I had fun reading The Soulmate Equation. I loved Jess and River with a little bit of push and pull. This story line is different to what I am use to reading and I could not get over it. I was engrossed in this story that I may have stayed in PJs all weekend to finish this book.

Jess and River have an interesting start. I love the whole DNA match concept. This story had me laugh, made me wonder if Jess will find love, and then at the end I was a smiling book nerd. The Soulmate Equation is a new read that I definitely recommend!

I really enjoyed this one. The last book I had read from them was The Unhoneymooners which I also really enjoyed.
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Some highlights:
-single mom
-enemies to lovers / fake dating (a tiny bit)
-tension
-nerdy/shy/cinnamon roll hero
-an awesome bestie (who’s also an author)
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There’s a new app in town! Dr. River Peña (what a name!) has helped develop a new app that pairs you up using DNA! What?! I’m not going to go into how this is done in the book because it’s a lot of science-y words but there are different levels with Diamond being the top one and very rare. Freelance statistician, Jess Davis, and her best friend (an author), Fizzy, frequent a local coffee shop to get work done. Well Dr. River Peña who they nicknamed ‘Americano’ frequents the same coffee shop. One day they talk to him and he leaves behind a business card. Well they go in and end up sending in their own DNA (spit) to be tested for matches. Guess who matched with a 98%? River and Jess! They are then pushed together but they have to determine if what they feel is because of what they are supposed to feel or because it’s actually real.
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It did have some steam but it would turn to closed door once it was time to get it on! Ha. BUT I think it gave enough steam for people who both prefer to stay away from it and from those who like it. We all need a Fizzy (best friend) in our lives and using our dating (or non existent dating lives) for their books. She was a great friend and so was Jess’s family members. I loved the banter and tension River and Jess had. There were times that all the science talk lost me and there were parts that frustrated me but overall I really enjoyed this book!

The Soulmate Equation by Christina Lauren is a touching, sweet story. Dr. River Pena, sigh. Jess, a nice mama bear. This is another fun read.

Jess is raising her daughter, Juno, with the help of her grandparents. Dr. River Pena is about to take his groundbreaking tech company public. Neither has the time or interest in finding their special someone. That doesn't mean attraction can't happen. Every morning Jess looks forward to seeing When Jess's fun-loving, romance novel writing friend, Fizzy, talks her into accepting "Americano" River's invitation to try his matchmaking company. What's different about River's company is they use DNA find compatibility. Fizz, in her normal adventurous state, is excited to try it. Jess? Not so much.

When Jess is a near perfect match for River both their lives are turned on edge. River can really use the great publicity from the match to help with the IPO so he offers Jess a lot of money to date him. Jess needs the money and let's face it, even if she's no aware I'm positive she's motivated by her attraction to River. The two find they really enjoy each other. They really are a great match. Jess's daughter, Juno, loves River too. When scandal breaks can these two find their way? Can Jess learn to trust when she most needs to?

I always enjoy Lauren's books. They all have great characters, fun stories, great characters and keep me turning the pages. The Soulmate Equation had all this plus a nice amount of suspense to spice it up.

Thanks to NetGalley and Gallery Books for the ARC.

Good but not great. I found the first half hard to get through. Probably because I didn’t much care for Jess. I’m sure others will love it, but she just rubbed me the wrong way and made it hard for me to root for them. Juno was the best part of the book.
3.5 Stars

Find your “perfect match” using your DNA sounds like the plot of a Sunday night movie on cable and it reads that way too. The main characters don’t like each other very much and are both nerds. Hello enemies to lovers trope which is one of my faves. The supporting characters are entertaining and well written.

Jess Davis is a statistics expert and single mom to the adorable Juno. Dr. River Pena is founder of GeneticAlly and completely believes in his system. Once these two are matched the fun starts. Jess is easy to like but River, not so much – at first anyway. Each one is needing balance in their lives and don’t realize that they are each what the other needs.

