Unfortunately, this book was a miss for me. The conversations all sounded incredibly stiff and unnatural, and I had a hard time connecting with the characters because of it.

I adored this book!! Bennett O’Brien! The banter!! The food!! Seeing Liv and Bennett embrace tradition and learn how tradition can be adapted without letting go of important cultural or familial aspects!🥹

This book has such a fun premise. Two matchmakers using the Chinese Zodiac to pair people up, but in two very different ways. Liv and Bennett make a bet that they can find the other love with their method of matchmaking and amazing banter, delicious dates, and fun matches ensue!

Bennett was a sweetheart from the second we meet him! I would have loved for this book to have been dual POV just so we could see things from his side. However, I will say, he did a pretty good job of keeping us in the know by openly communicating with Liv… most of the time anyway. I won’t lie, Liv tested me in the last fourth of the book. Her stubbornness was really frustrating to read about. I understand she had been hurt before, but it was just so annoying to have her constantly refuse to listen to anyone else. Even after speaking with Pó Po, the person she looks up to and respects most in the world, she still wouldn’t accept that maybe her ideas weren’t the only ones out there. Eventually, after some tear jerking moments, Liv starts to come around and has some amazing moments of self-reflection that lead to her following her heart and learning to embrace love and change while still holding on to important traditions.

I felt like the ending was a bit rushed. So much was packed into it, and I’d have liked a few of those things to have been explored in more depth. But also, I just really enjoyed reading the book and didn’t want it to end!

Last thing, the food descriptions throughout the book made my mouth water as I was reading, and the author included a few recipes at the end of the book! And she included a list of all the characters’ Chinese Zodia signs and qualities! I loved this extra little touch!

This was a sweet, emotional romance, and I thoroughly enjoyed it! It’s definitely worth the read!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the complimentary copy of this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

One of the cutest books I have read in a while. So happy this is a BOTM pick because it deserves so much love,

Olivia had something to prove, and she was determined to get the family business back on track. Her plans may have been stymied by an up and coming dating app. In a challenge to declare the superior matchmaker, Olivia and her competitor, Bennett, set out to find the perfect match for each other. May the best matchmaker win.

This was so sweet! Olivia had been burned in the love department and had closed herself and her heart off to others. Though she loved being a matchmaker, she did not trust her skills for finding her own match. I adored the way she slowly surrendered her heart to Bennett. He was unexpected, incompatible, and perfectly adorable. There was this one scene where he was so flipping cute that a smile got stuck on my face for hours.

Authors seem to understand that the way to my heart is through vivid descriptions of incredible food. Olivia liked to cook (and eat), and many of the fun and fantastic dates featured in this story were built around meals. There were also a myriad of family celebrations and events where food was featured heavily. I worked up quite an appetite as I read, laughed, and smiled my way through it all.

The dates, the family focus, the food — I had such a great time with these two, and I look forward to reading more from Jessen.

This was a slow burn enemies to lovers read. I was not fully invested until 50% in on my kindle. The story line sped up then slowed way down. It wasn't what I was hoping for while reading. It was still a cute story.

This is a tricky book to rate because there are as many things I liked as I disliked.

First of all, the representation alone is worth 5 stars! I loved reading about my own culture, seeing my favourite food and snacks mentioned, recognising traditions that are familiar to me and learning zodiac traits. You'll be surprised by how many OwnVoices novels I've seen fail on this front, but Lunar Love nailed it.

The downside is I didn't vibe with the opposites-attract, work-rivals, slow-burn romance at all. Nor did I care for the characters. I found Olivia really off-putting with her deceit, rude attitude, rigidity and stubbornness even though the point of it was for her to grow and develop. Meanwhile, Bennett is your typical leading man —too nice to the point of bland.

Nevertheless, this was still an enjoyable read overall with great themes of love, relationships, family, belonging and identity. I loved the exploration of Asian diaspora and the conversations that both leads had about being biracial and what constitutes being "Asian enough".

I would recommend this to those interested in learning more about Chinese culture or if like me, you love books that do your culture justice.

I enjoyed this book. I really liked the aspects of Chinese culture shown throughout the book from the food to the zodiac to the celebratory traditions. I liked the discussion of how being mixed race can affect one's cultural identity. I thought the two main characters, Bennett and Olivia, had chemistry, but I wish we could have seen more of it. Their relationship didn't feel developed by the end of the book, and Olivia seemed very hot and cold with her trust issues toward Bennett. Overall, I enjoyed this book but would have liked to see more development with Bennett and Olivia's relationship.

This was just what I needed to cap off the year!

As soon as I read the synopsis of this story, I knew that I was going to read it. This is the story of Olivia, a half-Chinese woman who takes over the family business that her grandmother started: matchmaking based on the Chinese Zodiac. The fun begins when a competitor dating app looms on the horizon...hilarity, romance, disagreements and more ensue.

