Some Things Never Change

by Cee Yang, C.L. Lor

A new job.

A new city.

And, a flirty childhood best friend.

Julie Lo’s new interior design job leads her to relocate to a new city. But, it’s the familiar presence of her childhood friend—Andy K. Hughes—that steals the spotlight. They are roommates, after all.

They grew up with their lives deeply interwoven, thanks to their moms’ unbreakable friendship. As two adults now living together, nostalgia reignites as they build Legos projects brick by brick, share movie nights and car rides, and rediscover the magic of falling back in love with old hobbies. All as they live and work in proximity.

Julie is finally happy with her life again after moving away from a city that never welcomed her. In Santa Mariana, things feel just right. But life takes an unexpected turn after a date with “Mr. Perfect.” She also discovers Andy has been in love with a college friend for the last decade.

All this tips the axis of her world when she realizes that maybe that old teenage secret crush she used to have on him hasn’t completely dimmed out.

Will Julie seize this opportunity and muster the courage to do what she should have done years ago?


Tropes:
Childhood Friends to Lovers
Cohabitation
Falling in love with the boy next door

Trigger Warnings: Mention of controlling and/or emotionally abusive relationships, parent death, and grief.

Pick up a copy today!

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Friends To Lovers, Forced Proximity, Love, Rom Com

328 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 28, 2024

About the author

Cee Yang (she/her) is a first-generation Hmong-American, born and raised in California. At 15, she wrote her first YA paranormal romance on a whim and has never stopped writing since. She loves to write romance with plenty of fluff, spice, and swoon.

When she’s not writing contemporary romances, she is writing romance fantasies as C.L. Lor. In addition, on her off time, she enjoys anime, Asian dramas, and a good matcha latte.

You can follow her on Instagram and TikTok @theceeyang.

Reviews

[Lilith Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had such a loving family aspect to it. I'd love to be a part of their circle. 

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗹𝗼𝘁 📝
Some Things Never Change has everything you wish for, if you're looking for a cute and cozy romance with just the right amount of spice. 
It's a childhood friends to lovers book with falling for the boy next door and loads of more amazing tropes. 
Andy and Julie crushed on each other since they were kids but never confessed their feelings towards one another. 
As the two adults become roommates, their feelings are bound to come to light. 

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 👥
The most important characters are the twins Andy and Anthony and Julie and her brother Jonathan. Not to mention their loving family: the twins parents and Julie's and Jonathan's mother. Cindy, one of Julie's best friends also plays an important role by her side. 
The characters were all more than lovable and I honestly would want them to be my own friends and family. 
Andy and Julie had great chemistry and I really enjoyed their connection. 

𝗪𝗵𝘆 4 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘀? ⭐
I had a bit of a hard time getting into this one at first. I did not feel the characters and I sometimes felt a bit lost with the amount of information I got in the beginning chapters. 
BIG however: After like 40% it got reallyyyy good. I was an emotional wreck and I just swooned for the characters. Andy earned a place on my book boyfriend list and their story touched me big time. 
I especially loved how certain parts of the Hmong culture were greatly incorporated into the plot. 
All in all this book touched me and made me cry several times. I loved it and can highly recommend it. Thanks to the author for the digital copy!

[Alysia-lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

˗ˏˋ ♡ ˎˊ˗𝘿𝙄𝙎𝘾𝙇𝘼𝙄𝙈𝙀𝙍: 𝙄 𝙍𝙀𝘾𝙀𝙄𝙑𝙀𝘿 𝙏𝙃𝙄𝙎 𝘽𝙊𝙊𝙆 𝘼𝙎 𝘼𝙉 𝘼𝙍𝘾˗ˏˋ ♡ ˎˊ˗
𝙄 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙖𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝘾𝙚𝙚 𝙔𝙖𝙣𝙜 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙚 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙙𝙚𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙣𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙡 <3

