Jess doesn’t date. For one, the process sucks — online dating is miserable (girl preach). But also Jess has Juno, her energetic 7 year old to think about. However, after her fab BFF Fizzy (a romance author) drags her on a tour of a buzzy new startup that uses science to find your matches. Jess, a scientist herself, opts into the program as a trial participant. And she has a near perfect — River. Aka the rude fellow coffee shop patron and co-founder of the startup.

This book had such a creative concept and I loved the sexual tension between River and Jess (and Juno and Fizzy were so fun!).

Genetically speaking, opposites attract. Our natural inclination is to be attracted to someone less like us (this works in the animal kingdom because less genetically similar = stronger breeding). Anyways, that’s not what the company in this novel found with their “science” but fact checking aside, it was a fun read for me!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (and all the 🔥🔥🔥)

Christina Lauren, the author duo behind In a Holidaze and The Unhoneymooners, have created a novel with a fascinating blend of modern science and old-fashioned attraction in The Soulmate Equation. Jess Davis is a struggling single mom, raising her precocious seven-year-old daughter Juno with the help of her grandparents. When Jess's best friend whimsically signs up for a new matchmaking service, GeneticAlly, that promises to scientifically match you with your soulmate based on your DNA, Jess is unconvinced. But on a dare, she submits a sample, only to discover that she's a 98% match with Dr. River Peña, the founder of GeneticAlly. GeneticAlly's claims must be nonsense, because Jess already knows Dr. Peña--he's the grumpy man at the coffee shop where she does her freelance accounting work. But, after one of those accounting jobs dries up, and GeneticAlly offers to pay Jess to date River, to see if they truly are a match, Jess can't turn down the offer.

Absolutely loved this book! Was the perfect combination of family, friends, and romance. Juno was such a loveable character and definitely, a favorite of mine - all of her facts/questions were fantastic.

Jess and River couldn't be more different, yet in this new app that takes your genetics and provides a statistical number of compatibility, they score a top score. So why not give love a chance, right? You'll have to pick up the book to see if it's their compatibility score holds true!

I loved all the supporting characters, the character development, and the banter in this story. One of my favorite rom coms to date!

We all know that Christina Lauren rarely misses (miss? always hard to give a review when the author is two people with one name, ha!).

I loved the science aspect of this book! I'm still waiting for a Christina Lauren book to live up to how much I adored The Unhoneymooners so maybe that's an unfair scale, but this one is in my top CL books!

Another CLo book I wanted to love as much as the Unhoneymooners, but I JUUUUUST couldn’t get there.

The concept is very very similar to The One by John Marrs - but more romance less murder. And it’s a fun concept - a DNA test that helps you locate your soulmate. But I really felt bogged down by the scientific data. My eyes glazed over and I felt like I was in over my head. I honestly was super impressed CLo had DNA science that thoroughly researched (assumption - your girl is clueless). 🧬

The beginning was slow. I enjoyed the middle. The steam was a little much for my taste. The ending was eye rolling, drawn out, but ALSO abrupt? Seriously I closed my kindle thinking, “ok I guess that’s it.”

River was a fun but moody character and I enjoyed seeing him fall in love. Jess was alright.

Did I LOVE it? No. Did I like it? Yes. Do I think you should spend money on it? No. Get on that library hold list and enjoy it when it’s your turn. Would I watch it if Shondaland made it into a movie (see quote on the cover 👀)? Yessss.

I know what these ladies are capable of! The Unhoneymooners was such romcom GOLD and such a fun one to recommend. I’ll continue reading their books hoping they can unlock that magic again.

This one is out Tuesday, May 18th! Thank you @netgalley and @simonandschuster for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

So, this is my first Christina Lauren. I feel like I'm so late to the party. And what was I waiting for? I freaking loved this book!

This book has one of my absolute favorite love interests ever. River Pena is nerdy, a bit shy, and so caring.

I also absolutely loved our main character of Jess. She is a single mom, helps take care of her grandparents, and is so down to earth. She also has an amazing friendship with Fizzy.

I love how real these characters felt. I really felt connected to each and everyone and was swept up into this story. I literally did not want to put the book down. I devoured it.

