The Soulmate Equation by Christina Lauren

The New York Times bestselling author of The Unhoneymooners returns with a witty and effervescent novel about what happens when two people with everything on the line are thrown together by science—or is it fate? Perfect for fans of The Rosie Project and One Plus One.

Single mom Jessica Davis is a data and statistics wizard, but no amount of number crunching can convince her to step back into the dating world. Raised by her grandparents—who now help raise her seven-year-old daughter, Juno—Jess has been left behind too often to feel comfortable letting anyone in. After all, her father was never around, her hard-partying mother disappeared when she was six, and her ex decided he wasn’t “father material” before Juno was even born. Jess holds her loved ones close, but working constantly to stay afloat is hard... and lonely.

But then Jess hears about GeneticAlly, a buzzy new DNA-based matchmaking company that’s predicted to change dating forever. Finding a soulmate through DNA? The reliability of numbers: This Jess understands.

At least she thought she did, until her test shows an unheard-of 98 percent compatibility with another subject in the database: one of GeneticAlly’s founders, Dr. River Peña. This is one number she can’t wrap her head around, because she already knows Dr. Peña. The stuck-up, stubborn man is without a doubt not her soulmate. But GeneticAlly has a proposition: Get to know him and we’ll pay you. Jess—who is barely making ends meet—is in no position to turn it down, despite her skepticism about the project and her dislike for River. As the pair are dragged from one event to the next as the “Diamond Match” that could launch GeneticAlly’s valuation sky-high, Jess begins to realize that there might be more to the scientist—and the science behind a soulmate—than she thought.

Funny, warm, and full of heart, The Soulmate Equation proves that the delicate balance between fate and choice can never be calculated.

 

 

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Gallery Books (S&S)

 

 

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
This is such a fun read – I loved the premise of the story, I enjoyed the buildup, the twist, and the outcome. I am a bit of a maths geek, so I really enjoyed how the author managed to weave a clever, cheeky, family-oriented, sexy love story around statistics and genetics, with a bit of business thrown in. There were so many fun characters and little scenes that had me chuckling.

I am very mindful that for you to really enjoy it, I can say very little else. The goodness comes from the writing, and the plot absolutely has to be revealed as you read it, not by me spoiling it for you.

I can promise that it is well worth the read, that it will make you laugh, it will make you question whether the premise of the dating app can possibly be true – is there really a soulmate out there who can be identified by our genetic makeup? And what if you believe you have found your match, but science disagrees? Fascinating subject, lovely romance.


Shelby – ☆☆☆☆
** Potential spoilers ahead. **

The Soulmate Equation was a cute, humorous, nerdy romance.

I enjoyed the enemy to lover-esque romance, but I absolutely loved every character!

What would you do if you found your genetic soulmate? Imagine not having to slog through dating apps or experiencing horrendous dates trying to find your "one." Dr. River Peña has discovered this technology and has devised a kit and app to pair genetic romantic matches. Will the doctor find his true one and only?

Jessica is a single mom of an adorable 7-year-old, Juno. She has a great network of people, including her grandparents and best friend of sassy Fizzy.

An independent woman, she is a freelance statistician who loves her coffee as much as numbers. She may not be interested in a relationship, but she does trust the numbers.

The side characters were fantastic, I think I'm in love with Fizzy and want to read more about her. The romance was a slow build and sweet. There were predictable moments, but they were well done and kept my interest. Overall, this was an enjoyable story.

 

 

CHRISTINA LAUREN is the combined pen name of longtime writing partners and best friends Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings, the New York Times, USA Today, and #1 internationally bestselling authors of the Beautiful and Wild Seasons series, Dating You/Hating You, Autoboyography, Love and Other Words, Roomies, Josh and Hazel’s Guide to Not Dating, My Favorite Half-Night Stand, and The Unhoneymooners.

Connect with Christina Lauren

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Instagram  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads
Facebook Group: CLo and Friends

 

 

 

Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of The Soulmate Equation by Christina Lauren to read and review.

In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren

One Christmas wish, two brothers, and a lifetime of hope are on the line for hapless Maelyn Jones in In a Holidaze, the quintessential holiday romantic novel by Christina Lauren, the New York Times bestselling author of The Unhoneymooners.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year… but not for Maelyn Jones. She’s living with her parents, hates her going-nowhere job, and has just made a romantic error of epic proportions.

But perhaps worst of all, this is the last Christmas Mae will be at her favorite place in the world—the snowy Utah cabin where she and her family have spent every holiday since she was born, along with two other beloved families. Mentally melting down as she drives away from the cabin for the final time, Mae throws out what she thinks is a simple plea to the universe: Please. Show me what will make me happy.

The next thing she knows, tires screech and metal collides, everything goes black. But when Mae gasps awake… she’s on an airplane bound for Utah, where she begins the same holiday all over again. With one hilarious disaster after another sending her back to the plane, Mae must figure out how to break free of the strange time loop—and finally get her true love under the mistletoe.