I 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙨𝙩 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙖𝙡𝙠 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨 𝙞 𝙚𝙣𝙟𝙤𝙮𝙚𝙙/𝙥𝙤𝙨𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙨
♡ ︎♡ 𝙋𝙍𝙊𝙎 ♡ ♡
❥ 𝙎𝙚𝙡𝙛 𝙋𝙪𝙗𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙝𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝘽𝙄𝙋𝙊𝘾 𝘼𝙪𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙧
❥ 𝘾𝙝𝙞𝙡𝙙𝙝𝙤𝙤𝙙 𝙛𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙨 → 𝙇𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙨
⤷𝙄𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙞 𝙙𝙤𝙣'𝙩 𝙛𝙖𝙫𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙩𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚. 𝙒𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙗𝙚𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙨𝙖𝙞𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙖𝙪𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙧 𝙙𝙞𝙙 𝙖𝙣
𝙖𝙢𝙖𝙯𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙟𝙤𝙗 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙞𝙩! 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙮𝙚𝙩 𝙞𝙣𝙣𝙚𝙧 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙛𝙡𝙞𝙘𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙙𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙖𝙪𝙩𝙞𝙛𝙪𝙡𝙡𝙮!
❥ 𝙏𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙞𝙨 𝙨𝙤 𝙘𝙪𝙩𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙘𝙤𝙯𝙮 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙨𝙥𝙞𝙘𝙚!!
⤷𝙄 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙖 𝙨𝙡𝙤𝙬 𝙗𝙪𝙧𝙣! 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙙𝙞𝙙𝙣'𝙩 𝙟𝙪𝙢𝙥 𝙞𝙣 𝙗𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤𝙜𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙖𝙬𝙖𝙮. 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙨𝙡𝙤𝙬𝙡𝙮 𝙗𝙚𝙘𝙖𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙯𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙨𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙤 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙖𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩.
❥ 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙪𝙗𝙩𝙡𝙚 𝙙𝙞𝙨𝙣𝙚𝙮/𝙥𝙞𝙭𝙖𝙧 𝙣𝙖𝙢𝙚𝙨
⤷𝘼𝙣𝙙𝙮, 𝙏𝙞𝙣𝙠, 𝙔𝙖𝙨𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙚
❥ 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙪𝙗𝙩𝙡𝙚 𝙗𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙤 𝙛𝙡𝙞𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜
⤷𝙃𝙖𝙙 𝙢𝙚 𝙜𝙞𝙜𝙜𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙠𝙞𝙘𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙮 𝙛𝙚𝙚𝙩!!!
❥ 𝙈𝙈𝘾 𝙝𝙚𝙡𝙥𝙚𝙙 𝙁𝙈𝘾 𝙜𝙚𝙩 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙤 𝙖 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙚𝙧 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙮𝙡𝙚
⤷𝙁𝙈𝘾 𝙗𝙖𝙨𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙖𝙙𝙖𝙥𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙈𝙈𝘾 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙮𝙡𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙜𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙩𝙝𝙮. 𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 (𝙨𝙝𝙚
𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙪𝙜𝙜𝙡𝙚𝙙 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙙𝙪𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙨). 𝙨𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙖𝙡𝙨𝙤 𝙜𝙤 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙜𝙮𝙢 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙝𝙞𝙢 (𝙂𝙊𝘼𝙇𝙎!!!)
❥ 𝙃𝙚 𝙩𝙖𝙡𝙠𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙤 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙛𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙨 (𝙗𝙚𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙛𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙣𝙮 𝙛𝙚𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙚𝙖𝙘𝙝 𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 )
❥ 𝙃𝙚𝙨 𝙨𝙤 𝙘𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜!!!
❥ 𝙎𝙥𝙞𝙘𝙚 𝙨𝙘𝙚𝙣𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙣𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙞𝙧𝙧𝙤𝙧 𝙞𝙛𝙮𝙠𝙮𝙠

𝙉𝙤𝙬 𝙬𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙢𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙤 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞 𝙙𝙞𝙨𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠/ 𝙢𝙮 𝙘𝙡𝙖𝙞𝙢𝙨 𝙨𝙪𝙥𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙮 𝙤𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙤𝙣📝
♡ ︎♡ 𝘾𝙊𝙉𝙎 ♡ ♡
❥ 𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙖 𝙘𝙚𝙧𝙩𝙖𝙞𝙣 𝙨𝙘𝙚𝙣𝙚 𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙜𝙞𝙣𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙁𝙈𝘾 𝙙𝙚𝙘𝙞𝙙𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙜𝙤 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙖 𝙧𝙪𝙣. 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙨𝙘𝙚𝙣𝙚 𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙛𝙚𝙡𝙩 𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙤𝙛𝙛 𝙩𝙤 𝙢𝙚 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙢𝙖𝙮 𝙗𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙘𝙖𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙞 𝙣𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙜𝙧𝙚𝙬 𝙪𝙥 𝙞𝙣 𝙖 𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙨𝙚𝙝𝙤𝙡𝙙/𝙣𝙚𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙗𝙤𝙧𝙨 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙞 𝙝𝙖𝙙 𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙗𝙚 𝙢𝙮 𝙤𝙡𝙙𝙚𝙧 𝙨𝙞𝙗𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨. (𝙞 𝙙𝙤𝙣𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙠 𝙨𝙥𝙤𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙣𝙮𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙨𝙤 𝙞 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙜𝙤 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙤 𝙙𝙚𝙩𝙖𝙞𝙡)

