This is a super cute romance thatI had a great time with :-). I love learning about new cultures via romance. The last Lauren Kung Jessen was a deep dive on Chinese astrology via matchmaking. This story was all about Chinese traditions and folklore and it just made me giddy!

We also got to see some of our favs from Lunar Love. Highly recommend this one :-)

I loved the diversity, Chinese American heritage representation, (and food!!) and our main characters. Red String Theory is a Ute and unique contemporary romance. I liked the emphasis on the concept of soulmates and fate - the symbolism of “red string” and Rooney’s work was cute. Familial love is also explored in Rooney’s relationship with her mother, an equally important part of the story. Loved the NYC back drop and the artsy tidbits.

I really liked the set up of the novel, but it was too predictable/did not hold enough tension. Since it was obvious how the two characters would get together, there needed to be either a quicker pace or a different structure to propel the story along.

Rooney is an artist who trusts in the power of fate. Jack is a NASA engineer who is guided by facts and science. After sharing an enchanted night around New York City, they come to realize that they might have had just that one night-accepting that their paths may never cross again. When they are reunited and given another chance to reconnect, Rooney is sure that their reunion is due to fate and that Jack might just be her stringmate.

This book is a sweet, feel good, slow burn romance. I loved both Rooney and Jack as main characters and I loved the family relationships represented in this story too. This is my second read from Lauren Kung Jessen and her other book, Lunar Love is also a favorite of mine, thus securing her as an auto-buy author of mine from now on.

Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for providing an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was seriously the cutest book!! I was so excited to read this book after loving her other book, Lunar Love. I’m so glad I loved this one just as much. Right from the start I knew I was going to, I did not want to put it down. I loved the characters and I loved how Rooney believed in fate, it’s something I believe in as well, so that was so fun! This book is a semi slow burn, with a closed door romance. If you’re looking for something sweet and romantic to read, I recommend checking this book out!

Thank you Netgalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I liked the idea of this book more than the actual book itself. An “opposites attract” romance with fated mates? Sign me up. However, the plot of Red String Theory was a little bit unbelievable and I didn’t connect with the love interests as much as I would have liked to. Honestly, the character I felt the most attached to was Gōng Gong, Jack’s grandfather, who is only in a handful of scenes. I would LOVE to read a book about his life. I would like to give Jessen’s writing another try in the future as she is obviously talented and this book just didn’t work for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

CUTENESS! Red String Theory is pure CUTENESS!

I’m so happy I finally got to read a book by Lauren Kung Jessen because that means I can be excited to read her other love stories, too ♥️ Red String Theory has everything you want in a romance: it explores fate. It has a meet-cute. It has kicking-your-feet-because-it’s-too-adorable moments.

Plus, it’s the perfect read for these chilly post-holiday months!

I know it’s going to be be quite a while before I stop thinking about Rooney & Jack’s sweet romance. Definitely pick this one up during your next book-shopping/library trip— you won’t be disappointed!

I wasn’t in love with Lauren Kung Jessen’s debut novel, Lunar Love (review here). But I still enjoyed her approach to romances, her writing, and the sound of her second novel, Red String Theory. I’m glad I gave this one a chance - especially in audiobook form - as it was a really enjoyable romance that I’m still thinking about, a few days after finishing it.
Here’s the book’s description:

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?
Like the heroine in Lunar Love, Rooney is a bit too set in her views on romance (and fate). I appreciated that she believed in love so much and I love the idea of stringmates (when two people are connected by an invisible string and are considered soulmates) but it seemed so limiting and I felt it was really harming her romantic life. But, as an artist, she was curious so even with her set beliefs about love, she did try to approach life a little differently.

I loved that Rooney was an artist and Jack worked at NASA. These are not careers you may expect to see collide in a romance but it was so much fun. Their views on the world could not have been more different but it was a beautiful example of how a couple can succeed (and thrive) because they approach things differently but love and respect the other and their opinions. And the way they supported each other? Gah, it was so wonderful.

While the romantic relationship between Rooney and Jack was, you know, kind of the point of the romance, I think the story was made stronger by the familial relationships included. Rooney and her mom had a tight and unique bond since it had been just the two of them against the world for Rooney’s whole life. And while Jack didn’t have a close relationship with his parents, his grandfather had been a constant in his life and I adored every scene Gong Gong was in.

Finally, a note on the audiobook! I find romances can sometimes be less enjoyable on audiobooks for some reason but the narrators for this one? Oh, they sold me on the story immediately. Yu-Li Alice Shen and Andrew Grace were the narrators for Red String Theory and they did a great job. I liked that it was dual narration and, bonus, they read all the dialogue too. I have listened to many books where the narrator does a terrible opposite gender voice and the story and my enjoyment is harmed because of it. It was a really enjoyable narration and I would definitely listen to either narrator again.

Red String Theory was a delightful, sweet romance from Lauren Kung Jessen. I’m so happy to have read it and look forward to reading her next book.

*An egalley was provided by HBG Canada and an ALC was provided by Forever, both via NetGalley, in exchange for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.*

I have been meaning to read Lauren Kung Jessen’s books since I first saw publicity about them. Any book featuring mixed-race Asian characters will be bonus points in my book, as someone who has been desperate for representation in more books, especially rom-coms!

This book featuring a STEM man in need of control and an artist girl at the whim of the universe had its ups and downs for me. I loved the inclusion of the red thread of fate, and the way it tangibly manifested within the plot and storyline. Where I got lost, at times, was the extensive and increasingly repetitive ideological debates between Jack and Rooney pertaining to the role of fate in one’s life. I understand how it was intrinsic to their characters and relationship to each other, but the way it kept coming up over and over and over again, with little variety in the nature of the conversations, got monotonous very quickly for me. If the conversations had led to any other kind of plot or character development beyond just the two of them fighting with each other, it would have felt productive, but at times I felt like I was just reading the same thing repeatedly.

