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The Romance Revival
Not yet published
Expected 14 Jul 26An unforgettable novel in which one fateful accident erases a troubled marriage from memory—and love gets one extraordinary do-over.
Three years ago, Emery Finch did something completely out of character: She got married. To Luca—the impossibly charming landscaper she met on one blistering night in Vegas who made her laugh, made her dance, made her feel.
But now, Emery is consumed by her top-secret job, missing dinners, forgetting anniversaries, and promising herself Luca will understand once her cutting-edge research comes to light. Until the unthinkable happens: A tragic accident takes Luca from her.
Desperate not to lose him, Emery breaks every rule to bring him back. And Luca would probably thank her for it, if only he could remember her. Their first kiss, their Sunny Sundays at the beach, the life they built together...all of it is gone.
It may be a miracle of science, but for Emery it’s her one shot at a second chance. And this time, she won’t waste it—because true love is always worth reviving.
Three years ago, Emery Finch did something completely out of character: She got married. To Luca—the impossibly charming landscaper she met on one blistering night in Vegas who made her laugh, made her dance, made her feel.
But now, Emery is consumed by her top-secret job, missing dinners, forgetting anniversaries, and promising herself Luca will understand once her cutting-edge research comes to light. Until the unthinkable happens: A tragic accident takes Luca from her.
Desperate not to lose him, Emery breaks every rule to bring him back. And Luca would probably thank her for it, if only he could remember her. Their first kiss, their Sunny Sundays at the beach, the life they built together...all of it is gone.
It may be a miracle of science, but for Emery it’s her one shot at a second chance. And this time, she won’t waste it—because true love is always worth reviving.
352 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication July 14, 2026
About the author
Christina Lauren
91 books102k followersChristina Lauren is the combined pen name of long-time writing partners/best friends Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings. The coauthor duo writes both Young Adult and Adult Fiction, and together has produced twenty New York Times bestselling novels. Their books have been translated into 30+ languages. (Some of these books have kissing. Some of these books have A LOT of kissing.)
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Want to Read
January 30, 2026Where is my early copyyyyy, I NEED this!!! 😭
Read
June 22, 2026Pre read
I have the arc 😛😛
I have the arc 😛😛
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
⭐️ 4 ⭐️ The STEM oriented gal in me absolutely loved the sci-fi resurrection plot line in this book. Talk about second chances for a marriage in crisis and give it some weirdly cool science-y spunkiness that in my opinion was risky, but it WORKED. My goodness, there is nothing like falling in love with your spouse all over again and Christina Lauren just made me fall in love with them (Emery & Lucas) too!
Emery Martin is a scientist at this really cool biomedical facility that focuses on 'laser therapy' but essentially actually has cool gadgets and works on projects that revive tissue, cells and apparently people and animals? Yes you heard that right! She's a 'mad-scientist' who gives it all her best--she is motivated, she's focused, sharp but a little emotionally distant form her husband. She has a tendency to forget dinners, anniversaries, important events...but Lucas doesn't mind. He loves her all the same and completely supports her. He's the most understanding, loving and supportive husband ever. They have a great marriage and some sort of an understanding. Nothing seems to be amiss in their relationship. But what do you say about something that is TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE?
On the day of their anniversary, Emery completely forgets that Lucas made plans for them. She is running late but something unexpectedly traumatic happens and she's left with no choice but to do what she does best--to do something completely out of her character! (My mouth is sealed, I'm not spoiling anything here!) Emery gets a second chance at changing her life, a second chance to do things differently this time and perhaps do it 'right'. The question is--how hard will she try?
From the very first chapter, this felt much different from their usual romances. I knew right there and then that this story would be more 'serious' than their previous novels. Don't get me wrong, this still has a lot of lightness and comedic relief but the dash of science fiction added awesome thriller vibes and a little anxiety that made this a more memorable reading experience. I love when authors venture out of their comfort zones and try something different and it just worked well in this novel. The plot had me intrigued and kept it a little suspenseful and perfectly balanced. The sci-fi aspects never overshadowed the romance and 'revival' parts of the story. It's nothing like their other books and it was refreshing to read something different.
Might add more thoughts to here later :)
Many thanks to NetGalley, Gallery Books and the authors, Christina Lauren for an early ARC!
Publication date: July 14, 2026
Emery Martin is a scientist at this really cool biomedical facility that focuses on 'laser therapy' but essentially actually has cool gadgets and works on projects that revive tissue, cells and apparently people and animals? Yes you heard that right! She's a 'mad-scientist' who gives it all her best--she is motivated, she's focused, sharp but a little emotionally distant form her husband. She has a tendency to forget dinners, anniversaries, important events...but Lucas doesn't mind. He loves her all the same and completely supports her. He's the most understanding, loving and supportive husband ever. They have a great marriage and some sort of an understanding. Nothing seems to be amiss in their relationship. But what do you say about something that is TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE?
On the day of their anniversary, Emery completely forgets that Lucas made plans for them. She is running late but something unexpectedly traumatic happens and she's left with no choice but to do what she does best--to do something completely out of her character! (My mouth is sealed, I'm not spoiling anything here!) Emery gets a second chance at changing her life, a second chance to do things differently this time and perhaps do it 'right'. The question is--how hard will she try?
