The Bachelor-esq take on this book kept me coming back for more, even when I was trying to get my day job done. I loved Fizzy's story and how she was unapologetically herself the entire time on the show. Even though I knew they would end up together, the storytelling kept me second guessing that until the very end.

When romance writer, Fizzy, is asked to participate in a dating show for TV, she has a lot of input into the types of men who are chosen. However, things get complicated when she ends up falling for the show's producer instead. There is thought provoking commentary about the romance genre in general and the assumptions that are often attached to it's fan base and those who create it.

What I loved:
- Fantastic characters! I loved the main characters Fizzy and Connor. Their chemistry was fantastic and its why I love these authors so much.
- Great side characters! Of course I loved Jess and River from the first book. I loved Fizzy's parents as well. Connor's healthy friendship with his ex-wife.
- Mostly short chapters
- Plot moves along at a nice pace, easy to follow.
- Believable events that make sense.
- Loved the perspective on romance fans and creaters and how they are wrongly perceived.

What I didn't love:
- Nothing

4.5 stars rounded up

Thanks to the publisher & Netgalley for the complimentary e-ARC and the publisher for the complimentary hard copy. All opinions provided are my own.

Christina Lauren’s The True Love Experiment is so funny & effervescent & charming & hot & then BAM comes a twist & then it hurts for a bit & then it’s soft & fun & adorable again.

The end.

But seriously, Fizzy’s book is great.

The premise of this book is that Fizzy feels like she’s lost some of her mojo & some of her certainty about what she’s doing career-wise & maybe even life-wise & she signs on to be the star of a reality tv show that she—a famous romance novelist—will help design.

The producer of the show is Connor, a hot British single dad.

Though they don’t get off on the best foot, soon after they’re friends & that friendship helps sustain them through the ups & downs & explosive attraction between them.

This book has some real funny moments, like when Fizzy gives a list of the romance hero archetypes she wants to date on her show & Connor is befuddled by how to cast “vampire.”

Not only is the relationship between Fizzy & Connor like warm golden sunshine but I absolutely love what the book has to say about the romance genre & its readers & just how important respect is for people’s various interests. Even “nice,” hot guys can be condescending about romance…

The twist genuinely surprised me & I’m still not quite sure how I feel about it as a reader. I’m guessing the people who read this book will have lots of thoughts about it & my DMs are open.

DMs are also open for any squeeing or mutual chuckling. I’m really glad I read this one.

4.5⭐️. Out 05/16.

CWs: Fizzy was the other woman in a previous relationship without her knowledge & that man’s wife publicly confronted her before the book began. Connor cheated on a previous partner.

[ID: the book sits on an open hardback on a white floral cushion. A red plant in a blue pot is on the ground below.]

“The True Love Experiment” written by Christina Lauren stars Fizzy and Conner. Fizzy is a romance novelist and has come to realize that she has never actually been in love before. She has this amazing career, but feels so lost and unsure of where her life is going. Conner is a single dad and filmmaker. When his boss asks him to put on a romance show, he feels way out of his comfort zone. By chance, Conner meets Fizzy and he decides that she is the one that will make the fans love the show! After some hesitation, she says yes to being the lead character. This book has all of the cute, witty banter and such fun characters! Thank you so much to NetGalley and publisher for the ARC.

💖 The True Love Experiment - Christina Lauren

5 ⭐️- Oh my heart. If you’re looking for a summer romance, look no further. ALTHOUGH, apparently you’re supposed to read The Soulmate Equation first, which I did not, OOPS. Regardless, I LOVED this book. Guilty pleasure (don’t call it that anymore!) reality dating show with a romance author? Sign me up! This book is for anyone who writes, reads, and loves love and romance.

Felicity “Fizzy” Chen is lost. She’s a beloved romance novelist who while giving a graduation commencement speech, realizes she hasn’t been practicing what she preaches. Connor Price, a hot British single dad, is a documentary filmmaker who finds himself being ordered by his boss to produce a reality TV dating show. Desperate to find a lead, he runs into Fizzy and offers her the spot. She is quick to say no, unless he can fulfill her list of demands…

SO, Fizzy is a crossover character from Christina Lauren’s The Soulmate Equation, which I didn’t know. I definitely think you can read this without reading the other, UNLESS you’d be annoyed to have a small spoiler of the other crossover characters? Honestly? I didn’t mind one bit.

