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Fake Dates and Mooncakes (Underlined) Paperback – May 16, 2023
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Dylan Tang wants to win a Mid-Autumn Festival mooncake-making competition for teen chefs—in memory of his mom, and to bring much-needed publicity to his aunt’s struggling Chinese takeout in Brooklyn.
Enter Theo Somers: charming, wealthy, with a smile that makes Dylan’s stomach do backflips. AKA a distraction. Their worlds are sun-and-moon apart, but Theo keeps showing up. He even convinces Dylan to be his fake date at a family wedding in the Hamptons.
In Theo’s glittering world of pomp, privilege, and crazy rich drama, their romance is supposed to be just pretend . . . but Dylan finds himself falling for Theo. For real. Then Theo’s relatives reveal their true colors—but with the mooncake contest looming, Dylan can’t risk being sidetracked by rich-people problems.
Can Dylan save his family’s business and follow his heart—or will he fail to do both?
- Print length272 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- Grade level7 - 9
- Lexile measure770L
- Dimensions5.5 x 0.51 x 8.25 inches
- PublisherUnderlined
- Publication dateMay 16, 2023
- ISBN-100593569954
- ISBN-13978-0593569955
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Editorial Reviews
Review
"With a fresh take on fun tropes and a focus on family as well as romance, Fake Dates and Mooncakes is wonderfully heartfelt and romantic. An utterly delightful read." —F.T. Lukens, New York Times bestselling author of So This Is Ever After
"A sweet and entertaining romance. Fake Dates and Mooncakes has all the desired ingredients to warm your heart (and leave you hungry for Chinese takeout)." —Brian Zepka, author of The Temperature of Me and You
"An adorable tribute to young love, family, and food. Word to the wise: don't read this lovely treat of a novel while hungry." —Alison Cochrun, author of The Charm Offensive
"A vibrant story bursting with Singaporean Chinese culture readers will instantly recognize was made with the deepest love. Take a bite!" —Adam Sass, award-winning author of Surrender Your Sons and The 99 Boyfriends of Micah Summers
"Get ready to be swept off your feet! Sher Lee serves up a delectable romp. A beautiful celebration of the importance of family, culture, and finding real love" —Brian D. Kennedy, author of A Little Bit Country
“I savored every morsel of Fake Dates and Mooncakes from the first bite all the way through to its sumptuous happily-ever-after. Deliciously sweet with a rich texture, Sher Lee’s writing had my mouth watering.” —Steven Salvatore, critically acclaimed author of And They Lived . . .
"Charming and heartfelt, this is a perfectly balanced confection that's guaranteed to satisfy any romantic's sweet tooth." —Caleb Roehrig, author of Last Seen Leaving and Death Prefers Blondes
"Foodies will have lots to savor, and cultural heritage and appreciation are at the forefront too....Sweet-filled fun." —Kirkus Reviews
“Quick and engaging dialogue, coupled with plentiful queer and Chinese cultural representation, makes for a sweet ode to family, food, and love.” —Publishers Weekly
"Smart and sweet in equal measure, Fake Dates and Mooncakes is an addictive, adorable rom-com with all the ingredients you need: unforgettable characters, a totally swoon-worthy romance, and the best, most mouthwatering food writing I’ve ever read. I can’t recommend it enough!" —Cale Dietrich, author of The Love Interestand coauthor ofIf This Gets Out
About the Author
Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
Something’s burning. Aunt Jade says if the smoke’s white, it’s all good. But if the smoke is yellow, I’m in trouble. Which means I have to decide whether I should save the fried radish and egg pancake I forgot to flip or the five sticks of pork satay blackening on the grill.
As the charred scent wafts through the kitchen, I dive for the sticks of skewered pork cubes. The fat on the meat burns with a ton of smoke, and if the fire alarm goes off and the sprinklers kick in, we’re all screwed.
Megan snatches the pan with the sizzling pancake off the fire. She shoots me a look. “Dylan, weren’t you supposed to be watching the chye tow kuay?”
“T-minus three on order number thirty-eight, sixteen xiao long bao!” Tim calls through the serving window. He’s eleven, so he’s not allowed into the war zone, but he’s handling the counter like a boss, taking orders online and from walk-ins. Tim wrote an algorithm to crunch data and determine T, the time hangry customers detonate and cancel their orders. “And Auntie Heng’s still waiting for her Hokkien prawn mee!”
