For the theater lovers you'll certainly enjoy the dynamics and tributes to the world of creating a show. I felt that the FMC was not only adorable but I was rooting for her in both personal and professional aspects. The romance itself is instant but with a friends to lovers pipeline with proper intro to being a demisexual. I think that having stories that are so inclusive to this is so important. Also Greg was the WORST.

A sweet and steamy romance featuring two vietnamese best friends turned lovers in this story about a guy trying to make his dream project, a Cinderalla rock musical featuring an all asian cast and hiring his long time best friend and secret crush, a lingerie designer to make the costumes for the play while trying to get her to see him as more than just a friend. Zoe spends her days creating plus-size lingerie for her own award-winning clothing boutique after giving up on her dreams of creating costumes for broadway after a professor shut her dreams down... and then her life turns upside down when her college best friend, Derek comes back into her life. Derek is hot and offers her a second chance to make her dreams of designing costumes for broadway come true and she can't say no. Derek has been in love with Zoe since his freshman year of college but has never had the courage to confess his feelings, and with his new Vietnamese Cinderella rock musical, a dream project for him, he knows she is the perfect person to create the costumes for his show... and this is the perfect way to bring Zoe back into his life. Zoe is a proud demisexual and has never seen Derek as more than just her best friend.. but the more time they spend together the more she is beginning to fall for him. But not everything is great under the spotlight when the artistic director is trying to make Derek's play "less Asian" and putting pressure on him... while also having Zoe and Derek clash over their vision and what they can compromise for their art.... can Derek and Zoe get their happily ever after or is it just too much? This was a really cute friends-to-lovers story featuring a demisexual protagonist. I loved how Zoe was proud of her heritage, and as a Vietnamese girl myself, this book was such a breathe of fresh air. It's funny, it's sweet, and its steamy, it's a great time!

Release Date: March 4,2025

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

*Thanks Netgalley and Avon and Harper Voyager | Avon for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

🦇 Something Cheeky Book Review 🦇

❓ What's the last play you watched?

🦇 Zoe Tran is living her best life, designing plus-size lingerie at her own award-winning clothing boutique, when suddenly her college ex-best friend reappears. Derek Bui offers the chance to recapture a forgotten dream: designing costumes for the Vietnamese Cinderella rock musical they dreamed up in college together. Derek has loved Zoe forever but never had the guts to confess his feelings. The stakes are high: it’s the first production with an all-Asian cast and creative team at Washington, D.C.’s largest theatre. If they can make it work, they’ll head to Broadway. When the theatre’s artistic director pressures Derek to make the musical “less Asian,” he and Zoe clash on whether to stay true to their vision or compromise to keep the production alive. Will Zoe and Derek finally let love take center stage or will their creative differences close the curtains on them forever?

💜 A second-chance, friends-to-lovers romance novel about a plus-sized, demisexual FMC? Count me in! I was so eager to read this one. Let's break it down:

✨ Characters: I adored Zoe, Derek, and every member of the supporting cast, but wanted so much more of their characterization beyond surface-level glimpses. The story's villain feels overexaggerated and one-dimensional (despite the fact that his racism is very, very real).

✨ Plot and Pacing: I adored the plot conceptually, but the pacing dragged one too many times. By the end, I was rushing and skimming. The exposition is repetitive and slows everything down. More show, less tell, please!

✨ World-Building: While there's so much Vietnamese pride in this story, I wanted far more. Some stories immerse you in the culture so much that you don't want to leave. I didn't get that feeling with this one.

✨ Romance: The romance is a little messy, but I'm very grateful we didn't have to wait until the third act for them to get together. Unfortunately, the story relies on the miscommunication trope for a third-act break-up, which is a definite pet peeve.

✨ Mystery/Suspense: I wish the story held out on revealing why Zoe and Derek's friendship splintered a little longer. The story starts with that suspense, but the tension falters too quickly.

✨ Tone/Prose: As much as I adored Zoe's voice, the prose didn't capture my attention. The word choice is repetitive and the exposition is too lengthy. However, every character has a unique voice; they all leap off the page.

🦇 Recommended for fans of A Pho Love Story or The Kiss Quotient series.

