What do you think?
Baldwin Village #2
Ice Cream Lover
A previous cover edition for this ASIN can be found here
I hate ice cream. Ever since my fiancée left me at the altar and skewered me in her bestseller “Embrace Your Inner Ice Cream Sandwich: Finding the Positive You in a World of Negativity,” I haven’t been able to stomach the stuff.
Unfortunately, my five-year-old niece is a budding foodie and her favorite place in the world is Ginger Scoops, a cutesy Asian ice cream shop. Since I’ve been looking after my niece a lot lately, I’ve spent too much time there, sipping black coffee, refusing to eat ice cream, and trying not to look at the owner, Chloe Jenkins. Chloe is obnoxiously cheerful, and I can’t stand her.
Naturally, I end up kissing her.
But I’ve sworn off women after the fiasco with my ex-fiancée, and I’m convinced I’m no good at relationships. Still, with Chloe I’m tempted to do the impossible: give love and ice cream another chance…
I hate ice cream. Ever since my fiancée left me at the altar and skewered me in her bestseller “Embrace Your Inner Ice Cream Sandwich: Finding the Positive You in a World of Negativity,” I haven’t been able to stomach the stuff.
Unfortunately, my five-year-old niece is a budding foodie and her favorite place in the world is Ginger Scoops, a cutesy Asian ice cream shop. Since I’ve been looking after my niece a lot lately, I’ve spent too much time there, sipping black coffee, refusing to eat ice cream, and trying not to look at the owner, Chloe Jenkins. Chloe is obnoxiously cheerful, and I can’t stand her.
Naturally, I end up kissing her.
But I’ve sworn off women after the fiasco with my ex-fiancée, and I’m convinced I’m no good at relationships. Still, with Chloe I’m tempted to do the impossible: give love and ice cream another chance…
250 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 21, 2019
About the author
Jackie Lau
40 books915 followersJackie Lau decided she wanted to be a writer when she was in grade two, sometime between writing “The Heart That Got Lost” and “The Land of Shapes.” She later studied engineering and worked as a geophysicist before turning to writing romance novels.
Jackie lives in Toronto with her husband, and despite living in Canada her whole life, she hates winter. When she’s not writing, she enjoys cooking, hiking, eating too much gelato, and reading on the balcony when it’s raining.
Jackie lives in Toronto with her husband, and despite living in Canada her whole life, she hates winter. When she’s not writing, she enjoys cooking, hiking, eating too much gelato, and reading on the balcony when it’s raining.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 107 reviews
June 14, 2025
3.5 stars rounded up
The blurb perfectly captures the core of this romance, although it is heavier in places than I expected. Balanced out with lots of humor and sweetness though, particularly with the slow development of the main characters. Sure they’re instantly attracted to each other, but neither wants a ONS. Although both are also hesitant over relationships for good reason - the h’s life altered after the death of her mother, while the H was left at the altar years ago now and then his ex bashed him in a book that became a best-seller, giving him a complex over what he can offer. The complexities of being biracial and feeling disassociated from both races is also reflected upon. These are not shallow themes or characterizations happening. There’s also a foodie young girl, unicorns, humorous family, friendships, and lots of food on page. I enjoyed it!
Written in first person, dual POV. No ow/om drama and both are experienced (the h is bi and has had relationships with men and women, it had been a few months for her; the H had been celibate a year I think and had slept with a couple people since being ditched by his ex - minimal details given for both).
Some tropes/themes:
☆ Ice cream
☆ Grief
☆ Honoring/feeling close to a loved one after death
☆ Feeling disconnected/not understood by loved ones
☆ Learning to communicate
☆ Grumpy MMC with a mushy core
☆ Kind of sunshine FMC
☆ Rep of Asian heritage, biracial heritage, and being bisexual
☆ Fears of being a bad partner
☆ Third act breakup
Chloe (h) and Drew (H) were likable and good characters. Drew gets flack over being a grump and especially things like his hatred of ice cream following the end of his last serious relationship. I love ice cream and even I was side eyeing the idea of it with the repetition over what his ex wrote. Chloe was a sweetheart who’s floundering as she tries to start up this special new business. She has passion, but also fears. Drew’s niece being a foodie was the best thing that could have happened to them both because it kept bringing them into proximity of each other. I liked how they slowly connected and how their eventual first makeout session and dates went. The story is steamy with explicit scenes, though this author’s not my favorite for spicy writing usually. However, you have self love, toys as teammates, and some dirty talking.
The highlight of the story however is the emotional intimacy and the emotional heart of Chloe and Drew. He’s far more supportive than you’d expect for a grump and she needed that support and reassurance more than her bright exterior implied. They’re both a little broken, finding it hard to communicate their fears and needs. Although they can open up to each other, particularly Chloe opening up to Drew, there’s still growth that has to occur. For that reason, I didn’t hate the third act breakup as much as I thought I would. It could have been avoided yes, but I do think it gave them both a chance to face some of what their internal angst was doing to them and how it impacted others.
I did feel like the story had repetitive places, particularly about Drew’s ex and Chloe’s internal angst over her dad. It takes a while for their to be steps in the right direction for these situations and in the meantime, it felt like the characters were churning in place. This author also writes in a slightly stilted fashion at times so even when I enjoy her books a lot, I find myself noticing that they could be smoother imo.
I loved Chloe’s friends and I think I need to circle back to the story that came before this one. A whole book about a lady who bakes pie? Yeah, I might be hungry at the end but pie in all forms is wondrous. Drew’s family were hilarious and great. I liked how Chloe’s family does come through ultimately as well. Drew’s ex was something else and I hated that he gave her so much headspace. I did like that the author addressed this before the end, even if we still had to read that lady talking about ice cream sandwiches one last time.
Drew’s gesture to win Chloe back was small but good and I personally didn’t think he needed a drawn out grovel anyway. She understood what had happened, he’s vulnerable about something that he’d been hiding how deeply it had affected him, and they’re quickly reunited and expressing their love. The ending is more HFN but they’re in a solid place, a few months further down the road and living together. There’s a genuine sense of joy and happiness. Because they had put in the work of connecting earlier in the book, I wasn’t even upset that they reconcile and then the book jumps ahead and ends. I’m curious if the next book will show them engaged or married but either way, this was a cute enough place to leave them.
The blurb perfectly captures the core of this romance, although it is heavier in places than I expected. Balanced out with lots of humor and sweetness though, particularly with the slow development of the main characters. Sure they’re instantly attracted to each other, but neither wants a ONS. Although both are also hesitant over relationships for good reason - the h’s life altered after the death of her mother, while the H was left at the altar years ago now and then his ex bashed him in a book that became a best-seller, giving him a complex over what he can offer. The complexities of being biracial and feeling disassociated from both races is also reflected upon. These are not shallow themes or characterizations happening. There’s also a foodie young girl, unicorns, humorous family, friendships, and lots of food on page. I enjoyed it!
Written in first person, dual POV. No ow/om drama and both are experienced (the h is bi and has had relationships with men and women, it had been a few months for her; the H had been celibate a year I think and had slept with a couple people since being ditched by his ex - minimal details given for both).
Some tropes/themes:
☆ Ice cream
☆ Grief
☆ Honoring/feeling close to a loved one after death
☆ Feeling disconnected/not understood by loved ones
☆ Learning to communicate
☆ Grumpy MMC with a mushy core
☆ Kind of sunshine FMC
☆ Rep of Asian heritage, biracial heritage, and being bisexual
☆ Fears of being a bad partner
☆ Third act breakup
Chloe (h) and Drew (H) were likable and good characters. Drew gets flack over being a grump and especially things like his hatred of ice cream following the end of his last serious relationship. I love ice cream and even I was side eyeing the idea of it with the repetition over what his ex wrote. Chloe was a sweetheart who’s floundering as she tries to start up this special new business. She has passion, but also fears. Drew’s niece being a foodie was the best thing that could have happened to them both because it kept bringing them into proximity of each other. I liked how they slowly connected and how their eventual first makeout session and dates went. The story is steamy with explicit scenes, though this author’s not my favorite for spicy writing usually. However, you have self love, toys as teammates, and some dirty talking.
The highlight of the story however is the emotional intimacy and the emotional heart of Chloe and Drew. He’s far more supportive than you’d expect for a grump and she needed that support and reassurance more than her bright exterior implied. They’re both a little broken, finding it hard to communicate their fears and needs. Although they can open up to each other, particularly Chloe opening up to Drew, there’s still growth that has to occur. For that reason, I didn’t hate the third act breakup as much as I thought I would. It could have been avoided yes, but I do think it gave them both a chance to face some of what their internal angst was doing to them and how it impacted others.
