I can't thank Forever and NetGalley enough for the eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review, so here goes:

I have had the honor of reading each of Lauren's books ahead of its release and I can say with confidence that Lauren has once again topped herself. Yin Yang Love Song is a beautiful story about love and heartbreak and the way they intersect, yes, but it's also about finding the beauty in quiet moments, the importance of rest, the mental and physical ailments associated with burnout, learning that dreams and desires can change (and that it's OK), the burden of generational trauma, the unrealistic expectations and standards we set for ourselves that all too often keep us stuck in place, and how going after something you want, even when the odds are stacked against you, is the bravest thing you'll ever do.

Lauren has always been remarkable at weaving themes flawlessly into her romances, but this might be her best yet. If you thought the way she combined science and art in Red String Theory was impressive, you'll LOVE the connections she makes between music, nature, and holistic healing. Every word is written with love, and you can tell she takes her research very seriously because she's looking to not only entertain us, but teach us and expand our minds to different facets of the world. I learned so much about Traditional Chinese Medicine, about the healing properties of flowers, the benefits of acupuncture, and so much more.

The thing I love most about Lauren's books, and Yin Yang Love Song is no different, is how REAL the characters are. Her commitment to character development is apparent, even in the 'side' characters. I loved that Chryssy and Vin were flawed because it made them HUMAN. I loved watching them stumble and retreat into themselves at times because that's HUMAN. I equally loved watching them slowly open up to each other and themselves because, yes, that's HUMAN. Being messy and flawed is all part of the human experience and I think Lauren captured that beautifully in these two characters.

One thing that will stay with me from this book is the idea that choosing to go after what we want against all odds is an act of bravery. Heartbreak is inevitable — we get broken up with, people we love pass on, we lose jobs, we get rejected — but it doesn't mean we're unlovable, unworthy, or cursed. We owe it to ourselves to love without conditions, to apply for the job we might not think we have a chance at, to change the direction of our lives even if it's scary.

If you like fake dating, forced proximity, meddling family members (but especially aunties), dual POV, women empowerment, curse-breaking, characters sharing soft confessions in the wee hours of the morning, dandelion wishes, and romantic one-liners, this is your book.

Lauren writes such beautiful rom-coms and this one is no exception. The opposites attract dynamic throughout the novel with the curse and Chinese medicine, and music and success/reputation creates the perfect mix of similarities and differences for the characters to grow together.
Vin is a rockstar Cellist with a reputation for breaking hearts. Chryssy is a Chinese herbalist who heals hearts at her family's inn for the heartbroken. An electric meet cute leads to a fake relationship with chemistry that is very real. As they work to boost her business and sellout his tour, the lines between fake and real begin to blur. But will the Hua family curse and Vin's reputation be too much for them to overcome?

One of my favourite things in this book is the way Chryssy and Vin describe each other is so beautiful and so unique to them. They create such vivid images using imagery from their passions making their feelings even more romantic. This book also has many unique scenes and activities that I haven't come across in other romance books. I liked the a-typical activities that allowed the characters to get to know each other better.

Overall, this is a really fun rom-com that is all about overcoming the image or story that has been placed on us by the world to create a new future.

Another winner of a read from LKJ! I have had the pleasure of receiving & reading early copies of all of her books thus far and have thoroughly enjoyed every single one of them, with "Yin Yang Love Song" being no exception. Are her stories a little cheesy despite their high concept plots? Most certainly lol. But do I eat them all up with a smile every time given how well Lauren writes? Absolutely! I love how she incorporates Asian culture and practices in all her books; I see so much of myself in them, despite not specifically being Chinese-American (I'm Filipino*-American), and so I'm certain others feel the same when it comes to such clear and honest representation. Definitely would recommend!!

he third book by Lauren Kung Jessen is a fake dating trope between Chryssy, a Chinese herbalist and entrepreneur and Vin, one half of the bad boys of cello band. They need each other to help themselves and their family get through difficult transitions. Their story is so sweet and kindhearted. While there is a degree of angst as expected by the trope, the gentleness of the characters and their ability to express themselves and walk through their difficulties was so lovely to read. Chryssy and Vin don't have much in common on the surface but they belong to and need each other in ways they didn't know. I loved the larger families in this book as well, the support and real life frustrations that come with it.
Lauren’s prose is gentle and careful and naturalistic which makes this book an easy joy to read.

