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damianameade's review against another edition
5.0
While I love quirky, foodie, erotic romance, I have to admit the thing that made me fall in love with this book is the main character Chloe hooking up with Drew.
As a bisexual cis-gendered woman married to a cis-gendered man, I struggle with my sexual identity. Seeing a character that is bi and enters a committed relationship with someone of the opposite sex, it was heartwarming.
So often bi women in erotica who “become lesbians” or who fool around before going back to their hetero partners and read as non-committal or riding a fence.
It was just really nice to see someone who is somewhat like me. That Chloe’s choosing to enter into this relationship with Drew does not make her less of a bisexual or turn her heterosexual.
Foodie romances are awesome. I love the cozy conversations about flavors of ice cream, meals and desserts shared, and how the whole story revolves around sharing and conversation. It was so relaxing to read and, I admit, it made me grab ice cream and check out some new flavors (and crave some old favorites).
********spoiler alert in next paragraph**************
I also really liked Drew’s background issues. I have once been that self-help reader who poured over books/movies like Eat, Pray, Love or Under the Tuscan Sun.
Reading Ice Cream Lover and watching the way Drew struggled with being “that guy” who’s failed relationship was smeared all over a book and mainstream media – who was written as a horrible person rather than someone entirely human with good qualities as well as flaws – I thought back to some of the books I’ve read.
Those men talked about in self help books and biographies/memoirs – they were human. We only get to hear one side of their story. Looking back at my own failed relationships I’d certainly hate it if that was poured out on the best seller list and I was made to be some monsterous ex.
It was a very unique take on a character and I thoroughly enjoyed it!
*********************************************************
What I Didn’t Love About the Book
It made me spend too much on ice cream…worth it. But no, seriously, if you’re gonna read this book, have a favorite on hand.
As a bisexual cis-gendered woman married to a cis-gendered man, I struggle with my sexual identity. Seeing a character that is bi and enters a committed relationship with someone of the opposite sex, it was heartwarming.
So often bi women in erotica who “become lesbians” or who fool around before going back to their hetero partners and read as non-committal or riding a fence.
It was just really nice to see someone who is somewhat like me. That Chloe’s choosing to enter into this relationship with Drew does not make her less of a bisexual or turn her heterosexual.
Foodie romances are awesome. I love the cozy conversations about flavors of ice cream, meals and desserts shared, and how the whole story revolves around sharing and conversation. It was so relaxing to read and, I admit, it made me grab ice cream and check out some new flavors (and crave some old favorites).
********spoiler alert in next paragraph**************
I also really liked Drew’s background issues. I have once been that self-help reader who poured over books/movies like Eat, Pray, Love or Under the Tuscan Sun.
Reading Ice Cream Lover and watching the way Drew struggled with being “that guy” who’s failed relationship was smeared all over a book and mainstream media – who was written as a horrible person rather than someone entirely human with good qualities as well as flaws – I thought back to some of the books I’ve read.
Those men talked about in self help books and biographies/memoirs – they were human. We only get to hear one side of their story. Looking back at my own failed relationships I’d certainly hate it if that was poured out on the best seller list and I was made to be some monsterous ex.
It was a very unique take on a character and I thoroughly enjoyed it!
*********************************************************
What I Didn’t Love About the Book
It made me spend too much on ice cream…worth it. But no, seriously, if you’re gonna read this book, have a favorite on hand.
tessisreading2's review
3.0
Perfectly respectable, enjoyable book from Lau; not one of my favorites from her but readable and sympathetic.
pug0827's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this book a lot more than I thought I was going to. It was such a happy surprise!
I liked the first book in the series, but I didn't love it, so going into this one my expectations weren't super high. However, I think I've decided that Jackie Lau is my new go-to for short, sweet, cozy, socially-aware romances with diverse characters.
