I am here for all the romcoms.
All of them. And The True Love Experiment is an ode to the romcom. As a follow up to Soulmate Equation, it tells the story of Connor, a man tapped to produce a reality dating show using the DNA matching information from the prior book and, Fizzy,
a famous romcom author (and the best friend of Jess, from Soulmate Equation), is cast as the woman being pursued by the various suitors with varying DNA matches. First, I love a crossover. Second, as a romcom lover, this book hit in all the right places. All the lingo and tropes from romcoms were peppered throughout, along with quotes and references famous romcom movies - a pop culture dream. I mean, not one but two Harry Styles references and clearly an ode to One Direction with a story line about a boy band. The chemistry between Connor and Fizzy was off the charts and the cast of potential suitors added so much humor. All the warm fuzzies and happy vibes for this book. I loved it.

While I have greatly enjoyed the books I have read by these authors, when I started this one I had some trepidations. I realized I had just read another “reality tv” story that didn’t work for me. And while I love dancing competition-type shows, I don’t watch a lot of reality tv myself. Thankfully, the duo that is Christina Lauren did what they do so well and pulled me into their story, giving me big feels and keeping me entertained.

The dedication for this book states that it is a “blatant love letter to our genre”, and that it is. While this is a standalone book the MFC is Fizzy, the best friend from The Soulmate Equation. (Don’t worry, you don’t have to read that book to read this one.) Fizzy is a romance author and boy is it fun when she is educating Connor on the different types of heroes. Not only that, but Connor is a bit of a cinnamon roll himself and I love that. I feel this would be a wonderful book to suggest to someone new to the Romance genre. It’s a great story by itself, but it also explains Romance so clearly when Fizzy gets into different discussions throughout the story about how fabulous the genre is and why it shouldn’t be denigrated.

There are so many fantastic relationships in this book. There’s Fizzy and Connor, of course. But also Fizzy and her BFF, Fizzy and her BFF’s daughter, Connor and his ex-wife, Connor and his daughter, and Fizzy and Connor’s daughter. I could go on, but you get the picture. Every relationship was given care by the authors and that is much appreciated.

I love how Connor and Fizzy made me feel. I love how honest Fizzy is and how she doesn’t let anyone tamp down her energy. I love how careful Connor is because, in the end, he is doing everything for his daughter and making sure he’s always a presence in her life. What I’m trying to say is…I love this book.

I loved this romcom! The idea of a dating show with all the male tropes and her finding her true love. This book had it all. I am not a big romcom person, but I loved this book!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC! I'm glad this book is finally in the world! I loved Jess and River's story and getting to dive into Fizzy's world was such a fun ride! Quick and easy read, cheesy and predictable but I accept nothing less!! At first, I wasn't completely sold on the chemistry between Fizzy and Connor but it grew on me throughout the book. The concept was fun and I was really able to play things out in my mind while reading which is always a journey. I recommend to those who want a quick, fun, and light-hearted read!

This story and characters are everything!! Fizzy and Connor are so fun! I loved every moment of them together and getting to be in their heads. I honestly never wanted this book to end. Fizzy is such a strong lead with opinions and a love for all things romance. I like how she stands ups for what she writes and reads. Any romance reader has had those same talks with people who hate on romance.

I will need a follow up story on all 4 characters from this universe. They should all go on a couples trip!

This was a nice reality dating TV show, sequel to a fan favorite, romance author meets TV exec. novel. It didn't quite live up to expectations or to the book that came before it, but I still enjoyed it.

Fizzy is so funny! I feel like we knew this from book one, but we really get a front row seat to her humor and the absolute chaos of her brain. I loved it. She's comfortable with romance novels, talking and writing them obviously, but she also stands up for them when people express ill-informed opinions on them. She usually says what's on her mind, even if others might think it's embarrassing or revealing. And she's not afraid of her sexuality. She's awesome!

Connor is also a great character. He is a cutie with that British accent and general nice-ness. As well, I love that he does whatever he can to please Fizzy while balancing what he knows is necessary to take care of his daughter and stay close to her.

My main negative of the book is that the romance lost some of the magic when they admitted so early on that they liked each other. And it was more than simply attraction so I felt like things were obvious. That doesn't mean there weren't problems and conflicts with their relationship, but some of that sparkle was missing.

