Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Kimmie quit her job after the viral video that was recorded of her and devotes herself completely to her Etsy store. She hides from the outside world because she is more than embarrassed by the video and doesn’t want her Etsy store to be linked to it. When she gets to know one of her buyers, Matt, and he assumes that she is in the pictures on her Instagram channel, she feels bad and keeps asking if Matt also likes her inner values – or just her outer appearance. Every time she wants to tell him the truth, something comes up. It seems jinxed, but when Kimmie finally travels to New York with her friend, she has to tell him the truth and hope he keeps his word….
Kimmie is a likeable young woman who doesn’t like the attention she gets from the video at all. Which I can more than understand – I wouldn’t feel any different. In her Etsy store and the work for the products, the young woman goes on and I really liked that.

Matt wants to give his grandmother a beautiful bag and so becomes aware of Kimmie’s Etsy store. Initial vendor-customer communication quickly turns into more – they end up writing to each other on a daily basis. Matt quickly realizes that feelings have developed on his end, but why won’t she ever talk to him via Face Time? At the same time, he realizes how well her Etsy store would fit in with his father’s business – where he worked before deciding to become a firefighter. His father is thrilled and wants Kimmie to fly in to New York to meet her in person. But Matt is in for a surprise during her visit, as Kimmie is not the person he thinks she is….
Matt makes a nice and sympathetic impression – he loves his job as a firefighter and is really into it. Even though his heart beats partly for the work he did in his father’s company. His close relationship with his grandmother is sweet – and the good lady is a blast. Still on Instagram and doesn’t count as old school.

The writing style is kept simple and easy, so that you can read the story without comprehension difficulties. The story is dual POV (Kimmie and Matt), which gives a good insight into the respective emotional and mental world.

I liked „Crazy Bao You“ because it was not only about the love story that developed between Matt and Kimmie. Even though I had to say that everything happened a bit too fast for me – after what felt like a week or two, Kimmie was ready to move to New York with him because he is her great love. You can see their feelings after a few messages, which on the one hand was really sweet, but on the other hand was difficult to understand. But maybe that’s just me and because I haven’t had that happen to me in my life so far.
What I also liked was the subplot around Kimmie’s biological mother coming into her life after a long time and asking if the Kimmie would like to get in touch with her.
All in all, a nice book for in between.

A really cute story, this story focuses on a mistaken identity romance. Kimmie is an Etsy seller and Matt buys a purse from her for his grandmother. Kimmie posts a picture of her friend wearing one of her items and doesn't think about it but everyone mistakes her beautiful friend for her. And she doesn't correct them because it is bringing in interest in her company. Matt is a firefighter but also the son of owner of a premier women's store so, through a series of events, they "meet" and fall for each other even when they haven't met in person. I enjoyed both the characters though the fact that there were so many obstacles to Kimmie telling the truth became a little tedious. But overall, cute characters, love the focus on food (as an Asian American, I approve!) and the sweet romance made this one story I enjoyed reading.

I loved reading Kimmie and Matt's story. I originally requested this book because of the Oklahoma setting, but quickly realized how fun all the characters and there stories were. A great, fun read!

I love a cute story and this one is about bao. An etsy store owner and a firefighter. Sliding into the DMs. Oklahoma and New York. Kimmie and Matt both grew up in different worlds but have a connection together because they both lost someone they loved. Viral meme and misunderstanding they both overcame it together.

This story really didn't work for me. The writing was not the best and made situations and storylines that I normally like or wouldn't mind into ones where I either a) rolled my eyes or b) got so annoyed by because they were really repetitive and annoying. It is unfortunate as I was really looking forward to reading this one as it sounded super cute, but it didn't work out that way.

Kimmie has her own Etsy shop, but her most recent claim to fame is a viral video of her telling off her jerk boss while twerking. She didn't know anyone was filming it and she hates that it went viral so she wants nothing to do with it. She doesn't want to tie her Etsy store to it or really have anyone recognize her anywhere. She also has pretty much just shuts herself off in her house as she is afraid to travel after losing her parents when they traveled. Plus she found out she was adopted once they were gone and her birth mother has contacted her to see if she wants to connect. These are all things that sound like a story I would want to read, but the writing doesn't treat them well enough to really deal with them and also rushes a lot of it. I just...it didn't work.

