Unfortunately, this is a DNF for now. I really enjoyed Lunar Love, but I haven't been able to connect with these characters. Hopefully I'll be able to pick this book back up in the near future and have a different reading experience.

I’m not sure how I feel about this one still. I liked it while I was reading it but I found it very forgettable. I did really like the characters and the story line.

After loving Lunar Love, this one was pretty highly anticipated for me, and I have to admit, I didn't love it as much as I was hoping too.

It's a fun and lighthearted story, with a cute premise, but I think my biggest struggle with the book was that I wanted Rooney to let go of her red string theory obsession a little but, and also for Jack to let go of his logic a little and lean into the serendipity with Rooney. Essentially, I wanted them to meet in the middle a little more, because it started to feel like they were both immaturely holding on to their opinions too much and letting that ruin their relationship. :/ Overall this one was just okay for me, not a favorite.

This was a cute, slow-burn romance. It took me a bit to feel invested in the story. I really enjoyed the opposites attract and the power of fate to bring the two main characters together.

I read Lunar Love and felt it was an average read. I liked Lauren King Jessen's writing style but didn't care for the plot. I wanted to give her a second chance and chose to red Red String Theory. I am so glad I gave her a second chance. I loved Red String Theory.

I loved Rooney and Jack. They shares an instant connection and both spent time looking for the other. All Jack had was the Red String girl and used that in connection with his NASA job to try and find Rooney. He didn't realize she was Red String girl. This collaboration between NASA and Red String Girl allowed Rooney and Jack to work together and get closer. They had some major chemistry that was well written.

Thank you to Netgalley and Forever Pub for the eARC! This was such a sweet story - I loved the Red String Theory (the belief in fate and "string mates") and found the love story between Rooney and Jack very compelling. The juxtaposition of fate and choice, as emboldened by the two main characters' beliefs was interesting, their chemistry and repeated fated or chance run-ins (based on how you look at it) kept the story fresh. I would have loved a little steam as the chemistry between the characters was excellent, but the fact that this is a closed-door romance takes nothing away from the story. The inclusion of art was fun, I loved how Rooney became inspired by her love for Jack. This was a cute, sweet romance that felt like a fresh take on a classic rom-com. 3.5 stars!

Another fun read by Jessen. I liked the weaving of science and art into a romance. Leads to hope that the right one is out there for everyone, and you never know when you might find them.

I really enjoyed Lunar Love, so I was excited about Red String Theory. I loved it! As a science person, I greatly enjoyed all the science talk and the comparison to art. Jessen’s writing is beautiful and the story is so sweet. It was a little slow in the middle but made up for it. I can’t wait to read what she comes up with next.

When I heard that this book offered a dual POV romance and delved into the concept of the red thread of fate, a notion I grew up with thanks to my Korean grandmother, I was genuinely intrigued. The Chinese celebration for a baby's first birthday and the inclusion of Lunar New Year animals rather than the typical Zodiac signs were standout elements for me. The exploration of mixed-race main characters and the insights into Chinese cultures added a rich layer to the narrative, especially while being able to compare it to the Korean culture I grew up around. Additionally, the topics of fate and science, along with various perspectives on these themes, proved to be thought-provoking.

I liked the underlying message that while fate can influence love, it ultimately boils down to a series of choices, both big and small. And seriously, a guy who's all sweet to a cat? Adorable. However, despite these positives, I am sad to say I didn’t love this book as much as I thought I would.

While I'm generally okay with immediate attraction between main characters, it felt a little too much like insta-love, a trope I don't really like. The plot was slow, this didn’t start picking up until about Chapter 10, and the discussions of fate vs love felt very repetitive, detracting from the overall flow of the story.

Certain factors seemed a bit random, such as the fact that the female main character's mom recorded her birth in a museum, and her retrieval of that video became a primary plot point. Additionally, giving the female main character the middle name "Something" felt random, even though I understand the author's desire to maintain the initials RSG for Rooney Gao.

