The Romance Revival

by Christina Lauren

An 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.

Genres: Romance, Audiobook, Fiction, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Second Chance, Adult

352 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 14, 2026

About the author

Christina 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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Reviews

[Abby Jimenez]

Where is my early copyyyyy, I NEED this!!! 😭

[levi (starboy) (s.ia)]

Pre read
I have the arc 😛😛

[Shelley's Book Nook · Rating 2 out of 5]

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⭐⭐1/2
The Romance Revival
Christina Lauren
Publication Date: July 14th, 2026
Simon & Schuster Canada | Gallery Books
352 Pages
Amazon | Goodreads | Bookshop.org
Genre: General Fiction | Romance | Women's Fiction

A romance this is not, not in the truest sense of the word. It's mislabelled, and its blurb does not do the book justice.

The story is about Emery; she's a smart scientist and a workaholic, and her research is very secretive. She is married to Luca, who is kind of her opposite—he's a landscaper and very laid-back. They met and fell in love during a weekend in Vegas, and their romance was a bit of a whirlwind. They've been married for a few years now, and it isn't going very well. Emery's job is the biggest problem in their relationship—she's working a lot and missing plans they've made.

When an accident harms Luca, she decides to use her scientific secret to bring him back to life, and it works—sort of. Luca doesn't have any memory of her, and what follows is a second-chance love story, kind of. I liked that the authors tried to think outside the box, and because of the science fiction aspect, it adds something different to the amnesia trope. It also gave the story an opportunity for character growth.

The story is told from both points of view, and this is where this duo shines the most. We get a look inside Emery's mind and all the guilt she feels, while at the same time living through Luca being so confused—there are a lot of people claiming to know him, and they're all strangers as far as he is concerned.

I think where the book lost me is in the pacing. It is VERY scientific with heavy themes, and that didn't balance well with the romance or even the humorous side of things. Adding to that, a thriller plot about a medical corporation just made things feel very jumbled. With everything that was going on, the ending ended up feeling rushed and not fully explained. Overall, while I admire the authors' willingness to write the unexpected, this book won't work for everyone, especially their romance fans. If I were the publisher, I would add Sci-Fi and Thriller to the genre list.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

[Liana Gold · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️ 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.

I am so happy to see this is featured as an add-on on BOTM for July! Grab your first copy for just $5 using this link: https://www.mybotm.com/bgnrjn6qk0o
Super easy to sign up and to cancel at any time!


Many thanks to NetGalley, Gallery Books and the authors, Christina Lauren for an early ARC!

Publication date: July 14, 2026

[Nilufer Ozmekik · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m a huge fan of this writer duo—so much so that I can honestly say I could read anything they create for years and never get bored. Their brand-new book comes with a wildly unique concept centered on resuscitation, and it asks a haunting, romantic question: What if your vows say “till death do us part”… but even death can’t keep you apart?

Emery and Luca meet in a Vegas wedding chapel, where Emery quite literally falls in love with Luca’s laugh. (Yes—literally.) She hears this lyrical, irresistible laugh from a distance and immediately wants to know who it belongs to. Cue fate doing its thing. They’re instantly drawn to each other like magnets—sharing dances, sparks, and eventually a one-night heat-filled escapade… or rather, a full-on sexcapade.

Only two months later, they decide to tie the knot—even though they couldn’t be more different. Luca is the embodiment of his Italian genes: extroverted, charming, endlessly patient, a social butterfly adored by everyone, and a laid-back landscaper. Emery, on the other hand, is an introverted, anxious, workaholic scientist who lives in her head and her lab. Opposites in every way… yet somehow perfect together.

Three years into their marriage, the attraction is still top-notch, even though their time together is painfully limited to Sunny Sundays. Emery spends far too many hours locked away in her lab, secretly working on a top-secret scientific project—so secret that she’s been lying to her husband about her true profession. As their anniversary approaches, she finally decides it’s time to come clean during their special night.

But everything goes wrong.

Her nemesis, Vince, sabotages her latest presentation to a board of financiers and drops a bombshell—exposing her illegal, boundary-crossing resuscitation project. On the very same night, Emery is late for their anniversary dinner. She’s driving to meet Luca when tragedy strikes in the most brutal, cinematic way—straight out of Meet Joe Black. Someone hits her husband right in front of her eyes.