I LOVED this book. It was funny, lovable, frustrating, and heartwarming all at the same time. Fizzy is a strong, proud of herself woman, who knows what she wants and isn’t afraid to be herself. Connor is a hot British single dad who puts his daughter first and is quite literally TOO easy to love. If you’re a hopeless romantic, you love romance books (with some spice 🥵) and are looking for a good beach read, this one’s for you!

Don’t mind me - just off to read The Soulmate Equation next and do this thing backwards 🤣

Thanks Netgalley and Galley Books for the early ARC of this lovable gem!

Quick Stats
Age Rating: 18+
Spice Level: 2.25/5
Over All: 4.25
Plot: 4/5
Characters: 4/5
Setting: 4/5
Writing: 4.5/5

This is my third Christina Lauren book, and let me just say it was significantly spicier than I was expecting based on the other two I’ve read (The Unhoneymooners and In a Holidaze), so if you’re looking for that level of low spice, this book might not be for you. But if you like or don’t mind a bit more, then you should definitely pick up this book.
Fizzy is tons of fun. She’s spunky and funny and honest. Connor is lovable and swoony. Though I wished it was a little stronger, I enjoyed their emotional connection as well as their chemistry. Though Connor and Fizzy were both fun to read about and easy to love, there were some times and aspects where they felt a little bit flat, like there was just a small amount of depth missing that would have taken this book all the way to five stars.
Similarly, I didn’t love the way that the third act crisis played out. It felt a little too fast and too discombobulated. Connor’s reaction of “It’s okay to need time to process; I’m going to give her time to process” seemed right for his character and the situation… but then it turned out “time to process” meant one hour and that’s it? His immediate reaction vs his next few days reaction felt very disconnected from each other, and I never really understood his point of view in those early conversations. I don’t think it was well articulated or well developed.
That said, the majority of this book was fun and easy to read. I loved the discussions on romance books and reality dating shows and how media directed at women is so easily snubbed—and how it shouldn’t be.
I love reality TV based books, and this was no exception. In this one, the reality show doesn’t start until about halfway through. As I started the book and realized it was going to be a while before we got into that part of the plot, I was a little uncertain, but I ended up really enjoying the fact that we got to know our MCs before all the chaos of the show started. The show was fun, but it was unique, too. I really enjoyed the plot development on that front.
This is technically the spin off/sequel to Christina Lauren’s other book The Soulmate Equation, but I haven’t read TSE and I still found this easy to understand and easy to fall into. It isn’t my favorite Christina Lauren book, but I do think it is a testament to their talent, and it has me wanting to read more of their work.

I LOVED this book. Funny, captivating, and so immersive. Easy to connect to the story and characters. I loved reading it and highly recommend to everyone.

This is the first Christina Lauren I've read since "Josh and Hazel's Guide to Not Dating," and it didn't disappoint! I'll be recommending this one to all my friends.

3,5 rounded up. I'm so glad Fizzy Chen got her own story and that it incorporates so much of Jess, Jude, and River from The Soulmate Equation!

Fizzy is such a strong, vibrant character, and her chemistry with Connor is solid throughout the book. Some of the dialogue and character reactions made me cringe or roll my eyes, but not enough to deter me much. I also love the use of the reality show conceit in romance novels, and I actually wish it had been stronger and/or more structured here; the show itself feels flimsy. Overall, though, this is another strong entry in the Christina Lauren canon.

I'm so glad Fizzy got her own book!
We met Fizzy in a previous Christina Lauren book and she stole the show. A very engaging and likable character, Fizzy gets drawn into her own story in this novel. This novel should definitely be in your beach reads bag!

I just love Christina Laurens' books, and I was really excited to get the chance to read this one. And they sure did not disappoint. We were introduced to Fizzy's character in a previous book featuring her best friend, Jess, and her hero, River. In that book, I, along with everyone out there I think, fell in love with Fizzy and immediately wanted to know when she would get her own love story. Fizzy's personality is exactly as her name describes - bubbly and exciting. I loved the banter between her and the hero, and I loved her internal monologue - she was absolutely hilarious. The plot of this book was just fantastic too. I wish this reality dating show existed in real life because I would 100% watch it. The ending of this book, too, was just *chef's kiss* perfection. I couldn't put this book down once I started it. I would definitely recommend this book - it was a fantastic read!!

