3.5 stars
I have wanted to read Jackie Lau for a while now, because she appeared oftentimes on my Twitter feed (from fellow readers). This one is offered for free on both Amazon and Kobo so I decided that it would be a good title 'to dip my toe' into her writings
The Good Things
I liked it! It was quite fun romp and the family was funny enough. PLUS, there were quite a number of scenes involving East Asian food, and my South-East Asian heart was happy. Bubble tea, dumplings, even a mention of Taiwan crispy chicken! Yum! While it started around Thanksgiving, Nick and Lily also dated afterwards before the relationship became a "steady" one, so timeline worked.
There were meddling family too... I enjoy meddling family stories, but when they are from non-Asian family. Because meddling Asian family can be "too close to reality" and then I start to feel sorry for the characters, and angry on their behalf. BUT, in here, I thought the dose was just right.
The Not-so Good Things (for me anyway)
The number of sex scenes. I like my holiday novella to be less about sex and more about talking, dating, enjoying the seasons, and all. I like ALL my romance to be like that, actually, but more so on holiday romances. There were quite many of sex scenes here and it was disrupting my holiday reader mood.
Also, AFTER Nick and Lily returned to Toronto, the story felt like it was missing some thing. It was mainly about Nick (at first) thought about the commitment, and Lily felt insecure because she didn't feel like she fit with Nick's glamorous world. But at the same time, since this part was only 1/3rd of the book, things were like "swept away with the broom" quickly, you know?
Anyway, It is good to know that Nick has three more siblings, because I want to read ALL their stories, and what attempts of matchmaking that the family store for them. Bought the complete series and would try to read them all with my OWN end-year holiday round the corner.