⋆｡ﾟ☁︎｡⋆｡ ﾟ☾ ﾟ｡⋆𝙈𝙮 𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨⋆｡ﾟ☁︎｡⋆｡ ﾟ☾ ﾟ｡⋆
𝙊𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙨𝙤 𝙖𝙙𝙤𝙧𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚! 𝙄 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙠 𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙢𝙮 𝙛𝙖𝙫𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙚 "𝙜𝙚𝙣𝙧𝙚𝙨" 𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙯𝙮 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙘𝙪𝙩𝙚 𝙧𝙤𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙨 𝙡𝙤𝙡. 𝙏𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙨𝙤 𝙘𝙪𝙩𝙚 (𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙝𝙖𝙙 𝙜𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩 𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙚𝙨), 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙙𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙡𝙤𝙥𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙖𝙢𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙩 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙡𝙤𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙨𝙤 𝙨𝙞𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙬𝙚𝙚𝙩. 𝙒𝙚 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙗𝙮 𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙞 𝙙𝙚𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙚𝙡𝙮 𝙙𝙤𝙣'𝙩 𝙜𝙧𝙖𝙫𝙞𝙩𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙩𝙤𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙙𝙨 𝘾𝙝𝙞𝙡𝙙𝙝𝙤𝙤𝙙 𝙛𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙨 → 𝙇𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙨𝙞𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙮 𝙗𝙚𝙘𝙖𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙞𝙩 𝙖𝙡𝙬𝙖𝙮𝙨 𝙜𝙤𝙚𝙨 "𝙤𝙢𝙜 𝙞 𝙙𝙞𝙙𝙣'𝙩 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙞 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙙 𝙮𝙤𝙪" 𝙗𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙚 30𝙩𝙝 𝙥𝙖𝙜𝙚 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙗𝙪𝙧𝙣𝙚𝙙 𝙨𝙡𝙤𝙬 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙝𝙖𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙖𝙢𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙗𝙪𝙞𝙡𝙙 𝙪𝙥. 𝙊𝙪𝙧 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙙𝙞𝙙𝙣'𝙩 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙛𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙞𝙧 𝙛𝙚𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨 𝙩𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 200 𝙥𝙖𝙜𝙚𝙨 𝙞𝙣 (𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙡𝙮) 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙞𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙖𝙢𝙖𝙯𝙞𝙣𝙜!! 𝙄𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙖 𝙥𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙩 𝙘𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙣𝙨𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙞𝙨 𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙙𝙚𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙚𝙡𝙮 𝙥𝙞𝙘𝙠 𝙪𝙥 𝙚𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙞𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙗𝙚𝙘𝙖𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙞 𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙜𝙤𝙩 𝙚𝙙𝙪𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙝𝙢𝙤𝙣𝙜 𝙘𝙪𝙡𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚! 𝙄 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙧𝙤𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙨 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙞 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙚𝙚𝙚 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙞 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙣 𝙣𝙚𝙬 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨! 𝘼𝙡𝙡 𝙞𝙣 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙞 𝙙𝙚𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙚𝙡𝙮 𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞 𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙫𝙚 <3

✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧ 𝙌𝙪𝙤𝙩𝙚𝙨 ✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧
⤷"𝓨𝓸𝓾'𝓻𝓮 𝓰𝓸𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓽𝓸 𝓫𝓮 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓭𝓮𝓪𝓽𝓱 𝓸𝓯 𝓶𝓮, 𝓣𝓲𝓷𝓴"
"𝓝𝓸𝓽 𝓾𝓷𝓵𝓮𝓼𝓼 𝔂𝓸𝓾'𝓻𝓮 𝓶𝓲𝓷𝓮 𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓼𝓽"

[Carly · Rating 1 out of 5]

Where do I begin...

If you're thinking about reading this, I suggest you skip and never come back. I felt like I wasted my life reading this book and now I can't take it back.

How is it that Julie is 28 and Andy is 30, but it feels like I'm reading a book about horny and cringey teenagers who are starting to date in high school? The diolague was so hard to read between these two and other characters. It seemed fake and immature. The whole miscommunication trope "oh I like this friend for a long time but I'm not sure she likes me back, but i dont want to ruin our friendship" is VERY high school YA. The teasing back and forth because they have a crush on each other...🤮

I couldn't bring myself to read the entire book. I stopped at 70% and at that point, was only reading the diolague. Also, how old are they that they're still having sneaky car sex? The smutty scenes were cringey and I didn't even want to read through that.

If I can rewind back in time to before I picked up this book, I would. Save yourself some time and avoid this one.

[angel · Rating 4 out of 5]

thank you to the author and publisher for my ARC of STNC in exchange for my honest review

"the sun would have to burn to the end of its life before i'll ever stop loving you" - andy

this book was such a fun, heartfelt, and steamy read. a smutty romance novel written by an asian woman with asian leads? sign me tf up. despite being a romance novel, i thought the book handled topics of grief extremely well. i teared up during some passages discussing julie's dad.

another thing that immediately drew me to the book is the hmong rep. it's hard enough finding a novel that a) isn't about POC and their struggles and b) has 2 POC MCs (i'm looking at you, people who write one POC MC and the other *always being white*). i'm new fan to the friends-to-lovers trope, and this checked all my boxes. the pet names, the obvious yearning from one side while the other person is completely oblivious - give it to me!!

it was a slow burn in terms of spice, but when the spice hits, it hits. i do wish it hit a little earlier on, but don't worry, you'll get some spicy content.

overall, i'm just overjoyed to be supporting a hmong woman, and am excited to see what she comes up with next :)

[౨ৎhan.ban.amazingness౨ৎ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.2 stars
First of all, I love how the mmc and fmc are both Asian and how much they love Legos.

Next, I love the childhood best friends to lovers troop and the he falls first troop so I knew that I was going to love this book sm.

but.... I did feel that there could have definitely been more tension and that they would confess their feelings later on in the book so that it would have more build-up tension.

Overall this book was pretty good but could definitely use a little more build-up tension.

