Growing up, I LOVED reading about mythology, astrology, and zodiacs, so I was immediately interested in reading a sweet rom-com involving matchmaking through the Chinese Zodiac. Lunar Love captures what it is like to meet someone new and although they might not be who you thought would be "the ONE", they actually might be "the ONE" that you need in your life. Although Olivia and Bennett's rival-to-love relationship is predictable (similar in nature to the movie "You've Got Mail" but with traditional matchmaking vs online dating apps) and the beginning of the book was a bit slow/repetitive in parts, the story immerses the reader in Chinese culture, food, traditions along with descriptions of the beautiful California mountain, coast, and city scenery. The family relationships play an important part of the story and I especially LOVED Olivia's grandmother Popo, as she reminded me of my beloved Grandmother Pearl, who also taught me how to cook/bake, was hilarious and always gave me the best life and love advice. The ending was wonderfully satisfactory and I was especially excited to see Chinese Zodiac information at the end of the book, as well as. recipes for food that played a large part within the story! I'm looking forward to reading the next book from this author and hoping that this book will eventually be made into a streaming movie or series!

Loved the Chinese culture, food, and insight into the Lunar Calendar and the matchmaking aspect. LOVED Bennett.

I feel conflicted about how much the MC lied to the love interest, Bennett. There’s omitting info and sometimes I can overlook it in books, but in this story, it’s just straight up deceit & lying; it was kind of uncomfy. I just felt bad for the dude.

💡Disclosure: I received a free eARC of this book on NetGalley.

📚This was really cute, and seasonally appropriate with the Lunar New Year right around the corner. I really liked seeing a mixed race protagonist in Olivia, and two love interests who could bond over the things that are different and that are similar about their experiences. The premise of warring matchmakers—on the one hand, Lunar Love, and on the other, newcomer app ZodiaCupid—was also delightful.

📚I also liked Liv in general. She’s so stubborn and rooted in what she thinks is the “right way” things are done, in a way that frankly reminded me of myself. I could really empathize with her struggles, even if as a reader, I was right there with her friends thinking giiiiiirl… you have got to let XYZ go!

📚There are some things I thought didn't quite work. Like, the author seems very concerned with explaining elements of Chinese culture to the reader, often through the protagonist being naive or ignorant of these items. Some aspects though seemed so base-level though that it stretched my disbelief, especially stuff around weddings, since this protagonist literally works in the wedding industry. Personally my preference is often to have the reader do the work—don’t explain it on the page, the reader can Google it—but I understand that choosing how much to explain can be a very personal thing. But this specific manner of going about it took me out of the reading.

📚This one is a low-steam read, very well-suited to recommending to people in your life who are just getting into romance or whose preferences about steam you don’t know.

I thought this story was wonderful. Not only did we get some romance, but many important topics were explored throughout, a great example of why representation in media is important. And of course, Lauren includes some delicious recipes for you to try😉

This book meant a lot to me. Not only does it make me hopeful for my future children about seeing themselves in media (my children will be mixed race), but it also explores topics I’ve been contemplating or have dealt with. As I grow older, I’ve been more aware there’s so much of my culture I still don’t know about. Things I took for granted or brushed off when my parents and grandparents tried to teach me as a child.

As an Own Voice reviewer, I really enjoyed this one. The characters were relatable and their struggles with belonging really hit home.

I would’ve liked to get to know Bennett and Olivia more, but their romance was sweet. The zodiac details were great and I loved hearing Olivia’s Po po’s POV.

Really happy to see a book celebrating Chinese culture!

