Probably my favorite CL book that I've read in awhile! The concept of this one had me from the very moment I read the synopsis - combining genetics and dating apps seems both realistic and like something out of a scifi.
Both the main character and love interest were both lovable and I could not but help but root for their relationship. Reading about a single mom's journey through dating was a refreshing change from the romances I typically read.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an advanced digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!
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The New York Times bestselling author of The Unhoneymooners returns with a witty and effervescent novel about what happens when two people with everything on the line are thrown together by science—or is it fate? Perfect for fans of The Rosie Project and One Plus One.

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. After all, her father’s never been around, her hard-partying mother disappeared when she was six, and her ex decided he wasn’t “father material” before Juno was even born. 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 Dr. Peña. The stuck-up, stubborn man is without a doubt not her soulmate. But GeneticAlly has a proposition: Get to know him and we’ll pay you. Jess—who is barely making ends meet—is in no position to turn it down, despite her skepticism about the project and her dislike for River. As the pair are dragged from one event to the next as the “Diamond” pairing that could make GeneticAlly a mint in stock prices, Jess begins to realize that there might be more to the scientist—and the science behind a soulmate—than she thought.

Funny, warm, and full of heart, The Soulmate Equation proves that the delicate balance between fate and choice can never be calculated.
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I read this book from start to finish today and found it to be the perfect kind of story to fall into on a day off from work. I curled up on the couch with my dog and my Kindle and just read the day away, racing through this enjoyable romance. The characters were fun to get to know, and I found myself really drawn in by the premise that our perfect match is somehow in our DNA (I have a biology degree and am a bit of a science nerd.). And almost from the beginning, I found myself rooting for a love match that may or may not be the real deal. If you are looking for a full cast of delightful characters and just enough drama to keep you guessing, The Soulmate Equation is definitely for you!

Christina Lauren's books are always very hit or miss for me - this one was so much fun. Jess is a single mom who gets matched genetically with her "soulmate" River. They begin to date to see if they are a true match, and trouble ensues along the way. I took away a star from this due to the resolution coming to an end too quickly, and the unnecessary addition of including Jess's problematic mother in this book. Other than that, the family aspect is lovable, and the relationship is quirky and cute.

I have been a fan of Christina Lauren for a long time and was thrilled to get an opportunity to read their latest novel "The Soulmate Equation."

In this story we meet our heroine, Jessica Davis, a statistician and single mom, working hard raising her daughter, Juno and barely making ends meet. Our hero is Dr. River Peña, or as I will forever refer to him, River Nicolas, the seemingly cold and aloof founder of GeneticAlly, a DNA-based matchmaking company.

When Jess first learns that River is about to launch GeneticAlly, she cannot fathom how such a jerk could have possibly founded an app meant for people to find their genetic love match. Her impression of him does not improve when Jess accidently overhears River calling her "entirely average." after her bff Fizzy convinces her to join her in trying out GeneticAlly.

Of course, this would not be a romance story if Jess and River did not end up matching. Not only matching, but scoring a 98% - a nearly perfect match - and the first one of its kind at GeneticAlly. Initially both River and Jess are skeptical for a plethora of reasons, chief among which is the fact that they obviously do not like each other. *wink, wink*

The board members of GeneticAlly need River and Jess's match to be successful. After all, they've invested a lot of money into the launching of this new and innovative dating app and what better way to promote it than by using River and Jess as the prime example of how GeneticAlly can find your true love match based on genetics.

Jess agrees to "get to know" River after GeneticAlly offers to pay her. She is a single mom struggling financially and cannot really afford to reject their offer, even if she's dreading spending time with River. It quickly becomes apparent, however, that Dr. River Peña is not as much of a jerk and is actually more of an extremely shy man trying to overcome his awkwardness.

As Jess and River get to know each other they start to believe that they may actually be a perfect match. It's not an easy thing for either, especially for Jess, who has conditioned herself to not rely on people - they tend to let her down. Her inner circle consists of Juno, her grandparents and her best friend Fizzy, and she's hesitant to allow anyone else in. River slowly breaks through her barriers and in turn she gets to know the real and sweet and caring and adorable, River Nicolas.

