The True Love Experiment

I have found my new favorite Christina Lauren romance. I have enjoyed almost every book I have read by this author duo, but this one stands out as superior. Both the characters and the plotline are mature and believable, which is refreshing.

This is the story of Fizzy Chen, who we first met in The Soulmate Equation, and Conner Prince III. Fizzy is a romance author who has lost her desire to date and as a result is struggling to write her next novel. Enter Conner Prince III, television producer and single father. Conner needs a leading lady for a new dating reality show, and he believes Fizzy is the perfect choice. The story follows the two before and during the filming of the show as they develop a friendship and try to stifle the obvious attraction they have for each other.

The characters make this book shine for me. It is nice to have two main characters that actually communicate openly and are honest throughout about their expectations and feelings. I am usually frustrated by the miscommunication that often permeates romance novels, but there is none of that in this book. It made my heart so happy to watch these adults behave like adults. They are both relatable and likable, and it was a joy to watch their relationship unfold.

The plot of this romance is not entirely unique, but it is well developed and adds a creative twist to the dating show trope. The DNA dating app introduced in The Soulmate Equation is carried over into this companion novel. The use of romance novel stereotypes is entertaining, with Conner having to cast men who fit the hero types such as “cinnamon role,” “hot nerd,” and “vampire.”

I loved the experience of reading this book and highly recommend it to anyone searching for a romance with adult characters who communicate openly and a fun storyline that keeps you engaged throughout. Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for the advance review copy.