Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for an ARC of this novel; all opinions are my own.

The Soulmate Equation is one of my favorite recent releases from Christina Lauren and I did enjoy this follow-on story for Fizzy.

Quick Synopsis: Fizzy is a romance author in a serious writing slump when producer, Connor, approaches her about starring in a reality TV show called The True Love Experiment. The first season of the show will allow Fizzy to date a series of men that all align to a different type of romance novel hero such as “the one that got away,” “the bad boy,” “the Navy Seal,” etc. The only man she wants, however, is Connor. Unfortunately, that’s very much against the rules of the show.

Trigger Warnings: Parental neglect; childhood trauma; reference to serious car accident; public scrutiny

What I liked:
-While they exist in the same universe, the authors didn’t draw upon any of the same tropes or storylines used in The Soulmate Equation. Rather, they bring in aspects of the first novel to support this one.
-We FINALLY get some more spice. FINALLY. #bringbackspicyChristinaLauren While this novel is not nearly as spicy as their Beautiful Bastard series, we at least get more than we have been getting.
-I really loved Fizzy as a character: charming, charismatic, strong, forceful. She was just great
-I loved how they addressed the reality of being a romance author or a romance reader and the way the genre is misunderstood and purposely shat upon.
-Connor is a book boyfriend for life

What I struggled with:
-I hate the third act breakup that is characteristic for these authors. The portion between the breakup and the penultimate ending was so slow. So. Slow. But you have to get through it because the ending is great.
-I’ll be honest, I have no idea how this reality TV show was supposed to work. The ending seemed incredibly idealistic, but it was entertaining. Still don’t know what the show was about though.

Altogether, this was a great, fun read and I’m glad they told Fizzy’s story in such a fun, engaging way.

I must begin by saying that I did not read the first book in this series, The Soulmate Equation. It really was not necessary as The True Love Experiment is able to be a standalone book, which is a delight rom-c0m with great characters. Fizzy is a romance writer who is experiencing and writers block and has never really had a relationship. Most her encounters have been one-night stand or not very deep relationships. Connor is divorced with a daughter, He produces documentaries. Connor is asked to produce a dating show in order to boost network ratings. I have read several novels written by the writing duo, Christina Lauren. I was prepared for the graphic and explicit sex scenes. I loved the pot of The True Experiment and I rooted for Fizzy to find True Love! I would have preferred a little less graphic sex and more storyline. All in all, I enjoyed The True Love Experiment.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

I discovered Christina Lauren’s books last year, and I have since read almost all of them. Therefore, I was very excited to receive a copy of this book from NetGalley. I loved Fizzy in The Soulmate Equation so it was great to read more about her! The way that Fizzy’s and Connor’s relationship develops is so believable, and the role family plays in their relationship makes the book even better. Another great book by Christina Lauren!

4.5 ⭐️

Romance author Fizzy is stuck, on her love life and her writing. When she gets offered the opportunity to be the star of a new reality TV dating show, she takes it. Despite her crazy list of terms, the hot British DILF of a producer Connor refuses to let her turn the show down. Their interactions quickly transform into friendship with an undeniable amount of romantic and sexual chemistry, except Connor’s mission is to help Fizzy find her perfect match. How on earth will these two make it work?

I was glad that Fizzy got her own story because it was such a delight. I loved the ode to romance, the beloved reasons why women love reading romance, and how love is not lost, even for Fizzy. There were kids involved, a reality TV dating show, and a hot British hero I couldn’t help but love. It was just a tad bit longer than I would’ve wanted, but the grand gesture in the end was perfect.

I have yet to finish a Christina Lauren novel that I didn't love after putting it down. The True Love Experiment goes back to CL's roots of a solid romance with incredibly relatable characters, We get Felicity "Fizzy" Chen from The Soulmate Equation, and I was so thrilled to go back to. So good, very hard to put down.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was so excited to receive an ARC of this spicy follow-up to The Soulmate Equation. Whereas The Soulmate Equation was about Jess and River, The True Love Experiment is about Jess' best friend Fizzy (featured in the first book!). You do not need to have read The Soulmate Equation first, but I recommend it to truly appreciate Fizzy's growth.

