Chef's Secret

Front Desk #6

by Kelly Yang

The New York Times bestselling Front Desk series continues!Jason Yao has a secret . . . actually, lots of secrets!For one thing, it’s hard being a professional chef, helping to run a motel, and being a regular kid! And now that Mia Tang is officially his girlfriend, Jason’s life has reached a whole new level of exciting—and terrifying! After all, Mia is amazing, and Jason is . . . just Jason. But he’s determined to be the best boyfriend ever, and he knows exactly what he needs to Plan the perfect first date. Thanks to his dad's new scheme to bring fancier guests to the motel, Jason is working harder than ever—and earning even bigger tips, which means he can treat Mia to the dinner of her dreams!2. Be less cringe, especially around other guys. And try to make some guy friends his own age! Maybe then he can finally move on from those bullies who tormented him in fourth grade.3. Don’t let Mia know the real him. Mia can never find out the darkest secrets that Jason is keeping—no one can!Jason knows he’s got his work cut out for him, but hey, if he can date a girl like Mia Tang, anything’s possible, right?

Genres: Middle Grade, Realistic Fiction, Audiobook, Historical Fiction, Friendship, Fiction, Romance

237 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 3, 2025

About the author

Kelly Yang is the New York Times bestselling, award-winning author of the FRONT DESK series, winner of the 2019 Asian Pacific American Award for Children's Literature. Her books include FRONT DESK, THREE KEYS, ROOM TO DREAM, PARACHUTES, NEW FROM HERE, and other middle grade and young adult novels. She was born in China and grew up in Los Angeles. She went to college at the age of 13 and graduated from UC Berkeley at the age of 17 and Harvard Law School at the age of 20. After law school, she founded The Kelly Yang Project, a writing and debating program for children in Asia. Prior to becoming a novelist, she wrote for many years for the South China Morning Post, The New York Times, Washington Post, and the Atlantic. She lives in Los Angeles with her family.

Reviews

[ting]

wdym we’re getting MIAJASON ENDGAME.

[averie · Rating 4 out of 5]

OMGGGGGG I AM SERIOUSLY FREAKING OUT RIGHT NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! IM SO EXCITED!!!!!!!!!!!!! MIA+JASON ✨

[joni ౨ৎ (semi-ia)]

so i need to catch up on this series but i loved the first 3 books so really excited for this one!!!

[rowan ꩜ · Rating 4 out of 5]

read july 8th
really cute story<3


MIAANDJASON OMG. cant wait!!!

[kass!]

guys why was the synopsis changed- it used to be abt Mia Finding out his secrets?? lol

[Lilli H · Rating 1 out of 5]

I can’t wait to read this! Jason is one of my favorite characters and is so genuine and sweet. I’m so glad this is told from Jason’s POV. I hope we get one from Lupe’s too!



Edit:
What is this? This book made absolutely no sense. This sweet, sweet kid turned out to be a mopey and whiny person who stole from his own parents and his own employees who were so kind. And also, in the other books, if Mia’s in one scene, there’s a 60% chance of Jason being in it, despite it being about Mia. There was no Lupe, which makes me sad, bc Lupe is the best, and Mia had maybe 10 pages of page time, out of this 300 page book.

To all you other Lupe fans: Don’t read this; you’ll be disappointed.

[Dramapuppy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn’t mind the POV change as much as I thought I might, but I did mind the laser focus on romance. I’ve read books marketed as YA Romance that spent less time on relationship woes.

It irritates me even more that Lupe came out and got a bad response two books ago, then spent the next book doing unrelated stuff, and now is entirely absent while Jason and Mia have their boy-girl romance. Can we please just give Lupe a crush to awkwardly hold hands with?

[Stan Yan · Rating 5 out of 5]

As much as I adore Kelly's Front Desk series, making Jason the protagonist for this book might be her crowning achievement. There's so much to like about this redemption story for a extremely flawed character whose past haunts him, threatening to derail his budding relationship with his new girlfriend, Mia.

