A Perfect Equation

The Secret Scientists of London, Book 2

By: Elizabeth Everett

Narrated by: Elizabeth Jasicki

Length: 11 hrs and 22 mins

Publisher's summary

A PopSugar and BookBub Most Anticipated Romance of 2022!

How do you solve the Perfect Equation? Add one sharp-tongued mathematician to an aloof, handsome nobleman. Divide by conflicting loyalties and multiply by a daring group of women hell-bent on conducting their scientific experiments. The solution is a romance that will break every rule.

Six years ago, Miss Letitia Fenley made a mistake, and she’s lived with the consequences ever since. Readying herself to compete for the prestigious Rosewood Prize for Mathematics, she is suddenly asked to take on another responsibility - managing Athena’s Retreat, a secret haven for England’s women scientists. Having spent the last six years on her own, Letty doesn’t want the offers of friendship from other club members and certainly doesn’t need any help from the insufferably attractive Lord Greycliff.

Lord William Hughes, the Viscount Greycliff, cannot afford to make any mistakes. His lifelong dream of becoming the director of a powerful clandestine agency is within his grasp. Tasked with helping Letty safeguard Athena’s Retreat, Grey is positive that he can control the antics of the various scientists as well as manage the tiny mathematician - despite their historic animosity and simmering tension.

As Grey and Letty are forced to work together, their mutual dislike turns to admiration and eventually to something...magnetic. When faced with the possibility that Athena’s Retreat will close forever, they must make a choice. Will Grey turn down a chance to change history, or can Letty get to the root of the problem and prove that love is the ultimate answer?

©2022 Elizabeth Everett (P)2022 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

“Smart is the new sexy, and Elizabeth Everett does both better than anyone else!” (Ali Hazelwood, New York Times best-selling author of The Love Hypothesis)

"Sparkling, smart, moving, original - just delightful from start to finish." (Julie Ann Long, USA Today best-selling author)

"Splendidly entertaining...detonates with an ingeniously orchestrated display of wit and whimsy that dazzlingly celebrates the importance of both STEM research and love in a lady’s life." (Booklist, starred review)

4.5 Stars

Six years ago, the Viscount of Greycliff, Grey, gave Leticia Fenley a judgmental set-down when she was at her lowest and the words sting still. Now they must work together to oversee Athena’s Retreat since Violet and Arthur are leaving the city.

Outwardly, Athena’s Retreat is a social club for ladies to gather and discuss lectures on science, but secretly the women conduct experiments and study science, something highly frowned on at the time. It wasn’t easy for woman to be a scientist in the 19th century when women had few rights. Grey and Letty must put aside their differences to keep the club safe since they’re being targeted by the radical Guardians of Domesticity, who’d like to keep women in their so-called place.

Letty was such a fun character with a fearless drive to stand up for women, especially the women of her club. She was more insecure when it came to standing up for herself, but Grey gave her the courage to hold her head high and shine. Grey had his own insecurities to battle with and I appreciated that neither dismissed the concerns of the other, but rather supported each other to face the issues.

A Perfect Equation was a delightful enemies-to-lovers romance, with clever banter and emotional depth. A cast of quirky and fun secondary characters made many hilarious scenes that had me laughing out loud. Add in an adorable hedgehog and this story was a complete win! I’m eagerly awaiting Grantham and Margaret’s story next!

The narration was excellent!

Better than average with some fun

This actually was much better than most of the genre, with a small exception: although the research is extensive, and the language used appropriate to the period, the sex was a little preposterous. Fun, but preposterous.

Solid second book in series but not as good as first

Had high expectations after first book in this series. It was a good story and worth the credit, but doesn’t hold a candle to the first in the series. And so much left unresolved. Really needed an epilogue. Honestly shocked there wasn’t one. I’m assuming by the huge holes left open that book three will be about Georgie and Maggie. I hope anyway. I would definitely read another book by this author without hesitation - a pre-order for sure. Very clever and different way to approach historical romance stories. Bring on more!!

Endearing ❤️

I am truly enjoying this series. The books are predictable in their love story, but the historical backgrounds are wonderful. I adore historical fiction books with a root in actual history. The plot is fun and the fella’s epiphany very sweet. This series ticks all the boxes for me: funny, sweet, spicy, and clever.

My only criticism was Letti’s voice. It’s “fine,” but not my favorite. Violet and Arthur in the first book were perfect. It’s hard to love a heroine with a non-lovable voice. But, this is fully a personal preference.

Had to quit.

Very annoying heroine. Whined constantly about being treated badly by men while making stupid decisions putting her in that position. She was unbelievable as a brilliant mathematician. It didn’t help that the narrator voiced her like an eighty year old washer woman.
I really liked the first book in this series (in spite of similar whiny female characters) so was sorry to quit. I may read the Kindle version of this and the next one to find out what happens. That way I can skip the parts where supposedly smart women scientists whine like petulant teenagers about being grounded on a Friday night.

Heavy on dialogue, light on plot

This book could not get going! It relies too strongly on the premise of the witty, intellectual women's club and all the quirky women and their quirky ways. Not enough plot to keep me interested, and it all felt very predictable. The narration was excellent, though.