I am completely obsessed. Christina Lauren have written the most captivating book I have ever read. Fizzy was the best main character to read about and she never had me rolling my eyes or screaming at the book. Connor was just sad great and seeing his dynamic between Nat and Juno was so cute! Although I had a feeling I knew how this was going to end, it did not stop me at all from wanting to keep reading. I was hooked from the very beginning and am so thankful I got a copy of this.

So when I started my 2023 Reading Challenge, I had specifically stated that I needed to be reading out of my comfort zone and hit genres that I would normally eschew - one of which being Romance in any form. I feel like I cheated a bit when picking a Christina Lauren, as is Romcom truly what I have been trying my challenge myself to approach? Nevertheless, here we are!

I did get a kick out of The True Love Experiement, specifically more in the character than the plot itself (anything reality-TV/Bachelorette-based seems so overused at this point). I will say that I really like Fizzy Chen, and was sad to realize that I had missed out on her 1st outing in The Soulmate Equation (I have also been told that this book does spoil a lot of that previous title, so woe is I).

As someone who is no longer in my 20's, I did appreciate the imperfectness of the story and the people here. People are messy and so is the pursuit of an other that complements ourselves. It is for this element that I enjoy authors like Nick Hornby and Dave Nichols.

That said, was it the best foray into Romance that I could have ventured into -probably not. 4 stars for this inspite of the tired cliches of Romance author doing X and person getting involved in a reality show. I will say that, if anything, The True Love Experiment has emboldened me to find that next romance title to stretch myself as a reader!

Thank you Netgalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for this advanced copy of this title for an unbiased review.

I loved reading the predecessor to this book; The Soulmate Equation, a lot and this book was no different. Fizzy was such a great character in the first book and I loved getting to read about her getting her very own chance at love. Connor was such a great hero and the reality tv show setting was something I have never read before but so fun! This book also included two of my favourite troupes… mutual pinning and forbidden love! Overall I really liked this book.

Whenever I pick up a book by this duo, I know that I am going to be in for a good time. The True Love Experiment was just the cheerful, romantic, humorous read that I was in the mood for.

Felicity “Fizzy” Chen certainly is a character. She’s a best-selling romance author who is as effervescent as her name implies. She has a killer sense of humor, she’s confident, outgoing, intelligent, and she’s never been in love. Never. Oh, she’s had plenty of dates and lovers, but to say that she’s ever been truly smitten or head-over-heels with someone, she really hasn’t.

I couldn’t help but love Fizzy. Yes, she was a lot, but she was fun, entertaining, and interesting. When she was offered the opportunity to be on a brand-new reality show to find her true soulmate with the formula that her friend had developed, she was hesitant, but eventually decided to go for it. What was the worst that could happen?

Connor Prince III had to develop this new dating show in order to keep his job and continue to live close to his daughter. The last thing that this documentary filmmaker wanted to do was a dating show, but you gotta do what you gotta do, and once he met Fizzy, he knew that she had enough star-power to bring in the ratings and keep his job. Ah, but Fizzy was more intriguing than just the face of his show. She was the firecracker that was about to add the spark to his world. Yes!

I enjoyed the interactions between Fizzy and Connor. They had a smoldering attraction, great banter, and a reason to spend a lot of time together, but the show was about finding Fizzy’s soulmate among the Hero contestants, not about her developing a relationship with the show’s producer.

The True Love Experiment felt like an ode to romance readers (I loved that). Fizzy loved her fans and the exuberance that they had at her book signings and for her upcoming releases, and despite being in a bit of a creative drought, she loved writing romance.

If you’re looking for a bit of joy in your own life, pick up this book, it is sure to bring a smile to your face and delight your romance-loving heart.

