Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Super cute book that he me giggling at times, grinning a lot and swooning a few times also.

The story might not be new but it was highly enjoyable. I think Emily & Mark are a wonderfully matched couple, much to Emily's dismay and her mother's joy.

I would recommend this book.

Thanks to Atria books for an advanced copy of this book.
I liked this. It wasn’t what I thought it would be from the synopsis and I loved that.

Emily’s mother is incessant with marrying her off but even more so to Mark Chan. At first she brushes it off but then she creates a scheme to get her mother off her back with Mark’s help.

They’re both so awkward together it was funny. They’re an unusual pair and it works. You ever see a couple and wonder how they got together cause it makes no sense? This is kinda what it is but you get an inside look of how perfect they are. This book was quirky, funny and unexpected. Definitely would recommend if you like a quick easy read.

This was a good read with some very cute moments and a surprising storyline compared to most romances.
The story opens with an instant dislike between the two MCs, followed by a slow unravelling of why. Enter numerous obstacles like fake dating and suppositions that go too far, and a mean sister, and you have all the ingredients for the couple to fail.

Emily was a very believable character, with all the angsts of her generation and basic needs for survival in a time that makes life difficult for those born in the '90s and on. Her ongoing monologue of anxiety-ridden thoughts might annoy some readers and feel like filler in places, but having a mind that goes a mile a minute myself, it didn't bother me.

Mark, the love interest, is different too, but with him it's like opening box after box until you get to the small gift inside, and then you find out some men are the exact opposite of what you see is what you get, in a good way.
(For those who are not fans of sex scenes, there are 2-3 in the book.)

The cultural thread throughout of a meddling, pushy mum who will do whatever it takes to get her last single daughter married has been done frequently, but there's a difference to this one, which I think readers will enjoy.

All in all, you'll be glad you read it.
3.7 rounded up to 4 stars.

4.25 stars

Romantic comedy with fake dating and sloooow burn. Initially I thought this was going to be a chaste romance because for at least the first half of the book there was zero physical interaction between any character, let alone the MC's. But happy to be wrong, and loved the long drawn out romantic part of the story. There was so much to enjoy from this novel, from the info about how the publishing world works, to all the descriptions of the food they consumed, and the fact that the story takes place in Toronto (I'm in Montreal, we're neighbors). I was less charmed by the issue between Emily and Mark near the end, it was a created problem for the sake of the plotline and not really a plausible "real life" problem. Other than that, loved Jackie Lau's writing style. I will most definitely pick up another of her books.

Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. Enjoyed very much!

Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC of Love, Lies, and Cherry Pie.

I loved this book!

The characters are all really well written. Even minor characters are forgiven full characters and distinct personalities. The main character of Emily and Mark are both great.

I enjoyed reading the story from both of their perspectives.

I would definitely recommend this book!

There is always something so warm and cozy about Jackie Lau’s books. This book about fake dating to escape parental pressure is no exception. It was a delight to curl up with this book and a cup of tea for a few hours.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review..

Love, Lies, and Cherry Pie
By Jackie Lau

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Emily Hung is trying her best to adult in Toronto, the most expensive city in the world (or maybe it’s just the most expensive city in Canada). She’s a published (but not so successful) author, a (sometimes yelled at) barista and, at 33, is the only Hung sister to not have settled down with a nice (preferably Asian) man. And her mother will not stop talking about Mark Chan, the successful son of one of her friends who is single, an engineer, and has his own apartment (no roommates for him). Something about Mark rubs Emily the wrong way when she meets him at her youngest sisters wedding, but her mother won’t stop with her matchmaking, so eventually Emily convinces Mark that the only move is to fake a relationship. Real feelings could never come from fake dating someone you hate on first sight, right?

I loved this book. The writing was great and the story was engaging. You get to know Emily, her roommate Paige and their friend Ashley along with Emily’s family really well through her interactions with them. They are chosen family and blood family who sometimes don’t get along and are jealous of one another. Jackie Lau does an amazing job of clearly portraying the pressures (both real and assumed) of being part of an Asian family with the expectations of overachieving or marrying a doctor put at the forefront. I loved how the first part of the story was told only from Emily’s perspective. It gave you time to get inside her head just enough and the break into two POVs came at the perfect moment. Mark is adorable and the relationship that forms between them is sweet and honest even if it started under false pretences. Honorable mentions also go out to Ms Muffins (I want her to be real so that I can follow her on insta now!) and Emily’s mom for doing all the things. She went from someone I found frustrating at the beginning to someone whose thoughtfulness almost brought me to tears.

Read this book if you love:
- fake dating
- Cats of instagram
- Enemies-to-lovers
- Family drama (but not too much family drama)
- Families who love one another
- Books about dating in your thirties
- Chosen family
- Great writing
- Own voices!

Thank you so much to Atria books for the free e-arc in exchange for my honest opinions.

"Love, Lies, and Cherry Pie" is an absolute gem and my first foray into Jackie Lau's work, and it certainly won't be my last! The story follows writer and barista Emily Hung, tired of the constant praise for the seemingly perfect Mark Chan from her mother. But when they're thrown together at Emily's sister's wedding, the sparks fly in unexpected ways.

What ensues is a hilarious and heartwarming tale of fake relationships, meddling mothers, and unexpected connections. Lau's writing is witty and engaging, drawing you in from the very first page. I found myself rooting for Emily and Mark as they navigated the ups and downs of their fake relationship, discovering that there's more to each other than meets the eye.

