Thank you Simon & Schuster Canada and netgalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book had so many things I love!! It had fake dating, it was based on Toronto, the couple was Chinese.. like this could have been about me😂😂 I really liked that the fake dating felt so realistic. Fake dating to get your mom off your back?!? I feel like that's much more relatable than how other fake dating books are done, I liked it. I enjoyed Emily and Mark's story! It was an easy, enjoyable read. The only thing I wish was that we started learning more about Mark from the beginning. Besides the stuff Emily's mom says about Mark, I felt we didn't get to really know him until 50% in, Other than that, I really enjoyed this book and I would highly recommend it!

If you're looking for a quick, sweet read with fake dating, I'd highly recommend this one!!

Love, Lies and Cherry Pies: ★★★☆☆ (3)

🍒ARC Review🍒

Thank you to Simon and Schuster for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.

This was my first novel by this author and I have to be honest, it took me a little while to get into this one. I could not get past my irritation with the mother in the story, which began the moment she showed up. I know this was probably the point and it’s a sign she was a well written character but wow, my annoyance with her was sky high. I, too, come from a very cultural immigrant background, though it was my grandparents who came to Canada from Italy, not my parents, and I am very aware there is this belief that you should be married with kids by the time you hit 30. But this mother? She took it to a whole other level. The sister too? Also so irritating. Assuming our main character would drop everything to babysit because she “didn’t have a real job”, rude. In the end, of course, they were just misunderstood but I don’t think it excused them from the way they treated the main character the whole time.

Because of this, I had trouble getting into the book. Until the fake relationship between Emily and Mark started becoming real. Then I really started to get into it. I liked how the relationship developed slowly and things between them started to change little by little. It wasn’t unrealistic or fast like it can often be in these stories.

I enjoyed not having a third act breakup too! Yes, there was a bit of a blow up but it wasn’t between the couple and that was refreshing.

Overall, I enjoyed this story and you will too if you like fake dating, books about authors and slow burns.

Love, Lies and Cherry Pie by Jackie Lau releases on May 7, 2024.

📚Love, Lies and Cherry Pie by Jackie Lau: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 ~ 3.5 stars (4 on Goodreads)

This was a fairly issue standard issue fake dating romcom, I can't honestly say I was blown away by it or swooning, but it was enjoyable read. I liked that little bit of extra growth with the FMC coming to the realization that her feasibly has always been trying to support her, even if they went about it in ways she didn't end up feeling supported.

Emily Hung is tired of her mother’s countless efforts to set her up with someone, specifically Mark Chan. So they both develop a plan to fake date each other, to get their families off of their backs.

Overall, this was a really cute read. I finished it quickly and it was one of those romances that made you feel good. I specifically enjoyed Mark as a character so much because he was such a sweetheart. At times I found Emily a little too woe-is-me because her mother always had her best intentions in mind.

I enjoyed this romance. I really liked how it took place in Toronto, Canada. I liked the storyline but the characters seemed really unrealistic for their ages. I found it hard to relate. Needless to say it was a short, entertaining read.

Thank you Simon & Schuster Canada for this advanced copy! I truly appreciate the opportunity to dive into Jackie Lau's latest novel.

⭐️ 2.5 /5
🌶️ 0.5 /3

As a fellow Canadian, I'm always proud to read stories set in our beautiful country.

I read another review and agree about the parallels to 'Pride And Prejudice' especially with the family dynamics and a misunderstood male main character.
It was also enlightening to learn about the challenges authors face in the publishing world, adding depth to my reading experience from now on.

The plot is promising with its grumpy MMC, enemies-to-lovers, and fake dating—all tropes I find captivating. As an Asian reader, I also connected deeply with the cultural expectations depicted in the book. So, if that all sounds great to you, give this a try as you might just love it!

Unfortunately, the rest fell flat for me. I found the main character, Emily very pessimistic and too judgmental towards MMC bordering mean just because she’s fed up hearing about him. And it was overdrawn. She acknowledged it and apologized somewhere in the second third and I appreciated the character growth. Her family had a lot of issues which were consistent in an Asian household like the expectation to have a prestigious and high paying career. Though sometimes frustrating, felt realistic and ultimately heartwarming.

Meanwhile, MMC, Mark is nice; He’s supportive and patient-perfect on paper. His POV didn’t add anything to his personality though—I couldn’t feel any emotions and it lacked passion. Although I didn't feel a strong chemistry between the characters, I will take the happy ending.