✨ The Vibes ✨
👠 Demisexual FMC
👠 Friends to Lovers
👠 Second Chance Romance
👠 Vietnamese Cast
👠 Miscommunication Trope

🦇 Major thanks to the author and publisher for providing an ARC of this book via Netgalley. 🥰 This does not affect my opinion regarding the book. #SomethingCheeky

You know I’m always going to read a book featuring a demisexual lead when I can get my hands on it, so I was inclined to have a soft spot for Thien-Kim Lam’s Something Cheeky from the get go. Of course the book is so much more than the heroine’s sexuality, but that’s one aspect of representation I find myself seeking out, particularly in romance novels.

The story follows Zoe, an award-winning lingerie designer, whose college best friend Derek reaches out to her to design the costumes for a new musical he is writing and directing, a new take on Tấm Cám, a Vietnamese fairy tale similar to Cinderella. The same musical that the two of them had dreamed of creating while theater students in college. As they work together, Derek’s long-simmering feelings for Zoe rise to the surface, and Zoe too begins to see her friend as more than a friend.

The hook of Zoe and Derek teaming up for a “Vietnamese Cinderella” musical intrigued me, and kept me hooked enough throughout that I was interested in learning more about Tấm Cám when I was done. That, in my opinion, goes a long way to proving the central thesis of the book, love story aside, which is when someone gets the chance to tell their own stories unapologetically, and from their own point of view, then an audience unfamiliar with said story will still be drawn in and invested. It’s a reminder many need these days, I think, and one that is beautifully served in Lam’s latest novel.

Something Cheeky is out March 4. Special thank you to Avon for the advance copy for review purposes.

#SomethingCheeky #NetGalley

...had something 'missing'.

On plus side, a striking cover of the two characters a reader could easily envision from the physical descriptions given.
On plus side, a confident, full figured woman who struck out on her own professionally overcoming a prior toxic college experience where her principles were tested.

So what was missing? Her love interest failed her in college and nearly fails her again. Reader expects that weak side of him but it was drawn out far too many times. Also, a squad of friends is important but too many, and way too many irrelevant subplots involving them. Appreciate the shout out though to author Olivia Dade who set the standard for full figured woman romance.

This ARC was provided by the publisher, Avon and Harper Voyager | Avon, via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Something Cheeky
•
I liked the premise of this story, but the romance just was not there…at all. I will say that friends to lovers can definitely be hit or miss for me. If I feel like if there isn’t a true obstacle of why they can’t be together, especially as two single adults, besides “we’ve been friends for so long” I tend to not believe in the story and I don’t get the butterflies. And that’s okay! This may still work for some people. It is dual POV, we get some spice, lots of body positivity, I loved the play aspect and the all Asian production of a Cinderella retelling. We get into real issues in entertainment like whitewashing. It felt like we really focused on the show and not their love story though. The theater lover part of me was interested in that part of the story, but the romance fell flat and the ending kinda reminded me of a Disney movie lol ⭐️⭐️💫
•
When someone tells you that they have feelings for you and you pump your fist in the air and yell “yes” it’s a bit of an ick 🚩
•
Thank you Thien-Kim Lam, NetGalley, and Harper Collins for this e-arc. Something Cheeky comes out March 4th!

We love a plus-size Asian FMC who designs and owns her own lingerie shop! Zoe is confident, talented, and thriving, and Derek, who has been in love with her for years, adores every bit of her. The friends-to-lovers dynamic, paired with demisexual rep, made their relationship feel so genuine and worth rooting for.

Zoe Tran is thriving at her award-winning plus-size lingerie boutique when her college best friend, Derek Bui, reenters her life with an offer to design costumes for the Vietnamese Cinderella rock musical they once dreamed up together. Derek, now directing the show, has secretly loved Zoe for years, and as they work side by side, their connection deepens. But when the theatre pressures them to make the musical "less Asian," they must decide whether to stay true to their vision or compromise for the sake of the show.

The book tackles important themes like microaggressions and whitewashing, and I hope readers take a moment to reflect when characters call out problematic comments. Some moments had me furious, others had me cheering, especially the ending. And while I liked the cover, it doesn’t quite reflect Zoe’s size 22 body, which feels contradictory to the book’s message about representation.

