So, I had never read a Christina Lauren book before this one, and I am so happy to say this will not be my last! I absolutely loved this book. I loved the premise of the story and h0w, sometimes, life can throw something at us that we would never expect. It was cute, funny, and hopeful. I loved the characters--I am a sucker for a hate turns to love storyline!

When I saw Christina Lauren's new book involved people meeting via a dating app that uses genetics to pair soulmates I was in. I am a sucker for online dating stories that work out because I met my husband on eHarmony seventeen years ago. And if the couple in the story feels instantly connected and moves their relationship fairly quickly I'm even more smitten since my husband and I met and married within a few month. The Soulmate Equation checked all of those boxes.

Jess Davis is a single mom who is turning thirty and starting to wish she had a partner. Her bff, Fizzy, writes romance novels and wants Jess to have her own love story. In walks River to their favorite coffee place. It's not love at first sight. It's not even like at first sight. But once the women learn River is starting a dating app using genetics to find your soulmate Fizzy is all in to try it out. She convinces Jess to do it too. When Jess and River match at an unheard of ninety eight percent the company wants them to be the poster couple for their public launch. Neither are sure, but both believe in the math, so they agree to proceed with caution. But feelings are not something we can control and things change quickly.

I enjoyed the story of River and Jess. Some reviews mention Jess felt flat, but I think that is because she is so guarded. That is what came through to me. This followed the authors' tried and true formula of a meet cute, obstacles to the relationship, a huge misunderstanding, and a happy ending. I am here for that whole trope. It's light without being completely brainless. If you enjoy their other books give this one a read when it hits shelves in May 2021!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC!

And the girls did it again! What a lovely, feel good, super cute book! Love is such a tricky concept that no one seems to really know the root of. What makes us fall in love with people and why is there only one special life partner? Is it truly mathematical and can be solved with an equation applied to an app or is it an organic thing that just happens. I think they did a great job of playing both sides!

I absolutely love the humor and heart in Christina Lauren's earlier novels. They are so near and dear to my heart that when I read Soulmate Equation, it took me right back to that feeling of pure joy and elation while reading their stories. 

Soulmate Equation was fun and flrty and filled to the brim with laugh out loud moments that had me wiping tears from my eyes. Jess and River were absolutely amazing. I LOVED their banter and connection and completely felt like I was immersed in their love story! I felt all of their swoons and butterflies and loved every minute of them both. The extended cast of characters was also great too. I loved Fizzy and Juno and seeing River interact with them was an added bonus.

While I loved this story, I did find the beginning of the novel to be a tad slow as it took some time for the story to really get going in my opinion. Furthermore, while this story was sweet and sexy, there were some items that were a bit open-ended that I would have liked to see resolved in a more definitive fashion (no spoilers!) However, with that being said, if you love nerdy guys and sassy heroines, this is the story for you!! Soulmate Equation was a real winner! 4.5 stars! ~Ratula 

I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book for an honest review.

If you can suspend disbelief that there is a company that uses DNA and a questionnaire to help people find their perfect match, then the romance between Jess and River is very sweet. The secondary characters of Jess’s grandparents and sweet daughter and her sassy friend help make this a charming romance.

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book that I received from Netgalley; however, the opinions are my own and I did not receive any compensation for my review.

A romantic take on John Marrs' The One, The Soulmate Equation also focuses on matches made through DNA. River is the CEO of GeneticAlly, a match.com type company that matches people based on common genes. Jess and her friend Fizzy have seen River in their coffee shop and thought he was kind of an obnoxious prick. So of course one of them is going to end up being matched with him!

They somehow go to the facility (this was a little far-fetched) and send in their spit. Fizzy has matches of all kinds at all levels but Jess ends up with a "Diamond match" - someone over 90% compatible. And yes, that match is River.

The pair, not wanting to mess with DNA, or bad publicity, decide to try dating. Only there are a few things that are odd about this. First, Jess receives a financial enticement to date River. Second, she has a daughter that immediately meets and falls in love with River. Third, how public this went from the very beginning. I really liked the premise, but there were some parts that were really far-fetched.

And the end? Remember in Colleen Hoover's Regretting You how there was one part that was so frustrating? This book had a similar end that drove me nuts.

Christina Lauren books always make me smile and this one was no exception. I loved Jess’s relationship with her grandparents, River, her daughter and especially her bestfriend. Jess and Fizzy’s relationship is one I’ve always dreamed of having with my bestfriend and Jess’ relationship with River actually reminds me a lot of my current relationship. It was definitely a cute book and the perfect light read. My only complaint is that I need to know what they scored.

