Review: Science Meets 50 Shades
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 12 26, 2013
If you like 50 Shades of Gray, you will probably like The Theory of Attraction. And yet while there are a lot of 50 Shades knockoff out there, this doesn't feel like one of them. The story is told from the POV of Camilla Novak, who has had her eye on her nerdy neighbor, 29 year old astrophysicist Dr. Ivan Reynolds, for two years. Ivan isn't quite the charismatic and enigmatic character that Christian Gray is, but he's still intriguing. Camilla isn't naive and virginal like Ana; instead she is an average down to earth 28 year old social anthropologist who sees past Ivan's awkwardness and agrees to help him with some social etiquette lessons in order to advance in his career. In a type of lesson exchange, Ivan introduces Camilla into his BDSM sex style. Like the regimented scientist professor that Ivan is, he approaches sex much like a science experiment, seeing it as a process of observer/subject, control/variable, exploring the body's unique relationship between pleasure and pain. In the end Camilla expands her sexual horizons too, and Ivan becomes more comfortable in social situations as well as more flexible with altering his rigid daily routines.While there are frequent sex scenes once the couple first hooks up, there is more to the story than simply the sex. They very much have a relationship outside of the bedroom; first as friendship and then as something more. Actually, their friendship and budding romance was one of the endearing aspects of their relationship. And while in the bedroom, he is the dom and she the sub, in most other aspects she is the one teaching Ivan and helping him grow/evolve.Despite some other reviews, I never felt that Ivan isolated her from her friends. Camilla points out at one point that her previous boyfriend did that, but in no way does Ivan. In fact, quite the opposite--half the point of the book is how she helps him become more social.  Also, Camilla doesn't stop caring about her job. She simply finds herself thinking about him at work and he seems to do the same--pretty typical of a new couple in love.  The details of their arrangement is slightly brushed over and there is no contract negotiation like FSOG's Ana and Christian, but this story is shorter and simpler and while the technicalities works well in FSOG, it would most likely just drag the plot down here.Overall, even with all the BDSM love scenes it's actually a quite sweet story devoid of angst and scheming villains, which can be a refreshing change. An easy read and nice, hot little story.