Overall, this was a nice sequel and I'm really glad I got to know Fizzy better. She deserved her own story,

I love this book, it’s at the top of my list of “Best books of 2023”.
The romance is beautifully developed, the plot is interesting, and the characters feel like familiar friends.

I was hoping that Fizzy would get her own story, and here it is! Fizzy is a romance writer who’s in a slump. Her best friend’s husband is the creator of a dating program that matches people using their DNA, introduced in the previous book The Soulmate Equation. Fizzy is approached by Connor Prince, the producer of a new reality dating show based on the DNA matching.

FIFizzy initially says no, but agrees to star in the show after a few concessions. When she meets the men, they seem nice, but Fizzy can’t stop thinking about her tall, gorgeous producer.

I highly recommend this book, it’s a “must read” for romance lovers. 5 stars.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed as in this review are completely my own.

I was super excited to read this. I tend to love Christina Lauren’s books, and after seeing them say that this is their favorite one, I got more excited.

I really liked the concept of this book. It was funny and cute, but it just didn’t reel me in.

I really enjoyed the characters, but I felt like it was hard for me to connect with them.

Overall, cute, enjoyable book!

Fizzy and Connor sizzle off the pages of True Love Experiment. Their romance is as spicy as Fizzy but it also allows her to become more than she has been to herself and to others. It allows Connor to break out of his protective shell and open up again.

I definitely think that Christina Lauren gave Fizzy the story she deserved.

With their latest standalone romcom, The True Love Experiment, perennial dynamic duo Christina Lauren prove, once again, they’re soaring among the best business partnerships ever. Batman and Robin. Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders. Lennon and McCartney. Gene Wilder and Richard Pryor. Starbucks and Spotify. Whether they’re writing smartypants STEM romcoms, angsty YA contemporaries, or heavier adult contemporary romances, they’re definitely at the top of their game.

We first met Fizzy Chen in The Soulmate Equation, when she and her friend Jess were trying out the algorithmically predictive matchmaking company, GeneticAlly. Jess was paired with its founder, Dr. River Peña, and Fizzy was left to her own romantic devices. It’s a good thing, too, because she counts every experience as fodder for her career as a romance author. It’s something she uses to hide the fact she – a bonafide expert in romance -- has never been in love. She’s actually feeling like she may never fall in love.

Fate steps in with documentary filmmaker Conner Prince, who’s been tasked with developing a reality TV show based on Fizzy’s “life work as the central hook.” The authors nearly lost me there because I can’t even with reality TV. But reality TV wrapped in the bubble of a romance novel is entirely different than any number of unwatchable reality shows IRL. The True Love Experiment is what Connor comes up with, and he casts Fizzy as his star. He’s a single father who’s crazy about his daughter, and like Fizzy, wonders if love is in the cards for him. Good thing an experiment requires more than one element to make it pop.

This is a smart story with endearing characters, an enjoyable pace, and a fun premise. I love that Fizzy and Connor have been around the block. They’re in their late thirties and a little cynical about love and happily ever after. That being said, they’re also practical about matters of the heart and the reality of romantic liaisons. Both are employed, have robust friend and family sets, and are generally happy making their way through life. I understand conflict makes for good drama and storytelling, but it’s so refreshing to read about characters who are actually happy in life and satisfied professionally, and decide that taking a risk – both emotionally and romantically – isn’t going to kill them.

This is fun and charming and romantic, and although it’s not absolutely necessary, I found it helpful to go back and read The Soulmate Equation to get the inside jokes between Fizzy and Conner’s squads.

The True Love Experiment is my favorite Christina Lauren book because, as the dedication states, “This one is a blatant love letter to our genre.”  And it is. This upbeat story about love and friendship and romantic relationships will lighten your heart and bring a smile to your face. Every hallmark of a fun romcom is present, from snappy, flirty dialogue to fun, relatable characters. It’s like sitting with an old friend and catching up after years apart.

Christina Lauren...they know what they are doing!

This dynamic duo is back with a follow-up to their saucy novel, The Soulmate Equation. This time the secondary character from that novel gets her own front and center love story.

Fizzy!! She is just the character of the year for me. She's real and honest and fun and free. She is tough and hilarious. When you pair her with the beguiling British, Connor there are sparks galore. This novel brings what Christina Lauren is best at banter, spice, and a whole lot of nice (swoons). If this isn't the blockbuster romance of the summer then I don't know what is.

This one is a must-read!

