Friends, I am late to the Christina Lauren party and I fully admit it.

I never snubbed romance novels--I have been into them since I was a kid, sitting on the floor and staring up at my mom's bookshelves full of Harlequin romances, getting in constant trouble for trying to sneak one off the shelf to read at 6 years old.

No, I have never *not* been into romance. My first question is always "is this a kissing book?"

Rather, I have just been SO entrenched in YA the past several years that most adult books have sort of just slipped past me. But last fall, I got an ARC of In a Holidaze and I was DONE for. The minute I was done--I mean the minute I was done, I ordered their entire backlist. Since then, I've been slowly making my way through. I don't want to read them all too fast. I save them for when I need one, and I just *know* when I need one.

But something about the synopsis of The Soulmate Equation made me think this was gonna be the one I didn't care for. The main character has a kid, something I haven't yet encountered in the other books of theirs I've read, and I thought it was going to be too sciencey, too mathy, too something.

Reader, I devoured it.

♥ Jess is a stats wiz and single mom to Juno, who is 7 and prefers nonfiction about animals to storybooks. Jess is VERY "I can do it all myself," but she does accept help from her tiny village to help Juno. Her grandparents and romance novelist best friend, Fizzy, all take turns with her after school. They even say, only sort of jokingly, that Juno is half Fizzy's because their personalities are so similar. And this pretty much takes up Jess' whole world. Could she go on dates, spend time without her kid, do something just for her? Of course, in fact Fizzy and her grandparents are constantly telling her to. But she can't shake the guilt that comes whenever she isn't with Juno, but could be.

I am not a parent and will never will be a parent, but I suspect this is a shitty, common feeling among most moms and I truly empathize with you.

It was not Jess's idea to take the DNADuo test. But she and Fizzy saw River every day at the coffee shop they frequented, and one day they finally spoke. And he was just as much as an arrogant asshole as Jess assumed he would be (but annoyingly hot). He tells them to stop by the office if they really want to know about the company (and Fizzy really wants to know about the company), so they go straight there. Fizzy takes the test right away, but Jess doesn't plan on it. Until one terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day, when she takes it on a whim and sends it off, promptly forgetting about it.

Until she gets The Call.


♥ Plotwise from here it's spoiler city, but I can tell you how much loved every character! Jess is super into science and math because they make sense to her. She hasn't had a boyfriend since her daughter was born, and she's fine with that. Really.

Besides, Fizzy does enough dating for the both of them. And as a bestselling romance novelist, she writes about it too. Fizzy ALWAYS has a notebook with her, and she's forever jotting down quick ideas that come to her, things other people say, things she says, entire conversations she's not part of. She is the kind of best friend that everybody needs--a strong constant. Fizzy is always there, and she's always reminding Jess to do things for herself. She reminds her that the whole point of loving someone is doing things for each other because you want to, not because you have to. She gets truly excited when Jess gives up a night with Juno so that she can have her. She reminds Jess that even though Juno is her kid, she's also Fizzy's, and Nana's, and Pop's, and they need to spend time with her too. Fizzy is too special, too vivid, too sassy, to not get her own book one day (LOOK AT OTHER REVIEWS I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO THINKS SO).

Pops and Nana are a big part of the story, as they live right across the courtyard and are helping now to raise Juno. Pops takes Juno to the library every Monday after school, and Nana makes family dinners for the four of them. Jess never knew her father, and her mother relinquished custody when she was six years old (I do have empathy for her in this book but also she is complete garbage). Luckily, her grandparents are wonderful people who I just want to hug. It's never a question for them to help with Juno, or to help Jess with money or anything either of them might need.

Juno...Juno is a very lively little girl. She's clever, she likes to learn, and she wants a pet danger noodle (please refer to @paigesquared on Twitter if you don't know what this is, she will explain. I cannot even say it). She has her little group of friends at school but it equally good with adults. She loves all the adults in her small little village, and when River slowly slips into place she falls in love with him right alongside Jess. He picks her up from school, they have their own handshake and always call each other by their first and middle names. He takes a real interest in her life, the problems with her friends, school projects. Basically, watching River with Juno is just...sigh.

