One thing about @laurenkjessen is she is going to write a beautiful, laugh out loud, swoon-worthy, fun, fast paced and informative romance…BUT THAT’S NOT ALL!!! Her romances are so well rounded; full of food, family, and friendships!

This book was so extra special with the fated mates troupe, the anonymous “Banksy”-esque public art installations, the eccentric characters and the perfectly paced romance!! Did I mention the MMC works for NASA?! Like how cool!!! This book had MAXIMUM HILARIOUS, COMFY COZY, SWOONY VIBES and I’ll never forget it!!

I still have yet to decide which 5.0⭐️ @laurenkjessen novel is my favorite ( Lunar Love or Red String Theory), BUT I DO KNOW THAT YOU SHOULD READ BOTH BECAUSE THEY ARE WORTH IT AND YOU WILL NOT REGRET IT!!

I received an e-galley of Red String Theory by Lauren Kung Jessen from Forever via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Rooney believes in fate and destiny; especially that of the red string of fate - the idea that soulmates are tied together by red string. This inspires her work as an artist where she goes by Red String Girl, creating large installations using red string. When she meets Jack, it seems like the two are really tied together as they keep running into one another by chance and the two spend an entire night out in New York City together. Despite Jack not believing in fate - he believes in facts and choices, the two are nevertheless drawn to one another - but then are separated once the night ends with Jack's phone number written on Rooney's hand incorrectly. Months pass before it seems that fate once again brings the two together. But whether it's truly fate or just coincidences, Rooney and Jack both have to navigate whether what they felt has been real and whether their connection is by fate or choice.

I really like the way in which Lauren Kung Jessen writes - having read her debut. novel, Lunar Love. She takes these ideas of love and fate from Chinese culture and brings a modern contemporary touch to it that connects with readers. In Red String Theory, I love that we get to play with the idea of the red string of fate and it's being tested by the romantic and creative soul of Rooney and the scientific and rational Jack. The entire time I was reading this story, I was rooting for these two characters and don't we all love a good diverse love story? I definitely do.

✨ Review ✨ Red String Theory by Lauren Kung Jessen

I enjoyed Lunar Love but I am obsessed with Red String Theory. This book is very very loosely connected to Lunar Love (Jack, one of the main characters does kids' STEM mentorship with the MMC from LL). The book starts with Rooney, an anonymous installation artist known as Red String Girl, and Jack, a NASA scientist in NYC for a presentation. Both are brought together at the world's worst copy shop, and fate and their choices keep bringing them together.

There was something so light and refreshing about this book as the characters bantered about free choice vs. fate, science vs. art, and so many things that seem diametrically opposed and yet aren't. The book is filled with these overlapping connections as we see nature as art and science in art and art as a way to connect to scientific concepts. This sounds really dull but it made it such a delight to read.

From dumplings and lanterns to clouds and butterflies, this book finds beauty in the small things that surround Rooney and Jack. LKJ made me giggle at the details (the clean room operator named Dusty, Rooney's fear of butterflies, the printing mix-ups) and I just found this as a total joy to read. I also loved the side characters like Rooney's mom and bff and the different characters we met at NASA!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: contemporary f/m romance
Setting: NYC and LA
Pub Date: January 9, 2024

Read this if you like:
⭕️ finding joy in the small things
⭕️ dumplings, clouds, the Hollywood sign, and red string
⭕️ clever, fun banter and chat

Thanks to Forever Books and #netgalley for the gifted advanced copy/ies of this book!

Thank you to Forever and NetGalley for my eARC. All opinions are solely my own.

This was a cute story based on Chinese legend about the Red String of fate. We're following Rooney, believer in signs and fate, taking the Red String Theory to the max; and Jack, NASA-worker, perfect-guy, and fate-skeptic.

Much of this book was predictable and I wish there was more of it that I didn't see coming. I wasn't really sure about the romance in it -- it felt a bit forced in parts.

It's written in a dual POV, which is something that I enjoy, and I felt like it really worked for this type of plot.

I think my favorite parts of this book were the growth between the two MCs and their own families, not between the two.

Overall it was a nice fun read. I'd recommend this one for anyone who likes rom-coms, fated lovers, or opposites attract.

