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bookish_leslie's review against another edition
medium-paced
4.0
My rating scale, for reference:
- 1 Star: Hated it
- 2 Stars: Didn't like it
- 3 Stars: Meh
- 4 Stars: Liked it
- 5 Stars: Loved it
This book was an enjoyable feel-good read, even if it was a bit predictable.
Overall, Jess and River were cute together and had great chemistry. The physical attraction was obviously there for them both, but I’m glad a bit of depth came through in their relationship, too - for example,
Speaking of River, his characterization felt a little all over the place for me, and I could have done without the focus on how perfect he was. I can't say for certain whether he was straight-up objectively perfect or if that was just the way Jess viewed him, since she was the narrator, but I hate it when characters are depicted as having no flaws or as having/being it all.
Anyway, aside from the romance, I really enjoyed the relationships Jess had with her daughter, as well as with the other supporting characters. Her mom was totally shitty, and I was (spoiler)
Jess grew flustered. “She’s my kid. I want to see her.”
“Of course you do,” Fizzy said, “but she’s Jo’s and Pop’s and mine, too. She and I had a blast tonight, and I wish I could see her more. But you act like asking for help is selfish…” (pg. 238)
For a romance novel, I appreciated that the authors touched on more complex issues, like family dynamics (especially with the challenges Jess faced as a single mom, as well as the dysfunctional relationship she had with her own mom) or the exploration of destiny versus choice: how much of our compatibility with others could be genetically encoded into our DNA vs how much intention, choice, hard work and commitment factor into the success of our relationships.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content and Abandonment
Moderate: Addiction
Also: the difficulty and loneliness of being a single parentazyef's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Alcohol and Medical content
Minor: Sexism
tiziana612's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Medical content
avidreaderandgeekgirl's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I laughed and cried rom-com about a single mom and a DNA dating app founder.
With fake dating, plenty of laughs, soulmates trope, grumpy/sunshine pairing, some tearful moments, and enemies-to-friends-to-lovers. This book was a fabulous romantic comedy. My only complaint is not enough on the page spice!
I enjoyed the tongue-in-cheek things that Fizzi said about romance writing. I also loved that there weren't characters who really mattered to the story and who weren't given enough depth.
Overall, I loved it!
With fake dating, plenty of laughs, soulmates trope, grumpy/sunshine pairing, some tearful moments, and enemies-to-friends-to-lovers. This book was a fabulous romantic comedy. My only complaint is not enough on the page spice!
I enjoyed the tongue-in-cheek things that Fizzi said about romance writing. I also loved that there weren't characters who really mattered to the story and who weren't given enough depth.
Overall, I loved it!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Medical content, and Sexual content
Moderate: Abandonment and Alcoholism
Minor: Drug abuse
Emotional abuse and toxic relationships are between the MC and her mother.macykey's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
This book was very cute and an easy read once you got past the first couple of chapters. There were a couple of inconsistencies that I noticed, but other than that, very cute! And I was living for Juno and River’s relationship!!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Medical content, Alcoholism, and Sexual content
Minor: Drug abuse
courtnoodles's review
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
v1l25's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Medical content, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Drug use, and Abandonment
vj_thompson's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Gaslighting, and Medical content
Moderate: Abandonment, Addiction, and Alcoholism
Minor: Cursing and Drug abuse
kaitlynnnng's review
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
3.0
I love River Peña, I love Jess and Juno, I love their relationships, I love it all.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content, Emotional abuse, Alcohol, Drug use, Addiction, Alcoholism, and Drug abuse
Minor: Medical content and Medical trauma
gingerbiscuit's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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
5.0
I was very surprised by how much I loved this book. The only other book I've read by the authors was The Unhoneymooners and although I liked it, I didn't love it so I expected something similar with The Soulmate Equation and boy was I wrong.
The book itself is super cute, and about 3 introductionary chapters in the story takes off. There is strong character development, plus the characters are both funny and loveable. I don't enjoy books with kids in them but Juno (Jess's kid) is so cute and funny too, she fit the story perfectly. The writing was enjoyable too so it was a quick read.
It took me a second to finish the book because by the end of it, i found myself savouring the chapters.
</My only criticism is that the authors get the main characters to forgive the love interest a little too quickly but maybe that's me being petty because in this book, the quick make up made sense>
The book itself is super cute, and about 3 introductionary chapters in the story takes off. There is strong character development, plus the characters are both funny and loveable. I don't enjoy books with kids in them but Juno (Jess's kid) is so cute and funny too, she fit the story perfectly. The writing was enjoyable too so it was a quick read.
It took me a second to finish the book because by the end of it, i found myself savouring the chapters.
</My only criticism is that the authors get the main characters to forgive the love interest a little too quickly but maybe that's me being petty because in this book, the quick make up made sense>
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, and Drug abuse
Minor: Medical content