Being half-Chinese myself, I identified with the main characters trying to feel connected to their heritage without being fully one ethnicity. Reading through this book, it's terminology, the traditions described and the baked goods mentioned was like a hug in book form for me.

These characters were multi-faceted and very real; it was easy to picture these characters and places in my head as I was reading. The emotions brought forth seemed earnest and realistic. It really showcases a different view on how matchmaking can be brought into the modern world and how different cultures preserve different traditions.

Thank you to the author, Lauren Kung Jessen, Forever Publishing (Grand Central Publishing) for a printed arc and NetGalley for am eARC of Lunar Love!

Liv is taking over as head of her family business—a matchmaking service using Chinese astrology. Bennet is launching a dating app using the Chinese zodiac as a gimmick. Liv is not amused. They make a bet about who can find the perfect mate for the other first. Will their rivalry turn to love?

This is a cute story. Liv and Bennet are mostly likable but not always honest with each other. It wasn't really clear why Liv thought they weren't "compatible," aside from their zodiac signs. It would have been nice if the author had offered some kind of explanation like, Horses are "x" and Rats are "y," and they clash because of "z." Still, the book was fun and well-written with good pacing, a strong plot, and emotional character journeys.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

Lunar Love is a romance built on mutual deception. This story felt incredibly fake until they confess their motives behind their actions. Liv's characters lacked any sense of professionalism as she ultimately sets out to ruin Bennet's company just because he's competition. You can't tell me his company has been there only competition since her grandma founded the Lunar Love! Liv was just to juvenile to enjoy this romance novel.

The book is riddled with information on the Chinese zodiac and cultural food and celebrations.

Rating is 2.5 - Thank you Forever the complimentary novel to read and review.

The SWEETEST debut Rom-Com!

Olivia is more than ready to take over her Po Po's matchmaking business, Lunar Love, centered around the Chinese Zodiac but knows that there are challenges ahead as more people are starting to gravitate toward online dating in lieu of traditional, in person matchmaking. After a chance meeting and some fun banter at her favorite bakery, she finds herself in the orbit of Bennett, the creator of a dating app called ZodiaCupid. Olivia discovers that ZodiaCupid is a direct competitor to Lunar Love as it is also based around the Chinese Zodiac. In an effort to bring some much needed publicity to Lunar Love (and crush the competition), Olivia and Bennett find themselves competing to find the other a love match.......but is the matchmaker who can't be matched missing something right in front of her?

Lauren Kung Jessen brings such a cute, unique story with Lunar Love! The traditional chinese Zodiac mixed in with modern day love finding was genius. It was so interesting that I found myself looking up MY Chinese Zodiac sign (Year of the Dog). I love the idea of rivals to lovers/enemies to lovers and how Bennett and Olivia had a meet cute at a bakery. I found myself quickly falling in love with all of the elements of traditional Chinese culture as I fell in love with Bennett and Olivia's love story. All of the food descriptions were mouthwatering and I simply MUST have a mooncake pronto! The third act breakup was tough, but necessary to bring this story full circle and give both Olivia and Bennett a chance to work through their feelings alongside some tough moments involving grief.

This was a very sweet romance, so look elsewhere for spice, but the chemistry absolutely sizzled. Thank you to Forever for my early review copy!

I'm so glad I had the opportunity to read Lunar Love by @laurenkjessen! This sweet book was extra meaningful to me because I saw many of my family traditions in it. 4⭐

Olivia is a third-generation matchmaker whose family business is based on the Chinese zodiac. Her nemesis, Bennett, has created a zodiac matchmaking app that could put her out of business. Olivia must balance keeping her business afloat while managing a public challenge that she and Bennett agreed to.

My favorite parts about this book were Olivia, her family, and their traditions. I am of Chinese heritage and I saw many of my family's traditions (and favorite foods!) reflected in this book. For example, I didn't have any white flowers in my wedding bouquet because white flowers symbolize death. At funerals, we don't wear jewelry and we give guests a coin and a piece of candy.

Olivia , her sister, and her work colleagues were so enjoyable to be around that I just wanted to go hang out with them! I didn't connect as much to Bennett but I do like how the romantic storyline developed.

Thank you @ReadForeverPub and @netgalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Shareability: read if you liked "Natalie Tan's Book of Luck and Fortune" by Roselle Lim and/or "A Proposal They Can't Refuse" by Natalie Caña

Spice: none, sadly 😭

Pairs well with: pineapple bao

LUNAR LOVE

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Can these two matchmakers find their own match?

-Enemies to lovers
-Fate
-Rivals
-Opposites attract

This book was so sweet! It’s a feel good book about finding love, family, culture, friendship, traditions, and growth. I really liked both main characters and thought they were adorable from the beginning. I also absolutely LOVED Pó Po! 🥹 Lunar Love will tug at your heart and makes you feel all the feels!

Need an added bonus? There’s recipes at the end of the book!


🐭🐂🐯🐰🐉🐍🐴🐐🐵🐓🐶🐷

This book will have you googling the Chinese Zodiac and learning all about your personality and compatibility charts! Happy to report that Kyle and I are in fact a match! 🐒❤️🐰

This is @laurenkjessen’s debut novel! I’m looking forward to reading more from her in the future!

Thank you to @readforeverpub for the arc! Pub date is January 10, 2023!!

Wow, this was such an unexpected & delightful surprise! A low-key enemies-to-lovers situation between Liv & Bennett had me swooning & grinning throughout.

I loved the different aspects of both businesses & how one was connected with the other without anyone realizing it. Liv & Bennett's chemistry was perfect & on-point. The adored how they bickered but not to the extent of biting each other' head off.

They had more of a Cam & Mitchell (modern family) vibes going on. It was basically enemies to friends to lovers, but these 2 were the epitome of idiots to lovers and my heart was completely with them.
The little full circle moments throughout was an amazing touch to the story.

<i>Thank you Netgalley & Publisher for the arc in exchange of an honest review.<i>

olivia is the granddaughter of june huang, and next in line to take over lunar love. lunar love uses chinese zodiac animals to determine compatibility and find matches for their clients. zodiacupid is a new app created by bennett o’brien and uses the same chinese zodiac in a digital way. olivia discovers this and is upset because the app would take away business from her in-person matchmaking service and lunar love would crumble under her management.

i am a sucker for chinese representation in the books i read. as a chinese american, i appreciate seeing myself in them. it was something i never saw when i started reading and i was excited to see how well this book did in chinese representation. from the lucky monkey bakery to the food at family gatherings, it made me excited to know exactly which foods were being mentioned. they were spot on.

the banter between olivia and bennett was okay. nothing particularly eye catching. i kept waiting for something more between them but it just never came. the drama between them was there, though i don’t think olivia needed to react the way she did.

but while i loved the representation, i did not love the writing style. it felt kind of wattpad-y and i felt like there was more dialogue than actual things happening. it kind of felt like the book was a bunch of scenes mashed up together to indicate the passage of time. there honestly wasn’t much happening outside of the conversations olivia has with other people. she also didn’t really have many internal thoughts that weren’t reiterated in later dialogues.

for a debut rom com, the content was there, but the execution could use a little more work.

dnf @ 30%. i found the main character to be extremely difficult to read from her POV. the writing seemed very juvenile for an adult romance. it was a bit jarring and took me out of the story. i have been told by others that her grandma dies, which i believe there should be a content warning for.

Olivia takes over her family business, Lunar Love, a matchmaking company that pairs people up based on their Chinese Zodiac sign. The company is struggling to adapt, as they compete against dating apps and social media. After their meet-cute, Olivia runs into Bennett at a conference and realizes he is the head of a new app, ZodiaCupid, that matches people based on their Chinese Zodiac sign and common interests.
While I originally loved the concept of this book, I didn't necessarily care for the execution. I found a lot of it to be very predictable, and I had a hard time getting past Olivia's stubbornness. There were points in the book where she was outright mean to Bennett, which made it hard for me to get bought in. Overall a cute book, and I loved that it shared different points about Chinese culture.

Final rating 3.5 stars

Lunar Love is a sweet, contemporary debut that follows Olivia Huang Christenson as she begins the journey of taking over her grandmother's traditional matchmaking business. She runs into Bennett O'Brien, the creator of a zodiac matchmaking app that threatens to steal her customer base and destroy her family's business. When Bennett and Olivia go head to head to compete for which of their methods work the most, the more they spend time together the more they get to know more about each other.

I really enjoyed how Olivia and Bennett had conversations about their experience growing up with mixed Chinese-American heritage, and how that's impacted the way that they navigate their lives. Learning more about the zodiacs was also interesting along with the long-standing traditions in their families. I do think that since it was a very fast-paced book, the characters could've been developed more and I would've loved to have more of Bennett's perspective (if it was written in dual POV).

I'm looking forward to seeing what Lauren Kung Jessen releases next! Thank you to Netgalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I’m certain I’m sliiightly biased, but this book is everything. As an Asian reviewer, I always love to see when books with Asian characters make their way into my TBR, and Lauren did such a good job with this book. The premise is fresh and unique, a family matchmaking business based on the Chinese zodiac feuds with a tech startup whose purpose is to, well, do the exact same thing. The two main characters, Olivia and Bennett, both mixed Asian (like me!!) go head to head to see who might come out on top and who will find love first, maybe even finding love themselves along the way.
This book really felt like it was meant for me, it has the fun family dynamics I look forward to, and the pressure to be your own version of successful, in order to make your family proud. I am so happy that I’ve read this and I think Lauren knocked it out of the park.

This book was cute!!! I learned more about Chinese zodiacs and how that plays into matchmaking. I liked this take on matchmaking. Bennett was super likeable! I kinda wanted a bit more time with them together but overall really really enjoyed!!

Thank you NetGalley for eARC in exchange for an honest review