A Chinese herbalist who specializes in herbal teas for healing and a rock cellist find real love while fake dating in Lauren Kung Jessen’s Yin Yang Love Song.

Along the way, the story explores themes of burnout, broken hearts, family, traditions, and healing. 

It’s another cozy love story from Kung Jessen, perfect to read when you want to slow down for a bit and wrap up in a warm blanket with a steaming cup of tea.

While I sometimes find Eunice Wong’s narration to be tense in audiobooks, her tone softens as the book progresses here, capturing Chryssy’s experience well. When I pick up a Lauren Kung Jessen book, I know I’m in for a calm, cozy experience, and Eric Yang’s narration successfully fits that bill.

I received an advance copy of the audiobook from Hachette Audio. All review opinions are my own.

4 stars.

Lauren Kung Jessen's "Yin Yang Love Song" is excellent! Jessen is the queen of slow-burning romances. What she lacks in open-door spice, she makes up for in yearning and pining and a terrifically emotional bond between her characters. Chryssy and Vin find themselves in a fake-dating scheme that will both benefit them for one reason or another. They both have their respective histories with broken hearts, so they enter into this agreement very cautiously. Eventually over time, their feelings become very, very real. The dynamic between Chryssy and Vin is awesome. They have good conversations and even some banter with each other. I like how they both compliment one another well despite their hardened exteriors because of heartbreak/love/ a generational curse. Chinese medicine and Chinese-American cultural elements also play characters in this story. I feel learned a lot about traditional Chinese medicine and herbs, what is used to help specific ailments, etc. There's not a lot of drama in this story, so it's relatively low stakes. The dual narration from Eunice Wong and Eric Yang is absolutely stellar, one of the best audiobooks I have listened to in quite some time. They bring these characters to life in a fantastic way, complimenting each other well in their back-and-forth story.

Thank you to NetGalley, Lauren Kung Jessen, Hachette Audio, and Forever for the complimentary ALC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.

Thank you to NetGalley & Hachette Audio for this audio e-arc of Yin Yang Love Song.

This cute and cozy contemporary romance was exactly what I needed to break up my TBR.

Chryssy is a Traditional Chinese herbalist, working at a family inn specialising in healing heartbreak and is poised to launch their own herbalist brand. Vin is part of a cello-rock duo, with a reputation for being a heart breaker.

I loved the family connections for both Chryssy & Vin, and how it affected their current relationships.
The romance was cute but it didn't have a lot of depth. I would have loved to see their relationship slowly blossom a bit more.

I really appreciated Jessen avoiding the third act break up.
Audiobook narrators Eunice Wong and Eric Yang do a good job of bringing out their sarcastic banter, but at times it did get a bit flat.

3.5 *
Read for:
* slow burn
* not spicy
* fake dating
* dual POV narration

3.5/5

I am truly a huge Lauren fan and I absolutely adore her work; however, this one didn't live up to the expectation of her last books.

I always love how she weaves Chinese mythology throughout and makes it the core focal point of the novel. The whole idea of a cursed line of women with the main . The familial meddling was such a fun aspect to this novel. I loved how specific each woman in Chryssy's family was and I really enjoyed that Lauren spent the time highlighting that while not losing sight of the main relationship between Chryssy and Vin.

I really enjoyed Chryssy's character growth over the course of the novel. She gets hit with some pretty life alternating realizations that directly clash with her believe in love. The way she reacted, gave herself a moment, and then moved on to help the greater good of her family, really made me respect her as a FMC.

I also really liked the Chao Brothers!!! I thought that their dynamic and conflict really heightened the conflict and effortlessly engrained itself into the main plot.

Overall, I truly did like this, but it did fall a little flat for me. (I just love The Red String Theory wayyyy too much; sue me)

Thank you Forever Publishing, Lauren Kung Jessen, and Netgalley for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I just read Lunar Love a few weeks ago so when I saw a Lauren Kung Jessen book pop up on NetGalley, I instantly requested it!

And I’m so thankful because I’m now officially a stan. The way Kung Jessen writes is so easy to read yet still so entertaining that you’re just drawn in. Like Lunar Love, I finished Yin Yang Love Song within 24 hours. I love that these are stories that are so like the usual beloved rom coms all over the market (this one including a great fake dating plot) but they’re also jam packed with Chinese traditions and cultural lessons! I think even non Chinese readers can relate to how important and impactful the characters’s culture is to them. Kung Jessen is sharing what’s important and impactful to her in a familiar way that is easy to connect with and oh so enjoyable and entertaining!

Thank you again to the author, Hachette Audio, and NetGalley for the Audio eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed being back in Lauren Kung Jessen's world! I love how she carefully crafts family dynamics with amazing leading ladies and swoony love interests.