Beyond the social commentary, the romance was compelling. The spice was very nice, and I loved how confident Zoe was in her body, with Derek completely obsessed in the best way. A fun, sexy, and thought-provoking read.

Thank you, NetGalley, Avon, and Harper Voyager for the eARC of this book!

This book was a bit faster paced than I was expecting but I liked it. It was nice that they kind of picked up right where they left off in college. Obviously this is a digital arc but I wish there was a way to have a picture of the costumes she designed, they sound so pretty.

I received an arc through netgalley.

1.75⭐

LIKED:
- More romances should take place in the theatre. The theatre is one of the horniest locales on the planet. The fact that there aren’t more traditionally published rom coms that take place in the theatre is criminal, honestly.
- I loved having the Vietnamese rep. Vietnamese culture is incredibly rich with stunning history, fashion, and folklore.
- Plus size rep that is not the character’s whole arc is always refreshing. Is Zoe being plus sized very important to her character? Yes, it’s shaped (pun intended) her whole life and career. But it’s not the only thing that drives her side of the story
- Also so fun to have a sewist and costume & lingerie designer as a main character

LOATHED:
- Oh boy…this book was disappointing. I hate to say that, I do. But there are a lot of things about this book that just did not connect. Firstly, the romance. The romance. It just didn’t click. I am a friends-to-lovers (especially longtime friends-to-lovers) apologist. It is one of my favorite tropes. Unpopular opinion, but it just is. Maybe it’s because I am also demisexual (more on that later), but that’s just a trope that when it hits it hits for me This book…did not hit with that trope. We get so so very little insight into the history of their friendship. We barely get to learn about them during the origin of their friendship! Why are they friends? What drew (and honestly draws) them to each other? I’m not saying this book needed a dual timeline (oho no), but it needed more discussions or some sort of divulsion of their past(s). I did not understand why they liked each other.
- On the demisexuality front…this did not feel like honest demisexual representation. I’m not trying to discredit Thien-Kim Lam’s own journey with demisexuality by any means, everyone’s journey is different. My issue stems from the idea that Zoe can only find people attractive that she has an emotional connection with. Yes, fair, that’s very akin to how my deminess functions. …but why didn’t she feel this attraction in the past? Why does she only start to feel attraction when she sees him in the boba shop and he’s hot now? That seems counterintuitive to what Zoe herself has described her demisexuality to be. It just doesn’t compute for me. I wish that it had been more of a build for her to maybe come to terms with or something she was hiding or just…something that made sense. I’m all for demisexuality rep, but even the author says that it was not something she went into the character writing and that felt pretty apparent. It can still be something you discover about a character as you’re writing but it still needs to feel genuine
- The third act conflict was very messy. Without spoiling too much, there’s this throughline from the past to the present with protesting racism and inequality that isn’t even brought up until like 85% of the way through the book. I think that this was a really solid foundation for conflict, but it should have been introduced wayyyy earlier. It didn’t give enough time for there to actually be emotional impact with the duality of the protests
- Greg needed more grounding and, honestly, to actually be more conniving and shitty. I saw this in another review, but some of the things he mentioned as major problems…were somewhat valid. Were they still shitty? Absolutely, but specifically her costume designs not fitting the initial design request (modern and rock forward) and concerns for English-speaking audiences (this was explained a bit by having context clues for the Vietnamese used in the show) are things that Artistic Directors have to think about. He, as shitty as it is, does have to think about the finances of the company in that position. I think his character needed to be pushed into being more manipulative and more aggressive to be even more of a villain.
- …The Brocaded Slipper? …Really?That’s the name of the show? That is not a good show title. I’m sorry, but that is not a title people will be clamoring about.
- Alright. Lastly, this writing was….clunky, to say the least. Almost every chapter had this feeling of starting a whole new book, as odd as that sounds. There was just something so…choppy about how things connected. So many sentences were super simple with very little descriptors that actually made you feel like you were in this world with these characters. And the dialogue was so unnatural. The way that the characters would speak after another character had finished their sentence was like they had no connective tissue between them. It’s hard to explain, but it just did not work. And again, there were very little descriptors in feeling, how people spoke, their intentions in the actual dialogue. The prose was just overall very lacking.