While I don't mind slow burns, this one was excessively slow, leading to moments where I found myself pushing to continue to read and checking how many chapters remained. I also wasn't aware that reading "Lunar Love" first might have bettered my experience, since the main characters of that story make an appearance here.

In conclusion, this book could be a good pick for someone seeking a cute, short, and sweet read. While it didn't capture my interest enough for a re-read, I wouldn't dissuade others from giving it a shot!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book for my honest opinion!

Rooney is an artist and wholeheartedly believes in signs. Jack believes in black-and-white, science, and structured facts. When the lives of Rooney and Jack collide they will find out if they were always meant to be or if it was just by chance. Red String Theory examines how our lives are connected and if we make our destiny. This was an equal discussion of fate vs choice and had excellent characters. Rooney and Jack balanced each other perfectly and gave each other room to grow. Their relationship was based on trust and respect and relied on time to give them perspective. Each one adds to the movement of the story and at the end the reader is satisfied.

This book not only scratched my romantic yearning and love for a love story but also the existential need to understand the universe and how things work out behind the scenes. I loved the character development and multiple point-of-view narration. I was rooting for the couple from page 1, and the plot brought many twists and developments I did not expect to come across, but enjoyed nonetheless.
I devoured this book after finishing Lunar Love, and the storyline overlap brought me so much joy. The book was perfect to last me through a flight out of town, vacation, and completed on the return flight home. I enjoyed the conversations involved in the story and the plot and storylines throughout the entire novel. THANK YOU, Lauren Kung Jessen! RSG 4EVER

Red String Theory is the latest romance novel from Lauren Kung Jessen. I really enjoyed her debut, Lunar Love, so I was eager to read this new one, an opposites-attract romance that explores the idea of whether or not some people are fated to be together.

Rooney is a Chinese-American artist who wholeheartedly believes in the Chinese legend that everyone is tied to their soulmate by the red string of fate. She believes in this idea so passionately that she has even created an outdoor art exhibit that is inspired by it. Jack is a NASA engineer who is all about science and facts. He doesn’t believe in fate at all but on a trip to New York, he happens across Rooney’s red string art and is very intrigued by it.

When Jack later meets Rooney, he has no idea that she is the red string artist, but the two of them really hit it off and end up spending the most magical night seeing all of the sights around the city and just enjoying each other’s company. By the end of that night, they both feel that they have a special connection and Jack tells Rooney his number so that they can keep in touch after he heads back home. Sadly, Rooney mistypes the phone number and Jack is lost to her. When fate unexpectedly reunites them months later as coworkers, Rooney is convinced that this is a sign and that Jack must be her soulmate.

I really enjoyed this one. I’m always on the fence about whether or not I believe in fate, so as Jack and Rooney find themselves debating the topic, I could understand where they were both coming from since they were each voicing some of my own thoughts on the subject. Ultimately though, I just loved them together so much that I was just rooting for them to find a way to agree to disagree and just be happy together.

Jack and Rooney’s magical night in NYC was a highlight of Red String Theory for me, as was the inclusion of so many elements from Chinese culture. This was a sweet romance, but at the same time, a thought provoking read, which is a combination I enjoy. I look forward to reading more from Lauren Kung Jessen.

Thank you, Forever, for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my written review.

This is the second book written by Lauren Kung Jessen. I read her debut novel and enjoyed it, so I was happy to read her second book.

Rooney has the motivation to be an artist, just like her mother Wren did. Rooney is determined to do this on her own without using her mother’s fame to succeed. The story follows Rooney and Jack’s journey and questions of fate. I was happy for the cameo of a couple of characters from her first book - so fun.

I enjoyed this book and loved learning about some of the Asian customs that were described in it: the lantern ceremony and Zhua Zhou were interesting. I loved the recipes at the back of the book!
This is a sweet, feel-good book. I enjoyed it even more than her debut novel, and I can’t wait to see what inspires her in the next book. Now I need to find one of those lantern ceremonies!"