Panic. Chaos. Horror.

Emery rushes to Luca, cradling him in her arms… and then she feels it. A pulse. A freaking pulse. There’s no time to call 911. No time to think. By sheer luck (or fate), she has a component of her experiment with her. Acting purely on instinct and love, she injects him.

With the help of Annie—her veterinarian best friend, colleague, and partner in crime—they secretly transport Luca to the lab. They cover up the crime scene. And then, in true Dr. Frankenstein fashion, they attempt something they’ve only ever tried on animals before.

A miracle happens.

Luca survives—but wakes up with no memory. His entire life is a blank slate.

Now Emery has to do the impossible: teach her husband who he is, help him rediscover their life together, and somehow make him fall in love with her all over again. It’s a second chance—one that forces her to confront her mistakes, her secrets, and her priorities. But danger still looms. The resuscitation project crosses too many legal, ethical, and moral lines, and someone is always watching, waiting to destroy everything.

In the end, Emery must make an impossible choice: the project of her life… or the love of her husband.

Overall thoughts:
The chemistry between Emery and Luca is absolutely top-notch, and I loved the second-chance romance and the rediscovery of each other. While I wasn’t entirely sold on the thriller elements—especially in the last third of the book, where some action sequences felt a bit forced and predictable—I truly appreciate the authors’ attempt to blend romance with suspense.

For me, the strongest parts were the emotional core: Luca navigating memory loss and Emery rediscovering the more relaxed, easygoing version of herself she had lost along the way. That emotional development is where this book really shines.

I’m rounding my rating up from 3.5 to a solid 4 stars. Even though the suspense didn’t fully work for me, I adored the main characters—and the supporting cast was fantastic. Nosey neighbor Betty, best friends Annie and Crash? Absolute gems. I would love to read Annie and Crash’s book next—especially with Annie’s legendary “ick list.”

And I have to admit: the steam level was perfect.

A huge thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for sharing one of the most anticipated romances of 2026 with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.

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[ellen · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

i had seen some mixed reviews on this one, so i had put it off a tad, but i LOVED this.

this was such an interesting mix of the typical christina lauren romance and a kind-of sci-fi backdrop?? as a girl who loves both romance and science, this worked so well for me. i had no idea of the synopsis before diving in, and i kind of love that it took me by surprise. our two main characters were so sweet together, and i’m always a sucker for an amnesia trope.

i think this is definitely going to be a divisive one, but i loved it!!

[bookluvr (s-ia) · Rating 3 out of 5]

my feelings about this are a little all over the place, much like the book itself. i started out feeling quite good about it, but somewhere along the way it lost its potency. i never got fully invested in the story and it read a bit too unrealistically for a contemporary romance, which also confused things a little bit for me.

i went into this somewhat blind. all i knew beforehand was that it was going to have an fmc in STEM and i was into that idea, given how much i love ali hazelwood books. the cover of this also gave me the same vibe as other books by christina lauren, like the unhoneymooners and the paradise problem, so i was subconsciously expecting a fun and breezy summer romance with tons of banter and chemistry alongside the STEM twist. this book was however…nothing like those and it’s certainly not a summer romance by any means. it may be good to know that upfront to manage your expectations.

admittedly, the premise of this is a bit wacky, which is probably the crux of why this didn’t fully work for me. i need to explain it (spoiler-free of course and probably what could easily be gleaned from the blurb that i didn’t read beforehand lmao):

— we follow emery and luca. in the prologue, we see them meeting at someone else’s wedding, instantly connecting and becoming enamoured with one another, and we learn that they themselves get married just a couple short months later after something of a whirlwind romance.

— from chapter one, we fast forward three years to find that these two have been “happily” married and are still very much in love with one another, but there’s a strain in their relationship. emery’s a workaholic and doesn’t spend nearly as much time with luca as she should…and he lets her get away with it as he’s someone who’s not confrontational by nature and very “go-with-the-flow”, so to speak. he’s feeling neglected though, but doesn’t want to rock the boat.