From the very first chapter, this felt much different from their usual romances. I knew right there and then that this story would be more 'serious' than their previous novels. Don't get me wrong, this still has a lot of lightness and comedic relief but the dash of science fiction added awesome thriller vibes and a little anxiety that made this a more memorable reading experience. I love when authors venture out of their comfort zones and try something different and it just worked well in this novel. The plot had me intrigued and kept it a little suspenseful and perfectly balanced. The sci-fi aspects never overshadowed the romance and 'revival' parts of the story. It's nothing like their other books and it was refreshing to read something different.
Might add more thoughts to here later :)
Many thanks to NetGalley, Gallery Books and the authors, Christina Lauren for an early ARC!
Publication date: July 14, 2026
March 27, 2026
3.5/4 ish for me so rounding up to 4 for GR! it’s always a good day when you have a new book from CLo to read!!!! i brought this beautiful book with me on a beach vaca and finished it in 2 sittings. it was easy to binge, cute and had a VERY creative plot.
for fans of THE SOULMATE EQUATION and TIME TRAVELERS WIFE! it felt similar to CLo’s TSE with the science-y plot. from a trope perspective this was a second chance romance which is my fave 💛
what was unexpected was it kinda felt like a suspense novel at the end!!! lots of action and chaos and i was not expecting that. and similar to THE PARADISE PROBLEM, things got a little steamy👀🔥
i think i needed like 40ish more pages at the end to have some more resolution between our MCs, especially with the bombshell in the back half (the letter). i felt like we glossed over that kinda quickly and was actually a big deal! besides one bed tropes, i really don’t enjoy miscommunication tropes in romance novels and wanted the characters to hash things out a bit more to ensure a solid foundation moving forward.
honestly their books are so hard to rate because i LOOOOVE so many of them. i enjoyed LOVE AND OTHER WORDS, THE UNHONEYMOONERS, THE PARADISE PROBLEM more than this one, but rest assured this will be a perfect beach/summer read when it’s out in July!
and the cover? obsessed!
thanks to Gallery Books for the gifted early copy!
for fans of THE SOULMATE EQUATION and TIME TRAVELERS WIFE! it felt similar to CLo’s TSE with the science-y plot. from a trope perspective this was a second chance romance which is my fave 💛
what was unexpected was it kinda felt like a suspense novel at the end!!! lots of action and chaos and i was not expecting that. and similar to THE PARADISE PROBLEM, things got a little steamy👀🔥
i think i needed like 40ish more pages at the end to have some more resolution between our MCs, especially with the bombshell in the back half (the letter). i felt like we glossed over that kinda quickly and was actually a big deal! besides one bed tropes, i really don’t enjoy miscommunication tropes in romance novels and wanted the characters to hash things out a bit more to ensure a solid foundation moving forward.
honestly their books are so hard to rate because i LOOOOVE so many of them. i enjoyed LOVE AND OTHER WORDS, THE UNHONEYMOONERS, THE PARADISE PROBLEM more than this one, but rest assured this will be a perfect beach/summer read when it’s out in July!
and the cover? obsessed!
thanks to Gallery Books for the gifted early copy!
June 17, 2026
[arc review] if you’re wanting to read this expecting a cute and fluffy summer romance—going solely off the cover(s) and blurb—then please know the actual book is a lot different.
I feel like there is slight false advertising, and when this gets published a lot of people will be confused, because the blurb is super vague and doesn’t highlight what the book, at its core, is really about—and the genre that the book is being published in doesn’t feel right.
I also want to preface that rating a book 1* is no small feat, and I don’t do so lightly.
this review will contain vague spoilers but not anything that ruins the story if you decide to read it.
‘the romance revival’ follows emery and luca in the first pov.
the first chapter is a flashback showing how emery and luca meet, fall in love, which then leads into the present.
present day emery and luca is classic marriage in crisis, as emery dedicates her whole time to work—this is highlighted in the first few chapters that she spends long hours working, neglecting her relationship and friendships, and the nature of her job is actually hidden from luca.
the second couple of chapters go into extreme detail about the nature of her mystery job, and it’s about ~40 pages of technical and STEM jargon that, if you weren’t aware this was the direction of the story, you might not understand—or particularly enjoy if it doesn’t interest you.
it’s also their anniversary and emery—because of work—forgets, doesn’t show up on time, and eventually misses the dinner. this then has a knock on effect that leads to the accident.
admittedly, if the story was advertised as described, it would sound very interesting. I just find myself confused because the cover and blurb—while loosely true—isn’t what the book actually is. I would also know going into it that it’s STEM, and that usually isn’t a book I pick up because it’s not something that I really understand, so I wouldn’t enjoy it.
the cover and description follow the same theme as christina lauren’s previous books, which led me to believe it would be a summer read with tropes like: marriage in crisis, second chance, etc.
the book reads like something ali hazelwood would write—STEM themes with romance elements. except with this, the romance really isn’t all there, and it’s more of something that’s tucked in the background.
there isn’t one main plot and it’s more subplots happening at the same time, which meant it wasn’t really easy to follow. by the end I was tapped out and just wanted to finish it.
if I was reading this blind—not knowing the genre, cover, or blurb—I would say it’s a thriller, there’s some sci-fi, and it has a mystery twist.
