If there is an author that is a one click wonder, for me it is Christina Lauren. I have been reading books by this dynamic duo since the Beautiful series (yes, I read them all!)

Some I can say were favorites and this one is going to rank right up there at the top! The authors say it is a love letter to the reader and my heart believes that too.

So what was it about this book that captured my heart? It is the intense connection between the two main characters.

The author was able to articulate the undercurrent that runs between two people when you have that deeper connection. The tummy butterflies; the secret looks; the silent messages that flow between soul connections; the energy that floats around them; the heated passion that tells the true story.

The authors have a magical way with words that speaks to the reader’s heart and soul. They make you wish for your own love experiment and connection. Christina Lauren truly is a romance author that stands apart. They create fun-loving, wacky, wild, and wonderful characters that are oh so memorable and delightful.

The True Love Experiment is a must-read for romance lovers. Period! Amazing characters and an amazing story – funny, sexy, passionate, intense, beautiful.

Christina Lauren has done it again! A book that has you caring about the characters, reading after bedtime, and breaking a reading slump! Fizzy Chen is a romance writer that has not been able to write since she gave a commencement and realizes that she has never had romance like what she writes. Connor is a documentary film maker who is being forced to make a reality tv dating show. A chance encounter leads to the show True Love Experiment which has Fizzy as the person trying to find love. As Fizzy and Connor spend time together they find a connection but the success of the show will decide both of their futures. Will Fizzy find true love?

Was not expecting this to tie into The Soulmate Equation, but I'm really happy it did. I loved The Soulmate Equation and the DNAduo concept that they built in that book. Seeing Fizzy fall in love was so sweet and I love Connor so much. He's a really great MMC <3 The big grand gesture at the end was so cute and I ATE IT UP!

Who would have ever thought that this wonderful writing duo could ever equal or perhaps top Love and Other Words or Roomies, but they’ve done it with The True Love Experiment. This isn’t just a mature, friends-to-lovers romance between feisty, sexy, unapologetic romance author Fizzy Chen and the absolutely perfect book boyfriend, sexy, British, and reluctant dating reality show producer Connor Prince, but also a loving dedication to the romance genre, its writers and fandom as well.

Fizzy, who is the best friend of Jess, the heroine in The Soulmate Equation, is 37 years old and, despite having published several best-selling romance novels, has never experienced love and is facing severe writer’s block. Connor, a documentary filmmaker and single dad, has been told by his boss that he has to pivot and produce a reality dating show or risk losing his job. After admiring Fizzy from a distance in a bar, he serendipitously discovers her books on his ex-wife’s shelves and is inspired to create a show where she is the heroine. Fizzy’s initial reaction to the offer is a solid ‘No’ followed by an agreement to do it if he casts romantic hero archetypes to compete for her affection. As they spend months together, first on ‘joy excursions,’ then on set and in intimate post-episode confessionals, they struggle to fight their feelings and the scorching chemistry between them. However, with Connor’s livelihood on the line if their growing attraction were to be exposed, can they take the chance?

This has all the elements that Christina Lauren does so well: humorous banter, undeniable chemistry, well-developed personalities, strong family dynamics and friendships, and a cast of secondary characters who add depth and color to the story. The archetypal contestants are a hoot, Jess and her husband River feature prominently, and their daughter, precocious Juno, meets her match in Connor’s daughter Stevie. It’s so affirming to read a solid defense for the romance genre as well. If you’re looking for a captivating, feel-good romance with an intensely satisfying, steamy as hell, well-rounded relationship with a low degree of angst, pick up or download this one today. Very highly recommended!

