This is another solid read from Christina Lauren! The perfect blend of characters you love to root for, an interesting and unique plot line, and a romance that will make you swoon! I've read other romances based around a dating app, but this is the first one I've read that introduced the genetic compatibility component. I devoured this in just two sittings, and it would have been only one if life didn't intrude!

This book is a joy to read. I've been hit and miss with Christina Lauren but with this I smiled as I read. Single mom Jess Davis freelances as a data statistician. On a lark and pushed by a rough day, she does a spit test for a new DNA-based matchmaking dating app. There is a lot of scientific talk explaining the idea of DNA matching elements to improve chances of finding a long lasting relationship. Amazingly Jess scores the highest matching rank in company history with Dr. River Pena. River is one of the founders of the company and has a lot riding on the outcome. The company hires Jess to date River as a test and PR stunt. The problem is they have met and clashed prior.

This is more of a you rubbed me the wrong way (not enemy) to romance troupe. Their chemistry is fabulous. They have very similar interests despite being in different circumstances. Jess is hesitant to involve her heart and her seven daughter Juno not knowing if she can trust her feelings. River has a lot of reasons to prove the DNA matching works. Best friend Fizzy deserves an award for outstanding best friend character. She delivers some killer lines and comic relief.

I've already recommend this to friends. This is the kind of happy, fun, feel good read I need as we pass the year anniversary of Covid. Thank you NetGalley and Gallery Books for an ARC ebook in exchange for an honest review. (4.5 stars rounding up)

I really don't know how I feel about this book. The River Pena we meet at the beginning is a jerk, and not someone I care about finding his soulmate at all. The River that exists in about 4/5 of the book is the perfect boyfriend. And while I get that he was supposed to be shy, I had a lot of trouble reconciling these two completely different characters. The book also didn't feel like a Pride and Prejudice retelling - there was one moment at the beginning where I saw it (and everyone else will, too) and then the similarities largely evaporate. That's fine, I don't really care about P&P one way or the other (I know, I know, blasphemy!) but if you're going to pitch something as a retelling, I want to be able to see the original story without having to reach for it.

Fizzy is the greatest character ever and I want to hang out with her every day. One of the choices made at the end annoyed me endlessly, and I'm sure there will be a lot of heated debate in the years to come, so I won't spoil it. Overall, it was okay. I enjoyed reading it - CL are very talented, that's not really disputable. But the execution faltered a bit.

Review based on ARC.

The writing duo Christina Lauren are back and taking matchmaking to a whole new level in their latest creation, The Soulmate Equation. Only Lauren can take on DNA and statistics and make it heartfelt and sexy.
Let me first start by saying that Christina Lauren always delivers a timely tale of love and romance. They truly never run out of new and fresh ways to bring people together. This dynamic writing pair upped the game for modern day dating with an innovative concept of using DNA to find your ultimate soulmate. Lauren mixed in messy families, slightly older protagonists and a few unexpected twists to keep this contemporary romance vibrant and unique. Let’s not forget the sizzle between Jess and River that had me teetering in my seat. The Soulmate Equation is the perfect afternoon delight! This bright and shiny new tale will have you smiling from ear to ear!

I found this book to be a bit technical at times (and maybe even the technical part was true??) but it sure is interesting to think about an app or something being developed to find your soulmate! You will fall in love with the 2 main characters and their lives... and how they change throughout the book. You will root for the main character, while getting mad at others!

The Soulmate Equation hit all the right notes for me. It's perfectly balanced with heat, humor, and heart! With an entertaining and original premise, this one was very hard to put down. (What CLo book isn't?)

I was looking forward to this one, because the description sounded so unique! It was a little far-fetched, so much so that I almost stopped reading it. But the author(s) made it almost impossible - I had to know what happened. While I'm not usually a fan of stories that the man has to come in and save the woman and make her life better (a la Damsel in Distress), this one was a quick read, while not my favorite.

Jess, a single mother, loving daughter, and supportive best friend, is at her wit’s end after she loses one of her biggest accounts at work. In a moment of weakness, she finds herself submitting a strand of hair to a company that promises to find her a compatible match based on her DNA. When she’s contacted days later and asked to come in, she’s shocked to realize that she’s matched with the grumpy-but cute-CEO of the company. And they’ve not just matched-they’re 98% compatible, the highest result so far! What ensues after is a swoon-worthy romance as they fall for each other. But when a huge secret is revealed, they start to question everything.
This sweet rom-com is for fans of Jasmine Guillory and Abby Jimemez.