“I’m on the xiao long bao!” I snatch the cover off the steamer basket and carefully scoop the soup dumplings into a box lined with waxed paper. Like an unstable element, a xiao long bao has a core of minced pork surrounded by a volatile mixture of soup and wrapped inside a thin layer of dough. If the dough breaks, the soup will leak out. One of us will still eat the ruined dumpling, but we should be selling food, not putting it into our stomachs.
Chinese people believe names have a powerful effect on how something or someone will turn out, which is why most restaurants are called some variation of Happy, Lucky, or Golden. Something serene, positive . . . nonviolent. When Aunt Jade set up her Singaporean Chinese takeout here in Brooklyn, New York, she should’ve known better than to call it Wok Warriors.
But maybe there’s more truth to our takeout’s name than meets the eye. Aunt Jade’s a warrior at the stove, tuned out to the chaos and completely focused on conquering her signature stir-fried egg fried rice. The cast-iron wok can burn as hot as the sun, but she doesn’t flinch as flames roar up around it. She grips the handle and uses the curved side of the wok to flip the fried rice into the air. Tossing the food nonstop is the secret to capturing the elusive wok hei--the “breath of the wok,” a deliciously smoky, flame-singed aroma that lingers on your tongue.
Tim sticks his head through the window again. “Chung called--he’s got a flat tire! What should we do about these orders that’re ready to go?”
Shit. Our delivery radius in Brooklyn covers Sunset Park and Bay Ridge, and we usually have two guys on motorbikes handling deliveries. But Uncle Bo’s sick--we call anyone around our parents’ age Uncle or Auntie, though we aren’t related--so Chung’s flying solo tonight. It’s Labor Day weekend, and we’re slammed with orders.
I look at Aunt Jade and my cousins. Aunt Jade has a splash of soy sauce on her sleeve. Megan’s using a pizza wheel instead of a knife to chop spring onions more quickly. Tim’s frowning as he checks the timestamp on five orders waiting to be delivered.
There’s a Cantonese phrase Aunt Jade likes to use: “Sup gor cha wu, gau gor goi.” Ten teapots, but only nine lids to cover them.
“I’ll do it.” I yank off my apron and hang it up. “I’ve got my bike.”
We try not to stack more than three orders in each run so the food won’t arrive cold, but we don’t have a choice. Tim and I load the boxes of food into a gigantic warmer bag, which is so bulky and full it threatens to throw off the balance of my bike. Hopefully I won’t wobble into a dumpster or clip one of the cars double-parked along the avenues. Which will give our takeout’s name a whole new meaning, since I’ll have to wok back. Megan hates my bad puns.
I strap my helmet on and ride along the side of the road, avoiding puddles in gutters clogged with litter and dead leaves. This is the first weekend of September, and even after the sun has gone down, the city’s still a giant oven. A thunderstorm drenched the streets earlier, and now the air is not only hot but also unbearably humid. Before I arrive at the first destination, my T-shirt’s soaked with sweat.
I make four deliveries, apologizing for the delay each time. My last stop is a Bay Ridge condo on 74th Street. I enter the lobby and show the doorman the slip Tim always staples neatly onto the corner of the paper bag. The order’s for “Adrian R.” I hope he’ll tell me to leave the food at the front desk so I can get out of here.
The doorman picks up the phone and dials. “Good evening, Mr. Rogers? There’s a rider with a meal delivery for you. Certainly, I’ll send him right up.”
Tonight’s really not my night.
I’m headed to the penthouse. When the elevator opens, a guy in his late teens stands in the doorway. He’s wearing an oversized Fendi T-shirt over his shorts. With his platinum-blond hair and hollow cheekbones, he could be on the runway at New York Fashion Week. But he’s not my type, especially when he’s glaring at me like I’m a piece of gum stuck to the sole of his calfskin loafers.
“Adrian R.?” I ask, walking briskly toward him.
“About time,” Adrian snaps. “I don’t care how good your fried rice is, it shouldn’t take over an hour to get here. People need to eat, you know.”
My lips are parched from thirst. My fingers are raw from shredding ginger. My feet are sore from rushing around the kitchen and pedaling my bike faster than ever. But sure. People need to eat.
“Sorry for the long wait.” I hand him the paper bag. Over his shoulder is a stunning view of the Brooklyn skyline through the floor-to-ceiling windows. “Enjoy the food.”
