Strictly Against Policy

by Cee Yang

Genres: Workplace Romance, Stem, Romance

348 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 16, 2026

About the author

Cee Yang (she/her) is a first-generation Hmong-American, born and raised in California. At 15, she wrote her first YA paranormal romance on a whim and has never stopped writing since. She loves to write romance with plenty of fluff, spice, and swoon.

When she’s not writing contemporary romances, she is writing romance fantasies as C.L. Lor. In addition, on her off time, she enjoys anime, Asian dramas, and a good matcha latte.

You can follow her on Instagram and TikTok @theceeyang.

Reviews

[cherryl ༊*·˚]

☆ ─꒰🩷꒱ arc / pre read / started aug 3
⤿ i'm actually so excited for this book! the cover is super pretty! when i was opening my email yesterday, i was so shocked. like you don't even understand how shocked i was. this is my FIRST arc ever ahhh.

from now, all my arc reviews will be posted on instagram and on here!

thank you to bookfunnel and author cee yang for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review!!

[Jean]

Thank you for the ARC! My review:

I related to Lina and talks of Asian family with the lack of boundaries, being the easy child, feeling like she was too much or not enough etc. I appreciated those topics and the Asian representation, but because I expected more from it, I was then disappointed with how they sometimes weren’t flushed out enough.
- I appreciated the relatable talks of culture and family and being a good daughter, but it was near the end and almost a one and done once it was discussed. Sometimes it was also the pacing, some wording, and relationship development. Either way, often times there’d be a deep conversation followed by sex, or moved on pretty quickly

The dicktionary made me laugh but then the chapters of sex (again, usually taken place after vulnerable conversations) just killed the mood for me. It didn’t feel like slow burn. Ex: Sure the leads opened up about their jealousy toward each other, but Lina mentioned in earlier ch’s how her grades were something she could control. That wasn’t really brought up to Jonathan, only that she was jealous and felt her grades were something she could have over him. I also thought they could’ve communicated more on how much he disliked her. Were her behaviors misunderstandings/did she act that way because his views were skewed like he said?
- instead, after they talk about emotions and the very brief vulnerability Jonathan had about his mom dating again, they move on and she says “Teach me, Professor.” Back to sex again.
- Also, I feel like his immaturity creating a hostile work environment and their power imbalance was not discussed enough. She was lucky they became lovers but his apology didn’t feel enough. It also felt like another one and done as they moved onto not denying their attraction and sex lessons. But I could also be biased being a victim of a toxic work environment before

Then there were some cringe questions she asked. For how eager she was to get to fucking I thought she’d at least have some prior knowledge instead of asking these q’s. Like if she found stuff out online or through stories (if she even reads). Bc you gonna tell me she could understand what he meant when he stuck his tongue out but still ask “Is this pre ejaculate?” when she touches his dick. Girl 😭. These q’s made her seem super naive because you can be inexperienced but still know things. Maybe it’s a personal thing but they felt unnecessary and made me cringe

I liked the chara’s but Bc the sex almost dragged the story I started skimming those moments to get to the plot. The situation with her family felt a little rushed and could’ve also been flushed out more, but it was a positive resolution regardless.

Either way, thank you again for the ARC

[Huang Jiuyue]

⭐⭐⭐⭐☆

My very first ARC! 🥹📚 Thank you so much to the author for giving me the opportunity to read this book early through BookFunnel in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Jonathan was easily my favorite part of this book. 😂 He keeps insisting—or at least convincing himself—that he hates Lina, when in reality, the man is clearly just in denial. He notices everything about her, pays attention to the smallest things, and somehow always finds an excuse to bother her.

What makes Jonathan so funny is that he knows exactly what he’s doing, but because he’s too shy and stubborn to actually admit how he feels, he ends up annoying Lina instead. His words and actions often say one thing while his actual intentions say something completely different, and I genuinely laughed at some of his antics.

I also loved how frustrated Jonathan gets because Lina doesn’t seem to care much about him. Watching him try to get her attention while pretending he doesn’t care was honestly one of my favorite things about their dynamic. 😂

Overall, this was such a fun and easy read. I couldn’t put it down once I started, and it definitely has that lighthearted rom-com feel. The humor, banter, and Jonathan’s ridiculous antics kept me entertained throughout.

I will admit that I wasn’t a fan of Lina’s family. 😅 They frustrated me quite a bit, although I appreciated that they eventually had some character development. There were also a few parts that felt a little like filler, but they didn’t take away too much from my enjoyment of the story.

If you’re looking for a funny, easy-to-read romance with a frustratingly lovable male lead, entertaining antics, and plenty of rom-com moments, this is definitely worth picking up.

A very enjoyable read, and I’m so happy that this book got to be my first ARC experience! 🥹❤️

[Jenna Lundberg]

💊❤️ The Fine Print Never Covered Falling for Your Rival ❤️💊
⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4 Stars | 🌶️🌶️ 2 Chili Peppers

Strictly Against Policy was a fun workplace romance with former academic rivals, plenty of bickering, Hmong representation, complicated family dynamics, and two people who definitely needed to stop pretending they couldn't stand each other. 😂

Lina Lee was immediately the character I connected with most. She's structured, independent, hardworking, and incredibly easy to root for. She's also learned how to hold herself together because, for much of her life, she hasn't really had anyone else there to do it for her.

Then she starts a new job as a staff pharmacist and discovers her boss is none other than Jonathan Lo.

Her former high school academic rival.

And apparently neither of them has forgotten how much they used to annoy each other. 😂

Jonathan isn't exactly thrilled either. He returns from vacation to discover that the pharmacy owner hired someone without consulting him, and of all the pharmacists in the world, it had to be Lina.

Their high school flashbacks had me simultaneously annoyed and laughing because these two were SO petty. But honestly? It worked. Teenagers can be dramatic, competitive, stubborn, and completely incapable of seeing beyond their own perspective, and Lina and Jonathan absolutely fit the description. 😂

What I liked about seeing their younger selves was realizing that both of them had spent years carrying around an outdated version of the other person.

Adult Lina and Jonathan aren't those teenagers anymore.

It just takes them a while to figure that out.

Jonathan definitely took longer to grow on me. In the beginning, he was pretty unlikable, and for a while he felt more like "Lina's pharmacy manager who hates her" than a fully developed character.

And sir, there are only so many times you can insist you're helping a woman because "she's my employee" before we're all going to start giving you the side-eye. 😂

Once we started seeing Jonathan outside of work, particularly as the youngest child and son within his family, I liked him so much more. He finally developed that personality and flavor I had been waiting for, and I could understand him beyond his position as Lina's boss or former rival.

And once all that supposed hatred started turning into something else?

