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The Baby Dragon #3
The Baby Dragon Bookshop
Will romance be the plot twist?
Emmy has an enemy, and his name is Luke. The good news? She rarely sees him. The bad news? When she does, she (and her pet dragons) are reminded just how handsome he is.
Besides, Emmy is too busy focusing on her dragon-fuelled business to have time for love. But when both she and Luke approach the same local investor for funding, she's suddenly unable to avoid him. The kookie investor insists they must compete for the cash by working at the local failing baby dragon bookshop to prove their magical business knowledge.
Determined to win the funding, Emmy dives into the task. But making a very flammable bookshop fit for baby dragons is no small feat, and it seems these rivals may need to join forces. Could Luke and Emmy's fiery animosity spark something more between them?
Emmy has an enemy, and his name is Luke. The good news? She rarely sees him. The bad news? When she does, she (and her pet dragons) are reminded just how handsome he is.
Besides, Emmy is too busy focusing on her dragon-fuelled business to have time for love. But when both she and Luke approach the same local investor for funding, she's suddenly unable to avoid him. The kookie investor insists they must compete for the cash by working at the local failing baby dragon bookshop to prove their magical business knowledge.
Determined to win the funding, Emmy dives into the task. But making a very flammable bookshop fit for baby dragons is no small feat, and it seems these rivals may need to join forces. Could Luke and Emmy's fiery animosity spark something more between them?
352 pages, Paperback
First published February 10, 2026
52 people are currently reading
3959 people want to read
About the author
Aamna Qureshi
14 books886 followersAamna Qureshi is a Pakistani, Muslim American who adores words. She is an award-winning and USA Today, Amazon, and Times bestselling author who grew up on Long Island, New York, in a very loud household, surrounded by English (for school), Urdu (for conversation), and Punjabi (for emotion). Much of her childhood was spent being grounded for reading past her bed-time, writing stories in the backs of her notebooks, and being scolded by teachers for passing chapters under the tables. Through her writing, she wishes to inspire a love for the beautiful country and rich culture that informed much of her identity.
When she's not writing, she loves to travel to new places where she can explore different cultures or to Pakistan where she can revitalize her roots. She also loves baking complicated desserts, drinking fancy teas and coffees, watching sappy rom-coms, and going for walks about the estate (her backyard). She currently lives in New York. Look for her on IG @aamna_qureshi and Twitter @aamnaqureshi_ and at her website aamnaqureshi.com.
When she's not writing, she loves to travel to new places where she can explore different cultures or to Pakistan where she can revitalize her roots. She also loves baking complicated desserts, drinking fancy teas and coffees, watching sappy rom-coms, and going for walks about the estate (her backyard). She currently lives in New York. Look for her on IG @aamna_qureshi and Twitter @aamnaqureshi_ and at her website aamnaqureshi.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 156 reviews
October 9, 2025
AAMNA HAS ALL MY STARS AND MY HEART, THIS MIGHT BE MY FAVORITE OUT OF THE THREEE OMGGG
rtc im gonna scream for now
rtc im gonna scream for now
November 3, 2025
4.5 stars
i cannot believe this series has already come to an end 😭😭 i feel like i was just reading book 1 a few months ago, and now here we are on the series finale, the baby dragon bookshop. we've had hints of emmy and luke in the previous two books before, so i was very excited for their story. and it is so delightfully good. it's filled with the charm and the magic of the previous two books, but the enemies-to-lovers aspect of this one really elevated the book for me. for a large part of the book, emmy and luke actually despised each other. they were pranking each other and messing up the other's work. but as the story progresses, with incredibly perfect pacing, you see hints of their past together before it completely unravels.
i loved the banter emmy and luke had. it made me giggle so hard at so many points in the book. i also looved how you could tell that they were slowly falling for each other. no spoilers from me, but them getting together was just *chef's kiss*. their development, as individuals and as two people who slowly rediscover themselves and each other, was incredibly well written.
in writing this trilogy, aamna qureshi has created an absolutely stunning world and incredible characters, and the baby dragon bookshop was the perfect way to end it. and i cannot believe we're getting a spin off series!! i'm so unbelieveably excited for that!!!
thank you avon books uk for sending me an e-arc through netgalley!
i cannot believe this series has already come to an end 😭😭 i feel like i was just reading book 1 a few months ago, and now here we are on the series finale, the baby dragon bookshop. we've had hints of emmy and luke in the previous two books before, so i was very excited for their story. and it is so delightfully good. it's filled with the charm and the magic of the previous two books, but the enemies-to-lovers aspect of this one really elevated the book for me. for a large part of the book, emmy and luke actually despised each other. they were pranking each other and messing up the other's work. but as the story progresses, with incredibly perfect pacing, you see hints of their past together before it completely unravels.
i loved the banter emmy and luke had. it made me giggle so hard at so many points in the book. i also looved how you could tell that they were slowly falling for each other. no spoilers from me, but them getting together was just *chef's kiss*. their development, as individuals and as two people who slowly rediscover themselves and each other, was incredibly well written.
in writing this trilogy, aamna qureshi has created an absolutely stunning world and incredible characters, and the baby dragon bookshop was the perfect way to end it. and i cannot believe we're getting a spin off series!! i'm so unbelieveably excited for that!!!
thank you avon books uk for sending me an e-arc through netgalley!
February 12, 2026
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DT2WV2...
4.5🌟!
I think I’ve fallen in love with this series🫶!
What a cute, charming and cozy book.
From previous books it’s been clear that Emmeline hated Luke. It was fun to see how much he ruffled her feathers. Because this book is written in Dual POV you can read both their side and man, Does Luke yearns for Emmeline. She complains, quarrels and insults him but he just smiles and gives back lot more. Especially as Luke knows how competitive Emmeline is. It’s clear how much he respects and admires her.
Emmeline was a good heroine. Sharp, smart and fun. She will be the first one to come running when you need her. But I didn’t like some of her actions. Especially what she did with Luke in the past. That crossed a limit. But then Luke became her person and I loved what she did for him in the second half.
Sharptooth, Motu, Butternut, squash and Torch added so much flavour to the story.
I’m excited to see Ginny’s journey next.
Safety: this was a safe book but the hero is heroine’s sister’s ex. They had a very very short relationship in the past. No ow drama.
If you love cozy romance books with, love, friendship, family, dragons and other magical creatures, low angst but depth, try this series.
-Second chance.
-Rivals.
-Enemies to lovers.
-Cute baby dragons and chimeras.
-Family, friendship and more.
-Recommended.
I received an advance review copy and I’m leaving this review voluntarily.
4.5🌟!
I think I’ve fallen in love with this series🫶!
What a cute, charming and cozy book.
From previous books it’s been clear that Emmeline hated Luke. It was fun to see how much he ruffled her feathers. Because this book is written in Dual POV you can read both their side and man, Does Luke yearns for Emmeline. She complains, quarrels and insults him but he just smiles and gives back lot more. Especially as Luke knows how competitive Emmeline is. It’s clear how much he respects and admires her.
Emmeline was a good heroine. Sharp, smart and fun. She will be the first one to come running when you need her. But I didn’t like some of her actions. Especially what she did with Luke in the past. That crossed a limit. But then Luke became her person and I loved what she did for him in the second half.
Sharptooth, Motu, Butternut, squash and Torch added so much flavour to the story.
I’m excited to see Ginny’s journey next.
Safety: this was a safe book but the hero is heroine’s sister’s ex. They had a very very short relationship in the past. No ow drama.
If you love cozy romance books with, love, friendship, family, dragons and other magical creatures, low angst but depth, try this series.
-Second chance.
-Rivals.
-Enemies to lovers.
-Cute baby dragons and chimeras.
-Family, friendship and more.
-Recommended.
I received an advance review copy and I’m leaving this review voluntarily.
January 20, 2026
Thank you to Avon Books for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for a honest review.
Emmy has an enemy, and his name is Luke. The good news? She rarely sees him. The bad news? When she does, she (and her pet dragons) are reminded just how handsome he is. Besides, Emmy is too busy focusing on her dragon-fuelled business to have time for love. But when both she and Luke approach the same local investor for funding, she's suddenly unable to avoid him. The kookie investor insists they must compete for the cash by working at the local failing baby dragon bookshop to prove their magical business knowledge. Determined to win the funding, Emmy dives into the task. But making a very flammable bookshop fit for baby dragons is no small feat, and it seems these rivals may need to join forces. Could Luke and Emmy's fiery animosity spark something more between them?
Emmy is a constant people pleaser, always putting their needs before any of her own. I can see a lot of myself in Emmy’s nature - prioritising everyone else’s happiness, even if it means you’re unhappy. I loved her selfless nature, even if to her detriment many times. She was a ray of sunshine around her brother’s baby dragon and I loved how she interacted with everyone around her. The confidence she possesses is enviable (I’d love to go through life like that) and I really liked seeing the vulnerability that was hidden beneath that bravado as well. A heart of gold can only take so much and watching Emmy learn that and thrive was great.
