DNF at 25%
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Unfortunately i was not interested in continuing the book as i an not a fan of insta love and it feels like one of the characters doing so much for the other one only a few days after they met is too much.

This book is so stinkin’ cute! I’ve never had a mooncake before but I want them (and even more Singaporean food) after reading this book!
Dylan is such a sweet boy who is humble and has such great loyalty to his family. Rightly so because his family is adorable; they are fun, clearly close-knit, and so supportive! The difficulties they went through obviously made them even closer.
Theo has almost no one, but he has money. Seeing these two worlds collide was certainly interesting and I agree with the Crazy Rich Asians vibe. However, even though Theo’s family is crazy rich, they are not crazy mean. His dad - eh - it’s a work in progress throughout the book.
The storytelling throughout this book is perfect. I love the interplay of generational stories and cultural lessons without them being too much. I felt like I learned more about Singaporean culture, but it was all explained so well. The food was described so well without the book sounding like the author was trying to sell recipes.
The ending was sweet and even though it could be categorized as “miscommunication,” it was explained really well and communicated well too. I wasn’t left frustrated by the 3rd act plot line.
Overall, a really cute read that had me smiling the entire time! 4.75⭐️, 0.5🌶

Ok ahhh this book was SO cute and wholesome?? I was grinning throughout, I loved it smm.

It's a (YA) fake dating to lovers situation, plus a healthy dose of found family and grand gestures and cute dog moments, and literally every scene was perfect. Plus, the book had so many good Chinese food descriptions (front and centre being mooncakes), and now I wanna go eat some of the dishes 😭

I'd say if you liked the wholesome stuff in Red, White & Royal Blue and/or Heartstopper, I'd definitely recommend you pick up this book!

TWs - death of a parent for both MCs (off-page, but grief mentioned frequently) (by cancer, and by road accident), estranged parent for both MCs, almost drowning in the ocean (on page, but they're rescued)

--- ty to the author, published and Netgalley for an advanced copy!

Dylan Tang works at his Aunt Jade’s takeout establishment making delicious and fragrant Singaporean Chinese food. On a fateful day when Dylan has to step out of the kitchen and deliver orders, he meets hot and rich Theo Somers. With overdue rent notices and a lack of customers, their takeout Wok Warriors is struggling to stay afloat. Theo gives the takeout five thousand dollars in the guise of a grant. Wanting to return the favor, Dylan agrees to fake date Theo at his cousin’s wedding. Despite Theo’s grant the takeout still needs more to keep on running. The way out of this is to win the moon cake contest hosted by celebrity chef Lawrence Lim and includes a cash prize and a feature on the winner’s chosen restaurant on his show. Through family, fake dates, and mooncakes, will Dylan make it to the contest and sort out his feelings for Theo?

This book is so cute! I love that it’s fast paced because it works so well in <i>Fake Dates and Mooncakes</i>, I was hooked from the very first page. All the characters are so fun to read about, and even though Dylan and Theo are from different worlds, they just fit in so well with each other! From fake dating at the wedding to making mooncakes at the contest and the banter between family to restoring a family recipe, every part of the book is exciting. If you love cute C-Drama’s, fake dating, yummy food, and the sharing-a-hotel-room trope, then you’ll love <i>Fake Dates and Mooncakes</i>!!

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Children’s for sending me a copy of this book for an honest review!

I received this book from NetGalley as an Arc for free to review. These opinions are my own. Dylan and Theo are both likable MCs. I can’t say fake dating isn’t over done, but this was cute. The homage and honoring of the Chinese and Singaporean cultures by Dylan is something that’s not seen very often in popular culture, let alone a queer story. There definitely could have been more plot development and more back story given for the characters and some of the problems resolved a little too easily for my liking. However, I really enjoyed the book and would recommend it to others.

With the gorgeous cover and adorable title, I was extremely excited to get my hands on this.

Fake Dates and Mooncakes focuses on our main character, Dylan, as a delivery mishap inadvertently leads to a fake date with Theo. It's a cute and easy read with just the right amount of fluff to keep you entertained as a reader. Unfortunately for me, these kinds of fast-burn instant-attraction romances don't do it for me. While I understood their attraction and chemistry, I wasn't as invested as I wanted to be, partially because I didn't find Theo as a love interesting very compelling. Everything between them happens so quickly and without reason other than "he's cute". I could see how someone who LOVES fast-paced relationships or perhaps wants something quick to fall into will enjoy this.

The other issue I had was we spent a lot of time on unnecessary plots when I wanted the main focus to be the actual competition the book gets its name from. About 80% of the story is about Theo's family dynamic, which I wouldn't have minded if the contest and its importance to Dylan weren't brought up earlier. There's some miscommunication tropey stuff and pop culture references that normally doesn't bother me, but the sheer amount was A LOT.

