I thought the premise was cute and overall well done. It was a predictable rom com without being overly done. My main complaint was that, while the side stories were representative of real life, there were so many and they weren’t fully explored so they just felt thrown in there. 3.5 stars rounded up.

From the beginning, I knew this book was just what I needed. A light, fast-paced romance with some quirky characters. Jess is a single mother, down on her luck and River is the brains behind the dating app DNADuo, where people are matched together based on the compatibility of their DNA. Imagine their surprise when they match together, even though they don't like one another very much. I really liked the concept of this novel, finding your soulmate based on DNA and an app. I loved seeing how Jess and River navigated the pressures and challenges that came with being matched. And Jess's best friend Fizzy? I loved her! She was the perfect balance to Jess and what a true best friend should be. There is a lot of science and math talk in this one, as both Jess and River have jobs based in those fields. Christina Lauren is one of my absolute go-to's when I need a romance, and this one is in my top 3 of their books. This one releases in May 2021, and this one definitely gets a recommendation for me!

Thank you NetGalley for my ARC copy of The Soulmate Equation. This was a really cute story and I give it four stars. Yes, it was slightly predictable, but the cast of characters made it a fun journey. Three things I loved: how down to earth the characters ended up being, the laugh out loud funny bits of writing, and the overall story of River and Jess. I felt like the book ended a bit abruptly and (no spoilers!), but there is one piece of information at the end I would have loved knowing!

Jess is a single mother to a seven year old and doesn’t really have a dating life because she feels like she is being selfish if she doesn’t devout herself to her child, grandparents, friend, and work. Her friend Fizzy gets her a dna kit for a dating company for Jessica’s 30th birthday. She ends up matching 98% with one of the lead scientists. However, she has met him before she got tested and thinks he is an arrogant jerk. Will sparks end up flying?
I loved how cute this is. I loved the banter and getting to know Jess, River, Juno, and Fizzy. I did find the ending to be a bit slower and not have an enough umph like the first and half of the book. It was still a fun read and one of my favorites by this author duo. I suggest everyone to check this book out on May 18th. Also, I want to thank the publisher, Christina Lauren, and Netgalley for allowing me the chance to read this arc. I usually get declined for their books and I actually squealed when I got approved for this book.

I loved this book. So let's start with the premise: a matchmaking app based on genetic compatibility. River is the lead scientist who ran the studies and invented the algorithm for compatibility. When Jess's friend drags her along to get her profile done, she and River are the highest match that the company has ever had. And wow, are they ever compatible.

I loved both of the protagonists. They are complicated, and they have awesome STEM careers, and they have great families. River's sisters and Jess's grandparents and daughter are so well rounded and fabulous.

I especially loved Fizzy, Jess's best friend. Fizzy writes romance novels (including a series featuring Jess as the villain) and always carries around a notepad for when she is inspired. I always love strong female friendships in books, and this was a great example. And I loved how her character celebrated the romance genre.

Beyond that, this book made me think. It's not usual for me to spend lots of time reading a rom com wondering about genetics and eugenics and the ethical implications of using our DNA to find out soulmate. But I did. I can't say enough good things about this book. It's a new favorite, and River is a new book boyfriend. I'll be preordering a copy because my eARC won't be enough.

Thank you to Gallery Books and NetGalley for the eARC.

Thank you so much @GalleryBooks & @NetGalley for giving me this eARC in exchange for my honest and unbiased review (Release Date | 18 May 2021)

SYNOPSIS | Jessica is a struggling single mother who is a freelance analyst, but has recently lost one of her biggest clients & is struggling financially. She submits her DNA on a whim to a new genetics-based matchmaking service & discovers that she has a platinum match with one of the scientific founders.

