This book is both fun and heartfelt. It explores tradition versus modernity, cultural identity, and what role love plays in it all. There’s a lot of miscommunication and some deception here, if those are dealbreakers for you. I really enjoyed the family and community aspects of the story, which deepened it. Be ready to smile and sob while reading this.

MY HEART!!! I don't know how to eloquently write this review, because I haven't had a 5 star book in a while, so bear with me!

1. WOW! Loved this. Read it. If that's all you take from this review, read it!
2. Lauren Kung Jessen - you are a gem! Loved your writing. Loved your characters. LOVED reading about my city - you nailed it down to the Dodger Dogs and Fisherman's Village in MDR!
3. The cultural representation with our two Hapa main characters - loved, loved, loved! I loved learning more about the Chinese culture with the zodiac at the core of the romance here. So fun, so different, so meaningful!
4. Po Po. She was the unsung hero in this book. Everyone has that matriarchal figure in their life. Whether blood relative or found in our life's journey. I think we can all resonate with and take a lot from Po Po. I loved her. I loved her feisty spirit!
5. The romance between Olivia and Bennett felt very real and very 2023. I loved the tug of war they both felt with their cultural ties, the need to be modern, but the desire to stay traditional.

This was just such a special, surprising read. I received this ARC on NetGalley months ago and I kept picking it up, then setting it down. I don't know why. I kept being called back to it and I am so glad I finally just committed, because this book is special, and packs a punch of knowledge if you're willing to set it down and google from time to time! Thank you so much to Jessen and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for this copy in exchange for my honest review. I Freaking LOVED it!!

PS I am a Rabbit - what is your Chinese Zodiac sign?!

I was so excited to try out this new romcom debut, the premise and cover art both had me very intrigued.

I love seeing representation of different identities and experiences in books. This read provided two main characters who were Chinese American, a later generation of American (as in not first gen), and were biracial. Additionally some great insight into the zodiac and Chinese culture was also represented.

I think that it’s exciting to see and read about these things in books. I also think that the message of the complexities of identity, culture, family, heritage and feeling “Asian enough” (or whatever your background is ‘enough’) will resonate for many.

While I loved the representation and the idea behind the book, I didn’t quite connect with the story and characters the way I would have hoped to. I was expecting a enemies to lovers / rivalry type romance, but it didn’t truly come across the way - rather the rivalry felt a bit one sided and Olivia came across as a bit unlikeable at times and singleminded. Bennett was nice but he didn’t really bring much to the table for me to stand out from any other nice romantic interest.

With my lack of connection to the storyline and characters I didn’t end up as invested as I hoped.
Overall it was still a decent read, and I still think it deserves plenty of props for the representation and the fact that it raised a great and though provoking element in terms of belonging and identity.

Thank you to Forever Books for the opportunity to read an early copy! All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and freely offered. 💜

I read this title as part of my book club choice for January and I’m grateful to the publisher for my review copy through NetGalley.

I loved this book so much. The characters are witty; they felt so real and much more; they have flows. Flowed characters are always a big plus in my books and I loved discovering their thoughts throughout the story and see them overcome their insecurities and mistakes.

The podcast was a nice addition to the romance scene. I praised Liv for wanting to preserve her grandmother’s beliefs and business. The online dating is not something that I have done myself, but it sounds scary currently even if the stories are in most part ones with a happily ever after.

I loved how Bennett is so different from what I was expecting him to be and how he treats Liv has definitely won a star for being one of the best book boyfriends. He is the nerdy guy that also has feelings and patience with others. He believes in his work and his website and the way they are created.

I think the story was perfect for a great romance and I’ve learned a few things about a culture that I knew little before. I felt bad that the author had to show some misconceptions that people have, but unfortunately that’s real and it is a topic that needs to be discussed more in my opinion.

Beautiful, smart and addictive romance book.

Thank you to Forever and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

CW: cheating (past relationship), death of a grandparent

I loved the writing in this book. Light, frothy and just soft. Olivia is taking over the family matchmaking business, entirely reliant on compatibility and the Chinese Zodiac. I enjoyed watching Olivia figure out her life. Her place in the family business, what to really expect out of love and matchmaking, and what compatibility really looks like. As someone who is on dating apps (and hating them) I appreciated how stubborn Olivia was in assuming compatibility when making her matches.