What I loved was the many touches on Chinese culture, and the vast and detailed descriptions of food coming from Dylan who obviously has a passion for cooking and his culture. I really liked Dylan's character, which is rare in YA books to prefer the protagonist but I found him rational and kind. I loved his family and their importance, his pride in his culture and food, his romanticization.

In all, this is a fun rom-com to capture your attention for a couple of days (two in my case) and drift you off into another world. And the cover is simply to die for.

This book was a quick, easy, cute read.

There are so many things that I enjoyed in this book. It explored themes and cultures that I don't see often represented and I'm so glad this book exists for younger people who don't often see themselves in media. Growing up half white, and not knowing a lot about the other half of your culture really resonated with me and I really like how this was explored with Theo. The family aspect of this book was really heartwarming, Dylan's family felt so loving and accepting, especially in contrast with Theo's family (with a couple of exceptions).

Besides being MM, this didn't give me the same vibes as Heartstopper. Some of the character development seemed a little shallow and I didn't feel a lot of chemistry with Dylan and Theo's interactions. Theo felt like "stereotypical hot, rich dude" and a lot of this book had cheesy things but I could definitely see this as a super cute movie.

Overall, I enjoyed the book and would recommend if you're looking for a short, cute, YA romcom read.

This is such a cute YA Rom-Com. The blend of the romance with the competition, plus the class differences give a good amount of romance but conflict that makes sense and actually propels the story forward. Heartstoppers meets Crazy Rich Asians is a perfect comparison. I loved both of the MCs (even when they were not behaving the most likable).

THIS BOOK WAS SO CUTE AND CHEESY!!!

I literally ended up binge reading this in a couple hours. There was no stopping it, it was just so cute and addictive and fun! And the best part about it was that most of it was about food! Starting this one right before bed was not a good idea though, because I was having really crazy urges for some Singaporean food and had no way of satisfying them :(

I initially requested this book on Netgalley because of its adorable cover (i mean look at it!!!) and because it's queer and i will quite literally read anything that is queer. And I was not disappointed! This book was exactly cute cheesy queer romance my heart needed! My favorite part of the book was definitely the wedding plot!

Anyway, this book is described as Heartstopper meets Crazy Rich Asians and that is very spot on! If you like either of the book series or their adaptations, I would recommend checking this one out!

read this book if you want a book with:
- books about food
- queer romance
- fake dating
- rich vs poor
- family relationships
- mentions of grief

Fake Dates and Mooncakes is a heartwarming and hilarious romance novel by Sher Lee. We follow Dylan Tang, a high school student who juggles school and delivery runs for his aunt's struggling Chinese takeout in Brooklyn. When Dylan is approached by Theo Somers, a charming and wealthy customer, to be his fake date to a family wedding, he reluctantly agrees. But as they spend more time together, Dylan finds himself falling for Theo.

Fake Dates and Mooncakes is a delightful and humorous. Sher Lee excels at capturing the awkwardness and excitement of first love, and the novel's setting in Brooklyn's Chinatown is vibrant and full of life. Lee balances the romance with humor, which was pleasant to read. Not to mention, we get my favorite trope: fake dating!! If you're in search of a lighthearted, feel-good romance novel, Fake Dates and Mooncakes is right up your alley.

It is a well-written, heartwarming, and hilarious novel that I would definitely recommend to fans of rom-com novels. Everyone needs a sweet 'ol romance story every once in a while!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children’s publishing for a copy of Fake Dates and Mooncakes.

This was such a cute and easy to read debut novel. This book was filled with great tropes/themes: fake dating, LGBTQ+ representation, Asian culture representation and a great message about family. Oh and also an adorable corgi. There were times where the book was making my mouth water with all the yummy food that’s talked about. I will warn you though, you may need a tissue for the last two chapters but they are for happy tears (those chapters really pulled on my heartstrings).

DNF @ 46%

i'm sad, because i really thought i would devour this book and here we are. dylan's family is the best thing we have here, i really liked what i read about them, as well as the food descriptions, but i was expecting a cute romance to warm my heart, and dylan and theo are cute and i like them as individual characters, but their chemistry is basically nonexistent. there's no point in reading a romance if i cannot feel what they're trying to show me.

I absolutely devoured Dylan and Theo's story in less than 24 hours. It's the perfect read if you need something that will have you smiling and rooting for the MC from start to finish. The writing is fast-paced, and the plot flows seamlessly. Loved the boys wedding crashing in the Hamptons, loved the cast of secondary characters, and loved how Lee tied it all together. This one will definitely be making its way to a featured spot in my classroom library.