I did feel like the story had repetitive places, particularly about Drew’s ex and Chloe’s internal angst over her dad. It takes a while for their to be steps in the right direction for these situations and in the meantime, it felt like the characters were churning in place. This author also writes in a slightly stilted fashion at times so even when I enjoy her books a lot, I find myself noticing that they could be smoother imo.
I loved Chloe’s friends and I think I need to circle back to the story that came before this one. A whole book about a lady who bakes pie? Yeah, I might be hungry at the end but pie in all forms is wondrous. Drew’s family were hilarious and great. I liked how Chloe’s family does come through ultimately as well. Drew’s ex was something else and I hated that he gave her so much headspace. I did like that the author addressed this before the end, even if we still had to read that lady talking about ice cream sandwiches one last time.
Drew’s gesture to win Chloe back was small but good and I personally didn’t think he needed a drawn out grovel anyway. She understood what had happened, he’s vulnerable about something that he’d been hiding how deeply it had affected him, and they’re quickly reunited and expressing their love. The ending is more HFN but they’re in a solid place, a few months further down the road and living together. There’s a genuine sense of joy and happiness. Because they had put in the work of connecting earlier in the book, I wasn’t even upset that they reconcile and then the book jumps ahead and ends. I’m curious if the next book will show them engaged or married but either way, this was a cute enough place to leave them.
Did Not Finish
July 8, 2025DNF at 40%.
This is a case of a seemingly small thing being a big issue for me. Actually, there are several issues; however, Drew being late to their first "not date" is a SUPER huge red flag to me in combination with Chloe being really bothered but telling him (and herself) "it's no big deal".
Here's the thing. Lateness doesn't HAVE to be a red flag. However, the way this scene is written makes it so uncomfortable for me.
Chloe is taking a huge risk and being vulnerable. Drew KNOWS that it's her dead mom's birthday and offers to keep her company. You don't make someone wait alone at a restaurant for you when it's this sensitive. She's waiting and super uncomfortable for 10 minutes (or more if she was early) before he gets there and says "sorry I was late" with no explanation. And she's all "no biggie" because it "shouldn't bother her cause he was only 10 minutes late."
But it DOES bother her.
I can feel her discomfort so vividly. So, when she immediately starts to trauma dump on Drew, I wanted to yell, "don't do it! He's not shown himself to be safe for you".
She's not able to tell him how uncomfortable she felt when he was late and he doesn't even notice or seem to put any value on his tardiness.
Add to that, there is a LOT of negative motivation setup in this book on both sides and I don't want to keep going. I don't feel "safe" as a reader that she's going to share her true self and that he's going to take care of her.
I would bet there's some crazy third act drama (off to read others' reviews).
Goodbye.
This author is mostly miss for me... which is a bummer, because I like a LOT of the elements of their books, but there are big red flags that make this not work.
This is a case of a seemingly small thing being a big issue for me. Actually, there are several issues; however, Drew being late to their first "not date" is a SUPER huge red flag to me in combination with Chloe being really bothered but telling him (and herself) "it's no big deal".
Here's the thing. Lateness doesn't HAVE to be a red flag. However, the way this scene is written makes it so uncomfortable for me.
Chloe is taking a huge risk and being vulnerable. Drew KNOWS that it's her dead mom's birthday and offers to keep her company. You don't make someone wait alone at a restaurant for you when it's this sensitive. She's waiting and super uncomfortable for 10 minutes (or more if she was early) before he gets there and says "sorry I was late" with no explanation. And she's all "no biggie" because it "shouldn't bother her cause he was only 10 minutes late."
But it DOES bother her.
I can feel her discomfort so vividly. So, when she immediately starts to trauma dump on Drew, I wanted to yell, "don't do it! He's not shown himself to be safe for you".
She's not able to tell him how uncomfortable she felt when he was late and he doesn't even notice or seem to put any value on his tardiness.
Add to that, there is a LOT of negative motivation setup in this book on both sides and I don't want to keep going. I don't feel "safe" as a reader that she's going to share her true self and that he's going to take care of her.
I would bet there's some crazy third act drama (off to read others' reviews).
Goodbye.
This author is mostly miss for me... which is a bummer, because I like a LOT of the elements of their books, but there are big red flags that make this not work.
July 16, 2019
Hilarious and cute romance between a grumpy Asian Canadian man who has come to detest ice cream and a bisexual Asian/Caucasian Canadian woman who own an ice cream parlor. Book tackled some pretty important subject matter wherein Chloe struggled with feeling both 'in-between' and 'outside' because of her dual heritage and her sexuality. Her father "doesn't see race" and thus she feels erased by him because he's ignoring the Asian part of her heritage.
Drew has his own hangups. His ex left him at the alter and maligned him horribly in an internationally best-selling self-help book, which was quite frankly, completely ridiculous, but it was meant to be.
Chloe feels like she's an outsider except when with Drew, who really sees her, bu Drew feels like, with millions of people around the world thinking he's an ice cream melting, dream crushing asshole, he's no good for her.
Some little added tidbits were quite silly, and usually they would have subtracted from the story for me, but I really liked the way the author handled ethnicity discussion. ALSO: I was not expecting the sexy times to be so hawt! I'm now going to hunt down some more of Jackie Lau's books!
Drew has his own hangups. His ex left him at the alter and maligned him horribly in an internationally best-selling self-help book, which was quite frankly, completely ridiculous, but it was meant to be.
Chloe feels like she's an outsider except when with Drew, who really sees her, bu Drew feels like, with millions of people around the world thinking he's an ice cream melting, dream crushing asshole, he's no good for her.
Some little added tidbits were quite silly, and usually they would have subtracted from the story for me, but I really liked the way the author handled ethnicity discussion. ALSO: I was not expecting the sexy times to be so hawt! I'm now going to hunt down some more of Jackie Lau's books!
January 29, 2021
3 Sterne (= positive und negative Aspekte im Gleichgewicht)
Super spannende Protagonistin, die immer noch mit dem Verlust ihrer Mutter kämpft und einen Eisladen mit asiatischen Geschmacksrichtungen eröffnet. Außerdem hadert sie mit ihrer eigenen Identität mit kanadisch-chinesischer Herkunft. Die Lovestory war allerdings ziemlich schnarchig.
Super spannende Protagonistin, die immer noch mit dem Verlust ihrer Mutter kämpft und einen Eisladen mit asiatischen Geschmacksrichtungen eröffnet. Außerdem hadert sie mit ihrer eigenen Identität mit kanadisch-chinesischer Herkunft. Die Lovestory war allerdings ziemlich schnarchig.
Read
May 20, 2019Three random points of interest:
* Jackie Lau writes such enjoyably grumpy characters and puts their grumpiness to the test in amusing ways.
* There is a unicorn in this book named Havarti Sparkles. I won't tell you what the alpaca's name is, but it's also quite good.
* I now know that mooncake flavored ice cream exists, and I desperately want to try it. (Along with all the other ice cream flavors mentioned in this book, though it's probably a nah on more than one bite of the durian.)
Our protagonists are cheerful, striving ice cream shop owner Chloe and grumpy, stubborn Drew. Drew's job is something to do with a bank, but his important role here in the story is actually that of uncle. He's helping take care of his five-year-old niece, a pint-sized foodie whose pursuit of interesting cuisine leads Drew and Chloe to cross paths.
Drew's still living under the shadow of being left at the altar a few years ago, when his fiancée climbed out a window at the church. He might have moved on by now, but his ex then went on to write a massively best-selling self-help book, Embrace Your Inner Ice Cream Sandwich: Finding the Positive You in a World of Negativity (and yes, it's just as ridic as it sounds), in which she absolutely lambasted Drew and the effect he had on her life.
What I really liked was that the ice cream sandwich self-help metaphor might have been totally silly, but the subtitle--finding the positive you in a world of negativity--is actually a sweet reflection on Chloe's and Drew's personal journeys in this book. Chloe is stressed about launching her shop, because it's not just a shop: it's a connection to her late mother, and it's a way of connecting to her own biracial identity. She struggles with feelings of whether she belongs--and under what terms, and by whose perspective. (Another note: Chloe is bisexual, and her sexuality is treated with casual steadiness and acceptance throughout the narrative.) Drew's having a hard time shaking off his ex's perspective on him, especially since it seems like millions of readers around the world agree with her that he's a monster (or, um, ice cream sandwich melter). Both Chloe and Drew end up having to figure out who they are--and shift their perspectives and maybe that of those around them--to embrace that (and each other). So that made me smile, that the terrible, ridiculous (hilariously so) self-help book actually struck a chord of sincerity, in the end.
