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. That belief has inspired her career as an artist, as well as the large art installations she makes with red strings. That is, until artist’s block strikes and Rooney begins to question everything.

But then fate leads her to Jack Liu, who is perfect. He’s absurdly smart, successful, handsome, and after one enchanting New York night, all signs point to destiny. Only Jack doesn’t believe. 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 Jack to take a leap of fate?

Rooney and Jack are perfect for each other. I love the dichotomy of her faith in legend and tradition and his being grounded in science and free will. The battle of the ages! Beautifully written with wonderfully relatable characters, I really enjoy reading novels that are from different cultures from mine. It was delightful watching Rooney and Jack connect!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced digital reader's copy (ARC) in exchange for an honest review!

Red String Theory is a delight to read. The dialogue is fantastic. I loved everything about this book.

Thank you to NetGalley for the digital ARC.

3.5 stars. I’m an outlier here, but I didn’t really connect with this book which meant it took me a while to get through. That said, it was unique and I believe others may easily find themselves endeared to it.

Rooney believes in signs and fate, particularly in the idea of love and having a ‘stringmate’ destined for her. Jack is a practical thinker who believes in choice over fate and relies on science and fact to guide him. The two of them have a chance meeting and their lives intertwine over time in a way that leads to possibilities that have both questioning all they thought they knew.

There is a lot of deep thought debating the idea of fate vs. choice throughout this book. I appreciated the unique story being told here and the concept of Jack’s scientific job at NASA melding with Rooney’s artistic endeavors. I’m all for something standing out and flexing creativity. However, I struggled with the pacing and had a hard time feeling engaged in the story. While I appreciated the ways Rooney and Jack’s interactions had them questioning the concepts they’d always subscribed to in life, I didn’t really feel a strong connection between them until maybe the last 15% of the book.

I can see the beauty in this story and really enjoyed the conclusion, I just had to work pretty hard to push through and get there.

Thank you to to NetGalley for the ARC of this book! I really loved the author's first book, "Lunar Love" so I was overjoyed to see the ARC of "Red String Theory" available to read! The book is a cute story and great for fans of romance books with great meet cutes. If you enjoyed "Lunar Love" you will enjoy this book as well and need to add it to your "to read" list ASAP! The NASA and space details in the story are so fun and you can tell a lot of research went into the character of Jack to make sure everything was accurate involing his job at NASA. I learned so much in this book between that and learning about the red string theory. The book goes back and forth from the 2 main character's perspectives which I really enjoyed instead of just reading the story from one side. I loved the little connection to "Lunar Love" as well (you do not need to have read "Lunar Love" to read this book though). I love this book so much and I can't wait to see what the author writes next!
Hightly recommend this book, especially if you are looking for a cute, lighthearted romance!

Lauren Kung Jessen has lovely writing. I really enjoyed her MC, Rooney. Unfortunately, this book didn’t grab me. I feel like the pacing was a bit slow for me. But I know the romance community will DEVOURE this one!

This book had outer space and what was essentially fated mates and I’m obsessed! Two books in and Lauren has become an auto read author. The way she fuses the love story with culture is beautiful.
It was the ultimate slow burn but it was the most fun to read. Swoony and sweet!

I'd love to thank NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me a chance at this super clean, super cute story about fate, science, and love.

Since becoming a new fan of Chinese dramas (cdramas) I've become exposed to the 'red string' tale. It's sweet, and I love that the author used it as the basis of her story. We have two characters - one who believes in the power of 'fate' and the other, a worker at NASA, who believes in the power of science. Can these two people fall in love? Can they allow both of their 'studies' influence the other?

I loved Jack and I loved Rooney. Little did I know this was in the same universe as the previous book, Lunar Love, but it is! So you do get to see where that couple ended up. While I found that book to be not so good in the execution (enemies to lovers), this one was perfect. There was no 'beating around the bush' so to speak, you had two people who liked one another but due to their past and experiences with the loved ones in their lives, they cling heavily to their beliefs (fate and science / fact).

This book would make an EXCELLENT adaption for cinemas. While reading it I kept picturing Yang Yang as Jack and Bai Lu or Lusi as Rooney. I really am glad I gave this author another chance, and I hope people pick the book up to not only support her but feel that a romance book can be as sweet without sex scenes or heavy petting.

“Just a date . . . or a twist of fate?”

Personal review: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A sophomore novel from Lauren Kung Jessen, author of Lunar Love, a book of the month romance favorite- this book was well written, and so fun to read. Full of culture, character development, art, and science - I really enjoyed every aspect of this novel. Starting in New York City where Rooney, the freelance artist and firm believer in fate, meets Jack, the NASA scientist, and a firm believer in that. They meet over the Chinese New Year and suffer the trope of a missed connection. But fate brings them back together in Hollywood, as a forbidden love. This book was magical, adorable, light, and fun! Thank you @netgalley and @foreverbooks for the gifted copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Synopsis: 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?

