Review: Lunar Love by Lauren Kung Jessen

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Title: Lunar Love

Author: Lauren Kung Jessen

Publisher: Forever

Published: January 10, 2023

Pages: 336

Format: NetGalley e-ARC, thanks Forever

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Goodreads Blurb

“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?”

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My Review

This had me at “enemies to lovers!” It’s definitely my favorite trope and all I need to see before wanting to give it a go. This was a fabulous debut by Lauren Kung Jessen!

Olivia is taking over the family business- matchmaking using the Chinese zodiac approach. She’s known as always the matchmaker but never has a match of her own. In her defense, she has a past that’s holding her back. Regardless, she’s about to take on a business that is struggling. Then she ends up running into this guy that she can’t stop thinking about, Bennett. Although, she doesn’t know that he’s going to be her rival. Bennett also runs a similar business but it’s an app. A dating app that uses the same technique but online.

There are some moments in this book that I felt some second-hand embarrassment for Liv. She’s kind of erratic at times but I understand why. She’s trying so hard to keep something afloat that looks impossible. I loved the idea that the love interests were enemies with the same career just new vs. old.

Bennett is definitely a swoon-worthy love interest. I was smitten with him right away and that never changes. In fact, he might have been my favorite character in this book. He and Liv had such great chemistry and I loved their love for keeping their culture alive. In fact, there is so much of their culture in this book and I loved learning about it! One of my favorite things is that the author includes recipes for some of the things they make in the book! I actually might try and make them!

Overall, this was such a sweet and romantic read. I really enjoyed my time with it and highly recommend it if you need a good romance or palette cleanser! There are a lot of cultural aspects and it will make you hungry!!

Many thanks to Netgalley & Forever for an e-arc to review. All thoughts and opinions are my own!