By Samantha Diaz
If you had a choice, would you use a dating app or a matchmaker to find love? Lauren Kung Jessen balances the pros and cons of both in her debut novel, Lunar Love, a modern-day, enemies-to-lovers romance.
When I met with Jessen at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, she shared with me her enthusiasm for all the support she got for her book. After reading Lunar Love, I can see why. It is filled with love, not just of the romantic variety, but also for family and traditions.
In this story, protagonist Olivia Huang Christensen is the Chief Executive of Love for her family’s business, Lunar Love, a matchmaking service that applies Chinese zodiac compatibility to match their clients. Olivia idolizes her grandmother, Pó Po, the founder of Lunar Love, who set the example of what true compatibility is. While rummaging through the display cases at her favorite bakery, Olivia runs into a handsome, tall, twinkly-eyed stranger who tries to steal the cocktail bun meant for Pó Po, leading to a flirtatious banter up until they part ways—after which Olivia realizes she never got his name.
“This cake requires delicate rolling to achieve the perfect spiral,” I explain.
“Really?” Bakery Guy uses his fork and gently scrapes off the filling from the center of the now-flattered spiral.
“I did not just see you scoop the filling out,” I groan. The colors of the rainbow cake glow in the morning light, the sides bending up and looking sad to not be living their fill spiral potential.
The man scrapes, eats, scrapes, eats. “Did you see that?” he asks playfully.
As chance may have it, they cross paths again at a convention where she sees her bakery guy presenting his new app called ZodiaCupid, which mirrors the exact model of Lunar Love. Olivia learns that her flirtatious stranger, Bennett O’Brien, is the new competitor to her family’s business. As if that isn’t enough to worry about, Olivia cannot get over the connection they both had at the bakery.
As any strong woman would do, Olivia decides to push her feelings aside and to focus on building up Lunar Love. That is, until Olivia comes up with the grand idea to sign up for ZodiaCupid’s beta trial as a new user in order to match with Bennett and learn all about his new business venture. With some research, she finds out that Bennett is born in the Year of the Rat, the complete opposite of Olivia, who is Year of the Horse.
According to Olivia, for a long, happy romance, the couple should be of compatible signs. The Rat is entrepreneurial and a natural born leader. However, Horses are multitaskers and a bit stubborn. Thus creating an incompatible balance between the two; according to Olivia. According to an article by Lifestyle Asia, the way to decide compatibility between zodiacs is “believed to be compatible if they’re four years apart. However, the incompatibility looms at six years of distance.”
Olivia is not surprised when she matches with Bennett. They agree to go on a date, and what does surprise Olivia is how charming and thoughtful Bennett is, such as how he remembers her bag and flowers.
“Outside, I debate leaving but decide to stay. A few minutes later, Bennett walks out of the building with light orange filling crusted on the parts of his sweater that the apron didn’t cover.
“‘I wasn’t sure if you’d still be here. You forgot your bag,” he says, offering me my tote and flowers.
“Thank you. For this and that,” I reply.”
She has to remind herself that this is not a date but an undercover operation to learn more on ZodiaCupid. However, the job turns into a memorable night filled with mooncakes, ex-friends, and Keanu Reeves.
As wonderful as the date turns out to be, Olivia is set on focusing only on Lunar Love. When she is a panelist for a well-known podcast, a last-minute switch to the line up throws Olivia for a loop. Bennett is asked at the last minute to join the panel, which completely blows Olivia’s cover. Now that the truth is out there, Olivia and Bennett banter during the live recording only to end the discussion with a competition on who can match the other with the love of their life first.
A story that is filled with twists and turns, Lunar Love is an addicting read. Each chapter shares more and more of the conflicts between love online and personal connections. The author thoughtfully layers the story with generational battles, cultural traditions, and modern love.
While Olivia loves her matchmaking career, keeping it afloat is her biggest stressor. With dating apps taking the forefront of dating, she has to figure out a way to use potential zodiac compatibility to bring together a perfect match for Bennett. Olivia learns throughout the process that she is not alone in feeling this way. Her Pó Po and Olivia’s aunt have both dealt with their own generational struggle to keep Lunar Love on the map.
Every generation will have their own obstacles, and each time there will be a moment of doubt. Jessen’s story encapsulates that generational weight, and the way it transfers from one to the next. Every member of a family will have to go through their own battles and face their own fears. This story demonstrates that with each of these battles comes victory. Pó Po got through her struggles, Olivia’s aunt made it through hers, and now Olivia will prove that she can overcome hers as well.
In a memorable scene between Olivia and Pó Po, they discuss traditions and their importance. Pó Po explains to Olivia that changes happen and what we know isn’t an all-size-fits-one, saying, “But over time, traditions and the way they are celebrated, are adapted. Isn’t it great knowing about it and enjoying it in our own way?”
For those people who grew up being told that they had to keep their traditions and practices alive the same way that they were taught, this book is a reminder that although traditions are important, it is ok to interpret tradition in your own way as the world changes, especially for mixed race kids like Olivia. Bennett is a great example of wanting to keep and learn his heritage while feeling like he is losing it –“‘I have both Chinese and Irish heritage and have been interested in and studied the zodiac for a long time. It’s my culture, my family’s culture,’” he says.
What I appreciated from the main character is her desire to keep traditions alive. Her moxie is what gives her charm and relatability. Many first, second, and third generation kids might grow distant from their family history as time goes on; some may fall victim to the lies of assimilation. Not Olivia. She wears her history like a badge of honor. It’s refreshing and motivating to read about a character who sheds light onto a piece of their family background, standing firm in the way her family runs their matchmaking business, saying, “We’re not outdated. Our methods may be rooted in history, but we make real love happen.”
Let’s not forget about the romance in the story. Olivia and Bennett are the ideal unlikely pair. One is headstrong while the other is easygoing. Different thoughts, different mentalities. Yet this couple fit together like two lost puzzle pieces – “Bennett dips his head. ‘Right. Connection.’ He flips his palm up, and our fingers lock into place.” If there is one thing to take away from this new romantic connection, is to be open to new experiences.
Lunar Love is a debut that needs to be shared. A romantic read basking in Chinese heritage, there are few other books like this. Written with affection, this novel embraces the relationship between modern-day and love connections centered around traditions, culture, and new experiences.
Lunar Love is available from Blue Cypress Books, Bookshop, Elliott Bay Book Company, Magers & Quinn Booksellers, Prairie Lights Books, and The Ripped Bodice.
Samantha Desirae Diaz is a writer who explores true crime, paranormal, and romance stories. Born and raised in Chino, CA, she earned her B.A. in screenwriting from California State University, Northridge, and her M.F.A. in creative writing from Chapman University.