Jessica Davis’ primary concern is raising her daughter, Juno. Raised by her grandparents, Jess never really knew a mother’s unconditional love. She’s determined to make sure her daughter gets all of her attention and that doesn’t leave much time for dating or men in general. When Jess and her friend Fizzy happen upon a company that specializes in not just matching making but matching a person with their Soulmate via DNA, she tries it on whim. Not only does Jess have a match, but she matched with one of the founding members of the company. Their ninety-eight percent match is unheard of. The problem number one, she and River Pena don’t exactly see eye-to-eye and aren’t the biggest fans of each other. Problem number two, River’s company is about to go public and news of their match has garnered so much attention that the two are now legally bound by contract to spend time together in public.
Not too much to say about this book except a witty, fun read. I wasn’t sure I was going to like both the two primary characters but the turned out to be quite fun. I was pleasantly surprised at how laid-back River turned out to be, regarding relationships, not his work…he is a scientist after all. I the beginning I was ready deck him. He was your stereotypical scientist who didn’t think before he spoke. I even enjoyed his sisters. I especially enjoyed River’s relationship with Juno, and Fizzy was a hoot (hope there’s a Fizzy story somewhere out there). I enjoyed the process of these two characters getting to know each other.
The one thing keeping me from giving this four stars, it was kind of heavy on the science and that lost me a bit, the whole talk of algorithms/statistics/equations had me wanting to skip pages at times, but the upside to that was these two where nerdy as heck and perfect for each other!
Add this one to your beach or pool side read for the summer.

Jessica Davis is a single mom and statistician who has basically given up on dating. And although she may sit up and take notice when the resident hunky jerk makes his daily appearance at the coffee shop she frequents, she immediately decides there is most likely nothing redeeming about him...

Dr. River Peña may not be the most aware of the world around him, but being on the precipice of all of his hard work coming to fruition, living inside his head is what he's accustomed to. But the moment that River's dating DNA gets paired with the girl from the coffeeshop... his thoughts can't seem to come out of the clouds fast enough...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Soulmate Equation was an original, entertaining, and uniquely smart read! When Jess submits her DNA to a matchmaking service, the last person she expects to match with is the company's founder and a decidedly unfriendly acquaintance, Dr. River Peña. But when they start to date, for the sake of the science, of course, Jess and River may have to fight against their expectations and the pressure of being in the spotlight before a real relationship between will ever have a chance...

Jess is a selfless single mother to an adorable seven year old daughter, who is her entire world. While she is generally frustrated with dating, Jess doesn't mind being single... most of the time. But when she and her BFF learn about a new DNA matchmaking service, she applies on a whim... and her entire future changes before her eyes.

I loved River, and once we get to know him a little more, the reason for all of his silence and awkward moments was such a great male character attribute (that you rarely see!) But, I would have LOVED to see some of his male POV when it came to his relationship with Jess.

This book introduced a completely unique concept and plot, all of which I wholeheartedly loved! The unconventional connection between Jess and River made for an engaging and fun, modern love story. I was hooked from the moment the explanation of the science behind River's innovative matchmaking service takes root, and I really enjoyed where this author duo takes the story from there!

I received a complimentary copy of this book for my honest and unbiased review.

The Soulmate Equation is Christina Lauren at their best.

Thank you Gallery Books and NetGalley for my advance review copy.

Can genetics predict a couple's long-term compatibility and commitment? That's what GeneticAlly is trying to prove. Jessica Davis is a single mom, who only submits her DNA to this new dating service because her best friend pressures her into it. What's the harm, right? River Pena, one of the founders of GeneticAlly, is so busy with the behind the scenes management of the company to even go on a date. But when he and Jess get a 98% match, they agree to give it (and each other) a chance. Funny and sweet, The Soulmate Equation has heart.

The Soulmate Equation reminded me why I love Christina Lauren. Quirky, tender, and real, The Soulmate Equation quietly charmed me, and I rooted for Jessica and River all the way to the last page.

I devoured this new Christina Lauren book in one sitting! I am a huge fan of their writing and this one did not disappoint.

Jess Davis is a single mom living next door to her grandparents, who raised her and are helping raise her daughter. Jess’s best friend, Fizzy, pushes Jess to complete a DNA test with GeneticAlly, which will tell you who your soulmate could be. Of course, Jess doesn’t think she will match with anyone, much less one of the founders of the GeneticAlly with one of the highest scores ever.

This is such a cute sciencey romance that made my nerd heart swoon. This one is full of endearing and lovely characters. Everyone should have a friend like Fizzy! The premise of finding your soulmate by DNA was intriguing to me and I felt they explored this concept well.