Don't pick this book up without a snack. The wonderful dive into Chinese culture, being bi-racial, and taking a risk on love with someone who on paper doesn't look like a match was lovely. Bennett was a soft and lovely LI who added some wonderful twists and turns as these two accidentally fell in love with each other.

Steam: 1

I had high hopes for this one as the premise is super cute- two matchmakers (Olivia and Bennett) go head-to-head over who has the better Chinese astrology based dating match system. Falling in love ensues. I struggled through this one though as I found Olivia to be unnecessarily rude, obstinate and immature. Additionally, this wasn't really an enemies to lovers romance it was more dislike that was one-sided, though there was definite sizzle from the MCs. The most interesting part was the Chinese astrology, and the description of the food. 3 and a half stars rounded down to a 3.

This had me at “enemies to lovers!” It’s definitely my favorite trope and all I need to see before wanting to give it a go. This was a fabulous debut by Lauren Kung Jessen!

Olivia is taking over the family business- matchmaking using the Chinese zodiac approach. She’s known as always the matchmaker but never has a match of her own. In her defense, she has a past that’s holding her back. Regardless, she’s about to take on a business that is struggling. Then she ends up running into this guy that she can’t stop thinking about, Bennett. Although, she doesn’t know that he’s going to be her rival. Bennett also runs a similar business but it’s an app. A dating app that uses the same technique but online.

There are some moments in this book that I felt some second-hand embarrassment for Liv. She’s kind of erratic at times but I understand why. She’s trying so hard to keep something afloat that looks impossible. I loved the idea that the love interests were enemies with the same career just new vs. old.

Bennett is definitely a swoon-worthy love interest. I was smitten with him right away and that never changes. In fact, he might have been my favorite character in this book. He and Liv had such great chemistry and I loved their love for keeping their culture alive. In fact, there is so much of their culture in this book and I loved learning about it! One of my favorite things is that the author includes recipes for some of the things they make in the book! I actually might try and make them!

Overall, this was such a sweet and romantic read. I really enjoyed my time with it and highly recommend it if you need a good romance or palette cleanser! There are a lot of cultural aspects and it will make you hungry!!

Many thanks to Netgalley & Forever for an e-arc to review. All thoughts and opinions are my own!

Thank you Forever (GCP) & NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book!

I requested this novel because I absolutely love reading #OwnVoices and seeing more Asian representation in the romance genre. Lunar Love follows Liv, a matchmaker who is reluctant to fall in love herself, who takes over the family business... only to find out that a start-up app ZodiaCupid turning out to be stiff competition. Not to mention that the head of the company is Bennett O'Brien. When their companies go head-to-head, their attraction to each other intensifies.

Liv and Bennett are such a wonderful couple (even if she's a horse and he's a rat!); they challenge each other and are able to explore the depths of their Chinese culture together. I loved reading about Liv's relationship with her Po Po - the best character of the story. The descriptions of the food were spot-on and I appreciate the accurate depictions of the LA food scene! This story was so wholesome, and it reminds us that the best matches may transcend tradition.

I can't wait for more readers to get their hands on this on January 10!

✨ PRINCEMAN REVIEW ✨

Do opposites really attract? Do you think opposites are a good basis for a relationship?

I thought about that a lot while reading Lunar Love. This book also made me consider family traditions, and blending those with what you make as your own. Hands down, this was a phenomenal read, and I predict it will be one of the hottest romances of 2023!

📝 Olivia has waited her entire life to take over Lunar Love, her grandmother's matchmaking business. They focus on the "traditional' approach of using Zodiacs to determine compatible matches. She doesn't have the time to make a match of her own until she randomly meets Bennett at the bakery. Unfortunately, he just also happens to be the creator of ZodiaCupid, a matchmaking app that threatens to take away Olivia's business. They go head to head in a winner takes all fashion: match each other, and whoever falls in love first, LOSES!

