"A romantic, lighthearted ode to human imperfection." - Publisher's Weekly

"A brilliant, true love tale" – Booklist

As a top scientist in her field, Ava Green doesn’t spend much time outside of the lab. But when her best friend Rani suggests she present her innovative work in AI at a big competition to win a funding prize, Ava finds herself attending a ceremony in a ridiculously fancy castle—wearing an equally ridiculous dress—as one of the four finalists chosen.

For the next three weeks, Ava will live at the castle (which is totally haunted, by the way) with the other contestants for the prize. Even though all Ava wants is to continue working on her AI program, FreeThought, in peace, she’ll have to do things like attend dinners and actually interact with people. To make matters worse, one of the other contestants is the surly and aloof poet, Forrest Faulkner, who’s had a huge chip on his shoulder since the moment they met. What’s so great about poems that don’t even rhyme, anyway?

When a handsome stranger—who literally looks like he’s stepped out of one of Ava’s pre-pubescent dreams—arrives at the competition, suddenly socializing doesn’t sound so bad anymore. He seems too good to be real... and maybe that’s not so far from the truth. As the competition progresses, Ava is suddenly confronted with a monster problem of her own creation, causing her to reconsider her life and work in a new light. She might also need to rethink some bad first impressions she’s been holding on to as well. Maybe Ava’s idea of perfection isn’t what’s perfect for her, after all?

TROPES:

• enemies-to-lovers
• opposites attract
• slow burn
• STEM romance
• single dad