Okay, Cee Yang. I see you. 👀🔥

The bickering and tension between Lina and Jonathan created some great chemistry, and these two definitely surprised me once they stopped fighting quite so hard against their attraction.

But what I found most interesting about this story wasn't actually the romance.

I really appreciated the Hmong representation and the exploration of culture, family responsibility, generational expectations, and boundaries. Lina's complicated relationship with her family gave her character so much more depth.

There's a difficult balance between wanting to help the people you love and feeling as though your worth to them is determined entirely by what you can provide. Watching Lina navigate that conflict was one of the more meaningful parts of the story for me.

I also appreciated getting more insight into Hmong culture throughout the book. Representation like this gives readers an opportunity to experience a family and culture that may be different from their own while also recognizing some surprisingly universal similarities.

There were, however, several things that kept this from being a five-star read for me.

The biggest was the overall flow.

Some of the scene transitions felt abrupt enough that I had to stop and reorient myself, and other parts of the story progressed much faster than felt completely believable. There were also moments when the amount of detail about pharmacy operations and policies started pulling me away from Lina and Jonathan rather than immersing me further into their workplace.

I love that they're actually pharmacists and that their careers aren't just decorative backgrounds for the romance. I just didn't necessarily need every detail to understand that Jonathan knows how to run a pharmacy. 😂

Lina's characterization also became a little inconsistent for me as the story progressed.

I initially loved how independent and capable she was, so there were moments later when she suddenly seemed to need Jonathan or her friends to take care of things that left me wondering where that fiercely self-sufficient woman from the beginning had gone.

I still really liked Lina, but some of those additional storylines made her feel like she was flip-flopping between different versions of herself.

There was also a point where I realized I felt more like I was following the plot surrounding Lina and Jonathan than Lina and Jonathan themselves.

With so many different threads competing for attention, I occasionally wanted the story to slow down and simply give me more time with the couple.

And then we reached the epilogue.

You're going to TALK about getting married?!

No.

I wanted the wedding. 😂💍

After everything, I wanted that final little glimpse of Lina and Jonathan actually getting their happily ever after rather than discussing what it might eventually look like.

Still, Strictly Against Policy was an enjoyable read with a lot to appreciate. Lina was extremely likable, Jonathan eventually won me over, their chemistry was definitely chemistry-ing, and I loved the cultural representation and deeper conversations surrounding family expectations and boundaries.

I also think there's something fitting about two former academic rivals meeting again as adults and discovering that neither one ever really knew the full story of who the other person was.

They spent years believing they understood each other.

Turns out, they had a lot left to learn. ❤️

If you enjoy hate-to-love, former academic rivals, workplace romance, boss/employee dynamics, strong cultural representation, complicated family relationships, and plenty of banter and chemistry, Strictly Against Policy might be exactly what the pharmacist ordered. 💊❤️

Thank you to Cee Yang for the gifted advanced reader copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Santhy]

First things first…a HUGE thank you to Cee Yang for choosing me to receive an eARC of Strictly Against Policy!💕📚

And you guys…I LOVED THIS BOOK SO MUCH. 😭

Childhood academic rivals turned lovers?! HELLO?! I am ALL HERE for this trope. 👀🔥 Especially when those “I can’t stand you” feelings start looking suspiciously like “I have actually been obsessed with you my entire life and apparently everyone knew except us.” 😂

There were honestly so many things I loved about this book, but one of the first things that stood out to me was Cee Yang’s writing style. It was SO easy to fall into this story and just get completely lost in it. The characters felt natural, the relationships felt genuine, and before I knew it, I was fully invested in Lina and Jonathan.

Also, we NEED to talk about the **“Dicktionary.”** 😂👏🏼 I absolutely loved that this was included at the beginning of the book! It gives readers the ability to know where the spicy scenes are and skip them if they choose which I think is SUCH a thoughtful addition.

And for those of us who are not skipping them…

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

THEY ARE SPICY. 😂🔥

But what I loved most about Lina and Jonathan wasn't just their chemistry. It was watching their relationship become this incredibly safe and comforting space for both of them.

Jonathan gives Lina the room to explore, experiment, learn what she likes, and become more comfortable with herself without ever making her feel pressured or judged. Watching that trust develop between them was honestly one of my favorite parts of their relationship.

And their chemistry?! SO GOOD.

I know their relationship could potentially feel like it goes from 0 to 100 pretty quickly, but personally, it felt incredibly natural to me. These two have known each other practically their entire lives. They've spent YEARS competing with each other, challenging each other, irritating each other, and paying a suspicious amount of attention to everything the other person does. 😂

Eventually, they have to start asking themselves whether all of those strong feelings were actually hatred…

Or whether there has always been something much deeper underneath it. 👀💕

And THAT is the kind of rivals-to-lovers realization I eat up every single time.

But this book is also so much more than the romance.

Strictly Against Policy explores grief in several different ways, and I really appreciated that grief wasn't portrayed as something that only comes from death. There is the grief that comes with losing someone you love, but there is also the grief that comes from choosing yourself and walking away from something toxic or unhealthy.

Sometimes choosing your own peace still means mourning what you hoped something could have been.

And UGH. 😭 That part of Lina and Jonathan's stories absolutely broke my heart.

Watching both of them work through their own grief and hardships while slowly learning how to lean on each other was so incredibly heartwarming. Jonathan showing up for Lina again and again, supporting her, protecting her, and becoming someone she could truly feel safe with?! MY HEART. 💕

And then we need to talk about the representation because I thought it was absolutely incredible.

This was my first book by Cee Yang and my first time reading a romance centered around Hmong characters and culture. I'm not part of the Hmong or Asian communities, but I never once felt lost or like I needed to stop reading to understand something. The cultural elements were woven so seamlessly into the characters, their families, their relationships, and the overall story that I was able to learn while still feeling completely immersed in the book. ❤️

I also loved how important family and community were throughout the story. It made these characters and their world feel SO full and lived-in, which is probably part of the reason I'm already missing them. 😭

And apparently that's about to become my problem because Strictly Against Policy is BOOK THREE😂

Technically, you can absolutely read this as a standalone. I did! You don't need to read the first two books to understand Lina and Jonathan's story.

HOWEVER…

Will I now be going backward and reading books one and two because I'm not ready to leave these characters behind?

Absolutely. 😂📚

This was my first Cee Yang book, but it absolutely will NOT be my last.

Basically, I could probably keep talking about everything I loved, but I'll leave it at this:

I loved Lina.
I loved Jonathan.
I loved their chemistry.
I loved their growth.
I loved the representation.
I loved the emotional depth.

I JUST LOVED THIS BOOK. 😭💕📚

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you again to Cee Yang for trusting me with an early copy!

[Belle]

Thank you CY for letting me read Strictly Against Policy!