I also want to give a few ♥♥♥ for the narrative's sensitivity about Chloe's feelings about her experience of her racial identity. Biracial and multiracial characters aren't exactly infrequent characters in romance novels, but there's a lot of terrible representation out there (heavy-handed angst-hammers or careless colorblindness, to cite top two offenders). But here, this is a really thoughtful portrayal, and I appreciated it SO MUCH. I don't share the same exact multiracial background as Chloe, but it's similar, and I felt a lot of moments of recognition. (And moments that were outside my own experience, too!) Chloe herself is thoughtful about her experiences and about why it matters to her. It's all grounded in her character and her life. I also very much appreciated that Lau included other biracial characters in the story, too, and Chloe also thought about how their experiences might differ from hers.
I do want to give a heads-up for food pushing (Drew hates ice cream and refuses to try it, Chloe keeps making suggestions), although after a little while, they're both doing it teasingly.
FTC Disclosure: I received an advance review copy of this book from the author.
* Jackie Lau writes such enjoyably grumpy characters and puts their grumpiness to the test in amusing ways.
* There is a unicorn in this book named Havarti Sparkles. I won't tell you what the alpaca's name is, but it's also quite good.
* I now know that mooncake flavored ice cream exists, and I desperately want to try it. (Along with all the other ice cream flavors mentioned in this book, though it's probably a nah on more than one bite of the durian.)
Our protagonists are cheerful, striving ice cream shop owner Chloe and grumpy, stubborn Drew. Drew's job is something to do with a bank, but his important role here in the story is actually that of uncle. He's helping take care of his five-year-old niece, a pint-sized foodie whose pursuit of interesting cuisine leads Drew and Chloe to cross paths.
Drew's still living under the shadow of being left at the altar a few years ago, when his fiancée climbed out a window at the church. He might have moved on by now, but his ex then went on to write a massively best-selling self-help book, Embrace Your Inner Ice Cream Sandwich: Finding the Positive You in a World of Negativity (and yes, it's just as ridic as it sounds), in which she absolutely lambasted Drew and the effect he had on her life.
What I really liked was that the ice cream sandwich self-help metaphor might have been totally silly, but the subtitle--finding the positive you in a world of negativity--is actually a sweet reflection on Chloe's and Drew's personal journeys in this book. Chloe is stressed about launching her shop, because it's not just a shop: it's a connection to her late mother, and it's a way of connecting to her own biracial identity. She struggles with feelings of whether she belongs--and under what terms, and by whose perspective. (Another note: Chloe is bisexual, and her sexuality is treated with casual steadiness and acceptance throughout the narrative.) Drew's having a hard time shaking off his ex's perspective on him, especially since it seems like millions of readers around the world agree with her that he's a monster (or, um, ice cream sandwich melter). Both Chloe and Drew end up having to figure out who they are--and shift their perspectives and maybe that of those around them--to embrace that (and each other). So that made me smile, that the terrible, ridiculous (hilariously so) self-help book actually struck a chord of sincerity, in the end.
I also want to give a few ♥♥♥ for the narrative's sensitivity about Chloe's feelings about her experience of her racial identity. Biracial and multiracial characters aren't exactly infrequent characters in romance novels, but there's a lot of terrible representation out there (heavy-handed angst-hammers or careless colorblindness, to cite top two offenders). But here, this is a really thoughtful portrayal, and I appreciated it SO MUCH. I don't share the same exact multiracial background as Chloe, but it's similar, and I felt a lot of moments of recognition. (And moments that were outside my own experience, too!) Chloe herself is thoughtful about her experiences and about why it matters to her. It's all grounded in her character and her life. I also very much appreciated that Lau included other biracial characters in the story, too, and Chloe also thought about how their experiences might differ from hers.
I do want to give a heads-up for food pushing (Drew hates ice cream and refuses to try it, Chloe keeps making suggestions), although after a little while, they're both doing it teasingly.
FTC Disclosure: I received an advance review copy of this book from the author.
May 24, 2019
Ever since Drew's fiancee left him at the altar and then wrote a successful tell all book called 'Embracing Your Inner Ice Cream Sandwich' that was less than flattering to Drew, he hasn't been able to eat ice cream - a small problem since his young niece absolutely adores an Asian inspired ice cream shop, Ginger Scoops, run by Chloe Jenkins. Chloe isn't immune to the attractive Chinese man and his cute niece who keep visiting her heart and soul, the shop she wants to make into a success to honor her Chinese heritage on her mother's side. But if she can't tempt Drew to try her ice cream, does she even have a chance of capturing his heart?
This is a fun, lighthearted character driven romance (but not without its series subjects) that will be impossible to get all the way through without indulging in either ice cream or pie (as Chloe is friends with a gourmet pie maker Sarah, heroine of the first book in the series, The Ultimate Pi Day Party). And of course, Chloe is eventually able to pull the story out of Drew as to why he hates ice cream, and make him realize that if he wants to let the past go, he needs to get over his ice cream phobia and learn not to associate it with his ex. Along the way, this couple gets to explore their attraction to each other in some sexy scenes. The characters' Asian heritage, and for Chloe, what it's like to be of mixed Caucasian and Chinese descent with a white father and her difficulties in knowing where to fit in are explored well, and from an authentic viewpoint by the author, which also includes Chloe's struggles with her mother's death. Drew's niece, a budding foodie is smart and funny and the perfect foil for grumpy and introverted Drew. Soon Drew doesn't need an excuse to visit Ginger Scoops and see Chloe as their relationship develops, and they work their way towards a happy and very satisfying ending.
Ice Cream Lover has got lots of laughs, lots of ice cream and pie, and two characters with depth and heart who have their own unique life challenges to overcome. The multicultural Toronto setting is a plus too. If you're looking for a lovely summer read, this is one I definitely recommend.
This review also appears at Harlequin Junkie: https://harlequinjunkie.com/review-ic...
A copy of this story was provided by the author for review.
This is a fun, lighthearted character driven romance (but not without its series subjects) that will be impossible to get all the way through without indulging in either ice cream or pie (as Chloe is friends with a gourmet pie maker Sarah, heroine of the first book in the series, The Ultimate Pi Day Party). And of course, Chloe is eventually able to pull the story out of Drew as to why he hates ice cream, and make him realize that if he wants to let the past go, he needs to get over his ice cream phobia and learn not to associate it with his ex. Along the way, this couple gets to explore their attraction to each other in some sexy scenes. The characters' Asian heritage, and for Chloe, what it's like to be of mixed Caucasian and Chinese descent with a white father and her difficulties in knowing where to fit in are explored well, and from an authentic viewpoint by the author, which also includes Chloe's struggles with her mother's death. Drew's niece, a budding foodie is smart and funny and the perfect foil for grumpy and introverted Drew. Soon Drew doesn't need an excuse to visit Ginger Scoops and see Chloe as their relationship develops, and they work their way towards a happy and very satisfying ending.
Ice Cream Lover has got lots of laughs, lots of ice cream and pie, and two characters with depth and heart who have their own unique life challenges to overcome. The multicultural Toronto setting is a plus too. If you're looking for a lovely summer read, this is one I definitely recommend.
This review also appears at Harlequin Junkie: https://harlequinjunkie.com/review-ic...
A copy of this story was provided by the author for review.
April 27, 2019
Drew's fiancee jumped out of a window to flee from their wedding, with not a world to tell him why, well no words until she published her tell-all memoir/self-help book entitled "Embrace Your Inner Ice Cream Sandwich." A book that lambasts Drew for "melting her ice cream sandwich" and for being a cross between Eeyore and Oscar the Grouch on steroids." Ouch.
So now Drew hates ice cream. Can't stand it. Not even if the owner of the ice cream shop his foodie niece is currently obsessed with is also super cute and super intent on changing his mind.
Ginger Scoops has been Chloe's dream since her mother died, even if her father doesn't believe it is a smart career choice. Chloe is intent on proving her father wrong and honoring her Chinese-Canadian mother's heritage, a heritage her White father seems intent on ignoring, with her Asian flavored delicacies.
