A review by thatswhatshanread
The True Love Experiment by Christina Lauren
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
While I really enjoyed The Soulmate Equation and the BFF side character of Fizzy, I didn’t find this book with Fizzy as the MC on the same level.
Some reasons being:
• Fizzy being 37. She acts and talks much more like the typical CLo heroine who is usually in the 26-30 age range. Gave serious Clare from The Bachelorette vibes. Maybe that was the point idk.
• The premise was intriguing, another take on the buzzy reality TV dating show. I felt like it was misleading in its plot as, really, the actual contestants on the show aren’t given much to do in the story. They have little to actually do with Fizzy. As the show itself is what brings Connor and Fizzy together, I expected there to be more tension and back-and-forth with the other men to up the ante with Connor.
• WHERE WAS THE BUILDUP, THE PROLONGED JEALOUSY, THE TENSIONNNNN?!?! It irked me that there never really was much struggle between Connor and the contestants, and that it honestly didn’t take much for him and Fizzy to get together. It made the story less fulfilling and passionate to me. I wanted more from the contestants vs Connor. Instead it’s like the contestants are there for no reason. Like what was the point of having the show if the other men weren’t gonna add much to the “who will she choose” aspect.
It was cute and I liked the ending. Just found the chemistry and magic wasn’t there.
Some reasons being:
• Fizzy being 37. She acts and talks much more like the typical CLo heroine who is usually in the 26-30 age range. Gave serious Clare from The Bachelorette vibes. Maybe that was the point idk.
• The premise was intriguing, another take on the buzzy reality TV dating show. I felt like it was misleading in its plot as, really, the actual contestants on the show aren’t given much to do in the story. They have little to actually do with Fizzy. As the show itself is what brings Connor and Fizzy together, I expected there to be more tension and back-and-forth with the other men to up the ante with Connor.
• WHERE WAS THE BUILDUP, THE PROLONGED JEALOUSY, THE TENSIONNNNN?!?! It irked me that there never really was much struggle between Connor and the contestants, and that it honestly didn’t take much for him and Fizzy to get together. It made the story less fulfilling and passionate to me. I wanted more from the contestants vs Connor. Instead it’s like the contestants are there for no reason. Like what was the point of having the show if the other men weren’t gonna add much to the “who will she choose” aspect.
It was cute and I liked the ending. Just found the chemistry and magic wasn’t there.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Cursing
Moderate: Infidelity, Alcohol, and Gaslighting