Overall, I’m sad that this didn’t end up being what I expected because I was genuinely looking forward to loving it! I wanted to see more of the mooncake competition but that played a woefully small part in the story. The writing also read on the younger end of YA, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but I’m not sure that’s what the author intended and it also clashed with the more sexually suggestive overtones between Dylan and Theo. That said, the romance was instantaneous and I didn’t really feel their romantic connection. I loved the cultural and food aspects of the story and Dylan’s family was great as well. TL DR: Fake Dates and Mooncakes was high up on my list of anticipated YA contemporary romances this year and I was beyond thrilled to get a digital ARC! Sadly though, for various reasons, this book really didn’t work out for me.

Then Theo’s relatives reveal their true colors-but with the mooncake contest looming, Dylan can’t risk being sidetracked by rich-people problems.Ĭan Dylan save his family’s business and follow his heart-or will he fail to do both? ⚠️ CONTENT/TRIGGER WARNINGSĬlassism, death of parent (recounted), cancer, alcoholism In Theo’s glittering world of pomp, privilege, and crazy rich drama, their romance is supposed to be just pretend… but Dylan finds himself falling for Theo. He even convinces Dylan to be his fake date at a family wedding in the Hamptons.

Their worlds are sun-and-moon apart, but Theo keeps showing up.

Heartstopper meets Crazy Rich Asians in this heartfelt, joyful paperback original rom-com that follows an aspiring chef who discovers the recipe for love is more complicated than it seems when he starts fake-dating a handsome new customer.ĭylan Tang wants to win a Mid-Autumn Festival mooncake-making competition for teen chefs-in memory of his mom, and to bring much-needed publicity to his aunt’s struggling Chinese takeout in Brooklyn.Įnter Theo Somers: charming, wealthy, with a smile that makes Dylan’s stomach do backflips.

Fake dates and mooncakes