This book fell a little flat for me. I love the cultural aspects of the book but the actual romance did not work for me. I didn’t really feel any chemistry between the two of them at all.

[arc review]
Thank you to NetGalley and Forever Publishing for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.
Yin Yang Love Song releases January 28, 2025

Chryssy is a traditional Chinese medicine chef and acupuncturist, and works at her family’s holistic retreat which aids in healing heartbreak. Due to a mutually beneficial publicity stunt, Chryssy — a woman who comes from a cursed lineage of heartbreak and being broken up with — has started fake dating a famous cellist who’s notorious for being a heartbreaker.

While this story offers introspective reflections surrounding love and burnout, Chryssy and Vin’s happenstance was very forced and transactional, and I had a hard time getting past that in order to buy into the supposed romance. This lacked the organic chemistry and relatability that I loved in Jessen’s previous two novels.

Love this own voices novel. That I'm not sure how to classify. I mean it's a cross between a rom com and and women's fiction. It's got the funny aspect of a rom com but not really the romance of a rom com. But it was still a funny and enjoyable read.

Never did I think a man playing a cello would unlock a new fantasy...

📚: Yin Yang Love Song
🖋: @laurenkjessen
🗓: January 28, 2025

Thank you @readforeverpub for the #gifted copy of Jessen's latest romance & @bookswithnopictures + @just_talking_to_my_shelf for organizing this traveling arc.

Lauren does it again, ladies & gentlemen... are we surprised? No. This woman is a romance genius.

I adore Lauren's writing style. The way she weaves in the themes of each romance novel into her prose is so beautiful. "Yin Yang Love Song" plays with the beauty of music & nature. This entire book is so stunningly gorgeous & if you've ever read any of her books, you just know what I am talking about.

On top of just the endless beauty that is in Jessen's words, I learn so much when I dive into her romances. If holistic living. healing, flower, or music pique your interest... you're gonna need this.

The creativity & beauty that Lauren weaves into her romances are what keep me coming back. Her latest is top-notch. I was obsessed with the themes of giving & receiving love at your own pace, getting the most out of life + loving it deeply, and the most important message giving yourself the grace & time you need to R E L A X.

🎻 Rock Star
🫖 Tea
🪷 Magical Realism
🎻 Curses
🫖 Fake Dating
🪷 Dual POV
🎻 Forced Proximity
🫖 Healing
🪷 Green Pepper Spice

While YYLS might not be my favorite Jessen romance, I do really appreciate its messages about recognizing burnout and not giving up too quickly on love.

One thing I will always love about Lauren’s books are how she builds the friendship between her main characters. Every single time the pacing of the building of their relationships are done SO SO well and feels so genuine
I really enjoyed how focused the story was on not only the progression of the Chryssy & Vin’s relationships but their individual growth as well. These are two people who come together and strive to grow and better understand themselves, and I loved how you could so clearly see that they did it for themselves first. Because they recognized that *they* deserved to be the best version of themselves and how that commitment to their individual growth served a role going into their romantic relationship.
Chryssy’s love and passion for TCM and cooking came together so beautifully and it was something I resonated with. To see cooking be a part of chryssy and how she processes her own emotions and experiences and shows her love was so well done and unlike other main characters I’ve been reading recently!

