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!

This was such a good book! And I adore the story line and the characters in this book! I personally had an amazing read with this book and I loved every word of this book .
I just reviewed Red String Theory by Lauren Kung Jessen. #RedStringTheory #NetGalley
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And this was the cutest story! I loved the themes of fate and choice, as well as the relationship between the two characters. I also loved all of the art themed woven (pun intended) throughout the book. I absolutely loved it!

Also, warning: this book will make you soo hungry!!!

Can I just say that I love the elements of popular rom coms that Lauren Kung Jessen puts in her books? Lunar Love was adorable and Red String Theory is no different.

I loved the Serendipity-esque plot and the history behind the red string theory was so fascinating! The MCs were so sweet & I loved watching them fall in love. And it was so easy to visualize this story- I LOVED the setting! :)

I definitely can't wait to read more from this author. :)

Rooney is a firm believer in the Chinese Legend of the Red String “An invisible red thread connects those who are destined to meet, regardless of time, place, or circumstance. The thread may stretch or tangle but will never break." She has never met her match but has always believed she will. In comes Jack and the two instantly connect. That is, until one wrong number sends the two in completely different directions. However, Rooney’s art installation (under a fake name) catches Jack’s eye and somehow the two find each other again and sparks fly.

I was sooo hoping to love this one after Lunar Love but I think I was comparing it too much or something because I did not care for this one nearly as much. I did appreciate the end and I loved the NASA part of the plot but overall, a miss for me.

Another 5 Star read from Lauren Kung Jessen!

In this follow up novel - once more this author does a beautiful job integrating and educating on cultural values and top tier romance.

"To some, like you, life is the sequence of choices you make when you decide how to live it. Small decisions add up. For others, it's the individual moments that have meaning. Both are right."

In this romance... our leads have opposing views on this. Rooney believes in fate, while Jack believes in choice. How does this impact their journey?

The way that fate is described and written about in this one really made me DEEPLY think. I LOVE when authors are able to provoke such reactions from me. Red String Theory will have everyone wondering more about their own lives once they are through with this one. 10/10 recommend checking this author out and experiencing her brilliance!

This book was just “meh” for me. I felt like I was reading it because I had to finish it instead of reading it because I wanted to finish it. I can’t quite put my finger on what it was.

Fate brought me this beautiful rom com that easily has become my most favorite closed door romance novels that I have read in a long time.

The book follows two Chinese American protagonists who meet through a string of fated events. This book is charming and playful. I smiled the entire time I read it and that smile is lingering. And, even though this is a closed door romance, let me tell you the sexual tension is hot. I savored every morsel.

The book was released in January 9, 2024 and I simply cannot recommend this book enough.

Thank you to NetGalley, Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and the author Lauren Kung Jessen for giving me this ARC.

This was the sweetest, slow-burn romance! I loved Jack and Rooney and how their relationship unfurled amidst the magic that is fate and Rooney's belief in string mates--two people, soulmates, connected by a single piece of red thread that are destined to be together and Jack's belief in science, theories, facts, and choice NOT fate. It was interesting to see how the two were so different yet the same, how they complemented the other, and how they seamlessly blended their individual interests of art, fate, science, and choice together. If you're looking for a sweet read, look no further!

Thank you NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the ARC in exchange for my review. All opinions are my own.