*ARC Review*
RATING: 2 Stars
--------------------------
I really wanted to like this book. Enemies-to-lovers is one of my favorite romance tropes, and the story started off strong: old enemies meeting again, only to discover that one is the boss and the other is the new employee. Cute!!!

Here’s where it went downhill:

Story:
I don't understand how these characters even started to like each other. For most of the beginning, it was nothing but bickering, hatred, glaring, or not talking to each other at all. Then BAM! One thing happens, and suddenly they're together all the time?

And the pace… 🫠 For two people who supposedly couldn't stand each other, they both "fell in love" within two hours of their first sexual encounter. Like… what? And then suddenly they're saying things like, "I'm yours forever," and I'm sitting here thinking, You didn't even know you wanted to have sex with each other until two seconds ago. 🤦‍♀️

The pace of the book felt just as forced as the relationship itself. To make it seem like the characters hadn't gotten together yesterday, CY would throw in little time lapses like "the next 10 days were normal at work" and things like that. It felt more like a shortcut than natural relationship development.

Characters:

Jonathan
Kind, handsome, and stereotypical.

Jonathan's hatred toward Lina in the beginning was understandable, especially with his desire to beat her professionally. His kindness toward Lina was unexpected but sweet.

But then CY decided Jonathan needed to be the most stereotypical fictional "I sleep with women and then ditch them and I know I'm an asshole" man. I mean really?

After that monologue, I cringed every time he told Lina she was the one for him. He bragged about how he wines, dines, sleeps with, and then ditches women. And then two seconds later, after putting his fingers in Lina he's suddenly acting like a lovesick puppy? Ew. Gross.

Lina
This girl had almost no character development whatsoever. She was introduced as an ice queen, and that was basically her entire personality in the beginning. Then, later on, that personality just kind of disappears and she still doesn't really develop much of a character.

Was she actually nice? Did she genuinely care about Jonathan, or was it simply because he was her first? And she TOO "fell in love" in approximately two seconds!

We're supposed to believe these people are doctors. 😭

The Intimate Scenes:
Everyone has their own kinks, and we don't yuck each other's yum, but I could not get behind the "professor" kink. It's not something I've ever wanted, and after this book, I would definitely never want it. 😂

It also didn't help that almost every intimate scene seemed to start and end with "Professor Lo." After a while, I just started skimming those pages until the scene was over.


It's not all bad though. Here are some things I did appreciate in the book:
1. The family dynamics. As a Hmong daughter, I understood the experience of helping raise younger siblings and the expectations that come with helping your family, no matter what.
2. The cultural contrast. It was interesting to see the clash between a more modern Hmong family and a traditional one.
3. The terminology. I'm not a pharmacist, so I can't speak to the accuracy, but the pharmaceutical terminology and details included throughout the book sounded legit to me. So props to CY for that!
4. It works as a standalone. This is the third book in a series, but I haven't read the first two and still found this one easy to follow. It was also nice seeing characters from the previous books. For readers who have followed the entire series, I'm sure getting to see those characters again, and seeing them receive their own happy endings, was a nice touch.
5. The epilogue. I'm genuinely glad the author included this because, honestly, if CY hadn't wrapped up their relationship the way they did, I would have happily expected Jonathan and Lina to break up. Let's be real, their relationship felt like a scam for most of the book. 😂 So having the author give them a proper, let's get married happy ending was nice.

Overall: ⭐️⭐️ 2 Stars

[Trini Tran]

ARC Read — This was a 3 ✨ read. This was a highly anticipated 2026 read, and I’m so glad I got the chance to read it. Let’s jump into it.

MY THOUGHTS WHILE READING — lina, the fmc, was extremely likable. i really liked her at the beginning, and i think there’s a lot to appreciate about her. jonathan, the mmc, hates her for a reason, and she holds herself together because of her past and because she didn’t really have anyone there for her.
there were a few things throughout the book that disrupted the flow for me. there were multiple scene changes that felt weird and abrupt, and i found myself having to adjust to where the story was going. things also moved uncomfortably and unrealistically fast at times, which made some of the progression harder for me to buy.
there were also some details that i felt were unnecessary. for example, the conversation between the client and the pharmacy manager. i understand is that it’s to show that jonathan isn’t randomly a pharmacy manager just for the plot, but as a reader, i don’t need to know all those small details about pharmacy policies.
and then we have their high school flashbacks. they were SO unlikable and petty, which honestly made me laugh because it’s kind of true. people in high school really are that unlikable and dense compared to who they become as adults. so while I was annoyed by them, I also appreciated that it felt believable.
as much as I love the asian representation and getting to learn more about hmong heritage, i did feel like some of the ideas were repeated from her previous books. at some point, I felt like I wasn’t following the couple as much as I was following the plot, and that made it harder for me to stay invested in their relationship.
and for the epilogue.. i definitely wanted to see the mcs get married instead of them just talking about it :(

CHARACTERS —
lina; like i said, lina was extremely likable at first. i liked that she was structured and independent, and i understood why she carries herself the way she does. but then her character started having all these side stories that made her flip-flop for me. she’s a virgin, she doesn’t know how to do this or that, jonathan has to take care of her, her best friends take care of her, and i was like, wait, what happened? i wanted her to be a strong, independent woman, so some of those moments just didn’t sit right with me. other than that, i really did like her character.
jonathan; the mmc, who is a pharmacy manager. at first, he was extremely unlikable. maybe if we got more of his pov in the beginning, i would’ve been able to see that he wasn’t such a bad guy, because for a while, all i really know him as is this manager.
and the plot of him constantly denying his feelings for lina and helping her because “she’s my employee” got boring real fast. i kept waiting for some sort of character identity or realization, but it took a while to get there.
over time, though, he started to become more of the youngest child and son, and that was an interesting change. i liked him more once we got to see that side of him because it gave him more personality and flavor. he finally felt like more than just “the manager who hates lina” or just “the guy who falls head over heels for his employee.”
and the spice??? okay, cee 👀. i can def tell she was holding back, but thank you for giving us a whimpering mess named jonathan lo.

OVERALL — i enjoyed the book. i thought it was fun, even though there were parts that didn’t work for me. if you’re looking for hate-to-love × workplace romance, this one’s for you. Add in some cultural education and Hmong representation, and you get Years in the Making series.

[Shirley]

*** This review contains spoilers ***

This is my very first ARC! Thank you so much to Cee Yang’s team and BookFunnel for sending it to me!

Let me start with the things I liked about the book. I loved the trigger warning page at the beginning, especially the helpline information at the bottom. I’ve seen trigger warnings in other books, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen helpline information included before, and I really appreciated that. The Dicktionary and pronunciation guide were helpful as well. They give readers the option to either skim through them or really go into them, almost like inviting readers on an adventure before the book even starts.