I understand christina lauren might want to pivot and try something new, and I’m not saying they shouldn’t. I just don’t think the way it’s being advertised that this book is going to reach the audience who will enjoy and appreciate it.
I know that there is a lot of people who will pick this up and they will really enjoy it. I also know that, like myself, there’s going to be people who pick it up and feel disappointed because this book is being misrepresented.
christina lauren is usually an auto-read author for me, and I will continue to read their future work. unfortunately, ‘the romance revival’ was not for me.
thank you little brown for the advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review!
I feel like there is slight false advertising, and when this gets published a lot of people will be confused, because the blurb is super vague and doesn’t highlight what the book, at its core, is really about—and the genre that the book is being published in doesn’t feel right.
I also want to preface that rating a book 1* is no small feat, and I don’t do so lightly.
this review will contain vague spoilers but not anything that ruins the story if you decide to read it.
‘the romance revival’ follows emery and luca in the first pov.
the first chapter is a flashback showing how emery and luca meet, fall in love, which then leads into the present.
present day emery and luca is classic marriage in crisis, as emery dedicates her whole time to work—this is highlighted in the first few chapters that she spends long hours working, neglecting her relationship and friendships, and the nature of her job is actually hidden from luca.
the second couple of chapters go into extreme detail about the nature of her mystery job, and it’s about ~40 pages of technical and STEM jargon that, if you weren’t aware this was the direction of the story, you might not understand—or particularly enjoy if it doesn’t interest you.
it’s also their anniversary and emery—because of work—forgets, doesn’t show up on time, and eventually misses the dinner. this then has a knock on effect that leads to the accident.
admittedly, if the story was advertised as described, it would sound very interesting. I just find myself confused because the cover and blurb—while loosely true—isn’t what the book actually is. I would also know going into it that it’s STEM, and that usually isn’t a book I pick up because it’s not something that I really understand, so I wouldn’t enjoy it.
the cover and description follow the same theme as christina lauren’s previous books, which led me to believe it would be a summer read with tropes like: marriage in crisis, second chance, etc.
the book reads like something ali hazelwood would write—STEM themes with romance elements. except with this, the romance really isn’t all there, and it’s more of something that’s tucked in the background.
there isn’t one main plot and it’s more subplots happening at the same time, which meant it wasn’t really easy to follow. by the end I was tapped out and just wanted to finish it.
if I was reading this blind—not knowing the genre, cover, or blurb—I would say it’s a thriller, there’s some sci-fi, and it has a mystery twist.
I understand christina lauren might want to pivot and try something new, and I’m not saying they shouldn’t. I just don’t think the way it’s being advertised that this book is going to reach the audience who will enjoy and appreciate it.
I know that there is a lot of people who will pick this up and they will really enjoy it. I also know that, like myself, there’s going to be people who pick it up and feel disappointed because this book is being misrepresented.
christina lauren is usually an auto-read author for me, and I will continue to read their future work. unfortunately, ‘the romance revival’ was not for me.
thank you little brown for the advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review!
Want to Read
December 12, 2025☆彡13 dec, pre-release:
i am BEYOND excited for this one. saw it pop up on my insta feed seconds after waking up and NOW I’M WIDE AWAKE. 🤭🫶🏻
i am BEYOND excited for this one. saw it pop up on my insta feed seconds after waking up and NOW I’M WIDE AWAKE. 🤭🫶🏻
April 3, 2026
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the arc. all opinions are my own.
3.5***
this was such a unique book & i had such a good time reading it!!!
first, i do need to say that the cover is a bit misleading. i thought this would be more summer-y and have similarish vibes to the paradise problem in terms of setting, but it did not. still a beautiful cover though!!
this was not a usual romance book. in fact, it was giving romance book x light sci-fi (kind of) x thriller/suspense book. i was honestly pleasantly surprised by this and had a great time with the entire science plot. i thought this was super interesting and a fun twist on the amnesia trope.
speaking of tropes, i’ve recently become a fan of second chance romance, so i was really looking forward to seeing the way luca and emery repaired their relationship. with that being said, i think the romance needed more. i wanted more emotional connection, more delving into difficult topics, just more.
however, this was very cute, very bingeable, and served as a good reminder that life is simply too short. as per usual christina lauren fashion, this was pretty funny and i’m always entertained by the characters (specifically the side characters) & their antics. i enjoyed this one a lot and, again, found the plot to be fresh.
also, i felt the end was a bit rushed. there’s one specific plot point that gets revealed towards the end, and i think the characters should have discussed that more. it felt glossed over and the big scene at the end also felt lacking.