The Soulmate Equation by Christina Lauren is a heartwarming, humorous, and appealing contemporary romance. Christina Lauren is the pen name for writing duo Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings.

Jessica (Jess) Davis is a freelancer dealing with data and statistics for companies of various sizes. She is a single mom with a seven-year-old daughter, Juno. Jess was raised by her grandparents, Nana and Pops, and they help out with Juno as well. When Jess and her best friend Felicity Chen (Fizzy) hear about GeneticAlly, a new DNA-based matchmaking company that relies on numbers, they both end up giving a DNA sample. When Jess matches with the company’s founder at a 98% compatibility, she has trouble believing it. This is especially true since she’s met Dr. River Pena and she believes he is stuck-up and stubborn. There is no way that he could be her soulmate.

Jess, Juno, Fizzy, River, Nana, and Pops are great characters. They each have their virtues and flaws, and this adds to both the realism and the humor that is contained in this book. Resilience, courage, hope, family, and much more made them feel real.

There is a steamy scene or two and some geek speak on genetics and data, but that fit with the characters. It is not an instant love story and it also touches on some deeper subjects such as family support systems and dealing with addicts. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was a refreshing change from what I typically read, but it won’t be the last one that I read by this writing duo.

Those that enjoy contemporary romances, chick lit, or romantic comedies will likely enjoy this novel. I don’t read a lot of romances except for romantic suspense and paranormal romance, but I connected with this one. The laugh-out-loud humor and the likeable characters along with an unusual take on dating made for an intriguing read.

Gallery Books and the authors provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. This is my honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. Publication date is currently set for May 18, 2021.

This was so different and fun and adorable! I'd say this is a favourite of their recent releases. There was something about the concept of the data based dating app and the 98% match that totalllly hooked me on the chemistry between the characters! It took awhile for the relationship to get going which is my only complaint, but once it did I couldn't stop reading. But besides the romance, I loved the support system Jess had. Her grandparents, her best friend Fizzy, they all were so supportive of her as a single mother raising her daughter. It was so nice to see such loving relationships all around. Fizzy especially was a great character. This book also had twists I didn't seem coming and wasn't expecting at all. I never guess plot twists but especially with romances I always feel like I know exactly what's coming, so it was interesting to be surprised! This was really readable and enjoyable and exactly what I was hoping for!

This is my second Christina Lauren book and it did not disappoint. This is the third book I have read based on DNA in the past few months, but the twist here is DNA is used to match you with your soulmate. Jess, a statistical genius, is a single mother to 7 year old Juno, and she has closed her heart to love. But Jess is drawn in when she hears about GeneticAlly, a new company that uses your DNA not just to find you a date but to find your soulmate. In a very much hate at first sight match - Jess is matched 98% to River Pena, the company's founder. Although she already knows River, she is forced to agree to go through with her commitment to GeneticAlly - and Jess has to admit the science might be working in her favor!

This is a funny, endearing, and fast (for me!) read that kept me entertained. Even though I usually can see where the plot is headed, I will stay on the Christina Lauren love train as long as they keep writing!

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read an arc of this beautiful book. I can’t even put into words how much I loved this book. It was so swoon worthy and beautiful. The chemistry and emotions I felt with Jess and River. Just amazing. Christina lauren is a gem. I also couldn’t stand the non info piece missing and she was amazing enough to share with me the answer. If you have read you’ll understand what this means.

They can do no wrong. NONE I TELL YOU. I will read anything they write till my dying day. This was just as good as everything else they've written if not better.

Another cute, charming, and banter-filled book from Christina Lauren.

In the Soulmate Equation, we follow freelance analysist Jess Davis as she gets back into the dating game after being matched with Dr. River Pena, the CEO of a revolutionary new Dating App, GeneticAlly, where people are matched on capability based on their DNA. Jess and River's chemistry is palpable, and they are both struggling with their match and want to make sure their feelings and choices are their own, not dictated by the App and the pressures of a pre-launch in a few months.

Another win in the books can in the form of all the amazing side characters: Fizzy, Jess' romance novelist best friend, Juno, Jess' precocious seven year old, and her loving grandparents who are good for a laugh and spoiling Juno. They really rounded out the world and helped ground the light sciencey and math topics in the story.

I received a copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

This book was so fun, perfect for summer poolside reading. I binge read this book full of my favorite Christina Lauren quirky characters who still had compelling depth. This was similar in style for me to Roomies or Love and Other Words. It was not quite as endearing as Josh and Hazel, but I know I will still enjoy revisiting these characters again for repeat reads.