Matt lives in NYC and is almost a firefighter there. He bought something from Kim's shop and when he sees her picture on Instagram he decides to send her a message. Only the photo is not Kim and one of the main storylines of this book - Kim thinks everyone will hate her if she tells them the photo is really her friend. Now there are a lot of super easy solutions to this that don't even involve revealing who she really is. I told my husband about this and he was like why didn't she just immediately say her friend is the face of the brand? Like yeah. That would have been my first thought too. Or simply say that it is your friend modeling the wears....like you don't have to post a photo of yourself to do that?? It made no sense. And so for way too long Matt and Kim are talking and falling for each other, and Kim is stressed because she knows he will hate her once he finds out she doesn't look like her friend. And everyone everywhere will hate her. No one will want to do business with her once they find out what she really looks like (this one was...she goes to meet Matt's dad who owns a company that wants to partner with her and sell her stuff, but oh noes! He will hate her once he sees what she really looks like! And when they all do meet for the first time it was completely ridiculous and not in a good way. I don't know why everyone was constantly like we must keep making everything worse! That will be better! HUGE eye roll here and the logic made no sense to me).

Kim's stressing about Matt hating her because she has been lying to him (which yeah this whole thing got out of control and she really lies to him about little things that were ridiculous) so she keeps trying to tell him and he keeps either a) misunderstanding because they were just joking about something similar to what she says or b) something interrupts like the fire alarm. It happened so many times I was like come on! I am done with this! I really almost dnf-ed it because it annoyed me so much, and maybe I should have because it didn't really get better.

Now this ties into another thing I didn't like about the story - everything was WAY too convenient and coincidental in a way that was not believable for me. Like the people closest to Kim drop everything and decide to move back to Oklahoma to be with her when the video of her goes viral? Like if it had been written better then sure I buy a bff would be there for you when you need her, but this wasn't. This was just like oh, that's convenient for the plot...and that was also Matt's reaction when he finds out Kim has been lying to him was just like no big deal. Who cares which...if you really care that would be an easy thing to clear up, but to not care at all was a bit...convenient. I would at least need a second. Oh well. This obviously wasn't the book for me.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for a copy of this book

3.5 🌟

I love Lyn Liao Butler's fiction, but it fell a little short for me with her rom com. I've read a lot of Insta-love tropes, but it felt like some pieces were missing or barely glazed over in this story. I would have loved to see a little more chatting before they went straight to flirting at least a better transition.

The rest of the story flowed better. I liked seeing the personal growth and the relationship growths for Kimmie and Matt with each other and the other people in their lives.

It was a cute story and had a fun HEA

This was just okay for me. The romance was fine but I had a really hard time with Kimmie. She came across really juvenille at times even though she was supposed to be 30. I also didn't see why she kept on lying about the mistaken identity thing even though there were plenty of opportunities for her to come clean.

Matt was great, I loved the whole back story about why he wanted to become a firefighter, the only critisism I would have about him is that he was probably a little too perfect, I mean if someone had basically catfished me like that I don't think I could forgive them that instantly.

I did like how the romance unfolded between Kimmie and Matt and the cast of side characters were great.

Overall I would recommend this if you are in the mood for a easy quick romance.

If you're in the mood for a lighthearted but predictable romance, then Crazy Bao You by Lyn Liao might just be the book for you. With its cute storyline and likable characters, this book is a perfect companion for a lazy day at the beach.

The book follows Kimmie Park, an Etsy shop owner from Oklahoma, and Matt West, a charming firefighter from New York. Despite the distance between them, their connection grows through PMs. However, Kimmie is hiding her recent internet fame from Matt. As a business opportunity arises with Matt’s father, Kimmie must decide whether to reveal her true self and risk losing everything.

While the plot may not offer many surprises and the characters are hardly deep, it's hard not to root for Kimmie as she confronts her fears and pursues her dreams. If you're seeking a light-hearted and charming romance to relax with, Crazy Bao You is a delightful choice.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced reader copy! And happy publication day!

3.5

Honestly, one of the most ridiculous things I have read in a while, and what a wonderful palate cleanser. This was a really fun read, and it was just so silly that it really made me giggle at points. The beginning introduces you to the main character Kimmie and she is dumb Asian bitch representation done well, sometimes we need strange behaviours from Asians and they don't need to be criticised. Yes, her twerking in anger is ridiculous but it's so funny, it made me laugh on my commute and I needed that at the time.

This book I think came at the right time for me, when I needed it the most, I had been reading a lot of serious books and my life was also becoming more serious and stressful this was a good escapism. Kimmie and Matt have good chemistry and sometimes it's just nice to turn off my brain and just be absorbed with their story and their romance. The pacing of this story was very off, it switches up quickly and lingers on the most unimportant things, for example, it tries to incorporate complicated family dynamics but only really manages to give a superficial perspective and the author doesn't seem to want to linger on this topic, but a bao drawing can take a whole paragraph and give a lot of meaning to a character and shape who they are - but trauma doesn't?