WHAT I LIKED:
- a really cool & fresh STEM romance concept that focuses on finding your soulmate through genetics
- the side characters were oh so delightful (especially her daughter Juno & best friend Fizzy)
- the friendship between Jessica & Fizzy was just #goals

WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:
- i don't think the "enemies" in this enemies to lovers romance was set up as well as it could have been
- that we as the readers don't learn the actual compatibility score (I would be down for this ambiguity if River didn't allude to it being higher than 98%)

Like all of the other Christina Lauren novels, this one doesn't disappoint. The characters are believable as well as the storyline.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of The Soulmate Equation.

I needed a lighthearted read after my usual murder mysteries so I was pleased when my request was approved.

I used to read romance regularly years ago but stopped when the premises began to blur together. That's why I was intrigued by the premise of The Soulmate Equation, the author using the increasing popularity of dating apps as the backdrop to the story.

Jess Davis is a hardworking single mom to a precocious daughter, Juno. She has a great BFF, equally supportive grandparents and a lust/hate thing for the dude who picks up his daily Americano at the coffee shop they both frequent, Dr. River Pena.

When River and Jess' worlds collide as a result of his revolutionary dating app based on genetic compatibility, the both of them soon realize that genetics and data will never explain the most complex of all emotions: love.

Pros:

1. Jess' BFF, Fizzy and her wonderful grandparents
2. Jess is likable, relatable, hardworking, smart and a good mother
3. Diversity of social circle and supporting characters.

Cons:

1. Typical tropes including Jess constantly talking about how hot River is
2. The precocity of Juno
3. Silly, rom-com scenes like when Jess and Fizz are in the library, hiding the newspapers
4. Unnecessary drama between Jamie and Jess, which I felt was added just to add tension
5. I never really believed in Jess and River falling for each other. It was a slow burn, which I appreciate, but I always felt they just had great sexual chemistry, not destined to be soulmates

The writing flowed and there are a few serious moments between Jess and her mother, who struggles with sobriety and drug addiction.

The Soulmate Equation was a good break from the usual genres I read.

When single mom and data statistician Jess Davis takes the new DNA-based matchmaking test to find her soulmate, no one could be more skeptical when she learns she matched at an almost perfect score with GeneticAlly CEO River Peña. He can’t believe it either but as it’s his company, he wants to believe in his science.

Anyone who knows me knows I am an unabashed fan of all things Austen and Austenesque fiction. So when Jess overhears Dr. Peña disparage her looks, declaring her “entirely average”...well, my Mr. Darcy-senses were activated. But, of course, this puts Jess against the brooding, tall, handsome, and aloof scientist at once... No way Peña could be her soul mate! She even describes him to her grandparents:
“Think Mr. Darcy, but without the lovely proclamations. He called me average, didn’t hold the elevator, speaks with less emotional fluency than the Alexa in your kitchen, and doesn’t know a thing about parking lot etiquette.” —Chapter 9.
Boom! I was hooked. (The two other mentions of Austen made me like these characters all the more.)

When GeneticAlly offers her a generous stipend—simply to get to know the handsome Dr. River Pena, see if there is something to the numbers after all—she agrees. However, after only a couple dates, their surprising, natural compatibility and their undeniable attraction shrouded in sexual tension makes her start to believe the science too.
“I don’t know about soulmate, but I’d admit to lust.” She turned her face to the side. His mouth was so close to hers.
River stilled, glanced down at her lips. “Is that right?” —Chapter 12.

She discovers his quiet charm, his thoughtful actions to her and her quirky author friend, Fizzy, and his amazingly generous way with her young daughter, Juno, make her reevaluate her first (and second impressions) of him. Then she learns he wants her too:
“I want to be here to bring you coffee. I want to take you out to dinner and order the same food and hear you recite the odds that we would have met. ... I want to feel like I can kiss you again by your car at the end of the night.” He swallowed. “I want you in my bed.” —Chapter 17.

Warning: Despite all the steam and smart dialogue, Fizzy, Jess’s best friend and bestselling romance author, steals the scene every time she’s on the page. Every time.
“...if you think I haven’t written down every word of this, you’re both high.” —Chapter 25.
Trust me. She’s the ideal best friend.

