This had me screaming into my pillow! It's so cute and I can't wait for more. If you're looking for a cute and cozy fantasy book to dive into, this is it!

This book was like a warm hug. Sweet, soft, and just a little bit magical. It gave me everything I wanted from a cozy fantasy romance, baked goods, dragons, and a slow-burn love story that made my heart happy. Theo and Lavinia are adorable. Their friends-to-lovers arc felt natural and full of heart. I loved the small-town setting, the found-family feel, and the way the magical bits were blended in without overwhelming the romance.
There was a bit of miscommunication drama that felt unnecessary, like, just talk to each other! But it didn’t last long and didn’t ruin the vibe for me.

If you’re in the mood for something light and comforting with just a dash of whimsy, this is such a feel-good read. Perfect for fans of cozy fantasy with low angst and lots of heart.

Super cozy and magical! Lavinia and Theo have been best friends since they were very young, and are now at an age where they are trying to figure out which way their romantic lives are going to go. The baked goods in this story sound incredible and made me crave sweets. It is heavy on the miscommunication trope, but the sweet world building does make up for that being somewhat irritating at times.

This was an incredibly charming cozy romance book. I absolutely loved the setting, a charm town where you can have chimeras, phoenixes and dragons? The few glimpses at the baby dragons were an awesome cute touch. It was greatly appreciated to have those fantasy elements be in the background but still giving it some magic.

This friends to lovers story was a bit surprising to me. Mostly because I liked both characters individually and you could tell that them as best friends was a beautiful connection. It wasn’t until I saw the hints of chemistry that you see where is going. Lavinia wanting to find the love of her life at 24 while also going to vet school was interesting. She definitely likes to set goals for herself but I appreciated a lot how she knew what she wanted all the time. As for Theo, his backstory was surprising. He showed great personality and you never would’ve guessed his family history. It was sad but it gave him something else to the character. I liked how they finally get together and how it wasn’t quite that easy. Loved the ending of this book, it was the cozy read I needed.

This book was so cute! A great fun cozy fantasy, to kick back and enjoy a nice slice of life type book. I loved the.baby dragons, the storyline was well done and the characters were great! I would recommend this book to everyone who wants a fun read!

This was a super cute, fun read. I loved the baby animals! I adored Theo and Levina as individual characters, but the miscommunication set up for their relationship was a bit overdone for me. I was a sucker for the fall farm piggyback ride though, and their childhood friendship.🧡

"Will it be a recipe for romance? Or a friendship up in flames?

Lavinia has it all. A loving family (complete with adorable pet baby dragon). A place at university training to be a magical animal vet. And a part-time job at the enchanting Baby Dragon Cafe. The only thing she doesn't have is her one true love: Theo.

Theo is the local baker and her best friend. On paper, they're perfect: he's funny, she's witty. He's sweet, and she's a little salty. That's why they've been friends for as long as they can remember. They've never been without one another - and it's clear to everyone that they're meant to be.

Everyone except Theo. Because when Lavinia finally makes her move, he pulls away.

Lavinia is devastated. Has this friendship gone up in smoke? Or will Theo finally realise that he wants them to be more than friends?

The perfect dual POV, friends-to-lovers cozy fantasy, with HEA guaranteed!"

I think I could only read this knowing that I was guaranteed an HEA. The blurb is too traumatizing otherwise!

A cozy, fluffy romance with two friends who have feelings for each other but don’t admit it, to each other but really even themselves. The characters are full of personality and the baby dragons and fantastical creatures add a fun element to the otherwise relatively grounded world. If you enjoy fantasy and cozy romances, this is the book for you. While it is technically a second book in a series, it is enough of its own story that it can be read on its own.

Thank you to Harper Collins for providing an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review and feedback.

Amazing book loved the characters and plot. I couldn't stop reading I stayed up all night. I loved the book so much thank you for the arc.

This is an interconnected standalone fantasy series with a lot of romance and coziness infused. It’s absolutely cozy. However, the first book will always have my heart. I was a little bit disappointed with this second one.