So when the deliciously grumpy Drew starts showing up with his adorable niece, Chloe doesn't much have time to spare for someone who is a self-described ice cream hater. But there just something about Drew, something about his instance he's a grump and not worth a relationship, that makes Chloe also want to prove him wrong. Even if it cuts into her time owning a small business.
Lau does an amazing job of bringing these two melancholy souls together. Don't let the breezy title and cover fool you, this story has some angst and tackles tough subjects, including death of a parent, parental disappointment, and racial blindness that hurts. But, through the darkness shines so much sparkling light, including Drew's coming to realize he's lovable through his relationship with his six-year-old niece (much more than plot moppet), and a series of unicorns.
There's also fabulously delicious sex scenes, and a celebration of Chloe's use of toys to achieve maximum pleasure (huzzah)!
I always look forward to the next Lau tale!
I received a free copy in exchange for a fair review.
So now Drew hates ice cream. Can't stand it. Not even if the owner of the ice cream shop his foodie niece is currently obsessed with is also super cute and super intent on changing his mind.
Ginger Scoops has been Chloe's dream since her mother died, even if her father doesn't believe it is a smart career choice. Chloe is intent on proving her father wrong and honoring her Chinese-Canadian mother's heritage, a heritage her White father seems intent on ignoring, with her Asian flavored delicacies.
So when the deliciously grumpy Drew starts showing up with his adorable niece, Chloe doesn't much have time to spare for someone who is a self-described ice cream hater. But there just something about Drew, something about his instance he's a grump and not worth a relationship, that makes Chloe also want to prove him wrong. Even if it cuts into her time owning a small business.
Lau does an amazing job of bringing these two melancholy souls together. Don't let the breezy title and cover fool you, this story has some angst and tackles tough subjects, including death of a parent, parental disappointment, and racial blindness that hurts. But, through the darkness shines so much sparkling light, including Drew's coming to realize he's lovable through his relationship with his six-year-old niece (much more than plot moppet), and a series of unicorns.
There's also fabulously delicious sex scenes, and a celebration of Chloe's use of toys to achieve maximum pleasure (huzzah)!
I always look forward to the next Lau tale!
I received a free copy in exchange for a fair review.
April 30, 2019
This was absolute porn. Food porn, that is, and I savored every bit of the Vietnamese coffee ice cream, waffle cones, dark chocolate stashes, durian ice cream, even mooncake-flavored ice cream (please let this be real) goodness. Jackie Lau knows how to write delicious Asian men eating delicious Asian food. She conquered the world of pie in Book 1, The Ultimate Pi Day Party, and now ice cream. I can only hope she moves on to cookies, bread, noodles, dumplings...
The cherry on top of this romance sundae (oh, how about a sundae-based book, Jackie Lau?) was that Chloe and Drew's story isn't just sugar and fluff. When a biracial, bisexual ice cream shop owner hooks up with an ice cream-loathing, grumpy Chinese-Canadian man who looks like Chris Pang yet was villain-ized in his ex's best-selling memoir, Embrace Your Inner Ice Cream Sandwich, there's going to be more than just sweet and humor - there was also deep dives into self-worth, acceptance, and bravery.
Chloe and Drew each had internal struggles which I wanted to end with more public declarations by the people that hurt them - Chloe's dad, Chloe's aunt, and Drew's ex really should have groveled or apologized better. But in the end, what mattered was that they had each other and ice cream, glittery unicorns, unicorn onesies, and the best six-year-old foodie imaginable.
The only thing is this book should come with a warning: don't read without a freezer full of ready ice cream - you will want to eat all the ice cream!
4 stars
Note: I voluntarily read and reviewed this ARC generously provided by the author.
The cherry on top of this romance sundae (oh, how about a sundae-based book, Jackie Lau?) was that Chloe and Drew's story isn't just sugar and fluff. When a biracial, bisexual ice cream shop owner hooks up with an ice cream-loathing, grumpy Chinese-Canadian man who looks like Chris Pang yet was villain-ized in his ex's best-selling memoir, Embrace Your Inner Ice Cream Sandwich, there's going to be more than just sweet and humor - there was also deep dives into self-worth, acceptance, and bravery.
Chloe and Drew each had internal struggles which I wanted to end with more public declarations by the people that hurt them - Chloe's dad, Chloe's aunt, and Drew's ex really should have groveled or apologized better. But in the end, what mattered was that they had each other and ice cream, glittery unicorns, unicorn onesies, and the best six-year-old foodie imaginable.
She grins up at me. I make her smile like this. Me, Drew Lum. Aka Marvin Wong, terrible boyfriend extraordinaire, known for melting people’s ice cream sandwiches and stifling creative energy. But I want Chloe to have everything. I want her to make as much Vietnamese coffee ice cream and strawberry-lychee sorbet and bubble waffles as she likes, even if they’re not my cup of tea. I want her to feel like she belongs.
The only thing is this book should come with a warning: don't read without a freezer full of ready ice cream - you will want to eat all the ice cream!
4 stars
Note: I voluntarily read and reviewed this ARC generously provided by the author.
May 23, 2019
I'm sort of over Jackie Lau's tendency for a stupid decision or miscommunication at roughly 75% in the book, but I really do like her relationships and characters, so I will continue to read and enjoy her books and just wish she wouldn't do that.
(Also, this is another one that you shouldn't read hungry.)
(Also, this is another one that you shouldn't read hungry.)
March 17, 2021
3.5 stars rounded up.
In October of last year, I figured out that I had developed lactose intolerance. Overall, the adjustment has been easier than expected, but there are a few things I really miss: Mac and cheese, milk chocolate, and ice cream. God I miss ice cream. This book is total ice cream food porn, and tbh reading it in my state was probably a pretty bad idea.
A few minor issues with the story itself: The heroine is really quite pushy in trying to get the hero to eat ice cream toward the beginning — he says he doesn’t like it, stop trying to force feed him please. The 80% crisis felt like it came out of nowhere, and there were a few too many “this is what we’ve learned” scenes toward the end. However, I did really buy the hero’s growth, so that was done well. Also, it’s grumpy sunshine which is just one of the best tropes.
In October of last year, I figured out that I had developed lactose intolerance. Overall, the adjustment has been easier than expected, but there are a few things I really miss: Mac and cheese, milk chocolate, and ice cream. God I miss ice cream. This book is total ice cream food porn, and tbh reading it in my state was probably a pretty bad idea.
A few minor issues with the story itself: The heroine is really quite pushy in trying to get the hero to eat ice cream toward the beginning — he says he doesn’t like it, stop trying to force feed him please. The 80% crisis felt like it came out of nowhere, and there were a few too many “this is what we’ve learned” scenes toward the end. However, I did really buy the hero’s growth, so that was done well. Also, it’s grumpy sunshine which is just one of the best tropes.
May 22, 2019
SOOOO much fun!! This is a new author for me, and I was completely won over by her ice cream posts on
Twitter combined with the hot guy on the cover. Yes, I can be superficial. (Also, I would like to point out that in the book, Chloe’s ice cream shop gets a big boost from some Tweets by local bloggers. That’s kinda meta.)
Chloe owns an ice cream shop in Toronto. Derek has some issues with ice cream, but he loves his niece and she wants ice cream, so he bravely enters the ice cream shop. Derek and Chloe meet. Sparks fly.
My favorite contemporary romances are (a) realistic (real people with real jobs and pastimes), (b) with appealing h/H plus appealing sidekicks, and (c) make me laugh. This book hits the trifecta. I actually laughed out loud. Plus, there’s ice cream! There is a sizzling sex scene in the middle of the book which I read at work during lunch and whoooo 😳 I’m glad nobody needed to talk to me just then.
This book did get a little boring in the middle, but then the inevitable relationship troubles actually made me want to cry, so clearly these characters felt real to me.
Twitter combined with the hot guy on the cover. Yes, I can be superficial. (Also, I would like to point out that in the book, Chloe’s ice cream shop gets a big boost from some Tweets by local bloggers. That’s kinda meta.)
Chloe owns an ice cream shop in Toronto. Derek has some issues with ice cream, but he loves his niece and she wants ice cream, so he bravely enters the ice cream shop. Derek and Chloe meet. Sparks fly.
My favorite contemporary romances are (a) realistic (real people with real jobs and pastimes), (b) with appealing h/H plus appealing sidekicks, and (c) make me laugh. This book hits the trifecta. I actually laughed out loud. Plus, there’s ice cream! There is a sizzling sex scene in the middle of the book which I read at work during lunch and whoooo 😳 I’m glad nobody needed to talk to me just then.
