<b>A Match Made for Thanksgiving</b>

4.5 ⭐️

CNs:

alcohol consumption, explicit sexual content, couple instances of assigning health value to food, amanormativity

This is a delightful, fun, sweet romance. Nick and Lily meet when Lily decides to prove her ex calling her boring wrong by having a one night stand, and Nick is more than happy to volunteer as her partner. Then they meet again when his family tries to set her up with his brother, Greg, for thanksgiving, but Lily and Nick only have eyes for each other. Everything moves pretty quickly, but the pacing didn’t feel rushed and it still packed a wonderful emotional punch. I loved the way Nick and Lily build little inside jokes and are able to have fun with each other in ways they didn’t even think to imagine before meeting. And I loved that when Lily had insecurities because they live different lives, they were able to communicate and work through the worries she had. All around, a delight of a story and I’m looking forward to seeing more shenanigans from the Wong elders trying to set up Nick’s siblings!

<b>Second Chance Road Trip for Christmas</b>

3.5 ⭐️ 

Content notes:

explicit sexual content, one instance of character thinking a food is “terrible for you,” snowed in, hearing another couple having sex through walls, amanormativity

I love second chance romances, and Greg and Tasha were super cute. I really enjoyed their banter and the ways they knew each other but also learned how they’d changed in the last 15 years. This was a really sweet 48-hour set romance and I liked the way it was still able to show their love and care. I also appreciated the clarity around why their first time together didn’t work out and the exploration of whether giving a relationship a second chance was a good idea based on their history. Overall a cute, fun, sweet romance.

<b>A Fake Girlfriend for Chinese New Year</b>

3 ⭐️ 

Content notes:

alcohol consumption, negative self image, explicit sexual content

Fake dating is one of my all-time favorite romance tropes, but this story just fell a little flat for me. I love Zach and Jo’s friendship and family Pictionary night was one of the highlights of the whole novella, and the romance was sweet and well executed, but overall I felt…bored? I’m sad I didn’t enjoy this one more, but it’s still a fun, sweet little novella and I love the Wong family so much.

<b>A Big Surprise for Valentine’s Day</b>

6/2/22: I didn’t actually finish this novella. I’m hitting the point where reading the same series is making brain go bzzt, so going to come back to Amber’s story at a later date. What I read so far, though, I enjoyed and looking forward to the dynamic of brother’s best friend and benefits-to-romance.