Jane Austen’s Emma meets The Rosie Project in this quirky, irresistible, romantic comedy from Sarah Strohmeyer, the author of Smart Girls Get What They Want. Addie Emerson doesn’t believe in love. Not for herself anyway. With one year left of high school, she’s more interested in snagging a full scholarship to Harvard than a full-time boyfriend. That doesn’t mean she’s oblivious to the ways of the heart. Or, rather, the head. Because after months of research, Addie has discovered how to make anyone fall in love. All you need is the secret formula. But will her discovery be enough to win the coveted Athenian Award and all its perks? (See above, full scholarship to Harvard.) Or will she be undone by Dexter, her backstabbing lab partner, who is determined to deep-six her experiments at their exclusive private school? Those are the least of her problems now that she’s survived a death-defying flight with a mysterious, dark-haired boy, who has delicious chocolate-brown eyes and a few secrets of his own. With an experiment to mastermind, an infatuated exchange student on her hands, and at least one great white shark (more on that later), can Addie’s prefrontal cortex outwit her heart? Or will she have to give in to her amygdala and find out, once and for all, if this thing called love is more than just her brain on drugs? Smart Heroine Romance: Addie Emerson has a plan: win the Athenian Award, get a full ride to Harvard, and prove love is just a chemical reaction. A cute boy with secrets was definitely not part of the experiment. - Forced Proximity: It starts with a death-defying flight and a mysterious stranger named Kris. Soon, Addie finds her meticulously controlled research—and her heart—in serious turbulence. - Boarding School Setting: At an exclusive private academy where the competition is cutthroat, Addie must outsmart her lab partner, Dexter, to keep her project from being sabotaged. - Quirky Romantic Comedy: Perfect for fans of modern takes on Jane Austen and witty STEM-inist heroines, this hilarious YA rom-com is full of scientific shenanigans and laugh-out-loud moments. Gr 9 Up—Addie Emerson attends a private high school, Academy 355, near Boston. She and her lab partner, Dexter, are competing for the prestigious Athenian award, which would finance Addie's college education. She and Dexter are trying to manipulate the human brain to make their subjects fall in love. After researching and conducting one trial, Addie believes she has successfully guided two students to fall in love by placing them in life-threatening situations. She needs to prove this theory by conducting one last experiment. Kris Condos enters the picture. He is on probation and is working off his crime against the school—vandalism. The dean of students has assigned Kris to Addie's experiment. Addie, however, seems to be the only person attending Academy 355 who does not know about Kris's involvement in wrecking the school's science lab. As the trials take place, Addie gains a new understanding of the world around her. Through her struggles, Addie grows and perseveres. Readers will enjoy the twist at the end of the story. Strohmeyer has created an enjoyable realistic fiction title with a believable, smart protagonist who has a difficult time interacting with the world around her because of her intellect. Although the writing style is complex, the theme is universal. The scientific approach the author injects into this romance puts a new spin on this overtaxed genre. Because the vocabulary is reflective of the main character's intellect, this would probably not be a book to recommend to reluctant readers. VERDICT Give to teens looking for a refreshing twist to their YA romance.—Jeni Tahaney, Duncanville High School Library, TX PRAISE FOR THE SECRETS OF LILY GRAVES: “An interesting yet easy read for a diverse audience.” - Booklist PRAISE FOR HOW ZOE MADE HER DREAMS (MOSTLY) COME TRUE: “For fans of roms-coms everywhere.” - ALA Booklist PRAISE FOR HOW ZOE MADE HER DREAMS (MOSTLY) COME TRUE: “Strohmeyer’s humorous details about the park itself (royal characters get better quarters than ‘Ordinary Cast Members,’ and princes are given exclusive access to a pheromone-rich cologne) provide a lively, unconventional backdrop”- - Publishers Weekly PRAISE FOR HOW ZOE MADE HER DREAMS (MOSTLY) COME TRUE: “This clever, happily-ever-after story will charm fans of Meg Cabot and make new ones of Strohmeyer.” - School Library Journal PRAISE FOR SMART GIRLS GET WHAT THEY WANT: “This realistic novel, with touches of humor, is a welcome addition to bookshelves.” - Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA) RAISE FOR SMART GIRLS GET WHAT THEY WANT: “The author of The Cinderella Pact (2006) shows a humorist’s ear for the cadence of teen language in this smart foray into teen literature.” - Kirkus Reviews “A refreshing twist [on] YA romance.” - School Library Journal “Strohmeyer deftly combines screwball comedy and neuroscience in this delightful romp” - Voi