Review: Bingsu for Two

 

River had himself a heck of a 24-hour period. 

1. He dumped his girlfriend

2. He walked out of the SATs

3. He dumped coffee beans over a customer

4. He quit his job

5. And he begs for a job at a rival coffee shop

* He learns that the girl (Sarang) he dumped coffee beans over works at that rival coffee shop

** A video he makes the first day of work goes viral and forces himself into a fake relationship with Sarang

*** His ex-girlfriend blackmails him

My Thoughts:

I really loved this book (minus the blackmail part). I loved the viral videos. I loved the fake dating. I loved River and his brother. I loved the mom-and-pop coffee shop and how River found himself there. I love how everyone who worked there was a family. His ex-girlfriend was the worst. The coffee shop would be a place I would visit (even though I don't drink coffee.)

Cover Thoughts: Cute

Source: My Library

Library Recommendation: Highly Recommended for your school and public library collection

BookTok: Fake Dates and Mooncakes

This was such a fun read! 

@yabooknerdlibrarian Fake Dates and Mooncakes: a male male YA romance with #fakedating #wedding #bakingshow #familydrama #cutedog #booktalk ♬ original sound - Jennifer @YA Book Nerd 📚📚📚

Review: Flip the Script

 

Hana loves K-dramas but this is her first time acting in one. Her co-star is a K-Pop star with tons of fans. But still the ratings for the first few shows aren't what they hoped. The executives come up with a plan - for Hana and Bryan to fake date. 

Hana doesn't like Bryan. In fact, there might be someone else on the show that she's crushing over. But how can she make a move when the world thinks she's dating Bryan. And neither scenario is good for the show...

My Thoughts: I'm a sucker for Hollywood stories and while this isn't set in Hollywood - it's still filming a TV show. I loved the moments on set. I loved the moments Hana explores South Korea. And the food! There's so much to love with the food in this book. Lots of tropes here: fake dating, secret relationship, love triangle, famous people... If any of those are your jam, read this one! I loved the ending and how it ties into the book title. 

Tiny Spoiler: Hana is bi. She was born in American but now she and her family moved to South Korea for her acting career. All of this drama forces her to realize that she's not okay with staying silents.  I really liked two points in this book: 1. old fashioned vs homophobic and 2. the need to be safe in telling your truth. You don't have to share your truth unless you want to. Hana was Brave and Inspiring. 

Cover Thoughts: Cute

Source: My Library

Library Recommendation: Highly Recommended for your school and public library.

If Lyla Lee sounds familiar to you, she's the author of fabulous Mindy Kim series for kids!

Book Lists: Fake Dating

Yesterday, I reviewed the movie Marry Me (which I really enjoyed). While it's not exactly fake dating, it reminded me of those books. So I thought I would make a book list.

The first book I remember fake dating was:

Which was my first post of this blog...

Adult Books Listed:

Duke and I by Julia Quinn

Red, White, & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

The Wedding Date by Jasmine Guillory

Prince on Paper by Alyssa Cole

Teen Books Listed:

She Drives Me Crazy by Kelly Quindlen

To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han

Rent a Boyfriend by Gloria Chao

10 Things I Hate About Pinky by Sandhya Menon

Other Fake Dating Stories I've Enjoyed:

The Ex-Talk

Dating Plan

Roomies

What are some others?

 

Bookstagram (1): Weather Girl

 

I've been playing around with Bookstagram posts and mood board for the books. I thought I'd share them on the blog too.

Weather Girl: 

A romance between two co-workers who set out to change their toxic work environment which includes:

Fake Dating

Matchmaking

Single Father

Heroine with depression

Meteorologist 

Sports Reporter 

Reivew: My Fake Rake

* First Book in a New Series *

Lady Grace hasn't desired to part of social scene after her debut season didn't go well years ago. Now she's happy studying herpetology and being known as a bluestocking. After her father urges her to marry for security, she can't help but wish fellow scientist would notice her. He seems happy talking to her as a collogue, but not as a woman.

When she shares her concern with a friend, he has a suggestion. Lady Grace needs to have another man interested in her. Sebastian allows her to transform him into a rake, helps him change his demeanor, and flirts with him in public. As they pretend to be interested in each other, Grace can't help but see her friend in a new light.

My Thoughts: I loved this book and can't wait to more in this series. I loved the Rake lessons, I think they are the new Princess lessons. I loved Sebastian. I loved Lady Grace and how she refused to hide her intelligence and her interest of reptiles in the ballroom. I loved the easy way they conversed about all things. I loved Sebastian's friends. This is my first book by Eva Leigh, but it won't be my last.

Cover Thoughts: Charming
Source: My Library
Library Recommendation: Grab this one for your public libraries!