Reviews - Lunar New Year Love Story

1.34k reviews for:

Lunar New Year Love Story

Gene Luen Yang

4.43 AVERAGE

machiavelli_311's review against another edition

5.0

funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

A totally charming, heartfelt, and unexpectedly emotional graphic novel that blends romantic comedy with ghost stories, family expectations, and cultural tradition.

Lunar New Year Love Story follows Val, a teen girl who swears off love after a string of heartbreaks—until she meets a mysterious lion dancer who makes her question everything. As she’s drawn deeper into the world of lion dance and family legacy, Val discovers her late mom may be pulling strings from beyond, setting her up with a series of ghost-approved suitors. It sounds wild—and it is—but it’s also so grounded in vulnerability, humor, and cultural richness that it completely works.

LeUyen Pham’s art is radiant, energetic, and packed with visual emotion, while Gene Luen Yang’s writing strikes a perfect balance of heart, humor, and magical realism. I smiled through most of it and unexpectedly teared up by the end.

A lovely celebration of love in all its forms—romantic, familial, ancestral.

kayla_biblioteca's review against another edition

5.0

emotional hopeful mysterious reflective fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

marielissa's review against another edition

5.0

emotional sad fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

tiedyedude's review against another edition

4.0

emotional mysterious medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

Well deserving of the 2025 Eisner Award for Best Graphic Album, Best Publication for Teens, and Best Writer for Yang. Valentina believes her family is cursed in love, so the spirit of St. Valentine gives her one year to find true love, or he will free her of the burden of ever falling in love. In that year, she learns the truth of her family and joins a team of lion dancers. Predictable ending, but a great journey to it.

mothmanda's review against another edition

5.0

lighthearted fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

lazyjxyden's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

I thought this book was a really cute coming-of-age story. I loved how it wove the Lunar New Year celebration and lion dancing into the plot—it gave me a chance to learn more about the cultural traditions in a really natural and engaging way.

The teenage love story felt very realistic, especially the way it captured the emotions of a first love and a love triangle. All the characters were relatable in their own ways, and it was so refreshing to see that kind of authenticity in a book.