[zoe ✧･ﾟ: * · Rating 4 out of 5]

best friends to lovers is 🫶🏼

[Vianna · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️’s

I am incredibly thankful and honored to be given access to the Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of Some Things Never Change by Cee Yang! As someone who is also Hmong American, I absolutely adored how the Hmong culture was depicted through Andy and Julie’s eyes. The mention of the red curry noodle soup, Khao Poon, to welcome Andy and Julie back home had me screaming, “OMG, me too!”

Ever since I moved away from my family, the one and only thing I ever request my sister to make when she visits me, or when I visit them, is khao poon. It’s my comfort food, the dish I remember from family gatherings, the meal I had when my husband left for Basic Military Training. I relate so much to this; it brought back fond memories with my cousins and aunts, being surrounded by family for hours on end.

From childhood best friends to lovers, this book embodied the essence of both cuteness and irresistible passion. I’m not afraid to admit that I’ve cried just on how ADORABLE Andy and Julie are together AND gasped on the spice the author brings to the table. It was definitely brought and served HOT! The way Andy notices the small things about Julie and the way Julie cares for Andy’s passions and hobbies have me screaming, giggling, and kicking my feet for how cute and perfect they are together. I loved reading every second of this book and will certainly be reading it again!

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Julie and Andy are the definition of young love. They were inseparable from the day they met as kids, their moms being best friends since before immigrating to America.

Andy leaves for college (he being older by a few years) Julie is left with a crush to get over as their friendship remains at a distance. Now all grown up she finds herself in a new city, new job, new outlook on life and moving in with Andy as a roommate until she finds her own place.

During their time living together, stolen glances, grazing touches, reignite Julie's feelings leaving her wonder whether or not she ever got over Andy. After a night of them hanging out, Andy discloses his feelings for one particular person, someone he has known for a long time, that accepted him for his Lego building hobby, saw him for him. Curiosity got the better part of Julie, wanting to know who wouldn't want someone as good looking, charming, and kind as Andy. I mean, come on, Julie!! All the arrows pointed to you! Andy leaves it at that, a cliff hanger for her to figure out and not wanting to test the waters quite yet, wanting to ensure what he thought to be true (that she reciprocated the same feelings) to be in fact true.

Some Things Never Change was such a great debut novel for Cee Yang, I enjoyed reading the hidden crush and lingering comments, actions that pointed out the obvious love for one another, reminds you how simple love can be.

Thank you, Cee for my ARC - I can't wait to see what other novels you write!

[Moon child · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not Even ashamed

[kiab.reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 ⭐️

I cried @1:00 AM reading their confessions to each other. I’m not sure as to why I was so emotional but it has to be because of the heartfelt words that the author put into her writing. Andy’s confession to Julie was so so beautiful. I told my sister that I hope one day my future kids will find a love like this. 💗

Author Cee Yang did such a great job at her debut novel here. I truly enjoyed seeing the references of the Hmong Culture and language used in this novel as it’s not known a lot to others. It made me happy to see my language and culture inputted into something I love. 🫶🏻

[✨S H E L B S✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨ A R C B O O K R E V I E W ✨

Some Things Never Change by Cee Yang

R A T I N G: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒖𝒏 𝒘𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒖𝒓𝒏 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒆𝒏𝒅 𝒐𝒇 𝒊𝒕𝒔 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆 𝒃𝒆𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝑰’𝒍𝒍 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒑 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒚𝒐𝒖.”

🩷S Y N O P S I S 🩷
Julie and Andy have been best friends since they were kids. They were next door neighbors and their moms were childhood friends as well. So when Julie gets a new job in the big city where Andy is now living, Andy offers to let her room with him instead of trying to find an apartment. The arrangement seems to be total perfection for the pair and they fall into a routine quite easily, but the close proximity starts to dig up past feelings for Julie and Andy’s flirty banter doesn’t really help. When Andy reveals that he’s been secretly in love with a girl for years, Julie decides that she has to tell him how she feels. Will the boy next door feel the same or will she be friend zoned forever?

🩷M Y T H O U G H T S 🩷
I had some trouble getting into this book at first, but once I did, I absolutely loved it. I love the representation of another culture! I really loved how it was incorporated into the writing and I thought that it really added an another layer to the characters. I also love the development of the character’s relationship although, I do think it got a little tedious at one point because it felt obvious that Andy was in love with Julie. Later in the book, it was revealed that everyone around the two of them knew how Andy felt while Julie remained clueless. Once I got to that point, the fact that it felt obvious to the reader felt a little more intentional. As if we were just like their family and friends. All in all, I would totally recommend this book. The banter is top notch, the spice is perfection, the couple is adorable. It has all the right ingredients for fun, kicking your feet in the air, romance novel debut!