I, personally, when, I see there is a second book in a series, I usually get very excited because my hope and assumption is that it will be either a continuation or more in depth storyline of the first book I read in the series so I was really hoping for Aiden and Sephira’s relationship to continue to take a front seat and for Sparky to continue to take a front seat because I bonded with those characters so much in this world
There was all of one paragraph dedicated to them, which was simply recapping what happened in the last book, so this book is very much not about Sparky. It’s a completely different book. It just happened to take place in the same world. Please know that going into this or else you’re likely going to be very disappointed because I was sad.

I don’t want this to affect my review because I feel like it’s not completely fair for my expectations impact the book because the quality of the book itself is decent. I gave it a four stars for the following reasons:
-Friends to lovers romance done well
-the tension banter and dialogue was lovely
-the writing style and execution was really lovely
-I was really excited to dip into the baby dragon world again and I did get that

What prevented a 5 star rating:
-I was so sad to not be able to dig more into Sparky and Sophia and Aiden and their world because I felt like the last book ended and a happy note but there was so much more to the story and I had fallen in love with this family and I didn’t care all too much for her employee she’s sweet, but it’s not something that I wondered more as a reader about whether or not the character had stuff going on she was not developed enough for me to be more interested and want to learn more about the character in the first book and so when the second book came along, I was hoping that it would be the same characters being at the front so that’s what was the most disappointing
-I definitely related to Lavina, which I believe is the main character’s name her and Theo have a little bit of a miscommunication tension, and I found the main character to be both relatable and funny
-there were at least three chapters that just went into incredible death on the family events because the main character lives with her family so they were just eating meals together and while this will appeal to a wide audience, this is what I actively avoid in books. I want a fantasy I want fun baby dragons if I want something where I’m reading about a family eating I will likely pick up a very different book. I had to skip past some pages because it just went on and on with her family and I know this is a weird me personal thing, but I was slightly annoyed that it was so drilled in because I did not care about the employee in the first place let alone her family matters that is not something that I was interested in.

I’m struggling to rate this lower than five stars because the book does have a good structure of rising action, falling action and good character development and good world building and all of the things that I look for when I’m trying to give an honest review, but this is a very personal critique of what my expectations were for the book so I’m taking one star off just because I was so sad because and in the past I have taken a star off when I don’t like the ending of a book so I think this is fair but yeah, I’m a little bummed. I still really enjoyed this book and I am curious to see what the next one is but I’m hoping it’s not just gonna be about Genevieve.

I really liked the cover of this book and I am so honored that I got approved for an arc because I love the first book so much. Thank you so much for the opportunity to share honest feedback voluntarily.

This is really shaping up to be a fun series. It had me laughing and kicking my feet at several points! Big thank you to the publisher and author for this e-arc!

Could this be my favorite book of the year? Despite it not being the genre, I normally read AND not reading the first book (oops!) this might be my favorite book of the year. It gave me ALL the feels! The angst! The drama! The longing! The banter and slowburniness of it all!! WOW! The friends-to-lovers trope was done perfectly! It really popped and had me kicking my feet the whole time. Did I finish this beauty at 4am?! HECK YES! I adored the characters and world! The trying not to love my best friend so I'm going to distract myself with this man and hide my feelings forever? On point!

The only thing I didn't like about this book? The third act break up. It hurt. It was too long and yet, in the book, it was only a day or two. The ignoring each other because you're doing what's best for your friend is so dumb! (Only in the context of you're soulmates stop this!) It was a doing best for you mixed with a misunderstanding that lead to heartbreak and then love again.

The third book is going to be a Baby Dragon Bookstore, and I cannot wait! I'm already obsessed. I really hope it's going to be the characters I want!

This whole series is absolutely delightful, and The Baby Dragon Bakery is no exception. Who doesn't want a bakery and a baby dragon? This is a wonderful cozy fantasy romance. I will recommend it alongside the Tomes & Tea series. I love it!!!

