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desana75's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction
Minor: Injury/Injury detail
courtnoodles's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Abandonment, Sexual content, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Medical content, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child abuse
meganpbennett's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-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
I received an ARC of The True Love Experiment from the Simon & Schuster table at a library conference. The rep said it was a good starting place for Christina Lauren books. I didn't realize it was a sequel, so when I got back from the conference, I checked out this book. It was very interesting.
Like a lot of romance novels, it covers some really deep topics while also keeping it light. It has one of my favorite tropes in it - fake dating - and it pulls it off quite well.
Like a lot of romance novels, it covers some really deep topics while also keeping it light. It has one of my favorite tropes in it - fake dating - and it pulls it off quite well.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Sexual content, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
bookswithlauren's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, and Sexual content
miss_vonnegut's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
So far this is my favorite of the three Christina Lauren books I've read; the concept was so interesting! I will say, at first it was hard to get past the slightly dystopian idea of DNA being able to tell you who you'd match with romantically/sexually, but as the book went on it felt less odd. While I loved the whole thing, the epilogue that's in the paperback version nearly brought me to tears, it was so lovely and sweet and adorable.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug use, and Gaslighting
Minor: Abandonment and Injury/Injury detail
tiredzai's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
It was a really cute read although I feel like there was no actual ending ?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction
Moderate: Alcoholism and Injury/Injury detail
thatswhatshanread's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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? It's complicated
4.75
I always say this, but I LOVE THE CHRISTINA LAUREN DUO. Their minds just get me.
As January is often a month of wallowing and burdened reflection for me, I found that I read “The Soulmate Equation” at the perfect time. It brought out a little more of the optimist in me and lightened my mood considerably because it was just so sweet and fun to read!
The premise of this story was so innovative and intriguing, even from someone who doesn’t have a scientific background whatsoever. It was so interesting—two unlikely candidates genetically matched through a dating app!! It reminded me of my favorite episode of Black Mirror, “Hang the DJ”, and the probability of supposed perfect matches, natural attraction, and true love. It was really cool how the plot balanced all this statistical genetic data with the romance. It all worked really well together and kept me wanting to know more.
I loved the family relationships in this one, especially between the MC, Jess, and her daughter, Juno. Really, all of the main characters had my heart. Obviously Jess and the delectable MMC, River Peña (HOT NAME LIVES UP TO THE HYPE) were SO CUTE together. I identified with both of them and appreciated that the tension between them in the third act felt justified and true to their natures.
I JUST REALLY ADORED THIS ONE. (I only took off .25 of a point because I felt the ending was a tad abrupt but anyway) It was like “Be Sweet” by Japanese Breakfast in book form. You gotta love it.
As January is often a month of wallowing and burdened reflection for me, I found that I read “The Soulmate Equation” at the perfect time. It brought out a little more of the optimist in me and lightened my mood considerably because it was just so sweet and fun to read!
The premise of this story was so innovative and intriguing, even from someone who doesn’t have a scientific background whatsoever. It was so interesting—two unlikely candidates genetically matched through a dating app!! It reminded me of my favorite episode of Black Mirror, “Hang the DJ”, and the probability of supposed perfect matches, natural attraction, and true love. It was really cool how the plot balanced all this statistical genetic data with the romance. It all worked really well together and kept me wanting to know more.
I loved the family relationships in this one, especially between the MC, Jess, and her daughter, Juno. Really, all of the main characters had my heart. Obviously Jess and the delectable MMC, River Peña (HOT NAME LIVES UP TO THE HYPE) were SO CUTE together. I identified with both of them and appreciated that the tension between them in the third act felt justified and true to their natures.
I JUST REALLY ADORED THIS ONE. (I only took off .25 of a point because I felt the ending was a tad abrupt but anyway) It was like “Be Sweet” by Japanese Breakfast in book form. You gotta love it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Sexual content, and Abandonment
Moderate: Alcohol, Pregnancy, Drug abuse, Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, Addiction, Emotional abuse, Alcoholism, Medical content, and Gaslighting
Minor: Infidelity, Death of parent, and Grief
deetabz's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Drug use, Alcohol, Alcoholism, and Infidelity
ae_young's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
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? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment
Minor: Injury/Injury detail
rensreading's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
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
4.5
i didn’t really have any expectations for this book coming into it but i was blown away anyway!