Thank you to Cee Yang and her team for providing me with an advanced review copy and congratulations on your debut novel! I cannot wait to see what else you have in store for us readers! 🩷

[skyla · Rating 3 out of 5]

I tried something different with my reviewing style today so please bear with me! 🫶

Ratings :
✨✨✨/5
🌶️/5

Review :
Plot : I liked the plot. I think it was cute and I loved all the adorable moments between Julie and Andy! I also loved all of the little moments with the family and Cindy, and I really loved the epilogue being from Andy’s POV as this whole book is by Julie’s POV, however I feel like the plot was a little rushed in some sections and it also felt like bits were missing. For example Julie’s date, the few spa dates with Julie and the moms etc.

Characters : I don’t really have much to say about the characters to be honest. Andy was such an adorable love interest and I loved how Julie and Andy interacted with each other. There was flirting, some banter and some funny moments that I thought were really good, And I loved all the side characters. Hopefully we will see a book with Anthony’s love interest 🤭

Writing : I wasn’t a very big fan of the writing style. I can’t really explain what about it I didn’t like but it just wasn’t for me, but it didn’t fully put me off the book so that’s a positive. There was just some points where I was tempted to DNF.

Overall : I saw this book a lot on TikTok (the author kept popping up on my fyp 😂) and I was expecting to like it a lot more than I did but it’s still a pretty good book. I don’t know if I’d personally suggest it to others but if someone asked for the specific tropes in this book then I’d mention this book!

[Ashley Day · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love how they became best friend at a very young age. She moved to a new city for a job and moved in with her childhood best friend! They always had feelings for each other but never shared how they felt till everything started becoming confusing when they lived together!

♤ childhood best friend
♤ he falls first
♤ he's very protective over her
♤ lived together
♡ New city, New job

I wanted to move to their relationship. What happened after the big step of life! The ending was amazing. I just wish it showed a little bit more of them growing old together!

[Mia Sanchez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating - 4.4 rounded up to 4

This was so close to being my first 5-star of 2025! It perfectly scratched my itch of reading amazing friends to lovers!

Andy is the greenest flag to ever exist, I swear to god! Julie also, tbh. All her pet names for Andy had me giggling and kicking my feet. The chemistry of these two in and out of the bedroom is just 😍🥵

There were a few parts that I felt like dragged on too long, which is why I couldn't give it 5 stars. But if you like friends to lovers, this is an amazing read that I highly recommend ❤️

[Elise · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this little cozy romance! Andy is so hopelessly in love with Julie and it had me swooning! I loved the Hmong culture that Yang weaved into the story. It really showed how much appreciation she has for her culture and sharing it in this way was elegantly done. Also, the last chapter was in Andy’s POV and I SCREAMED!!! Although this is a cozy romance, it definitely gets spicy!!

[Jess · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute over all, but a slow read.

[Mena · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. What a cute and fun debut novel! Being Hmong myself, I love the representation, it's not often to see us as a minority group being represented. It is nice to see our history being told. I can't wait to read more of Cee's future works. The heroine, Julie, exceeded my expectations, and I found myself loving her character more than I initially thought I would. 💖

What stood out to me was Julie's realization of her lingering feelings for Andy. The meticulous analysis of her emotions and her willingness to confess, regardless of the potential impact on their friendship, added depth to the story.

I appreciate that Julie's decision wasn't impulsive but a carefully considered choice. She didn't hesitate, contrasting with Andy's premeditated plan to make her fall in love with him. Julie took control and cut to the chase, making their interactions, banter, and the overall dynamic between them all the more engaging.

The chemistry between Julie and Andy was not only fun and cute but also had a steamy edge. As I delved deeper into the story, the characters came to life, and the sparks between them flew off the pages. 🌶🌶🌶

In summary, I not only liked this book but LOVED it. The careful development of characters, the cute plot, and the sizzling chemistry between Julie and Andy made for a captivating read. It will definitely be one of my comfy romance re-reads.

[Marcela · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well that was very spicy.

Best Friends to lovers where he falls first.

The banter between Andy and Julie is top notch. The love confession is swoon worthy.

This was so very spicy. I’m ok with a little spice but I don’t think I’m into reading chapter after chapter of people railing each other.

[Cody · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cee Yang’s inaugural venture into the world of literature with Some Things Never Changed proves to be a promising start. This cozy debut novel invites readers into a world that is both familiar and refreshing. From the first page, Yang’s narrative style charms with its simplicity, making it an easy and enjoyable read. The brevity of the book ensures that it doesn’t overstay its welcome, yet leaves a lasting impression with its warmth and humor.

The story unfolds effortlessly, drawing readers into the lives of its characters with a delightful blend of relatability and whimsy. Yang’s skill in crafting authentic dialogue and endearing personalities makes it easy to root for the cast as they navigate the ups and downs of life. While this book may not reinvent the wheel, it certainly offers a comforting embrace for those seeking a light hearted escape.

The brief yet meaningful incorporation of Hmong culture offers readers a glimpse into a world they may not have encountered before. While I craved a deeper exploration of this rich heritage, there’s no denying the value of its inclusion, especially for those unfamiliar with Hmong traditions. The characters leap off the page with a vibrant three dimensionality that invites readers to connect on a personal level. Each character, carefully crafted by Yang’s pen, possesses depth that makes them feel like friends we’ve known for years.

