Adorable book. Quick read fake dating troupe Insta love. Makes you look at things in someone else’s shoes. Couldn’t put it down loved it!

I absolutely adore LGBTQIA+ romances and this one did not disappoint.

The cover is adorable, the writing is amazing, the storylines are great. I have no notes. I can't wait for everyone to read this book!!!

Sher Lee's Fake Dates and Mooncakes offered the best of both worlds, as well as food! It was also a pleasure to meet all the characters.

Absolutely loved this book! This book should come with a warning, because all the descriptions of the food made me so hungry. Also, as a Blink, I loved all the mentions of Blackpink

One of my favourite things about the book was how much the characters family was involved in the story. I feel a lot of times YA books just focus on the two love interests and the family disappears into the background, however this book gave us time mostly with Dylan's family, but a peek into Theo's family during a wedding.

I devoured this book so quickly, and it left me hoping for a sequel. I wasn't quite ready yet to say goodbye to these characters.

I like how the book balanced light-hearted sweet moments, but also discussions of grief.

Fake dating right in the title? A cooking competition that could save a family business? SIGN ME UP! Fake Dates and Mooncakes did not disappoint. We follow Dylan, a young teen who is living with his aunt and cousins above their struggling Chinese takeout in New York following the death of his mother. He meets wealthy young socialite, Theo, on a delivery that went horribly wrong and from the jump, Theo is very interested in Dylan. While getting to know each other, Theo ends up sending the business a check for $5,000 from a fake Foundation to help them out and when Dylan confronts him, a truce is proposed. Theo wants Dylan to pose as his boyfriend for a family wedding. What could go wrong here?

This was such a sweet story focused on the good bad and ugly of family dynamics, chasing your dreams, and having the confidence to let love find you where you are at.

This id definitely my new favorite MLM YA Romance. SO CUTE!!! I genuinely loved this one so much, there was enough angst to keep you hooked and the plot was written very well! It was so cute and refreshing to read a LGBT romance story where the main conflict doesn't revolve around the characters sexual or gender identity. Ugh im obsessed with them and I cant wait for its release

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children's for this ARC. What a wonderful debut by Sher Lee! I loved this book and Theo and Dylan’s relationship. Everything about Fake Dates and Mooncakes was done so well! I loved the fake dating trope and this was my first time reading it in a male/male relationship so I really enjoyed that.

This was such a delightful read! One of the comparisons was of Crazy Rich Asians which I definitely agree with! The wedding scene was one of my favorites - I loved the chaos of it all. I loved how family was a big theme in the books and how we got to see two very different family dynamics. Dylan has a very close relationship with his family and you can see how much they all care for one another compared to Theo who has a bit of a strained relationship with his family especially his dad.

"He lives in a huge mansion and drives a Ferrari. I ride a bike with a squeaky front wheel. Our worlds are as far apart as the sun and the moon."

"They align every now and then," Aunt Jade points out. "Eclipses are pretty memorable."

But only semi-beef with this book was that I wished Theo was a bit more developed? I felt like I really didn't know him besides the fact that he was Dylan's love interest. I definitely liked his grand gesture at the end but I didn't feel any connection or any strong feelings toward him in general. This book was also only written in Dylan's POV so that could also be why I felt less toward Theo.

*I received and arc from the author through NetGalley and this is my honest review*

**Thank you to NetGalley, the author, & the publisher for a chance to read to & review an ARC of this book!**

Please find my extended feedback below...along with some spoilers (beware).
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Things I Liked:
-The focus on family & found family.
-The romance! Theo & Dylan are so cute together!
-The way the author highlighted culture & the impact of culture.
-The focus on culturally significant food & the descriptions used to help the readers picture the foods fully.
-The focus on not allowing others to control your life (making decisions that are best for you regardless of what other people may think or them trying to control you).

Things That Didn't Sit Quite Right With Me:
-The only thing I can think of would be that I wish there had been a little bit more time spent at the mooncake competition & Mid-Autumn Festival, but that is something pretty minor.

Overall, I gave this book 4 stars.

I was so excited for this book when I heard about it and was even more excited when I got the opportunity to read it before the official release. This was just so stinkin cute! It had one of my favorite tropes: fake dating and everything was centered around food! Dylan and Theo were adorable too and although they came from vastly different backgrounds, they were similar in the ways that truly mattered.

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.

Fake Dates and Mooncakes is a light, fluffy read for lovers of teen romance. I really liked the writing style; Dylan had a distinctive voice and used inventive, quippy phrases to describe his circumstances and emotions. All of the information mentioned about Chinese and Singaporean culture and cuisine was introduced in a natural, conversational way that flowed with the story, rather than in a heavy-handed, didactic way.

There was a lot to like about this rom com! Crazy Rich Asians is a great comparison book/film - there were definitely CRA vibes in FAKE DATES & MOONCAKES. One of the MCs, Dylan, and his family are just so enjoyable to read about. I loved learning more about their Chinese takeout restaurant in Brooklyn and all of the food they cooked. Dylan and Theo's relationship was also fun to read about. I appreciated that the queer rep in this story was incredibly positive. Dylan and Theo's families were welcoming and supportive of them and their identities, and I appreciated reading a queer novel - especially a YA one - that was about queer love, rather than an identity crisis or a homophobic family.

However, I didn't end up loving the book as much as I thought I would. It was superrrr YA at times, with cheesy dialogue and immature decisions/thoughts from the MCs, especially Dylan. The story was also surface level at times, with more "telling" from the author rather than "showing." Finally, there were some really unbelievable plot deviations, especially toward the end with Theo's trip before the mooncake contest.