The Red String Theory by Lauren Kung Jessen
Stars: 4
Rating: G

Perfect if you like:

Fated love stories
Modern art
Discussions about the nature of fate and coincidences
Space camp
Learning about aspects of Chinese culture

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

In 2005, my then boyfriend and I went to New York City to see The Gates, Christo and Jean-Claude’s installation of orange flags throughout Central Park. It was a wonderful experience, wandering around a frozen park in February, seeing all the color and these beautiful silks moving in the wind. Dan and I got engaged on that very same trip, which felt like a culmination of a fateful journey that had started for us when we met on New Year’s Eve at the Government Center T Station years before.

Rooney and Jack meet by chance at a copy shop in Manhattan on a cold day in February, right at the start of the Lunar New Year. Jack is getting copies for a presentation and Rooney is having papers printed for her anonymous exhibit in Washington Square, where she has wrapped the triumphal arch there in red string. They chat and part way, no plans to ever see each other again. Later that night, they are both at a Lantern Festival party, thrown by a friend of a friend of a friend of both of them. After launching their lanterns, they begin to follow them and thus begins an epic night for the two in New York. When they part, a series of missteps means they have no way of finding each other again. But then, as fate and FATE would have it, they are thrown together in Los Angeles. Rooney and Jack will just need to figure out how much trust they have in each other, and the universe, so see if they have a future.

Reading The Red String Theory made me think a lot about fate and coincidence; what things bring people into our lives and into our orbits. Rooney and Jack each have a strong belief system, but can the other person see,and even embrace, that belief system even if it feels anthema to them? Coincidentally, earlier this year, I had read a history of the Apollo space shuttles, and then here I was, reading a romance about two people who are brought together by NASA. As the two characters were falling in love during a tour of a clean room, part of me was like, yes Lauren Kung Jessen, a dust free environment is crucial to the creation of any object that gets launched into space!

I meant to get this review out before the Lunar New Year, my timing is always off. Regardless, The Red String Theory is the perfect read for the holiday or anytime. And either before or after, pick up Lunar Love as well (Liv and Ben have a nice cameo in this book).

Lunar Love was one of my favorite 2023 romance reads and I was beyond excited for the release of its author’s second book!

But first, let me tell you about what the Red Thread of Fate means:

“It’s a Chinese legend where Yue Lão, the god of love and marriage, connects two people by the ankles with a red thread. Those two people are then destined lovers, regardless of place, time, or circumstances. The magical string may stretch or tangle, but never break.“

Super interesting, right?? After all the romance books I’ve read, I get super excited when I come across a romance book with an interesting concept: What determines who you’re meant to be with? Fate or your own choices?

This book will remind you of Serendipity and Tangled! Elite romance vibes, right?

Male lead works in NASA. Female lead is an artist. And so some parts were a little bit too art/ space heavy for me.

I love the undeniable chemistry between the two leads and how their relationship evolved throughout the book. However, she believes in fate and destiny, he believes in science and making your own choices. And sooo, there was a dialogue in the book that I wasn’t a super fan of. While I do get the purpose of the scene, I’m not one to convince someone to be with me, so that part was a little aggravating for me. Lol. But that’s more of a me thing. I would still recommend picking it up and adding it to your romance TBR!

Things to expect from the book:
🥟 late night food trips in NYC
🏮 Lantern Festival
🍨 ice cream
🐱 cats
💗 Fate tests
🌵 Cactus Tours
🎈 cameo from Lunar Love couple

Thank you so much @readforeverpub for the book!!

💭 Do you believe in fate/ destiny?
☕️ As a control freak, it really helps me not to overthink every decision I make by thinking that there’s a bigger force in the universe that will lead me to where I’m supposed to be.