This is a cozy, cute romance-what more could you ask for than baby dragons and a best-friends-to-lovers storyline?
Lavinia is off to university to train as a magical animal vet, while Theo, her best friend, is a talented baker.

I loved returning to Starshine Valley, with its delightful cast of characters-each unique in their own way—and, of course, all the magical creatures. Although the story focuses on Lavinia and Theo, we still get to reconnect with beloved characters from the first book.

The friendship between Theo and Lavinia is absolutely heartwarming, and the slow burn of their romance was so satisfying. I also found myself craving all the delicious food and coffee they were making-those descriptions were mouthwatering!

The pacing felt quick (I finished it in just two days), and the story was light, fun, and thoroughly entertaining. It's the perfect palette cleanser if you're in between heavier reads.

Overall, this was a fun and charming book- thoroughly enjoyed it!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper 360 publishing for my
ARC copy and my honest review.

Expected Publication date: October 13, 2025.

I am so grateful to have been given the opportunity to read this early! I'm a big fan of the first one and can definitely say I am a big fan of this book also! 😍 It's just so sweet and feel good, and is the type of series you'll want to read time and again just to recapture that feeling.

*****AMAZING****

*****FOUR Stars*****

I am obsessed with this series and I cannot wait for The Baby Dragon Bookshop to come out.

I love the baby dragons and the love story brewing.

This book is like a warm cinnamon roll with feelings, set in a world where baby dragons nap on countertops and your biggest problem is whether your longtime best friend loves you back or just really likes your baking. Lavinia is a magical animal vet student who decides she’s going to fall in love by a deadline because obviously that’s how emotions work, and Theo is her quiet, sweet, pastry wizard bestie who bakes like he’s pouring his heart into every cupcake but has the emotional communication skills of a piece of burnt toast. It’s friends to lovers with all the yearning and miscommunication you could want, plus a side of bakery chaos, sparkly magic, and emotional damage that gets unpacked one soft look at a time. The dual POV lets you live inside both of their gloriously messy heads, and even though the third act breakup had me yelling into a croissant, the payoff is so soft and worth it. It’s low spice, big heart, and full of cozy vibes with just enough fantasy to make it whimsical without being overwhelming. If you want to feel like you’re sipping something warm while watching two people realize they’ve been in love the whole time, this book will absolutely ruin you in the gentlest way possible. Im SUCH a sucker for bakery cozy romance books.

Super cozy and I highly recommend those looking for a cozy cafe romance with a little less spice to it. Memorable characters. Despite not reading the first in this series, I still was able to pick up on and understand all of the characters and dynamics. A great read!

This whimsical sequel was absolutely delightful. A low/spice, friends-to-lovers romance perfect for a cozy fall day. I was also beyond thrilled to see Saphira and Aiden again!

I absolutely love this series. I love the romance but honestly can't get enough of the baby dragons. This was such a a good cozy read ❤️ I will definitely be reading more from this author 💕

The Baby Dragon Bakery is pure feel-good charm poured into book form. Lavinia’s life—juggling vet school, a part-time job at the magical café, her adorable baby dragon, and unspoken love for her best friend Theo—had me smiling the whole time. Watching their sweet, playful friends-to-lovers journey in that small town bakery, with dual perspectives and cozy vibes, was like a warm hug in book form.

Ok I sped through this!
This is a childhood friends, “it was always you”, romance!
I loveeeeed the friendship between Livinia and Theo.
Best friends since they were 8, they are everything to each other, supportive but not afraid of give advice or tough love. Livinia’s family treats Theo as one of their own, his family has just never cared.

Lavinia’s wanted nothing in life more than love, her parents met when they were 24 and knew from the first moment. She wants exactly the same love but as summer ends and her deadline approaches on her 24th year… she is getting desperate!

For the very same reason Lavinia wants an earth shattering love, Theo doesn’t believe he’s capable of it. When your parents ignore you, how are you to know how to love?
But now that Livinia is dating the perfect guy, is Theo ready to let her ride off into the sunset with someone else?