Beach read? Summer read? Vacation read? Chick-Lit? The Soulmate Equation is all those things wrapped in a charming, easy to read entertaining package. Though I admit, Christina Lauren, lost me on those chapters that they deep dived into the science data. At the end, they won me over. I think this one will be another hit for them.

The Soulmate Equation
by Christina Lauren
Publishing date: May 18, 2021

What a great book! I will recommend this to our readers!
Funny, warm, and full of heart, The Soulmate Equation proves that the delicate balance between fate and choice can never be calculated.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing this digital ARC for me to read.

5 star

I cannot tell you my excitement when Christina Lauren puts out a new book. They are a writing duo that is an auto buy for me. I have loved/enjoyed every book I have read by them. 
This one was a little different than their norm. This is about Jess and River that although they had a chance meeting at a coffee shop---that didn't go well-- have found out that they are 98% a match on a DNA compatibility test. Willing to give each other a chance, they cuationus get to know each other. They both have high stakes in this match- River has put his life's work in this DNA test, and Jess has a daughter, who she wants to protect from potential heartbreak if this doesn't work out. 
I have mixed feelings about this one. 
What I loved:I loved Jess. She is such a great character and she grows so much in this short book. I love that Lauren has written a character of a single mom ( I think this is the first) because it really enriched the story. Juno is a fantastic character. She is 7 years old and full of honesty and questions everything. I loved the relationship between Juno and Jess. 
I also liked River, although I didn't feel like his character was as developed. He had alot more to offer, that I feel we missed out on. 

What I didn't love:The storyline....I just can't get behind these DNA/compatibility tests. I know it is something I would never do and I only see it as something that could go downhill fast. I think it brings along a false sense of compatibility- if you aren't interested in the person, you could just go along with it because the test says you are right for each other.. Nope- I'm not buying it. 
Soo---give me these characters with a different storyline and I think I would be singing its praises a little louder. But for now, this is a liked, not loved review.

If there was a way, genetically, to find your soulmate, would you do it? Would you want to know if your current partner is the one? The Soulmate Equation, the newest release from prolific writing team Christina Lauren, explores just that.

Jess Davis is single mom to precocious and slightly hyperactive Juno, and a free-lance statistician. Her best friend, Fizzy, writes romance novels. When the pair learn that the brusque 8:24 regular at their coffee shop, whom they call Americano (after his daily coffee order) is part of the team developing a matchmaking app based on genetic markers, Fizzy drags Jess along to learn more. In a moment of weakness, Jess submits her own sample, and when she discovers that she and Americano (AKA Dr. River Peña) match at an unprecedentedly high rate, she starts to notice things about him that are… appealing.

I really liked this one, and I think the only reason this one isn’t an enthusiastic five stars for me is because it was the victim of poor timing. I started reading this shortly after Elon Musk hosted SNL, and it took me about half of the book to stop picturing River as Elon Musk (an enormous turn-off, and a huge disservice to poor River). On the other hand, this book spoke so much to my nerdy, skeptical, acts-of-service-as-a-love-language self. I liked the technical speak, found the conflict to be realistic in comparison to other romances I’ve recently read, and loved that Jess was always painted as independent, competent, and thoughtful about the ethics of things.

I also know I’m not alone in begging for a Fizzy spin-off, and found myself wondering throughout how much this friendship is similar to the relationship between Christina and Lauren themselves.

Christina Lauren books are always on my TBR. If you're a contemporary romance fan, you've likely read one of their novels.

Prior to The Soulmate Equation, Josh and Hazel's Guide to Not Dating was my favorite of their work. But then entered in this gem, and it quickly stole the top spot.

It has a unique premise with using DNA to find your soulmate. When the MC matches with an incredibly high percentage with one of the founders, the company asks her to help promote their company launch by giving the relationship a try. As a single mom, she gladly agrees even though she's not really looking for a relationship.

I loved the characters in this one. The main and the side. That rarely happens with me, but everyone in this book just felt realistic. I especially adored the grandparents and the daughter of the MC.

