Maybe it would have helped if I had read the other books in this series, but I just could not get interested in this book and its characters. I finished it since I had requested it here, but it probably would have been a DNF otherwise.

This best friends to lovers story set in a small town was charming and enjoyable. Elizabeth is a free spirited artist trying to show up for her family and embrace Blue Cedar Falls without giving up on her commitment to her career. Her best friend Graham is happy living in a small town and working for the city government, despite what his ambitious father thinks of his choices, but decides to buy a house to try to get over his long-standing feelings for Elizabeth. The tension of two people figuring themselves out while trying to decide where they fit into each others' lives was compelling, but their underlying care for each other never felt threatened and that's what made me devour this book so quickly. That balance, and the joy of reading about Blue Cedar Falls, slightly reminiscent of Stars Hollow, made me pick up the rest of the series as well.

A lovely addition to the series. Elizabeth Wu has always felt that the theme song of her life is from Sesame Street “One of these things is not like the other”. She’s frustrated with where she is in her life and decides to take on a huge challenge to showcase both her art and how she is getting her life together. She is so focused that she is not paying attention to anything else. She is absolutely clueless that her best friend is head over heel in love with her. Graham, (BFF) has decided that is she hasn’t figured it out by now he is done. Time to move on as he will never be more and he just can’t take it any more. So begins their journey of will they, won’t they, can they make it work and what will it mean for their collective futures? It’s a truly sweet fun read. Maybe my favorite in the series and I’ve really enjoy the others. Perfect read for a feel good with a guaranteed happily ever after that we all are read these book for.

Truth be told, I wanted to read Chin’s romance, and she a new-to-me romance author, because of the adorable cover. Cute house, great old-lady-pantsuit violet colour, and a puppy! (I love puppies, though I’m virulently allergic to them, which means a puppy-infused romance novel is an auto-sell; sadly, the puppy doesn’t show up till the last act…) For the most part, the goodness without was matched by the goodness within. I found humour, a wonderful hero, great friend-group, interesting family dynamics, and a great setting. The romance? I wish I could say I believed whole-heartedly in it. Here’s the set-up, thanks to the publisher’s blurb:

Between helping at her family’s inn and teaching painting, Elizabeth Wu has put her dream of being an artist on the back burner. But her plan to launch an arts festival will boost the local Blue Cedar Falls arts scene and give her a showcase for her own work. If only she can get the town council on board. At least she can rely on her dependable best friend Graham to support her. Except lately, he hasn’t been acting like his old self, and she has no idea why.

Graham Lewis has been secretly in love with Elizabeth forever, but it’s past time that he faces the cold, hard truth: vivacious, amazing Elizabeth will never see him as anything but a platonic pal. He’s going to help her get the festival off the ground, but after that he needs to forget his one-sided crush. Until one impulsive kiss changes everything. Can they really rebuild their entire relationship—and the festival—from the ground up? Or will it all come crashing down?

When Chin’s romance opens, Elizabeth and Graham have been best friends since they were seven and roommates for ten. Other than sharing a bed and each other’s bodies, they are a “couple”. Chin then does something skillful: she makes the narrative shift, like the ground moving beneath Elizabeth’s feet, when Graham, determined to snuff his torch, tells Elizabeth he bought a house and will be moving out. Though Graham is a dream-come-true guy, loyal, loving, smart, handsome, and funny, Elizabeth seems oblivious to his gargantuan desirability. Until she might not have him around: to laugh with, hang with, talk to, and have him help and support her. And therein was my problem with Elizabeth and this romance: Elizabeth, though near thirty, has A LOT of growing up to do and though, there are good signs, and though she cares about Graham, I was never convinced she loved him enough to give him much. While Graham swears up and down being herself is enough and it’s a lovely sentiment, the best romances are about learning give-and-take, compromising, accepting happiness and giving happiness. Graham is such a nice guy, so happy with so little, I was disappointed for him. Elizabeth did some growing up, gained confidence, and there’s a lovely scene where she makes peace with her family, but for Graham, well, there’s not much. Lastly, these two aren’t sexy together. I don’t need purple-prosed, star-bursting love scenes of annoying frequency, but after they become lovers, everything fizzles.