3.5***
this was such a unique book & i had such a good time reading it!!!
first, i do need to say that the cover is a bit misleading. i thought this would be more summer-y and have similarish vibes to the paradise problem in terms of setting, but it did not. still a beautiful cover though!!
this was not a usual romance book. in fact, it was giving romance book x light sci-fi (kind of) x thriller/suspense book. i was honestly pleasantly surprised by this and had a great time with the entire science plot. i thought this was super interesting and a fun twist on the amnesia trope.
speaking of tropes, i’ve recently become a fan of second chance romance, so i was really looking forward to seeing the way luca and emery repaired their relationship. with that being said, i think the romance needed more. i wanted more emotional connection, more delving into difficult topics, just more.
however, this was very cute, very bingeable, and served as a good reminder that life is simply too short. as per usual christina lauren fashion, this was pretty funny and i’m always entertained by the characters (specifically the side characters) & their antics. i enjoyed this one a lot and, again, found the plot to be fresh.
also, i felt the end was a bit rushed. there’s one specific plot point that gets revealed towards the end, and i think the characters should have discussed that more. it felt glossed over and the big scene at the end also felt lacking.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Okay so imagine you pick up a cute Christina Lauren rom-com expecting beachy vibes, banter, and maybe one mildly inconvenient miscommunication, and instead you get:
💉 science experiments
💀 accidental death???
🧠 amnesia
🔬 secret lab chaos
❤️ and somehow… still romance??
That’s what this book was. And it was great from start to finish.
It was basically what would happen if a fluffy second-chance romance went on a wild night out with a medical thriller and woke up like, “so… we’re doing this now.” And I freakin' loved it.
The premise alone is already super intriguing: married couple having issues, tragic accident, wife brings husband back to life using forbidden science, but he remembers absolutely nothing about her. Cue emotional damage AND a very chaotic “falling back in love… but make it ethically questionable.”
What really worked for me:
It’s so dang bingeable. Definitely one of those "just one more chapter" type of books but you feel like you have to finish it because you need to know what happens at the end. The concept is pretty unique for the most part, I myself have not read a lot of books with this premise. It has this weird genre-blend energy where it’s romance but also suspense, maybe borderline thriller?? And somehow that tension keeps you hooked to the end.
It's got that classic romance feel that a lot of Christina Lauren's books have and that was great, but it really would have been icing on the cake if it had included a little bit more of the science stuff. For me, anyway. However, the plot absolutely requires you to suspend disbelief. Like, fully. Pack your logic in a suitcase and leave it at the door. The ending was predictable but I cannot be mad about that because HEA's are supposed to be, so I was pretty satisfied with how it all came together.
Overall vibe:
✨ “this is insane”
✨ “I cannot put this down”
✨ “wait is this a romance or a science experiment”
✨ “okay but I’m emotionally invested now”
If you go in expecting The Unhoneymooners 2.0, you might be confused. If you go in ready for a chaotic, slightly unhinged love story with STEM girlboss energy and high stakes? You’ll probably have a great time.
Thank you to NetGalley, Gallery Books & Christina Lauren for this ARC!
💉 science experiments
💀 accidental death???
🧠 amnesia
🔬 secret lab chaos
❤️ and somehow… still romance??
That’s what this book was. And it was great from start to finish.
It was basically what would happen if a fluffy second-chance romance went on a wild night out with a medical thriller and woke up like, “so… we’re doing this now.” And I freakin' loved it.
The premise alone is already super intriguing: married couple having issues, tragic accident, wife brings husband back to life using forbidden science, but he remembers absolutely nothing about her. Cue emotional damage AND a very chaotic “falling back in love… but make it ethically questionable.”
What really worked for me:
It’s so dang bingeable. Definitely one of those "just one more chapter" type of books but you feel like you have to finish it because you need to know what happens at the end. The concept is pretty unique for the most part, I myself have not read a lot of books with this premise. It has this weird genre-blend energy where it’s romance but also suspense, maybe borderline thriller?? And somehow that tension keeps you hooked to the end.
It's got that classic romance feel that a lot of Christina Lauren's books have and that was great, but it really would have been icing on the cake if it had included a little bit more of the science stuff. For me, anyway. However, the plot absolutely requires you to suspend disbelief. Like, fully. Pack your logic in a suitcase and leave it at the door. The ending was predictable but I cannot be mad about that because HEA's are supposed to be, so I was pretty satisfied with how it all came together.
Overall vibe:
✨ “this is insane”
✨ “I cannot put this down”
✨ “wait is this a romance or a science experiment”
✨ “okay but I’m emotionally invested now”
If you go in expecting The Unhoneymooners 2.0, you might be confused. If you go in ready for a chaotic, slightly unhinged love story with STEM girlboss energy and high stakes? You’ll probably have a great time.
Thank you to NetGalley, Gallery Books & Christina Lauren for this ARC!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 22, 2026
THE ROMANCE REVIVAL is basically a medical thriller masquerading as a romance novel… in the weirdest, best way possible. I freaking loved it. It’s wildly unique and nothing like anything you’ve read from Christina Lauren… yes, the ultimate rom-com queens, and yet it still had me swooning, giggling, and straight up laughing out loud.
This is a second chance romance unlike anything else. Go in blind. Trust me. Thank me later.