The writing team of Christina Lauren’s prose is tight, quick-witted, and sprinkled with comic deadpan dialogue yet always with an honest connection. The characters feel alive and the story so unbelievably believable, you can’t help but want it to be real. The passion between River and Jess is white hot even before their pants come off. Christina Lauren give their characters words that we wish we had said as well as the all too human ones we regret. “The Soulmate Equation” will make you laugh out loud and, in the next breath, weep.

My favorite romcom of the year! Surely Hollywood will option “The Soulmate Equation” for film ASAP. Let me know if you are interested in my Dreamcast. I have a shortlist.

If I could give this book 10 stars I would. I adored it. Laugh-out-Loud funny, sweet, and just lovely. Jess is one of the best heroine's I've read in a long long long time. She is a single mom working as a freelance statistician. She lives next door to her grandparents in one of the most expensive cities in America - but she is making it work. Since her daughter was born seven years ago, Jess has pretty much been on her own. She has her grandparents - but like a lot of single parents - she is a one-woman show and doesn't feel comfortable asking for help. She is very determined not to be like her mom, who consistently chose herself over her daughter.

Jess and her best friend Felicity (Fizzy), who is a romance writer, sit and work at a coffee shop almost every day. Fizzy is a serious highlight of this book. She is just awesome. Everything you want in a friend and I would 100% read her books. At precisely 8:24am every day a very hot guy they call Americano comes in - but doesn't say much of anything and comes off as a serious jerk. When Jess and Fizzy find out that he is part of a company about to launch a DNA based matchmaking service - Fizzy jumps in with both feet to find out more. Eventually Jess submits her DNA for a match - and it turns out she and Americano are an almost perfect "diamond" match.

The only problem is that Jess and Americano, Dr. River Pena, are not a love at first sight kind of couple. But once they stop judging each other and take the time to learn each other - it doesn't take much for them to fall for each other. River is definitely a neurodiverse character - he is over-the-top smart, socially awkward, and has been hyper focused on his work. As Jess comes to see this - and understand him - they find each other easy to love.

Throughout the book you will challenge yourself as to whether you'd want your score with your partner. I was fascinated by the concept . I also loved the different varieties of couples we see throughout the book that show long term love and the other side of the coin. The authors don't shy away from the pros and cons of considering the effects of the different types of matches have on the characters. It was both thoughtful and thought provoking.

I can't recommend this more highly!

I was extremely blessed to receive an ARC of the book from NetGalley and Gallery Books, but these deeply felt opinions are all my own.

I loved this one! A main draw for me was the main character, Jess. You immediately root for this smart, funny, wonderful single mom. Her chemistry with River was off the charts and the idea of DNA based dating was something I haven't seen in the genre before. I loved Jess's best friend Fizzy, her daughter Juno, and her grandparents too.

This book was a wonderful read for February, especially with a twist on the concept of soulmates. This was my first Christina Lauren read and I was not disappointed! The story is fast-paced and has moments of both humor and romance.

The only thing that really kept this from being a five-star read for me was how scientific it was at the beginning. Of course, when writing about soulmates by way of DNA and biological matches, there is going to be scientific jargon and I agree it is absolutely necessary for readers to understand how the company, GeneticAlly gets their match scores. The jargon lost me a bit, but it is also what sets this book apart from others. The concept of finding a soulmate through a DNA match simultaneously feels a bit sci-fi, but also feels like something we will see in the near future.

River and Jess gave major enemies to lovers vibes as well as the beloved fake dating trope for the sake of the company. The use of these tropes and including Fizzy's experience with her matches from GeneticAlly's database helped keep the story interesting and made it feel more realistic, Writing about two best friends, Jess and Fizzy, and their two very different journeys with GeneticAlly mirrored what one might see in their own life with friends who are Tinder lovers and friends who are reluctant to have 'Single' in their About Me on Facebook because they are just that uninterested in dating.

