DNF at 30%

Okay this is a soft DNF but unfortunately I can't imagine when I'd be in the mood to try it again... I've gone back and forth on stopping this - I told myself I'd pick it up one more time and then make a call if I still wasn't invested, but I haven't even been in the mood to do that. I really enjoyed Lauren Kung Jessen's other two books so I thought this would be a win, but I just did not click with the characters. I didn't feel any chemistry at all and felt like the whole story was kind of told at arm's length? I can see why people recommend this author if you love Sarah Adams but unfortunately this felt like a more sanitized version of her books/writing. I'd still highly recommend Jessen's first two books (and will still try her next) but this was just a miss for me!

What a glorious fake dating story between two love cursed people - one a heartbreaking rockstar and the other under a family curse.

Yin Yang Love Song was such an immersive story, with beautiful Chinese traditions and all the tea! The communication and openness between the two MCs was refreshing, and the love they build felt natural. Both Chrissy and Vin were well-developed and had personality. A truly enjoyable book!

While I really enjoyed many aspects of this story, it was not the most romantic romance, and the family "curse" was a bit ridiculous to me. It was difficult seeing adults not putting their own emotions aside for their children for me. But these were just small things within the larger plot, and neither would stop me from reading this book.

I really enjoyed how original this story was and the holistic elements included. The pacing was great and the story had depth. This is not my first book by this author, nor will it be my last. If you are looking for a feel, good hallmark-like story that is believable than look no further than Yin Yang Love Song!

There's something so beautiful in the way Lauren consistently crafts romances that center healing that takes the readers on a path of discovering more about themselves just as the characters do. Chryssy and Vin were two people reluctant in love for various reasons yet bound to their familial legacies so much that they'd agree to a fake dating scheme in order to protect them. The contrast of Chryssy's independent will with Vin's borderline cocky exterior due to his reputation as a heartbreaker made this a story I really fell in love with. Both characters had more to them than what the outer world saw, and Lauren did a phenomenal job letting us get to know their other sides as they slowly let their guards down.

If you love slow burn romances featuring a great cast of characters, a bit of meddling, a generational curse, and fake dating, this one's for you!

I was hesitant to start this one as the other two books I read by this author were not for me but I liked the idea of the retreat center for the broken hearted and the musical aspect. The characters in this one were more relatable for me and I enjoyed getting to know Chryssy and Vin. The challenges with both of their business ventures added more to the story than just another meet cute turned true love and I particularly liked the struggles they had with where their musical careers were headed. I loved the Chinese traditions that were incorporated into the book but I feel like the cursed love lives seems to be overdone as I’ve read this in a few books now (is everyone cursed?) Otherwise, this is my favorite of the ones I’ve read by this author so far and it makes me more willing to try again.

Lauren Kung Jessen's writing is so lyrical and poetic. This book felt like a warm hug and fresh flowers on a sunny day. There are so many beautiful quotes related to people being flowers and needing time to bloom - this one in particular has my heart, "your name might be Chrysanthemum but you don't need to bloom last". This was a wonderful and beautiful story, and I really appreciate you sending this galley my way.

I’ve been reading Lauren Kung Jessen’s books since her debut novel, Lunar Love, was published in 2023. Yin Yang Love Song, just out last month, is her latest and was just what I expected from her books. It was full of Chinese American characters, a swoony romance, and delicious food.

Here’s the book’s description:

Chinese herbalist Chryssy Hua Williams never actually believed in the Hua family curse. But after Break-Up #9, Chryssy stopped laughing. Now she and her aunties run a special healing retreat center for the broken-hearted. After all, there’s nothing a proper cup of herbal tea can’t fix...but Chryssy’s innocent run-in with celebrity cellist and bad boy Vin Chao has everyone brewing about a different kind of tea. So he offers her a deal: they’ll fake-date, he’ll “break” her heart (and increase ticket sales), and in return, he’ll promote her business.

It’s like Chryssy’s whole cursed love life has been leading up to this moment. But all it takes is one kiss—and a whole lot of unexpected chemistry—to land both of them in hot water . . .

I love a good fake dating trope and this one was delightful. Chryssy and Vin got off on the wrong foot, too, so they had to work to get used to each other (while living in the same cottage!) while also pretending to date. Which is totally a chill thing when one of them is a superstar cellist. I liked the twist on the trope in that the people closest to them Chryssy’s aunties and Vin’s brother) knew the truth so they had a safe space to be themselves without trying to be fake all the time. I think that really allowed their relationship to flourish and become real. (And we all love that moment when the fake becomes real!)

