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s2thenuggl3s's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
2.75
thebookishnarwhal's review against another edition
5.0
I was first attracted to the cover because it’s 100 per cent adorable, then the description really sold it. Crazy Bao You by Lynn Liao is a romcom filled with heart that had me laughing-out-loud on many occasions.
Meet Kimmie Park. She has her own Etsy shop and is laying low after a video of her goes viral. Meet Matt West. He’s a firefighter trying to break away from the family business and be his own person. When they meet online, it seems like nothing can go wrong. Oh, did I mention that Jimmie is using her best friend’s photo as her profile pic?
Liao dealt with some heavier topics in the story, like those of grief, fear, and birth moms beautifully within a comedic story. The themes of making peace with your identity, past, and family are ones that I heavily related to and found solace in. I highly recommend this read before the summer is out, and all-year long really! I cannot wait for it to have a permanent spot in my home library, and for the physical reread.
Thank you NetGalley and the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) for a temporary e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Meet Kimmie Park. She has her own Etsy shop and is laying low after a video of her goes viral. Meet Matt West. He’s a firefighter trying to break away from the family business and be his own person. When they meet online, it seems like nothing can go wrong. Oh, did I mention that Jimmie is using her best friend’s photo as her profile pic?
Liao dealt with some heavier topics in the story, like those of grief, fear, and birth moms beautifully within a comedic story. The themes of making peace with your identity, past, and family are ones that I heavily related to and found solace in. I highly recommend this read before the summer is out, and all-year long really! I cannot wait for it to have a permanent spot in my home library, and for the physical reread.
Thank you NetGalley and the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) for a temporary e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.
purpleren331's review against another edition
5.0
Not going to lie- when I got this book it, was purely for the title and cover. I mean, it's so cute! But I was quickly pulled right into the story. "Crazy Bao You" is such a great balance of happy and funny with an emotional side to it as well. The characters were wonderful! Kimmie was so much fun to read about and is just so down to earth, she feels relatable- but not too 'perfect story character'. Then we have firefighter Matt, who's funny and just shy of grumpy at first, and I enjoyed his time at the firehouse quite a bit! My grandfather was firefighter, so going back to the firehouse setting was quite nostalgic for me. I loved the way the characters developed on the page, it truly felt like I was getting to know them! I also really liked how the shops' social media posts were sprinkled in, it felt like just the right amount. I honestly don't have anything negative to say about this book, it was a wonderful fun summer read that I highly recommend!
10iii_kat's review against another edition
4.0
"Pit bulls aren't as dangerous as people think."
"I know." He looked back at the man. "But he's a known drug dealer around here."
"The dog?" I turned to stare after the pit bull.
"No, the man."
Truly a sweet and funny book filled with lots of friends, innocent misunderstandings, and finding yourself.
I finished it all in one sitting and I loved it so much!! All characters are written so that you will love them all, even Frank. (If you've read the book you'll know).
Also, the whole firefighter x Etsy owner trope was so refreshing to me, and in a way, it felt like a fanfiction so I ate it up like a teenage girl reading a Wattpad story. It has its cringe moments but overall it's just sweet and heartwarming.
───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────
"I know." He looked back at the man. "But he's a known drug dealer around here."
"The dog?" I turned to stare after the pit bull.
"No, the man."
Truly a sweet and funny book filled with lots of friends, innocent misunderstandings, and finding yourself.
I finished it all in one sitting and I loved it so much!! All characters are written so that you will love them all, even Frank. (If you've read the book you'll know).
Also, the whole firefighter x Etsy owner trope was so refreshing to me, and in a way, it felt like a fanfiction so I ate it up like a teenage girl reading a Wattpad story. It has its cringe moments but overall it's just sweet and heartwarming.
───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────
thebookishpage's review against another edition
4.0
This was heartwarming/entertaining romance that explores the challenges and triumphs of finding love and following your dreams. The story centers around Kimmie Park, a young woman living in Oklahoma who falls for Matt West, a charming and handsome firefighter from New York. However, there are several obstacles standing in their way, including Kimmie's recent viral fame, her insecurities about her appearance, and the secrets she's been keeping from Matt.
