Tropes:
Romeo/Juliet style story
YA
Forbidden Love
Family ties

First of all, this cover is ADORABLE. Seriously, so cute.

Secondly, this book was so fun! I love a good re-telling! Chen shows the dynamics of different cultures, all while following the Romeo and Juliet theme.

And all the amazing food? I loved what that added to the story as well!

This was a sweet, fun read, and I think anyone would enjoy it.

What a delightful story of young love. I loved the character development and the struggle of choosing their love or the siding with their families during an intense family feud. It was fun, lighthearted read.

+ I love that this is a foodie romance and it features Asian foods like Korean and Taiwanese foods. It definitely made me hungry! Two families, one Korean and the other Taiwanese, are enemies at the food market, but they weren’t always this way. These two families used to be super close.

+ Randall is trans, and I thought it was a nice representation. I love how his grandmother accepted him when he told her how he felt. The support he has, even from Julie who is his “ex-friend”, is sweet.

+ Family is a main theme in this story and yes it’s very Romeo and Juliet – Julie and Randall are forbidden to be together because both families have bad blood. But I love how they resolve things at the end.

+~ The love story between Randall and Julie is an ex-friends to lovers romance. I thought it was a cute love story, especially because they used to be best friends. For the most part I thought they were cute together but this reads very young adult, there was the teen angst, longing and drama between them. This is definitely for younger YA readers.

~ Some of the family drama was ridiculous especially when it came to Julie and Randall hiding their relationship. I was surprised Julie didn’t rebel when she got caught and basically submitted to her brother watching her like a hawk just so she stays away from Randall. I understand that family came first but I also wanted Randall to fight for their relationship instead of ghosting her sometimes.

~ There were some pacing issues – it switched quickly between Julie and Randall’s POVs which made the story move quick but also made it feel choppy at times.

Final Thoughts:

I love the Asian food representations in this story, it definitely made me hungry! I found the theme of family really enjoyable also even though I do think it went too far at times when they tried to keep Julie and Randall apart (I’m looking at you Tyler). I mean, let these young ones fall in love! Randall as a trans rep was nice and watching him fall for Julie was sweet. There were some pacing issues for me and I do feel like this will appeal to younger YA readers, but for the most part, I enjoyed it and it’s a quick read.

DNF'd a few chapters in, which is disappointing because I really enjoyed Artifacts of an Ex. I just cannot get into dual POV books where the POV character changes mid chapter.

The cultural representation was great, especially all the food which made me very hungry while reading, and though I didn't expect the LGBT representation from the description, it seemed well-done. Otherwise, though, unfortunately, I never really got sucked into this book and had to force myself/skim my way through it. I found the dialogue a bit stilted and everything about the plot predictable (which romances usually are) and lacking in tension (which romances should not be). This might be just me, but I probably wouldn't recommend this book.

I picked up this book because the title and the cover were so cute. However, the plot fell a little flat for me. It read like every other romance book with nothing unique that made it stand out. The banter between Julie and Randall was the best part and I di enjoy learning more about their respective cultures.

Absolutely adored this book. Great characters, great pacing, and a wonderful ending.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an early copy!

I was expecting your typical YA rom-com with international flair in this story, but there is so much more to Hangry Hearts. It took me a few chapters for the story to grab me, but once it did, I was hooked.

This is the story of Julie and Randall. They used to be best friends. Their grandmothers used to be best friends. Now, the families won't speak to each other and are constantly trying to one-up the other one at the weekly farmer's market where they each have food stalls. Of course they get put together for a group project in civics class.

But here is where the plot twist happens and what sets this story apart. Randall is trans. The romance that blooms has all sorts of issues, but I love that the fact that Randall is trans is not one of them. They do have to keep their relationship secret, but only because of the issue that broke the two families 5 years earlier.

This is a love story to food and culture. It highlights the intergenerational stories of both families and looks into what it is like to make it in a new country where you don't know the language. It is also a love story about taking care of the earth, knowing where your food comes from, and teaching the next generation ways to garden, harvest, and cook.

I love that the project the teens are assigned has them coming up with a complete plan that positively impacts their community, complete with a timeline and budget. They have to write a proposal for outside funding and they have to work as a team. One of the few things that bothered me was how frequently the POV changed. There were some areas where a character's section was only a paragraph or two. Small potatoes, but just a personal frustration.

This was a really sweet story that felt incredibly authentic. Great for 12-18 year olds.

I really enjoyed this as a romance novel, it had that element that I was looking for and was invested in what was happening. It had that element that I was looking for and was engaged with what was happening during the romance aspect. The characters were realistic and was glad they were so well done. Jennifer Chen wrote this well and am excited to read more from them.

