This is, hands down, my favorite book by this amazing duo. What makes it even more amazing is that the idea for a “Fizzy book” was because of their reader’s love of the character they created. I’ve already recommend this book to friends - encouraging them to read “The Soulmate Equation” first. While you could just dive into it as a standalone, I think really understanding Fizzy’a arc within the context of her world with Jess makes this book that much sweeter. You can’t help but love her. I also really enjoyed how the book very intentionally but subtly champions this genre. I learned a lot about the rules of this type of book + it was nice be reminded that my intelligence level need not be questioned because a lot of the books I read feature bright, colorful covers with swooning couples. It’s bonkers to me reading about the questions these authors get asked at events that totally undermine the magic they create. I’m here for the predictable fireworks + flames. Bring on book No. 31!

Wow...this was SOOO excellent! Where to start? First, the concept was perfect for romance fans. It centers around Fizzy, a romance author, who is in dry spell. She's asked to be on a bachelorette type reality show by producer, Connor. He knows of Fizzy because his ex-wife is a big fan of her books. Fizzy needs to get her mojo back to write and while she isn't excited to do the show, she does eventually give Connor a list of "demands." Her must haves include casting hero archetypes. So, we have the bad boy, the one that got away, the hot nerd, the cinnamon roll, etc... I would LOVE to see a show like this. Truly, why hasn't this been done before???? Reading how Connor learns about heroes, how to cast them, and even appreciates romance books after reading Fizzy's is perfect.

Connor and Fizzy are terrific. Amazing chemistry, clever quick dialogue. So flirty and swoony! Oh Conner...you have my heart! I had happy tears in my eyes at midnight as I read the grand finale of this book. Don't waste a minute, you need this book in your life.

3.5 stars // Christina Lauren writes some of the most approachable books out there. They are so easy to pick up and read - always very fun and engaging. The chemistry between Fizzy and Connor is top notch and the reality show theme is super fun. The perfect little summer romance read.

Thanks to Netgalley for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely adore the books of Christina Lauren. The Soulmate Equation was a five star read for me so I was expecting to love the sequel as well. Unfortunately, that just wasn't the case for me.

I will say that I started this book right before I went on a girl's trip so most of the time I spent reading it, I was quite distracted. However, I think part of what pulled me away from the book is that I wasn't able to connect well with the characters or the storyline.

I did enjoy the humorous aspects of the novel. Fizzy was a funny narrator who gave us a lot of comedic relief,

I also liked the literary aspects of the novel. It's always fun when the main character is an author. I wish there had been more emphasis on this and less on the reality tv show.

Overall, I rated this one three stars. It was a very middle of the road book for me. Definitely not one that I would go out of my way to recommend to people, but it is also not one that I would tell people NOT to read.

Christina Lauren (writing duo) has outdone themselves. If you read The Soulmate Equation, best friend Fizzy was an absolute standout scene stealing character. Felicity “Fizzy” Chen is 37 and a very successful romance author. But after a failed relationship, she isn’t trusting her instincts and is in a writing slump. Connor Prince is a documentary filmmaker with a nine year old daughter. He is producing a new reality dating tv show and wants Fizzy for the star.

Fizzy reluctantly agrees but only after making Connor jump through some hoops and educating him on genre of romance. She also challenges him to find joy. The show premise is clever as Fizzy insists that her potential dates fall into romance lead categories like cinnamon roll, bad boy, and the one who got away. Fizzy's mouth is laugh out loud hilarious at times. The clever authors make fun of their own genre and also teach its importance at the same time.

There are so many things to love in this book. Connor isn’t a perfect hero but he is close. I love his choosing to be near to his daughter and his great relationship with his ex-wife. The world would be a better place if exes could co-parent like them. His relationship with Fizzy is based on friendship, lust and yearning. Fizzy evolves too. She isn’t the person who needs to date everyone anymore. She is ready for love. The ending is delightfully swoon worthy (and predictable) and I read slowly and carefully to enjoy every word.

Best friend Jess and husband River from TSE make appearances too. Jess is the perfect sounding board for Fizzy’s emotions and antics. I love being the fly on the wall during the conversations between these two friends. And River’s deadpan acceptance of Fizzy makes me laugh uncontrollably. Treat yourself. Put this on your list to read now. Maybe read Soulmate Equation, if you haven’t already, while you wait for the this May 2023 release. I think this is my favorite book from the authors.

Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

'm not typically a romance reader, but I do really enjoy Christina Lauren and loved the world and characters they created in The Soulmate Equation, so I was thrilled when I was given the opportunity to review an advanced readers copy of Fizzy's follow-up story. At the beginning of The True Love Experiment, Fizzy has lost her zest for life. She has writer's block, she's going through a dry spell with dating, and she just isn't the bubbly character we all came to know and Love in The Soulmate Equation.