Thanks to #NetGalley and #RandomHouseChildrens for a free ARC in exchange for my honest review.

this book was so heartwarming with just the right amount of drama. I loved dylan and theo so much, the fake dating aspect was also so much fun to read about. if you like fake dating and baking, you'd adore this book.I loved the representation of the Chinese culture and the recipes in this book. overall, this was so sweet and I definitely recommend.
tw: grief, loss of parental figure.
Thank you NetGalley and Random House Children’s for this kind Arc in exchange for my honest review.

I adore everything about Fake Dates and Mooncakes!

Through a chance encounter, Theo is determined to make things right with Drew for his best friends theatrics.

Theo finds himself smitten with Drew and his family, but things get a little awkward when Theo "secretly" helps, which leaves Drew feeling obligated to return the favor.

Despite the differences in their social classes and family drama, Theo and Drew bond over their shared grief and cultural history.

For a debut novel, this is everything I needed and so much more, from the fake-boyfriend ploy to the culinary references and everything in between.

I can't wait to read more from Sher!

What a debut, seriously. This book was just as adorable as the cover would lead you to believe. I love a good queer, YA rom-com, but add in a baking competition? Hell yes! Then, the fact that their meet-cute was Theo intervening when his obnoxious friend was roasting Drew over a tiny mistake in the takeout he was delivering? If you have ever worked in food service, you know how awful people can be so the fact that he defended him from that onslaught was precious.

Not only was the chemistry there, this story was super heartwarming. Loved how close Drews' family was and how he commemorated the death of his mother by learning an intricate mooncake recipe (that was lost.) The Chinese culture in this book and the all the extremely yummy food descriptions were honestly my favorite parts! Highly recommend if you are in the mood for something sweet and precious. Also, I will not sleep until I try a mooncake now!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the digital ARC!

I couldn’t put this book down! Sher Lee definitely delivered in her debut novel! I loved reading about Theo and Dylan. Although Theo and Dylan come from different worlds, they have similar experiences with heartbreak and loss. Their chemistry is through the roof and reading their interactions never failed to make me smile. It is also very heartwarming to read about Dylan and his family. I can’t wait to see what more Sher Lee has in store.

Fake Dates and Mooncakes Review

Absolutely cute! Roller coaster of emotions! Real stakes in this romance!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It’s a rom com series waiting to happen. It has fluffy sweet moments, it has tearjerker moments, it has moments of getting to know and celebrating Chinese heritage.

Food plays a big part of the book, from the struggling Chinese Singaporean takeout place run by Dylan’s Aunt Jade and the family to the mooncakes contest. Food lovers will enjoy the food mentioned, along with specific processes.

There’s an element of star-crossed lovers, but the novel deals with the fake dating meets Pride and Prejudice meets Crazy Rich Asians in its own way. I felt like I was buoyed along on a fun ride with this book. This is the kind of novel that I find really satisfying. Especially because of the big role that family plays in both Dylan and Theo’s lives. Both teenagers are second-generation immigrants on their mother’s sides and are trying to bridge the disconnection from their heritage.

Some of the tertiary characters aren’t that well-developed and depending on what tropes you like or dislike may play a role in enjoyment. None of that detracted from my personal enjoyment in this novel.

The HEA is exactly what I needed. I don’t care what anyone else says, it’s perfect to me.

Definitely check out this book if you love YA, rom coms, and delicious food in books. If that’s your style, you’ll fall in love with this book. Great for a book hangover or while reading a very emotionally heavy book. 9/10

There were some aspects of Fake Dates and Mooncakes that I loved --- particularly Dylan's family dynamic, the clear love that they have for one another, and the way they honor their family and culture. Those were without a doubt my favorite parts of the story. I also loved the descriptions of the food. I'm definitely craving some xiao long buns and mooncakes!

However, there were other things that I think just didn't work. I didn't necessarily dislike Dylan and Theo, they did have some really cute moments, but I felt no connection. Their romance fell flat for me, and I wasn't really invested in them.

The balance of the story felt very off to me. Yes, the mooncake competition was an important part of the story, but there times where it felt like an after thought. It was introduced at the beginning of the story and then we took a break from it, and then came back to it. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but something about the way it was done here took all the stakes out of the situation. I think that's my main issue with the story, it felt like there were no stakes at all. Additionally, there were some parts that I truly found completely unrealistic and I wasn't able to suspend disbelief, but that would just be a me thing.

I think that there were some good ideas in Fake Dates and Mooncakes, but ultimately, I don't think there was enough substance. Some people will absolutely love this, but unfortunately, it wasn't for me.

Thank you to Random House for letting me read this early.


Let me preface this with I was super interested by the synopsis But this reads more on the lower end of YA spectrum which is okay however as someone who reads a lot of LGBT Books. Nothing about this stood out for me. I’ve read similar scenes in other books and I feel that this would’ve been more enjoyable for me if the author would’ve let us experience the moon cake competition instead of just hearing about it. I wanted to see more of that