Fake Dates and Mooncakes is a sweet book packed with an adorable romance (with fake dating!), an exploration into Chinese culture, family ties, the most mouthwatering descriptions of food, and the best corgi™. This one is pretty short too, so it’s one that you can read in a couple of sittings when you need something sweet as a pick me up. Not only is Fake Dates and Mooncakes filled with heartwarming moments, though, it also discusses grief and how difficult some families can be.

Warning: do not go into this on an empty stomach! I made this mistake and I don’t think I’ve ever been so hungry in my entire life. Dylan’s aunt owns a Chinese takeout restaurant and oh my gosh, the descriptions of the food are amazing. They are so detailed that I could practically smell the food. My poor stomach was desperate to try the different dishes. I’ve also never had a mooncake before and I feel like I need to remedy this immediately.

As for the story itself, I really enjoyed it! Dylan and Theo are drawn to each other pretty much right away. Usually, that’s not my favorite, but the fact that Dylan and Theo’s circumstances are so different and keeping them from acting on their feelings added that extra bit of tension that I’m always looking for. Both Dylan and Theo are super sweet with the perfect amount of chemistry. I love the fact that they’re also awkward with each other. It makes the fact that they’re teenagers exploring a relationship feel all the more real and genuine.

Additionally, I love the family ties in this book! First of all, Clover is the best girl and deserves all the treats. Second of all, I’m very excited to finally meet a character named Megan who is not a horrible person. I may not be into K-Pop, but Megan and I are definitely very similar with her love of K-Pop and my love of metal bands. (Her trying to get tickets for BlackPink reminded me of how stressful getting Bad Omens tickets is recently haha). Also, I just love the way Dylan, Megan, Aunt Jade, and Tim all support each other. They bicker like family, but when push comes to shove, they’re going to show up.

It was an interesting contrast to see Theo’s family dynamics versus Dylan’s. His relationship with his father is really strained, and while he’s close with some cousins and aunts, overall, his family situation is really rocky. I loved this because it shows that while some of us are lucky to have our family from birth, others have to find their family elsewhere. Just because we’re related to someone doesn’t automatically mean we have to be close or have a relationship with them. We have a choice. Just like Theo has a choice in Fake Dates and Mooncakes, even if that’s something he has to learn along the way.

Overall, I really enjoyed Fake Dates and Mooncakes! The exploration into Chinese culture was wonderful, and while I was familiar with some of it already, there was still lots for me to learn!

If you’re looking for a light and fun book, I definitely recommend you check this one out!

What a sweet and charming debut filled with delicious food, family, tradition, and competition. An absolute delight!

I picked up Fake Dates and Mooncakes, hoping for a light-hearted read, and that is exactly what I got. This book is fluffy and sweet - with the exact right amount of family drama to spice things up.

Also, after reading this book, I am incredibly hungry. The main character describes many dishes in wonderful detail, which is amazing and sad for me because I live in a place where I am unable to locate any authentic Singaporean food. :')

The characters are all so loveable (with the exception of a few...) and realistic. I adore the chemistry between Theo and Dylan. And their friends and family were also so much fun to read about. I looooved Theo's cousin, Terri. She's just a great character.

Honestly, I don't really have anything critical to say, other than I wish their trip to the Hamptons had been longer. The juicy family gossip and rich person parties were quite fun to read. This book delivered exactly what I wanted it to.

I would highly highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a sweet, romantic book to read.

4.5 stars

just want to start off by saying this book was so cute! One of the things I really loved was how food and family played such important roles in the story. As an American Born Chinese, I grew up eating mooncakes, but did not know much about the history and Sher Lee weaves it in so perfectly.

The romance between Dylan and Theo starts out with some bumps and miscommunication, but it is also the sweetest thing. And even when a huge obstacle comes between them, Theo does whatever it takes to prove his love for Dylan is real.

If you are a sucker for the fake dating trope like me, then you will definitely enjoy this book too!

