What do you think?
Crunchy Orange Chicken
Kaden, a shy baking nerd, is just trying to make it through the stormy seas of high school. Enter Hunter, the dreamy swim jock who crashes Kaden’s gaming session with his bestie, Gabby. Kaden, being the ultimate wingman, hatches a plan to get Gabby noticed by this Adonis in a swimsuit. But hold up, because Kaden’s protective bro, Jacob, is convinced that Hunter’s flirty vibes are aimed at none other than our sweet, oblivious Kaden. Cue the internal panic and heart palpitations every time Hunter so much as breathes in Kaden’s direction.
Just as Kaden is ready to dive headfirst into this pool of confusing emotions, a devastating tragedy cannonballs into his life, threatening to drown his already chaotic family.
Kaden must tread the treacherous waters of falling for the boy of his dreams while desperately trying to keep his family afloat. He’ll have to embark on a journey of self-discovery, and sacrifice, learning that sometimes, you’ve got to risk it all to find your way to happiness.
“Crunchy Orange Chicken” is perfect for fans of “Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda” and “Heartstopper.”
Just as Kaden is ready to dive headfirst into this pool of confusing emotions, a devastating tragedy cannonballs into his life, threatening to drown his already chaotic family.
Kaden must tread the treacherous waters of falling for the boy of his dreams while desperately trying to keep his family afloat. He’ll have to embark on a journey of self-discovery, and sacrifice, learning that sometimes, you’ve got to risk it all to find your way to happiness.
“Crunchy Orange Chicken” is perfect for fans of “Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda” and “Heartstopper.”
354 pages, Paperback
Published October 20, 2024
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October 8, 2026
There's nothing colder than your shoulder when you're dragging me along like you do, like you do / And then you switch up with no warnin' and you kiss me like you want it, how rude, how rude (Mystical Magical – Benson Boone).
Boom, I didn’t like this book all that much so it gets the Benson Boone song. Sick burn, huh? Banished to the Boone realm, Jar Jar Binks ass lyrics and all. Okay well, maybe saying I didn’t like it is a bit harsh because I actually do think there’s a lot to enjoy here for someone who isn’t me. I mean, I know I’m a broken record in this regard, but Crunchy Orange Chicken is another one of those “on paper, I should have loved this” books that I just couldn’t quite get into for no reason other than it didn’t pass the vibe check. To reiterate, there’s a book here that a lot of people will love, it’s kind of like a modern day Filipino Joy Luck Club, and due to the sheer importance of that novel, that’s just about the highest form of compliment I can give it. The reason why I’m being so careful with my language here instead of going in on the book like I would with something like The Walking Dead or Kick Ass is because I want more books like this in the world, and even though I hate describing art as important, the truth of the matter is that there’s a lot of literature that is important, and Crunchy Orange Chicken deserves a spot on the list simply because of how out-the-box unique it is. Sure, “unique” isn’t necessarily a compliment in the strictest sense, you don't want to hear “you’re very unique looking” when they're mentioning your appearance, but as a work of narrative fiction existing in the YA sphere, just the fact that there are still books out there trying to be different and focusing on telling a character driven story rather than adhering to TikTok trends is something that should be celebrated regardless of my own personal opinion. See, I’m looking outside of myself, all astral projecting like Doctor Strange! Besides, I’m also hesitant to talk a bunch of trash because YA books in general have some “K-Pop Stan” levels of frightening defense squads at the ready waiting to attack anybody who dares to criticize their favorite book, so I’m out here walking on eggshells whenever I’m reviewing this particular genre of literature. I wouldn’t want a review of mine to end up being read by some BookTuber sitting against the backdrop of a boring white bookshelf illuminated by fairy lights proudly featuring Ali Hazelwood, now would I?
I remember I wrote a negative review for Flash Fire by T.J. Klune where I was talking shit about how his attempt at course correcting his blasé stance on police brutality in the first installment was clumsy at best and hilariously sparse at worst, and a former Goodreads friend wrote a vaguepost review in response to me the next day saying that “people should just learn to have fun with books rather than taking everything so seriously,” so making people angry is definitely something that’s always at the back of my mind whenever I’m yapping about whatever. I mean, I was pretty generous to Flash Fire all things considered… in fact, I might even go back to that review and rate it lower seeing as we have the Letterboxd rating system at our disposal now. Call me Demi Lovato the way I'm sorry not sorry. Anyway, enough nonsense, I’ve already given you my little disclosure message about how this book is “Summer break reading list” material, so let’s talk about it! Crunchy Orange Chicken follows a shy gay boy named Kaden who’s deeply in love with some himbo named Hunter, and luckily for him, it seems like Hunter has actually had a crush on Kaden himself for some time now. Wow, lovely how these things work out, huh? So yeah, normally the entire book would revolve around this specific romance dynamic, but here we actually focus more on the complicated relationships Kaden has with his family in a very Family Stone kind of way, and even though I appreciate the romance taking a Picture Us in the Light kind of narrative back seat… I’ve got to admit I was in a bit of a romance mood, you know? Sure, that’s on me for not paying close enough attention when I read the blurb, but hey, it’s not my fault the synopsis literally only covered the first chapter! I guess my main problem with Crunchy Orange Chicken is the fact that Kaden is so damn insecure that it was hard to root for him. Also, a lot of the times the story happens to him rather than him going out of his way to move the plot forward through his own actions. In fact, even his romance with Hunter is one of convenience because the dude basically just up and tells him that he’s been in love with him all along. Kind of anticlimactic, don't you think? My reaction was mostly just like, “alright then” rather than cheering at their shared happiness.
“Everyone figured me out early on. And I refused to acknowledge it because I’m too stubborn.”