Jam-packed with yuletide cheer, an unforgettable cast of characters, and Christina Lauren’s trademark “downright hilarious” (Helen Hoang, author of The Bride Test) hijinks, this swoon-worthy romantic read will make you believe in the power of wishes and the magic of the holidays.

 

 

Buy Links

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B&N  ~  Google Play  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo
Gallery Books

 

 

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
Even though I read this in September, I really enjoyed the holiday vibe, and loved the concept too. We are led to believe that Maelyn is suffering a Groundhog Day-like Christmas, and we are along for the ride. Little pointers help us to see what is happening and why, and how she goes about changing things, but like her, we are left waiting for the next start over to happen… it is clever, crazy, but gets us to just where she wants to be, eventually!

The people in this story are so well introduced to us, that I would know them on the street – in fact, I think I know some of them already. They are beautifully penned, mainly described from Mae’s perspective, but she is aware and reads people well. I enjoyed how we get little extra snippets each time round, and how her awareness hones down to what is important and what isn’t. The holiday has become such a matter of routine, that it seems likely that she will know what is going to happen next, even if this wasn’t a repeat.

I don’t want to say more, because it is definitely best read fresh and without preconceptions – I read it pretty much in one sitting as I just had to know how it worked out – it was definitely worth it. Thank you, Christina Lauren.


Mary – ☆☆☆☆
First, I have to say that I was not impressed with the Groundhog Day effect at the beginning of the book. I have never liked that movie and it took me longer than normal to get through this book because of it. I had to make myself read it but once I got past that, it was a sweet story.

Anyway, we have all had that one guy we fell in love with, whether it was a neighbor, brother's friends, a long-time family friend’s son. Did you ever wish that you got the chance to see what would happen if you got together?

Well, this is Maelyn's story and the Groundhog Day effect gives her the chance to change things to make things right. Or so it seems. While the rest of the families do not know how to take her answers to certain questions, she doesn't tell everyone what is going on.

This story started out as a three-star read and ended up a four-star read for me. It is a sweet story if you don't mind the do-over again and again at the beginning. But the ending is perfect for Mae and Andrew.

 

 

Christina Lauren is the combined pen name of longtime writing partners and best friends Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings, the New York Times, USA Today, and #1 internationally bestselling authors of the Beautiful and Wild Seasons series, Dating You/Hating You, Autoboyography, Love and Other Words, Roomies, Josh and Hazel’s Guide to Not Dating, My Favorite Half-Night Stand, and The Unhoneymooners.

Connect with Christina Lauren

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Instagram  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads
CLo and Friends Facebook Group

 

 

Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren to read and review.

The Honey-Don't List by Christina Lauren

From the New York Times bestselling author behind the “joyful, warm, touching” (Jasmine Guillory, New York Times bestselling author) The Unhoneymooners comes a delightfully charming love story about what happens when two assistants tasked with keeping a rocky relationship from explosion start to feel sparks of their own.

Carey Douglas has worked for home remodeling and design gurus Melissa and Rusty Tripp for nearly a decade. A country girl at heart, Carey started in their first store at sixteen, and—more than anyone would suspect—has helped them build an empire. With a new show and a book about to launch, the Tripps are on the verge of superstardom. There’s only one problem: America’s favorite couple can’t stand each other.

James McCann, MIT graduate and engineering genius, was originally hired as a structural engineer, but the job isn’t all he thought it’d be. The last straw? Both he and Carey must go on book tour with the Tripps and keep the wheels from falling off the proverbial bus.

Unfortunately, neither of them is in any position to quit. Carey needs health insurance, and James has been promised the role of a lifetime if he can just keep the couple on track for a few more weeks. While road-tripping with the Tripps up the West Coast, Carey and James vow to work together to keep their bosses’ secrets hidden, and their own jobs secure. But if they stop playing along—and start playing for keeps—they may have the chance to build something beautiful together…

From the “hilariously zany and heartfelt” (Booklist) Christina Lauren comes a romantic comedy that proves if it’s broke, you might as well fix it.

Buy Links

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B&N  ~  Google Play  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
Oh, let me tell you, this is just what you need right now... a highly entertaining, cleverly romantic, based-around-a-celebrity-power-couple drama, funny adventure.

Be prepared to sink into this caper and not exit until you have got to the very last page. I loved how the story unfolds, how we know from the very beginning that something big goes down... we just have only our imaginations to think just how bad it was! Such a fun way to get the tension rising.

I can confirm that the writing is top notch. Both Carey and James are good people; and as we get the story from each of their viewpoints, we get their insights as the plot develops, and their emotions as they get to feel more for each other.

I really don't want to reveal more, just go, pick up a copy, and enjoy!