On the other hand, there’s much to like about Chin’s Mulberry Street House. She can build a scene and infuse it with humour and humanity. I loved the bar scenes with Graham and Elizabeth’s friends, especially the couple who were having a baby. Chin writes, as I said above, a fantastic scene with Elizabeth and her family: the dialogue is crisp, the relationships, nuanced. But like the best romance for this reader, it slants toward the comedic, that is, not ha-ha, but conciliatory, loving, generous, kind, forgiving without the characters being totally cardboard-cut-outs. And Chin has definitely achieved this with the Wus. Graham’s family is harder, but equally interesting: his dad is harsh, comparing Graham to his more “successful” older brother, but his mum makes up for it. The dad doesn’t get any better, but he’s not and never has been an exaggerated romance “bad parent”: abusive, or negligent; judgemental, absolutely. Chin can also set a scene for the sheer fun of it: like Elizabeth’s taking-over the children’s table at Graham’s father’s sixtieth birthday party with dance-floor moves to “Baby Shark”. And Elizabeth and Graham’s initial love scene is wonderful too. Too bad about the ensuring fizzle.

In the end, Chin’s writing won me over, but the romance left me cold. If she had married the one with the other, I’d have loved this. As it stands, Miss Austen deems House On Mulberry Street “real comfort,” Emma.

Jeannie Chin’s The House on Mulberry Street is published by Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and was released on March 7th. I received an e-ARC from Forever, via Netgalley, for the purpose of writing this review, which reflects my honest opinion.

Although The House on Mulberry Street is the third book in the series, this was the first book I've read in the series as well as the first book I've read from this author. Although it is part of a series, I didn't feel like I was missing out on any important information while reading, as the story summarized events/relationships well, without unnecessary repetitiveness. I truly enjoyed this sweet, humorous, small town friends-to-lovers romance, which included a bit of enthusiastic, mutually consensual spice. The relatable characters grow and develop loving relationships with their family, friends, the town and most importantly, themselves. I look forward to reading this author's other books!

This was such a sweet and emotional love story. These characters are all so likeable and you can't help but fall in love with all of them. This series has become a favorite of mine.

The House on Mulberry Street by Jeannie Chin
Blue Cedar Falls series #3. Contemporary romance. Own voice. Can be read as a stand-alone. Characters from the previous books are included but not dependent. Friends to lovers.
Elizabeth and Graham have been best friends since grade school. They’re roommates. They are friends that snuggle and watch tv and have meals together. They know their faults, habits and family issues. They are BFF’s. What Elizabeth doesn’t know, is that Graham is in love with her and he’s decided to buy a house and try to be independent from her. Elizabeth is devastated and she pushes to know why he’s tearing them apart.

So begins their self assessment to learn anew what they want in the future. Town events, family drama and friends all play parts to enrich their day-to-day living.

Graham is a great bff here. He totally supports her and helps Elizabeth’s proclivity to be late by telling her an earlier time for appointments as well of other ways. I highlighted so many great passages from his perspective but include only one here. “He liked her. Like, liked her liked her.”

It’s emotional and a journey of growth for both Elizabeth and Graham as they make the commitment to love each other. There is a lot more to the story with family dynamics and planning an art festival and additional town conflicts.
Rich in details and comforting in the wrapping.

I received a copy of this from NetGalley.

The House on Mulberry Street is a part of the Blue Cedar Falls series that Jennie Chin has written. This is the second book in the series that I have read. It can be read as a stand alone, but it helps with character reference to read the previous books. I enjoyed this friends to lovers book a lot. This book does not have as many references to Asian American culture and the other book did (Return to Cherry Blossom Way). I would recommend it to anyone who likes romance.

Thank you to Jeannie Chin, Forever (Grand Publishing), and NetGalley for allowing me to preview this book.

Elizabeth Wu is an inspirational character in Jeannie Chin's Blue Cedar Falls series! With ambition, dreams and the support of her friends, Elizabeth sets out to make a name for herself. Romance is also in her future, and it is the sweetest to watch unfold especially if you like a friends to lovers romance. I immediately fell into the small town setting, which is no surprise as it is set in my home state. I read "The House on Mulberry Street" as a stand alone novel and while there are small spoilers from the previous books, I felt like it did not take away from my experience. It was actually the opposite and I will be checking out the first two also. Thank you to NetGalley and Forever Pub for an advanced copy! All thoughts and opinions are my own!

Sweet and easy friends to lovers. It was a little too bland for me but I can see how it would be a comfort read for many.

Whenever I have the opportunity to read books from Asian authors, I jump at the chance. This time, it happened to be a small town romance that hit a lot closer to home than anticipated for this long-time big city girl.

The House on Mulberry Street is the third and final installment of Jeannie Chin’s Blue Cedar Falls series. The first two novels followed the two elder Wu sisters, June and May, and this third one follows youngest sister Elizabeth. As Elizabeth tries to start an independent art festival in their small town of Blue Cedar Falls, she has to navigate all her feelings surrounding her long-time best friend and roommate Graham and his decision to move out of their shared space.

