Yin Yang Love Song is a rom-com full of Chinese rep.

The main characters are Chryssy and Vin. The book has alternating male and female POVs.

She is a Chinese American herbalist, Traditional Chinese Medicine chef and acupuncturist who lives on an island in Washington state. She runs an inn with her aunts. And they are starting a flower tea line. Her family is cursed. The women in her family are doomed to never find lasting love.

He is a famous musician, a rock cellist, who with his brother make up the duo the Chao Brothers. He is known as the Heartbreaker and has the reputation of constantly breaking women’s hearts.

I really liked both Chryssy and Vin. I loved seeing her work with her aunts. And I loved that he was a celebrity musician. Both of their jobs added so much to the story. And the curse part was enjoyable.

I was totally obsessed that every woman in Chryssy’s family had a floral name. Every woman is named after a flower that has relevance in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). She is Chrysanthemum. Her aunts are Violet, Rose and Daisy. Some of her other family members are Marigold, Primrose, Peony, Clove, Poppy, and Jasmine.

I absolutely loved the Chinese rep in this book. The romance was fun. However I did have a bit of trouble telling whose POV I was reading. I got confused multiple times and had to check to remember whose POV I was reading.

Overall this was an enjoyable romance.

Chrysanthemum and Vin start fake dating, but as it slowly becomes more, will her family curse, where the women in her family will end up alone cause them to breakup before they even begin? Will Vin’s reputation as a heartbreaker cause the heartbreak herbalist to need to fix her own broken heart?

A family curse, strong and interesting women characters, cellists who are rockstars and traditional Chinese medicine make this book so interesting and different. The women characters like their flower names all bloom and grow in so many different ways.

Have you ever had a book find you at the perfect time? Yin Yang Love Song did that for me. This ARC arrived to meat a moment where I truly needed to hear the message behind this story. I’ve had some scary physical health symptoms arise due to stress, so when I say I needed this book, I truly did. Yes, this is a beautiful love story, but at its heart it has a message about slowing down, taking care of yourself and giving yourself the time and space to heal, and about being okay with life going in unexpected directions. Lauren Kung Jessen has an incredibly beautiful way of writing and this story spoke to me on so many levels. This book has so many magical nuggets of wisdom swoon-worthy moments I simply couldn’t put it down. I can’t say enough good things about this book - it is one that will stick with me for a while and I can see myself coming back to it in the future. I adored every moment of reading it and am so thankful for the opportunity to read an early copy. Thank you Forever Publishing and NetGalley for the advance copy.

Thank you so much for the opportunity to read this book. The research that went into the book is well displayed on the pages with the amount of details that were provided for TCM and stringed instruments. I loved learning about both of these things. I enjoyed the cultural elements that were beautifully captured and intertwined into the plot. The characters had great growth both personally and as a couple. However, something was missing in the pacing of the story for me and I can’t quite pinpoint what it was. The story felt very slow paced yet rushed. The romance element seemed a little off as well as the characters do most of their romantic growth off page. Overall would recommend to others.

My thanks for the ARC goes to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing). I'm voluntarily leaving a review, and all opinions are my own.

Genre: Contemporary Romance, Asian Literature, Chick Lit
Language: A few F-bombs with a smattering of other profanity
Spice Level: Fade to black

YIN YANG LOVE SONG opens with a great set up with two brothers who seem to be polar opposites, and Chryssy is focused on her business because she won't go for love again. not when the family curse has bit her over nine times.

I loved the flowers in the tea, the family dynamic of Chryssy's family, and the conflict with Vin. It was so delightful. I also loved how Vin and his brother were working at finding a new rhythm with each other.

You might find this funny, but I was so distressed by the love interests' parents and their relationships. It stirred a pot of emotions! I think this could be seen as either a negative or a positive. Why do we read romance? For hope, romance, relationship therapy, and love. I WANT to believe that TRUE LOVE lasts forever!!! With that said, I will reassure you that this is a love story that fits fully in the romance genre.

Contemporary romance readers will enjoy this book.

Happy reading!

Thank you to NetGalley, Forever, and Grand Central Publishing for this advanced copy! You can pick up Yin Yang Love Song on January 28, 2025.

I love how Lauren Kung Jessen tapped into a quieter and softer love story with Yin Yang Love Song. Rather than focusing on specific tropes and caricatures of characters, we see fleshed out protagonists with complicated lives and motivations. Chryssy is closed off to love because of her family's traumatic history with breakups and love lives ending (due to a familial "curse"). Vin is a workaholic musician who never slows down and never invests true time and energy into a relationship, earning him the moniker "heartbreaker."

When their paths cross, Chryssy and Vin enter a fake dating relationship that they believe will be mutually beneficial (okay so there's at least one big trope). But Lauren Kung Jessen spends a significant portion of the book showcasing the wonders of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and how slowing down can benefit our lives in the longterm. Through Chryssy and Vin, we see so much of our own lives and relationships reflected back at us, our own insecurities and worries spelled out before us. It felt almost soothing to read this book as Chryssy explained the benefits of different herbs and blends and plants to Vin as they grew closer and closer. It was relatable when Vin talked about burnout and how much his body felt effected by it.

Chryssy's relationship with her aunties was also beautifully depicted and showed how this was as much a story about familial love as romantic love. Generations of women were tied together by one curse, but together they found a way to move forward and not let it control their destinies.

While I loved the messages behind this story and how the romance played out, I do have to say that there were a few too many flower and music metaphors or analogies for my taste. At first, it made sense to incorporate them, but after a while, it became a bit heavy-handed and veered into therapist talk (there's nothing wrong with that, but I did have to break up my reading a bit so it wasn't overwhelming).

If you're looking for a softer romance with soothing messages and reminders about the wonders of natural healing and remedies, this is the book for you!

📖 : Yin Yang Love Story- a standalone

✍🏾 Author: Lauren Kung Jessen-Read Lunar Love and Red String Theory both 5 ⭐ reads

📅Publication date: 1-28-25 | Read 1-21-25

📃: e-ARC 352 pgs.

Genre:
*Contemporary Romance
*Asian American culture
*Adult Fic

Tropes:
*forced proximity
*musicians/celebrity romance
*self-care
*Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)- acupuncture, herbal tea, cupping, nature
*fake dating
*a love curse
*mixed race representation

👆🏾POV: 1st person dual

⚠️TW: depression/anxiety, insomnia

🌎 Setting: Washington and New York

Summary: Chryssy is a Chinese herbalist that has a family curse where all the women's relationships will end in heartbreak. She and her aunties run a safe haven inn to help people devastated by breakups. Vin and Leo -The famous Chao Brothers-have a gig where they meet Chryssy. She offers to help Leo after his fiancée ends their engagement. Vin and Chryssy make an arrangement that is mutually beneficial where Vin and Chryssy fake date and will stage a break-up, helping his tour ticket sales and boosting her business.


👩🏾 Heroine: Chrysanthemum "Chryssy" Hua Willaims-32, helps run a holistic inn that treats heart-broken people.

👨🏾 Hero: Vin Chaos-32, famous cellist has band w/ brother Chao Brothers, known as a serial heartbreaker

🎭 Other Characters:

* Leo Chao-Vin's brother, also a cellist
* Chryssy's Aunts- Violet, Daisy, and Rose- and their businesses-The Wildflower Inn and In Full Bloom w/ Chryssy
* Peony+ Dan-Chryssy's parents (divorced)
*Isabella + William-Vin's parents

🤔 My Thoughts: I didn't connect with the main characters Chryssy and Vin because they emitted sadness that lingered their entire relationship. Chryssy believed in curse after her ninth breakup and swore off love. Vin worried about Leo after his fiancée Aubrey broke up with him. Vin and Chryssy had a lot of conversations about love and relationships and how nothing lasts. Their fake dating turned into the real thing, and they questioned if they could stay together with the curse and Vin's upcoming tour. The resolution for the family curse was anti-climactic but I loved how they used acupuncture as I've been an advocate for years to heal the body and energize the soul.

Rating: 3/5⭐⭐⭐
Spice level 3/5 🔥🔥🔥 closed door

🙏🏾Thanks to NetGalley, Forever (Grand Central Publishing) | Forever, and Lauren Kung Jessen for this ARC! I voluntarily give my honest review, and all opinions are my own.