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from Gallery Books through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

I know Christina Lauren’s propensity for torching their entire book in the third act is already discussed ad nauseam amongst Romance nerds. I’ve read quite a few of their books before and it hit me this time around how their habit of destroying their own book and making you hate one or both of MCs by the end made it difficult to ever settle into this book. I was waiting for big sh*tty reveal of something from the MCs past or for the MC not to step up in some way and for the FMC to over react. That tension is not fun to sit with and makes for an extremely slow grind of a read.
Of course they do exactly what you expect them to do in third act as per usual. It almost was relief once it finally happened. The ending was also obvious from 10-12 chapters out so it made the angsty torture of the third act feel so forced.
I really think they would be stronger writers in the YA sector. They write in a very juvenile style. This book was like their other books I’ve read in where it’s not actually spicy. You basically get a cliff Notes recap of the spicy parts, but no actual spice. So just take out those recaps and you are even more on your way to a YA. They consistently make their FMCs incredibly immature, but wow Fizzy really took the cake. She is suppose to be 37, but to show she’s quirky and fun they gave her the maturity of a 17 year old obsessed with dicks. Her hyper fixation on his dick actually became pretty gross after a while. I’d rather have better written spice and less just circular thought about the MMC’s horse cock.
And what were their big things about them that drew them to each other oh, my gosh he is so tall. And oh, my gosh she is a wee tiny baby woman.
Yaaaaaaaaaawwwwwwwwwwnnnnnnnn
The on and on and on about how big he is and how tiny she is. Sweet baby Jesus and the grown one too! Enough! We got it. You don’t have to go full Ali Hazelwood on the big man/tiny lady loop.
Something just does not hit for this book. I don’t know if it’s just the lazy writing or the poor character development or something deeper.
I will say it is lazy especially for the handling of Connor’s failed marriage. It’s the same lazy sh*t authors will do with a widower: they want the DILF, but they gotta go out of their way to make it clear the MMC has never actually be in love before now. *heavy eye roll* be a better writer. Go there. Give it depth the falling in and out of love. Or other complications that can tear a couple a partS this was the dumbest divorce story ever.
It’s weird and not endearing to have these MMCs who have been married but never in love. I find that almost more unforgivable than the incredibly lazy way he ended his marriage.

Christina Lauren, have written another good, fun romance novel! The protagonist, Fizzy, has a passion for fun but has hit a rough patch. She agrees to participate in a reality dating show and falls for the producer instead of the contestants. I feel like this novel is a love letter to romance and reality tv - and feisty female characters. Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy in return for my honest opinion.

After reading the "Soulmate Equation" I was so excited to read Fizzy's story! We meet Fizzy at a time where she is experiencing some serious writers block and is in need of some romantic inspiration. Enter Connor. A divorced dad and filmmaker whose career in documentaries suddenly hinges on his ability to produce a hit reality dating show. With Fizzy's natural charisma and fame as a romance author, she's a shoo-in for a new hit dating show. And for her, it's the perfect opportunity to beat her writers block and find some inspiration with several eligible bachelors.

I loved the slow build-up between Fizzy and Connor and how despite their polar personalities there is an undeniable chemistry. Producing and starring in a dating show they must figure out how to navigate their growing feelings for each other and find out if they're the true love experiment or not.

A great read for fans of "opposites attract", "forced proximity" and "slow-burns"!

This was a fun new novel from our fav romcom author bestie duo and I think fans will enjoy the chaotic adventures of fizzy & connor. With the sharp wit we all know and love, this book really leans into what we all love best about romcoms and is a little shoutout to romance lovers everywhere.

With that said, I found their dynamic & the premise a little weird, though I can still appreciate the homage to the romance genre. I mostly didn’t like how fizzy had to go through the whole dating show, with Connor being Off Limits as Mr Producer, while the reader obviously knows they’re the endgame couple (because that’s how romance novels work, duh). I was anxious to see how they’d end up together & make it work, and that ending was super sweet. But the anxiety was Not because the stakes felt weirdly high.

I also DID NOT ENJOY the infidelity. Even though it was in the past and did not occur presently with our characters, I just flat out hate this trope. Especially since it was triggering for fizzy!! I just feel like literally any other issue could have been used and this one felt so Wrong and also fizzy’s immediate, emotional reaction was made to seem dramatic? Not cool.

But overall, this was a quick & fun read with an original premise. Ultimately I didn’t feel super connected with these characters though & so it fell a little flat for me.

3.5⭐️ rounding down

**big thanks to NetGalley and Gallery Books for this eARC**

Ok — I hope I can make this review cohesive.

