Fake Dates and Mooncakes

This book could've been a new favorite if it wasnt for the rushed ending.

I loved everything. The characters. The chemistry between Dylan and Theo. The rich family drama. The Singaporean culture and the food making. The side characters. And the writing style too.

I was rooting for the boys, the author did a great job at making me feel the feels. And every chapter something new had to happen. Very little filler, or boring scenes. I was invested the whole time.

Having all that said, the last 4 chapters were....not it. They were unrealistically perfect after a heart wrenching climax. The villain of the story literally went “nvm, im not gonna stand in your way anymore”. While i was hoping for a HEA, it felt rushed and unrealistic.

Would still highly recommend this book. My rating would be closer to 4.5 tbf

“Every story can have a different ending. It all depends on which one you want to believe in.”

this was such a cute story I really enjoyed it!

It's giving gay asian Pride and Prejudice

It was cute, but I felt like it leaned too hard on tropes - every event in this book felt like the author was going down a checklist of tropes. I think the most interesting part of the book was the wedding.

It's also heavy on instant love, which is fine, but I felt like they didn't spend enough quality time together and get to know each other to fall in love. Theo could've invited a whacko to this wedding, and he would've been none the wiser It's a cute concept and idea, but the execution leaves me feeling unsatisfied. I was more interested in the food than the romance

Considering the romance-themed duds I've read this year, I appreciate this book even more now.

4,5

Okay, oof, so I'm knocking a star off my original rating because I saw someone make a really good point in their review of this & it got me thinking about stuff - Adrian was an absolute d!ck & I think it should have been addressed within the story somehow, because Theo still being friends with someone like that even after the BS he pulled is kinda...icky 🫣

5 star story idea for sure I still loved the majority of the book but since Adrian was never truly reprimanded (or w/e) for his sh!tty actions, he kinda just felt like a lazy plot device thrown in there to cause discord between Dylan & Theo y'know what I mean? 

This book was sooo cute! There wasn't much I didn't like about this one. I adored all the characters (especially Terri and Dylan). It was nice that they had realistic flaws but were still incredibly likeable characters I was fully rooting for the entire time. The message of the importance of family and following your heart were really special. I loved the relationship between Dylan and Aunt Jade. It was sweet and heartwarming. I also really enjoyed Theo and Terri's relationship and how much they supported each other.

I've always really liked the fake dating trope and this one did not let me down! The tension and mutual pining was so sweet and cute! It may have been a bit insta lovey but I don't mind that too much. I think when it comes to teenagers, that's not super unrealistic. I loved how much they cared about each other and the way they supported each other throughout this book, even when circumstances were difficult. They had a pretty healthy relationship in my opinion!

As a Kpop fan myself, I always laughed a little bit at how many times Blackpink were mentioned. I would definitely be friends with Megan. All the cultural references and explanations of the food were really great as well! It really made you feel involved in the story and made me want to eat all of it. I've never had a mooncake before, but this made me want one so bad!!

Overall, I thought this was a really heartwarming story that I would highly recommend!

Trigger Warnings: death of parent (mother x2), grief, parental abandonment, drowning (not fatal), alcohol, alcoholism/addiction, rehab, DUI, car accident, blackmail, emotional abuse, flooding, classism, cancer, toxic friendship, dementia

Rep: M/M, Chinese and Singaporean MCs

una lectura super cute, entretenida y divertida. me encantó.

This book was brilliant all the way through. I loved the dynamics between all of the characters, especially Dylan's family. And the romance was absolutely swoon-worthy. A must read!

I enjoy reading this book.  Fake Dates and Mooncakes is a sweet book packed with an adorable romance, an exploration into Chinese culture, family ties, and the most mouthwatering descriptions of food.

This was such a sweet and adorable book that filled me with all the gooey feelings. Was it very realistic? Absolutely not. But it was a heartwarming book that you'll read with a big goofy grin on your face.

This book inspired me to try my hand at a book collage for the first time, swipe through to the third slide to see!

Other books with similar vibes: Spell Bound - FT Lukens, The Charmed List - Julie Abe, The Tea Dragon Society - Kay O'Neill