This book was so cute and smart. I loved how they played with the tropes and made such clever jokes. I highly recommend this book. It was in my top books of 2023

Christina Lauren's "True Love Experiment" is a lighthearted and entertaining romp that offers a fun escape. There is good chemistry between Fizzy and Connor, even though the single-dad element was a little forgettable for me. But you can't help but root for Fizzy, whose charm and quirkiness add a refreshing and endearing quality to the narrative. Her antics and infectious energy made this book very fun to read. So if you're in the mood for a light, humorous read that doesn't take itself too seriously, "True Love Experiment" is a great choice. I can't say that this is a book that will stick with me, but I applaud the authors for another enjoyable and engaging read that was easy to pick up and hard to put down.

Successful romance author Fizzy Chen is in a rut: she's never been in love. Connor Prince, documentarian, learns is tasked with creating a reality television show, starring Fizzy. They work together closely to select a group of candidates for her to date, and it becomes apparent, pretty quickly, that there's one person not on the list who really should be. It's a really quick read that stands alone, even though it's part of The Soulmate Equation universe.

*Mild spoilers*
I loved the Soulmate Equation and was so happy to be back in the world of River, Jess, and, most importantly, Fizzy! Fizzy is the sort of character you want to root for and be friends with. I love her self-deprecating personality and her interactions with Connor. This was such a feel-good story because, even when Connor tells Fizzy that it’s not going to work, she still maintains positivity and doesn’t think the world will end. The montage of video clips at the end was so perfect and romantic and the spice was great too.

I loved The Soulmate Equation. It was one of my favorite books of 2021. I was thrilled when I read there was a sequel. Unfortunately, I was a little disappointed by The True Love Experiment. Fizzy was a fun side character in The Soulmate Equation, but she was a little over the top and never felt three-dimensional. Connor should have been a good main character, but he was so hot and cold that I got sick of his angst. This book didn’t feel like a relationship between two adults instead, it felt like two teens embracing unnecessary drama. For me, the best parts were the moments with Jess and River from The Soulmate Equation.

Christina Lauren is an automatic add to cart for me. The way the authors write never fails to surprise me. This book was no different. While it called back to a previous book it wasn’t a necessary read to understand this book.

While the plot is a little farfetched and unrelatable (dating show - come on) I enjoyed the characters. I did feel like it was a bit light on romance, like it was a slowburn romance which isn't really my jam. I have read almost all of Christina Lauren's books and loved the majority of them but this one was just an alright/4 star one for me.

did i know this was book #2 in a series when i read it? nope! did it matter? not really! (it’s more of the best friend’s story than a sequel story about the first book’s main couple.) it was an easy breezy love story centered on a reality show and a DNA based dating site, and i loved seeing a flirty, sex-positive female main character take the reins on what she wanted in the way society so often only wants cishet men to do! but also, her nickname being fizzy just really made me like 🤨 AND ALSO until i read the author’s note at the end and realized this had been a highly requested spinoff story from the first book, i was uneasy about two white women writing a story with a chinese american main character (i have so many feelings and thoughts about this and i don’t know how to resolve them all!!)… lots to ponder there.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ in the end for this one! #radthreestarreads

Special thanks to NetGalley for the advanced reader copy of this book.

'The True Love Experiment' was a funny and romantic but predictable book. Cute!

I am a big fan of Christina Lauren, but I just could not get into this book for the life of me! I just didn't gel with the writing style this go 'round. The characters' voices just felt so underdeveloped to me and the dialogue was sometimes too cringey. A bummer for me, but so many people have loved this book!

Christina Lauren is a master of words and creating that HEA. True Love finds the dips and turns, along with the RomCom-ness of all Christina's books to take you on a little journey of reflection and finding love. Great book, enjoyed the characters and story evolvement.