This book did get a little boring in the middle, but then the inevitable relationship troubles actually made me want to cry, so clearly these characters felt real to me.
May 25, 2021
This book was filled with everything I want in a romance - steamy scenes, explorations of identity and personal fulfillment, and the most delicious sounding food! I have a series video review for this entire romance trilogy because it's just wonderful. This second book really dives into Chinese-Canadian identity and how different that can look for different people, as well as shows characters dealing with grief, abandonment, and feeling like they aren't good enough. I loved all the heart that went into the storyline, as well as how funny and sweet it was. There was a little bit more drama than I prefer in the third act, but otherwise, a perfect book!
Content Warnings:
death of a family member
Content Warnings:
death of a family member
February 10, 2020
Ice Cream Lover has a LOT in common with its predecessor, perhaps too much, but if you enjoyed that one, you'll love this one too.
The biggest issue I had with this, the one that kept me from really settling in, was the premise. Drew hates ice cream, which is awkward since love interest Chloe runs an ice cream parlor, because his ex left him at the altar and wrote about how he "melted her ice cream sandwich" in her bestselling self-help book about finding your inner ice cream sandwich. I get that the book is supposed to be funny and ridiculous, but I still couldn't deal with his fear of ice cream as a result.
I also wish the romance plot hadn't so exactly mimicked the one in The Ultimate Pi Day Party. Once again, the conflict in the relationship is the guy's deep commitment-phobia borne from a prior relationship that ended badly, and, because of that, he dumps her because "she deserves better." Yawn. Meanwhile, the heroine has concerns about a relationship because of her fledgling business taking up so much time. I also thought it was ridiculous that when Drew dumped her temporarily, Sarah didn't have insight when they talked about it, considering that Josh did THE EXACT SAME THING.
Complaints aside, it's cute and diverse. I liked it. I just wish that I could love these, but they're not quite where I need them to be from a craft perspective.
The biggest issue I had with this, the one that kept me from really settling in, was the premise. Drew hates ice cream, which is awkward since love interest Chloe runs an ice cream parlor, because his ex left him at the altar and wrote about how he "melted her ice cream sandwich" in her bestselling self-help book about finding your inner ice cream sandwich. I get that the book is supposed to be funny and ridiculous, but I still couldn't deal with his fear of ice cream as a result.
I also wish the romance plot hadn't so exactly mimicked the one in The Ultimate Pi Day Party. Once again, the conflict in the relationship is the guy's deep commitment-phobia borne from a prior relationship that ended badly, and, because of that, he dumps her because "she deserves better." Yawn. Meanwhile, the heroine has concerns about a relationship because of her fledgling business taking up so much time. I also thought it was ridiculous that when Drew dumped her temporarily, Sarah didn't have insight when they talked about it, considering that Josh did THE EXACT SAME THING.
Complaints aside, it's cute and diverse. I liked it. I just wish that I could love these, but they're not quite where I need them to be from a craft perspective.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 24, 2019
I WILL PROTECT DREW WITH MY LYFE-
I spent the whole book feeling pissed at his ex for writing that vile self help book of hers but anyway this is so much to read and made me crave ice cream so-
I spent the whole book feeling pissed at his ex for writing that vile self help book of hers but anyway this is so much to read and made me crave ice cream so-
August 19, 2019
I read Ice Cream Lover twice in one day. The joke in the title is that Drew hates ice cream and Chloe owns an Asian ice cream shop called Ginger Scoops. I 100% want an Asian ice cream store close by so that I too can have ginger ice cream in a bubble waffle cone. After reading two of Jackie Lau’s books, I’m going to need her to come out with a cookbook soon too. Ice Cream Lover is out May 21. I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Drew has been single since his fiance left him at the alter and then making him the bad guy of her self help book. Chloe has just opened her ice cream shop after her mother’s death derailed her education plans and left her feeling adrift. Chloe feels like the ice cream shop is a way to stay connected to her mother and capture her Chinese heritage in her own way.
How does an ice cream hater fall in love with an ice cream purveyor? The unlikely duo is brought together by Drew’s niece. Michelle, like Chloe, is biracial. She is also very serious about food, Chloe’s shop, and unicorns.
Side note: Some readers may find Michelle’s foodie sophistication unlikely for a 5/6 year old. I had no problem with it. I had the privilege of being nanny to a precocious child from 18 months – 5 years. She was a sophisticated fashionista even before she had the words to express herself. It was only on reflection years later that I realized it is not normal to get your outfits approved by a 3 year old before leaving the house. She is now a stylist in Washington DC. DM me if you want to be one of the sharpest dressed people in the Beltway.
Getting back to the book, I enjoyed Chloe and Drew’s growing relationship. They are each quite certain they have no time for or interest in a relationship and then are surprised by the way they make time for each other. The attraction between them is palpable. There is plenty of sexual tension and some steamy *insert funky baseline here.* Lau does not neglect the emotional connection.
Entwined with their romance are their individual struggles. Drew is a grumpy cinnamon roll. His ex fiance accuses him of stifling her and that accusation is translated into 23 languages. Drew has to figure out how much of him really is the killjoy he is depicted as, and how much it was their relationship. Chloe has to figure out how to get her father, who is white, to accept her for who she is, including being Asian, bisexual, and a college dropout. She struggles for a feeling of belonging.
This is only the second book of Lau’s that I have read, but there are some common elements.
* Her characters have fully formed lives outside of their romance.
* Lau writes beautifully about the long term reverberations of a death in the family. Grief changes her characters and their relationships without becoming a plot device impediment to the romantic relationship.
* Characters must rethink their own ideas about themselves in order to move into the future as a couple.
Drew has been single since his fiance left him at the alter and then making him the bad guy of her self help book. Chloe has just opened her ice cream shop after her mother’s death derailed her education plans and left her feeling adrift. Chloe feels like the ice cream shop is a way to stay connected to her mother and capture her Chinese heritage in her own way.
How does an ice cream hater fall in love with an ice cream purveyor? The unlikely duo is brought together by Drew’s niece. Michelle, like Chloe, is biracial. She is also very serious about food, Chloe’s shop, and unicorns.
Side note: Some readers may find Michelle’s foodie sophistication unlikely for a 5/6 year old. I had no problem with it. I had the privilege of being nanny to a precocious child from 18 months – 5 years. She was a sophisticated fashionista even before she had the words to express herself. It was only on reflection years later that I realized it is not normal to get your outfits approved by a 3 year old before leaving the house. She is now a stylist in Washington DC. DM me if you want to be one of the sharpest dressed people in the Beltway.
Getting back to the book, I enjoyed Chloe and Drew’s growing relationship. They are each quite certain they have no time for or interest in a relationship and then are surprised by the way they make time for each other. The attraction between them is palpable. There is plenty of sexual tension and some steamy *insert funky baseline here.* Lau does not neglect the emotional connection.
Entwined with their romance are their individual struggles. Drew is a grumpy cinnamon roll. His ex fiance accuses him of stifling her and that accusation is translated into 23 languages. Drew has to figure out how much of him really is the killjoy he is depicted as, and how much it was their relationship. Chloe has to figure out how to get her father, who is white, to accept her for who she is, including being Asian, bisexual, and a college dropout. She struggles for a feeling of belonging.
This is only the second book of Lau’s that I have read, but there are some common elements.
* Her characters have fully formed lives outside of their romance.
* Lau writes beautifully about the long term reverberations of a death in the family. Grief changes her characters and their relationships without becoming a plot device impediment to the romantic relationship.
* Characters must rethink their own ideas about themselves in order to move into the future as a couple.
May 17, 2019
This book made me crave ice cream. I really want to try all these flavors!
Drew Lum is a grump of a man who adores his niece, Michelle, and will do anything for her. He was left at the alter by his ex-fiancée, Lisa, who then wrote a self-help/memoir book on their relationship. This book paints Drew in a very unfair light and it soon becomes clear that he doesn’t feel like he deserves any kind of relationship with another woman for fear of crushing their spirits.
Chloe Jenkins is a bisexual ice cream shop owner of a place called Ginger Scoops who loves bright colors and tries to always be peppy. She built the shop specializing in Asian flavors in memory of her mother who died in a car accident, dropping out of university to do so. She’s a biracial Chinese-Canadian and doesn’t feel like she quite belongs in her mostly-white family. Her father doesn’t see her or her mother as Chinese and this, obviously, puts a strain on their relationship.
