Re-read Review : A Perfect Equation (The Secret Scientists of London #2) by Elizabeth Everett – exceptional historical romance with feminist theme

A Perfect Equation is an delightful and exceptional historical romance with feminist theme, witty banter, sizzling chemistry, and powerful character transformations.

Previous Review

Previous Book in Series –

A Lady’s Formula For Love (Book 1)

Synopsis

How do you solve the Perfect Equation? Add one sharp-tongued mathematician to an aloof, handsome nobleman. Divide by conflicting loyalties and multiply by a daring group of women hell-bent on conducting their scientific experiments. The solution is a romance that will break every rule.

Six years ago, Miss Letitia Fenley made a mistake, and she’s lived with the consequences ever since. Readying herself to compete for the prestigious Rosewood Prize for Mathematics, she is suddenly asked to take on another responsibility—managing Athena’s Retreat, a secret haven for England’s women scientists. Having spent the last six years on her own, Letty doesn’t want the offers of friendship from other club members and certainly doesn’t need any help from the insufferably attractive Lord Greycliff.

Lord William Hughes, the Viscount Greycliff cannot afford to make any mistakes. His lifelong dream of becoming the director of a powerful clandestine agency is within his grasp. Tasked with helping Letty safeguard Athena’s Retreat, Grey is positive that he can control the antics of the various scientists as well as manage the tiny mathematician—despite their historic animosity and simmering tension.

As Grey and Letty are forced to work together, their mutual dislike turns to admiration and eventually to something… magnetic. When faced with the possibility that Athena’s Retreat will close forever, they must make a choice. Will Grey turn down a chance to change history, or can Letty get to the root of the problem and prove that love is the ultimate answer?

Review

A Perfect Equation was a perfect sequel in The Secret Scientists of London series, following Letitia (Letty) Fenley and Lord William Hughes, Viscount Greycliff—Violet’s stepson. I originally read this book in 2022, but after finishing A Lady’s Formula for Love, I felt the urge to revisit it. That first book reminded me just how much I love this subgenre, and with the next installment on my list, I had to reread this one first.

I’m so glad I did because I barely remembered the details—only the climax stuck with me. I didn’t plan to write a full review, but once I started, I couldn’t stop. So, here we go.

Can You Read A Perfect Equation as a Standalone?

Technically, yes, but I strongly recommend reading the series in order. The first book lays the groundwork for Athena’s Retreat—a secret club for women scientists—introducing its founders (Lady Violet Greycliff, Letitia Fenley, and Lady Phoebe) and other key characters who reappear in this book. Reading in order makes it much easier to connect with the world and its characters.

The Story

In A Lady’s Formula for Love, we saw Letty’s deep dislike for aristocracy, despite her closest friends and most of the club members holding titles. We also got a hint that a man played a role in shaping her perspective. A Perfect Equation finally reveals the full story—and why she initially despised Grey.

Six years ago, Letty was cast out of society after making the mistake of trusting a gentleman, Nevin Melton. He fed her false promises of love and marriage, only for his family to ruin her reputation over a single misstep.

Now, with Violet temporarily away at the Yorkshire Academy for the Education of Exceptional Young Women, Letty is left in charge of Athena’s Retreat. But she barely has time for such a big responsibility—she’s also competing for the prestigious Rosewood Prize for Mathematics. To help manage things, Violet calls in Madam Margaret Gault as the club’s secretary and enlists Grey to protect the club from external threats, especially the rising protests against women gathering and working.

The problem? Grey is the godson of the very man who destroyed Letty’s reputation. And six years ago, he delivered the most soul-crushing words she’d ever heard. Running a club with him seems impossible. But Letty is no longer that naive young girl, and after some heated clashes, they start to understand each other—enough to call a temporary truce.

Conflict & Stakes

Grey is on the cusp of achieving his dream: becoming the director of a powerful clandestine agency, the Department. But a new opponent—the head of the Guardian, who is person behind the protest against working women—has infiltrated the agency and is now challenging Grey for the position. To prove his loyalty, Grey must take drastic measures—including shutting down Athena’s Retreat.

Once again, he and Letty find themselves on opposite sides. But the women of the club aren’t about to back down without a fight.

It was fascinating to see how Grey’s decisions would impact the club, what Letty would do to protect it, and how Grey would navigate his personal and professional loyalties.

Letty & Grey’s Growth

Letty was phenomenal. She’s still haunted by her past mistake that left a scar that never healed making her build a wall around her heart showing the world prickly, angry, headstrong side that was a force of nature who could fight the world and hurt others before they hurt her.

Her journey was both painful and inspiring. Watching her struggle to keep her walls up around Grey, the man who hurt her the most, was heart-wrenching. But I admired her strength in facing him. Their clever riposte gradually transformed into sizzling chemistry, and her perception of Grey shifted as she uncovered his vulnerabilities. In turn, that understanding began to heal her own wounds.

Grey was a cynic, ruled by logic and discipline. Having suffered from epilepsy in childhood, he was conditioned to believe that any indulgence—food, drink, emotions—could trigger his condition. He lived in rigid control, convinced that letting go would make him weak. It was heartbreaking to see how this belief shaped his actions, keeping him emotionally distant and depriving himself of happiness.