Despite my reservations, I remain a fan of Jackie Lau's writing and eagerly anticipate her future releases. Here's to more enjoyable reading experiences ahead! 😊

Rounded to four stars because I loved all the Toronto stuff

It’s really a solid 3.5 but since they don’t give us half stars I had to make a choice so I boosted it to four for the Canadian content and the ending.
The first half of this was decent but also exhausting. It all took place from Emily, the fmc’s pov, and was filled with millennial angst. There was a very meta feeling to this, as Emily is an author, but this often bogged it down in over explanation about the publishing biz and the woes of being a writer, single and living in a very expensive city. It really made the first half of the book drag and stalled the pacing significantly. Some would have been good for relatability and helped with Emily’s character arc but I felt slightly pounded over the head with it.
The second half of the book was much better, the pacing was quick and there was actual relationship development and time spent getting to know Mark, the MMC.

I enjoyed the family dynamics that were explored, both for Mark and Emily, and found myself actually liking Emily’s pushy and overbearing mother. There were palpable feelings of frustration, self doubt and inferiority on behalf of both characters, but they grew and helped support each other towards the end.

I feel like Mark’s character could have been developed better, he was kind of a white knight dream boyfriend rather than a fully fleshed out male lead. I wonder about the author’s choice to only include his pov towards the end. I would have liked to be in his head earlier, even starting with just a few scenes.
But the rich descriptions of Toronto and the references to my city made me so happy. Often Canadian authors set their books in the USA or a made up town to be more palatable or sales friendly to the American market and I’m so so glad that Lau didn’t do that. I loved reading about all the good and the bad parts of living in the centre of the universe (Toronto joke).

Will definitely read more by this author, and I think people who liked Bridget Jones, My Big Fat Greek Wedding and Kim’s Convenience will enjoy this. And if you haven’t seen Kim’s Convenience watch it because Simu Liu got his start there and he’s a cutie and who I pictured as Mark in my head.


Thank you to Simon and Schuster and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

3.5/5 - Emily has heard all about Mark from her mother. Her mother seemingly wants to marry her off and Mark is the perfect candidate. The problem is, Mark is a sweater vest-loving, nerd, who is totally not her type. When her mother sets her up on a “chance” meeting with Mark, again, it is the final straw. She hatches her plan to fake date Mark and get her family out of her hair. What she didn’t count on, was getting to know Mark, and finding that he is interesting. How does she move fake dating to real?

This book is interesting as it is told in the first half from a single perspective, Emily’s and then dual perspective, Mark and Emily, in the second half. Emily is an author and I found it interesting how Lau sometimes broke the fourth wall, explaining how things are done in writing, and doing it in the story. I did find the first half of the book, from the single perspective, a bit drawn out. When we switched the dual perspective, I found that the voices of Mark and Emily were unique, and oftentimes I felt like Mark was talking directly to the reader in trying to understand his relationship with Emily.

I did enjoy Lau’s storytelling and weaving in the complexities of Emily’s family, her relationship with Mark, and what it takes to live in a big city as a millennial. Being from Toronto, where the story takes place, I found myself imagining where the dates that Mark and Emily go on could be taking place. I also appreciated the glimpse in the publishing world, as a reader this is something that I always find interesting in novels.

This book was a sweet, slow-burn romance and it was an enjoyable read. As a fellow Canadian, I will continue to pick up Jackie Lau’s books to read and support her. Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Canada for a copy of this book. All opinions are 100% mine.

"Love, Lies, and Cherry Pie" by Jackie Lau is such a sweet slice of romance! This story is a delightful rom-com that will leave you with all of the warm, fuzzy feelings - and a craving for pastries.

Lau weaves a charming tale combining humour, family meddling, and a dash of sweetness. My favourite part is it’s all set against the backdrop of Toronto. I'm thrilled to see Canadian authors like Lau are creating stories set in our own backyard. Join me, fellow readers, and support our home talent!

Meet Emily Hung, the witty and relatable protagonist. She's a writer and barista, juggling life, love, and a meddling mother who's convinced the son of her friend is the answer to all of Emily's problems. Meet Mark Chan, the seemingly boring engineer with a penchant for sweater vests. He's roped into a fake relationship with Emily to fend off her matchmaking mom. As they embark on their charade, Mark reveals hidden layers beneath that argyle exterior.

Humour, family dynamics, and gently simmering love really are the aspects that make this a page-turner. Lau's wit shines through every page. I adored the humour in this story! From Emily's eye-rolling at her mother's Mark Chan obsession, to Mark's deadpan responses, the banter is pure gold.

The family dynamics are so relatable! Lau took the meddling mom trope and placed an endearing twist on it. Emily's mother is relentless with intentions rooted in love. Let’s not forget Mark! His interactions with his own family add terrific depth to his character. The chemistry between Emily and Mark simmers gently, it’s the perfect slow burn. Will the fake dates evolve into something more, and will the tension build like a perfectly risen soufflé?

