An adorable read that was quick and easy to get through. You root for all the characters from start to finish

cute, wholesome story about two boys from two different society worlds. I'm a sucker for fake dating with one bed trope.

i love the history behind Chinese culture references and the bond between theo & dylan. the book to me had too many characters and slow at times. the author derailed in some parts of the book, which was unnecessary, where it could've focused more on the moon cake contest. I think they were trying to build up a story leading to moon cake contest and perhaps build some angst, but fell short in chapter of contest. also wish author kept out k-pop references especially since it was heavy on chinese culture references.

overall a great debut novel for author.

Fake Dates and Mooncakes is a book that I've been excited to read for months. I will always gobble up any queer story that features the fake dating trope. The beautiful cover made my excitement skyrocket, so when I received an ARC, I was completely ready to dive into the story.

I think the Crazy Rich Asian's comparison really fits this book. I felt a similar energy throughout, and the wedding was definitely my favourite portion of the novel. We've all had to show up to a family function we didn't really want to go to, and dragging someone along with you to share in the pain is part of the fun. Dylan and Theo had some really fun moments during the wedding. Terri's meltdown by the water? I died. The insane dynamics of rich families will never cease to amaze me. I felt for Dylan as he struggled to navigate an infuriatingly strange new world.

The representation was wonderful and the author truly built realistic queer characters. This book will fall perfectly into the hands of queer teenagers, and we love to see it! Dylan and Theo's relationship was completely wholesome. They were adorable and I loved following their romance. Theo really was Dylan's knight in shining armour, and I loved how devoted he was to wooing the protagonist. This book was the epitome of light and heartwarming. Delicate queer love as its finest!

I have always wanted a Corgi so I was incredibly jealous of Dylan's little companion.

I personally do not see the Heartstopper comparison. I think a lot of achillean books are being compared to Heartstopper simply because... they feature two young queer protagonists. I wish the marketing of queer books would consider that it's really not necessary to compare titles to popular queer books to entice readers.

The writing was really strong, but there were a few themes that I felt could have been explored more, particularly grief. I felt like I was often being told about what the characters had lost, but never shown. For this reason, I struggled to fully connect with the characters. A few moments were brushed over that could have been expanded for the benefit of developing the characters. I felt like Dylan had a real purpose and drive, he knew what he wanted and knew what to do to achieve his dreams. I think Theo lacked the same drive. I wasn't sure what his purpose was beyond being Dylan's love interest. The secondary characters and their families really brightened the atmosphere. I adored Dylan's aunt, and loved Theo's crazy family so much that I wish we spent more time with them. There were some really great descriptions of food that were very detailed. Food descriptions in books have never really enticed me but I enjoyed learning about mooncakes. I was highly anticipating the baking competition and wish that portion had been expanded.

I really hope this book finds a place on many young readers shelves. I love that more queer love stories featuring teen boys are being published. I would have screamed and foamed at the mouth over this book when I was fifteen. If you're a parent of a queer kid, or know one, gift them a copy of this book!

Thank you to the author & Random House Children's for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

4.5/5 A delicious and quick read! The description of the dishes and mooncakes was mouthwatering and the romance was heartwarming. This will be a great beach read. The characters were easy to root for and felt complex. The ending was a little rushed but everything came together just like it should in this genre.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

THIS BOOK IS A WORK OF ART‼️

Thank you so much to Sher Lee and the publishers for providing me with an eARC in exchange for a review!

As I’m writing this review I’m still crying happy tears 🥹 this book is everything I hope for in a ya contemporary romance: heartwarming, cute, funny, and pensive all at once. Throughout the story, I fell in love with so many characters, especially Dylan and Theo who are so freaking adorable I could read 5 more books about them🫶🏼

One of my favorite things about this novel is that its pacing is consistent and engaging. It was so hard for me to put this book down because I NEEDED to know how it ended‼️ I also really appreciated how vivid and realistic all the characters, but especially Dylan’s family felt. Another highlight of this book is the details about the food, especially the Mooncakes!! I can tell a lot of thought and time went into perfecting this story, and it definitely paid off.

