Reviews with content warning for Alcoholism - Fake Dates and Mooncakes

Reviews tagging 'Alcoholism'

Fake Dates and Mooncakes by Sher Lee

63 reviews

tenderbench's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny inspiring lighthearted reflective fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? N/A
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.25

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fragilelunar's review against another edition

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5.0

This book was sooo cute! There wasn't much I didn't like about this one. I adored all the characters (especially Terri and Dylan). It was nice that they had realistic flaws but were still incredibly likeable characters I was fully rooting for the entire time. The message of the importance of family and following your heart were really special. I loved the relationship between Dylan and Aunt Jade. It was sweet and heartwarming. I also really enjoyed Theo and Terri's relationship and how much they supported each other.

I've always really liked the fake dating trope and this one did not let me down! The tension and mutual pining was so sweet and cute! It may have been a bit insta lovey but I don't mind that too much. I think when it comes to teenagers, that's not super unrealistic. I loved how much they cared about each other and the way they supported each other throughout this book, even when circumstances were difficult. They had a pretty healthy relationship in my opinion!

As a Kpop fan myself, I always laughed a little bit at how many times Blackpink were mentioned. I would definitely be friends with Megan. All the cultural references and explanations of the food were really great as well! It really made you feel involved in the story and made me want to eat all of it. I've never had a mooncake before, but this made me want one so bad!!

Overall, I thought this was a really heartwarming story that I would highly recommend!

Trigger Warnings: death of parent (mother x2), grief, parental abandonment, drowning (not fatal), alcohol, alcoholism/addiction, rehab, DUI, car accident, blackmail, emotional abuse, flooding, classism, cancer, toxic friendship, dementia

Rep: M/M, Chinese and Singaporean MCs

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tors_tomes's review against another edition

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4.75

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pey333's review against another edition

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emotional funny lighthearted relaxing 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? No

4.5

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missindyrose's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? N/A
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

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james1star's review against another edition

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emotional 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? No

5.0

I loved this book so much. It’s not often I pick up something in the romance genre, queer or not, but I am beyond happy I found Lee’s debut. I can’t really say a single bad thing about it at all, I wholeheartedly adored this story and characters. I guess there’s an element of insta love which some people don’t like but in my opinion it’s reduced to nothing in comparison to what the book does well. I practically ate Fake Dates and Mooncakes up and didn’t want to put it down at all, I was truly encapsulated.

In terms of plot, we follow the narrative seventeen year old Dylan’s first person POV starting his senior year. He’s juggling school with helping out at his Auntie Jade’s stifling Singaporean Chinese takeout in Brooklyn and when a delivery gets mixed up he sees Theo and things advance from here. Both boys come from completely different worlds but it’s clear from the start a connection is growing and then Theo invites Dylan to be his fake date to a wedding where he’s introduced to some crazy rich drama. Whilst this is going on, he needs to find a way to help out the takeout and a Mid-Autumn Mooncake making contest might just be the answer. His mother who sadly recently died planned to enter the completion recreating his Por Por (grandmother’s) special blue mooncakes but there’s a problem as she’s forgotten the recipe. There is also so much more to the story but I want everyone to read it so I won’t say anymore.

So I loved the story like majorly but omfg the characters!! The characters in this book were just wow… I completely adored them. Dylan is the perfect protagonist with many layers, he’s human so does things that make you a bit annoyed but he is so pure of heart. His love for his family, the takeout, his future and others is immense and so beautifully to read. Additionally his knowledge of Chinese culture, language, customs and history is fascinating and it’s clear he’s been brought up well fusing traditional and contemporary ideals - he and Theo are both out before the book starts and not once does someone question or attack their identities as young gay men and which is lovely to see, my heart is full. Now we come to Theo who too is a wonder and delight to read, he’s from money and clearly has had a childhood influenced by it but unlike others in his family in some ways doesn’t care about it. Or more accurately doesn’t let it impact how he sees the world and others, he’s much more ‘down to earth’ and caring. His relationship with his dad is very strained and certain parts really upset me but the love and acceptable - and I guess ‘found family’ aspect - from Dylan’s family was amazing. Auntie Jade was also lovely, she’s a tough women prepared to fight what she has and a determination to succeed despite the battles she’s up against, the way she took Dylan in after his mother’s passing was great knowing she too lost a sister and the love she showed him throughout was pure bliss. Her children allowed showed the same affection, Megan was hilarious at times with her quick wit and great personality and little Tim was again great - I wish there were more of his personality at times maybe exploring more of his ‘by the book’ tendencies but that would’ve been a bonus. Theo’s cousin Terri was too great, she’s shown to deal with an alcohol problem as a result of family drama but this is portrayed in a mature and positive way. Like Megan she’s funny and an amazing ally to her cousin. Theo’s auntie Catherine and her wife Malia was an added lesbian love piled on top which I again ate up, they’re great and so supportive, acting like a rock surrounded by the drama. Other members of his family, most notably his dad Malcom and aunt Lucia were quite unlikable but had redeeming qualities too. Dylan’s mum, despite not being present, was just wonderful and I did cry at points where she’s mentioned - her love for Dylan and animals was great (I’m running out of positive words here!). Penultimately, his grandparents Por Por and Gong Gong were nice, I wish we saw more of them but I guess it was enough. And finally… drum roll please for the super sweet and lovable Clover the corgi (Dylan’s dog) who was just an added sweetness I didn’t know I needed.

Whilst it’s not a literary masterpiece, I feel this can be pushed aside given it’s a YA book and hence the language is aimed at younger readers. It’s not terrible by any means and I found not a single flaw at all. It’s engaging, fast paced and sweet just like the plot and characters being described. Something that shone out was the inclusion of Chinese phrases and other cultural themes which were interesting and I throughly enjoyed reading about them. One example was the saying Dylan came back to quite a few times: yôu yuán qiān lì lái xiāng huì which translates to ‘We have the destiny to meet across a thousand miles’ just beautiful.

Dylan and Theo came from different worlds, I mean he even said “…Our worlds are as far apart as the sun and the moon."

"They align every now and then, Aunt Jade points out. "Eclipses are pretty memorable.” They are, and so was this book. Go on give it a read and let yourself feel some joy because I can bet you can’t read this without smiling nearly throughout. I cannot wait for Lee’s next book because there better be one!

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