Absolutely fantastic. Gene Luen Yang is as wonderful a writer as always, and the art by Leuyen Pham was magnificently done. More than just a story of first love and love triangles, this was an exploration of all the places we feel and seek love. It's about how having a heart is to know pain, and the discussion of whether it's worth it.

One of the best graphic novels—and books in general—that I've read this year.

I loved that story and the art work in this graphic. I love how it opened with a flash forward before taking you to where it started. I also love how elements of two cultures were included throughout the store. The grandma was definitely a wild card and added some comic relief in some heavier moments. I love how as much as it was a love story it was also about so much more than that and more about relationships as a multiple levels. I also love how the color/lack of color to tell the story as well.

I really enjoyed this one - not only was it an easy, romance YA read, but I ended up learning a lot more about other cultures than I had anticipated! Just like most normal teenage girls, Valentina is obsessed with finding love - she suddenly learns a painful truth about her family and struggles to process it. I loved following Val's story and watching her find herself - the character development was amazing! This is surprisingly my first read by Yang and plan on picking up more of her work - I know my students will enjoy this one too. Thanks so much for the ARC!

The title promises a love story, and the one the reader is given is just so heartwarming! Both characters are flawed but you cannot help rooting for them to figure out how to be together because it is obviously the right thing and they need each other.

This was a super heart warming graphic novel. I loved learning more about the culture, and how it intwined with st.valentine, The romance was fun and charming.

I love a good romance, especially if its written by Gene Luen Yang. This story was so well told. Featuring characters that felt that, because of their families history with love, it was inevitable that they would suffer and lose it too. But, through growing and connecting with family these obstacles are overcome. The story itself could stand alone, but it was enhanced by LeUyen Pham's gorgeous illustrations. Colors are used to capture the tone of the story. Readers will notice the way pink is used at the beginning of the story and later washed out greys. Seeing the scenes with traditional lion dancing, you can see the movement of the dancers with the way Pham captures each movement consecutively, like a film reel. There is also the very creepy specter of St. Valentine, who is portrayed as this shadowy and haunted figure. I will be recommending this to all of my readers because I think the story really has something for everyone. (Thanks to Netgalley and First Second for the ARC)

Valentina's whole family has been unlucky in love and her maybe imaginary friend Saint Valentine says her family is cursed with the fate. Once she meets a popular boy who likes her, her world is flipped upside down. Is this true love? Or is it the family curse all over again? This story is filled with rich, well thought our characters, wonderful culture, and an ending that will warm your heart. I loved every minute of it and look forward to buying a copy for myself. Easily another 5 star book from Gene Yang for me.

What a beautiful story about family and falling in love from Gene Luen Yang and LeUyen Pham. I was a fan of both beforehand but even moreso, after this book collaboration! The story follows Val, who loves love until she discovers a family secret that changes her mind. As Val tries to break the family’s love curse, she finds love (both romantic and platonic) in unexpected places and for herself. The illustrations were so lovely and really brought this story to life. We don’t often get everyday stories of Asian Americans in graphic novel format and especially one that centers on the Lunar New Year and its traditions. This title definitely warmed my heart and I highly recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced ecopy of Lunar New Year Love Story.

This YA romance graphic novel was cute and funny with beautiful artwork. It wasn't just a romance though. The story was full of familial and cultural elements to go along with a good ol' teen romance. Yang and Pham already have many fans, but this will likely draw even more to their works.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. When I saw Gene Luen Yang and LeUyen Pham had collaborated on a teen graphic novel, I knew I was in for a treat. If you are looking for a romcom page-turner, look no further. I read the whole thing in evening because I needed to see Valentina's hilariously tragic story come to its happily-ever-after. The perfect book for anyone looking for a funny yet heartfelt romance.

Lunar New Year Love Story is this lovely story about Valentina who is careful with her heart, but wants love. This has a bit of a YA rom-com feel with some deeper issues of loss and grief. I really enjoyed this story, and the illustrations are beautiful!

4.5 stars

Valentine’s Day used to be Valentina’s favorite holiday–until she learns the truth about what happened between her parents. Now, she believes in the idea that her family is cursed with unlucky love, reinforced by Saint Valentine. She’s ready to completely give up on love, until she receives a paper heart from a mysterious lion dancer. Maybe she can change her fate.