This book missed the mark for me. The highlight was definitely the food. Every time we were given descriptions of the food being served, my mouth was watering. The trans representation also was great and didn't seemed forced. Unfortunately that was about as much as I liked about the novel. The writing itself felt a bit like fanfiction to me and the romance made me feel nothing. The pacing was a bit weird for me with the random time jumps that felt unnecessary. Overall, this book left me disappointed.

pretty cute! some very weird time jumps between chapters that take you out of it tho at points. , pretty heavily YA leaning on the younger side. loved the LGBTQ rep! 4 stars. tysm for the arc.

I picked this up because an Korean/Taiwanese Romeo and Juliet YA retelling centered around feuding food vendors sounded like a fantastic premise. I was so surprised (in a good way) to find out the MMC is trans and just living his best life with a supportive, loving family.

I loved all the food descriptions! Do not read this while hungry. Seriously. I liked the nods to Romeo and Juliet that I found throughout the story, but I really loved that the conflict centered on the two MC's grandmothers being former best friends. The pacing is a little atypical of a traditional romance, but it was still a fun read.

Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for the opportunity to read and review.

Overall a solid read. I really enjoyed all the food mentions. So yum. The family feuds were relatable ( thinking of my grandparents and how proud they can be) It was an easy read that I finished in one day. I enjoyed how it ended and was tied up in the end. Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for this eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This YA rom-com with a nod to Romeo & Juliet was a fun read. The amazing food descriptions really added to the story. At its heart, it is the tale of Julie and Randall, best friends turned enemies due to something that happened between their grandmothers. It’s the classic friends to enemies to lovers story with a twist of Asian culture, food, and LGBTQIA representation. Switching POVs helped the reader understand the nuances of the feud and their feelings for each other. The two grandmothers and their fierce love for their grandchildren and their dedication to their feud helped drive the plot. Over-all, I found myself rooting for this love story until the end… and craving some Taiwanese and Korean food!

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC of this book. All opinons are my own.

Nothing is better than a good contemporary romance and this one definitely hit the spot! I had such a great time reading this. I laughed, I smiled, and I kicked my feet. This is one you'll want to pick up. Chen absolutely nails it!

3.5⭐️

So honestly I normally wouldn’t round up a rating but I’m doing so simply because the representation and food in this book were *chefs kiss*. The rest of the story on the other hand struggled a bit.

This book is YA but on the younger side so there is a disconnect between the juvenile romance (I have no issue with that) and the beautiful food descriptions which typically would be enjoyed more by adults.

This author does an awesome job with descriptions in general. You and see, taste and smell what she is talking about and not only the food. Note: don’t read whilst hungry!
Honestly if the characters were changed to college students to make this an NA book I think it couldn’t have been hit out of the park but alas that’s not the case.

I do think that some young persons will love the Asian representation and culture where they can see themselves in the characters and find community. Some compare it to a “Romeo and Juliet” vibes and yes, in an opposing families way but here the two actually know each other so the battling families is where the similarities end.

I’ll mention that there are more than a few cringy moments. For a book that strives to be inclusive and diverse it’s even harder to read the author call a child a “fat red head” in 2025.

Also, the format of the back and forth short paragraphs switching POVs is jarring and doesn’t allow you to flow with the story.

The book comes out March 18th 2025.


I am thankful to have gotten an eARC for free from Wednesday Books through NetGalley to read which gave me the opportunity to voluntarily leave a review.

My rating system since GoodReads doesn’t have partial stars and I rarely round up.

⭐️ Hated it
⭐️⭐️ Had a lot of trouble, prose issues, really not my cup of tea (potentially DNF’d or thought about it)
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Meh, it was an ok read but nothing special
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Really enjoyed it! Would recommend to others
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Outstanding! Will circle back and read again

A true joy! In addition to the story's pacing, I also enjoyed how it was told. I was given an adventure from beginning to end! First love, family, and friendship are the main themes of this short and simple young adult novel. I'm eager to read more of the author's books, so I sincerely hope she continues to write!

*Hangry Hearts* by Jennifer Chen is a delightful exploration of love, identity, and food. The story Julie and Randall navigating the complexities of relationships, cultural expectations, and their own desires. Chen beautifully captures the intersection of food and emotion, making every meal a metaphor for the characters' deeper struggles. The book is rich with humor, heart, and relatable dilemmas, all while highlighting the significance of self-discovery and finding balance between personal and family expectations. With its witty prose and charming characters, *Hangry Hearts* is a fun, heartfelt read that will leave readers reflecting on both their relationships and their plates.

An absolute delight! I loved not only the pacing of the story, but the telling of it as well. From start to end, I was given an adventure!

Love, family, and food collide in this sparkling Romeo and Juliet-inspired romance. This explores the main theme of friendship and make it complicated.