This was such a cute romance. It’s somehow a story of finding love, believing in love, and being realistic about love, all at once.

The main characters start on a fake dating journey, but it quickly becomes so much more than that. The characters have lots of relatable qualities, and their romance felt pretty realistic.

I do wish the book moved a little quicker, but I enjoyed this read!

I loved the exploration of different relationships, but the chemistry and tension was lacking for me. The story failed to grab and keep my attention, even though I was very eager to read this one.

I unfortunately did not finish this one. I had a hard time believing the story, I think the main characters needed some kind of history and then I would have been able to connect better. Love the cover!

Lauren Kung Jessen has done it again! "Yin Yang Love Song" is another stunning masterpiece that has solidified her place as one of my absolute favorite authors. Her storytelling is simply captivating, her characters are vibrant and relatable, and her ability to weave together complex emotions with a touch of magic is unparalleled. I mean, this woman could write a grocery list and I'd probably buy it, frame it, and hang it on my wall. She's just that good. When is the next one coming?

I love the use of Chinese Medicine (TCM) and music in this love story between Chryssy and Vin. They meet at a celebrity party and agree to help each other out with fake dating. Vin is hesitant about TCM and how it can help heal a brokenheart for his brother. I love their interaction and how she opens up another world to him.

Their family dynamics played a big part in the story and each of the aunts were so much fun. After reading this, I feel the need to find some cellist music to listen to.

Thank you @readforeverpub @netgalley for a copy of this.

Yin Yang Love Song
Lauren Kung Jessen
4.75⭐️

Pub Date: 1/28/2025

LKJ did it again! Another phenomenal book from her! All 3 books have hit the right spot every single time!

How do I even start? So many good tropes here- opposites attract (literally since Chrissy is forever heartbroken and Vin is a heartbreaker), fake dating out of necessity (but done so so well!) turned into a beautiful friendship, then into love 🥰 I'm usually not a fan of fake dating but this relationship was written so well and it was well-rounded. Chrissy is so chill and easy-going and the couple just slid right into a good routine and fitted right into each other's lives. Ofcourse, Chinese culture is ingrained into this book and I love it. I understand the references but even if you don't have a Chinese background, the culture/topics were written so well that you'll just ease into it.

I just love the sassiness and the banter. So much character and definitely adds to the flavor of this duo. It's cute and entertaining, but also had some significantly meaningful and profound parts. The premise and plot were just cozy. One way to describe how this book made me feel is that it's like a warm hug or cup of tea. Don't get me wrong, there were friction points, some difficulties that each character was dealing with individually and then with each other. There was a little bit of a slow part in the middle when they're trying to figure out their traumas. This is a necessary part of character growth but it was a bit slower than I liked. But this was so bingeable. It made my heart flutter and definitely placed some butterflies in my belly. It's clean, closed-door romance. But the tension and build up was so so soooo good!

Ps. Love the small nod to RST! But this is a standalone. So no need to back read the other books before reading this one. I do recommend checking out her other 2 books tho because they are just GOLDEN!

I have been following LKJ's books since Lunar Love 2023, then Red String Theory 2024 and then here we are! She is definitely an auto-buy author for me now! 3 for 3!

Thank you @netgalley and Forever Publishing for a gifted e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A sweet story about a practitioner of Chinese medicine and a rock star who meet cute and then, thanks to a photo that goes viral, find themselves fake dating and then...... Chryssy lives with her aunties and runs a retreat that uses Chinese medicine to heal broken hearts. They're experts, having been under a curse for generations. Vin and Leo are cellists who play rock music-Vin is a heartbreaker but Leo's heartbroken (he's actually a hoot). When Vin brings Leo to Chryssy, they all discover so much more about each other and themselves. What's in the mysterious box? No spoilers but you won't find out til the end. I liked this for the information on healing herbs and flowers but more importantly for the family spirit both of the Huas and Leo and Vin. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. No real surprises (well, the box) but it's a good read and was great for a snowy day.