I really wanted to love this one. Fizzy was one of my favorite parts of The Soulmate Equation, so I was excited to get to see more of her. But for some reason, what I loved most about her in TSE did not quite translate over to this book. Perhaps it was because she was questioning herself a bit. But I wanted more of the banter she had. We see some of it, but we also see a lot of her being, to me, a bit melodramatic.

Instalove is not one of my favorite tropes, and for Fizzy and Connor, they seem to fall j to it in a month. And perhaps that can happen, but I just don’t buy it. I did enjoy seeing their relationship develop. And I liked that the drama and what kept them apart wasn’t a miscommunication.

I think perhaps this book was a bit too long. If it had been edited down I would have enjoyed it more.

All of this to say, I didn’t not like this book. There were just things that made me not race to pick up every day. It took me almost 7 days to finish which for me is a while. Who knows, maybe it was also just me and my brain at the time of reading.

I will still recommend it to those looking for a contemporary romance. (3.5/3.75)

This book was so fun! At first, I wasn’t sold on the concept that s formula could find your perfect match. It felt too unattached. As I went on though, I loved the main characters and the relationships and the dynamic, so my initial distrust was completely won over. This book is steamy and fun and funny and absolutely amazing. 12 out of 10 I will read again.

Thank you to Netgalley and Gallery Books for the ARC.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 5/5 stars

Christina Lauren is back and better than ever with the sequel to The Soulmate Equation. This story follows the beloved Fizzy as she finally gets her real-life happy ending. When Fizzy, currently suffering from writer’s block, is approached by Connor to star in a Bachelorette-type reality show, she agrees in hopes of it getting her out of her funk. However, Fizzy may find a lot more than just inspiration for her next novel.

I was OBSESSED with this book. It went straight into my top 3 CLo books of all time. I loved Fizzy in the previous book, but somehow loved her even more in The True Love Experiment. As for Connor - book boyfriend excellence. Ugh he was so swoony and flawed and perfect. Christina Lauren have truly outdone themselves with this romance. Bow down. All the stars.

ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I have heard about Christina Lauren book for a long time. I had never read one before. I thought this was an excellent book and I enjoyed reading this story from a new to me author. It was a quick afternoon read that did not disappoint. I would recommend to others.

Fizzy, the romance-writing best friend of "The Soulmate Equation" is back in her own book, and she had plenty to say about how romance books are treated in society. I have been on a RomCom kick lately, and it's great to see conversations about how fun, predictable, guaranteed-happy-ending books and their readers deserve just as much recognition as more serious genres.

I'm always interested when books have peeks behind the scenes of a job I know little about, and this did not disappoint! Fizzy and Connor are both loveable and real. The little moments captured between the characters were the best part (with the steamy scenes coming second).

This is only my second book from Christina Lauren, but I am excited to read more!

I. Love. Christina and Lauren!

Okay, I loved this book more than the Soulmate Equation. I mean don't get me wrong, I loved Jess and River. Absolutely adored them! But wowza, Fizzy and Connor made me want to read an entire series just about them. So let's get into it!

Fizzy as our female lead character was amazing. I thought she was the PERFECT balance of self-confidence and vulnerability. I loved her chapters, getting to read her unfiltered thoughts. I love how sex-positive she was and the growth she made in her heart as the book went out. She was still sex-positive by the end of the book, but recognized now she wanted just one person to be with. I felt strongly that there was nothing wrong with her at the beginning, where she had gone years with many partners, and the end where she wanted just one. That is just a strong message to sent to all readers. Getting to see her development almost felt like therapy, and I've been married for ten years and have two kids! I also just loved the side issue of her not feeling like she was enough for her family, especially her mom. The ownership of that conflict made her stronger as a lead.

Connor was just beautiful. Seriously no complaints. I love my husband; absolutely love him. But like.. I want a Connor. I mean what's not to like?? Obviously very hot? Love. Dedicated dad? Love. Respectful co-parent? Love. Go with the flow? Love. Adventurous? Love. Good friend, great lover, honest, evolved, etc. etc. etc.???? LOVE!

Now, the love story was just beautiful. Getting to experience them falling in love, admitting it to each other, trying to fight it, give in, experience conflict, grow apart and then come back together WAS AMAZING! I could have kept reading their story for years. No complains, seriously.

