Jeannie Chin brings her Blue Cedar Falls series to a conclusion with the story of youngest Wu sister, Elizabeth and her best friend, Graham Lewis. I've been looking forward to this one and am happy to say it did not disappoint.

I've enjoyed all three books in this series. I love how Chin balances the romantic journeys of the three sisters with the evolving relationships within the Wu family as well as those within their small community. She brings the citizens of the community - and the Wu family unit - together, helping each sister find her place in a realistic way without sugar-coating the challenges faced by these Chinese-American women in a small North Carolina mountain town. I especially enjoyed the dynamic among the sisters and how it changes over the course of the series.

Of the three sisters, Elizabeth probably has the most growing to do. I found her journey to be realistic and relatable, especially as it pertains to her place within the Wu family. It's easy to be pigeon-holed into the family position we're given at a young age and, to be fair, she hasn't done a lot up to this point to convince her family that she's no longer the flighty irresponsible baby of the group. But she has plans. It was so enjoyable to watch her overcome her vulnerabilities, claiming the self-confidence, leadership, and pride in herself that only Graham had recognized. And Elizabeth isn't the only one who evolved during this book.

I loved Graham's journey, how he put himself out there by claiming his future, finally stepping out from beneath his father's expectations, and moving forward with firm steps to find the happiness he deserves, even if that means relinquishing his dreams of a happily ever after with Elizabeth. These two. The push and pull between them, the confusion, anger, yearning, and whoa, the chemistry when they finally step out of the friend zone. Chin gives them time, and no easy answers, in their progression from friendship to romance to happily ever after. I loved it.

Readers could enjoy this book on its own but because of the overlapping characters and storylines, this is a series I recommend reading in order. The three books are: The Inn on Sweetbriar Lane (June and Clay), Return to Cherry Blossom Way (May and Han) and The House on Mulberry Street (Elizabeth and Graham). There's also a novella, Only Home with You (Han's sister, Zoe and his best friend, Devin).

ARC received from publisher via NetGalley for fair and unbiased review

4.5 stars

Jeannie Chin has written one of my favorite series of the past few years and I was anxiously awaiting Graham and Elizabeth's story. They were best friends since childhood and roommates, so I knew it had the potential for a fantastic friends to more romance. The story and characters did not disappoint!

I loved finally getting to see Graham's point of view and understanding how long he had loved Elizabeth. She was slower to discover her feelings changing, but I really like their dynamic once she began to see him in a more romantic way. They're insecurities and issues they faced did feel realistic and not running. Just add extra drama. They both go through a lot of growth as the story progressed, and I liked getting to see a little bit about what they were passionate about outside of their relationship.

I am sad that this book marks the end of the series, but I can't wait to see what Jeannie Chin writes next!

Elizabeth Wu never felt like she fit in with her family. The one person she has had in her corner was her best friend Graham. So when Graham tells her he's bought a house and is moving out of their apartment, Elizabeth is floored. She feels discombobulated by the sudden change, but for Graham it's about self-preservation. His feelings are not platonic and it's getting increasingly difficult to live with Elizabeth. Helping her with the arts festival and getting ready to take ownership of the house was an opportunity to move their relationship in a different direction. While their bedroom shenanigans were supposed to be scratched itches, deeper feelings come into play.

I enjoyed my time with Elizabeth and Graham. Their characters went through a metamorphosis both with their relationship and Elizabeth's perception of her place in her family. The author did an amazing job of helping the characters navigate difficult perceptions and actual truths.

I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher and voluntarily left this review.

RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
SPICE: 🔥🔥

This was a fun read about two friends who want more but cannot seem to convey that to each other.

Graham Lewis and Elizabeth Wu have been friends since middle school. They have also been in love with each other for as long as they can remember. They have been unable to come clean with their feelings out of fear that it would alter their friendship forever.

Elizabeth also has to deal with feeling like she always comes up short when it comes to family. Now she wants to prove that she is no underachiever by planning a town festival to showcase her artwork, and she needs Graham's help to pull it off.

Graham wants permanency in his life. That's why he closed on the house on Mulberry Street and is looking for more. More that he doesn't see with Elizabeth because he assumes that she has firmly put him in the friend zone. But when a kiss triggers a series of events that proves them both wrong, can they risk their hearts for the one person they have known and loved most of their lives?

I adored the love story. If you have been following me for a while, you know I love best-friends-to-lovers as much as I love enemies-to-lovers. There is a wonderful sense of longing that Jeannie Chin expertly weaves into Graham and Elizabeth's story that has us cheering for their HEA.

What captured me the most, however, especially as an Asian American, is Elizabeth's struggle with not being enough for her family. I can relate to her having a completely different love language from her family and struggling to reconcile that with the approval she needs from them. I wanted so much to give her a hug and say "I know how you feel" as that longing manifests into a little bit of anger and resentment.

This is the third book in the series, but as a newbie to this book universe, it read really well as a standalone.