— emery happens to work for some top secret company, where she’s been developing this medical tech / treatment that can speculatively save people and bring them back to life from clinical death if administered in a certain time window, where modern medicine would normally fail at resuscitating a person. she also happens to have been lying to luca about her real job since they first met (because she’s under heavy NDA), which contributes to the strain in their marriage because she’s never been fully honest with him and carries a lot of guilt because of this.

— emery accidentally forgets their anniversary dinner reservations (because of work, duh) and rushes home to try and salvage the night, only to witness a dejected luca (who’d gone out on a run after giving up waiting for his wife to come home) get smacked by a car in a hit-and-run. she happens to have one half of the reviving treatment in her car with her (long story why) and even though it’s untested on humans, a desperate and distraught emery forgoes calling 911 and injects luca with it to bring him back from certain death. she’s able to revive him…buuuuuut he’s lost all his memories, including her and their entire relationship.

— the book then proceeds to be about emery’s come-to-jesus moment to do things differently and be more present, while the two of them find their way back to one another. there’s also the matter of emery avoiding work and trying to prevent ever being discovered for breaking a thousand laws and protocols for doing what she did, so there’s “danger”, subterfuge and something of a mystery in the mix as well.

now, while interesting at first, this all became ALOT — which i think is the book’s core issue. instead of being a fun romantic comedy, it started feeling like a romance confused with a sci-fi / speculative fiction piece confused with a weak and predictable mystery. the book was going through an identity crisis and this made the whole thing read unfocused. it also just became too unrealistic that i couldn’t suspend my disbelief enough. i may have been able to though if i was having more fun, but sadly, i was having a more lukewarm time than that so i couldn’t. i also don’t get on with amnesia tropes more often than not, so that may very well also be a part of why i didn’t fully lock in on this.

the premise made it so that the romance felt a bit too insta and underdeveloped on the page too because the mcs fall in love in the damn prologue and are in love for the entirety of the book, even when luca doesn’t have his memories. i felt a bit buzzy about their dynamic at first, but found myself not really connecting to their romance in full, nor them as people enough along the way. they were likable enough but unmemorable as individuals. their chemistry wasn’t palpable to me either if i’m being honest, and i didn’t feel the emotional depth to their relationship despite a lot of well-articulated phrasing trying to convince me of it over the course of the book.

something about the stakes didn’t feel high enough either, even though they should have felt so, given emery’s work dilemma (facing career suicide and possible jail time!) and just the whole supposed-to-be angsty concept of them having almost lost their marriage if something didn’t change between them soon enough. the last act attempted some intensity on this front (ratcheting up the stakes), but idk, i just couldn’t take it all very seriously.

i do think that this was a fresh take on second chances though. i liked the dissection of where the marriage was going awry before this shake-up, how they navigate things post-accident to try and do better by one another, and how their circumstances made them want to appreciate life and each other more…but it wasn’t enough for me to feel deeply hooked by their love.

the writing was pretty good and the humour definitely had its moments (particularly more so on the earlier side of the book), but like i said, things started losing potency as time went on. i felt like i was going through the motions for almost the entirety of the second half and just reading to read and finish, rather than savouring the experience.

also, the side characters were a bit too cliché and their interactions with the mcs were one-dimensional…so that annoyed me a bit (particularly when it came to luca’s best friend, emery’s work nemesis and the nosy old neighbour). i see that the authors wanted to drop some crumbs for a potential romance between the mcs’s respective besties as well, but it was all a bit too on the nose.

it sounds like i’m criticizing this a lot, but i don’t think it was bad per se. in fact, it was something different (which i could appreciate) and i did have some good moments with this read here and there (hence the 3 stars) — but it just didn’t hit the way i hoped it would overall. it had potential though, but i was expecting more from christina lauren on this one. that leaves me a touch disappointed in this.

[ahmeeka · Rating 1 out of 5]

[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!