This is a second chance romance unlike anything else. Go in blind. Trust me. Thank me later.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I LOVE C.Lo, but this was a miss for me. It started strong, but ultimately fell flat. This was a very different book for them IMO, and while I was intrigued, the overall execution didn't work. This was not a swoony, flirty romance typical of C.Lo - the stakes were higher, and towards the end this felt a bit.... over the top in a whodunit popcorn thriller kind of way? The bulk of the story (i.e. them trying to fall back in love) happened too quickly and honestly didn't seem realistic given all the issues they had prior to his death. I realize he had amnesia but it felt like he forgave too quickly, and just as quickly, she all of a sudden wasn't an enormous workaholic anymore?! I wasn't giddy reading this, like I normally am when I'm watching 2 main characters fall in love. Cool concept and the science stuff was interesting to read about, but this was not just what I was expecting from them. Rounding up to 3 stars
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Want to Read
December 12, 2025I NEED THIS SO BAD!! 😭😭😭
CHRISTINA (&) LAUREN are one of the main reasons I’m so obsessed with the romance genre - the Unhoneymooners was pretty much the start of this journey! 🏝
CHRISTINA (&) LAUREN are one of the main reasons I’m so obsessed with the romance genre - the Unhoneymooners was pretty much the start of this journey! 🏝
June 8, 2026
Reviewed advance copy received from Netgalley.
I absolutely loved The Romance Revival by Christina Lauren! It is a beautifully written and highly engaging book that I did not want to put down. The story does an amazing job of showing how people find love again after a tragedy. It also dives deep into what you would do when someone you truly love is hurt and you want to do everything you can to bring them back to full health. The character development is excellent, and the way the plot is laid out is just very good and gripping. If you want a story with great characters and a wonderful plot that keeps you reading, you should definitely pick this up!
Thank you to Netgalley for sending me an advance copy to read and review
I absolutely loved The Romance Revival by Christina Lauren! It is a beautifully written and highly engaging book that I did not want to put down. The story does an amazing job of showing how people find love again after a tragedy. It also dives deep into what you would do when someone you truly love is hurt and you want to do everything you can to bring them back to full health. The character development is excellent, and the way the plot is laid out is just very good and gripping. If you want a story with great characters and a wonderful plot that keeps you reading, you should definitely pick this up!
Thank you to Netgalley for sending me an advance copy to read and review
May 31, 2026
Merci à Simon & Schuster pour un ARC!
Je donne un bon 4.5☆. J’ai lu ce livre en moins de 24h (surtout pour un vlog lecture lol, mais aussi parce que c’était très bon). Je n’étais pas sûre si j’allais aimer la trope d’amnésie, mais finalement j’ai adoré voir le gars retomber en amour avec la fille. J’ai aimé comment les deux ont fait l’effort de changer pour améliorer leur relation. Le concept en général était peut-être un peu irréaliste (je ne vais pas dire c’est quoi parce que #spoiler), mais ça ne m’a pas dérangée.
Je donne un bon 4.5☆. J’ai lu ce livre en moins de 24h (surtout pour un vlog lecture lol, mais aussi parce que c’était très bon). Je n’étais pas sûre si j’allais aimer la trope d’amnésie, mais finalement j’ai adoré voir le gars retomber en amour avec la fille. J’ai aimé comment les deux ont fait l’effort de changer pour améliorer leur relation. Le concept en général était peut-être un peu irréaliste (je ne vais pas dire c’est quoi parce que #spoiler), mais ça ne m’a pas dérangée.
April 1, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for providing a digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
My initial thoughts: If we do not get a sequel, I will riot!!!!!! For some reason, it feels to me like way more than two years have gone by since Christina Lauren’s last release. My, oh my—this one was worth the wait! The two have dabbled in science before, but the resurrection of Luca was unlike anything they have ever written. This romance crossed into several other genres and kept this reader captivated the entire time. I was truly impressed. Some tags, to give you an idea: #amnesiaromance #secondchanceromance #womeninSTEM. CLo really did something different here and I was sat. 🫖
My initial thoughts: If we do not get a sequel, I will riot!!!!!! For some reason, it feels to me like way more than two years have gone by since Christina Lauren’s last release. My, oh my—this one was worth the wait! The two have dabbled in science before, but the resurrection of Luca was unlike anything they have ever written. This romance crossed into several other genres and kept this reader captivated the entire time. I was truly impressed. Some tags, to give you an idea: #amnesiaromance #secondchanceromance #womeninSTEM. CLo really did something different here and I was sat. 🫖
February 10, 2026
I love this STEM-y romance from Christina Lauren! They have written some of my favorite romances, and this books feels very fresh from them. It’s a little science-fiction-y in the best way possible and has a central mystery I really enjoyed. It was so fun to read them taking their classic stellar romance writing and putting a new twist on it. Somehow, I wanted even more science? I would have loved to see the book a bit longer and for it to expand on some of the core struggles/relationship dynamics with side characters, but I was so satisfied with this book as is as well.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Christina Laurens in one of, if not,, my most favorite writing duo. I absolutely love everything they write together. I can always expect a good time, an even greater romance and characters I am bound to fall in love with.