I love the settings in this story. From Bubble Tea shops to cake-decorating classes, these quirky settings are the stage for faux dates. Read and go along with the characters as they navigate awkward encounters, secrets unravel, and the potential sparks that may fly. This book is a love letter to Toronto and I’m here for it in every way. The city comes alive in Lau’s words and it feels like I’m back home. From the aroma of coffee shops, to the vibrant streets, and the cozy bookstores. Toronto becomes more than a backdrop; it's a character in itself.

The cherry on top of this story is the authenticity, heartfelt moments, and the undeniable bond of friendship. Lau captures the essence of modern relationships. Everything from the vulnerability and insecurities, to the messy and imperfect bond of love. There's a scene involving cherry pie that melted my heart. It's not just about dessert; it's about vulnerability and connection. Emily's bond with her sister and her best friend adds layers to the story. Their support and banter provide a comforting backdrop and I really wanted to join their get togethers.

I love baked goods, and this novel is like biting into a perfectly ripe cherry: sweet, tangy, and utterly satisfying. Lau's writing is a warm hug and her characters linger long after the last page. If you're craving a romance as comforting as a slice of pie, this book is your perfect match.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for a temporary e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Meet Emily, a struggling author and the last unmarried daughter in her family. At her sister's wedding, her mom tries to set her up with Mark Chan, who initially seems like a stuck-up guy with few words. Fed up with her mother's matchmaking, Emily decides to play along and fake a relationship with Mark to get her mom off her back. It's hilariously relatable how similar Emily's mom is to a typical African mother, despite being Asian.
The first half of the book, told from Emily's point of view, had me laughing. She's witty, relatable, and you can't help but root for her. Plus, as someone who's lived in Toronto for a couple of years, spotting familiar places in the story was such a treat!

When the narrative shifted to Mark's point of view, it felt like he was speaking directly to the readers, blurring the lines between fiction and reality. I wish we got to know him more and maybe got his POV from the beginning.

What I loved about 'Love, Lies & Cherry Pie' were the countless adorable, heart-fluttering moments. Despite being a slow burn, the pacing was spot-on, building the story to such a crescendo that I found myself completely invested and reluctant for it to end. I will definitely be reading more of this author's work.

If you're into slow-burn romances, fake dating scenarios, and protagonists who are authors, this one's for you! Thanks to Simon & Schuster Canada for this ARC.

Jackie Lau writes another smart, funny and sweet romance. Emily is tired of her family trying to set her up with Mark Chan so she decide the only good solution would be set up a fake dating situation. Emily and Mark create a plan to convince their family they are dating and in love but along the way they are faced with a few bumps in the road.

Love, Lies, and Cherry Pie by Jackie Lau is a fun romance full of food, family, and community. Emily is a writer working on her third novel while working two other jobs to pay her bills. She's also fighting off her mother's incessant attempts to matchmake her with Mark Chan, who seems to uptight and judgmental for her tastes. When her mother's natchmaking efforts hit an all-time high, Emily decides to fake date Mark to get her mom off her back - until fake dates become real dates.

Lau does a great job showing the slow evolution of Emily and Mark's relationship and their quiet compatibility. It was also great to get some chapters from Mark's POV, although I do think he could have been a bit more rounded as a character. His only friend appears for barely a few pages, and as much as his issues with his dad seemed to shape him, we don't really get substantial interactions between him and his parents.

I really liked Emily's friends and how much they supported each other. I appreciated that Paige and Ashley had their own lives and issues that felt realistic without taking over the story.

I also liked how this book dealt with family expectations, the realities of city living, and gender norms. Emily feels that she's a disappointment as an Asian daughter, and filters a lot of her interpretations of her family's actions through that lens. I appreciated the heart-to-heart she had with her mother and her sister Allison. Overall, I really liked that this book deals with misunderstandings based on miscommunication, but the characters actually talk about their feelings.

Emily's writing and the state of the publishing are a large part of this book. There's a lot of commentary built into this book about expectations about writers, the general misathropy directed at millenials, and how hard it is to hit those traditional markers of "adulthood" even when you want to.

This was a really fun book with a great slow-burn romance and it made me want so much delicious-sounding food - especially gelato!

Love, Lies and Cherry Pie was a very cute romcom. Very loosely based on Pride and Prejudice (though maybe a touch more Bridget Jones energy than Kiera Knightley), Emily decides to fake date Mark to get her meddling mother off her back. Except of course, they both catch feelings.

I've previously read Donut Fall in Love by Jackie Lau and this had the same vibe: it's as much a love story about Toronto (my home!) and the food scene, as it is about a couple.

Love, Lies and Cherry Pie was fun and quirky (and spicier than I expected!). Very cute, easy read.

Thanks so much to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for honest review.

Thank you for the ARC!

I really liked this book. It gave me strong Bridget Jones’ Diary vibes (maybe the name/publishing tie in?). As a fellow Canadian, I appreciated the references and definitely saw myself in Emily.