What I 🤍:
📚 Perfect Book Club Selection
🐉 Chinese Zodiac Matchmaking🥊 Workplace Rivals
🎙️ HILARIOUS Banter
💕 Adorable Family Bonds
🥯 Delicious Food (That Makes You Hungry)

I knew this book was going to be special when I read Jessen's dedication. I immediately flipped to her author's note, and it was just as impactful. This a love story to all mixed race Chinese Americans. Jessen mentions how growing up, she didn't see herself represented in many books or shows. It's also about how in families, we have to merge traditions, but also adapt them into our own so we can keep these alive. She was so thoughtful with her words, and I felt how much heart she put into writing this story.

I adored the characters in this book. They were all so easy to love, and to root for. I also loved all the Chinese American culture, themes of family, and growth. This will be a book I keep thinking about, and will reread in the future.

Prince's Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Passion: 🔥 (Kisses)
Read If ➡️: You want a romance unlike any other!
Read 📅: Fall-Winter

If you need a book for a Book Club, this is the PERFECT choice! At the end of the book, Jessen provides a detailed 'Reading Group Guide' along with several discussion questions to talk about after reading her book.

🌟Lunar Love comes out January 10th! 🌟

Thank you so much to Forever Publishing, Lauren Kung Jessen and Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book.

Please note, my review will be posted to my instagram account (@lifewithprinceman) soon!

3.5 stars (rounded up)!

"Lunar Love" by Lauren Kung Jessen is a rivals-to-lovers about Liv and Bennett. Liv has just been offered the reins at her family's business, Lunar Love, a decades-old, longstanding, highly regarded matchmaking service that matches participants based on their zodiac signs and their subsequent traits. It has floundered a bit in recent years as they have resisted changes in technology and modernization. Bennett is an entrepreneur who has just created a more hip, new matchmaking app. The two of them keep bumping into each other before they know they are "workplace" rivals. With so many things going against them, including incompatible zodiac signs, can Liv and Bennett coexist in the same workspace? It's obvious they have feelings for one another, so can they get over their hang-ups and create a future together?

This is a solid debut from author Lauren Kung Jessen. I loved the representation from an OWN Voice, and I learned a lot reading "Lunar Love." I found myself researching the Chinese language, cooking, traditions, customs, and the zodiac long after I finished this book. There are many aspects of this story I liked, and a few I didn't. I like how Lauren Kung Jessen keeps readers guessing. I loved Liv's relationship with her family, especially her Po Po. Their mutual love of cooking is one I resonated with. It's something my mother-in-law and I bonded over while she was still alive. I thought Liv and Bennett mostly had great chemistry with one another. I did not like that Liv's deceptions dragged on for as long as they did. Bennett was too sweet for all of that! Also, Liv is crazy stubborn, and it rubbed me the wrong way. A little stubbornness is good, but not as much as her! Sheesh! This book is sweet, though it has a little bit of language. I had to keep reminding myself how old these characters were because they didn't always act their age. Though the conclusion is fine, the book feels very top-heavy and the ending feels rushed.

Thank you to NetGalley, Lauren Kung Jessen, and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for providing me with an ARC copy of this book! All opinions are my own, and I was not compensated for my review.

Lunar Love was such a sweet story that definitely reminded me of classic romcoms. I loved the focus on family and personal connections, and the conversations on being a mixed race person of color and the identity struggles that come with that.

This was a very strong debut from Lauren Kung Jessen and I will for sure be checking out her future works!

I read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This was a good read. There were a couple of touching moments at the end, however, nothing that really made me love the main character Olivia. Maybe it was her attitude towards Bennett and her blinders when it came to 'incompatibility.'

I waited until closer to new years to read this, given it would be better for mood reading, and boy was I right!

What I loved:
- representation of my culture, especially what my kids go through
- the food... So much about the food
- thought provoking in terms of traditional vs modern match making, with apps
- the importance of family and love... I loved the close relationship that Olivia had with her grandmother, and her pride in the business

Spoiler alert




What I am unsure about:
- Olivia's stubborn tie to the traditional, which is sooooo glaring and repeated so much that it got annoying after awhile... It almost came off that the traditional compatibility focus was so wrong, which wasn't the point
- Pacing... Parts of it in the beginning tended to move slower based on some of the descriptions provided and other parts of the story. I think it eventually was important in introducing characters and dynamics but I think it could have been shortened

Overall, this was a low angst, clean romance read with some great characters that you can't help rooting for, along with some laughs and swoons. Be prepared to leave hungry for Chinese food... Especially pastries.

