I would describe this book as soft and sweet. I’m always growing from Lauren’s writing and I love how this story was engaged with Traditional Chinese Medicine. I wasn’t as drawn into the live story as I was the characters as individuals.

3.5 Stars!

This was such a cute and sweet love story. The MCs personalities meshed really well creating a nice slow burn fake dating. However, I think it might have been too low stakes as I was getting a bit bored with the lack of tension. I think it could have been a bit shorter and still had just as much impact.

I really enjoyed the elements of Traditional Chinese medicine throughout. You can tell the author has a deep knowledge and appreciation for the culture.

I do recommend this if you are a lover of low spice, sweet romances. I will be reading more from this author for sure!

This book was so sweet and romantic. I adored Chryssy and Vin. Both characters were nothing like I expected and I loved how well they fit together.

I loved the inclusion of and learning about Traditional Chinese Medicine! It was something I had no knowledge of, and I could tell how passionate the author was about showing how it was so much more than just mixing herbs and teas.

This is an adorable twist on the fake relationship trope. As Vin and Chrissy navigate the good, bad, and ugly of the hand of life each other has been dealt. They navigate together and find what they are looking for in life and love.

Beautiful, tender, achingly sweet, poetically written. I loved this book so much, loved Chryssy and Vin -.both together and as their own characters. This was the epitome of a cozy, heartwarming romance.

This low spice romance is similar in writing style to Katherine Center and Rebecca Serle.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Forever Grand Central Publishing for the ARC opportunity.

This is fake-dating done right! Beautiful slow burn and low drama made this a perfect, comfortable read! As a romance, it was mild, but it was a perfect romantic novel!

This was a sweet story about family and the healing power of love and a cup of tea. I enjoyed the relationship between Chryssy and Vin as well as her and her family.

I appreciate NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of Yin Yang Love Song. This novel was a delightful and entertaining read, with a charming writing style that made it easy to enjoy. I particularly liked the incorporation of Traditional Chinese Medicine, which added an intriguing and unique element to the story. However, I found myself wishing for a stronger emotional connection between the two main characters. While they were endearing in their own ways, their relationship felt somewhat underdeveloped. That said, if you’re looking for a heartwarming, light romance that brings a sense of comfort and joy, this book is a wonderful choice.

This was a beautiful story about two people reluctantly falling in love. Both characters were likable and relatable, and I loved the relationships between the main female character and her female relatives. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-arc.

I thought this was a good book, even though it dragged a bit for me. I really liked that it explored the idea that life is not all what it seems with a celebrity and included so much about Traditional Chinese Medicine, tea making and food.

This was a very sweet romance. It took me a while to get into it, but I really like how Lauren Kung Jenssen writes romance and made me really fall in love with the characters.

I love the slight connection throughout each book despite the books being standalones. Vague mentions of my favorite people and places are just *chef’s kiss*. There were so many amazing references to TCM and other uniquely Asian things that weren’t allowed to be mainstream before and it’s lovely to see that changing! (I may or may not have a yin yang tattoo) At times it was a little overwhelming on information, but it really did all tie in. I loved her relationship with the aunties and would’ve enjoyed more time with the characters! Vin was so sweet and it was great that he eventually found what he was needing, even when he didn’t know if anything could really change. I’d have liked a bit more time spent on their getting-to-know-you’s and more deep conversations in private, not as much with others and in public spaces. It just needed a tiny bit more, like a pinch of seasoning, to get to the 5! Absolutely a 4.5 for me, LKJ will always be an auto-buy.
Side note: I will definitely be using “pulled a ghost” from now on hehe

Chryssy, a Chinese herbalist, meets Vin, a violinist, when Vin's brother needs to recuperate and does so at her family's retreat. Their close proximity lent itself to the two spending a lot of time together, sparking attraction along the way. When fake dating will give both their careers a boost, they're all for it. Little did they think fake would turn real. This story really pulls you in, especially while listening to narrators Eunice Wong and Eric Yang. The characters talk about generational expectations and the lengths they have to go through to please their families. Asian families typically have ultra high expectations for their children, which is measured by their success. The narrators brought out every nuance and emotion of each character and helped to craft a beautiful story of love and individuality.

I received an advance copy of this book at my request and voluntarily left this review.

I think this is a great beach read! It's cute, predictable and fun to read. I recommend it. Kudos to the authors!

Thank you to the publisher for my eARC!