Where do I even begin with this incredibly sweet and beautiful story? Dylan and Theo are some of my favorite YA contemporary protagonists, and their story was just so great, from beginning to end. I had a huge smile on my face and butterflies in my stomach the entire time I was reading! I loved both of them so much; oh, how I wanted to hug Theo with all my might.

I loved the appreciation and thought Sher put into highlights and sharing Chinese culture, and especially the food. I even went out and bought some mooncakes (and pork buns!) to enjoy while reading, because I just couldn’t stop drooling at all the food mentions.

Sher’s writing is detailed and flows really well, and her debut overall is just really, really amazing. I was swooning every second of it, and I cannot wait to read more from her!

This is sweet and charming! I love the relationship between the two leads. It's slow burn and you really feel for them throughout the book. They are the kind of characters you root for, and this book definitely achieved that. Only downside is you will want to EAT YOUR FEELINGS while reading this book. :p

THIS BOOK! I loved how cozy and warm
this was. I was hungry and loved the competition elements. I thought they were the cutest and enjoyed the exploration of their relationship.

This was a cute read from a debut author!

I'll admit, I rarely read Young Adult books anymore, but I couldn't resist the adorable, gorgeous cover! The fonts and cover art sucked me in, but the blurb sold it for me.

The story is told from Dylan's point of view, a 17-year-old who works at his aunt's struggling Singaporean Chinese takeout restaurant. He wants to enter the mooncake contest, which we learn was something his mom wanted to do with him before they found out about her terminal cancer. Since his mom's passing, he has lived with his aunt and cousins above the restaurant. While delivering food to the penthouse apartment, Dylan meets Theo, and the two quickly become intertwined in each other's lives.

Dylan and Dylan's inner world felt well-developed. I loved his two cousins, 16-year-old Megan, a spitfire, and 11-year-old Tim, a brainiac (Megan holds a special place in my heart; she is hilarious). However, Theo felt more like a plot device than a fully fleshed out character in his own right. In other words, it felt like Theo was only there to advance the story, and he didn't feel as real to me. When Dylan divulges his family's financial struggles, Theo sends them a $5,000 "scholarship" from a "nonprofit" (speaking of which, I know he comes from a rich family, but do rich 17-year-olds have the ability to just send $5,000 to someone they barely know without their parents' knowledge/involvement? Must be nice). This is definitely where the singular POV is a drawback, because had we been privy to Theo's inner thoughts and world, we might better understand his motivations, desires, goals, separate from Dylan. Instead, it felt like he existed solely to be Dylan's love interest. This was very much Dylan's story.

It also felt like Theo, who is half-white, half-Chinese, was only there so the author had a way to sprinkle tidbits about Singaporean and Chinese cultures without it feeling too much like a lecture. Theo feels disconnected from his background, and we (the readers) learn along with him as Dylan explains it.

My favorite part of the book was the Hamptons wedding, no competition. It was entertaining and dramatic (in a way somehow only astronomically rich people can be).

Regardless of my critiques, I do think this book is a significant contribution to queer young adult romance, and I think every teenager will be able to find something they relate to in Dylan (and maybe Theo, or one of the side characters). It was extremely well-written and polished, in a way I never expect of ARCs. The writing style made for a quick, easy, and enjoyable read. A word of warning, though: if you expect to find any similarities to Heartstopper, beyond a gay relationship between two teenagers, then you will be sorely disappointed (or relieved, if you are in the minority and do not like Heartstopper!).

Thank you to the publisher, Random House Children's Books, for providing me with an advanced copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Perfect for the fans of Heartstopper and Red, white and royal blue, Fake Dates and Mooncakes follow Dylan Tang who wants to win a mooncake-making competition to honor his mother. Crushing on a rich hot athlete, Theo is the last thing he needs.
But Theo is much more than his big name and Dylan can’t stop himself from getting charmed by his beautiful smile.
Fake Dates and Mooncake is a cute, heart-warming, and perfect story to pick up if you love Asian characters, stories rich in heritage and culture, and crazy rich Asian sort of drama.
The writing is beautiful and Dylan and Theo will make their way in your heart just like Nick and Charlie, Alex and Henry. Fake Dates and Mooncakes talk about family love, loss, and rich people drama in a family wedding that you won’t want to miss.