The only issue I had, believability wise, is from the very beginning. I would have liked to have seen Connor and Fizzy have a stronger foundation, have experience more time together BEFORE they went on the joy excursions. Like, even having finished the entire book, it still felt unnatural that Fizzy suggested that to a guy she essentially didn't like (thanks to misjudging) right after they meet. Like I would have loved to have seen them have a few meetings together to plan the show, get to know each other, identify the issue of lack-of-joy, then come up with the plan to fix that. I understand that those excursions aren't the main premise of the book, and therefore can't take up too much time, but for nit-pickings sake, I would have liked that initial building of their love to have started out more natural.

Anyways. Freakin' love this. You MUST read!

The True Love Experiment by Christina Lauren was not the right book for me. I have read one other book by this author, and enjoyed it with a few misgivings. This book was just awful from the beginning. It's hard to enjoy a book where you don't like any of the main characters. I was left disinterested in where the story was going. Disappointed.

This book is absolutely amazing. I’m so glad CLo decided to help Fizzy find love. This is one those books that you read and you don’t want it to end because you love the characters and their love story so much. ❤️ I’m still thinking about this book and missing it three days later.

absolute PERFECTION. Fizzy and Connor are EVERYTHING. the romance!!! a book about books!!!! the banter. and maturity. TWO A+ CHARACTERS. I WOULD CHANGE NOTHING ABOUT THIS BOOK. and as a Chinese reader I also LOVED and appreciated the acknowledgements as well!!!

Author Fizzy Chen’s books are full of spice, lust, and romance - which sadly could not be farther from the truth of her own love life. Fizzy realizes that while her entire career is based around love, she isn’t sure she’s ever really felt the kind of spark she writes about. When producer Connor Prince hears of Fizzy’s fiery career and her single status, a spark of his own ignites; he knows Fizzy would make a perfect, unexpected star of the new dating show he’s been forced to create. After much convincing on Connor’s part and creative terms on Fizzy’s, the two agree to team up so she can find love and he can keep his job. Once filming starts though, it’s hard for either to see a potential match in one of contestants, as Fizzy and Connor only seem to have eyes for each other.

I adored “The Soulmate Equation” and loved that this was a spin-off from the OG story. Fizzy is wild and entertaining, Connor is your typical buttoned-up secret softy, and River and Jess from book one are back after their own happily ever after. The concept behind both books is so cute: a DNA dating service that finds true love in even the most unexpected matches. I didn’t love this as much as book one, but it was still a cute, light-hearted read.

📖 BOOK REVIEW 📖

💜💖 The True Love Experiment by Christina Lauren 💖💜

PERFECTION. This entire book was just PERFECTION. A love letter to romance readers, romance tropes, fangirling, I could not have picked this happy joyful book up at a better time.

Here’s what to expect:
💖 fun sassy FMC who is a romance author
💜 broody hot MMC who is a producer and is also BRITISH 😮‍💨
💖 The Bachelorette vibes (but how it should be in real life let’s be honest) where the men are all romance hero types (Cinnamon roll, hot nerd, tattooed bad boy, etc)
💜 enemies to coworkers/friends to lovers
💖 forbidden love
💜 swoony romance + steamy scenes
💖 funny laugh out loud humor
💜 all the things you love about romance novels is in here

I absolutely ADORED this book and I must now go read The Soulmate Equation (I didn’t realize this was sort of a sequel in the same world??) I am completely hooked on Christina Lauren!

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC!

Fizzy is a popular romance novelist who has become cynical about all things love in her own life. Connor is a documentary filmmaker who is tasked by his company to create a reality dating tv show and believes Fizzy (and all of her crazy demands) is the perfect romantic lead. When they meet sparks fly even when they shouldn’t. I really enjoyed this romance (a sequel to THE SOULMATE EQUATION) and found the characters, particularly Fizzy, to be Gina be charming. It redeemed Christina Lauren for me, because honestly I thought they jumped the shark after SOMETHING WILDER. But they’re back to their roots here - plenty of steam and banter. A good time 😊