Chris (my husband) made sure I read this before Lunar New Year to help me get in the spirit ahead of our celebration with his parents that weekend... I'm really glad I did! The story is about rival matchmaking businesses - one uses the Chinese zodiac in a more traditional, in-person way (Liv's family business Lunar Love) and the other riffs on the interpretation for a dating app (ZodiaCupid by Bennett). The two leads end up making a bet that they can get the other one to fall in love using their service/app before the other. Naturally, romance does ensue ;)

Liv was a very stubborn and strong-willed character. It was often frustrating being in her head because she would jump to conclusions SO quickly (and often convince herself of the opposite thing two seconds later - it was like whiplash sometimes). I could generally understand her motivations and reasons for being the way she was, or being nervous about incompatible relationship matches, but I do wish SOME of that background was explored more (like he situations with her ex-boyfriend and her friend). It was frustrating because she lashed out quite a bit or remained super set in her ways for the majority of the book. Bennett was an absolute adorable marshmallow who remained endlessly patient with her - he totally made the book for me. Their rivals-to-more relationship was engaging from the beginning and I loved following them around. The other characters, like Liv's grandmother Po Po, her other family members, and her coworkers were fun to read about too. 

I couldn't put this one down honestly - I usually don't have a problem blazing through contemporary romances but something about this book made me keep reading and I finished the book pretty quickly. I loved the exploration of the Chinese zodiac and preparations around Lunar New Year - it was really a great time of year to read this one.

While this is obviously a romance, there were a lot of discussions about family and heritage too. The competing matchmaking businesses brought up so many issues around cultural identity, being mixed race, and traditions vs. modernization. It was very engaging to read about and I highly recommend it to learn more about all of these different things, and how there's not really a one-size-fits-all solution.

I loved the idea of this story. The cultural pieces and the family parts of this romance were so engaging and fun. I loved both main character's perspective on similar methods of matchmaking and how their light enemies to lovers romance came together. I do struggle a little with characters who get in their own way. She seemed so stubbornly committed to her way of doing things that she didn't get the growth that I wanted. She got some, but it took longer and wasn't as rewarding as I wished for. It's a cute, fun read with a diverse and interesting cast of characters.

I really wanted to like this book. I heard such great things about it and the premise sounded interesting. I knew early on this book wasn't for me, but I kept trying. Something about the writing style was off-putting and that was compounded by awkward dialogue and cringey inner dialogue from Liv (I didn't need to know her every thought, and I REALLY didn't need to know about the parasite that took over a fish...???). I didn't sense any real chemistry or connection between her and Bennett and I wasn't sure why he even liked her when she was single-minded, combative, immature, and wanted to destroy him and his business. That doesn't exactly spell romance to me.

I was lucky enough to receive this book as an ARC and boy was it adorable. I thought the characters were sweet and homey and the plot unique to any Asian American romance I have read, yet. I thought all in all it was a sweet book. Worth a read if you like romance, and cultural depth.

I enjoyed this enemies-to-lovers story that pitted traditional values with modern technology. I loved all the food descriptions, and learning more about Chinese zodiac signs and compatibility. I did get frustrated at times with the main character, Olivia (a horse), and her stubbornness, Especially when the source of this stubbornness was kept mostly vague, and its reveal later in the story fell a bit flat. I loved the banter between her and Bennett (a Rat, the same sign as me!). From the beginning, it's easy to say what the solution is to their company rivalry, but it was still fun watching the characters get there. My favorite character of all, though, was Olivia's Pó Po, the matriarch of the family and the founder of Lunar Love. I loved their relationship, and it was refreshing and heartwarming to see a positive familial relationship in an Asian-American story.

Oh Olivia. She is doomed from the start... The thing about matchmakers are that they believe in love. Even if not love at first sight or true love, they have to believe in what they are doing. Running a family business that has been making love matches for generations? Definitely someone who believes in love.

Enter a little competition and a handsome bachelor and you know what that equals... Enemies-to-Lovers, my favorite troupe! Of course I loved reading "Lunar Love"! And you will too! I think I have a book hangover....

Thank you so much Lauren Kung Jessen and Netgalley for this eARC in exchange for my fair and honest review.

This rom com was absolutely adorable, and just in time for the Lunar New Year next week. This book focuses on two individuals in the business of chinese-zodiac based match making. One who believes in the traditional ways and making only comparable matches. And the other who moves into the world of online dating, and takes a more modern approach to match making. These two have an instant connection, but their signs aren’t compatible. What will they do about their business, their rival companies, and their growing attraction?