While the smooth sailing and gradual build up of Julie and Andy’s romance may align with the cozy and easygoing vibe of the book, I actually prefer a bit of romantic turmoil to spice things up in a story when I read a book. After all, a little conflict can add depth and tension to a love story, keeping readers emotionally invested in the outcome.

The inclusion of everyday life chapters initially offers readers a refreshing glimpse into the mundane yet relatable moments that shape the characters’ lives. However, as the story progressed, these slices of daily routine began to feel repetitive and lost their impact, leaving me longing for more substantial plot development.

Yang’s skillful crafting of the romantic dynamic between Julie and Andy infuses the narrative with a palpable tension that is both charming and alluring. From playful exchanges to subtle gestures of affection, the chemistry between the protagonists crackles with energy, adding an exciting layer of depth to the story. Despite its easygoing demeanor, the book delivers a delightful dose of flirty banter and an unexpected amount of spice, which I truly appreciated (lol) that keeps the pages turning with anticipation.

In conclusion, Some Things Never Changed stands out as a stellar debut novel by Cee Yang. The book’s cozy charm, relatable characters, and the unexpected depth of its romantic elements make for an engaging and enjoyable read. With a keen understanding of human connections and a knack for crafting narratives that resonate, Yang has certainly established herself as an author worth watching.

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Some Things Never Change

ARC Review*

The start of the story jumps right into the romance. The main characters are established right away, giving a strong foundation to the plot of the story. There is obvious flirtation but with a naive character who just does not want to believe what is in her heart. Not only were the characters having butterflies, I was having them too! I swooned right away and immediately fell for lovable Andy.

Let’s appreciate the childhood friends to lovers and the falling for the boy next door tropes. The author truly put heart into establishing a sweet romance right from the beginning. My heartstrings were tugged literally within the first page of the novel! As we get further into the book, we learn of their relationship as best friends and how close they are in each other’s lives. There were plenty of precious scenes that painted the whole romantic picture. Small moments between the two as they reminisced their youths made me want to jump into the story and give them hugs. They were so close to forming a romantic bond but it took years to actually cave in and admit their feelings.

Another important aspect of Some Things Never Change is the inclusion of the Hmong culture. The way the author had interwoven the history and representation into the story was thoughtfully laid out. I appreciate the time spent to share the ethnicity through traditions, family, and love. Not only do we not read many books with a person of color as the main character, but for a spicy novel, it is not that common. It was refreshing to read a healthy relationship grow from the point of view of a Hmong character. I got a taste of who the Hmong group are and it was told to me with compassion. Honestly, the main points of Some Things Never Change were balanced out nicely; culture, romance, and spice.

[Melissa Widener · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some Things Never Change by Cee Yang
4.1⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: Romance
Format: ebook

Loved:
*learning Hmong American culture
*best friends to lovers
*two families relationship
*main characters' support of each other

Loved Less:
*curse words
*main characters' obliviousness

Description:
Julie Lo’s new interior design job leads her to relocate to a new city. But, it’s the familiar presence of her childhood friend and new roommate —Andy K. Hughes—that steals the spotlight.
They grew up with their lives deeply interwoven, thanks to their moms’ unbreakable friendship. As two adults now living together, nostalgia reignites as rediscover the magic of falling back in love with old hobbies.
Julie is finally happy with her life again after moving away from a city that never welcomed her. In Santa Mariana, things feel just right. But life takes an unexpected turn after a date with “Mr. Perfect.” She also discovers Andy has been in love with a college friend for the last decade.
All this tips the axis of her world when she realizes that maybe that old teenage secret crush she used to have on him hasn’t completely dimmed out.
Will Julie seize this opportunity and muster the courage to do what she should have done years ago?

My opinion:
This is my first best friends/neighbors to lovers books, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I really liked reading about characters who have known each other forever find love. However, I found Julie and Andy's obliviousness to each other's feelings for soooo long to be a little unbelievable at times. I loved seeing two characters truly support each other in all aspects of their lives who really just enjoyed spending time together. I also appreciated learning about the Hmong American culture, beliefs, and holidays. The Lo and Hughes families were written beautifully. I could have done without the curse words. I would recommend this novel to those who delight in feel-good romance that also includes learning other cultures.

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

“You are the beauty poets have written sonnets for millennia. That is what you are.”

I need to give a huge thank you to cee yang for bringing on as one of her ARC readers and allowing me to read some things never change!