I have adored every book that Jessen has written thus far, and I think this one might be my favorite! Her characters have such heart, and her romances are always both swoon-worthy and hard-hitting which is what I'm always looking for in my books. I cannot wait for this one to be out so I can talk about it even more!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the advanced copy of this relaxing and charming romance.
The book centers on Chinese herbalist Chrissy, who starts a pretend relationship with famous cellist Vin to help Vin's reputation as a heartbreakr and for Chrissy to promote her family's inn and new herbal tea company. As the two spend more time together, the relationship becomes more real than fake.
The book was very cozy and easy to read. Much of the book goes into TCM: Traditional Chinese Medicine. It inspires you to be more intentional with your nutrition, time, and energy. Other important topics are passions and finding balance to avoid burnout; growth personally, professionally, and in relationships; and family legacy.
This is the third book by this author, and it was another wonderful story. I recommend making a lovely cup of herbal tea and reading it.

RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Yin Yang Love Song by Lauren Kung Jessey is about Chryssy, a Chinese herbalist who due to a generational curse is constantly the one being broken up with, and Vin a cello player with a reputation for being a heartbreaker when they two agree to fake date to further their careers.

I loved Chryssy and Vin and found myself rooting for them the entire book! I think there could have been a little bit more pining and angst within their fake dating trope.

I absolutely loved the family dynamic in this book, and I loved that the family dynamics specifically focused on strong women! Each of the Hua women all had their own unique personalities and watching them all come together and interact was hysterical sometimes.

Also I thought the addition of the Chinese herbalist and herbal tea business to heal heartbreak was incredible. It was such a unique concept and like nothing I’d ever heard of before!

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Readforever Pub for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Over all I liked this one. I liked the characters and the premise and enjoyed little tidbits of Chinese culture. The writing was a little basic and not my favorite but was a good read to have during the week leading up to the election.

Jessen slam dunks it again! I learn so much about other cultures whenever I read a book of hers, and this one is no exception. I really had a great time with this story and I highly recommend.

A beautiful story about self discovery, family dynamics, being true to yourself and of course a love story 🥰

Chryssy is a passionate and bubbly Chinese herbalist who runs a healing retreat center for heartbreak with her aunts. The females in her family are cursed to experience heartbreak and Chryssy believes she will fall into the curse as well.

Vin is a celebrity cellist and heartbreaker, who is struggling with a big decision about the career of his music group with his brother.

After an unexpected meet cute at a party, Chryssy and Vin agree to a fake dating plan to help them both achieve their goals: Chryssy to promote the retreat's new line of teas through a celebrity endorsement and Vin to increase media attention and sell more tickets to his big show.

As Vin & Chryssy spend more time together, the two begin to form a deeper connection through honest conversations about family, hopes/dreams and their pasts. I thought that Laura Jessen did a beautiful jon depicting these difficult conversations in a way that was relatable and heart warming, while layering in Rom com moments that had me unable to put this book down.

Thank you Forever for the ARC.

A cute, though predictable rom com with an interesting setting and family occupation. Enemies to lovers is the trope for this romance. A light, entertaining read, with cultural references and Chinese traditions that make the characters and situations more interesting.

3.5 rounded up. Once again, Lauren Kung Jessen has a way of writing romances that have such high concept plots and are overly cheesy...and I eat it up. I didn't quite fall in love with this one as much as I did with Red String Theory or Lunar Love, but I still found this so charming and cute!

You *really* have to like a cheesy romance to like this, and even though that's sometimes a sticking point for me with other books, Lauren has a way of making it work where it doesn't bother me quite as much.

Thank you to Forever Pub for the ARC!

This delightful rom-com blends Chinese traditions with a family curse, featuring Chryssy, an herbalist, who finds herself fake dating Vin, a bad boy celebrity cellist. I loved Chryssy and Vin, and the supporting cast, especially Leo and the aunties, is such a highlight!

I loved the perfect mix of laughs and swoon-worthy moments, all wrapped around messages about slowing down to savor life and embracing the art of reinvention. If you want a heartwarming read celebrating love and cultural richness, this book is for you!

I need to catch up on my tandem read of The Reformatory. I’m not ready for tomorrow’s checkpoint discussion.

Thank you to Forever Publishing for a copy of this book.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this arc!!

What a good book! I enjoyed this more than I thought I would. I loved the main characters! They had great chemistry and worked so well together. I loved how the book just flowed. My first by this author but will not be my last!!!