...and River. This one is a real enemies to lovers, and it was truly easy to cast River as an enemy in the beginning. It takes him awhile to warm up and come out of his shell, explain things he said and did (like calling her average! It wasn't actually an insult!). But when he does, we learn what a sweet, nerdy, smart, shy, sexy guy he really is. He may be the founder of this company, but he wasn't looking for love. So he's just as shocked as Jess to find out that they're a match, let alone a match of an unheard of 98%. They don't like each other much, but they're willing to at least try to spend some time together because science doesn't lie. And science is telling them they're genetically 98% likely to fall in love.

TL;DR: Don't be turned off by the thought of statistics and science. They talk about it some, but the book is just SO GOOD that you won't care. </p>

Favorite Quotes:

"Did you think of me when you put on that dress?"

"You've chosen your circumstances, Jess. I like that about you. You take what you want and leave the rest behind. You decide."

"I realize that I'm easy to leave, but I was hoping you were better than that."
I swear to god I get tears in my eyes every time I read that line.


"Destiny could also be choice, she'd realized. To believe or not, to be vulnerable or not, to go all-in or not."

Loved it. Everything from the characters to how they interact to the super-nerdy scientific way the main couple finds themselves together. It's one fun, well-thought-out detail after another.
This is the book that solidifies the fact that Christina Lauren are the queens of rom-com. They've found the perfect formula to balance out the crazy fun expected of the genre with solid, serious drama and fully-fleshed characters that are relatable and familiar.
I tried to find something to complain about it so this review isn't a total gush fest, but other than the fact that River is way too perfect to be a believable human being, which is something I complain about in pretty much every rom-com ever, there is nothing I can fault this book for.
This is a fun, romantic beach read that should not be missed.

Extremely happy thanks to NetGalley and Gallery Books for the early read!

I wanted to love this book, I really did... but this one fell flat for me and is my least favorite CLo book out of the seven that I’ve read so far. The storyline is super unique and creative and had a lot of potential, but the story had too many flaws. First, I did not like Jess at all and I only tolerated River. Second, the beginning of this book was SO slow. It took me four days to read the first half of the book when I usually read CLo’s books in 1-2 days. Lastly, there were a few scenes in this book that just made me roll my eyes. Like the ending... which I thought was rushed and anticlimactic.

Now on to the parts I liked, I loved both Fizzy and Juno. Their characters were well written and I loved both of their relationships with Jess. I also loved the switch from enemies to lovers and the banter between Jess and River. This book was steamier than a lot of their other books, which I also really enjoyed!

One of my favorite stories is of a similar plot, except with the romance - John Marrs THE ONE, so I was delighted when I read this synopsis with a romantic twist. An everyday girl becomes a high scoring match with one of the founders of a genetic matching company. What are the odds? Ha ha. Pun intended. As Jess becomes enamored with River, I still held him at an arms length. Call me crazy, but I couldn’t tell if he was playing it up for the cameras, or if his feelings for Jess were real. It seemed like every opportunity to be romantic happened in front of the press. I was hesitant to immediately like him. Yet, he seemed like an okay guy. I wanted to make sure that he was with Jess for the right reasons (yes, I said it!) and not to use her as a publicity stunt to catapult his new company into a overnight success.

Jess doesn’t date. For one, the process sucks — online dating is miserable (girl preach). But also Jess has Juno, her energetic 7 year old to think about. However, after her fab BFF Fizzy (a romance author) drags her on a tour of a buzzy new startup that uses science to find your matches. Jess, a scientist herself, opts into the program as a trial participant. And she has a near perfect — River. Aka the rude fellow coffee shop patron and co-founder of the startup.

This book had such a creative concept and I loved the sexual tension between River and Jess (and Juno and Fizzy were so fun!).

Genetically speaking, opposites attract. Our natural inclination is to be attracted to someone less like us (this works in the animal kingdom because less genetically similar = stronger breeding). Anyways, that’s not what the company in this novel found with their “science” but fact checking aside, it was a fun read for me!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (and all the 🔥🔥🔥)

Christina Lauren, the author duo behind In a Holidaze and The Unhoneymooners, have created a novel with a fascinating blend of modern science and old-fashioned attraction in The Soulmate Equation. Jess Davis is a struggling single mom, raising her precocious seven-year-old daughter Juno with the help of her grandparents. When Jess's best friend whimsically signs up for a new matchmaking service, GeneticAlly, that promises to scientifically match you with your soulmate based on your DNA, Jess is unconvinced. But on a dare, she submits a sample, only to discover that she's a 98% match with Dr. River Peña, the founder of GeneticAlly. GeneticAlly's claims must be nonsense, because Jess already knows Dr. Peña--he's the grumpy man at the coffee shop where she does her freelance accounting work. But, after one of those accounting jobs dries up, and GeneticAlly offers to pay Jess to date River, to see if they truly are a match, Jess can't turn down the offer.

