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A Taste for Love
A rom com about first love, familial expectations, and making the perfect bao.
To her friends, high school senior Liza Yang is nearly perfect. Smart, kind, and pretty, she dreams big and never shies away from a challenge. But to her mom, Liza is anything but. Compared to her older sister Jeannie, Liza is stubborn, rebellious, and worst of all, determined to push back against all of Mrs. Yang's traditional values, especially when it comes to dating.
The one thing mother and daughter do agree on is their love of baking. Mrs. Yang is the owner of Houston's popular Yin & Yang Bakery. With college just around the corner, Liza agrees to help out at the bakery's annual junior competition to prove to her mom that she's more than her rebellious tendencies once and for all. But when Liza arrives on the first day of the bake-off, she realizes there's a catch: all of the contestants are young Asian American men her mother has handpicked for Liza to date.
The bachelorette situation Liza has found herself in is made even worse when she happens to be grudgingly attracted to one of the contestants; the stoic, impenetrable, annoyingly hot James Wong. As she battles against her feelings for James, and for her mother's approval, Liza begins to realize there's no tried and true recipe for love.
To her friends, high school senior Liza Yang is nearly perfect. Smart, kind, and pretty, she dreams big and never shies away from a challenge. But to her mom, Liza is anything but. Compared to her older sister Jeannie, Liza is stubborn, rebellious, and worst of all, determined to push back against all of Mrs. Yang's traditional values, especially when it comes to dating.
The one thing mother and daughter do agree on is their love of baking. Mrs. Yang is the owner of Houston's popular Yin & Yang Bakery. With college just around the corner, Liza agrees to help out at the bakery's annual junior competition to prove to her mom that she's more than her rebellious tendencies once and for all. But when Liza arrives on the first day of the bake-off, she realizes there's a catch: all of the contestants are young Asian American men her mother has handpicked for Liza to date.
The bachelorette situation Liza has found herself in is made even worse when she happens to be grudgingly attracted to one of the contestants; the stoic, impenetrable, annoyingly hot James Wong. As she battles against her feelings for James, and for her mother's approval, Liza begins to realize there's no tried and true recipe for love.
322 pages, Hardcover
First published February 2, 2021
111 people are currently reading
11024 people want to read
About the author
Jennifer Yen
8 books262 followersJennifer Yen is a Taiwanese American author of young adult and adult fiction. She draws much of her inspiration from her Chinese and Japanese heritage.
Her debut novel, A Taste For Love, is out now and available wherever books are sold.
Her second book, Love, Decoded, will be released in Spring 2022.
Jennifer lives in Houston, Texas with her adorable rescue dog. She spends her days healing the hearts of others, and her nights writing about love, family, and the power of acceptance. She believes in the magic of one's imagination, and hopes her stories will bring joy and inspiration to readers.
If you find her wandering around aimlessly, please return her to the nearest milk tea shop.
Her debut novel, A Taste For Love, is out now and available wherever books are sold.
Her second book, Love, Decoded, will be released in Spring 2022.
Jennifer lives in Houston, Texas with her adorable rescue dog. She spends her days healing the hearts of others, and her nights writing about love, family, and the power of acceptance. She believes in the magic of one's imagination, and hopes her stories will bring joy and inspiration to readers.
If you find her wandering around aimlessly, please return her to the nearest milk tea shop.
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April 25, 2021This was really cute and fun, but I was also kind of a bit let down by it. This is a pride and prejudice retelling, which I didn't know going in, but it also focuses on a baking competition that is really a ploy by the main character's mother to set her up with the ideal Asian American boy. Now that's what the synopsis tells you, so I was really surprised when the competition doesn't start until halfway through the book. That was definitely the main letdown. There was a lot of meandering around the point in the beginning. Like she goes to New York to visit her sister and while I get what it was setting up for in the end, it didn't really seem entirely necessary to me. A lot of the trip was skipped over so I kind of was wondering why it was included, especially because I thought the competition would come into play more. The romance was cute, I loved all the baking, and I really especially loved the focus on friendships, sisterhood, and the mother daughter relationship. The competition was a really fun idea. I've only seen a couple episodes of Great British Bake Off but it totally reminded me of that mixed with the Bachelorette. But as fun as the story was it also had some serious topics too and it was really nice to watch Liza grow throughout the story. Overall this was good, but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a little let down.
September 27, 2021
What a cute little novel this was!
I enjoyed every single page, and I wish it got continuation, even though the story had very clear end.
Liza was amazing narrator, I really enjoyed her sense of humour, and I just like the author's voice.
