Lunar Love was one of those books that I could tell was going to be a favorite after just a few chapters in. I loved the characters and the family, and the FOOD! It had me laughing and crying and hungry. So good!

This book places a matchmaker that uses traditional Chinese astrology to find perfect matches against a dating app developer who takes a more modern approach to the ancient art. As they enter into a competition to see who’s method is superior, sparks fly as this imperfect on paper pair find that they might just be made for each other.

I cannot say enough about how much I loved this book! It is my new favorite comfort read and I can’t wait to get my hands on a physical copy next year! I highly recommend! 5⭐️

Lunar Love is a charming debut! We are treated to a rivals-to-lovers romance between two people who are kind, ambitious, and enjoy baking and eating dessert. As a bonus, the hero has a fantastic collection of cashmere sweaters.

Olivia is about to take over Lunar Love, the matchmaking service her beloved grandmother set up fifty years ago that specializes in matches based on compatible Chinese zodiac signs. Olivia strongly believes that only matches with compatible signs will work out, based on some unfortunate past experiences. So when she has a meet cute with a handsome man named Bennett who turns out to be a business competitor, she just knows that they will never be a good match. Or will they?!

This is a fun, light read and I enjoyed learning more about the Chinese zodiac and associated traditions including Lunar New Year celebrations. Olivia and Bennett are both half-Chinese and it was interesting to read about how this informed their upbringing and shaped their respective personalities.

Thank you very much to Grand Central Publishing for the opportunity to read an ARC via NetGalley.

As an Asian American (half), it was so heartwarming to see a culture so similar to mine portrayed in a romantic lead! Not only that, but in such interesting roles! Not as accountants or some other typical job usually attributed to us. Beyond that, the concept was fascinating; such an interesting take on the matchmaking trope! I loved the family angles that were taken, for both character’s. You could feel every emotion as if experiencing them yourself, thanks to the author’s vivid descriptions. My only complaint would’ve been the slight over/under-reactions by our main characters. While most everyone can appreciate the fear of falling into old patterns based off of previous relationships and their trauma, Olivia’s felt almost too pushed. Bennett seemed almost too forgiving at times as well. Were there half stars, I’d have marked this a 4.5. However, it was not enough of an issue in my book to take away a full star. All in all, please read this beautifully written story! It is well worth your time.

Being interested in other cultures, I was excited to learn more about the zodiac and Lunar New Year. I never thought of how a person’s zodiac sign could affect their perspective on potential romantic matches. I loved this story of how Olivia takes over the family matchmaking business, wanting to keep her heritage and cultural traditions alive. Of course she ends up meeting the handsome and dynamic head of a competing zodiac dating app and sparks fly! The problem is Bennett is not only Olivia’s competitor, but his zodiac sign (a rat) is not a match to hers (a horse). Can Olivia learn that sometimes tradition is meant to be broken when it comes to love? The banter between the two characters is great and if you feel stuck choosing between pleasing your family or yourself this is the book for you!

“In my almost eight years of matchmaking, there’s one thing I know to be true: love is like the moon. Case in point: love moves in phases. New love is a barely there whisper in the night sky, a slow burn into brightness. The relationship matures in the first quarter, advancing into full illumination — two comparable people becoming whole. The immediate passion wanes but doesn’t disappear. Instead, the initial flash evolves into a steady glow. Like the moon, love is dependable. You don’t have to see the moon or love to know they’re there.”

I was entranced from the start, the beauty and tradition behind Chinese culture is the backdrop of Lauren Kung Jessen debt romance novel focused on zodiac matchmaking. That is, until Olivia Huang Christenson old fashioned 𝘓𝘶𝘯𝘢𝘳 𝘓𝘰𝘷𝘦 matchmaking service is put head to head with Bennet O'Brien - L.A.’s most-eligible bachelor. He stands to destroy her family’s legacy with his new and modern dating app. Olivia’s grandmother (Pó Po) is confident she will not only take over the Lunar Love business and make it thrive but eventually find a match of her own.

What starts out as a question if compatibility vs incompatibility, both Olivia and Bennet have a lot at stake. A fierce and domineering woman has met her match in a strong, balanced and equally witty man!

Read if you enjoy:
- Enemies to lovers
- An infusion of culture
- He falls first
- A strong and confident woman

This is the closed-door romance you need in your life — especially if you’re looking for a book that will remind you why you enjoy reading. Sometimes the comfort of a well written story, with predictably likeable main characters, are just what the reading gods ordered.

Thank you to Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Olivia Huang Christenson has inherited her grandmother's beloved matchmaking business, Lunar Love, using her grandmother's traditional Chinese zodiac approach. However, a new dating app has taken her traditional approach online and threatens to shatter Olivia's family legacy. Behind the app is Bennett O'Brien, Los Angeles' most-eligible bachelor, who strikes a deal with Olivia. They both find a match for each other using their favored style of matchmaking and whoever falls in love first loses. Liv knows she shouldn't fall for Bennett, but who would catch her if she does?