Now, let’s get to the meaty part.

I did not like Jonathan from the beginning. When Lina first started at the pharmacy, his hatred toward her felt so flimsy and unfair. I wanted to scream. She didn’t do anything wrong! Everything was in his head. He had been carrying this obsession turned grudge for over 10 years, and I think the author put it best: “I hoped we could’ve been friends at first, but my offers to be friends were all rejected. I was bitter about it. That resentment, along with my misconception of you, festered into my dislike of you.” If he hadn’t been raised right, if he wasn’t actually a sweetheart, and if he wasn’t ultimately a kind person, this could have gone wrong in so many ways.

That being said, the 180 degree flip in their relationship kind of worked for me. I could see Jonathan’s character journey and how he slowly resolved his inner conflict and fell in love with Lina. But I wish the author had spent a little more time on Lina’s side of that journey. With her, it almost felt like: he’s hot, he can protect her, he’s convenient, and he happened to be there at the right time. And that’s how she fell for him. I wanted a little more from her emotionally to fully believe the relationship.

The Hmong culture is another big part of this book. I’m Chinese, not Hmong, but I understand wanting to stay close to your family even after you graduate and enter the workforce. But if my entire family was treating me like a blood bag, draining both my energy and my bank account, I’d stay FAR away from them. I definitely wouldn’t move back to my hometown after graduating. I’d move across the country, if not out of the country entirely. That way, if they wanted to pull a dramatic stunt, it would at least be costly. I know this book is part of a series, so maybe Lina’s decision to stay close to home was talked about in the previous books. But it was something I kept wondering about the entire time. I was glad the author eventually explained why Lina left the big chain pharmacy and joined a local pharmacy. That helped give me a little more context for her choices.

There are also parts of the story that aren’t completely logically sound. For example, I don’t know what kind of face mask can cover up your Adam’s apple so well that your coworker wouldn’t notice the hickey until you took the mask off. But we’re all here for some lighthearted fun, so I’m fine with things not being 100% logical.

Overall, this was a cute book. I am SO relieved Jonathan turned out to be a sweetheart, and I’m glad Lina found the kind of family she always wanted to be a part of. I also really enjoyed having a STEM FMC at the center of the story. Even though this is part of a series, it worked perfectly well as a standalone, and I never felt like I needed to read the previous books to understand what was happening.

[Mimina]

4,5 🌟
First of all, I'd like to thank the author and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC. It was my very first ARC, and I'm incredibly grateful that this was the book to start that journey with.

I genuinely enjoyed *Strictly Against Policy*. The writing is so immersive that I found myself completely absorbed in the story. At one point, I realized I'd forgotten how much I enjoy books about ordinary people living ordinary lives. After reading so much dark romance, this reminded me how comforting and beautiful a story centered on everyday moments and genuine human connections can be.

The romance itself was adorable. It was fun, sweet, and full of the kind of pure love that isn't without its fears. Beneath all the banter and chemistry is the very real fear of losing someone you love, which made the relationship feel authentic and emotionally grounded.

Beyond the romance, I really appreciated how the book explores several important aspects of life. One of my favorite themes was grief, particularly how it portrays losing a parent. It beautifully shows that moving forward, finding happiness, and continuing to live your life doesn't mean you're letting go of the person you lost or loving them any less. That message really stayed with me.

One quote that especially resonated with me was when Jonathan's mother says:

> "Traditions are traditions for a reason. But some of these don't need to be upheld anymore—not when they stunt your growth as an adult and as a person."

I thought this was such a powerful reflection on balancing respect for tradition with personal growth.

I also appreciated the way the story handled complicated family dynamics. It acknowledges how difficult it can be to love your family while also feeling ashamed of certain things they do, and the guilt that comes with having those feelings while still trying to fulfill your responsibilities toward them. That emotional conflict felt very honest and relatable.

Overall, this was such a beautiful, heartwarming read. It reminded me that love stories don't need over-the-top drama to leave a lasting impression.

P.S. I was also very grateful for the dicktionary at the beginning. It was the first time I'd come across something like that, and it made me feel much more comfortable knowing what to expect. I really appreciated being able to enjoy the story without feeling caught off guard by certain graphic content.

[Bree Riz]

ARC reader! This was such a cool experience, thank you for being my first ARC!! :-)

I personally loved to loathe Jonathan’s character at the start. I feel we all had that person growing up that just drove us bonkers when it came to academics, so I right away understood his dislike of Lina, even if I felt he might have been a bit of a cry baby about it. Emotions are strong in high school!!! High school me would have totally been the same, lol!

Overall the pacing of the story was good, but it didn’t feel like much of a slow burn. This might have been just because I progressed through chapters so fast that I felt a bit surprised when they were suddenly making out. However, there was a really great job done of tidying up all the loose ends at the end of the story. Loved that!

I am not asian or AAPI, but I was able to easily relate to the family struggles Lina faced, and that pain of “everyone loves you” that she felt with Jonathan and his family. It was really comforting to see my feelings put into words, with the fact that I have no spite or anger towards those with super “perfect” families, just more of a “woah that’s how it should look?”. Really amazing writing on that end. I also really liked how Lina’s sister is left as a gray area. She is clearly still troubled in some form by the whole situation. Will she ever come around? Will she stay bitter forever? Who knows? I feel that added a realistic touch to messy family situations. Sometimes people will never change and you have to find ways to move past that. I really loved that touch.

Overall, I loved many parts of this book, the spice, the banter, the tension at the beginning, the difficult family dynamics, and how everything got wrapped up neatly. My only wish is that the slow burn had been a bit longer, and we really got to delve into those rival dynamics. It would’ve been cool to have some longer flashbacks of the two of them in highschool rather than just memories.

This is a great book if you want something that flows well, gives you a taste of enemies to lovers with a BUNCH of incredible spice, and still finds moments to be heartfelt. 💊❤️‍🔥

Thank you again to Cee Yang and her team as well as Book Funnel for allowing me to read this ARC! I am so excited this was my first one ever, I cannot wait to do more! :-)

[Ellie]

Jonathan and Lina shot an arrow straight through my heart! Strictly Against Policy is sweet, spicy, and heartful with family and friends.

What I loved:

AAPI Representation! For an Asian American woman like me, THIS is why representation matters. I see myself and my family through these characters. Jonathan and Lina's contrasting immigrant experiences are so realistic, and the combination of Hmong and American values and customs (well beyond typical food references) breaks and goes beyond the model minority mold. Even the physical traits...they look exactly like me! Steamy romance between people who look like me is incredible and just feels so good.

Spicy! The open door spice is excellent, and I love the "dicktionary" trigger warnings at the front for readers who prefer skipping those scenes that don't move the plot along. OMG the roleplay LOL.