This is yet another book that I really enjoyed overall but, also had some minor issues with it.

Here’s what didn’t work so well for me:
- I didn’t love the excessive use of nicknames like “Hot Brit” or “Hot DILF”
- I found the constant dialogue about the romance genre and how it is not a “guilty pleasure” or “fluffy” very preachy due to the sheer volume. I’m a romance reader so it seemed like it was preaching to the choir instead of their intended audience.
- I feel like the pacing was a bit off. The beginning was great, the middle slowed way down, and the end was super quick.

Here’s what definitely worked:
- I loved the chemistry as well as the progression of this relationship.
- I appreciated the premise for the reality show.
- I adored the dates and scenarios these characters found themselves in.
- There was some warranted jealousy that really worked for me.

One other thing I would like to mention is that this is a companion novel to The Soulmate Equation. I wish I knew that before going in so I could have read that book first. I feel like this book can be read as a standalone but it does rely heavily on the science and characters from the other book.

Fizzy (who is a supporting character from the Soulmate Equation) is a romance author who has been in a bit of a dry spell, both in her work and in her personal life. When the producer of a new reality dating show discovers her thanks to his ex wife, he knows her personality is just what his show needs to be a hit. Fizzy is feisty, strong willed, confident and she needs to get that back.
Connor is a documentary filmmaker who is now being tasked with heading up this reality show: a bachelorette type series that incorporates the DNADuo app that was created in the Soulmate Equation. Connor doesn’t know about reality tv or about Fizzy but he decides to take a chance on her because his ex wife recommends her books to him to learn about romance and then he meets Fuzzy herself and he knows that she is something special. Not only will she make the show a hit, but she may be a hit with him as well if he will just let his guard down.
I’m not a fan of reality dating shows but I did very much enjoy this book. Fizzy is a fun character and even though the ending was predictable, it was worth the journey to get there.
Thanks to Gallery Books and NetGalley for this eArc in exchange for my review.

Have you ever read a book with a side character and thought to yourself gee, I hope they get their own book? That was exactly my thought with Felicity “Fizzy” Chen while reading The Soulmate Equation.

I fell in love with Fizzy’s sense of humor and her penchant for saying exactly what’s on her mind. I’ve always wanted to have the balls to do that myself and will hopefully grow a pair someday. But until then, I will live vicariously through Fizzy.

Despite being a popular romance writer, Fizzy can’t find love to save her life. Meanwhile, documentary filmmaker Connor Prince has just been tasked with producing a reality television show that’s a knock-off of The Bachelor. The two collide after Connor sees a photograph of Fizzy on the back of one of her books…in his ex-wife’s house. Knowing that he’s found his star, Connor approaches a reluctant-at-first Fizzy with the proposition. Eventually, she agrees, but with the stipulation that the men competing for her heart must all represent various book-boyfriend tropes, including the cinnamon roll, hot nerd, and the one that got away.

Honestly, that’s a brilliant idea.

Anyway…along the way, sparks begin to fly between Connor and Fizzy. But will a mistake Connor made in his past come back to haunt him? Will Fizzy allow her insecurities to cause her to run away from what could be true love? What about the other dudes?

Christina Lauren are two of my favorite authors, and this was one of my most anticipated reads. For the most part, it measured up. I got a healthy dose of Fizzy, a pinch of River and Jess, and more precocious antics from Juno, as well as Connor’s daughter, Stevie, who’s Juno’s best friend. The romance was pure fire. But…I felt that, at times, Connor was a bit much and overreacted to the point where, for me, it may have been a deal breaker. And, at times, the strong, independent woman I loved in Fizzy seemed to wilt away. With that said, love makes us do crazy things, and ultimately Fizzy’s installment was pretty enjoyable.

THIS BOOOOK!

Fizzy is the perfect name for the FMC who literally sparkled on the page. Effervescent like a glorious sip of champagne, she is funny, flirty, and the kind of person you would instantly become friends with.

And her chemistry with Connor is literally off the charts -- and off the page. Their relationship simmered and sparked from the very beginning and their banter was just so fun to witness.

There's only one teeny tiny problem -- Fizzy has signed up to be on a true love reality dating show --- and Connor is not a contestant, but the executive producer. The two have to decide if their attraction is long-lasting enough to risk the career consequences that would come from becoming a couple.

