Name: The Sizzle Paradox
ISBN: 9781250801241

Lily Menon

The Kiss Quotient meets Love Potion No. 9 in the next sparkling romantic comedy by Lily Menon, The Sizzle Paradox...

A Novel

The Sizzle Paradox

The Kiss Quotient meets Love Potion No. 9 in the next sparkling romantic comedy by Lily Menon, The Sizzle Paradox.

Lyric Bishop feels like a fraud – she’s studying sexual chemistry in romantic partners and what makes for a successful long-term relationship, only she can’t seem to figure it out in her own dating life. The science is sound, but how can she give her expert opinion with no real-world experience? In order to complete her doctoral thesis, she must crack the Sizzle Paradox – it seems the more sexually attractive she finds a guy, the less likely it is to come with an emotional connection; but why? – and to do that she must get the help she desperately needs.

Kian Montgomery, her best friend, roommate, and fellow grad student, has no trouble bringing both romance and sizzle to his own relationships. When he offers to tutor Lyric on dating tactics to find a good match, she’s certain it will solve her problems, and in exchange she agrees to set long-term-commitment-averse Kian up with someone different to give his romantic life a much-needed shakeup.

But once the two progress with their "tutoring sessions," they start to feel less like the academic exercise they were supposed to be as real feelings develop. Which is a problem, because Lyric and Kian are best friends and absolutely, irrefutably nothing else... Right?

I love a good friends to lovers, but I just liked this. Not too bad, but not too great. A definite middle ground. Tis all.

Sarah Campbell

Samantha Huster

I adored this book from beginning to end. It is best friend to lovers which I am such a sucker for. Lyric and Kian's friendship is a thing of beauty. They understand each other and are so supportive of each other. I thoroughly enjoyed their banter the entire book. The little moments where you see this routine they've built, like cuddling on the couch and debriefs after dates...it was so cute. 

Smut in this book was a little less intense compared to some other books I've read this year, but I think the handful of scenes were done very well. 

Some will say that this plot is predictable. I say, yes, it is. But you know what's NOT predictable, the fact that these two PhD students are so dumb when it comes to this budding relationship. They are so oblivious that I spent good twenty minutes yelling at the pages. 

If you enjoyed The Love Hypothesis, then you will enjoy this book. 

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Christine Bruce

I felt like both characters were this weird over-simplified version of what people think late millennials are. Picking up people in Target, going home immediately every time, collecting tote bags. It was all so surface and I hated all 11% I listened to. 
I can imagine this might be right up someone's alley. A good friends-to-lovers kind of person might really enjoy this one. But it really wasn't for me.

Skye

The Sizzle Paradox is a fun friends-to-lovers contemporary romance that is sure to make you laugh. 

Lyric is trying to finish up her thesis about relationships (specifically how well suited couples are based on their emotional connect and sexual connection), but she needs more data...her own data. That's where her best friend, Kian, comes in. Lyric has had bad luck in the relationship department, so Kian agrees to train her, so she can go out and collect the data she needs. Throw in a whirlwind trip to London, some serious miscommunication, and a blossoming tension that is undeniable, and you're in for a wild ride!

Read if you enjoy:

fake dating
friends-to-lovers
women in STEM
fantastic friend groups
hilarious family dynamics
crystal healing

Thank you SMP Romance and St. Martin's Press for sending me a copy of The Sizzle Paradox!

Jana Jenkinns 

3.5 rounded up. Cute little friends-to-lovers story. 🖤💜

sydney

This book is super cute. I feel like it should be a bit longer that way there can be more of the fake dating in the middle but besides that I really liked it.

I received an arc through netgalley.

Avery Baumel

Another amazing rom com but -1 for being so utterly predictable

Listened to the audiobook thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio. 

This was typical friends to lovers, fake dating. The story was good. It has a diverse set of characters with good character and story development. I liked that this was told in dual POV. 

What got me was the male narrator, which is why I’m giving it the rating. His voice didn’t show emotion and it made me guess if I liked the character in general. 

I did enjoy the female lead. She was a good choice and did well narrating.

The Sizzle Paradox A Novel

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