This book is unrealistic, yes, and just by looking at the cover, I thought that Matt was a POC, maybe Latino, and turns out he's a white man???? Someone tell the cover artist to read the book please, cause like I was hoping for a non-white interracial relationship and I always get baited with these covers and it ruins my experience (there's nothing wrong with WMAG romance, but can we please represent more non-white interracial romance?).

Overall, I realised that this was almost like a fictionalised autobiography of the author and just wondered why she did that. Anyway, it was harmless fun, and I enjoyed it. I'm looking forward to reading it again.

This was such a heart-warming read! I found myself not being able to put it down. It had me laughing and crying, almost simultaneously.

Liao’s writing style made it easy to stay engaged! The story is told from both Kimmie and Matt’s POV and the story goes back and fit easy to keep reading and *tapping* the pages!

What I love most is the theme of being authentically you. Considering we live in a digital era and it’s so easy to fake who you really are, Liao demonstrates the importance of embracing all your quirks and how the ones who support you through it all are the real OGs.

This is definitely a cutesy summer read. If you enjoy closed door romances the this is the one for you. Even though it’s not extra spicy, Liao does a great job of depicting Matt and Kimmie’s electric chemistry.

Although this is a romance novel, there is another main theme of self-growth. This is seen throughout ALL of the characters and really just makes the story so wholesome.

I’d recommend if you like:
🥟slow burn
🥟mistaken identity/catfishing
🥟insta love
🥟found family
🥟Etsy shop
🥟NY firefighter

Thank you @netgalley and @lynliaobutler for this soul-warming ARC in exchange for an honest review 🫶🏼

#bookreview #bookreviewer #bookstagram #booksta #bookrecommendations #bookrecs #slowburn #romancenovel #mistakenidentity #crazybaoyou #instalove #foundfamily

REVIEW
Thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for this ARC. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own
👩🏻‍🤝‍👨🏼👩🏻‍🤝‍👨🏼
The first thing I noticed about this book was the wordplay behind the title, I loved it! I also loved the cover.
👩🏻‍🤝‍👨🏼👩🏻‍🤝‍👨🏼
Now! The book, I really liked everything about it except from Kimmie. Don't get me wrong, Kimmie was an okay person, but she was annoying throughout the book because of how she pretended to be another person and when she allowed her superstition(she said so herself) to prevent her from moving on with her life. I understand that she was traumatized, but she could have sought treatment.However, I liked that Hana, her aunt, was able to talk some sense into her and she came clean at the end, so I forgave her.
👩🏻‍🤝‍👨🏼👩🏻‍🤝‍👨🏼
I really liked Matt, I admire his courage in seeking a new career when he already had a perfect job. I really admire Firefighters, they are so honorable.
👩🏻‍🤝‍👨🏼👩🏻‍🤝‍👨🏼
I liked the romance between Kimmie and Matt. It was cute, easy, and fast, with no misunderstanding or miscommunication. Just like I want it in a romance.
👩🏻‍🤝‍👨🏼👩🏻‍🤝‍👨🏼
I loved Kimmie's business acumen, Crafty bao, it was very important. I also liked that she was able to have a relationship with her birth mother, Ruby.
👩🏻‍🤝‍👨🏼👩🏻‍🤝‍👨🏼
This was a very good book, equal parts of Self Discovery and Romance. You should read it!

CRAZY BAO YOU is a hit!

Lyn Liao has the uncanny ability to breathe life into characters from the first page. By the end of the 4th chapter I'm already talking about Kimmie and Matt at the dinner table like they're old friends, and was I ever rooting for those two silly sweethearts to fall in love with each other as hard as I was falling for them.

The absolutely delightful CRAZY BAO YOU was exactly the heartwarming story I needed to read today.

Rating: 4.0 stars

The minute I saw the title and that Kimmie, our FMC, owned an Etsy shop in OK, I was intrigued. It's so unusual to see a rom-com set in the smaller southern states that I felt like I needed to check it out.

I'm not going to lie, it took me a little to get into the book because some of the scenarios were a bit unrealistic and cringe (the twerking - how did that even happen/make sense?). However, once I got a bit further in, I really started to enjoy it!

It was nice to get more than just a love story with Kimmie's adoption stuff, her fear of traveling, and both MCs having lost at least one parent. None of it felt forced and Kim and Matt's relationship felf natural. It does have a bit of an insta-love vibe and I feel like the mistaken identity would have been harder to get over (personally) than displayed in the book. However, Liao did a wonderful job balancing the hard conversations with the lighter romance.