Luke seems a bit of an asshole in the beginning. He’s cocky and infuriating, but it’s a mask to the hurt and stress he feels underneath. When we got to know him, I’m so thrilled to see he’s a sweetheart. Taking care of his family and doing his very best, you can’t help but root for him and success. The way he looked out for Emmy despite everything was incredibly sweet and I really enjoyed his POV because we got this extra depth to him and his overall actions - especially those involving Emmy!
This series is just so warm, and fuzzy, and feel good for me. I don’t think I could ever turn down an opportunity to read it! Similar to the first two books, this story excels in its chosen environment. You may think that baby dragons inside a bookshop surely can’t work but let me tell you - it certainly does! I could practically feel the warm coziness of the fire and smell that gorgeous book shop air! We had a brilliant pace, keeping me engaged with the story and wondering where we may end up. I really enjoyed seeing more of the world, seeing the chimera and what they’re like as well! The dragons are cute but there are more animals out there! Character wise, I loved getting to see previous leads flourishing in their lives. It’s my favourite part of interconnected series! We also get to broaden the cast as well, meeting plenty of new family members and friends. Which, of course, also opens up the possibilities for future leads too! The romance was delightfully full of angst which is a big love of mine. I wouldn’t necessarily call it enemies to lovers. There was a lot of arguing and frustration but it didn’t fit the tropes vibes for me. But goodness, the way they watched out for each other was so incredibly sweet! Even when fighting, they both seemed to make sure the other was okay! The ending was incredibly sweet - though dare I say a little anticlimactic? I was expecting a big more of a punch at the end there but got more of a light tap! But, I do think what was there, despite also being a bit rushed, was a good ending for this story.
Overall, The Baby Dragon Bookshop is another delightful instalment of this cozy series that I highly recommend!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Thank you again to Avon Books for an advanced copy of this book.
Emmy has an enemy, and his name is Luke. The good news? She rarely sees him. The bad news? When she does, she (and her pet dragons) are reminded just how handsome he is. Besides, Emmy is too busy focusing on her dragon-fuelled business to have time for love. But when both she and Luke approach the same local investor for funding, she's suddenly unable to avoid him. The kookie investor insists they must compete for the cash by working at the local failing baby dragon bookshop to prove their magical business knowledge. Determined to win the funding, Emmy dives into the task. But making a very flammable bookshop fit for baby dragons is no small feat, and it seems these rivals may need to join forces. Could Luke and Emmy's fiery animosity spark something more between them?
Emmy is a constant people pleaser, always putting their needs before any of her own. I can see a lot of myself in Emmy’s nature - prioritising everyone else’s happiness, even if it means you’re unhappy. I loved her selfless nature, even if to her detriment many times. She was a ray of sunshine around her brother’s baby dragon and I loved how she interacted with everyone around her. The confidence she possesses is enviable (I’d love to go through life like that) and I really liked seeing the vulnerability that was hidden beneath that bravado as well. A heart of gold can only take so much and watching Emmy learn that and thrive was great.
Luke seems a bit of an asshole in the beginning. He’s cocky and infuriating, but it’s a mask to the hurt and stress he feels underneath. When we got to know him, I’m so thrilled to see he’s a sweetheart. Taking care of his family and doing his very best, you can’t help but root for him and success. The way he looked out for Emmy despite everything was incredibly sweet and I really enjoyed his POV because we got this extra depth to him and his overall actions - especially those involving Emmy!
This series is just so warm, and fuzzy, and feel good for me. I don’t think I could ever turn down an opportunity to read it! Similar to the first two books, this story excels in its chosen environment. You may think that baby dragons inside a bookshop surely can’t work but let me tell you - it certainly does! I could practically feel the warm coziness of the fire and smell that gorgeous book shop air! We had a brilliant pace, keeping me engaged with the story and wondering where we may end up. I really enjoyed seeing more of the world, seeing the chimera and what they’re like as well! The dragons are cute but there are more animals out there! Character wise, I loved getting to see previous leads flourishing in their lives. It’s my favourite part of interconnected series! We also get to broaden the cast as well, meeting plenty of new family members and friends. Which, of course, also opens up the possibilities for future leads too! The romance was delightfully full of angst which is a big love of mine. I wouldn’t necessarily call it enemies to lovers. There was a lot of arguing and frustration but it didn’t fit the tropes vibes for me. But goodness, the way they watched out for each other was so incredibly sweet! Even when fighting, they both seemed to make sure the other was okay! The ending was incredibly sweet - though dare I say a little anticlimactic? I was expecting a big more of a punch at the end there but got more of a light tap! But, I do think what was there, despite also being a bit rushed, was a good ending for this story.
Overall, The Baby Dragon Bookshop is another delightful instalment of this cozy series that I highly recommend!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Thank you again to Avon Books for an advanced copy of this book.
October 30, 2025
I adore this series as the characters are adorable, quaint and relatable. The small element of fantasy through the use of mythical animals like dragons and chimera add to the freshness of this series. In this book, I loved the bookshop setting and the troupes in it were so on point. Could their issues have been solved by a first half heart to heart? Of course, but who would want that? And life is always more complex when living it. Luke was one of my favourites in this one and jad such green flags all throughout, and Emmy well she is every people pleasers mirror image. I cant wait for more of this beautiful series and a copy of the locked library edition of this book. As a proud member of the baby dragon club, I am so thankful to Avon books and A T Qureshi for this ARC.
February 6, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!
I loved the idea of dragons helping roast coffee beans — it was such a cute and cozy touch and really stood out to me. Sadly, I couldn’t fully connect with the main characters, which made it difficult for me to become invested in the story. While I can see the charm and creativity behind it, this book ultimately wasn’t the right fit for me.
I loved the idea of dragons helping roast coffee beans — it was such a cute and cozy touch and really stood out to me. Sadly, I couldn’t fully connect with the main characters, which made it difficult for me to become invested in the story. While I can see the charm and creativity behind it, this book ultimately wasn’t the right fit for me.
November 6, 2025
Cute baby dragons and a rivals to lovers small town bookshop romance❤️📚
The Baby Dragon Bookshop is the third novel in the Baby Dragon cosy, light fantasy romance series set in the small town of Starshine Valley.
A sweet, romantic, rivals to lovers story of the eldest daughter Emmy and Luke’s story that will warm your heart and make you smile. If you love bookshop romances and cute baby dragons with a sprinkle of magical whimsical small town romance stories then this is the perfect cosy romance series for you. Releasing in Feb 2026.
Tropes:
Rivals-to-lovers❤️
Bookshop romance 📚
Small town 🍂
Low spice ✨
Light fantasy✨
Thank you to the publisher Avon and NetGalley for sending me the ARC.
The Baby Dragon Bookshop is the third novel in the Baby Dragon cosy, light fantasy romance series set in the small town of Starshine Valley.
A sweet, romantic, rivals to lovers story of the eldest daughter Emmy and Luke’s story that will warm your heart and make you smile. If you love bookshop romances and cute baby dragons with a sprinkle of magical whimsical small town romance stories then this is the perfect cosy romance series for you. Releasing in Feb 2026.
Tropes:
Rivals-to-lovers❤️
Bookshop romance 📚
Small town 🍂
Low spice ✨
Light fantasy✨
Thank you to the publisher Avon and NetGalley for sending me the ARC.
October 15, 2025
thank you NetGalley for this egalley. All opinions are my own.
I purchased the first two books in the series so I could read them before reading The Baby Dragon Bookshop. I almost DNF'd this book. I DNF'd the second. My review for the first book is below. This book is about Emmy a dragon rider, and Luke, her enemy. He happens to ride a Chimera. The reason Luke is her enemy is because (SPOILER ALERT) he dated her sister for a week. Luke decided that he didn't like Emmy's sister and told her so. He didn't cheat on her, he didn't abuse her, he didn't lie to her. He simply didn't like her after one week of dating. Emmy finds out and gets Luke to like her. Sleeps with him. Then dumps him. I'm sorry, but YTA here, not Luke. For years, Emmy has been rude to Luke every time she sees him. Somehow Luke still likes her. Her sister is happily married and has moved on. Not Emmy because she's the oldest sister, and she takes care of everyone. Like what?
(SPOILER ALERT) Another thing that happened in the book that boggled my mind. There is a character named Flint who runs illegal dragon racing. Flint is known to have spiked a drink of a girl who is like Luke's younger sister. Emmy doesn't know Flint's history. Flint strikes up a conversation with Emmy and gives her a hot chocolate. Not spiked. Luke sees and comes in seething. Rightfully so. However, he's too mad to tell her why he doesn't want her speaking to Flint. They stay mad at each other. So. There's a predator, you know about him. You see him talking to a woman, and he's giving her a drink in an open container. WHY didn't he just TELL her that? "Yes Emmy, I am angry but you should know that Flint is a predator." Seems like the decent thing to do no? What's worse is that later on in the book Emmy finds her young 18-year-old cousin talking to Flint. Emmy doesn't tell her cousin. WHY!? Flint is a bad person. Other than "he deals with dragon racing," which is illegal. She doesn't tell her teen cousin. Her female teen cousin. I get that the dragons might smell something off with the drinks and protect their riders, but why was this glossed over. It seems ick. Things like this left a bad taste in my mouth.
