I’m…not sure how I feel.

Maybe I’m in my head too much, considering that I absolutely LOVED ‘Last Tang Standing’ and have been eagerly anticipating this one since. But I gotta admit, the pacing of this is kind of everywhere? I feel like we didn’t get to see so much of Lucie and Collin together and ok, maybe that’s just me wanting more romance, but even when she’s back and forth (ugh, didn’t love that tbh), in the end she just does a complete 180 that could’ve been done 100 pages in.

Ok, I’m making this sound so bad, but I promise I didn’t hate the book! I just thought some of it was a choice and maybe it’s on me for listening to a book about babies when I don’t particularly care for them lol

But I did love Lucie and I absolutely loved Collin and their banter and OH MY HEART I WISH THEM WELL

Loved Last Tang Standing and really enjoyed this one also.Lucie at times had me laughing out loud and at times frustrated but at all times I found this a totally entertaining read.#netgalley #randomhouse

A bit of a slow start but once the two main characters met, the story really took off. I loved the premise of the story… an online service for co parenting, much like match.com or the like but for couples who are not looking for love but just a comparable partner to co parent with.

From the beginning you can guess where the story will end up, but then a curve ball was thrown in by the way of an ex entering the picture. From that point on, I wasn’t sure what would happen next.

I like how the author approached cultural stigmas around family and starting one of your on. Really enjoyed this book and loved the ending.

Lucie Yi's biological clock is ticking so she signs-up for an app that matches you with someone to have a child and co-parent together. Still reeling from trauma of her last relationship, Lucie the ever pragmatic person takes matters into her own hands which is out of character for her.

Her match, Colin, is a carefree sexy man who lives life on his own terms and is the complete opposite of Lucie. Together, they move forward with a plan and decide its best to raise the child in Singapore. Unfortunately, the haunts of her past relationship live it the city, and her parents are not modern in their thinking on single parents.

Lucie Yi is NOT Romantic is a slow-burn romance. The witty banter and pregnancy humor was spot-on funny. The book also delicately overlays some heavier themes into the story including societal expectations on motherhood and miscarriage. I enjoyed this story, and Colin's gentle, romantic nature.

Thank you Penguin Random House Audio and Putnam for opportunity to read and review.

I loved this book. There is no secret about this baby, but there is plenty of forced proximity or fake relationship... I'm not sure what to call it exactly. In today's society of reproductive medicine, Lucie Yi isn't going to let the lack of a long-term relationship stop her from becoming a parent - and I love that!

I applaud Lucie for rebuking traditional cultural ideals about relationships and parenthood and reaching for her dreams, even when she knows it's going to be a tough road ahead. I was cheering for Lucie from the very beginning!

Read if you like:
✫ Friends to Lovers
✫ Love Triangles
✫ Closed door
✫ Josh and Gemma Make a Baby

TW: Infertility; Miscarriage

Summary: After deciding she’s tired of waiting for Mr. Right in order to have the baby she’s long dreamed of, Lucie Yi decides to find her potential baby daddy on a new co-parenting website. Soon, she’s getting to know Collin Read, a man who seems to be the perfect match, at least when it comes to the platonic, parental relationship.

Once pregnant, however, Lucie’s ex-fiancé Mark Thum decides he wants her back, baby and all. As she struggles with pregnancy and growing feelings for both the men in her life, Lucie is faced with the choice of whom to give her heart and her future to.

Thoughts: I am not the biggest fan of the love triangle trope because they feel quite stressful to me and generally aren’t much fun. In this storyline, however, it seemed to work, perhaps because one of them was never much of an option.

The author’s character development was top notch and I really connected with Lucie, as she struggled with how to go about becoming a mother. I absolutely loved her sense of humor and was thoroughly entertained by her puniness. I also enjoyed getting to know each of the supporting characters and found the author did an excellent job of comparing and contrasting Lucie’s love interests. By the time the conclusion rolled around, I felt I had a good grasp of both Collin and Mark; and definitely had a dog in the fight.

If you like romance that leads more towards women’s fiction, I would definitely suggest giving this one a go. I am looking forward to reading more of Lauren Ho’s backlist in the near future.

Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I had a bit of a tough time connecting with this one. I like how a lot of romance authors are writing about characters who are not hopelessly romantic.

However, I did have a difficult time connecting with this story. I thought it was cute, but didn’t quite work for me.

Rating: 3.5/5
Warnings: Miscarriage (off-page), Grief, Difficult Family Dynamics and Infidelity
Tropes: Women's Fiction with a Romance, Second Chance Romance, Slow Burn, Forced Proximity
Steam: 1/5 (closed door, implied)

Thank you to G.P. Putnam's Sons, NetGalley (and also PRH Audio) for access to this advanced copy. I read this via audio and kindle, I enjoyed a nice combo. Lucie Yi Is Not a Romantic is out now!

