At heart, this book is a delightful nod to Romeo and Juliet. Even the character names hearken back to Shakespeare. In addition to the central characters, Julie and Randall, there are secondary characters named Tyler and Mercy. Also like Romeo and Juliet, the main characters in this story can be quite annoying at times and do things that are quite infuriating. However, they can also be a really sweet couple at times. Tyler like his counterpart, Tybalt can be quite hotheaded. He gets way too involved in and opinionated about his sister Julie's life. Mercy like Mercutio is easygoing, she is very loyal and helpful to her cousin, Randall.

The book provides great trans representation through the character of Randall. Although he does not transition during the book, his character gives the reader a good idea of what it is like to be on the other side of the transition. Of course, Randall is lucky enough to have a very supportive family which is unfortunately not always the case for everyone.

Numerous descriptions of Tawaneese and Korean foods are provided throughout the book as the two main families run competing food booths. Thus, if you are a foodie or a fan of both or either of these types of food you might not want to read it when you are hungry. On the other hand, if you are interested in learning more about either or both of these cuisines that might add to your enjoyment of the book.

In Hangry Hearts Julie Wu and Randall Hur were best friends until their families had a falling out. Now they see each other at Pasadena Farmers Market where they have food stands. When Julie and Randall are paired with the wealthy London Kim for a community service school project, they are forced to work together and acknowledge their attraction to each other. Randall is transgendered, but that doesn’t seem to be a problem for them or their families. The falling out happened years ago when the two families attempted to open a restaurant together, but it burned down before they could open. As Julie and Randall sneak around stealing kisses, they hope to find away to get their feuding grandmothers to forgive each other.

I’ve been looking forward to reading this ever since I first saw the cover because I loved the design so much! Unfortunately, the story didn’t live up to the same expectations… I thought this was a lovely YA romance with LGBTQ+ and Asian representation, focusing on family businesses, cuisine, traditions, and second chances. Emphasis on YA though, because the writing style felt very juvenile and some dialogue didn’t seem realistic enough given the emotions of certain situations. I think calling this a romance is a bit of a stretch because more of the focus of this book was on solving the longstanding family feud between the main characters’ families, and the romance parts felt very rushed. Overall, this book made me crave (and order) Chinese food, and I liked the attention to detail on the many dishes mentioned!

Cute and easy YA read with Romeo and Juliet vibes! Julie and Randall were the best of friends until their grandmothers had a falling out and now the families are at war with one another. Can love win out?

Hangry Hearts by Jennifer Chen
A deliciously sweet and heartfelt novel, Hangry Hearts blends food, romance, and self-discovery in a story that will leave readers craving more. Jennifer Chen crafts an irresistible narrative filled with relatable emotions and mouthwatering descriptions, making this book a treat for contemporary fiction lovers.

Rounded up to a 3 star read. While this book has tasty food descriptions and the plot was the reason I requested this title, there were a few things that kept this from being a 4 star read for me. One insufferable character [you will know when you meet them] and time jumps with no warning or reasoning behind it. If the love that was put into the food descriptions was put into the rest of the writing, this would be a different and better story for it.
*Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a chance to read and review this title. My opinions are my own*

Hangry Hearts by Jennifer Chen is a cute Romeo and Juliet inspired YA romance.

I really enjoyed seeing the family dynamics and how relationships can evolve and impact others - often beyond anyone's control. Randall and Julie went from best friends, to family enemies; until they are forced together for a group project. Watching the relationship between Randall and Julie grow throughout the book was both wholesome and fun.

I loved the nods to Asian culture throughout, and I’d love to read more books like this in the future. However, reader beware because there are so many delicious sounding food references (don’t read this while you’re hungry).

Some of the plot points felt a bit rushed, with certain events wrapping up quickly or jumping back and forth, which could make the story feel a little disjointed at times. However, I was still able to follow along and enjoy the book overall.

The LGBTQ+ representation was a wonderful surprise! While it wasn't hinted at in the blurb, I loved how the character’s identity was explored. It felt genuine and raw, which I really appreciated.

If you're looking for a sweet, lighthearted YA read that centers on family, friendship, and yummy food, this book is definitely for you!

Release Date: March 18th
Instagram Review: Live March 10th
Goodreads Review: Live March 10th
Amazon Review: Live March 18th

3.5 ⭐⭐⭐
1 🌶️

Thank you to NetGalley and St.Martin’s Press | Wednesday Books for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

It’s a fun and cute romance definitely targeted for YA I loved the trans representation I wasn’t expecting it but it was a nice bonus.

Some parts seemed to be rushed through unfortunately it can be hard to find a balance between either rushed or dragging on.

Loved loved loved the descriptions of the food it was like the food was being brought to life right in front of me.