Mary Jo – ☆☆☆☆
This is a cute afternoon read. Carey and James really don't get along at the beginning of the book. Carey thinks that James is a bit of a snob, believing that he thinks the job he has is beneath him. James is not sure what to think of Carey. She's Melly's right hand, but there's something about her that calls to him.

Both Carey and James' backstory are a bit complicated and each of them have a reason not to quit the jobs they have with the IT decorating couple of the moment. As Melly and Rusty's relationship crumbles, James and Carey's begins. They discover that despite their differences, they really do have a lot in common.

I enjoyed the book, the way the characters were written and how each person was allowed to get to know the other before taking their friendship to the next level.


Mary – ☆☆☆☆
3.5 stars

This story starts out with Carey and James being questioned by the police. You wonder just what has happened and it makes you want to hurry through the book to find out.

Carey has worked for Melissa and Rusty Tripp for nearly a decade. They are America's favorite couple when it comes to home remodeling and designs. Carey started working with the Tripps when she was 16 and has helped them build their empire. But what the public would not believe is that the couple can't stand each other.

James McCann was originally hired as a structural engineer, but it turns out that he is Rusty's assistant. James catches himself watching Carey and he sees that she is a strong woman that puts up with a lot from Melissa.

With a book tour coming up and the couple almost showing the public their true feelings towards each other, Carey and James are sent on tour to keep Melissa and Rusty on track and not at each other’s throats.

Can Carey and James succeed with the book tour? Will Melissa and Rusty blow up before the tour is over? What will the public think when they learn the couple is not perfect or in love?
I liked the storyline but there just seemed to be something missing to me. I would have liked more of Carey and James, maybe a second book. Anyway, I love other books by this author duo and will be reading more from them.

Christina Lauren is the combined pen name of longtime writing partners and best friends Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings, the New York Times, USA Today, and #1 internationally bestselling authors of the Beautiful and Wild Seasons series, Dating You/Hating You, Autoboyography, Love and Other Words, Roomies, Josh and Hazel’s Guide to Not Dating, My Favorite Half-Night Stand, and The Unhoneymooners.

Connect with Christina Lauren

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Instagram  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads

Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of The Honey-Don't List by Christina Lauren to read and review.

Twice in a Blue Moon by Christina Lauren

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Unhoneymooners and the “delectable, moving” (Entertainment Weekly) My Favorite Half-Night Stand comes a modern love story about what happens when your first love reenters your life when you least expect it…

Sam Brandis was Tate Jones’s first: Her first love. Her first everything. Including her first heartbreak.

During a whirlwind two-week vacation abroad, Sam and Tate fell for each other in only the way that first loves do: sharing all of their hopes, dreams, and deepest secrets along the way. Sam was the first, and only, person that Tate—the long-lost daughter of one of the world’s biggest film stars—ever revealed her identity to. So when it became clear her trust was misplaced, her world shattered for good.

Fourteen years later, Tate, now an up-and-coming actress, only thinks about her first love every once in a blue moon. When she steps onto the set of her first big break, he’s the last person she expects to see. Yet here Sam is, the same charming, confident man she knew, but even more alluring than she remembered. Forced to confront the man who betrayed her, Tate must ask herself if it’s possible to do the wrong thing for the right reason… and whether “once in a lifetime” can come around twice.

With Christina Lauren’s signature “beautifully written and remarkably compelling” (Sarah J. Maas, New York Times bestselling author) prose and perfect for fans of Emily Giffin and Jennifer Weiner, Twice in a Blue Moon is an unforgettable and moving novel of young love and second chances.

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B&N  ~  Google Play  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
I enjoyed this book set in the world of world class actors and the film industry. We spend quite a lot of time on location for a new film, which enables some clever dynamics to come into play. Living at close quarters with the crew and cast inevitably brings issues to the fore more readily. I found that entertaining and forced issues which in a normal situation could have been dragged out.

We first meet Tate visiting London with her grandmother. She has a huge secret and sadly trusts the wrong person with the facts. This leads to her 18-year-old self having her whole life turned upside down. Fast forward to now, and we get to understand the fallout and how relationships have changed. Now a successful actress, Tate finds out what happened to the 'one.'

I absolutely bought into this story and enjoyed watching how it all worked out – between Tate and Sam, and between Tate and her close family. The only thing I found strange was that it took her so long to understand what the script was all about; up until she saw who wrote it, I completely got it, but once she knew? But maybe she was just so overwhelmed by everything else going on... which I could convince myself.

A really enjoyable romance, definitely worth a read.


Sarah – ☆☆☆☆
This is a sweet and angsty second-chance love story about an actress and a script writer. The first part of the book is pure joy – Sam and Tate’s first meeting in London is a heady, explosive few weeks of first love excitement. The second part of the book is a little darker. When Tate meets Sam again twelve years later, Sam’s betrayal hangs heavy between them. Both are older and more established, but neither has managed to find love with anyone else.

