Absolutely loved this story. I really liked the MC's and how relatable Jess was. It was such a great perspective on the amount of pressure there is on single moms. I think they did a really great job showing Jess' struggle to be a mom, a business owner, a granddaughter, and a woman with needs all at the same time. It can be an overwhelming balance. I adored River, I mean how could you not haha. The sciency aspect was really interesting and explained in a way that my non sciency brain understood!
The secondary characters were amazing and jerks at the same time, a perfect balance to add to the story but not bog it down.
A really really great book that had my laughing out loud and crying by the end. Sexy and sweet all in one!

The Soulmate Equation by Christina Lauren

This is a story about using DNA to determine how compatible you would be to mate with another. Great concept but for me the story fell flat. The characters never melded for me. The writing was okay but the author didn’t do enough for me to buy into the premise. The fact that we are introduced to the main characters early in the story and they hated each other, well it just didn’t make sense in my mind.

With that said, I would read other works by this author but this story just didn't do it for me.

Rating 3
Linda C

This was a solid read for me, if a little predictable. The premise is certainly interesting and I can see this technology (or something similar) being developed in the future. I did find the romance to be somewhat lacking for a "contemporary romance" and didn't really feel a ton of chemistry between the two main characters. Despite that, I did enjoy the story. 3.5 stars.

Thanks to Netgalley, Gallery books and Christina Lauren for this ARC. A great concept for a story, DNA matches …but for me this can’t compare to similar stories by other authors, such as John Marrs.. same concept, his a better story.. there wasn’t enough scientific evidence in this book, and the question of attraction between the 2 main characters was definitely questionable.. also,once the attraction was developing, it seemed their lust took off way faster then their love.. This is just my opinion, I’ve read reviews from others that loved the speed of the relationship.
So 3 1/2 stars at best..

A wonderful offering from C.L., as usual - real stakes, character growth, witty background players. Wonderful and easy to recommend.

I’ve really embraced the romance genre over the last year and I can’t believe it took me this long to get to the dynamic duo known as Christina Lauren!! So, now that I’m trying to read some of my backlist books, I picked this as one of my first reads. Have you read this one yet?

• The story follows Jess Davis, a single mother and statistics genius who is skeptical about love and relationships. It was easy to relate to Jess in the fact that I am also skeptical when it comes to love and relationships…..I’m sure there are a lot of us that feel this way.
• Jess agrees to take part in a groundbreaking DNA-based matchmaking experiment called The Soulmate Equation where she is promised to find a soulmate that is scientifically compatible. However, she is matched with the brilliant Dr. River Pena. The chemistry between the two is fire and their banter was so adorable!
• After devouring this heartwarming story in one sitting, I just might, once again, believe in the power of love.

I really liked reading this book with my book club after it was published. It had some great characters who were very relatable. I enjoyed the plot for the most part. I didn't like the main male love interest at times. He could be too much. The main female character's mother was too much drama, but I guess that was needed to keep the story moving along. My favorite character was the main girl's best friend. I loved her so much. I would love to read a book in her perspective.

"Have you ever wondered what a soulmate truly is?...Is love a quality you can quantify?"

I believe this is my 12th CL title, and while their trio of titles that preceded The Soulmate Equation weren't my favorites, this fun, flirty book reminded me of why I initially fell for this writing duo.

This DNA-focused romance was entertaining, engaging, and downright emotional by the epilogue. A late-addition I'm thrilled made the final cut as it provided one of my favorite scenes in the entire novel. (view spoiler)

And while there were a handful of scenes that read a little too textbook for me, it never felt inauthentic and was balanced out by the other elements of the story.

If you're a fan of fake dating, insta-attraction leading to genuine feels, precocious kiddos, adorable grandparents, supportive besties, and HEAs, I'd recommend picking this one up!

This was heartwarming, smart and an amazing read. I loved how family oriented our characters in this book were. I would have loved more moments with River's sisters. I loved the character growth of River and I loved how maturely both characters dealt with the conflict. I loved the way Juno and Pop were so close, their relationship was so sweet. This was a great read! I loved Fizzy and can't wait to read her novel!

An unbelievably fun read with a few steamy scenes. River and Jess are the most endearing and lovable leads. Throw in Fizzy's no nonsense friendship and Juno's bright and energetic personality and this book is an all around win. I could not put it down!

It started with coffee. Jess Davis was having coffee at her favorite coffee shop with her best fiend Fizzy, and he came in again. Every day at the same time, one Americano, and then he leaves. And when Fizzy points out that Jess was staring at him, she reminded Fizzy that she is a single mother and not interested in hooking up with some random guy in a coffee shop.

So Fizzy had to talk to him. She had heard it through the coffee shop grapevine that Americano was a matchmaker, so she stopped him and asked about it. He said that he worked at a startup that matched people based on genetic profiling technology. He handed Fizzy his card and invited her to come and take a tour of the company. She could even give him a sample (they used spit) and see if she had any matches. It didn’t take long at all before she dragged Jess out to the headquarters of GeneticAlly, to meet with the man who favors those Americanos, Dr. River Pena.

Dr. Pena pawns them off on the woman who does their marketing, for the spiel and the tour. Since Fizzy is a romance novelist with a large online presence, they are hoping she’ll influence her fans to sign up when they go live. Fizzy finds the idea interesting and offers up her DNA sample. Jess, who overheard Dr. Pena on her way back from the bathroom call her “entirely average," is less impressed. But later, after she goes alone to a school meeting at her seven-year-old daughter' Juno’s school and sees all the happy couples there with their kids, she starts to reconsider her reluctance to sign up for a matchmaking opportunity that has fallen into her lap.