Julie and Andy are childhood best friends that move in with each other when Julie relocates her career. Julie has always had feelings for him, but does he feel the same? when I tell you I was giggling, kicking, and screaming through this whole book!🤭

reading through their relationship as it changes and blossoms into something beautiful was so sweet and magical. it was paced out so well, the slow burn was at a perfect cadence that made it angsty and leaving you yearning for them to be together! (and the spice👀!!) cee yang nailed it on the head! I ate this book up with the childhood friends to lovers, flirty banter (your girl LOVES some good banter), angsty slow burn, and hot spice🥵🤩

I also loved how the main characters are so connected with their families and Hmong heritage. I really enjoyed learning tidbits about practices and foods in the Hmong culture! the undertones of dealing with grief were written beautifully and the feelings that accompany it were articulated so well in how julie and her brother, jonathan, said.

my heart was fluttering as I read this book, it was written so well and I was able to connect with the characters so easily. Julie and Andy are so lovable! PROTECT THEM AT ALL COSTS!🥹 cee yang is now one of my new auto-read authors, and I can’t wait to see what she does next! (wouldn’t mind a sequel in the future…👀)

**I was given this ARC in exchange for an honest review**

[Samantha Black · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some Things Never Change 💐 (ARC Review) by Cee Yang

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/🌶️🌶️

I was absolutely thrilled to receive an Advanced Reader Copy of Some Things Never Change by Cee Yang! This is her debut novel and I am an absolute sucker for a wholesome friends to lovers slowburn, so I was super excited to dig into this one! 🥰

Some Things Never Change follows the story of Julie! She is a Hmong-American woman who is moving from San Ignacio to Santa Monica, California in order to start a new job and is in the need of a new apartment. Enter Andrew K. Hughes, (aka Julie’s childhood best friend… boy next door… AND long time crush) to the rescue! Andy offers the spare bedroom in his house up to Julie in the hopes that it will make her move easier and BAM, they’re instant roommates! 😮‍💨

I absolutely loved the banter and dynamic between Julie and Andy. Despite being the modern day equivalent of a Greek God, Andy is shy. I love that Julie supports him and his hobbies and helps bring out his confidence. Meanwhile, Andy helps Julie adjust to life in Santa Monica and helps her bring happiness back into her life that she had long been missing! I also absolutely love their adorable nicknames for one another. 💗

This is a slowwwburrrrn romance in the best way! If you want a smutty book, this is not for you! However if you are a sucker for an angsty friends to lovers romance, this is right up your alley! There is some spice and yes, it is steamy!!! But this is not a smutty novel. That being said, I absolutely loved it and you should absolutely add it to your TBR! 📚

[Bianca Valiente · Rating 5 out of 5]

Firstly, thank you for the opportunity to allow me to read an ARC of STNC! This was such an unexpected read, but one I truly needed 💕

Julie and Andy...Andy and Julie

"Best friends at first sight"

This was the best childhood friends to lovers book I have ever read and I'm serious. These two were like peanut butter and jelly!! I loved how well written it was and how fun and enjoyable it was as well.

Andy Hughes...what the heck man. I would have had a crush on him as well if I was Julie!! This man was literally an angel, such patience he had with Julie. He's caring, gentle and made her feel like she was the only woman to ever exist. And let me tell you something, he is such a FLIRT!! 🥵❤️ And he loves building legos too!!!

Julie Lo...WOMAN!!! I kept telling you he was giving hints!!! But of course you are a fictional character who cannot hear me😭😭 She is so sweet and compassionate and a person who'd love to have around!! I enjoyed how bold and confident she became!

These two were an absolute gem and it was funny, giggly, flirty and emotional to read.🥰

‼️SPOILER‼️ The scene on the ninth floor private bathroom!! I have to thank Cindy for the suggestion! Andy and Julie tried denying it in the beginning but they knew if was going to happen one way or another 😉

5/5 ⭐
3.7/5 🌶️

Tropes:
💗 Childhood Friends To Lovers
💗 Flirty Banter
💗 Contemporary Romance
💗 Cohabitation
💗 Cozy But Spicy

[Steph Sparkles · Rating 4 out of 5]

Let me start with what I loved: I love the way this book is written! I found myself not wanting to put it down most of the time because I needed to know what was going to happen next! I can also relate a lot to Julie on her journey of finding a new life after a controlling relationship. I love all of the family dynamics between both Andy and Julie's families, and I really love when everyone is together. You can feel the love in the pages. Also... I LOVED THE STEAMINESS AND THE WAIT WAS WORTH IT!! OMG!! Every steamy scene was PERFECTION and frankly I could read those over and over!! Aye yi YI!! Gimme more of that, please and thank you!!

In saying that... I don't love Andy. He's fine, but he has some issues that are maybe only apparent to me, after going through my own personal life experiences. I really don't love the running scene in the beginning of the book. Both Andy and Anthony are being pretty misogynistic the entire time, from being OVERLY concerned about a woman alone (this happens several times throughout the book) and the competitiveness. The other part that turned me a little off on Andy was how he acted when Julie even started to mention going on a date with someone. He acts very possessive and childish and I just didn't like it.

Thank you to the author Cee Yang for the opportunity to read and review this book.

[Emily Braun · Rating 5 out of 5]

"𝙱𝚎𝚜𝚝 𝚏𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚗𝚍𝚜 𝚊𝚝 𝚏𝚒𝚛𝚜𝚝 𝚜𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝”
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
Being the first childhood best friends to lovers story I’ve read - it was A D O R A B L E.