A solid 4.5/5⭐️ and add this one to your summer reading list! It would be the perfect summer/beach read.

This book was just what I needed. I flew through this one and I could not put it down. I don’t know about you but I just love a great romance, especially when it’s on the border of enemies to lovers. It’s just slightly there.

The idea that this book has a huge hand in the DNA matching world.. didn’t sway me. It’s really not a huge deal. I didn’t get lost in any of the science-based jargon or anything. It was an easy and fast-paced read. Was it predictable? Absolutely. It’s not something that should sway you.

The characters in this book are fantastic!! I loved all of them from the MC’s to the supporting characters. Jess’s daughter, parents, and best friend add so much to this story. They are hilarious and impossible not to love. Jess was also an easy character to root for. I wanted the best for her. My only little complaint would be with River. In the beginning, he’s a jerk. It’s plain and simple. I don’t know how I feel about it kind of being explained away. There’s no world where something like not tipping can easily be explained away. You do or you don’t. If you don’t then you are a jerk. I did end up liking him later though. I’m not sure if it’s one of those cause and effect things. Did he get better because of Jess or did she just bring him out of his shell? Either way, I was all for it.

The chemistry in this book is so good! From the beginning, it is pretty obvious what is going to happen but it was intense at times. It was definitely swoon worthy!!

This was such a fun and witty book! As I said, I had a hard time putting it down. Not only is it fun but there’s a lot of heart in it and I love how relevant it is to today. This is one of my favorites from their most recent books. I highly recommend it!

I want to thank the publisher- Gallery Books & Netgalley for an e-ARC of this book. It has in no way influenced my opinions! 🙂

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
This is such a fun read – I loved the premise of the story, I enjoyed the buildup, the twist, and the outcome. I am a bit of a maths geek, so I really enjoyed how the author managed to weave a clever, cheeky, family-oriented, sexy love story around statistics and genetics, with a bit of business thrown in. There were so many fun characters and little scenes that had me chuckling.

I am very mindful that for you to really enjoy it, I can say very little else. The goodness comes from the writing, and the plot absolutely has to be revealed as you read it, not by me spoiling it for you.

I can promise that it is well worth the read, that it will make you laugh, it will make you question whether the premise of the dating app can possibly be true – is there really a soulmate out there who can be identified by our genetic makeup? And what if you believe you have found your match, but science disagrees? Fascinating subject, lovely romance.


Shelby – ☆☆☆☆
** Potential spoilers ahead. **

THE SOULMATE EQUATION was a cute, humorous, nerdy romance.

I enjoyed the enemy to lover-esque romance, but I absolutely loved every character!

What would you do if you found your genetic soulmate? Imagine not having to slog through dating apps or experiencing horrendous dates trying to find your "one." Dr. River Peña has discovered this technology and has devised a kit and app to pair genetic romantic matches. Will the doctor find his true one and only?

Jessica is a single mom of an adorable 7-year-old, Juno. She has a great network of people, including her grandparents and best friend of sassy Fizzy.

An independent woman, she is a freelance statistician who loves her coffee as much as numbers. She may not be interested in a relationship, but she does trust the numbers.

The side characters were fantastic, I think I'm in love with Fizzy and want to read more about her. The romance was a slow build and sweet. There were predictable moments, but they were well done and kept my interest. Overall, this was an enjoyable story.