[aislinn ★ · Rating 5 out of 5]

─── ୨ৎ 5 stars
⤿ .ᐟ spoiler-free review

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎⤿ ‎⋮ ⟢ started: june 27, finished: july 7

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ 𝜗ৎ — synopsis
Emery Martin and Luca Martin are polar opposites. Emery is consumed by her top-secret job that not even her husband knows the ins and outs of and Luca is a self-employed, extroverted man who has bigger priorities than his career. the two of them have always just made sense but lately, their differences have become more apparent than ever. after a life-altering accident happens to Luca, Emery Martin does the unthinkable and they are given the opportunity to start fresh. a second chance at love. is this what they needed all along, or will they only be torn apart further?

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ 𝜗ৎ — tropes
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ⚛︎ marriage in trouble
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ⚛︎ women in STEM
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ⚛︎ amnesia
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ⚛︎ opposites attract
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ⚛︎ second chance romance

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ 𝜗ৎ — thoughts
I loved this so much, I could cry just thinking about it. this is how you write a marriage in trouble book. THIS is how the "amnesia" trope should be done! I actually didn't realize the amnesia trope was in this book before going in and I had not had a good experience with that trope up until this point but I'm so happy to say that Christina Lauren executed it wonderfully.

there is really no other book like this one, it's incredibly unique and that's one of the reasons for my 5 star rating. even though there is so much going on–on top of the romance there are hints of mystery, comedy and maybe even a little thriller depending on how you look at it–it flowed and meshed so well.

each of the characters' inner dialogues were beautifully written. I loved the way Emery and Luca would speak of each other, like I could really feel the undying love they shared for each other, even when things were rough. this couple honestly changed my perspective on love and relationships in some ways. I'm really and truly so obsessed with the two of them, both separately and together.

the pacing was perfect, I didn't feel that anything was dragged out or cut short and the ending chapters played out like a literal movie in my mind. I loved the little punch of action and thrill that was added towards the end.

my one and only warning is to not go into this book expecting it to feel like a summer romance, because it's really not summer-coded at all in my opinion despite it being advertised as such.

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ 𝜗ৎ — characters

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ˗ˏˋ ꒰ luca martin ꒱ ˎˊ˗
I am utterly obsessed with this Italian stallion of a man. what a gorgeous character he is. I don't know exactly what it is but I was drawn to his character immediately and I'm kind of in denial that this is likely the only book that will have him in it.

he screams "husband material" and I just know he would be the best dad if him and Emery had children. It was so clear to me how deeply he loved Emery and he would be willing to sacrifice his own happiness any day as long as she's happy and doing what she wants. + he's an amazing cook too so I mean, immediate 10/10 right?

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ˗ˏˋ ꒰ emery martin ꒱ ˎˊ˗
I loved emery so much as well. she is a passionate, loving and very hard-working woman and I admire her drive so much. she had beautiful character growth in this story and I understand her character a lot. It can be so easy in life to get caught up in the things we find most important and then end up neglecting what is actually the most important to us and that's exactly what Emery struggled with. I learnt a few lessons alongside her character and I also loved seeing her learn these lessons and then form this happier version of herself from them.

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ˗ˏˋ ꒰ luca+emery ꒱ ˎˊ˗
I'm just obsessed with this goofy and beautiful couple. I fucking loved the way these two still acted so giddy with each other, even after years of being together. this is exactly how love should feel!! Even in the midst of their struggles, the respect never vanished, the deep-rooted love still remained. They balance each other out in the best ways and show you exactly why people say "opposites attract." one of my all-time favourite couples ever, hands down.


‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ 𝜗ৎ — quotes (will be added upon release)

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ 𝜗ৎ — overall thoughts
I'm just so happy that I was given the opportunity to read this before the release, and I'm even more happy that it worked so well. I can't wait for more people to soon be able to have the chance to pick this book up. don't go into this book expecting the most realistic storyline, have an open mind and just enjoy the absurdity of plot and tropes and watch it somehow play out perfectly in front of you.

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎⤿ thank you to netgalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for this arc in exchange for an honest review!
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎⤿ this book will be released July 14th, 2026

[aira · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'll have to go with no.

[Salma (inactive)]

«────── « ⋅ʚ♡ɞ⋅ » ──────»

˖ ֹ੭୧pre-read:⊹ ࣪ ⑅

I really wanna read more Christina Lauren books, and this being released this year seemed like the perfect opportunity. I've seen the tropes, and I love them, so I really hope the book is good.

