Review: Café Con Lychee by Emery Lee

Last updated on May 17, 2025

Café Con Lychee by Emery Lee combines rival restaurants with secret scheming in a story of unlikely friendship and embracing one’s true self. As a fan of the enemies to lovers trope, I enjoyed the dynamic between Theo and Gabi as they come together to save their family restaurants, and the differing dynamics between both families are well-written. This book is both entertaining and heartbreaking, and it is perfect for those who enjoy a contemporary that delves into more serious themes. Continue reading →

Breathe and Count Back from Ten, Natalia Sylvester

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Last updated on February 7, 2026

Breathe and Count Back from Ten by Natalia Sylvester is beautifully written contemporary about a girl with hip dysplasia who dreams of becoming a professional mermaid. With a complex main character who comes to reclaim her agency in her own life and a poetic writing style, this is a meaningful story that touches on several important topics. Those looking for a summer read with more serious themes–and realistic representation for disabilities–will not want to miss this one. Continue reading →

Review: Finding Her Edge by Jennifer Iacopelli

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Last updated on May 16, 2025

Finding Her Edge by Jennifer Iacopelli is a Persuasion retelling set in the world of figure skating. As a fan of pretty much any sports book, I enjoyed the strong main character and the accessible way the author works in details about skating. While I struggled with some of the character dynamics, I still found this to be a cute sports romance that demonstrates Jennifer Iacopelli’s strength in writing the sports genre. Continue reading →

Radha & Jai’s Recipe for Romance, Nisha Sharma

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Last updated on March 29, 2025

Radha & Jai’s Recipe for Romance by Nisha Sharma combines food and dance in this comforting story about finding yourself. With mouthwatering descriptions of food, exciting dance scenes, and two complex main characters, this book checks many boxes for me. I especially enjoyed the realistic family dynamics and both Radha’s and Jai’s grapple with family expectations. This is an entertaining read that is filled with culture and charm. Continue reading →

Review: Portrait of a Thief by Grace D. Li

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Last updated on March 29, 2025

Portrait of a Thief by Grace D. Li combines literary fiction with the beloved heist genre in a story of five college students who plan to steal back Chinese art from western museums. I found the book’s premise and anti-colonial messaging engaging, but I had some issues with the one-dimensional characters and the lack of excitement to the heist itself. The execution may not have lived up to my expectations, but this is still a clever read that tackles some important topics. Continue reading →