Besides, I know it’s literally Kaden’s character arc that he’ll grow into himself throughout the novel, but to that I have to say; is there anything more exhausting than having to endure someone who masks a deep sense of self-loathing under self-deprecating humor? Rhetorical question, by the way, there isn’t. I’m sorry if this is insensitive, but I have very little patience for characters whose idea of seeming humble is constantly insulting themselves. Just a stream of “he can’t possibly be attracted to me, I have braces and my hair is ugly and I’m too hairy” over and over again, and it’s like, it's your self-hatred makes you ugly, nothing else. I found this characterization especially irksome this time around because Asians in general are often the butt of the joke and have been in pop culture for a while now, and it’s to the point where even attractive Asians are still seen as lesser simply because they’re Asian. My favorite Marvel movie is Thunderbolts*, and I remember before they cast the son of the president from Independence Day as The Sentry (an all-powerful metaphor for depression or whatever), Steven Yuen from Beef and The Walking Dead was announced to be playing the character. I still think he would have killed it, but I guess it just wasn't meant to be. But yeah, after the movie came out, I remember folks saying that they were glad Steven Yuen didn’t end up playing the character because they felt like “he didn’t fit the role” or that they just "couldn't see it," even though he’s an amazing actor and is hot as fuck. Hot enough to play a Marvel superhero, that's for sure. Want to know the real reason why these folks couldn't see it? It’s because he’s Asian and they'd much rather him stay in the racist Sixteen Candles caricature of a nerdy Asian than seeing him as the brooding, darkly sexy type. Even when my guy was in The Walking Dead, they treated his romance with Maggie as the typical “can you believe this nerd is hooking up with the hot chick” kind of comedy flick pairing as if Steven Yuen and Lauren Cohan aren’t at the same level of attractiveness. Don’t get me wrong, Maggie is fine af, but we all have eyes don’t we? Don’t try to act like Steven Yuen is pulling someone way out of his league.
Moving on to something less heavy though, another reason I didn’t gel with Crunchy Orange Chicken the way I was hoping is because there were too many point-of-view chapters. Granted, three isn’t that many, but I feel like the art of having one narrator has been lost in a lot of newer books. Don’t get me wrong, I love it when we're given different perspectives, especially the love-interest’s, but it has to fit the story, and when you add a bunch of different voices to a narrative, things can just turn into a shouting match like every one of Gary Oldman’s acting performances. If there are too many voices at once, it can be bit hard to pay attention, right? Take The First to Die at the End by Adam Silvera for example, that book had so many different POV chapters that the inborn tragedy of two people in love destined to die was dulled due to a lack of overarching focus. Man, how was that garbage written by the same guy who did History is all You Left Me? Not getting into it here though! To a lesser extent, I had the same issue with Crunchy Orange Chicken, and I would have much preferred if it had followed The Way, Way Back with Sam Rockwell in its more steady focus and concise nature in that all the family drama unfolds through the main characters eyes and their eyes only. But if I were to try for the closest comparison on vibes alone, then I suppose this book is a bit like The Kids Are All Right, that movie where Mark Ruffalo tries to break up a lesbian marriage after meeting the kids he’s the biological father of. Normally that’d be a flattering comparison seeing as said movie was critically acclaimed, but I didn’t like it, so that’s where the insult comes in. Or wait, maybe it’s more like that one movie starring George Clooney and fake Native American activist/wife of an anti-vaxxer, Shailene Woodley, called The Descendants? I don’t know, I haven’t seen it, but that movie seems to focus on complicated family trauma in a similar way to Crunchy Orange Chicken. Anyway, I’ve said my piece; Crunchy Orange Chicken is a good book that wasn’t for me. It’s like when there’s an actor where you can’t quite put a finger on the specifics, but you just know there’s something you don’t like about them, and in that sense, this book is a real “Jason Sudeikis.”
But I kinda like it anyways, I don't mind if this is gonna take a million days / I know you'll come around to me eventually, if you sit back, relax, and join my company.
Boom, I didn’t like this book all that much so it gets the Benson Boone song. Sick burn, huh? Banished to the Boone realm, Jar Jar Binks ass lyrics and all. Okay well, maybe saying I didn’t like it is a bit harsh because I actually do think there’s a lot to enjoy here for someone who isn’t me. I mean, I know I’m a broken record in this regard, but Crunchy Orange Chicken is another one of those “on paper, I should have loved this” books that I just couldn’t quite get into for no reason other than it didn’t pass the vibe check. To reiterate, there’s a book here that a lot of people will love, it’s kind of like a modern day Filipino Joy Luck Club, and due to the sheer importance of that novel, that’s just about the highest form of compliment I can give it. The reason why I’m being so careful with my language here instead of going in on the book like I would with something like The Walking Dead or Kick Ass is because I want more books like this in the world, and even though I hate describing art as important, the truth of the matter is that there’s a lot of literature that is important, and Crunchy Orange Chicken deserves a spot on the list simply because of how out-the-box unique it is. Sure, “unique” isn’t necessarily a compliment in the strictest sense, you don't want to hear “you’re very unique looking” when they're mentioning your appearance, but as a work of narrative fiction existing in the YA sphere, just the fact that there are still books out there trying to be different and focusing on telling a character driven story rather than adhering to TikTok trends is something that should be celebrated regardless of my own personal opinion. See, I’m looking outside of myself, all astral projecting like Doctor Strange! Besides, I’m also hesitant to talk a bunch of trash because YA books in general have some “K-Pop Stan” levels of frightening defense squads at the ready waiting to attack anybody who dares to criticize their favorite book, so I’m out here walking on eggshells whenever I’m reviewing this particular genre of literature. I wouldn’t want a review of mine to end up being read by some BookTuber sitting against the backdrop of a boring white bookshelf illuminated by fairy lights proudly featuring Ali Hazelwood, now would I?
