Thanks to Forever for the copy of this book!

Lauren Kung Jessen has a way of writing the sweetest relationships. Rooney and Jack are very different, but their puns, spirit of adventure, and love of learning and discussing make them work so well together. The dichotomies in this book were fantastic - feeling versus fact, science versus art - and they really made the story special. I love how Lauren made the opposites come together and overlap to create a unique narrative about fate. This story is a slower-paced romance, and I suggest taking your time and absorbing all of the wisdom woven into this book.

huge thank you to the publisher for both the arc and gifted copy of red string theory!

this was such a cute, fun romance focused on finding your soulmate through the lens of chinese folklore—the red strings of fate. rooney is an undercover artist known as red string girl, who’s trying to break free of her famous artist mother’s shadow & reclaim her identity. jack is a systems engineer at nasa who is highly logical; he is a strong proponent of choice. when these two collide one fateful night in new york, they’re both left wondering why their paths have crossed.

i enjoyed red string theory for its deep look into cultural identity, fate vs. choice, & familial relationships. rooney & jack are such opposites in both their philosophies & upbringings, but their core trauma is essentially the same. i loved the scenes with jack & his gong gong, & rooney & her mom—bridging the generational gaps is definitely in from now on 😤 also, seeing them both take deeper looks into themselves in efforts to heal before committing to each other was what made this book for me!

read this is you like:
📌 serendipity
📌 biracial representation
📌 🌶️-less romance
📌 banksy
📌 space nerds

I really had to slow down my reading on this book to make it last it was so perfect. I barely have any notes. First, I really enjoyed getting to explore Chinese customs and holidays through Lauren’s books. Added bonus of space and NASA in this one.
Rooney and Jack were everything. A most important component of a romance book to me is being able to feel the couple falling in love, and I absolutely could in this one. I was rooting for them so hard from the beginning. The dreaded third act breakup was even logical and necessary. Truly, no notes, it’s going to be hard for this book to be topped.

📚 #BOOKREVIEW 📚
Red String Theory by Lauren Kung Jessen
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / Pages: 352 / Genre: RomCom

Rooney Gao is a creative artist and free spirit who believes in the Chinese legend that true soulmates are tied together by the red string of fate. Jack Liu is a smart, sensible systems engineer for NASA, who believes in facts, figures, and by-the-book testing. But on one magical night in NYC, was it fate or coincidence that brought them together?

I absolutely loved how these two met. Their special first night in NYC was so fun and magical. And I enjoyed the slow burn of their budding relationship as you get to really know these characters. But toward the end—all the non-stop dialogue about their feelings and why they work and don’t work got a bit repetitive for me. Other than that though, I really enjoyed this romcom.

Thank you @NetGalley, @ReadForeverPub, and @LaurenKJessen for the advanced copy of this book.

My heart. My whole heart. This is an instant favorite. I loved the philosophical banter between Jack & Rooney as opposites - engineer vs. artist, predictability vs. adventure, plans vs. fate, and yet how they complimented each other so well. I think it's possible to believe in signs and also want to have control in life, so it was easy to relate to both characters and their dispositions. For a closed door book, I felt intense sparks between these characters as their chemistry was out of this world, pun intended. Plus, Jack rescues a cat named Sprinkles and makes his own ice cream -- swoon.

If you enjoy Serendipity, Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist, or just believe in signs like seeing 11:11, I really think you'll enjoy Red String Theory. Thank you Netgalley & Forever for the ARC.

This book was not only beautifully written, but the characters made me want to chase after my own lantern. I never heard of the Red Thread of Fate before, and the concept of fate (or coincidence - depending what you believe) warmed my heart and at times, made me both happy and sad!

HIGHLY recommend!

Lauren’s last book, Lunar Love, was one of my favorite ARCs from 2023, so obviously I was incredibly stoked to get to review its follow-up for 2024! (loved that we get a little peek back at Liv & Bennett!!) This def isn’t a spicy read per my usual MO, but I was more than okay with that since we get that slowwwww burn between Rooney and Jack, starting between their one-night past to their working partnership months later. The ins-and-outs of fate and coincidence has always interested me, so the subject matter was just beyond captivating. It’s always such a thrill seeing culture that I grew up with in written word, especially in something happy-go-lucky and not education-based haha. I really enjoyed Red String of Fate ❤️

Red String Theory is about an artist who infuses the Chinese mythology of the red string of fate into her art and uses it as a way to interpret her world and her life. Rooney and Jack's story was so adorable and I loved all the instances where their lives overlapped and entangled

This is a book that mixes science and magic. It was a good contemporary romance that asked the age-old question of is it fate or is it just a coincidence?