Loved the insights into the writing and publishing worlds, and the pacing and different voices very, very well done. The ending didn’t feel rushed or haphazard!

I enjoyed Jackie’s writing style and am looking forward to reading more of her work.

Not what I was expecting but I really enjoyed this novel.
I absolutely adored Mark and Emily was hilarious to follow along with.
The story follows Emily and her infuriatingly meddlesome mother, who is convinced she should marry Mark Chan. The problem, Emily is not at all interested, but determined to get her mother off her back she prepositions Mark- they should fake date. Obviously fake-dating leads to real emotions and things get messy.
The banter here was immaculate, Emily's quotes at the beginning of the chapters (and others) added such a fun aspect to the novel for me I really enjoyed it.
Mark as far as MMCs go came off as boring, but as we got to know him with Emily he was hilarious. I laughed out loud multiple times.
If you are looking for:
-fake dating
-slooooow burn
-BANTER
This is for you!

Emily Hung is sick of hearing her mother's comments about her lack of relationships at the age of 33. Her mom loves to play match maker and thinks Mark will be the perfect man for her daughter.

To get her mom off her back about her single status, Emily comes up with the plan to fake date Mark...much to her surprise Mark goes along with it.

After the first page I found myself giggling away at some of Emily's internal monologue. She was witty, sarcastic and quite humourous. It was fun reading her perspective and how she handled the cultural pressures within her family to be better than "just an author & single at 30".

As the story continued I saw more of the miscommunication trope came out, which isn't my favourite. I felt that this story became more about the struggles of an author, the strained relationships with family due to cultural pressures and sibling resentment, and less about romance.

I felt the romance was cute but seemed almost secondary to the plot. We eventually got there, and I did appreciate the relationship that blossomed.

Overall the story was cute, light and enjoyable and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a sweet romance read!


Thank you Simon and Schuster for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this novel.

I loved this book! It was an absolute delight to read. I caught myself grinning so many times while reading it.

Any book that starts with a variation of "it is a truth universally acknowledged..." gets a bonus 0.5 star which gives Love, Lies & Cherry Pie my first ever 5.5 / 5 rating!

There is literally nothing I disliked about this story. This was my first Jackie Lau book and it won't be my last.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Simon & Schuster Canada through NetGalley (in e-book form and I've just placed a pre-order for a physical copy for my shelves). Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you, Simon & Schuster Canada!

"Love, Lies, and Cherry Pie" is the perfect movie material! It's hilarious, witty, and boasts a fantastic love story.

Emily Hung has always felt the pressure of living up to her mother's high standards. When her mom insists on setting her up with Mark Chan, Emily's skeptical – and for good reason. Her mom's matchmaking attempts haven't exactly been successful in the past. But when Mark unexpectedly shows up at what Emily thought was a mother-daughter brunch, she finds herself convincing him to be in a fake relationship to appease her mom.

I devoured this fun novel in just one day! It cleverly touches on stereotypes while delivering a heartwarming story. Will opposites attract? You'll have to read to find out!

* I also loved seeing my hometown of Sudbury, Ontario in it a few times! It's very true that you can buy much more house in Sudbury than in Toronto. It could even be on a lake!

Fake dating? Girl struggling as a barista in expensive Canadian city? Overbearing mothers? This book had tropes I love and endlessly relatable moments. While their first meeting gives a rocky start to their relationship, Emily and Mark eventually decide a fake relationship is the way to go to appease their families and solve some major problems in their lives.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and the romance between Emily and Mark never felt forced. While I'm not usually a fan of fake dating I found this scenario to be truly believable and entertaining. The spice started about halfway through the book, making this a medium-slow burn which I love, the trend of insta-love isn't for me and I was so glad that Emily and Mark took some time to fall for one another.

Jackie Lau does a fantastic job of weaving the love story in with the complicated nature of families and especially the complications that come with the intersectional dimensions of race and familial expectations.

This book was an absolute delight. It's filled with sweet moments, family drama and great food descriptions.
Our heroine is 33 year old writer and barista Emily Hung. She is being pressured by her mother to meet a man (Mark Chan), that her mother feels is perfect for her. When her mother invites Mark to Emily's sister's wedding, and is seated next to him, she is beyond annoyed. In order to stop her mother's meddling. Mark and Emily come up with a fake dating plan to get mother off of her back. Shenanigans ensue.
I loved all of the characters in this book, Emily's friends and family are all fully formed interesting characters. The plot speaks to the pressure on children of immigrants. I found all insights into publishing very interesting. It also has Jackie Lau's signature food descriptions which I love.
Thank you to Netgalley, Simon and Shuster Canada and Atria Books for the advanced reader copy. I loved this book and highly recommend it.