I really enjoyed The Soulmate Equation because it includes a plot I never knew I needed but would love to see pan out in real life! I cannot wait to see this one fly off the shelves.

The Soulmate Equation was an amazing, fun read! I've read a few books by Christina Lauren and I think this is my favorite. River and Jess's story will draw you right in and the side characters don't hurt either! I found myself grinning several times while I was reading this on one of my lazy days at home. The storyline is unique and I found myself rooting for River and Jess along with Fizzy and Juno.

If you haven't read anything by Christina Lauren yet, now is the time!

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review. All opinions are my own.

4.5 STARS


Nearing thirty, hardworking single mom, Jess Davis, has had a tough life so far: mostly abandoned by her addicted mother with no father in picture, raised by grandparents, ditched by her college boyfriend after she got pregnant and working hard to scape by while providing for her seven-year-old daughter, Juno. Jess is one smart cookie being a statistics magician who is very well thought of in her field. She supports herself freelancing, but the jobs are very demanding and the work is never guaranteed. The last thing Jess wants to do is go back into the dating game, but when an offer she cannot refuse comes along, Jess decides to give it a go despite a lot of reservations.

This brand-new addition to online dating catches Jess’s attention because it is based on genetics and statistical probability. GeneticAlly sequences a person’s DNA matching clients with those who share a high number of genetic markers in common. The company’s promise is that clients can find their perfect soulmate based on a sliding scale of how compatible each match’s DNA is offering a better chance of finding a soulmate and staying together for the long run.

Jess knows the founder, Dr. River Pena, as a stuffy, stick in the mud who is always in his own head barely acknowledging her even though they frequent the same coffee shop daily for years. When on a whim, Jess sends in her DNA kit she and River Pena are stunned to find themselves as the highest match ever seen at 98%. River is the last person Jess wants to be in a relationship with; however, she cannot afford to turn down the company’s lucrative offer to spend three months with River as GeneticAlly’s poster children for success which includes being blasted on social media, print, and television. As they spend time together, Jess and River’s relationship gradually becomes more genuine until Jess finds out something that threatens the whole house of cards.

This story was really quite enjoyable with a very clever concept adding a new twist to the world of dating apps and online hookups. At times some of statistical math went over this reader’s head as someone who does not see numbers as my friends the way Jess and River do. The writing team of Christina Lauren once again have crafted a fine tale which I would categorize as humorous Women’s Fiction with a slow burn romance.

Christina👏🏽Lauren👏🏽Did👏🏽It👏🏽Again

This was my #1 most anticipated book this year and it did not disappoint. I loved the relationships the MC, Jess, had with her daughter, best friend, and most importantly grandparents. We all definitely need a Fizzy in our lives! The fake dating trope between River and Jess teased me enough that I fell right in love. I felt the chemistry from the beginning and enjoyed the roller coaster ride. I mean... River is my new book bf.

I didn’t care about the science talk and couldn’t follow majority of the time, but it affect the big picture. Definitely pre-ordering a copy as we speak 👌🏽

Thank you Christina Lauren, Net Galley, and Gallery Books for sharing this with me in exchange for my honest review!

Christina Lauren books keep getting better and better. We need more stories like this-- competent diverse women, single moms, scientists with a feminist bent. Brava to Christina Lauren to writing a story that kept me intrigued, made me tear up a bit, and gave a proper romantic ending.

The Soulmate Equation by Christina Lauren
This one was just ok for me. I thought the science itself was very cool and it seemed like a plausible DNA service to predict biologically compatible matches to link biological and emotional compatibilities with another person. There is still the element of choice after matches are made.

I just didn't love the romance/relationship or character building. This seemed like it was supposed to be enemies to lovers trope but the few things that occurred to spurn the enemies, weren't adequately addressed for me later on. The relationship was also very slow (which can be fine), but this turned out to not keep my interest.

