The Soulmate Equation was everything I was hoping and expecting it to be- sweet, funny, sexy, predictable in the way that doesn't irritate but satisfies.. all things a light chick lit or beach read should be.

Frankly, I enjoyed everything about it, and will be reading other books by these authors (yes, Christina is one person and Lauren is another!)

4.5 stars. :)

Thank you so much to the publisher and Netgalley for a galley edition of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I love Christina Lauren books and this one did not disappoint! It had the witty dialogue, great cast of characters and sizzling chemistry. I really felt the connection between Jess and River. I loved the relationship with Jess and Fizzy as well as her grandparents and daughter, it kept everything a little more grounded and not so fantasy love story. Fun read, will recommend to all my romance lovers out there.

Single mom Jess is totally devoted to her young daughter, her aging parents, her friends, and her career as a self-employed statistician. Yet -- if love came into her life, she'd welcome it. Enter River Pena, an executive with the exciting tech startup GeneticAlly, which aims to match people up by compatible DNA. Jess and River end up having an extremely rare high compatibility match, and that makes them the focus of lots of media attention, and Jess in convinced to pose as River's girlfriend to help promote GeneticAlly's business. Turns out there are some glitches in the DNA data, which causes a glitch in their relationship. We truly care about these appealing characters and want them to end up happily ever after. Great book that I am looking forward to recommending.

Another winner from Christina Lauren!

There is new tech on the block, and it is a DNA compatibility testing kit by new start up company, GeneticAlly. Dr. River Peña is one of the developers of the DNA test, and when he scores highly with another of the company’s customers (98% compatibility!), of course the first thing the publicists think is dollar signs as the launch of the new company looms closer.

Jess Davis is a freelance statistician, single mom, and the other half of the 98% compatibility pair (called a ‘Diamond pairing’). When she is approached about dating River for publicity of GeneticAlly and their new launch, she is skeptical. When the company offers her money to date him, she can’t refuse. The two start off pretty rocky, but as they start to get to know each other, sparks fly, but can a lasting relationship really be built on a genetic match?

I loved this fresh look at internet dating based on the scientific method! The romance was amazing as usual with Christina Lauren, but we also get to explore some complex ideas with the DNA aspect of the matching. A feel good read with lots of math and science goodness that will make the geekiest heart pitter patter!

Thank you to netgalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!

Yes!

I so enjoyed this book by the dream team Christina Lauren. Not gonna lie, they've been a bit hit or miss for me lately but this one I'm happy to say I devoured in one day and can't stop thinking about it. It's more in the chic lit rom com area than the smutty sexy area, but I didn't mind that. It was a sweet romance that didn't have a lot of hot and heavy scenes (sad) but was romantic enough and kept my interest so I didn't mind (yay!)

Jess is a single mom who, on a whim, spits into a tube to find her soulmate. Little does she know she's perfectly matched up to the company's number one scientist and sorta asshole, River. The set up? Spend time together in the name of science before the company launches of course! And sparks fly.

I really like how Jess does not like River. I mean, really does not like River. And sorry but yeah, he's kinda a jerk. It's a perfect enemies to lovers set up as River and Jessica both drop their guards and get to know each other as people. Their chemistry felt a little forced at first, but once the story got going, it was very easy to imagine them together. I love Jess's background and how family oriented she was. I also really liked River's sisters who gave him a lot of humanity. I wish there were more scenes with them!

There is some drama at the end and I'm happy to say it was completely and totally believable. Not drama for drama sake. I don't want to give anything away, but it was very satisfying to see these two characters face hurdles and overcome them.
This book was so much fun, I can't wait to buy it for my friends.

Really lovely characters! particularly Juno. The humor was wonderful but I really was left wondering what number they had! All good wondering though.

I love Christina Lauren books. They are the perfect blend of angsty, romance, love, and great dialogue. In the Soulmate Equation, while not exactly believable, the use of DNA and some data science as a way of finding your true love is a fun take in the age of dating apps!

2.5 stars

I was very disappointed to find that after really enjoying the beginning of this book, it only went downhill from there. I'll start with my positive thoughts: I couldn't get enough of the beginning! This book has a really unique premise and I was racing through the beginning because I was so excited to see what would happen. I really loved the main characters (especially Fizzy) and I liked the love interest, River Peña. The story started off with River and Jess (mostly Jess) not liking each other, and it was fun to read and imagine how on earth they would feel about their impending high match. Here is where I felt the story started to deteriorate.

