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A review by ptstewart
The Soulmate Equation by Christina Lauren
4.0
Recently, while searching for some books a little lighter than my usual Woman Brutally Murdered tales, I read another romance novel and had to do some self reflection: Had I become cynical? Was romance simply no longer for me? When had I stopped enjoying stories whose centers were about romantic connection, the development of love? Why did every romance I started seem dull and trivial and frivolous?
The Soulmate Equation solidified one thing for me regarding these concerns: I have not become cynical. I wholly enjoy a romance and connection and love. Having read two very different romance styles in succession, with The Soulmate Equation being the latter, I found that I am simply pickier than I used to be.
Lauren opens the novel with Jess anxiously talking to herself out loud and in public, which, luckily for my tastes, was the first and nearly the last time Jess behaves like a character written by a twelve year old striving for relatability. And in truth, in my opinion, the success of The Soulmate Equation comes from Jess’s character. Bright, funny, responsible, and thoughtful, we are introduced to a woman who would like a partner but is whole without one, who is cautious(ly optimistic) about relationships, committed to her roles as a mother, friend, and granddaughter, and—most importantly—exists in a world outside of her own brain. For me, so many romantic female heroines fail because they exist exclusively in their own minds, fixating on their love interest, overthinking in quirky-wannabe-relatable ways, disconnected from the mundanities of real life, like their jobs, making dinner, routine, the needs of others in their lives. Perhaps this is why a trend in my favorite romantic women is their motherhood; Jess has no opportunity to shut down if things don’t work out, disengage from her parental figures due to their interconnection, or generally fixate on or wallow about her dating life because she is responsible for another person. She—like those of us in the real world—must keep functioning and going. And these are the qualities that breathe life into her as a character.
The connection between Jess and River works. They are both tentative due to their situation but willing to be open; there is a difference between dubiousness based on presumption and hatred based on nothing, which is a staple of overwriting. Further, Jess’s skepticism naturally diminishes over time, and we see a woman ease into love with a man who shows up healthily for her in a world where she needs stability: he is dependable, straight forward, respectful, and willing to help. Actual, concrete qualities beyond our connection is so strong I’ve never felt like this before.
Finally, praise for the tension build during the pivotal reveal scene. You know when a character is about to find some tea in a movie and you’re on the edge of your seat, knowing some shit is about to go down, the other shoe is about to drop, things are about to change? The earnestness with which Jess enters the situation was met beautifully with the rise in tension and the increased sense of foreboding created for the reader. The balance there, the writing—I said YES out loud at the reveal because I’d spent the whole scene shaking my head knowingly thinking don’t do it girl, don’t snoop, it’s gonna be some shit. *chef’s kiss*
The Soulmate Equation is honest, grounded, and seems to written with reality and strong women in mind. A wonderful success and a fantastic read.
The Soulmate Equation solidified one thing for me regarding these concerns: I have not become cynical. I wholly enjoy a romance and connection and love. Having read two very different romance styles in succession, with The Soulmate Equation being the latter, I found that I am simply pickier than I used to be.
Lauren opens the novel with Jess anxiously talking to herself out loud and in public, which, luckily for my tastes, was the first and nearly the last time Jess behaves like a character written by a twelve year old striving for relatability. And in truth, in my opinion, the success of The Soulmate Equation comes from Jess’s character. Bright, funny, responsible, and thoughtful, we are introduced to a woman who would like a partner but is whole without one, who is cautious(ly optimistic) about relationships, committed to her roles as a mother, friend, and granddaughter, and—most importantly—exists in a world outside of her own brain. For me, so many romantic female heroines fail because they exist exclusively in their own minds, fixating on their love interest, overthinking in quirky-wannabe-relatable ways, disconnected from the mundanities of real life, like their jobs, making dinner, routine, the needs of others in their lives. Perhaps this is why a trend in my favorite romantic women is their motherhood; Jess has no opportunity to shut down if things don’t work out, disengage from her parental figures due to their interconnection, or generally fixate on or wallow about her dating life because she is responsible for another person. She—like those of us in the real world—must keep functioning and going. And these are the qualities that breathe life into her as a character.
The connection between Jess and River works. They are both tentative due to their situation but willing to be open; there is a difference between dubiousness based on presumption and hatred based on nothing, which is a staple of overwriting. Further, Jess’s skepticism naturally diminishes over time, and we see a woman ease into love with a man who shows up healthily for her in a world where she needs stability: he is dependable, straight forward, respectful, and willing to help. Actual, concrete qualities beyond our connection is so strong I’ve never felt like this before.
Finally, praise for the tension build during the pivotal reveal scene. You know when a character is about to find some tea in a movie and you’re on the edge of your seat, knowing some shit is about to go down, the other shoe is about to drop, things are about to change? The earnestness with which Jess enters the situation was met beautifully with the rise in tension and the increased sense of foreboding created for the reader. The balance there, the writing—I said YES out loud at the reveal because I’d spent the whole scene shaking my head knowingly thinking don’t do it girl, don’t snoop, it’s gonna be some shit. *chef’s kiss*
The Soulmate Equation is honest, grounded, and seems to written with reality and strong women in mind. A wonderful success and a fantastic read.