Rooney is and artist who believes her life is guided by fate. Jack works for NASA and believes that you decide your destiny. They run into each other and what follows is the most beautiful love story.

I loved the Chinese American representation and the description of their traditions. This was such a beautiful love story!! Jack and Rooney were lovable and relatable.
Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this arc in exchange for an honest review!

AAHHHH THIS WAS EVERYTHING!!!
As someone who loves the concept of fate and soulmates, this book was such a perfect read that captured literally every single thought I have on the subject.
"Red String Theory" was my first Jessen book, and let me tell you her writing style did not disappoint. She writes beautifully. Characters, and places, took life in front of my eyes so easily, that I was so transported into this world and just couldn't stop reading, I really enjoyed how clever she was in dropping casual signs of Rooney and Jack being somewhat connected, like her Mars painting or his project casually being named FATE. Their love story was overall so dreamy. It was the perfect balance of puns, and bickering, but also deep conversations and confessions. I loved how they complimented each other, but still found a way to meet in the middle for the sake of their relationship - COMMUNICATION IS THE KEY!!!. The dialogues weren't the usual cliche-filled romance novel type of interaction, which I really appreciated.
ANYWAY, "Red String Theory" captured my heart, and now I'm just here waiting for my Jack to casually bump into me so that we can live our universe-fated romance.

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with this ARC!

I absolutely adored this book. Not only did it have great characters, who I loved following in their personal journeys as well as their one together, but it had so much more. This story had beautiful imagery that transported you to the places in the book. I felt like I could truly see the beautiful art that Rooney makes. The descriptions in the book were so rich that I felt like I was in the simulated gravity along with Jack and Rooney. I loved the themes it explored about fate and choice, and how so much in our lives may happen by chance, but we can make meaning from it. I absolutely adored the science in this book as well because it brought a little something extra for me, especially since I’m a science teacher who loves all things mentioning science. I have so many quotes I loved from this book, I swear I highlighted so much of it. I am happy to say that Lauren’s second book captured my heart even more than the first, which I didn’t think was possible. Also I loved the special reference to the first book in there too, so that was an added treat. I could keep going, but I’ll wrap it up with this: if you’re looking for a beautiful story that explores the idea of love & fate with two smart, funny characters then this is your next read.

I thought that this book was one of the cutest romances I've read this year. I haven't previously read a romance book that centered itself around the idea of fate or destiny, and I thought that the author did a great job of implementing these into the story. Rooney and Jack's relationship is so adorable and heartwarming, and they have natural chemistry despite being total opposites. Their interactions felt really natural which is so important in romance stories. I loved the description of this book, and it completely lived up to the expectations.

RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Red String Theory by Lauren Kung Jessen is about Rooney who is an artist hiding behind her anonymous alias after she spends a incredible night showing a stranger she met named Jack around New York City while he’s there for business. When Rooney goes to text Jack in the cab, and realizes there was a miscommunication and she doesn’t have his correct number, the two go looking for each other, and find one another when they’re least expecting it.

Lauren Kung Jessen easily became an auto-buy author for me after her debut novel, Lunar Love. Red String Theory just confirmed that fact.

Jack and Rooney had GREAT chemistry. These two never felt forced, their banter was natural, and it felt like they truly were stringmates and made for one another.

I loved how this story included so much Chinese culture and mythology. As a white woman, that’s not a topic I know a lot about, but I love learning about other cultures and getting that exposure and knowledge through a great fiction book was such an awesome experience.

Lauren Kung Jessen is 2/2 on writing 5⭐️ books in my opinion, and if you’re not reading her, you need to start.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!!!

I thought this book was fun and cute. It could be a little sad at time and I liked how it handled the subject of loneliness. I liked how Jack and Rooney changed each other a little bit for the better. I will also say that one of my favorite parts of the book is the Chinese tea egg recipe and the red bean ice cream recipe at the end of the book. I had never seen this in a book and I loved it, I love food and can’t wait to try both recipes. I have a tendency to crave most food I read about so this is great.

We need a film version of this fate-filled love story! This delightful novel is woven around the ideas of fate, destiny, choice, love and missed connections.

Rooney is an artist, working to prove herself, and make a living from her art. She believes deeply in fate, and that theme comes up regularly in the art she creates. Jack works at NASA. He’s methodical and measured as works to get a promotion, and try to prove himself to his parents.

Rooney and Jack connect in New York City and spend an unexpected and magical evening together. Is it fate? Coincidence? I loved the discussion and arguments on either side of the fate vs. choice debate. I really enjoyed how the author incorporated these ideas, along with art, food, witty banter, and Chinese culture. Both Rooney and Jack evolve, learn, and grow throughout the book and it’s really lovely to witness.

Jack’s Gong Gong was a really special character - I would have loved to learn even more about him. I also liked how both Rooney and Jack’s family dynamics were included, but feel like we just scratched the surface with Jack’s parents.