Absolutely loved this book! Was the perfect combination of family, friends, and romance. Juno was such a loveable character and definitely, a favorite of mine - all of her facts/questions were fantastic.

Jess and River couldn't be more different, yet in this new app that takes your genetics and provides a statistical number of compatibility, they score a top score. So why not give love a chance, right? You'll have to pick up the book to see if it's their compatibility score holds true!

I loved all the supporting characters, the character development, and the banter in this story. One of my favorite rom coms to date!

We all know that Christina Lauren rarely misses (miss? always hard to give a review when the author is two people with one name, ha!).

I loved the science aspect of this book! I'm still waiting for a Christina Lauren book to live up to how much I adored The Unhoneymooners so maybe that's an unfair scale, but this one is in my top CL books!

Another CLo book I wanted to love as much as the Unhoneymooners, but I JUUUUUST couldn’t get there.

The concept is very very similar to The One by John Marrs - but more romance less murder. And it’s a fun concept - a DNA test that helps you locate your soulmate. But I really felt bogged down by the scientific data. My eyes glazed over and I felt like I was in over my head. I honestly was super impressed CLo had DNA science that thoroughly researched (assumption - your girl is clueless). 🧬

The beginning was slow. I enjoyed the middle. The steam was a little much for my taste. The ending was eye rolling, drawn out, but ALSO abrupt? Seriously I closed my kindle thinking, “ok I guess that’s it.”

River was a fun but moody character and I enjoyed seeing him fall in love. Jess was alright.

Did I LOVE it? No. Did I like it? Yes. Do I think you should spend money on it? No. Get on that library hold list and enjoy it when it’s your turn. Would I watch it if Shondaland made it into a movie (see quote on the cover 👀)? Yessss.

I know what these ladies are capable of! The Unhoneymooners was such romcom GOLD and such a fun one to recommend. I’ll continue reading their books hoping they can unlock that magic again.

This one is out Tuesday, May 18th! Thank you @netgalley and @simonandschuster for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

So, this is my first Christina Lauren. I feel like I'm so late to the party. And what was I waiting for? I freaking loved this book!

This book has one of my absolute favorite love interests ever. River Pena is nerdy, a bit shy, and so caring.

I also absolutely loved our main character of Jess. She is a single mom, helps take care of her grandparents, and is so down to earth. She also has an amazing friendship with Fizzy.

I love how real these characters felt. I really felt connected to each and everyone and was swept up into this story. I literally did not want to put the book down. I devoured it.

I will admit that I was drawn to this book because it takes a scientific aspect and tries to approach love and relationships for the characters that way. (And it was so fun to read about.) But I truly stayed for the characters.

I really need to pick up more Christina Lauren ASAP.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing the E-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Christina Lauren hits it out of the park again with “Soulmate Equation”. Here they take a look at what could happen if online dating met DNA swabs. Harried and constantly busy single mom Jess takes a DNA dating test on a whim and ends up matched with Dr. River Pena- a coffeehouse regular who she sees as arrogant, and humorless. Clearly this test is a joke right? When she gets offered money to date River and test their compatibility, it seems like the answer to her money woes. But, like Mr. Darcys everywhere, River is more than he seems and they hit it off. But everytime they let their guard down, they come up against two big problems: Jess’s fear of abandonment and both of them constantly wondering if they like each other because they think they should or because they actually do. Does knowing science thinks you are perfect for each other make dating easier or harder? Does it raise more questions than its worth? And how does this science test out in the real world? Lauren blends what the dating market might look like in the not to distant future with well-loved enemy to lover tropes, insane chemistry in and out of the lab, and a host of lovable, energetic and quirky characters. The perfect romcom to start the summer with!

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

A terrific love story, with an unlikely pairing, DNA and statistics, terrific chemistry, and plenty of sparks and humor. Highly recommended!

I've listened to a number of this talented writing duo's books earlier novels, but I think that this is the first one that I physically read! And I really enjoyed it! I laughed out loud, even teared up in a few places!