It all almost comes crashing down after an unexpected discovery makes River retrieve into himself and in turn proves all of Jess's greatest fears to be true. However, I was pleasantly surprised and very impressed by how these two dealt with the aftermath of this conflict; like adults, they actually talked it out. Groundbreaking.

Overall, "The Soulmate Equation" was an adorable and delightful read. I loved River and Jess, but all of the supporting characters deserve all the love too. Especially Juno - adorable beyond words, Fizzy and Jess's grandparents.

I always tend to end reviews with a plea for more and I will do so again, today. Can we please get Fizzy's story next? Please and thank you.

I am a huge fan of Christina Lauren and never miss one of their books. I love this one. It is a new spin on the dating apps idea and pushes two people who initially dislike each other into considering what they may not be seeing. It has a feel of Pride and Prejudice in it at times and is funny and unique. You think you know how this will end, but you don't. It is a great read and I will be recommending this to many of my library's patrons and friends.
#netgalley

The story is good and in line with the author(s) other works. The e-copy still had some edits to make for corrections - for instance, one character is out of town to LA one day and the next day is returning from NYC without any comment on the change- it seems more error than the actual story. I could have done without the family drama at the 60-70% part of the book, but I understand it was added to show character growth.

What a delight! The Soulmate Equation was such an enjoyable read. Christina Lauren really nailed it with this one. The DNA matchmaking concept was so fun.

Jessica and River, our main characters, were both cute, and their chemistry was top notch. The secondary characters were equally likable. Jessica’s friend, Fizzy, was especially great. Their friendship was definitely one of the highlights of the book.

Definitely recommend! Especially if you’ve been less than impressed with some of Christina Lauren’s other works. This one is definitely worth a shot.

I absolutely adored this book. I loved the scenery, characters, how it grabs you right away, and the plot. So glad I came across this. You know it’s good when you try to read it in parts so it feels like it is much longer.

This was such a cute book. Jess and River get matched on the dating App that he owns. They are one of the highest matches ever on the App. DNA shows that they should be extremely compatible but they get off to a rocky start. Once they get to really know each other then sparks start to fly.
I loved the entire cast of characters in this story. From Jess's adorable grandparents, to her little girl Juno and Jess's best friend Fizzy.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book for review.

Even though the ending was a little boring (compared to the rest of the story) and predictable. I enjoyed the newest entry from Christina Lauren. The premise was great and convinced me to request t and so glad I was approved, even if it took awhile. Two people who seem like opposite are matched GenetIcAlly, a dating app that matches people's DNA to each other to see if they are compatible, hence finding a perfect mate. I found this part of the book interesting as hell. There were a couple slumps while I was reading with the interactions between Jess and Dr Pena, Written as opposites attract, a little predictable and they learn to get past it, also predictable..

Overall, I liked this and recommend reading this if you have enjoyed any other books by Christina Lauren or want somethings lighter to read.

Thanks to Netgalley, Christina Lauren and Gallery Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Available: 5/18/21

One big fat Sigh... so fresh and freaking good!
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One of the things that attracts me to this writing team is the way that they create their characters. They become like your best friend. The people you would totally hang out with. You get their weird, quirky sense of humor and you appreciate their daily life and struggles. You get to know them really, really well.

And because of that you end up cheering them on when the good happens. Plus you get those deep feels when they struggle.

This story was a delight because it took a while for me to kind of warm up to the characters. You didn’t really know everything about them right off the bat. Then as the characters bloomed so did your appreciation for them.

This one is definitely a slow burn romance. I love the heat of the interest blooming yet careful development of that attraction and those tender feelings. Slow, cautious steps, but most importantly, the wonderful connection when reality finally hit for both of them.

The story is fun, intelligent, and so unique! A great plot that rounds out this delightful book! This team continually kills it with each of their stories. I simply and truly enjoy the heck out of each of the books that they produce. Christina Lauren brings amazing connections and the soulmate equation between the author and the reader to life.

