Lunar Love by Lauren Kung Jessen ~ Review

This sweet, enemies-to-lovers debut rom-com filled with Chinese astrology will undoubtedly prove to be a perfect match with readers of Helen Hoang, Jasmine Guillory, and Helena Hunting.

Always a matchmaker, never a match…

Olivia Huang Christenson is excited-slash-terrified to be taking over her grandmother’s matchmaking business. But when she learns that a new dating app has made her Pó Po’s traditional Chinese zodiac approach all about “animal attraction,” her emotions skew more toward furious-slash-outraged. Especially when L.A.’s most-eligible bachelor Bennett O’Brien is behind the app that could destroy her family’s legacy . . .

Liv knows better than to fall for any guy, let alone an infuriatingly handsome one who believes that traditions are meant to be broken. As the two businesses go head to head, Bennett and Liv make a deal: they’ll find a match for each other—and whoever falls in love loses. But Liv is dealing with someone who’s already adept at stealing business ideas . . . so what’s stopping him from stealing her heart too?

Genres: Romance, Fiction, Contemporary Romance, Chick Lit, Asian Literature,

Get Your Copy Amazon | Goodreads

I didn’t expect to love this book as much as I did! The plot was predictable and while that is usually a turn off for me, I found myself so invested in the characters that I was pleased by the comfort of anticipating what might be happening next. I think it took me all of two days to read it cover to cover!

With a lovely mix of modern ideas and family tradition, I feel closer to a culture that I’ve not yet had the privilege of experiencing. I thoroughly enjoyed watching the main characters’ rivalry turn friendship turn… well I won’t spoil it for you! 😉 A rom-com featuring deep character growth is one of my favorite kinds and this one definitely delivers in that category.

Lauren Kung Jessen is a mixed-race Chinese-American writer with a fondness for witty, flirtatious dialogue and making meals with too many steps but lots of flavor. She is fascinated by myths and superstitions and how ideas, beliefs, traditions, and stories evolve over time.

From attending culinary school to working in the world of Big Tech to writing love stories, Lauren cares about creating experiences that make people feel something.

She also has a food and film blog, A Dash of Cinema, where she makes food inspired by movies and TV shows. She lives in Nashville with her husband (who she met thanks to fate—read: the algorithms of online dating), two cats, and dog.