The banter between the characters is delightful, and I couldn't help but fall in love with Emily's spunky personality and Mark's surprising depth. As they embark on a series of fake dates that become all too real, their journey is filled with laughter, romance, and plenty of cherry pie.

Overall, "Love, Lies, and Cherry Pie" is a delightful read that left me grinning from ear to ear. It's the perfect blend of humor, romance, and heart, and I highly recommend adding it to your TBR list for 2024. Trust me, you won't be disappointed. 10/10! 🍒❤️

I have had this on my TBR for a while and kept passing it over—a real mistake!

Emily and Mark are kind of hilarious to follow along with as they work through their fake dating schemes. However, the course of fake love never runs smoothly. Enjoy the ride!

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced digital copy!

Gorgeous romance with some really fun characters! Cute and would recommend. Thanks for the arc and my gosh would recommend

The is the first contemporary Asian diaspora romance I’ve ever read. It was both aggravating and refreshing. I appreciate that the author did not perpetuate Asian stereotypes gratuitously but leaned into some to make a point that became evident in the ending why. I don’t want to spoil it so I leave it as that.

Emily has a relationship with her mom that reminded me of both Joy Luck Club and Mulan. It’s her struggle to find her place as the black sheep in the family to pursue a writing career that’s the antithesis of the stereotypically acceptable Asian careers (something STEM) as she pushes back against everything that her seemingly overbearing mom suggests. Pushing back includes Mark the male love interest that began as fake dating who predictably becomes more. I wasn’t feeling the chemistry could build between these two because the writing style is simple and to the point, but the appearance of the cat did it for me. I really enjoyed the texting between the two characters.

Overall this was 3.75 for me, rounded up to 4. It was a wholesome read with a hint of 🌶️.

*thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

oh my goodness what a fun read this was. This was a first book to me by this author and it definitely hit the mark. This was exactly what i needed right now.If you are looking for a fun,quick and easy read with a slowburn and a fake dating trope this is a perfect choice.

Love, Lies, and Cherry Pie by Jackie Lau is a rom-com set in Toronto featuring Emily Hung and Mark Chan. It gave me Pride and Prejudice vibes, with the meddling mother and 4 sisters. It adds the cultural element of being the children of Chinese immigrants and the pressure to be successful because of their parents’ sacrifice and making it “worth it.” Emily concocts a plan to fake date the man her mother wants to set her up with, getting her mom off her back while she continues to write her next book and work her shifts as a barista. The problem starts when the fake dating starts to feel real.
I love the fake dating trope, so I was excited to read Jackie Lau’s take in this book. Emily is a very relatable millennial woman, trying to be herself and not give into the pressures of doing what is expected. I loved how the book was in two parts, the first from Emily’s point of view, and the second from both Emily and Mark’s point of view. I haven’t read a book written quite that way; I liked the mystery of Mark’s thoughts in the first half and the insight it gave to the second half of the book. Overall it was a fun read!

Such interesting characters and family dynamics make Love, Lies, and Cherry Pie, by Jackie Lau a fun fake-date rom-com. I am new to Lau's novels but looking forward to more!
Thanks, NetGalley and the publisher, for providing me with the ARC ebook I read and reviewed. All opinions are my own.

When it comes to Jackie Lau I'm all in. And Lau didn't disappoint. This has well-developed characters and a relationship arc that so sweet. Love, Lies, and Cherry Pie is exactly the kind of book I’m looking for when I’m in the mood for a rom-com.

A special thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Is cozy romance a subgenre? If it’s not, it should be, and Jackie Lau would be the Queen. Her books are all warm hugs, and this one is no exception. As always, Toronto is a main character in her stories, along with Emily, a writer/barista. She’s the only unmarried one of five sisters, and her mom is pushing her toward Mark, who doesn’t seem like her type at all. But she wants her mom to leave her alone so she asks him to fake-date. But as always, nothing is what it seems, not even her mom’s motivations. Jackie Lau is so consistent, and I love how she writes about food in her stories.

Thank you Netgalley and Atria for the free e-Arc. The following is my personal review. I am a fan of Jackie Lau she writes such authentic characters and complex relationships with family friends and partners. This none was done so well I loved the cover. Definitely recommend to others

Fun fake dating storyline. Opposites attract. Nosy family. Supportive friends.

Emily’s mom REALLY wants her to date Mark, her friend’s son. But they are total opposites so Emily proposes a fake dating situation. Because, obviously 😉 Fun read!

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review. Watch for Love, Lies, and Cherry Pie to come out May 7, 2024.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5 Thank you to Atria Books for the opportunity to read this before it comes out on May 7th! Emily had me cackling from the beginning. I loved her voice and her narration of what was happening was entertaining to read. Even though I kind of knew how it was all going to play out, I found myself excited to keep reading. I like a wrong first impression, and it was rewarding to see the layers of Mark peeled away to reveal a thoughtful and supportive man. I hate reading on my phone, but I had no problem doing it for this book because I enjoyed it so much. The Asian American cast of characters was a huge plus for me, and I saw aspects of my own family in Emily’s. As someone who used to have a difficult relationship with my own mom, I appreciated the development of Emily and Judy’s relationship. This was a cozy romance that you won’t want to miss out on when it comes out in May!

I love Jackie Lau’s romances, I’ve read most of them and her writing is always funny and fresh and her couples are some of by favorites but this one just didn’t hit for me like her previous ones did. Don’t get me wrong, I still enjoyed it and read through it fairly quickly but the plot is too similar to her past romances and while I love the fake dating trope this romance just wasn’t my favorite. It’s still a solid three stars for me though and if you love Lau’s romances, definitely pick this one up!