The premise of The Soulmate Equation is an interesting one—a dating app that matches people based on their biological compatability, done through DNA samples. Jess has some not great encounters in her neighborhood coffee shop—and elsewhere around her—with River, who ends up being one of the co-founders of GeneticAlly. After turning 30, Jess decides what the heck, she’s gonna take the test and see what happens. Turns out…….. she and River are a RIDICULOUSLY close match, as in the closest the company has ever seen. What happens if you don’t seem to mesh well in real life but are apparently meant to be? And what happens if you get paid $10,000 a month to try to see what happens?

This was a cute book with great side characters. I loved Juno, Jess’s daughter, and River ended up being so stinking cute with her. There was a decent amount of chemistry between Jess and River, but I kind of wanted a little more heat.

Thanks to Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was such a delight to read! I thought Jess was a great, relatable main character and I loved her best friend Fizzy even more! All the supporting characters were so well fleshed out, I think I liked some of them better than the main characters themselves, ha! But I really fell in love with Jess’s whole world. I didn’t find Jess and River’s love story entirely believable just because it happened so fast - I feel like it would be more realistic for two people who feel so antagonistic towards each other to take a little more time to fall in love. I also didn’t like that Jess so easily explained away River’s initial rudeness. However, ultimately, I was convinced of their feelings for each other.

In general, I find fantastic premises like this usually fall flat/don’t live up to my expectations. This one came REALLY close. I was so happy with the ending, and I loved every minute of the ride to get there!!

5/5 stars,

The Soulmate Equation was a very different book for Christina Lauren, and I totally loved it. Though it had a bit of a slow start, setting up the the dating program and how it all works, once the book got going I was hooked. I really liked Jessica. And OMG River was absolutely perfect! They had some bumps along the way in the relationship, but I really loved the two of them together. I hope Fizzy gets her own book. She was a great best friend and totally deserves her own HEA,

I really loved this Christina Lauren book. This had notes of Mr. Darcy, enemies to lovers, fake dating, STEM and single parent with a cute child. This book was a delight.

Wow, I just finished this rom-com and I LOVED it! I have read other titles by this author and loved them, but this one is by far her best works yet.

When I started this book, I made it through the first chapter and didn’t want to put it down. I laughed out loud so many times and reread some of those parts again and cracked up. It did have some emotional parts though that really came at me unexpectedly. Most romantic comedies have the romance and some humor, but a lot of the humor is just really corny, but not this one. Also, the parts that made me tear up are not usually in romantic comedies, but those parts really set this book apart from any other romantic-comedy that I’ve read.

The characters were lovable and easy to follow which I always appreciate the minimal amount of characters that can make a story this amazing. And lastly, the writing was superb.

This will be one title that I will rave about years to come.

I really hope they turn this one into a movie. 💕💜 ❤️💕💜❤️

Thank you, NetGalley for the opportunity and privilege to review this title.

3.5

This was a cute story! I liked the premise and I liked our main character Jess. As always, Christina Lauren’s writing is so easy to fall into and their plots are fast and readable. I do think, however, that I’m not a fan of romance/contemporary books that are really realistic. Of course, there was the whole GenericAlly thing in this book, but, for the most part, it was a little too like real life for me. The Unhoneymooners, for example, has a lot of non-realistic aspects that make it more fun in my opinion (maybe I’m just not explaining this well, but whatever.) Surprisingly, I didn’t mind that this book is in third person even though I think that it is an unwritten rule that all romance books should be written in first person. This was also a little bit long as well but overall, I still really enjoyed it.

If I were to rank this with all of the Christina Lauren books, I would probably say:

1. The Unhoneymooners
2. Roomies
3. The Soulmate Equation
4. The Honey-Don’t List
5. Twice in a Blue Moon.

The Soulmate Equation

What a unique and interesting romance novel. I have always been a huge fan of these two ladies and always have success in reading their novels! It's always an automatic request for me when I see a new novel by them!!

This novel explores whether you can find your soulmate through DNA rather than by choice or fate. There was a lot of numbers and genetics references in this one which went a bit over my head. But, it wasn't too overwhelming.

Overall, this was a cute read by this amazing duo and look forward to what they come out with next!!

4 stars

Thank you to Gallery Publishing and Netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

Pub date: 5/18/21
Published to GR: 4/30/21

The Soulmate Equation by Christina Lauren is a super fun read that hits it out of the park! I started this a couple of days ago but did not have time to really sit down and enjoy it so I set it aside. Last night when I went to bed, I grabbed my Kindle and started reading and did not set it down until 4am! I thought it was maybe 1am and was shocked to see I had gotten so lost in the book that I finished it, but so close to 6am when I had to wake up. It was definitely worth it though, I loved this book! The Soulmate Equation is the story of Jessica Davis, a busy single mother that loves all things statistics, but is rather unlucky in finding love. But then she learns of a company called GeneticAlly that uses cutting-edge DNA technology to introduce soulmates. On her 30th birthday, Jess decides to give it a go and this is when we really meet Dr. River Peña, a stuffy, yet super-hot scientist. Dr. Peña, founder of GeneticAlly turns out to be Jess's "Diamond Match". Obviously, this book is engaging (I usually konk out within minutes of getting in bed) and has superb characters, I 100% recommend this book!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5

Thank you to Netgalley & Gallery books for the chance to read and review this ahead of its May release!