Like the first story a lot of what happens is juvenile to me. If it weren't for the spice, which was awkwardly written. It could have been for teens.
Emmy is the oldest adult child in an Asian family. I get it. So am I. She does take care of everyone. She doesn't mind it. She does get too much on her plate. It is sweet that Luke sees that and wants to take care of her. They are supposed to be strong, smart business owners. The story idea is also a great idea. It just wasn't executed well. But that's just my opinion; many people love this series. I don't plan on reading any more by this author.
This book, along with the previous ones, has a system similar to a caste system. Those who ride dragons and are a part of the four main families. No one else can ride dragons. The people who have Chimera live on a different side of town. Dragons and Chimera don't get along.
Will romance be the plot twist?
Emmy has an enemy, and his name is Luke. The good news? She rarely sees him. The bad news? When she does, she (and her pet dragons) are reminded just how handsome he is.
Besides, Emmy is too busy focusing on her dragon-fuelled business to have time for love. But when both she and Luke approach the same local investor for funding, she’s suddenly unable to avoid him. The kookie investor insists they must compete for the cash by working at the local failing baby dragon bookshop to prove their magical business knowledge.
Determined to win the funding, Emmy dives into the task. But making a very flammable bookshop fit for baby dragons is no small feat, and it seems these rivals may need to join forces. Could Luke and Emmy’s fiery animosity spark something more between them?
Tropes:
Enemies-to-lovers 🌞
Bookshop
romance 📚Small town 🍂
Book 1 review
I read this so that I could read an e-galley of the third one.
I love cozy romantasy and this had so much potential. However, there were numerous plot holes. There were problems that the author set up to be hurdles in the story. Only for them to magically turned out to be non-issues. It felt like the author had an idea for a problem or hurdle in the relationship, but didn't know how to solve them, so they magically turned into non-issues. For instance, FMC mother died dragon racing. They are not a Drakkon family, so that was a no-no. MMC didn't want FMC to know this because his family of dragon riders are supporters of the races, even though they are illegal and bad? Later MMC tells FMC and that's it. Nothing. Oh okay. Mom made a mistake. MMC has been lamenting over the fact that he doesn't want to get attached to his dragon. MMC doesn't believe in dragon racing, even if it's important to his family. He finally tells his parents, and it was so important to their family that they disowned him. Just kidding, they didn't. All the parents said was "no big deal".
There is also a section where the two MC pretend to be married because there is this big secret ceremony that only dragon riders can go to, and FMC is not a dragon rider. They go, pretend to be married. The lady performing the ceremony is supposed to be an upholder of tradition and a hard ass about it. Of course, it turns out that it's a non-issue. The woman knows that the MMC and FMC are not married, but it's easily explained away.
It could have been a teen book were it not for the spice, which was poorly written. I don't normally read spicy books, but even I know this wasn't good.
I received this egalley from NetGalley and Avon Books UK | Avon. I was under no obligation to give a review. All opinions are my own.
I purchased the first two books in the series so I could read them before reading The Baby Dragon Bookshop. I almost DNF'd this book. I DNF'd the second. My review for the first book is below. This book is about Emmy a dragon rider, and Luke, her enemy. He happens to ride a Chimera. The reason Luke is her enemy is because (SPOILER ALERT) he dated her sister for a week. Luke decided that he didn't like Emmy's sister and told her so. He didn't cheat on her, he didn't abuse her, he didn't lie to her. He simply didn't like her after one week of dating. Emmy finds out and gets Luke to like her. Sleeps with him. Then dumps him. I'm sorry, but YTA here, not Luke. For years, Emmy has been rude to Luke every time she sees him. Somehow Luke still likes her. Her sister is happily married and has moved on. Not Emmy because she's the oldest sister, and she takes care of everyone. Like what?
(SPOILER ALERT) Another thing that happened in the book that boggled my mind. There is a character named Flint who runs illegal dragon racing. Flint is known to have spiked a drink of a girl who is like Luke's younger sister. Emmy doesn't know Flint's history. Flint strikes up a conversation with Emmy and gives her a hot chocolate. Not spiked. Luke sees and comes in seething. Rightfully so. However, he's too mad to tell her why he doesn't want her speaking to Flint. They stay mad at each other. So. There's a predator, you know about him. You see him talking to a woman, and he's giving her a drink in an open container. WHY didn't he just TELL her that? "Yes Emmy, I am angry but you should know that Flint is a predator." Seems like the decent thing to do no? What's worse is that later on in the book Emmy finds her young 18-year-old cousin talking to Flint. Emmy doesn't tell her cousin. WHY!? Flint is a bad person. Other than "he deals with dragon racing," which is illegal. She doesn't tell her teen cousin. Her female teen cousin. I get that the dragons might smell something off with the drinks and protect their riders, but why was this glossed over. It seems ick. Things like this left a bad taste in my mouth.
Like the first story a lot of what happens is juvenile to me. If it weren't for the spice, which was awkwardly written. It could have been for teens.
Emmy is the oldest adult child in an Asian family. I get it. So am I. She does take care of everyone. She doesn't mind it. She does get too much on her plate. It is sweet that Luke sees that and wants to take care of her. They are supposed to be strong, smart business owners. The story idea is also a great idea. It just wasn't executed well. But that's just my opinion; many people love this series. I don't plan on reading any more by this author.
This book, along with the previous ones, has a system similar to a caste system. Those who ride dragons and are a part of the four main families. No one else can ride dragons. The people who have Chimera live on a different side of town. Dragons and Chimera don't get along.
Will romance be the plot twist?
Emmy has an enemy, and his name is Luke. The good news? She rarely sees him. The bad news? When she does, she (and her pet dragons) are reminded just how handsome he is.
Besides, Emmy is too busy focusing on her dragon-fuelled business to have time for love. But when both she and Luke approach the same local investor for funding, she’s suddenly unable to avoid him. The kookie investor insists they must compete for the cash by working at the local failing baby dragon bookshop to prove their magical business knowledge.
Determined to win the funding, Emmy dives into the task. But making a very flammable bookshop fit for baby dragons is no small feat, and it seems these rivals may need to join forces. Could Luke and Emmy’s fiery animosity spark something more between them?
Tropes:
Enemies-to-lovers 🌞
Bookshop
romance 📚Small town 🍂
Book 1 review
I read this so that I could read an e-galley of the third one.
I love cozy romantasy and this had so much potential. However, there were numerous plot holes. There were problems that the author set up to be hurdles in the story. Only for them to magically turned out to be non-issues. It felt like the author had an idea for a problem or hurdle in the relationship, but didn't know how to solve them, so they magically turned into non-issues. For instance, FMC mother died dragon racing. They are not a Drakkon family, so that was a no-no. MMC didn't want FMC to know this because his family of dragon riders are supporters of the races, even though they are illegal and bad? Later MMC tells FMC and that's it. Nothing. Oh okay. Mom made a mistake. MMC has been lamenting over the fact that he doesn't want to get attached to his dragon. MMC doesn't believe in dragon racing, even if it's important to his family. He finally tells his parents, and it was so important to their family that they disowned him. Just kidding, they didn't. All the parents said was "no big deal".
There is also a section where the two MC pretend to be married because there is this big secret ceremony that only dragon riders can go to, and FMC is not a dragon rider. They go, pretend to be married. The lady performing the ceremony is supposed to be an upholder of tradition and a hard ass about it. Of course, it turns out that it's a non-issue. The woman knows that the MMC and FMC are not married, but it's easily explained away.
It could have been a teen book were it not for the spice, which was poorly written. I don't normally read spicy books, but even I know this wasn't good.
I received this egalley from NetGalley and Avon Books UK | Avon. I was under no obligation to give a review. All opinions are my own.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 19, 2026
4.5 stars - I was given an advanced readers copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This was my favourite of the series, I really enjoyed this enemies to lovers, coffee and book themed story.
The tension and rivalry between Emmy and Luke was what made them the best couple of these books in my opinion. I will always love the baby dragons and now I loved the baby chimeras too!
It was easy to read and flowed nicely with the character development and backstory. I would recommend this book to friends who enjoy lots of tasty treats, coffee, baby dragons and magical cute small town vibes.
It’s out on 12th February, so plenty of time to read the first two before then!
This was my favourite of the series, I really enjoyed this enemies to lovers, coffee and book themed story.
The tension and rivalry between Emmy and Luke was what made them the best couple of these books in my opinion. I will always love the baby dragons and now I loved the baby chimeras too!
It was easy to read and flowed nicely with the character development and backstory. I would recommend this book to friends who enjoy lots of tasty treats, coffee, baby dragons and magical cute small town vibes.
It’s out on 12th February, so plenty of time to read the first two before then!
October 19, 2025
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for approving me to read this, I’m rating it 3.5 stars.