I will admit that I was drawn to this book because it takes a scientific aspect and tries to approach love and relationships for the characters that way. (And it was so fun to read about.) But I truly stayed for the characters.

I really need to pick up more Christina Lauren ASAP.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing the E-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Christina Lauren hits it out of the park again with “Soulmate Equation”. Here they take a look at what could happen if online dating met DNA swabs. Harried and constantly busy single mom Jess takes a DNA dating test on a whim and ends up matched with Dr. River Pena- a coffeehouse regular who she sees as arrogant, and humorless. Clearly this test is a joke right? When she gets offered money to date River and test their compatibility, it seems like the answer to her money woes. But, like Mr. Darcys everywhere, River is more than he seems and they hit it off. But everytime they let their guard down, they come up against two big problems: Jess’s fear of abandonment and both of them constantly wondering if they like each other because they think they should or because they actually do. Does knowing science thinks you are perfect for each other make dating easier or harder? Does it raise more questions than its worth? And how does this science test out in the real world? Lauren blends what the dating market might look like in the not to distant future with well-loved enemy to lover tropes, insane chemistry in and out of the lab, and a host of lovable, energetic and quirky characters. The perfect romcom to start the summer with!

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

A terrific love story, with an unlikely pairing, DNA and statistics, terrific chemistry, and plenty of sparks and humor. Highly recommended!

I've listened to a number of this talented writing duo's books earlier novels, but I think that this is the first one that I physically read! And I really enjoyed it! I laughed out loud, even teared up in a few places!

It's a fast-paced and totally engaging romance. Single-mom Jess already has a full plate between supporting herself and her daughter with her freelance statistician skills and helping with her grandparents, who are in turn her own support network along with her romance-writer best friend. She certainly has no time for dating, despite the encouragement from her BFF. But when the rather surly Americano man who frequents their usual coffee shop turns out to be working at a new dating app - one that genetically matches people with their soulmate - she decides to give it a try.

While the plot isn't exactly earthshaking or unexpected, it's a fun book with equally fun characters. The banter between the characters is great and I genuinely had a fun time reading it. this may not be my go-to genre, but Christina Lauren books definitely are go-tos all on their own! They are a guaranteed fun time and I really enjoy escaping into them. I am sure that I would have enjoyed this one on audio, but it was a fun physical read, too - I am already looking forward to seeing what they will write next!

If you submitted your saliva to a DNA testing lab, wouldn’t you expect the results to find your relatives and not a possible ‘soulmate?’

This was my first thought when I read the summary for ‘The Soulmate Equation’ by Christina Lauren. Oh, how wrong I was! This is fiction, and more specifically, the happy rom-com world of possibilities. DNA data, combined with dating app info, created a super algorithm, (plus other scientific stuff) and called, ‘DNADuo’ brought to you by a new company, GeneticAlly, will find you a match, guaranteed to be your soulmate. Just step right up, swab your mouth, and send the sealed envelope to us. Super simple and we’ll have your match in less than a week. GeneticAlly was advertising big promises!

We meet Jess, a single Mom of seven-year-old Juno, and best friend, Fizzy, at their favorite coffee shop, Twiggs. Jess is a thirty-year-old statistician, currently doing freelance work, while Fizzy is a popular romance novelist. They’re at their regular table, where they work, chat and drink coffee every weekday. Fizzy is again trying to convince Jess to get back in the dating world, just as the handsome but quiet, River Pena walks in to get his morning coffee. Almost all eyes turn his way, gender irrelevant. Jess watches him too, both admiringly and annoyingly. Fizzy takes joy in pointing this out to Jess, suggesting she get to know him. Jess scoffs at this idea, thinking River is a giant snob. In fact, they will both find out that he’s just serious about his work and a little shy.
Dr. River Pena is a thirty-five-year-old, geneticist who has just started the company, GeneticAlly with other million-dollar investors. He has a lot on his mind. He will eventually meet both Jess and Fizzy when he gives them his card and invites them to come to an information session to find out more about his company. They go and Fizzy is immediately sold but Jess is a bit more skeptical. Later, on a whim, Jess too will submit her saliva sample.