I remember I wrote a negative review for Flash Fire by T.J. Klune where I was talking shit about how his attempt at course correcting his blasé stance on police brutality in the first installment was clumsy at best and hilariously sparse at worst, and a former Goodreads friend wrote a vaguepost review in response to me the next day saying that “people should just learn to have fun with books rather than taking everything so seriously,” so making people angry is definitely something that’s always at the back of my mind whenever I’m yapping about whatever. I mean, I was pretty generous to Flash Fire all things considered… in fact, I might even go back to that review and rate it lower seeing as we have the Letterboxd rating system at our disposal now. Call me Demi Lovato the way I'm sorry not sorry. Anyway, enough nonsense, I’ve already given you my little disclosure message about how this book is “Summer break reading list” material, so let’s talk about it! Crunchy Orange Chicken follows a shy gay boy named Kaden who’s deeply in love with some himbo named Hunter, and luckily for him, it seems like Hunter has actually had a crush on Kaden himself for some time now. Wow, lovely how these things work out, huh? So yeah, normally the entire book would revolve around this specific romance dynamic, but here we actually focus more on the complicated relationships Kaden has with his family in a very Family Stone kind of way, and even though I appreciate the romance taking a Picture Us in the Light kind of narrative back seat… I’ve got to admit I was in a bit of a romance mood, you know? Sure, that’s on me for not paying close enough attention when I read the blurb, but hey, it’s not my fault the synopsis literally only covered the first chapter! I guess my main problem with Crunchy Orange Chicken is the fact that Kaden is so damn insecure that it was hard to root for him. Also, a lot of the times the story happens to him rather than him going out of his way to move the plot forward through his own actions. In fact, even his romance with Hunter is one of convenience because the dude basically just up and tells him that he’s been in love with him all along. Kind of anticlimactic, don't you think? My reaction was mostly just like, “alright then” rather than cheering at their shared happiness.
“Everyone figured me out early on. And I refused to acknowledge it because I’m too stubborn.”
Besides, I know it’s literally Kaden’s character arc that he’ll grow into himself throughout the novel, but to that I have to say; is there anything more exhausting than having to endure someone who masks a deep sense of self-loathing under self-deprecating humor? Rhetorical question, by the way, there isn’t. I’m sorry if this is insensitive, but I have very little patience for characters whose idea of seeming humble is constantly insulting themselves. Just a stream of “he can’t possibly be attracted to me, I have braces and my hair is ugly and I’m too hairy” over and over again, and it’s like, it's your self-hatred makes you ugly, nothing else. I found this characterization especially irksome this time around because Asians in general are often the butt of the joke and have been in pop culture for a while now, and it’s to the point where even attractive Asians are still seen as lesser simply because they’re Asian. My favorite Marvel movie is Thunderbolts*, and I remember before they cast the son of the president from Independence Day as The Sentry (an all-powerful metaphor for depression or whatever), Steven Yuen from Beef and The Walking Dead was announced to be playing the character. I still think he would have killed it, but I guess it just wasn't meant to be. But yeah, after the movie came out, I remember folks saying that they were glad Steven Yuen didn’t end up playing the character because they felt like “he didn’t fit the role” or that they just "couldn't see it," even though he’s an amazing actor and is hot as fuck. Hot enough to play a Marvel superhero, that's for sure. Want to know the real reason why these folks couldn't see it? It’s because he’s Asian and they'd much rather him stay in the racist Sixteen Candles caricature of a nerdy Asian than seeing him as the brooding, darkly sexy type. Even when my guy was in The Walking Dead, they treated his romance with Maggie as the typical “can you believe this nerd is hooking up with the hot chick” kind of comedy flick pairing as if Steven Yuen and Lauren Cohan aren’t at the same level of attractiveness. Don’t get me wrong, Maggie is fine af, but we all have eyes don’t we? Don’t try to act like Steven Yuen is pulling someone way out of his league.
Moving on to something less heavy though, another reason I didn’t gel with Crunchy Orange Chicken the way I was hoping is because there were too many point-of-view chapters. Granted, three isn’t that many, but I feel like the art of having one narrator has been lost in a lot of newer books. Don’t get me wrong, I love it when we're given different perspectives, especially the love-interest’s, but it has to fit the story, and when you add a bunch of different voices to a narrative, things can just turn into a shouting match like every one of Gary Oldman’s acting performances. If there are too many voices at once, it can be bit hard to pay attention, right? Take The First to Die at the End by Adam Silvera for example, that book had so many different POV chapters that the inborn tragedy of two people in love destined to die was dulled due to a lack of overarching focus. Man, how was that garbage written by the same guy who did History is all You Left Me? Not getting into it here though! To a lesser extent, I had the same issue with Crunchy Orange Chicken, and I would have much preferred if it had followed The Way, Way Back with Sam Rockwell in its more steady focus and concise nature in that all the family drama unfolds through the main characters eyes and their eyes only. But if I were to try for the closest comparison on vibes alone, then I suppose this book is a bit like The Kids Are All Right, that movie where Mark Ruffalo tries to break up a lesbian marriage after meeting the kids he’s the biological father of. Normally that’d be a flattering comparison seeing as said movie was critically acclaimed, but I didn’t like it, so that’s where the insult comes in. Or wait, maybe it’s more like that one movie starring George Clooney and fake Native American activist/wife of an anti-vaxxer, Shailene Woodley, called The Descendants? I don’t know, I haven’t seen it, but that movie seems to focus on complicated family trauma in a similar way to Crunchy Orange Chicken. Anyway, I’ve said my piece; Crunchy Orange Chicken is a good book that wasn’t for me. It’s like when there’s an actor where you can’t quite put a finger on the specifics, but you just know there’s something you don’t like about them, and in that sense, this book is a real “Jason Sudeikis.”