jess took me a moment to warm up to. as soon as she started talking about juno, i adored them both. i love loving parents and struggling parents who are doing their best and doing an amazing job even when they feel like they’re failing their child bc they weren’t raised by their own parents growing up. jess is exactly this to a T. she feels like she isn’t doing enough for juno but i believe her best was all that was needed. she listens to her daughter, she makes sure a trusted adult is always nearby to watch her, she gives her privacy when she wants it, and she always apologizes without expecting juno to accept — and, of course, all the basics like clothes, food, and shelter. jess is a great mom and a hard worker and loves those in her small circle fiercely. she’s open about her feelings even when she doesn’t know what she’s feeling and she always strives to be honest. i love that about her.
river is the new love of my life. i never understood why people had book boyfriends but after reading this? i want to marry the man who sat with his abuela everyday to watch novelas and built a matchmaking service when people laughed at the idea of compatibility being calculated by genetics because he couldn’t watch the novelas anymore but he could still honor his abuela’s memory believing in the perseverance of love. i know he was mistaken for an asshole in the beginning but in reality, he’s just so shy. not a grump at all and especially not with his girls. he is so good with juno. i just about melted the first time they met. i knew i was never going to be able to hate this man after reading that. i love him. i want him to always be happy with the people he loves most, big ole nerd 💚
the plot was a bit up and down but it never faltered and there was never a boring moment either. the adults actually acted like adults and COMMUNICATED instead of giving way to the third act break up which i have NEVER seen before in a romcom so kudos for that. the banter for almost any character interaction was phenomenal and fizzy being comedic relief but ALSO an important character as well? lauren really knows how to create multi-faceted characters even when they’re not the main focus of the story. lauren’s writing style is one of my new favorites as well and i’m glad to have another book of theirs waiting for me on my physical tbr shelf. i hope i like their other works as much as i did this one!
juno was adorable but no 7-9 y/o would talk so eloquently the way she did in the epilogue that takes place 2 years later. and that is the only complaint i had about this story. so with that, i rate this 4.5 stars :D
jess took me a moment to warm up to. as soon as she started talking about juno, i adored them both. i love loving parents and struggling parents who are doing their best and doing an amazing job even when they feel like they’re failing their child bc they weren’t raised by their own parents growing up. jess is exactly this to a T. she feels like she isn’t doing enough for juno but i believe her best was all that was needed. she listens to her daughter, she makes sure a trusted adult is always nearby to watch her, she gives her privacy when she wants it, and she always apologizes without expecting juno to accept — and, of course, all the basics like clothes, food, and shelter. jess is a great mom and a hard worker and loves those in her small circle fiercely. she’s open about her feelings even when she doesn’t know what she’s feeling and she always strives to be honest. i love that about her.
river is the new love of my life. i never understood why people had book boyfriends but after reading this? i want to marry the man who sat with his abuela everyday to watch novelas and built a matchmaking service when people laughed at the idea of compatibility being calculated by genetics because he couldn’t watch the novelas anymore but he could still honor his abuela’s memory believing in the perseverance of love. i know he was mistaken for an asshole in the beginning but in reality, he’s just so shy. not a grump at all and especially not with his girls. he is so good with juno. i just about melted the first time they met. i knew i was never going to be able to hate this man after reading that. i love him. i want him to always be happy with the people he loves most, big ole nerd 💚
the plot was a bit up and down but it never faltered and there was never a boring moment either. the adults actually acted like adults and COMMUNICATED instead of giving way to the third act break up which i have NEVER seen before in a romcom so kudos for that. the banter for almost any character interaction was phenomenal and fizzy being comedic relief but ALSO an important character as well? lauren really knows how to create multi-faceted characters even when they’re not the main focus of the story. lauren’s writing style is one of my new favorites as well and i’m glad to have another book of theirs waiting for me on my physical tbr shelf. i hope i like their other works as much as i did this one!
juno was adorable but no 7-9 y/o would talk so eloquently the way she did in the epilogue that takes place 2 years later. and that is the only complaint i had about this story. so with that, i rate this 4.5 stars :D
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment
Moderate: Sexual content, Medical content, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Drug abuse, Alcoholism, and Addiction
what i have tagged in the graphic and minor section concerns jess’ childhood and her mother so (most of) it is in the past or very briefly mentioned. also moderate child neglect (again bc of jess’ mom).