Jonathan and Lina: I definitely got on Jonathan's wagon early on. Seeing how exuberant Andy and Anthony are (Jonathan's de facto older brothers and Book 1 and 2 MMCs), I'm not surprised Jonathan comes off as super lovable (outside his initial interactions with Lina), especially in contrast to Lina's coldness. But we soon learn why Lina purposely adorns herself with the cold exterior as circumstances bring Jonathan and Lina together around and then outside the workplace.

Some readers may find Jonathan and Lina's flip from rivals to lovers to be abrupt. They start with very strong feelings from their history competing for high school valedictorian, Lina's single-minded drive to win, and Jonathan's sting and spite from Lina's personal spurn. I actually think this is pretty realistic given how competitive academics can get for Asian Americans. Love and hate are flipsides of the same coin.

Readers who appreciate spicy rivals-to-lovers, difficult family dynamics, Asian American stories, and tidy endings (no loose ends at all!) will love this book.

Thanks to author Cee Yang for the advanced reader copy!

[Brittany Steminist Booknerd]

STEM MCs: both pharmacists
This is book 3 of the series, but it can definitely be read as a stand alone. I haven't read the other books yet, and I didn't have an issue at all keeping up with the characters or the story.
This is my first book with a pharmacist MC, and I was really excited to read a workplace pharmacy romance. There's also some really great Hmong culture represented throughout the book with both main characters, their families, and their friends. However, I had an issue with the start of the book. I'm going to give a small spoiler here, so stop reading if you don't want to know.
The book starts with them starting to work together at the same pharmacy. He's been working there for years and is now the manager, and the owner of the pharmacy recently hired her to work under him, but he wasn't part of her interview process. They were previously high school academic rivals, and they both have some issues from that time that linger. He made it known to her in no uncertain terms that he would never had hired her if it was up to him, he didn't like her, and he was waiting for the day that she quit. He then proceeds to create a very hostile work environment because he's immature. My issue with this setup is that I have lived this exact scenario where a senior engineer has told me that he would never have hired me, I don't meet the job requirements, and he tried to force me out. It's incredibly hard to believe that this situation would end in them being lovers after him saying those things and being a complete ass for a couple of weeks. The pendulum swings hard and fast in the opposite direction and they end up physical and in a full blown relationship in a way that didn't feel organic to me.
I think that maybe my own hostile work environment experience severely colored my perception of the start of this book, but other people may not have such a big issue with it. The spice was good and plentiful, and the cultural representation was well done without feeling artificially injected into the story.
3.5 stars

[Mackenzie Brown]

First and foremost, thank you to Cee Yang and her team for the ARC! Please note that I am not being paid or compensated in any way for this review, this is my honest opinion!

Overall, I enjoyed Strictly Against Policy. It was cute, funny, and steamy, and the back and forth POVs were really fun! But what I enjoyed most about this book actually wasn't the romance, it was the depictions of Hmong culture through language and social values, the way Lina struggled with family boundaries and family responsibilities, and how the same situation can look very different depending on whose eyes you're looking through.

Lina and Jonathan were very interesting characters, fully fleshed out and interesting on their own. They also worked well as a couple and had great chemistry. The sex scenes were plentiful and spicy.

Trigger warnings for this book are as follows: "Mention of controlling and/or emotionally abusive familial relationships, alcoholism (off-page), stalking and harassing, and workplace harassment from a superior." Note that most of these do not happen between the main pair but to them.

I decided to rate Strictly Against Policy as 4/5 stars because while I did enjoy the story, I didn't love it. There were pacing issues, moments where characters felt as if they were acting out of character, and even though this is a romance novel, I found myself rushing through the sex scenes after a while because there were so many and I was more interested in the resolution of the subplot. Granted, this was an Advance Reader Copy, so more editing will get done before the official publication, and hopefully some of those issues will get fixed :)

All in all, this was a fun read, and if you have enjoyed the first two books in this series, you will undoubtedly like this one as well. And if you haven't read the first two books, good news, it can be read as a standalone!

Thank you again, Cee Yang and team, for the ARC, and good luck with the release of Strictly Against Policy!

[Michelle Lewis]

This was spicy 🌶️🌶️🌶️! but also very emotional and funny. I definitely had a good time.

Lina has to be one of my favorite FMCs. I loved her attitude. She was unapologetically herself no matter what happened to her and I seriously admire that. Her ability to overcome and achieve her goals despite it all was very inspiring.

Johnathan took a little bit to grow on me just because he was such a dick in the beginning, but once he stopped with that, I found his character very desirable. I did think that he got a little bit clingy and moved a little bit fast with his declarations of love, but it worked for Lina.

Overall the bickering, banter and perceived hate towards one another really ramped up the chemistry level and when they did hookup it was HOT. There was a lot of good spice. I did think it got a little bit repetitive towards the later scenes, but still good. The workplace romance in a pharmacy setting was fun. As a medical professional it's always nice to relate those references.

I really liked the cultural references and insight on Hmong culture in general. It's always nice to learn about the differences, but also to laugh at the similarities. The generational trauma of having to support one's family and having your worth being completely centered around what you can provide and nothing else, is an experience very familiar to me. I really felt that struggle she had between wanting to help her family and also having healthy boundaries. I appreciated that she was able to find some resolution in the end, but I also felt that It would have resonated more with me if she could have reconciled with her sister instead. It's just my experience that those types of family members (brothers) don't change and I would have liked to see more sympathy and understanding towards the eldest daughter. Overall, I appreciated the highlight of that type of family dynamic in general.

Will be adding her other books to my TBR!

Thank you to the author Cee Yee for this eARC!

[The Booktrovert Records]

ARC Review
💊Strictly Against Policy🐈‍⬛
✍️Written By: Cee Yang

⭐ Overall: 3/5
📖 Plot: 3.5/5
👥 Character Development: 3.5/5
⏩ Pace: 3/5
🌎 World Building: 4/5
🌶️ Spice: 2/5

First—thank you Cee for letting me read Strictly Against Policy ahead of its release date 💊

Overall, I really loved the AAPI representation and the family dynamics portrayed in an Asian household. Some moments felt almost like a K-drama, while others felt true down to the bone. I especially loved that both Lina and Jonathan are Hmong and that the cultural nuances were woven throughout the story. Context is key, and those details helped give meaning to why certain interactions were important.

The cultural elements and the relationship between Lina and Jonathan, however, didn't always feel cohesive to me. Separately, both worked, but together it sometimes felt like trying to fit a square peg into a round hole.

I also found myself more drawn to the supporting characters than Lina and Jonathan. As much as I wanted to connect with them, their competitive personalities often made their interactions feel more cringe than romantic. They were constantly trying to one-up each other, and the rivalry sometimes overshadowed their chemistry.

