This book by Lauren Kung Jessen was heartwarming and thoughtful. As a big fan, I was not disappointed. Rooney and Jack's characters were delightful, especially with Rooney bringing out Jack's boldness. Rooney's mom, Wren, stood out as my favorite – funny, wise, and full of life! While I enjoyed the light and inspiring tone, the middle pacing felt slow, and I craved more spark and romance. Rooney's desire to buy back the video of her birth seemed a bit unclear, and I wished for more depth, perhaps exploring her relationship with her father. Additionally, I wanted Jack to face higher stakes in his work and potential relationship with Rooney to add more tension.

Alexa, play Invisible String by Taylor Swift ✨〰️✨

After reading and loving Lunar Love, I was sooo excited when I got approved to read an advance copy of Red String Theory through netgalley!!

This book was so sweet and such a fun read while still being really meaningful. I liked how they explored their relationships with their parents, both the good and bad, and how it shaped their actions and in many ways, the lives they chose for themselves.

Jack and Rooney both grew so much and I loved how their perspectives of fate vs. choice changed for each of them. I also love grandparents being included stories, so of course I enjoyed the parts with Jack’s gong gong ♥️ And I’m a big sky/cloud enthusiast, so i thought the NASA storyline and all the parts talking about the sky and clouds were so perfect ☁️ Oh and I loved the NYC setting in the beginning!!! Prob my fav part of the book was them on their first night together 🫶🏼

I definitely recommend if you want a sweet, playful, heartfelt romance!

I enjoy lisent this book. Such a brilliant story, a well created characters. A enjoyable lisent and the quality of the audio was brilliant too

I read Red String Theory via audiobook and it was such a delightful experience. The audio uses dual narration for all the dialogue which made it feel very immersive. The story explores themes of fate, destiny, and love and I thought the chemistry between Jack and Rooney was great. I wasn’t a huge fan of the conflict and miscommunication but overall the strength of the audio really bumped up my overall feelings about this book!

I voluntarily reviewed a gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

3.5 Stars

Rooney, who goes by the name Red String Girl, is an artist who believes in the Chinese legend that connects individuals to their true love through a mystical red string of fate. Jack is a NASA scientist who is more practical and does not believe in predestined connections. They meet by chance, but Jack has to leave quickly, and Rooney accidentally loses his contact information. Rooney thinks their connection has been severed, and she may lose Jack forever. But fate brings them back together, and they must decide whether to embrace their destiny or risk separation. This leads them to a journey that challenges their beliefs and tests the limits of their connection. As Jack and Rooney's professional lives intertwine, they agree to keep their relationship as friends. Spending more time together helps them develop a profound love for each other despite their different backgrounds. They find comfort and understanding in each other's presence despite their initial skepticism.

"Red Sting Theory" is a charming and romantic story that carries underlying messages of self-confidence and openness. The story follows Rooney and Jack as they fall for each other on their first night and later as they work together. It is a fun journey that is sweet and just a bit adorable.

This was a good listen! I enjoyed both the narrators of this story! It definitely had me thinking about fate and free will and the choices we make every day- how it shapes us and brings new people into our lives.

Thank you for the ALC for my honest review.

DNF at 50%

This one immediately pulled me in with Rooney and Jack's initial meeting, and Jack working for NASA. However, it fell apart for me once the time jump happened since the story felt like one long conversation without anything actually happening.

Read if you like:
🌏 Asian American Characters
✨ Fate
🎨 Artist FMC’s
❤️ Romance
🔀 Opposites Attract
🧼 Clean Romances

If you love books that explore fate and love this one will be for you!!!

This book takes the look of fate from Rooney’s perspective mixed with looking at it in a more theoretical way with Jackson.

Rooney is outgoing and funny and jokes quickly with those around her not knowing strangers, while Jackson is her opposite and introverted and needing plans in advance and fearful of making friends with his coworkers.

I love how they are so different yet, compliment each other so well and connected in a way that was organic and set the stage for their story to play out so beautifully!

If you are looking for a romance to add to your list- I would recommend this one for an adorable romance without spice.

Thank you so much Hachette Audio for my ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Opposites attract as an artist and a scientist try and test out fate and determine if the other holds their string. I connected with the story because I am a firm believer in fate playing a part in life.