As luck and science would have it, Jess has an unbelievable ninety-eight percent match, with none-other than, yep, you guessed it: Doc Pena himself. Jess can’t believe it but is coerced into giving it a try when the company is willing to pay her to get to know River, as their project. As a single mom, Jess is always broke and can certainly use the money. She is also intrigued by the science, not to mention, by River himself. Since everything is on the ‘up-and-up’ and all parties are aware of the project, she says yes.

The story unfolds naturally, but with fun and sincerity. I particularly enjoyed how realistic Jess is portrayed as a loving single-mom with real struggles, who totally cares about her child Juno. Fizzy’s character provides the right balance of funny and keeps the story light-hearted in just the perfect way. Finally, River is intelligent and sensitive, but not sappy and understands Jess’s priorities with Juno.

All around it’s a great story with an original theme, and just a touch of science that any novice can understand, but really doesn’t need to in order to love the book. I adored it and would love a sequel.

Thank you Netgalley, Gallery Books, and Christina Lauren.

I mean, I think it's pretty impossible to go wrong with a Christina Lauren book. This one was actually one of my all-time favorites of theirs! DNA Match-making?! This science teacher is totally geeking out! It's cute, witty, fun, heartfelt, and romantic. You couldn't ask for a better summer read!

Christina Lauren is at it again. This book grabbed me from the first page and I found myself reading way into the early hours of the morning. Single mom Jess, a genius data scientist and statistics guru is raising her daughter with the help of her grandparents and struggling to get by while running her own business. She has no interest or time to re-enter the dating world until her friend strongly encourages her to try a brand new genetic-based dating app. The results returned are more than shocking. All of the characters in this book will grow on you throughout the story and you will find you don't want this to end.

To be honest I have always struggled with romance novels. I either find that they are too unbelievable, too cheesy, too overly romantic, or all of the above. Thankfully Christina Lauren never has that issue with the novels they write. Their books are always relatable and enjoyable and most of all they are funny.

The Soulmate Equation is no different when it comes to that expectation of romantic comedy I enjoy finding in novels in the romance category. The Soulmate Equation tells the story of Jess, a single mom, and of River Pena a creator of a dating/pairing app that matches people by their DNA. At first Jess and River do not hit it off despite Jess's every day notice and attraction to River when she seems him at the local coffee shop she frequents with her friend, Fizzy. In fact at the start she knew River only as Americano, and as she gets to know more about him she finds that he really is unlikable.

Her frustration with River only builds when she on impulse takes the test to find her match based on her DNA. From the beginning Jess was not at all willing to believe that the DNA test could accurately match someone to their perfect match and spurs the idea of being part of the app. Yet things change all based on her impulse and lo and behold Jess finds a match, a Diamond Match. The Diamond Match is viewed as the top of the line and closely matched to be viewed as soulmates on a DNA level. Lo and Behold Jess is matched with none other than River Pena.

At first she is against the idea offered to her of 'dating' River for the sake of the app, but when she is offered $10,000 every month for three months that she agrees to participate she finds the offer hard to resist. She agrees though is unwilling to believe anything like this is possibly. Of course in the natural course and way of romantic comedies things happen to leave things on the expected path of hilarious, heart wrenching, sweet, endearing, and happy every after. Of course the pair fall in love until both of them come to realize that sometimes numbers are wrong. I could tell you more about the plot... but really... maybe you should just check it out for yourself ;)

To me this was another fun, light, read from Christina Lauren. The pair truly have nailed the niche when it comes to the perfect balance of relatable romance with a realistic edge and a dash of humor. To me those are all necessary ingredients for the romance novels I go for. if that is your flavor of romance then I certainly recommend the Soulmate Equation and don't fear, there is a good dose of heart pounding interludes. Until then, happy reading!

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I liked the concept of using DNA to find your soulmate. I also enjoyed Jess and River and found them to be really likable. I didn't care for the drama that popped up at the end of the book and how it was sorted out. I really dislike last minute drama in a book (fyi, writers, you don't have to follow this pattern). There could have been a better way to go about it. Anyway, mostly fluffy, a bit of familial weight, great for summer beach reading.

I think one of my favorite things about this book was the community that Jess had built around her and Juno in their little corner of San Diego - I totally want to live in that apartment complex. Though she has struggled throughout her life with her mother's addictions, absence from her life and embarrassment by her actions on the few occasions she does show up, she has great support in her grandparents, and later on her best friend Fizzy (I want her story too!). This is especially important as she raises Juno, whose father has no interest in even pretending he might want to be a dad to his daughter.