** I am voluntarily reviewing an advance copy of this book. Thank you to Jeannie Chin, Forever Publishing, and NetGalley for providing an ARC. **

Another powerful and heartwarming story that made me smile, moved and kept me turning pages.
I fell in love with the cover and then I fell in love with the story.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine

This cover makes me want to step right into it.
Finally, we get Elizabeth’s story, who has many hang ups. Her true north weather vane is her best friend Graham who wants simple pleasures and her. But Elizabeth remains oblivious until Graham takes the bull by the horn.
I did think Elizabeth had a tendency to rely on Graham way too much and he allowed the nasty demon doubts to plague his mind.
However, both finally realize they get to write their own definition of what they want their life to look like, which is one of the most powerful messages ever.

Graham and Elizabeth are both the younger sibling whose parents don't appreciate them as much as their older children. They became best friends and got into all kinds of mischief together, balancing each other's personalities. Graham has long had a crush on Elizabeth. But now, he has decided that if he wants a chance at a separate romance, he needs to move out and move on.

I really enjoyed this friends-to-lovers, he falls first romance. Graham and Elizabeth are both such great characters. I found this lighter emotionally than the previous books in the series, and I enjoyed the change.

There's all sorts of fun with art, friends, small town politics, family drama, and more. And while this finishes off the series of the three Wu sisters, I am very hopeful that a road trip to another town may have introduced a future series. This can be read as a stand alone.

Thank you to Forever and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy. These opinions are my own.

Give me a cute small town romance any day! Especially a friends to lovers with a great cast of supporting characters.

While The House on Mulberry Street is book three in the Blue Cedar Falls series, it can be read as a standalone. This is the first book I've read in the series, but I'm looking forward to reading the other books in this series set in the NC mountains around the Wu family, the inn they own and the cute town of Blue Cedar Falls.

In this book we have Elizabeth and Graham, who have been best friends forever. As they work together to get an arts festival Elizabeth has planned and share a kiss one night will it ruin everything?

When I found the Blue Cedar Falls series, I was ecstatic to have an Asian American female lead in a small town romance. I found a part of myself in each sister and loved each one a little differently, but Elizabeth and Graham’s story is probably my favorite. There’s just something about unrequited love paired with friends-to-lovers that gets me nearly every time.

Chin flips different stereotypes that may be familiar to her Asian American readers by not only making Elizabeth an artist but also the “trouble maker” in the family. She’s always been the “unsuccessful” sister when compared to her older sisters. Hopefully, she can change things a bit with her plans for an arts festival even though her best friend is upending their relationship by moving out.

Graham is the best friend who has been in love with her for nearly as long as they have known each other. After living together, Graham is finally trying to move on from his unrequited crush. As much as I loved Graham, it was hard for me to fault Elizabeth for not seeing him in a different light because he just kept waiting for her to see something more between them. Sometimes, a nudge is necessary, and this might be the one he has always needed.

They’re opposites, but balance one another nicely with Elizabeth being more outgoing and willing to try new things while Graham is dependable and likes staying in the background. While the romance was the main reason why I enjoyed the book, I appreciated the focus on their personal insecurities and how it was explored in the book. I loved this one a lot.

Pick this up if you like reading. 😁 If that’s not enough to convince you, read this if you’re a fan of

✨️friends to lovers
✨️small town romance
✨️he falls first

This was such a delightful book to read because I could so relate. Elizabeth Wu and Graham Lewis have been best friends for a long time, but Graham has fallen in love with Elizabeth, but doesn't let her know.
Elizabeth wants to have an art festival and wants Graham to help make it happen. As they start putting it together, I see messages in their head from the past, seem to be sabotaging them. As they progress in making the arts festival a reality, several things happen, and they let the messages their heads are giving them, set them back, and revert to old patterns.
As they begin to see what they are doing to themselves, we find out if they have the courage to let the old messages go, so they can see who they really are now, with the help of their community, have a successful art festival, and take a leap of faith, and take a chance on love and a happy future. I am highly recommending this book to you and my friends.
I received an ARC from Forever through NetGalley.

I absolutely loved this! It was a great romance and it was so good. I loved every word of it. I was hooked from the beginning.
I just reviewed The House on Mulberry Street by Jeannie Chin. #TheHouseOnMulberryStreet #NetGalley
[NetGalley URL]

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
The House on Mulberry Street is the third book in the Blue Cedar Falls small-town series. It can be read as a standalone, although this series has been consistently fun and sweet, and I would recommend the other books, especially as the books mostly follow members of the same family who own the town’s inn.
Elizabeth is in a situation that will be relatable for many people: she’s the youngest child of her family, and she’s still trying to figure out her place in life. She loves art, which is a contrast to the more typical passions her sisters have. She’s also messed up a bit, even getting arrested in the past, and I like how her being less-than-perfect is commented on both in the context of both the family dynamics and the small town, while allowing her to ultimately be herself and figure out her place in the world.
Graham is her longtime friend who she’s gotten into some trouble with, and he’s long nursed feelings for her. I love exploring them from his perspective, along with her frustrations at his changing demeanor. While misunderstandings can be frustrating, I feel Jeannie Chin maintains the tension between them, without making the lack of communication overly annoying, and thus making each romantic moment feel worth it.
This is another satisfying installment in the series, and I’d recommend it to anyone looking for a more diverse take on the small-town romance genre.