This is Tate’s book. The story is told from her perspective and at times the book is as much about her relationships with her parents and her career as it is about her relationship with Sam. I really loved Tate but there are a few moments when I found it difficult not to roll my eyes at her privileged and pampered self-pity. It’s difficult to feel sympathy for an A-list actress whose career has been boosted by her A-list actor father. In some ways, Sam is the more interesting character – but we don’t get to know him as well as I’d have liked to.

I love the film set setting for the second part of the story. The behind the scenes glimpses we get of the filmmaking process are fun and entertaining. Most of the characters are engaging but few move past type and trope. The story is a simple, easy read. It’s a satisfying – if predictable – read.


Erica – ☆☆☆☆
Spoiler-Free Review. The writing duo of Christina Lauren is new-to-me.

4 Stars. Rated based on the contemporary romance genre, not necessarily my enjoyment. I struggled to keep interested while reading, simply because it wasn't my cup of tea, even though second-chance romance is one of my favorite tropes. However, I do believe fans of the author and this genre in particular will be highly entertained. Hence my 4-Star rating.

At the beginning of Twice in a Blue Moon, Tate is only eighteen years old, so it reads age-appropriate, more like a young adult novel, which I appreciated and enjoyed. Vacationing with her grandmother, Tate meets Sam, who is also with his grandfather. They spend the next two weeks in a whirlwind love affair, many secrets shared, then they part ways. Sam broke Tate's heart by betraying her.

Fast-forward 14 years, Tate is now an actress, and while on location, she runs into Sam, where a tangle of animosity is felt toward him. With the promise of angsty deliciousness, Sam is none other than the screenwriter. I'm a sucker for the angst of love-hate and second-chance romance. Where this didn't hit the mark is how the emotions were just at the surface, not too deep or realistic. I felt as if I was being told Tate and Sam were connected, instead of actually seeing the connection develop on the pages.

Twice in a Blue Moon is a light and fuzzy, quick read, which is sure to please fans of the author(s) and of the contemporary romance genre. I just needed something a bit deeper to truly entertain me, because I won't remember much of it after reading another book or two.


Mary Jo – ☆☆☆
For me, this book was a hard read. The first half of the book was what happened in the past... Tate's first love, Sam, and how they fell hard and fast while in London. Sam's betrayal of her trust and love not only broke Tate's heart but cracked her soul as well.

The second half of the book deals with the fallout of Tate seeing Sam again. Tate's life has done a complete 180 since they last saw each other. She's a leading lady, ready for the role that's sure to earn her acting nominations aplenty. What she didn't know until the first day on set is that Sam is the screenwriter.

The angst that follows Tate through her journey of self-discovery is very tangible; however, I believe Tate is very naive for having been in show business for 12 years.

This book did offer me some moments to ponder about things that happen and why they happen and how, in the end, it's really up to you to stand up and create your own path.

Christina Lauren is the combined pen name of long-time writing partners/besties/soulmates/brain-twins Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings. The coauthor duo writes both Young Adult and Adult Fiction, and together has produced fourteen New York Times bestselling novels. Their books have been translated into 31+ languages. (Some of these books have kissing. Some of these books have A LOT of kissing.)

Connect with Christina Lauren

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Instagram  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads

Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Twice in a Blue Moon by Christina Lauren to read and review.

The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren

For two sworn enemies, anything can happen during the Hawaiian trip of a lifetime—maybe even love—in this romantic comedy from the New York Times bestselling authors of Roomies.

Olive Torres is used to being the unlucky twin: from inexplicable mishaps to a recent layoff, her life seems to be almost comically jinxed. By contrast, her sister Ami is an eternal champion... she even managed to finance her entire wedding by winning a slew of contests. Unfortunately for Olive, the only thing worse than constant bad luck is having to spend the wedding day with the best man (and her nemesis), Ethan Thomas.

Olive braces herself for wedding hell, determined to put on a brave face, but when the entire wedding party gets food poisoning, the only people who aren’t affected are Olive and Ethan. Suddenly there’s a free honeymoon up for grabs, and Olive will be damned if Ethan gets to enjoy paradise solo.

Agreeing to a temporary truce, the pair head for Maui. After all, ten days of bliss is worth having to assume the role of loving newlyweds, right? But the weird thing is... Olive doesn’t mind playing pretend. In fact, the more she pretends to be the luckiest woman alive, the more it feels like she might be.

With Christina Lauren’s “uniquely hilarious and touching voice” (Entertainment Weekly), The Unhoneymooners is a romance for anyone who has ever felt unlucky in love.

Buy Links

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B&N  ~  Google Play  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo
Simon & Schuster

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Shelby – ☆☆☆☆
The Unhoneymooners was a cute, funny, and quick read.

Sometimes you just need to read something that is completely different than your usual, and this provided a fresh palate cleanse. Some call this an enemies-to-lovers story, but I wouldn't go that far. I would classify this as unlikely acquaintances finding each other.