I won’t spoil all the things that happens but I loved this and can’t wait for book 3!

I didn't think I'd love book #2 as much as I loved book #1 but I did!
I devoured this book!
Bestfriends to lovers- Dragons- PERFECTION!
Lavinia was the one constant in Theo's life and their friendship was always the most important thing, to both of them.
But Lavinia felt like she was running out of time to find love and started dating someone, which opened Theo's eyes. Lavinia has a choice to make... search for love, or open her eyes to what's been in front of her. The guy who she can be herself around and know she is loved.
Such a sweet story, I loved it!

Absolutely loved this one. The absolutely coziest fallish read. It’s pumpkin spice and everything nice but with a dragon.

Warning: you might want to think twice before reading when hungry! A. T. Qureshi's Baby Dragon Bakery is a heartwarming romance filled to the brim with delicious descriptions of warm fall drinks, delectable desserts, and savory meals. It’s definitely a light, cozy read to get lost in when you're tired of mundane reality and endlessly doomscrolling. Don't we all wish we could just unplug, go to the Baby Dragon Café and Bakery, indulge in some divine baked goods, and forget about our problems for awhile?

The author truly shines in her ability to craft vivid, mouthwatering descriptions of food, from the preparation process to creating utterly cozy meals. From murgh cholay to seviyan and gulab jamun, I was delighted by her inclusion of cuisine and desserts from her own culture. It was so special and fun to learn about new foods, and it introduced me to different things to try in real life. Looking up some of the dishes was a treat in itself.

With a best-friends-to-lovers trope, the author serves up a classic Hallmark-style romance between Theo and Lavinia with a heavy dose of yearning and longing. If you love a black cat / lone wolf-type of love interest (who's love language is baking and has a penchant for cooking!), you'll adore Theo's character.

You'll see familiar faces from the first installment, like Saphira, Sparky, and Aiden's family - and this charming continuation of the series is the epitome of a simple, cozy romance, proving that you don't need a complex plot or confusing family trees to write a truly captivating story.

This book is a perfect fit for fans of:
- Heartwarming, best-friends-to-lovers romance
- Stories where food is a love language
- A cozy fantasy with fall vibes
- Delicious food all throughout, from family meals and espresso drinks to desserts

With its focus on delightful food, sweet romance, and the special connection of found family, Baby Dragon Bakery is an absolute delight. I'm already looking forward to the next installment in this wonderful series!

Special thank you to Harper Collins, Harper360, Avon, and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

#TheBabyDragonBakery #ATQureshi #HarperCollins #Harper360 #Avon #NetGalley

This world is such a sweet, cozy vacation from my usual epic fantasy/thriller world. I enjoyed coming back into this world and getting to see more of Saphira's development. I think it's a well done friends to lovers and the story really highlighted their individual struggles with connection and how they're working to overcome their traumas to come together. I would call this a romance with fantasy elements, rather than a fantasy romance because the book is more focused on the relationship between Theo and Lavinia than the dragons themselves. But the interactions with the dragons are done so well and they're so loveable that maybe I just wanted more of them. The flashback scenes were done very well and the author is so good about interlacing the story with South Asian cultural elements without making it feel heavy-handed. The cultural references blend seamlessly into the story instead of jumping out and seeming forced. Knowing there's another book coming helps me forgive the stuff at the end a bit because now I need to sort everything out so I'll have to read the next one but, I was a bit irked about how things happened towards the end of the book. I feel so honored to have been able to climb back into this world a few months early. Now if only baby dragon bakeries were real....

This book was a wonderful read. The imagery that A. T. Qureshi uses makes you feel as if you are in the scene with the characters. The whimsical nature of the setting and the worldbuilding give the book a sense of lightheartedness and comedy. The chemistry between Lavinia and Theo is electric. Their rapport is entertaining, and they are two kindred spirits. I loved Lavinia as a side character in The Baby Dragon Cafe, and it is beautiful to see how her character grows and changes in the spotlight of this book.