Thank you Netgalley St. Martin's Press | Wednesday Books for the arc

dnf @ 35%

I was so excited to read this rival food stall families mcs(Korean mmc × Taiwanese fmc) book with friends to enemies to lovers kind of trope, was totally thinking that there was going to be lots of talk about Asian food(street food, Taiwanese and Korean specially) but the writing style is all over the place and just... omg I don't have words to explain... hardly 5 chapters in and I read this...

"Randall, look at how they've grown," cries out Laura, a fat red-haired girl.

mind you this is a teen kid's perspective about a kid who's in third grade... Some things that other characters say don't make any sense at all, the time skips are weird, and who in their sane mind would put multiple POVs in the same chapter...

I just want to read without frowning every two pages.... I totally don't recommend this

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this book! Hangry Hearts is a cutesy YA romance. The forbidden romance with family feud, Randall and Julie are the epitome of modern day Romeo and Juliet. The food descriptions… OMG it made me hungry every time food was mentioned. I was intrigued with the book cover and the talk of food. Some parts were a bit confusing bc it kept going to past and present day without any indication of a time jump. I appreciated how the book highlighted LGBTQIA characters and themes.

Julie Wu and Randall Hur, former best friends turned rivals due to their families, are forced to work together on a school project with London Kim, who has a crush on Julie. Despite London's feelings, Julie and Randall rekindle their own romance, leading to secret dates and kisses. When their families discover their relationship, old feuds resurface, causing heartbreak. However, with the Year of the Dragon symbolizing new beginnings, Randall is determined to fight for their love and hopes the Lunar New Year will bring reconciliation for both their relationship and their families. Will it work?

This was a delightful and quick YA read. I loved how Chinese and Korean culture and food played a significant role in the story, especially in bringing Randall and Julie's families together. Julie and Randall's romance was charming, with their secret meetings and the recurring Scrabble board adding a cute touch, though it did feel like insta-love.

However, I didn't feel as deeply connected to Randall and Julie as I would have liked; I found myself more attached to the two grandmas. I appreciated the author's inclusion of Randall's internal struggles, but the plot sometimes felt a bit drawn out and scattered. Overall, it was an enjoyable read, I just wish there was a little bit more depth included.

Rating: 3/5
Spice: 0.5/5

Tropes:
Best Friends to Enemies to Lovers
Forced Proximity
Banter
Romeo and Juliet Retelling
Hidden Relationship

Thank you NetGalley, St Martins Press, Wednesday Books, and Jennifer Chen for a copy of this ARC. All thoughts are my own.

Even as a middle-aged woman, I love young adult books. The author did a fantastic job weaving Asian and queer representation into the characters. The two main protagonists, Julie and Randall, along with their family and friends, were well-developed, and their respective food businesses became a central focus of the story. The descriptions of their Asian-inspired dishes were so vivid that they made me hungry just reading about them.

While I found the Shakespearean motif—particularly the Romeo and Juliet parallels—intriguing, as it highlighted Julie and Randall’s friends-to-enemies-to-lovers dynamic, the book’s structure left me feeling a bit underwhelmed. The inclusion of feuding families added an interesting layer, but certain plot points felt either underdeveloped or introduced too late. For example, learning about Randall’s parents’ ethnicities and what happened to them would have been more impactful earlier in the story rather than toward the end. Additionally, the timeline occasionally felt disjointed, making the narrative less cohesive than it could have been.

I also wonder if the story could have been condensed by a few chapters, as it started to feel drawn out at times. Despite these structural concerns, the overall premise was compelling, and I appreciated the cultural and personal depth the author brought to the characters and their world.

This book is nostalgic and full of heart. We have Julie and Randall who were once best friends, as were their grandmothers. After a series of unfortunate events, the two grandmothers are feuding and their grandkids are the same. Julie and Randall generally steer clear of each other, but a school project forces them to spend more time together. Both Julie and Randall has experienced their share of hardships and this project brings them closer to each other and more understanding of each other, which I loved. If you're looking for a childhood friends to enemies to lovers with a whole lot of family dynamics, this would be the perfect read. Plus, it features delicious food from both families! Thank you to the author and publisher for the gifted ARC and eARC. All opinions are my own.

Instagram post will be live on 10Mar25.

Dnf at 28%. I didn’t finish this one, sorry! I liked the premise but the characters and storyline fell flat for me. It was very young YA writing but with a trans character and that didn’t mesh for me. I am not the market for this book.

Thank you to #NetGalley, Jennifer Chen, and the publisher of the book for the eARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

Julie and Randall used to be best friends. Now they only see each other at the Farmers Market where their once close families are now rivals.

When Julie and Randall are paired with very wealthy London for a community-service school project, they are forced to work together for the first time in a long time. It quickly becomes obvious that London has a major crush on Julie, but Julie has a crush on Randall, and Randall can’t stop thinking about how London is thinking about Julie. PHEW! Soon, prompted by jealousy and years of rivalry, a school project meetings turn into fake dates at their favorite Taiwanese breakfast shop and then secret kisses at the beach—far from the watchful eyes of their families.