Their latest, didn't disappoint at all. I absolutely loved how different this was from their norm. More sciency, more almost supernatural and I wasn't sad about it.
This gave me everything I have come to love and expect from them and I gobbled it up. This is a must read for just about anyone.
*ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
Their latest, didn't disappoint at all. I absolutely loved how different this was from their norm. More sciency, more almost supernatural and I wasn't sad about it.
This gave me everything I have come to love and expect from them and I gobbled it up. This is a must read for just about anyone.
*ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Emery is a research scientist, workaholic and introvert who meets gorgeous warm sunshiney landscaper Luca at her cousins wedding and they fall in love. When he gets in an accident she uses her highly classified medicine to bring him back to life and finds he’s lost all his memories!
This was such a departure from the usual CL books. It’s starts with Emery recapping their relationship to the reader and in both their POVs they talk directly to you. (Like in Sex and the City when Carrie would break character and look at the camera and start talking) It was a bit uncanny. You are in her head a lot. There’s lots of sciencey and other info dumping. Two stars bc I usually LOVE these authors. Not sure what happened here. Is one of them not writing?
Thanks to NetGalley and Gallery Books for the ARC copy.
2⭐️ I’d pick up the Paradise Problem or one of their others before this one.
This was such a departure from the usual CL books. It’s starts with Emery recapping their relationship to the reader and in both their POVs they talk directly to you. (Like in Sex and the City when Carrie would break character and look at the camera and start talking) It was a bit uncanny. You are in her head a lot. There’s lots of sciencey and other info dumping. Two stars bc I usually LOVE these authors. Not sure what happened here. Is one of them not writing?
Thanks to NetGalley and Gallery Books for the ARC copy.
2⭐️ I’d pick up the Paradise Problem or one of their others before this one.
February 22, 2026
This book felt much different than the past Christina Lauren books that I’ve read. It was much more of a scientific mystery than a romance in my opinion. It almost felt like it could’ve been written by Ali Hazelwood (I think, I’ve only read one of her books but from what I’ve heard she writes a lot about the FMC being a smart mathematician/scientist)
My biggest thing was it lacked the humor that they typically add into their books! Which was such a letdown. The storyline itself was still very interesting and I wanted to see what happened next, but it just wasn’t what I was expecting. The pacing was off a bit and the ending was abrupt and a little cheesy, but overall, I still had a good time.
Thank you Gallery Books for the gifted Advanced Copy! Release date July 14, 2026!
My biggest thing was it lacked the humor that they typically add into their books! Which was such a letdown. The storyline itself was still very interesting and I wanted to see what happened next, but it just wasn’t what I was expecting. The pacing was off a bit and the ending was abrupt and a little cheesy, but overall, I still had a good time.
Thank you Gallery Books for the gifted Advanced Copy! Release date July 14, 2026!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was such a fun read! I loved the premise and totally expected it to be predictable—but it wasn’t at all. I flew through this in just two days. I always enjoy this author's books, and this one was no exception. Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy to read and review. If you’re looking for a rom-com with a little bit of mystery mixed in, you’ll definitely want to pick this one up! 📚
June 9, 2026
I was really excited to get this book early (thanks NetGalley), but unfortunately Romance Revival left me disappointed. It isn’t reminiscent of any Christina Lauren book I’ve read in the past and I would recommend one of her other books. Romance Revival felt more like a mystery thriller masking as a romance novel.
May 4, 2026
4.5, loved it but knocked it down .5 a star for the outlandish storyline
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4⭐️
Emery and Luca met three years ago and had a whirlwind romance- they meet in Vegas and are immediately head of heels for each other and get married just two months later. Cut to three years later and while they're still hot and heavy physically, there are cracks in the marriage. Emery has always been a driven workaholic and fails to put Luca first. When Luca is hurt in an accident and loses his memory, Emery realizes that maybe they have a second chance to get things right.
These two were very cute together. They're so different yet their chemistry and compatibility is so obvious, even when Luca has no idea who Emery is. I loved the scenes of them just spending time together and trying to "get to know each other" all over again.
I do think we needed maybe one more chapter of them before the accident? We're basically just told that while they're super in love, the marriage was far from perfect. But they're so good together in the now it's hard to really understand that. Like Emery is FULLY prioritizing Luca and putting work on the back burner, it's hard to picture her not doing that. And Luca's part is that he never started confrontation- even when he guessed Emery was lying or was upset with her, he never said anything. But he's so unafraid of those hard conversations after the accident that again, it's hard to understand how the marriage veered off course.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishing team for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
"I am obliterated and put back together again in the familiar embrace of my husband's arms."Okay I REALLY enjoyed this. It was a lot more mad scientist than I was expecting and I don't even care because I thoroughly enjoyed it from beginning to end! I love a well-done marriage in trouble romance and with the amnesia trope? SO good.
Emery and Luca met three years ago and had a whirlwind romance- they meet in Vegas and are immediately head of heels for each other and get married just two months later. Cut to three years later and while they're still hot and heavy physically, there are cracks in the marriage. Emery has always been a driven workaholic and fails to put Luca first. When Luca is hurt in an accident and loses his memory, Emery realizes that maybe they have a second chance to get things right.