Our main characters were honest to heavens made for eachother and it was so captivating to read such a connection between two people.it was a very enjoyable read that left me giggling, smiling and overalls just happy.

Andy Hughes(MMC)..no words. I can 106% see why Julie (FMC) has such a crush on him! He was kind, patient, understanding and just a dream. Reading how he made her feel seen and loved but was also a good who loved legos made it all that more relatable.

Now…Julie Lo - she was perfection in her own way! I found myself guiding her to him as I read! My poor hubby asked me to not yell at book characters a few times. 🤪 But of course they are fictional characters who cannot hear me. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Such a sweet and compassionate character who really few her confidence throughout the book.

These two were an absolute gem and it was funny, giggly, flirty and emotional to read and I’d do it again in a heartbeat.

🅣🅡����🅟🅔🅢:
* Childhood Friends To Lovers
* Flirty Banter
* Contemporary Romance
* ��Cohabitation
* ��Cozy But Spicy

[Roselia Hernandez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some things never change by Cee Yang

“Maybe it’s because you’re meant to be with someone else. Someone who makes you feel that connection you were looking for.”

Rating: 5/5✨

Spicy: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Thoughts: 💭

This book was so cute! To be honest it was so cute that I didn’t want to stop reading it. 😢 It brought out so much love from both of the main characters and the relationship they had before they got together. Like too cute in my opinion 💗 So this book got to be a 5/5✨
One thing I love is bringing in the Hmong culture into this book. I have heard a lot of this culture and when I saw it was apart of the book my mouth dropped. I was able to learn a bit more on how they celebrated the new year, as majority of the Asian culture celebrate it different times of the year. But reading it from a different perspective was great! Thank you for sharing!
Another thing I enjoyed was the friendship both Julie and Andy had. Like ugh, that how it’s suppose to be before you get into a relationship. Both sides need to feel comfortable among each other, and not only love one another but must have friendship that’s unbreakable. Love it to the max!
I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves:
1) Friends X Lovers
2) Delulu Main characters
3) Family Oriented characters

[Aryana Schneider · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so cute! I enjoyed learning about the Hmong culture through the book and really appreciated that Cee Yang shared their culture with us in a way that was fun and entertaining versus an overly "nonfiction" kind of way, if you know what I mean. It was truly seamless with the story. I loved that the book started off hitting the ground running; There wasn't one of those over-explanatory first chapters. The history between Julie and Andy, and honesty the Hughes and Los as a whole, was soooooo sweet! Especially how literally everyone knew about Julie and Andy's feelings for each other, except the two of them. The unconditional love and support Julie and Andy shared for one another was so genuine and precious. I had a smile on my face almost the entire time I was reading this book! It's a relatively quick read (I completed in one day), lighthearted, rom-com, friends-to-lovers, slow burn, basically perfect all the way around! The only thing that took me a bit to get used to was that it is only a single perspective. Which is totally fine and obviously didn't change my view on the book at all, but after reading primarily Third Person or Dual POVs, it took me a hot minute to get used to.

[Megan Potter · Rating 3 out of 5]

🌸 ARC Review 🌸

First, thank you so much Cee Yang for sending me an ARC to review! I appreciate the opportunity. 😊

I want to say that I overall enjoyed this book! The story is about Julie and her childhood best friend Andy, finally admitting their love as adults. It was cute, a bit spicy 🌶️, and a feel good romance.

Things I didn’t love (hence 3 stars):
🌸 I didn’t fall for Andy as much as I hoped BUT I truly think this is personal preference. He was a great guy and a good MMC. However, he was just not my type. A little too shy for me, but a sweetheart. And the scene where he comments about her outfit going on a date gave me an ick.

🌸 I could not get over the word “mewl”. Lol. Such a silly thing but I’m trying to be honest and thorough.

🌸 The love felt too EASY, and also Julie was *painfully* oblivious to Andy being in love with her to the point it annoyed me. I am typically an enemies to lovers girly, so again, just my personal taste.

That being said, it was a well written book!! I think it’s a perfect feel-good read. ❤️ Congrats on your debut, Cee Yang. I will look out for more of your books in the future.

[Tatiana · Rating 4 out of 5]

“She would rather live a life with the person that made her happy than with one that didn't bring her an ounce of that, even if it would be painful.”

Childhood romance, Best friends to lovers, Slow burn, banter and spice! Some things never change focused on Julie’s and Andy’s relationship from growing up together and having a close knit family to their present lives in adulthood and the development of their relationships and feelings both individually. I would recommend you read this book if you enjoy slow burns! I really enjoyed the focus on Hmong culture as I learned quite a bit about important cultural dishes, beliefs, and practices.

My most loved part of this book was the focus on grief and the ways it affects us all differently and the importance of having family through this tough process throughout life as it will always follow and never truly go away completely. Personally I loved the way Julie’s mom talked about her dad and explained their marriage. This part definitely left me tearing up!

Lastly, thank you to Cee Yang for sharing STNC with me and giving me the chance to read her work before it gets released into the world! 🩷