There were some cute moments, though. The big climax at the end felt like a Love Actually type of romantic proclamation, and I loved it. I also adored the relationships with some of the side characters like Gong Gong, Talia, and Wren. Overall, the romance was light and sweet as a quick read, and the growth of the characters were endearing to follow along. I give this 3.5⭐️, rounded to 3!

*Thank you again to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.*

She’s an artist that has based her entire career on fate.

He works for NASA and believes in fact based science.

They are total opposites but their paths cross in New York City and they have a magical night exploring the town. But a typo in cellphone numbers makes them unable to contact one another.

Months pass and their paths cross again. It’s like fate is pulling them together but the timing is always wrong.

This was a cute and clean romance! There are some really sweet moments.

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this as an ARC!

4 stars!
i loved being able to read and learn about chinese folklore and traditions! one of the reasons that i love reading is that there's always something new to learn, and i personally think that the chinese culture is so interesting! i love a dual-pov book too so extra points for that. overall, the book was really cute and i loved the fate vs science kind of aspect. i also think it wonderfully tackles some chinese-american stereotypes. this book kind of reminded me of taylor's invisible string and the movie serendipity, which i really enjoyed.

Rooney Gao is striving to make a name for herself in the New York art world. Her latest project combines string theory and Chinese mythology that asserts that true lovers are connected by a red thread of fate. When she meets NASA engineer Jack Liu, Rooney believes that she may have discovered her own destiny. However, Jack is a skeptic, so the two embark on a series of tests to determine whether fate or free will determines the future in this thoughtful and romantic read.

“Red String Theory” by Lauren Kung Jesson is a sweet romance based on the Chinese legend where an invisible red thread connects the one person they are destined to meet in their lives. In this book, Rooney and Jack meet one cold day in New York and spend a magical afternoon and evening together. Unfortunately, when Jack returns to California, it is discovered that he had accidentally given her the wrong telephone number. But as fate would have it, they are destined to meet again.

This was an enjoyable read, perfect to cozy up to on a cold winter’s day. Many thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC. This is my first book by Lauren Kung Jesson, but it won’t be my last.

I love the story behind the red string theory and how the author applied it to the story. The chemistry Rooney and Jack had was so wonderfully written and their love was truly fate!! It was slow burn which isn't usually my favorite but it was still very swoony! I enjoyed it a lot!

I really enjoyed this book!
I love some cultural details sprinkled into a romantic comedy. I was pleasantly surprised as I had no expectations with this book, and it exceeded anything I could'Ve thought of with just reading the description and the name.
It really also made me think about life and how fate works and it was just heartwarming and sweet, I almost wish I didn't finish it so quickly so it could last longer and I could enjoy it for more time.
Will definitely recommend to my audience and friends, it's a great beach read or sunday park read.

Note: thanks Netgalley and publishers for the ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.

This one is hard for me to review. While it's cute and I liked the story and the elements of Chinese culture, it lacked the impact that her first book had.

Omg I LOVED this one and I cannot wait for more from Jessen! As someone who is also a firm believer in signs from the universe, I was immediately intrigued by the premise of this and it did not disappoint! I adored Rooney’s character, and I loved the Asian rep. I know this is technically the second in a series, but I didn’t feel like I missed out on anything by not having read Lunar Love first—though I absolutely will be doing so immediately! Cannot recommend this one enough.

I really enjoyed this author's previous book, Lunar Love, so I was looking forward to reading this current book, Red String Theory, just in time for Valentines's Day! It is a sweet tale of fate, decisions, and what is meant to be. Do we actually have choices? Or are we predetermined to react to circumstances that are fated to happen? I loved the mix of mythology and science discussions that Rooney and Jack explore as they ponder their fates and futures. The settings are detailed and vivid, as are the descriptions of cultures, food and art (wish I could see some of the art installations of Rooney!). I appreciate the recipes at the end of the book, as the food sounded delicious! I do wish that there had been more details at the last portion of the book of all of the art installations that Rooney had worked on. I felt so invested that I wanted to know more! I also wished for a bit more about Jack's parents and Jack's relationship with them. I did love the dual points of view and how they each viewed happenings very differently--it makes you aware that others don't always perceive events as you do. An inspiring story about overcoming self-doubt and realizing what is important in the world--creating the life/work you want and being with those who you love and love you. .

I really liked Lunar Love so I was so excited for this one! What I love about Lauren's romances is that she incorporates an aspect of Chinese mythology in really interesting and novel ways, so I loved how it was done in this book. I also really liked Rooney as a character and the intersection between art installations and science, along with Rooney's mom. (And that easter egg from Lunar Love?? I was eating it up!!)

I wasn't as impressed with Jack's characterization as he wasn't as swoon-worthy to me, but I think Rooney and Jack complimented each other nicely. I also wanted more exploration of the science aspect (aka NASA/space) in the book, but maybe it's because I'm a nerd. The timing of the year in California felt a little confusing to me as well, because I couldn't tell whether months had passed.

Overall, I recommend this romance and now Lauren is an auto-read author for me. Red String Theory is a great romance to read in one sitting. :)

This was another great romance from Lauren Kung Jessen. I loved the dual POV and the fated connection between Rooney and Jack. There is even a little cameo from Liv and Bennett from Lunar Love which I loved!