*4.5 Stars

3.5 Stars! This was a quick, fun read. This story had great banter, fun flirting, and a sexy single dad...what's not to love?!?! It also had hot chemistry between the characters and much more depth to each of them (and their romance) than I was anticipating. I'll be honest, I've never watched any of those "reality" bachelor shows and was curious as to how the authors would integrate it into the story without making me role my eyes on every other page - but they did it. If I could change one thing about this story though it would be that the "show" took time away from Fizzy and Connor. Fizzy is a successful romance novelist looking to get her groove back and is presented with the opportunity to be the lead in a dating show with a twist...she is able to dictate how the show will work. She's sassy and snarky and bubbly and, because of that, she breaths life into what can be a predictable type of reality program. Connor produces documentaries and is definitely out of his element when asked to work on this program but when he meets Fizzy things immediately start to make sense - both for the show and for him personally. And, ultimately, he became a great producer and a great love interest for Fizzy. Now, I will be honest that there are some things in Connor's past I didn't like but I feel like they actually made this story more real...none of us is perfect and this story dealt with some of that which I appreciated. Overall, the interactions between these two were witty, spicy, and endearing and I enjoyed watching their romance progress which made for a fun read.

The dynamic writing duo Christina Lauren has done it again. I have been in the biggest reading slump of my life and this book cured me. As always, Christina Lauren deliver fun and witty characters you cannot help but fall in love with.

Fizzy and Connor's chemistry was magnificent and their banter had me squealing like a child. I loved the build-up of their relationship and I thought it was so natural and real. Fizzy was the perfect heroine and I felt so connected to her. She was so funny and I wish she were a real person so I could meet her in real life and give her a giant hug. Connor was also the perfect hero to balance out Fizzy. His communication skills? Are you kidding? How could you not fall in love with Connor. He was so dreamy and his love for his daughter Stevie was so precious.

The "true love experiment" plot of the book was executed so well (in my opinion, as someone who watches a lot of reality TV dating shows) and it was definitely a highlight of the book. If you're also a big fan of reality dating shows, you will love this book.

Overall, this book was an absolute hit for me. I was unsure going into this book if I would like Fizzy and Connor as a couple considering I loved River and Jess so much but wow I was proven wrong. If anything, I love Fizzy and Connor more. Their relationship in this book was too good and they just fit so well together. This was easily a 5 star read for me.

The True Love Experiment
By Christina Lauren
••• ••• ••• ••• ••• ••• ••• ••• ••• ••• ••• •••
I love, love, loved this novel. It was everything that I was looking for in a contemporary romance. The dialog was witty and fast paced, the characters are perfectly crafted and the development is well executed, the plot was amazing with no slow spots and the writing is so easy and beautifully created. I highly recommend it, it’s in the same world has her other novel the soul equation! I loved Fizzy so much, she felt like a real person and just so lovable. Meeting Connor was a dream come true, so handsome, smart, and with a English accent (The perfect jackpot). It was lovely to see Jess and River again, and to see the relationship between Jess and Fizzy as best friends makes my heart so warm. It was a fast read and I recommend picking it up when it comes out this week.

Felicity “Fizzy” Chen is lost. She is a beloved romance writer, that loved having relationships with men until she became the other woman and stopped trusting men altogether. She realized that she has never been in love, she’s been in lust but never found her Hero to her love story.

Connor Prince, is a beloved single father who loves to make nature documentaries. But when he is ordered to make a reality TV show to save the company, Connor is so out of his element. When Connor meets Fizzy, he finds his perfect lead for his reality show “The True Love Experiment” where the audience will vote for the perfect match and see if it lines up with DNA match. This sounds like it might be exactly what both Connor and Fizzy need.

My copy was given to me by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Romance: ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Spice level: 🌶🌶
Plot points: 💥💥💥💥💥
Stars: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

I wasn’t sure if I was going to like Fizzy’s story going into it because I don’t watch reality tv shows. But I was proven wrong - I loved this book so so much. The banter was top notch. I smiled, sent screenshots, and squealed so many times. I loved The Soulmate Equation, but Christina and Lauren really outdid theirselves with this one.

Memorable quote: “I want to stuff this happiness in a pie crust and eat it with ice cream.”

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for this advance reader copy. All opinions are my own.

The moment I knew a sequel-type story was coming out following The Soulmate Equation, I was squealing. Not even kidding with you!

Fizzy Chen is a bestselling romance novelist, a proactive first dater/one night stander and soon to be, a lead in a reality show that focuses on helping her find true love. But really, she's hoping to just find her mojo again and everything that makes her Fizzy, while navigating the newest intruder in her life - Connor Prince III (What a name, hey?). Connor lands the role of producer for a new Bachelor-like reality show and must make everything work in order to make his own life work out. From the moment Fizzy lands in his radar, Connor just knows he's in for it.