One of the strengths of the book is the author's ability to create relatable and likable characters. Kimmie is a well-developed protagonist who struggles with self-doubt and past traumas, but also shows resilience and determination in pursuing her passion for designing purses and accessories. Matt is a sympathetic love interest who respects and supports Kimmie, even as he faces his own family conflicts and personal struggles.
Another strength of the book is the author's use of music as a central theme. Kimmie and Matt bond over their shared love of country music, and the book is filled with references to classic songs and lyrics that add depth and emotion to the story. The use of song titles as chapter headings also adds a creative touch to the book.
While the book has many positive qualities, it also has some weaknesses. At times, the plot can feel predictable or formulaic, with certain conflicts and resolutions feeling a bit contrived. Additionally, some of the secondary characters are not as fully fleshed out as Kimmie and Matt, making them feel somewhat one-dimensional.
Overall, “Crazy Bao You” is a charming and enjoyable romance novel that will appeal to fans of the genre. The book offers relatable characters, a touching love story, and a heartfelt exploration of the power of music and self-expression. Therefore, I would give the book a rating of 4 out of 5 stars.
One of the strengths of the book is the author's ability to create relatable and likable characters. Kimmie is a well-developed protagonist who struggles with self-doubt and past traumas, but also shows resilience and determination in pursuing her passion for designing purses and accessories. Matt is a sympathetic love interest who respects and supports Kimmie, even as he faces his own family conflicts and personal struggles.
Another strength of the book is the author's use of music as a central theme. Kimmie and Matt bond over their shared love of country music, and the book is filled with references to classic songs and lyrics that add depth and emotion to the story. The use of song titles as chapter headings also adds a creative touch to the book.
While the book has many positive qualities, it also has some weaknesses. At times, the plot can feel predictable or formulaic, with certain conflicts and resolutions feeling a bit contrived. Additionally, some of the secondary characters are not as fully fleshed out as Kimmie and Matt, making them feel somewhat one-dimensional.
Overall, “Crazy Bao You” is a charming and enjoyable romance novel that will appeal to fans of the genre. The book offers relatable characters, a touching love story, and a heartfelt exploration of the power of music and self-expression. Therefore, I would give the book a rating of 4 out of 5 stars.
_readwithsha's review against another edition
4.0
If you're in the mood for a quick and delightful romance, look no further than Crazy Bao You. This multicultural love story is incredibly charming and will leave you wanting more. It's a fast-paced read that you won't be able to put down until you've reached the last page. Don't hesitate to pick up this heartwarming book, you won't regret it!
Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for this ARC. ✨
Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for this ARC. ✨
smalltownbookmom's review against another edition
4.0
The debut romcom from women's fiction and thriller writer Lyn Liao Butler. I really enjoyed this opposites attract, dual POV romance between an Oklahoma fashion designer who goes viral and an NYC firefighter who become friends online.
Full of mistaken identity and family secrets this was a heartwarming friends to lovers closed door romance. Fun and heartfelt and good on audio too narrated by Gabriel Spires and Jennifer Aquino. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!
Full of mistaken identity and family secrets this was a heartwarming friends to lovers closed door romance. Fun and heartfelt and good on audio too narrated by Gabriel Spires and Jennifer Aquino. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!
jen286's review against another edition
1.0
This story really didn't work for me. The writing was not the best and made situations and storylines that I normally like or wouldn't mind into ones where I either a) rolled my eyes or b) got so annoyed by because they were really repetitive and annoying. It is unfortunate as I was really looking forward to reading this one as it sounded super cute, but it didn't work out that way.
Kimmie has her own Etsy shop, but her most recent claim to fame is a viral video of her telling off her jerk boss while twerking. She didn't know anyone was filming it and she hates that it went viral so she wants nothing to do with it. She doesn't want to tie her Etsy store to it or really have anyone recognize her anywhere. She also has pretty much just shuts herself off in her house as she is afraid to travel after losing her parents when they traveled. Plus she found out she was adopted once they were gone and her birth mother has contacted her to see if she wants to connect. These are all things that sound like a story I would want to read, but the writing doesn't treat them well enough to really deal with them and also rushes a lot of it. I just...it didn't work.
