Review copy was received from Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
The True Love Experiment by Christina Lauren Narrator: Jonathan Cole, Cindy Kay
Published by Simon & Schuster Audio on May 16, 2023
Genres: Contemporary Romance
Length: 9 hours, 27 minutes
Format: Audiobook
Source: Publisher
Goodreads
Amazon, Audible, Libro.fm, Barnes & Noble, Apple
Felicity “Fizzy” Chen is lost. Sure, she’s got an incredible career as a beloved romance novelist with a slew of bestsellers under her belt, but when she’s asked to give a commencement address, it hits her: she hasn’t been practicing what she’s preached.
Fizzy hasn’t ever really been in love. Lust? Definitely. But that swoon-worthy, can’t-stop-thinking-about-him, all-encompassing feeling? Nope. Nothing. What happens when the optimism she’s spent her career encouraging in readers starts to feel like a lie?
Connor Prince, documentary filmmaker and single father, loves his work in large part because it allows him to live near his daughter. But when his profit-minded boss orders him to create a reality TV show, putting his job on the line, Connor is out of his element. Desperate to find his romantic lead, a chance run-in with an exasperated Fizzy offers Connor the perfect solution. What if he could show the queen of romance herself falling head-over-heels for all the world to see? Fizzy gives him a hard pass—unless he agrees to her list of demands. When he says yes, and production on The True Love Experiment begins, Connor wonders if that perfect match will ever be in the cue cards for him, too.
I always seem to love these life fiction reads from Christina Lauren, especially now with some STEM oriented aspects. I was surprised to find some characters from The Soulmate Equation here.
Our heroine, Fizzy, is a romance author and Jess’ best friend. I love Fizzy, who speaks her mind and doesn’t put up with BS. She’s perfectly comfortable talking openly about sex and romance. She is having trouble writing her next book though, after a problem with the last guy she dated. She’s lost her enthusiasm for romance.
Connor is a documentary filmmaker but his boss wants something with more pizzazz (and profit) like a reality dating show. Connor gets the idea to have a famous romance author beloved by his ex-wife as the one looking for love. Fizzy doesn’t want to do it so she comes up with a huge number of demands. Connor takes it all in stride and also plans to use the the DNA matching created by River Pena in The Soulmate Equation.
I loved watching Connor and Fizzy get to know each other as Fizzy hassles him about things. The “heroes” for the show are based on classic romance types: The geeky nerd, the cinnamon roll, the one that got away, etc. The audience votes with #hashtags on social media. It’s great fun.
In her personal life, Fizzy has such a great group of family and friends. Connor also gets along well with his ex-wife and daughter. We get lots of these moments in addition to the show. Connor even agrees to take Fizzy to her brother’s wedding, since she can’t take any of the “heroes” from the show.
The True Love Experiment was so much fun. The characters are wonderful. The concepts are so entertaining. I was rooting for true love! I really enjoyed it so much.
Narration:
These narrators were not familiar to me. I appreciated having two narrators for the different points of view, especially since Connor is a Brit and that accent was an added plus. The voices of the characters seemed comfortable and the tones realistic. They narrated alternating sections in Fizzy and Connor’s points of view. I got the feels of the characters and it added to my enjoyment of the story. I listened at my normal 1.5x speed.
Listen to a clip: HERE
About Christina Lauren
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/besties/soulmates 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, 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 September, followed by a contemporary romance, Roomies in December, and their first Women’s Fiction, Love and Other Words in April.
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.
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I read all types of books but my favorites are urban fantasy and romantic suspense.I like some romance and some action / adventure / mystery in everything.I like sex in my books but please, only between TWO people.Intimate conversation is equally important to the sex in a book.It lets me see the characters.The other thing I enjoy is humor.
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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- 23-COYER
I really enjoyed this book and think it is one of my favourites from this duo! Great review Anne!
Thank you Jodie! I like the sciencey stuff in the last two and that these two are loosely related.
I’m to read you enjoyed this one so much. It definitely sounds like a book I would love as well. I esspecially love it when one of the characters is an author. Makes it a little bit more special I think 😀
Thanks Maureen. Fizzy is just all kinds of special.
you know I’ve heard a lot about this writing duo and your review makes me want to look closer 🙂
I love every single thing I have read of their work. Almost everything is standalone, except for an earlier series I think. The recent stuff all tends to be life fiction. Realistic characters, flaws, everyday issues and a big love.
Sounds good. I’ve enjoyed this writing duo.
Thanks Kimberly. I’ve really enjoyed everything I have read from them.
I’m a little intrigued now. Thanks for letting us know about this one and the great review.
Thank you Mary. It’s a good one for me.
It was fun! Your review is outstanding, Anne💜
Thank you Jonetta, always supporting. I really enjoy this author,
Great review. This is waiting on my ereader. I’m so excited.
It’s a great read. Enjoy!
I’ll be reading this soon so I’m happy to see you loved it, Anne! They’re usually a hit for me too!
I think I saw you loved this one too. I was surprised it was related to a previous book as they are usually completely standalone.
This one does sound super fun! But then, I am a fan of Christina Lauren’s novels. 😀
It is super fun. But part of that is Fizzy; she is an amazing character.
I love that the main characters are a romance novelist and a documentarian. This is an author I’ve been wanting to read and this looks really fun.
It really is fun. I hope you get to read it and love it.
Awwwww this sounds good.
I loved this. Fizzy is an awesome character.
I pre-ordered the audio of this from Audible with my April credit. Just got it on my account today. I’m planning to probably listen on my long drive to Branson over Memorial Day weekend. Great review! Can’t wait till I can get to it!
I hope you love it as I did.