When Olive's twin sister, Ami, has a bout of bad luck, it's in the most fantastic way possible. Ami is the lucky twin, she wins giveaways and contests, she's found the love of her life, she's loved by everyone. When Ami gets married (all aspects she WON from various contests, including the catering at her reception), she has a beautiful affair and is excited to enjoy her 10-day honeymoon in Hawaii! Unfortunately, the worst possible situation occurs, and the ENTIRE reception becomes terribly sick, with the exception of Olive and the groom's brother, Ethan.

I really enjoyed this story. Olive is a bit of a Debbie-downer, but she's funny and smart. At times she was just downright stubborn, but I could totally understand why she acted that way. The situations that Olive and Ethan find themselves in were hilarious. Their chemistry was palpable from the get-go and I enjoyed them coming together. This wasn't a wham-bam-thank you ma'am story at all. Olive and Ethan took their time warming up to one another, and honestly that was refreshing. There was a bit of repetitiveness which was a bit off-putting, but it didn't ruin the story.

I loved the "un-honeymoon" but I found that when they returned home, the story really picked up.

This is my first book by Christina Lauren and I will definitely read more by this duo!


Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
This is a fun novel with an amusing premise. It took me a little while to get into it, as I felt it was a little obvious at the beginning, but it matured very nicely and by the end I was hooked.

Ethan developed into a genuinely good guy, and in fact, as you got to think about his take on the story, it was easy to see where Olive had misread the signals. That said, his loyalty to his brother whilst honourable, was undoubtedly misplaced – something which worked really well at then considering the whole issue of luck, and the lack thereof.

The luck issue worked really well, as it rose and fell through the book, giving the reader plenty of opportunity to consider whether her views were justified. I also loved that Ethan had a lucky penny but eschewed all comments about luck! Of course, the best news was that whatever her luck, she seemed to be catching the guy, the right guy for her.

Well written, set on Maui for the most part, which is a truly heavenly location (I honeymooned there myself!) and full of fun, this is a novel to escape into for sure.


Veronica – ☆☆☆☆
The Unhoneymooners is told entirely from Olive’s point of view and even though from the start Olive and Ethan hate each other, I suspected that what caused their animosity was just a misunderstanding. Olive and Ethan are great together and their verbal sparring good fun. It was amusing seeing their relationship change while they are in Hawaii pretending to be married so they can take their brother’s and sister’s honeymoon.

This is an entertaining story. It has some good laughs and if I can paraphrase Olive’s cousin Diego, some “second-hand embarrassing” moments too. As the story progressed, I really liked seeing Olive grow up and stand up for herself and stick to her guns.

This is a good, easy to read romcom, set in a beautiful locale with a hero and heroine that are good value. It is also one of those stories that made me want to go on holiday somewhere warm and tropical. This gets four stars from me.

Christina Lauren is the combined pen name of long-time writing partners/besties/soulmates/brain-twins Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings. The coauthor duo writes both Young Adult and Adult Fiction, and together has produced fourteen New York Times bestselling novels. Their books have been translated into 31+ languages. (Some of these books have kissing. Some of these books have A LOT of kissing.)

Connect with Christina

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Instagram  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads

Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren to read and review.

My Favorite Half-Night Stand by Christina Lauren

By the New York Times bestselling author who “hilariously depicts modern dating” (Us Weekly), My Favorite Half-Night Stand is a laugh-out-loud romp through online dating and its many, many fails.

Millie Morris has always been one of the guys. A UC Santa Barbara professor, she’s a female-serial-killer expert who’s quick with a deflection joke and terrible at getting personal. And she, just like her four best guy friends and fellow professors, is perma-single.

So when a routine university function turns into a black tie gala, Mille and her circle make a pact that they’ll join an online dating service to find plus-ones for the event. There’s only one hitch: after making the pact, Millie and one of the guys, Reid Campbell, secretly spend the sexiest half-night of their lives together, but mutually decide the friendship would be better off strictly platonic.

But online dating isn’t for the faint of heart. While the guys are inundated with quality matches and potential dates, Millie’s first profile attempt garners nothing but dick pics and creepers. Enter “Catherine”—Millie’s fictional profile persona, in whose make-believe shoes she can be more vulnerable than she’s ever been in person. Soon “Catherine” and Reid strike up a digital pen-pal-ship... but Millie can’t resist temptation in real life, either. Soon, Millie will have to face her worst fear—intimacy—or risk losing her best friend, forever.

Perfect for fans of Roxanne and She’s the Man, Christina Lauren’s latest romantic comedy is full of mistaken identities, hijinks, and a classic love story with a modern twist. Funny and fresh, you’ll want to swipe right on My Favorite Half-Night Stand.

Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
B&N  ~  Google Play  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Veronica – ☆☆☆☆☆
Clearly, I’m not a young in-the-know person because I didn’t know what a half-night stand was, but I do now. I loved this group of 30ish friends and their quest to find dates for an upcoming college dinner. They are an interesting, entertaining bunch. The kind of people you’d want as mates. Their group chats are a blast and I love the way they were set out in a clear, easy to read manner.

This story really centres around Millie, the only female in the group, and her best friend, Reid. During their humorous attempts and meeting people online, Reid and Millie have a tumble in the sheets. When it happens more than once their feelings start to change. If things couldn’t get more complicated, Millie and Reid are matched online but he does not know it is her he is talking to and romancing on the internet.

As the story progresses, the tone of this initially light-hearted book starts to become more serious and I started to stress. How on earth was this ever going to be anything but a train wreck for Mille and Reid? I wasn’t prepared for how devastated I was when things inevitably went pear shaped. I didn’t realise how much I loved these characters and how much I’d hurt when they hurt. I was a bawling mess. And not just for a little bit. Every time I thought the tears had stopped something would happen and the tears would start again. But the story does come to a really great ending and it was well worth all the tears.

This is the first book I’ve read by Christina Lauren and it was absolutely fantastic. My Favorite Half-Night Stand is one of the best books I’ve read this year.

Christina Lauren is the combined pen name of long-time writing partners/besties/soulmates/brain-twins Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings. The coauthor duo writes both Young Adult and Adult Fiction, and together has produced fourteen New York Times bestselling novels. Their books have been translated into 31+ languages. (Some of these books have kissing. Some of these books have A LOT of kissing.)

Connect with Christina

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Instagram  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads

Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of My Favorite Half-Night Stand by Christina Lauren to read and review.

Roomies by Christina Lauren

From subway to Broadway to happily ever after. Modern love in all its thrill, hilarity, and uncertainty has never been so compulsively readable as in New York Times and #1 international bestselling author Christina Lauren’s (Beautiful Bastard, Dating You / Hating You) new romance.

Marriages of convenience are so… inconvenient.

Rescued by Calvin McLoughlin from a would-be subway attacker, Holland Bakker pays the brilliant musician back by pulling some of her errand-girl strings and getting him an audition with a bigtime musical director. When the tryout goes better than even Holland could have imagined, Calvin is set for a great entry into Broadway—until he admits his student visa has expired and he’s in the country illegally.

Holland impulsively offers to wed the Irishman to keep him in New York, her growing infatuation a secret only to him. As their relationship evolves from awkward roommates to besotted lovers, Calvin becomes the darling of Broadway. In the middle of the theatrics and the acting-not-acting, what will it take for Holland and Calvin to realize that they both stopped pretending a long time ago?

Buy Links

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Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Angela – ☆☆☆☆☆
I made a rookie mistake when I began reading Roomies. I decided I’d read a few chapters before bed and then spend the next day finishing it. Nope. That’s not what happened. I got sucked into the story and was up until 4 am, unable to put the book down because I had to know how Holland and Calvin got to their happily ever after. I had to know whether or not Holland found her muse. I had to know if Calvin was as good of a guy as he seemed to be. I had to know how their story played out. See. Rookie Mistake. But it was sooooo worth it.

You know how a good romcom will have you laughing out loud repeatedly? While Roomies certainly had its fair share of laugh out loud moments, there were actually a couple of scenes that had me cackling. Not a giggle, not a guffaw, but a full-fledged cackle. Yep, that’s how much I enjoyed Holland and Calvin’s antics. Not surprisingly, their journey wasn’t smooth sailing. Then again, when you get married in an effort to defraud the U.S. government so that an illegal immigrant can remain in the country so that he can play guitar in your uncle’s Broadway show, there’s absolutely no way that’s going to go well. Fortunately for the reader, Christina Lauren took full advantage of the tangled web Holland and Calvin attempted to weave to put the couple through the ringer in order to earn their happy ending. Some of the obstacles were expected – we are talking about a green card marriage here – and some were not, but all were fun to watch play out… except when my heart was breaking for the couple because Holland was full of so much self-doubt that she couldn't trust in herself or Calvin. In fact, I found myself getting annoyed by Holland’s questioning of Calvin’s motives several times. It was as if she forgot that she was the one who proposed the arrangement to him. I had to keep reminding myself that her logic flew right out the window the more she fell for him. And boy, did she fall hard. Thankfully, she finally realized that the fall was mutual, and I was able to put my box of tissues away – yes, this romcom caused me to shed a few tears, but the really good ones usually do.

