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A review by jachnax
Fake Dates and Mooncakes by Sher Lee
emotional
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
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.
Then I have a huge problem with some of Theo's behavior.
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
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Death of parent, and Classism