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louisa_pennyfeather2021's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
*spoilers*
I loved this book. I don't know what I was expecting, but it definitely wasn't two socially awkwar STEM nerds trying to figure out how to navigate a relationship.
I will say that the sexual tension was more sexuak than the actual set scenes, which I found absolutely hilarious.
Overall a great read, especially for gushing romantics.
I loved this book. I don't know what I was expecting, but it definitely wasn't two socially awkwar STEM nerds trying to figure out how to navigate a relationship.
I will say that the sexual tension was more sexuak than the actual set scenes, which I found absolutely hilarious.
Overall a great read, especially for gushing romantics.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cursing, Medical content, Grief, and Alcohol
Minor: Child abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
severelyhopefulcloud's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment
Moderate: Alcoholism and Drug abuse
Minor: Infidelity
ncoletti's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism and Drug abuse
joice_'s review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
I'm surprised I don't like this book as much as I do. it has all the tropes I love - fake dating, soulmate, even DNA. Maybe I'm just not in the right mood to be reading romance..
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, and Abandonment
arwombat's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This was a fairly good story, but because I like science, I'm going to write my review about the science in this book.
So, first, the studies about the the students and the married couples don't make any sense. They don't mention the control groups at all, and for another thing the "experiment" with married couples would definitely be an observational study and not an experiment. For the student experiment, they didn't compare the genes in the successful couples with the comparative genes in friends or strangers or even exes. There were so many interesting studies they could've done. Like seeing if there were any genes that led to higher rates of divorce.
Another thing, which was actually brought up in the book was that people who were base matches were less likely to end up together because they thought they were less likely to end up together. It would be so interesting if they did an experiment of base matches telling them they were gold matches with a control group of base matches, would the group who thinks they are gold matches have higher rates of long term relationships, and how would that compared to the actual gold couples? What if you do the opposite and tell gold couples they are base matches? The psychological implications are so interesting.
Another interesting thing about the science in this book is that it really implies that nature is more important than nurture. It definitely chooses genes, rather than personality or life experience, as the determining factor in a relationship. And maybe it is a factor, but I would argue that nurture is almost as significant, if not more, and so I'm not sure how valid the premise is. According to modern (not book) psychology, the three determining factors in developing a relationship with someone (whether platonic or romantic) is proximity, attractiveness, and similarity. Clearly they had two initially, and as they got to know each other, they learned their similarities. (Self disclosure is a factor in forming long lasting romantic relationships as well).
Also, maybe this is just me, but the concept does seem kind of eugenics-y, just a little.
Moving on to their relationship. One thing that annoyed me was that at the end, even after actually committing to a relationship, River abandoned her (maybe) because it wasn't guaranteed that they were a Diamond match anymore, and although it's impossible to know what he would've done had he not had assurance that they were still a Diamond match, but based on his reaction, he might not have stayed with her. He didn't really make a choice to put her first and commit to their relationship because he figured out it was a sure thing before he had a chance to choose her. Part of committing in a relationship is trying even if you don't know whether or not it will work out, and he didn't do that.
Thanks for listening to my rant.
So, first, the studies about the the students and the married couples don't make any sense. They don't mention the control groups at all, and for another thing the "experiment" with married couples would definitely be an observational study and not an experiment. For the student experiment, they didn't compare the genes in the successful couples with the comparative genes in friends or strangers or even exes. There were so many interesting studies they could've done. Like seeing if there were any genes that led to higher rates of divorce.
Another thing, which was actually brought up in the book was that people who were base matches were less likely to end up together because they thought they were less likely to end up together. It would be so interesting if they did an experiment of base matches telling them they were gold matches with a control group of base matches, would the group who thinks they are gold matches have higher rates of long term relationships, and how would that compared to the actual gold couples? What if you do the opposite and tell gold couples they are base matches? The psychological implications are so interesting.
Another interesting thing about the science in this book is that it really implies that nature is more important than nurture. It definitely chooses genes, rather than personality or life experience, as the determining factor in a relationship. And maybe it is a factor, but I would argue that nurture is almost as significant, if not more, and so I'm not sure how valid the premise is. According to modern (not book) psychology, the three determining factors in developing a relationship with someone (whether platonic or romantic) is proximity, attractiveness, and similarity. Clearly they had two initially, and as they got to know each other, they learned their similarities. (Self disclosure is a factor in forming long lasting romantic relationships as well).
Also, maybe this is just me, but the concept does seem kind of eugenics-y, just a little.
Moving on to their relationship. One thing that annoyed me was that at the end, even after actually committing to a relationship, River abandoned her (maybe) because it wasn't guaranteed that they were a Diamond match anymore, and although it's impossible to know what he would've done had he not had assurance that they were still a Diamond match, but based on his reaction, he might not have stayed with her. He didn't really make a choice to put her first and commit to their relationship because he figured out it was a sure thing before he had a chance to choose her. Part of committing in a relationship is trying even if you don't know whether or not it will work out, and he didn't do that.
Thanks for listening to my rant.
Content Warnings
Minor: Drug abuse
the_savannahhumphrey's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Medical content, Gaslighting, and Alcohol
shutupiamreading's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, and Drug abuse
holthmsn's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The Soulmate Equation was a great read. I loved reading about Jess’ relationships with her family and her life as a single-parent (ups and downs) - it was incredibly wholesome. The love story, however, felt a little insta-love.. not quite the build-up of tension I wished for and felt like it was missing a spark!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, and Drug abuse
Minor: Pregnancy
hayleyw's review against another edition
funny
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Addiction and Drug abuse
meenakshisathish's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Addiction, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, and Gaslighting