To me, it felt like as soon as they got their 98 and briefly spoke, they lost all their previous animosity and began to develop feelings for each other FAR too quickly. Everything in this book felt rushed, and I can't understand why. WHY couldn't their story keep their animosity a bit longer, or at least hold off on their feelings? At some point in the book, the main character said they were "fake-dating" which was laughable because almost immediately after they began "fake-dating" they were attracted to each other and got along SO well. They didn't actually have any qualms about being together like there usually would be in fake-dating, so please don't go into this expecting that. It took any suspense/anticipation from the book because almost immediately they are very into each other. Obviously, I won't spoil what happens, but the ending of this book felt VERY messy/rushed. I was getting whiplash from how quickly they forgave each other and the book basically just ended right afterward. It felt like that would usually happen in any other romance book and there would be at least 25 pages afterward to neatly end the story, but here we got maybe 4 and it was just done.

I also had a problem with the steam ( or lack thereof) in this book. I have come to realize that Christina Lauren have moved away from their previous steamy romances, so I didn't expect much going into this, but I was still disappointed. It felt like there was some promise of steamier scenes, like the main character would talk constantly about what she wanted to do to River and how much chemistry they had, but then the scenes themselves were SO tame. Maybe I sound ridiculous, but it was so annoying being told multiple times how strong their connection/chemistry was and not getting ANY of that from the very brief sex scenes. It made me even more frustrated with this lacking story and was one less positive thing about this book. I ended up finishing this book with pure will (and love for Fizzy) and felt very underwhelmed.

What do soulmates and genetics have in common? Apparently quite a bit. GeneticAlly claims to have found a way to predict compatibility by comparing genes of two samples after a simple spit into a cup by its donors. Can it really be so simple? On a whim single mom Jess Davis submits her sample following pressure from her bestie and after a particularly hard day. Sample submitted, she didn't think much of it. Until her results were returned with a 98% match--the first time such a close match happened in the company's history. This may change everything.

To add another twist, the match is to the company's founder Dr. River Pena, who she has seen daily for the past two years at her favorite coffee shop. And she can't stand him. How can she possibly share a 98% compatibility with this man? But maybe there is more to him than meets the eye...

Christina Lauren books never disappoint and this one is no exception. This book was funny, smart, and a feel good story. It was also difficult to put down! I highly recommend the Soulmate Equation. A special thanks to Gallery Books for an advanced reader copy.

My first two experiences reading Christina Lauren caught me hook, line, and sinker. While I've enjoyed others they've written since, nothing has brought about those same The Unhoneymooners and My Favorite Half-Night Stand feelings.
Until Now.
The writing is what you expect from a typical Christina Lauren. There's a funny, quirky supporting character - in this case, Fizzy - who sometimes shines brightest on the page. There's witty banter and funny, cringey snapshots. And there's a heroine to root for with a yummy hero.
I wouldn't say this is anything necessarily innovative. It is a rom-com, after all. But it's completely charming. I will definitely be enjoying a re-read in the near future and I can't see how it won't be one of my favorite reads this year.
Thank you to Gallery Books and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts in this review are my own.

The Soulmate Equation by Christina Lauren was the perfect pick for a beach trip I took and it did not disappoint. The character development of Jess and River along with friends and family was perfectly played out. I found myself smiling, swooning and cheering throughout several chapters and had a hard time putting it down so I could take in the beauty of the ocean in front of me. It is an easy read and has some beautifully written, steamy scenes.
I took one star off as I thought the ending felt rushed and somewhat unfinished. As an example, I would have liked to have read more about Jamie as no one could really believe that she would just “go away” and an interaction between her and River would have been interesting to say the least.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Gallery Books for the opportunity to read this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. I look forward to reading more books by the same author.

Thank you to Gallery Books and Netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Do you believe in true love? What if you're genetically disposed to be someone soul mate?

According to Jess, only 26% of women believe in true love. Jess is living her life as best she can. A single mom to 7 year old Juno, at times, she is barely holding it together, but the one bright spot in her day is watching Mr. Americano grab his coffee from Twiggs coffee shop.

