Member Reviews
Oh man.
I really enjoyed this. One of my favorite shows I've watched this year on Netflix was called The One and it was about scientists finding a DNA strand that predicts your soulmate.
So this gave me the same vibes, but instead of a mysterious aura, it's a cute romance and I loved every minute of this book.
I absolutely loved this book! I finished in all in a single day and then had a major book hangover afterwards. I love that the concept of the novel, the idea of a dating service that matches you with your soulmate based on your DNA. The character felt real and swoon-worthy and I loved how the main character, Jess, had her priorities in order as a single mom.
Another cute one from one of my favorite writing duos, Christina Lauren! I've really liked their recent releases but I've just got one tiny complain: the heat isn't there as much as their older works. Oh, for sure, they've got the plot and the characters that are interesting enough to read about. But one of the things that first drew me to them is how hot yet tasteful they write sex scenes. I haven't had that from them in a while, and I hope it makes a comeback in future books.
*sigh* This book! This book has ruined me for the better part of 2 weeks. No book I've picked up since has measured up,
Jess and River's story had all the elements I look for in a romance book--relatable and interesting characters, laugh out loud humor, range in emotions, explosive chemistry and a growing and obvious connection . Add to that a unique premise (DNA-based dating app???!!) and you got yourself a sweet, slow-building yet steamy romance that will have you invested in the romance from beginning to end.
I loved Jess! As a single mother of three daughters, I could relate to her feeling overwhelmed and putting her life on hold while she focused solely on making ends meet and raising her kid. I loved getting to know her and seeing her grow and open herself up to the possibility of finding romance with River. *grin* Oh River! So sexy in his reserved and quiet ways. I loved watching him fall head over heels over Jess, Especially since he came across as stoic and unaffected when he was anything but that. He and Jess seemed so different at first sight but as he story progressed it was clear to see that they complemented each other very well. I loved it! And their chemistry? Well, that was amazing too. Slow-burning and explosive once it was set ablaze. Stolen looks, casual touches, sparks and everything else!
I enjoyed how the authors went about presenting the whole DNA-based dating app premise. I appreciated the fact that the authors managed to explain the ins and out while avoiding dragging the story down. It was quite interesting and I found myself enjoying the detailed information. I also enjoyed how they went about bringing Jess and River together once they matched. Each of their "public encounters' served to enhance their connection and add fuel to their chemistry. Well done ladies!
All in all, a fantastic romance from beginning to end.
I am new to Christina Lauren's books and this is only my 3rd one. I was not at all disappointed with the book. I found the premise to be completely original and the storyline was executed very well. I am always amazed by the fact that 2 authors can write such a concise story. I loved the characters in this book so much. the secondary characters were important to the story and just as lovable. I was rooting for Jess., River, and Juno the whole time. I definitely recommend this book to fans of Christina Lauren and fans of contemporary romance.
This book is adorable, witty, and steamy! I’m not a big romance reader but I greatly enjoyed this lighthearted read. The story is smart and unique and the main characters are all perfectly developed, realistic, and like-able. The banter between Jess and her best friend, Fizzy, had me laughing out loud while the chemistry between Jess and River left me coming back for more. Yes, there are some cliches but they worked well for this one. I highly recommend it for anyone looking a quick, fun read! Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for providing me with an e-galley in exchange for an honest review!!
Christina Lauren have always been a favourite to read which is why I was looking forward to reading this book so much. The premise sounded interesting and it is, but everything else fell flat. The characters though were fleshed out well enough, felt like they lacked some depth. The story and the way it moved forward was sort of stagnant and I didn't feel myself super involved in the relationship or the transformation of the brooding male character into this amazing lover. The side characters were nice, however, again, I feel like it lacked something.
Still going to go back to the authors but I'm starting to feel a little wary.
Great concept, but the execution was a bit of a miss for me. It was a little predictable at times, unfortunately the characters chemistry was my big problem for this one.
First and foremost, thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for an e-galley of The Soulmate Equation.
Where to begin? This is quite possibly one of my favorite Christina Lauren books. From the quirky characters who had me laughing out loud, to the sharp wit of Felecity, I loved this book from start to finish!
Jess is a single mom of a seven year old daughter. She is well into her routine - get up, feed Juno and get her to school, then meet her best friend and romance writer Felecity at the local coffee shop for a day of work. She has no time for dating, much less online dating.
Until she hears about GeneticAlly, a new dating program that matches people based off of their DNA. Jess submits her data on a whim after a rough night....and it turns out she has one of the highest matches the company has ever seen. A 98% compatibility - with the cofounder of the company.
With her world thoroughly tilted on it's axis, Jess embarks on a cautious journey to see if true love can really be found.
I really liked the concept of this book! A matching app based on science to match you up with someone you’re genetically compatible with. Another fun read from the CLo team!
This book might be the best one I've read in 2021. It's incredibly smart and creative and I just can't stop gushing. Would you believe that your soulmate is out there and you are just destined to be... based on a DNA test? This is what happens when Jess takes a DNA "matchmaking" test on a lark and matches almost perfectly with the chief scientist of the app... someone who she has interacted with before and is not a fan of. However, most of the book is River and Jess asking if they are really truly falling in love with each other or if they are just leaning into their results. As someone who met her husband through a dating site that matched us on so many similar dimensions, this really hit home. LOVE this book so much. Thanks for the ARC, Netgalley!