I liked that the couple met and were pulled apart right away and spent part of the book dreaming about the other. It added a little more to me rooting for them. And I loved the Easter egg from Lunar Love (but it is not necessary to read it before reading this one).

What I always gain from books with multiracial characters is they showcase their culture and I get a glimpse into their world. I especially loved the lantern lighting and Jack’s perspective as a scientist and the environment.

As I switched back and forth from the audio and the book, I loved how the audiobook was constructed. Usually you have each narrator narrate their part in a dually narrated audiobook, but in this one, when a conversation happened, instead of the narrator of that chapter doing a voice for the other character, both narrators voiced the conversation so you hear the two voices you’ve grown to associate with the characters. Yu-Li Alice Shen and Andrew Grace do a terrific job of bringing Rooney and Jack to life. Capturing her free spirit and his scientific reserve and doubt.

Appreciated how the author married science and art in this novel. So many times we are told something can’t be both, when really in order to do many parts of life and professions well means we have to have both. I felt that it was a bit slow at times, but appreciate, all the research and background that must have gone into learning about NASA and astrology.

I love fiction books that include real life history or legends because then I could spend an absurd amount of time googling and learning something I was unfamiliar with. The New York/LA backdrops were great helped set the setting for the characters. The journey between Rooney and Jack was swoon worthy, the amount of times they met in a single day is quite frankly fate even if Jack doesn't acknowledge it.
the narration was so good, very engaging voices and paired well with the story.

I’m so bummed about how much I disliked this book. All of the jokes felt so corny and forced. I also felt the idea about her buying back the video of her birth and her mom being completely unsympathetic so weird. The FMC seemed a bit delusional and it seemed like the MMC was just humoring her.

This is a sweet, second chance romance that explores fate, choice, and the dynamic between two people with with opposing passions. Rooney is an artist and a dreamer while Jack is a scientist and a skeptic. The Chinese legend of the red string of fate ties into Rooney's beliefs, adding a touch of serendipity in Manhattan.

The story delves into family dynamics and Chinese culture, with Jack's grandfather standing out as my favorite character. Despite my appreciation for these unique elements, the lack of chemistry between Jack and Rooney left the story feeling a bit flat for me.

Still, if you like a closed door romance with a unique storyline I would recommend giving it a try.

PS: The narration is top tier

A sweet rom com. I loved the culture shared in this story. I just wish there was a bit more chemistry between or MCs. Still an enjoyable listen, just not as memorable as I was hoping for.

Rooney is Red String Girl, an anonymous artist. She also believes in a Chinese legend about love. The legend proclaims that everyone is linked to their true love by the red string of fate.

Jack is a NASA scientist, who doesn’t believe in love or fate. The pair meets by chance (or is it fate?!) and have an epic date. Unfortunately, Jack has to leave the next day, and Rooney has the wrong number for him. Rooney is convinced she’ll never see Jack again, but they are reunited and face the choice of believing in fate or losing each other.

I really enjoyed this book. It was so interesting and engaging.. The dual POV was fantastic - I always love hearing both characters' sides of a story! I wish there was a bit more romance, but it was still a really sweet story. I listened to the audio and the narrators were both fantastic.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for the ARC.

🎧 Red String Theory by Lauren Kung Jessen: This is a sweet romance told via alternating viewpoints by Rooney, a New York visual artist, and Jack, a NASA engineer. Rooney believes in fate, especially the Chinese legend that everyone is tied to their one true love by the red string of fate. Jack believes in science and proving coincidences. As the two keep running into each other, they have to work through their own insecurities before deciding if they are meant to be. Jack’s wise grandfather tells him, “We believe what we want to believe to give our lives meaning”.
I can be judgmental about audiobook narrators, but the two for this book were so easy to listen to. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Thank you @netgalley and @HachetteAudio for this gifted audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

Audiobook Review
Overall 4 stars
Performance 5 stars
Story 3.5 stars

Red String Theory was a very cute romcom about fate and choices. I really liked the discussion about the red string of fate and how Rooney and Jack went about testing the theory. Fans of the movie Serendipity will love the slow burn romance (kissing only) and it was fun to see these two opposites fall in love. The third act conflict wasn't my favorite and felt somewhat abrupt, but the ending was so sweet. The majority of the story takes place in Southern California too and I loved knowing many (if not all) of the different locations referenced. That traffic scene where Rooney and Jack are trying to get to Santa Monica was all too relatable. LOL

I was very pleasantly surprised when I started the audiobook and discovered that it was duet narration. Having Yu-Li Alice Shen read all the female characters and Andrew Grace all of the male characters, really enhanced the story. Both employed a variety of voices to give each character a distinct sound. Definitely recommend the audiobook if you read this one!

*I voluntarily listened to a review copy of this book*

Duet narration! DUET NARRATION! Not dual...DUET!

I love this style of narration and I wish more publishers would do this in their audiobook productions.

Honestly, I feel like this is a 4 star book for me because I enjoyed it, but I don't know if I'd read it again (which is what I usually reserve my 5 stars for), but I can't in good conscience give this only 4 stars. There's nothing wrong with this book. Not a single thing.

Rooney is an artist, who believes in the Red String Theory - that soulmates are connected through red string and fate will bring them together. She's an artist who goes by...Red String Girl, and her whole life revolves around art. Everything. But let me stop you there, friends! It's not done in the annoying "I'm an ARTISTE!" way that we often get with quirky girls or manic pixie dream girls. She's....just an artist. I love this representation. So much. Thank you Lauren Kung Jessen for writing an artist who is simply a human who does art and isn't so dang annoying.

And Jack. Jack likes logic. He needs to know why things are the way they are. He works for NASA. Yup, it's opposites attract baby!!!! Jack doesn't know Rooney is RSG, and Rooney doesn't know he works for NASA.

They share a few hours together in New York and then due to a mix up of phone numbers, they never see each other again. Until Jack recommends RSG as a collaborative artist with a NASA program, and the two are thrown together again for a year long program.

Can they stay professional? Are they each other's stringmates?

I really enjoyed this.

Do you believe in fate? What about the red string theory?

Rooney is an artist, who whole-heartedly believes that each person is lead to their soulmate (or string mate.) Her mom is also an artist, who made her very well-known. To become her own person, she chooses to be Red String Girl, or RSG. She creates art from red string.

Jack works for NASA. He doesn't think fate is real. Everything has an explanation.

The two meet, can Rooney convince Jack that they were supposed to meet and that fate brought them together?

I loved Lunar Love, and realized I needed to read this one as soon as I saw that Lauren Kung Jessen published it. (I loved the nod to the Lunar Love MC, too!!) It was a quick listen, and I LOVED that there were two narrators. When Jack spoke, his narrator spoke and when Rooney had dialogue, her narrator spoke, no matter the POV. I think this really helps me listen to books to know that I am hearing the correct character this way.

If you love a good fate troupe, this one is for you!

Thanks to NetGalley and Hachette for the advanced audio copy in exchange for an honest review!

“May fate bring us close enough to choose.” 🏮🧶♥️

Thank you @readforeverpub for the eARC and ALC of RED STRING THEORY - I adored it! I absolutely loved Lauren Kung Jessen’s first novel, LUNAR LOVE, so I was ecstatic to be able to read her second novel early, and it truly did not disappoint.

A Chinese legend explains that everyone is tied to their one true love by the red string of fate - a sentiment that Rooney Gao, an anonymous artist that goes by Red String Girl, has held close all her life. When she meets Jack Liu, a successful and handsome guy, she must figure out if fate is stepping in or if she is reading the signs wrong.

This is just an adorable, closed-door romance; I adored our main characters, both of which were driven professionally. And, the “third act breakup” felt completely realistic and purposeful - something that would actually happen in real life. On top of that, you get: one perfect day; soulmates; missed connection; workplace romance; and fantastic multicultural rep - with an emphasis on Chinese myth, food and culture.

Fans of the movie SERENDIPITY and Taylor Swift’s INVISIBLE STRING will definitely enjoy RED STRING THEORY. {And, for fans of LUNAR LOVE, you get a small cameo from our LL couple and a peak into their HEA!}

CW // discussion of birth; invasion of privacy