But I kinda like it anyways, I don't mind if this is gonna take a million days / I know you'll come around to me eventually, if you sit back, relax, and join my company.
April 9, 2025
Серед купи книжок, придбаних на розпродажах Амазон, я знайшов просто неймовірно приємно історію. Ця книжка однозначно є одною з найкращих прочитаних за місяць.
Ця історія розповідається з боку двох чоловіків.
Перший, п'ятнадцятирічний хлопець Кейден. Він живе з двома матерями та братом Джейкобом. Він дуже тихий та сором'язливий. Обожнює готувати, а ще таємно закоханий у найкращого друга свого брата Хантера. Але настільки невпевнений у собі, що навіть не помічає очевидний флірт з боку Хантера.
Другий чоловік, це Дункан. Біологічний батько Джейкоба та Кейдена. І мене приємно вразило, що автор зробив його напів українцем.
Також є глави від однієї з матерів хлопців. Це були дуже приємні глави про дитинство хлопців. Ці сторінки викликали у мене сльози через те, що я знаю, чим це закінчиться.
Мені дуже сподобалася книжка, особливо гумор Джейкоба.
Єдине, що зовсім трохи зіпсувало враження, це остання третина книжка. Сюжет цієї частини книжки був занадто швидким порівняно з першими 66% книги. Не сподобалося, як швидко всі проблеми вирішилися.
Але це однозначно гарна книжка, яку я рекомендую до прочитання.
Ця історія розповідається з боку двох чоловіків.
Перший, п'ятнадцятирічний хлопець Кейден. Він живе з двома матерями та братом Джейкобом. Він дуже тихий та сором'язливий. Обожнює готувати, а ще таємно закоханий у найкращого друга свого брата Хантера. Але настільки невпевнений у собі, що навіть не помічає очевидний флірт з боку Хантера.
Другий чоловік, це Дункан. Біологічний батько Джейкоба та Кейдена. І мене приємно вразило, що автор зробив його напів українцем.
Також є глави від однієї з матерів хлопців. Це були дуже приємні глави про дитинство хлопців. Ці сторінки викликали у мене сльози через те, що я знаю, чим це закінчиться.
Мені дуже сподобалася книжка, особливо гумор Джейкоба.
Єдине, що зовсім трохи зіпсувало враження, це остання третина книжка. Сюжет цієї частини книжки був занадто швидким порівняно з першими 66% книги. Не сподобалося, як швидко всі проблеми вирішилися.
Але це однозначно гарна книжка, яку я рекомендую до прочитання.
March 1, 2025
4.5 stars, had niet verwacht dat die zo goed zou zijn 😭 zo veel gehuild
June 12, 2025
5 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
5 ❤️ ❤️ ❤️ ❤️ ❤️
no 🌶
This was so good: the story had me in tears, laughing out loud (mostly because of Jacob), melting from the sweetness.
I didn’t really read the blurb, so I was a bit confused at the beginning because I couldn’t make out the main mc's: the teenage boys Kaden and Hunter, or the adult Duncan and Chip who are already together. But as I kept reading the story evolved beautifully
5 ❤️ ❤️ ❤️ ❤️ ❤️
no 🌶
This was so good: the story had me in tears, laughing out loud (mostly because of Jacob), melting from the sweetness.
I didn’t really read the blurb, so I was a bit confused at the beginning because I couldn’t make out the main mc's: the teenage boys Kaden and Hunter, or the adult Duncan and Chip who are already together. But as I kept reading the story evolved beautifully
December 11, 2025
Perfection
This one hit all the right notes, for me. Beautiful story. Exceptional characters. This is a story of remarkable love, heartbreaking loss and soul soothing redemption. And, it's so much more, as well.
The teen brothers are absolutely incredible. The love and devotion between Jacob and Kaden is written exceptionally well. You can feel it every time they react with each other. Especially during Kadens panic episodes.
Every character was so well thought out and presented. From Roz and Angie, to Hunter and Gabby and then, Duncan and Chip. I felt so much love for all of them in this novel.
I definitely think there is so much more to read about in Kaden and Jacobs story and development. Let's head to college with Kaden and Hunter. Let's go on the exploratory journey of Jacob finding his true love. Let's even possibly go back and tell more of the beautiful love between Roz and Angie.
Thank you, Trey Lari for the novel
and the feels. Please, consider writing a sequel to Crunchy Orange Chicken.
This one hit all the right notes, for me. Beautiful story. Exceptional characters. This is a story of remarkable love, heartbreaking loss and soul soothing redemption. And, it's so much more, as well.
The teen brothers are absolutely incredible. The love and devotion between Jacob and Kaden is written exceptionally well. You can feel it every time they react with each other. Especially during Kadens panic episodes.
Every character was so well thought out and presented. From Roz and Angie, to Hunter and Gabby and then, Duncan and Chip. I felt so much love for all of them in this novel.
I definitely think there is so much more to read about in Kaden and Jacobs story and development. Let's head to college with Kaden and Hunter. Let's go on the exploratory journey of Jacob finding his true love. Let's even possibly go back and tell more of the beautiful love between Roz and Angie.
Thank you, Trey Lari for the novel
and the feels. Please, consider writing a sequel to Crunchy Orange Chicken.
July 6, 2025
Clunky emotional drama
A book told by three characters across multiple timelines shouldn’t really work..but it kind of does.. Now the story is quite far fetched in some of its plotting, especially the second half, and so much of the drama is so forced that you really have to suspend your disbelief. But if you can manage that and just go with everything, then you might enjoy the emotional ride the author is trying to set up.
“Crunchy orange chicken” tells the story of Kaden as he starts to fall for his brothers best friend just as a tragic accident happens. And for the first half of the book the story has a nice believable quality of two mothers bringing up two teenage boys. The characters of the brothers are interesting and also very different in many ways. My favourite brother was Jacob. He lights up every scene he’s in, and his playful humour will have you chuckling as you hear all his unfiltered teenage boy banter. Kaden, on the other hand is the complete opposite. Where Jacob is confident, sociable and lighthearted, Kaden is very insular, has panic attacks and over analyses every situation. Now these may not sound like nice qualities, particularly given he’s the main narrator throughout this book, but there’s something quite endearing about him especially as he tries to make his way through life. However when the book takes its big dramatic turn the plot becomes so unbelievable that I found myself groaning out loud. Don’t get me wrong there are some great scenes with the two boys and with Duncan, but the melodrama and the forced move just felt so clunky. I really wish the author had not tried to do all the custody stuff with the grandparents and all the fake breakups and forced moves, as this could’ve ended up being a really excellent book. By trying to add too much drama, too much overly forced drama, he took away from the subtle emotional threads that he’d been weaving during the first half of the book. If only he had focused on the boys relationship with their Dad and made that the main focus, this book would’ve been so much the better for it. But as I said, if you can get past some of the heavy handed plotting, this was quite the tearjerker.
However for me, a lot of the plotting that made up the second half of this book made this a 3 stars book. However, given the great character dialogue from Jacob, and the cute flirty scenes between Kaden and Hunter, I found myself nudging this up an extra a star. The flashback scenes, and in particular the epilogue, really added some emotional weight and I truly applaud the author for what he was trying to do. I hope that in future books we see the same emotional drama grounded in a slightly more believable plot as this author definitely knows how to pluck at your heart strings
A book told by three characters across multiple timelines shouldn’t really work..but it kind of does.. Now the story is quite far fetched in some of its plotting, especially the second half, and so much of the drama is so forced that you really have to suspend your disbelief. But if you can manage that and just go with everything, then you might enjoy the emotional ride the author is trying to set up.
“Crunchy orange chicken” tells the story of Kaden as he starts to fall for his brothers best friend just as a tragic accident happens. And for the first half of the book the story has a nice believable quality of two mothers bringing up two teenage boys. The characters of the brothers are interesting and also very different in many ways. My favourite brother was Jacob. He lights up every scene he’s in, and his playful humour will have you chuckling as you hear all his unfiltered teenage boy banter. Kaden, on the other hand is the complete opposite. Where Jacob is confident, sociable and lighthearted, Kaden is very insular, has panic attacks and over analyses every situation. Now these may not sound like nice qualities, particularly given he’s the main narrator throughout this book, but there’s something quite endearing about him especially as he tries to make his way through life. However when the book takes its big dramatic turn the plot becomes so unbelievable that I found myself groaning out loud. Don’t get me wrong there are some great scenes with the two boys and with Duncan, but the melodrama and the forced move just felt so clunky. I really wish the author had not tried to do all the custody stuff with the grandparents and all the fake breakups and forced moves, as this could’ve ended up being a really excellent book. By trying to add too much drama, too much overly forced drama, he took away from the subtle emotional threads that he’d been weaving during the first half of the book. If only he had focused on the boys relationship with their Dad and made that the main focus, this book would’ve been so much the better for it. But as I said, if you can get past some of the heavy handed plotting, this was quite the tearjerker.
However for me, a lot of the plotting that made up the second half of this book made this a 3 stars book. However, given the great character dialogue from Jacob, and the cute flirty scenes between Kaden and Hunter, I found myself nudging this up an extra a star. The flashback scenes, and in particular the epilogue, really added some emotional weight and I truly applaud the author for what he was trying to do. I hope that in future books we see the same emotional drama grounded in a slightly more believable plot as this author definitely knows how to pluck at your heart strings
December 23, 2025
a real life story.
To date Trey has published 2 books that I know of. I have read both and absolutely loved them. There were so many possibilities of this being a very dark story but instead it was filled with so much lover it became a (can’t put it down) story. Trey will be on my authors to follow list. Take my word for it, you will love this book if you choose to read it. The story is so real and feels like a real life story.
To date Trey has published 2 books that I know of. I have read both and absolutely loved them. There were so many possibilities of this being a very dark story but instead it was filled with so much lover it became a (can’t put it down) story. Trey will be on my authors to follow list. Take my word for it, you will love this book if you choose to read it. The story is so real and feels like a real life story.
January 19, 2025
One of the best coming of age YA books I have ever read! Five stars for this emotional, heart felt, portrayal of young love ( and mature love, too).
May 12, 2025
aburridoooooo
December 12, 2024
Jacob and Kaden are half-brothers whose moms are a lesbian couple who decided to each bear a child fathered by the same man, their good friend Duncan, who is gay. The boys are born within days of each other, but Duncan does not have any involvement in their life. Tragedy strikes, and the boys are left without parents, forcing Duncan to confront his fears about being a parent (he only wanted to be a sperm donor) as well as the boys relationships with each other and the world around them.
This story is full of joy, sadness, grief, anxiety, but most importantly, of love and self-discovery. I enjoyed the book very much and recommend it highly.
This story is full of joy, sadness, grief, anxiety, but most importantly, of love and self-discovery. I enjoyed the book very much and recommend it highly.
July 21, 2026
Oh my god, I LOVED this book so much. It was not at all what I expected. I loved all of the characters as well. I could relate to Kaden so much. He reminded me of myself at that age, trying to figure it all out, and I felt like I was right inside his brain with all his thoughts and stories he was telling himself. Jacob was so funny throughout the whole story, and such a loving brother. And Hunter was so sweet. Ugh, all of it. This will be one of my favs for a long time. I hope the author writes more.
April 18, 2026
Soporific towards the end, this novel nonetheless shines a creative light on gay parenting and two sons, by two different mothers, who might as well be twins, except they're so refreshingly distinct you forget they were born weeks apart.
Confused? Good.
Definitely worth a read to clear up the progeny and plot twists, and meet two sweet boys . . . and their parents . . . and Hunter, best friend to one brother and boyfriend of the other!
Confused? Good.
Definitely worth a read to clear up the progeny and plot twists, and meet two sweet boys . . . and their parents . . . and Hunter, best friend to one brother and boyfriend of the other!
April 28, 2026
I’m so grateful for the sweet, enduring ride this author took me on in Crunchy Orange Chicken. I fell in love with these characters and couldn’t put the book down.
I’ve heard it said that a tight third person can make you feel even closer to a character than first person. Both this and Shuttered Hearts (Lari’s Sophomore novel) are proof of that. Both books had me more invested in the characters’ journeys than I’d been in a long while.
In the copy for this novel, it points out that fans of Heartstopper and Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda would love this story. I agree, the teenage wonder, angst and overwhelming feels are spot on. But I’d also add The Guncle to the list, as Duncan’s arc from a disillusioned middle-aged man to giddy lead of his own rom com is equally compelling and captivating, and the perfect juxtaposition to the first love story you get with Kayden.
Loved this so much, will reread, and anxiously awaiting more Trey Lari novels.
I’ve heard it said that a tight third person can make you feel even closer to a character than first person. Both this and Shuttered Hearts (Lari’s Sophomore novel) are proof of that. Both books had me more invested in the characters’ journeys than I’d been in a long while.
In the copy for this novel, it points out that fans of Heartstopper and Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda would love this story. I agree, the teenage wonder, angst and overwhelming feels are spot on. But I’d also add The Guncle to the list, as Duncan’s arc from a disillusioned middle-aged man to giddy lead of his own rom com is equally compelling and captivating, and the perfect juxtaposition to the first love story you get with Kayden.
Loved this so much, will reread, and anxiously awaiting more Trey Lari novels.
February 8, 2026
Wow, I’m leaving my first “review”, but not really because it’s not really necessary. I just wanted to thank you for this amazing book.
I was pretty angry with you at times because how could I not be, you pulled on my heartstrings so many times.
I loved the Kaden and Hunter but I have to give a shout out to Jacob one of the funniest and most enjoyable characters I’ve read so far.
I was pretty angry with you at times because how could I not be, you pulled on my heartstrings so many times.
I loved the Kaden and Hunter but I have to give a shout out to Jacob one of the funniest and most enjoyable characters I’ve read so far.
March 27, 2025
Crunchy Orange Chicken
By Trey Lari
Published by Oclari Publishing, 2024
Five stars
I loved this book because the author gives the reader a lot more than the title and cover might suggest. Essentially, this is the story of two distinct romances that become intertwined by circumstances, and end up transforming each other.
The “cover story” is about two young men living in a Florida suburb. Indeed, it’s a classic trope in YA romance: nerd and jock. Jacob and Kaden Rivera-Watson are brothers. Jacob is a jock (swim team), and his brother Kaden is a nerd with (no surprise) anxiety issues. The brothers are very close—something I really loved. They share a passion for a particular online fantasy game with two close friends, Gabriella Ruiz and Hunter Gan. Hunter is Jacob’s best friend and is on the swim team with him. Gabby is Kaden’s best friend, and they both have a crush on Hunter.
This teen romance gets added texture from the fact that Jacob and Kaden have two moms, Angie (who is Filipina) and Roz (who is Irish). Hunter is Korean. Jacob and Kaden speak both Filipino and Spanish.
The next twist is that the boys share a father—who is unknown to them. That father, who has been friends with Roz Watson since childhood, is Duncan Valentyn. Duncan lives in North Carolina, and is just beginning a serious relationship with a younger man named Chip Masterson. Duncan has never been involved with the lives of the two boys he sired—which was their mothers’ intention. The fact that the author introduces us to this adult male romance is, of course, no accident.
The actual plot of the book is neither about the teen romance or the adult one; it is about a tragedy that brings the two story-lines together and changes everyone’s life. The driving force of the book is love in all its powerful variety: parents’ love for their children; siblings love for each other; gay men of two generations trying to find love for themselves. By means of carefully calibrated flashbacks, each with a specific purpose, the reader experiences the tragedy as a catalyst. We see love in all its variations. We share in the joy and sorrow, the pain and healing, that love brings.
Trey Lari’s story resonated deeply with me, giving laughter and tears in equal parts. Lari’s characters are marvelous, especially Jacob and Kaden. “Crunchy Orange Chicken” is not just a teen love story, but a family saga, rich and complicated as only family can be.
By Trey Lari
Published by Oclari Publishing, 2024
Five stars
I loved this book because the author gives the reader a lot more than the title and cover might suggest. Essentially, this is the story of two distinct romances that become intertwined by circumstances, and end up transforming each other.
The “cover story” is about two young men living in a Florida suburb. Indeed, it’s a classic trope in YA romance: nerd and jock. Jacob and Kaden Rivera-Watson are brothers. Jacob is a jock (swim team), and his brother Kaden is a nerd with (no surprise) anxiety issues. The brothers are very close—something I really loved. They share a passion for a particular online fantasy game with two close friends, Gabriella Ruiz and Hunter Gan. Hunter is Jacob’s best friend and is on the swim team with him. Gabby is Kaden’s best friend, and they both have a crush on Hunter.
