Believe me when I say, I’ve been excited about this new modern romance from Christina Lauren for MONTHS. The Soulmate Equation was the first book I took photos of when I decided to start the blog. While that’s partly because the flowers I grabbed at the store that week went with the cover perfectly, it’s mainly because I adore this book… as per usual for a Christina Lauren read.

The Soulmate Equation introduces us to a single mom named Jessica who swears up and down that she is not interested in looking for love. She’s focused on her daughter, Juno, and working at a local coffee shop with her best friend Fizzy, (who I want to be mine now too, obviously). They eventually strike up a conversation with another regular, who happens to be a scientist working on a dating app that matches potential partners based on DNA markers… and well, things go on from there. It’s a romance novel, so you have an idea what happens, but how it gets there and the lingering question are worth the ride.

There are some science-y bits throughout this novel. If your brain hates numbers like mine, you can safely skim them to get to the explanation and not feel like you’re missing something. Christina Lauren handled that part perfectly, so bravo to them. They are masters at creating chemistry between fictional characters, Jess and River included, so it should come as no surprise that they can craft and explain a chemistry-based app without a data dump.

They also made me miss the heck out of San Diego. I fell in love with the city while rowing in college, then found a deeper affection for it during Comic Con. They perfectly described the areas I recognized and gave me new places to explore next time I visit. (Yes, Shelter Island is real and it’s now on my list.)

Bottom line, if you’re looking for something lighthearted, fun, smart, and sweet, The Soulmate Equation is it. I’m sure it goes without saying, but this one is a five star read in my opinion. I’m not sure Christina Lauren is capable of anything else at this point. Order yourself some delightful entertainment here. I highly doubt you’ll regret it.

And here’s to hoping they give us the spin-off sequel we all deserve: Fizzy the sassy romance writer’s journey to finding love herself. Please, Christina and Lauren, make it happen.