I do adore this wholesome romance mixed with little bits of fantasy in the form of mythical creature companions. This a rivalry to romance story which began due to a past hiccup that led to enemy status.
I will say I lowkey hate how they became enemies cause it feels abit iffy that the FMC would even go after that man considering his previous conquest, and I lowkey think it was harsh considering where things stand in the present day. That being said the romance is cute once we move past this detail, they are really there for each other and the epilogue is pure romance.
I do adore this wholesome romance mixed with little bits of fantasy in the form of mythical creature companions. This a rivalry to romance story which began due to a past hiccup that led to enemy status.
I will say I lowkey hate how they became enemies cause it feels abit iffy that the FMC would even go after that man considering his previous conquest, and I lowkey think it was harsh considering where things stand in the present day. That being said the romance is cute once we move past this detail, they are really there for each other and the epilogue is pure romance.
October 17, 2025
The Baby Dragon Bookshop has such a lovely concept — a cozy fantasy world centered around a magical bookshop, filled with warmth and charm. It’s easy to slip into, even if you haven’t read the earlier books in the series. The story quickly establishes its main characters and their personalities, making it simple to connect with them right from the start.
That said, while the idea is delightful, the execution could use another round of editing. The writing suffers from heavy repetition throughout, which often makes sections feel stilted and overly drawn out. At times, the same events or emotions are rehashed just chapters apart, and this tendency to overexplain makes the book read more like a YA novel than an adult cozy fantasy. With tighter editing, the story could easily be 50–70 pages shorter without losing any substance.
There are also a few consistency issues — for example, the author repeatedly mixes up the names of the rival companies belonging to the main characters, which becomes confusing as the story goes on. Small continuity errors like these, along with the repetitive prose, give the sense that the book needed a more careful editorial pass.
Pacing is another issue. After over 300 pages of buildup, the resolution arrives in just about a single page, leaving the conclusion feeling rushed and unsatisfying. It’s a shame, because the story idea has so much potential, but the lack of balance between setup and payoff really affected my overall enjoyment.
In the end, The Baby Dragon Bookshop is a cozy, imaginative read with heart — but it feels like a story that needed one more edit to cut the filler, fix the inconsistencies, and bring a bit more maturity to the characters.
Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books for providing an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
That said, while the idea is delightful, the execution could use another round of editing. The writing suffers from heavy repetition throughout, which often makes sections feel stilted and overly drawn out. At times, the same events or emotions are rehashed just chapters apart, and this tendency to overexplain makes the book read more like a YA novel than an adult cozy fantasy. With tighter editing, the story could easily be 50–70 pages shorter without losing any substance.
There are also a few consistency issues — for example, the author repeatedly mixes up the names of the rival companies belonging to the main characters, which becomes confusing as the story goes on. Small continuity errors like these, along with the repetitive prose, give the sense that the book needed a more careful editorial pass.
Pacing is another issue. After over 300 pages of buildup, the resolution arrives in just about a single page, leaving the conclusion feeling rushed and unsatisfying. It’s a shame, because the story idea has so much potential, but the lack of balance between setup and payoff really affected my overall enjoyment.
In the end, The Baby Dragon Bookshop is a cozy, imaginative read with heart — but it feels like a story that needed one more edit to cut the filler, fix the inconsistencies, and bring a bit more maturity to the characters.
Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books for providing an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
February 3, 2026
The Baby Dragon Bookshop is my first step into The Baby Dragon series and it's been such a warm and welcoming stay! This is a cozy fantasy (cozy contemporary fantasy mayhaps I should say!) that will have you wanting to curl up with a warm mug of tea and blanket and immerse yourself in a world full of the cutest baby dragons. And a world where two people at odds might just find their one time romantic entanglement is not so much a thing of the past.
This is the story of Emmeline and Luke. Years ago Luke broke the heart of Emmy's sister, and so Emmy returned the favor. Playing at romance with Luke who went in thinking what they had was real. Years later, Emmy's sister past heartbreak has been firmly left in the past but what happened between Emmy and Luke has kept its embers still burning between them even as they try their best to pretend otherwise. Throw in forced proximity thanks to competing for a business investment, and suddenly those embers are on the brink of turning into wildfire.
It took me a bit longer than expected to engage fully with this story. It initially did not click, but then...it did. It really did click and what began as a feeling of uncertainty took firm assurance as I came to love Emmeline, Luke, and the whole cast of vibrant characters. While this book can absolutely be read as standalone, as the central romance begins and ends within its page, I do feel I missed out in experiencing the whole universe by not reading the first two books. But now I want to! I really want to thanks to this work.
I enjoyed the romance between Emmeline and Luke! There is so much miscommunication that started years ago between these two. Originally I was frustrated with Emmy not listening to Luke, then I turned that frustration to Luke when he took far too long to explain his despairing anger at someone who was trying to get close to Emmy. And then I realized...gods, they're just like me, ha! They have the same character flaws as so many of us, and in a world of dragons and chimera, I love how this vulnerability reflects our own humanity. We may stumble in our mistakes, but as long we grow as people, we'll come to learn better for the inevitable next times. And that's exactly what Emmy and Luke accomplish. Once they clear the lines of communication, the sweetest romance begins. I had a smile on my face watching them finally, finally meet halfway and learn to embrace each other. Because together they shine so beautifully and work terrifically together.
And I did also really enjoy both individual arcs, but most especially Emmeline's. I sympathized with Emmeline's need for control and precision in life. She is the dependable sibling and daughter, the one who cleans up messes, organizes events, and tempers down chaos. But one of the best lessons she learns throughout this course is letting go (in proper measure!) the responsibility turned burden. To not overthink every step taken. To not question good things headed her way, but to welcome them with a warm embrace. Even when they were at odds, Luke could see the weight being placed on Emmy's shoulders and encouraged her to prioritize herself. To sometimes choose herself and not always others. And she learned to take that heart and to put it to use in her life. It's a personal moment of triumph I loved to see develop.
Overall, this is a cute, comforting read! I leave it wanting to know its world better by reading the other books. So I aim to do just that!
Thank you Harper306, Avon, and NetGalley for this complimentary eARC, I leave this honest review voluntarily. 3.5
This is the story of Emmeline and Luke. Years ago Luke broke the heart of Emmy's sister, and so Emmy returned the favor. Playing at romance with Luke who went in thinking what they had was real. Years later, Emmy's sister past heartbreak has been firmly left in the past but what happened between Emmy and Luke has kept its embers still burning between them even as they try their best to pretend otherwise. Throw in forced proximity thanks to competing for a business investment, and suddenly those embers are on the brink of turning into wildfire.
It took me a bit longer than expected to engage fully with this story. It initially did not click, but then...it did. It really did click and what began as a feeling of uncertainty took firm assurance as I came to love Emmeline, Luke, and the whole cast of vibrant characters. While this book can absolutely be read as standalone, as the central romance begins and ends within its page, I do feel I missed out in experiencing the whole universe by not reading the first two books. But now I want to! I really want to thanks to this work.
I enjoyed the romance between Emmeline and Luke! There is so much miscommunication that started years ago between these two. Originally I was frustrated with Emmy not listening to Luke, then I turned that frustration to Luke when he took far too long to explain his despairing anger at someone who was trying to get close to Emmy. And then I realized...gods, they're just like me, ha! They have the same character flaws as so many of us, and in a world of dragons and chimera, I love how this vulnerability reflects our own humanity. We may stumble in our mistakes, but as long we grow as people, we'll come to learn better for the inevitable next times. And that's exactly what Emmy and Luke accomplish. Once they clear the lines of communication, the sweetest romance begins. I had a smile on my face watching them finally, finally meet halfway and learn to embrace each other. Because together they shine so beautifully and work terrifically together.
And I did also really enjoy both individual arcs, but most especially Emmeline's. I sympathized with Emmeline's need for control and precision in life. She is the dependable sibling and daughter, the one who cleans up messes, organizes events, and tempers down chaos. But one of the best lessons she learns throughout this course is letting go (in proper measure!) the responsibility turned burden. To not overthink every step taken. To not question good things headed her way, but to welcome them with a warm embrace. Even when they were at odds, Luke could see the weight being placed on Emmy's shoulders and encouraged her to prioritize herself. To sometimes choose herself and not always others. And she learned to take that heart and to put it to use in her life. It's a personal moment of triumph I loved to see develop.
Overall, this is a cute, comforting read! I leave it wanting to know its world better by reading the other books. So I aim to do just that!
Thank you Harper306, Avon, and NetGalley for this complimentary eARC, I leave this honest review voluntarily. 3.5
January 3, 2026
The Baby Dragon Bookshop — Aamna Qureshi
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5 stars)
This book is pure cozy fantasy magic — warm, whimsical, and wrapped in found family energy with a dragon-sized dose of charm.
Set inside a bookshop that doubles as a sanctuary for baby dragons, this story blends gentle fantasy with everyday struggles in a way that feels comforting and heartfelt. The FMC is doing her best to keep the shop afloat, care for creatures that are as chaotic as they are adorable, and figure out her own place in the world — all while magic (and feelings) complicate everything.
