The True Love Experiment by Christina Lauren asks readers to look at the flaws in relationships with the characters of Fizzy and Connor and also the bravery in trying again despite your fears. Christina Lauren is a nom de plume of two friends who write together, Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings, who are New York Times bestselling authors.
The True Love Experiment by Christina Lauren is one of the most honest romance novels I have ever read for portraying the anxiety of romance. I truly loved both the main characters of The True Love Experiment because they were so vulnerable and flawed. Fizzy is a romance writer and her love interest,Connor, is the British t.v. producer who is tasked with creating a romance reality show to improve his company’s ratings. I think the beauty of Christina Lauren’s writing is that they give their heroes and heroines troubles that anyone can find relatable. These characters were relatable to me because I met my spouse on an online dating app. However, I didn’t meet him until much later in life compared to my friends. This was after probably a decade of on and off relationships and online dating experiences, the good, the bad and the ugly. Thus, I can relate to Fizzy’s laments as the oldest single person at her sibling’s wedding and her insecurities about trusting another person in a series of relationships. I liked the way Christina Lauren’s characters fall on their faces and make mistakes and then have to summon the courage to reveal their feelings and show persistence. As Fizzy says, “How are the heroines in my books so sure of themselves and the person they fall in love with? How does anyone really know what and who they want? It’s all such a risk. Who chooses to fling their heart out into the blackness of uncertainty, blindly hoping someone catches it?” I think persistence in love is not what you see in Hollywood movies, but this stalwart feeling is the key to a good relationship in my experience.

Oh my goodness. Another Christina Lauren novel that is AMAZING! I am obsessed with the writing style and the main character is someone you feel as if you know! Love the humor and romance. Must read!

- Reality TV dating
- Single dad MMC
- Friends to lovers
- Forbidden romance
- Romance novelist FMC

This book was exactly what I wanted! Slow burn, spice with chemistry/banter.

Fizzy is a romance novelist in a rut, when she meets Connor who is a documentarian forced to produce a dating show. Connor believes Fizzy is the best and only possible lead for his show. Their slow friendship into potentially more seems perfect… except for the fact that Connor’s role as producer is to set her up with another man who is her perfect dating match.

Fizzy is so lovable. She is strong, independent, smart and vulnerable!
Connor is the perfect swoony lead. Who can resist an accent :)

Would definitely recommend!

I loved this book so much!!!!! I love the spin off aspect from their last book- it’s perfectly woven together. The story line is so creative and unlike a lot in this genre, it felt fresh and original. It’s spicy and fun, definitely a slow burn but at the perfect pace. I could not put this down!!!

WOW! All I Have to say is that Christina Lauren have done it again!!! From start to finish this book was pure unadulterated joy. As the spinoff book for the Soulmate Equation, The True Love Experiment follows Jess' outspoken romance author bestie Fizzy as she is a standstill in both her professional and personal life. Enter Connor someone who Fizzy can't seem to figure out. A brooding documentary producer Connor and Fizzy team up for the reality show of a lifetime. I could not stop rooting for Connor and Fizzy! Their blooming friendship and their banter had me smiling from beginning to end. This is a true love letter to all romance readers. Christina Lauren perfectly captivate their audience and make us love their characters and their stories. The True Love Experiment felt like a warm hug; familiar, and cozy. This is my new favorite Christina Lauren Book!!!

*I received an ARC from netgalley*

this book was EVERYTHING!!! christina lauren never miss and this was just so unique. i loved every second of it. i can’t wait to share my love for this to everyone in may 🫶🏻

Oh my good this book was exceptionally good. I was so looking forward to reading Fizzy’s story but CLo blew it out of the park!

Fizzy is everything. I love her personality, her banter, her sexual freedom and the way she loves her people. Connor was the perfect match for her and reading them interacting on set and throughout the filming of the show had me grinning from ear to ear. Connor and Fizzy’s chemistry was unmatched.

I felt that this read a little more spicy than their releases in the past couple of years and it was delicious.

This story was so fun! There was so much love, angst, laughter and just overall great scenes. You’re not going to want to put this down.

A super sweet romance novel that was easy to read with all characters relatable and likable. Really funny, too! I laughed out loud at a couple of points. Definitely worth a read if you enjoy this genre!

I thought this book started out slow. It was hard to connect to the characters. I struggled to finish it but managed to read through at a snails pace.

This book started out a little slow. I didn’t realize it was a second in the series but I ended up adoring the characters. I was rooting for Connor and Fizzy all along.

Okay, so. I kept seeing this book described, amongst other things, as ~horny~

Initially, I thought, "Well, YEAH.. it's a romance book. Horny is kind of a given, right?" Now that I've read it, I have jumped on the bandwagon and would definitely describe the book as horny 😁 The sexual tension was strong throughout most of the book. As the readers, we feel the tension as if this couple were directly in front of us.

I loved Fizzy. Her sex positivity, her confidence, her humor, and the foward-ness she has with everyone. This character, romance author, is in a dry spell (sexually) and a slump (occupationally), and now has an opportunity to be on a reality show to find love. I was obsessed from the beginning.

Conner is a single dad and producer of said reality show. He is quickly infatuated by Fizzy, which is something in itself since he's also in a dry spell. He isn't as forward as Fizzy, but she really yanks him out of his shell. I loved his openness to learn and grow. Not only in regards to his love life, but his job, hobbies, career, and relationships.

Hot, British nice guy + forward, sexy romance author + a "forbidden" love = my heart screaming.

Both of the character's grand geastures had me kicking my feet and squealing. I adored this couple and the evolution of their relationship. Their chemistry was everything. There's so many moments in this book I truly adored. The small interactions and the big, I was hooked.

Content warning: mentioning of last infidelity

Thank you to NetGalley, Christina Lauren, and Gallery Books for an eARC.

I should’ve known from my failing to connect with the characters that this would be a miss for me, but there were so many amazing reviews that I pushed that thought aside. There were some parts that I liked, but overall, it was too cheesy for me and not liking the characters didn’t help.

How dare a character be as fun as Fizzy?! I love her so much. But then I remember who wrote the book and think to myself, of course. The ladies of Christina Lauren delivered on this one. I’m a fan of theirs, but sometimes I’m not overly enthused with their books. They can be hit or a little less hit with me. BUT NOT WITH THIS ONE. It’s sooooo good. From the characters, to the story, to the steamy sexy times. It’s got it all, including the HEA. Of course.

This is Christina Lauren at their best. Nobody writes swoon worthy characters like them. I fell in love instantly and stayed in love till the end. Another can't miss read for sure.

i have read a LOT of christina lauren novels and am going through the daunting task of trying to read every single one of them--so that's to say i really love them and their work and i think this is their best one yet. and I've read sweet filthy boy ok. i LOVED LOVED LOVED THIS ONE in their prologue they said this was a love letter to the genre and while it was a phenomenal romacne, it felt like a love letter too. the way that connor goes through his own journey with understanding romance and fizzy is so unashamed about who she is and her love for the genre made me cry!!! i loved fizzy and i wish i would read a milllliionnn more books with her and watching her be the best auntie in the world and fizzy was soooo right for connor's nicknames like ya she had him pegged when she said hot dilf. UGH the YEARNING in this the KATE SHARMA ANTHONY BRIDGERTON TOUCH!!! this is absolutely wonderful and i love love loved it they continue to prove they're the absolute head of the rom com game and know exactly how to write the perfect HEA!

Christina Lauren once again executes another amazing book!!
I read this in one sitting and cried more times than I can admit LOL. Dual-POV romance, and friends-to-lovers.
Fizzy and Conner's love was sweet and sexy sure, but it was also so relatable. This book is a sequel so heads up on that! From start to finish this book was captivating in the best of ways and I feel so honored to have had a chance to read it!

The Soulmate Equation is one of my all-time favorite romances, so the bar was high, but this was everything I hoped it would be and more. I read this in one sitting and cried not once, not twice, but THRICE. For anyone who likes dual-POV romance, sex positivity, single parents, pining and banter, and that unique level of adoration that you can only find in friends-to-lovers, this is your book. I love the nods to tropes, fandoms, and ships, and I love entering the world (and head) of a romance writer. I don’t think I would have appreciated this quite as much if I hadn’t read The Soulmate Equation first and fallen in love with Fizzy’s character in it, so I highly recommend reading them in order.

The entire reality show concept was an absolute gem — the concept, the interactions, the contestants, the FINAL CONFESSIONAL. I wish it were real! I loved the various relationships present in this book, from Fizzy’s and Jess’s perpetually heartwarming friendship to Connor’s relationship with his ex-wife Nat to the adorable Heroes and their genuine interest in Fizzy’s happiness.

Mostly, I loved that these characters were messy in the best ways. They didn’t always respond in ways you’d hope, but I love that when conflicts arrived, there were never immediate apologies or resolutions or backtracking like in so many romance novels. Instead, the characters had to both sit with their hurts and grow from them, and I found that incredibly refreshing.

I did find the “finding joy” bit before show filming began to be a bit hokey, and Connor did not feel especially British, but the most minor of complaints for what was a fun, occasionally spicy warm hug of a romance.

Endless thanks to Gallery Books & NetGalley for an ARC.

Hands down, this is my favorite Christina Lauren book. I didn’t know that I could like a sequel to The Soulmate Equation as much as I did (tough act to follow!), but they nailed it. The characters were strong, lovable, funny, and I’m sad to see this one come to a close.

I loved that the first book’s secondary character got her chance to be in the light, while the Soulmate Equation characters still found their place in this book. Somehow Christina Lauren just gets better and better- I’d love to know more about how they co-write these stories together. However they do it, it’s amazing.

Thank you to the publisher for my gifted copy!

This book was not good. The main character’s name being Fizzy was annoying and not cute. Talking about a hot man making her vagina clench was a gross description. There are so many better ways to describe the attractiveness of a person.

Fizzy is a popular romance author but isn’t feeling the romance lately. When she joins a dating reality show, she becomes close with the producer, Connor.

I read this book because I thought the reality tv aspect was fun, and it certainly was! I would have liked even more scenes on that. The characters were all well developed and I got a kick out of Fizzy. She was just so much fun and hilarious to read! The romance was definitely there and the ending had me, a non-romancer, swooning.

“This is more than just urges and instinct; it’s connection and longing uncorked.”

The True Love Experiment comes out 5/16.