Thank you for the eARC Gallery Books and NetGalley!

This one was a hit for me!
There's a lot of things I loved about it...
I loved the family relationship between Jess and her grandparents. I loved the relationship between Jess and her best friend. And can we talk about how her BFF is also a romance writer? This gave me quite a few giggles when they discussed the relevance of romance novels. Being an avid romance reader myself, I was rooting for those little moments.
Another thing that I really appreciated was the communication between the two leads. I have an issue with very poor communication in books. I liked how clear and communicative River was. In general I was quite the River fan.

The only part I didn't like was how long Jess put up with her mother's behavior. I do believe that this could have been perfectly realistic. Simply analyzing as a reader- I wanted Jess to make some relationship regarding her mom choices sooner.

5 stars
3 steam level

Christina Lauren is back!

This author duo is about to release a romance that defies science...sort of.

Thank you Netgalley and Gallery for a copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

The Soulmate Equation follows a single mom who randomly takes a DNA test for a dating site that matches people based on genetics. When she is paired with the app’s creator, things gets a bit more complicated for her.

Ahhhh...this novel hits on all of the things that CLo writes well: romance, banter, and relationships. The characters in this novel jump off the page, especially Jess’s best friend, Fizzy, who is one of the most lovable and hilarious romance writers I’ve read in fiction. The romance between Jess and River was ON POINT and the chemistry was on fire. There was just enough steam and sweetness to make this story so engaging and lovely.

Highly recommend!

Watch out.. @christinalauren is back with one of my favorite books of 2021. This book has it all.... charming characters, daring dialogue, heartwarming setting and gut wrenching scenes.
.
Think about it. They match your DNA to other people who sent In spit to see who you'll be linked to. Will it work out? Who knows thats something YOU need to find out... and something River and Jess are entangled in!
.
I LOVED this one! It comes out May 18 and I am forever grateful for the e arc.

Christina Lauren, you have done it again! It had such a unique plot, I was immediately drawn in. While the storyline is full of science and stats, Lauren pairs it with some amazing and hilarious characters that it all ties together well. The loving relationships really made me love the characters even more. I laughed, teared up, and my heart grew a couple sizes for sure reading this. Also, I could not get over how adorable Juno was. What would have made me love the book even more was a wrapped up ending than the abrupt one we get. Overall, Christina Lauren I will read anything you publish, I'm a fan!!

Really enjoyed this book’. Christina Lauren. Books are always a win for me! Thanks for the opportunity to read this! Looking forward to more from these authors.

This released right when that Netflix show, THE ONE, came out.
I like Christina Lauren's spin on genetically matched romances much more than the show. Their stories always have the best relationship build, a bit of angst and testing to make sure the romance is real, then the cutest happy endings.
This was finally a good rom com I needed to get into my summer romance reading.
CLo always delivers solid story line, and I really loved seeing a single mom take the spotlights. This was a fun story and a quick read.
We will also be chatting with these authors in June, so grab your copy!

This is a charming romance with a compelling premise. I read it in a single day, I couldn't put it down! It made me think about all sorts of questions about the roles biology and pre-determined characteristics play in our attraction to someone.

Jess is a single mom who hasn't ever dated seriously. Her best friend talks her into submitting a sample for a new matchmaking company that uses DNA samples to make matches. River is a founder of the company, so when he gets a match in the system, it's a huge deal. I absolutely loved this concept of matching based on DNA. It made the story interesting because it was something neither character had control over.

The writing is sharp and hilarious. I liked all of the characters and enjoyed getting to know them while watching their personal development. While a love story is obviously at the center of the novel, there's other heavy stuff going on. The novel explores the idea of having a chosen family when your biological one doesn't show up for you. It also looks at how difficult it can be to ask for help and let people in when you've been taking care of yourself for a long time, having healthy boundaries and letting them down a little.

Overall this is a top notch romance and I highly recommend it.

4.5 stars - I really liked Soulmate Equation and I liked it enough that I read it twice so that I could try to better articulate why this worked for me. I thought the science behind what makes love work long term was cool Soulmates always been a favorite trope for me and the idea that encoded in our DNA is the key to a HEA appealed to my inner nerdette. Said nerdette also appreciated the pairing: Dr River Peña is a hot geneticist and closet romantic and Jessica(Jess) is a a free lance statistician/data analyst - smart is sexy:) They don't particularly care for each other at first but once past the initial friction, the pair really did feel like soul mates - there was such a connection.