Heartwarming, cute, and funny this book is everything I look for in a romance!!

I love this book! The plot is sweet, but also very emotional, tackling issues such as learning about your culture, dealing with racism, falling in love when you belong in different social circles, grief and friendship!
Dylan has a very strong family circle, who he has a loving and supportive relationship. This is seen mainly with Megan, his cousin who's always trying to push him out of his comfort zone, and Aunt Jade, who took him in and raised him as her own. We also have the contrast between Dylan's small and caring family vs Theo's huge and sometimes fake family.
Theo is a great character! I loved seeing him fall in love with Dylan and be ready to do whatever he needed. He tried his best to help Dylan win the contest and to support him through everything.
I really enjoyed Dylan and Theo's relationship, they went through some complicated issues, but managed to work everything out!
The best part of course is Dylan's work to win the Mooncake competiton, with his family recipe. He tries to reconnect with his mother and his grandparents, by recreating their recipe and winning the money to save his aunt's restaurant!
It also features an important topic: sometimes pushing your child to be perfect, will actually exhaust them mentally to a point where they cannot enjoy life anymore.
The How to Train Your Dragons Theme songs playing at the wedding was the best thing I've ever read!
I definetely reccomend this book for those who are looking for a sweet wholesome book!

TW:mentions of death, alcoholism, car crash, racism, abandonment.

4.5⭐️ - this book was just cozy and adorable! I loved the MCs, the family vibes are amazing, and the food descriptions had me salivating throughout the book! I fully enjoyed and would recommend it!

Thank you to Netgalley for the e-ARC!

Goddamn this book had a hold on me. It's been a long time since I've stayed up WAY too late to finish a book and this one broke that dryspell. It was by no means a heavy book and it lived up to the title of "light and fluffy" and honestly, I was here for it. I loved Dylan and Theo and immediately they were my OTP. And Clover. I was here for Clover. Cause, CORGI HOW COULD YOU NOT? Such a smart girl!

Seriously though, this book was so sweet my teeth practically rotted. My dentist thanks you Sher Lee. I loved the characters (some more than others), I loved the emotions, and I loved the highlight on Chinese and Singaporean culture. POC!! And lowkey, Theo. Can he be anymore perfect?

Okay okay before I start this review I simply must say this: *screaming* THIS WAS SO CUTE!!

Fake Dates and Mooncakes is a wonderful and heartwarming YA contemporary romance full of epic humor (I laughed out loud so many times and highlighted so many hilarious quotes - also the ones that will stick with me for forever, but that's a whole different discussion), amazing characters, and a love story for the ages!
Dylan and Theo come from completely different worlds - Dylan is a son of a Singaporean immigrant, living with his aunt and cousins in a tiny apartment above the family take out restaurant (intermission - I would give EVERYTHING to eat aunt Jade's food at least once ahhh), and Theo is basically a dynasty type kid, with all the material goods and more money than he could ever spend (but maybe lacking in the familial warmth and love department) - but they fit together like two pieces of a puzzle. As soon as they met (for the second time) the sparks flew and as their fake dating at a family wedding plan starts to unfold, you know that these two are destined. It was just THAT cute.

Without spoiling too much, this book will bring you all the fake dating goodness (with the only one bed trope included!!), some more serious conversations (about mental health, loss and grief, financial struggles, etc), lots of family love and remembrance, and most of all characters that will burrow into your heart for all eternity. Also you WILL be hungry all the time while reading this book and once you are done you will for sure be googling the closest Singaporean/Chinese restaurant, just a fair warning.

Dylan and Theo forever, basically! I can't wait for my physical copy to arrive so I can reread it again (and maybe listen to the audiobook as well while I'm at it) and experience all the cuteness, heartbreak, and joy all over again!!

