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Love, Ink, & Numbers
Maya Murphy, a witty and ambitious Black writer, has always dreamed of love but never expected it to come in the form of Daniel Chan—a meticulous, Cantonese-American accountant who’s more comfortable balancing numbers than navigating matters of the heart. Their fateful meeting at a cozy San Francisco coffee shop sparks an unexpected connection, leading to a whirlwind romance filled with quirky dates, unforgettable moments, and cultural discoveries.
As Maya and Daniel grow closer, their differences—whether in career, culture, or family traditions—become both a challenge and a source of strength. Maya finds herself learning the intricate rules of mahjong from Daniel’s playful parents, braving spicy dishes at family dinners, and discovering a love that’s deeper than anything she could have written.
But with each laugh, lesson, and tender moment, Maya begins to realize that love isn’t just about finding the right person—it’s about embracing the beautiful, messy, and sometimes surprising journey of two worlds coming together. In this heartwarming, romantic comedy, Maya and Daniel prove that sometimes the most unexpected pairings can lead to a happily-ever-after.
As Maya and Daniel grow closer, their differences—whether in career, culture, or family traditions—become both a challenge and a source of strength. Maya finds herself learning the intricate rules of mahjong from Daniel’s playful parents, braving spicy dishes at family dinners, and discovering a love that’s deeper than anything she could have written.
But with each laugh, lesson, and tender moment, Maya begins to realize that love isn’t just about finding the right person—it’s about embracing the beautiful, messy, and sometimes surprising journey of two worlds coming together. In this heartwarming, romantic comedy, Maya and Daniel prove that sometimes the most unexpected pairings can lead to a happily-ever-after.
181 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 31, 2025
13 people are currently reading
20 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
June 1, 2025
This was a light, quick read if that is your cup of tea then you will enjoy this.
March 2, 2026
Love ink and numbers
Not a bad short story, a good change of pace to read.
The good:
I'm here for romance and chemistry with Billie Holiday playing in the background. The book is very Disney coded, not in a bad way but in a soft light hearted way.
This is a novela, the characters aren't really well fleshed out but you get to know them better as you read. It has cute cliches and that is really all it's got going for it. The meet cute turns into Maya being nervous over how to say she loves Daniel, the book slows down a bit and then picks back up. She meets more of his family and finally decides that he can meet hers. Hijinks ensue before we get blasted forward as they get married and have a baby.
The bad:
Removed a star for AI art, if the writer can't be trusted to source art that is made with effort, can they be trusted to write without AI and make an effort?
The bold text spliced in was unnecessary.
As a raging pessimist, the quotes the author interjected to each chapter was unneeded and at times too deep for placing in a book about a relationship where you barely know the guy. Each chapter is so short it felt cut up just to add more quotes.
Not a bad short story, a good change of pace to read.
The good:
I'm here for romance and chemistry with Billie Holiday playing in the background. The book is very Disney coded, not in a bad way but in a soft light hearted way.
This is a novela, the characters aren't really well fleshed out but you get to know them better as you read. It has cute cliches and that is really all it's got going for it. The meet cute turns into Maya being nervous over how to say she loves Daniel, the book slows down a bit and then picks back up. She meets more of his family and finally decides that he can meet hers. Hijinks ensue before we get blasted forward as they get married and have a baby.
The bad:
Removed a star for AI art, if the writer can't be trusted to source art that is made with effort, can they be trusted to write without AI and make an effort?
The bold text spliced in was unnecessary.
As a raging pessimist, the quotes the author interjected to each chapter was unneeded and at times too deep for placing in a book about a relationship where you barely know the guy. Each chapter is so short it felt cut up just to add more quotes.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 1, 2025
Amazing Debut Novel
Such a great feel good love story! An easy read and is truly a love story where you just want to root for the main characters. A love story that everyone is familiar with and that everyone wants. Claps for the author on a wonderful debut novel! Can’t wait for the next one!
Such a great feel good love story! An easy read and is truly a love story where you just want to root for the main characters. A love story that everyone is familiar with and that everyone wants. Claps for the author on a wonderful debut novel! Can’t wait for the next one!
June 16, 2025
Love, Ink, and Numbers is a heartwarming story of 2 souls destined to find each other. It made me laugh and cry all at once. Maya and Daniel are a perfect example of merging two worlds into one beautiful, shared life. Author Halle Li delivered this love story in such a real and raw way. 1000/10 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
June 4, 2025
A cozy beach read
November 13, 2025
This book was so adorable. I ate it up.
March 19, 2026
wholesome!
I normally don’t review books. However, this short read left me smiling! Nicely written! Very sweet! Love the banter between the characters! All in all, a great read!
I normally don’t review books. However, this short read left me smiling! Nicely written! Very sweet! Love the banter between the characters! All in all, a great read!
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews