I was one of the first people to read and review her first book, her second has been just the same level of amazing. Red String Theory by Lauren Kung Jessen is a captivating and thought-provoking exploration of love, destiny, and the invisible connections that shape our lives. The novel follows two characters whose lives intertwine through the concept of the "red string of fate," a symbolic thread that binds soulmates. Jessen weaves a beautiful narrative that challenges the idea of love at first sight while delving into the complexities of relationships, choice, and self-discovery. With poignant moments, lush prose, and an exploration of both the magical and realistic aspects of love, Red String Theory is a deeply reflective, enchanting read that stays with you long after.

I don't read romance much but Lauren Kung Jessen is becoming a favorite quickly. I love the realistic characters she creates A LOT. Very much liked the Art and Science angles here.

A wonderful story!! I ended up listening to the audio book and thought the narration was fantastic and really helped to draw out the emotional elements of the story, as well as the humour.

This was my first book by Lauren Kung Jessen and will definitely not be my last!!!

Another winner from @laurenkjessen 🫶🏻 The fact that I finished reading this during my move back to LA…FATE 😜 At first glance Rooney and Jack are opposites, even their take on fate couldn’t be more different, but if you look a little closer we start to see they have more connections than expected. I loved the different adventures/fate tests they embark on and how their red string keeps them finding their way back to each other. This book also made me really crave some ice cream! Can’t wait for Lauren’s next book 🙌🏻

This was a great opposites attract story with a cultural spin! I love the Asian representation of this book

The characters spent so much time apart initially it was difficult to read this or stay invested in it as a romance.

Jessen's "Red String Theory" is a delightful blend of romance and magical realism. The premise of soulmates connected by a red string is both enchanting and intriguing, drawing the reader into a world where love defies logic. The prose is lyrical and evocative, painting vivid pictures of the characters' inner lives.

Although some secondary characters could have benefited from further development, the central love story is beautifully crafted. The ending is a testament to the enduring power of love, even in the face of adversity, leaving the reader with a warm glow and a renewed belief in destiny. Thanks to Netgalley, Lauren Kung Jessen and the publisher for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Forever, Grand Central Publishing, and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own!

A chance encounter finds dreamy artist Rooney and straight-laced scientist Jack on the same path and after spending a romantic night together, they think that memory is all they have. However, Rooney ends up being selected as the artist in residence at NASA for her annoymous work as Red String Girl and Jack just so happens to be the artist liason. The two work side by side and try to decide if their paths reconverging is science based by choice or a twist of fate.

I thought this was cute! I did enjoy the opposites attract nature of Rooney and Jack. However, I found myself getting bored and skimming at times. I almost think the NASA/science aspects of this book got too bogged down for me and I found myself spacing out. I do subscribe to the red string of fate theory though so maybe that's why I struggled with the opposite end of the spectrum in terms of belief. I also found this to be a bit too slow burn for me and I couldn't really wrap my head around the subplot of her mom and the Baby Being Born video.

I did appreciate the Asian American representation and I look forward to checking out Lauren's other books. I love that she seems to be really inspired by Chinese culture and I enjoyed the art aspect connecting with the red string of fate! This was a fun book nonetheless but I'm not sure how memorable it'll be after a bit.

So many good things in this one - closed door, communication!!!! Realistic reasons for being apart and that all balanced with a great meet cute, separation and reuniting. This was great and I loved the Chinese legend woven through (ha is that a string joke?) This was a great read!

This book was good, but I think there was just a bit too much NASA talk. I did end up skimming some parts because I wasn't interested in the extreme detail of it.

I loved the invisible string, fated love vibes however. That part was very fun, and very well done!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC! This was my first read by Lauren Kung Jessen and I really enjoyed it! I always love reading romances with Asian protagonists as an Asian reader myself, and I really loved how Rooney's beliefs were tied into the plot. The two main characters were cute and I enjoyed watching them interact. If you're a hopeless romantic, I would definitely recommend! Even if you're not (I wouldn't consider myself one), it's a nice read.

Was so excited to read Jessen's sophomore novel! And it did not disappoint!
I like that we continue to explore traditional vs modern in RST, like how LL did!
It was so charming and romantic with messages of self confidence and openness. I also really appreciated the Chinese-American culture woven throughout the book. It was a fun journey following Rooney and Jack! It’s sweet and just a bit adorable.

Was so happy to see the cameo from our Lunar Love Friends too!!!!