Let me tell you, as someone who views themselves as not really romantic in real life and more of a pragmatist, I was so so excited for the concept of this story. Platonic co-parenting...y'all it's revolutionary. I did enjoy this story, but at the same time I was not invested in the story. I blame this for the long winded middle but solid first/third act of a book.

Things I Loved: Lucie and Collin's friendship, I loved how they taught each other. Collin was so invested in Lucie's happiness. Learning about another culture. The puns and humor! A fab friend group trio. Forced Proximity. The ending was perfect for me.

Things I Didn't Care For: I could have done without a love triangle. I really wanted to hug Lucie but also shake her with the dynamic of her family. She was so strong and determined but also meek. I gathered this is cultural and something I could not understand given my culture. (this is a me thing)

Lauren Ho has done it again! Her character, Lucie Yi, is relatable , flawed, and funny. She finds herself in a ridiculous yet believable situation...

Lucie is single and heartbroken over the breakup of her perfect couplehood with smart, wealthy Mark. Yet she aches to be a mom. Enter a Tinder app for people seeking to co-parent, in which she collides with humorous, quirky yet reliable Collin.

I won't give away any spoilers but just know that this is the clever setup to a great romp through Singapore, friendships, hilarious scenes and a heartwarming ending.

"Lucie Yi is Not a Romantic" is a fun, thoughtful story for our times, which will make you think about the nature of parenthood, generational expectations, and how you'd handle the tough choices in life. Read it and you might walk away thinking, Lauren Ho IS a romantic. Five stars!

Read/Listen If You Like:
❤️ Love Triangles
❤️ Unconventional Paths to Happiness
❤️ Reading Diversity
❤️ Spicy Tension

Book Review:
This one absolutely knocked it out of the park for me. It is a non-traditional romance that leans more towards women’s fiction at times. The book does have a TW for discussion of loss of children/pregnancy as these topics are discussed in the book.

I loved the depth of character that we got from this story and felt like I could really feel alongside each character, especially with Lucie even though I didn’t relate to some of her main concerns.

I loved the discussion of culture and that most of the book was taking place in Singapore, it was interesting to see the family and cultural dynamics at play as Lucie found herself in a love triangle and making decisions that were not acceptable to her family or within her culture.

I went into this one completely blind not knowing what I was getting and I was so glad I did as it kept me completely hooked from start to finish!

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Group and Putnam Books for the ARC of this book! I am so grateful to obtain a copy to read in advance of its release in exchange for my honest feedback!

Reading a book about a woman who is feeling the pressure of ticking biology was an experience. There were some fears that felt a bit too close to home. I loved this idea because I think that with dating and relationships being so difficult - and so much about luck and timing - and still wanting a family, Lucie Yi is Not a Romantic is a fabulous contemporary romance. If you love characters denying their feelings and opposites seemingly attracting, this is for you!

What I enjoyed the most, was how on the edge of my seat I was. Until the very end, I wasn't even sure who Lucie would choose. What future she would see for ourselves. We can have this idea of what we 'think' we want. What is stable or secure or what we think of as these. But what happens when we realize that's not all there is to life? This theme, especially as Lucie and Collin both have to struggle with this idea, is central to Lucie Yi is Not a Romantic.

I loved this! Super ambitious career woman hits midlife, is humbled, gets pregnant … and has her happily ever after. Great descriptions of having screwed up Asian parents, of modern career life, of hitting the glass wall. I loved the descriptions of having longtime girl friends supporting one through pregnancy. Also descriptions of someone finally growing up.

Shelf Awareness for Readers, 6/24/22: As the title of Lauren Ho's clear-sighted sophomore novel states in no uncertain terms, Lucie Yi is not a romantic. She's Lucie Yi: in control, with a career in management consulting, good health and friends and family who support her. She's also absolutely miserable, crying over other people's babies and longing for one of her own despite her perpetually single status. So she does what any practical non-romantic person would do, and decides to find a co-parent with whom to have a baby--but definitely, absolutely, not a relationship. Urged on by her friends, Lucie sets up a profile on a "Tinder for would-be parents," where she is quickly matched with Collin Read, who agrees to move from New York to Singapore for "elective co-parenting"--no romantic strings attached.