Lunar Love was such a fun read and was very well-written. I loved how personable the characters were, as they seem like ordinary people you would simply bump into on the street. That is a hard thing to do in romance books, but Lauren Kung Jessen absolutely nailed it. I cannot wait to see what else she comes up with in the future. I would definitely love to read more of her work.

I also loved how this book was culture-driven and provides so much insight as to what how the Chinese zodiac system operates. As someone who knew the basics about Chinese zodiacs, I definitely learned a lot more about it and Chinese culture in general. That was something I truly enjoyed!

I would absolutely recommend reading this book if you love a good romance novel!!

Compatible or incompatible, that is the question.

𝘓𝘶𝘯𝘢𝘳 𝘓𝘰𝘷𝘦 follows Olivia, the newest representative of the 50 year long matchmaking service navigating the struggles of her newfound ownership as well as what it means to face competition, especially when it arrives in the form LA's most eligible, handsome bachelor.

- ~ -

Olivia Huang Christenson is a determined and fierce woman but her headstrongness can also sometimes be perceived as stubbornness, especially when it comes to finding The One for the matchmaker who can't be matched.

Bennet O'Brien is the perfectly incompatible match for our Dragon zodiac sign. He balances her, makes her stronger and ultimately loves her like no-one else has before; a match well made indeed.

Together they were as scrumptious as a freshly baked Bo Lo Bao. Their banter, when they were put against each other was radiating with tension and angst despite the hesitations.

Aside from all the romance aspect, I think the insight into the Chinese culture and Chinese manner of zodiac matchmaking was interesting to learn about.

And all the information Pó Po had acquired throughout the years as well as her own secrets and wisdom added character to the plot.

Lastly I'd say, despite everything I loved in the story ten years will still be too early before I hear the words compatibility and/or incompatibility again.

- ~ - 

4.08 / 5✩

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘍𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 (𝘎𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘊𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘗𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨) 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘱𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬, 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘐 𝘷𝘰𝘭𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘭𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 & 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸𝘦𝘥. 𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘸𝘯.

Lunar Love is the rivals-to-lovers story of Olivia and Bennett, two people who have a lot in common: their half-Chinese ancestry, their interest in the Chinese Zodiac, and their belief in love and their desire to bring more of it into people's lives. When they meet, sparks fly and they connect immediately, but when Olivia, who just inherited the family matchmaking service devoted to the traditional interpretation of the Chinese zodiac, discovers that Bennett is the creator of a dating app that uses the zodiac as a gimmick, she sets her mind on infiltrating and overthrowing his plans. Things go awry when she can't get him or his dimples out of her mind.

I loved this book! I read it in one sitting and finished at 2am because I couldn't put it down! There was so much to love here but first and foremost I have to gush about the chemistry and flirtation between the two main characters. The witty banter, the back-and-forth flirting that makes you feel like you're in the middle of someone's honeymoon phase - that's the kind of chemistry I adore in romance novels and something I think a lot of contemporary romance has lost, in exchange for a lot of initial physical spark between the main couple (to be clear - both are great for me) and this book felt like a breath of fresh air. You can tell the author had fun writing these scenes, and because of that joy both characters felt adorable and they clicked so well, their interest in each other seemed like the natural and obvious result of great chemistry. *chef's kiss*

I also really enjoyed the cultural traditions the author included - from learning about the Chinese zodiac and <spoiler> traditional funereal rites</spoiler>, to regular scenes of family gatherings and the importance of their food in bringing them together. So many food scenes!! Get the snacks ready. I also really enjoyed the short reflections on being multiracial (as both MCs were half-Chinese half-white/euro ancestry) and identity. I even thought there should have been more, as these were some of the most interesting pieces of identity and experience the two main characters shared and some of the only times we saw deeper reflection from them and it was obviously something that resonated with the author. (I loved her letter to the reader at the end of the book/"Reading Group Guide" and highly recommend it for more info on the traditions and foods included in the book).

This was a strong showing for a debut, but I wish the author had done more - I think the conflict which arose from the MC's devotion to "compatible signs" was very repetitive and to be honest, started to drag the story down. I didn't find it believable that a 25 year old woman would think that a Horse can't date a Rat just because the stars say so. Along that line, I didn't find the conflict to be believable <spoiler>- I'm not a fan of third-act-break-ups in general, but I thought this one could have been done better. The conflict that arose from Olivia's insecurity related to her past boyfriend made sense, that insecurity was established earlier in the story, it was relatable, it was realistic; if that had been the main crux of the conflict, I could have been on board but as it was, the whole "I should have known, you're a RAT" thing was very silly. </spoiler> That being said, I really loved this couple and I'll definitely be buying the author's next novel as well.

One last thing I want to note is that I typically read romance with at least *some* steam, but I was pleasantly surprised to find that I enjoyed this book without the steam, which made me think that perhaps my steamy books are compensating for not having as much personality chemistry with having a lot of physical chemistry (which, lol, happens in real life all the time too). So I definitely recommend this book to romance lovers who might be eh about a book with no steam.