It's a fast-paced and totally engaging romance. Single-mom Jess already has a full plate between supporting herself and her daughter with her freelance statistician skills and helping with her grandparents, who are in turn her own support network along with her romance-writer best friend. She certainly has no time for dating, despite the encouragement from her BFF. But when the rather surly Americano man who frequents their usual coffee shop turns out to be working at a new dating app - one that genetically matches people with their soulmate - she decides to give it a try.

While the plot isn't exactly earthshaking or unexpected, it's a fun book with equally fun characters. The banter between the characters is great and I genuinely had a fun time reading it. this may not be my go-to genre, but Christina Lauren books definitely are go-tos all on their own! They are a guaranteed fun time and I really enjoy escaping into them. I am sure that I would have enjoyed this one on audio, but it was a fun physical read, too - I am already looking forward to seeing what they will write next!

If you submitted your saliva to a DNA testing lab, wouldn’t you expect the results to find your relatives and not a possible ‘soulmate?’

This was my first thought when I read the summary for ‘The Soulmate Equation’ by Christina Lauren. Oh, how wrong I was! This is fiction, and more specifically, the happy rom-com world of possibilities. DNA data, combined with dating app info, created a super algorithm, (plus other scientific stuff) and called, ‘DNADuo’ brought to you by a new company, GeneticAlly, will find you a match, guaranteed to be your soulmate. Just step right up, swab your mouth, and send the sealed envelope to us. Super simple and we’ll have your match in less than a week. GeneticAlly was advertising big promises!

We meet Jess, a single Mom of seven-year-old Juno, and best friend, Fizzy, at their favorite coffee shop, Twiggs. Jess is a thirty-year-old statistician, currently doing freelance work, while Fizzy is a popular romance novelist. They’re at their regular table, where they work, chat and drink coffee every weekday. Fizzy is again trying to convince Jess to get back in the dating world, just as the handsome but quiet, River Pena walks in to get his morning coffee. Almost all eyes turn his way, gender irrelevant. Jess watches him too, both admiringly and annoyingly. Fizzy takes joy in pointing this out to Jess, suggesting she get to know him. Jess scoffs at this idea, thinking River is a giant snob. In fact, they will both find out that he’s just serious about his work and a little shy.
Dr. River Pena is a thirty-five-year-old, geneticist who has just started the company, GeneticAlly with other million-dollar investors. He has a lot on his mind. He will eventually meet both Jess and Fizzy when he gives them his card and invites them to come to an information session to find out more about his company. They go and Fizzy is immediately sold but Jess is a bit more skeptical. Later, on a whim, Jess too will submit her saliva sample.

As luck and science would have it, Jess has an unbelievable ninety-eight percent match, with none-other than, yep, you guessed it: Doc Pena himself. Jess can’t believe it but is coerced into giving it a try when the company is willing to pay her to get to know River, as their project. As a single mom, Jess is always broke and can certainly use the money. She is also intrigued by the science, not to mention, by River himself. Since everything is on the ‘up-and-up’ and all parties are aware of the project, she says yes.

The story unfolds naturally, but with fun and sincerity. I particularly enjoyed how realistic Jess is portrayed as a loving single-mom with real struggles, who totally cares about her child Juno. Fizzy’s character provides the right balance of funny and keeps the story light-hearted in just the perfect way. Finally, River is intelligent and sensitive, but not sappy and understands Jess’s priorities with Juno.

All around it’s a great story with an original theme, and just a touch of science that any novice can understand, but really doesn’t need to in order to love the book. I adored it and would love a sequel.

Thank you Netgalley, Gallery Books, and Christina Lauren.

I mean, I think it's pretty impossible to go wrong with a Christina Lauren book. This one was actually one of my all-time favorites of theirs! DNA Match-making?! This science teacher is totally geeking out! It's cute, witty, fun, heartfelt, and romantic. You couldn't ask for a better summer read!

Christina Lauren is at it again. This book grabbed me from the first page and I found myself reading way into the early hours of the morning. Single mom Jess, a genius data scientist and statistics guru is raising her daughter with the help of her grandparents and struggling to get by while running her own business. She has no interest or time to re-enter the dating world until her friend strongly encourages her to try a brand new genetic-based dating app. The results returned are more than shocking. All of the characters in this book will grow on you throughout the story and you will find you don't want this to end.

