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.

102: ROWANA MILLER: Secret societies, teen thrillers, and why kids make interesting writers – LiteraryHype Podcast

Send us a textThis week on LiteraryHype Podcast, we have a whole bunch of firsts! This is Rowana Miller's first interview! We're talking about her debut novel, Secrets of the Blue Hand Girls, which is being compared to Mona Awad's Bunny, but for teens. It's also Rowana's first time at New York Comic Con, so join us for some fun.FOLLOW ROWANABUY THE BOOKBookshopAmazonLibroFMSupport 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!WebsiteInstagramTiktok…

1. 102: ROWANA MILLER: Secret societies, teen thrillers, and why kids make interesting writers 18:42
2. 101: JESSICA S. OLSON: A magical villain romance, heists, and selecting the best snacks 13:16
3. 100: GENE LUEN YANG: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Eisner Awards, and Fighting Book Bans 13:24
4. 99: LILY BRAUN-ARNOLD: Hitting the NYT Bestseller List at 20 with a dystopian love story 17:39
5. 98: AXIE OH: Books for fans of KPop Demon Hunters and Final Fantasy 30:05