Some of the promotions and marketing of the tea in the book seemed a bit…weird? It sometimes seemed like Chryssy and her aunts knew exactly what they were doing and other times they were throwing money at strange marketing expenses. This is an odd thing to focus on, I know. But I work in communications and for some reason my brain decided to hyperfixate. It’s hard to show a plan in a novel, I know, but when some details were included, I just wondered why others were being excluded.

Random aside: I don’t know what kind of rabbit Gogi was but I was very happy to have a bunny rep in this romance! (And also happy that it didn’t make me sad after losing my own rabbit in late 2024!) I do have to wonder why, in this age of putting all the pets on all the covers, he wasn’t represented but I suppose I’ll get over it! Ha! But seriously. It’s always nice to have a pet that’s not a cat or dog mentioned in a novel, even when they’re not present for much of the story.

Now, I’m not one to believe in curses (or believe in much of anything, tbh), so it was tough to get over the idea that the whole family was convinced the curse was real and they (mostly) all blamed their relationship problems on that (instead of, you know, taking agency and owning their lives and choices). I did, however, enjoy how the women came together to try to get to the bottom of the curse and were able to learn more about their (true) family history. It was a really nice family moment and I appreciated seeing a family different from my own on the pages and getting to know them.

All in all, I’m happy to have read Yin Yang Love Song. Lauren Kung Jessen’s latest novel was sweet and full of characters I loved getting to know. I look forward to reading whatever she writes next.

*An egalley of this novel was provided by the publisher, Forever, via NetGalley in exchange for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.*

The best part of this book was definitely getting to learn about Traditional Chinese Medicine and exploring the cultural identities of the main characters.

That said, that wasn't entirely what I thought the book was going to leave with me when I picked it up resulting in me struggling to always grab this one above others. That could also be because the pace was a pit slower, but handled excellently!

Ultimately, Yin Yang Love Song is a story about the importance of self-care (physical + psychological) with a side story about finding love.

I’ve enjoyed all of the books by this author. This third book is the same! It didn’t resonate as much for me compared to the other ones, part of the romance felt very forced. But still a lighter fun read!

This one did not work out for me. I tried to get into it twice but ultimately decided to DNF pretty early on. I try hard not to do that with ARCs but I could tell immediately that this just wasn't something I would enjoy. The writing style was not something I was getting along with.

It's hard to describe but there was something so strange about the cadence. The way the author created pauses in dialogue, sometimes inserting thoughts in between speaking, was very jarring. This effect certainly can be done well but I didn't like how it was done here. The way the characters spoke was also jumpy. I constantly felt like I had missed something because the way the conversation flowed felt like something was missing. They would know things about each other without those things ever being discussed.

I honestly ended up feeling like this was an early draft and needed a lot more editing. I have no idea how much ARCs tend to differ from the final published version, so possibly some things have changed? But I can only rate what I read.

I will say that I was intrigued by the plot but the writing took me out of the story too much and it just wasn't worth continuing when I knew I wouldn't enjoy my time.

Thank you, NetGalley for an early e-copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

DNF @ 40% ~ I won't be leaving a rating on Goodreads

I wanted to love this one and I enjoyed some aspects of it - learning more about flowers and Traditional Chinese Medicine, plus Chryssy's aunts were a hoot - but the characters and storyline weren't holding my interest. At 40% in, I felt like I knew next to nothing about Chryssy and Vin and I wasn't feeling any chemistry between them. I kept trying, but ultimately decided to DNF.