Buddy read with the lovely Vanessa 🩷

[Susan Carolynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Romance Revival was one of my most anticipated 2026 summer romances, and it completely exceeded my expectations! Might be my favorite Christina Lauren book? This was such a fresh and unique take on both the romance genre and a variety of romance tropes.

I loved the spin on the "marriage-in-crisis" and second chance trope. The way Luca fell in love again with Emery after his resurrection and amnesia was so romantic. I loved how they reflected on what went wrong previously in their marriage and how they could fix their passivity, conflict-aversion, and Emery's workaholic tendencies the second time around.

And the sci-fi and mystery elements made for excellent drama and pacing. I was on the edge of my seat when Emery decided to resurrect Luca. Plus the lingering fallout and consequences from the resurrection created a ton of background tension and suspense. I was totally shocked at the mystery reveal at the end. I did not see that coming!

I also adored the side characters. Annie was a true ride-or-die friend, and her ick list was hilarious. Crash brought necessary comedic relief, and Betty, their nosy neighbor, was quirky and fun. Definitely would recommend The Romance Revival if you love summer rom-coms yet want something less formulaic to the romance genre!

[Jessica Joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

introduce me to a blond Italian man named Luca any day of the week and I’ll give him five stars simply for existing (but the book itself gets five stars too, I devoured it in a day) (as I do with all CLo books)

[chantalsbookstuff · Rating 4 out of 5]

❤ loved the "future" science'y stuff.

[emilybookedup · Rating 4 out of 5]

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!

[Maren’s Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐️ After seeing quite a few mixed reviews, I have to admit, my intrigue towards this book only intensified. And I think because of the chatter surrounding how different this one is from their previous work, I went in with a pretty open mind re: the speculative fiction aspect of their otherwise adorable rom-com.

Overall, I think CLo writes a consistently good romance, and I did enjoy the marriage in crisis/second chances dynamic that played out alongside the sci-fi. It was easy to binge and makes for a perfect poolside read, especially when paired with the audio.

By the time I reached the midway point, I realized I wasn’t quite loving it as much as I was hoping to. I am not sure if it was the science(y) bits or that I wasn’t blown away by the chemistry between the central couple. But about halfway through, I realized that I had not developed the emotional connection that is so important when it comes to loving a love story. Instead of a dynamic relationship that could exist off the page, this one felt more superficial. I will forever and always be first in line to try anything by this writing duo.

This leads me to the question of whether I would recommend it? And to this, I would say yes, especially if you are a fan of this writing duo and are intrigued by the premise. While I may not love every single book they write, it is always worth the read. If you love sci-fi, speculative fiction, or Ali Hazelwood/women in STEM, I think you will love this one.

Read if you like:
▪️speculative fiction
▪️marriage in crisis
▪️women in STEM
▪️steamy romance

Thank you, Gallery Books, for the advanced copy.

[rosie [exams - trying to keep up!] · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

ʚɞ the romance revival by christina lauren ⋆.˚

⋆.˚ 31/8/26 — 2/9/26

⊱ ۫ ׅ book no. 103 of 2026 ── .✦

₊˚ ✧ ━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━ ✧ ₊˚

𑣲 ꜰɪʀꜱᴛ ɪᴍᴘʀᴇꜱꜱɪᴏɴꜱ/ᴘʀᴇ-ʀᴇᴀᴅ:

☆彡 2 sep, 2026 - post-read:

this was phenomenal. 😭💗 rtc


☆彡13 dec, 2025 - 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. 🤭

₊˚ ✧ ━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━ ✧ ₊˚

╰› (⭐4.5)

❝ every day feels like a sunny sunday with you. ❞

⋆.˚ ᴍʏ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛꜱ:

── .✦ 𝒑𝒍𝒐𝒕

this was fantastic.

i KNEW christina lauren would never let me down 🥹🤞

while this one has the cute summery cover and the lovely little title, it definitely was way different than what i expected. it honestly felt a little thriller-y at times, which tbh was SO intriguing and made me eat this up in like 2 days 😚

i knew that i loved second chance, but the AMNESIA trope?! i was a little worried, but this one delivered it SO well 🥲💗 like wdymmmm he’d choose her in every life 😭🫶🏻

i think the conflict was actually super interesting, and i loved how it wasn’t some stupid fight between the two MCs, and rather a situation they had to work out together 🙂‍↕️🤍

christina lauren manages to write a heartfelt, beautiful novel with that undertone of humour, and i think that’s what i find super addicting about their books 🫶🏻💓