When a new matchmaking service emerges using cutting edge DNA technology, no one is more surprised that Jess to find out that not only is River (Mr. Americano) the creator of the company, he's also her 90% diamond match. Prickly, but shy, River keeps Jess at arm's length as the two enter into a fake relationship to help publicity for GeneticAlly.

I really enjoyed this new one from Christian Lauren. I loved how both River and Jess fought the relationship at ever turn, but slowly gave into their desires as time went on. River's personality was adorable, being shy at first, but proving his feelings to Jess through help and good deeds without batting an eye.

The supporting characters have my heart. I loved Juno so much and her facts about giraffes, roller coasters and snakes at the funniest points were adorable. I also LOVED Fizzy, Jess's BFF. Not only was she hilarious, making dead-pan comments then scribbling in her notebook, she would also do anything for Jess, including pushing her to get over herself and just give into love.

The book also touched on the hardships of being a mother. Jess's mom was a piece of work and I loved how she tried so hard not to repeat history with Juno. But her mom guilt and struggle to be everything for everyone was so relatable and refreshing to see in a novel.

While I still love Christina Lauren's earlier work best, this a fun book with a truly unique plot!

Loved it! Loved it! Loved it! The Soulmate Equation is another fabulously funny and romantic book from Christina Lauren. I think it’s my new favorite book from them !

First and foremost, I will say I will read ANYTHING this duo writes! I love how they can come together to create such funny, romantic, sometimes emotional, and heart-felt masterpieces.

The premise of this book had me very excited because I've never read anything like it before and to me, it didn't disappoint. I loved the idea of a genetic based dating service that matches you to your SOULMATE!! I mean come on, tell me that's not interesting?!

I also really loved the fact that the main female character is a single mother because I feel like we do not get enough of these in books and it was very refreshing and also very "real" if you know what I mean. You could definitely see the struggles being a single mother Jess endured and also the fact that she knew she didn't need no man in her life. Until she met Dr. River Pena that is.

I really enjoyed getting to know these characters and watch them fall shamelessly in love even though they were matched as "soulmates". Thank you @christinalauren for writing this amazing book and for sharing it with your readers.

When I pick up a Christina Lauren book, I usually know I'm in for a good time, but this just might be my favorite one to date. It's a warm, witty, funny, and sexy story that's tropey in the best possible way. When single mom and statistician Jess impulsively sends her DNA to a startup that promises to find people's genetic "soulmates," she's horrified to find out that not only does she have a match, but it's the highest percentage the company has ever seen - and it's with River, the brusque, arrogant scientist who's one of the founders. They reluctantly agree to give dating a go, for financial benefit and scientific curiosity... and I'm sure you can guess the rest.

It's always the characters that make Christina Lauren's books a standout, and Jess and River are right up there with the best. They're messy and flawed and have incredible sparks; it's so satisfying to watch them fall for each other. The supporting cast, especially Jess's BFF Fizzy and daughter Juno, are colorful and fun to read.

One of my personal pet peeves with romances is the "big misunderstanding" trope to tear the couple apart in the last act, and I'm so relieved that the predictable misunderstanding doesn't happen here. Instead, the last twist in the conflict doesn't necessarily pit the two leads against each other, instead giving them something different to evaluate and face together. It's a small thing, but it helps make the story feel more real and emotionally honest. I'm so delighted with this book!

I absolutely loved this book! The premise was so fresh and creative - a single mom gives a DNA sample for a dating app and discovers that she is a strong romantic match with the app’s founder, the gruff hottie she sees daily at her coffee shop. I loved how their romance developed. I also loved the supporting cast of characters. I appreciated that the conflict wasn’t just a miscommunication between the two main characters but was more interesting than that. This was my second Christina Lauren book and I will definitely be reading more!

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

4/5

When an up and coming matchmaking company promises compatibility via participants' DNA, data analyst Jess Davis is skeptical. Getting back into the dating scene has been a bit of a challenge recently – what with raising her seven year old daughter practically on her own and keeping her career afloat. The idea that finding a soulmate could boil down to DNA seems impossible, yet the numbers are begging to be analyzed. Submitting a sample to the company seems simple enough, but Jess doesn't expect anything to actually come by it. Certainly not a platinum level match with the last person on earth she would ever date: River Pena, founder of the company, and Jess’s nemesis. A match of this level is unheard of though, and the company hopes to segway it into promotion for their upcoming IPO. The catch: Jess has to date River publicly, add or subtract a few media appearances. With the success of the company on the line, as well as her own love life, Jess is out to prove just whether or not love can be quantified.