The book was a little slow for my taste, but I always enjoy reading about the Chinese American culture.

I was given an ARC by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, all words are my own.

3.5 stars, rounded up. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. This was sweet and blended art and science in a very lovely way. The heroine, Rooney, is an artist who focuses on large public installations made of string. She meets the hero Jack on one magical night in New York City, but a phone number mixup means they’ve lost their chance at love.

Until five months later, fate brings them back together again. Jack is a NASA scientist who’s trying to raise his social profile at the office, so signs up to lead their artist-in-residence program. Rooney is the artist selected, and as much as they try to keep things professional at first, we all know how that goes. This was very low steam, kisses only.

I liked the characters of Rooney and Jack a lot, and they had good chemistry that was a mix of compatibility and magic. The book also asked interesting questions about fate and whether there’s truly one right person for all of us.

Where the book fell a little short for me were some of the plot elements, they were so far-fetched as to be distracting. Rooney is trying to raise money to buy back a video of her own birth, which her mom sold as art. And the denouement art installation that gives her a big break seemed implausible, both in scope and the perceived impact.

Overall though, an enjoyable read!

Overview: Rooney, an artist based in NYC who creates artwork under the guise of Red String Girl, encounters a visiting NASA engineer named Jack multiple times within the same day. They end up spending a memorable night together touring the city, only to lose touch unintentionally…until Red String Girl is selected to be NASA’s artist-in-residence in LA. Who will she be working with? Jack.

Thoughts: Is your life pre-determined or is it the result of one’s own choices? As a former New Yorker who misses all the amazing food there, I believe it was pre-determined that I would love this book! Based on Lunar Love, I had a feeling I would like Kung Jessen’s next book, and was not disappointed to see that she has once again introduced well-developed characters who bond over food and Asian culture (and even includes a special cameo!).
What I didn’t expect was a thought-provoking romance with philosophical discussions between Rooney, a free-spirit who believes in fate, and Jack, a self-professed control freak who argues that choice is what guides one’s life. The “opposites attract” trope is well-executed here, as I loved how their personalities complemented each other. My only complaint is that I would have loved to see them become a couple earlier in the book!!

Take-home message: Red String Theory is a cute gem with a unique premise that will make you ponder what role fate has played in your own life. This clean slow burn romance features mixed race Chinese-American leads who find themselves drawn to each other despite their opposite personalities and backgrounds.

Thanks to NetGalley and Forever for this digital ARC!

In Brief
In her sophomore novel, Jessen brings mixed race Chinese American characters back to the forefront, exploring the Chinese culture on American soil, particularly the idea of the red thread of fate that forever links lovers from lifetime to lifetime. Rooney is an artist living in NYC who loves the idea of the red thread of fate so much that she makes art with red string. Jack is a JPL scientist who is practical and scientific in every aspect of his life, finding mundane explanations for everything. Despite their differences, they’re continually drawn to each other, enjoying a night of adventure in NYC before being separated. Fate has plans for them, unexpectedly tossing them back together in LA, but with a twist. Now back in the same city, their circumstances are a little different and daylight throws a bucket of cold water on what they could have had. Still, they’re drawn together, even if their different stances on the red thread of fate might threaten to keep them apart. Red String Theory is a sweet romance that leans into the idea of lovers finding each other in life after life, but Rooney and Jack strike a perfect balance between keeping the old world idea and bringing in a more American way of looking at love, echoing the perfect balance this story strikes between it’s mixed race Chinese American characters and a way of life that blends Chinese tradition and American sentiments.

Extended Thoughts
One of the things I loved most about Lunar Love, Jessen’s first novel, was that it features mixed race Chinese American characters. The other thing I loved was that it was set in and around LA. Red String Theory, despite starting and ending in NYC, featured both of the things I loved from the author’s first book. While I’m not mixed race Chinese American, I grew up thinking I may as well have been. Despite my best efforts at reading books with more traditional Chinese American characters, I just could never identify with them. The characters in Lunar Love and Red String Theory, though, have been a completely different story. I love these books because, for the first time, I find myself reading characters I could completely identify with.