── .✦ 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒔

emery my girl was a WOMAN ON A MISSION 😭💖 she was so worried this whole time about being a bad wife that she never noticed just how much love and effort and kindness she showed luca 🥲💘 she was so so sweet and lovely, and i really liked how mature she was with her reflections on her workaholic lifestyle and how that impacted her marriage. we love women in STEM!! 😚💋

HOWEVER, at the end there i was (and still am) a little confused over how she went through all of that and was just… okay? wouldn’t she have the same reaction as luca? is she immune? what makes her resistant to that effect?? i have so many questions 😭

luca was the CUTEST PATOOTIE ever??! like oh my goodness he’s just a sweetie pie who likes to cook and run and garden and play with his dog 🥹🤍 aside from the end there, i think he was making a lot smarter decisions than i would be making with amnesia to that level 🌝 proud of him!!

but omg that moment where he spoke to the reader was SO STRANGE? it only happened once, but he broke the fourth wall?! i’m so confused why did he do thattt 😭😭

his and crash’s friendship was so adorable 😭🫶🏻 the origin of it was also so so so cute, i loved it so much 🤍💌

── .✦ 𝒘𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈

christina lauren always makes me laugh with their humour, even if it is a little out there 🌝 i love their writing so much, these two women always write books that i devour and consistently enjoy 🤞💓

・・・・・

𑣲 ᴅᴏ ɪ ʀᴇᴄᴏᴍᴍᴇɴᴅ ᴛʜɪꜱ ʙᴏᴏᴋ?

absolutely!! go read it rn 🫶🏻

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫(3.5/5, romance)
Not your usual Christina Lauren! I think the key to this book is knowing what the hell you’re getting into before starting it! So, let me lead with the synopsis: Emery is a brilliant scientist working for a top-secret company developing highly classified technology. When her husband, Luca, dies one night in a hit-and-run, she breaks every rule and uses this technology to bring him back to life. When he wakes, while his body is healthy, his mind doesn’t remember a thing, so she’s working to make him fall in love with her again... and to right all the wrongs from their relationship pre-car crash.

The synopsis is probably an indicator that this kind of reads like a soap opera! Not a dig, just a fact! It is not Christina Lauren’s usual, so I get being disappointed by that! I thought the romance plot points were swoon-worthy and sexy, and the writing made it an addictive read. I had fun reading it, but I wasn’t, like, dying for more when I was done, like I usually am when reading a great romance.

I think it’s fun they tried something different, and smart women in STEM are really having their moment in the sun in the romance world!

One of my favorite parts of Luca was his Italian heritage and when he would bust out the Italian (IYKYK 🥵 ), so we’re pairing this book with a Sarti Spritz from his home country! Swipe for the recipe, cheers!

[Dee (in the Desert) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars -very different, but I liked it - it's a rom-com, but it's also sci-fi and mystery genre mash-up, it worked for me! Loved married couple Luca & Emery and their relationship felt very real to me - a bit spicier 🌶️🌶️ than I care for, but just skipped those parts. Loved the secondary characters too (go Betty👵🏻) and easy & quick to read and quite fun.

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Somewhere between a 3.5/3.75 rounded up.

This was SO (unintentionally) SILLY. Suspend your disbelief, lower your expectations, and this will be a good time. Will any of this be in my memory six months from now? Probably not. It made a great audiobook while I deep cleaned the house.

A workaholic scientist is late for her wedding anniversary when tragedy strikes, but good thing she has the right science for this situation! This is a second-chance romance with a sci-fi (but not really) twist.

This is not a spoiler but in the event you feel like this is going to get more sci-fi than the first 5%…..

I kept waiting for Luca to reveal he was a vampire. Something about Vas Eli’s narration played at 2x gave vampire. He wasn’t a vampire.

[Janssen]

This book delighted me. Blew through it in less than 24 hours.