I think this is my favorite friends to lovers romance I’ve ever read! I adore this cozy series and its small town vibes.
I love all these characters! The descriptions of baked goods were mouth watering!
I’m really looking forward to the next book. These are just so cozy and easy to read.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Sweet, Comforting, and Full of Heart

The Baby Dragon Bakery was an absolute delight from start to finish. I loved returning to these wonderful characters—and the dragons, of course—who bring such warmth and magic to the story. The writing flows so easily that it felt like the perfect cozy read, something to curl up with and savor. Heartwarming, fun, and comforting, it’s a story that left me smiling long after the final page.

The Baby Dragon Bakery is an adorably cozy romance that is a perfect fall read for those that enjoy romances with fantasy elements. Personally, my definition of a cozy fantasy leaves the reader more deeply entrenched in a fantasy setting while holding a lighter atmosphere and comforting plot. I still find that Qureshi executes the cozy atmosphere that leaves readers yearning for fall and the heartwarming experiences of a found family.
This is a wonderful addition to The Baby Dragon Cafe and will satisfy lovers of cozy romances. Read along to explore the relationship between Theo and Lavinia. I look forward to the third installment for the Baby Dragon universe.

𝐈 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐚𝐛𝐲 𝐝𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐨𝐧 𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐥𝐲 𝐰𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐧𝐞𝐰𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤
𝐈 𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐚𝐲 𝐢 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 1 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐢 𝐦 𝐨𝐧 𝐚 𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 3 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞
𝐈 𝐝𝐢𝐝𝐧 𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐚𝐛𝐲 𝐝𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐨 𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐭𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐳𝐲 𝐟𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐬y
𝐒𝐨 𝐢 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐦𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐞𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 3 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 bring

A definite must-read for fans of cozy romances, A.T. Qureshi's latest installment in The Baby Dragon series is heartwarming and charming—perfect for the fall season. As someone who hasn't read the first book but is familiar with the setting, I found this second installment easy to dive into without feeling like I was missing any crucial context.

Non-Spoiler Book Summary
Lavinia Williams is a hopeless romantic determined to emulate her parents' lovable and romantic relationship. This ambition leads her to become obsessed with finding love within a tight timeline. Unfortunately, that timeline is only a few months away, prompting Lavinia to rush into a relationship with her co-worker. Meanwhile, her best friend since elementary school, Theo Noon, who has harbored a crush on Lavinia for years, grapples with his own emotions while trying to support her as a good friend in this new relationship. This book offers a delightful, relatable story about young love and serves as a reminder that sometimes the right person has been in front of us all along.

Reviewer's Overall Thoughts
• The character development in this book is impressive, particularly the exploration of Theo's relationship with his parents, which resonated with me as a reader. A lot of times it feels like male characters are presented in a stoic manner, but the raw emotion we experience with Theo felt more real.
• I appreciated the author's cultural influences woven throughout the narrative. I found myself frequently searching online for the various dishes that Theo and Lavinia's mom were cooking, which added an extra layer of 'fun' to this book.
• It was refreshing to read a book that avoids excessive drama or unrealistic scenarios. The character struggles felt entirely believable, and it was gratifying to see characters approach common relationship issues with maturity.

Thank you to Harper 360 and NetGalley for providing this advance reader copy of the book and the opportunity to submit a review.

The crew from the Baby Dragon Cafe return, and this time we learn more about Lavinia and Theo - and all the extended family, both by blood and found. And yep, those darned cute baby dragons are everywhere, causing mayhem and getting cuddled. Lavinia is book smart but clearly not people smart and insecurities abound as they make their way to each other - no spoiler there, you knew it was coming! And fun to get there.

Thank you to the publisher and thank you to NetGalley for the chance to review this e-ARC. Full review will be available soon

This is the perfect book for early fall! I loved the fantasy setting and how it was a bit simpler (and easier for me to understand). Friends to lovers is my favorite trope so naturally I loved the romance in this one! I enjoyed seeing Sephira as a side character. Overall this is the perfect cozy fantasy series.