Where to even begin? I don't even think this book belongs in any of the trope categories, only that there's slight single dad romance vibes. Otherwise, this is a one of a kind type of rom-com read, in true Christina Lauren nature. Fizzy was unhinged, loveable and the perfect little weirdo that I could see parts of myself in. Connor was swoon worthy, reserved yet says ALL the right things. The plotline was super fun, unique, full of quirkiness and yet addressed some topics about romance reading culture that insinuated perfectly with Fizzy's story. Also, loved seeing the Asian representation in this one, mentionables of Chinese wedding cultures, Cantonese name addressing - So good and made me so proud! I have nothing but praises for this book, my newest favorite CL story😍

This one hits the stands next week and I highly recommend you have a go at it. For fans of the Bachelor and reality dating shows, this is a read you must get into!

Thank you NetGalley and Gallery books for providing a digital copy of this fun read for my honest thoughts.

"The True Love Experiment" by Christina Lauren is an absolute gem of a novel, and one that I cannot recommend highly enough. As a fan of the romance genre, I've been disappointed by many lackluster books in recent years, but this one truly stands out.

The story follows the protagonist, a woman who has been burned by love in the past and is skeptical of romantic relationships. When she meets the charming and attractive hero, their chemistry is undeniable, but they decide to embark on a platonic relationship to see if they can truly be friends without the pressure of romance. What follows is a delightful and heartwarming story of self-discovery, personal growth, and, of course, romance.

What I loved most about "The True Love Experiment" was the way that the authors, who write under the pseudonym Christina Lauren, expertly balanced the humor and wit of the story with the emotional depth and character development. The dialogue was snappy and engaging, the pacing was perfect, and the romance was swoon-worthy without being over-the-top.

Overall, "The True Love Experiment" is a delightful and engaging novel that reminded me why I love the romance genre so much. Christina Lauren is a talented writing team, and I look forward to reading more of their work in the future. If you're a fan of romance, or just looking for a heartwarming and engaging story, I highly recommend giving this book a try. You won't be disappointed!

Oh my goodness. Well if that wasn't a late attention grabbing book, I don't know what is.

I've seen DNF reviews about this book from fellow early readers, but seriously. Stick. It. Out. It's so worth it! I was at 25% for what felt a little long, but the minute the show's filming started and our spunky couple started really letting sparks, I finished this in a day. The slow beginning really builds this hilarious and adorable couples foundation.

Not to mention, who doesn't like a literal present Daddy figure with substance that went to therapy and loves the earth!?

I strongly believe that this will be one of the popular beach reads this year and all I ask is that you stick with our flaky Fizzy and uptight, workaholic Connor. They really do make THAT couple that you just look at and know they can communicate without words and just looks.

✿ 𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒑𝒆𝒔 ✿
• forbidden love
• enemies to lovers
• single dad

✿ 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔 ✿
You guys… this book was sooo good!!🥹
It made my heart flutter and made me laugh more times than I can count. The plot, the tension, the spice, the banter, the unexpected events, the green flags, the romance, everything was perfect! I thoroughly enjoyed every single part of this book and I strongly recommend it! 🥹💗

The True Love Experiment follows Fizzy from The Soulmate Equation! Fizzy is feeling stuck in life, not writing, not dating and not experiencing joy. Then she meets Connor, a nature documentary producer that has been tasked with creating a falling in love reality show. Upon meeting Fizzy, he decides she’d be perfect to lead the show and casts her. Along the way of finding joy and filming the show, both Connor and Fizzy, who cannot and should not be attracted to each, realize they are.

I’m so happy Fizzy got her own story! I absolutely loved her character in SE and was so excited to read her story. Fizzy is so funny, genuine, unique and straight up entertaining. Her and Connor have such amazing chemistry and I was rooting for them the whole way through. The story is funny and heartfelt, I loved their journey and their banter, the progression of their relationship and how unique the story was. The ending had me giddy, kicking my feet, it was so perfect. I highly recommend this! The only part I didn’t love was Connor’s confession and Fizzy’s reaction (which I don’t think was wrong), that took away from my like for both the characters just a bit even though they were redeemed and I see why that was necessary for the plot. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the free preview in exchange for an honest review. Please read this, it’s such a fun time!

