Review by Booklist Review
Though she used to flit from job to job, Brianna Rogers has been enjoying her time as vice principal of a middle school, particularly when she manages to secure funding for an upgrade for their library. However, after the principal reveals that he took the funding and instead applied it toward a football field, Brianna is left asking herself if this is really the job she wants. Brianna, the sister of an astronaut, nevertheless discovers a new way to earn money for the library: she and five other teachers simply need to participate in a Mars simulation during the summer. The problem is, one of the teachers who volunteers to help is the principal's son and Brianna's crush, a man she's certain will attempt to sabotage the simulation. Though the set-up is somewhat convoluted in her second space-related romance, following Kiss Countdown (2024), Easton presents interesting and relatable characters in unique and fun circumstances. Fans of Ali Hazelwood and readers with an interest in science and space will very much enjoy Easton's Mars-related take on the forced-proximity trope.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Easton follows up The Kiss Countdown with a fresh, futuristic take on the forced proximity trope. Middle school vice principal Brianna Rogers works hard to maintain clear professional boundaries between herself and the teachers, particularly handsome eighth grade science teacher Roman Major. But when Roman's father, the school's principal, pulls funding for a new library to instead upgrade the football fields, Brianna impulsively joins a six-week Mars mission simulation with her fellow teachers over summer break. They'll be competing against other school districts for prize money to fund the library renovation. Given the animosity between her and her boss, she's highly skeptical when Roman also joins the mission, worried that he's only tagging along to sabotage their chances. However, it isn't long before they build trust while coping with dust storms, eating rehydrated food, and overcoming technological emergencies. The unique setting is a lot of fun, and Easton has a natural touch with flirtatious dialogue between her wonderfully nuanced leads. Returning readers will enjoy revisiting the tight-knit Rogers clan, many of whom are clearly slated to find loves of their own in future installments. This gives series fans plenty to look forward to. Agent: Jem Chambers-Black, Andrea Brown Literary. (Mar.)
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Review by Library Journal Review
The last straw for middle school vice principal Brianna occurs when her principal announces that funds designated for the library will be redirected to the football field. To win funding to save the library, Brianna impulsively volunteers for a six-week Mars simulation competition for teachers. The Survivor-style challenge is complicated by fellow contestant Roman, a handsome teacher from Brianna's school who also happens to be her boss's son. Despite Brianna's crush, Roman quickly becomes her archnemesis. Narrator Johnson skillfully captures Brianna's stream of consciousness, creating a character who feels relatable, grounded, and just a little dramatic. Focusing on Brianna's inner thoughts does make the other characters, including Roman, seem somewhat one-dimensional. However, the close quarters help her crush grow into a genuine and mutual love. Romance devotees might find the predictable climax clichéd, but it's not so obvious as to turn off listeners. Ultimately, it's a satisfying happily-ever-after for Brianna and Roman, and her career. VERDICT Easton's (The Kiss Countdown) latest is a fun summer listen ideal for fans of the television show Abbott Elementary.--Carmanita Turner
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
A middle school vice principal joins a six-week Mars simulation for a chance to win $500,000 for her school. Brianna Rogers has been a chronic underachiever compared to her high-powered siblings. She loves kids but drifted through several jobs as a teacher and counselor before finally landing a position as a vice principal at a Houston middle school. She clashes with her principal, a difficult and condescending man. What's worse is that the most attractive teacher at the school, Roman Major, is the principal's son. Roman also applied for the vice principal job, and she suspects that's why their interactions are chilly and adversarial. Then, in the final weeks of the school year, she discovers that the principal redirected the money meant to renovate the library into a football field upgrade. Brianna is outraged but helpless to do anything about it, until she decides to join four of her colleagues, including Roman, on a six-week-long NASA Mars simulation they've been recruited for. There are cash rewards for individual teachers, but Brianna is more interested in the $500,000 grant the school will win if the team successfully completes the simulation. The award could fund the library upgrade without the principal's interference. Once Brianna and Roman enter the simulation, she begins to suspect that Roman was planted on the team by his father to sabotage their progress and prevent them from saving the library. Brianna's journey is both professional and personal. She struggles with the expectation that she will keep herself separate from her colleagues since she's a supervisor. She must learn to trust her own instincts, and eventually decides Roman is not there to ruin their chances of winning the grant. In comparison, Roman is underdeveloped to the point of feeling like an afterthought. There is little tension or conflict outside of the simulation itself, and the resolution is simple and uncomplicated. One strong main character can't save the contrived plot or underwhelming love interest. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