On the other hand, lion dancing is the only refuge Jae has had since his dad passed away. He can’t explain why he gave Val that paper heart, only that he feels some sort of connection to her. But when she starts dating his cousin instead, maybe he has missed his chance.

Thanks to NetGalley and First Second for an advanced copy of Lunar New Year Love Story by Gene Luen Yang to review! This is kind of a YA rom-com graphic novel, with a sprinkling about family, grief, and loss. The story really illustrates how your perspectives change as you grow older, and I appreciated that kind of storyline for a teen graphic novel.

Of course, the art was beautifully done throughout the story. Color is used in a way to illustrate different aspects of the story, as well as different text to illustrate different voices and characters. It all worked well together to tell Val and Jae’s story.

Additionally, the characters were also well developed. They’re all struggling with different family things, but they’re all able to relate to each other in different ways. There’s also plenty of nods to Korean and Vietnamese cultures, with a lot of small details included to pull you into the story.

All in all, this is a lovely graphic novel you should definitely pick up when it comes out in January!

i am a sucker for chinese culture and to see it in a graphic novel was different for me.

the book follows valentina, who was named after saint valentin, because her parents got married on valentine’s day. she thinks she’s cursed in love because love has never gone well for her family. her mom left and her dad never remarried.

i think valentina is way too focused on love at her age, but what teenage girl isn’t? she wants to find someone to love, if not to know what it feels like, then to know that she can break that curse of failed love. she saw what it did to her dad and she wants to protect her heart from ever feeling that way. bernice, on the other hand, dates around because she sees how love tore her parents apart. she stays on the edge, so to speak, and so does leslie.

overall, a cute story. i was able to immerse myself into the graphic novel and the lion illustrations are gorgeous.

Lunar New Year Love Story is a graphic novel written by Gene Luen Yang and illustrated by LeUyen Pham that tells the story of Valentina and her journey to find love. Named after Valentines Day, her favorite holiday, Val and her spirit friend, Cupid have been spreading love through joy and gift giving on Valentine's Day all her life. But then she finds out that true love is a lie and instead is cursed to forever be unlucky in love.

This is a beautiful, heartwarming romantic comedy filed with Chinese and Vietnamese culture and a sprinkling of Korean culture and sapphic rep as well, The art is absolutely fantastic, the characters so endearing, and the plot very well rounded. It was so funny, yet moving; there were darker elements in addition to the overarching story of love and forgiveness.

I loved everything about it - the magic, the dancing, the friendships, and the joy of first loves. This story is perfect for hopeless romantics that enjoy a bit of mystery in their reads. I enjoyed this so very much and just when I thought the story was over, there was an epilogue which tugged at my heartstrings and made me cry.

Thank you to First Second Books and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a devastating book to read. The relationship between Valentina and her father was hard to read, especially because of what her father had told her that completely shape her entire life. It's a book about love and the courage it takes to be vulnerable enough to believe in true love. When Valentina finds out the truth about her mother, and her family curse she loses her faith in Valentine's day and finding true love. It isn't until she goes to a Lunar New Year festival that gives her new hope, and maybe even break the family curse.

I highly recommend the read!

This was a beautiful story. A real coming of age graphic novel that shows how time and perspective can change things. The amount of emotions that are brought up in this is wonderful. Val is struggling and trying to figure out how she can handle all the new information that’s being thrown at her.

Lunar New Year Love Story has a lot about it to love. It’s a wonderful coming of age novel that does well dealing with a number of emotions. This story takes the reader on Val’s journey where you are rooting for her and cheering for her.

Lunar New Year Love Story is this lovely story about Valentina who is careful with her heart, but wants love. This has a bit of a YA rom-com feel with some deeper issues of loss and grief. I really enjoyed this story, and the illustrations are beautiful!

Thank you to NetGalley and First Second Books an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this story and the illustration compliments the story well. The story is quite predictable but the premise is so interesting. I'm so glad how it ended and I recommend you to read this book.

This was a sweet story about romantic love, but also friendship love and family love.

Valentina thinks her family is cursed to always be unhappy in love. Through learning to lion dance, she learns that maybe although it sometimes hurts, love is still worth it.

Absolutely delightful. I enjoyed learning about lion dancing, while
Val went on a journey to figure out herself and her heart. I loved every second of this story.