Working freelance and being a mother has Jess not wanting to waste her valuable free time on bad dates, so she's pretty much given up despite sometimes wishing she wasn't a single parent in a sea of married couples at PTA meetings. When she winds up submitting her sample to GeneticAlly in a low moment after just such a meeting, she pushes it out her mind and tries to forget about it. But when she's matched up at a never before seen high number, to Dr. River Peña (aka Americano, the rude hot guy from her local coffee shop), the company's founding scientist, they're both appalled and shocked.

Watching their relationship evolve from animosity, to cautious friendship to love was such a great experience. Jess learns more about River and why he comes off as so rude and his interactions with Juno are priceless. Jess has to figure out how to trust another person in her life and River has to learn how to make room for more than work in his, so of course there are stumbling blocks. It was a joy to read about these two as they evolved, grew stronger on their own and together. Highly recommend for fans of Christina Lauren's other books and also of authors like Helena Hunting and Tessa Bailey.

The Soulmate Equation by Christina Lauren may be my new favorite CLO book. The Soulmate Equation follows single mom Jess and geneticist Dr. River Peña who score off the charts in Rivers new DNA dating profile. This book is sweet, funny and swoon worthy. I read this book in less than 24 hours and I highly recommend it to any romance reader, whether a veteran romance reader or brand new. Honestly, you can never go wrong with CLo and The Soulmate Equation proves it again.

When I picked this book up, I was in a bit of a reading slump. I was reading good books by authors I enjoy, I just couldn't get invested or stay focused on anything - not the fault of the books, just my mindset at the time. After sitting on it for months, and with a week left to release day, I decided to take a break from my other books and get this one read, figuring it would take the full week to to do it given how everything else was going. I was wrong, I read <i>The Soulmate Equation</i> start to finish in one sitting.

The characters in this book were fantastic. I absolutely loved River, probably because I identify with him... Initial impressions mark him as a bit of an as**ole, but as you get to know him, you realize he's just shy, a little socially awkward, and hyper focused on the task in front of him. Jess is a very devoted single mom who has pretty much spread herself thin raising her daughter, bailing her mother out of various disasters, and keeping herself afloat financially. She's smart and independent and the kind of heroine you can't help but love and root for. The side characters were equally delightful - I'd love to see Fizzy get her own story, and Jess's grandparents are #relationshipgoals!

I read a LOT of books, most of them romance/rom-coms (112 so far this year, and we're mid-way through May), so it takes a lot for a book to really be a standout for me, but this one was. Jess and River's story felt fresh and was built on a unique premise. <i>The Soulmate Equation</i> definitely earns a spot in my top 3 favorite Christina Lauren novels. If you're a fan, or just looking for a funny, sweet, heartwarming read, check this one out!

Before I begin my review, read this. Seriously read this book. Christina Lauren have done it again. This book is amazing. If you are looking for a simple, sweet romance with a sciencey twist, this is the one for you.

This story is about a single mom, Jess, who learns that she is a never-seen-before 98% match with the grumpy founder of GeneticAlly, a DNA-based dating app, Dr. River Peña. When she gets paid by the company to date River, she can't say no. Soon both find themselves falling heads over heels for each other as they navigate their lives and their numerous public appearances.

I love books with science involved. This book did not disappoint. It had a great amount of science, which was all clearly well-researched as it all made sense and added up. It was weaved beautifully into the story. Normally books with STEM get really overwhelming with their integration of the main character's knowledge of STEM. This book, however, did not fall into that trap. We got enough science and math to get immersed in the story and the main characters' passions but not so much that I am screaming "We get it!" into my Kindle.

Don’t even get me started on River. River is amazing, flawed, and utterly sexy. He was so good with Juno (who I loved by the way, I normally hate the way kids are written in romances), I was consistently squealing. Yes, squealing. He is total husband material. He was so sweet, funny, loving, and more. He treated Jess so nicely. Those scenes where he would go out of his way to do nice things for her, the way he comforted her in public, the way he filled in the shoes of a dad with Juno, I loved everything. He was also written so realistically. His flaws and mistakes felt so real and made the book so much more enjoyable. So many times we get flaws in heroes that are clearly written from the female gaze and may not be the most realistic. River's flaws and mistakes were very realistic. I was also living for the normalizing of POC heroes.