Ok but I'll leave with a quote I loved and bookmarked, both because it's so sweet and because it's hilarious:
"A few older couples slow dance in the courtyard, their heads resting against one another. Unexpected longing for something indescribable strikes me suddenly. I swat the emotions away."

Lunar Love by Lauren Kung Jessen was a beautifully written debut novel.
The romance, writing style and wit in this book is second to none. I have nothing but praise for this book
I love, love, loved this story and these characters. The premise of the book was interesting and unique.
A sweet, enemies-to-lovers rom-com that filled my heart with so much joy, I couldn't stop reading or thinking about this one.
Lunar Love is a perfect, escapist, chemistry-fulled romance with a wonderful cast of characters and the kind of vibrant backdrop we all need right now when we dive into a book. A must read for romance readers!

Forever,
Thank You for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

5/5 stars 🥰

This book was a wonderful celebration of Taiwanese/Chinese culture, steadfast familial relationships, and love in its purest form.

The food descriptions were absolutely mouth watering, and the exploration of Asian traditions was so heartwarming. As an Asian-American, this book has the perfect Asian-American representation I’ve always craved in books. LUNAR LOVE gives classic tropes such a fun, fresh, and unique spin, and it leaves readers on the edge of their seats until the final page.

Olivia and Bennett have such a special place in my heart. This is definitely one of my most anticipated reads of 2023 ❤️

Thank you to the author and Publisher for the e-ARC via NetGalley!

Woooooow this book is probs one of my favorite ARCs I’ve ever read. Netgalley had it available for free on their website and i immediately downloaded after reading the description and i do not regret it at all. First off, the story of a Chinese zodiac matchmaker is so unique and i loved it. Also just the way the author wrote the characters making them so loveable yet you were excited to see the main characters grow. I love the dynamic between Olivia and Bennett where they flirt with each other, then hate one another, then help each other. It’s giving enemies to lovers yet work romance. Everyone needs to read this book, not just for the story but for the representation aspect. You learn and appreciate Chinese culture while reading this book. Thank you netgalley for giving people access to this amazing book that i finished in one day.

Yes! Another sweet-swoon- light hearted romance including my favorite tropes :enemies to lovers, rivals to lovers and opposites attract to warm your heart!

A matchmaker heroine who conducts her business by following the traditional principles of Chinese astrology and a hero who believes to mash up astrological elements with algorithms to create a best matchmaking app: they are competitors and absolutely not compatible ( heroine is horse and hero is rat so they have no future according to Chinese astrology)

Olivia Huang Christenson inherits her family’s Chinese zodiac matchmaking business Lunar Love. She takes her duty very seriously. She makes thoughtful and personalized matches based on people's compatible animal sign traits.

When she finds out a dating app may threaten her grandmother PoPo’s traditional approach and steal their customers with its modern and fresh solution for dating, she declares war!

The founder of start up dating business is Bennett O’Brien: the same guy she had an entertaining morning banter at her favorite bakery and the very same guy she thought why he didn’t ask for her number.

But Olivia can be merciless enemy when she has to protect her family business. She is ready to play dirty to spy on her new enemy to learn more about his dating techniques.

But she finds herself in a bet when they both attend a panel. Both of them try to match the most appropriate candidate for each other.

Olivia will choose compatible girl for him by following traditional sources as Bennett will find her dream guy by his dating algorithms. Both of them will chaperone each other during the dates.

Olivia wants to win the bet but why she feels nervous when she sees him dating with another woman. And why Bennett seems so upset when she tells him she’s having fun with her date?

Overall: the book started a little slow at first but when the fight between Olivia and Bennett gets heated, pace is picked up and I truly enjoyed their attraction and chemistry. I get a little frustrated because of Olivia’s stubbornness and her repetitive remarks that they were not compatible enough but I still enjoy this story and things I learned about Chinese zodiac!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing(Forever) for sharing this amazing digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.

3.5 Stars Lunar Love was a fun, fresh take on the classic enemies-to-lovers trope. Olivia and Bennet were adorable and I couldn’t help but smile every time they interacted, especially the times when they each should’ve been paying more attention to their dates, but were drawn to each other instead. I loved the messages that just because someone isn’t compatible with us doesn’t mean we can’t love them, and that our values are important so long as they aren’t holding us back. I also appreciated that both Olivia and Bennet bonded over being mixed race and experiencing imposter syndrome at times because they felt like they weren’t Chinese enough. I wish this was something that they had explored more, especially with Bennet since he really seemed to struggle with his identity after the loss of his mom. Definitely recommend this one!

Lunar Love by Lauren Kung Jessen is a wonderful contemporary romance that is truly delightful. I really enjoyed it.

Liv and Bennett are an awesome couple that are a great example of an opposites attract/ enemies to lovers done right.

With the unique concept of rival businesses and bets involving traditional and modern modes and concepts in the ancient art of matchmaking, the author has presented a fresh, new, and entertaining narrative and angle to the romance genre.

I really, really liked it. Well done.

5/5 stars

Thank you NG and Forever ( Grand Central Publishing) for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 1/10/23.

https://www.bookbub.com/reviews/613128870?source=link_share