Red String Theory is a sweet romance that pairs a very artistic Rooney, who also happens to be the daughter of a famous artist, with very scientific and practical JPL scientist Jack. They’re complete opposites, but of course they worked perfectly well. They meet by chance at the end of the Chinese New Year celebration, during the Lantern Festival, thanks to printing mishaps. Fate continues to throw them together, going as far as having them release a lantern together during a massive party and then, later on, having an incredible night of adventures even though they differed on their belief in, or lack of, the red thread of fate. But, after that one wonderful night, a mishap with a phone number separates them. Fate, though, has other plans, bringing them together in LA when Rooney becomes JPL’s artist in residence, with Jack acting as her liaison. No matter how drawn they are to each other, though, they now have a working relationship and their differences might now be too great.

I adored Rooney and Jack. Rooney felt like the quintessential artist, creative with a bit more of a free spirit than normal. She was a ton of fun, but also had a serious streak to her. Life was clearly very interesting for her as the daughter of a famous artist, but I loved her unerring belief in the red thread of fate. She loves it so much that her art is comprised entirely of using red thread. I loved how she really leaned so hard into it and her heritage, and it was so sweet reading about her and her Americanized mother learn more about their culture together. Jack felt more stereotypically Asian to me with parents he can never seemingly please no matter how hard he tries. He’s Rooney’s exact opposite: practical to a fault with an explanation for everything. It makes sense, though, because he’s a scientist who takes his science extremely seriously. Unfortunately, it leads him to not having much of a life, so I really enjoyed his journey. It was wonderful to watch him grow, even if it was because he was chasing a promotion. They both have interesting relationships with their parents, but also have people in their lives who care about them. Rooney’s best friend and Jack’s grandfather were fantastic, and I really enjoyed spending time with Jack’s co-workers. It was a lot of fun seeing Jack open up and get to know them.

Their romance was very sweet, but also a little prickly at times. It was so much fun watching them together. I never really felt sure where they were going at any one point, and their fundamental differences when it came to the red thread of fate broke my heart a little. Red String Theory really leans into the idea that lovers will find each other over and over in each life. I can see how someone who may not be familiar with this idea might have some difficulty buying into it, but, luckily, that’s what Jack is for, because he holds the idea that what does it matter if two souls aren’t tethered together by a red thread. I loved how he just wanted to be chosen for himself, and not because he’s at the other end of someone’s thread, as Rooney believes. It was a little tough at times to see how different their ideas on this were because it always seemed to make them feel an ocean apart no matter how perfect they were for each other. So watching their romance bloom and grow was absolutely beautiful because they had to learn to accept other ideas alongside their own and really come to understand each other.

Red String Theory wasn’t quite as peppered with Chinese customs and traditions as I expected, but I really enjoyed what was there. Unlike in Lunar Love, there were more things that were unfamiliar to me, so I liked learning a little more about things I wish had been a part of my life. I loved that Rooney and her mom were trying to pick up Mandarin and cooking Chinese dishes together. They were fun bonding moments, and the changes their relationship underwent was also a lot of fun, and I liked that I could identify with both of them. But the big tradition, outside of the Lantern Festival that opened and closed this novel, was a special ceremony that occurs at a child’s first birthday. Not only was this fascinatingly new to me, and made me which I’d gotten to do this, but it also brought back Lunar Love‘s couple. I loved seeing them again, even if I struggled to see them in the couple I’d read about in the previous book, but I do love it when past characters return.

Even though Red String Theory opens and closes in NYC, the story is also set in LA with trips to the Kennedy and Houston Space Centers. I enjoyed visiting the space centers with Rooney and Jack and, really, half the fun of this book was all the art and space that it brought in. It was fun to see them blended together like this. But the LA parts will always have my heart. I loved that JPL came to life to me because it’s one of my family’s favorite places to go. I’ve been so many times that just reading those parts made me feel like I was there again. The story also took me to the Huntington Library and Gardens, another special place to me, as well as the beach and traffic. I love how LA just came to life to me in this book, and it was so much fun for me to return to places I love all from the comfort of my couch.

Red String Theory is a lovely romance that blended art and science, finding a perfect harmony just as the artsy Rooney and scientific Jack find a way to come together. I loved that they felt real to me and that they both had needs and wants they had to figure out how to bridge in order to be together. Their adventures in NYC and LA were a lot of fun. Even though the middle felt a little slower to me, this novel really opened and closed well, and half the time I didn’t even notice the slower middle because I had so much fun exploring LA. with them.

