around him bec of the nature of his work, and also bec of the drive he's got when he's doing things he's passionate about.
They find solace and company in each other and it's so beautiful, and fun, and steamy and ugh, Six's writing is always so emotionally layered that the stakes heightened monumentally just by their feelings alone. And then the Grand Gesture is so satisfying! i loved the nerds' appearances throughout the book, but in the last parts esp, bec friendship!! GET THIS BOOK!
•
NGL, it took a little while before the 'Dax' mentions stopped making me think of *something else* but heehee, have you met me? That's not surprising!
•
"Phylle, you are mys spot of hope. . . . The world is a better place when I am where you are."
•
*The eARC was provided by the author for free in exchange for an honest review. It doesn't affect my opinion of the book. Thank you.
•
This is the first book I read this month and it started the awesome (and unusually speedy) TBR slaying streak I've been riding on since. It's so good, you guys, I can't say it enough!
It features climate scientist and part-time mermaid Phylle (Noah's living partner) and her longtime not-so-secret crush, Dax. They first meet on a boat, where Phylle has to do her science things and Dax has to do his documentary things with her and the instant attraction is so strong that despite their personal hang-ups (there are a lot!) they end up being together, and kept at it longer than both of them thought they would initially.
What I loved are the different, but similar depictions of loneliness and isolation (maybe bec we've been in quarantine for so long now, that was what's most noticeable for me?). In Phylle, she has this loneliness she'd grew up with, being different and all; while in Dax, he has created gaps in relationships around him bec of the nature of his work, and also bec of the drive he's got when he's doing things he's passionate about.
They find solace and company in each other and it's so beautiful, and fun, and steamy and ugh, Six's writing is always so emotionally layered that the stakes heightened monumentally just by their feelings alone. And then the Grand Gesture is so satisfying! i loved the nerds' appearances throughout the book, but in the last parts esp, bec friendship!! GET THIS BOOK!
•
NGL, it took a little while before the 'Dax' mentions stopped making me think of *something else* but heehee, have you met me? That's not surprising!
•
"Phylle, you are mys spot of hope. . . . The world is a better place when I am where you are."
•
*The eARC was provided by the author for free in exchange for an honest review. It doesn't affect my opinion of the book. Thank you.
April 26, 2020
Field Guide: Love and Other Natural Disasters was wonderful. Author Six de los Reyes returns to her Talking Nerdy series with a very good sequel. It's definitely nerdy, romantic and fun, just like the previous title in this series. It's a book that can become a comfort read for many.
I'm a child of the sea, to be honest. I grew up so close to it; so near my childhood home. Every time I return home, from university, the sea calls me. It has called my parents for far longer though. So when I first knew about the book, that it had a heroine who is a climate scientist, I was in love already. I was excited to read how much ocean and marine life was in this book, and it didn't disappoint. Phylle lives and breathes the ocean. She is even trying to make her corals have babies. She cares so much about the ocean and the future of the ocean that you can't think of one without the other. That's where we first meet her in this book, when Phylle and Dakila, the hero, are ready to take a boat trip to document some stuff. It's also clear as water that Phylle has had a long-time crush on Dax though she constantly says she is not.
And Dakila is that hero that doesn't express his feelings very often. He's quiet and reserve. His job is the most important thing for him. He knows it, he knows he has to save the world and document every single aspect of it in order to do something about it. This makes him not have a lot of time for relationships, so they never really work out. But when he meets Phylle, his life turns around. Phylle's waves can bring him down, but he's ready to try to catch up to her, or at least walk alongside her. These two, they never really thought about finding The One in a boat cruise, working, but somehow they did. The little moments - Dax laughing silently, Phylle joking around -created a romance that punched my heart. These two made their story so powerful and soft that I couldn't stop reading.
Note: It never really says that Phylle is bisexual or pansexual. I would have liked her to have mentioned it or the author to have put it in somehow. She does mention that her last relationship was a girl and she even works with her. They have a very good relationship and parted in good terms. Phylle does tell Dax.
I'm a child of the sea, to be honest. I grew up so close to it; so near my childhood home. Every time I return home, from university, the sea calls me. It has called my parents for far longer though. So when I first knew about the book, that it had a heroine who is a climate scientist, I was in love already. I was excited to read how much ocean and marine life was in this book, and it didn't disappoint. Phylle lives and breathes the ocean. She is even trying to make her corals have babies. She cares so much about the ocean and the future of the ocean that you can't think of one without the other. That's where we first meet her in this book, when Phylle and Dakila, the hero, are ready to take a boat trip to document some stuff. It's also clear as water that Phylle has had a long-time crush on Dax though she constantly says she is not.
And Dakila is that hero that doesn't express his feelings very often. He's quiet and reserve. His job is the most important thing for him. He knows it, he knows he has to save the world and document every single aspect of it in order to do something about it. This makes him not have a lot of time for relationships, so they never really work out. But when he meets Phylle, his life turns around. Phylle's waves can bring him down, but he's ready to try to catch up to her, or at least walk alongside her. These two, they never really thought about finding The One in a boat cruise, working, but somehow they did. The little moments - Dax laughing silently, Phylle joking around -created a romance that punched my heart. These two made their story so powerful and soft that I couldn't stop reading.
Note: It never really says that Phylle is bisexual or pansexual. I would have liked her to have mentioned it or the author to have put it in somehow. She does mention that her last relationship was a girl and she even works with her. They have a very good relationship and parted in good terms. Phylle does tell Dax.
April 25, 2020
An emoceanal and insightful romance between a storyteller and ocean lover, in which they dive into concepts of love, the so-called mythical work-life balance, ideals re saving things and chasing passion—all constantly relevant, and perhaps even especially right now in this time of pandemic. There may or may not be tears, but if so, I think they will mostly be happy tears.