Mentioning the idea of “not seeing race”, this book talks about how little representation there is for people like Michelle or Chloe who are biracial and don’t quite feel like they belong in their families or in their communities. There are quite a few microaggressions that white people say in this book. For example, one old white woman asks Chloe “what she is” like she’s entitled to an answer just because Chloe isn’t white herself. On another account, Lisa calls flavors like green tea and black sesame seed “exotic”.
Chloe has a complicated relationship with her family. After her mother passed away, her aunt didn’t visit Toronto for a long time and almost entirely stayed out of her life. Her father doesn’t approve of her dropping out of dentistry school and for much of the book, he doesn’t support her ice cream shop or understand why she chose the flavors she did. There are also scenes in the book where she fears she’s misremembering her mother and that maybe they didn’t always get each other like she thinks.
I loved the chemistry between them. The grumpy hero/happy heroine is always going to be an all-time favorite trope for me! It was lust at first sight with plenty of sex scenes once they got together. We see that Drew isn’t always grouchy and is such a good person, especially with his niece and doesn’t mind looking silly to make her laugh.
Sarah from The Ultimate Pi Day Party makes cameo appearances in this book and from what I’ve read on Twitter, Jackie Lau also plans on featuring a book where Valerie is the main protagonist! Definitely excited.
I can’t wait to read more by this author and will definitely recommend it.
Disclaimer: I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Drew Lum is a grump of a man who adores his niece, Michelle, and will do anything for her. He was left at the alter by his ex-fiancée, Lisa, who then wrote a self-help/memoir book on their relationship. This book paints Drew in a very unfair light and it soon becomes clear that he doesn’t feel like he deserves any kind of relationship with another woman for fear of crushing their spirits.
Chloe Jenkins is a bisexual ice cream shop owner of a place called Ginger Scoops who loves bright colors and tries to always be peppy. She built the shop specializing in Asian flavors in memory of her mother who died in a car accident, dropping out of university to do so. She’s a biracial Chinese-Canadian and doesn’t feel like she quite belongs in her mostly-white family. Her father doesn’t see her or her mother as Chinese and this, obviously, puts a strain on their relationship.
Mentioning the idea of “not seeing race”, this book talks about how little representation there is for people like Michelle or Chloe who are biracial and don’t quite feel like they belong in their families or in their communities. There are quite a few microaggressions that white people say in this book. For example, one old white woman asks Chloe “what she is” like she’s entitled to an answer just because Chloe isn’t white herself. On another account, Lisa calls flavors like green tea and black sesame seed “exotic”.
Chloe has a complicated relationship with her family. After her mother passed away, her aunt didn’t visit Toronto for a long time and almost entirely stayed out of her life. Her father doesn’t approve of her dropping out of dentistry school and for much of the book, he doesn’t support her ice cream shop or understand why she chose the flavors she did. There are also scenes in the book where she fears she’s misremembering her mother and that maybe they didn’t always get each other like she thinks.
I loved the chemistry between them. The grumpy hero/happy heroine is always going to be an all-time favorite trope for me! It was lust at first sight with plenty of sex scenes once they got together. We see that Drew isn’t always grouchy and is such a good person, especially with his niece and doesn’t mind looking silly to make her laugh.
Sarah from The Ultimate Pi Day Party makes cameo appearances in this book and from what I’ve read on Twitter, Jackie Lau also plans on featuring a book where Valerie is the main protagonist! Definitely excited.
I can’t wait to read more by this author and will definitely recommend it.
Disclaimer: I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.
October 14, 2020
I'm glad I picked this one up! This steamy romance featured a biracial, bisexual heroine and an East Asian hero, which is why I was interested in the first place. The chemistry here was great, although I'll admit it was too steamy for my personal tastes (some of the open door sex scenes felt extraneous towards the end of the book).
I actually enjoyed the depth of the subplots more than the romance aspects. Drew's drama with his ex was humorous at times, but you could see how it affected him and his relationships throughout the book in a serious way. Chloe's focus was more around coping with the death of her mother, and her relationship with her father, who she feels isn't supportive of her efforts to connect with her Asian heritage. I understood her struggle, since I'm a half-Asian woman who was raised by white parents, and there are parts of my life that they'll never be able to understand even if they want to. Suffice to say, there was a lot going on in this short book!
It's not all about the angst, though, since Drew's adorable niece and descriptions of delicious ice cream flavors add some lightness to the story. Chloe also has great friendships with the other shop owners in her area, and you get enough details about these women to be interested in reading the other books in the series. I'm sure you can pick up any one of the Baldwin Village books and have as much fun as I did with this one!
I actually enjoyed the depth of the subplots more than the romance aspects. Drew's drama with his ex was humorous at times, but you could see how it affected him and his relationships throughout the book in a serious way. Chloe's focus was more around coping with the death of her mother, and her relationship with her father, who she feels isn't supportive of her efforts to connect with her Asian heritage. I understood her struggle, since I'm a half-Asian woman who was raised by white parents, and there are parts of my life that they'll never be able to understand even if they want to. Suffice to say, there was a lot going on in this short book!
It's not all about the angst, though, since Drew's adorable niece and descriptions of delicious ice cream flavors add some lightness to the story. Chloe also has great friendships with the other shop owners in her area, and you get enough details about these women to be interested in reading the other books in the series. I'm sure you can pick up any one of the Baldwin Village books and have as much fun as I did with this one!
October 19, 2020
Excellent, sweet contemporary romance featuring a man whose ex left him at the alter then wrote a self-help book saying that he was a bad boyfriend-- her book is about "finding your inner ice-cream sandwich" and says that he melted her inner ice cream sandwich. Don't worry, this is treated as being ridiculous because it is. He is generally grumpy but of course a softie, duh.
He meets woman who owns an ice cream shop! But he won't eat ice cream! Chloe and is biracial and lost her connection to her Chinese heritage when her mother died. The romance is delightful and the characters are very driven by their internal needs. Lau really explored what it means to be biracial, as well as the generational differences in perspective on race, and what it's like to be a 3rd generation Canadian with Asian ancestry. White authors notoriously write biracial characters to add diversity to their books, but ignore the non-white culture or family that the character has. Lau really dives in to this character's perspective, how her white father and Chinese-Canadian mother each impacted her life, and how her mother's absence has cut her connection to her culture. It felt very real, and Chloe was just an excellent and very real-feeling character. Plus Chloe is bisexual, so the intersection of those things is part of her experience.
This book will make you crave ice cream, there is mention of apple pie with ginger ice cream and now I NEED it.
He meets woman who owns an ice cream shop! But he won't eat ice cream! Chloe and is biracial and lost her connection to her Chinese heritage when her mother died. The romance is delightful and the characters are very driven by their internal needs. Lau really explored what it means to be biracial, as well as the generational differences in perspective on race, and what it's like to be a 3rd generation Canadian with Asian ancestry. White authors notoriously write biracial characters to add diversity to their books, but ignore the non-white culture or family that the character has. Lau really dives in to this character's perspective, how her white father and Chinese-Canadian mother each impacted her life, and how her mother's absence has cut her connection to her culture. It felt very real, and Chloe was just an excellent and very real-feeling character. Plus Chloe is bisexual, so the intersection of those things is part of her experience.
This book will make you crave ice cream, there is mention of apple pie with ginger ice cream and now I NEED it.
May 6, 2021
Ready for your next grumpy/sunshine romance?
Drew can't eat ice cream now. Not since he's been left at the altar and his ex wrote a best selling memoir/self help book about him being a crappy boyfriend and something about finding which kind of ice cream sandwich you are ? Drew hasn't been on a date since his fail engagement but it's about to change, thanks to the difficult taste buds of his 5 years-old niece.
When her mother died in a car accident, Chloe changed her career plan. One month ago, as an ode to her, she opened Ginger Scoops, a cutesy ice cream shop who specialize in Asian flavors. When she meet a new customer who comes weekly with his little niece and seem determine to not try anything but her coffee and even state that he doesn't like ice cream, Chloe can't resist trying to change his mind and learn more about the endearing grump.
I've always heard good things about Jackie Lau's books and after reading my first one I totally get why! A flowing writing style, the perfect mix of humor, heart and heat and characters who deal with their issues with all their strengths and weaknesses. Drew and Chloe were especially touching in their desire to belong. It was interesting to read the heroine's experience as a third generation immigrant in Toronto and as a bisexual as well. I can't wait to be back in Baldwin Village!