Though Elizabeth is the youngest sibling in her family and I am the eldest in mine, I found myself relating to her more than to her sisters in their respective novels. Elizabeth as a character is like the living embodiment of all the self-consciousness and self-doubt that we live with in our every day lives, whether we have been beaten down or not. She is a great example of how to be a free spirit and march to the beat of your own drum while still finding a place for yourself in the more traditional expectations of other people.

The relationships in this book serve as a great lesson as well. Graham and Elizabeth’s relationship reminds us that just because we are different from someone (maybe even their polar opposite) doesn’t mean that we aren’t able to find common ground. June and Elizabeth’s relationship reminds us that sometimes the negative self-talk that we have is really all inside our own minds. And the relationship between Elizabeth and her mother reminds us that, even if we think we’ve destroyed something, sometimes love really does help you rise above it all.

Jeannie has a way of writing that cuts deep into your heart and makes you think about how you experience life with the people around you. Sometimes in romance novels, the characters feel like they can be larger than life, like they couldn’t actually be real people, but the characters that Jeannie has created feel like someone you could meet in your own life. There is something therapeutic and heartwarming about each book in this series, but especially in The House on Mulberry Street as you watch Elizabeth realize that maybe she isn’t as much of a screw up as she thought she was.

We've all been waiting for Elizabeth's story. If you've read the prior books you will have to wonder what kind of person Elizabeth really is. Not that the other books gave too much away but they gave you enough that you wanted, no needed, to know more. The funny part is that as I read the story my opinion changed with almost every chapter. It's why I love reading so much.

You start off thinking Elizabeth is younger than what she is. Or at least I did. I kind of thought she was closer to twenty then thirty. I do admit at first, I was a bit shocked. It might have been mentioned in her sister's books, but I missed it. I think why I thought she was younger is because of how she acted and felt.

I learned a lot about her in this book. Some I liked other times she made me want to sit her down and have a talk with her. But one of the things that I like the most about her was just how good of a person she is. There is more to her then what you think you know. Layers always makes me happy.

I also liked Graham too. He's the sweetest guy you'll ever meet. He works hard and at times is very misunderstood by those around him. But never by Elizabeth. She saw him for what and who he was all put for that one thing. She never really realized how much he loved her. I didn't blame her for that. When you love having someone in your life you don't want to take a chance on anything happening that would ruin that. I would mentioned that these two planned no matter what to be best friends I'm not sure how that would have worked out for them if they found other people to love.

For the most part I really enjoyed this story. I did wonder why everyone held one bad deed against her. At times I wanted to yell at them. But other than that, I liked how they both decided to work on themselves. You can quickly see that these two are meant for each other and just work. I really enjoyed being part of their story.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this ARC publication for an honest review.

The House on Mulberry Street
by Jeannie Chin
Pub Date: 07 Mar 2023

This is book three of a series. I read the first and plan on going back for the second. Each book focuses on one of the three sisters. This is Elizabeth's story, the youngest of the family. What I really enjoy about this series is you get the personal insight into the current main character that we previously only had another's sister's viewpoint of in another book.

Elizabeth has never felt good enough to for her family. She was rebellious and made some mistakes in her younger years, but small towns (and family) have a way of holding you in that regard as an adult. That part of the story was so hard because others unflattering view of Elizabeth became who she saw herself as.

Graham has been Elizabeth's best friend forever...as well as secretly in love with her. He finally convinces himself he needs to move on (and out from their shared apartment) to establish a grown-up future and letting go of the thought of Elizabeth as something more. And that is when everything comes to a head! I adored how the realization that Elizabeth and Graham might be on the same page played out. They simply flowed from friends to more just like they had always been a couple.

Of course, not all paths are smooth, and obstacles stand between them. Ugh! Graham's dad. Grrr!! I hate how he made Graham doubt not only his worth but his relationship with Elizabeth!

The side plots and characters were all interesting...and I love how everything turned out in the end. Big smile!

4 stars

This is a new to me author. I read this book based off a recommendation and I thought it was fabulous. I love small town romances and this book delivered. I cannot wait to read more books from this author and I will absolutely recommend to others.