Soon they are brave enough to tell their families, but it soon turns into arguing a bickering. Just like old times.

It's the Year of the Dragon though, a time to resolve disagreements and start new, and Randall isn’t going down without fighting.

A YA read that gives Romeo and Juliet vibes.

i'm a simple girl - i see a book with a leni kauffman cover, it goes on my tbr
Hanhry Hearts is a fun-loving book. The characters and romance had an easy emotional arc even though it felt somewhat formulaic.

I wanted to love this book. I love that you have a main trans character who is highlighted in such a positive light throughout most of the book, and that two friends realize that they have deeper feelings for each other. I also enjoyed the realism in the fact that Randall isn’t questioning their trans in the book, but more worried about how their family will accept their relationship with Julie due to past family issues and not will their family embrace their true selves. I just don’t think the story was super captivating. It was extremely slow paced with Randall constantly pushing Julie away. Julie herself was just such a patient character, but I was glad there were times when she was finally tired of Randall constantly pulling away and times hiding their relationship. Overall, this book was ok not great but does have some lovely representation.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this title.

Rating - 3.5/5 stars ⭐⭐⭐
Date Read - December 12, 2024
Publication Date - March 18, 2025

*I received an E-ARC of this book for free in exchange for an honest review* - Thank you St. Martin's Press and Wednesday Books!

Take warning from the title of this book and make sure you don't read Hangry Hearts on an empty stomach! I loved learning about the food, from its importance and symbolism to just sounding yummy. Friends to lovers is one of my favourite tropes, so I had high hopes for this book. However, I found it hard to root for the main characters to be together because the emotional connection didn't really seem to be there. They talked about their old friendship, which sounded promising, but I didn't feel like anything in the present showed romantic feelings. Overall, I picked up this book for the romance but stayed for the food and family dynamics.

*Please check trigger warnings*

*Review to be posted on socials after pub date*

A sweet update of sorts to Romeo and Juliet with good representation. Randall and Julie are pals but their grandmothers, well, they are enemies.. Can this pair transcend that, can they bring the grandmothers back together? This is filled with wonderful descriptions of food, The fact that Randal is trans is handled with sensitivity and heart. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC, This would have benefited from another edit to make sure the voices are distinct but it's a good read for the YA crowd.

2.5 stars
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
I was initially quite excited to read Hangry Hearts, but I was a bit concerned by a lot of the more critical reviews. However, the review average (at least on NetGalley) was further skewed low by the negative reviews from bigots who didn’t like that this had “surprise” trans rep, so I took it with a grain of salt. Upon reading, I felt it was fine, but not anything to write home about.
As the title suggests, food is central to the narrative, and the references to the various Chinese and Korean dishes were to die for. I also loved the interweaving of cultural traditions, especially with family ties playing such a prominent role in both leads’ lives.
And both Julie and Randall are decent characters, and the tension between them is solid, between their past as former friends, as well as reckoning with now being rivals due to their grandmothers’ enmity for one another. Randall’s transness is decently incorporated, without focus on his identity or “struggle” being a focus of the narrative.
And for what it is, it’s a fairly easy, quick read, so I can’t hold any of the other flaws against it too much, even if the result is a book that I likely won’t remember weeks, or months, down the road.
As for some of those flaws…to start with, some of the decisions with the prose do take some adjusting to. Julie Chen isn’t the best at distinguishing between her two first person POVs, so it’s easy to get lost sometimes as to whose head you’re in, and it’s even worse when it swaps (sometimes clumsily) mid-chapter, sometimes doing so more than once. However, this isn’t the worst execution of this prose/POV style, so it was still fairly readable.
Plot-wise, it was kind of weird, because on the one hand, it didn’t feel like a ton happened, but also, with the pages flying by, I didn’t necessarily notice. It feels more like the issue here is “lack of substantial plot,” as opposed to “lack of things happening,” although the latter did sort of kick in by the last fourth or so, as the grandmothers had resolved their differences. The stakes mostly felt rather low, and more like a “vibes” read. Even the so-called “rivalry” between the families felt easily resolved, making the “Romeo and Juliet” billing feel false, for all that the book tried to expertly position much of the supporting cast as possible in recognizable roles. Obviously, I knew this was going for a more genre romance direction, and that it wasn’t going to be world-ending stakes. But I couldn’t help but find the resolution a little too easy.
Of course, a lot of my criticisms could easily be chocked up to being an adult reading YA, and this skewing toward the younger side of the age demographic. But with many more polarizing reviews than normal (homophobic reviews excepted), I would suggest this is one of those cases where they should be taken into account, but I’d still encourage giving it a chance if you’re in the mood for a fairly light read centering Asian food and cultures and a fairly cute romance.