The Calculation of You and Me - by Serena Kaylor

About the Book

"A calculus nerd enlists her surly classmate's help to win back her ex-boyfriend, but when sparks start to fly, she realizes there is no algorithm for falling in love"--

Book Synopsis

A calculus nerd enlists her surly classmate's help to win back her ex-boyfriend, but when sparks start to fly, she realizes there's no algorithm for falling in love.

Marlowe Meadows understands a lot of things. She understands that calculus isn't overwhelmingly beautiful to everyone, and that it typically kills the mood when you try to talk Python coding over beer pong. She understands that people were surprised when golden boy Josh asked her out and she went from weird, math-obsessed Marlowe to half of their school's couple goals. Unfortunately, Marlowe was the one surprised when Josh dumped her because he'd prefer a girlfriend who's more romantic. One with emotional depth.

But Marlowe has never failed anything in her life, and she isn't about to start now. When she's paired with Ashton Hayes for an English project, his black clothing and moody eyeliner cause a bit of a systems overload, and the dissonant sounds of his rock band make her brain itch. But when she discovers Ash's hidden stash of love songs, Marlowe makes a desperate deal to unleash her inner romantic heroine: if Ash will agree to help her write some love letters to win back Josh, she'll calculate the perfect data analytics formula to make Ash's band go viral.

As the semester heats up with yearning love notes, a syllabus of romance novels, and late nights spent with a boy who escapes any box her brain tries to put him in, Marlowe starts to question if there's really a set solution to love. Could a girl who's never met a problem she can't solve have gotten the math so massively wrong?

Review Quotes

"Deliciously satisfying...and nail-biting, tear-inducing, uproarious, and generally just all the feels...Kaylor has a real knack for storytelling that left me flying through the pages, and she writes her characters with respect and thoughtfulness...'Calculation' gets into the flow early and becomes a rushing river that you're only too glad to be carried along." -Associate Publishers

Praise for Long Story Short:

"Kaylor's debut novel gives socially struggling individuals and theater lovers a space to feel seen...For the introverted and theater fans alike, this is a must-read summer camp romp." -School Library Journal (starred)

"Charming repartee and plenty of heart make for a delightful debut." --Kirkus Reviews

"[Beatrice's story] has the breezy charm of a Netflix romcom and will be a hit with readers who loved The Kissing Booth or To All the Boys I've Loved Before adaptations." -Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"Recommended for fans of rom-coms with an amusing, Shakespearean twist." -Booklist

"Brimming with wit, optimism, and adolescence's seemingly never-ending awkwardness." -Publishers Weekly

"Like the best of the Bard himself, Long Story Short combines dazzling repartee with iconic, nuanced characters and the kind of charged, perfectly paced romance fit for the world stage...a sparkling Shakespearean homage and a wonderful debut." --Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka, authors of Always Never Yours

"With characters you can't help but fall in love with, a vibrant, fun atmosphere and a stunning, tender romance at its center, Long Story Short is the perfect romantic comedy for connoisseurs of hate-to-love, fans of Pride and Prejudice, and readers who love found families. An unmissable debut!" --Sophie Gonzales, author of Never Ever Getting Back Together

"Delightful and charming with the familiar biting wit of a Shakespearean production." -Erin Hahn, author of You'd Be Mine and Never Saw You Coming

About the Author

SERENA KAYLOR is a neurodiverse, romcom super-fan, who is always moments away from cornering you and outlining all her favorite ships. Her books are stuffed with awkward moments, angsty kisses, and jokes that at least she finds funny. She is the author of Long Story Short and The Calculation of You and Me.