Based on the track record of my reception to Christina Lauren’s past few books, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this one. The Soulmate Equation was like a magnificent phoenix, rising from the ashes of all the recent Christina Lauren books I had not enjoyed, and reaffirming the author’s talent for crafting impactful romances. This book was exactly what I needed, even with the added statistics class flashback that occurred right in the middle. The originality of the premise, combined with the depth of the characters, had me devouring this in well under three hours. At this point I’m just going to assume that if a romance is hate-to-love, I’m going to be entertained by it. This one gave off serious Pride and Prejudice vibes, but set in a modern dating world, to which I am eternally grateful. The main characters had such raw chemistry stemming out of their mutual hatred, that I couldn't help but root for them and the success of their romantic relationship. What can I say, I am nothing if not on brand. While most of the novel focuses on romance, I quite liked the quieter more tender moments between family and friends. This is very much a story of family, and that is represented in the supporting characters if nothing else. It made me that much more comforted in how the book resolved knowing everything fit together as it should. One other thing that really stood out to me was the women in STEM rep. Even if the mathematics was at times overwhelming, I adored seeing Jess command attention and take charge in her career. Besides the romance, it was one of the most compelling aspects of the novel. While this isn't necessarily on the same level as The Unhoneymooners, it definitely comes close to being one of Christina Lauren’s best. Look for it out May 18!

Trigger warnings: substance addiction (mentioned), alcohol consumption, alcoholism

A very cute story, I enjoyed it!
Jess is a single mother who is kind of down on her luck when enters a sample into a DNA matchmaking company that is determined to change dating forever.
Jess is skeptical of the numbers and all but when she is given the 98% compatibility to one of the men that is responsible for the company, she is definitely skeptical!
When the company offers her a contract paying her to get to know Mr. Pena she takes it because it means that she can make her bills and have a little extra for later on.
Slowly but surely she starts to see behind the walls that Mr. Pena has put up around himself and sees that there is more to him than she originally thought!
Oh Man! I loved this story soo much! It's cute and it's a slow grown romance that shows that neither partner is perfect but it's soo cute to follow along. I found myself laughing at several moments and even having those aww moments! This story is really cute and I definitely recommend it if you like funny, cute and witty romances!

Holy adorableness! Wowza. I was completely and totally overwhelmed by all the cuteness in this book.

You have Jessica, the main character, hard-working single mom, incredibly likeable, fun, and smart. Then, there’s her best friend, Felicity. They all call her Fizzy (of course they do, because how cute is that?!), and she is everything you could possibly want in a best friend. Fun, encouraging, always there when you need her, basically part of the family. Jessica’s daughter, Juno, who is precocious, but not sassy. Super smart and really loves her mama. Jessica’s grandparents, Nana Jo and Pops, who have been married over 50 years and are still crazy about each other. And of course, Dr. River Peña. *Swoon.*

Jessica and Fizzy have noticed the super hot guy who comes into their local coffee shop every morning at exactly 8:24 a.m. to order an Americano. So predictable that they have nicknamed him Americano. Not surprisingly, mega-serious Americano is actually Dr. River Peña, a super smart scientist. The big surprise? He studies love! Oooohhh, sexy! His company is founded on the idea that DNA can predict happy couples. Jessica and Fizzy sign up and guess what? Matches ensue. Not just any matches - Jessica matches with none other than….AMERICANO! *You had better still be swooning.*

Although it’s not super difficult to figure out where the story is going, it’s absolute joy watching it unfold. Instead of trying to figure out the ending, I just enjoy the ride. It’s a privilege to be able to support and encourage these authors. They are real, they are awesome, they get it. The book is lighthearted and fun - definitely things we need more of in our lives. Release date is May 2021, so put this one on the top of your beach reads list!

Thanks to Christina Lauren, Gallery Books, and Netgalley for the ARC in return for my honest review.

The two women learn that he works for a biotech dating company, and finagle their way into a tour of the company. GeneticAlly uses DNA data to determine compatibility.
They’re both shocked when they not only match, but get the highest match possible from the test. They begin to date to see if their test results are real.
This book has such great vibes. Pulled me right in and I was hooked! A one day read for me!
Just stunning writing and beautiful characters! A favorite of mine so far for 2021!