The Professor/Student teaching dynamic during the spicy scenes also didn't quite work for me. It felt more like a trope being added to their relationship rather than something that naturally developed from their dynamic.

That said, I really appreciated the representation, family dynamics, and the conversations around cultural expectations. There are definitely elements here that will resonate with readers looking for Southeast Asian representation in contemporary romance. 🩷

Tropes & Vibes:
📓 Former Academic Rivals to Lovers
💊 Boss x Employee Workplace Romance
🐈‍⬛ A black cat FMC with claws
😇 He’s nice to everyone except for 𝘩𝘦𝘳
🇱🇦 Southeast Asian Representation

[malaysia]

Thank you to Cee Yang and BookFunnel for the opportunity to have an advanced reader copy! I found the author through instagram and was instantly intrigued with the tropes and character traits that were listed.

First of all, I loved stumbling upon the Hmong representation. It was so funny to find something that I could relate to. From food to culture, it was warming how accurate certain topics were. Anyone who has a lack of knowledge of the Hmong will have no problem being educated! I felt that it was beginner friendly to show the culture. I liked how characters in this book were related to each other in a way making the story easier to keep up with. Strictly Against Policy had easy wording to follow but I did find it bland at times. The amount of repetition of apologies and thankfulness I read in the book was gonna make my eyes fall out. I know some people were excited about the smut tropes (including me), but it didn’t live up to my expectations. I disliked the vocabulary used as it felt childish. Once they did the deed the first time it just kept happening and I was feeling dreadful because it was cringing me out. “Professor” was NOT for me unfortunately.

My thoughts about the characters were neutral. Lina being independent and fierce at times while also vulnerable was nice to see that she wasn’t so perfect as Jonathan thought. She’s an adult but she was shown as immature to me a lot. Jonathan was sweet once you get to know him but, he was too stuck on the past for me. Many of the problems they had with each other happened YEARS ago and I don’t think it was that serious. In the beginning, I was all for the hatred for each other but after the backstory it wasn’t all that. The romance was cute sometimes but I didn’t really know when they actually fell in love. I wish there was more storytelling of how their relationship became stable.

Overall, it wasn’t the best book i’ve read but it was definitely a new experience for me. I wish the author the best!

[Mikayla]

Despite not really enjoying the second book in this series, I took a chance on this book, and I'm really glad that I did! I've found that Cee Yang writes very relatable FMCs, and Lina was no exception. I was very similar to Lina in high school and to see someone else's perspective of that facade that can seem pretentious and snooty at times was very interesting. It really made me step back and say, "Did people see me as stuck-up and unfriendly in high school?" All of that to say, I saw myself in so many different aspects of Lina, and I really enjoyed her as a character. I think because I empathized with her so much, I didn't really like Jonathan at first. He was quite immature and childish, and he acted out of turn for someone that was in a higher position of power than Lina. However, I appreciate that he recognized what he was doing was wrong and tried to fix it, and he definitely grew on me as the book went on. I feel like the buildup to the two MCs getting together wasn't really there, and when they did get together, it felt like it came out of nowhere. But, they were very cute and sweet together, and their awkwardness around each other and around their obvious care for one another was quite endearing. I appreciated the representation of the toxic family dynamic as well. The way that Lina went about it at the end of the book was valid because not everyone can completely detach themselves from their family, even if they treat them like Lina's family treated her, so I liked that it was written/handled in a bit of a different way. I also loved getting to see past book characters and couples in this book; the nostalgia was definitely there! Overall, I really enjoyed reading this wonderful end to a great series, and thanks go to Cee Yang for allowing me to arc-read another one of her books!
I received an arc copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving my honest review.

[Tracy Do]

Thank you Book Funnel and Cee Yang for an arc copy of this book!
As someone who’s in pharmacy school, I was so excited to read this. I thought the romance was cute and it was great representation of the profession.
My only issue was I felt like there was so much over explanation of everything. Maybe it’s because I’m southeast Asian and I already have prior knowledge since I work in pharmacy, but I felt like the book told me everything instead of showing me. This is just me being nitpicky about the writing style. but the sweet pork is sweet because there’s sugar in it (no duh). The pharmacist does more than just count pills (no duh). I felt like every page was just an explanation to every minor detail and it made the story drag a little for me.
I didn’t really like Jonathan in the beginning. I felt like he was being unfair towards Lina and the way he acted and treated her was just unprofessional. The coffee scene when she offered to buy everyone coffee was so off putting to me. His reason for disliking her just felt flimsy to me.
But it was near the end when I started to like him, even if it felt abrupt. Funnily enough, the one thing that wasn’t explained was why Jonathan started catching feelings LOL
I feel like those feelings weren’t being explored as much with Lina either. Like it just felt like she liked him because he was hot and is nice.
I love a strong independent woman. So I loved Lina. I just didn’t like the switch between normal Lina and horny Lina. I understand she is inexperienced but the way she was described was so naive.
What I liked about this book was the found family aspect. Jonathan is so lucky to have that type of support system and I loved how seeing that made Lina realize how much better she deserved and I’m so glad she got the support she needed by the end of it.
Anyways, if my future looks like this, it’s looking bright.

[Xee V.]

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. Spoiler-free review; one scene is referenced.

As a Hmong reader, the Hmong representation in Strictly Against Policy was one of the things I appreciated most. Cee Yang weaves Hmong language and cultural details throughout the story, and it was really meaningful to see Hmong characters at the center of a contemporary romance.

I especially loved the moments where Hmong is actually spoken between the characters. There’s a full Hmong sentence that caught my attention in particular, especially because Lina is surprised to realize that Jonathan speaks Hmong. As someone who grew up around Hmong people, that moment felt very familiar—you don’t always know who still speaks the language and who doesn’t, so it can genuinely catch you off guard when someone responds in Hmong.

And the patient asking Jonathan if he has a girlfriend? That one made me laugh because it felt so familiar. I can absolutely picture an older relative asking something like that without an ounce of shame.

Those little moments really stood out to me because they didn't feel like the story was stopping to explain Hmong culture to the reader. They were simply part of the characters' everyday lives, which made the representation feel much more natural to me.

And of course, Lina and Jonathan's academic-rivals-to-workplace-romance dynamic brings plenty of banter, tension, and chemistry. Their history makes their interactions especially fun, while the family storyline adds a more emotional layer underneath the romance.

Overall, if you're looking for rivals-to-lovers, workplace tension, banter, spice, family drama, and Hmong representation, I'd definitely recommend picking this one up. As a Hmong reader, it was especially meaningful to see our language and those little familiar moments woven into a romance.

[Alycia]

I was lucky enough to receive an advanced copy and I'm leaving an honest review for the book. I really loved Strictly Against Policy, it's an enemies to lovers workplace romance. 