This teen romance gets added texture from the fact that Jacob and Kaden have two moms, Angie (who is Filipina) and Roz (who is Irish). Hunter is Korean. Jacob and Kaden speak both Filipino and Spanish.
The next twist is that the boys share a father—who is unknown to them. That father, who has been friends with Roz Watson since childhood, is Duncan Valentyn. Duncan lives in North Carolina, and is just beginning a serious relationship with a younger man named Chip Masterson. Duncan has never been involved with the lives of the two boys he sired—which was their mothers’ intention. The fact that the author introduces us to this adult male romance is, of course, no accident.
The actual plot of the book is neither about the teen romance or the adult one; it is about a tragedy that brings the two story-lines together and changes everyone’s life. The driving force of the book is love in all its powerful variety: parents’ love for their children; siblings love for each other; gay men of two generations trying to find love for themselves. By means of carefully calibrated flashbacks, each with a specific purpose, the reader experiences the tragedy as a catalyst. We see love in all its variations. We share in the joy and sorrow, the pain and healing, that love brings.
Trey Lari’s story resonated deeply with me, giving laughter and tears in equal parts. Lari’s characters are marvelous, especially Jacob and Kaden. “Crunchy Orange Chicken” is not just a teen love story, but a family saga, rich and complicated as only family can be.
June 13, 2025
This was a really cute book. I struggled with it at the beginning because I was expecting a cute YA queer romance. Instead I was met with a book full of heart, love and loss. The synopsis of the book really does a disservice to the book in my opinion.
This story follows 2 main characters with flashbacks of a third.
The first main character is Kaden, a queer boy, raised by his lesbian moms with a brother (Jacob) who is a few days older than him. He’s riddled with anxiety, trying to figure out what labels he wants to use, and desperate to win a cake baking competition he has lost 3 years in a row to his archnemesis.
The second character is Duncan, both of the boys biological father, who is trying to navigate a new relationship, post covid.
The flashbacks occur via Roz, Kaden and Jacob’s mom and Duncan’s childhood friend.
All of that together is already a lot, but add to that tragedy and you’ve got a whole mess of stuff.
Do not read past this point if you haven’t read the spoiler text above!!!
Not only is Duncan now having to meet his kids for the first time, he is also having to navigate a newish relationship, the guilt of only one of the boys being accepted by one set of grandparents, and the potential custody battle that he never thought he would have to face. All of that on top of and because of his best friend since kindergarten dying in a car accident.
Look, this book could have gotten messy real quick. There was a lot going on with family drama, homophobic grandparents, custody battles, self worth issues, coming out, and more. But it really wasn’t messy at all.
Part of this is due to the way it was written. It was a bit ‘childish’ and could have used some more editing. There was also a crazy amount of ‘pet names’ that felt so out of place. But the heart and the characters felt (mostly) real and made me really root for them.
This was a really good book but lacked some things in execution, but it more than made up for it in heart.
This story follows 2 main characters with flashbacks of a third.
The first main character is Kaden, a queer boy, raised by his lesbian moms with a brother (Jacob) who is a few days older than him. He’s riddled with anxiety, trying to figure out what labels he wants to use, and desperate to win a cake baking competition he has lost 3 years in a row to his archnemesis.
The second character is Duncan, both of the boys biological father, who is trying to navigate a new relationship, post covid.
The flashbacks occur via Roz, Kaden and Jacob’s mom and Duncan’s childhood friend.
All of that together is already a lot, but add to that tragedy and you’ve got a whole mess of stuff.
Do not read past this point if you haven’t read the spoiler text above!!!
Not only is Duncan now having to meet his kids for the first time, he is also having to navigate a newish relationship, the guilt of only one of the boys being accepted by one set of grandparents, and the potential custody battle that he never thought he would have to face. All of that on top of and because of his best friend since kindergarten dying in a car accident.
Look, this book could have gotten messy real quick. There was a lot going on with family drama, homophobic grandparents, custody battles, self worth issues, coming out, and more. But it really wasn’t messy at all.
Part of this is due to the way it was written. It was a bit ‘childish’ and could have used some more editing. There was also a crazy amount of ‘pet names’ that felt so out of place. But the heart and the characters felt (mostly) real and made me really root for them.
This was a really good book but lacked some things in execution, but it more than made up for it in heart.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 12, 2025
In some ways, this feels like a bait and switch. All the characters in the cover do exist. They hardly feel like the focus of the novel. I don’t need quite so much backstory on the parents, I don’t really need the flashbacks, indeed, this book suffers with severe lack of editing. The dual POV leads to multiple instances of the exact same scene playing out from two different characters’ perspectives. This has a way of stopping narrative momentum and dragging everything out. Dual POV can be done well and often adds a huge amount to the narrative but here each switch in POV often means rewinding the clock hours or days in a way that is needlessly disorienting. In addition, the dialogue is very rough and I cringed almost any time any character tried to make a joke.
Ultimately, I’m not sure who this book is for. I’m not sure that many young gay teens are going to connect that well with a 40 year-old gay man’s body issues or the lingering trauma from his failed relationship with an alcoholic. Nor is this particularly the place for a discussion about a women’s proactive double mastectomy. It’s interesting texture, but not necessarily relevant to the story. This book has no right to be 370 pages long and it’s bits like this that help get it there.
There’s also the pandemic of it all. This book came out in 2024 and the narrative is constantly referring back to the pandemic and the lockdown in a way that instantly dates it. Pandemic literature started coming out pretty much immediately after the lockdown hit, but the further you get away from it, the harder it becomes to fit it into a narrative in a useful way. This can be particularly hard with children’s literature, where the specificity of the timeframe can really cramp the story. If this had come out two years earlier, it might’ve still felt vital or had come out 10 years from now it might’ve felt like an intriguing period piece but right now it just feels irrelevant.