While I adored Holland’s family, especially her uncles, I detested her best friend. Lulu is the reason the phrase “With friends like that, who needs enemies.” exists. I was so glad that Calvin was able to chip away at that particular pair of rose-colored glasses Holland was wearing so that she could see Lulu for who she really was. I will warn readers that, for me, the ending felt abrupt. Once I stepped back for a few minutes, I realized that it wasn’t a case of the story being cut short or rushing to the ending, but rather that I wasn’t ready to part from Holland and Calvin’s company. I wanted to read about the next step in their relationship. And the next. And the next. And the next. I wanted to see if their happy ending was for now or for ever after. Sadly, Roomies is not listed as being the first book in a new series, so I’ll just have to imagine their happily ever after on my own – and I’m perfectly okay with that option. As expected, Roomies was another delightful read from the writing duo of Christina Lauren that left me both entertained and looking forward to their next release.

Christina Lauren is the combined pen name of long-time writing partners/besties/soulmates/brain-twins Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings. The coauthor duo writes both Young Adult and Adult Fiction, and together has produced fourteen New York Times bestselling novels. Their books have been translated into 31+ languages. (Some of these books have kissing. Some of these books have A LOT of kissing.)

Connect with Christina

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Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Roomies by Christina Lauren to read and review.

Autoboyography by Christina Lauren

Fangirl meets Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda in this funny and poignant coming-of-age novel from New York Times bestselling author Christina Lauren about two boys who fall in love in a writing class—one from a progressive family and the other from a conservative religious community.

Three years ago, Tanner Scott’s family relocated from California to Utah, a move that nudged the bisexual teen temporarily back into the closet. Now, with one semester of high school to go, and no obstacles between him and out-of-state college freedom, Tanner plans to coast through his remaining classes and clear out of Utah.

But when his best friend Autumn dares him to take Provo High’s prestigious Seminar—where honor roll students diligently toil to draft a book in a semester—Tanner can’t resist going against his better judgment and having a go, if only to prove to Autumn how silly the whole thing is. Writing a book in four months sounds simple. Four months is an eternity.

It turns out, Tanner is only partly right: four months is a long time. After all, it takes only one second for him to notice Sebastian Brother, the Mormon prodigy who sold his own Seminar novel the year before and who now mentors the class. And it takes less than a month for Tanner to fall completely in love with him.

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Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Erica – ☆☆☆☆
4.5 Stars.

I need to preface this review with how I struggled at the beginning of Autoboyography. I also need to add I received an advanced copy, so I cannot comment on whether or not this is present in the published version.

I was close to DNFing the novel several times over during the beginning, which would have been a shame. The premise kept me reading – a bisexual writer in this coming-of-age tale. Truly, I’m thankful I kept reading, as I enjoyed the story immensely. To be honest, there was a different feel to the first three chapters versus chapter four and beyond. The pacing, flow of information, and scene structure, the majority of the first three chapters were rambling monologue, giving info the reader needed, but in a storytelling fashion. All tell, no show. There was little to no dialogue. But my biggest issue was how the narrator dropped readers into scenes in the middle of it, only for a few paragraphs, then would teleport the reader into another time and place without a transition.

Explanation: paragraphs of a classroom scene. One word later, the reader would be thrust into the mall. Classroom, then arcade. Classroom, then home. All partial scenes, in the middle, with no beginning or end. While this promotes fast pacing, cutting out any unnecessary info, it was beyond jarring and confusing. I'd flip back pages, wondering if I'd somehow missed the end of one scene, a mark denoting a passage of time, and the beginning of the next. Days could go by from the end of one sentence to the beginning of the next.

If you are reading this review, like I went searching due to my struggles, hang in there. It's worth it. The scenes become full-length at the start of Chapter 4. The authors begin showing, instead of telling.

Tanner is a well-rounded boy from a supportive family, with an equally supportive best friend. It was a breath of fresh air to have a narrator who wasn’t abandoned, or bleeding angst on every page. Dry wit and self-depreciating humor, Tanner knows who he is, what he wants, and where he wants to be in the future. He’s a non-religious bisexual boy living in an LDS community, raised by a Jewish parent and one who holds deep-seated resentment toward the Mormon church.

Tanner’s family is intelligent, open-minded, empathetic, supportive, and gives true-to-life, realistic advice by emotionally mature individuals. It was refreshing.

While Autoboyography does show different sides to LDS, instead of besmirching it, it’s written in a gray area, where it’s decisions made, left up to the individual.

Tanner falls deeply into infatuation with the TA in the Seminar, a class where students write a full novel during the semester. Color me jealous, but I wish this existed when I was in high school. The only issue, the boy Tanner falls for happens to be the son of a bishop in the LDS church.

On the pages, the reader follows Tanner’s coming-of-age journey, as the boy he loves has a conflict of conscience but never of faith. The comfort and clarity Sebastian found in his faith was inspiring, even during his deep struggles with the followers of said faith. The evolution mirrors the book Tanner’s writing. Cute. Sweet. Mortifying. Several times over, I dropped my Kindle into my lap, only to cover my face with my upraised palms. I was embarrassed for Tanner – blushing, laughing, and smiling. Shaking my head at the dang kid. Mortified.