[Nev · Rating 3 out of 5]

In the 6th Front Desk book the POV character switches from being Mia to Jason. While there were aspects of Jason’s story that I really appreciated, I also didn’t quite enjoy him as much as Mia as the main character. I did think it was interesting to explore his issues with anger management and his feelings of inadequacy and guilt for things he did in the past.

It was also very distracting how Kelly Yang would use more modern language that wouldn’t have been used by a kid in the early 2000s. Like there’s a scene with Jason calling his dad out for body-shaming him. If that scene existed with different language I think it could’ve worked, but actually having Jason say “body-shaming” doesn’t make sense. I understand that she’s writing these books for a modern middle grade audience, but if you’re choosing to have books set in the past then try to use period appropriate dialogue.

[TheNextGenLibrarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 6️⃣ in the Front Desk #MG #series by @kellyyanghk
🧑🏻‍🍳
Jason Yao has grown a lot since he was in elementary school. He now aspires to be a modern chef and earn a Michelin star for the restaurant he runs with Hank. He also wants to be a good person and a great boyfriend now that he and Mia are a couple. Jason struggles with anger outbursts, telling the truth to those around him and coming clean for past misdeeds. As he fights to pursue his own path, he’ll have to find the courage to be honest and stay calm.
🧑🏻‍🍳
This is the first #book in the series that is told from another perspective that’s not Mia’s and I absolutely love that Kelly made this choice. I loved seeing how much Jason has grown and his true and deep feelings for Mia. I never want this series to end!
CW in comments.
CW: microagressions, theft, classism

[alina ⋆˚࿔]

WAIT WE'RE GETTING MIA+JASON AFTER 5 BOOKS OF WAITING

[Sophia Miranda]

MY SHAYLASSSSS

[Chloe Matysiak]

Not that I didn't like this book, but I have SO many other books to get through and it is a lot. I will probably get back to this later, and maybe in the foreseeable future. Although, it was a great first 10 pages lol.

[Jan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was sure this 6th book was going to be the last one in the series. Things really ended at a good place for everyone. Mia and Jason had become girlfriend and boyfriend at the end of the previous book. A few issues came up soon in this book (Jason reverting back to not telling the truth about things he was ashamed of), but after lots of talking and apologies they got back on track with a solid relationship. Mia continued to be her smart, dynamic, go-getter self who never gave up and got to the bottom of how and why her parents got taken advantage of when they bought their house. She figured it out and got it handled. I wish I had a Mia who could do the same for me! Jason even got some guy friends! Real ones who really liked him for who he was and not what they could scam out of him or get him to buy for them like the fake friends he had a few years ago. He was also able with Mia's help to right a wrong from that time with the fake friends when he ended up hurting people he cared about. So, I thought, yeah, good way to end the series. Right after I finished the book I went online to double check if it was the last book and found out it's maybe not! Kelly Yang said in an interview she might write more books in the series. Cool! Something to look forward to!

[Cate Holden · Rating 5 out of 5]

yay! I've been waiting so long for another front desk book! I loved this one, as I have loved all of the other ones

[Ivy Bahler · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too many morals. 😅

[Lotta-Sofia Saahko · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderfully fun book! The Front Desk series is one of my favourite middle grade series ever — if not my favourite! It’s about Mia, whose family are immigrants from China working in a motel, and their journey to living their dreams. 🇺🇸 Mia is a fierce, determined and driven young girl and I adore her… 💪but this 6th book was written from her new boyfriend’s, Jason’s, perspective! 👨‍🍳
Not only was the story heartwarming, the writing style and voice was absolutely incredible! Kelly, I have so much to learn from you! 🤩 Jason, who loves cooking, constantly uses food-related comparisons, he speaks directly to the reader (“don’t judge me!”), is adorably awkward and the first person present tense narration couldn’t have been executed in a more charming way.
I love this series so much and this was a gorgeous addition! Can’t wait for more!! 📚✨

[Đức Nhật · Rating 5 out of 5]

16/03/2025: Hóng lắm luôn ấy, tập 6 và lại được tiếp tục được đồng hàng với Mia.