I'm absolutely thrilled to say that I LOVED this book! Fizzy, the main character, had me laughing with her funny and feisty personality, and Connor was the perfect book boyfriend. The plot was incredibly creative, and I adored the character and plot crossovers from THE SOULMATE EQUATION.


Usually, romcoms aren't my go-to favorites, as I lean towards more emo romances. However, this book had me laughing, smiling, and completely vibing with its charm. Christina Lauren can do no wrong in my book. 👏🏼 It felt like their signature style of delivering fun and delightful love stories.


The chemistry between the main characters was off the charts, and I could truly feel the depth of their love story and connection. The banter and one-liners throughout the book were fantastic. Plus, since the characters are older adults, you can really see their maturity, growth, and reflection.


Now, usually, reality show tropes and plots make me roll my eyes (yes, I'm looking at you, THE CHARM OFFENSIVE), but this book offered a fresh and enjoyable twist on the TV show trope. I appreciated how the show wasn't the sole focus—it only came into play after 150 pages of solid character and plot development. In my opinion, that wasn't even the main plot, which I absolutely loved. And let's give another round of applause to Connor—he truly stole the show! 🥹

Overall, I can't recommend this book enough. It brought me pure joy and I couldn't get enough of it. Christina Lauren's talent shines through once again, and I can't wait to devour more of their amazing stories.

A big CLo fan over here!!!! After loving The Soulmate Equation (and literally ever other book by these amazing authors), I couldn’t wait to dive into Fizzy and Connor’s story.

I loved the alternating POVs and the side characters soooo much. Jess, Stevie, Nat, River and Juno (of course) they added so much heart and nostalgia into this book.

The premise was fantastic. I loved the dating show and how Fizzy and Connor met. The banter between the two MCs was awesome. This book delivered on so many fronts!

I can’t wait for what’s in store next from Christina Lauren!

Thank you to NetGalley and Galley Books for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This read was super fun, I felt at times that the relationship building was going too fast but I started to feel their connection and I was rooting for them! I loved the premise of this book, I never read something like it before where the MC stars in a show! Overall, this was a easy and quick read!

Fizzy & Connor gave us a slow burn that was simply delicious.

First of, a gorgeous male character with a British accent? Sign me up! Strangers to friends to lovers? Yes please! Forbidden romance and angst? Always a good idea!

This book was a combination of some of my favourite tropes and executed in a way that kept the plot moving. There was never a dull moment and this love story was written in such a relatable and realistic way!

Christina Lauren showed us once again why they are the masters of the love genre. A must read for any romance addict!

I absolutely loved this book! It was a perfect CLo romance and totally brought me back to the books I've loved over the years. I'm so happy we got Fizzy's story!! This was such a special love story and Connor is the ultimate hero!

I fell in love with Fizzy in the Soulmate Equation. When I heard she was getting her own book, I waited with bated breath.

This book did not disappoint. It totally blew my expectations out of the water. Fizzy is a very successful romance novelist. She is such a deep character. She’s hilarious, supportive, vulnerable, and just really well rounded. Enter Connor- a single dad (swoon), a passionate documentary filmmaker forced to make a reality TV show. These two become great friends… and then lovers. The CHEMISTRY was off the charts, the banter was hilarious, the spice was extra spicy.

This book was entertaining while also being very realistic. There are meddling family members, exes, job drama, relationship issues ect. I really enjoyed this aspect of the book because it was so relatable. There is some character and plot cross over from the soulmate equation, but since I loved that book, I enjoyed every word of it.

I highly recommend this book!

"I'm crazy about you," I say.

His voice is a low vibration reverberating down his body. "I'm out of my mind."

What You'll Find:
--Contemporary Romance
--Single Parent
--Open Door
--Dual POV

I have to say, this book was very hard to get into. It felt slow to get going. But as the storyline developed I found myself more intrigued. The whole plot of a romance writer going on bachelor like dating show was fun. I especially liked her requests for 'heroes'. And then add in an attraction to the director of the show... yes please. But after a bit, I just wanted less show dynamics and more moments between the MC's. Because they did have moments that made me smile. There was longing and a forbidden feel that kept me turning the pages. And when the steam finally got steamy, I was here for it! But the pacing of this story overall was off for me, and I really disliked the third act breakup. I am a fan of this author duo so will continue to read more in the future, but this one just didn't quite capture my attention like I hoped unfortunately.

*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own and given freely.