That being said, I read the book in a relatively short time, as I was swiftly transported into the almost claustrophobic setting of the lab and the pressure-cooker environment. Arguably, this is the novel’s strongest point. Rothman’s background as a research scientist is something she obviously draws upon here. Having friends who are academics and research scientists, I felt Rothman accurately captured the tension, actions, and attitudes that can often permeate a lab. Academia can get very competitive and very high-octane, especially when funding, reputation, and a race to discovery is on the line. And while there are some lovely collegiate environments that exist in research, there are also the less lovely ones when it comes to rivalries for positions, prestige, and credit. This is a world we don’t often discuss or portray in an engaging manner, so the only people who know about it are already in the academic world. Rothman has pried open that closed door to the academic world and gives her readers a peek behind it in a way that is quite accessible.

The storyline itself is interesting, although I would struggle to put my finger on why, exactly. At times, it could read as a bit episodic, but that kept the pace progressing reasonably quickly, which might be one of the reasons the book was so easy to read. Ultimately, the relationship between Emily and Aeden itself was where I felt the book fell down the most: I was not particularly invested in the success or failure of their relationship. From the very outset, the socially reclusive Emily is attracted to Aeden. While initial overwhelming physical attraction is often a staple of romance books, this is generally followed with subsequent explanations about what else may draw the two together. It did not feel as though Emily ever fleshed out what she finds attractive about Aeden beyond what her own obsession fed – she sort of tells us that she finds him easy to talk with, a point of contrast against other dates or men with whom she has been involved, but at no point do we know what subjects they discuss so easily, or what else about him she finds so divergent from other people.

Similarly, at the beginning of their physical relationship, Aeden says to Emily that he can’t be with her in the way she wants, but this is neither explained nor is it sustained, as they swiftly end up ‘together’. This lack of explanation really niggled, as it could have added depth and complexity to their relationship which would have made it feel like a genuine meeting of two people, creating stakes, as it were, that made the reader invested in the relationship. As it was, despite the intimacy of the first person narration through which the book is told, I never felt the wrench of Emily’s deep connection and attachment to Aeden, only a sense of intense physical attraction and a vague hope that things would ‘work out’ (although what that looks like isn’t clearly articulated enough for me to have been invested in that, either). Given the novel’s focus, it’s possible that Rothman’s point is that Emily’s true love is research, and that necessarily makes everything else seem just less important to her; Aeden happens along at a time when she’d have to make the decision to focus on career or family and thus he’s more representative of the choice she faces. But there never really seemed like there was a true choice to be made; she was always going to pursue research first and foremost, however that needed to take.

One aspect I did really like was the inference that the lab boss, Justin McKinnon, was hitting on Emily. But like Aeden’s evaporating emotional barrier, this too becomes a dropped narrative thread. Nevertheless, while it existed, I appreciated the descriptions of Justin’s creepy but-never-overtly-so behaviour; a superior behaving in that way is, unhappily, an all too common occurrence, and the insidiousness of those actions is exactly that they are so difficult to call out because they can easily be brushed aside or explained away. Yet despite putting so much effort into this well crafted description and portrayal, it seemed never to really go anywhere other than in inferential terms. I had to wade in as a reader and connect Justin’s behaviour near the book’s conclusion to the suggestion that he wanted to hop in to bed with Emily and felt scuppered by her relationship with Aeden, but that could just as easily have been his own single-minded need for his lab to achieve results. A little more clarity would have been nice here.

Finally, The DNA of You and Me has some beautiful language and descriptions that evocatively captured settings in a way that made me feel I was present not only in what I was looking at, but the mood created by the weather, the landscape, and Emily’s own feelings. It shows promise for future work by Rothman, and elevates The DNA of You and Me into something that while an imperfect work, is still a quick and relatively easy read.

The DNA of You and Me is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers as of March 31st 2020.

Will you be picking up The DNA of You and Me? Tell us in the comments below!

Synopsis | Goodreads

A smart debut novel—a wonderfully engaging infusion of Lab Girl, The Assistants, and Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine—that pits the ambition of scientific discovery against the siren call of love.

How does smell work? Specifically, how do olfactory sensory neurons project to their targets in the olfactory bulb, where smell is processed? Justin McKinnon has hired fresh-faced graduate student Emily to study that question. What Justin hasn’t told Emily is that two other scientists in the lab, Aeden and Allegra, are working on a very similar topic, and their findings may compete with her research.

Emily was born focused and driven. She’s always been more comfortable staring down the barrel of a microscope than making small talk with strangers. Competition doesn’t scare her. Her special place is the lab, where she analyzes DNA sequences, looking for new genes that might be involved in guiding olfactory neurons to their targets.

To Emily’s great surprise, her rational mind is unsettled by Aeden. As they shift from competitors to colleagues, and then to something more, Emily allows herself to see a future in which she doesn’t end up alone. But when Aeden decides to leave the lab, it becomes clear to Emily that she must make a choice: follow her research or follow her heart.

