Why Jennifer Lawrence and Chris Martin Are 'Happier Than Ever'

"He is romantic and very thoughtful," says a Lawrence source about Martin

Photo: Christopher Polk/Getty; Barry King/FilmMagic

Distance is no problem for Jennifer Lawrence and Chris Martin.

Since the Hunger Games star returned to Los Angeles from Massachusetts after two months of shooting the upcoming biopic Joy, she and the Coldplay rocker have been “happier than ever,” a source close to Lawrence tells PEOPLE in the magazine’s new issue. “They have been spending a lot of time together.”

Aside from getting together for “quality time,” the low-key couple – who were last spotted publicly in New York City over Easter weekend – have also spent time with their pals. “He’s made an effort to get to know her friends,” says the source.

The singer, who finalized his divorce from ex-wife Gwyneth Paltrow, 42, last month, “is romantic and thoughtful,” says the source. “He always makes Jen feel beautiful.”

With back-to-back projects (the actress heads next to Montreal to shoot X-men: Apocalypse), Lawrence, 24, and Martin, 38, are hoping to fit in a “relaxing vacation” later this year.

Adds a Martin pal: “Both have full plates and they like it that way. They see each other when they can, yet each continues to do their own thing. They respect each other immeasurably.”

Meanwhile, Paltrow – who shares two children, Apple, 10, and Moses, 9, with Martin – has been going strong with Glee co-creator Brad Falchuk.

“They are both very private and very aware that who they date attracts attention,” a source close to Martin and Paltrow told PEOPLE in April. “They are good friends who respect one another deeply as parents.”

• With reporting by Linda Marx

For more on Jennifer Lawrence and Chris Martin, pick up the latest issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands Friday