A review by kayaj
When You Wish Upon a Lantern by Gloria Chao

• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

 

When You Wish Upon A Lantern feels a little bit like a Disney movie and a little bit like a warm hug. We follow Liya, whose family owns a lantern shop, and Kai, whose family owns a baking shop. They were childhood friends but then a huge misunderstanding came between them. When Liya’s shop is at risk of closing for good, she recruits Kai to help her fulfill the wishes that are written on the lanterns.

This book has a surprising amount of tropes! There’s miscommunication of course, but also found family. If you love watching a community rally together, then check this out! Personally, I did really enjoy Liya and Kai’s story. However, I felt like it leaned a little younger than I was expecting. That’s perfectly fine, because now I have a go-to book to recommend to my little sister and her friends! 

 

Like I said, this story does lean a little younger. But it feels like a Disney short come to life. Okay, so maybe I’m mostly just thinking of Tangled but still! Liya and Kai are absolutely adorable together, and watching them serve* their community by fulfilling the wishes of the store’s customers was so fun.

*sure, they had some ulterior motives. but personally, i think they went above and beyond. to infinity and beyond!

Every single scene with the lanterns was so magical. It’s truly the perfect foil for any and all romantic moments. But beyond the romance, I loved that we got to see a variety of relationships. Liya and Kai have different relationships with their parents. Every character has a different dynamic from other characters. And honestly, I just thought Chao did a really great job at creating a world so alive that it felt like you could meet any of these characters any day.