Drew can't eat ice cream now. Not since he's been left at the altar and his ex wrote a best selling memoir/self help book about him being a crappy boyfriend and something about finding which kind of ice cream sandwich you are ? Drew hasn't been on a date since his fail engagement but it's about to change, thanks to the difficult taste buds of his 5 years-old niece.
When her mother died in a car accident, Chloe changed her career plan. One month ago, as an ode to her, she opened Ginger Scoops, a cutesy ice cream shop who specialize in Asian flavors. When she meet a new customer who comes weekly with his little niece and seem determine to not try anything but her coffee and even state that he doesn't like ice cream, Chloe can't resist trying to change his mind and learn more about the endearing grump.
I've always heard good things about Jackie Lau's books and after reading my first one I totally get why! A flowing writing style, the perfect mix of humor, heart and heat and characters who deal with their issues with all their strengths and weaknesses. Drew and Chloe were especially touching in their desire to belong. It was interesting to read the heroine's experience as a third generation immigrant in Toronto and as a bisexual as well. I can't wait to be back in Baldwin Village!
May 27, 2025
This book is currently FREE, so go grab it while you can!
I love Jackie Lau's earlier books and I hadn't read this one yet for no reason other than too many books, never enough time. It was all the things I expected it would be and if you enjoy a contemporary romance with a foodie theme I'd definitely recommend the Baldwin Village series!
One grumpy AF MMC meets one ray of sunshine FMC. He has an aversion to ice cream, so of course she owns an ice cream shop. She is also besties with the pie shop owner across the street (from book one), and if there is one thing Lau excels at is making a reader crave some delicious eats. Why can't these fictional food shops be real?!
At just over 200-pages, this was the perfect length romance for me - it got there quickly and without filler. A fantastic cast of side characters with a mix of friends and family, and lots of great high heat moments complete with toys. There are also some deeply emotional moments in this book, tackling grief due to parental loss and feelings of not fitting in as a biracial person.
I hope the new illustrated covers on this series helps get it into the hands of readers! I have zero problems with a shirtless man on my book covers, but these are also super cute! The whole series is also available in a very affordable eBook bundle! Man vs Durian is next up on my tbr!
I love Jackie Lau's earlier books and I hadn't read this one yet for no reason other than too many books, never enough time. It was all the things I expected it would be and if you enjoy a contemporary romance with a foodie theme I'd definitely recommend the Baldwin Village series!
One grumpy AF MMC meets one ray of sunshine FMC. He has an aversion to ice cream, so of course she owns an ice cream shop. She is also besties with the pie shop owner across the street (from book one), and if there is one thing Lau excels at is making a reader crave some delicious eats. Why can't these fictional food shops be real?!
At just over 200-pages, this was the perfect length romance for me - it got there quickly and without filler. A fantastic cast of side characters with a mix of friends and family, and lots of great high heat moments complete with toys. There are also some deeply emotional moments in this book, tackling grief due to parental loss and feelings of not fitting in as a biracial person.
I hope the new illustrated covers on this series helps get it into the hands of readers! I have zero problems with a shirtless man on my book covers, but these are also super cute! The whole series is also available in a very affordable eBook bundle! Man vs Durian is next up on my tbr!
July 8, 2025
I loved it. I like how these two characters are presented as puzzle pieces, intricate, complicated and unique, that unexpectedly fit each other perfectly. Usually when I read a romance novel I look forward to the first kiss or a declaration but I couldn’t wait for Drew to have icecream again. I loved how their relationship was a vulnerable place. The MCs’ insecurities felt very realistic, with Drew worrying about giving his partner all she deserves and being a good father. Chloe was braver with her feelings and I think that’s realistic and relatable too.
Grief is present throughout the book and the way it was written felt true. In general I think this is a book full of heart, but I loved how the relationship acted as a catalyst for both main characters to re-imagine their identity, Chloe in a life where her mom is no longer there and Drew in a state of mind where he stops feeling like he’s not enough and feels more comfortable getting out of his comfort zone. The grand gesture wasn’t particularly grand but I loved it.
This is pure gold. I have been reading Lau’s most recent releases but this is older and has that original Jackie Lau feel. I love to read Toronto and the food scene through her eyes and how food is something that shapes memories. Overarticulated children are a pet peeve of mine but the 5 year old foodie was so funny and a perfect little cupid.
Grief is present throughout the book and the way it was written felt true. In general I think this is a book full of heart, but I loved how the relationship acted as a catalyst for both main characters to re-imagine their identity, Chloe in a life where her mom is no longer there and Drew in a state of mind where he stops feeling like he’s not enough and feels more comfortable getting out of his comfort zone. The grand gesture wasn’t particularly grand but I loved it.
This is pure gold. I have been reading Lau’s most recent releases but this is older and has that original Jackie Lau feel. I love to read Toronto and the food scene through her eyes and how food is something that shapes memories. Overarticulated children are a pet peeve of mine but the 5 year old foodie was so funny and a perfect little cupid.
May 10, 2019
I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream! Book Two in the Baldwin Village series is out on May 21 and the focus is on ice cream! You don't need to have read the first book to enjoy Drew and Chloe's story, but you should because it's as good as pie😜 Jackie Lau is a writer who I know is going to give me a great story with food references that will make me crave said food along with a satisfying ending. She delivers again with this book♥️ Word of advice, you will definitely crave ice cream during and after your reading and since the weather is finally starting to look up, you should totally go out and have a scoop or three!
Drew Lum and Chloe Jenkins are two people battling insecurities who aren't looking for love or a HEA (happily ever after). They are very different with Drew hating ice cream while Chloe is the owner of an ice cream shop. Drew has his reasons for not enjoying the delicious treat and it isn't because he's lactose intolerant. Those same reasons are why he's shut himself off from the possibility of having a future with someone. Chloe is biracial and bisexual and is struggling with her identity, because even in a city as multicultural as Toronto, being of mixed heritage is hard because you feel like you never belong anywhere. These two characters have all these reasons for being single and yet when they meet, attraction is there, drawing them closer, like ice cream melting together in a bowl of love🥰
This is another great book from Jackie Lau with a hero who kind of looks like Chris Pang and a biracial bisexual heroine who makes amazing ice cream. I wish she was real and I could visit Ginger Scoops when I'm in Toronto because the flavors all sounded amazing and these two would be so cute 🥰
Get a copy and enjoy with ice cream and/or homemade pasta like adorable Michelle♥️🍦♥️🍦♥️
Drew Lum and Chloe Jenkins are two people battling insecurities who aren't looking for love or a HEA (happily ever after). They are very different with Drew hating ice cream while Chloe is the owner of an ice cream shop. Drew has his reasons for not enjoying the delicious treat and it isn't because he's lactose intolerant. Those same reasons are why he's shut himself off from the possibility of having a future with someone. Chloe is biracial and bisexual and is struggling with her identity, because even in a city as multicultural as Toronto, being of mixed heritage is hard because you feel like you never belong anywhere. These two characters have all these reasons for being single and yet when they meet, attraction is there, drawing them closer, like ice cream melting together in a bowl of love🥰
This is another great book from Jackie Lau with a hero who kind of looks like Chris Pang and a biracial bisexual heroine who makes amazing ice cream. I wish she was real and I could visit Ginger Scoops when I'm in Toronto because the flavors all sounded amazing and these two would be so cute 🥰
Get a copy and enjoy with ice cream and/or homemade pasta like adorable Michelle♥️🍦♥️🍦♥️
September 4, 2020
I was not expecting the comedy but it's right in the premise! Drew is a grumpy Asian-Canadian who has hated ice cream since his fiance left him at the altar and then wrote a book about finding your inner ice cream sandwich. So of course he's going to fall in love with Chloe who owns an ice cream parlor.
Chloe is bisexual and recovering from the way her life changed after the death of her mother. She's also grappling with her identity as a third generation Asian-Canadian and not feeling like she belongs.
There are heavy topics here, all handled well and with some humor.
Chloe is bisexual and recovering from the way her life changed after the death of her mother. She's also grappling with her identity as a third generation Asian-Canadian and not feeling like she belongs.
There are heavy topics here, all handled well and with some humor.
August 23, 2019
Bought on Rose Lerner's recommendation. Lovely sexy steamy book of ultra modern sensibility -- *are* there men like this? For my daughter's sake, I hope so! -- but the way these characters obsessed over food yet denied it to themselves drove me crazy. (Partly, I will admit, because I don't get it. I like chocolate and ice cream and pie and all, but I forget they exist for weeks at a time. I feel left out of the fun, universe. I wish I had a sweet tooth.) (What do I crave that I shouldn't have, that I ration? Romance novels!)