It’s no secret that I am a HUGE CLo (Christina Lauren) fan. So when I got approved for their new novel, I basically had a heart attack. This one is a lot different than what they usually write, but still possesses the same charm and wit that CLo is known for and makes them what they are.

I really enjoyed the premises of the DNA matching and genetics in this story. I’m not a science person by any means, but CLo makes it so it’s easy to follow and understand, ensuring that the reader does not get lost in the terminology. I hate when I read a science-y book and the terminology makes it hard to get into it.

I also loved that our main character was a single parent. I love single parent romances and feel like they are far and few between. It provided a different twist to the story and I loved watching River and Juno’s bond grow throughout the story. Not only do we have that trope, but also the classic enemies-to-lovers that we all secretly can’t get enough of! But unlike other enemies-to-lovers, I felt like the chemistry was built well and wasn’t rushed at all. It made sense.

Fizzy was the best. She was hilarious and the definition of a kickass best friend! She was down for anything and definitely helped Jess work through her fears to get what she wants: true happiness.

I highly recommend if you’re a CLo fan or a romance reader to pick this story up when it’s out! I promise it will not disappoint.

I love what Christina Lauren is presenting to the romance world. They keep their writing fresh and innovative, creative and new. Plus, anyone who can make science steamy and romantic is worth a purchase!

I love this duo authors and everything they writes so I knew this would be no exception. They delivered! I loved this story! I’d highly recommend it to people and I think people are gonna love it!

🧬Excellent chemistry
🧬Single mom
🧬Pro Science
🧬Excellent supporting characters

Christina Lauren are back again! I love all their books but this one exceeded my expectations! I loved this take on modern dating. Christina Lauren nailed the banter, chemistry and pacing of this romance.

The Soulmate Equation is a cute read. If you love single parent romance then you will love this one. Jess is so smart and a wonderful mom to Juno. She has an amazing relationship with her grandparents and you will just love her best friend Fizzy. You will laugh and get a little teary eyed with this one. You will feel the chemistry explode when it comes to River and Jess. River is behind a new dating app. He comes off as gruff and standoffish at first. When you get to know him you see a while different side of River. You cannot help but feel the pull between River and Jess no matter how much they fight it first. I love how River is with Juno and Jess. They all just fit together and you really feel it. I could not get enough of River. He stole my heart. I loved this one so much.

Fresh, science-y spin on the dating app romance with plenty of unf moments

Christina Lauren serves up a fresh, science-y spin on the dating app romance trope with a single parent, Women in STEM, and a San Diego setting. (I always love their books set in SD!)

As a 30-year old mom raising her 7-year old daughter with the help of her grandparents, Jess's focus HASN"T been on dating. She's a contract statistician who meets up with her romance author bestie daily at their local coffee shop to work. Then they find out one of the hot, but remote regulars is developing a dating app based on genetic compatibility. Felicity, who's always looking for fodder for her books, can't resist diving right in. And she brings Jess with her.

Jess makes an unprecedented match and it sets in motion a series of events that complicates the already fraught experience of getting to know someone new. Add to it that you're constantly questioning if it's chemistry or genetics that determines attraction and compatibility. Early on the book tries to head off any notion that this is smacks of eugenics, and none of the matches in the book suggest that's the aim.

While there are plenty of unf moments, The Soulmate Equation is on the low-to-medium steam side. I'd put it somewhere between The Unhoneymooners and In a Holidaze.

Worth noting that the hero is Latinx, Felicity is assumed to be at least part Chinese (surname is Chen), but it's mostly a fact of identity, their ethnicities don't play into the story.

This Christina Lauren book does not disappoint!

This point about scientific dating based on your DNA is so unique and I really enjoyed it. The main character Jess is a single mom who assumes she will be single forever. Until her wild best friend has them both submit their DNA to this matchmaking company.

The characters in this book are my favorite. They are all so unique and memorable. Jess' daughter and grandparents are authentic and supportive.

Thank you to Gallery Books and Netgalley for this review copy.

In typical Christina Lauren fashion, this romantic comedy checks all boxes: 
a heartfelt storyline with relatable characters
a smart, sexy, and charming love interest
a unique storyline with a satisfying ending

Forget online dating, it's time for scientific dating. Dr. River Peña is the founder of GeneticAlly, a buzzy new DNA-based matchmaking company that’s predicted to change dating forever. Single mom Jess Davis, who lives for numbers, decides to take a chance with this scientific service. But when she and River are an almost perfect match, the couple becomes the face of the company and realizes that true love can't be calculated in a lab.

