Reviews with content warning for Drug use - The Soulmate Equation

This was my second Christina Lauren book I read, and the first was almost a 5 star read, so I had high expectations for this book. It did not live up to my expectations as it wasn’t good as the first book (LAOW), but I still did really enjoy reading it. The story starts off kinda cringy and awkward, but slowly got better once the plot picked up. This was a very easy, lighthearted book to read so I didn’t expect any serious emotional damage anyways. It was a cute story about the relationship between Jess and River, and how it built where you see he does fall in love with her. I loved all the characters. I didn’t like how it was a very fast burn. The first conversation they have alone for more than 5 minutes is flirty, which is near the start of the book. Considering how much they disliked each other, and how rude River was at the start, I would have much preferred a more slow burn between them. This book also built up to a very unexpected plot twist. I really did not like the plot twist. It made the whole storyline meaningless in my opinion and wish it was a different plot twist. The conflict focuses on the company members of GeneticAlly, but I didn’t like how they dealt with the conflict. Especially River. He just ghosted Jess and Juno. This gave the impression that the score was what made them fall in love in the first place. This was later implied to not be true, but it wasn’t very fun to read. I also hated the ending. The ending itself was cute and sweet and happy, but left so many questions unanswered that just annoyed me more than intrigued me. I understand the point of the ambiguity was that the score didn’t define their love, but it was slightly irritating that they put so much emphasis on it and then just didn’t reveal it. It is hinted that theirs was a Diamond match through River’s disregard for the ethics of not revealing the falsification, but regardless but that just gives more questions than it answers. If it was a Diamond match, why did the company fabricate it in the first place? If it wasn’t, why did River not care? And how could the results be fabricated both times when River specifically said he wanted to make sure he got the results himself? Something seems off about that. I didn’t like the way this was dealt with. I liked how the book also explored Jess’ relationship with Juno, Fizzy, and her grandparents. But I didn’t like how this took away from the romance. There were a lot of scenes between Jess and River that I would have liked to see, i.e, their first sleepover, River sneaking in and out. I would have also loved more River and Juno! My heart would melt with daddy-daughter scenes, but there wasn’t many. I would recommend this book for lighthearted, sweet romance but I do think there are better books with those qualities since there are more complaints than praises with this story. I do love the idea and it has a lot of potential, but this book doesn’t really let the story live up to it’s potential.
“Destiny could also be a choice. To believe or not, to be vulnerable or not, to go all in or not.”
“Statistics can’t tell us what will happen, they can only tell us what might happen.”
“I understand that you needed to see the data, but I hate that you needed to see it to choose me.”
“I haven’t been home in years, but I feel that way with you.”

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risseandshine's review against another edition

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lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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spearly's review against another edition

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funny lighthearted fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Okay, Universe, Jessica thought. I get it. If Mrs. Brady could be a trailblazer, maybe it was time for Jess to try, too.

Take all the mystery and murder out of The One, add some rom-com shenanigans and a smouldering, tall, handsome nerd, and you get Christina Lauren's The Soulmate Equation.

I loved this! Another spectacular, fun, dreamy romance from my favourite writing pair. The characters were great, the writing was easy, and the chemistry was palpable. I do think this book should have been in first person (there's something about reading about that soul-deep burning love from 1st person POV that is much easier to connect to), but otherwise, I am a big, big fan of this one!

Juno was definitely the highlight. Kids can sometimes be really annoying in novels, but Juno was so clever and cute, and her relationship with River made my ovaries sing. Jess was also fantastic - a struggling single mother determined not to turn into her own mom. Her selflessness, loyalty, and compassion were so lovely to read (you know how sometimes these romance heroines can get!). She was so strong. She put up with no shit. She had her priorities in order and never let no man, no matter how studdly, tear her down. Fizzy, while brief, was also super fun. If the pair ever make a companion novel, I'd love to see her love story.

BLESS Christina and Lauren for not using the mIScOmmUNIcaTIOn trope (again, lol). The drama was believable, serious, but mature. Rightly so, since our main characters are 30 and 35. I loved the emotional intelligence of our characters, their banter, their story. This was truly a pleasure to read.

But Sofie! Why isn't this 5 stars then? Well, if I'm being honest... I didn't get that physical, heart warming, fingers buzzing feeling I do sometimes when I read a really, really good romance. And no, not necessarily smut, you pervs. I felt it with Twice Shy. I felt it with People We Meet on Vacation. As I mentioned, maybe it had something to do with the 3rd person POV...

Still. A sublime read. Can't believe I waited this long to dive in!

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lutheranjulia's review against another edition

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funny hopeful medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75

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a_brnz's review against another edition

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lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

As usual I love Christina Lauren’s stuff. Such a joy to read and I am in love w River

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teamoxfordcomma's review against another edition

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funny inspiring lighthearted fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

🌶️🌶️🌶️

What a treat from Christina Lauren!

This book is very much the rom-com version of The One by John Marrs, and I'm not at all mad about it. (The initial premise is similar, but it diverges enough to stand on its own and not be shady, IMO.) I fell in love with these characters. Every single one. I thought CL did a fantastic job of fleshing out the entire cast – I was just as connected to Felicity, Juno, and the grandparents as I was to Jess (and River). That's a rare and wonderful thing to come across in a romance novel nowadays.

I read this book in a single day – almost in a single sitting. It's one of those stories that sweeps you into its heart and doesn't let go until you close the book... and perhaps not even then. Upon finishing this book, I immediately wanted to start over and read it again – the mark of a great story (with immensely lovable characters you don't want to leave!). Though I'm not a single mom, I think we can all find a bit of ourselves in Jess: a bit strung out, doing the best we can with what we have, and hoping our best efforts translate to good in the world for those we love. And as for her 98% match... Watching River's personality unfold from the "cardboard cutout" Jess pins him as to the kind, passionate geneticist we know and love was worth the price of admission alone.

I like the questions this raises about dating apps in general, but specifically, if we lived in a world where compatibility was quantifiable down to the percent, and that figure was how we made choices about our futures. Ethically, it's a slippery slope, and CL does a great job of navigating those waters and honoring those conflicts while still keeping the tone of the book decidedly rom-com.

The only teeny hangup I had when reading is a nitpicky thing. (And who knows? Maybe it will be different in the final published copy than it is in the ARC, so take what I'm about to say with a grain of salt.) This story is written in third-person from Jess' POV. Normally, I don't mind third-person POV romances whatsover, but CL got me into Jess' head so well that I was jolted out of the story a few times when it would read "she shook her head" (or fill in whatever blank) and would think to myself "wait, who is?!?" until I remembered "duh, genius – third-person POV." Could totally be just me, but that repeated trip-up is the only reason it wasn't a perfect glow-from-the-heavens-full-5-star for me.

Christina Lauren books are auto-reads for me. I laugh, I swoon, and I put off any and all responsibilities to JUST. KEEP. READING. What more could you want from a romance?

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