What would happen if you could find your soulmate solely based on a DNA sample? This is the question posed in the newest book by Christina Lauren, The Soulmate Equation. Single mother Jess Davis is approaching her 30th birthday, with no serious love interests on her horizon. She struggles to make ends meet, and can't imagine finding the time to have a steady boyfriend. She spends her days working as freelance data analyst, setting up shop at a coffee shop with her best friend Fizzy, and people watching regulars. One such regular is a handsome but standoffish man they nickname "Americano". After finding out that Americano has developed a groundbreaking new dating app based on DNA matches, Fizzy requests a tour of the lab. She sends in a DNA sample and buys one for Jess too. On a whim, Jess sends in her sample and the results are not what she was expecting. Jess is a 98% match with Americano, aka Dr. River Pena. This enemies to lovers tale follows Jess and River as they find themselves forced to be paired up to advertise the success of the app. This page turner is sure to appeal to a variety of audiences.

"The Soulmate Equation" was addictive, funny and swoon-worthy. I couldn't read this book quick enough. From page 1, I was hooked thanks to the Jess's opinion on love: 26% of women believe in love. With the odds stacked against this single-mom, she gives in to some best friend peer pressure and offers up her spit (literally) to GeneticAlly, a new DNA-based matchmaking company. When Jess is scientifically matched to the most unlikely of persons, things really take off for this one of kind story. Is true love tied to your genetic makeup or is it something that you form from your own wants and needs? Jess has to trust not only the numbers -- something she is good at as a data and statistics wizard -- but her heart, too. Because sometimes true love is more than just a percentage.

I adored the characters in "The Soulmate Equation". Fizzy is hilarious and I HOPE to see more of her soon! Juno was a delight to have in this story as well; you never know what a kid will say or do!

This is such a cute and engaging novel. I loved the premise of DNA soul mate matching and of the pairing of two seemingly opposite people. Great writing as usual for Christina Lauren.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Jess lives with her 7-year old daughter Juno in an apartment close to Jess' grandparents who pretty much raised her. She has a job she enjoys as a freelance statistician and works a lot of the time with her best friend Fizzy, a romance writer, at their regular table in a local coffee shop. And that's it. That's Jess' life....and she's happy with that. She has little interest in dating or romance.

But Jess and Fizzy end up discovering that the brooding regular coffee shop customer that they've dubbed "Americano" is in fact Dr River Pena, founder of GeneticAlly, a start-up who aims to match people with their perfect date based on the compatibility of their genes. Jess ends up get dragged along by an enthusiastic Fizzy who is always on the hunt for inspiration for her novels and they both give a spit sample and wait for their matches to roll in. Fizzy gets a few lowish matches but Jess hits the jackpot with a 98% match......who turns out to be River Pena himself. Both somewhat reluctantly agree to see what will happen, after all, this would be great publicity for GeneticAlly....but is the science real, or is it just a gimmick? Can Jess really see herself falling for this man who she doesn't even really like?

Whew, I never normally like to write so much just to summarise the plot but there wasn't much I could leave out there! I am a sucker for a Christina Lauren book, they are a guaranteed pick up for me anytime because they're always fun, with great characters and a good streak of humour.

I liked that Jess had a daughter and other responsibilities to consider and I also liked the nerdy statistics talk and data analysis that came up between the two MCs. Fizzy was a great supporting character, as were Jess' grandparents, though the plot line with her mum felt a little unnecessary in a way - did we really need to meet her? We knew she was crap and the impact that had on Jess already.

I did feel however, that the inevitable conflict between the MCs was just a bit dumb. Yes, romance readers know something will be coming but I want to at least half believe it and I didn't really think the way they acted was realistic.

Overall, it wasn't my favourite by the author but that's not to say it isn't a sweet, enjoyable read with an interesting concept.

3.5 stars

I was already a big fan of Christina Lauren books, and this one was just as good, if not better than other titles from them. I adored all of the characters, but especially the bond between the love interest and the main character’s young daughter. Loved seeing characters who work in science too. Another slam dunk from Christina Lauren!