Received this ARC via NetGalley

This was super cute! If you want a feel-good, guaranteed HEA, this is it. The dynamic between the characters was adorable and had a good amount of (teen-like) angst. They also had mature conversations which I think are advanced for teens but I think aspirational for those who are at the age.

I also appreciated how the author addressed race and how the characters honored their culture.

MY RATING 4,25/5 STARS

Thank you for to the Sher Lee, the publisher and NetGalley for giving me an eARC of this book in exchange of an honest review!

““How do you want me to act in front of your relatives?” I ask, since the pretend-dating handbook wasn’t on my senior year reading list.””

I had such a great time reading Fake Dates and Mooncakes! It was really interesting and kept a great pace which meant you didn’t want to put it down.

Through the story we got to see a super lovely romance between the two characters Dylan and Theo. As the two ends up entering a fake dating relationship, Dylan is struggling keeping his feelings in check, and seems to be pretty oblivious to the hints and advances Theo makes about being interested. Through the book we also get to hear how Theo has struggled connecting with his heritage after his mother’s death when he was young, so it was really lovely to see Dylan trying to show and immerse him in some of his culture. Not only did this add a great touch to their relationship, but it also gave us as the reader a better insight into these different aspects of the Chinese culture.

Another thing I really adored in this book was the family aspect. Not only is Dylan’s aunt and cousins always super supportive, but we also get to see their bonds and how much they all love, appreciate and are able to rely on each other.

Additionally, this book generally just had so many cute, funny and amazing moments/comments, that just made me smile, and I had to highlight so many great quotes!

If you want to read a cute YA M/M romance, I definitely recommend giving this one a try!

Fake Dates and Mooncakes is an Achillean Young Adult Contemporary Romance novel that utilises all of your favourite tropes – fake-dating, supportive family members and there’s only one bed – to make for a truly wonderful and joyous reading experience. The story follows Dylan, a seventeen-year-old boy, who helps his aunt run their family business (a Chinese takeout called Wok Warriors) after his mom’s death a year before. While delivering food, he meets rich-boy Theo Somers, the son of a powerful business man, and the two hit it off. Theo finds out about Dylan’s aunt’s struggling business and Dylan finds out that Theo needs a date for his cousin’s wedding in the Hamptons. The only solution…? To fake-date.

The most compelling aspect of this story for me was the bond between Dylan and Theo. Their immediate connection, Dylan’s shyness and Theo’s open, easy going nature made for an extremely enjoyable read that made you swoon and laugh in equal parts. Dylan’s obliviousness to Theo’s advances never once felt contrived or forced but rather like an authentic reaction from a boy who’s never been kissed and always tried to avoid too much attention. By contrast, Theo’s openness, flirtatious moves and general suaveness made for a great foil to Dylan while also portraying how Queer boys contain multitudes. The representation of gay boys is really, really strong in this book as both of our main characters are represented as fully formed people with imperfections and flaws while also being likeable and interesting. Both Dylan and Theo are the products of their experiences, upbringings and heritages and that shines so brightly the entire way through the novel.

Seeing Chinese culture explored so openly and how each story of ancient history is told was absolutely fantastic to read. The way Sher Lee was able to weave Eastern values, morals and traditions into this story made it a really special read and made each and every character feel authentic. This links to the next strength of the book which may be hinted at in the title: the presence of food. Food plays a vital role in this story not just forwarding the plot in terms of a central aspect revolving around Aunt Jade’s takeout place and the Mooncake competition that serves as the climax of the novel but also in teaching and embedding Chinese culture into the very fabric of the story. Mooncakes in particular are used as a way through which Dylan and Theo connect not just with one another but with their shared culture.

The side characters in this novel are all very strong with Megan and Aunt Jade (and of course Clover the dog!) being particular stand-outs. The emphasis this story puts on family is amazing, especially when paired with the discussions of grief that Dylan and Theo have about their mothers and the family that they each fell into respectively following.

Lee’s writing style was digestible and accessible which made it very easy to fly through this book in just two days. You’ll want to read every page over and over again due to the cuteness, fluff and delicious food packed in every sentence.

