First romance in a long time, and it reminded me why I enjoy this genre so much and how it can be totally engrossing. I still love a pining hero, and while this wasn’t quite grumpy-sunshine, it definitely had parallels to the trope. 

Elsie is an adjunct professor, struggling to make ends meet, especially with the added financial complications of her diabetes treatment and medication. She has found a app for fake dates that adds to her funds but isn’t great for her schedule or her social life. When the brother of her favorite client, Greg, turns out to be not only the head of the search committee for the professorship role she is hoping to snag, but also the author of a notorious fake article that was published to the detriment of the entire field of theoretical physics, she is extra determined to win the job. Of course, there’s a wholesome misunderstanding behind the article and, beyond that, Jack has actually been lusting after Elsie desperately since she first showed up at a family event with Greg. He’s determined and passionate and moral, with an obsessive need to take care of Elsie and support her. Perhaps a little controlling, but what a comforting read with the list practically exploding off the page. 

This is so similar to Love on the Brain and a little bit like The Kiss Quotient, and I’m really enjoying these sciency workplace romances with the strong, motivated, caretaking hero.