These two were very cute together. They're so different yet their chemistry and compatibility is so obvious, even when Luca has no idea who Emery is. I loved the scenes of them just spending time together and trying to "get to know each other" all over again.
I do think we needed maybe one more chapter of them before the accident? We're basically just told that while they're super in love, the marriage was far from perfect. But they're so good together in the now it's hard to really understand that. Like Emery is FULLY prioritizing Luca and putting work on the back burner, it's hard to picture her not doing that. And Luca's part is that he never started confrontation- even when he guessed Emery was lying or was upset with her, he never said anything. But he's so unafraid of those hard conversations after the accident that again, it's hard to understand how the marriage veered off course.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishing team for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I have read many Christina Lauren books and always look forward to reading their new books. This one was good but not a favorite for me. Emery and Luca are married, but Emery's work has been keeping her away from her husband and their marriage is on the rocks. After an accident, Luca has amnesia and they have a second chance to rebuild their relationship. This didn't have the rom-com feel that I usually love about their books. It had more of a mystery type vibe to it. There was also a lot of science talk that sometimes was interesting, but unexpected and just didn't bring much to the story. Overall, still a decent read, and I'll continue reading their books, but this won't be a fav.
Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
March 1, 2026
This was a unique take on second chance romance! I loved the setting, I loved the characters (as usual for a ChisLo book). I loved the passion between Emery and Luca. I enjoyed the science element of this story. It was cute and heartfelt. I’m so excited to got to read an ARC of this book 🥹 this is going to be a cutie summer read 🤭
June 5, 2026
This was completely different than I thought it was going to be. Lots of science, which I wasn’t expecting. The cover is also misleading-it’s not very summery. I didn’t swoon once. Definitely not my fav CL. I knew going in this was supposed to be a slightly different book from them and I was expecting something along the lines of Ashley Poston. This was more Ali Hazelwood but with less swoon and more action. Sadly it didn’t work for me.
Want to Read
January 5, 2026A memory loss trope!? Yes
December 29, 2025
Thank you to Gallery Books and Net Galley for the advance copy!
This book has one of the wildest premises I’ve read in a long time and somehow Christina Lauren makes it feel totally believable. Our heroine is a super driven scientist working on top-secret projects… including a resurrection compound that’s only ever been tested on dogs. Then her husband dies right in front of her and she actually uses it on him. I sat up straight in bed because I couldn’t believe the chaos.
She’s got a great work bestie backing her up while she tries to save him, but the first 25% is pure for the characters. At this point I was like, who’s the villian? Am I being gaslighted? I immediately had a million theories and the rest of the book didn’t disappoint.
It has that emotional, nostalgic vibe of Love & Other Words but with a thriller twist. It’s romantic, suspenseful, and slightly unhinged. I could not put it down. I absolutely loved it.
This book has one of the wildest premises I’ve read in a long time and somehow Christina Lauren makes it feel totally believable. Our heroine is a super driven scientist working on top-secret projects… including a resurrection compound that’s only ever been tested on dogs. Then her husband dies right in front of her and she actually uses it on him. I sat up straight in bed because I couldn’t believe the chaos.
She’s got a great work bestie backing her up while she tries to save him, but the first 25% is pure for the characters. At this point I was like, who’s the villian? Am I being gaslighted? I immediately had a million theories and the rest of the book didn’t disappoint.
It has that emotional, nostalgic vibe of Love & Other Words but with a thriller twist. It’s romantic, suspenseful, and slightly unhinged. I could not put it down. I absolutely loved it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 25, 2026
Yeah, this one’s a big no from me personally. It was too medical for me to comprehend effectively. I was so worried about the fact that I couldn’t understand things to the point where it took away from my reading experience.
I’m sure this is a great book that many people will love, but it just lacked the romance aspects that make a book enjoyable for me.
I’m sure this is a great book that many people will love, but it just lacked the romance aspects that make a book enjoyable for me.
June 23, 2026
Book #66 of 2026!
Thank you to #NetGalley and Gallery Books for the advanced copy of this book.
Four stars
What to expect in this book:
-STEM romance
-Marriage in crisis
-Dual POV
-Unique premise
-Genre bending
-Some mystery/thrills
Thoughts
Okay, so this cover is gorgeous and not at all representative of what you think this book is about. I have read many (maybe over ten?) Christina Lauren books and I can always count on the duo to produce a heartwarming, steamy, and unputtdownable book. While The Romance Revival is all of these things, it is also so incredibly different than anything I have read by them. I went into this completely blind and I highly recommend readers do the same. What I will say, is that this is a marriage in crisis between two people who have the opportunity to rekindle their love in a super unexpected and unprecidented way.
I read over 65% of this in one sitting and could have finished it in a day. I was so intrigued by the STEM/science elements and found this to be such an interesting premise and storyline for our characters. While there are some elements that are a little far-fetched, I felt like it made the pace of the book even more engrossing. I think this is the best done book that features a married couple on the brink of divorce. I felt like they handled this trope with care and loved seeing the chemistry of Luca and Emery come back to life (no pun intended haha). While I can see why some of the more sci-fi elements and mystery interwoven throughout does not work for some readers, I had the best time with it!