“My heart feels like a xiao long bao stuffed with too much filling.”

That’s exactly how I felt! I LOVED this book - it was such a cute YA romcom that encompassed my two favorite things: fake dating and FOOD.

Definitely craving some XLB and mooncakes now.

“Giving your heart to someone is like learning to ride a bike. You’ll skin your elbows and knees, but the pain will pass. You’ll heal. And one day, the scars will be a memory, not of falling, but of getting up again.”

I was so excited to be approved for this #arc - once I read the premise I knew I had to read this one! This #yanovel was a gorgeous story of tradition, love, and what it really means to be family. I also loved how our main characters bonded over their loss but also their desire to know their roots and history. I read this in one sitting (almost, because, well, life) and I can’t wait for you to read it !

Thank you to @sherleeauthor @randomhousekids & @netgalley for my advanced reader’s copy in exchange for my honest review. This one is out tomorrow!!

Dylan and Theo are precious. I love them. Their relationship is so sweet. It was a little instalove-y, but being less than 300 pages, it wasn't too bad. The fake dating at the wedding was *chef's kiss*. They had each other second guessing if the flirting was real or not.(It was. Most definitely.)

This book also deals with family dynamics and loss of a loved one. I think it handled both topics well. Dylan's family is so supportive of him and you can feel the love. Theo on the other hand has a very strained relationship with his dad. Luckily for him, Dylan's family welcomes him with open arms.

This book was the absolute cutest. I had to put it down at one point because I couldn't handle how adorable it was. If your looking for something quick and sweet, pick this one up. Pick it up anyway, it's great. Also, the cover is 10/10.

Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3/5



Genre: MM Romance

Tropes:
Fake Dating ✔️


I will keep this UNUSUALLY short & sweet.

Although Fake Dates and Mooncakes was a good read.. I felt like I was missing SOMETHING. Before I continue with me review... DISCLAIMER: I am a TOTAL mood reader. So, take that into account.

Now, don't get me wrong, I didn't hate the book. I genuinely liked it. The romance was romancing and I was SWOONING so much. It was ROM-COM YA perfection.!

But unfortunately.. I didn't feel ANY chemistry between the characters in a romantic way, and that's what it boils down for me. Parts of the plot also fell a little underwhelming BUT.. again, I am a mood reader!

Still.. the great thing about books is that while it wasn't totally for me.. it doesn't mean that it won't be for YOU.

3.75⭐️ A super cute YA romance! I loved seeing Dylan and Theo's relationship developing from fake dating into romance. I enjoyed the focus on familial relations and the importance of family, especially how it was seen in both of the main characters. The final gesture bringing Dylan and Theo back together after the third-act breakup was just so adorable and make me smile so big! The only thing keeping from being a higher ratings is that parts of the plot fell flat for me.

This was cute and sweet. I loved the relationship with Dylans and Theo. It was kinda intalovey but it was so well written I didn't mind. I loved the Singapore and Asain culture stories, myths , and superstition interwoven into the romance. I had such an fun time reading this story. This will be great for YA readers

When I tell you that this was one of my most hyped books of the year, I'm not even exaggerating. The title, the summary, the cover art by Myriam Strasbourg - it all sounded so perfectly made for me! And I was not at all let down. This book is everything that it says on the tin, and more.