Another amazing Christina Lauren book. I always really enjoy their books. They are romantic, fun and I just fly through them. I really enjoyed the idea of a DNA test to find your match and how Jess & River got paired together.
I also really enjoyed that Jess was a single mom and that her daughter always came first. It was realistic and I loved how they portrayed their relationship.
Overall a great book by Christina Lauren once again.

*4.5*

christina lauren is back babey! i haven't enjoyed some of their recent releases as much as i used to enjoy their books, but this book swept me up even when i went in thinking the plot concept wasn't going to be for me. super addicting and easy to fly through in a couple of sittings, though that's typical of their writing. i loved the chemistry between jess and river, though i do think the romance went a little fast. i loved all of the side characters too, from jess's romance author bff, to her grandparents, and even her daughter (i'm not big on kids, ok? sue me).

the classic romance third act conflict was a little eh, though i tend to feel that way about a lot of romance conflicts. it didn't affect my enjoyment of the book as a whole that much, but it is one of the reasons why i'm giving this a 4.5 instead of a full 5 star. but regardless, this was fresh and fun and sexy. loved it!

Absolutely adorable! I loved the scientific element of match-making, so cleaver! And the banter between these two characters had me grinning like a crazy person the entire time! Definitely one of my new favorite CLo books!!!

Can love be quantified?

That’s the question that is explored in Christina Lauren’s The Soulmate Equation.

Jess is a single mom of a second grader, daughter, Juno. She’s living a contented life, renting an apartment in her beloved grandparents’ building and relying on her best friend Fizzy for daily coffee meet—ups and emotional support. She’s stressed with bills and with her addict mom that drifts in and out of her life at the worst times.

On a whim, she decides to try an innovative dating app that pairs people based on DNA. She is stunned to be 98% matched-an unheard of compatibility-with the founder of the app himself, the gorgeous Dr. River Peña. She knows him only from his daily appearances at her local coffee shop-and his aloof, unfriendly manner is hardly endearing.

As Jess and River decide to give dating a try as a PR stunt for the company, Jess has to figure out how to protect her heart-and determine if the feelings that are growing between them are real.

Smart and sexy, Christina Lauren’s novel was highly engaging and compulsively readable. A great romance that I enthusiastically recommend!

4.5 Stars rounded up to 5 stars. I really enjoyed this book. I love the characters that Christina Lauren writes about. Their stories are believable and not over the top. It was a book that pulled me out of a reading slump with being light and easy to reach, which helped me get back on track for my reading goals.

This might be one of my favorite Christina Lauren books I have read and I have pretty much read them all! It had a completely different premise I have never read before and I was here for every second of It! I fell in love with all the characters and was rooting for Jess and River the whole way! The relationship he made with Juno was beautifully laid out. Great job ladies! I can’t wait for what is in store next.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!

Jess is a single mother to seven-year-old Juno and a data statistician who works hard to provide for her daughter and make ends meet. She lives across the street from her grandparents, who raised her and now help with Juno. Content with her life, Jess has no interest in dating, and when she is convinced to try a new dating app, she is more interested in the data behind it than the actual matchmaking. She never expects to find a match.

River is the founder GeneticAlly, a matchmaking app that uses DNA to match its customers. He is shocked when Jess’s DNA proves almost perfectly compatible with his. Determined to use this rare match to his advantage, River’s company convinces Jess to “date” him, which, in turn, promotes the success of GeneticAlly.

Neither expects to fall in love. They can barely stand each other. Jess is stunned that this grumpy scientist could be her soul mate, even if he looks like Keanu Reeves. Jessica is certain the data is faulty and agrees to date River so that she can fully analyze the situation. However, both might just realize that GeneticAlly’s compatibility matching is more accurate than expected.

Jess is a fantastic protagonist. A loving mother and granddaughter and a great friend, Jess is the kind of person I’d want to hang out with. She’s smart and a bit skeptical, and she doesn’t trust easily, which makes sense considering how people in her past hurt her. The sting of rejection and abandonment runs deep, and it is difficult for Jess to let people get close to her because of that. However, once they do, Jess loves deeply and fully.