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever for a review copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

Red String Theory is a contemporary romance that focuses on both science and fate.

The book alternates between the female (Rooney) and male (Jack) POVs.

Rooney is a Chinese-American string artist who does elaborate art installations. While Jack has both Chinese and Japanese parents and is an engineer at NASA. He prefers experiments and science. They meet one day/night in New York City.

I really enjoyed the Asian culture rep in this book. I loved seeing the Chinese-American customs. Rooney's mom is a famous artist and I really enjoyed how that played into the story. I also really liked Jack's job at NASA. It was so interesting and fun.

The concept of her believing in fate and him believing in choice and science really made for a complex and beautiful story. I did like the romance, although I would have liked a bit more romance. But overall it was a unique enjoyable story.


*The main characters from Lunar Love make a cameo in this book.

This book is well written, and it’s prose seems almost lyrical I love how Rooney believes in fate, and when it doesn’t go her way, she doesn’t quite give up and keeps trying to find and keep who she feels. Is her fated person. Rooney and Jack’s story is entertaining and emotional at the same time. I really enjoyed having someone who believes in fate as well as a person who is a skeptic trying to find love together. This is a book that you can’t put down.

Red Sting Theory, Jessen’s follow up to Lunar Love, is reminiscent of the movie Serendipity. This dual POV story follows Rooney who believes in fate and Jack who believes in science. They go on a date and then a year later run in to each other again. Is it fate or just coincidence? While enjoyed Rooney and Jack, I felt the book was slow and weighed down by the repetitive discussions of fate.

Are our lives determined by fate or free will? This charming romance follows a free-spirited artist who believes that one day she’ll find her (red) string-mate and a buttoned-up NASA engineer who doesn’t leave anything up to chance. The two meet randomly on a stressful day in New York City, again, where they go on a magical date, and then again months later in California. It’s Serendipity meets Chinese mythology, with a side of science and red bean ice cream. A very fun, heartwarming read, and I loved that Olivia and Bennett from Lunar Love made an appearance.

I have never felt like I wanted to incorporate so much of a character’s personality as I do Rooney after finishing this! The combination of optimism, grit, and practicality with a dash of fun made for one of my favorite characters ever placed in a lovely story with science and love and fate in all the right places! This is a must-read!

A Sweet and Tangled Web of Fate and Second Chances - Lauren Kung Jessen hits it out of the park again in her second novel, Red String Theory.

"Red String Theory" is a delightful contemporary romance that explores the age-old question of fate versus choice in a fresh and modern take on Serendipity. The story follows Rooney Gao, a free-spirited artist who believes in the Red String Theory, a Chinese myth that says two souls destined to be together are linked by an invisible red string. On the other hand, Jack Lin is a grounded astrophysicist who scoffs at the idea of fate, relying on logic and evidence to guide his life. Lauren is a magician in how she seamlessly weaves Chinese mythology and astrophysics elements, giving us the perfect example of how to do it better than the original. Her engaging and humorous writing style makes the book a joy to read. The banter between Rooney and Jack is particularly delightful, and the story is sprinkled with witty observations about life, love, and the universe. Lauren has quickly become one of my favorite authors. Pick up this one if you are looking for a quick, delightful read. I promise you won't regret it.

Tropes:
Fate vs. Choice
Missed Connection
Workplace Romance
Dual POV

Arc received from the publisher; all thoughts and opinions are my own. Have purchased my own copy.

Thanks to Netgalley & Forever for access to this E-ARC! Loved the astrology references & the characters. Will definitely read more from this author.

4.25/5 stars
0/5 spice

This was really fun to read. I loved the play on fate versus free will and how the main characters learned about the other's perspective.

Tropes:
Workplace romance
Forced proximity
Artist FMC
Engineer MMC
Soulmates
Chinese mythology/culture
Dual POV

I love learning about different cultures, and this book had me enthralled with the whole Red String of Fate myth, aka Stringmates. Both Rooney and Jack were so set in their beliefs in the beginning, and it was great to see how they grew to appreciate and understand the other's beliefs.

Overall, this story was really sweet, wholesome, and romantic (the grand gesture was swoon worthy ❤️). Highly recommend for fans of workplace romance and soulmates.

Thank you to Netgalley and Forever/Grand Central Publishing for the ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own and offered voluntarily.