Tanner and Sebastian had chemistry, tension, and a push-pull banter that was as humorous as it was seductive. A true connection was felt from the pages, causing the reader to become emotionally invested in the story.

I thoroughly enjoyed Autoboyography, and am so thankful I continued forth after struggling with the beginning. I recommend it to fans of the authors, as well as fans of the MM romance and Young Adult genres. But my recommendation goes deeper – young adults, especially those struggling with their sexuality while having faith, to experience the comfort of knowing they aren't alone. I also recommend reading by parents of these same children, to get a grasp on what they may be going through.


Sarah – ☆☆☆☆
Like all the best Young Adult writing, this story made me laugh and smile and cry and reflect. It is the story of a bisexual boy from an affluent liberal family who finds himself one of only a handful of non-Mormon kids in his new Utah small town. And he finds himself falling hard for his very Mormon writing mentor.

I was able to overlook the erratic pacing and the sometimes confusing plot structure because I fell hard and fast for Tanner. Most of the story is told from Tanner’s perspective and his experiences and observations are wonderful. I loved his friendship with Autumn and I wanted so badly to protect him from Sebastian.

Tanner’s experience as an outsider in a Mormon town is only compounded by his mother’s experiences growing up LDS and her adult resentment towards the church. Similarly, Tanner’s ‘coming out’ is tainted by his aunt’s very negative experience a generation earlier. I loved that the kids and the adults in this story are all multi-dimensional. We don’t get good and evil, we get people trying to do what’s right for them. Even when I wanted to hate Sebastian’s family, I was forced to understand their emotional and spiritual struggles.

Together, Sebastian and Tanner are wonderful. They are sweet and sometimes beautifully innocent. I wanted so desperately to protect their hearts – but this story is too honest for that.

While I loved the story, I did struggle with the writing. At times, scenes ramble on and on but in other places, readers are jolted from aborted scene to aborted scene quite erratically. But these characters are special and I had a powerful emotional reaction to their story.


Kris – ☆☆☆☆☆
A really new and different take on a coming of age/forbidden love story. Tanner's family moves to Utah, the land of Mormons and the LDS (Latter Day Saints church) where his mother grew up but left after the church shunned her gay sister. Tanner is bisexual and moving from open and out California to closed and closeted Utah is an adjustment, for sure. Of course, the one person Tanner finds a spark for is the LDS Church's, bishop's son!! Couldn't even be a girl he found completely intriguing. Sebastian is the poster boy for the LDS church. He's lived his entire life with a smile that covers a lie. Tanner brings out everything Sebastian is fighting to keep hidden. The two take on a forbidden romance and all the angst that comes with the fight against Sebastian's bishop father, the closed minded church town, and the intensity of first love. The beginning of the book threw me off a bit at first. Slightly disjointed and halting with quite a bit of over description. I was unsure where this story would go, but boy did my perseverance pay off and I implore you to do the same, KEEP READING! This book was a "can’t put it down, stayed up till 2am reading" story! Although I did find the ending a bit lackluster, although it was sweet and the way I wanted, I guess I just wasn't finished reading and wanted more. The book is very Young Adult with great descriptions that don’t go into much real detail but written extremely well.


Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
I don't often read coming of age novels, but I am very glad that I read this one. The blurb absolutely captured my imagination, and did not disappoint.

I found that Tanner was beautifully written as a boy who is right on the cusp of manhood, but can fall either side of the line, just depending on what is happening to him at that time. He was such a fabulous romantic writer – even though we don't get to read his book, anyone who ever wrote pages of their feelings of unrequited love, can imagine just what he has expressed in it.

And the whole LDS element was fascinating to me, as someone who lives in the UK, where there really aren't such large groups of Mormons. I met a young man going on his mission a few years ago on a flight to Ghana – so I remembered his nervousness, his earnest desire to do well, and yet he had never been away before and had very limited expectations of being able to talk to his family over the next two years. So, I could feel for Sebastian, and the prospects of his next few years.

The idea of basing the story around a book writing class is inspired, as it provides so many opportunities for the two guys to meet, which would have not happened otherwise. There are also some fabulously important people that get to join the cast; Autumn without a doubt being the most noteworthy. Whilst at the beginning of the book she dips in and out of sight, her contribution later is at times essential, and also, she holds a twist or two in her hands!

Really, my advice is that you should get yourself a copy and enjoy a wonderful love story, with some unexpected twists and turns. And do it as soon as you can. This book is on my re-read list, because I know I will enjoy it even more second time around. Thank you, Ms. Lauren.

Christina Lauren is the combined pen name of long-time writing partners/besties/soulmates/brain-twins Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings. The coauthor duo writes both Young Adult and Adult Fiction, and together has produced fourteen New York Times bestselling novels. Their books have been translated into 31+ languages. (Some of these books have kissing. Some of these books have A LOT of kissing.)

Connect with Christina

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads

Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Autoboyography by Christina Lauren to read and review.