His development was one of my favorite aspects of the book. I loved how his conversations with members of Athena’s Retreat and especially Letty’s love challenged his beliefs forced him to question his assumptions, and ultimately, how he found the courage to embrace pleasure, companionship, and love. His confrontation with his godfather and the moment he realized his fears were unfounded was a Perfection.

Romance & Chemistry

Their romance was scorching. It was amazing to see how many variables affected their love and yet they both conquered that complex equation of love. Their interactions were electric, with moments that i adored—

Grey reading Letty’s favorite novel to understand love.
Their first kiss.
Grey saving Letty with a dance.
Letty watching Grey’s reaction to Milly and Willy’s experiment.
Their ridiculous (and adorable) fight over who should take care of a ferret.

Side Characters & Humor

The secondary characters were just as delightful as in the first book. There were plenty of laugh-out-loud moments, and I adored the women of Athena’s Retreat. Even Grantham—charming and lively as ever—stood out. Now that we’ve gotten hints of something between him and Madam Margaret Gault, I can’t wait for their story in the next book!

Climax & Conclusion

Having read the book before, I knew what was coming, but for a first-time reader, the climax would be unpredictable. The buildup to the resolution was fantastic—Letty’s bold stand against society (without a disguise!), Grey’s realization, and his final proposal were all incredibly satisfying.

Final Thoughts

A Perfect Equation is an delightful and exceptional historical romance with feminist themes, witty banter, sizzling chemistry, and powerful character transformations. The friendships, humor, and high stakes made this an unputdownable read.

What to expect in A Perfect Equation

Enemies-to-Lovers Romance
Historical Romance
Women in STEM
Delicious Banter & Tension
Broody, Buttoned-Up Hero x Strong-Willed Heroine

Favorite Lines

” ‘Never wait for someone to rescue you.’ Latty advised. ‘Especially a man. They’ll ride away on those fine horses afterwards, and where will you be? Still here, cleaning the mess, having to work for an owner who couldn’t even be bothered to come out here after you. Rescue yourself, my dear.’“

“In pages of book, love is its own reward. In the real world, it was a transaction.”

“I also believe that for every problem there are multiple solutions. The equations may bot always be elegant, but if you put in the effort you can find your way to the answer.”

“Milly said ‘They are not taught to fail.’ ‘Taught to fail?’ Grey rubbed his forehead at change in direction of conversation. had he misunderstood? ‘I should hope not.’ Willy disagreed. ‘Failure is part of the scientific process. They won’t be good scientists— or good people, for that matter—if they won’t allow for mistakes.’ ‘Or be prepared to look the fool and charge ahead despite that. Lord knows we do—over and ober again. Pity out errors are flammable. Milly winced.’ And smelly.”

” ‘If your experiment fail, doesn’t that mean you should try something else? how does following the wrong path and risking ridicule make you a better scientist?’ ‘science is the act of constant discovery’ Willy explained gently. ‘There is no certainty in what we do. A true scientist always accepts the possibility of change; everything we believe today maybe proven false tomorrow.’ ‘Because we do not traffic in absolutes,’ Milly continued, without pause, ‘the risk of failure is one hundred percent. The first time, What happens next is the making of you. If you’ve too much care for what others think, there is no room for errors—and no space for transformation.’ “

“If you don’t let go of something that doesn’t bring you pleasure, you can’t grab hold of something that does.”

“They are so used to condemnation or ridicule that when someone simply listen, the act of listening is a form of validation.”

“I believe in mathematics. I believe in the scientific laws governing our universe, and the infinite equations that allow humans to find a way together. I believe mistakes can be mended, grudges can be reconciled, mysteries solved, and happy ending can come to each of us.”

“Margret spoke up. ‘When I design a bridge, I must always allow for gravity trying its best to pull it down, balancing the weight of materials against the forces of nature.’ ‘We cannot fight gravity, but for thousands of years we have still found a way to span our divides. It is human nature for a person to stand on one side of chasm and face any challenge to reach the person on the other side. Communion and balance—esoteric concept for an engineer to contemplate.’…’What a beautiful thought.’ Letty smiled at her friend. ‘Finding and remaining in love requires the same set if circumstances. Communion and balance.’ “

“There are some wars that are unwinnable. Some opinions will never change, not because the people holding them are stupid or bad, but because their stories are narrow. To widen their horizons meant toppling their world— they were scared. Fear is powerful force.”

“Bravery is much less exciting than the novels make it out to be.”

“Reading he story of a love—great or small—person to make a risk and search out a love of their own.”

Book Links

Goodreads | Amazon.in | Amazon.com | Amzon.co.uk
(Free on audible for US and UK)

Have you read this or wish to read?
What is your favorite historical romance?

Just in case you missed,,,

• A Love by Design (The Secret Scientists of London #3) by Elizabeth Everett
• Life Lately and Recent Reads #WeeklyRecap (March 10, 2025)
• Re-read Review : A Perfect Equation (The Secret Scientists of London #2) by Elizabeth Everett – exceptional historical romance with feminist theme

Blog | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest | Goodreads | WhatsApp Channel

---