The vibes:
🐉 Baby dragons (yes, they are as cute as they sound)
📚 Cozy bookshop setting
✨ Low-stakes fantasy with emotional depth
🫶 Found family & healing
💛 Soft, comforting storytelling
What really worked for me was the atmosphere. The magic isn’t loud or flashy — it’s gentle and intentional. The dragons feel like living, breathing beings instead of gimmicks, and the emotional beats land quietly but effectively. This is the kind of book you read curled up with a blanket and a cup of something warm.
If you love cozy fantasy, magical realism, and stories that feel like a hug without sacrificing heart or meaning, The Baby Dragon Bookshop is an easy recommendation. I absolutely loved my time in this world and would happily go back.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5 stars)
This book is pure cozy fantasy magic — warm, whimsical, and wrapped in found family energy with a dragon-sized dose of charm.
Set inside a bookshop that doubles as a sanctuary for baby dragons, this story blends gentle fantasy with everyday struggles in a way that feels comforting and heartfelt. The FMC is doing her best to keep the shop afloat, care for creatures that are as chaotic as they are adorable, and figure out her own place in the world — all while magic (and feelings) complicate everything.
The vibes:
🐉 Baby dragons (yes, they are as cute as they sound)
📚 Cozy bookshop setting
✨ Low-stakes fantasy with emotional depth
🫶 Found family & healing
💛 Soft, comforting storytelling
What really worked for me was the atmosphere. The magic isn’t loud or flashy — it’s gentle and intentional. The dragons feel like living, breathing beings instead of gimmicks, and the emotional beats land quietly but effectively. This is the kind of book you read curled up with a blanket and a cup of something warm.
If you love cozy fantasy, magical realism, and stories that feel like a hug without sacrificing heart or meaning, The Baby Dragon Bookshop is an easy recommendation. I absolutely loved my time in this world and would happily go back.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was a good time, honestly.
The story is very predictable, and you can see everything coming from far away, but that didn’t really ruin the experience for me. It’s a cozy, low-stress read, super comforting, fun, and very bingeable.
As an elder daughter, I found Emmeline really relatable. She’s always taking care of everyone and everything, carrying responsibility on her shoulders, and not really expecting the love or softness she deserves. That part of her character really worked for me. All the side characters were fun too, and the baby dragon bookshop was such a cute, fun setting, and all the chaos with Motu kept things entertaining.
I didn’t fully enjoy the romance, though. Both Emmy and Luke felt very clumsy together, and the relationship didn’t quite click for me. Luke especially felt pretty one-dimensional, and I really wish his backstory had been explored more as it would’ve added more depth to the rivals-to-lovers arc.
All in all, The Baby Dragon Bookshop didn’t surprise me and the romance wasn’t my favorite, but it was still a cozy, fun read that I flew through. Perfect if you want something light and comforting.
The story is very predictable, and you can see everything coming from far away, but that didn’t really ruin the experience for me. It’s a cozy, low-stress read, super comforting, fun, and very bingeable.
As an elder daughter, I found Emmeline really relatable. She’s always taking care of everyone and everything, carrying responsibility on her shoulders, and not really expecting the love or softness she deserves. That part of her character really worked for me. All the side characters were fun too, and the baby dragon bookshop was such a cute, fun setting, and all the chaos with Motu kept things entertaining.
I didn’t fully enjoy the romance, though. Both Emmy and Luke felt very clumsy together, and the relationship didn’t quite click for me. Luke especially felt pretty one-dimensional, and I really wish his backstory had been explored more as it would’ve added more depth to the rivals-to-lovers arc.
All in all, The Baby Dragon Bookshop didn’t surprise me and the romance wasn’t my favorite, but it was still a cozy, fun read that I flew through. Perfect if you want something light and comforting.
November 8, 2025
There is not a book by Aamna that isn’t a 5* from me!
This story was an absolute joy to read and what a perfect ending to the Baby Dragon Cafe world (I am gutted it is over!!)
Luke and Em’s story is adorable, full of emotions and second chances and I truly loved it. I loved the storyline to this with fighting over a chance to have an investment and a coffee shop inside a bookshop (this is perfection!) and the ending was perfect.
I was truly satisfied at this ending and I found so much joy and comfort in not only, but the whole series 💖🫶🏻
This story was an absolute joy to read and what a perfect ending to the Baby Dragon Cafe world (I am gutted it is over!!)
Luke and Em’s story is adorable, full of emotions and second chances and I truly loved it. I loved the storyline to this with fighting over a chance to have an investment and a coffee shop inside a bookshop (this is perfection!) and the ending was perfect.
I was truly satisfied at this ending and I found so much joy and comfort in not only, but the whole series 💖🫶🏻
December 10, 2025
This was a cosy rival to lover romance, with a business competition, and bringing up old feelings and heartache.
I liked the tension and competitiveness between Luke and Emmeline, and the forced proximity in the book shop as they work together. The series always has a fun atmosphere with the baby dragons causing chaos and interfering, and how the main characters are blind to their true feelings until things click.
I liked the tension and competitiveness between Luke and Emmeline, and the forced proximity in the book shop as they work together. The series always has a fun atmosphere with the baby dragons causing chaos and interfering, and how the main characters are blind to their true feelings until things click.
November 14, 2025
Honestly I think this was my favourite book in the series. Such a beautiful, heartwarming and cosy story about second chances, letting go of perfectionism, and letting your guard down all in the name of love.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Ive loved the previous books in thr series, so I knew i would love this one too.
Luke and Emmy are rivals in the coffee industry, but they have to fight for a place in the Local book shop which wants to expans. It's firey, cute. I definitely recommend.
Luke and Emmy are rivals in the coffee industry, but they have to fight for a place in the Local book shop which wants to expans. It's firey, cute. I definitely recommend.
October 17, 2025
My first book in this charming cozy romfantasy tale makes me want to read the first two titles in the series, plus everything the author writes. Loved it!
February 11, 2026
Emmy has an enemy, and his name is Luke. The good news? She rarely sees him. The bad news? When she does, she (and her pet dragons) are reminded just how handsome he is.
Really enjoyed this book didn’t want to put it down
Enemies-to-lovers 🌞
Bookshop romance 📚
Small town 🍂
Low spice ✨
Really enjoyed this book didn’t want to put it down
Enemies-to-lovers 🌞
Bookshop romance 📚
Small town 🍂
Low spice ✨
October 18, 2025
2.5 / 5 ⭐️
I really didn’t enjoy The Baby Dragon Bookshop. The plot felt poorly written, and I didn’t feel drawn into the story at all.
Emmaline was just so hard to like. She spends the first half of the book being spiteful and holding a grudge against Luke for seven years. SEVEN YEARS!? mainly coz he broke her younger sister's heart when she was in uni. But hey, she breaks HIS heart in return, so aren't they both even? Nope. Even her sister has moved on and has a family, but Emmaline can’t let it go (Why? coz she's the older sister, apparently) Then suddenly she completely melts toward Luke, and it didn’t feel believable at all.
Also, in another scene, emmaline is seen talking with a guy named Flint and when Luke sees them, he gets super mad at emmaline for talking with him ( coz flint does some illegal trading ig n spiked a girls drink). But instead of telling all this to Emmaline, he gets really angry and doesn't speak with her at all. Then, towards the end of the book, Emmaline's cousin sister is seen talking with Flint, and even SHE acts the same way as Luke. Like why don't you explain why?!
Although Luke was really sweet, and the baby dragons were cute (they really were, I mean, which dragons are not?), but that wasn’t enough to make up for the issues with the story and characters.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
I really didn’t enjoy The Baby Dragon Bookshop. The plot felt poorly written, and I didn’t feel drawn into the story at all.
Emmaline was just so hard to like. She spends the first half of the book being spiteful and holding a grudge against Luke for seven years. SEVEN YEARS!? mainly coz he broke her younger sister's heart when she was in uni. But hey, she breaks HIS heart in return, so aren't they both even? Nope. Even her sister has moved on and has a family, but Emmaline can’t let it go (Why? coz she's the older sister, apparently) Then suddenly she completely melts toward Luke, and it didn’t feel believable at all.
Also, in another scene, emmaline is seen talking with a guy named Flint and when Luke sees them, he gets super mad at emmaline for talking with him ( coz flint does some illegal trading ig n spiked a girls drink). But instead of telling all this to Emmaline, he gets really angry and doesn't speak with her at all. Then, towards the end of the book, Emmaline's cousin sister is seen talking with Flint, and even SHE acts the same way as Luke. Like why don't you explain why?!
Although Luke was really sweet, and the baby dragons were cute (they really were, I mean, which dragons are not?), but that wasn’t enough to make up for the issues with the story and characters.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
February 3, 2026
3.5 ✨
I had a good time with this. I’ve enjoyed all the books in the series. I definitely found Emmy very relatable and I really liked her character. However, I didn’t really vibe with Emmy and Luke’s romance. It just felt very messy. I don’t quite understand some of Emmys decisions when it came to Luke, I get it but it just seems a bit silly.