Blurb
This charming fated-love rom-com about two star-crossed lovers will appeal to readers of Helen Hoang, Jasmine Guillory, and Sarah Adams.
Just a date . . . or a twist of fate?
When it comes to love and art, Rooney Gao believes in signs. Most of all, she believes in the Chinese legend that everyone is tied to their one true love by the red string of fate. And that belief has inspired her career as an artist, as well as the large art installations she makes with ( obviously ) red string. That is until artist’s block strikes and Rooney begins to question everything. But then fate leads her to the perfect guy . . . Jack Liu is perfect. He’s absurdly smart, successful, handsome, and after one enchanting New York night—under icy February skies and fueled by fried dumplings—all signs point to destiny. Only Jack doesn’t believe. And after their magical date, it looks like they might be lost to each other forever . . . until they’re given one more chance to reconnect. But can Rooney convince a reluctant skeptic to take a leap of fate?

Review
It was overall a cute story. I went back and forth from reading it on my kindle and listening to the audiobook. I did enjoy listening to the audiobook a little more than physically. They have two narrators and use both voices for conversations which was nice to listen to. It also had a few sound effects which was cool. I loved reading about the back drop of New York, art, Chinese American culture, dumplings, and ice cream.

cw- achievement to get parents to recognize/love a kid, single parent


Thank you to netgalley, Lauren Kung Jessen, and Forever for this wonderful arc in exchange for my honest review.

"And what is gravity but an invisible force pulling objects—oceans to the moon, you to the sidewalk, stringmates to stringmates—closer together."

On a fated night in New York City, Rooney meets Jack, and they click instantly. Rooney, an artist who anonymously goes by Red String Girl, believes in fate and the idea that each person is destined for someone else—a stringmate. Jack, an engineer for NASA, seems to have trouble coming to terms with the idea of faith and, instead, sides with science. Despite their differences in beliefs, they explore the city together, learning more about each other's experiences and families, and creating their own version and understanding of Red String Theory.

I was so thrilled about this eARC because of all the positive reviews I've seen about Lunar Love. Rooney and Jack were both loveable, and I think Lauren Kung Jessen created such a wholesome romance between them ❤️ Their story reminded me so much of Serendipity, and I was so giddy in finding out that it also happened to be Rooney's fave film 🥰 I liked the friendship turned love that blossomed between them, and really enjoyed their debates about fate, science, and love. I do wish there were more fluffy moments because I simply adored the two characters, but I understand the need to focus on other themes, such as family, identity, and the Asian-American experience.

This book overall was such a treat, and I can't wait to read Lunar Love (which I have waiting for me on my ereader) and more books by Lauren Kung Jessen in the future.

I love Lauren Kung Jessen - she is quickly becoming a new favorite author! I loved the Chinese-American main characters and the theme of "fate" throughout the book. This is a sweet rom-com to add to your summer TBR!

A feel good romcom with Chinese-American MCs you can’t help but fall in Love with.
Things I love
Fate vs science
Lovable characters
Opposites attract
Second chance romance
Made me cry
Such a sweet read

This one is reminiscent of Serendipity and Before Sunrise. Two individuals meet and have an amazing time with each other. Despite sharing their numbers, things go believably awry and they are unable to contact each other, never seeing each other until a project unexpectedly brings them together.

The idea of fate and being tied to one person is a romantic notion I loved a lot when I was younger. (I'm still a hopeless romantic but I'm also more cynical now.) It was cute to see a romance play out between Rooney and Jack, who are opposites. She says fate and he says coincidences. I was rooting for them.

While Rooney is falling in love, she is also busy trying to create a name for herself. I was sympathetic to her self-confidence struggles while trying to define herself as an artist separate from her mother, who is a famous artist. It allowed me to connect with Rooney as an individual character beyond just the romance.

Fans of Lunar Love and those who enjoy books where opposites attract may like Red String Theory. (3.5 stars rounded to 4 stars)

This was a cute rom com about a couple that hits it off when they first meet. They don’t end up finding each other again until a year later. Rooney is an artist that believes in fate. Jack isn’t quite sure he believes. This was cute but I didn’t quite feel enough chemistry between the characters. Lunar Love is still my favorite by this author. I will continue to read her books.

Thank you NetGalley and Forever publishing for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

As hard as it was for me to connect fully with the characters, I loved this novel. I adore the Red String Theory and this was a beautiful way to tell the story of it.

This was cute and cozy, but nothing special. Not memorable. That's all I really have to say about this book.