Check out some of my fave lines from the book!
Everything I read in 2020 here :)
Check out some of my fave lines from the book!
Everything I read in 2020 here :)
June 23, 2021
3.5* rounded up
Cute and lots of kilig moments. I also lived for all the science-y stuff. Made me miss being in school and having friends around me.
Not a light and fluffy read, gets a little heavy but that's the nature of the MC and LI's work. Wasn't a fan of the third act conflict and even less so of the "patching up" but the author is good with navigating through the messiness of human relationships! Would reread if I'm ever feeling some sort of way, and would want to read more of Six's books ♡
Cute and lots of kilig moments. I also lived for all the science-y stuff. Made me miss being in school and having friends around me.
Not a light and fluffy read, gets a little heavy but that's the nature of the MC and LI's work. Wasn't a fan of the third act conflict and even less so of the "patching up" but the author is good with navigating through the messiness of human relationships! Would reread if I'm ever feeling some sort of way, and would want to read more of Six's books ♡
May 3, 2020
This was very cute and I loved that the characters acted like real human beings (not that common!) and their miscommunication issues made sense. I also loved all of the secondary characters, and of course the world-saving (I'd never sympathised with workaholics in books before, but it does make more sense when your job is fighting climate change, let me tell you). BUT! It was rather anticlimactic, had barely highs and lows, which again, realistic! but does not make for a super exciting read.
January 22, 2021
Proper review to follow (maybe) but live tweets here
Tweet bullets:
- HAND FLEX
- "You're national treasure" LOL
- this Bio Oce bit 😂 (also footnote: gotta love Nero 4evs)
- "I really am the prettiest" HAHA SHUT UP NERO u pretty boi
- im probably not smart enough for this but i want an 'in' to this nerd group barkada :<
- Best thing with romanceclass titles is that they give such unique reps and experiences on page.
- Thinking back if i've ever read about the other side of ~being overwhelmed bc it's true these things happen in the middle of A Good Thing. You're having fun and all is good but boom
- "The world is a better place when I am where you are." IM SOFT
- "Then all my pieces are yours." Excuse me, Dakila Laurel? Your one liners?
- And perfectly hopeful huhu im soft! This kind of pacing and dynamic progression is exactly what i needed :) Also, the friendships!! we dont forget about the friendships!!
Tweet bullets:
- HAND FLEX
- "You're national treasure" LOL
- this Bio Oce bit 😂 (also footnote: gotta love Nero 4evs)
- "I really am the prettiest" HAHA SHUT UP NERO u pretty boi
- im probably not smart enough for this but i want an 'in' to this nerd group barkada :<
- Best thing with romanceclass titles is that they give such unique reps and experiences on page.
- Thinking back if i've ever read about the other side of ~being overwhelmed bc it's true these things happen in the middle of A Good Thing. You're having fun and all is good but boom
- "The world is a better place when I am where you are." IM SOFT
- "Then all my pieces are yours." Excuse me, Dakila Laurel? Your one liners?
- And perfectly hopeful huhu im soft! This kind of pacing and dynamic progression is exactly what i needed :) Also, the friendships!! we dont forget about the friendships!!
August 20, 2020
Phylle and Dax were cute together. I will say sometimes it was a wee bit difficult to get into the cadence of Phylle's voice but honestly her awkwardness came across pretty realistically. I could easily visualize the scene where that played out.
I loved the cast of characters here, recurring from the previous books. What an interesting bunch! And Nero's recurring insistence that he's the pretty one. I mean who am I to argue with him?? And of course i'm always happy when there are mentions of the music guys! Arabella etc.
I will say, though, that in my opinion Phylle didn't need to apologize to Dax?? He was on the one who kinda steamrolled right over her wanting to take a break by insisting that she didnt have to? I'm glad he apologized and it was heartfelt but he shouldn't have put his insecurities on her like that. Not cool Dakila!
Anyhoo, I think they sorted out the conflict in a believable way so he's forgiven lol
I loved the cast of characters here, recurring from the previous books. What an interesting bunch! And Nero's recurring insistence that he's the pretty one. I mean who am I to argue with him?? And of course i'm always happy when there are mentions of the music guys! Arabella etc.
I will say, though, that in my opinion Phylle didn't need to apologize to Dax?? He was on the one who kinda steamrolled right over her wanting to take a break by insisting that she didnt have to? I'm glad he apologized and it was heartfelt but he shouldn't have put his insecurities on her like that. Not cool Dakila!
Anyhoo, I think they sorted out the conflict in a believable way so he's forgiven lol
November 6, 2025
This book series walked so that Ali Hazelwood's STEM series could run!!!
I love the fact that the author is consistent with the mix of science and friendship in book 1 and 2, but the writing style and tone for both books are vastly different because both FMCs have vastly different characteristics and their relationship dynamic with the MMCs are also different. It's a good follow-up to the first book in my opinion
"The ocean never apologized for being salty," is a quote that Phylle says at first that feels like the central theme of the book.
I love the fact that the author is consistent with the mix of science and friendship in book 1 and 2, but the writing style and tone for both books are vastly different because both FMCs have vastly different characteristics and their relationship dynamic with the MMCs are also different. It's a good follow-up to the first book in my opinion
"The ocean never apologized for being salty," is a quote that Phylle says at first that feels like the central theme of the book.
August 5, 2020
This was so good.
May 22, 2023
This book is chef’s kiss.
July 7, 2020
Cute book! Phylle can come off as hard to read when you start out but I really ended up liking it as a stylistic choice and felt it really added to her characterization.
April 22, 2020
Actual Rating: 3.5
April 23, 2020
3.5. There were some slow parts, and it did need another round of proofreading, but I just love the Talking Nerdy bunch. They’re people I’d wanna meet in real life. Give me all the science!
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews