DNF at 27%. I can’t stand the female main character. Based on her inner monologue, I can’t tell if she’s supposed to be a young adult or an old lady. Her mannerisms and the way she talks does not connect with her age. Also barely is anything known about the male main character so far except that he’s good looking and the CEO of a rival company. He’s been nothing but sweet to her so far and she’s just been so mean to him. I understand that this is an enemies=to-lovers story but it isn’t written in adult form. This reads more like YA. I’m so disappointed as the premise of the story sounded really interesting and Olivia’s family sounds great as well. I won’t be leaving a review on any websites so this is a debut author and wish her the best of luck.

Lunar Love was a sweet and emotional debut that moves at brisk pace. I enjoyed reading this book through Olivia's POV, and learning about the attachment she has with her family's legacy and her motive to boost it forward. Bennett turned out to be a fun love interest and rival and I liked how they did balance each other despite the conflicting Zodiacs. That's another fun part of the story! Learning about the Chinese Zodiac and matchmaking through the same. The cultural and familial aspects of the story were particularly delightful, especially the mixed Asian representation!

A very cute, very fast read that incorporates the Chinese zodiac. She's a little bit too judgement and inflexible for me, but the story was grabbed my attention and I zipped right though the book. While I enjoyed the pace of the book, I do feel like things happened very quickly and could have been fleshed out a bit more.

Contemporary romance. Standalone novel. Olivia is set to take over her family business, a matchmaking service in Los Angeles’ Chinatown based on the principles of the Chinese zodiac. We start with a meet-cute in a bakery and a scuffle over a pastry, but she never catches the man’s name. Later, we find that Bakery Boy is actually Bennett, the owner of a new dating app, also based on the zodiac. Olivia sets out to gather more intel, so she uses the app to make herself match with Bennett for a date. She’s determined not to like him, since he’s a business rival and his zodiac animal is incompatible with hers. When everyone finds out who the other person is, they end up making a wager and setting each other up on dates to see which matchmaking service is superior. But Olivia and Bennett spend more time talking to each other than talking to their intended dates; it’s really sickeningly sweet. Olivia’s got her own history of heartache though, so she really believes that Bennett is incompatible and she tends to think the worst in him. This book was absolutely adorable and sweet and smooshy and I really enjoyed it (even though there wasn’t any smut).

Little does Olivia know that the man she fights for the last cocktail bun will be her adversary in business and then,.....Olivia is about to take over the family matchmaking business which uses Chinese astrology to find the right partners for clients, Unfortunately, someone else is doing the same thing- Bennett- the man she met over the buns! Fans of the genre can guess how this will go but Jessen has made it unique with the addition of Chinese astrology as well as with these two delightful characters. Yes it's trope-y but it's fun. Thanks to Netgalley for the ArC. A good read.

RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
SPICE: 🔥

Lauren Kung Jessen must be a matchmaker in real life, because not only did I adore her book, but I also fell in love with each and every one of her characters.

But let's start with the main ones.

To say that Olivia Huang Christenson is under a lot of pressure would be an understatement. She is set to inherit her family's 50-year-old matchmaking business, and she is now tasked with modernizing the practice and making traditions appeal to a younger audience. It does not help that an app that loosely takes her family's approach to finding matches is undermining her business, and she cannot seem to avoid the man behind the app if she can help it.

Bennett O'Brien shouldn't be any of her concern. After all, his app is 100% algorithm and zero emotions, something that cannot possibly succeed in the business of love. But the more she spends with Bennett, the more the fortified walls around her matchmaking heart seem to crack.

For someone who comes from a family deeply rooted in traditions, I was immediately engaged and enamored by the world Lauren Kung Jessen creates in this read. From the bustling businesses in Chinatown to the lively family celebrations, you can vividly imagine every aspect of this fictional world as intricate details breathes life into it.

I quickly got invested in the Huang family. While each family member carries their own brand of charisma, it is Pó Po’s understated but buoyant personality that stands out to me the most. She grounds Liv (and the rest of the family), and I love that she can read them all and think ten steps ahead.

Bennett and Liv's connection is the center of this read, and I had wanted them together from the first chapter. Despite their opposite personalities, their connection hooks you right in and has you crossing your fingers as they slowly shift into the different stages of their relationship. While I love Liv and was team Lunar Love from the get-go, Bennett slowly seeps into your heart with his humor, easy personality, and patience. Forgiveness and service are his love languages, and these play a vital role in his interactions with Olivia.

The spice in this standalone read is limited to the foods mentioned in this book but I got so invested in the HEA that I barely missed it.

If you love a rivals-to-lovers read that provides a healthy dose of funny banter and a rich background of Chinese traditions, this is a must-read for you.

** I am voluntarily reviewing an advance copy of this book. Thank you to Lauren Kung Jessen, Forever, and NetGalley for providing a digital and a physical ARC. **

Olivia is now the new owner of her family business, Lunar Love—a matchmaking company that uses the Chinese Zodiac to make compatible matches for long lasting relationships. But when she catches wind of a startup company launching an app that modernizes dating similar to that of Lunar Love, Olivia takes it upon herself to snoop around the competition. Who is the startup’s CEO, Bennett O’Brien? Why’s he trying to put Lunar Love out of business? More so,

LUNAR LOVE was more than just a rom-com, but a story that incorporates family, culture and tradition, and the awareness that love isn’t centered around compatibility. Bennett’s character was so easy to fall for, and Olivia was this big oxymoron being a matchmaker who was afraid of love herself. I enjoyed all the food references, the dialogue and silly banter, but most of all, how modernizing tradition is sometimes the best step forward. Needless to say, I definitely recommend!

* I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this book. All thoughts are my own.

3.5 stars

I really liked the concept of this book and learning about the different Chinese traditions. I found the burning paper items so that loved ones could have them in the afterlife absolutely fascinating! For the actually book itself, I really liked Bennett and thought he was really sweet but I found Liv to be annoying. She really frustrated me and I couldn’t really get passed that. There also isn’t a whole lot of romance displayed throughout the book, they kiss a couple times and go on a couple dates.

Overall, cute book with a beautiful cover! Would I recommend? Yeah probably, but I wouldn’t reread.

Received this ARC via NetGalley

At first, I really didn’t like Olivia. I thought she was manipulative and her motives were not justified. But as her back story unfolded throughout the book, I had more compassion for her.

I appreciated how the author addressed race. Both characters struggled with being mixed race and how to come to terms with how society saw them vs how they saw and felt about their own identity.

I also appreciated the overall theme of tradition vs modernization and how to balance the two while still honoring culture.

I enjoyed reading this one! I thought the author's voice was strong and I liked all the cultural aspects that she included throughout.

Olivia (Liv) Huang Christenson is about to take over her grandmother’s matchmaking business. To celebrate, Liv is tasked to make a pastry run for her grandmother at their favorite bakery. Liv just needed to get her grandmother’s favorite pastry — a cocktail bun. Just as Liv was about to grab the last cocktail bun, another pair of tongs swiftly snatches it away. Surprised and annoyed by the stranger’s bold move, Liv confronts the “Bakery Guy” and tests his will and negotiation skills. Liv ultimately prevails but she can’t get over the butterflies that she feels being in close proximity to him. Little does Liv know that the “Bakery Guy” will be her competition in the Chinese zodiac matchmaking business.

Lunar Love was such as pleasure to read. The characters are wholesome and wonderfully developed. I thoroughly enjoyed the main characters of Liv and Bennett (Bakery Guy.) Liv is a traditionalist with strong feelings that love develops through complementary traits. Bennett on the other hand is tech savvy and modern. He firmly believes that opposites attract and that two opposites balance each other out. Sparks fly when these two diametrically opposed matchmakers confront each other in a competition to win a publicity spot that could ultimately make or break either one of them. It was the banter between Liv and Bennett that I found so entertaining and often humorous. It was fun to be a part of their banter and eventual attraction.

There isn’t any steam to Lunar Love and I loved that it was a clean and chaste romance. Though I suspect that some readers would want that steam at least somewhere in the novel. But for me, it was perfect. Add in the family drama and you have a wholesome Hallmark movie-like romance like no other. Five wonderful stars.

I received a digital ARC via NetGalley from Forever (GCP) as well as a physical ARC directly from Forever (GCP.) The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.

This was a fun book, centered around matchmaking in the Chinese culture, using the Chinese zodiac signs. I loved all the parts where they shared their family customs but the chemistry between Olivia and Bennett didn't work for me. But this was a super cute read and for anyone not familiar with the culture, it will definitely open your eyes and give you a glimpse into Chinese families and traditions. Definitely recommend.

As an Asian that isn't of Chinese descent, I appreciate the use of the term Lunar New Year instead of Chinese New Year. I like that the main characters each have one Chinese parent. Exploring Chinatown and DTLA gems felt homey. Not everyone hangs out in Beverly Hills and Hollywood.

I wanted to wait until close to Lunar New Year to read this, but since I thought this would be a top read for me, I went ahead and picked it up sooner. It was a bit slow to pick up for me. That's fine, as some books are. I found Olivia a bit stuck in her ways, and Bennett too eager to change them. As time goes on, I find myself annoyed at every third act breakup. The resolution felt stilted.

I seem to be an outlier in my feelings. Please read my friend Deema's review if you want a varying opinion.

Chances are that you know what your astrological sign is, but did you know there is also a Chinese zodiac? It is based upon the year and hour of your birth and includes an Ascendant (or Rising Sign) and element similar to the astrology that you're likely more familiar with. And, in the same way that you can use astrological signs, you can use your Chinese zodiac sign to find compatibility and love. 

That is  what Olivia Huang Christensen does in Lunar Love, an upcoming novel from debut author Lauren Kung Jessen. Olivia has just been named as the new owner of Lunar Love, the matchmaking company that her Po Po started which uses the Chinese zodiac to find love for those who seek it. As Olivia struggles to keep the business afloat while sticking to tradition, a new dating app surfaces that claims to do what Lunar Love does. Hijinks ensues as Olivia and ZodiaCupid's creator Bennett O'Brien enter into a wager to find love for the other person. Whoever falls in love first...loses? You can see why there would be hijinks.

This story has been stuck in my mind from the first moment I read the synopsis and it did not disappoint. Even after just reading the first few pages, I was hooked. I knew this was going to be something special and special it was. The story is told from Olivia's first person POV and, as she interacts with each character, we find a special connection to each and every person based upon her experiences (past and present) with them. There are also some candid moments about various topics that would resonate with so many people.

One of the things that Olivia (and Bennett!) struggles with was captured in such a beautiful way with Lauren's writing. Both sides of this rivals-to-lovers relationship are mixed race and both struggle with racial imposter syndrome, the idea that they aren't "Asian enough." Even without knowing Lauren's background, it's easy to see that she is writing from experience in the way she so effortlessly incorporates it into the story. What makes it even better is that she writes it in a way that makes it easy for anyone to understand the struggle. I am "full Chinese" myself, but I was born and raised in America. I think I can speak for many members of the Asian American diaspora, mixed race or not, when I say that racial imposter syndrome is real and it's something that is hard to overcome, especially in the context of our world today. I felt a few good stabs right in the feels during these moments in the book and it was cathartic in a way that I didn't expect.

Another aspect of this book that really made me clutch my chest and feel the feels was how much of a deep dive into Chinese culture there was. From the mythology behind the Chinese zodiac to Chinese funeral traditions, there were so many parts of the Chinese culture interspersed into this story in a way that didn't feel like you were reading a research paper. Every part felt incredibly organic and in line with the story. It was handle with such love and care that you could tell Lauren is proud of where she comes from (and/or that she enjoys researching where she comes from!)

I feel like anyone who enjoys a good rivals-to-lovers/enemies-to-lovers romance would enjoy this story, but it was extra fun for me to be able to see so many parts of my life in this story as well. From the use of Chinese titles (Po Po, Gong Gong, Yi-Po, Yi-Gong) to the food, this could have been a story about my family in another lifetime. Speaking of food, do not go into this story with an empty stomach. There is so much food talked about throughout the course of the story that had me craving one thing after another (and I had been warned so I had eaten a full meal before reading and it still got me!)

I loved every moment of this book (including some cringe-worthy moments) and I absolutely cannot wait to see what comes next from Lauren. She is an author to watch and I am excited to be able to follow her journey from this first book and beyond.

I absolutely adored this debut romcom from Lauren Kung Jessen. It's a sweet, enemies-to-lovers romance that features delicious food and family. I really enjoyed learning more about the Chinese zodiac as well as other Chinese traditions. I will definitely read her next novel.

This book is the soft vanilla swiss roll you've been waiting for. It's got all the warm and fuzzy vibes of a Nora Ephron movie - but make it Lunar New Year instead of New Years, which frankly has better food. Speaking of which, it should come with a content warning: don't read while hungry, because the descriptions of food every other chapter WILL make your stomach growl.

Olivia is the new owner of Lunar Love, a matchmaking service founded by her grandmother that uses the Chinese zodiac to make "compatible" matches. They've got a solid reputation but business has declined in the modern era. Bennett is the founder of startup ZodiaCupid, a shiny new app that promises to do what they do but at a much more mass scale. Needless to say, Olivia is worried that when the app launches, it will mean the collapse of the remainder of Lunar Love's business. When she and Bennett make a rash bet on a podcast: first one to match-make the other wins 10 clients and much-needed advertising, it's on. The only problem, of course, is that they're falling for each other.

This story is just delightful and cozy. The main character is spunky, and has this awesome matriarchal family that's got her back 100% (mom! auntie! sister! grandma!). Of course there are misunderstandings, but it's the kind of "rivals-to-lovers" plot without any weird toxic foundation - which is to say, they both are mature enough to admit when they're wrong.