Steam: 🔥
Heart Flutters: ❤️❤️
Comfort Food Porn: 🤤🤤🤤

Lunar Love by Lauren Kung Jessen is a cute enemies to lovers romance.

Olivia is now in charge of her grandmother's matchmaking business thatbeen around for 50 years that is based on the Chinese zodiac. When a new dating app starts that's around the same thing she's worried about her family's legacy.

This was a fun read and I loved reading about the Chinese traditions and food throughout the book but I wasn't a fan of Olivia at all. She was immature and so stubborn that it wasn't cute. Also the whole deception angle wasn't for me. Once they realized who each other was and the witty banter started it was more enjoyable. I also liked how this book looks at the challenges of being mixed race around culture and belonging.

I am glad I picked this book to start off 2023 with! I absolutely loved this sweet book with clever and funny banter. The enemies to lovers trope was done well (business competition and more like a frenemy to lover). There is self growth, sweet moments and lots of family traditions and culture. What a great book and if you picked this as your Book of the Month pick, I hope you enjoy it too!

“I save my best words for talking about you.”
😍loved || 💗low steam
🤟banter, family, sweet
📚The Soulmate Equation by Christina Lauren
🎶Mastermind by Taylor Swift

Matchmaking rivals! Yes. I was so eager to dive into this story and at first I liked it. An MC in her villain era! I was here for it. But as time went on I found it difficult to believe Liv ran a company. She was so immature and didn’t seem to know anything about business. She was so set on ruining him and he seemed so naive that it felt unrealistic. The reasons given for her behavior felt flimsy. I was hoping for something that made me really feel for her and showed why she was that ruthless. The answer was umm….underwhelming. The ending was cliche, predictable and didn’t show growth for either of them. Not a bad read, but had the potential to be so much more.

Thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for the ARC.

If you enjoyed You’ve Got Mail, you will love this book! What an enjoyable and fun debut novel! I love the rivals-to-lovers trope and really enjoyed learning about Chinese culture and food. Olivia and Bennett’s dynamic was so entertaining! I loved their chemistry, their banter, and ways they both challenged one another. I can’t wait to see what Lauren Kung Jessen writes next!

4.25 stars!

Thank you@netgalley and @readforeverpub for the early copy

Grab your copy 1/10/23!

A rivals-to-lovers, opposites attract romance that all starts with a meet cute over bakery buns.

I was thrilled to read a book that focuses on an aspect of my culture (Chinese Zodiac--hi, I'm an Ox!) but I'm so happy I enjoyed it!

Olivia and Bennett could not be more different. While Liv is focused on preserving tradition with her family's match making business, Bennett is an entrepreneur looking to modernize the Chinese Zodiac with his online dating app. Liv's actions lead her to make a bet with Bennett: they'll try to find a match for the other and whoever falls in love first, loses.

These two had some of the cutest interactions. Their bet brings them together time after time, we get to see them empathize with one another and slowly fall for the other. I adored both of these characters for their quirks as well as their faults.

Now the writing leaned a little stiff and the dialogue was a touch more formal than I expected, but there's heart as well as charm. There's also a didactic feel with little factoids and explanations about the Chinese Zodiac. Alongside this sweet slow-burn, the book tackles topics such as identity, imposter syndrome, compatibility, and of course traditional vs modernity. I was a touch annoyed with Liv and her juvenile antics, but Bennett later calls her out on it, and they work things out in the end.

Overall, this was charming and quite fun to read! This book will be published on January 10, 2023 and I highly recommend this to anyone and everyone.

CW: grandparent death

A solid debut from Lauren Kung Jessen! I loved learning so much about the Chinese Zodiac and watching Liv and Bennet bond and compete over their respective zodiac matchmaking services. The discussions of Liv and Bennet's biracial Chinese American identity and family upbringings were also thoughtfully included. I look forward to reading more works by Lauren Kung Jessen!

I really enjoyed this enemies to lovers romance! I think having a dating service based around the Chinese zodiac is really interesting and a great premise for a story. I thought Bennett and Olivia were great characters and their relationship was definitely entertaining. I had a such an awesome time with this book and learning more about Chinese culture along the way. Definitely recommend!