This Is My Brain on Boys

Jane Austen’s Emma meets The Rosie Project in this quirky, irresistible, romantic comedy from Sarah Strohmeyer, the author of Smart Girls Get What They Want.

Addie Emerson doesn’t believe in love. Not for herself anyway. With one year left of high school, she’s more interested in snagging a full scholarship to Harvard than a full-time boyfriend.

That doesn’t mean she’s oblivious to the ways of the heart. Or, rather, the head. Because after months of research, Addie has discovered how to make anyone fall in love. All you need is the secret formula.

But will her discovery be enough to win the coveted Athenian Award and all its perks? (See above, full scholarship to Harvard.) Or will she be undone by Dexter, her backstabbing lab partner, who is determined to deep-six her experiments at their exclusive private school?

Those are the least of her problems now that she’s survived a death-defying flight with a mysterious, dark-haired boy, who has delicious chocolate-brown eyes and a few secrets of his own.

With an experiment to mastermind, an infatuated exchange student on her hands, and at least one great white shark (more on that later), can Addie’s prefrontal cortex outwit her heart? Or will she have to give in to her amygdala and find out, once and for all, if this thing called love is more than just her brain on drugs?

• Smart Heroine Romance: Addie Emerson has a plan: win the Athenian Award, get a full ride to Harvard, and prove love is just a chemical reaction. A cute boy with secrets was definitely not part of the experiment.
• Forced Proximity: It starts with a death-defying flight and a mysterious stranger named Kris. Soon, Addie finds her meticulously controlled research—and her heart—in serious turbulence.
• Boarding School Setting: At an exclusive private academy where the competition is cutthroat, Addie must outsmart her lab partner, Dexter, to keep her project from being sabotaged.
• Quirky Romantic Comedy: Perfect for fans of modern takes on Jane Austen and witty STEM-inist heroines, this hilarious YA rom-com is full of scientific shenanigans and laugh-out-loud moments.

Addie Emerson doesn’t believe in love. Not for herself anyway. With one year left of high school, she’s more interested in snagging a full scholarship to Harvard than a full-time boyfriend.

That doesn’t mean she’s oblivious to the ways of the heart. Or, rather, the head. Because after months of research, Addie has discovered how to make anyone fall in love. All you need is the secret formula.

But will her discovery be enough to win the coveted Athenian Award and all its perks? (See above, full scholarship to Harvard.) Or will she be undone by Dexter, her backstabbing lab partner, who is determined to deep-six her experiments at their exclusive private school?

Those are the least of her problems now that she’s survived a death-defying flight with a mysterious, dark-haired boy, who has delicious chocolate-brown eyes and a few secrets of his own.

With an experiment to mastermind, an infatuated exchange student on her hands, and at least one great white shark (more on that later), can Addie’s prefrontal cortex outwit her heart? Or will she have to give in to her amygdala and find out, once and for all, if this thing called love is more than just her brain on drugs?

Praise for How Zoe Made Her Dreams (Mostly) Come True:

“For fans of rom-coms everywhere.” —ALA Booklist

“This clever, happily-ever-after story will charm fans of Meg Cabot and make new ones of Strohmeyer.” —SLJ

Praise for Smart Girls Get What They Want:

“Sarah Strohmeyer gets what readers want: a fresh, funny book full of likable characters, drama, and plenty of romance that kept me turning pages until late into the night.” —Meg Cabot, bestselling author of Abandon and The Princess Diaries

“Full of wry observations about high school politics and drama, Smart Girls Get What They Want is for any reader still figuring out who you want to be.”—Megan McCafferty, New York Times bestselling author of the Jessica Darling series

“Sex and the City meets Pride and Prejudice in this funny, smart, and heartwarming book. Brainy babes, unite! This book is for you.”—Patricia McCormick, author of Sold and Never Fall Down

PRAISE FOR THE SECRETS OF LILY GRAVES: “An interesting yet easy read for a diverse audience.” - Booklist

PRAISE FOR HOW ZOE MADE HER DREAMS (MOSTLY) COME TRUE: “For fans of roms-coms everywhere.” - ALA Booklist

PRAISE FOR HOW ZOE MADE HER DREAMS (MOSTLY) COME TRUE: “Strohmeyer’s humorous details about the park itself (royal characters get better quarters than ‘Ordinary Cast Members,’ and princes are given exclusive access to a pheromone-rich cologne) provide a lively, unconventional backdrop”- - Publishers Weekly

PRAISE FOR HOW ZOE MADE HER DREAMS (MOSTLY) COME TRUE: “This clever, happily-ever-after story will charm fans of Meg Cabot and make new ones of Strohmeyer.” - School Library Journal

PRAISE FOR SMART GIRLS GET WHAT THEY WANT: “This realistic novel, with touches of humor, is a welcome addition to bookshelves.” - Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA)

RAISE FOR SMART GIRLS GET WHAT THEY WANT: “The author of The Cinderella Pact (2006) shows a humorist’s ear for the cadence of teen language in this smart foray into teen literature.” - Kirkus Reviews

“A refreshing twist [on] YA romance.” - School Library Journal

“Strohmeyer deftly combines screwball comedy and neuroscience in this delightful romp” - Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA)

RAISE FOR SMART GIRLS GET WHAT THEY WANT: “Sarah Strohmeyer gets what readers want: a fresh, funny book full of likable characters, drama, and plenty of romance that kept me turning pages until late into the night.” - Meg Cabot, bestselling author of ABANDON and THE PRINCESS DIARIES

RAISE FOR SMART GIRLS GET WHAT THEY WANT: “What a refreshingly realistic story about accomplished, ambitious and unapologetically intelligent teen girls! Full of wry observations about high school politics and drama, Smart Girls Get What They Want is for any reader still figuring out who you want to be.” - Megan McCafferty, New York Times bestselling author of the Jessica Darling series

RAISE FOR SMART GIRLS GET WHAT THEY WANT: “SEX AND THE CITY meets PRIDE AND PREJUDICE in this funny, smart, and heartwarming book. Brainy babes, unite! This book is for you.” - Patricia McCormick, author of SOLD and NEVER FALL DOWN

“This is geeky romance at its finest.” - Booklist

“Funny and engaging” - Kirkus Reviews

“Engaging and funny...[an] entertaining romance for geek lovers - Publishers Weekly