I loved this story. From the get go their was chemistry between the two main characters. I can appreciate how the dating show was very respectful of the participants and did not force them in to thing to create drama. I love the ending. The friendship between the girl was a wonderful surprise. And it was great to see Jess and River again.

Oh I just couldn’t get enough of this book! If you love romance then you are guaranteed to enjoy this. I’ve read everything this author duo has written and I can say hands down this is my favorite by them. The characters are so much fun, the banter is top notch, It’s spicy and there is so much heart in this gem of a story! Made me tear up a bit too. You will love Fizzy and Connor!! Five star read!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I cannot watch dating shows, I find them way too cringey, but I found myself desperately wishing to the universe that The True Love Experiment would become a reality. While predictable, I loved this romantic comedy about a romance author and her reality tv producer. Yet another Christina Lauren book I couldn’t put down!

I wanted to love this book and for the most part it’s likeable. Fmc and mmc are stereotypical funny adorable individuals. Why did it take 200 pages for them to hit it off?! Then every chapter after that ending with I’m falling in love. Overall readable and unmemorable. I think this might be my last book from this duo.

I have read and enjoyed several of coauthors Christina and Lauren's books, but I must say that I think this one has become my new favorite. I really enjoyed The Soulmate Equation and was excited when I found out the story would be continued through Fizzy’s POV. This book did not disappoint. I loved it so much that I will be purchasing a physical copy even though I was gifted this digital ARC. The cover is gorgeous and the pages inside tell a feel good, laugh out loud, rom-com about finding joy again and possibly true love. The story centers around the idea of finding true love by using DNADuo, a DNA based matchmaking company, formerly known as GeneticAlly in The Soulmate Equation, while participating in a reality TV show, similar to The Bachelor/Bachelorette. Was it predictable like most rom-coms? Yes, but it still kept my attention and was hard to put down. There was the perfect amount of spice, angst and banter. The characters were so easy to connect with and were written in a way that they felt like real life people. I couldn’t get enough of Fizzy and Connor, and didn’t want their story to end. I really appreciate Christina and Lauren’s writing style. They write in a way that makes the reader feel like they are part of the story, and many times feels like the characters are talking specifically to the reader.

If you love a good rom-com and reality dating shows, then you’ll love this book. If you haven’t purchased it yet, now is the perfect time because it is publication day and I highly recommend it!

Thank you Netgalley, Gallery Books and Christina Lauren for this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Love, love, loved the chemistry between Fizzy and Conner. They are both such endearing and likable characters. I kept wanting their unfortunate circumstances to work out, and they did in exactly the way the authors hinted at. This book was exactly what I needed, light romance with a little bit of spice and heat. I enjoyed every minute.

This was a delightful romance from the author duo Christina Lauren. This novel could be considered a sequel to The Soulmate Equation, which I also really enjoyed. The main characters in that book make an appearance, so if you liked that one, you'll probably like this one too. I recommend reading that one first before this one if you care about spoilers. While The Unhoneymooners continues to be my favorite book by Christina Lauren, this one is a close second.

Connor is a divorced DILF documentary producer and Fizzy is a famous romance novelist whose romantic life is in a rut. When Connor is tasked with producing a reality TV show, which is far out of his comfort zone, he's reluctant, but his career is dependent on the success of this TV show. Connor's boss wants him to cast Fizzy as the main love interest and the audience will have to pick the guy she ends up with. What he doesn't expect is to fall head over heels for Fizzy.

I loved all of the characters in this book and I've never rooted so hard for two characters to end up together. Of course the ending was predictable--it's a romance novel after all. If that bothers you, then you probably wouldn't rate this book five stars. I recommend reading the physical book or the digital version and skipping the audio. I do not normally discourage the audiobook, but I hated it. It sounded amateur and low quality, hence the four stars instead of five.

Special thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

After falling in love with Jess, River, and Juno in The Soulmate Equation, I was so excited to get my hands on this one! And while I did enjoy this one, unfortunately it just didn’t live up to the first one for me. While I did enjoy getting a closer look at Fizzy and I found myself warming up to her more as the book went on, I found the premise rather predictable and didn’t find myself wanting to read this one. While it was fun and I did enjoy it at the end, I’d definitely recommend other CL books before this one.

There aren’t many things I love more than soulmate love stories and Fizzy and Connor’s story is all that and more. The connection these two have is unparalleled. Throw in best friends, little fangirls, and an dating show and you’ve got the recipe for an unforgettable story.