Vin and his brother (Leo) are celebrity cellists. Their cultivated image is that they are heartbreakers as evidenced by their short relationships. But Leo is going through his own real breakup behind the scenes and needs a break from their life before their next tour begins.
Chryssy works with her aunts to heal broken hearts with a combination of Traditional Chinese Medicine, food, and rest. Every woman in her family believes in the family lore that they are all cursed in love so Chryssy is content with her life.
But Vin and Chryssy meet randomly and Leo decides to heal with Chryssy’s family’s help. Chryssy needs a famous face to launch her newest tea blend, and Vin needs a new relationship and then breakup to keep making headlines for the new tour. So the 2 decide to fake date… but definitely catch feelings.

This book was heavier than I expected but still such a sweet story. Jessen explores themes of burnout, self worth, and finding work you love which are all themes I think we can all relate to.

✨ Review ✨ Yin Yang Love Song by Lauren Kung Jessen, Narrated by Eunice Wong & Eric Yang

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

Chryssy, a Chinese herbalist, specializes in healing heartbreak. Vin, one half of the Chao Brothers, a violin/strings/rock duo, brings his heartbroken brother to Chryssey and her aunts for healing. While he's skeptical of what they have to offer, he stays to support his brother, moving into Chryssy's two-room cabin with her. Quickly, they start spending time with each other, and realize they could benefit from a fake dating arrangement. Chryssy and her matrilineal line have been cursed in love -- she’s forced to confront her fears while Vin explores what he really wants from his life and his career.

The book celebrates Traditional Chinese Medicine, tea-making, herbalism, and so many amazing sounding foods. It blends lots of my favorite tropes including forced proximity, fake dating, grumpy sunshine, and more!

The book dragged a little bit for me, moving slower than some of her other books (the middle one in the series I think was my favorite), but overall, I enjoyed the ride!

🎧 I loved the audio - it was the perfect amount of immersive character development and great narration.

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Genre: contemporary f/m romance
Setting: rural Washington state
Length: 11 hours 3 minutes
Pub Date: Jan 28 2025

Read this if you like:
⭕️ holistic healing from heartbreak
⭕️ learning from about Traditional Chinese Medicine and herbalism
⭕️ fake dating romances
⭕️ classical + rock music mashup

Charming fake dating romance that explores family mythology and generational trauma. This is a bit slower paced but it fits the tone of the book. You’re meant to meander through and savor the wander rather than race straight to the finish line. Traditional Chinese Medicine also plays a role in the book and I enjoyed the peek into a topic that I don’t know a lot about.

I started reading with my eyes and had to switch to audio. The narration by Eunice Wong and Eric Yang was good but I particularly enjoyed Eunice.

**I received an eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**

Review of "Yin Yang Love Song" by Lauren Kung Jessen
"Yin Yang Love Song" is a hug in book form, a delightful rom-com that whisked me away to a charming Pacific Northwest island and kept me utterly captivated. Lauren Kung Jessen has crafted a truly heartwarming tale that I couldn't put down!
Imagine a cozy island inn, a sanctuary for the brokenhearted, run by our protagonist and her adorable, meddling aunties. It's a place steeped in the comforting rituals of flower tea and the gentle wisdom of traditional Chinese medicine, creating an atmosphere that's both soothing and enchanting. This unique setting, combined with the classic fake-dating trope, made for a truly irresistible read.
The touch of a family curse adds a playful layer of intrigue, keeping the narrative light and engaging. And at the heart of it all, the sweet romance blossoms beautifully, leaving you with a genuine smile.
"Yin Yang Love Song" is the perfect escape for anyone seeking a lighthearted, cozy read. It's a story that warms the soul, filled with charming characters, delightful traditions, and a romance that will leave you swooning. Highly recommended!
Thank you to Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and NetGalley for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

This book was so very interesting to learn about Chinese culture and how ancestry plays a huge part in their culture. I enjoyed the story however I feel like there could have been more chemistry between Vin & Chrissy. Overall I did enjoy the story and now it makes sense as to why it is called “Yin Yang Love Song.”

Oh how it absolutely PAINS me to give an LKJ book 2.5 stars. I have absolutely adored her previous books so had super high expectations going into this and refused to DNF because I kept having hope it would get better.

My biggest gripe is that I feel like I never got a full read on the main characters. From the get go I couldn’t quite pinpoint their personalities and I felt zero chemistry between the Vin and Chrissy. I kept waiting for the spark to come, or for their relationship to click but it never came.

I loved the TCM piece and that felt super well researched, it’s just a bummer because this has all the makings of a book I would usually love but it didn’t work for me.

I will of course keep reading whatever LKJ releases, she is one of my favorite low spice authors and her stories are always heartwarming and charming.

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for an honest review!