I’m about five feet to the elevator when an outburst makes me spin around.
“What the hell is this?” Adrian holds up the box of fried rice, his face contorted with disgust. “This isn’t what I ordered!”
I warily retrace my steps. Tim rarely messes up the instructions. “Ten sticks of pork satay and two boxes of egg fried rice with shrimp?”
“AND NO SPRING ONIONS!” Adrian rips the slip from the bag and thrusts the piece of paper in my face. “The note is right here! So why is my dinner covered with clumps of gross green stuff?”
Tim even highlighted the special instructions in yellow. But in the chaos, we all missed it. The spring onions are sprinkled on top and can be scraped off. But I get the feeling that suggestion may make our angry customer go nuclear.
“I’m sorry, this is our fault,” I say. “Your food was paid for online, and the refund will go back to the credit card you--”
“I don’t want a refund. I want what I ORDERED!” Adrian explodes. Road rage is bad, but food delivery rage is on a whole other level. “Am I supposed to be happy to have MY OWN money returned for dinner I PAID FOR but didn’t GET after waiting for over AN HOUR? What kind of moron do you think I am?”
“Come on, baby.” Another male voice drifts from inside. “Let’s order pizza, okay?”
The guy who comes into view makes my train of thought jump the tracks. He’s around my age and looks half Asian, half white. He’s wearing nothing but boxer briefs--which means Adrian’s parents probably aren’t home and the two of them have the entire condo to themselves. And all I can think is, why is Adrian having a meltdown at the poor delivery guy when he could be, I don’t know, licking whipped cream off those abs for dinner and dessert?
“Stay out of this, Theo. I’m handling it.” Adrian glowers at me. “What if I’m fatally allergic to spring onions? And all you can say is sorry? Is your chef blind or illiterate?”
Blood rushes to my brain. Aunt Jade works six days a week from dawn to midnight. She never gets to let her hair down--literally, since she’s always wearing a chef’s hairnet, doing the kind of backbreaking work I’m pretty sure this guy has never done in his life.
“You have every reason to be upset that your food wasn’t prepared the way you wanted,” I retort. “But you have no right to insult the chef, who happens to be my aunt.”
“I honestly don’t care.” Adrian points a finger in my face. “You know what? Since you’re not even remorseful, I want compensation.”
I blink. “You didn’t eat the food. And we’re giving you a full refund--”
“I want compensation for the emotional distress you’ve caused. Punitive damages are a thing. My dad’s a senior partner at his law firm.”
I bite on my lip, reining in my anger. Threatening legal action is nuts, but if he’s allergic, we could’ve made him sick. Food preparation is a responsibility, and we screwed up this time.
Because we ran late on this batch of deliveries, I ended up getting more frowns than tips this evening. I dig into my pocket and pull out a few crumpled fives. Guess Clover won’t be getting her favorite bacon dog treats this week.
“I’m sorry, this is all I’ve got on me,” I say. “If you want more, you’ll have to call the shop and talk to my aunt--”
“Adrian, stop it. I mean that.”
The guy he called Theo comes to the door. His brown hair is short on the sides and sticking up in wet spikes on top. His boxer briefs have armani on the waistband. I always wonder why people bother splurging on branded underwear practically no one else gets to see. Maybe it’s for times like this, when the delivery guy has had a tough night and could use a pick-me-up. Okay, Dylan. Stop staring. You don’t need to give his boyfriend another reason to murder you.
“Fine, whatever,�� Adrian says to Theo before narrowing his eyes at me. “I’m never ordering from you again. And I’ll be leaving one-star ratings on all the review sites, telling everyone how your food could’ve KILLED me.”
He shoves the box of fried rice into my hands and slams the door in my face.
I stand there, stunned, before I walk away. As I exit the building, Chung texts that he’s fixed his flat tire and he can take care of the rest of tonight’s deliveries.
Stifling convections of heat and exhaust fill the air as I sit on the curb next to my chained bike. My stomach lets out a growl, and I open the takeout box. They say culinary masters dish out fried rice with a bit of egg stuck to every grain. I’m probably biased, but I bet Aunt Jade could give them a run for their money. I take the plastic spoon and shovel the fried rice into my mouth. Even though the food has gone cold, it still tastes like the best thing ever after this shift from hell.
