I’ve been reading less romance lately and went into this with some trepidation. What did I think of this story of a DNA-based dating app that pairs a grumpy scientist with a frazzled single mom? Check out my review of The Soulmate Equation.
What’s The Soulmate Equation About?
The Soulmate Equation by Christian Lauren.
To be published on May 18, 2021 by Gallery Books. Thanks so much to the publisher for providing an advance copy for review.
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.
But then Jess hears about GeneticAlly, a buzzy new DNA-based matchmaking company that’s predicted to change dating forever. 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 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. But Jess begins to realize that there might be more to the scientist–and the science behind a soulmate–than she thought.
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Review of The Soulmate Equation
I appreciate authors who like to mix things up, but I’ll also admit that some of Christina Lauren’s books have worked better for me than others. I appreciated the HGTV inspired Honey Don’t List, but I think romance is what they do best.
The Soulmate Equation might be my favorite book EVER by this duo.
This book hits on so many tropes beloved by romance readers:
It was a little bit hate-to-love, with a bit of a nod to Pride and Prejudice, as main character Jess overhears love interest River call her “average.”
It had a fauxmance element, as River and Jess are convinced by his company to date as a way to promote his new DNA-matchmaking app for investors and the press.
In the tradition of rom coms, Jess has a hilarious best friend. Felicity “Fizzy” is a romance novelist who is always encouraging Jess to “get out there.” (She’s also as fun and sparkly as her name and is constantly stealing elements of other people’s lives for her books.)
It’s a bit of a meta-romance, as the whole DNA-match thing sparks discussions on what does make a good match and a successful relationship.
It’s a pro-romance book, with both Fizzy and River battling the disdain of others who act like love and romance are a frivolous and silly basis for a career.
Can Fizzy please get her own book? I hope so. (Someone was listening. She did – see below!)
Will you like The Soulmate Equation?
If you like a romance with classic rom com tropes, I think you’ll really love this one.
I reviewed the sequel, the True Love Experiment, here!
Love rom coms? Check out some of my other favorite adult rom coms here and my favorite YA rom coms here!
I haven’t had any luck with some of their books lately, so this is good to hear. I’m in queue at the library. 😉
Yeah, I appreciate they were trying to mix it up, but their newer books haven’t really clicked with me.
Whew! So glad to hear you enjoyed this one. I did too. It was really heartwarming, and the cast of characters added so much to the story
Loved her daughter (she wasn’t one of those too-cute book character kids) and her BFF!
I have this one coming up, but I’ve been too scared to read it. I haven’t had very much luck with their books lately, and I don’t want to be disappointed. It seems like you enjoyed it though!
I felt a little that way too (I honestly almost didn’t request it due to my lack of connection to their recent books). I’m glad I did!
Oh wow, happy to see you loved this one! I have been pretty wary of CLo too but I’ll happily give this one a try (especially on audio).
I hope you agree (you didn’t love Float Plan and I did so…..)
Christina Lauren is such a hit or miss duo for me, I honestly tend to avoid their books unless I’m really pushed to check them out. The premise of this one just doesn’t sound romantic… and I guess that’s why I’ve not really read many reviews. I’ve seen the hype on twitter, I know people are loving this but I guess we all know what we like best in a romance and I don’t think this one is for me. It does sound like they’ve managed to get the romance and tropes down to make it fun for readers (I know there’s a reason everyone has been enjoying it) so I can only hope their next book has a plot which fits to my reading tastes more and the hype will help convince me to read.
I think romance might be the most taste-specific genre out there. Tropes that work for one person might not work at all for another. Like you, I can read a review and often tell a book isn’t for me at all. I hope you find another book you love!
I absolutely loved this book and the banter in it. Yes!!! Fizzy needs her own story.