4.5 stars!

Thank you to Gallery Books and NetGalley for an e-ARC of this book!

GUYSS I LOVED THIS!! The story of Jess and River grabbed me from the onset. River, scientist and founder of GeneticAlly, a DNA based matchmaking company, and Jess, a statistician and single-mom to the cutest 7 year old, match at the highest rating the company has ever seen. Funny enough, they already know each other before their results are in and let's just say their first encounters were not great haha Their both in disbelief of the results, but given that they both are data-driven/numbers people, they set out to see if they really are compatible to the highest level.

This book was so heartwarming, sweet, funny, and so nerdy, which I loved. Jess and River's chemistry was so good guys - I really felt that tug between them. I also loved the side characters in this story - Jess's grandparents and best friend, Fizzy, were wonderful, as was Jess's daughter, Juno. Side note: can Fizzy get her own book, PLEASE?! Trust me, you're going to love her and she deserves to find her HEA!

Overall, I really loved this and would highly recommend it. In my opinion, this is one of the best books Christina Lauren has put out in years - it feels like more of their older works!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
THE SOULMATE EQUATION
🥰🥰🥰I have some serious Christina Lauren love to share with you guys today!
I absolutely adored this fun, funny, romance about a data scientist and single mom, Jess Davis, who has just about given up on love when she hears about GeneticAlly, a brand new DNA-based matchmaking company that’s claiming it will change dating as we know it. Turns out, Jess is a 98% match with none other than Dr. River Peña, the founder of the company. WHAT ARE THE ODDS??? 💙 As a dating expert and nerd lover myself, this premise was like catnip for me, and funnily enough, there WAS a DNA dating app a few years ago called Pheramor that I covered on the Daytime TV show a while back, that promised true love via a cheek swab (plus, ahem, combing through your social media profiles, and the secret sauce -- the dubious magic of pheromones, but I digress...Pretty sure they're out of business now.) ANYWAY, Jess agrees to get to know River, even though she dislikes him right off the bat, (🎉🎉🎉 FAVORITE TROPE ALERT) because GeneticAlly is paying her to, and she's a broke single mom who needs the cash. (Why can't you see it, Jess??? He's adorkable, shy, hot...) River, obviously, has a vested interest in seeing this whole DNA dating scenario work out for himself because, you know, stock prices, not to mention proof of concept. The Soulmate Equation is a fast, fun read with some laugh-out-loud moments, sizzling chemistry, and fantastic banter. Jess and River quickly became one of my favorite book pairings this year -- if you're a #ChristinaLauren fan, you definitely don't want to miss this one.
THE SOULMATE EQUATION releases May 18, 2021 from Simon and Schuster.

--Lisa Daily, Relationships Editor, DAYTIME SHOW

Thank you to @gallerybooks and Christina Lauren for my gifted copy of The Soulmate Equation! This sweet, very highly-anticipated romance comes out on May 18th. I’ll put the synopsis in the comments.

Y’all, I think we have a book on the same level as The Unhoneymooners. To start, I loved our leading lady, Jess. She’s a statistician, single mom, and brave badass who is very close with her grandparents. Dr. River Pena, the lead scientist for GeneticAlly, turns out to be a dashing gentleman as well. He doesn’t make the best first impression, but he ended up becoming one of my favorite characters.

In addition, I loved how well the plot kept moving along. It never felt like things lagged, but that they kept building. Even when things took a turn I didn’t quite expect, everything still moved along well. There was very little fluff, and a great deal of passion and romantic tension building instead. The banter is very strong with this book.

Overall, if you’re a Christina Lauren fan, I don’t think you’ll be disappointed in The Soulmate Equation. I

My secret Pandemic indulgence has become reading romance novels. Who doesn't love a happily-ever-after tale? The Soulmate Equation fits the bill and was a fun read for a bleak weekend. I was invested in the story of River and Jess from the beginning. The author leads the reader through a journey that is not entirely predictable, which was appreciated.