This book was absolutely adorable. The date nights and banter was everything you need in a romance book, the family aspect and tradition had me in tears, and of course the happy endings made everything okay in the end.

This book was fast paced, swoon-worthy, and just so worth the read. Not only that, but I think there’s a lot you can apply to your own life and relationships from this book. This book came out on January 10th, so if you’ve haven’t already checked out the new release, I recommend you do so now!

Liv is transitioning to become the owner of her family’s matchmaking business - using the framework of the Chinese zodiac, clients of Lunar Love can expect hand picked, compatible matches. When Liv hears that a tech startup is working on a dating app based on the Chinese zodiac, she can’t imagine how an algorithm can possibly do what she does. Bennett, the app’s creator, thinks that traditions are meant to be broken, but she couldn’t disagree more. With their businesses battling head to head, they agree to a wager - each will set up a match, and whoever makes the other fall in love first wins. The only problem is, the more time they spend trying to match each other, the more they want to skip the match altogether.

This was the sweetest!!! I loved Liv’s family - especially Pó Po, because 90 year old ladies who insist everyone have fun are just the best - and how they all showed they cared about each other in different ways.

Liv and Bennett coming together was so adorable, and I loved their banter. Nothing seems to hit the spot like the lines blurring between arguing and flirting! Their different approaches to matching made for some animosity, but each of them saw different parts of what make people work together. Liv was focused on the traits of each animal, where Bennett took a data approach based also on other information in their profiles. I liked how they complemented each other.

This sweet romance keeps all doors closed - in fact, we’re not even near the door at any time during the book. This book was focused far more on family, and the relationship that was building between Liv and Bennett, rather than how compatible they are physically. I don’t think it needed it - this story and romance stood strong without it!

Overall, this was a great read, and it came out just in time for Lunar New Year! Definitely worth the read, any time of year.

How to describe Lunar Love? There is a part of me that thinks of the book as You've Got Mail with Chinese Zodiac Matchmaking. That description, while accurate in some ways, ignores the story's exploration of what makes two people compatible and the vulnerability required in successful relationship building.

There is a lot to like here:
1. Great banter between the main characters
2. Fleshed out supporting characters with healthy relationships. Po Po is my favorite character
3. Authentic/earned relationship building

If I have one complaint it is that the female main character spends so much time trying to bring down the male main character's business, rather than paying any attention to her own. We hear that she is good at her job. I would have loved to see it.

All in all, a fun read for fans of the genre. Thank you to the author and NetGalley for a review copy prior to release. All opinions are my own.

Lunar Love, Lauren Kung Jessen's new romance, puts a modern twist on "You Got Mail," telling the story of rival matchmakers who fall in love while trying to set each other up. It's a sweet story and a strong debut. I'm eager to see what Jessen does next.

I first heard of Lauren’s debut rom-com novel, Lunar Love, last year. As someone who belongs to the Indian culture, there is a prominence given to one’s astrological stars in order to make matches. They are known as “kundlis.” While I know many couples I know in my extended family, we never used our astrological matches when Mike and I began dating, although I met many men before him who did ask for my horoscope data.

Being very picky about romance, I get wary of the romance genre if it’s not treated well. With that said, I am a fan of 90s rom-coms, like When Harry Met Sally and You’ve Got Mail! And, I absolutely loved Lunar Love. Why? You may ask: because Lauren has brilliantly created two main characters who are competitors in their zodiac matchmaking app business: Olivia and Bennet. As the plot unfolds, the relationship between Bennet and Olivia evolves in tension. Olivia feels the burden of inheriting her grand mother, Po Po’s matchmaking business but is also burnt by her ex. She meets Bennet while trying to use her competitor’s app, and the tension between them is addictive. She keeps on avoiding the thought and prospect of a relationship while trying to become a good businesswoman who can take her family’s business to next level.