This is a heart-warming love story, and I hope for all of us that we get it as a movie someday.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to Forever Publishing and NetGalley for providing this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book felt like that first bite of ice cream where you're just so happy you decided to take a chance on the random ice cream shop you passed by. It's so sweet and delicious that you can't help but smile. Maybe you took a risk and said yes to a flavor you would normally wouldn't. What brought you to that ice cream shop? Was it fate, or was it a series of decisions that led you there? This is the conversation between Rooney and Jack that persists throughout the book as their orbits draw them nearer to each other.

Lauren Kung Jessen brought together themes of mythology, science, and art seamlessly. Rooney and Jack's chemistry felt natural. Like magnets, Rooney and Jack are opposites that attract. They had A+ banter with lots of A+ puns. I am proud to say I was giggling and kicking my feet throughout the book. This book has lots of interconnected plot points, and Lauren made sure to dot her I's and cross her T's. No sign or coincidence, depending on who you ask, was left unattended.

If you're looking for a sweet, clean romance, I highly recommend Red String Theory. I can't wait to read Lunar Love and whatever comes next for Lauren.

I’d like to thank NetGalley + Forever Publishing for this gifted eARC in exchange for my honest review. And my honest review? I absolutely loved it.

Lauren excels at coming up with remarkably unique and refreshing concepts, but what’s even more impressive is her ability to execute them in a way that feels accessible, even when she’s describing the job of a systems engineer at NASA.

Rooney and Jack are plagued by an age old question — fate or choice? Are we destined to end up somewhere, with someone? Do the stars align to bring to fruition our desires? Or do the choices we make lead to our successes in both love and work?

Watching these two learn to understand the other’s perspective was such a joy to watch, and proved that fate and choice can coexist and, often, play off each other. The chemistry was out of this world and the banter second to none. It’s clear that Lauren took her time to do research and really build these characters from the ground up — and it paid off.

I will never get enough of the space and moon puns, or of Lauren’s intricate descriptions that make me feel like I’m in the scenes I’m reading. Her attention to detail makes her an excellent storyteller and I love reading what she writes. She could write a grocery list and I’d give it five stars.

But in all seriousness, the way she weaved art, science and love together was breathtaking, and to make it accessible for readers who, like me, are not familiar with the inner workings of these theories or jobs is no easy feat, but she pulled it off — and now I have a newfound respect for authors and all of the research they do to make their stories believable.

There is no sophomore slump for Lauren. This is a home run of a second book and I can’t wait for everyone to read it.

This book was soooo cute!! Jessen has yet again created the sweetest contemporary rom-com!
Red String Theory by Lauren Kung Jessen was such as pleasure to read. The characters are wholesome and wonderfully developed. This author does a remarkable job of giving her characters whole lives and realistic personalities, which makes this romance novel stand out from the crowd.
Rooney and Jack were delightful and I loved following their journey!
The plot was paced well, making it easy to finish the entire book in two days.
It was adorable, fun and enjoyable.
This endearing rom-com about two star-crossed lovers was overall moving, magnificent and satisfying!
I love this authors writing and her stories always keeps me entertained!

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

Thank You NetGalley and Forever for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

In Red String Theory by Lauren Kung Jessen, aspiring artist Rooney Gao meets Jack Liu while they celebrate the Lantern Festival during the Lunar New Year in New York. They are both handed a paper lantern to light and release into the air, and on a whim, they follow the path of the lantern floating above the New York streets.

Rooney keeps wondering if Jack is the person at the end of her string, her string mate, the one she is meant to be with in life. Jack is a NASA engineer who is all science and hard facts and he doesn't believe in myths or legends.

The novel is also the story about the young artist Rooney who uses red string to create her art, both small and large. How she moves away from the shadow of her famous artist mother to establish herself as an independent artist is one of the main themes of the book.

Love and her belief in the red string of fate leads her on in her quest for artistic independence. She and Jack try to test if fate and destiny are real, as opposed to hard and scientific facts. They create the Red String Theory, a list of activities to see if or how fate might intervene. The first activity is to do something they would not normally do, and see where it leads.

A cute and entertaining romance with myth and belief in old traditions leading on the two characters, Rooney and Jack. A five star read, for all the cleverness in character delineation and plot devices.

A sweet, joyful romance that celebrates the interconnectedness of fate and choice as two characters with opposing views on the subject learn to find a middle ground. As with Lunar Love, Kung Jessen weaves the flutters of falling in love with a look at the impact of family and heritage on personal viewpoints, and a thoughtful discussion about the nature of belief, like how science or technology can interweave with faith in beautiful ways. We also get a fun glimpse inside the professional worlds of the two leads in this one. She's a large scale public artist looking for new inspiration and struggling with the challenges of pursuing a creative career. He's working at NASA and trying to get a promotion by building personal relationships with work colleagues. The imagery is lovely throughout, from a lantern-lighting ceremony to the constructed string exhibits to the little details like a flower made of recycled plastic or a secret location in the middle of New York City, where two strangers can find meaning in even the smallest of things. Full of memorable characters and thoughtful dialogue, this one definitely left a smile on my face.