Reviews with content warning for Classism - Fake Dates and Mooncakes

I really enjoyed this book but I do have a few critiques. I was a bit sad that it took so long for the mooncake competition to happen and I felt like it was rushed. From the synopsis of the book I felt like it would be a bigger part of the book and not be done in like 20 pages.
Then I have a huge problem with some of Theo's behavior.

He has a tendency of just showing up without a warning, I personally hate that but I get Dylan doesn't mind it.
What I do think is really really bad is him not disclosing enough information with Dylan before taking him somewhere. Ignoring his possible boundaries. Like the wedding, where he didn't tell him he was gonna crash it. That was addressed, he apologized. But again he did not disclose that pictures of the wedding would pop up in the newspapers and I feel like Theo would've know that would happen.
Also him randomly taking him to the ball thing an not telling him his father was gonna be there! That was sadly not addressed and I have a huge problem with that.
Also him always getting conformation from Dylan's family but not from Dylan himself, hits me the wrong way.
I get the appeal of surprises but again there should be an act of asking if it's okay, which did not happen.
Later with his grand gesture of traveling to Singapore, its the same thing. The gesture was amazing but again he talked to Dylan's family and not to Dylan and just showed up at the competition as Dylan's sous chef and not asking if that would be okay for him, but already deciding it for him.

Maybe I see it too strongly but that really bugs me. Maybe it is because me as an autistic person would not be able to handle the changes and random appearances in those situations.
Otherwise this book was really cute.
I take 1.5⭐️ away for Theo's behavior and 0.25⭐️ away because I would've wished me more of the competition.

Content Warnings

foldingthepage_kayleigh's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional 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

4.75

So extremely cute! I was crying happy tears all throughout the end. 100% would recommend this one!

Content Warnings

kal517's review against another edition

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funny hopeful 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

3.75

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bookishmillennial's review

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funny lighthearted fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

disclaimer: I don’t really give starred reviews. I enjoy most books for what they are, & I extract lessons from them all. I hope my reviews provide enough information to let you know if a book is for you or not. Find me here: https://linktr.ee/bookishmillennial

I thought this was a sweet enough contemporary young adult romcom, even if it was a bit predictable as far as fully knowing what to expect out of the lower-middle class kid going out with an extremely wealthy kid, and their worlds being completely different.

This is told in first-person, present-tense POV of Dylan, who works at his aunt Jade’s Singaporean Chinese takeout store in Brooklyn, and is hoping to win the Mooncakes contest in order to help her to open her restaurant. Theo, the son of a mega-powerful & wealthy businessman, invites Dylan to a family wedding as his fake date after Theo gives Dylan’s family $5,000 (basically, Dylan wants to repay Theo somehow & Theo says, “okay, be my fake date to this wedding!”)

As with most fake dating, obviously the feelings become real, but not without some mischief running afoot by Theo’s dad & his friend Adrian. There was one scene with Dylan saving the day for one of Theo’s cousins Terri, and that was wild! I was not expecting that. Everything else felt like a predictable Hallmark romcom though, but that’s not a bad thing! The sentiments, the vibes, and the dialogue just felt like they’d fit perfectly.

I appreciated the internal conflict that Dylan had in choosing to either become a veterinarian or a chef — both are so valid! I love when any story brings up adoption because America’s animal shelters and rescues are FULL right now because of irresponsible pet ownership (&absolutely because of rising costs of living too, I recognize that, but the euthanasia rates are steadily increasing, which is just devastating) so pleaseeeee ADOPT, DON’T SHOP! Sheesh❤️‍🩹🥲

The one thing I wish was fleshed out was Theo’s character — he seemed *too* perfect, and I wish he didn’t just feel like your everyday Prince Charming if that makes sense? I appreciated his love for painting, Jackson Pollock, & generally the liberal arts, but I would’ve loved to have more of his personality shine through.

I was moved by the fact that both of these boys lost their mothers, and they had that to connect with the other on. I have not lost a parent so I can only imagine, but I felt Lee represented this grief & dynamic well.

Overall, I thought this was adorable & I’d definitely read more from Sher Lee in the future!

cw: gaslighting, manipulative father/son dynamic, emotional/financial bribing/abuse, classism, toxic friendship, death of a parent, grief, past DUI discussed

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grey's review

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emotional funny 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

4.0

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sandwiiche's review

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emotional hopeful 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

3.5

a cute and silly little romance to distract me from my problems

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