First and foremost, I absolutely love Lauren's writing. She can do no wrong in my eyes. I loved her first two novels. and I love this book. Just like the other books, this book made me laugh out loud, and a maybe tear or two accidentally slipped out of my eyes. As an Asian American, I appreciated and related to the Chinese tradition mentioned in the book; it made me connect to the characters even more. Lauren is my new Abby Jimenez. I will forever read anything she writes. At this point, I'm willing to trade my left kidney for her next novel.

Thank you, NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you for the free Book/ARC Forever!

Another amazing story from Lauren! I absolutely loved Lunar Love and Red String Theory, so I was thrilled to dive into this one. Yin Yang Love Song feels different from the others but in the best way possible. The mix of humor and raw emotion had me hooked from the start. I loved how Lauren wrote about baking, teas, flowers and family (there’s even some curse breaking)! I learned so much about Traditional Chinese Medicine, the healing power of flowers and herbs, and the art of making tea!

Chryssy and Vin are absolutely adorable together. I loved their fake dating and how they helped each other grow in ways they never expected. Chryssy is such a strong, compassionate character, and Vin’s vulnerability was so cute. I love a great fake relationship that turns real!

3.5 ⭐️

This was a refreshing take on romcom(?) romance. The side quests and mystery behind fmc's family history was a fun journey to go on as a reader. Elements of TCM and cultural aspects of growing up in a mixed immigrant family was nice to see from the author.

Thanks NetGalley for the advanced reader copy.

Super cute fake dating romance between an herbalist who is cursed in love and a rock cello player with a reputation of being a heartbreaker. Chryssy has pretty much sworn off relationships since she has been dumped so many times and chalks it up to the family curse of never having lasting love. A chance encounter with a rock cello player, Vin, at a kid’s birthday party, causes all sorts of public speculation. Vin needs the gossip to help him sell concert tickets, so he asks Chryssy for help. She also gets more business at her family’s inn as a side benefit, so she agrees to the fake dating scheme. Of course, these two end up super compatible with each other and a slow and sweet romance develops. I liked seeing these two work as partners with their respective struggles and really communicate well with each other. The story totally sucked me in and I read it in a day. Fade to black on the intimate encounters and no third-act break-up.

This book is the third rom-com from this author. It was a good read that continued to have fun banter and realistic obstacles to overcome.

The Chinese culture aspects in this book were interesting. I learned a lot and appreciated how the author educated the reader along with the male main characters.

I enjoyed the story being told from both the male and female main characters point of view. I liked how Chryssy and Vin supporting each other and grew together.

I enjoyed the music references and showing the demands of a professional musician.

Thanks to @netgalley and @readforeverpub for the advanced reader copy.

#yinyanglovestory #laurenkungjessen

The story is told in alternating POV’s by Chrissy and Vin. It goes deep into their past and delivers a slowly developing plot.
I was a huge fan of the aunties with all their flowery names and also liked both of the MCs’ families, including the adorable pet bunny, Goji. I was intrigued by the inclusion of Traditional Chinese Medicine and learned a lot about health benefits of flowers and herbs. I loved the food and music references. Everything was so well researched and perfectly described. If I ever get heartbroken, I want to go to the Wildflower Inn. And I’m reminded in an author’s note ‘that I can take breaks and rest, I can change my life if I want to, I don’t have to be perfect and can bloom even if nobody is watching’.
All in all, I had a great time reading this novel, and I can’t wait to read more from this author.

i only read a few chapters (i got to 14%) but i just didn’t care about it at all so i have to declare it a dnf😭

LKJ is a very solid middle ground author for me. I read her books because they are different from the classic romance and they always bring an awareness to Chinese-American culture that the romance book industry is lacking. I appreciate learning a lot about Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) in this book, especially as someone who has benefited from acupuncture for chronic pain. I’d recommend this book to anyone looking to learn more about TCM and trying to read diverse voices in contemporary romance.

Romance wise, the relationship between Chryssy and VIN was a little lackluster for me, and I found the book to be a tad more fitting of women’s fiction. It reminded me of a far less spicy (mild?) iteration of Not Another Love Song by Julie Soto. Though this novel wasn’t entirely a closed door romance (the door was left ajar for one scene!) so that was a nice change from her previous two books. I liked the scene settings and the dual POV. The story also encompasses the feelings of burn out and perfectionism, which is something I could relate to (and am sure others can too). Even if the plot of an herbalist dating a famous musician isn’t necessarily realistic, it can be in the Hallmark romance world.

3.5 stars rounded up. This book was pretty slow paced, but also very cute. I really enjoy the Chinese culture and getting to learn a little about TCM. I also thought Vin and Chryssy were very cute together. The curse plot was entertaining but at some points seemed to be a bit much.

Thank you to Forever publishing and NetGalley for this ARC!

One of my favorite books I’ve read this month. Chrissy and Vin were no match for their fake dating scheme. I loved it!! Chryssy’s family curse might have been my favorite part.

I wish this hadn't started right in the middle of an event; I don't like beginnings that make you feel like you missed something. However, it got better as it progressed and I genuinely enjoyed the concept and the way it all played out.

Thank you @ReadForeverPub and Netgalley for the review copy.

Lauren Kung Jessen emerged as one of my favorite authors in 2024 - not just from reading her first two books last year but also getting to meet her in person at, like, 3 different events (!!). She is so kind, warm, and thoughtful, and those feelings translated into my reading experience with Yin Yang Love Song.

