Red String Theory

By: Lauren Kung Jessen

Narrated by: Yu-Li Alice Shen, Andrew Grace

In this charming rom-com about two star-crossed lovers, a woman whose life is guided by her belief in the red-string of fate finds her perfect match—but his skepticism about true love puts a knot in their chances.

“I devoured this! Beautifully written, DEEPLY romantic, real, funny, heartfelt.” ―Christina Lauren, New York Times bestselling author

When it comes to love and art, Rooney Gao believes in signs. Most of all, she believes in the Chinese legend that everyone is tied to their one true love by the red string of fate. And that belief has inspired her career as an artist, as well as the large art installations she makes with (obviously) red string. That is until artist’s block strikes and Rooney begins to question everything. But then fate leads her to the perfect guy ...

Jack Liu perfect. He’s absurdly smart, successful, handsome, and after one enchanting New York night—under icy February skies and fueled by fried dumplings—all signs point to destiny. Only Jack doesn’t believe. And after their magical date, it looks like they might be lost to each other forever ... until they’re given one more chance to reconnect.

Can Rooney convince a reluctant skeptic to take a leap of fate?

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Critic reviews

“I devoured this! Beautifully written, DEEPLY romantic, real, funny, heartfelt.”
—Christina Lauren, New York Times bestselling author

"There’s nothing I love in romance more than fated mates, and Lauren executes it beautifully in RED STRING THEORY! Her writing is as sparkling and smart as ever! Lauren delivers laughs, heart, and swoon all in one ridiculously fun story!” —Sarah Adams, New York Times bestselling author of Practice Makes Perfect

“Jessen impresses with this surprising and sophisticated contemporary romance. It’s unusually cerebral for a romance, marrying a believable love connection with a thoughtful meditation on how humans make meaning in life. The result is smart, sensitive, and striking.”
—Publishers Weekly

"A lighthearted slow burn that's full of hope and heart. Delightful, inducing squeals and sighs in equal measure."


—Kirkus

”A sweet, joyful romance that celebrates the interconnectedness of fate and choice as two characters with opposing views on the subject learn to find a middle ground. Full of memorable characters and thoughtful dialogue, this one definitely left a smile on my face.”—Jacqueline Firkins, author of Marlowe Banks, Redesigned

"A stunning romance that perfectly balances questions of fate with the art of true love. Lauren Kung Jessen’s prose is immersive, engrossing, and dripping with romantic tension, bringing every page to life as readers root for her characters to get out of their own way and give in to their out-of-this-world chemistry. A delicious opposites attract romance with the most rewarding of slow-burns, this is an absolute must read!" —Mazey Eddings, author of The Plus One

Probably best sold as a young adult Book

It was a cute, romantic book but quite cheesy..

Definitely better set for the young adult crowd.

fate and science. a fun concept.

I like this story a lot. The characters are interesting. While most books I've read lately the mfc is a writer, artist is nice. The science and folklore and culture being mixed together makes a beautiful combination. The way the story rounds the end out with choices being the deciding factor is a great statement. I'll be reading again and will buy the hard copy.

Sweet story

I really liked this book. I thought it was a very sweet story and the legends about fate were so inspiring to read about. I really liked these characters, they felt more real than the authors previous ones in Lunar love. Highly enjoyed will continue to look out for future work from author!