This was such a cute read! Jess is just trying to make ends meet. She has fierce relationships with her grandparents, which is adorable, and her best friend, who is hilarious. Although River and Jess are genetically compatible, their physical attraction to each other is off the charts. This story offers a healthy dose of scientific jargon, which totally sets the scene. There is a bit of drama that shows us how River and Jess handle crises together.

What surprised me? River. He is swoon-worthy and just a friendly, loving guy. He's not your typical scientist and businessman.

What didn't work for me was Jess's relationship with her mother and how she basically cut her off at the end. I wish that part ended differently.

There’s a reason why Christina Lauren is a must read author for me. Their books are such a great balance of light hearted romance and well developed characters you truly grow to love. The Soulmate Equation is no exception - an easy light read with a great cast of characters (three cheers for Fizzy!)

Jessica Davis is a single mom, freelance statistician, and devoted granddaughter. Of course she’s noticed the tall, dark, and handsome man who comes to the same coffee shop every morning. When she learns he’s developed a DNA-based dating app, she’s intrigued and tags along with her best friend Fizzy to learn more. Turns out she’s got an off the charts match with the man himself, River Peña. In the interest of science (wink wink), they agree to try out dating to validate the algorithm (don’t overthink it, it’s not that deep).

Sweet sweet River is such a great hero. Watching him transform from cold and standoffish to worshipping at Jess’ feet was a damn delight. Jess is your stereotypical single mom in romance novels - spinning all the plates and never taking any time for herself. When she gives herself permission to feel her feelings for River it is so fun to read. The side characters were great - Fizzy is your dream best friend, Nana and Pops so cute, Jess’ daughter Juno and her obsession with convincing mom to say yes to more pets.

Docked a half a star because I thought it took a long time to get into the plot (you only get to the fake dating thing about 30% in and it’s right there in the blurb!). I also didn’t love how conflict was introduced and at times the genetic and statistical jargon was a bit much. Overall, this is a great addition to the CLo canon.

Thanks to NetGalley and Gallery Books for the early copy. All opinions are my own.

Christina Lauren has done it again! THE SOULMATE EQUATION is a wonderfully fresh concept with plenty of nerdy goodness to go around. I absolutely loved that both lead characters were super-smart and I am always excited for a female lead who works in S.T.E.M. and is damn good at her job!

There are so many likable characters in this book. The female friendship between Jess and Fizzy (her best friend) is perfectly hilarious, supportive, and wonderful. You will want a Fizzy in your life! There is also the sweetly supportive grandparents that are part of the lead female (and her daughter's) life for you to fall in love with.

I truly loved that this Enemies-to-Lovers took its time with the relationship shift. This is a slow burn that will eventually incinerate when these two leads finally hook up. The steamy scenes are *chef's kiss*.

I took off half a star because of my single-parent-romance pet peeve: the perfect child. Think the kid from Jerry Maguire, but a girl. She's smart, precocious, sweet, and never melts down. I just want a REAL KID in these books once in a while. They can't all be super-genius, high achievers, with perfect manners, and dimpled smiles. Every child on earth is a horrid, rotten, beast sometimes, mine included. I wish we could add a little realism into our single-parent romances.

Overall this book is sweet, steamy, funny, and a great read! You definitely need to add it to your TBR pile.

It is sexy, it is sweet and it is absolutely nerdy. This book was written for me. I adored Rivers and Jess. Their nerdy banter was sexy and oh so sweet at the same time. I could barely put this book down once i started reading it. I absolutely adored it and highly recommend this book for an amazing weekend read.

I received this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher for an honest review*

The Soulmate Equation by Christina Lauren is amazeballs. Not sure how else to put it but from cover to cover I was all in. Give me a grumpy hero and a STEM heroine any day but this duo in particular was so perfect. and way more complex than I described.

For one both River Peña is a scientist building a new kind of dating app that goes beyond the simple questionnaire and adds a genetic test to find your perfect match or soulmate. He matches at an unheard of level with Jess Davis, single mom and freelance statistician.

The two data-driven characters tentatively try to get to know each other so they can see if the app works. I love the added complications that authors throw t them as well as how difficult it is to really know if they can trust their growing relationship. I love all the building chemistry because it grows slowly and builds to a crescendo with each date. River Peña says these ridiculously touching words in a totally matter of fact way that you literally swoon at him on the page. As a single mom, Jess has to measure how much she lets herself get swept up in this experiment but even she can’t resist the pull they have to one another as they steam up the pages!

They both have so much to lose if they open their hearts and then they have so much to lose if it doesn’t work out that you are rooting for everything to be ok but you just don’t know how that is even possible at certain points.