LONGED FOR:
- More descriptions and details about the costumes and the Vietnamese folklore. I talked about this before, but the descriptions were just basically non-existent. Working with fabric has so many beautiful nuances and ways to really entice the reader through descriptions!
- More tension and yearning and, honestly, chemistry between the characters
- Less side characters, wow there were so many it was hard to keep straight
- Better breadcrumbing of backstory and plot connections throughout the book

Will I read the next one? : No…This was not my cup of tea writing style-wise. I really enjoyed hearing Thien-Kim Lam speak at the LA Festival of Books two years ago, but…I don’t think I will continue with her books.

I really wanted to love this book. I loved the premise, and following along on the journey of creating an all Asian broadway show. I loved the queer rep, the size rep, everything that went into the story. Unfortunately, the book itself fell a little flat. The romance didn’t really have any ARC - it just suddenly went from nothing to everything. Other pieces of the plot were similar - it didn’t always make sense, and things jumped around so much it was hard to follow at times.

I am very surprised to report that I did not enjoy this book. I love reading novels written by bipoc authors about bipoc cultures and I am also a big fan of queer representation. Add in that this story is surrounding a musical based on a Vietnamese story with a plus size FMC, I thought you’d have me hook, line and sinker. I found it pretty much impossible to get emotionally connected to the characters or the plot. The writing style was perfectly fine, and I love the diverse cast of characters— I just did not find the romance between Zoe and Derek to be captivating enough. The romance is a major plot in the story and given that I found it weak- I did not think the plot about the musical was strong enough to carry the story on its own. I finished the book and was left unsatisfied. I really dislike leaving negative reviews but this story was not for me.

Heat Factor: Not closed door, but nothing that particularly stands out.
Character Chemistry: “Banter”
Plot: Derek is directing a musical, and asks Zoe to design the costumes.
Overall: This one didn’t work for me, and it came down to the writing style.

Here’s the sitch. Zoe and Derek were best friends in college, until Zoe abruptly left the theater program senior year for *mysterious reasons*, didn’t move to NYC with Derek as planned, and stopped answering his texts. In short, she ghosted him, but not because of a fight or anything—just because it sort of happened. Now Zoe owns a lingerie boutique in the DC area. Then one day, Derek shows up, telling her that he’s got a shot to put on the retelling of Tấm Cám (a Vietnamese fairy tale, with similar elements to Cinderella, except the stepmother kills Tấm, who is then reincarnated a few times until she’s reunited with the prince) that they dreamed up together in college, and he really wants her to do the costume design. He also wants to confess his love, but he doesn’t lead with that part. Anyways, Zoe is hesitant because she’s been out of the theater world for years; however, this was the project of her heart once upon a time, so she does eventually agree.

Most of the action of the takes place over the few weeks that Derek has to put the play on for its premiere. There’s a bit of internal conflict, as Derek angsts about whether to tell Zoe about his feelings, and Zoe angst about her burgeoning feelings for Derek and whether aggressively friendzoning him in college was the right move, but they figure that part out fairly easily. The part that’s harder to figure out? What to do about Derek’s mentor.

Now, Derek’s mentor is the artistic director of the theater they’re using to stage the show, and is the reason Derek has this opportunity in the first place. He’s also an old white man who is racist and sexist, up to the precise point of plausible deniability. He attends rehearsals uninvited, gives Derek tons of unwanted notes, can’t pronounce Tấm Cám properly, and, once he discovers that Derek and Zoe are sleeping together, propositions Zoe. He may also be intentionally sabotaging the show, so that he can swoop in and “save” it. (Derek and Zoe imply that they think this is happening, but it’s never confirmed one way or the other.) So there’s some external conflict to keep things interesting even after Derek and Zoe are happily getting it on in the costume closet (but NEVER near the silk, they aren’t monsters).

Based on the plot summary, there’s plenty here to make a compelling book, but it doesn’t hang together. The biggest issue for me is the writing style. It’s very straightforward and simple. No purple prose here, which is fine, but it’s like it goes to the absolute opposite extreme.