This book follows two incredibly hard-working adults, trying to protect their family’s legacies. Chrysanthemum lives and works with her auntines at their healing retreat center, focusing on healing people’s broken hearts. Vin is one-half of a famous cello duo with his brother, Leo. They’re booked and busy, with a huge new tour about to start, but Leo is heartbroken and has fully given up.
When Chyrssy and Vin meet, there’s an instant spark, but they both know nothing can come of it. Every woman in Chryssy’s family has been cursed with a life of break-ups, and Vin’s whole brand is based around him being a heart-breaker. But that’s a perfect pairing for a fake relationship. At least, that’s what they tell themselves.
I really enjoyed this book, especially Chryssy and the aunties’ retreat that features traditional Chinese medicine. In almost every chapter, Chryssy was sharing information about a different traditional Chinese medicine practice, and explaining the reasoning behind it. Her bright and warm personality shone off the pages, and did most of the heavy lifting in this story.
Vin Chao was the big hurdle in this book. Here’s what’s important about Vin: he was a cello prodigy and is still a phenomenal cello player. He’s also he and his brother’s business manager, and is work obsessed. That’s really it. His reserved personality didn’t come with any hidden sides, just the burden of living out his parents’ dreams. Any chemistry he had with Chryssy seemed more friendly than romantic.
The plot was also slower than many romances, but I enjoyed the change in pace. I appreciated the side plots with Leo’s heartbreak healing and the mystery of the Hua family curse, even when they took away from the romance plot. The dynamic of the aunties cracked me up, and I enjoyed that both of Chryssy’s and Vin’s parents were also featured.
Overall, this was a fun read that felt cozy and inviting. Was it the best love story ever? No, but it was sweet all the same, and definitely had me rooting for their relationship the whole time. I think this is a great option for someone who’s looking to branch into or out of romance, since the romance elements are secondary to the story as a whole. Also, reading this will make you want to drink tea while listening to a cello playlist, so be prepared!
Thanks to Netgalley, Forever, and Hachette audio for the free advanced book & audiobook in exchange for an honest review!

As a huge fan of Lauren, I felt like I was waiting forever for this book lol And it was so worth the wait. Idk how to explain it. The contemporary fantasy was cool but I also really liked the way she incorporated the Chinese customs like the herbs and acupuncture. This whole series has showed me so much about their customs and beliefs and it’s been exciting to learn about.

So part of the reason I love this series is the things I’ve learned and researched more of. I’m definitely not a huge fan of tea, so I didn’t know any of the things that she was doing or trying when someone was experiencing heartbreak. So of course I went on a Google hunt to figure out all the herbs and what an herbalist did. And it was pretty damn impressive too. And the acupuncture was also interesting too. I’ve been pretty scared of it as well because I just didn’t understand how more pain was supposed to stop more pain? But reading about the specific science of it actually made me look more into it. This is why I love own voices books. They always teach me more about people and customs.

However, the romance in this one was so good! Yeah it was her normal make the hero not believe in the heroine, but somehow this seemed different? Idk it just didn’t seem like it was necessary for him to be SO against it. But watching him change into believing her and loving her was so sweet. The romance itself is pretty tame, but still very sweet nonetheless. I do think I laughed more than swooned tho. And I think this was my only complaint about it. I liked them more as friends I think. Even when it got to the spicy parts, it still felt weird. But idk that’s just me.

This was a sweet romance that I hope isn’t the ending to this series. I hope that there’s more. I know there’s more to learn about this culture and I need more of Jessen’s love stories. I really hope there is more. It’s almost guaranteed to be a lot of fun.

Yin Yang Love Song by Lauren Kung Jessen is a rom-com and the story of Chryssy and Vin.
 
Chryssy comes from a Chinese family, and she is part of the family business, a retreat center for the broken-hearted. I really liked this idea of the retreat center as a place for healing and that in combination with the Chinese traditions was really nice and I would totally visit a place like this as well. Chryssy has bad luck in love herself and it feels like she is cursed. I loved how she focused on her own happiness and working on herself to become the best version.
 
Vin is a celebrity cellist and his band is very successful. I liked how it was not the usual rockstar aspect. The band comes to the retreat center for a break and some healing and that creates the perfect forced proximity situation with Chryssy. Vin appears to be a total bad boy at first, but he has such a gentle and soft side as well and his character is very well balanced.
 
I honestly loved the characters by themselves, but the romance was a bit lacking for me. Most of it is just dialogue and sometimes I would have liked more internal thoughts. In addition, they’re very friendly with each other from the beginning and later even pretend to fake date. I didn’t fully feel their romance and it was very soft and barely there. I feel like the book focused more on healing and coming to terms with yourself which is great but took away from the romance sometimes too much.
 
This is such a heartfelt story infused with a little heartbreak, music, and a dash of romance. 3,5 stars.
 
(Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an arc.)

𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐢𝐟 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐋𝐢𝐤𝐞:
☯︎ celebrity (musician) romance
☯︎ fake dating
☯︎ forced proximity
☯︎ Traditional Chinese Medicine
☯︎ dual POV
☯︎ fade to black

I think this was my favorite of Lauren’s books so far! I really enjoy her writing and I feel like she just gets better with each book. Her imagery is vivid and makes me wish I was right there with the characters.

I really loved the themes of slowing down, and the importance of rest and rejuvenation throughout this book. How truly healing yourself – heartbreak included – takes stepping back and listening to your body. In our world of busy-ness being the norm, this was a breath of fresh air for me. I enjoyed the open and honest conversations between Vin and Chryssy and how they both yearned to help the other. The cast of side characters was impeccable and the family aspect warmed my heart. Overall a book I would definitely recommend, especially if you’re looking for a tenderhearted romance with healing floral tea, a lot of music, and reflection.

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

I LOVE LAUREN KUNG JESSEN and she is an auto buy author for me… and an auto request on NetGalley. And just super kind too (got to meet her at Steamy Lit Con).

Yin Yang Love Song continued my love for all things string instruments apparently 🎻 and Kung just weaves such a beautiful story that you just can’t help but enjoy it 🥰 Her stories always have this extra level and though Red String Theory is still her tops for me, this is a fine piece of prose that also touches on healing, found family, and self-care.

This is my first novel by author Lauren Kung Jessen, and I liked its quiet, romantic feel, and its likeable main characters Chryssy Hua Williams and Vin Chao, and the quirky aunties and cousins in Chryssy's family.

Chryssy, formerly studying to be a doctor, now works with her relatives at the family herbalist and wellness business, which offers a healing retreat for those suffering broken hearts.

The family has no men associated with it, as the Huas feel that they are plagued by a curse, which ensures that none of them will ever experience long term romantic happiness with a partner. That none of them has managed to sustain a relationship only reinforces their belief in the existence of the curse.

Chryssy definitely believes in it because she has nine failed relationships, including a broken engagement. At an event showcasing their business, she meets celebrity cellists Vin Chao and his older brother. They are the Heartbreakers, and have tremendous fame for their playing, but also for the string of failed relationships in their wake.

Vin's brother is not doing well, and decides to go on a retreat to recover from his broken heart (from his last relationship). Meanwhile,Vin is annoyed that their manager wants Vin to start another Heartbreaker relationship with Chryssy, with whom he was photographed at the event, as this will make for good publicity and generate ticket sales for their upcoming worldwide tour.

Chryssy agrees, as long as she can use their dating to publicize the family business; so win-win, right? And it starts out okay, though the more they get to know each other, they realize that they're attracted to one another, but also really like and respect the other. Chryssy begins to worry about their upcoming Heartbreaker mandated breakup, as this is the most comfortable and satisfied she's been in a relationship.

Vin also inadvertently starts Chryssy and her family on a search to understand the root of their curse.

The main characters are cute, and though Chryssy is the more self-aware of the pair, both have a lot to learn about trust and working through issues in relationships. Vin seems pretty shallow at first, but as he also takes advantage of the retreat's offerings, he begins to challenge some of his assumptions, especially after a surprising announcement by his loving parents.

I liked how Chryssy's family tackled the curse, or what they thought was a curse. There was nothing magical about it, in fact, and instead based on misunderstandings of their family's past.

The story's pace was much more measured than I expected, and I liked the way traditional Chinese medicine was explained throughout the novel, and the perceived benefits. I also really appreciated the focus on wellness throughout the story, and the way Chryssy, and later Vin (and his brother), were striving for a balance in their lives.

The author used her characters to focus on confronting and dealing with assumptions and habits/traditions passed down through generations with the intention of finding balance and happiness in one's life. I was left both happy for where the characters find themselves by the novel's end, but also found myself peaceful and contented.

I went back and forth between the prose and the audiobook, and appreciated the talents of Eunice Wong and Eric Yang. Eunice's measured and calm tones immediately helped me picture Chryssy, while Eric's voice easily brought Vin's brash and somewhat sarcastic self to life. I liked the various aunties and cousins, particularly one of the elders, whose forthrightness was both a source of humour and sense.

Thank you to Netgalley, Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and Hachette Audio for these ARCs in exchange for my review.