This was a charming, funny, and sexy read! Highly recommend for contemporary romance lovers, Christina Lauren fans, or anyone looking for some joy.

If you know me, you know I haven’t shut up over Christina Lauren’s THE SOULMATE EQUATION that came out a few years ago… it is nerdy love at its finest!

Fast forward to a few months ago when this author duo announced they were expanding off of my favorite story from them with their upcoming book, THE TRUE LOVE EXPERIMENT, focusing on the best sidekick ever Fizzy!

WHAT I LOVED ABOUT THIS BOOK:
💖: Felicity Chen, her naughty mind, and her growth throughout the story
🎥: the reality tv aspect embedded into the plot
😎: it gave the same vibes as ONE TO WATCH and THE CHARM OFFENSIVE if you’ve ever read either of those books
👥: differing POVs each chapter
🧬: returning to the world of River and Jessica in THE SOULMATE EQUATION… they show up quite a lot!
👯‍♀️: buddy reading this with @abbysbookadventure! We’ve been on the rom com buddy read train this year and so far they have been complete successes!

Notice how I provided no synopsis to this new rom com book? My advice to you readers is to go into this one with little knowledge of the plot. I think that’s what helped Abby and I enjoy this story even more!! So much so that we finished our buddy read in record time… possibly in under 48 hours? It’s fast-paced and filled with so much romantic tension that I didn’t want to put the book down!

If you loved THE SOULMATE EQUATION even a fraction as much as I did then I think you’ll love diving into Felicity’s story as well! 💖

This was such a fun read! I love how it was a follow up to a side character in a previous book. It was witty, funny, and an overall enjoyable book. Not only did it keep my attention, but I sped through because of how great it was.

Christina Lauren is an auto-buy for me & I was excited to read this ARC that follows Fixxy, a character from The Soulmate Equation. She's a romance novelist cast as the lead on a reality TV dating show but falls in love with the producer instead. He's a divorced DILF with a British accent & a great body who might have commitment issues. Gret diversity rep. Spicy hotel sex. And a woman who knows what she wants. Coming 5.13.23.

I loved Fizzy in the first book, so I was so excited for her to get her own story! I absolutely adored this book! I loved the banter between Connor and Fizzy. Their relationship was slow burn, filled with tension, and so worth the payout in the end. The story had be laughing out loud constantly and smiling while reading. I loved the reality tv aspect and watching that unfold too. It added a unique layer having these eight other men also trying to win Fizzy over. I loved getting to see glimpses of Jess, Juno, and River throughout this story as well.

Romance novelist, Fizzy Chen, hasn't been feeling the romance too much lately. After delivering a commencement speech she's had writer's block. When she's approached by a tall hot British man wanting her to star in a new reality dating show, she decides to give it a go - especially because it used the DNA-matching technology that her best friend's husband helped create. Neither Fizzy nor the sexy producer of the show realizes what they've gotten themselves into as they find themselves being drawn to each other the more they get to know each other. But Connor (the tall, sexy, British producer) knows the one thing that can't happen is a relationship between them because she's the star of his dating show. Will true love prevail? This was a really fun read with great banter. It was fun to see a story about Fizzy after being introduced to her in the Soulmate Equation.

4 ⭐️

Recommend? Yes!

The best thing Christina and Lauren did was give Fizzy her story. I loved the rawness and vulnerability that Fizzy gave us. She is a late thirties, Asian-American, romance author, single, sex-positive queen! I loved her dialogue, the way she carried herself, and the way she really grew into her own character.

It didn't take the leading man to make her great and that was abundantly clear from the beginning. (I literally wanted to be friends with her back in Jess' book)

Look I will just say it: my review won't do the book justice so read it!!!!

Genre: Romance
Rating: 5/5 ⭐️
Recommended: Yes!

This book took me a little while to get into, but it was worth it. I wasn't sure where this book was going in terms of the endings, but it was incredibly satisfying (cheesy but adorable!).