This story of Elizabeth and Graham, best friends and roommates, has all of the pieces of a good love story. He buys a house and decides to move out and she realizes that the life she has been so comfortable with is not going to stay that way. And then he kisses her. His unrequited love for her finally gets put out into the open. It's steamy and cute, but lacked chemistry between these main characters. She is totally caught off guard and their love never really gains the tension and heat that we want between two friends to lovers.

There is something lovely about childhood friends to more romances. Elizabeth Wu doesn’t like change. She works multiple jobs so that she can work on her art. She likes not being tied down to anything. The biggest constant in her life is her best friend and roommate Graham Lewis. Graham is ready for a change and planting roots. He surprises Elizabeth with the news that he has purchased a house on Mulberry Street with plans to move there. The other major storyline is that Elizabeth wants to organize an arts festival as a chance to showcase her art and others. But she needs the backing of the town council. She needs to overcome a reputation of impulsiveness to show she can be dependable to pull off such a large project. In the middle of so much change Graham impulsively kisses Elizabeth causing a shift from the friend zone.

I have loved this entire series of featuring three Chinese minority sisters in a small Carolina town. I knew that I would enjoy Elizabeth’s story as I have a soft spot for the child that doesn’t always fit the family mold or get the praise. That angst of wanting parental approval and never quite getting it tugs on me every time. Graham and Elizabeth both fall into that category. Throw in a boy who has loved one person since middle school and who is now almost thirty and I know I’m going to swoon. Chin creates complex characters and with realistic reactions and emotions. And she tells the story from both POV so you get Graham’s longing and Elizabeth’s anger and confusion.

I love the sisters all have appearances too as I’ve connected with them from the previous books. I’m not sure I got satisfaction for the MC’s for their parental recognition issues. Graham’s fathers forced apology feels especially weak for building a new understanding. The sisters are partnered up so this may be the end of the series or setting. But if Chin wants to write their wedding stories or use the setting again for other books I will happily line up for the read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever for the ARC in exchange for a review.

What a fun, small town romance! Sometimes we find it difficult to let go of who we think we are and embrace the person we're meant to be. With the help of great friends and supportive family, that's exactly what Jeannie China's main character Elizabeth is able to do. Thanks #NetGalley #GrandCentralPublishing

A sweet friends to lovers novel about the youngest of the Wu sisters of Blue Cedar Falls but perfectly delightful as a standalone. Elizabeth is a frustrated artist-frustrated because her work isn't selling-so she decides a festival might be the thing. Her roommate Graham has loved her since forever but he's kept things platonic because that's the way she seems to want it but now he's decided to move on- and out. This is very much a slow burn as Elizabeth comes to realize that she has deeper feelings for Graham than she's acknowledged. You know what's going to happen but you're going to enjoy this for the feels and the family. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. A very good read for when you need a smile.

I received this book from NetGalley and the publishers to read and review. All statements above are my true opinions after fully reading this book.
I absolutely adored this book! I am such a sucker for a friends-to-lovers book IF they are executed properly, and this one was oh so good! Jeannie Chin nailed it with this one!

I absolutely adored this book. I am a sucker for a friends-to-lovers story, and I think Graham and Elizabeth’s story showed how they grew together into a couple and also as separate people. The scenes of Elizabeth with her family were great, it was fun to revisit May and June and their relationships and be reminded of the impact each of them had made in their town. This whole series has been such a delight to read and I can’t wait to see what Jeannie has in store for us next.

Elizabeth Wu is an artistic, free-spirited individual who helps manage her family's inn and is haunted by a youthful mistake. Graham Lewis is her best friend and roommate. He works for their town and is the son of a prominent judge. Graham has always been there for Elizabeth and they enjoy doing life together. They know each other’s deepest secrets.

Or do they?

When Graham decides to purchase a house and move from their apartment, the bond between them is destabilized. Elizabeth feels deserted, not understanding that Graham's choice was out of a desire for something beyond just platonic friendship.

After a weekend trip to an arts festival, Elizabeth starts to see Graham in a different light.
Is loving a friend the same as being in love with a friend? Purchase the book and find out!

This is the third book in a series by author Jeannie Chin. Ms. Chin has an extraordinary talent for creating a story full of wit, intricate family dynamics, and genuine emotion. Every character was so relatable that it enriched my reading experience even more. I also appreciated the diverse characters in the novel – especially a particularly feisty Senior Citizen (smile).

I look forward to reading the other books about the Wu Family. I encourage you to do the same.

I received an advanced copy of the book for an honest review.

this book was so incredible!! i can't believe i got to read this one early! it was so much fun and such a delight! i truly hope every one of you picks this one up. and soon!!