I was already interested in Lauren Kung Jessen’s 2025 book after chatting with her about her 2024 release, Red String Theory [Buy Bookshop Amazon LibroFM], but when her publicist called it her best book yet, I was even more intrigued. It’s a phrase that I hear a lot and don’t always agree with, but this time, it is 100% accurate.

Yin Yang Love Song [Buy Bookshop Amazon LibroFM] introduces us to Chryssy and Vin. Chryssy, whose full name is Chrysanthmum, is an herbalist who runs an inn with her aunties focused on healing heartbreak. She’s also launching her own floral tea line. While serving tea at a party, she meets Vin, half of the wildly popular cellist duo the Chao Brothers. They just so happen to have a reputation of being heartbreakers

Vin and his brother are preparing to go on tour, but things are a little rough on the brother… so they go to Chryssy’s inn. While there, Vin and Chryssy strike up a deal to fake date to help launch Chryssy’s tea and sell tickets to his massive tour. Chryssy thinks it’s safe because all the women of her family are cursed to not enjoy lasting love. A heartbreaker and a cursed heartbreak healer… what could possibly happen? Hehehe.

I absolutely adored Yin Yang Love Song. It was the perfect first book finished in 2025. Fake dating is almost always a great trope, and this is woven together well. Lauren paced their relationship well and made it believable with their foundation being something of substance and not just convenient chemistry.

As much as this is a fun romance novel, it’s also got a lot more depth to it, which I enoyed immensely. It explores family relationships, traditional Chinese medicine, perfectionism, anxiety, the impact of prodigy, and lasting love. These layers turned this story into something to savor.

I loved how much of herself Lauren wove into this story. I loved how perfect the title is once you get to the end. It’s just perfection. No notes.

118. MARIE BENEDICT RETURNS: A two-timeline tale of a female pharoah chiseled out of history – LiteraryHype Podcast

Send us Fan MailThis week on LiteraryHype Podcast, Marie Benedict returns. Her conversation in episode 68 was the most-downloaded episode of 2025, and she's challenging you all to make this one do even better.Marie's newest book is Daughter Of Egypy, which is about a female pharoah named Hatshepsut and the female archaeolgist, Lady Evelyn Clarke, who went in search of her tomb and found something even bigger. Both women saw their accomplishments diminished, and Marie explores what may have gone down in history. We're talking all about the book, her trips to Egypt, and her efforts to tell the story correctly.Links to come.Support the showSupport the podcast by shopping:EtsyMy Bookshop.org listsLibroFM audiobooksTry Audible Plus  Gift Audible Membership Glocusent LED Neck Reading LightTry Shameless Snacks10% Off at Once Upon a Bookclub10% off Goli VitaminsTWO FREE AUDIOBOOKS with new LibroFM Membership: Kindle Unlimited FREE FOR THREE MONTHS!Prime Television FREE TRIALJoin the fun!WebsiteInstagramTiktokY…

1. 118. MARIE BENEDICT RETURNS: A two-timeline tale of a female pharoah chiseled out of history 20:32
2. 117. K.L. WALTHER: A Risky Business retelling, romcom shenanigans, and heavy topics in YA romance 22:12
3. 116. SHANNON J. SPANN: Crafting a theatre-based fantasy world & finding your own voice 37:19
4. 115. AMALIE HOWARD: Writing Why Choose Romantasy & Finding Her Own Voice 35:37
5. 114. KRISTIN DWYER RETURNS: Publishing a book when BTS is making a comeback 21:14