Matt lives in NYC and is almost a firefighter there. He bought something from Kim's shop and when he sees her picture on Instagram he decides to send her a message. Only the photo is not Kim and one of the main storylines of this book - Kim thinks everyone will hate her if she tells them the photo is really her friend. Now there are a lot of super easy solutions to this that don't even involve revealing who she really is. I told my husband about this and he was like why didn't she just immediately say her friend is the face of the brand? Like yeah. That would have been my first thought too. Or simply say that it is your friend modeling the wears....like you don't have to post a photo of yourself to do that?? It made no sense. And so for way too long Matt and Kim are talking and falling for each other, and Kim is stressed because she knows he will hate her once he finds out she doesn't look like her friend. And everyone everywhere will hate her. No one will want to do business with her once they find out what she really looks like (this one was...she goes to meet Matt's dad who owns a company that wants to partner with her and sell her stuff, but oh noes! He will hate her once he sees what she really looks like! And when they all do meet for the first time it was completely ridiculous and not in a good way. I don't know why everyone was constantly like we must keep making everything worse! That will be better! HUGE eye roll here and the logic made no sense to me).
Kim's stressing about Matt hating her because she has been lying to him (which yeah this whole thing got out of control and she really lies to him about little things that were ridiculous) so she keeps trying to tell him and he keeps either a) misunderstanding because they were just joking about something similar to what she says or b) something interrupts like the fire alarm. It happened so many times I was like come on! I am done with this! I really almost dnf-ed it because it annoyed me so much, and maybe I should have because it didn't really get better.
Now this ties into another thing I didn't like about the story - everything was WAY too convenient and coincidental in a way that was not believable for me. Like the people closest to Kim drop everything and decide to move back to Oklahoma to be with her when the video of her goes viral? Like if it had been written better then sure I buy a bff would be there for you when you need her, but this wasn't. This was just like oh, that's convenient for the plot...and that was also Matt's reaction when he finds out Kim has been lying to him was just like no big deal. Who cares which...if you really care that would be an easy thing to clear up, but to not care at all was a bit...convenient. I would at least need a second. Oh well. This obviously wasn't the book for me.
Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for a copy of this book
Kimmie has her own Etsy shop, but her most recent claim to fame is a viral video of her telling off her jerk boss while twerking. She didn't know anyone was filming it and she hates that it went viral so she wants nothing to do with it. She doesn't want to tie her Etsy store to it or really have anyone recognize her anywhere. She also has pretty much just shuts herself off in her house as she is afraid to travel after losing her parents when they traveled. Plus she found out she was adopted once they were gone and her birth mother has contacted her to see if she wants to connect. These are all things that sound like a story I would want to read, but the writing doesn't treat them well enough to really deal with them and also rushes a lot of it. I just...it didn't work.
Matt lives in NYC and is almost a firefighter there. He bought something from Kim's shop and when he sees her picture on Instagram he decides to send her a message. Only the photo is not Kim and one of the main storylines of this book - Kim thinks everyone will hate her if she tells them the photo is really her friend. Now there are a lot of super easy solutions to this that don't even involve revealing who she really is. I told my husband about this and he was like why didn't she just immediately say her friend is the face of the brand? Like yeah. That would have been my first thought too. Or simply say that it is your friend modeling the wears....like you don't have to post a photo of yourself to do that?? It made no sense. And so for way too long Matt and Kim are talking and falling for each other, and Kim is stressed because she knows he will hate her once he finds out she doesn't look like her friend. And everyone everywhere will hate her. No one will want to do business with her once they find out what she really looks like (this one was...she goes to meet Matt's dad who owns a company that wants to partner with her and sell her stuff, but oh noes! He will hate her once he sees what she really looks like! And when they all do meet for the first time it was completely ridiculous and not in a good way. I don't know why everyone was constantly like we must keep making everything worse! That will be better! HUGE eye roll here and the logic made no sense to me).
Kim's stressing about Matt hating her because she has been lying to him (which yeah this whole thing got out of control and she really lies to him about little things that were ridiculous) so she keeps trying to tell him and he keeps either a) misunderstanding because they were just joking about something similar to what she says or b) something interrupts like the fire alarm. It happened so many times I was like come on! I am done with this! I really almost dnf-ed it because it annoyed me so much, and maybe I should have because it didn't really get better.
