I just struggled with this one. All the elements were there for me to like it, but something was falling flat. I can see why other people will love it, just wasn't for me. (maybe a revisit when cooler weather hits for the cozy vibes will make it better)

This book had such a good premise and could have been so good. Saphira loves dragons but cannot own one. So she opens a cafe where baby dragons are welcome to hang out. Aiden has a baby dragon he didn’t want and needs help training. Together Saphira and Aiden train Sparky and grow close.
Unfortunately the writing style made this book hard to read. It seemed juvenile to me and took me hating could have been a cute cozy fantasy and made it difficult to care for the characters or believe in their story.
I don’t think I will be reading the continued books in these series.

Thank you to #NetGalley for providing an e-arc of #TheBabyDragonCafe ! This book was published on Jan. 25th, 2025.

I liked the romance - even if it's slow, the depiction of familial love and the found family vibe between Aiden, Saphira and Sparky. That said, I do feel a bit unsatisfied with how friendships are almost treated as lesser - unless I misread how important of a friend Lavinia is to Saphira.

I got more into the book about 40% in. I found the beginning really frustrating because I could not fathom how an indoor space open to baby dragons - who are notorious for being hyperactive fire-breathing puppies - can be that NOT fireproof. How is no one stressed out letting baby dragons around wooden furniture and decorations and books and machines worth of thousands of dollars? I could not be convinced that Saphira did not think of any precautions while opening a cafe specifically with baby dragons in mind. Like are there not even regulations?? When things are obviously fire hazards???

There's also something I find inconsistent about the role and reputation of dragon racing in this world, and I don't know if it's just because Aiden is too anxious and lowkey an unreliable narrator or if the book tries too hard to be cozy and not get into the nitty gritty of the darker side of the world. It does bother me and take me out of the book. Rant incoming and feel free to skip the next paragraph:

[rant] Essentially, dragon racing is supposed to be notoriously high stake and dangerous but also profitable, hence why it's an open secret that ancient Drakkon families all have a hand in the running of and also participate in the race. If it's something that truly puts both the rider AND the dragon at risk, then I find it unbelievable that people who truly care about dragons will willingly participate in them. Aiden thinks that his deceased brother, Danny, loved his dragon deeply and yet he was a enthusiastic participant. Either dragon racing is not as harmful as Aiden thinks or Danny just didn't actually care about his dragon all that much. That's kind of dark considering how much of the book was just Saphira and Aiden essentially treating Sparky more like their child and less like a pet companion, a life worthy of the same level of respect as humans (which I am totally on board with). You know what? I suppose that is the case in real life - pets are family members to some and status symbols to others. [rant over]

tl;dr I feel like I might enjoy this book way more if it was just a cozy romance without the fantasy part, because I really DID like the characters and their interactions. Despite everything, the book was really full of love and restored some of my faith in humanity in this bleak time.

The premise was super cute. I love the idea of a baby dragon cafe and a slow-burning romance blooming between a broke barista and a wealthy dragon heir. But the execution fell a bit flat for me. Personally, nothing about this story felt like a fantasy aside from the dragons, and even those felt a bit flat and could’ve been easily swapped for golden retrievers or other dogs. I wish this magical world had more magic.

The relationship dynamic didn’t work for me either. Aiden is supposed to be hot and brooding, but mostly just comes off as rich, lazy, and condescending. Saphira deserves better, and I’m tired of female leads bending over backwards to justify a man’s lackluster personality. Their romance felt rushed, unfortunately.

There were sweet moments, and I appreciate books that try to create a soft, cozy space with low stakes like this one.

Thank you netgalley and harper collin books for this wonderful book. I was really excited to recieve a E-arc of this book. This was a very cozy and exciting fantasy book which was worth reading.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for sending me a copy of this book to review.

This was a fun fantasy novel, and I enjoyed it a lot. I am looking forward to reading more by this author.

Thank you so much to HarperCollins Canada and NetGalley, I actually squealed when I got this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
And as promised, this was cozy, this was adorable, this was so cute, and I mean... Baby dragons!!!
For anyone who's a big fan of Legends and Lattes, this is for you.