But as the friendship between the two grows deeper, forged without the "faux mystery" of early dating, the no-romance part of their agreement starts to fray, leaving Lucie to grapple with the question of what it is she really wants for her child--and herself. It is in this growth that Ho (Last Tang Standing) showcases her proficiency at character building, as Lucie comes into her own as a woman, a mother and a partner in a novel that celebrates a woman's ability to forge her own path. In the evolution of Collin and Lucie's relationship, Lucie Yi Is Not a Romantic poses big questions about what--and who--makes a family. Ho's writing is as practical as Lucie herself, decoupling the concept of parenting from that of romance in ways that shed new light on both topics, independently and together.

Lucie Yi is Not a Romantic (women's fiction)
Rating: enjoyed

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the digital advanced copy! Full review on bookstagram to come.

Sign me up for anything that Lauren Ho writes - she writes quirky, pun-loving main characters that I love and want to be besties with. Lucie is a bit of a workaholic and takes her life into her own hands. She wants to raise a baby but hasn't met Mr. Right yet, but so what? She joins a matchmaking service dedicated to joining individuals together to be co-parents. She meets Collin and they click - they decide to come together to conceive and raise a child.

Readers may have to suspend reality at times, as some things worked out pretty conveniently for the characters. Personally, I'm not usually a fan of love triangle troupes, especially when one of the options is SO clearly not a good fit and that part dragged on a little too long for my personal taste. Still, if you loved the writing style and pacing of Last Tang Standing, pick this one up! The puns are so fun and you can't help but laugh along with Lucie and cheer her on.

Content warnings: miscarriage (off page), infidelity, grief.

Unconventional, cute, and thought-provoking.

Lucie Yi’s biological clock is ticking. But hey, times are different than they used to be. There are other options for starting a family. So she finds a website that matches people wanting to have children to be coparents. Quickly she is matched with Collin. Will their family and romantic histories (and Collin’s nut allergy) allow this to work?

I found this to be a unique and fun plot. It makes you wonder what you would do in this situation. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys a light and easy yet interesting read.

Thank you to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam’s Sons for the advanced digital copy.

Lucie Yi has decided that it’s time to have a baby. She’s in her late thirties, financially thriving, and surrounded by a great group of friends. The only thing missing is someone to have a baby with.

Enter Collin Read, the man she is matched with on the unique online co-parenting platform they both joined. As the two get to know each other, they decide to go forward with having a baby and raising it together in Lucile’s home country of Singapore.

Along the journey from conception to birth, Lucie encounters family roadblocks, an ex that she hasn’t gotten over, and doubts about building a child’s life with Collin. Will they end up one happy family, or will she choose an unexpected path?

Some readers may not appreciate the practicality of this child bearing plan, but I thought that Lauren Ho made it realistic both logistically and emotionally.

Thank you to NetGalley for the digital ARC.

This was a very unconventional read. At times I found myself frustrated with Lucie and Collin. I really didn't like Mark and wished that he hadn't been so involved in Lucie's life when she came back. I did enjoy that Lucie wanted to take charge of her life though.

The book opens with Lucie Yi crying in an upscale New York baby store. After that we learn that Lucie is out of a long term relationship with her hopes of motherhood seemingly dashed. Her best friends convince her to sign up for a co-parenting website where she can match with a man also looking to have baby, no romance, no strings attached. Enter Collin. What you think is going to happen is exactly what happens (in a good way!).

Friends (platonic co-parents?) to lovers, a jilted ex, judgy family, it’s all there. Lauren Ho also provides insight into Singaporean culture and views on marriage, kids, and divorce a la Crazy Rich Asians. Overall, an enjoyable rom-com read.

Thank you Putnam Books and NetGalley for the advanced electronic copy of this book.

Lucie Yi is not going to wait to find Mr. Right to start a family, so she signs up for a co-parenting website to find the future father of her child. She meets Colin, who checks all of her boxes and seems to be the perfect platonic co-parent. After meeting, they quickly move forward with their plan and Lucie becomes pregnant. But as they move back to Singapore, where they have agreed to raise the child, things become complicated. Lucie’s parents don’t approve of her plan, Lucie’s ex wants to get back together, and Lucie can’t help but feel some kind of way towards Colin in the process.

This platonic co-parents to lovers was a new trope for me and I loved this book! To see how Lucie and Colin’s relationship slowly evolved and how beautifully their life plans fit together was amazing. I loved all of the mom jokes and while this book was light, it did a great job tackling some heavier topics around motherhood, pregnancy loss, and the process of deciding to become a mother without a partner. I really enjoyed this one and will be going back to read Lauren Ho’s previous work after this.

Thank you to Putnam Books for the advance copy!

Lucie Yi decides to pursue other methods to becoming a parent… and potentially finds love along the way? Lucie is driven and motivated professionally, but not as much romantically.

What a fun read! Loved the integration of Asian culture and definitely felt the tugs on my heartstrings right along with Lucie, right up until the very end. Thank you so much for this ARC!