Thank you to Forever Pub for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I had to DNF this one at 29%. Overall, the romance up until this point felt completely forced. Their Serendipity-like whirlwind of a day felt very detached and nothing truly memorable happened. I switched to the audiobook, hoping that I could keep going this way, but I felt like the male narrator had zero emotion behind his words and it made the story feel totally boring. I LOVED the author's debut, Lunar Love, so I was really excited to read this one, but I could not get into it.

This was very cute and Jessen has definitely solidified herself as an auto-read for me. I enjoyed LUNAR LOVE but feel like it was missing a bit of oomph. Truthfully, I feel similarly about this one, but the concept was right up my alley. I looove the discussion of fate vs. choice; it's something I enjoy exploring in other genres (like time loop and parallel universe/life stories) - it was fun to see in a contemporary romance! Red string theory has always been of interest to me in particular.

I enjoyed these characters for the most part but definitely found myself a little bored halfway through. Rooney and Jack were sugary sweet and sometimes corny in their dialogue. I enjoyed watching them get to know each other. They stayed true to themselves and their beliefs, which made for some fun debates. They both learned from each other and Jack came out of his shell a lot thanks to Rooney. 

This was very Hallmark-like in its innocence but also in it's occasionally cheesy moments. I don't like using the term "clean" for romance ever but in a sense this was so innocent and pure lol. A little too cutesy, but well worth the read!

An amazing sequel; perfect for fans of Alexis Daria and Helen Hoang. Cute and beautifully woven characters and plot!

Stellar (get it) book from my friend Lauren. Lauren and I connected over our Mixed-Chinese heritage and Red String Theory shares that wholesome feel good family centered dynamics that her debut, Lunar Love had. I loved the progression of relationship between Jack and Rooney, who fate kind of brings them together in places they least expect. This book just does a good job of making you feel happy and I absolutely had a good time reading it.

What an amazing book! I loved this book with my whole heart. I will probably have to reread it because I read it so quickly.

I really tried hard to get into this book. I loved this authors first book. But I just really did not enjoy this one.

Red String Theory (RST) is the second book i've read from Lauren Kung Jessen and this one did not disappoint!

Beginning in NYC and ending in LA, RST tells us the story of fate and love as seen through the eyes of Chinese-Americans, Rooney and Jack. RST evokes giggly squeals, jumping up and down, and moments of awe. But, it also evokes feelings of sadness, compassion, and frustration as RST is not just a love story but a coming of age story. Both Rooney and Jack are likable characters and in RST you see them learn to truly love themselves; not just each other.

As an LA native, Kung Jessen depicts life on the West Coast perfectly. The settings such as Santa Monica beach/pier, Huntington Gardens, NASA's JPL, and the Hollywood sign bring about nostalgia to the reader who is familiar with the area.

RST dives into the balance between art and science; fate and theory. It's a perfect book for romance nerds and lovers of sweet, not spicy, contemporary romance. RST is a wholesome romance book. RST also delves into family dynamics and identity issues. Just as Jack is "layered," so is RST.

Highly recommend this second book by Lauren Kung Jessen and looking forward to the next one!

This book just made me smile! I was so sucked into Rooney and Jack’’s story from the night they spent together in New York City to their spontaneous meeting at NASA. I loved their conversations especially around fate. They had such a good friendship despite both of them wanting more.

It was so cool to get to see NASA and JPL through Rooney’s eyes as she got to experience a lot of what astronauts do in order to be inspired and create art. I loved how both Rooney and Jack were pushed outside of their comfort zones. I also loved learning about Rooney’s art and how that was inspired. The brief cameo of Bennett and Olivia from Lunar Love. I really loved the ending!

I listened to the audiobook and thought both narrators perfectly embodied their characters.
I can’t wait to see what Lauren Kung Jessen writes next!

Thank you to the author, publisher and @NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

If you like the movie Serendipity, all things fate related and maybe a little bit of space and stars, then Red String Theory is for you!

Jessen just has a way with words that I adored in Lunar Love and RST just continues that love affair.

I also loved all the STEM representation! Nerds for the win 🤓 Both of these main characters are just fantastic and I enjoyed reading about them ♥️ The whole book was just a warm, cozy hug full of loving feelings!

While I had problems connecting with the characters in both this and Lunar Love, what I love about these books is the multiracial Asian Americans featured. Rooney is a biracial Chinese American, like the author. Jack is Chinese, Japanese, and white. I won't speak for multiracial people, but I presume when you "pass" for one ethnicity, oftentimes your other one gets ignored. Much like the "one drop" rule.

My problem with these novels is I don't wholly believe in Chinese superstitions or astrology, and they play in heavily in these stories. That's not to say I didn't enjoy myself. I did. I'm not sure why three star ratings are so anathema to people. Three stars means I liked it. You should worry if I go lower.

Rooney is an artist living in New York, who makes art anonymously, in part because her mother is a famous artist. This, I liked, because it's quite hard to find Asian Americans in the arts. How many of us are doctors, lawyers, or accountants? I'm an accountant, so I should be the last to judge...

Jack is a scientist at NASA. I should totally have the hots for him, but he just fell a little short for me. While I won't say I was in love with Rooney, at least her personality was rooted in something. I didn't quite feel the chemistry, but neither did I with Olivia and Bennett, who make a small cameo.

As a Los Angeles transplant, I did enjoy the sites of the city. Lauren was right on the money with traffic. Who in their right minds would invite someone to the beach at sunset? With this traffic? From the eastside? No way.

The Red String Theory is a delight to read. This is a fun and interesting twist of the Instalove trope. What happens when you there's love at first sight, but life has beat you up a bit so far seems as foreign as space should be. Jack and Rooney try to follow social rules while struggling will the pull of chemistry and when you're life changes in an instant.. “May fate bring us close enough to choose.”

This was a sweet, cozy read about second chance-love, focusing on fate, science, and choice. I loved reading a romance with diversity, and learning more about other cultures.

Rooney is a bubbly Chinese-American artist whose art and inspiration are centered around the Chinese legend of the red string of fate. In a meet-cute, she meets Jack, a successful and kind Chinese/Japanese American NASA Scientist who believes in evidence, science and facts.

While I thought the meet-cute was fantastic and sucked me into the story, I felt like the book was heavy on the philosophy and felt like it dragged in a few places. While I really enjoy romances that are a bit more serious and less fluffy, it felt like the two MMC’s lacked the chemistry and tension since their initial meeting, which was a big missing piece for me.

I think if you’re looking for a well-written, charming and cozy romance without the witty banter, chemistry and lots of tension you’re going to love this one. It is really different from any other romance that I’ve read, I just am not sure it was for me!

Red String Theory
Lauren Kung Jessen
4 stars

📍wintery NYC + warm LA setting
🗣️ Jack and Rooney, dual POV
☁️ he’s a NASA systems engineer, she’s a visual artist.. and they’re about to work together
🍿 lots of fun, descriptive (+ iconic) settings while testing fate, I kept picturing this as a movie
💫 navigating fate, destiny, and free will
🦋 this book will thaw your existential dread this winter!!

After loving (& honestly still squealing over) Lunar Love last year, we now have Red String Theory! We also get a cameo from Olivia + Bennett🥰 This was such a fun read especially with the specific food mentions and the recognizable locations. While I enjoyed so much of this book, I did find the middle a bit repetitive and our two MC’s voices hard to differentiate between the two POVs. It did feel like Rooney’s voice was more prominent than Jack’s which made me want to know more about him.

Love this Lunar Love/Red String Theory world we’re in but now.. we NEED a Gōng Gong spinoff!! His love story with late grandma, his life now making ice cream in his nautical-themed home, anything! This sweet & wise grandpa is giving main character energy🪼

3.75

Gosh, I wanted to like this one more. I got a little tired of the story and felt like it moved so slow. It was pretty repetitive with the talk of fate - with Rooney believing in it and Jack not believing. I did like how art was intertwined with science; and how Rooney found inspiration.

This is a no-low steam (like just some kidding) romance. It’s sweet and fun. I would still recommend it too.

Red String Theory blends art, science and romance pretty seamlessly! At some points I was a little glazed over at the science talk, but I can imagine that it would be more appealing to someone who was into that sort of thing. The romance was cute, and the main female character was both relatable and unique. I will definitely read more by this author! Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the e-arc.

DNF. Too much space talk. Thank you to NetGalley and Forever for an e-ARC of this novel in exchange for my review.