To be honest I have always struggled with romance novels. I either find that they are too unbelievable, too cheesy, too overly romantic, or all of the above. Thankfully Christina Lauren never has that issue with the novels they write. Their books are always relatable and enjoyable and most of all they are funny.

The Soulmate Equation is no different when it comes to that expectation of romantic comedy I enjoy finding in novels in the romance category. The Soulmate Equation tells the story of Jess, a single mom, and of River Pena a creator of a dating/pairing app that matches people by their DNA. At first Jess and River do not hit it off despite Jess's every day notice and attraction to River when she seems him at the local coffee shop she frequents with her friend, Fizzy. In fact at the start she knew River only as Americano, and as she gets to know more about him she finds that he really is unlikable.

Her frustration with River only builds when she on impulse takes the test to find her match based on her DNA. From the beginning Jess was not at all willing to believe that the DNA test could accurately match someone to their perfect match and spurs the idea of being part of the app. Yet things change all based on her impulse and lo and behold Jess finds a match, a Diamond Match. The Diamond Match is viewed as the top of the line and closely matched to be viewed as soulmates on a DNA level. Lo and Behold Jess is matched with none other than River Pena.

At first she is against the idea offered to her of 'dating' River for the sake of the app, but when she is offered $10,000 every month for three months that she agrees to participate she finds the offer hard to resist. She agrees though is unwilling to believe anything like this is possibly. Of course in the natural course and way of romantic comedies things happen to leave things on the expected path of hilarious, heart wrenching, sweet, endearing, and happy every after. Of course the pair fall in love until both of them come to realize that sometimes numbers are wrong. I could tell you more about the plot... but really... maybe you should just check it out for yourself ;)

To me this was another fun, light, read from Christina Lauren. The pair truly have nailed the niche when it comes to the perfect balance of relatable romance with a realistic edge and a dash of humor. To me those are all necessary ingredients for the romance novels I go for. if that is your flavor of romance then I certainly recommend the Soulmate Equation and don't fear, there is a good dose of heart pounding interludes. Until then, happy reading!

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I liked the concept of using DNA to find your soulmate. I also enjoyed Jess and River and found them to be really likable. I didn't care for the drama that popped up at the end of the book and how it was sorted out. I really dislike last minute drama in a book (fyi, writers, you don't have to follow this pattern). There could have been a better way to go about it. Anyway, mostly fluffy, a bit of familial weight, great for summer beach reading.

I think one of my favorite things about this book was the community that Jess had built around her and Juno in their little corner of San Diego - I totally want to live in that apartment complex. Though she has struggled throughout her life with her mother's addictions, absence from her life and embarrassment by her actions on the few occasions she does show up, she has great support in her grandparents, and later on her best friend Fizzy (I want her story too!). This is especially important as she raises Juno, whose father has no interest in even pretending he might want to be a dad to his daughter.

Working freelance and being a mother has Jess not wanting to waste her valuable free time on bad dates, so she's pretty much given up despite sometimes wishing she wasn't a single parent in a sea of married couples at PTA meetings. When she winds up submitting her sample to GeneticAlly in a low moment after just such a meeting, she pushes it out her mind and tries to forget about it. But when she's matched up at a never before seen high number, to Dr. River Peña (aka Americano, the rude hot guy from her local coffee shop), the company's founding scientist, they're both appalled and shocked.

Watching their relationship evolve from animosity, to cautious friendship to love was such a great experience. Jess learns more about River and why he comes off as so rude and his interactions with Juno are priceless. Jess has to figure out how to trust another person in her life and River has to learn how to make room for more than work in his, so of course there are stumbling blocks. It was a joy to read about these two as they evolved, grew stronger on their own and together. Highly recommend for fans of Christina Lauren's other books and also of authors like Helena Hunting and Tessa Bailey.

The Soulmate Equation by Christina Lauren may be my new favorite CLO book. The Soulmate Equation follows single mom Jess and geneticist Dr. River Peña who score off the charts in Rivers new DNA dating profile. This book is sweet, funny and swoon worthy. I read this book in less than 24 hours and I highly recommend it to any romance reader, whether a veteran romance reader or brand new. Honestly, you can never go wrong with CLo and The Soulmate Equation proves it again.