Book Review: The Soulmate Equation
Author: Christina Lauren
Publisher: Gallery Books
Rating: 5 stars
Read: March 2021*
Expected Publication Date: May 18, 2021
*A huge thanks to Netgalley and Gallery Books for this eARC in exchange for an honest review!
The Synopsis
Single mom Jess Davis is a data and statistics wizard, but no amount of number crunching can convince her to step back into the dating world. Raised by her grandparents–who now help raise her seven-year-old daughter, Juno–Jess has been left behind too often to feel comfortable letting anyone in. After all, her father’s never been around, her hard-partying mother disappeared when she was six, and her ex decided he wasn’t “father material” before Juno was even born. Jess holds her loved ones close, but working constantly to stay afloat is hard…and lonely.
But then Jess hears about GeneticAlly, a buzzy new DNA-based matchmaking company that’s predicted to change dating forever. Finding a soulmate through DNA? The reliability of numbers: This Jess understands. At least she thought she did, until her test shows an unheard-of 98% compatibility with another subject in the database: GeneticAlly’s founder, Dr. River Pena. This is one number she can’t wrap her head around, because she already knows Dr. Pena. The stuck-up, stubborn man is without a doubt not her soulmate. But GeneticAlly has a proposition: Get to know him and we’ll pay you. Jess–who is barely making ends meet–is in no position to turn it down, despite her skepticism about the project and her dislike for River. As the pair are dragged from one event to the next as the “Diamond” pairing that could make GeneticAlly a mint in stock prices, Jess begins to realize that there might be more to the scientist–and the science behind a soulmate–than she thought.
Goodreads
The Review
This book was fantastic! As an avid reader of contemporary romance/romantic comedies, it’s exciting to come across one that really stands out among the rest. It is also officially one of my favorite Christina Lauren books.
Here are some of the main reasons this book was so gosh darn good:
- The enemies-to-lovers trope was executed perfectly. While Jess did not give Dr. Pena the benefit of the doubt as truly the kindest person ever, the “enemies” part of the trope was not overly annoying or frustrating like it can often be.
- The main characters and supporting characters were all well-developed and charming in their own ways. The supportive female friendship between Jess and her BFF Felicity was heartwarming and realistic, and Jess’s daughter Juno is pure gold.
- The book was smart, and I think this is what sets it apart from other similar romance novels. Not only was it well written, but the plot didn’t feel implausible. It all felt real. Honestly, I wish the app existed in real life! I’d be curious to see how my parter and I match up.
I really hope we get to see Felicity (Fizzy) star in her own romance next!
The Book
Far Flung Readers blog received an Electronic Advanced Reader’s Copy of The Soulmate Equation by Christina Lauren courtesy of Netgalley and Gallery Books in exchange for this honest review. A big “thank you” to them! You can pre-order/purchase a copy for yourself through Bookshop here.
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