It was simple, written in first person, easy to read and I finished a book very quickly.
My favourite part was the family aspect, and I see why it was compared to To All the Boys I Loved Before.
However, it stands as it's own, unique story pretty well, even if it is a retelling of Pride and Prejudice.
Also, it is perfect for cooking show fans.
If you don't watch that kind of entertainment (like I don't) you would probably still enjoy it (like I did).
Also, it has Asian representation (more nationalities), but as I live in European all-white country, I can't tell you how accurate they are.
As I really, really loved A Taste for Love, I would like to see more people read it and talk about it.
It did cover some important topics too, it wasn't all cakes and hearts, trust me.
So if you can, please give this book a try, and thank me later (or don't).
I enjoyed every single page, and I wish it got continuation, even though the story had very clear end.
Liza was amazing narrator, I really enjoyed her sense of humour, and I just like the author's voice.
It was simple, written in first person, easy to read and I finished a book very quickly.
My favourite part was the family aspect, and I see why it was compared to To All the Boys I Loved Before.
However, it stands as it's own, unique story pretty well, even if it is a retelling of Pride and Prejudice.
Also, it is perfect for cooking show fans.
If you don't watch that kind of entertainment (like I don't) you would probably still enjoy it (like I did).
Also, it has Asian representation (more nationalities), but as I live in European all-white country, I can't tell you how accurate they are.
As I really, really loved A Taste for Love, I would like to see more people read it and talk about it.
It did cover some important topics too, it wasn't all cakes and hearts, trust me.
So if you can, please give this book a try, and thank me later (or don't).
May 30, 2021
This was such an adorable Pride and Prejudice retelling! I love romances that revolved around food and this one definitely has a lot of baking. Liza loves baking and her parents host an annual baking contest. She asks her mom if she can participate and instead her mom makes her one of the judges. What Liza soon realizes, though, is that her mom is using the baking contest as a dating contest where the guys are competing for Liza. Liza is mortified, but she is definitely interested in James, one of the contestants who she finds infuriating but also extremely intriguing and handsome. While the baking contest doesn't actually start until halfway through the book, there is necessary set up in the beginning of Liza and James' relationships as well as Liza's relationship with her mom and her sister. I enjoyed how much Liza's sister was in the book and how Liza and her mom's relationship developed and changed by the end of the book. The baking competition was really fun and I loved all of the food in this book! If you want a fun YA romance with a dating competition, I would recommend this one!
June 16, 2024
I really loved this book!
January 21, 2021
A Taste for Love by Jennifer Yen is an absolutely delightful modern day retelling of Pride and Prejudice and checks all of my boxes for a fun YA contemporary. It has a decent plot and diverse cast, plenty of laugh out loud moments, nearly perfect chemistry between the characters, and no shortage of overall entertainment. I immensely enjoyed this book and will recommend to all YA contemporary readers.
In case you need some more convincing, here are my three reasons why A Taste for Love should be on your TBR-
1. A feisty, headstrong, free spirited Taiwanese-American heroine, a meddling I-know-what's- best-for-you mom, hell bent on finding her daughter the perfect boyfriend and a hot and handsome yet moody and mercurial hero.
2. A Great British Baking Show style baking competition which in actuality is an elaborate matchmaking scheme in disguise.
3. Downright delectable descriptions of food, both sweet and savory that is bound to make you hungry and you might end up ordering a bunch of Asian treats (with Boba tea) and savor them along with the book.
** A free ARC was provided by Penguin Teen in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own**
In case you need some more convincing, here are my three reasons why A Taste for Love should be on your TBR-
1. A feisty, headstrong, free spirited Taiwanese-American heroine, a meddling I-know-what's- best-for-you mom, hell bent on finding her daughter the perfect boyfriend and a hot and handsome yet moody and mercurial hero.
2. A Great British Baking Show style baking competition which in actuality is an elaborate matchmaking scheme in disguise.
3. Downright delectable descriptions of food, both sweet and savory that is bound to make you hungry and you might end up ordering a bunch of Asian treats (with Boba tea) and savor them along with the book.
** A free ARC was provided by Penguin Teen in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own**
February 2, 2021
Flirty & cute, A TASTE FOR LOVE brings together baked deliciousness, mysterious past secrets, and a cooking competition that's a low-key disaster.
I was prepared to be satisfied with a cute romance, and move on with my life, but something about A TASTE FOR LOVE just stuck out to me and latched on. It was definitely more well-layered than I expected from a light romance--like Liza's layered agar cake!