I know that this is the second book, but it just sounded cute and I wanted to read it. I'm happy to say, it was definitely a cute, quick, comforting read. I loved the cozy, small town romance and was rooting for Lavinia and Theo to finally have their HEA! Their “friends to lovers” felt natural and was so sweet. The yummy bakery treats, the baby dragon, the whimsy…..it was such a feel good read. I have been craving a cozy fantasy and this was perfect. I will be grabbing the first book now for sure.

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.

This is the second book in the growing Baby Dragon series. It was adorable! Lavinia was my favorite character from the Baby Dragon Cafe and takes center stage in this cozy fall rom com.

Lavinia is in a hurry to find love by the end of the year and finds her first choice uninterested. Can she get over her crush and settle down with someone else in time?

Lavinia and Theo are the cutest, funniest besties and make this story a delight, and the baby dragons are a definite bonus. Plus, there’s so much autumnal flair packed in, it’s a must for every fall TBR.

I LOVED this story and I love the baby dragons! This is sweet and cozy for all the best reasons. Two best friends, Lavinia and Theo, circle each other as they hit major milestones in their own lives. Will they choose other prospects, or will they choose what they’ve always known? I loved this book and I’m a new lover of this series and author! I will be looking for a hard copy because I LOVE LOVE that cover!!

This series is pure comfort and I’m completely hooked. The romance is sweet, but honestly the baby dragon stole my heart. I loved seeing familiar faces again like Saphira, Sparky, and Aiden’s family because it made everything feel connected and warm. The whole vibe is simple, cozy, and exactly the kind of romance I want to curl up with. No confusing family trees or complicated plots, just a story that makes you smile.
Lavinia’s daily life kept me turning the pages. She’s balancing vet school, a part-time job at the magical café, raising her adorable baby dragon, and quietly loving her best friend Theo. The friends-to-lovers storyline is low spice but so sweet, which makes it perfect for a cozy fall afternoon.
The flashback scenes were wonderful, and I really enjoyed the way South Asian cultural elements were blended into the story. Nothing felt forced or heavy. Instead, the cultural details added richness and charm that fit naturally with the world.
The ending did frustrate me a little, but knowing another book is on the way makes it easier to accept. Now I just want to see how everything plays out. This sequel was whimsical, heartwarming, and completely delightful.

This book was as good if not more fun than Cafe! I loved them both and had such a great time with these two friends to lovers!

I really enjoy this world and how each book we get to see a little bit more and more of it while they never lose the bits the pervious books built upon.

I’m super excited for the third book as well but over all it’s such a fun cozy read!

This is such a cute little cozy series that’s perfect for curling up with in the fall. The cozy vibes of the bakery and small-town charm really shine through, making it a comforting read. And of course—dragons! Although, I’ll admit, I wish the story had focused on them a little more. They were fun additions but didn’t quite take center stage the way I hoped.

The tone leans a bit more toward young adult, but the overall story was light, cute, and cozy—exactly the kind of read you want when the weather cools down. If you’re looking for something sweet, whimsical, and comforting, this one definitely fits the bill.

This was a fun read and loved everything about it. The baby dragon and the bakery was so enjoyable to read. I would highly recommend this book!

Super cute fun cozy read. Absolutely loved every moment of reading this. I found this book to be refreshing to read from my current genre of books and it definitely left me wanting so much more! I’m hoping for another book after this one.

Whimsical, Warm, Friends to Lovers Romantasy. This book was a cozy little book that would be wonderful for the fall! I personally liked book one more but that is just me. I did however still really like this book. However this book was great at making me want to be in the fall spirit of things. It was the perfect fall cozy fantasy romance book to cuddle up with a blanket and maybe some hot tea and a treat and just enjoy this book! I definitely want to own this book as a physical copy because i did like it a lot still but im hoping book three is better or as good as book one was! I will for sure recommend this book to my friends!

Ok, WAY better than book 1!

As much as I don't like contemporary romance, I have to admit that I enjoyed this book and didn't find any reason to give it less than 4 stars. If we get this type of writing in book 3 (Baby Dragon Bookstore) with more dragons, it'll be sure to be my favorite in the series!