The book ended nicely and I definitely enjoyed the series as a whole and I enjoyed this book, it’s perfect for when you want a cosy read.
I had a good time with this. I’ve enjoyed all the books in the series. I definitely found Emmy very relatable and I really liked her character. However, I didn’t really vibe with Emmy and Luke’s romance. It just felt very messy. I don’t quite understand some of Emmys decisions when it came to Luke, I get it but it just seems a bit silly.
The book ended nicely and I definitely enjoyed the series as a whole and I enjoyed this book, it’s perfect for when you want a cosy read.
October 29, 2025
its a cute book and idea, but poorly done. it started off confusing and then never really cleared up. the repetition and name mixups do not help. needs more editing and a clearer story
December 27, 2025
I've had mixed feelings about this series since the first book. While the baby dragons are undeniably adorable, the storylines don't always resonate with me. In book three, the backstory explaining how the two main characters became enemies felt a bit far-fetched. Their ongoing feud—from college all the way into their thirties—came across as immature. Although the rest of the book had its charming moments, that particular backstory dampened my overall enjoyment. Book four sounds like it will have more action so I will be giving the series another chance when it comes out!
I received an ARC of this ebook from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review.
I received an ARC of this ebook from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Welcome to Starshine Valley, where you can enjoy life, whether it be on main street, in the hills, or down by the lake. One thing is for certain, and that is you will encounter mythical creatures living side by side with their human companions. Grab a cup of coffee and head back as we follow our characters and navigate their lives while adding adorable creatures into the mix in AT Qureshi's The Baby Dragon Bookstore.
Emmeline Sterling and Luke Hayward have been rivals since college. Does it help that years later, they both have competing businesses centered on very similar concepts: using a mythical creature's fire to roast coffee beans and distribute them to different businesses throughout Starshine Valley, with her using a dragon and he a chimera. Does it also help that they're both coming up with proposals to have a bookstore be their next place of business? No, but it does add to the lovely tension and banter that these two characters have with each other throughout the story. Unlike the other two stories in the series, these two characters did have a relationship, a very brief one built on revenge. Ever since that one night, they've been at each other's throats, but every once in a while, they each look back to that night, wondering about the connection they had.
Like the other stories, while the main focus is watching these two compete against the other, we also get a glimpse into what makes each character tick. This story highlights what it means to be an eldest child, and the responsibilities they take on, regardless of how much it weighs them down. Emmeline is a busy woman running her business, yet she takes on more responsibility helping care for her younger brother's baby dragon, or making sure her family eats and takes care of themselves. She is being pulled in all directions that she has no time for herself, or how to say no every once in a while. The person who does through her facade is her enemy: Luke. The one person she despises can see right through her. Luke needs this business proposal to go through; everything in his life depends on it. Without it, he's unsure what he's going to do, and what's going to happen to his family if he isn't chosen. Both of these characters have so much in common with each other, even other characters can see it, but their rivalry has made it difficult for them to see their connection to the point they don't even know why they fight each other.
What I loved about this story was that this was a love letter to readers and their love for books. Half of what made this an enchanting read was knowing that part of the storyline takes place in a bookstore. The feeling you get when you walk into a bookstore, and wander around perusing, aisle by aisle. The feeling you get when you can't wait in anticipation of what new story you'll dive into. The feeling of having a book in your hand, getting lost in a story for hours while sitting in a cozy chair as life passes by. Whether you're a person who reads one book at a time, multiple at the same time, rereading the same story over, and or letting your books pile higher and higher, it all boils down to love.
Everything starts with a book. Stories have a way of making you feel so many emotions at once that you don't know what to do with yourself, yet by the end of the story, you always go back. There is a comfort in knowing, yet we also throw ourselves into the unfamiliar, like life. Of all the books in this series, this was by far my most favorite. The connection between Emmeline and Luke was a fun ride, especially since they were so wrapped up in their competition with one another that they didn't see the connection they had with each other. As a fan of love, and a fan of books, it made this reader glad to pick it up.
I received an advance reader copy of this book from AT Qureshi and Harper360 via NetGalley for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. My intentions are to write feedback that reflects my genuine thoughts and is written with the book’s genre and target audience in mind. I aim to review fairly and respectfully, focusing on the story’s purpose.
Emmeline Sterling and Luke Hayward have been rivals since college. Does it help that years later, they both have competing businesses centered on very similar concepts: using a mythical creature's fire to roast coffee beans and distribute them to different businesses throughout Starshine Valley, with her using a dragon and he a chimera. Does it also help that they're both coming up with proposals to have a bookstore be their next place of business? No, but it does add to the lovely tension and banter that these two characters have with each other throughout the story. Unlike the other two stories in the series, these two characters did have a relationship, a very brief one built on revenge. Ever since that one night, they've been at each other's throats, but every once in a while, they each look back to that night, wondering about the connection they had.
Like the other stories, while the main focus is watching these two compete against the other, we also get a glimpse into what makes each character tick. This story highlights what it means to be an eldest child, and the responsibilities they take on, regardless of how much it weighs them down. Emmeline is a busy woman running her business, yet she takes on more responsibility helping care for her younger brother's baby dragon, or making sure her family eats and takes care of themselves. She is being pulled in all directions that she has no time for herself, or how to say no every once in a while. The person who does through her facade is her enemy: Luke. The one person she despises can see right through her. Luke needs this business proposal to go through; everything in his life depends on it. Without it, he's unsure what he's going to do, and what's going to happen to his family if he isn't chosen. Both of these characters have so much in common with each other, even other characters can see it, but their rivalry has made it difficult for them to see their connection to the point they don't even know why they fight each other.
What I loved about this story was that this was a love letter to readers and their love for books. Half of what made this an enchanting read was knowing that part of the storyline takes place in a bookstore. The feeling you get when you walk into a bookstore, and wander around perusing, aisle by aisle. The feeling you get when you can't wait in anticipation of what new story you'll dive into. The feeling of having a book in your hand, getting lost in a story for hours while sitting in a cozy chair as life passes by. Whether you're a person who reads one book at a time, multiple at the same time, rereading the same story over, and or letting your books pile higher and higher, it all boils down to love.
Everything starts with a book. Stories have a way of making you feel so many emotions at once that you don't know what to do with yourself, yet by the end of the story, you always go back. There is a comfort in knowing, yet we also throw ourselves into the unfamiliar, like life. Of all the books in this series, this was by far my most favorite. The connection between Emmeline and Luke was a fun ride, especially since they were so wrapped up in their competition with one another that they didn't see the connection they had with each other. As a fan of love, and a fan of books, it made this reader glad to pick it up.
I received an advance reader copy of this book from AT Qureshi and Harper360 via NetGalley for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. My intentions are to write feedback that reflects my genuine thoughts and is written with the book’s genre and target audience in mind. I aim to review fairly and respectfully, focusing on the story’s purpose.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Baby Dragon Bookshop Arc Review:
Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for providing me with this e-ARC.
The Baby Dragon Bookshop is the third book in the Baby Dragon series. This story follows Emmy and Luke as they compete against each other to win the funding from the same investor and to have their rival coffee shops join forces with the Tails and Tales bookshop that has been in need of something new as of late. This competition complicates things as Emmy makes it her life’s mission to avoid Luke. But Luke however loves to annoy Emmy as it guarantees a chance to talk to her.
The Characters:
Emmy is too busy for love. She runs her successful dragon roasted coffee business that she started right after college graduation. She really wants to do an expansion so a new investor could open a lot of doors for her. She is the oldest daughter and has to look after father and brothers when her mother is away. She also finds herself babysitting her younger brother's 6 month old dragon while he is finishing up school. It doesn't help that she needs to be around Luke constantly for 6 weeks, especially since she can’t help herself from being attractive to him.
Luke is currently trying to keep his chimera roasted coffee business from drowning. Due to some unforeseen circumstances, all his money is going towards business expenses and he’s breaking even until he’s not. He can’t afford to lose his income as he provides a lot to his family as the oldest son. He really is in need of the investment and his roadblock is the woman he hasn’t been able to stop thinking about since that night 7 years ago.
Writing, Pacing and Final Thoughts:
I felt that the story was very evenly paced and it was really easy to follow that this story took place over 6 weeks. You really get to see both sides of Emmy and Luke’s lives and how there is so much more than what they’ve allowed the other person to see. Emmy struggles with standing up for herself and greeting boundaries when it comes to her mother. While she loves her mother, her mother is very quick to offer Emmy’s help without consulting her before she does it. I feel like it is a trait that most oldest daughters are used to having to deal with as I have definitely gone through this. You also can see how this has bled into how Emmy deals with things with people in her life and she just takes over which has given her the reputation of always needing to be in control. You also get to see how Luke has orbited his life around his family. He lives with his parents so that his dad, brother and him can take shifts being there for his mom. You learn that his family is his motivation to get his company to be a success so that he can provide for them as his mom has been ill for sometime. Since he has provided for his mom for as long as he could remember, he knew just how to be there for Emmy even if she wouldn't ask for it herself. I thought that was probably that most romantic part of the book was when he ask her to wash her hair. He was explaining how if he asked her if she would like him to, she probably would’ve said no. But since he asked if he could do it, she was able to say yes without feeling bad about asking for something.