Chapter 2
“Hell definitely has something to do with that,” Megan says as we clean up the kitchen after closing. “They don’t call it the Hungry Ghost Month for nothing.”
During the seventh lunar month--which begins in either late August or early September--Buddhists and Taoists believe the gates of hell open and ghosts of the deceased roam free in our world. Those who are superstitious don’t stay out after dark or go swimming, afraid drowned spirits might come for them. Mom never believed in these traditions, and neither do I. But this year, Por Por and Gong Gong, my grandmother and grandfather back in Singapore, will perform rituals for her for the first time--putting out food on their altar and burning joss sticks and paper money.
“Well, the hungry guy on my last delivery nearly bit my head off because his fried rice had spring onions,” I tell Megan. “Said I could’ve poisoned him and threatened to make us pay for emotional damages.”
“Seriously? What a jerk.”
I pour leftover Chinese tea onto the greasy worktable, which does the job getting out the oil and is more environmentally friendly than cleaning chemicals. Same with the grill, which Megan’s cleaning with a leftover cut onion. The enzymes in the onion loosen the grime and grit much better than wire brushes, especially when their bristles get stuck between the grates.
I sigh. “He’s going to tank our review rating. Probably get a bunch of his rich friends to pile on too. But he backed down when his boyfriend stepped in.”
Athletic guys are my kryptonite, although I’m not exactly sporty--I get most of my cardio rushing around the kitchen, saving food from getting overcooked.
“How did you know he’s his boyfriend?” Megan asks.
“Uh, it was pretty obvious. The boyfriend was half naked. He was lean and super toned, and his lower abs had this perfect V-cut--”
Tim, who’s tallying receipts at the serving window, crinkles his nose. “Uh, Dylan, that’s kind of TMI.”
“What’s kind of TMI?” Aunt Jade comes into the kitchen.
“Dylan got chewed out on a delivery,” Megan tells her. “But all he can do is talk about the customer’s hot boyfriend like he’s a piece of steak.”
“I did not!”
“Your words, Dyl. Lean, toned, perfect cut . . . done just the way you like it.”
“Ugh, don’t say that. It sounds so demeaning.”
Megan smirks. “Don’t worry. We’re all shallow sometimes.”
Megan’s sixteen, a year younger than me. Mom and Aunt Jade were only a year apart too. Mom and Dad met at NYU and continued working in the city. After they divorced, Dad left to start his own business in Shanghai. Aunt Jade went to culinary school in Hong Kong, where she met Megan and Tim’s dad. When they split up, Aunt Jade moved here with Megan and Tim.
Aunt Jade’s dream is to have her own dine-in restaurant serving authentic Singaporean Chinese food. This little takeout is all she has for now. Sunset Park is home to Brooklyn’s Chinatown, but the rent on Eighth Avenue is way too expensive. Since we’re takeout and delivery only, we’re tucked away in a quieter spot near the parkway, sandwiched between a laundromat and a comic-book store. This crazy, chaotic kitchen . . . it’s home. Literally. We live in a small two-bedroom apartment on the second floor, which is connected to the shop by a flight of stairs behind the counter. I share a room with Tim, and Megan shares with Aunt Jade.
Tim goes to count the cash in the register and Aunt Jade heads out the back door lugging two bags of trash.
Megan nudges me. “Have you been bringing in the mail every day for the past week?”
I shake my head. “I thought you were the one stalking the mailbox for your Blackpink merch.”
Megan sighs. “Not again.”
Product details
- Publisher : Underlined (May 16, 2023)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 272 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0593569954
- ISBN-13 : 978-0593569955
- Reading age : 16+ years, from customers
- Lexile measure : 770L
- Grade level : 7 - 9
- Item Weight : 7.2 ounces
- Dimensions : 5.5 x 0.51 x 8.25 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #153,266 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- Customer Reviews:
About the author
Sher Lee writes young adult novels with Asian characters. She lives in Singapore and has an abiding love for local street food (including an incredible weakness for xiao long bao). She has two adorable corgis, Clover and Spade.
Her debut YA rom-com, FAKE DATES AND MOONCAKES, is published by Penguin Random House (US) and Macmillan (UK), and has been translated in Spain, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Brazil, and the Czech Republic.
Her YA fantasy, LEGEND OF THE WHITE SNAKE, will be published in October 2024 by HarperCollins (US) and Macmillan (UK), and will be translated in Spain, Italy, Germany, Portugal, and Brazil.
