Cover Image: The True Love Experiment

The True Love Experiment

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Member Reviews

First, a big thank you to Simon & Schuster for sending me an E-ARC to this book, Christina and Lauren are legends and it’s always fun to get to peek in a book before it is officially released!

I really loved the woman-sex-positive tone of this one, with Fizzy owning her desires shamelessly. It was refreshing that it wasn’t a discussion point, but rather quite un-newsworthy.

A stand-out in this book was Connor and Natalia’s coparenting relationship/friendship, and the emotional IQs of all the men. It was healthy and refreshing to see that portrayed in a romance this way!

Now… IMO, our main characters went from friendly flirtation to admitting to falling in love quicker than what I was tracking in the plot progression. And then Connor’s Big Reveal had me very torn on what to think… there were a few loose ends left untied, but I really enjoyed this one!

If you’re looking for a funny, sexy, bookish, Bachelorette-y romance: this one’s for you!

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4.5 stars

4.5 stars

I love how this started out & I laughed while reading the prologue! Also love how this still featured DNADuo with a reality dating TV show!

The guys chosen for the show being representative of certain romance men - like the Cinnamon Roll & the Vampire was fabulous.

And don't get me started on Connor, the single dad hottie. I love him to pieces. His and Fizzy's adventures to seek joy we're so cute 🥺

Another amazing CLo book and already cannot wait for their next!

Thanks to NetGalley & Simon and Schuster Canada for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

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Another work of art from Christina Lauren. When I finished The Soulmate Equation I NEEDED Fizzy’s story and they delivered.

I think this one tops The Soulmate Equation for me and I really enjoyed that one. There was just something about Fizzy and Connor’s story and their banter and the way they fell in love that just hooked me and wouldn’t let me go.

When Fizzy gets cast in a reality dating show based off of DNA duo’s technology by film producer Connor, sparks fly in unimaginable ways.

Reality dating show, all the romance hero archetypes, hot British single dad, dual POV.

If you love Christina Lauren romances you NEED to read this one.

5/5 stars

Thanks Netgalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for the ability to read this book early in exchange for an honest review!

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I love Christina Lauren and the books they write. This book was no exception. When The Soulmate Equation came out I loved it and I was so excited to see that Fizzy would be getting her own book. This book is actually my third 5 star read of the year and it was amazing.

When I first saw the premise of the book i was so intrigued, and wondering how it would play out. I will admit the ending was predictable but I loved it. Fizzy and Connor were such wonderful main characters and I loved the way their relationship developed. The chemistry and banter these two had, it was unmatched. I just finished this book today and I want to reread it.

I would recommend this book to you if enjoyed The Soulmate Equation, reality tv, friends to lovers, the single parent trope, witty banter and dual pov. You will not be disappointed.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this e-Arc.

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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨/5 🌶️🌶️/5
Omg my heart! This book was such a breath of fresh air. It was like a warm hug on one of your saddest days. This book just exuded happiness the entire time I was reading it and there wasn’t a moment that I didn’t have a smile on my face.

Fizzy is hilarious. She doesn’t take herself too seriously and had some of the best one liners in the entire book. I want to be her friend! The banter with Connor was perfection. They had this palpable chemistry that had me craving their next interaction.

Connor was every bookish women’s dream. He’s fit, he’s smart, he has a possessive jealous side, and he’s British… need I say more?!

This book was so much fun, once I had the time to really sit down and read this book, I blew through it! The plot with the dating show was cool and added to Fizzy and Connors tension and the conflict felt real and mature.

Go read this when it releases on May 16th! Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!

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Thank you NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Another anticipated read of mine for this year! I was lucky enough to be approved for an ARC for “The True Love Experiemnt.” Christina Lauren are one of my favourite romance authors, so I was quite excited for this new book. I loved “The Soulmate Equation,” so I was excited to hear that Fizzy is getting her own book! I loved her in the first book. The plot is actually quite fun: romance author does a dating show with this hot British produced who also happens to be a DILF. It practically writes itself. As aforementioned, I already lover Fizzy. Now, Connor was… interesting. He’s okay, I guess, but I like River (from the first book) better. I just wished there was more father-daughter scenes. Connor seemed like a great dad and I just needed that to be shown more. CLO may be one of my fave romance authors but they have a pattern of having internalized misogyny in their books. This was no exception and it annoyed me so much. Why was Fizzy being punished more than Connor? Either by herself or anyone really. What’s worse is that this is a dual POV book, and there’s not enough of Connor’s POV. So there’s really no reason to not show Connor being miserable or punishing himself. Connor needed to grovel more tbh. It made me so mad that Fizzy was too hard on herself. Almost everyone was belittling what she was feeling. It doesn’t matter that she might have “overreacted” because every feeling she has is important. And the audacity for Connor to be more mad at Fizzy???? No. Just no.