A sharp, relevant novel that speaks to the ambitions and desires of modern women, The DNA of You and Me explores the evergreen question of career versus family, the irrational sensibility of love, and whether one can be a loner without a diagnostic label.

The post Review: The DNA of You and Me by Andrea Rothman appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Releasing a debut book could be a massive struggle and nerve-wracking. It’s a long process that required continuous effort and hard work! We believe every new author deserve an opportunity to get recognised in this community. If you agree with us and want to give more support for new authors, in today’s post, we’re going to feature a selection of debut books from a range of genres with under 100 ratings on Goodreads that we believe deserve more recognition!

All the Walls of Belfast by Sarah Carlson (March 12)
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

This is a story of Fiona and Danny, who were born in the same hospital yet separated for fourteen years after that. Their love of the band Fading Stars, big dreams, and desire to run away from their families unite them. They must help one another overcome the burden of their parents’ pasts. But one ugly truth might shatter what they have.

Small Town Hearts by Lillie Vale (March 19)
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A high-school fresh graduate, Babe Vogel, couldn’t be more excited to spend her summer living in her lighthouse home and work as a barista at Busy Bean. But then her two best friends ready to leave for college and suddenly her ex-girlfriend is back in town, while she also started to notice Levi Keller, a cute artist that spend all of his free time at her coffee shop. How’s Babe going to handle these and will she break the one rule she’s always had – to never fall for a summer boy?

Meet Me in Outer Space by Melinda Grace (March 12)
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Edie Kits, an ambitious college student, refuses to be defined by her central auditory processing disorder. Edie thinks she has her disability under control until she meets her match with a French 102 course and a professor unwilling to help her out. This is a story of college and love through Edie’s lens and the journey to achieve her dreams.

The Next to Last Mistake by Amalie Jahn (March 19)
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

This is Tess Goodwin’s journey of getting out of her comfort zone and planning strategies, just like how she played chess with her best friend Zander, in order to get acceptance in her new life.

The Parting Glass by Gina Marie Guadagnino (March 5)
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Devoted maid Mary Ballard’s world is built on secrets, and it’s about to be ripped apart at the seams, in this lush and evocative debut set in 19th century New York, perfect for fans of Sarah Waters’s Fingersmith and Emma Donoghue’s Slammerkin.

The Perfect Assassin (The Chronicles of Ghadid #1) by K.A. Doore (March 19)
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

As a new assassin in the Basbowen family, Amastan already having second thoughts about taking a life. Until, unexpectedly, Amastan finds the body of a very important drum chief. Until, impossibly, Basbowen’s finest start showing up dead, with their murderous jaan running wild in the dusty streets of Ghadid. Until, inevitably, Amastan is ordered to solve these murders, before the family gets blamed. Every life has its price, but when the tables are turned, Amastan must find this perfect assassin or be their next target.

The Pioneer (The Pioneer #1) by Bridget Tyler (March 5)
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Jo’s biggest dream is to leave Earth with her family and live happily ever after on a new planet. But that’s before the terrible accident that nearly destroyed their craft, that set their voyage back years, that killed her brother, that left her unable to fly. Yet, she falls in love with her new world that offered adventures and lifetime beauty. But just when she starts to feel like her old self again, she uncovers a devastating secret her mother has been keeping from her people. A secret that could destroy her family’s pioneering dreams…if they survive that long.

The Women’s War (Women’s War #1) by Jenna Glass (March 5)
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A revolutionary spell gives women the ability to control their own fertility—with consequences that rock their patriarchal society to its core. This new and revolutionary magic—which only women can wield—threatens to tear down what is left of the patriarchy. And the men who currently hold power will do anything to fight back.

Making Friends with Alice Dyson by Poppy Nwosu (March 1)
Goodreads | Book Depository

Alice Dyson’s ultimate goal is to focus on her future. But that’s before a bizarre encounter with the school’s most notorious troublemaker derails all her plans, turning Alice into the unwilling center of attention and her life into one enormous complication. And even worse? Now Teddy Taualai won’t leave her alone.

How High the Moon by Karyn Parsons (March 5)
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Sets in 1944, this is a story of 12-year-old Ella who spends her time by having fun with best friend Henry and cousin Myrna. Until one day, she spent Christmas with her away mother and discovered truths about her mother, the father she never knew and her family’s most unlikely history. And after being away for a month, she came back to her town only to discover that her schoolmate, George, has been arrested for the murder of two local white girls.

The Year I Didn’t Eat by Samuel Pollen (March 5)
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Max is 14, and anorexic. His eating disorder has pretty much taken over his whole life. In the midst of a family crisis, Max’s eating disorder quickly deteriorates. Anorexia pulls him further and further away from his family and friends until he feels totally alone. Can anyone help him find a way out?

The DNA of You and Me by Andrea Rothman (March 12)
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A sharp, relevant novel that speaks to the ambitions and desires of modern women, The DNA of You and Me explores the evergreen question of career versus family, the irrational sensibility of love, and whether one can be a loner without a diagnostic label.

Will you be reading any of these debut novels? Tell us in the comments below!

The post March Debut Novels That Should Be On Your Radar appeared first on The Nerd Daily.