I also liked the trappings of the story: I liked the neighborhood where Jess lives which is quirky and where everything is within walking distance and everyone know everyone. I liked Jess' romance writer friend who offers her advice and gets Jess to realize that meeting Jess her own needs isn't selfish - especially because Jess does so much for her daughter and grandparents. And I liked Jess' family - her grandparents relationship is a perfect example of a HEA - and her daughter was a cute bright spot - and kids aren't always as well done in romances. My only nit with the story (and it was not a big one) is that when the potential showstopper event that is part of the romance 'formula' occurs - the event that is the big rock in the road to the HEA - I thought there needed to bit a bit more groveling by River or a bit more caution from Jess to get past it, but that's just me letting reality slip into my fantasy.

Overall, I thought this was sweet and satisfying.

ARC courtesy of the publisher via NetGalley.

This was a cute story , very well loved across the bookstagram community. The story was quite unique, finding your match throw DNA is something I’m still trying to wrap my mind around . Jess and River were so likable , and so were their whole community.
.
I just could not get into this one as much as I wanted, I was a bit bored in the first half and the romance was a bit lacking to me. I kept looking for more because I’ve seen So many 5 ⭐️ review . I like it, and I’m a huge fan of the authors . Absolutely Loved My favorite Half Night Stand and Love and Other Words, I’m excited for other release.

3.5⭐️

A few years ago I fell headfirst into the Beautiful Bastard series and loved every moment. As much as I loved those books I feel that they really shine in their standalones.

The Soulmate equation is right up there with Josh & Hazel for me. I loved the unique plot (DNA based matchmaking), the adorable daughter, awesome friends, and of course, Jess and Elliot.

I'll start with single mom Jess. She's completely awesome and I want to be friends with her. She works hard to provide for her daughter, sticks to her guns, and doesn't take crap. She also has amazingly supportive grandparents. Juno's dad is not in the picture at all, and Jess' mom is more than sketchy and definitely Jess' weak spot.

Elliot lacks some emotions, but not overly so. He's determined to make his company a success and will do anything to make that happen, including dating Jess to see if their 98% match is legit. He's not quite the robot he appears to be in the beginning and there are definitely feelings developing here.

Juno (Jess' daughter) and Fizzy (Jess' best friend) really added to the story. They brought some laughs, a little bit of anger on Fizzy's behalf and complimented the story well.

The plot of the DNA match making app was well done, and I liked the little twist that happened when I least expected it.

A geneticist and a mathematician? INSTANT catnip for me. Add a single mom trope to it and there was nothing for it when THE SOULMATE EQUATION pinged my radar, I had to have it.

Jess was a likable but out of the whole cast she was my least favorite. She was a little judgmental and . She had abandonment issues and I was curious how they would come into play with the steady, reliable man River was. When you are matched with someone based on science and not on real intimacy that comes from getting to know someone the natural way you wonder what is real and what is projected feelings because you're supposed to feel that way. I thought that was very well done here and also shows one of the issues in this futuristic scenario.

River seems to be a bit of a brooder and in the beginning we get a little enemies-to-lovers trope that resolves rather quickly when you realize how shy River really is. He was there when Jess needed him and had no one else to ask for help and quickly became her go-to person when she needed someone to step in. He turned out to be so sweet and kind and able to show his vulnerability. I fell head over heels.
The way he looked at her—the sweet devastation pinching his brow—made Jess feel like she’d been plugged directly into the sun.

The main characters are supported by a handful of incredibly lovable friends and family. Fizzy is Jess's best friend and a H O O T. You can't help but laugh about her one-liners and fall in love with her. Fizzy is loyal to a fault and have I mentioned she is a romance writer? Jess's grandparents are really everything you need as a family. Pops and Nana stepped up in a big way when Jess's mom took off. And Juno? God, that child. She had me laughing so hard. She was so inquisitive, smart and funny. ADORABLE!

All the talk about the chemical components of DNA, OH compounds and genes, alleles and chromosomes made my nerdy heart pitter-patter. Heads up - the scientific terminology of both genetics and statistics may be a little bit too much for someone who isn't interested in either fields. Ultimately though the scenario to match people's DNA for highest compatibility is only a few steps away from today's way of dating. I wouldn't be surprised if this became reality one day, as scary as it may sound.
"The DNADuo can bring us together, but it can’t make us fall for each other. It can’t know your past or mine, or predict what would scare us off, or entice us to be together. All of that is up to us, not the algorithm."