Ultimately, I’m not sure who this book is for. I’m not sure that many young gay teens are going to connect that well with a 40 year-old gay man’s body issues or the lingering trauma from his failed relationship with an alcoholic. Nor is this particularly the place for a discussion about a women’s proactive double mastectomy. It’s interesting texture, but not necessarily relevant to the story. This book has no right to be 370 pages long and it’s bits like this that help get it there.
There’s also the pandemic of it all. This book came out in 2024 and the narrative is constantly referring back to the pandemic and the lockdown in a way that instantly dates it. Pandemic literature started coming out pretty much immediately after the lockdown hit, but the further you get away from it, the harder it becomes to fit it into a narrative in a useful way. This can be particularly hard with children’s literature, where the specificity of the timeframe can really cramp the story. If this had come out two years earlier, it might’ve still felt vital or had come out 10 years from now it might’ve felt like an intriguing period piece but right now it just feels irrelevant.
May 20, 2025
It's a rare YA novel that gets a 5 star rating from me but these days, any read that can make me tear up repeated gets the 5 star treatment. The characters were all wonderfully crafted and the plot kept me fully engaged throughout a single reading.
June 16, 2025
This was so lovely! I loved it so much, I loved the epilogue! It was so cute.
I went into it thinking it was more focused on the romance but it wasn't, and that was a surprise, but not in a bad way!!
It was a wonderful, heartwarming story!!
I went into it thinking it was more focused on the romance but it wasn't, and that was a surprise, but not in a bad way!!
It was a wonderful, heartwarming story!!
August 18, 2025
Heartwarmingly good!
This is such a cute, altogether nice, and feel good story. If you’re looking for that. Look no further. But if gloom and doom is more to your liking, this one’s not for you. :)
This is such a cute, altogether nice, and feel good story. If you’re looking for that. Look no further. But if gloom and doom is more to your liking, this one’s not for you. :)
December 7, 2025
Feel Good Coming of Age
This was a fun read about gay coming of age. Focused more on relationships and feelings. The book explored some heavy themes but did a good job or keeping the comedic relief to balance it out.
This was a fun read about gay coming of age. Focused more on relationships and feelings. The book explored some heavy themes but did a good job or keeping the comedic relief to balance it out.
May 9, 2026
Wow! Just Wow!
Fabulous book. I didn't know what I was getting when I picked this book. But I really enjoyed the story. It was very unpredictable. So glad I stuck with it and highly recommend reading this book. Thanks for a wonderful story Trey ❤️
Fabulous book. I didn't know what I was getting when I picked this book. But I really enjoyed the story. It was very unpredictable. So glad I stuck with it and highly recommend reading this book. Thanks for a wonderful story Trey ❤️
August 11, 2025
Coming of age, young summer queer romance
May 9, 2026
Very satisfying read.
This was my first read by Trey. Very heartfelt, and not overly dramatic. The characters were real, and believable. I've already bought the next book.
This was my first read by Trey. Very heartfelt, and not overly dramatic. The characters were real, and believable. I've already bought the next book.
June 13, 2026
Cute, sappy book full of teenage romance spiked with grief throughout.
July 19, 2026
loved this book!!!!!
The story develops characters is full and interesting ways. The flashbacks are fantastic and add a wealth of character understanding.
The story develops characters is full and interesting ways. The flashbacks are fantastic and add a wealth of character understanding.
April 10, 2026
Such a Beautiful, Beautiful Book
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Originally, I must admit, it was the 'Banned in Florida' lable at the top of the book that caught my attention. The irony is that this book has some of the most beautiful depictions of family and people supporting each other and taking responsibility and trying to do the right thing even when life gets really tough and requires sacrifice in order to do the right thing. It is one of the few books I have read with such positive role models, including gay parents- to the extent that it is meaningful and relatable even to straight people- such as when one of the characters end up in a care giving role and has to work out what takes priority- his kids born from IVF that he has never met before or his current relationship that he has already made commitments to. For a little bit it seemed like the story was jumping between random people but keep reading and the story does all come together- I'm deliberately trying not to give too much away so you can enjoy with the same level of at times unexpected surprise that I did. At times you're near tears (or possibly in tears- depending on how readily you normally tear up), at others you're internally cheering them on. The relationship between the brothers was beautifully and so truthfully done, loved the dynamics of the extended family- even the grandparents that weren't ready to accept one of the half-brothers because he was from the wife of their daughter rather than their own was done with compassion- rather than just simplifying them into villains. Again, absolutely beautiful book, highly recommend. Full five stars.
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Originally, I must admit, it was the 'Banned in Florida' lable at the top of the book that caught my attention. The irony is that this book has some of the most beautiful depictions of family and people supporting each other and taking responsibility and trying to do the right thing even when life gets really tough and requires sacrifice in order to do the right thing. It is one of the few books I have read with such positive role models, including gay parents- to the extent that it is meaningful and relatable even to straight people- such as when one of the characters end up in a care giving role and has to work out what takes priority- his kids born from IVF that he has never met before or his current relationship that he has already made commitments to. For a little bit it seemed like the story was jumping between random people but keep reading and the story does all come together- I'm deliberately trying not to give too much away so you can enjoy with the same level of at times unexpected surprise that I did. At times you're near tears (or possibly in tears- depending on how readily you normally tear up), at others you're internally cheering them on. The relationship between the brothers was beautifully and so truthfully done, loved the dynamics of the extended family- even the grandparents that weren't ready to accept one of the half-brothers because he was from the wife of their daughter rather than their own was done with compassion- rather than just simplifying them into villains. Again, absolutely beautiful book, highly recommend. Full five stars.
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