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The True Love Experiment was such a fun read! i loved the reality tv aspect of the show! It was so unique and easy to follow. The single father trope was top tier!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ [Really liked it]
🔥🔥🔥 [Open door, moderate details]

The best writing duo does it again, they’re always able to captivate me straight from the 1st chapter. The writing was amazing as usual and the characters were fantastic. I absolutely loved Fizzy. The storyline was not my favorite - for some reason I have a hard time with the reality TV shows within a book. I love them on TV but it just doesn’t translate well into books for me. I wasn’t a fan of the “hero archetypes” either but I could look past them because of the great writing and characters. And the swoon-worthy book boyfriend! Overall, a very enjoyable rom-com.

Release date: May 16th 2023 ✨

Thank you to the publisher and @netgalley for providing a free advanced copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review.

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This book was so good. The bar was set pretty high with the soulmate equation, I’ve probably read it at least 5 times it’s one of my all time favourites. This book had a lot to live up to and it surpassed the bar. Fizzy was exactly what we expected in the glimpse we saw and Connor became the perfect hero for her. The cameos of Jess, River and Juno was awesome and I absolutely loved. This book was laugh out loud funny, I just absolutely loved Fizzy. Sometimes you get a heroine that you absolutely love and it hard to feel like the hero truly deserves her but Connor was perfect. This book is an absolute gem. I also loved the duel POV, it was great to be with both main characters, I only then wished that the soulmate equation was duel POV. This is a must read!!!!! Especially if you loved the Soulmate Equation.

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I love that this novel is an ode to the romance novel. My favourite part is the hero - a perfectly written character that captured my attention. Fizzy is a modern woman who is definitely not shy about her sexuality! The reality show that is created in this book sounds like fun - I would definitely watch a show like that!

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“Romance isn’t gratuitous bodice ripping. It can be, and there’s nothing wrong with that, but in the end, romance isn’t about the fantasy of being wealthy or beautiful or even being tied to the bed. It’s about elevating stories of joy above stories of pain. It’s about seeing yourself as the main character in a very interesting - or maybe even quiet - life that is entirely yours to control. It is, my friends, the fantasy of significance.”

The discrepancy between my felt and actual age increased with each page turned in this book! I discovered I’m not the target audience for this author.

They say curiosity killed the cat. I had to find out if I was missing anything with this new-to-me but ever-so-popular writing duo. Thank goodness I’ve got 8 more lives. 🙂

I’m clearly an outlier here, so please read other reviews; the majority are glowing.

I was gifted this copy by Simon & Schuster Canada and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

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3.5 Stars

I didn't read The Soulmate Equation as this is my first book by this writing duo. The main character of this book, Fizzy, was also a character from The Soulmate Equation but this is definitely a stand-alone. This isn't my usual type of book but I wanted to give these popular authors a chance and I have to say it was pretty funny and sexy. And for a romantic comedy, it was emotional too.

I really liked both Fizzy and Connor as characters and as a couple. There was wonderful banter and connection between them. Like I said I don't normally read this kind of book but they were hot AF. I don't watch reality shows like The Real Housewives or The Bachelor and the fact that I liked this book even though there is a Bachelor-like show as the main plot says a lot about how well done this book is.

Fizzy is a strong, independent woman who goes after what she wants but Connor is no push-over. The book is very realistic with ex-boyfriends, ex-wives, kids and job issues. I really liked that about the book too. I don't think I'd read any other books by these ladies as it isn't my cup of tea but I can certainly see why they're so popular.

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"Book people are just better, I swear by it."

I started this book before I went on vacation with all intentions for this to be my vacay read. Well, I met a bunch of people, hung out by the pool while sipping drinks so, very little reading was done. Then I get home and I get severely sick. Once again put by the wayside. But you know what throughout all that & my lack of attention on reading TTLE stayed on my mind because it is just that good!!

I absolutely loved Fizzy and Connor. They connected on a level that most people don't. There were laugh out loud moments, banter, sexual tension and sexy times but there was also deep emotions and just putting themselves out there, laying it all on the line. I just adore them :)

"When I say that my heart aches and feels like it’s being stretched in opposite directions by two fists, I realize now that isn’t hyperbole. Love hurts."

This book is right at the top of my favourite books by this author duo.

Received ARC through NetGalley. Voluntarily reviewed

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First, I would like to thank Gallery Books for sending me an arc of The True Love Experiment by Christina Lauren via Netgalley, in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This. Was. Delicious.
Seriously.

First of all, I wish I had known that this was a spin off book of sorts before reading The True Love Experiment. Not because it's essential to understand this book. The True Love Experiment can be read as a standalone, and is easy to understand. And obviously, it's "sister" book - The Soulmate Equation - would have a happily ever after, so the story there is not truly spoiled for me. That's just me, preferring to read books in chronological order, so my brain doesn't explode.