Lina Lee starts a new job at a neighborhood pharmacy and ends up showing up late on her first day. And then she gets to meet her new boss, who turns out to be her former academic rival Jonathan Lo. Jonathan is put off by Lina's cold demeanor and has been since high school, and from the very beginning made it clear he doesn't like her and is upset he has to work with her. Lots of tension at work, sharp comments back and forth from similar personalities, and bruised egos until an after hours mishap that leaves them trapped in a janitor's closet and they come to a tense truce. But once Jonathan finds out a dark family secret of Lina's, all the animosity disappears and begrudging admiration becomes a whole lot more.


I really liked how this story developed, the tension was great and you could feel the dislike between the two, and see the clear miscommunication and misinformation that formed their opinions of each other. I love the South East Asian representation, Hmong are under represented and I loved seeing their culture throughout the story. I do wish there was maybe a pronunciation guide for the sentences written in Hmong but I do love that the author wrote out what was said in Hmong first and then the English translation immediately after. The tensions and expectations of Lina's family (no spoilers) also felt so real and as someone also of Asian descent made me feel so seen. And the spicy parts of the story were definitely spicy. I overall really loved this book and I hope to read more from Cee Yang.

[Zoha]

ARC Review: Strictly Against Policy

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

First of all, I'd like to thank BookFunnel and the author Cee Yang for sending me an E-ARC of Strictly Against Policy in exchange for my honest review. I loved Jonathan and Lina's story and their witty banter.

Strictly Against Policy was such an entertaining and addictive read! From the very beginning, I was pulled into the story and found myself wanting to keep reading to see how everything would unfold.

The chemistry between the characters was definitely one of my favorite parts. The tension, attraction, and complicated circumstances surrounding their relationship made the story even more exciting. I loved watching their connection develop while they navigated the challenges standing in their way.

I absolutely loved the dynamic between the characters. There was plenty of banter, tension, awkward moments, and the kind of chemistry that makes you want to scream, “JUST ADMIT YOU LIKE EACH OTHER ALREADY!” 🤭

This book had the perfect mix of romance, drama, emotional moments, and steamy chemistry. There were moments that had me completely invested in the characters and rooting for them to find their way to each other.

Overall, Strictly Against Policy was a captivating romance that kept me engaged and entertained. If you enjoy forbidden romance, workplace tension, complicated relationships, and plenty of chemistry, this is definitely a book worth checking out!

Cee Yang has such a wonderful way of creating romance that feels both entertaining and emotional. The story had me smiling, swooning, laughing, and completely invested in the characters and their journey.

Thank you to the author for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review. 💕📚

#StrictlyAgainstPolicy #CeeYang #ARCReview #eARCReview #BookReview

[Evelyn]

📚ARC REVIEW📚

This was a beautifully written medicine romcom.

Our fmc Lina, is this girl who takes shit from no one and stands her own ground, she is an independent woman and remains calm and collected. Although she’s tough on the outside don’t let that fool you because she has a soft heart. She doesn’t have the best family and I really wish she would drop them, but because of her culture and traditions and just her love for her family (which they don’t deserve) she continues supporting them. Until she gets with Jonathan who shows her that it’s okay to love your complicated family from afar for your own sanity and safety.

Jonathan is a sweet, kind guy, the type whose smile and laugh is infectious and you find it rather charming. He believes he hates Lina because of this misunderstanding he made up in his head. But he quickly finds out that the woman he imagined her to be… isn’t so bad after all.

As their love progresses, we see more of a protective and caretaker side of Jonathan (green flag, we love to see this). I love that Lina continues being her cool self even in a relationship and Jonathan just lets her be and instead of dimming her, he actually molds himself to her energy if that makes sense. They both grow and learn from eachother, it’s okay for both of them to take up space and there are no levels of hurt that undermine the other. I also love the mention of family, both the good and the bad, I think the way it was explained was refreshing.

Now for the explicit scenes… so damn filthy and nasty, I NEED IT!!! OMG! Jonathan *bark* Lo. ITS NOT A WANT, ITS A NEED!! (I wish he was real)

[Brenda]

ARC review

This book follows Lina, a hardworking pharmacist and Jonathan, her new manager and former high school rival. When Lina starts working at the pharmacy she clashes with Jonathan because of their past resentment. Despite their initial dislike for each other their tension turns into something else while they navigate the workplace dynamics, personal struggles and family drama.
Unfortunately this book was not for me. While the Hmong cultural elements add a layer of authenticity and depth to the book, they didn't hit the mark for me. In most instances I didn't get the reference. In other instances they disrupt the flow of the story. The text in the native language pulled me out of the narrative, making it difficult to stay immersed in the story.
The pharmacy setting was a unique backdrop to the story. The dynamic between Lina and Jonathan as coworkers added tension and stakes to their relationship and the medical details add authenticity to the narrative. The way that Lina and Jonathan's relationship did a complete 180 with the flip of a leaf however was way to abrupt for me to sound believable. I feel that more scenes focusing on their emotions would have benefited here.
Lina’s struggle with her abusive brother is a central part of the story, but her lack of backbone in managing her family can feels frustrating and unrealistic. While this may be a cultural element, it detracts from her character development and makes her less relatable.
So if you have some bind with the Hmong culture you will probably eat this up and adore, unfortunately that was not me.

[Caitlyn]

Rivals to Lovers with Lots of Spice 🌶️

The story follows Lina and Jonathan, old classmate rivals turned coworkers. The tension between them was so good! This book was steamy, sweet, and wholesome all at the same time. Jonathan talking her through it? Yes please!

This is book 3 in a series of interconnected standalones. I recommend reading the first two as the characters are reoccurring in this one, but it isn't necessary.

There was a storyline in here that I didn't particularly like. Lina's brother was very aggressive and her family just accepted it? Felt bad for him? I am not from an Asian household, so I don't feel the same kind of familial ties to me family. I just could not understand why her parents treated her like crap when he her brother was literally the worst human being ever. At least we got a little closure at the end.

Once Jonathan and Lina got together, I kinda missed all the tension and chemistry they had. They got so close so quickly (even saying "I love yous" after only a month. I just think the relationship was rushed. I would have liked it to be more drawn out and see them really get to know each other.

Overall, the book was entertaining, very spicy, and had cute characters. If I had read the previous standalones, I think I would have enjoyed the side characters and plots more. It had the potential to be a 4 for me, but most of the character development seemed to have happened in earlier books.

Thank you to Cee Yang for providing me a free copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Sarah]

Thank you to Cee Yang for the opportunity to read this eARC!