Yin Yang Love Song by Lauren Kung Jessen is a delightful rom-com that blends Chinese traditions, family dynamics, and a charming fake-dating trope. Chryssy Hua Williams, a Chinese herbalist with a "cursed" love life, teams up with bad-boy cellist Vin Chao for a mutually beneficial fake relationship. While the plan is to "break up" and boost both their careers, unexpected chemistry complicates everything.
Chryssy and Vin’s connection feels genuine as they help each other grow, blending their personal struggles with their professional lives. The story's themes of slowing down, embracing the present, and letting go of the past are heartwarming. The inclusion of Chinese heritage, traditions, and herbal remedies adds a unique and refreshing touch.
Though the pacing stumbles slightly in the middle, the ending ties everything together with a sweet and satisfying conclusion. Perfect for fans of fake dating and heartfelt romances, this story is sure to leave readers smiling.

As a bunny mom, when I heard that there was a bunny rabbit in this book, I wanted to pick this up! I love seeing rabbits as pets in a book, as they deserve more love than they are given.

In Ying Yang Love Song, Chryssy, whose family runs an herbalist retreat, agrees to fake date Vin, a heartbreaker sensational cellist musician in exchange for promoting her business and being another heartbreaking breakup for Vin to increase ticket sales.

As for the fake dating, this is my least favorite trope as I feel that a lot that I read is all the same, and felt the same with this one. It didn't make me feel like this added anything to the genre, or that these characters even had a lot of chemistry.

I did like learning about the different teas and the benefits they can bring, as that is something I'm exploring in my personal life. I did feel like Vin was written as a male version of Taylor Swift. With wanting to know what life is like not being a music sensation, and people always wanting to know when the breakup will be the moment he is in a new relationship, what the songs would be written about it, and the ever present question and gossip of… how did it end?

I think those that like fake dating, the music scene, and want to learn about natural remedies would enjoy this book.

Thank you NetGalley and Forever for an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

What happens when a heartbreaker who doesn’t want to break anymore hearts meets a woman with a multigenerational curse to never find love? Cue a fake dating storyline and yes we all know where that ends. But add more tea, flowers, self-love, and introspection.

3.5 stars! I liked a lot of things about this book but my favorite part was all of the different types of relationships explored in the book. Chryssy and Vin’s romantic relationship, Vin and Leo’s relationship as brothers and also working together, Chryssy’s relationship with the aunties and the differences between her relationship with both her mom and dad, and Vin and Leo’s relationship with their parents. I really enjoyed all of the different types of interactions at play. I also really enjoyed the use of TCM in the book. I didn’t know much about it going in but I felt like I learned something by reading this book. The biggest downside for me was the pacing. I wasn’t able to truly dive in and found myself needing to put the book down several times when I felt it was dragging. I really love Lauren’s writing though and will definitely keep recommending her books!

4.25⭐️

something i’ve always loved about lauren kung jessen’s books are the unique occupations of her fmcs. every time i’ve picked up her books, i love that i get to connect with these women through our chinese-american backgrounds. and that was no different with chryssy. i learned a little bit about traditional chinese medicine through my parents and a group research project in high school but now i’m a little more inclined to try some of these teas even though i’m 100% a coffee girlie.

there were so many good conversations in this book, whether they were between chryssy and vin, or vin and one of the aunties, that i absolutely loved. these conversations were mostly about heartbreak, love, and burnout but i thought they were important conversations that we should all have. they certainly were applicable to my own situations and they were healing in a way.

the love between chryssy and vin is a slow burn but they have cute banter and are determined to make their love work despite all the heartbreak around them. chryssy sort of forces vin to slow down and smell the roses (literally, no pun intended) while vin shows chryssy that she doesn’t have to be afraid to fall in love.

Jensen writes the sweetest love stories. There’s a really strong, beautiful element of magical realism in this romance. It really is a vibey romantic feeling. I really enjoyed the elements of Chinese culture and medicine and how that was woven into the story of Hua family. On a personal note, I really do enjoy it when I learn about a new culture setting while enjoying my romance novels!. (Also very funny is I think the third romance I’ve read in the past year that involved cello players.) I don’t always enjoy dating trope, but I thought it was well done here. I thought this was a really fresh take on the dating romance!

Thank you #Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.