Also as someone who is half Asian, I nearly cried just reading the dedication: "For those who are mixed and have felt like they aren't enough or don't belong. You are and you do." The thing I loved about it was how deftly the author writes about being mixed - the main characters are both half Chinese, and the author touches deftly on the extra imposter syndrome that can come with that, without making this an 'issues' book. Rather, this is a rom-com that happens to have two main leads who are mixed - which is something I could never have imagined I'd get to see growing up.

Anyway, wonderful, wonderful! Just don't start it without some kind of baked good in hand. You'll thank me later.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and Grand Publishing of LUNAR LOVE in exchange for my honest opinion.

Genre: Romance
Heat Level: Low Spice (one fade to black scene is up to personal interpretation)
Language: Cursing is fairly low
Tropes: Enemies to lovers, Matchmaking granny

There is so much to love about LUNAR LOVE. It's set in LA as the backdrop. I adored seeing the interplay of the animals from the Chinese zodiac in regards to matchmaking. The history of a traditional matchmaker clashes with a new take on helping couples find love by turning the zodiac into an app for online dating. The food takes me to the right place, so much so that I was hungry for some of my favorite Chinese dishes. Also, this book is unique because it talks about the inherit feelings associated with being from a mixed race background.

I loved the relationship of the main couple. At one point, Olivia is quite prickly while Bennett retains his smooth, calm demeanor. One of the things I loved about them is how they opened up to each other as they continued to talk. The one thing I didn't love was how they bantered with calling him a**hole—that's just not cute and charming to me.

The secondary characters are awesome! The grandmother, Pó Po’, is one of my favorites because she's passionate about matchmaking, but she also gives insight into the zodiac and how Olivia needs to change. We also get to see the relationships of an extended Chinese family and how they work together as well as how Olivia's family celebrated different holidays, adapting them to their life in America.

This book is so charming! You're going to want to read this book if you love clean romance, the Chinese zodiac, LA, matchmaking tropes, Chinese culture, tradition, and modernization. I highly recommend this book.

When Olivia takes over her grandmother’s matchmaking business, which matched people based on the Chinese zodiac, she learns that the cute guy at the bakery is developing an app that does the same thing based on an algorithm. The two have instant chemistry and are instantly at odds they make a bet that they can get the other to fall in love using the methods of their respective services. Of course this means spending a lot of tike together which leads to more between the two.
I really liked Olivia and Bennett. I do wish that this would have been dual POV because I think I would have connected with Bennett more had I had his thoughts. I liked that Bennett was the calm to Olivia’s storm. The two has chemistry while the book itself was fade to black. I also really enjoyed the side characters and really hope that we get to return to this world in future books. I felt that I learn things about the Chinese zodiac and am really craving some egg tarts. I also liked that this book came with discussion questions and a couple of recipes in the back which would make this a wonderful book club book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Forever for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.

Lunar Love is a fun enemies-to-lovers romcom surrounding matchmaking according to the Chinese zodiac, and the battles between “traditional” matchmaking techniques in Chinese culture and online dating. There’s also a great arc of introspection about what it means being biracial (white/Chinese), and how people navigate living between the two cultures.

I love Olivia’s pride in her family matchmaking business. She has great respect for the cultural concepts her family has passed down, and she’s doing what she can to keep them relevant in the twenty-first century. I love that she’s so fiercely protective of her family business, and it’s refreshing to read about a modern part-Chinese woman who takes pride in her heritage, especially given there are other stories where their family and heritage poses a conflict.

Bennett is an intriguing love interest, and begins as a worthy professional adversary for Olivia. He’s also biracial, and coming at matchmaking from a more modern perspective, although I respect that it ultimately wasn’t about stealing Olivia’s thunder. He ultimately has a lot to offer her, professionally and personally, just as she does him, and I like that they do complement each other well, even if she was resistant to the idea at first.

This is a fun, culturally rich debut, and I’d recommend it to anyone who enjoys low-heat multicultural romances.

This is a sweet romance that weaves together the Chinese zodiac and modern dating culture. It started off a bit slow for me, but I felt Olivia and Bennett had great chemistry and valid reasons for interpreting the Chinese zodiac and pursuing matchmaking in their own respective ways. I loved learning about Olivia's family matchmaking business and the supportive community that ensured its survival and success throughout the years. There was a lot that happened towards the end and the wrap up felt a bit rushed. Nonetheless, this was a really enjoyable debut novel. I can't wait to read more of Lauren's books in the future!