I can’t recommend Fake Dates and Mooncakes highly enough if you’re looking for a very easy to read, fun, swoony and tropey romp with two Queer boys making and eating Chinese food.

Ahh I loved this so much!
The last time I loved a romance book this much was The Charm Offensive, this gave the same boost of serotonin as that one.

The fact that this is Sher Lee's debut novel is mind blowing, because this book is not only adorable, but fully lives up to its name, with a fun plot driven story that had me swooning and giggling like a love struck teenager on more than one occasion with Fake Dates and Mooncakes!

4/5 Stars!

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!

I wanted to enjoy this but overall found the story, characters, and plot to be something not what I was longing for or one that I would pick back up.

This book was absolutely perfect. It was just what I needed. Light, angsty and sweet with just the right amount of tension to keep me turning the page. I couldn’t read this book fast enough because I had to know what was going to happen next. I love Dylan and Theo! And Clover too.

I would love to interview Sher Lee on my podcast Raise Your Words for her book, Fake Dates and MoonCakes. It’s a cute book set in the Mid Autumn Festival. I adored reading about Dylan & Theo!!

I didn’t really care to much for this one. I just didn’t feel like the characters had much chemistry. The writing was also super young. I might have liked this book better if I was younger. It did have potential though just didn’t work for me.

I loved this so much. It was sweet and cozy with enough conflict to move the plot along. I didn’t except to cry so many times over the little sentimental moments. I learned a lot about mid-autumn festival traditions and moon cakes.

Fake Dates and Mooncakes is the story of teenagers Dylan Tang and Theo Somers. Dylan is from a working class, immigrant family. His mother recently passed away and he was taken in by his aunt and two cousins. He works hard in school and at his family’s takeout restaurant, Wok Warriors. With financial burdens looming over the family, Dylan decides to enter a mooncake making competition in his mother’s honor in an attempt to save the restaurant.

Theo is the son of absent millionaire, Malcolm Somers, CEO of Somers Technology. He loves the arts and dreams of studying music in college. Dylan and Theo end up meeting when Dylan delivers food from Wok Warriors to the penthouse of Theo’s friend and ex-boyfriend. The order is incorrect and Theo’s ex (he’s the worst) throws a fit while berating poor Dylan.

Despite the less than ideal meet-cute, something sparks between the two, and Theo ends up showing up to Wok Warriors after “the incident”. It’s at Wok Warriors and with Dylan’s family that Theo is reintroduced to family and culture that he never knew since the passing of his mom at age 5. After Theo provides Wok Warriors with some financial reprieve, Dylan agrees to fake being his boyfriend during a lavish family wedding in the Hamptons.

I absolutely loved the character of Theo. Even though he has endless wealth and luxuries at his disposal, he is very down to earth. He loves with his whole heart and it is so apparent through Sher’s writing. I enjoyed the character growth that took place between Dylan and Theo, both together and individually. The side characters were fun and quirky and Clover the rescue corgi was an absolute joy to read about.

This book was very cute and enjoyable, although a bit unrealistic at times. I also found myself wanting more from some of the sub-plots. It’s a fun and quick read with a fairytale HEA. I rate this book a 3.5, rounded up to a 4.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children’s Books for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Look for Fake Dates and Mooncakes on May 16, 2023!

This was such a good debut novel. The story was plot-driven and fast-paced with a cast of lovable characters. The side characters were really well written too and my favorite has to be Megan (she honestly kind of represented me when shipping the MCs not to mention her being a kpop stan too) The romance was well developed and just absolutely adorable. It was nice to read a book with Asian MCs whose sexualities are accepted in their society, which I know as an Asian myself isn’t widely common. I'm also glad we got to learn more about Singaporean culture.
This is definitely a book I’d recommend to get you out of a reading slump! It was cute, lighthearted, and wholesome, with a simple but elegant writing style, not to mention thoroughly entertaining.