That being said, I didn't need to read The Soulmate Equation to love The True Love Experiment. It holds up on its own, and its great. So far, it is one of the best romances I've read this year.

Okay, so I know that this book came about because Fizzy was a fan favorite side character in The Soulmate Equation, and fans kept asking if they - Christina and Lauren - would write a story for Fizzy. Considering she was beloved enough by their fans for them to write her a book, of course I ended up loving her too. She's fun, hilarious, and just all around loveable. I could totally see why Connor falls for her. Speaking of Connor - love him! Not only because he is described as a dreamboat with a British accent, but because he is an amazing father, and his relationship with his ex-wife. Honestly, we don't get enough functional blended families in romance novels, and I loved reading this.

I loved Fizzy and Connor.
I loved them together even more.
The TENSION.
The CHEMISTRY.
The BANTER.
The SEX.
Christina and Lauren wove it all into this truly wonderful, and weirdly relatable romance. Not the reality show, but Fizzy and Connor's personal journeys throughout the book.


I don't think I've read a Christina Lauren book I don't like yet, and The True Love Experiment is no different. In fact, I loved it. Now excuse me while I go buy The Soulmate Equation.

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I have read several of Christina Lauren's books and have enjoyed them all. This one did not disappoint. The True Love Experiment is a take-off of the popular Bachelor/Bachelorette series. A young romance writer- Fizzy Chen, is brought on to be a bachelorette dating several men who have been pre-determined, through a scientific algorithm, to be suitors for her attention. Connor Prince is a divorced father who happens to be the director of the reality series. The attraction between Fizzy and Connor is undeniable. How will their situation all play out?

I enjoyed how this book took a topical tv series and created a fictional situation for the reader. The way the writers played up the different male stereotypes that often appear in romance novels and utilized them as typecast characters for the reality show was quite amusing.

This will be a great choice if you have read any of Christina Lauren's previous books or enjoyed Emily Henry's books. Thank you to Netgalley and Simon and Schuster Canada for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

4 out of 5 stars
Available May 16

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Okay, thoughts- I FREAKING LOVED THIS BOOK.
I cannot explain it. I loved The Soulmate Equation so much, and this one was absolutely just as good. I found the romance beautifully done, the story was unique and fun, the details just perfect. Everything was believable and delightful, and I found myself so immersed in the story!! I can't get over it, I loved it, everyone should read it. Thanks so much to the author and publisher for an advanced copy to read!!

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I am so grateful to have received this ARC. Fizzy’s story does not disappoint and the connection she and Connor build is electrifying. This is definitely a must read.

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This was a cute book! I definitely think I like it more than Jess and River’s story. But again, I find the lack of conflict to be a bit boring for me. I can definitely see how many would enjoy that though. I like the story line and how it plays into the first one. I did fully predict what was going to happen though very early on.

The characters are great, Fizzy and witty and funny and Connor is her perfect matchup. I love thé sprinkle of characters from the last book and all the new ones from this one.

Definitely a light hearted, easy going romance!

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As I have an adoration for Christina Lauren novels, I saw this as an ARC and had to read it.

It wasn't my all time favourite novel by the pair, but it was still quirky, with extreme chemistry and lovable main characters. However, as the novel progressed, I would skim passed parts waiting to get to the moments between Connor, and Fizzy. 😏

I sort of liked the idea behind the reality show, which incorporated a dating aspect, but once reading about it, I got bored very fast. Once you start cheering on Connor and Fizzy, you could careless about these other "candidates." I want more time between those characters, not these extras.

The characters that were close to Connor and Fizzy, were amazing as well, so that helped at least. For the most part, I got through it quite fast, and enjoyed it. It wouldn't be my top book to recommend by Christina Lauren, but it will definitely be an option.

My ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgallery in exchange for an honest review. ❤️

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3.5 stars rounded up
A fun romance with a great premise! Felicity (Fizzy) Chen is a beloved romance novelist living in San Diego who has never been in love and finds herself in the midst of a dry spell romantically and suffering from writer's block. Connor is a divorced dad/documentary filmmaker who has been strong-armed into making a reality dating show with Fizzy cast as the romantic lead. Men are cast based on eight romance book hero archetypes and Fizzy's soulmate will be chosen by combination of audience voting and DNA-based matchmaking. It's important to everyone that the show do well but the sparks flying between Fizzy and Connor might jeopardize that. This is a great choice if you're looking for a steamy beach read this summer. Hilarious, witty banter and great characters (besides the leads I really enjoyed River/Jess and Connor's daughter) - Fizzy is a bit much at first but she grows on you. The True Love Experiment takes place in the same world as The Soulmate Equation which I hadn't read but this was fine as a standalone.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

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