This is a contemporary romance in a world where baby dragons exist. I lowered the rating because there are zero dragons that are anywhere near crucial to the plot. Pretend it's a contemporary romance where one of the side characters happens to have a dog, except this dog looks like a baby dragon. The fact that this side character has a dog/dragon means nothing to the storyline. Book 1 at least had Sparky (who does by the way make frequent cameos in this book!).

I enjoyed the chemistry between our two main characters, they're the kind of people I'd be friends with! I feel like I relate to the FMC's fun & quirky personality. She is however horribly blind when it comes to seeing the signs of whether or not someone likes her, which got pretty annoying pretty quick. Also, heads up for heavy miscommunication for most of the book...

Last issue was with a random conflict introduced and resolved so close to the end of the book. Literally 20-25 pages before the end, the book was done. We were good. So that random issue felt very out of place. If it needed to happen, it probably could've been introduced much earlier in the book and made to be part of the main plot. It felt like it was forgotten and thrown in last minute.

I do recommend reading Baby Dragon Cafe to learn about all the characters we see again in Baby Dragon Bakery. And if anything, fall in love with Sparky!

What a lovely pallett cleanser this was for me. I have a tendency to read some intense and emotionally draining books so thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and share my review of The Baby Dragon Bakery. This was like a glass of ice water on a hot summer day, a cool autumn breeze after a long summer. It was very refreshing and well it just made me feel good! Oh young love! Nothing too complicated, no big mystery, no murders, no grieving just an adorable little love story with dragons no less. In today’s crazy intense world we all need this book because what really matters is family, friends, and love.

Genre: Fantasy
My Rating: 4 stars

A dual perspective following Saphira’s friends Lavinia and Theo. Lavinia is in magical animal veterinary school while also juggling interning and her part time job at the Baby Dragon Café. She has a self-imposed deadline of when she thinks she needs to find The One, which she believes is her best friend Theo. Everybody knows it except Theo. When she makes her move, he pulls away. She convinces herself that he doesn’t feel the same way. They are both struggling with their insecurities, but will they overcome them so they can finally be together?

I loved the story and the characters (except Theo’s parents). There weren’t enough baby dragons, but I digress. Their inner thoughts and insecurities felt relatable, and I cried multiple times reading this. Especially with Theo’s situation with his parents. Seriously just rip my heart out.

Even though I did enjoy the characters, at times they were kind of annoying. They were supposed to be twenty-four years old, but they both, especially Lavinia, acted like teenagers. Not in a good way. I didn’t like the sort of almost technically cheating aspect. I felt like this book could have been about one third the size if Lavinia and Theo had just talked to each other, or literally anyone at all, about their feelings. Possibly a therapist.

If you liked the first book, definitely read this. There are scenes with Saphira and Aiden. I loved revisiting this world and exploring different characters.

*Thank you to NetGalley and Harper360 for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Book review: A.T. Qureshi’s The Baby Dragon Bakery
Published by Harper 360 – thank you to BookSparks for the gifted copy.

If you’ve ever wished a cinnamon roll could become a book, here you go. The Baby Dragon Bakery is that warm, gooey center of cozy fantasy, friends-to-lovers romance, and magical small-town life—all wrapped in a lightly crisped crust of witty dialogue and emotional tension. Set in the familiar and lovingly drawn Starshine Valley, this second installment in A.T. Qureshi’s Baby Dragon series isn’t just a worthy follow-up—it’s arguably better. It knows what it is and leans in: comfort, charm, community, and yes, dragons that double as therapy pets and nap-time champions.

Lavinia is our chaotic yet lovable heroine—a magical animal vet-in-training, part-time café barista, and full-time overthinker. She’s smart, snarky, and slowly spiraling into romantic despair because the one person she’s always loved—theo-the-baker, best friend since age eight, giver of pastries and soft glances—remains oblivious. Or maybe just emotionally unavailable. It’s hard to say when a man communicates via scones.

