Review: When You Wish Upon a Lantern

 

Liya's grandmother died. Liya's devastated. It's a double blow when she realizes the store her family owns is struggling. She's determined to save it - no matter the cost. She'll even talk to her best friend even though they haven't talked in months due to a humiliating incident.

Liya wishes her parents didn't hate Kai's family. They own the bakery across the street, but the family have been at odds for years. Liya's family store sponsors festivals where people buy a lantern and make a wish. Liya and her grandmother used to work together to help facilitate wishes coming true. Liya can't do everything by herself. Can she risk asking Kai for help? 

My Thoughts: I really enjoyed this book. I loved the legacy that Liya's grandmother left behind. I felt terrible for Liya as she's grieving and trying to save the business. I loved her relationship with Kai - from the childhood way to their banter to them becoming partners. I loved the food descriptions and I want to visit the bakery. My heart broke for both Liya and Kai for their family situations. I loved learning more about the festivals and the mythology behind them. 

Cover Thoughts: Charming

Source: My Library

Library Recommendation: Highly Recommended for your school and public library 

Review: Rent a Boyfriend

 

Chloe can't imagine why her parents want her to marry a boy from her neighborhood. Sure his parents are rich, but the boy in question is terrible. He's so wrong for her.

Instead, Chloe hires a boy to play her boyfriend over the holidays. The  company provides the perfect boyfriend to soothe even her tradition parents' minds. 

But no matter how great Drew looks on paper, her parents aren't excited about the prospect. They still want her to marry the neighborhood boy. 

Chloe can't imagine her life married to him. She's not ready for marriage. And certainly not to him. She wishes that every choice she made wasn't an issue for her parents. Chloe knows they won't approve of Drew in real life - and now that's falling for him, everything gotten way more complicated...

My Thoughts: This was a super cute read! I loved it. I felt terrible for Chloe and the chasm between her and her parents. I can't believe they wanted her to marry that horrible boy. I loved how she and Drew grew to be close and had inside jokes. I enjoyed their banter and how they opened up to each other.  I loved learning more about Andrew's art. I wish there were pictures of it. This one is more New Adult than YA in terms of the ages of the character, but would be placed in most YA collections. 

Cover Thoughts: Cute

Source: ARC sent for review

Library Recommendation: A great #OwnVoices romance for your library's collection - highly recommended!

Review: American Panda

At 17, Mei's brains have gotten her into college early. But according to her mother, it's never to early to start thinking about marriage. Mei's parents have her whole future mapped out for her: She's going to be a doctor (never mind that she's a germaphobe), she's going to marry a Taiwanese boy (never mind that the boy she likes is Japanese), and she's not going to talk with brother again (never mind that she misses him).

Mei's newfound freedom makes it hard to understand why her parents still hold on so tightly to their culture and to her. As soon as she starts to disagree, their relationship becomes strained. Can Mei trust her own judgement or will she do as they wish?

My Thoughts: I really enjoyed this one - although it hit me straight in the feels. My parents were really strict and some of the moments here hit a little TOO close to home for me.  I loved the dancing moments! I loved the descriptions of food and all the eating that happened during the book. I really enjoyed the moments between Mei and her brother. This book gave me all the feels. It tugged at my heartstrings, was heartwrenching and hopeful, sad and happy. I'm eager to read what Gloria Chao writes next.

Cover Thoughts: Cute!
Source: Book sent for review

Library Recommendation: Grab this one for your school and public libraries.