Yin Yang Love Song by Lauren Kung Jessen is a beautifully layered novel that explores love, self-discovery, and the complexities of navigating one's cultural identity. The story centers around Chryssy, a Chinese American woman who faces the delicate balancing act of honoring her cultural heritage while embracing her desires and individuality. Enter Vin, a musician who challenges Chryssy to think beyond the boundaries she’s placed on herself, sparking a romance that is both poignant and introspective.

Jessen’s writing effortlessly capturing the emotions and struggles of the characters. The chemistry between Chryssy and Vin feels natural, with their relationship unfolding in an organic way as both characters grow and evolve. It’s a romance that doesn’t just focus on love between two people, but on the way they each confront their personal histories, family expectations, and self-imposed limits.

Though the novel excels in many areas, it occasionally slows down in its pacing during more introspective moments. Some readers may find the focus on Chryssy’s internal struggles a bit repetitive, but these sections also provide depth and emotional weight to the story.

Yin Yang Love Song is a thoughtful, well-crafted romance that will resonate with readers looking for more than just a love story. With its emotional depth, cultural exploration, and authentic characters, it’s a captivating read that lingers long after the last page.

Herbalist Chryssy Hua Williams dedicates her career to helping people heal after heartbreak, using traditional Chinese medicine techniques like acupuncture and herbalism. Chryssy’s been dumped nine times, so she’s sworn off love… just as well, due to the Hua family curse (explored in Lunar Love and Red String Theory) that predicts a Hua woman will never have a successful relationship. When Chryssy bumps into a heartbreaker musician at a celebrity client’s home, a photographer catches their brief interaction—and chemistry—and suddenly the world is speculating about who Vin Chao, one-half of the electric cello duo Chao Brothers, is dating. They agree to fake date to help ticket sales for his upcoming tour, and promote her family’s business, a serene inn where guests stay to recover from being unlucky in love. The business is about to launch In Full Bloom, a line of teas and other products to complement the services they offer guests at the Heartbreak Hotel.

Leo, Vin’s older brother, is fresh off his own heartbreak, and finding it so debilitating, he checks himself into the Heartbreak Hotel, which forces Vin to take a bit of a break from their grueling schedule. Space is limited, so Vin and Chryssy have to room together in a small outbuilding (separate bedrooms, thankfully, but the forced proximity aids their getting to know one another so they can fake it for the public. A real friendship develops as Chryssy and Vin base-jump in Vegas for charity, participate in a dragon boat race with her family, spend time clamming, chasing fireflies and appear on late night television to prepare a honey, lavender and chrysanthemum egg custard tart.

Each has their own baggage to contend with: Chryssy’s parents are divorced and don’t spend a lot of time together, while Vin’s are about to celebrate 35 years of marriage. This is a very cerebral book, with lots of long conversations about the nature of love and relationships, about music, and about healing. The details of TCM are fascinating, and presented through the characters in such a way that the reader will learn a lot, without ever feeling lectured at. Vin’s openminded outlook and judgement-free curiosity is the perfect foil for Chryssy’s wealth knowledge. The dynamic of a very competent woman being supported by a man who doesn’t find her threatening was just lovely.

The curse that Chryssy and her family set out to uncover adds a mystery element to the plot, and the relationship between brothers Leo and Vin is conflicted and supportive and real. While there is a lot of magnetism between Vin and Chryssy, the intimate part takes place behind closed doors, with all signs pointing to complimentary compatibilities.

I received a free advance reader’s review copy of #YinYangLoveSong via #NetGalley courtesy of #Forever. A review will post to HLBB on 2/6/2025.

I really enjoyed this story and Lauren Kung Jessen has easily become an auto-read author. No matter how much I wish I didn't like fake dating or forced proximity, I fall for them every single time. I enjoyed the level-up of spice in this novel (since the previous 2 were almost no spice at all); however, I don't think that romance was the true star of this story. I loved the family dynamics and all of the aunties and wish I could spend more time with these characters.

3.5 stars ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️✨
This was a really flowery read for me. I learned some things along the way about Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the benefits of acupuncture, and the life-giving nature of a garden. I wasn’t too invested into the main characters, Chrissy and Vin. Their romance seemed more like friendship, which is great, but it didn’t take off anywhere. An herbalist and a rockstar cello musician walk into a party and you get this book. I did appreciate the dual POV and understanding what happens when burn out and perfectionism take light in our lives.
I'd recommend this book to anyone looking to learn more about TCM and trying to read diverse voices. Thank you NetGalley and Forever Grand Central Publishing for eARC.