This book is definitely my favorite of the 3. I felt like I could relate to both Luke and Emmy when it came to their family dynamics. They both carry so much and were able to unpack themselves to each other in ways that they haven’t been able to do with anyone else. I absolutely loved this story and loved how Luke wouldn’t let Emmy sacrifice her own happiness for him no matter how much he needed it. Sometimes the perfect solutions are the ones that are right in front of you but taking it means letting your guard down.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/ 5 Stars
Genre: Cozy Fantasy Romance
Release Date: Feb 12, 2026
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for providing me with this e-ARC.
The Baby Dragon Bookshop is the third book in the Baby Dragon series. This story follows Emmy and Luke as they compete against each other to win the funding from the same investor and to have their rival coffee shops join forces with the Tails and Tales bookshop that has been in need of something new as of late. This competition complicates things as Emmy makes it her life’s mission to avoid Luke. But Luke however loves to annoy Emmy as it guarantees a chance to talk to her.
The Characters:
Emmy is too busy for love. She runs her successful dragon roasted coffee business that she started right after college graduation. She really wants to do an expansion so a new investor could open a lot of doors for her. She is the oldest daughter and has to look after father and brothers when her mother is away. She also finds herself babysitting her younger brother's 6 month old dragon while he is finishing up school. It doesn't help that she needs to be around Luke constantly for 6 weeks, especially since she can’t help herself from being attractive to him.
Luke is currently trying to keep his chimera roasted coffee business from drowning. Due to some unforeseen circumstances, all his money is going towards business expenses and he’s breaking even until he’s not. He can’t afford to lose his income as he provides a lot to his family as the oldest son. He really is in need of the investment and his roadblock is the woman he hasn’t been able to stop thinking about since that night 7 years ago.
Writing, Pacing and Final Thoughts:
I felt that the story was very evenly paced and it was really easy to follow that this story took place over 6 weeks. You really get to see both sides of Emmy and Luke’s lives and how there is so much more than what they’ve allowed the other person to see. Emmy struggles with standing up for herself and greeting boundaries when it comes to her mother. While she loves her mother, her mother is very quick to offer Emmy’s help without consulting her before she does it. I feel like it is a trait that most oldest daughters are used to having to deal with as I have definitely gone through this. You also can see how this has bled into how Emmy deals with things with people in her life and she just takes over which has given her the reputation of always needing to be in control. You also get to see how Luke has orbited his life around his family. He lives with his parents so that his dad, brother and him can take shifts being there for his mom. You learn that his family is his motivation to get his company to be a success so that he can provide for them as his mom has been ill for sometime. Since he has provided for his mom for as long as he could remember, he knew just how to be there for Emmy even if she wouldn't ask for it herself. I thought that was probably that most romantic part of the book was when he ask her to wash her hair. He was explaining how if he asked her if she would like him to, she probably would’ve said no. But since he asked if he could do it, she was able to say yes without feeling bad about asking for something.
This book is definitely my favorite of the 3. I felt like I could relate to both Luke and Emmy when it came to their family dynamics. They both carry so much and were able to unpack themselves to each other in ways that they haven’t been able to do with anyone else. I absolutely loved this story and loved how Luke wouldn’t let Emmy sacrifice her own happiness for him no matter how much he needed it. Sometimes the perfect solutions are the ones that are right in front of you but taking it means letting your guard down.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/ 5 Stars
Genre: Cozy Fantasy Romance
Release Date: Feb 12, 2026
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Emmaline “Emmy” Sterling the owner of Inferno, a dragon-roasted coffee company decides to expand her business, she approaches Anh, the matriarch of the Trang family and learns that she is not the only coffee business looking for investors. Her nemesis, Luke Hayward, the owner of Tempest, a chimera-roasted coffee company. Her trouble with Luke started seven years ago, when he dumped her sister Millie, after they hooked up. To avenge her sister, Emmy caught Luke’s attention and after one date and night of passion, she dumped him in retaliation. Since then, she has gone out of her way to avoid him and forget he exists. Now to get Anh to invest in her company she must compete with Luke to open a coffee shop in the Tales & Tails Bookshop, the best coffee shop design will open the coffee shop and Anh will invest in their business. Now she has to see Luke almost every day for the next six weeks, and on top of that, her family is demanding her attention and she can’t say no. She is feeling the pressure and despite everything, she finds herself liking Luke, which is completely unacceptable – right?
Luke has been pining for Emmy for seven long years, when they met he had no idea she was Millie’s sister and he knows that he acted like a jerk when he broke up with her, but he knew they had no future and didn’t want to lead her on, but when he met Emmy, he felt something he had never felt before and was sure she was “the one” only to be dumped by her the morning after their amazing night together. He understood her anger but was sure that she would realize that they had something special. He seriously underestimated Emmy’s loyalty to her family – even thought her sister has long since married a man she is madly in love with and has several children. When Anh first proposes that they merge companies, Luke is happy to agree, but clearly Emmy does not and instead he agrees to a competition to win the investment, something he desperately needs to keep his business afloat and to help his very ill mother. But that doesn’t mean he can try to win Emmy’s heart at the same time – right?
I loved the blurb for this book and couldn’t wait to dive into the story, even though I hadn’t read the previous books in the series. Sadly, I just had a hard time getting into this book because I didn’t really understand the world the author has built – I don’t know the purpose of the dragons, I don’t know why there seem to be different “factions” of mythical beasts, and honestly, I didn’t like Emmy for most of the book. Overall, the premise of the book was great, and maybe if I had read the previous books and understood the world that the author built, I might have enjoyed this book more than I did – by the end of the story, Emmy did redeem herself, but by then, I had pretty much lost interest. So, while this book was a miss for me, I am sure this book will appeal to fans of cozy fantasy stories and have read the previous books, be sure to check out this book.
*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher/author. All opinions in this review are my own. *
Luke has been pining for Emmy for seven long years, when they met he had no idea she was Millie’s sister and he knows that he acted like a jerk when he broke up with her, but he knew they had no future and didn’t want to lead her on, but when he met Emmy, he felt something he had never felt before and was sure she was “the one” only to be dumped by her the morning after their amazing night together. He understood her anger but was sure that she would realize that they had something special. He seriously underestimated Emmy’s loyalty to her family – even thought her sister has long since married a man she is madly in love with and has several children. When Anh first proposes that they merge companies, Luke is happy to agree, but clearly Emmy does not and instead he agrees to a competition to win the investment, something he desperately needs to keep his business afloat and to help his very ill mother. But that doesn’t mean he can try to win Emmy’s heart at the same time – right?
I loved the blurb for this book and couldn’t wait to dive into the story, even though I hadn’t read the previous books in the series. Sadly, I just had a hard time getting into this book because I didn’t really understand the world the author has built – I don’t know the purpose of the dragons, I don’t know why there seem to be different “factions” of mythical beasts, and honestly, I didn’t like Emmy for most of the book. Overall, the premise of the book was great, and maybe if I had read the previous books and understood the world that the author built, I might have enjoyed this book more than I did – by the end of the story, Emmy did redeem herself, but by then, I had pretty much lost interest. So, while this book was a miss for me, I am sure this book will appeal to fans of cozy fantasy stories and have read the previous books, be sure to check out this book.
*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher/author. All opinions in this review are my own. *
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A huge thank you to the publishes and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. I am forever grateful!
I have been extremely fortunate to have been able to access all of the ARCs of this series and it has been a wholesome series for sure, but I do have to say this was probably the harder to read book out of the three for me but for very personal opinions.
To start of with the positives, I love the concept of the story; the rivalry between business owners slowly blooming into a romance was intriguing and I was interested in seeing how it would pan out as the story developed.
The book shop is also an incredibly cosy aspect to the book and I also loved the cosy winter vibes we experience and these books are always easy to read and are perfect to cosy up with a good cuppa.
That being said, this book did have a quite a different vibe for me, but I truly believe this was because I wasn’t as fond of our main characters compared to the others ones in the other books. I sadly don’t get along with characters who are quite rude, stubborn and hold grudges, and as our main character is like this throughout the majority of the book, I struggled to resonate and connect with the character and therefore felt like I wasn’t really caring for her story, especially when I personally didn’t feel like there was an excuse for her behaviour.
For one, she slept with someone to get revenge for her sister, but the second thing is that even seven whole years (with her sister moving on, having a husband and kids now) she STILL wants to bully and hate this guy. Although her sister doesn’t care for him and thinks it’s silly and our FMC is scared to like him in case she falls for him, I just couldn’t get behind any of this at all, especially being thirty years old. It just felt like it was immature for an adult to have the thoughts and feelings that she did.
The MMC was kind of sweet don’t get me wrong, but I did find it a bit irritating when he gets possessive over her when bumping into a bad guy (and I do get why he got angry to be fair and you’ll discover what happened in the past) but the fact he just got up and left rather than explained to Em why she needed to stay away was quite frustrating, again adding to the whole immaturity thing.