I truly enjoyed this sweet, enemies-to-lovers story that is shaped by Chinese astrology, and the tension that exists between mordernity and tradition. How does the second generation and generations after retain their culture or “adapt” as is discussed by Olivia and Bennet as they try to make their businesses successful. What I especially loved about Jessen’s debut novel is that not only is the main female character a stubborn, strong headed, and loving woman (she is nuanced and just trying to preserve her grandmother’s business) but the issue that the author explores is addressing how younger immigrant generations deal/struggle with finding happy and stable relationships, especially when it comes to finding love - as if finding love in 2023 online wasn’t easy enough. Also, I loved the references to delicious food and recipes!

This book was so cute!!! I always love a man that so obviously falls first and Bennet is the perfect example of this. Watching their relationship develop - from the cute, to the awkward, to the swoony, to the heartbreaking and heeling - was such a beautiful journey to follow. The banter had me giggling and the tension had me fanning myself. Not to mention all the new things I learned about Chinese culture and the Zodiacs! Every new thing I learned had me so intrigued and left me wanting to do more research on my own into the different traditions. I absolutely loved this story and can’t wait to see what comes next from this author as her writing only grows and develops.

Thank you NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing (Forever) for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. 

Review: 4.5 stars

Quote: "Traditions are meant to be broken when they're rigid like rules and run the risk of being lost to history" 

I went into this book with zero expectations and was completely blown away. It was such a swoon-worthy and light-hearted rom-com that warms my heart. Also, a big shout out to representation of Asian American culture and mixed culture representation. The book focuses on a lot of Chinese traditions including lunar horoscope matchmaking.

The story touches on Olivia, who is set to inherit her family matchmaking business specializing in lunar horoscopes and compatibility. When she found that a rival lunar horoscope matchmaking app was in the market which threatens the family business of matchmaking people traditionally, she orchestrated a sneaky ploy to meet the founder, Bennett. What she didn't expect was to fall for him along the way and fight her feelings every step of the way as she realizes that she and Bennett are incompatible based on their lunar horoscopes. 

This hits the rivals to lovers and opposite attract themes. I also love how the author makes a play between tradition vs modern and how a balance is eventually found. Olivia is stubborn, rigid and believes in all things compatibility. Her past plays a huge past on this. Bennett is her exact opposite where he is sneaky, caring, sweet and he shows her a different perspective to her world. The interactions between both of them are sweet, funny, thoughtful, cute with a touch of seriousness when it comes to important topics. There were also some elements where the book surprises me as I expected the standard plot which makes it a great read. 

The side characters of family and friends also add to a wonderful element to the book. There was a scene where I was so invested in the characters that it made me cry and think about my family. 

What a great debut. A must-read for sure!

This book is my love letter to being mixed race, Chinese traditions, and the ways we make customs our own.

Lunar love is a complex story of a stubborn, proud girl inheriting her family’s Chinese zodiac based matchmaking business trying not to fall in love while also trying to keep her ideas about compatibility relevant in our rapidly changing world of instant gratification. It’s also a story about family, bending but not breaking, heritage and how complicated it is to be mixed race and not feeling enough for any culture.

Olivia is a character that I absolutely see myself in- tenacity but also stubbornness, hanging onto traditions for dear life. It also made me dislike certain actions she took and get frustrated because intentional miscommunication tropes are not my thing. I did end up loving her with her flaws because isn’t that just like real life? Sometimes the things we believe the hardest in are the things that have to change and evolve.

Bennett was the sweetest MMC and I honestly wish so much that we had gotten some chapters from his POV. He was constantly just doing his best to grow his business that he had so much faith in while trying to build a relationship based on real things with Olivia despite their zodiac incompatibility.

I’m giving this a solid 4/5 star rating because I really did end up enjoying it but some parts were a little bit heavy, a little bit slow, and a little bit frustrating which I didn’t expect for whatever reason. I think if you enjoy Emily Henry, you should absolutely pick up this book- especially because the cover is completely gorgeous!!