The chemistry and the romance between Jess and River were written beautifully. While I do wish there were more romantic development and vulnerable moments between the two, I still enjoyed their story. The scenes at the beginning of their relationship were so angsty and sweet. They gave me a nervous, fake-dating scene kind of vibe and I was living for it. You'll see what I mean when you read it. I loved how they relied on each other and completed each other, especially when they were in public. I loved the ending and how Jess had come full circle. So many times, as a woman, I feel like I have to be single and cold-hearted in order to be seen as a badass, independent woman. I shouldn't want a partner. The scenes where Jess was talking about how she wanted to be taken care of and how she felt lonely really struck a chord with me.

The best part of this book? Jess’s romance author best friend, Fizzy. Believe me. She is amazing. She is so fun and bubbly and adds so much fun to the story. All the side characters in this book are amazing.

I do wish we got the old Christina Lauren steam level, but it’s alright. The few steam scenes we got were written in a very elusive manner, which confused me.

If you are looking for a fun, sciencey read with a great heroine & hero that have wonderful chemistry and fantastic secondary characters, this is the one for you. Seriously, pick this up.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/ 5 stars
🌶/ 5 steam

Single mom Jess Davis is just trying to do her best. And after a particularly bad day, she caves and takes a dna-based soulmate test that her best friend bought for her. Never in her wildest dreams did she thing that she would get an almost perfect match with the sexy scientist, Dr. River Pena, who runs the company. Jess has some problems to consider... She doesn't particularly like River. While he is certainly beautiful to look at, he is kind of a jerk. Aside from that, she has a seven year old daughter who is her whole world and she doesn't want anything to alter the quiet life they share with Jess's grandparents. Then again, the more time she spends with River, the deeper in her feels she gets for this man.

I thought this was super cute. I loved Jess and her family. All of them were wonderful, including her bestie. I especially loved her daughter Juno. She was adorable and I really enjoyed the relationship they all shared with one another. I am not always a fan of the single parent trope because most of the time, the child is just used as this unexplored character in the book as an idea that is always just hovering in the background. But in The Soulmate Equation, the authors have made Juno not only a character, but an integral part of the story.

I thought the science behind this book was really interesting. Kind of crazy to think about, but neat! Buuuttttt... I have to say that I didn't really care for River. He was unkind to Jess in the beginning of the book and I didn't see why (aside from the handsome face) Jess changed her opinion of him so fast. There were no real demonstrations of change. He just was nice to her all of a sudden and it wasn't brought up why he acted the way he did, and why he changed his tune... He doesn't really prove to be a great communicator throughout the final chapters of the book, either and it just made me lose interest in the conclusion.

All in all, this was a cute read and I would definitely recommend it to anyone wanting to read a fun and easy rom-com.

This is my sixth novel from the writing duo that goes by the pen name of Christina Lauren. They mostly right in the romance genre, although granted, several of their books veer more heavily towards women's fiction. In fact, some romance readers feel that their books are not steamy enough. I think I am on the opposite end of this. I tend to like their more emotional, grounded in life stories better. Out of the 6 books I read, four were five star reads, and two I rated at 3 stars. The Soulmate Equation is by far my favorite from them. In fact, this is the book that kept me up reading till 3AM on a Monday morning. And yes, I had no regrets even though I only got 3 hours of sleep and had a pretty tough workday ahead of me.

The Soulmate Equation is about two people who unexpectedly get matched via a new dating app that uses DNA as the basis for matching applicants. Jess is a single mother struggling to keep up with the bills, and River is the founder of the company and the brains behind this new genetic matching app. As I mentioned, I found the story hard to put down. The characters in this book are amazing and so relatable. There is something very cozy and heartwarming about Jess's relationship with her grandparents and her daughter. Her relationship with River is super intense and is in equal part hate to love and instant attraction. I think this is a perfect book for getting out of a reading slump. And for readers who are like me and prefer more complex, grounded in life romance stories, this one will not disappoint. 5 out of 5 stars.

An e-ARC was provided by NetGalley.com