
Reach for this book when your teenager is over-analyzing their first crush or trying to apply logic to the messy, confusing feelings of high school romance. It is perfect for the student who feels more comfortable in a science lab than at a school dance, providing a humorous and relatable look at how our brains react to physical attraction and social pressure. The story follows Addie, a high-achieving science student who decides to treat her unexpected feelings for a boy as a controlled experiment. As she attempts to use data to debunk her own hormones, she discovers that human connections cannot always be reduced to a formula. It is a smart, funny, and safe entry into teen romance that validates the intellectual girl's experience while normalizing the awkwardness of growing up. Parents will appreciate how it balances academic ambition with emotional development for the 12 to 17 age range.
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Sign in to write a reviewOccasional mild teen slang and light social insults.
The book handles typical teen themes like peer pressure and social hierarchy in a secular, direct manner. There is a realistic and hopeful resolution regarding self-acceptance and the balance between intellect and emotion.
A high-achieving middle or high schooler who identifies as a 'STEM kid' and feels out of place in the typical teen social scene. This is for the girl who wants to understand the 'why' behind her feelings before she's ready to just feel them.
Read cold. The book is very accessible and maintains a PG-13 rom-com energy that is appropriate for the target age group. A parent might notice their child dismissing their own feelings as 'illogical' or becoming overly stressed about maintaining a perfect, rational academic image while clearly struggling with social changes.
Younger teens (12-13) will enjoy the 'how-to' nature of the experiment and the humor of the awkward situations. Older teens (15-17) will appreciate the satire of high school tropes and the nuanced discussion of identity versus academic performance.
Unlike many YA romances that lean into the drama of the 'spark,' this book intentionally deconstructs romance through a scientific lens, making it uniquely appealing to analytical readers.
Addie is a dedicated science student who believes everything can be explained through biology and neuroscience. When she develops a crush on a boy named Zander, she is horrified by her brain's irrational behavior. To regain control, she launches a scientific study on the 'brain on boys,' involving her friends and using data to track her reactions. However, real life and human emotions prove far more complex than her hypotheses.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.