I really liked how Chloe was able to find her own sense of belonging in the world. (It's something I struggle with sometimes also being a mixed White/Asian person so I appreciated both the representation and how relatable her problems were). Drew is pretty grumpy, but he has a good heart where it really counts. The romance between them was just overall adorable!
Can't wait to read more from Jackie Lau when I need a nice, big hug in book form!
I liked the first book in the series, but I didn't love it, so going into this one my expectations weren't super high. However, I think I've decided that Jackie Lau is my new go-to for short, sweet, cozy, socially-aware romances with diverse characters.
I really liked how Chloe was able to find her own sense of belonging in the world. (It's something I struggle with sometimes also being a mixed White/Asian person so I appreciated both the representation and how relatable her problems were). Drew is pretty grumpy, but he has a good heart where it really counts. The romance between them was just overall adorable!
Can't wait to read more from Jackie Lau when I need a nice, big hug in book form!
jackiehorne's review against another edition
4.0
3.5. Another strong installment in the Baldwin Village series, this one featuring a biracial, bisexual ice cream maker working hard to make her new Asian-themed store a success to honor her dead mother, and a 3rd generation Chinese-Canadian financier whose ex's dramatic leaving of him at the altar (and subsequent best-selling self-help book, titledFind Your Inner Ice Cream Sandwich) has left him with no taste for the frozen treat. But since Drew's six-year-old biracial niece is a foodie, Drew finds himself visiting Ginger Scoops every Saturday. Even after his weekend babysitting job comes to an end...
Both Chloe and Drew are likable, engaging characters, lightly drawn despite the emotional issues with which they are struggling: grief over the death of a parent; self-worth after public humiliation; how being biracial can make one feel like an outsider, even within one's own family.
As this, like previous Lau books, is category-length, there isn't a lot of in-depth character struggle; conflicts get resolved far too easily all around for my taste, but that's the way it goes in category.
Hard to resist the appealing marriage of grumpy and cuteness, though...
Both Chloe and Drew are likable, engaging characters, lightly drawn despite the emotional issues with which they are struggling: grief over the death of a parent; self-worth after public humiliation; how being biracial can make one feel like an outsider, even within one's own family.
As this, like previous Lau books, is category-length, there isn't a lot of in-depth character struggle; conflicts get resolved far too easily all around for my taste, but that's the way it goes in category.
Hard to resist the appealing marriage of grumpy and cuteness, though...
bandherbooks's review against another edition
5.0
Drew's fiancee jumped out of a window to flee from their wedding, with not a world to tell him why, well no words until she published her tell-all memoir/self-help book entitled "Embrace Your Inner Ice Cream Sandwich." A book that lambasts Drew for "melting her ice cream sandwich" and for being a cross between Eeyore and Oscar the Grouch on steroids." Ouch.
So now Drew hates ice cream. Can't stand it. Not even if the owner of the ice cream shop his foodie niece is currently obsessed with is also super cute and super intent on changing his mind.
Ginger Scoops has been Chloe's dream since her mother died, even if her father doesn't believe it is a smart career choice. Chloe is intent on proving her father wrong and honoring her Chinese-Canadian mother's heritage, a heritage her White father seems intent on ignoring, with her Asian flavored delicacies.
So when the deliciously grumpy Drew starts showing up with his adorable niece, Chloe doesn't much have time to spare for someone who is a self-described ice cream hater. But there just something about Drew, something about his instance he's a grump and not worth a relationship, that makes Chloe also want to prove him wrong. Even if it cuts into her time owning a small business.
Lau does an amazing job of bringing these two melancholy souls together. Don't let the breezy title and cover fool you, this story has some angst and tackles tough subjects, including death of a parent, parental disappointment, and racial blindness that hurts. But, through the darkness shines so much sparkling light, including Drew's coming to realize he's lovable through his relationship with his six-year-old niece (much more than plot moppet), and a series of unicorns.
There's also fabulously delicious sex scenes, and a celebration of Chloe's use of toys to achieve maximum pleasure (huzzah)!