The flower names for the entire family was so charming, and their family business was really interesting.

however.........I hate to say it but as far as fake dating books go, this one was just okay. They gave me pretty strong friend vibes and I think their relationship bloomed nicely however it just all felt veryyyyyyyy friendly instead of romantic. Not my fave by LKJ, but I am certainly still going to pick up her next book!

3 Stars

I was really excited for Yin Yang Love Song—a fake dating romance with Chinese traditions and a supposed family curse? That sounded like such a fun setup. But unfortunately, the characters just didn’t click for me. Chrissy and Bao Vin Chao felt unlikable in a way that made it hard to root for them, and their chemistry was seriously lacking. I kept waiting for a moment where they’d finally convince me they belonged together, but it never happened. The cultural elements and the idea of a retreat center for the brokenhearted were interesting, but the romance itself just didn’t work for me.

I wanted to enjoy Yin Yang Love Song, but some cheesy moments were hard to get past. It seemed like the two main characters disliked each other and then immediately fell in love with a lack of chemistry. The plot was not well developed and arcs in the story seemed forced. It felt like an infomercial for acupuncture. While I enjoyed the multiple-cast narration, there were monotone parts and I felt my mind drifting.

2/5 Stars

Thank you Netgalley for the Arc of the Audiobook in exchange for my unbiased review.

A charming and cozy rom-com featuring some of my favourite tropes—fake dating, close proximity and celebrity dating. Chryssy, a love-cursed Traditional Chinese Medicine herbalist whose work heals the brokenhearted, agrees to fake date rock star cellist prodigy Vin Chao who, along with his fellow cellist brother Leo, are renown for being heartbreakers. Vin needs to cause another splashy tabloid heartbreak to sell out their next upcoming world tour, while Chryssy is launching a new tea business and could use the boost in publicity from dating a mega celebrity.
The story is told in dual perspectives alternating between Chryssy and Vin. This feel-good story was more of a slow burn, focusing on love, personal growth and healing. It did take me a little while to get through because the pace was quite slow, but the journey was worth it in the end. Bonus note: I adored Chryssy’s family.
The audio production of the book was done well. I always love a production with multiple narrators and Euinice Wong and Eric Yang did a fabulous job bringing Chryssy and Vin to life.

Loved the dynamic of the fmc and mmc.
This was a slow read from the beginning but it got a bit better as the story progress but all in all it was a nice read

Thank you @readforeverpub for the #gifted ARC of YIN YANG LOVE SONG by Lauren Kung Jessen (out Tuesday January 29, just in time for Lunar New Year). They also provided a copy of the ALC.It's a romance that is 1st person, dual POV.

Chrysanthemum (Chryssy) and Vin both have reasons to enter in a fake dating arrangement. Vin, a rock star cellists known for breaking hearts, needs to sell concert tickets for his next world tour. (Someone(s) at Forever must have a thing for cellists). Chryssy, a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner, needs help promoting her family's upcoming tea line. However, this is more than the two of them falling in love, and navigating their feelings. It's each of them working through past heartbreak, trauma, and opening themselves to possibilities once they are able to see and feel things clearly.

This is now my favorite LKJ novel. Can we please get a story for Leo? If not a full novella, at least a bonus story? He deserves an HEA.

In regards to the audio, both Eunice Wong, and Eric (or is it Erik?) Yang are new/newish to me narrators*, though both have extensive audio credits. I enjoyed listening to them narrate, and they each brought just the right amount of worry and anxiety to their respective characters.

Love, curses, and new beginnings! This book was full of Lauren Kung Jessen’s signature Chinese traditions. I have learned so much from reading her books. I really enjoyed the focus on self care and ways to help fight stress and burnout.

I enjoyed the dual POV! It was great to get both Vin and Chryssy’s POVs! I thought the premise of a heartbreaker musician and a traditional heartbreak healer getting together was unique. I found all of the characters to be likable. I definitely enjoyed all of the different flower names in Chryssy’s family!

I recommend reading this book if you enjoy Chinese traditions, love, and clean romance. Looking forward to reading more from Lauren Kung Jessen n the future!

I read 33% of this and tried both audio and ebook versions and I was bored out of my mind the entire time. I felt no connection at all to the characters, and they didn't connect to each other either, which is all I want in a romance.

I'm so disappointed because I LOVED Red String Theory and was hoping to fall for this one as well.

Chrissy is flat and detached and cynical. Vin is flat and detached and jaded. They felt more like acquaintances, but they had such a tight rein on their emotions that the "romantic" parts just felt stilted.

The audiobook narrators did a good job with what they were given, but couldn't really improve on it. I didn't mind their voices but the characters were so flat there was no bringing them to life. They were just... there.