While Fizzy has been rolling in new matches, having set her threshold low enough for the most basic of matches, Jess wants to be more discriminating and find a quality match. She has a daughter to think about. She doesn’t just want to have fun anymore. Jess wants a true partner. Not that she thinks GeneticAlly will really be able to help with that.

Then Jess got the message. In the app, it asked her to call the office at her earliest convenience. Then they wanted her to come in. They sent a car for her. They brought her to a meeting room and introduced her to the executive team. One of the mentioned he knew who she was as a friend of his was one of her clients. That made her think that they wanted her services as a freelance statistical analyst. But no. As it turned out, they found her a match. It’s the highest match they had ever made, a Diamond Match, 98 out of 100. And who did Jess match with? None other than Dr. River Pena.

As the company is preparing to go public, they are looking to build a positive public image. The executives think that having Jess and River get to know each other a little and do some interviews and investor events, then GeneticAlly will be set up for success. Jess has seen enough of River’s “charms” to know that this is not for her. He’s a jerk, and she wants no part of this.

But then she loses a bog account. And while she still has enough to get her and Juno by, there will be more expenses in the coming months. Ballet lessons, braces. Eventually, college tuition. Kids are expensive. So when the company suggest they offer her a stipend for a few months, to free up some time for her to spend time with River, she has to think about it. She has to think a lot. But the truth is, she is curious about the match too. She’s a statistician, so she wants to know more about their match. And she is lonely. If somehow the numbers are right and she and River are that much of a match, could he really be her soulmate?

The Soulmate Equation is another lovely romance from the writing team known as Christina Lauren. They have created a story about matchmaking that is fresh and original, and they told the story through captivating characters who feel real and dynamic and carry the story through every page. This book is smart and sweet and spicy, and it might just make you believe in love again.

I listened to the audio book of The Soulmate Equation, narrated by Patti Murin. I thought she did an amazing job with these characters, making them seem genuine and caring. She does an exceptional job with Jess especially, bringing her to life in a way that makes you feel like she could be the person sitting at the table next to you. Between Lauren’s writing and Murin’s narration, this story feels possible and charming and hopeful. I have to admit that I’m not sure I’m completely on board with the genetic testing as a basis for matchmaking, but I adored these characters and was grateful for every moment I got to spend with them.

Egalleys for The Soulmate Equation were provided by Gallery Books through NetGalley, but I bought the audio book through Audible myself.

It got a little bogged down with the science lingo (without offering layman explanations) and I wish that River had done more groveling but I do appreciate that they both handled the third act drama like mature adults. I LOATHED Jess' mother and I truly wished that things with her had been handled differently - I realize it is realistic but I go to fiction for escapism, ya dig? I'm sort of super stoked for Fizzy's story now.

A Smart and Sweet and Satisfying romance. How do you find your soulmate? Is it fate, happenstance, or pre-determined by your DNA? Only Christina Lauren could make science sexy!

I knew I was going to have a good time reading this one, but I didn't anticipate how much I would actually end up loving The Soulmate Equation! I was really swept up in Jess and River's story, and I could really appreciate how all the elements (the premise, the romance, the writing) came together in one compelling contemporary romance read. Would highly recommend checking this one out, and it's definitely one of my favorite Christina Lauren reads!

This was very much a middle of the road romance. I didn’t love it, didn’t hate it, it simply was fine.

**I received this book from Gallery Books via Netgalley for an honest review**

Jess is a stats wizard who also happens to be a single parent to an amazing kid. River is the founder of a DNA-based matchmaking company.

I loved every second of this book. My normal reading mojo had been missing prior to starting this book but I found myself anticipating being able to spend more time with Jess and River. I have a soft spot for a single parent, so this was right up my alley.

There were lots of laughs, courtesy of Fizzy. Throughout I found myself happy, nervous and at a time or two a bit emotional.

CL have always been one of my go to authors and this one did not disappoint at all. While this book was pretty hot, I will say my only gripe is that I would have loved for it to be steamier. Great first kiss though.

This was my first Christina Lauren book and I get the hype surrounding them. I loved the concept of this book: A DNA test can help you find your soulmate. Just enough data information to warm my math loving heart. The two characters it matches, Jess and River, can't stand each other. But as they are forced to spend time together, they start to think there may be something to this match. Until a typical conflict gets in the way. Loved this so much and can't wait to read more by these authors!

What a fun concept for a book. I loved the well developed cast of characters, the plot, and how things developed naturally. Nothing seemed forced to fit a rom-com agenda, it was refreshingly easy.

I think after reading several Christina Lauren books I have found my absolute favorite thus far. Every part of this story was addicting to read about. I am always going on a tangent on "well-earned happily ever afters" and this is a great example of that with its conclusion.

The concept itself is so fun: an app that shows you your soul mate! And as it so turns out, our protagonist Jess, a stressed-out single mom that has her doubts about the merits of this app, has discovered that she has made the most rare match there is in a diamond-level match with no other than one of the app's creators, River Pena, someone she immediately cannot stand. But as they dive deeper and get to know each other, they discover that maybe the app has... a point. Everything that transpires is so funny and endearing, and I just gobbled up this book and closed it with a big smile on my face. They were both excellent characters that you root for in every way.

I highly recommend this book and cannot WAIT to get my hands on the next Christina Lauren hit.

I absolutely loved this book. The characters and the plot lines dovetailed nicely. Once again, the duo of Christina Lauren hit it out of the park.