This advanced ebook was gifted to me by the publisher and Netgalley however all honest opinions are my own.

I think this was my favorite Christina Lauren book yet! The comparisons to The Rosie Project (DNA studies to find your soulmate) and One Plus One (single mom with a precocious child) are apt, but it was all done with Lauren's signature rom-com wit. I really liked Jess, her daughter Juno, and the small town setting, and despite the premise of the DNA app feeling a little futuristic, I felt grounded in the plot throughout. The romance feels a bit more secondary here than in previous novels of Lauren's, but I enjoyed the dynamic between Jess and River and definitely felt the sparks! A super fun read that will be great for any fans of Lauren's, and anyone looking for a sweet summer rom-com.

The ladies of Christina Lauren are always a sure thing for me. They’re stories are heartfelt and sprinkled with just the right amount of humor. This isn’t necessarily one of my favorite CL books, but it was super cute and definitely a great beach read.

Christina Lauren does it again, a surprise to absolutely NO ONE. The duo are ALWAYS auto-buy for me.. I thoroughly loved the storyline and the character growth. Jess is probably my favorite character as I love her sassiness. Can she be my mom friend please?

My favorite ladies. CLo, I love y’all and can’t tell you how thrilled I am to be able to review The Soulmate Equation. Thank you to Gallery Books and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for a review!

I LOVED the premise - an app that can use your DNA to decide whether or not two people would be a good match. I also love that they did a solid job of making sure I was NOT a River fan from the start - because nobody is perfect, and obviously it’s way more fun to fall in love with a guy you realize is secretly a big softie at heart. 🥰

As a parent, I empathize so hard with Jess’s struggles in raising Juno while also freelancing. (Sidebar - single parents are absolute superheroes, no matter how much help they have. I’d lose my mind raising my kids solo.) I love that River made Juno a priority, and watching he and Jess navigate the waters of romance while also keeping her family in the forefront of consideration in the midst of the media frenzy over their unexpectedly high match was so rewarding to witness.

This book had everything I love about CLo books - romance, tension, sweet moments, flirting, and characters who I really want to see win. And good sex (duh). Now I’m depressed because I have no more of their books to look forward to. 🥲

PS Team Fizzy forever.

Finally had some free time and was able to read The Soulmate Equation. Can this company be real? I want to be in their system and find my perfect match. What an amazing read. Love Christina Laurens writing and this book did not disappoint.

Jessica Davis is a single mom that lives paycheck to paycheck. Her ex wanted nothing to do with their child and signed all his rights away. Jess’s mother and father are not in the picture and she was raised by her grandparents which were an amazing support behind her while she worked and raised her daughter. She has a best friend named Fizzy, who is convinced Jess needs to get out there again and start dating, so when they find out that one of customer’s Jess and Fizzy see every day at the coffee shop they go to is the inventor of GeneticAlly, she is shocked.

GeneticAlly is a Matchmaking Company that uses DNA to find someone’s true match. Jess can’t picture the rude, HOT as hell jerk, Americano drinking guy they see every day being the brains behind something this romantic. River Pena, has always been smarter than most. Science has always pulled him in, and when someone told him something wasn’t possible, he proved them wrong. That’s how he created GeneticAlly. He has been working on this most of his life and it’s about to go live around the world. So when Jessica and Fizzy started asking questions, he told them to come in and give their DNA. The more people in the system the more positive results they have. What he did not expect days later to be called into a board meeting and be told, he was matched?!?

How could he forget his information and DNA was in the system? He was the first one to create an account in the program. But what was even more shocking to him was that the compatibility score was 98%. He had to rerun the samples. There are only 3 other people that have scored over 90%. It seems impossible, Jess and River can’t stand each other from the interactions they have had. But the sparks and chemistry between them is there. Can the GeneticAlly board convince them to give this match a chance for the company? Jess is in need of some money and River is committed to see this company succeed, can they do this?

I received this book from NetGalley for my honest review and opinion. It was a great read and like I said above, I wish this company were real because I want to send my DNA in and find my match. The characters had amazing chemistry. Great job again from Christina Lauren!

A fun, flirty read with a smidge of angst. The best part is once I got to know River I couldn't wipe the goofy grin off my face.
Jess is a glorious single mom trying her best to be everything she never had for her daughter.
I loved her sassy wit and not afraid to speak it as it is attitude.

I couldn't read fast enough yet I wish there was more. The story is great and a perfectly light enjoyment but I wish CL would've dug her claw into the drama. A little less predictability.

It's a wonderful heart warming beach read.