Follow her on Instagram and Twitter at @sherleeauthor
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Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers find the storytelling captivating, relatable, and refreshing. They also find the characters wonderful. Readers describe the book as fun, breezy, and educational. They mention it's an easy read with profound understanding of different cultures. Additionally, they appreciate the emotional depth and feel-good vibes.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers find the storytelling captivating, relatable, and immersive. They also appreciate the gay relationship as a refreshing and welcome addition to the story. Readers mention that the cultural elements are flawlessly integrated into the narrative, creating an educational yet romantic experience.
"...Fake Dates and Mooncakes was a queer romance, relatively low angst, and had lots of feel good vibes. A sweet YA that any teen/young adult could enjoy." Read more
"...and Mooncakes” is a beautifully crafted novel that seamlessly weaves together a captivating story, thought-provoking cultural influences, and..." Read more
"...I loved the main characters, I loved the story, I loved the meaning. I smiled. A lot.You should 100% read this." Read more
"This is a sweet little teen romance and is very cute but it is incredibly cringe in some ways. Like achingly eye rolling...." Read more
Customers find the book cute. They say Dylan and Theo are adorable.
"...Dylan and Theo were adorable too and although they came from vastly different backgrounds, they were similar in the ways that truly mattered...." Read more
"This is a sweet little teen romance and is very cute but it is incredibly cringe in some ways. Like achingly eye rolling...." Read more
"...It’s steeped in warmth, charm, and so much cuteness! I love this fake dating rom com and I can’t recommend it enough! Can’t wait to read it again!" Read more
"Fake Dates and Mooncakes was such a cute book! I really enjoyed this fake dating story and omg this book made me so hungry...." Read more
Customers find the characters wonderful.
"...I loved the main characters, I loved the story, I loved the meaning. I smiled. A lot.You should 100% read this." Read more
"...From familial, to first, to friendship. The characters are good people, trying to fins their place in the world, and in each other's...." Read more
"...But in all seriousness, the story, the writing, the characters were all so wonderful and there wasn't a single moment where I wasn't fully invested...." Read more
"...Great characters with themes of family, food, cooking & bits about relatives back in Singapore. Looking forward to reading more from this author." Read more
Customers find the book fun, breezy, and educational. They also appreciate the supportive family and shenanigans.
"...flawlessly integrated into the narrative, creating an educational yet entertaining experience...." Read more
"...I was very entertained by the antics so although I was rolling my eyes in disbelief half the time I quite enjoyed this...." Read more
"...It's got a supportive family, tons of shenanigans and really amazing representation too!" Read more
"This was a really fun, breezy gay teen romance. The inclusion of Chinese culture and food gives it a distinctive flavor...." Read more
Customers find the book easy to read. They also say it's a nice, cozy, quick read.
"I thoroughly enjoyed this story. It was a quick read too - once I started, I had a hard time putting it down...." Read more
"...low stakes and predictable like I said, and all in all a nice cozy quick read if you just want something to vibe to...." Read more
"...It's a quick read, well written and enjoyable. Recommended if you'd enjoy a sweet treat!" Read more
"I love k&c dramas and this is the perfect shorter written version! The leads are super adorable and everything is very relatable. More plz!" Read more
Customers find the book has a profound understanding of different cultures. They say it does an excellent job of celebrating cultural influences and LGBTQ+ representation. Readers also appreciate the powerful message of acceptance and inclusivity. They also mention the wonderful descriptions of the different dishes and the author's meticulous attention to detail shine through, making each cultural reference come alive.
"...While “Fake Dates and Mooncakes” does an excellent job of celebrating cultural influences and LGBTQ+ representation, it occasionally falls into..." Read more
"...I loved the main characters, I loved the story, I loved the meaning. I smiled. A lot.You should 100% read this." Read more
"...Wonderful descriptions of he different dishes was also fun to read." Read more
Customers find the book has emotional depth and profound understanding. They mention it makes their whole hearts explode and has relatively low angst.