⭐️ 3.5

Jonathan loathes Lina. Her ice queen persona. Her insistence at being the best at everything she does. Her lack of emotion despite his every attempt to rile her up. Her lovely smelling hair — wait, what?! If you enjoy a good loathe to love story, you might just fall for these two.

From academic rivals to colleagues to lovers, Jonathan & Lina’s story was intense, a little bit maddening, & fun to journey through. Once I got into it, I did have a hard time putting it down. I loved the representation of Southeast Asian MCs & side characters! I enjoyed the dynamics between Jonathan and his family/friends, and the eventual connection Lina was able to make with them. Being able to read about complex dynamics within Lina’s family was really interesting and honestly heart wrenching; I would have enjoyed even more exploration and resolution of that within the story, but was satisfied with the resolution we received.

I personally would also have liked even more emotional connection between our MCs before seeing them jump into a physical relationship; the kinks explored were not my favorite to read about, but the characters had a good time!

There was some repetition here and there of certain phrases that got a little old, and I think there was at least one instance where I was confused about how a character got to a certain place/position, but overall this was an easy, enjoyable read.

I look forward to reading more from Cee Yang!

[Michelle Dinh]

I was lucky enough to get this book as an ARC and I devoured this book so quickly! It’s Book 3 of the series but can be read as a standalone (I haven’t read the first two books yet) and it’s a pretty quick and easy read!

I really appreciate the SEA representation and love the author adding in little tidbits about the Hmong culture that helps add to understanding the characters and their behaviors. I also loved the “youngest daughter having to care for the family” representation, because in a lot of Asian culture, we see a lot more “oldest daughter carries the burden” but being the youngest daughter myself, there’s definitely a different dynamic being youngest while still being “the adult.”

I think the feelings do build slowly in the MMC’s actions, but towards the pivoting point, I think it does progress slightly quickly and becomes a full 180. However, for me, I think it worked well considering the history behind the two characters and I have an appreciation for a quick read (for my fellow readers who lose interest easily).

I do wish there was more development of Jonathan’s feelings in the past (did he actually maybe like her all those years?) and maybe a bit more to the ending/epilogue, but that’s just the usual feeling of “I wish there was more!” when you enjoyed a story.

I will definitely be going back to reading the first two books in the series, and I wish there were more just so I can get more glimpses of Jonathan and Lina in the future!

[Wendy Minore]

First of all I would like to give a huge thank you to the author for allowing me the opportunity to receive this ARC!

This book was so good!! It had me giggling, kicking my feet, raging, and curling my toes. The main characters were really well developed, you could really see how they ended up as rivals to begin with since it was dual POV. They both wildly misunderstood the reactions of the other person for so long, and it was oddly therapeutic to watch them figure it out and go from hate to love in the blink of an eye.

That’s actually my only complaint is how quickly they said I love you, not because I don’t think they weren’t on that level, it just threw me. The two of them clearly knew each other inside and out and had moved into the friend zone from rivals because he was an idiot. Which was also fun to see. He was constantly jealous and going out of his way to help her because as her manager he should, but obviously he didn’t do that for any of his other employees. It was funny.

The contrast between their families was also nice. The FMC has a very toxic family and it was handled really well and made her being accepted into his family even sweeter.

Speaking of families, the MMC’s family was big on food as a love language (he was mildly too) which I love to see, as I’m actively cooking way too much food again as I write up this review (:

Anyway, it was a really good book and I highly recommend it!!

[Jeleen Hutama]

First off, thank you to Cee Yang and her team for allowing me to be one of her ARC readers!!

As a healthcare worker myself, I love how Strictly Against Policy brings in a side of healthcare that people never really see, nor understand. Pharmacies get a lot of bad rap in general, so having a narrative that kind of delves into our world is something I never expected to read in a book, yet I hope the general public develops a deeper empathy and understanding of what some of us experience from this book!

Due to the nature of my job, it has taken me a bit of time to get through this book. I honestly contemplated not finishing it as 3/4 of the way through I felt like the story was mostly resolved and the pacing wasn’t really going anywhere. I felt as though Lina and Jonathan’s relationship was a bit rushed and it felt a little clunky in how their relationship transformed from enemies to lovers. The author could have done better in exploring their past with each other as when reading it seemed like they hated each other’s guts. It practically went from “I hate you, you’re so obnoxious”, to “I love you and I need to protect you” in the span of 5 minutes.

Though the love story was rushed, I think the ending got a bit slow, which is why it had taken more effort to finish the book. It may be because I read a lot of Romantasy, but I think I had higher expectations going into the novel. I would still give this book a go though, but I don’t think it will be one I pick up again

[MacKenzie Olson]

I was lucky enough to read this as an ARC, and I am SO glad I did.
This book is fast-paced, swoony, and exactly the kind of romance I live for — the kind where the tension hits early and never really lets up. You can feel the pull between the leads from page one, even while they're both pretending they don't want each other. There's a fake-out front that slowly cracks, and watching it crumble is so satisfying.
What really sets this book apart for me is the cultural depth. The family dynamics feel real — the loyalty, the guilt, the sense of obligation that comes from generational and cultural expectations. It's not just backdrop, it's woven into the emotional stakes of the whole story, and it gave me a genuine window into a culture I don't know much about, which is one of my favorite things a romance can do.
The romance itself moves FAST once it gets going, and I know that's not for everyone — but if you're a reader who loves a quick burn instead of a slow one, this is going to scratch that itch perfectly. The chemistry is intense, the spice is chef's kiss, and the emotional beats (found family, protecting each other, choosing love over obligation) hit hard.
This is a book for readers who want happiness over angst, heat over slow build, and a love story that feels earned even when it moves quickly.
Cee Yang has a new fan. I'm already ready for whatever comes next.

[Cerris]

Thank you for the ARC! As a pharmacist myself, I was excited to see two characters navigate their lives while working in their fast paced environment. I thought the author did an amazing job with her research about pharmacists working in a small “mom and pop” pharmacy.

The book was paced well and I loved the character development, but some scenes felt a little rushed. It was hard to understand the feel deep hatred between the characters because it felt a little juvenile (but I rolled with it). Then the opposite: the attraction and sexual tension between the two felt sudden.

I loved the spicy scenes but the car scene got me laughing in a good way. I have no idea how the characters managed to do all that in the car sharing a parking lot with a taco truck. Not to mention your girl, Lina, was a virgin! 🤣 It definitely didn’t seem like she was, so I don’t really know if making her a virgin in the story was a good idea.

The juxtaposition of family dynamics was written so well! It really made me yearn for Lina to have a family with Jonathan. I loved the way the book ended.

Either way, I enjoyed a fun read about two pharmacists and despite all the qualms I had with some of the plot, it was indeed spicy 🌶️🌶️🌶️ and refreshing to have two strong POC characters representing the Hmong community.