I always look forward to the next Lau tale!
I received a free copy in exchange for a fair review.
So now Drew hates ice cream. Can't stand it. Not even if the owner of the ice cream shop his foodie niece is currently obsessed with is also super cute and super intent on changing his mind.
Ginger Scoops has been Chloe's dream since her mother died, even if her father doesn't believe it is a smart career choice. Chloe is intent on proving her father wrong and honoring her Chinese-Canadian mother's heritage, a heritage her White father seems intent on ignoring, with her Asian flavored delicacies.
So when the deliciously grumpy Drew starts showing up with his adorable niece, Chloe doesn't much have time to spare for someone who is a self-described ice cream hater. But there just something about Drew, something about his instance he's a grump and not worth a relationship, that makes Chloe also want to prove him wrong. Even if it cuts into her time owning a small business.
Lau does an amazing job of bringing these two melancholy souls together. Don't let the breezy title and cover fool you, this story has some angst and tackles tough subjects, including death of a parent, parental disappointment, and racial blindness that hurts. But, through the darkness shines so much sparkling light, including Drew's coming to realize he's lovable through his relationship with his six-year-old niece (much more than plot moppet), and a series of unicorns.
There's also fabulously delicious sex scenes, and a celebration of Chloe's use of toys to achieve maximum pleasure (huzzah)!
I always look forward to the next Lau tale!
I received a free copy in exchange for a fair review.
jessoehrlein's review
3.0
The conceit here was a little too much of a stretch for me, but this still had a lot of what I enjoy about the other Baldwin Village books.
pn_hinton's review against another edition
5.0
Yet another winner from Jackie. And of course it made me want ice cream a lot! I loved how well balanced the Drew and Chloe were and the strength they gave each other when it was needed. Plus the steam factor in here was off the charts! Highly recommend.
readingwithhippos's review against another edition
4.0
I adore Jackie Lau and find myself saving her books for when I’m feeling down and need a lift. Her characters have realistic, sometimes heavy, problems, but they’re balanced by her signature charming wit and, in this case, delicious food. Drew has not only been left at the altar, but his former fiancée wrote a bestselling self-help book blaming him for all their relationship problems and comparing him to Oscar the Grouch. The central (corny and much belabored) metaphor of her book was ice cream sandwiches, and ever since publication Drew has been viscerally turned off by ice cream. Unfortunately, his niece, a precocious foodie, loves an upscale ice cream shop in town, and Drew ends up spending a lot of time there, black coffee in hand. The only good thing about frequenting Ginger Scoops is the owner, Chloe, who is super cute and always tries to talk him into trying her creations inspired by her mother’s Chinese heritage. But there’s no way a curmudgeonly guy like him would go for a woman who’s painted her ice cream parlor bright pink, right?
As much as I enjoyed Drew’s journey from closed off grump to happily in love grump, I loved Chloe as a character even more. She has complicated feelings about her half Chinese, half white identity, made more difficult because her mother has passed away and the only family she sees regularly are white people. She feels out of place among them but at the same time feels disconnected from Chinese culture. I also appreciated how Chloe’s bisexuality is an organic part of the story, not the focus but also not ignored just because she’s interested in a man. And of course I loved all the foodie references—I definitely had to pause my reading for ice cream breaks.
As much as I enjoyed Drew’s journey from closed off grump to happily in love grump, I loved Chloe as a character even more. She has complicated feelings about her half Chinese, half white identity, made more difficult because her mother has passed away and the only family she sees regularly are white people. She feels out of place among them but at the same time feels disconnected from Chinese culture. I also appreciated how Chloe’s bisexuality is an organic part of the story, not the focus but also not ignored just because she’s interested in a man. And of course I loved all the foodie references—I definitely had to pause my reading for ice cream breaks.
iamdr_rn's review
Couldn’t connect to either of the characters and frankly ever time they mentioned the stupid ice cream sandwich book I wanted to throw my Kindle, so not for me