Rooney believes in fate and Jack believes in facts. The two cross paths and discuss the Red String of Fate theory but unfortunately lose touch. Will the fate bring them back together?

Between a string artist and a NASA engineer, we see a mix of ideologies but also openness toward each other. The first part gave me whirlwind romance / hallmark vibes but I love the idea of connecting by chance and exploring the city together! The biracial, Asian, and STEM rep was a nice mix along with the varying family dynamics (ex. single mom, distant parents, raised by grandparents) and LA / NYC backdrop. Though the romance slowed and things were became more work-focused, I still liked the adventures, conversations, and the ending 🥺 Overall, this was a fun, light-hearted read!

Thanks NetGalley and Read Forever Pub for my arc!

Absolutely loved this adorable story! The connection of science and art, choice and fate, all coming together was delightful. I was rooting for them the entire book! Also, as a knitter I loved her red hand knits. And I loved the cameo of Lunar Love. Ps: I’m craving dumplings and ice cream now.

𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬💭:
I enjoyed Lunar Love last year and I was excited to see that the author had another one coming out this year! It is not a follow up to the book, but, you would be glad to know that the book couple from Lunar Love Olivia and Bennet are going to make a fun lil cameo on this one!

Thank you for my copy Forever Publishing!

𝐁𝐥𝐮𝐫𝐛📝:
Rooney believes in fate and the little Chinese legend saying you are tied to your one true love by a red string of fate. When she meets Jack, she believes he could be the one because he’s perfect. But he is a skeptic. When their magical night turns into a lost cause, fate decides to play a game as they find a way back to each other.

𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5. A cute interplay between fate and choice, what could be more debatable in the game of love? I enjoyed the meet cute, the family dynamics and how fate just happens to bring the two MCs together. I love how the two were just complete opposites, and yet found a middle ground. Proof that opposites do attract! The storyline also brought in some women’s fiction themes that gave this book more depth and the fun little facts about NASA and art were great quirks that this book will charm you with.

𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚: 𝘕𝘈𝘚𝘈, 𝘢𝘳𝘵, 𝘧𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘴, 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴, 𝘥𝘶𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴, 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘮𝘰𝘮, 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘱𝘢, 𝘰𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵

If Invisible String is one of your favorite songs, this book is for you.
The story told with alternating perspectives of Rooney, an artist from NY who believes in fate and Jack, NASA engineer from LA who believes in chance and choice, meet one evening and enjoy an amazing evening together only to believe that the night may be the last time they see each other. By chance, or fate, their paths cross again to create a wonderfully cute second chance rom-com that gives all Serendipity vibes.
The pace of the book was a bit slow for me, but if you enjoy slow burn love stories, you’ll definitely love this one.

“May fate bring us close enough to choose.”

Super serious question alert: Are you team CHANCE (fate) team CHOICE (every decision alters your life) or a healthy mix of the two?

I’m a total sap, so I love the idea of fate and that two people could be connected from the start and be brought together if they’re meant to be. Realistically though, I think every decision we make affects the course of lives and could bring us to our person based on the circumstance at hand.

Rooney Something Gao, aka Red String Girl, is a hardcore string mate believer and lives and breathes all things fate. Literally, it’s what her latest art installation is based on. Jack No-Middle-Name Liu lets logic guide every aspect of his life, from his love life to his NASA job, making him a skeptic solarmate believer. Until Rooney and Jack collide in a twist of fate day together in NYC and then reconnect a year later, derailing both of their preconceived notions about love.

Lauren Kung Jessen did it again! LUNAR LOVE was the sweetest romcom read so I was dying to get my hands on a copy of RED STRING THEORY to live out another adorable love story. Even better, Jessen parallels some characters from Lunar Love in this one, which was a welcomed surprise. If you’re looking for the perfect romcom with great Asian-American rep, this is for you!

HUGE shout out to @foreverbooks for the digital galley access!! When I tell you I’ve had this book on my list since LKJ announced it…