I highlighted so many quotes in this book that hit home for me. As someone who fancies herself a bit of a “recovering perfectionist,” the healing elements and conversations that occurred between the characters in this story — not just Vin and Chryssy but the side characters as well — put words to feelings I have been working through the past few years. Some of the passages served as reminders of what is important in life and love, which I really appreciated given the current state of our world. Vin and Chryssy had reservations about relationships, but watching their fake dating scheme turn into genuine friendship and feelings was not only heartwarming but also felt authentic.

If you are looking for a gentle romance with lots of music, floral notes, and reflection, I highly recommend Yin Yang Love Song.

I really enjoyed the concept of this, but I struggled with the execution of it. I had a hard time believing the chemistry between the two main characters. I also found the dialog to be cheesy at times, which took me out of it more than I liked.

🌱 Book Review 🌱

Thank you to Netgalley and publisher for an arc in exchange for my honest opinions.

Publication: Out now!

Rating: Not for me

This was a cute read and definitely helped combat those winter blues. I did find that the romance between Vin and Chryssy not believable and too slow for me. I loved learning about the herbs that were used from traditional Chinese medicine!

For fans of:
🌱 First person POV
🫖 Dual POV
🌱 Fake dating
🫖 Curse breaking
🌱 Chinese American rep
🫖 Herbalist and Musician
🌱 Traditional Chinese medicine

I loved Lunar Love and Red String Theory, so I was beyond excited to start this book. The idea was so fun, I really enjoyed the backstories of both the MMC (his life as a prodigy-turned workaholic musician) and FMC (TCM specialist/ cursed woman) and their journeys to figuring out what they wanted. I had a bit of a hard time really getting invested, especially in the first half, but in the end I bought into the story and the romance.

3.5 stars

ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Chryssy Hua Williams’s family is cursed, and her 9th break-up proves it! None of the women in her family have ever found lasting love. Chryssy is a Chinese herbalist and runs a wellness center for the brokenhearted with her aunties. In a chance meeting of celebrity cellist Vin Chao (known to be a heartbreaker), they strike up a deal. They’ll fake date, and when he “breaks” her heart, he’ll see an increase in ticket sales and she’ll see an increase in publicity and business.

This book was so cozy for me! Chryssy and the aunties put so much care into those suffering from heartbreak at the retreat. They are skilled at observing people so thoroughly that they know exactly what each person needs to heal. I really enjoyed learning more about Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). I also loved that Chryssy and Vin were both going on personal journeys. The book explored mental health and burnout beautifully. Chryssy and Vin’s relationship was a slow burn and such a sweet journey to love.

Thank you to Lauren Kung Jessen, Forever, and NetGalley for this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Read if you like:
💕 Fake dating
💕 Forced proximity
💕 Celebrity musician MMC
💕 Dual POV
💕 Closed door romance

Yin Yang Love Song by Lauren Kung Jessen is so full of heart, culture, and an ensemble of secondary characters that are just delightful.

I sincerely loved the Own Voices element of this book, and I can't wait to go back and read her previous book.

Chryssy and her family run an inn for the heartbroken. Since they believe they are cursed to never find true love, they want to help others heal from heartache. One day, Chryssy is seen talking with Vin, a rock star cellist who is one half of the duo, the Chaobreakers. Social media starts speculating about the new romance and the two decide to use it to their advantage. They will date for a while and break up before anyone gets hurt. They both get good publicity and hopefully sales.

What a beautiful story! I loved Chryssy and her family’s legend of Hua women. None of her aunties or her mom were able to make a relationship last. Their inn sounds like an incredible oasis of relaxation and therapy. There’s a spa and acupuncture and Chryssy’s own blend of special teas. Vin is a very well rounded character who is always told who he should be. But he’s his own person and he connected with Chryssy right away. I appreciated the conflict with his brother (the other part of the Chaobreakers) and speaking up for the brothers at their record label.

This was a very meaningful and genuine story. Each of the characters reflected on their parents’ relationship and it made them think about what they wanted in a romantic partner. They also used a beautiful metaphor about writing your own love song throughout the whole book. I also learned a lot about Traditional Chinese Medicine

I did enjoy this story over all and loved the idea of highlight TCM.

The parts that I loved were the characters and their backstories. What I would have loved more of was the romance. We don't get to see the MC"s on page together as much as I would have liked.

Perhaps I had the wrong expectations going into it, but I would say this is a great "finding yourself" story with a dash of romance. It's still overall an enjoyable read.

Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for an arc. All opinion expressed are my own.

*rounding up my 3.5 to a 4

Thank you, Forever Romance, for an early copy of "Yin Yang Love Song," by Lauren Kung Jessen!

I knew I had to get my hands on this book as soon as I saw it features a PR romance, nosey aunties, and a family curse—three of my favorite romance tropes! The Hua Family's journey back to love is both hilarious and heartwarming, and watching Chryssy and Vin's relationship bloom can cure anyone's heartsickness.

While the references to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) are intriguing to learn more about, the speeches and discussions about mental health tend to distract from the plot of the romance. I'm all for mental health awareness in books, but a character heart-to-heart every other chapter is unnecessary. I kept going because I wanted to know if/how the curse was broken, but the resolution for both this and the romance felt rushed. However, this is the first book I've read from this author. After speaking with other readers, this is the vibe her previous novels give off as well.

If you're looking for a low-stakes romance and are a fan of Lauren Kung Jessen's books, you should give this one a read. "Yin Yang Love Song" is out at your favorite local bookstores now!