[Jayne · Rating 2 out of 5]

➡️ Not much love for this "Romance" book.
Yes, this longtime Christina Lauren fan was disappointed.

➡️ The Premise.
I did love the "woman married to her job instead of her husband gets a chance to revive the romance" setup. Unfortunately, the flawed OTT execution zapped my love for the book's compelling premise.

➡️ The Content.
Too many sexually explicit details. Were they really necessary? I prefer G-rated romance novels.

➡️ The Length.
This 10-hour audiobook was too long for what it was.

➡️ The Ending.
A sickly-sweet, contrived resolution that didn't feel earned.

➡️ I listened to the audiobook expertly narrated by Julia Whelan and Vas Eli.
Both narrators gave Oscar-winning performances that made it worth the listen despite the weak storyline.

[Casey Reads 🌸 · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

Glad I ignored all the bad reviews I saw, because even though this book was not what I was expecting, I enjoyed it! 🩵

Lots of science & other people did not like that, but that was actually what kept me so fascinated. I wonder if there are experiments going on in real life like this.

The love story was good, a good amount of spice🌶️. But to be honest the focus was on the science & there was a bit of a thriller/suspense component going on.

The ending was a little out there, but I still enjoyed it and found this a fun, interesting read.

[Kailey (kmc_reads) · Rating 2 out of 5]

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, campy popcorn thriller kind of way? It felt SO CHEESY. 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. 2.5 Rounding up to 3 stars

[ellie]

𑣲 ⋆ 💛 — pre-read .ᐟ ⌗

𐔌 ♯┆11.10.26
ᯓ so it's autumn.. but we're still gonna read a summer romance 🤭 i've been trying to read more CL books so i hope i love this! I YEARN FOR A GOOD CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE. please

[niki ౨ৎ · Rating 4 out of 5]

౨ৎꨄ︎ 4 stars

not the best by christina lauren, but definitely not the worst!! still enjoyed it quite a lot <3

what’s done well is how interesting this book is and how easily it pulls you in. the beginning is strong and the pacing is done so well, you basically fly through the story without blinking. i just love their writing style, it’s so easy to follow.

as i mentioned, the story itself is interesting and i never expected to be so invested in it. whilst most of the things felt unrealistic, it still worked well. i mean… i love STEM romances yet i usually understand zero things lol.

this definitely isn’t the usual romance you’d expect from their book. it’s about a troubled marriage that gets its second chance (no matter how awfully emery and luca get the chance to change things in their lives!!). whilst they try to rebuild their marriage by helping luca to remember, there are the sad glimpses to the past and how they weren’t the greatest couple.

but honestly i love how they found a way to each other again. it’s evident that whilst they are both quite the opposites, they actually create a beautiful couple. of course, how emery took luca for granted is not the best, but this book is about her realizing all her wrongs and becoming a better wife, better friend, better person. not just for luca, but also for herself.

there are things that feel like they weren’t fully finished and i wish they were more discussed in the book. the ending is rushed in my opinion and i wouldn’t mind a better conclusion to things (e.g. the divorce papers).

i also got the idea that this was going to be a summer romance and whilst there are one, two chapters that have a bit of summer vibes, it definitely doesn’t fall into that category. i love both the covers yet they should have been different in my opinion.

overall, still very nice and quick read. definitely still enjoyed it despite some of its flaws!!

────୨ৎ────

౨ৎꨄ︎ pre-read: it’s sunday, it’s raining… perfect to start a HIGHLY anticipated read hehe <3

[Christy · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars

At first, I wasn’t sure I was going to like this one. The premise was a little out there for me. But the more I read it, the more I enjoyed it. Emery and Luca’s romance was beautiful!

Audio book source: Libby
Story Rating: 4 stars
Narrators: Julie Whelan & Vas Eli
Narration Rating: 5 stars
Genre: Romance
Length: 9h 37m

[Reggie Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

That was ridiculous, but fun.

[hailee · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

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.

[Alya | short TBR clearance era · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5⭐️ | If you enjoy right person wrong time vibes and can get past the sciencey parts of this you'll enjoy this. The parts where the MC had to relearn things about himself and them as a couple lowkey made me emotional. Other than that unfortunately this wasn't a memorable read for me

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