Dylan is on a mission to win this year's Mid-Autumn Festival mooncake competition, both in honor of his mother and to save his aunt's struggling Chinese restaurant. He just knows that if he can recreate his family's treasured recipe, he can win and bring some much-needed publicity to the little Brooklyn takeout. ...And then he meets Theo: rich, charming, sweet, and exactly the distraction that Dylan does not need right now. But when Theo gives the restaurant a "grant" in exchange for Dylan being his fake date to a family wedding in the Hamptons, things go more than a little off the rails. Theo's family is all rich people drama and glamor, and Dylan finds himself falling more and more in love with his "fake date" when he really has more important things to focus on.

First, can I just make a request? Can we stop comparing every Achillean book that comes onto the market to Heartstopper? I love Heartstopper with a damn passion, but this book and that series have literally nothing in common except that they're both, you know, about two teenage boys falling in love sweetly. That comparison does such a disservice to both Heartstopper AND Fake Dates and Mooncakes.

Though, the Crazy Rich Asians comparison is surprisingly apt. The drama and hilarity and swoon-worthy romance are all on full display at the Hamptons wedding, and it is the standout section of the book for sure. I alternated between having an ache in my heart for poor Theo and what he goes through with his family, to full on belly laughing at some of the antics that occur.

And wow is this story a great examination of family: the ones that we're born into, the ones that choose us, and the ones that we choose. From Theo's broken family to Dylan's pieced together one, there is a lot that can be said about the roles that families play in this book. (This is where the secondary characters really do get a chance to shine, from Aunt Jade's sturdy ability to hold her family together no matter the tragedy, to Megan's comic relief, to Terri and Bernard as Theo's chosen family) Grief, too, takes center stage as both Theo and Dylan cope with the loss of their mothers and their absent fathers in their own ways. Their relationship with each other is well-developed and whimsical, and never once feels unbalanced like I was initially anxious it would.
The other beautiful thing that this book does is celebrate Chinese culture, both in going back to ancient myths and stories of how mooncakes came to be and tales of Dylan's own family recipes and heritage, to the more modern melting pot stories that exist in New York City. It truly is a beautiful celebration of Chinese heritage, both old and new.

Sher Lee's premiere novel is certainly a winner, and I absolutely cannot wait to see where her writing takes her in the future. For now, Fake Dates and Mooncakes is a charming, optimistic love letter to Chinese culture, good food, and family.

This was absolutely adorable! Dylan and Theo are two adorable YA heroes. The book is split between Theo’s cousin’s wedding and Dylan’s cooking contest and seeing them both in each other’s worlds helped show how much these two cared for each other. This was a delightful romance and I highly recommend it!

this book was such a cute and fun read! it was my first ever sher lee book, and it didn't disappoint.

thank you net galley and publishers for this arc <3

Fake Dates and Mooncakes by Sher Lee is as cute as the title promises it will be. This was such a cozy read and cute gay romance between Theo, a crazy rich Asian, and Dylan, a working-class 2nd generation immigrant. There are so many amazing tropes: fake dating, only one bed, a baking competition and class differentiation! It was so enjoyable and such a quick read.

There was very little spice in this story, but wow was there some big romance moments and excellent pining! If you like your book to be sexy, then this may not be for you. That is honestly the only reason I can think of that you may not want to read Fake Dates and Mooncakes.

The characters had so much depth for a short book, and were all so lovable! They all had their traumas and idiosyncrasies, but they were so real. There are a lot of hard topics covered, including: parent loss, family feuds, alcoholism, and abandonment. All the hard things were covered in such a respectful way and really added to the story.

This was Sher Lee’s debut novel and I cannot wait to see more of her work. This was such a cozy and beautiful read that went by too quick! I will be recommending this book to all my bookish friends.

3.5 stars

What another sweet love story by Sher Lee!

Fake Dates and Mooncakes has been released just in time for Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month in May, as well as Pride coming up in June! Those who are fans of the fake dating trope as well as those who love everything food related are sure to devour this sweet story about Dylan and Theo.

While the plot can be predictable at times, Lee fills the chapters with cozy, heartwarming moments. Also, there’s a corgi, so it’s hard to say no to this one. Just make sure to not read while hungry!