{Thank you NetgGalley and Galleryb Books for this e-copy by Christina Lauren!}⁣
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𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘌𝘲𝘶𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 is what happens when genetic testing is streamlined into a dating service called GeneticAlly. ⁣
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This is the second book I've read in 2021 with this theme. CLo's was definitely the more fun and light-hearted version of this concept. ⁣
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The single mom protagonist, the quirky best friend, the always-there-for-you grandparents and the hot jerk at the coffee shop made for such a loveable cast! One of the things I appreciated most about this cast was their ability to communicate with each other. There was expected conflict but it wasn't because of miscommunication. ⁣
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This was a sweet love story with the feel of a fake dating/stuck together trope. The endearing characters were really what made this book for me. I thought it was another CLo win! ⁣
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𝐒𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐞: If you like me are not a big fan of steamy open-door scenes, it is very easy to skim over those few parts.⁣

Christina Lauren never lets me down. Even when I don't love their books, they're enjoyable. Then a book like this comes along and makes everything right. This is a swoony romance that keeps a smile on your face. Getting to see Jess and River's relationship was truly a delight and this was such a fun premise. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I recommend if you need a feel good romance.

I loved the concept behind The Soulmate Equation. I met my husband 21 years ago through an online dating service so I had total buy in. That was about all that was similar to my own experience as this fantasy dating app is a long way from answering a series of questions on the dating service I used. It was time for Jess to catch a break and have something go her way, her life up to that point had been full of struggle. For her match to be the hot guy that she has seen in her coffee shop for the past two years seemed to be kismet. That the dating concept used genetics to create the “perfect” match was perfect for a character who was a statistic whiz and made perfect sense that it was the scientist who invented the concept, and as I got to know our main couple I couldn’t help but feel they were meant to be.

I loved both of these characters. Jess’s struggles to give her daughter the childhood she didn’t have, and as we got to know River we learned that he wasn’t always the handsome scientist he was today. He was actually quite the geek who excelled academically at a very young age. They both had their struggles and their connection was off the charts. It’s rare that I read a romance novel that gives me goose bumps anymore and this novel definitely did.

As with the other Christina Lauren novels I’ve read the dialog is fun and the romance sizzling. This was an easy book to read and get lost in. If you’re looking for that story that will take you away from your troubles The Soulmate Equation is the perfect match. ❤️❤️❤️❤️

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley and the publisher for my honest review and it was honest!

When single mother Jess spits into a tube and mails her DNA sample to the newest and potentially ground-breaking matchmaking company GeneticAlly, never in her wildest dream did she expect her results to be the highest percent ever to make a compatible match with another member. Unfortunately, she's matched with one of the founders Dr. River Peña, someone she's had irritating and frustrating encounters with. When the company suggests they both try and see if there's something there and offering her compensation, the financially-strapped mother in her agrees. What happens next is a series of awkward moments leading to surprising discoveries about one another and unexpected feelings.

This was a great read. Jess has a great support system with her grandparents, best friend Fizzy and adorable daughter Juno. She's content with her life and the trusted people in her circle, already have been burned with people abandoning her. River comes off as rude and arrogant with no personality, but as Jess gets to know him on a personal level she sees a different side to him. Fizzy is a fun and hilarious friend to have, keeping Jess on her toes at all times. There was some dialogue regarding numbers and equations that flew over my head, but overall this was an enjoyable read and I look forward to seeing what this amazing writing duo comes up with next.

Thank you Netgalley and Gallery Books for the opportunity to read this book.

This book was so fun and entertaining, we get Jess, a single mom that is quite smart, and we also get Dr. Riva Pena the founder of a new type of DNA dating app, let's just say they will have a story you will never forget, with some twist and turns and secondary characters that will steal the scene and your heart. I need a Fizzy in my life and Juno was fantastic. Get ready for these two nerds to start talking genetics and get themselves in trouble.

Jess Davis is a single mom working hard to make the best life for her daughter Juno. She loves statistics even if they don’t always play on her favor, but she will do anything she has to (even fake date a stubborn, rude guy for three month to make $$). But what happens when that stubborn guy is your 98% match soulmate? Dr River Pena is the CSO of GeneticAlly, a matchmaking company that will find your DNA matched soulmate. Jess is in for it. The company asks them to publicly date to show just how spot of their technology and research is. Jess cannot fathom how they are even matched, let alone the never heard of 98%! From bumpy beginning to hilarious encounters, you’ll love Jess, River, Fizzy, and Juno.