Overall, I had a great time! If you're looking for a silly and creative romantic comedy, this just might be the book for you. I'll definitely be checking out more of Liao's work!

Thank you to Netgalley and the author, Lyn Liao, for an advanced copy. All thoughts and opinions are wholly my own.

5 stars.

The Vibes:
- mistaken identity/catfish
- adoption
- fireman and Etsy shop owner
- loss of parents

My Thoughts:
I requested this one instantly when I saw that the FMC lives in Oklahoma. I rarely see my state as the setting for a book, so I was instantly intrigued. When Kimmie realizes that Matt thinks the photo of Kimmies best friend is actually kimmie, I wish she would have just cjeared up the misunderstanding. I know we wouldn’t have a book otherwise but ahhhhh. I felt so uncomfortable when Matt is just gushing about how beautiful Kimmie is (actually referring to Kimmies friend but thinking it’s Kimmie) and Kimmie is like. Oh thank you so much, you’re hot too. Aghhhhhhhhh. But hear me out. Anytime that a book can surprise me or keep me on my toes- it’s got wonderful potential. I read a lot of books, and it’s rare that a book doesn’t follow the typical romcom formula. This one certainly marches to the beat of its own drum. The plots in this book were just so good that I was so into every minute of the book. There’s a lot going on. A lot. But I can’t describe how much I enjoyed this entire novel. I can see how this one may not be for everyone because it follows multiple plot lines with a lot of chaos- but the culture, the chemistry, and the wackiness of it was just everything I never knew I needed.


Releases June 6.

Thank you so much to LLB, Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Lyn Liao, and NetGalley for providing me with this ARC to read and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This book was adorable! I give it a 4/5!

It's a very modern love story about a girl who accidentally went viral, and dealing with the repercussions. Its about trauma, from losing your parents, finding out you're adopted, wanting to reconnect with your birth mother. There were so many themes in this book -- online dating, fake identity, and following your dreams!

I love how Kimmie and Matt's love story unfolds, but I almost love the friendship/sisterhood between Kimmie, Alicia, and Hana. I am glad that though Kimmie lost her parents, she still had Alicia and Hana by her side.

Too cutesy and cheesy for me. And there’s no excuse for twerking at work. Ever. Thanks to NetGalley for a digital copy

Rating: 3/5⭐️

Publication Date: June 6th 2023

Author: Lyn Liao Butler

Review: I almost gave up on this book i'm not going to lie, i thought a lot of the book was very cringy. To me is wasn't the typical romantic book (in my option). Once i got a little closer to the midway point/ more towards the end of the book it turned more enjoyable and more ROM-COM. I felt like the plot could of tired a little harder and could of gone a little more into it.

I knew going into it, it was about a Asian-American and i think this was the first for me and i have to say i enjoyed that aspect.
It wasn't overly steamy at all it was a cute love between Kimmi and Matt.


Thank you netgalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for an honest review #NetGalley #bookstagram #kindle #kindleedition #eread

By the end I loved Kimmie and Matt. They did talking through all their problems in the end which made the miscommunication trope so much better. If you don’t like that trope it does take a long while to into but it did end good. I loved the addition of the text between them as well as her social media post.

You know when you get a good feeling about a book before you even start it?
That was me with this book.
It was goooood.

The book opens with Kimmie going viral in a VERY embarrassing video of her yelling at her boss and being fired. It was VERY cringe-y and at this point I didn't know how I felt.
Kimmie is also the owner of an online Etsy shop and called The Crafty Bao, from which Matt West buys a tote bag for his grandma online and then communicates online with Kimmie.
Kimmie and Matt hit it off but Matt is under the impressions that Kimmie is the woman in her business Instagram photos... which she is not.
Kimmie doesn't want to rectify this is if he saw her face he would recognise her from the viral clip.
It's a case of mistaken identity!

So much else happens and the book is FULL of twists and turns and ups and downs... it's a great read.
Kimmie is so lovable, she's a character and a klutz and she's easy to empathise with.
Matt is a FDNT provide firefighter... need I say more.

Such a sweet and easy read. I'll be buying a physical copy of this for sure!

Thank-you to NetGalley and Lyn Liao for this ARC in exchange for a review!

I really wanted to love this one. The title and the premise are so so cute, but the writing and parts of the plot just fell short for me, I ended up DNFing at 30%. The writing just didn’t click with me. And I couldn’t get over the fact that she twerked while quitting for no reason, and had no memory of doing so afterwards? It just doesn’t make sense. Also, it felt like the best friend Jason was the Black guy reduced to stereotypes like “he should have played basketball” and the first thing he asks Kim is if she likes Barbecue and when she says decides she’s “good people” with no other information about her.