Overall though, this is a fun rom com that teaches you a lot about Chinese culture, mooncakes, Lunar New Year, and the Mid-Autumn Festival. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC!

Dylan Tang works at his aunt Jade's bustling but financially pinched takeout place, Wok Warriors. He plans to enter a mooncake-making contest for the Mid-Autumn Festival, hoping to win recognition and bring more customers in, but he also wants to do it in remembrance of his recently deceased mother. With so much on his plate, he hesitates to add anything new to his life -- even in the form of a handsome, wealthy young man named Theo Somers.

Theo finds Dylan after a disastrous takeout delivery, and as the two become tentative friends, sharing their interests and troubles, Theo makes a significant donation to the restaurant. Dylan doesn't trust such a free gift, so Theo asks a favor in exchange: he wants Dylan to be his fake date at a family wedding. But when Dylan already has feelings for Theo, how will he resist wanting to make the lie become the truth?

This sweet YA romance felt a little too instalovey and a little too superficial at times, but the fun Dylan and Theo had together (especially at the wedding) was delightful. The two characters were both well-drawn and believable in their features and flaws, and I especially appreciated Theo's openness to understanding Dylan's commentary on the class divide between them as well as Theo's willingness to stand up for Dylan and protect him from characters who saw him as less-than.

Being a foodie myself, I really loved the descriptions of Dylan's efforts to recreate his grandmother's blue mooncakes in preparation for the competition, as well as his ideas for a seasonal menu at the takeout. Food is such a perfect way to reveal culture, and this book does a sterling job of showing the beauty and flavor of Singaporean culture (especially to an audience that might too easily conflate it with an American perception of Chinese food and culture).

3.5 stars, rounded up.

Thank you, Penguin Random House and NetGalley, for providing an eARC of this book. Opinions expressed here are solely my own.

Fluffy cute read!!!! I love when books mention something that I like such as Kpop and such and love how the book reminded me of heartstopper! I would recommend this book if you enjoyed heartstopper! This is a legit YA Contemporary romance so there is no spice in this one. This was an easy read that I was able to finish this one so fast!

This was such a cute and easy read. I loved the themes of grief that were present throughout the whole book. But the highlight for me is Dylan and Theo's relationship, and how they both just wanted the other to be happy, and they both did what they felt was the right thing to do to make the other happy.

This book was a solid 4 star read. It had some of my favorite tropes (fake dating, one bed, etc). It was such a feel good story which is exactly what I needed at this time. I love Theo and Dylan. Their relationship was so cute.

Honestly, this read like a standard ya contemporary romance. There wasn’t anything that really wowed me or shocked me about it (which is why I gave it 4 stars and not 5 stars). The pacing was also a little off at times. But other than that, I really enjoyed my time reading it.

I loved that family relationships and culture was a big part of this book. And I liked all the references to Kpop and Asian dramas. That was fun to read about.

This book is described as Heartstopper meets Crazy Rich Asians and it did not disappoint.

Overall, I would highly recommend this book if you’re in the mood for a lighthearted, queer romance.

A super sweet fake-dating romance, this book was layered in a surprising way. The theme of grief and how it sticks around even when things are going well was well-done. I also loved all of the cultural aspects.

Fake Dates and Mooncakes was a cute and inspiring young adult romance. It shows how you can overcome hardships and create a family with those who support and love you. I’m always looking to see if a book for YA has sex scenes since I work in a 7-12th public school library. This book has no sex and just kissing. I didn’t notice any strong language or violence. There is talk about alcohol. The storyline was really captivating and I think a lot of students would enjoy this queer romance read. It’s diverse and shows a part of culture some might not know about.

Thanks Underlined and Netgalley for the eARC, the opinions are my own. This book is so adorable! Dylan lives with his Aunt and cousins, his aunt owns a Chinese takeout, and when he’s helping out with delivers he briefly meets Theo. He never expects to see the handsome guy again but then Theo shows up at the restaurant. They get to talking and Theo helps Dylan’s family out. To repay the favor Dylan agrees to fake date Theo at his cousins wedding. Will something more develop? And could it work with Theo being from a rich family while Dylan’s is middle class? Will their situation bring them closer or will money and status drive them apart? There’s a lot of heart, culture, family bonds, and history woven into this book! I love the way food, family, and traditions are brought into it! Of course I was in tears at the end as well! 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!

This beautiful cover created by Myriam aka @peaches.obviously is what initially drew me into this book! Her art is so dreamy and ethereal and is always drawing me in.

This story was just as lovely as the beautiful cover! It’s definitely got a prince and the pauper vibe (though no one is royal). Theo comes from a lot of money and wealth and Dylan does not and his aunt is struggling to keep her takeout open after taking in Dylan after the passing of his mother the previous year.

There’s lots of Chinese and specifically Singaporean influences of culture and food in this book (and it sounds delicious tbh). It made me feel the same way I did after watching Crazy Rich Asians (that being that I need visit Singapore and try so much food). This book also reminded me of all the influence these cultures have had on traditional foods here in the USA from immigrant families and if I looked around I could find a place like Wok Warriors.

I loved the heart in this book and the emphasis that close personal relationships with friends, family and the like can’t be bought. It’s the time and nurture you put in that make those relationships really shine. It also highlighted chosen family in Theo’s relationships with Dylan’s family and how he stated they felt closer than some of his biological family.

There’s also a bit of a mystery, a grand gesture and a family inspired mooncake contest entry that I’d like to eat.

I think this is a great read for teens and adults alike. Theo and Dylan are both gay and out with accepting families and don’t experience homophobia in the pages of this book.

5 stars!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and Underlined for the E-ARC in exchange for an honest review!