24/07/2025: Khá bất ngờ khi cuốn sách này tập trung vào Jason Yao và Mia chỉ còn là nhân vật phụ.

Nhưng đồng thời mình thích cách tác giả miêu tả "tính nam" trong câu chuyện về trẻ em - thanh thiếu niên này. Jason đã phạm phải nhiều sai lầm trong quá khứ, thậm chí trong hiện tại ở chính tập này, đã có những giây phút nổi nóng, không kiểm soát được cảm xúc và nói những lời làm người khác đau lòng. Tất cả cũng vì sự tự ti mặc cảm từ bản thân khiến cậu bạn có những hành động làm tổn thương những người cậu yêu thương.

Mình thông cảm cho những điều đó, và mình vui vì cậu đã có thể thay đổi, sửa sai và sống một cuộc đời có ý nghĩa. Sự nhân vật trong những câu chuyện của cô Kelly Yang luôn làm mình thấy ấm lòng.

[Dalila Labrada Soto · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn’t expecting to read a Front Desk book with Jason Yao as the narrator, but I absolutely loved it! Three sentences in and I was already laughing. Jason is a silly and interesting narrator, and I loved learning more about his story and his problems from his perspective.

Jason has grown so much from the first book in this series, and his determination to continue improving is admirable and inspiring. Also, his excitement for being Mia’s boyfriend is really sweet, and I’m so happy for them! I’m also impressed and touched by Mr. Yao’s character growth and his improved relationship with his son. I started out hating Mr. Yao in Book 1, but I’m really proud of the journey he’s continuing to take to becoming a better father, husband, and person.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jason tends to drive me a bit crazy, but his perspective is also very important to the overall story, and has important lessons to learn. It’s also interesting to see his parents learn and grow. It was a quick read also, which is always what I’m looking for from middle grade.

[Heidi Burkhart · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot resist this series! The minute a new book comes out I find myself racing through it. Now of course I start hoping that Kelly Yang is writing book #7!

Please!

Such an excellent series on so many levels!

Thank you Kelly Yang!

[Mae · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book #98/2025. The 6th book in the series. This time its from the view of Jason, Mia's friend. His parents want to be part of the Country Club and make themselves appear a certain way that Jason doesnt agree with. Meanwhile Mia has problems of her own and he's trying to be the best he can with her.

[Violet Parma · Rating 5 out of 5]

WHAT IS JASON’S SECRETT!! Can’t wait for the bookkk

[Ana Cortes · Rating 5 out of 5]

A heartwarming story about second chances!

[Juliette Anderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s such a good book with lots of secrets to know

[Shelby M. (Read and Find Out) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall rating: 3.75 stars

Style/writing: 3.5 stars
Themes: 4 stars
Characters: 4 stars
Plot: 3.5 stars

Trigger warnings: Description of past bullying

[Bethe · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Calavista narrative continues with Jason’s pov, now he and Mia are boy/girlfriends.
His parents want to get into country club, he thinks it is too much of a change for family, too bougie (my word)
Still kinda tricky to see if book is in the 1980s? Seems like it could be current day
Nice to see the angsty middle school love woes from a guy point of view.
Nice to see how Jason’s character grows.

[amy :) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5 stars!!!
expectations were high expectations were met. i loved this book esp bc it’s written in jasons pov!!! it was such a fun and humorous lil read, i loved every bit of it! from this book we understand the difficulties of jason other than “ mia’s boyfriend “ although i do wish it was LONGER and more jason mia love scenes, maybe even more smooches 🤭 but overall, loved it and 100% recommend!!!

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

So sad that this is the end...for now. I know Yang has said she wants to write more in the series.

[Danielle Cozzola · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another wonderful addition to the Front Desk series! This time written from Jason's point of view as he continues to right his wrongs and grow as a business owner, friend, son, and overall person. 🥰 It is always a joy to pick up a book written by Kelly Yang!!