Read if you like…
* Forbidden Romance
* Reality TV (The Bachelorette)
* Friends to Lovers
* Humor

I need Christina Lauren to put out five more book right now. I love their romances! Fizzy is such a fun character and I loved her dynamic with Connor. I could start this book over right now and read it straight through again! Love love love

This book is a charming and heartfelt romance that had me rooting for the characters from the very beginning. The story follows the relationship between a romance writer and a documentary filmmaker who decide to fall in love while the romance writer is on a reality tv show.

What sets this book apart from other romance novels is its unique premise and its ability to tackle complex themes such as friendship, love, and the fear of commitment. The author's writing is engaging and heartfelt, with characters that feel both relatable and authentic. I found myself invested in the story and eager to see how the characters' relationship would unfold.

One of the things I loved most about this book was the way it explored the idea of true love and what it really means to be in a committed relationship. The characters' journey is both emotional and thought-provoking, and the author's ability to capture the complexities of human emotion is truly impressive.

Overall, "The True Love Experiment" is a delightful and entertaining read that will appeal to anyone looking for a smart and engaging romance. Christina Lauren are talented writers who have crafted a story that is both heartfelt and insightful, and I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a satisfying and uplifting read.

I just adore Christina Lauren! The True Love Experiment was an amazing escape that followed Fizzy and Connor as they starred and produced a new reality True Love Experiment show. While Fizzy may not be connecting with her new suitors, she is certainly heating up with the prince producer. This hot love story will keep you rooting for true love!

When I read this book’s prequel, The Soulmate Equation, I definitely fell for the grumpy Oscar Isaac-like scientist, River. As someone in the industry, I would have never felt to be even more into the TV executive, but oh my god! The chemistry between Fizz and Connor is off the charts! I loved how Christina Lauren invested a lot of time in building the couple’s friendship while gradually building up the steam. Both books are very good at exploring what makes the right partner and are fun reads.

I loved The Soulmate Equation so much and absolutely loved this book as well. I loved Fizzy's life and her falling in love with Connor was so cute. I loved the Bachelor esc. vibes while also including characters and concepts we knew and loved in The Soulmate Equation.

Thank you to Christina Lauren, Gallery Books, and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for this review.

What an adorably cute rom-com. I loved Fizzy's character. At first I was afraid that the whole romance author bit was going to be too cliched but I didn't feel that way at all while reading. Fizzy is hilarious and has such a cute, fun and friendly vibe. I loved the dynamic between Jess, River, Juno and Fizzy, and also Conner and his daughter Stevie, I find in these type of books that I do not like the male love interest, but I really did like Conner and thought he was a refreshingly realistic guy. The ending of the book, and some moments in between were a bit predictable but for me that does not bother me in a rom-com. I also thought I was going to have a hard time with reality tv part of the book, but I think it was done really well and added a lot to the over all plot.

This is going to be a great summer romance read for sure. I highly recommend this book if you are a fan of this genre, and want a overall quick and good read.

Oh my goodness, Fizzy is a QUEEN! I am so excited that she got her own story and her hot tongue just kept going. Her banter with Connor is incredible and oh so lustful (and omg, the way she typecast him as Hot Brit, then sexy Billionaire, then Kendall Roy mixed with a Lego? Pure amazingness). Those longing glances while filming their reality show? Delectable. Their joy excursion to see Wonderland (and the bioluminescence)? Mind blowing. Their story as a whole? Utter perfection.

I really enjoyed the concept of Connor producing a dating show based on River’s technology and Fizzy’s personality. The 8 Heroes were amazing archetypes and I only wish I could have watched the show in real life!

Fizzy is a strong, exuberant, lovable character and I loved the continued appearances of Juno, Jess and River from The Soulmate Equation. Connor is equally lovable and self aware. His relationship with Stevie was utterly adorable and his co-parenting with Nat was refreshing (plus his hilarious but well-meaning digs against Insu).

As always, another winner from Christina Lauren!