The result is that the writing feels very clunky, particularly the dialogue. And to add insult to injury, the text explains things beyond what is necessary. Take this conversation, which happens right after Zoe and Derek reconnect:

“You look really good, too.” Zoe gestured at his head down to his legs. “Glad to see your fashion sense has improved.”
“Damn right. Everybody looks good in black.” Derek did a very tiny shuffle hop step and narrowly avoided kicking over the table.
“You still got the moves,” Zoe said, chuckling. “After all this time.”
“I’m a bit rusty, but a man’s gotta stay in shape somehow.” He patted his flat stomach.
“Still scarfing down late-night Taco Bell NachosBellGrande?”
“Don’t forget the cinnamon twists. Bring on the crunchy snacks.” He grinned.
“Mr. Big Director still orders off the value menu,” she teased.
“Old college habits die hard. After twelve-hour days during tech week hell, my body demands comfort food,” he reminded her.
“Junk food, you mean,” she shot back, the same way she used to during college.
“So Cheetos aren’t junk if you use chopsticks to eat them?”
“Orange cheese dust on Hamlet’s costume doesn’t work with his emo vibes.” She raised an eyebrow, as if daring him to counter her.

Short, simple sentences. A bit clunky. I left a note here, asking if this was meant to be banter…and sure enough, in the very next paragraph, Derek thinks about their “playful banter.”

The way Lam reveals information (or fails to) unfortunately also leads to a big missed opportunity to develop Derek and Zoe and build a natural conflict between them. Remember the *mysterious reason* that Zoe dropped out of the theater program in college? It is eventually revealed that the department head wanted Zoe to put student actors in yellowface; she refused, and staged protests against the department. Derek did not participate, because he didn’t want to lose his scholarship. This seems like a BIG conflict between them that points to a huge difference in how they see the world and what of their own comfort they’re willing to sacrifice to take a principled stand. But instead of using this information to illuminate how they continue to move through the world and how it impacts their relationships with each other and with the cast and crew, it’s dropped in Chapter 45, just in time to give them a bleak moment.

Speaking of the bleak moment, it hinges on a conflict with Derek’s mentor and the ways in which the cast and crew see Derek capitulating to him to court audiences, rather than stand up for their shared vision as Asian artists. And regarding most of the criticism that the mentor launches at the show, the cast and crew would be right. Mispronouncing the name of the show? GTFO. Telling Zoe to make the costumes less “ethnic” looking? GTFO. Trying to recast the lead because she’s plus-sized? GTFO. And Derek does successfully stand his ground in all of these interactions! But. The big confrontation happens because the mentor tells Derek that the show should…be in English, instead of Vietnamese. Or at least have more English, so that the Vietnamese—in both the songs and the dialogue—is translated. I am open to hearing other perspectives here, because maybe I’m missing something, but…he’s not wrong? They are staging this show in Washington DC. Derek, the director, is Vietnamese-American, but does not speak Vietnamese. While all of the cast and crew is Asian, they are not all Vietnamese. I absolutely think that there’s a balance to be had here of incorporating the language into the show, but having the entire book be in Vietnamese seems like…not a great way to stage a successful musical in the US? (Even given a significant Vietnamese-speaking population in Virginia.) Derek changing the book to English at the last minute without the buy-in of his musical director and co-writer is not a great look, but I still couldn’t shake the feeling that this hill was a weird one to die on.


I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. We disclose this in accordance with 16 CFR §255.

This review is also available at The Smut Report (March 2025)

I really enjoyed this spicy best friends to lovers, dual POV romance featuring two Vietnamese American MCs. Zoe is a plus size, demisexual Lingerie store owner and designer working on her newest collection who gets surprised when her former college best friend, Derek shows up begging her to come work as a costume designer for the all Asian fairy tale inspired play he's trying to make happen.

Eventually all the forced proximity takes effect, despite Zoe's cat's dastardly interferences and all the white-washing attempts from Derek's anti-Asian play producer/mentor. Heartfelt, real and still super swoony, this was sex positive like all of the author's books and also great on audio. Highly recommended for fans of authors like Jackie Lau or Helen Hoang. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review!