*Thanks to Forever and Hachette Audio for providing an early copy for review.

I didn't expect to love this book, but I actually didddddd! Like, it's awesome, very cozy, full of talk about teas and Chinese medicine. Packed with likeable characters and an undramatic, blooming - pun intended - relationship between a musician and a girl who wants to help others get over heartbreak. This was GOOOD. Vin is absolute bookboyfriend material, showing up for his girl when she needs him.

Thank you very much for the ARC to the publisher, the writer and Netgalley!

Such a charming closed door romance with authentic insight into the Chinese-American community experience. When main characters Chrissy Hua Williams and Vin Chao get together with some fake dating, they have to navigate not only their own insecurities and demanding work lives, but also for him, some issues with his ability to hold a relationship and for Chryssy a century old curse that prevents her from having a long term love affair. Their relationship is a slow burn and closed door, and to be honest, almost secondary to the exploration of the impact of the curse. This was an entertaining introduction to Traditional Chinese Medicine and how helpful it can be - for not only physical illnesses but also emotions like a broken heart.

I loved the TCM and all the information about food and flowers and engaging with the natural world, along with the impact of stress on relationships and the importance of family.

I listened to the audiobook - so capably narrated by Eunice Wong and Eric Yang. They were both busy - especially with the female voices as they had to navigate Chryssy’s mother and three aunts. Eunice did an amazing job of both making them distinct and giving them expression - the aunties are quite feisty so she was busy! Eric Yang had both Vin and his broken hearted brother to wrestle with. The US pronunciation of ‘erbs’ and ‘erbal’ (with no ‘h’ sound) was jarring - especially when there were hearts and ‘erbs together. Also, wouldn't it be wonderful to have some cellos playing!

If I had a quibble it’s that Chryssy is all light and no shade. She’s beautiful, wise, patient, humble, thoughtful, loyal …. and on it goes. I was waiting for her character flaws to come into play but there weren’t any apparently, and she was so fond of the ‘teachable moment’, which wore a little thin. Vin had more nuance and more to let go of, so endearing!

Book: 🌟🌟🌟
Audio: 🌟🌟🌟🌟

Thank you Lauren Kung Jessen, Hachette Audio and NetGalley for the audio ARC. Opinions are my own.

Look, this book has a great message, but I had a hard time staying engaged in the story. I had a hard time believing that this cellist could be considered "famous" in the mainstream media and also to be known as this bad boy heartbreaker. I had a hard time buying into the whole 'curse' aspect and the narrator's voice was a bit too soothing. I loved the messaging towards the end in regards to the curse. A lot of times we believe a story that isn't always true and the story comes true because we believe it will. That being said I have liked this author's backlist and will definitely keep picking up her books. This one just wasn't for me.

Read if you like a fake dating celebrity romance with a dual POV.

Lauren Kung Jessen, the author you are! I am so glad I saved this highly-anticipated new release for a little Valentine’s Eve reading. It was impossible to stop reading! Chryssy and Vin, I adore you. I am a sucker for fake dating and the trope was able to really shine here. This retired elementary school cellist fell for the romance, story, humor, emotion, and prose. Thank you to NetGalley for the ALC!

I will read anything that LKJ writes. I love the way she incorporates Chinese culture into her books. As a first-generation Asian American, I loved being able to connect to her characters and relating to my culture!

The narrators for this book were perfect for their characters. Yin Yang Love Story is about Chryssy Hua Williams, an herbalist at her family's healing retreat, and Van Chao, a famous cellist. It's an interesting premise....she's given up on love + thinks she is cursed and he is a heartbreaker. So what happens?! Guess you'll have to listen and find out!

Thank you NetGalley and Hachette Audio | Forever for the ALC of this title. I enjoyed listening to this book!

I love me the "fake dating" trope, so this was perfect! I truly enjoyed the musical metaphors throughout this. I also loved the family "curse" and how the family went about it. I think it was beautiful written and truly made me fall in love with the two main characters plus all of the aunties. It's beautifully done and a wonderful book! I loved that this had dual narrators to portray the male and female characters. It truly added depth and made me enjoy it even more!

I received this book in audiobook format from NetGalley and Hachette Audio (Forever) to listen/review. All of the statements above are my true opinions after fully reading this book.

While I enjoyed parts of this book, I have a few things that didn’t really work for me. I didn’t feel chemistry between the characters. Chryssy and Vin felt like polar opposites to their core and it was hard for me to imagine them working. I also had a hard time with the pacing, it felt very sporadic.

I thoroughly enjoyed the TCM aspect, and I thought Chryssy and her family were sweet together. The bit about her family’s “curse” was interesting. I would still recommend this book, it just wasn’t for me. I plan to read the author’s other books as well!