...."but why should I feel guilty for reading something that makes me feel happy?"

My new favorite CL book which is deemed a love letter to romance writers and readers. A fresh trope about a romance writer, Fizzy, looking for love and a documentary film maker out of his element as he creates a dating show based around her. The dual main characters are well developed and easy to root for. This book is for the lover of romance novels who expect the happy ending and aren't fazed by a smidge of predictability.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC

✨️ E-ARC Review ✨️

jokes on me requesting this ARC not realizing it's a follow-up to The Soulmate Equation (which I hadn't read yet 🤡)... but also jokes on me because I ADORED BOTH OF THESE BOOKS

Book: The True Love Experiment
By: Christina Lauren (icons)

GOOD THINGS CHECKLIST:

✔️ first of all.... Connor 👏 Prince 👏 the THIRD 👏 - divorced dad, tall, BRITISH, a literal angel of a man... I could not ask for more

✔️ reality TV (think Bachelor-esque) with a romance author as the lead

✔️ BUT IT'S FORBIDDEN ROMANCE 🥵

✔️ Fizzy is legitimately such a likeable FMC - she's bold, fun, quirky, and is on a mission to find her mojo (& get those pants feelings back 🤪)

✔️ if you're a 'grand gesture' lover, PLEASE just read this & you'll thank me later

I ABSOLUTELY LOVED THIS BOOK!! you *need* this book in your hands on May 16th if you're any kind of romance lover! 💓

thanks to @gallerybooks and @netgalley for this advanced e-book copy!

I loved this book. I was a big fan of the Soulmate Equation but I was not sure how I would feel about the True Love Experiment, especially given that I am not a dating show fan. However, I loved Fizzy in the first book and was interested in her journey. I was pleasantly surprised by this book. Christina Lauren didn’t take away who fizzy was in the first book, but rather enhanced it. I loved Fizzy because she was so unapologetically her in the first book. And despite the fact that Fizzy was the lead in a dating show I never felt like it fell under the dating show tropes I can’t hate (like the woman fawning over all these men for no other reason except because they are men on the show). I highly recommend reading this book if you loved Fizzy like I did, or if you want to read a book with a strong female heroine who is unapologetically who she is.

I love this author. These ladies know how to write a book. I will read anything they write. I was so happy to see this book's info. I loved soul mate equation and I am so glad we were not done with those characters yet, This is a perfect example of writing romance books for the modern time. They deal with real issues and have real reactions, (not the stereotypical canned responses that we often see when people do not want to truly react to something). This felt like the couple could be real. (Despite the outlandish plot line). This is a must read.

LOOOOOOVED reading Fizzy's story! I can't get over how incredibly good Christina Lauren are right now.. They have always written fun, sexy books, but their last three have been so phenomenal that I can't get over it. TRUE LOVE is beautiful. Fizzy is asked to go on a dating show because she is a bestselling romance novelist, though she has pretty much given up on love. Her journey is so so so good.

This is so cute! If you love a good rom-com, this will be perfect for you!

I didn’t realize this is a sort of second book to “The Soulmate Equation.” You don’t need to read these in order since they are pretty much a stand alone book. The book just has some continuation of characters. I would love to see how those characters got together.

The plot is super interesting. It’s not completely a new thought since it is a play on the Bachelor/Bachelorette, but the DNA testing along with the audience deciding on who Fizzy with be matched with us pretty fun.

The one thing that I wasn’t super keen on was the repetitive love/hate relationship and how constantly raunchy Fizzy was thought out the book kind of annoyed me. Don’t get me wrong, I still enjoyed the book, but this was just part of the reason the book wasn’t five stars.

Now I need to go read “The Soulmate Equation.”

Thanks NetGalley and publisher for the digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

I really enjoyed Christina Lauren's newest contemporary romance. It was delightful to see characters from The Soulmate Equation and I loved watching Fizzy and Connor fall for each other. Another sure to be hit from this fabulous author duo!

UGHHH THIS BOOK!!!!! If you loved The Unhoneymooners and The Soulmate Equation - you HAVE to read this book!

First off, I absolutely adore that these authors gave Fizzy her own story. I think we can all collectively agree that she was an amazing part of Soulmate. She's funny, direct, and has such a great personality. To be honest, I had no idea that this book was about her when I started reading it, seeing the name Christina Lauren made it an automatic request on NetGalley when I saw it was available. Once I realized the plot, I couldn't stop reading.

Then we get to meet Connor - this amazing and perfectly described MC that I quite literally could not get enough of. The chemistry that these authors managed to give these two characters was sizzling. I could not wait to get to the steamy parts - and they definitely didn't disappoint! I adored these two together and the writing was spectacular.

Unhoneymooners was my favorite of their books before this - but move that one out of the way because a new favorite is here! This book gave me all the emotions and I didn't want to set it down. Plus, it had such a unique storyline that I loved. Major bonus perks to the authors for Connor and Nat's relationship - I loved that it was such a good experience for their daughter and how they put her first. Dare I say we get Nat and Isau's story next???

Easily this book earned a 5-star review from me! I highly recommend that you pick it up when it gets released! These characters are amazing and this is a story you won't want to put down. I finished the last 70% of it in one day because I NEEDED to know how they ended up. If you haven't read The Soulmate Equation, you don't really need it to read this one - but it does give you great updates on Jess and River.

Big thanks to Christina Lauren, Gallery Books and NetGalley for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinions!

Ebook received for free through NetGalley.

Another awesome book. I read the soulmate equation and loved jumping back into the world and especially loved Fizzy and Connor. A great book that was hard to put down. Loved it.

I have been a dedicated Christina Lauren fan for years now so it comes as no surprise but woah I loved this. It's been a minute since I loved a book so much that I was reading it in the morning, on my lunch break and before bed. Connor and Fizzy were such a great couple who I rooted for and believed in. I don't love a third act break up but I think they handled it pretty well. I'm so excited for my friends to read this book!

Another 5 star book from Christina Lauren! I love their books, I'll read them all, and I always recommend them! Excellent in every way, shape, and form!

The True Love Experiment is best summed up by the authors themselves as "our love letter to romance and fandom and fangirls everywhere." The book has a million meta moments as romance author Felicity "Fizzy" Chen agrees to be on a reality dating show. Unfortunately, Fizzy has lost her lust, er, love for dating. Will this show help her get it back, or will newfound feelings for her sexy producer ruin the whole thing?

Fizzy is, hands down, the most charismatic MC I've ever read. She's funny, adventurous, and bold in and out of the bedroom. I'm not sure I've ever read a romance where the MC was so unabashedly promiscuous, and that honestly felt like real feminist progress. Her lines made me laugh out loud at times, and her presence jumped off the page even when making crude jokes. No, especially when.

Before she agrees to be on the show, Fizzy demands that each contestant represent a romance novel archetype, like Cinnamon Roll, Hot Nerd, or The One That Got Away. The whole book is such a funny, heartfelt nod to the genre, and it exudes joy. Romance is joyful, and that's why readers keep coming back for more. Fizzy reclaims her joy (spoiler alert) in an incredible HEA, and she gives the readers a heaping helping of fun along the way.

Here's my one complaint: does every love interest have to be 6'5", built like a truck, and hung like a horse? Yes? Ok, please ignore.

I give it 9/10 stars and recommend it to anyone who loves romance, joyful reads, or reality shows.

A big thanks to NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

I want to thank Netgalley and Gallery Books for my ARC in exchange for an honest review. I loved this book more than The Soulmate Equation. Frizzy and Conner were made to go together. I loved her brassiness and loved that he was the one who was putting on the breaks.

Scenes that I wish I had more of:

Stevie & Fizzy --> Something to the effect that Fizzy asks Stevie if she can date Conner
Fizzy & Nat --> Girls night dishing on all of Conner's good and bad traits. Let Jess be there too. Eating pizza and drinking wine.
More scenes of Conner with Fizzy's dad
Conner having dinner with Fizzy's parents (& siblings)
Conner at Fizzy's book events
More of Fizzy's dates as we approached the finale
Rory saying how she was able to capture all those BTS clips we saw in the finale episode.

Lingering questions:

Will Fizzy ever write "that book" that her mom expects her to write?
How will Fizzy incorporate her writing career with co-producing reality TV?
How soon before she has a kid of her own?
Will Issac get together with his high school girlfriend?
What exactly was the level of match between Conner and Fizzy?

Can there be a real TV reality show tie in with the heroes that were on True Love Experiment?

Is Issac going to have his own spin off book next?

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.