Theo, meanwhile, is everything you’d want from a cozy fantasy love interest: kind, talented, emotionally constipated, and baking as if his heart’s been sifted and folded into every loaf. Watching the two of them orbit each other like cinnamon sticks in hot cocoa was deeply satisfying, if occasionally maddening. You will want to yell at them. But you’ll also root for them the entire time.

This book gives dual POV, which means we get equal time in both their beautifully messy heads. The yearning? Top-tier. The miscommunication? Frustrating—but believable. Lavinia’s self-imposed deadline to find true love by age 24 (because that’s when her parents met) is both endearing and unhinged, and it’s the kind of flawed logic we’ve all convinced ourselves of in one way or another. Meanwhile, Theo’s backstory—quietly tragic and carefully revealed—explains his hesitance without making it a pity party. The emotional stakes are low-key but still hit. It’s not world-ending drama. It’s “what if I lose my best friend” drama. And sometimes that feels bigger.

Now, the fantasy elements. Baby dragons, phoenixes, and chimeras aren’t just quirky background details—they make the world feel alive and layered, even though the real focus is on human relationships. That’s the magic of Qureshi’s storytelling: the whimsy is real, but it never overwhelms the heart. The dragons don’t talk, but they’re expressive. One curls up in a breadbasket during a moment of romantic tension and I just about combusted.

And then there’s the food. Let’s talk about the food. This book should come with a snack warning. The bakery scenes are so richly described you can practically smell the cardamom, see the shimmer of butter on a golden croissant, feel the warmth of a fresh-baked naan as it’s pulled from the oven. South Asian dishes get their spotlight, from savory murgh cholay to syrup-soaked gulab jamun, and it’s done with love and specificity. These aren’t token dishes—they’re tied to memory, family, and identity. Qureshi doesn’t just write food; she writes belonging through food.

Of course, the story wouldn’t be complete without its fair share of cozy beats: family dinners, autumn festivals, late-night tea under string lights, and the kind of small-town intimacy where everyone knows your business and your baby dragon’s nap schedule. These elements could feel saccharine in less skilled hands, but here they’re grounded by character and culture. There’s genuine care in the worldbuilding—not in how big it is, but in how personal.

One of my favorite things about this book is its gentleness. It doesn’t need to shout to be powerful. There’s no villain, no giant war, no ticking clock (unless you count Lavinia’s self-imposed love deadline). The tension comes from real things: fear of rejection, grief over family, the slow courage of choosing to be vulnerable. And yet, there’s nothing slow about the pacing. It moves with the rhythm of a rom-com: soft banter, growing tension, and just enough plot to keep you hooked.

There is a third-act breakup, yes. It stings. But it’s short-lived, and the reunion is worth every heart pang. It’s honest. It’s soft. And it’s earned. As Lavinia says: “You don’t realize how much someone is part of your life until you imagine them not being in it. And then it’s unbearable.” That line lives rent-free in my head.

If I had one tiny critique, it’s that I wish the dragons had more page time—but honestly, that’s because I’m dragon-obsessed and not because the story needed it. They add texture, not tension, and that’s exactly right for a book like

Awwwww can you get any cuter and cozier than a book about baby dragons and a bakery? I mean truth be told, this book had me at the cover and the inside didn’t disappoint! I just loved all of the details about the dragons. The author made such a perfect little world with them.

I would say at times I wish there was more dialog, but then again, I loved the details given.

Overall a great and cozy read!
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the arc.

After reading the first book, I was excited to have the opportunity to read the ARC for book two in the series, but ultimately, I was excited to see the perspective of a character I could actually empathize more with. As someone experiencing so many feelings about friendships, relationships, life, future endeavors, etc., I liked to see some aspects of my thought process or perspectives reflected through a main character of a book, so it was a neat experience for me compared to reading book one. I think my one "grievance" of sorts is simply just never really being a fan of a miscommunication trope! But that's just me. Overall, it was an enjoyable read and I'm excited to see where the series goes from here!