I haven't (yet) read the Soulmate Equation, but I love that her side character in that book was enough of a fan-favorite to get the authors to give her her own.

This book is just a total feel-good read.

Christina Lauren does it again! This duo is an “auto read” for me - if they have a book out, I will read it. However, I definitely have my most favorites from them. Well, make way on the shelf. The True Love Experiment will now be on that most favorite Christina Lauren shelf.

Fizzy is such a great character. A strong woman who has just lost herself a bit. She agrees to participate in a TV dating show hoping to find true love and inspire her new romance novel. It sounds like a great plan until she realizes she is paying more attention to the producer, Connor, than the men on the show.

I highly recommend this quick read that will have you giggling and engrossed in the story.

Christina Lauren haven’t done a sequel about a side character in the past 5 years that I know of. I was excited to see what they would do.

Fizzy, the best friend of Jess from the first novel, is a romance novelist who has lost her mojo. At this time, Conner, a TV producer asks her to be the heroine in a new dating reality show. Conner is a divorcee with a 10 year old and he has just been forced to move from making documentaries to this reality show, so he has his reservations as well.

Christina Lauren writes romance so well. The chemistry between Conner and Fizzy was immediate. I also liked how they took some of the romance tropes and ropes in them into the story in a tongue and cheek way. While I don’t think the format of the reality show would’ve worked in real life, it worked for the sake of the story and I enjoyed how they tied it back to the dating app from the first book.

I enjoyed that Fizzy is a strong woman who is unapologetic for her sexuality and her personality. She has some crises in the story about who she is and how to continue, but she still stays true to who she is. What I always love about Christina Lauren books is how realistic they are. There are always scenes where I feel like I’ve lived those moments or I know people who have.

The only part I didn’t love about this story compared to some of their others is the third at break. I didn’t love the conflict. There were actually two points of conflict and I felt like one of them was a little stronger than the other. I could’ve done without one of them because the way Fizzy reacted wasn’t my favorite.

While this isn’t one of my favorites of theirs, I feel like it’s always a little hard to judge because I’m comparing to other great novels. The hidden romance and reality show storylines were great. I also adored the chemistry between Conner and Fizzy and feel like I fell in love with Conner a bit. I think it’s a great follow up to The Soulmate Equation and it another solid book to their list. I highly recommend both books in this series.

I adored this. Having not read The Soulmate Equation, it isn't needed first, but I *ran* to go read it next!

Fizzy Chen is a romance author in a slump. When documentary-turned-reality-TV producer Connor Prince approaches her to helm their new reality dating show, The True Love Experiment, she makes a list of ridiculous demands... and he accepts. (Truly, Fizzy is hilarious in this. Everything she does is gold, I tell you. And Connor takes it in stride!)

Fizzy is all of us romance readers, truly.

Now she has men vying for her attention in a version of the Bachelorette I would TOTALLY watch, a tall, smexy and British producer, and of course cameos from River and Jess (who I also love).

I don't want to spoil here, so I'll remain vague. I loved the romance-- from the honesty to the spice, to the vulnerability and growth here from both of our MCs (who each get first-person POVs). Think sexual tension, yearning, words I had to look up (thanks to Fizzy), and joy. This book is pure joy, and more than lives up to its cover.

Highly recommend, all the stars--now can we get bonus content about Fizzy and her man post-book? I will be SO GOOD this year!

Again, I will read anything by Christina Lauren and I was so excited to get my hands on this ARC!

In my review for The Soulmate Equation, I wrote, "Loved Fizzy and I would love a book from her POV." And my dreams came trueeeeeee! It was amazing and I was trying to find any opportunity to get back to reading this book.

I fell in love with Fizzy and her personality and I'm so glad we get to have this book about her. And Connor??? COME ON! I might have to do a reread and do the audiobook if they get someone with an accent for this DILF because that would make the story even better. And his relationship with his daughter? Precious!

Fizzy, a romance writer hits a block after realizing she's never really been in love. Her spark diminishes and doesn't date for a while. Connor is a documentary filmmaker that is tasked with creating a reality tv show and casts Fizzy as the Heroine. Their chemistry is off the charts and things get complicated, but I loved every minute of it!

Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion and review.

I loved everything about this book. I loved getting to see characters from The Soulmate Equation. I loved Fizzy and Conner. I loved the TV show concept. Christina Lauren's books are always great and this is definitely one of my tops favorites.