Now this ties into another thing I didn't like about the story - everything was WAY too convenient and coincidental in a way that was not believable for me. Like the people closest to Kim drop everything and decide to move back to Oklahoma to be with her when the video of her goes viral? Like if it had been written better then sure I buy a bff would be there for you when you need her, but this wasn't. This was just like oh, that's convenient for the plot...and that was also Matt's reaction when he finds out Kim has been lying to him was just like no big deal. Who cares which...if you really care that would be an easy thing to clear up, but to not care at all was a bit...convenient. I would at least need a second. Oh well. This obviously wasn't the book for me.
Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for a copy of this book
kthornette's review against another edition
3.0
Thank you, Netgalley, for the ARC!
Potential spoilers are below since I critique the plot.
I was in the mood for a foodie romcom so here we are. The explanation of Bao as a “precious treasure” at the start makes the book so much better for me.
Bonus points for the FMC having the same name as me and bonus points for Matt being a firefighter cause that’s hot.
Honestly, I would’ve done the whole secretive persona plot differently. The viral video aspect wasn’t necessary to me. I felt like everything could’ve been associated with Kim not wanting to be public with her store. Kim could’ve just been running her online store without showing her face since her friend was the one modelling her merchandise. This all could’ve been avoided easily by explaining it all. Also, as one of the few people on here who like insta-love as a trope, this was a little too instant for me. It cooked faster than my instant ramen. I still liked them together, though. They had a lot of cute moments.
But like my instant ramen, I still enjoyed it.
Potential spoilers are below since I critique the plot.
I was in the mood for a foodie romcom so here we are. The explanation of Bao as a “precious treasure” at the start makes the book so much better for me.
Bonus points for the FMC having the same name as me and bonus points for Matt being a firefighter cause that’s hot.
Honestly, I would’ve done the whole secretive persona plot differently. The viral video aspect wasn’t necessary to me. I felt like everything could’ve been associated with Kim not wanting to be public with her store. Kim could’ve just been running her online store without showing her face since her friend was the one modelling her merchandise. This all could’ve been avoided easily by explaining it all. Also, as one of the few people on here who like insta-love as a trope, this was a little too instant for me. It cooked faster than my instant ramen. I still liked them together, though. They had a lot of cute moments.
But like my instant ramen, I still enjoyed it.
maymay0316's review against another edition
3.0
Thank you to LBB, IBPA as well as NetGalley and Lyn Liao Butler for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
This was a really fun read! The book is about Kimmie Park, an Etsy store owner from Oklahoma who goes viral for quitting her other job. Then she ends up falling for one of her customers who helps get her an incredible opportunity.
I really loved the characters. I could understand why Kimmie felt the way she did about what was going on and what motivated her. I liked how sweet and funny her and Matt were together.
The only thing I didn't enjoy was how many plot points the story had and how many chances Kimmie had to tell Matt the truth but something always came up. A few times it's comical, but too many feels like overkill. The story just felt really busy sometimes. I think the 3rd quarter of this book was the strongest because the storyline flowed really well.
Another thing I didn't understand (without giving away too many spoilers) is
Overall, this book was a fun time and I would read other books from Lyn Liao Butler.
This was a really fun read! The book is about Kimmie Park, an Etsy store owner from Oklahoma who goes viral for quitting her other job. Then she ends up falling for one of her customers who helps get her an incredible opportunity.
I really loved the characters. I could understand why Kimmie felt the way she did about what was going on and what motivated her. I liked how sweet and funny her and Matt were together.
The only thing I didn't enjoy was how many plot points the story had and how many chances Kimmie had to tell Matt the truth but something always came up. A few times it's comical, but too many feels like overkill. The story just felt really busy sometimes. I think the 3rd quarter of this book was the strongest because the storyline flowed really well.
Another thing I didn't understand (without giving away too many spoilers) is
Spoiler
what happened in the epilogue. From what I learned from these characters as a reader I would have thought Kimmie would have wanted some special moments to be more private and low key, but that's just my opinion.Overall, this book was a fun time and I would read other books from Lyn Liao Butler.