Something Cheeky by Thien-Kim Lam was an easy to read story following the characters of Zoe and Derek.
Zoe is a thriving lingerie designer and boutique owner. She has an amazing group of supportive friends. Derek is a talented up and coming director who has co-written and is directing an all Asian cast performance of a Vietnamese fairy tale.
Zoe and Derek have a history. They were college besties and dreamed up this show together, but a negative experience with a college professor sent Zoe running from theater and Derek. Now, several years later, Derek sees this show as a chance to get Zoe back in his life, and to finally confess his love, by offering her the opportunity to design the costumes.

So many good things in this story. I ejoyed the demisexual representation from Zoe. Zoe’s found family of the Boss Babes were interesting and funny and I definitely want to read their stories too. How Thien-Kim Lam’s showed racism and sexism in this book was impressive. She captured everything from the outright to the subtle ways that these can present themselves.

The lack of communication between Zoe and Derek sometimes felt like it went a bit long. Also, Derek’s feelings after such a long time apart felt a bit strong and slightly less believable to start. I would have liked for him to get to know Zoe now a bit more.

Overall, this was a very enjoyable book. If you like spice it has a good amount. It kept me engaged and wanting to see what would happen next.

Thank you NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager, and Thien-Kim Lam for the ARC.

I had the chance to sit and talk with the author when she attended Romance Con and I absolutely adored Thien Kim-Lan. Her sex positive attitude, made me buy two of her books on the spot and kept refreshing for this book to hopefully pop up on here. So thank you for the opportunity to read it. I loved it. The characters were great, I loved how Zoe is known as a lingerie wizard. Derek was loveable from the get go. Read this in a few sittings and it was an escape I needed for the world for a bit.

I saw the author speak at Romance Con 2024 and knew I needed to read one of her books. I didn't realize this was part of a series, but that mainly impacted my understanding of the side characters and didn't detract from the main story.

Love love love the demisexuality rep, and the ex best friends to lovers arc was well done. I love the supportive community they had, and I thoroughly enjoyed the theater aspects. The antagonist made me anxious to the point where I was severely worried about where the story was headed.

There was a lot I liked about Derek and Zoe, but they really need to work on their communication. I'm now curious about the rest of the Boss Babes group.

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

I devoured this book!! The story follows two old best friends from college, Derek and Zoey, who have both faced academic hardships due to racist asian stereotypes and overbearing instructors/theater directors. These individuals lacked any sort of remorse towards them in college, which is what sadly led to Zoey’s decision about leaving theater altogether, straining the friendship they had. This is especially true when Zoey leaves and never responds to Derek’s messages, until one day the unexpectedly run into each other ten years later!!
I was hoping some more time before fully realizing Derek’s intent as to why he showed up unexpectedly looking to her, but it works out súper well! Zoeys passion for costume design reignites and so does the passion they had for each other. I admire how this book tackled issues present in theater groups, as well as family issues that seem to be universal in ever POC family. It was a super cute and shockingly spicy at times!!

"Z, I'll trust you until you can trust in yourself."

This one was super cute!! Thien-Kim Lam has such a love for theatre, and it made the theatre kid in me so happy. This was a book of pure Vietnamese joy, and the demisexuality representation was really nice as well. I love a second chance romance, and this one hit the mark.

A quick couple of notes: the Boss Babes are supposed to be in their late 20s, but they read VERY much like mid 30s. Case in point: a character saying "getting their digits." C'est la vie. It doesn't detract from the story, but I wanted to note it. The ending is also a very "and everybody clapped" type vibe, but since this book was supposed to be pure joy, it worked.

Note for NetGalley: there were a lot of typos in my eARC. At one point Derek is written as "Derk" and I giggled throughout the book because of it.

Something Cheeky by Thien-Kim Lam is a delightful and witty romance that blends humor, culture, and self-discovery in a refreshingly modern way. The story follows the journey of a protagonist who, navigating her career and personal life, finds herself in a complicated romance that challenges her perceptions of love and herself. Lam’s writing is sharp, with a great balance of humor and heartfelt moments, offering a unique take on navigating relationships and personal identity. Themes of self-empowerment, vulnerability, and the courage to pursue love on one's own terms are central to the story, making Something Cheeky a fun and inspiring read. Perfect for fans of contemporary romance that is both light-hearted and meaningful.

This book was a very enjoyable read. I read it in a few sittings and was hooked after just a short time reading. The story was well paced and the characters were well developed.