I have been in such a rut with reading lately (for many reasons), and this book FINALLY broke me out of it. I really enjoyed this read so much and could not put it down. Christina Lauren books to me always have great chemistry with the characters and there was no exception with Fizzy and Connor. Lately, I have been in a reality tv binge to just escape for a bit and what is better for that than some trashy reality tv with my favorite bravolebrities? This book was such a fun behind the scenes reality tv storyline that just catered to all of guilty pleasures in the best way possible.

The True Love Experiment was the perfect mix of funny, intense, sexy, light and heartwarming. The characters were all likable and I really have a hard time finding much I would change here.

I have read all of Christina Lauren's books, with the exception of a few novellas.

I wasn't super excited to start this one, however.

I loved The Soulmate Equation and Fizzy, but I was turned off by the idea of another reality TV dating show plot.. Reality television has never been something I enjoy. I have not seen a single episode of The Bachelor/Bachelorette. The entire concept has turned me off since Joe Millionaire. Yes, I'm Joe Millionaire years old.

Christina Lauren proved me wrong. Fizzy Chen was just the character to help them do it. Connor Prince was pretty okay, too.

The banter was spot-on, trademark CLo. They perfectly blended the tender moments and steam to allow me to root for Cizzy. Seeing Jess, Juno, and River again was delightful.

It was everything I needed it to be: Joy.

Absolute love these authors. Loved the story. Loved the characters. Loved the writing. I’ll read just about whatever they publish.

Another amazing lady scientists in history romance. Oh the longing! The pinning! The meddling, precocious daughters!

I’m so thankful there are companion books to look forward to.

I REALLY enjoyed this book! Fizzy was a funny and feisty MC, Connor was a perfect book boyfriend, the plot was creative and I loved the character and plot crossovers from THE SOULMATE EQUATION.

Such an adorable story. Okay, I’m a HUGE cLo fan and even more after hearing them speak recently. I did not love Soulmate Equation, but for me—this was the redemption.

Likes:
🌹 As a lifelong bachelor/ette fan-I adored the reality show aspect of this book. I do think some of the twists of the show were unrealistic but—we still loved it.
🌹 Fizzy is just a GEM of a human. She’s hilarious and has the story we never knew we needed.
🌹um, I think I adored the single dad trope??

Dislikes:
But this isn’t really a dislike… was the story earthshatteringly (it’s not a word but go with it) amazing? Nah, but it was a nice light hearted read and I did really enjoy the story.

Christina and Lauren do it again! The true love experiment was just what I was hoping for. It was fun and the characters pop, like the cover. Christina, Lauren is an automatic read for me and I would recommend the True Love Experiment.

Thank you NetGalley for my digital arc in exchange for my review.

The True Love Connection by Christina Lauren is the sequel to The Soulmate Equation and includes plot points about the DNA-Duo tech and we see River and Jessica as secondary characters to Felicity (Fizzy). Fizzy is a romance writer who is in a bit of a slump and agrees to be cast in a reality dating show where she is the Heroine and gets to date 8 Hero archetypes found in romance novels (The One that Got Away, Vampire, Bad Boy, etc). She hopes that this will kick start her creative juices. Instead, she falls head over heels with the executive producer Conner (DILF Hot Brit) who just wants to get this reality show over with so he can go back to filming and producing his beloved nature documentaries.

I didn't remember much about The Soulmate Equation, and I thought the first half of this book was really slow. Once we got to the filming of the reality show, things picked up for me and held my interest. I enjoyed Connor's character. I liked the mature way he and his ex co-parented their daughter. I didn't love Fizzy, though. I thought she was crude, vulgar, and it was just a bit too much for me. I also thought the spice level was a little too high for me, personally. I prefer more closed-door romances - but that is definitely a personal choice.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest thoughts.

dnf - the soulmate equation is by far my favorite christina lauren book so i was incredibly excited for this one. unfortunately it just didn’t hit like the first book. i didn’t feel any chemistry between the characters nor did i really care about the outcome of their relationship so for that i did not finish this book