I also feel like this book is more written as a YA than adult romance. I read a lot of YA and I have to admit, I haven’t read too many adult romance to know what makes an “adult romance” but other than swearing and a tiny bit of indication of sleeping together it didn’t really feel like it was targeted at adults. There wasn’t spice and even though there was lots of tension I wouldn’t have thought it was erotic enough to be classed as adult, but like I said I could be missing something.
Overall a cosy read in relation to the baby dragons and bookshop, and I did love the rivalry between businesses, but sadly I couldn’t resonate with how our characters behaved.
Thank you NetGalley once again for the opportunity! ✨
I have been extremely fortunate to have been able to access all of the ARCs of this series and it has been a wholesome series for sure, but I do have to say this was probably the harder to read book out of the three for me but for very personal opinions.
To start of with the positives, I love the concept of the story; the rivalry between business owners slowly blooming into a romance was intriguing and I was interested in seeing how it would pan out as the story developed.
The book shop is also an incredibly cosy aspect to the book and I also loved the cosy winter vibes we experience and these books are always easy to read and are perfect to cosy up with a good cuppa.
That being said, this book did have a quite a different vibe for me, but I truly believe this was because I wasn’t as fond of our main characters compared to the others ones in the other books. I sadly don’t get along with characters who are quite rude, stubborn and hold grudges, and as our main character is like this throughout the majority of the book, I struggled to resonate and connect with the character and therefore felt like I wasn’t really caring for her story, especially when I personally didn’t feel like there was an excuse for her behaviour.
For one, she slept with someone to get revenge for her sister, but the second thing is that even seven whole years (with her sister moving on, having a husband and kids now) she STILL wants to bully and hate this guy. Although her sister doesn’t care for him and thinks it’s silly and our FMC is scared to like him in case she falls for him, I just couldn’t get behind any of this at all, especially being thirty years old. It just felt like it was immature for an adult to have the thoughts and feelings that she did.
The MMC was kind of sweet don’t get me wrong, but I did find it a bit irritating when he gets possessive over her when bumping into a bad guy (and I do get why he got angry to be fair and you’ll discover what happened in the past) but the fact he just got up and left rather than explained to Em why she needed to stay away was quite frustrating, again adding to the whole immaturity thing.
I also feel like this book is more written as a YA than adult romance. I read a lot of YA and I have to admit, I haven’t read too many adult romance to know what makes an “adult romance” but other than swearing and a tiny bit of indication of sleeping together it didn’t really feel like it was targeted at adults. There wasn’t spice and even though there was lots of tension I wouldn’t have thought it was erotic enough to be classed as adult, but like I said I could be missing something.
Overall a cosy read in relation to the baby dragons and bookshop, and I did love the rivalry between businesses, but sadly I couldn’t resonate with how our characters behaved.
Thank you NetGalley once again for the opportunity! ✨
January 15, 2026
But her and her pride—it should have been him who was angry with her.
I’m genuinely beginning to think that I should probably stop picking up “cozy fantasy.” I’ve only read a small handful so far, but every time I find myself feeling just so bored with the plot or what almost feels like a lack thereof. Aamna Qureshi’s The Baby Dragon Bookshop, overall, is fine. There’s little inherently wrong with the story or the characters—though I actually seriously hated Emmeline, our fmc, for her problematic behavior and abject refusal to see how she was in the wrong for 80% of the story—but the number of times I had to read through some of the most boring summaries of events was absolutely excessive.
Put simply, I just do not care to any degree about these stupid coffee businesses. I don’t care how the coffee is roasted, I don’t care about the bookkeeping, I don’t care about the project proposals led by the desire for a potential investment in each of the lead characters’ businesses that I also didn’t give a shit about. And so much of the story is centered around the rivalry with their businesses that these two characters have with their dragon vs. chimera roasted coffee that I literally wanted to rip my hair out for forcing myself to keep reading through this. Could there have been a less exciting plot point?
And with so much of this book summarizing the most boring aspects of business ownership with smatterings of dragon antics—honestly, even this wasn’t interesting enough to save the book for me—it just made all of the family dynamics feel even more dull than they probably were. I could barely bring myself to care about anything going on with these characters because their business-related scenes were boring as hell, Emmeline was an ass, and everything centered around her family—outside of, perhaps, her sister (who also had nothing going on aside from having kids, one of which was a new baby)—taking advantage of her at every turn which is supposed to make me feel bad for her but simply resulted in me feeling frustrated with everyone involved instead. Her brother sucked, his lack of responsibility in getting a baby dragon when he didn’t have the bandwidth to train him and then deciding to foist the creature off on his sister was so frustrating. Her mother was always insisting that she needed to be around her father and brothers to take care of them because apparently they were all so hopeless and lost without a woman making sure they ate home cooked food.
And what’s even worse? The dragons! My goodness, why were they so pointless? One dragon’s sole purpose was to be a coffee roaster and transportation—outside of a MINOR mishap with a plot-forced overprotectiveness to create an opportunity for an injury that forced Emmeline to spend dinner with Luke’s family—and the other’s sole reason for existence was to be a poorly trained menace so her family could take advantage of her and to show just how busy she was. Honestly, what even was the point of a fantasy setting??
All of this said, it’s very clear to me at this point that this new genre of “cozy fantasy/cozy romantasy”—after reading and straight abhoring two such books to the point of wanting to throw both into a volcano—is not for me. I’ve come to the conclusion that its only job is to blend fantasy elements with the contemporary “every day life” dullness and I don’t think I can take another second of it.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 28, 2025
The 3rd book in "The Baby Dragon" series did not disappoint! It was just as charming, lighthearted, romantic, and full of baby dragons as the rest of the series.
I love this series because it is so cozy. The romance is so sweet and charming in every book, and I am always rooting for the main love interests to get together. In this 3rd installment, Emmeline and her long time business rival Luke are set in a competition to win a HUGE business investor. As they work to prepare their proposals on who will win the business of the new coffee shop set to open in the local bookstore, they just can't help but start to catch feelings for each other.
Just as enchanting as the last 2 books, this installment includes:
-lots of baby dragons(more than book 2!)
-enemies to lovers romance
-a glimpse of the romantic couples from the previous books
-light spice (think 1.5/5 spicy pepper - there's a 1 page open door scene, everything else is fade to black)
-a charming valley where we get to meet new dragons and even some chimera's
This is the perfect series to pick up as a light, charming, palette cleanser. Each book is so quick to read, and I always have a hard time putting them down! This particular book took approx. 5 hrs/3 days of reading. It's the perfect cozy read for winter as well as it takes place around December. I love how all the characters are so sweet and they really want the best for each other. The friendships are adorable, the relationships between owner and dragon are so cute, and the romance in this was fantastic!
The only thing that I feel could use more work is the writing. It's akin to how a high schooler/fan fic writer would write. A lot of sentences/sentiments are constantly repeated throughout a paragraph or throughout the book, and I'm like "you JUST said the same thing a little while back". While it does make the book easily readable, I think it could use a bit more editing. However I also think the author has improved a bit on this since book 1.
I'm excited to see where this series goes next....from the excerpt at the end of this book, it looks like there might be a spinoff series following Ginny!?!?!?!
Absolutely recommend for the adult audience who is looking for a light, cozy, charming romance! 4.5/5 stars
Thanks so much to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
I love this series because it is so cozy. The romance is so sweet and charming in every book, and I am always rooting for the main love interests to get together. In this 3rd installment, Emmeline and her long time business rival Luke are set in a competition to win a HUGE business investor. As they work to prepare their proposals on who will win the business of the new coffee shop set to open in the local bookstore, they just can't help but start to catch feelings for each other.
Just as enchanting as the last 2 books, this installment includes:
-lots of baby dragons(more than book 2!)
-enemies to lovers romance
-a glimpse of the romantic couples from the previous books
-light spice (think 1.5/5 spicy pepper - there's a 1 page open door scene, everything else is fade to black)
-a charming valley where we get to meet new dragons and even some chimera's
This is the perfect series to pick up as a light, charming, palette cleanser. Each book is so quick to read, and I always have a hard time putting them down! This particular book took approx. 5 hrs/3 days of reading. It's the perfect cozy read for winter as well as it takes place around December. I love how all the characters are so sweet and they really want the best for each other. The friendships are adorable, the relationships between owner and dragon are so cute, and the romance in this was fantastic!
The only thing that I feel could use more work is the writing. It's akin to how a high schooler/fan fic writer would write. A lot of sentences/sentiments are constantly repeated throughout a paragraph or throughout the book, and I'm like "you JUST said the same thing a little while back". While it does make the book easily readable, I think it could use a bit more editing. However I also think the author has improved a bit on this since book 1.
I'm excited to see where this series goes next....from the excerpt at the end of this book, it looks like there might be a spinoff series following Ginny!?!?!?!
Absolutely recommend for the adult audience who is looking for a light, cozy, charming romance! 4.5/5 stars
Thanks so much to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
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