The House on Mulberry Street by Jeannie Chin, book three in the Blue Cedar Falls series, follows Elizabeth and Graham; best friends since grade school. Elizabeth Wu is the youngest of the Wu sisters and the most unconventional. Her two older sisters have established and successful careers, while she is still trying to find her place in the universe. Known as the rebel without a cause, Elizabeth has bucked the system for most of her life. She even got arrested with her best friend, Graham Lewis; although it was a minor infraction. Their relationship has been platonic for over a decade, despite being roommates for a number of years. Unlike Elizabeth, Graham has long nursed feelings for her, and believes Elizabeth doesn’t feel the same way. It is only after he purchases a house on Mulberry Street that Elizabeth realizes that maybe she has more feelings for Graham than she thought. Elizabeth and Graham’s personalities shine throughout this friends to lovers story; quirky, impulsive and artsy Elizabeth, and geeky and predictable Graham. Family relationships are beautifully blended into the story. I highly recommend The House on Mulberry Street to other readers.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

Awww...this book is filled with friendship, family, expectations and joy. I really enjoyed this book. The friendship between Graham & Elizabeth. Elizabeth growing and standing up for herself.

I have really loved this small town romance series by Jeannie Chin but I think this third and final book in the series is my favorite. Elizabeth Wu is the baby of the family and never seems to fit in. She had to to help with the family inn and puts her dreams of being an artist on hold. She feels stifled in her small town. Small towns have long memories and the mistakes she’s made as a youth is something a lot in town can’t forget. Trying to break out of that mold and show she’s not longer a flake. She has big plans for the town and is ready to get them going. Will the town be ready for it?

Childhood friend and roommate Graham has always had a thing for Elizabeth but never has acted on it. He decides he really can’t take it anymore and makes plans to move out and buys his own house. The shakeup causes Elizabeth to question her platonic feelings for Graham and one kiss changes all that.
Graham’s storyline was more than pining for her though. His career ambitions never have lived up to his father’s and Graham’s journey to be his own person were another great aspect to this story.
It was so great to catch up with the sisters from the other books and I’m kinda sad to see an end to the Wu sisters books.

I received an ARC and this is my honest review.

The House On Mulberry Street by Jeannie Chin is the 3rd book of her Blue Cedar Falls Series and...

OMG! HOW MUCH I LOVED TO BE BACK IN THIS SMALL-TOWN! 😍

Elizabeth and Graham are best friends forever. She's the joungest Wu sister and both know each other since they were little.
And... little does Elizabeth know that Graham has a crush on her since... well since forever as well.
Will he has the courage to tell her about his feelings?

When I read The Inn on Sweetbriar Lane I fell in love with the Wu sisters and Blue Cedar Falls! I love the main characters and friends and everyone in town!
Being back in this small-town was like I visited some friends again.
And FRIENDS is the keyword!
The love story of Elizabeth and Graham is a woooooonderful Friends-to-Lovers story!
OMG! Their relationship is so picture-perfect! They live together and suddenly he want to change his life. But why? That's what Elizabeth wants to find out!
And OMG how much she'll find out!
I loved the storyline and the development of their relationship! From friends... to sooooo much mooooore! ❤️
Be still my beating heart!
I fell in love with Elizabeth and Graham and everything else!
And I felt with her so many times! (I can't tell you too much about it bc I would spoil you...)

Just let me tell you that I ABSOLUTELY ENJOYED THIS BOOK!
Family, friendships and love in a small-town - what do you need more in a good romance?

Thank you so much to Jeannie Chin and Forever Grand Central Publishing for this ARC via NetGalley.
This is my honest review in my own words.

The hero and the heroine are best friends and lived together in an apartment. However, the hero had decided to buy a house near Main Street, which began the change to the relationship. The hero has been in love with the heroine and felt that it was time for him to move on with his life. The heroine began to look at the hero differently after a kiss and facing some adversity with the art festival she wants to launch to boost her small town. What will happen to the couple as their friendship turns to more than they expected in this addition to the Blue Cedar Falls series?

This is the story of the youngest Wu sister and her devoted best friend. I enjoyed the friends-to-lovers, small-town contemporary romance. There was a wonderful group of supportive friends and family (except for one member), particularly the sisterhood that the Wu sisters have with each other. I did like the main couple, though I liked the hero more than the heroine. I would have liked more details in certain areas of the book, but it wasn't detrimental to the whole story. Overall, it's an enjoyable read and I look forward to reading more Jeannie Chin books in the future.


** Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy. All opinions and thoughts in the review are my own. **

This novel is the third in the series. I really like this book. The author did a great job of developing the character. This book is well written and held my attention from beginning to end. Elizabeth and Graham were unique and enjoyable characters to get to know. I am a big fan of the friends to lovers books. This author just keeps getting better. This book was a perfect, enjoyable weekend read. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for allowing me to read and review this book.