May 13, 2019
Such a sweet love story that will tug your heartstrings!
Chloe and Drew have almost nothing in common except their mutual attraction and hearts that need healing. While Drew is definitely over his ex, her success at his expense has made him question everything about himself and what he can bring to a relationship. Chloe is still trying to find her safe space after losing her mother and her only link to half her heritage.
This was a terrific romance that focused on how each partner brought out the best in the other while giving them the emotional safety and security to find the answers they needed. I loved the soul-searching interactions with both MCs and their families. It's more family-oriented than action-packed, though there are plenty of steamy scenes that keep the heat on throughout. Their HEA was realistic and believable while still being swoony and romantic. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.
Chloe and Drew have almost nothing in common except their mutual attraction and hearts that need healing. While Drew is definitely over his ex, her success at his expense has made him question everything about himself and what he can bring to a relationship. Chloe is still trying to find her safe space after losing her mother and her only link to half her heritage.
This was a terrific romance that focused on how each partner brought out the best in the other while giving them the emotional safety and security to find the answers they needed. I loved the soul-searching interactions with both MCs and their families. It's more family-oriented than action-packed, though there are plenty of steamy scenes that keep the heat on throughout. Their HEA was realistic and believable while still being swoony and romantic. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.
May 20, 2022
Ugh Jackie Lau's books always make me so hungry!! So many tasty treats are almost always at the forefront of her books - and I'm not complaining! And of course, the grumpy one is soft for the sunshiney one is the superior trope, and this was the perfect twist on that. On to the last book in this series!
May 31, 2022
Yet another winner from Jackie. And of course it made me want ice cream a lot! I loved how well balanced the Drew and Chloe were and the strength they gave each other when it was needed. Plus the steam factor in here was off the charts! Highly recommend.
June 15, 2020
I adore Jackie Lau and find myself saving her books for when I’m feeling down and need a lift. Her characters have realistic, sometimes heavy, problems, but they’re balanced by her signature charming wit and, in this case, delicious food. Drew has not only been left at the altar, but his former fiancée wrote a bestselling self-help book blaming him for all their relationship problems and comparing him to Oscar the Grouch. The central (corny and much belabored) metaphor of her book was ice cream sandwiches, and ever since publication Drew has been viscerally turned off by ice cream. Unfortunately, his niece, a precocious foodie, loves an upscale ice cream shop in town, and Drew ends up spending a lot of time there, black coffee in hand. The only good thing about frequenting Ginger Scoops is the owner, Chloe, who is super cute and always tries to talk him into trying her creations inspired by her mother’s Chinese heritage. But there’s no way a curmudgeonly guy like him would go for a woman who’s painted her ice cream parlor bright pink, right?
As much as I enjoyed Drew’s journey from closed off grump to happily in love grump, I loved Chloe as a character even more. She has complicated feelings about her half Chinese, half white identity, made more difficult because her mother has passed away and the only family she sees regularly are white people. She feels out of place among them but at the same time feels disconnected from Chinese culture. I also appreciated how Chloe’s bisexuality is an organic part of the story, not the focus but also not ignored just because she’s interested in a man. And of course I loved all the foodie references—I definitely had to pause my reading for ice cream breaks.
As much as I enjoyed Drew’s journey from closed off grump to happily in love grump, I loved Chloe as a character even more. She has complicated feelings about her half Chinese, half white identity, made more difficult because her mother has passed away and the only family she sees regularly are white people. She feels out of place among them but at the same time feels disconnected from Chinese culture. I also appreciated how Chloe’s bisexuality is an organic part of the story, not the focus but also not ignored just because she’s interested in a man. And of course I loved all the foodie references—I definitely had to pause my reading for ice cream breaks.
April 29, 2019
I love this series. Actually, I'm just really glad I found this author. There is a good amount of humor in this book, and I really truly want to find an Asian ice cream shop to try some of these flavors. (Actually, I want a Baldwin Street!) I like the natural diversity of the characters.
The book begins with the hero finally reading the book his ex-fiancee wrote that describe him in unflattering terms-the book has become a best seller. (The ex jumped out a window while he was waiting at the altar, though Drew's sister points out that the girl couldn't have been that bright, as there was a door right there she could have used.) Chloe, the heroine has just opened her sparkly ice cream shop (right across from Happy as Pie, the store in the first book of this series). The romance and the uncertainties between the couple are touching and believable.
And, as I said, I love the humor, from Chloe's grandmother discovering texting and emojis to Drew's 6 year old foodie niece.
The book begins with the hero finally reading the book his ex-fiancee wrote that describe him in unflattering terms-the book has become a best seller. (The ex jumped out a window while he was waiting at the altar, though Drew's sister points out that the girl couldn't have been that bright, as there was a door right there she could have used.) Chloe, the heroine has just opened her sparkly ice cream shop (right across from Happy as Pie, the store in the first book of this series). The romance and the uncertainties between the couple are touching and believable.
And, as I said, I love the humor, from Chloe's grandmother discovering texting and emojis to Drew's 6 year old foodie niece.
May 27, 2019
While I love quirky, foodie, erotic romance, I have to admit the thing that made me fall in love with this book is the main character Chloe hooking up with Drew.
As a bisexual cis-gendered woman married to a cis-gendered man, I struggle with my sexual identity. Seeing a character that is bi and enters a committed relationship with someone of the opposite sex, it was heartwarming.
So often bi women in erotica who “become lesbians” or who fool around before going back to their hetero partners and read as non-committal or riding a fence.
It was just really nice to see someone who is somewhat like me. That Chloe’s choosing to enter into this relationship with Drew does not make her less of a bisexual or turn her heterosexual.
Foodie romances are awesome. I love the cozy conversations about flavors of ice cream, meals and desserts shared, and how the whole story revolves around sharing and conversation. It was so relaxing to read and, I admit, it made me grab ice cream and check out some new flavors (and crave some old favorites).
********spoiler alert in next paragraph**************
I also really liked Drew’s background issues. I have once been that self-help reader who poured over books/movies like Eat, Pray, Love or Under the Tuscan Sun.
Reading Ice Cream Lover and watching the way Drew struggled with being “that guy” who’s failed relationship was smeared all over a book and mainstream media – who was written as a horrible person rather than someone entirely human with good qualities as well as flaws – I thought back to some of the books I’ve read.
Those men talked about in self help books and biographies/memoirs – they were human. We only get to hear one side of their story. Looking back at my own failed relationships I’d certainly hate it if that was poured out on the best seller list and I was made to be some monsterous ex.
It was a very unique take on a character and I thoroughly enjoyed it!
*********************************************************
What I Didn’t Love About the Book
It made me spend too much on ice cream…worth it. But no, seriously, if you’re gonna read this book, have a favorite on hand.
As a bisexual cis-gendered woman married to a cis-gendered man, I struggle with my sexual identity. Seeing a character that is bi and enters a committed relationship with someone of the opposite sex, it was heartwarming.
So often bi women in erotica who “become lesbians” or who fool around before going back to their hetero partners and read as non-committal or riding a fence.
It was just really nice to see someone who is somewhat like me. That Chloe’s choosing to enter into this relationship with Drew does not make her less of a bisexual or turn her heterosexual.
Foodie romances are awesome. I love the cozy conversations about flavors of ice cream, meals and desserts shared, and how the whole story revolves around sharing and conversation. It was so relaxing to read and, I admit, it made me grab ice cream and check out some new flavors (and crave some old favorites).
********spoiler alert in next paragraph**************
I also really liked Drew’s background issues. I have once been that self-help reader who poured over books/movies like Eat, Pray, Love or Under the Tuscan Sun.
Reading Ice Cream Lover and watching the way Drew struggled with being “that guy” who’s failed relationship was smeared all over a book and mainstream media – who was written as a horrible person rather than someone entirely human with good qualities as well as flaws – I thought back to some of the books I’ve read.
Those men talked about in self help books and biographies/memoirs – they were human. We only get to hear one side of their story. Looking back at my own failed relationships I’d certainly hate it if that was poured out on the best seller list and I was made to be some monsterous ex.
It was a very unique take on a character and I thoroughly enjoyed it!
*********************************************************
What I Didn’t Love About the Book
It made me spend too much on ice cream…worth it. But no, seriously, if you’re gonna read this book, have a favorite on hand.
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