"...Fake Dates and Mooncakes was a queer romance, relatively low angst, and had lots of feel good vibes. A sweet YA that any teen/young adult could enjoy." Read more
"...tale takes readers on a journey filled with delightful surprises, emotional depth, and a profound understanding of different cultures, while..." Read more
"...fake dating, and teenage Crazy Rich Asains - this book made my whole heart explode. I cried, I laughed, and most importantly I celebrated!..." Read more
Customers find the writing style engaging and immersive. They say the story is well-written and intertwines cultural elements. Readers also appreciate the unique voice of the writing told from a first-person perspective. Overall, they describe the book as a sweet read.
"...“Fake Dates and Mooncakes” is a must-read for those seeking a well-written story that intertwines cultural awareness, LGBTQ+ representation, and a..." Read more
"...It's a quick read, well written and enjoyable. Recommended if you'd enjoy a sweet treat!" Read more
"This was a very sweet read! The unique voice of the writing told from a first person POV made me feel like I was back at 17, making the decision to..." Read more
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Top reviews from the United States
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Dylan is just trying to help his Aunt keep the family take-out restaurant afloat, all the while still grieving the recent loss of his mother. Then in walks Theo, handsome, rich, and devastatingly charming; he is the polar opposite of Dylan. Yet, when Theo asks him to be his fake boyfriend for a family wedding, Dylan finds it impossible to refuse. Dylan is quickly thrust into the world of glitz and glamour, cagey relatives, and Theo's distant father who is certain Dylan is nothing but trouble. Not to mention the constant eviction threats from the landlord at the restaurant/apartment Dylan and his family work/reside in. Dylan is certain that him and Theo are destined, but with forces constantly trying to tear them apart, he's not so sure if he's strong enough to hold everything together.
Fake Dates and Mooncakes was a queer romance, relatively low angst, and had lots of feel good vibes. A sweet YA that any teen/young adult could enjoy.
The story centers around two main characters, Dylan and Theo, who find themselves entangled in a web of fake dates. As they navigate this charade, readers are introduced to a rich tapestry of cultural elements, providing an immersive experience. Sher Lee’s meticulous attention to detail shines through, making each cultural reference come alive on the pages.
What sets “Fake Dates and Mooncakes” apart is the author’s ability to bring awareness to cultural influences and incorporate meaningful LGBTQ+ representation seamlessly. The exploration of traditions, customs, and festivals is flawlessly integrated into the narrative, creating an educational yet entertaining experience. Readers are enlightened about cultural nuances, from the symbolism of mooncakes during the Mid-Autumn Festival to the importance of family and community ties.
Moreover, the representation of Dylan and Theo’s gay relationship is a refreshing and welcome addition to the story. Sher Lee handles their love story with sensitivity, authenticity, and respect. By portraying their journey as a natural and integral part of the narrative, the author sends a powerful message of acceptance and inclusivity.
The characters of Dylan and Theo are relatable and well-developed, each with their own unique personalities and struggles. Their personal growth and self-discovery are intricately interwoven with their cultural understanding and acceptance. Sher Lee effortlessly showcases the challenges faced by individuals navigating their cultural heritage while embracing their identity.
Sher Lee’s writing style is engaging and immersive, allowing readers to vividly experience the world of the story. The descriptive imagery and heartfelt emotions make it impossible not to be fully invested in the journey of Dylan and Theo. The author’s ability to evoke a range of emotions through their words is a testament to their storytelling prowess.
While “Fake Dates and Mooncakes” does an excellent job of celebrating cultural influences and LGBTQ+ representation, it occasionally falls into predictable plot devices and clichés. However, the overall strength of the storytelling, cultural exploration, and diverse representation more than compensates for these minor shortcomings.
“Fake Dates and Mooncakes” is a must-read for those seeking a well-written story that intertwines cultural awareness, LGBTQ+ representation, and a heartwarming romance. Sher Lee’s ability to blend a captivating narrative with an exploration of cultural influences and diverse love stories is commendable. This enchanting tale serves as a reminder of the beauty and significance of understanding, embracing, and celebrating different cultures and love stories in our increasingly interconnected world.
Also, as a side, ever since reading this book, I have been on a mission to try mooncakes!
You should 100% read this.
I know this sounds negative but I still enjoyed myself!
I was very entertained by the antics so although I was rolling my eyes in disbelief half the time I quite enjoyed this. low stakes and predictable like I said, and all in all a nice cozy quick read if you just want something to vibe to. I didn’t mind learning a lot about Chinese history and some of the more intricate parts of recipes either! A nice little touch to keep me grounded.
Top reviews from other countries
Reviewed in Spain on March 30, 2024