This author duo knows how to write a sexy, sweet romance without getting super explicit and how to showcase the chemistry between characters. This story everything I hoped for. It was very cute, charming, delightful and I really wouldn't mind a book for Fizzy.

The Soulmate Equation
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ & a million more

Thank you @gallerybooks & @netgalley for the #gifted copy in exchange for an honest review!

Single mom Jess Davis is a data and statistics wizard, but no amount of number crunching can convince her to step back into the dating world. Raised by her grandparents--who now help raise her seven-year-old daughter, Juno--Jess has been left behind too often to feel comfortable letting anyone in. Jess holds her loved ones close, but working constantly to stay afloat is hard...and lonely. But then Jess hears about GeneticAlly, a buzzy new DNA-based matchmaking company that's predicted to change dating forever. Finding a soulmate through DNA? The reliability of numbers: This Jess understands. At least she thought she did, until her test shows an unheard-of 98% compatibility with another subject in the database: GeneticAlly's founder, Dr. River Peña. This is one number she can't wrap her head around, because she already knows him. The stuck-up, stubborn man is without a doubt not her soulmate.

I have loved every Christina Lauren book I’ve read, and this was no exception. They have done it again. I read this in one sitting because it was addictive, swoon-worthy, and adorable!

I loved the science aspect in this one, and it was very fresh to read it in a romcom. It also had me thinking the entire time whether or not I would have tried to do the match, or what I would do if I was Jess. This had me thinking a lot more than other romcoms usually do.

River was charming, and his personality reminded me a lot of my boyfriend (also a science person), so he was also addicting. I loved how he was initially presented, as the jerk of the story. The way he reacted as well with the results in the beginning and end felt very genuine. The idea that "prince charming" doesn't always make the right decisions and sometimes pushes people away felt very authentic.
Jess felt very real, and her strong character was thoroughly developed, which I enjoyed. I also loved that she was a single mother, and I feel like that's a character that more romcoms should be based on, because its more frequent in this day and age.

If you love Christina Lauren books or you love romcoms, add this one to your list, you won't regret it.

This is such a wonderfully sweet romance. Jess is not looking for romance and certainly not with the stand-offish man who gets coffee at the same coffee shop she frequents every single morning. But it turns out he's River Peña, the scientist behind a DNA based dating app, and she takes a DNA test on whim, intertwining their future together. I loved how Jess and River's romance slowly built throughout the course of the book.

I have to admit I was a little apprehensive at first but this story turned out to be hilarious and swoony in the best ways possible!

River and Jess were so adorable when they finally got over their not so cute first meet and it really showed how sometimes first meetings aren’t always the best judge of character!

What I loved most though was Jess’s best friend and her life as a working single mom! As a once single mom myself I really love when I can identify and relate to characters in similar situations! It’s not always easy to find characters I like but Christina Lauren nailed it with Jess!

Another must read from this pair! Whether you have read them before or not this is a great read!

4.5 stars, I’m still obsessed with this writing duo. Between this and In a Holidaze, it’s like they chose to write my exact weakness when it comes to romance - I love a time loop, or a light sci-fi vibe. I adored all the side characters - the daughter, the grandparents, the fun best friend, all of them were so great! I was totally not ready for the dramatic misunderstanding moment that romances tend to have, and it threw me a little. That’s about all that kept me from a full five stars - this was funny and had me pausing to quote it to my husband, and I thought it had the perfect amount of steam and pacing.

Thank you SO much to the publisher and NetGalley for this e-arc! I find Christina Lauren books a great mix between old and new with unique storylines and classic tropes. I was hooked by the blurb detailing the plot following a statistician single mother named Jess who is tired of traditional dating, so on a whim she decides to participate in a revolutionary app (GeneticAlly) that matches users up using their DNA to create pairings based on science and data. When Jess discovers she has a 98% match and it just so happens to be the owner of the app who drives her crazy in a bad way, she cannot believe it. What happens next, you will have to read to find out! It was a very fun and cute read with an interesting main character and a full cast of exciting supporting ones as well. The relationship started off slow but once the story unraveled, it picked up and I believed the chemistry between the two of them. In addition to the romance, Jess has a great support system including her daughter, best friend- Fizzy, and her grandparents who all support and rally around Jess. I would LOVE to see a companion novel about Fizzy in the future! The plot was unpredictable in the best way and there were some surprising twists that I enjoyed as well! I liked this more than In a Holidaze and features the classic feel good, cozy vibes that Christina Lauren is known for. I personally enjoyed this unique matchmaking DNA APP storyline which sets this book apart from any romance I have ever read. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!