Enter Connor Prince III...a documentary filmmaker and wonderful single father (who still has a sweet and platonic co-parenting relationship with his daughter's mother), and it's the perfect recipe for Christina Lauren's best book yet. Throw in a healthy dose of Jess, River and Juno, add in Fizzy's absolutely adorable family and sprinkle some romance writer/reader stereotype busting throughout, and you have my version of the perfect romance novel.

I also loved the reality television angle of this book. Because let's face it, whether we want to admit it or not, we all have some reality dating shows that we regularly binge. I appreciate that the authors came right out and validated that there is nothing "guilty" about these simple pleasures. I don't know if there is any angle that the authors could take to bring us more of the DNAduo crew, but I sure hope that they find a way because these characters have undoubtedly become some of my favorites.

Short synopsis: Follow up to The Soulmate Equation. Fizzy faces a devastating breakup, and learns she’s lost her Romance writing mojo. She is approached to star in a reality tv series using the science behind the DNA matchup, and true to Fizzy fashion, she writes her own rules.

My thoughts: After just finishing The Soulmate Equation I was so excited that I already had Fizzy’s story waiting for me! Thanks so much Gallery for the early e-book of this! I jumped right in the deep end feet first!

I expected a more steam in this than we saw in Soulmate, since the small glimpse we get of Fizzy gives us a great idea of her spontaneity and duh, she’s a romance writer.

I liked the story involving the reality dating show, loved the different troupes used for finding the men. I did like that the majority of the story was us seeing the fast fall between Connor and Fizzy, and us knowing it couldn’t happen due to contracts. The end was a little predictable but super sweet at the same time.

I loved spunky Stevie, of course she’d be besties with Juno, and the relationship Connor had with his daughter was so tender sweet.

And I really liked the extra time put in to teach us some Chinese wedding traditions. That added such a fun element to the story. Finally, the discussion about romance writer and reader stereotypes was done so well! Great job ChLo!

Read if you love:
* Cinnamon roll hero’s
* All the troupes
* Reality tv dating shows
* Spin off characters
* Romance books

Again, thank you so much to Gallery Books and Netgalley for the early copy of this book. Publication date is set for May 16, 2023.

Hot damn Christina Lauren has done it again!

This is the unputdownable, steamy, will they or won't they but without the waiting, summer read you have to add to your list.

First of all, Fizzy. Thanks to the Christina Lauren team for rethinking their choices and writing another book in this universe. Fizzy deserved it. Second of all Connor. CONNOR.

Look, the sexual tensions jumps off of the page in this book. Do yourself a favor and add this one to the top of your list.

Anything by dynamic duo Christina & Lauren is an automatic must read for me. I love how they are able to incorporate pop culture references into this book! Is it going to age well? Maybe not, but it makes a very entertaining and relevant read.

The Soulmate Equation was one of my favorite books so I was so excited to be hearing more on that world.

Fizzy and Connor had great tension and I was so excited to watch them fall and the tension between them.

This is what romance novels are supposed to be!

While it is a spin-off from an earlier book, this can be enjoyed as a standalone novel. It's a light, fun read with enjoyable characters and a cute premise.

Classic Christina Lauren, in the best way! Things got a little slow for me in the middle. but Connor and Fizzy's chemistry and banter more than made up for it. Fizzy's sense of humor was amazing — and just her overall personality. She is so loveble! I'm so glad we got a book devoted to just her! I'm also a sucker for Bachelor-esque show settings, which this also had. CLo fans will not be disappointed with their latest release, coming out May 16!

Christina Lauren always brings a solid story, with fun characters, just enough angst, and a good love story as it's basis. I enjoyed The True Love Experiment and can't wait for more!

"The True Love Experiment" is the latest novel by Christina Lauren (the pen name of writing duo Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings). Having loved all the other books written by this dynamic duo, I was so excited to receive the ARC of their newest novel! In "The True Love Experiment", author Felicity "Fizzy" Chen is experiencing writer's block. As a successful romance author, she is now in her late 30's and beginning to wonder if true love is even in the cards for her. No one interests her and she feels like her writing has lost its credibility as well. That's until she meets documentary producer Connor Prince, who is tasked with creating a reality dating show based on her. For the first time in ages, Fizzy feels attraction toward this man, and it grows day by day as she gets to know him. The attraction and interest isn't just one-sided, and sparks fly between the two. .Although Fizzy is supposed to be interested in the men on her dating show, what happens when she just can't take her eyes off the producer behind the scenes?

I really enjoyed this book! The slow burn was cute and fun, and the chemistry between the two was steamy. I also enjoyed the side characters that we've read about in other books. This was a really enjoyable book, and I highly recommend it. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

A MUST read for all romance fans and the perfect sequel to The Soulmate Equation.
I loved Fizzy's story so much, especially as a woman who loves romance. She is a strong character who was perfectly balanced by Connor and I really loved all of the Jess/River cameos. I’m not ashamed to admit that I cried a little at the end. This book is pure joy.

I'll definitely be getting a final copy when it's out!

Fizzy has been writing romance novels for years but has hit a bit of writers block as well as her sensuality drying up. Luckily, the producer of a new show starring Fizzy seems to have rekindled her desire. Unluckily, the show they’re producing is an elimination style dating show with Fizzy as “The Bachelorette”.

I was reading this thinking maybe I’m maturing out of the romance genre. But I’ve come to the conclusion that this is not a romance. This is essentially erotica. Both characters are just nasty to me. I had trouble rooting for their relationship because it was all about their attraction to each other’s bodies. Fizzy is super vulgar and best in small doses, not as the main character of a book. The “romance” was that he appreciated her vulgarity and was willing to fulfill all her deepest desires. Sorry but that’s not my cup of tea…

Lastly. I’m not sure if either author actually has kids, but I would never let my 11 year old watch a dating show with someone like Fizzy on it, spewing sexual innuendos and my friends all around making inappropriate remarks. Not to mention seeing Fizzy as any sort of role model. Fizzy is what happens when pleasure becomes your end all be all.

This is my second Christina Lauren that’s been a miss which is sad to me!

I really didn't think to expect a story for the best friend, but this was great and super enjoyable. The reality show premise was cute.

5 million stars
1.5 spicy

This might be my favorite Christina Lauren book to date. I loved Fizzy and Connor so much. Fizzy is a romance author who has a block she is approached by Connor, a producer for a production company who is being tasked with a dating reality show. He wants Fizzy to be the main heroine of the TV Show.
This book had me laughing so hard, swooning, and just so in awe of this couple. I loved how healthy Connor and his ex-wife's relationship is for their child. Highly recommend this book.

CW: mention of cheating in the past, sexual content

📺 Book Review 📺

Thanks to @gallerybooks and @netgalley for early access to this book in exchange for my honest review. True Love Equation is my new favorite @christinalauren and I need everyone to read it when it publishes on May 16, 2023.

✔️ Forced Proximity
✔️ Friends to Lovers (but like, the lustiest friends to lovers ever)
✔️ Reality Show Backdrop
✔️ Single Dad

I loved the main characters. Fizzy was so fun in Soulmate Equation and is even moreso here in her own book. She's still hilarious and authentically so (it didn't feel laugh-track funny, like some romcom characters can be). I both wanted to be her and be friends with her and she is my new answer to the question "Which book character would you want to have dinner with?" I would absolutely hang with Fizzy. I would compete on the Amazing Race with her.

And now Connor. I mean, I love a cinnamon roll and then add being a good dad on top of that?? I loved his restraint, trying to stay away from Fizzy because they have to work together, but he's so very conflicted about it and so very attracted her. He is a simmering pot with a lid on it and it's a treat to watch him fight his feelings.

The major conflict here is done so well - and argh I need all of you to read this so I don't have to be vague. But the last third of the book was perfection. The conflict made my heart hurt (I had a moment of oh no- is this it for them - even though my brain knew it's a romance with an HEA) so when I go to the swoon at the end, it felt like a rocket shooting to the sky. So good.

As a reality show watcher (and someone who works in media), the show in the book also felt super authentic. I loved the premise of the program, Fizzy's input into the contestants (her list had me squealing, flopping onto my back and kicking my legs in the air, it was so delightful.

TLDR: This was amazing, buy it, read it, love it, talk to me about it. 5⭐️

Steam 🔥🔥🔥
Banter 🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️
Swoon 💕💕💕💕💕

Yep. I’m a Christina Lauren die hard and this is my favorite. Sorry Jess and River, Josh and Hazel. Fizzy and Connor are IT. I’m down bad. This book was so good. I love a good romance novel with communication and transparency. I felt this book in my bones. They relayed every feeling so incredibly. This book will live in my brain for a while yet. Wow.

This is an enjoyable sequel to Jess & River’s story. Jess’s best friend Fizzy, a popular romance author, is in a writing slump. To try to get her groove back, Fizzy and agrees to go on a reality show… a reality show with an extremely handsome producer named Connor.

Christina & Lauren say in the intro that this is an homage to their favorite genre; and that shines through. There are lots of fun trope-y references, and Fizzy schools Connor about how romance is NOT easy to write. All in all, a lot of fun.