Overall, while this cover is very misleading, I loved the break away from the more traditional romance approach and enjoyed the emotional and mysterious journey that this story went on. If you are new to CL, I recommend Love and Others Words (my fave romance ever), In a Holidaze (my fave holiday romance), and Josh and Hazel's Guide to Not Dating.
Thank you to #NetGalley and Gallery Books for the advanced copy of this book.
Four stars
What to expect in this book:
-STEM romance
-Marriage in crisis
-Dual POV
-Unique premise
-Genre bending
-Some mystery/thrills
Thoughts
Okay, so this cover is gorgeous and not at all representative of what you think this book is about. I have read many (maybe over ten?) Christina Lauren books and I can always count on the duo to produce a heartwarming, steamy, and unputtdownable book. While The Romance Revival is all of these things, it is also so incredibly different than anything I have read by them. I went into this completely blind and I highly recommend readers do the same. What I will say, is that this is a marriage in crisis between two people who have the opportunity to rekindle their love in a super unexpected and unprecidented way.
I read over 65% of this in one sitting and could have finished it in a day. I was so intrigued by the STEM/science elements and found this to be such an interesting premise and storyline for our characters. While there are some elements that are a little far-fetched, I felt like it made the pace of the book even more engrossing. I think this is the best done book that features a married couple on the brink of divorce. I felt like they handled this trope with care and loved seeing the chemistry of Luca and Emery come back to life (no pun intended haha). While I can see why some of the more sci-fi elements and mystery interwoven throughout does not work for some readers, I had the best time with it!
Overall, while this cover is very misleading, I loved the break away from the more traditional romance approach and enjoyed the emotional and mysterious journey that this story went on. If you are new to CL, I recommend Love and Others Words (my fave romance ever), In a Holidaze (my fave holiday romance), and Josh and Hazel's Guide to Not Dating.
May 27, 2026
*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review*
Review: Christina Lauren are back and better than ever with this striking, STEM rom-com.
“The Romance Revival” follows Dr. Emery Finch after a tragic accident takes her husband Luca from her. Desperate not to lose him, she breaks every rule, using the classified technology she’s developed to bring him back to life. Doing so, however, wipes his entire memory, including their troubled marriage. It may be a miracle of science, but for Emery it’s her one shot at a second chance.
Christina Lauren’s evocative prose and well-drawn characters are what bring this story to life! Emery and Luca could not be more different from one another, but their starkly opposite personalities complement each other in a way that makes it impossible not to root for them. Prior to the accident, the two rely on their physical chemistry to sustain their marriage, but it slowly begins to splinter as time passes due to lack of communication. Luca’s brush with death serves as a wake-up call for Emery in particular, whose work-life balance was nonexistent. The journey they go on to find each other again is well-paced and beautifully messy. The forced proximity encourages them to finally open up about what went wrong with Emery promising to be more present and Luca pledging to be more vocal about his needs. I especially love how Christina Lauren contrasts the memories that Luca regains with the couple’s present to showcase their growth. In finding a way to move forward together, they fuel the hope that's packed into these pages and ultimately fall in love for a second time. Admittedly, the thriller elements woven into the final act felt a little out of place, but they did not take away from my overall enjoyment of the book.
➤ 5 stars
Review cross-posted to: Book Blog | Bookstagram | Amazon
Amazon
I was a sent a complimentary copy with no expectation for a favorable review.
Review: Christina Lauren are back and better than ever with this striking, STEM rom-com.
“The Romance Revival” follows Dr. Emery Finch after a tragic accident takes her husband Luca from her. Desperate not to lose him, she breaks every rule, using the classified technology she’s developed to bring him back to life. Doing so, however, wipes his entire memory, including their troubled marriage. It may be a miracle of science, but for Emery it’s her one shot at a second chance.
Christina Lauren’s evocative prose and well-drawn characters are what bring this story to life! Emery and Luca could not be more different from one another, but their starkly opposite personalities complement each other in a way that makes it impossible not to root for them. Prior to the accident, the two rely on their physical chemistry to sustain their marriage, but it slowly begins to splinter as time passes due to lack of communication. Luca’s brush with death serves as a wake-up call for Emery in particular, whose work-life balance was nonexistent. The journey they go on to find each other again is well-paced and beautifully messy. The forced proximity encourages them to finally open up about what went wrong with Emery promising to be more present and Luca pledging to be more vocal about his needs. I especially love how Christina Lauren contrasts the memories that Luca regains with the couple’s present to showcase their growth. In finding a way to move forward together, they fuel the hope that's packed into these pages and ultimately fall in love for a second time. Admittedly, the thriller elements woven into the final act felt a little out of place, but they did not take away from my overall enjoyment of the book.
➤ 5 stars
Review cross-posted to: Book Blog | Bookstagram | Amazon
Amazon
I was a sent a complimentary copy with no expectation for a favorable review.
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