Standouts in this story were Jess' grandparents and daughter and I loved to see her family dynamics. I also loved her best friend Fizzy, a romance writer who was very light hearted and full of humor. Would love to see Fizzy's own spin off story!

Thank you @gallerybooks for my advanced copy!

OMG. @christinalauren has done it again!!! 🥰 I was so absolutely thrilled to recieve an ARC of The Soulmate Equation and am equally thrilled to say it far exceeded all of my expectations! This charming and unique story is laugh out loud funny and the perfect heartwarming romance. I loved all of the characters and was completely invested from page one. The writing is so clever with sassy and addictive dialogue and one-liners! And, as a thriller lover, I totally appreciated the small little unexpected hut perfectly executed twists throughout the story. This hits shelves May 18 and rom-com fans need to add it to their TBR now! Thanks to netgalley, gallerybooks, and the authors for an ARC!

I have loved Christina Lauren's books since the first one I read. The Soulmate Equation exceeded my expectations. When I read the premise of this I was pumped because not only did I meet my partner through a dating app, I am currently getting my PhD in a lab where I program and work with gene regulation.

This book was right up my alley as a science nerd and rom-com lover. The Soulmate Equation gives us a fresh take on modern dating. I loved that we saw a glimpse of what it might be like if you could find your soul mate from a DNA test. This book was filled with so much love for STEM and brilliant minds.

Jess was relatable. She got knocked down, she doubted herself, and she worked hard to provide for her daughter no matter the cost to herself. I didn't like River at first but neither did Jess. As Jess started to get to know River, I grew to love the shy scientist that he was. I can only imagine how he had to grow up fast and how out of place he might have felt being as brilliant as he was.

As always, Christina Lauren gave us a well-developed set of secondary characters. From Jess's grandparents, to her daughter Juno, to Fizzy. Fizzy was my favorite and I loved her relationship with Jess. Their interactions left me smiling and made me grateful to have my own Fizzy in my life.

You do not want to miss The Soulmate Equation if you love romance and science!

Honest to god- one of the best contemporary books I have ever read before.

Single mom Jess Davis knows her numbers, especially in regards to statistics. So when a new dating app emerges, that promises you a statistically perfect Soulmate, through a little bit of your DNA- she hesitantly submits her application.
But when her results come back with a 98% match to a Dr. River Peña, none other than the sexy and brooding CEO of the company, she’s a little hesitant to actually rely on this set of numbers. Come on, she had met this guy before- this stuck-up, unemotional package of a man was definitely not her soulmate.
However, after a meeting with the company, she makes a deal. Get to know one another in the public’s eye, and she will get paid, and for a broke mama- that sounds like a great plan. And after starting to get to know the real Dr. Peña, she starts to realize just how much trust she should put in genetic statistics.

Like I said, I LOVED this book. Jess is incredible. She’s thoughtful, ferocious, a true genius, and knows her worth. She’s everything you could ask for in a empowering character.
River is a great love interest: moody, mysterious, and compassionate. The two share a love of numbers and so much more, and the bonds formed are realistic and steady.
The side characters are also all interesting, I want to be best friends with Jess’ best friend. I want to talk with her daughter and read the paper with her grandpa.
All in all- every character has a purpose, and were so wonderfully written that they feel like real people whom you may know.

The plot- oh WOAH. As someone that is horrible at all things STEM, I was nervous on reading something that was so heavily reliant on that very subject. But the whole story came out interesting and intriguing. It’s opened my eyes to what numbers and genetics truly are, and I can’t help but wonder at the possibilities of this ever actually becoming a thing.
There is literally nothing I would change about this story, I loved every single part of it.

All-in-all: if you like fake-dating-enemies-to-lovers tropes, with a heroine that stands up for what she believes in and a love interest that makes you swoon, then I HIGHLY recommend you check out this book.
It’s absolutely amazing and I will never stop gushing about it.

((Thank you to Netgalley and Gallery Books for the ARC in return of an honest review