The Soulmate Equation is chock full of lively characters who spark off the page, from Jess herself to her daughter, Juno, and her eccentric but loveable best friend, Fizzy. And Dr. River Peña, of course.
I really enjoyed living in Jess’ perspective, seeing her juggle the risks of a new relationship sourced from unlikely circumstances and raising her daughter on her own. For all that I wasn’t sure I’d be able to relate to her, seeing as I am zero percent a mother, she and Juno both are written so vibrantly and realistically that I couldn’t help but fall in love with their mother-daughter bond.
The side characters are a ton of fun, as well, and the plot kept me guessing enough that I was muttering anxiously to my fiancé while reading — a sure sign that I’m enjoying myself. Since romances can be a bit formulaic, I like not being positive where things are headed, so this was a fun change for me.
I will say there was one side plot that felt a little rushed and not fully developed to me, involving Jess’ relationship with her own mother. There were so many characters and conflicts to choose from that it became difficult for all of them to be fully fleshed out, and I felt this one aspect of the book fell a little flat for me personally.
That didn’t, however, hamper my overall enjoyment of the book. A solid read from start to finish!
This was a really cute story! I really loved both Jess and River. I think there was a little TOO much science talk but overall I really enjoyed it.
What if the person you are destined to be with dislikes you? Dr. River Pena is developing a potentially multimillion dating app and he is surprised when he matches with Jessica, a woman who wants nothing to do with him.
I loved the The Soulmate Equation, it is a delightful surprise. It is an intoxicating, sweet and funny story filled with tender looks and two science geeks who like working with numbers more than people.
River and Jessica are very smart and they appear confident but are vulnerable and often uncomfortable around people and social situations. They are perfect for each other, but it takes them a while to figure it out. I liked everything about this slow burn story filled with scorching looks and captivating characters.
River is a rigid, uptight, perfectionist who doesn’t have time to date. At first, he seems arrogant, but as the story unfolds it is easy to see, he is a nice guy who is distracted and in his head a lot. River has been working on a dating app for years and is excited that it will finally be ready for the open market and that is all he can think about, until he meets Jessica.
Jessica’s life is the exact opposite from River’s. She is a freelance statistician and a single mother trying her best to do it all. She is so busy, she never has a moment to indulge herself and she certainly doesn't have time to date.
I adored the characters in this story. Both River and Jess stole my heart; they are nerds and perfect for each other, even though they find each other in an unconventional way. Their story is uplifting and I wanted River and Jessica to get the HEA they deserve. I think the writing in The Soulmate Equation is flawless and the plot is refreshing. This feel good story has some entertaining secondary characters which add to the story. I wholeheartedly endorse The Soulmate Equation.
What if you could find the one by testing your DNA? This book is charming and another hit from Christina Lauren. I actually enjoyed this one more than their last book. Jess Davis and River Pena's meet cute is the opposite of cute. They butt heads at first. When the founder of GeneticAlly, River Pena, discovers that he and Jess scored a 98% together, he starts singing a different tune.
This was a unique set-up to a romcom and I really enjoyed it. I think the beginning was slow to start but once Jess and River decide to at least explore the possibility of each other, it picks up. Jess's daughter Juno is actually quite likeable and I loved that she and River would call each other by their first and middle names. I found myself fully immersed in the story and thought that Jess and River had really good natural chemistry. They fall into a relationship so well that you almost forget they didn't get along in the beginning! While the conflict is a little frustrating, the weakest part of the story is actually when Jess's mom takes part in the story. I just didn't care for it and wanted to get back to the relationship aspect of the book.
If you're a fan of Christina Lauren's books then I would definitely recommend this one too.
Data analyst, Jess, submits her DNA sample to a dating service and finds her "perfect" match River, a guy she simply loathes. Will Jess allow science to dictate her life? Will Jess and River find love?
This book was super cute, and the dialogue was funny and real. It was predictable in many ways, but it was funky and cool. The Soulmate Equation also had imperfect characters (which I am always a sucker for). However, the first 75% of the book was really strong, and the last 25% was just eh. Some of the dialogue with Fizz appeared a little forced, and I would have skimmed these sections on a second read through.
Overall, a very solid romantic book!
Christina Lauren does it again with an incredibly strong release that will feel both familiar and fresh. While I’m not usually a fan of romance novels with kids central to the story, this book swept me away anyway with an extremely well-written child and likable, compelling characters. The science central to the story provided a real unique story backdrop, and the competence of both characters endeared them both to me. This is definitely one of my favorite Christina Lauren books. Highly recommend!
I’ve been in a reading slump lately because my life has been very busy, and this book got me out of it. I tore through it in two days and I enjoyed it all the way through. The premise of finding love based on data is as enticing as it is timely. The character development is what I have begun to expect from Christina Lauren - thoughtful and believable. I want love like the love in this novel.
Thank you, Christina Lauren for a fabulous read!! I have to admit her last few books have been "meh," but this one is a homerun!! I love the storyline, the characters, and the ending! Excellent job!
This was a four star rating. I liked the plot and the characters. I liked the fact that this was a dating site book but it tried to be different from Tinder. Thank you Netgalley and publishers for allowing me the chance to read this book.