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A review by rensreading
The Soulmate Equation by Christina Lauren
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).