Though I didn’t love River at the beginning of the story, he quickly grew on me. He isn’t the jerk he initially appears to be and instead is more of a shy and awkward man. As Jess gets to know him, she begins to see him for who he truly is too. I love their love story, and though it had many obstacles, I wholly rooted for this couple and their slow-building romance. Often fear, miscommunication, and secrets hinder a relationship, and it’s interesting to see how this couple handles these situations and their feelings for each other. Plus, their chemistry is off the charts! Even when they spar, their attraction and connection are clear.

I also love the supporting characters in the novel, especially Fizz, who is a total scene stealer! She and Jess are friendship goals, and I adore their relationship. Juno is also fantastic, as are Jess’s grandparents. All of the characters are richly developed and add so much to the story. I can easily see a sequel to the book that focuses on Fizz. That would be fantastic!

A fun, original, and intelligent story that will make you feel all the feels, The Soulmate Equation is perfect for readers who enjoy rom-coms and contemporary romance. I also think people who enjoy STEM-related romances will love this one! Some technical and scientific explanations totally went over my head but really made me think about the existential issues involved in genetic matches. Thanks so much to NetGalley, Gallery Books, and Christina Lauren for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

Cute rom-com based on the idea that perfect compatibility may be found through algorithmic matching of two people's DNA. Luckily the bad-tempered owner of the DNA that matches Jess' is an unattached hunk as well. Decently written, a great BFF in "Fizzy" and a nice escape. Don't expect too much from the genetic stuff -- pure hand waving.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book for review. Pub Date: May 18, 2021. Wow. I loved The Soulmate Equation even more than The Unhoneymooners, if that's even possible? Jess and River had amazing chemistry, and I felt so much empathy for Jess throughout the whole book. I also adored the friendship between Jess and Fizzy because it felt reciprocal and supportive. I'm so sad that I finished the book because I wanted to stay in that world, but I'm looking forward to Christina Lauren's future releases!

After reading and enjoying In a Holidaze, I couldn’t wait to read more that Christina Lauren had to offer. The premise of this book is so interesting and different from any other romance I have ever read, and the story was just as good as the premise!

This had a mixture of enemies-to-lovers and fake dating tropes, and it was done so well. River truly infuriated me at the beginning of this book, but by the halfway mark he had me swooning! I laughed, I swooned, I gasped at so many points throughout this story because it was truly that good. And once I hit the halfway point, I truly couldn’t stop reading.

This is a romance, but there are also some tougher topics as well. Being a single parent, having an absent parent, and addiction, to name a few. I personally have never experienced any of these things, but I thought that they were well incorporated into Jess’s story and made me love her as a character even more.

Finally, there were so many great themes as well. Feminism, friendship, family, trust, and love are just a few of the heartwarming themes mentioned throughout the story. Also, I want a friend like Fizzy in my life!

This is my second CLo, but it will NOT be my last!

This book was fantastic! As an avid reader of contemporary romance/romantic comedies, it's exciting to come across one that really stands out among the rest. And, as an avid reader of Christina Lauren, it's exciting to feel like their slump is over!

What I loved:
The enemies-to-lovers trope was executed perfectly.
The main characters *and* supporting characters were all well-developed, unique, and not annoying.
The book was smart, and I think this is what sets it apart from other similar romance novels. Not only was it well written, but the plot didn't feel implausible. It all felt real.

I don't have a single complaint about this book, and I honestly hope we get to see Fizzy star in her own romance.

For fans of:
enemies-to-lovers
Christina Lauren
nerdy rom-coms

A huge thanks to Netgalley and Gallery books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

When I found out about this book I knew I had to get my hands on it ASAP! My two fave romance tropes (enemies/lovers & fake dating) in one book?! I’m here for it. Christina Lauren has out did themselves with this one. It’s so cute & original!! I had such fun reading it. Jess was such a great mom and her willingness to put her child first at the expense of her happiness was just #momgoals . I am glad that she came to realize that it’s ok to do things for yourself and that it doesn’t make you a bad parent to want more! The chemistry between Jess and River was on point.. like how dare they even try to deny it lol. It was so heart warming witnessing them open up to each other and the idea that they really do belong together. I do wish that there was a tad more steam though. I feel like it was a pretty closed door romance. Obviously you know what’s happening but the descriptions are pretty PG-13