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With the 2020 revenue of the online dating industry topping $600 million, it’s clear that people are willing to put a little extra effort into finding The One. In The Soulmate Equation by writing duo Christina Lauren, a relationship cynic discovers a new method of matchmaking that appeals to her left-brained tendencies.
The story finds love in the most unexpected place with single mom Jessica Davis, a freelance statistician who’s raising a precocious seven-year-old. Each day, she and her best friend, romance novelist Fizzy, work together at a local coffee shop, where they find that another regular, buttoned-up Dr. River Peña, is developing a dating app that matches couples using their DNA. Though Jess isn’t interested in meeting anyone, Fizzy talks her into giving it a try. And when she’s found to have the company’s highest compatibility ever with River himself, she wonders if the numbers could possibly be right.
There’s a lot at stake here for both River and Jess—and not just emotionally. The success of this so-called “Diamond Match” could make River and his company a whole lot of money. Jess isn’t so sure about attempting a relationship with this guy who seems so stuck-up and judgmental—and she doesn’t want her daughter caught in the middle. But when the company offers her a lot of money just to give him a chance, she can’t say no. And the numbers are very convincing.
What happens when River and Jess begin their trial relationship isn’t necessarily surprising. Any fan of chick lit knows what happens when two people who hate each other end up forced together: they realize that they hadn’t really understood one another, and the sparks soon begin to fly. And while that certainly makes for an entertaining romance, there’s more to the story here.
Falling in love isn’t simple and straightforward for Jess. She has a young daughter who won’t understand the arrangement. She has aging grandparents to care for—and an addict mother who never ceases to make things difficult. But while River’s facts and figures add a new twist to their love story, the complications add extra heart, making it more realistically messy than the same old contemporary romance.
There’s definitely a reason why I continue to pick up Christina Lauren novels. They’re incredibly reliable—easy-going but not entirely brainless, romantic but also engaging, and undeniably charming. And as is often the case, readers are sure to find themselves invested in this latest pair and their story.
Listen to the review on Shelf Discovery:
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