The New York Times bestselling author of The Unhoneymooners returns with a witty and effervescent novel about what happens when two people with everything on the line are thrown together by science—or is it fate? Perfect for fans of The Rosie Project and One Plus One.

Single mom Jessica 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 was never 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 percent compatibility with another subject in the database: one of GeneticAlly’s founders, Dr. River Peña. This is one number she can’t wrap her head around, because she already knows Dr. Peña. 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 Match” that could launch GeneticAlly’s valuation sky-high, Jess begins to realize that there might be more to the scientist—and the science behind a soulmate—than she thought.

Funny, warm, and full of heart, The Soulmate Equation proves that the delicate balance between fate and choice can never be calculated

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Fly Girl’s Review

I’ve read several of Christina Lauren’s titles, but none have touched me as much as this one did. The whole abandonment issue for the characters to deal with was definitely my jam. I guess because it’s how I grew up and didn’t really start dealing with it mentally until I was in my 40’s. I also love the getting rid of toxic people plot. Again, been there, done that…

There were a lot of comedic spots in the book, mostly from the BFF and Jess’s daughter Juno, but as you get further into the story the comedy tapers off and it turns into a hot mess Jess and River have to dig their way out of. So unlike many of their other rom-com’s, this one isn’t funny right to the end. The other topics I think overshadow the comedy in a good way.

Somehow they were able to channel what it feels like to be abandoned all your life and the angst and anger you project to everyone else that tries to get close. My dad was mostly absentee until I was in my late teens and I felt on many occasions just as Jess did. It’s better to just rely on yourself, you can’t trust anyone else to be there so why even try to have a relationship. Oh, how I’ve felt those choked down tears on many occasions. Thankfully for me, my abandoning parent was toxic too. I was able to work things out before he passed.

On the other hand, I’ve had a ton of family I’ve had to cut off because just like Jess’s mom they made my life hell with the rollercoaster of emotions and the constant train wrecking I would have to clean up from. It’s so draining. After many moons, I now believe you should get to choose who you spend your time and energy on in relationships, no matter if they are your family or not. If it is causing too much stress in your life, you have to let them go or it will literally kill you. I think a lot of people could learn from this story.

I’m giving this a 5 of 5 propellers and it will probably be in my Top 10 list for 2021. Not only did it resonate with me deep, but it made me cry too…and I never cry from books. So my hat’s off to Christina and Lauren for such a great story.

5 of 5 propellers

Connect with Christina Lauren

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Yes, there are two of us! Lauren (on the left) and Christina (on the right).

Christina Lauren is the combined pen name of long-time writing partners and best friends Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings. The #1 international bestselling coauthor duo writes both Young Adult and Adult Fiction, and together has produced fourteen New York Times bestselling novels. They are published in over 30 languages, have received starred reviews from Kirkus Reviews, Library Journal and Publishers Weekly, won both the Seal of Excellence and Book of the Year from RT Magazine, named Amazon and Audible Romance of the Year, a Lambda Literary Award finalist and been nominated for several Goodreads Choice Awards. They have been featured in publications such as Forbes, The Washington Post, Time, Entertainment Weekly, People, O Magazine and more. Their third YA novel, Autoboyography was released in 2017 to critical acclaim, followed by  Roomies, Love and Other Words, Josh and Hazel’s Guide to Not Dating, and the Publisher’s Weekly starred My Favorite Half-Night Stand, out in December.

Lauren Billings (but everyone calls her Lo) has a Ph.D. in neuroscience and before she made writing her full-time job, would spend her days doing nerdy research-type things wearing a lab coat and goggles. She is silly Mommy to two littles, wife to one mountain biking homebrewing scientist, and an unabashed lover of YA and romance.

Christina Hobbs (but you’ll always hear Lo call her PQ) used to spend her days in a junior high counseling office surrounded by teenagers. These days you can find her at her desk, writing or watching BTS videos. She grew up in Utah and is absolutely not old enough to be the mom of a 17 year old (right??), thinks she’s the luckiest person in the world to write books with her best friend, and is an unapologetic lover of boy bands and glitter.