I absolutely ADORE this book. While the last few CLo books have been okay, this one tops them all! I HIGHLY recommend you grab a copy. Jess and Juno’s bond is a special one. And River, my heart 🥺 and let’s not forget my love for FIZZY!

The Soulmate Equation by Christina Lauren is a romance novel about Jess, a single mom to her daughter Juno, who is living a good life when it comes to family, friends, and work. Yet she has been slow to opening her heart to someone who may complicate her and Juno's simple life. Jess and her best friend Fizzy work every day at Roots, a local coffee shop, and gossip about the imposing yet attractive man, River. Much to their surprise, they learn River is developing an app that matches you with potential love interests and through a series of events, find themselves submitting their DNA. However what happens when one of them unexpectedly has an off-the-charts match with the developer? Will there be chemistry or will this app not be what it seems?

Let me start off by stating how much I loved this novel. The characters were brought to life and felt like someone in my own life and not 2-dimensional. Fizzy was true to her name and was a strong character and not just a weak side character to prop the heroine. Juno was also sweet and did not feel like a forced way to make things happen or a cop-out for tensions in River and Jess's relationship. I loved the chemistry between River and Jess and the way their relationship initially started less positively made it all the more satisfying at the end.

As an academic I work with stats daily and absolutely loved the nerding out about stats in this book and found myself debating some of their stats which made me laugh out loud. I can tell the authors did their research and the way they made River was all too familiar for the researcher personality! I thought that the ending wrapped up maybe a bit too suddenly after some serious struggles so I do think it would have benefitted the novel to have a slower exposition on that since it didn't necessarily fit with Jess's character. However I still loved the plot, characters and so much more in this book!

I absolutely loved and recommend this novel to anyone who loves a contemporary romance novel. This was hands down my favorite romance read of 2021 so far!

Many thanks to the publisher Gallery Books and Netgalley for the ARC in return for an honest review.

Jess Davis is a freelance statistician raising her 7-year-old daughter and is done with dating. But then she and her best friend Fizzy hear about a new DNA based matchmaking app. Dr River Pena is the scientist behind the app. When Jess gets matched with River at 98%, she and he can't believe it. They already know each other and there is no way they are soulmates, right?

I loved this swoon worthy story! This book had some of my favorite things in a romance: enemies to lovers, fake dating, single mom , a fun BFF (who is a romance author!) and a shy and sexy hero. There was also a great supporting cast of characters.

Jess was a very relatable character. She is a woman who doesn't trust her feelings and always puts others first. River comes off as aloof but is actually shy. I really enjoyed seeing their relationship blossom. The issues facing the characters felt real and the resolution scene was fantastic.

Jess and River had chemistry (light steam) and the story had humor and heart. I highly recommend this book to romance fans. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my ecopy of this book.

3.5 Stars!

The Soulmate Equation is the latest book offering from co-authors Christina Lauren. In this novel they humorously explore the online dating app phenomenon, with science, genetics and DNA factoring into the matchmaking process.

Jess Davis is a statistician and the single mother of a seven-year-old girl. She is very smart and working with algorithms is her true calling. Not only does Jess support her wonderful daughter, her estranged mother comes around for a monetary handout on a semi-regular basis. Her best friend Fizzy is a spicy romance author, and every morning they meet at the local coffee shop to gab, people watch, and work.

Dr. River Pena is a very good looking geneticist, and his amazing smarts have figured out how to match couples romantically through DNA. His research and development is so accurate, his company is on the cusp of an IPO. River and Jess are a unique match at 98 percent compatibility. They embark on a business relationship, which slowly evolves into much more.

I enjoyed this book and the way the co-authors evoke humor into their stories. I found Jess and River to be interesting and flirty, and I liked the way their characters were developed as both individuals and as a couple. Their time together was replete with discovery and lustful attraction. The secondary characters, especially Fizzy, were quite fun-loving, which brought another aspect to the storytelling. Overall, a solid read.

Complimentary copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley.