I am...obsessed. Christina Lauren is always a hit, but they put a little something extra in this book. Equal parts steamy and full of depth, THE TRUE LOVE EXPERIMENT is a new favorite of mine from this classic author duo.

I skipped Something Wilder based on the reviews so I was hesitant to pick up The True Love Experiment. Glad I decided to do it because this was a DELIGHT! I loved the premise. I love the hero reality show- NETFLIX GET ON IT and hire CLo as consultants.

I would certainly recommend this book. It is book 2 ish from The Soulmate Equation but it can be read as a standalone.

I loved this outing from Christina Lauren! It was fun and fizzy (no pun intended) and easy to read -- Fizzy and Connor popped off the page and I couldn't get enough of it. The ending was a tad predictable, but I was enjoying myself enough that I didn't really mind.

I miss their old series, which I get they left behind for more tension filled stories rather than spice, but I can't help but compare these books to their old ones.

This was my first Christina Lauren book, and I get the hype! This was smart, romantic, and generally well-written -- a fun and light romance that I enjoyed via audiobook over the course of my morning commutes this past week.

The True Love Experiment is the story of what would happen if a famous romance author were cast on a dating reality show (a la The Bachelor) but ended up falling for the show's producer in the process.

Felicity "Fizzy" Chen is a romance author who feels a little stuck in her life. Connor Prince wants to make documentaries, but he also has to make money -- so he begrudgingly takes on a reality TV show project with a clear vision: cast Fizzy Chen as the lead to pull in her existing readership, which has significant overlap with the show's desired demographic.

Fizzy agrees, and The True Love Experiment is born: a reality show where Fizzy is matched with suitors via a DNA matching program, and the audience gets to vote on which men to kick off each week. Fizzy's contribution to the show is requiring that all of the men fit into romance tropes ("The Bad Boy," "The Vampire" (!), and "The One That Got Away"), which I thought was super cute.

Very early on, though, it is clear that the real chemistry here is between Fizzy and Connor. They both feel it and name it, and spend most of the book fighting it against the backdrop of Fizzy's many televised dates with her suitors. As it becomes clearer what both Fizzy and Connor want, they must figure out if what they feel is real and worth fighting for...and if they are ready to lay it all on the line.

I enjoyed this book, if nothing else than for the romance trope characters on Fizzy's dating show. As a die-hard Bachelor fan, I love the campiness of completely leaning in to the tropes and making caricatures out of the contestants. It fit so well with Fizzy's career as a romance novelist and would probably only work for that one season of the show, but I was here for it.

I was also here for how quickly the sexual chemistry entered the story. This is not a book where the characters realize 70% in to the story that they want to sleep together. But it is a book where they have to untangle sexual attraction from long-term relationship potential and learn to get out of their own ways a bit.

So why didn't I LOOOOVE this one? Why not five stars? Well, that's hard to answer. Sure, it's a solid story, but I really didn't jive with Fizzy as a main character. I found her impulsive and immature, and horny in a weird way that I couldn't relate to. Also, some of the third act breakup conflict was a but exhausting and filled with red flags that make me wonder if this love will really last beyond the final pages of the story. Like, sure, these two were reaaaaaaally hot for each other but, like, what will their love be like when it's a more mundane day-to-day life kind of situation? I'm not sold.

I bought the spice, but not the love.

All in all this was a fun read and I'm glad I finally read a Christina Lauren novel. I see why others love them so much. I don't know that I will be compelled to read more, but I'm not disappointed in the time spent here. It was a good time.

Y'all, I can't lie, this book WRECKED me. In the best and worst ways. The yearning!!

Anyway, it's unsurprising that Christina Lauren wrote another wonderful, heart-wrenching romance, but I think they're at their best in this world of the DNADuo. The characters are so rich and fun and heartening. This one had so many reflections on the romance genre (I mean, obviously, a romance writer as the FMC is going to lead to so much meta-commentary) and that is a hard line to walk but I think they did it beautifully. The theme throughout the first half in particular of seeking joy and reconnecting to your own self & drive spoke to my overly-hopeless-romantic depressed self like nothing else. I was emotionally hooked from the very beginning.

And dear god the connection between these two characters! I'm still a little teary thinking about some of the closing moments, the big HEA of it all. The romance and connection was built beautifully and long before the two get their HEA, you can see how brilliantly they will build a life together. That said, the ending was achingly sudden for me. The big reveal, grand-gesture moment was perfect, and well set up so that the readers sees it coming, but still excellently done. But then it was over! Barely an epilogue or look in at the after! With all of the potential future easter-eggs dropped throughout the book (SPOILER: their love of kids! maybe wanting kids together! their friends! oh god the dinner parties I would love to be a fly on the wall for...), I was so ready for a nice, rich look at the play out of their HEA (and honestly maybe some more smut cause come on) and it left me feeling almost bereft after such an emotional roller coaster of a book. That said, it was a truly beautiful ride

Just perfect. Devoured the book. It was just what I needed to read right now. Definitely read as a sequel to the Soulmate Equation, and you don't have to be a fan of realty tv or dating shows. The premise is great- a realty dating show where the "Heroes" are all based on romance tropes. I do wish the authors leaned in a bit more on that, since I think it would have been hysterical. Fizzy's highly vocal and mildly crude sex-positivity might be a detraction for some readers.

I have read some really good books by Christina Lauren, and this was not one of them. I read about 75% and finally decided that I couldn't handle it anymore. After reading that much of a book and just not caring how it ended doesn't speak highly of it.

As soon as I saw a new Christina Lauren book available, I immediately snatched it up. I know it will be good. They’ve got the formula down for swoon-worthy characters, creative plots, witty banter, humorous scenarios, great backstories. Add in plot crossover from the Soulmate Equation and I was hooked.

So happy Fizzy got her own book, although I never envisioned her being the star of a reality TV show! I am glad Christina Lauren decided to give this delightful character from The Soulmate Equation the spotlight in this novel and have been recommending it to my library patrons.

Such a refreshing and enjoyable romance, with a fascinating premise to boot. Felicity Chen is a successful romance author who has not had as much luck with her own love life. When approached by a producer to star in a reality dating show, she decides to push her luck and make it into a real-life romance novel. There have been quite a few books written lately about reality TV dating shows, but there are quite a few things that make The True Love Experiment unique. Fizzy is a 37-year-old Asian woman who is confident and assertive, but also endearing and relatable. The drama in the book is not propelled by miscommunication but rather by unfortunate timing and work commitments. Connor's daughter and Fizzy's niece also add a youthful spin to the narrative, without succumbing to the insufferable tween trope.

The clever banter and sizzling chemistry between Connor and Fizzy is what makes this book stand out from the pack. The sexual tension is palpable and there are just enough steamy scenes to keep me hooked and wanting more. The story is not contrived or cheesy, and the struggles they encounter are completely realistic. Even though I knew how the story would end (happily ever after), I was so curious as to the journey we would take to get there.

I absolutely adored this book! I think Fizzy + Connor were the cutest couple! reality tv is my guilty pleasure so I LOVED the show aspect! Another great one from Christina Lauren!

I loved both Fizzy and Connor in this book. The spice was perfectly proportioned with the rest of the story. My only complaint was I would have liked for there to have been a bit more time and detail spent on the actual dating show. It seemed that part of the book was glossed over quite a bit. Otherwise, another winner from Christina Lauren!

Fizzy is a romance author experiencing writers block, and is looking for a new adventure to get her writing again. Connor is a filmmaker being forced to film a new reality dating tv show, the True Love Experiment, starring none other than Fizzy. As Fizzy and Connor work together on the show they start to develop feelings for each other. The only thing stopping them from being together is the dating show, and Connor’s job on the line the stakes are high, so they must keep their feelings for each other a secret. Will the True Love Experiment help Fizzy find her soulmate?

I really enjoyed this book and how Fizzy and Connor’s relationship developed. Christina and Lauren are great authors and I have enjoyed many of their books! Highly recommended this book!

Fizzy was the best part of the The Soulmate Equation. She is such a different MC for the amazing duo Christina and Lauren and I loved her! Connor the male MC was such a refreshing character as a male lead. He is a single dad and there is a lot described about his and his daughter's relationship. He also has a healthy relationship with his daughter's mother and it was nice to watch a family making things work and still doing all the things families do. All while being a romance novel!

The two MC have such great witty banter (no surprise there thanks to Christina and Lauren) that I was rooting for them from the start! Their chemistry is off the charts which is no surprise that by the end they give in to their ill fated attempts of staying apart.

For a lover of these two authors this book hits the mark once again. GO!

I love Fizzy and Conner! I could not put this book down, it was so good. This would be a reality show I would actually watch. I need to read the other book Fizzy was in now.

Loved, loved loved. Christina Lauren is a can't miss author for me, and this one hit the mark just like all of her others. I loved the reality romance tv show aspect, it was so much fun. And Connor and Fizzy were perfection!

Another hit from the bestselling Duo! This couple had me grinning from ear to ear the whole time! I've never read a book with the dating show trope so this was a great introduction for that! This book was happy, fun, vibrant! Everyone needs to read this book. ESPECIALLY if one is looking for a feel-good book that is hotter than you would expect & you won't be able to put down!!

Christina Lauren always manages to create and angsty perfect romance. It never fails to combine stress, tears, but also feet kicking and giggling for a story about fictional charcaters. If your looking for the perfect summer read the true love expiremnt is exactly what we need!
Thank you NetGalley

I absolutely loved this book! I love the characters and I love that it’s a sequel from the book that came out last year. In my eyes Christina Lauren does no wrong and their books are top notch reads I look forward to.