We not only get a romance between our headstrong protagonist Liza and the stand-offish & a little bit shy James, but we also get a heaping of friendship vibes, sisterhood, post-high school dreams, and a baking competition that turned in to the Bachelorette. Also, a deeper backstory than you might expect! (Check out the CWs at the end.)
I started reading, and I ended up devouring the story in less than a day. Y'all--I was so hungry. There's so much delicious food in here--a gazillions types of buns, san bei ji, boba, cakes, breads, and a plethora of pastries. I was practically drooling the whole way through.
In some ways, I admit that I wasn't entirely sure A TASTE FOR LOVE would be a book I enjoyed. I've been getting tired of reading about a strict Asian parent/tiger mom, especially because my own experience is some ways similar, other ways very different. More and more Asian-American teens are diverging from a more traditional immigrant-parent experience, and I've been seeking stories that tell this more complex ground.
I think it's totally valid for Yen to write this type of dynamic, but it hasn't really been my cup of tea recently.
Still, I ended up enjoying Yen's portrayal of Liza's relationship with her mother. I wasn't sold in the beginning, but ultimately the way Yen teased out some of the later dynamics made it worthwhile. I particularly related to portrayals of
- parents not giving warning before they rope you into a commitment, without really respecting your time, plans, or opinions
- the push/pull kind of transactional appeasement a child has with a parent to gain leeway to do something.
Kind of bleak, honestly, but I ultimately thought the dynamic was portrayed well in the end.
I think what A TASTE FOR LOVE does best is bring you along for a story that you ultimately know will make your day a little bit brighter. It's a pick-me-up in the way that Liza triumphs, food is woven in, and the characters are shaped and developed to leave you satisfied when you put it down.
With a nice balance of plot, character, and voice, A TASTE FOR LOVE should be another addition to your collection of heartwarming Asian YA romance novels. (Taiwanese-American rep, specifically!)
Content Warnings:
I was prepared to be satisfied with a cute romance, and move on with my life, but something about A TASTE FOR LOVE just stuck out to me and latched on. It was definitely more well-layered than I expected from a light romance--like Liza's layered agar cake!
We not only get a romance between our headstrong protagonist Liza and the stand-offish & a little bit shy James, but we also get a heaping of friendship vibes, sisterhood, post-high school dreams, and a baking competition that turned in to the Bachelorette. Also, a deeper backstory than you might expect! (Check out the CWs at the end.)
I started reading, and I ended up devouring the story in less than a day. Y'all--I was so hungry. There's so much delicious food in here--a gazillions types of buns, san bei ji, boba, cakes, breads, and a plethora of pastries. I was practically drooling the whole way through.
In some ways, I admit that I wasn't entirely sure A TASTE FOR LOVE would be a book I enjoyed. I've been getting tired of reading about a strict Asian parent/tiger mom, especially because my own experience is some ways similar, other ways very different. More and more Asian-American teens are diverging from a more traditional immigrant-parent experience, and I've been seeking stories that tell this more complex ground.
I think it's totally valid for Yen to write this type of dynamic, but it hasn't really been my cup of tea recently.
Still, I ended up enjoying Yen's portrayal of Liza's relationship with her mother. I wasn't sold in the beginning, but ultimately the way Yen teased out some of the later dynamics made it worthwhile. I particularly related to portrayals of
- parents not giving warning before they rope you into a commitment, without really respecting your time, plans, or opinions
- the push/pull kind of transactional appeasement a child has with a parent to gain leeway to do something.
Kind of bleak, honestly, but I ultimately thought the dynamic was portrayed well in the end.
I think what A TASTE FOR LOVE does best is bring you along for a story that you ultimately know will make your day a little bit brighter. It's a pick-me-up in the way that Liza triumphs, food is woven in, and the characters are shaped and developed to leave you satisfied when you put it down.
With a nice balance of plot, character, and voice, A TASTE FOR LOVE should be another addition to your collection of heartwarming Asian YA romance novels. (Taiwanese-American rep, specifically!)
Content Warnings:
July 8, 2021
A Taste for Love definitely caught my eye because it was marketed as a Pride and Prejudice re-telling. If you know anything about me then you know how much I love anything related to Pride and Prejudice. 3.5 Stars
A Taste for Love follows high schooler Liza Yang as she attempts to navigate familial expectations while trying to live a somewhat normal life where she isn't constantly compared to her sister. When she isn't off attempting to follow her own dreams and goals, Liza spends time helping her mom at their bakery, a passion that they share. If you're a foodie like me then you'll be completely absorbed into the various food descriptions. This isn't a book that I would read while hungry. Yen does a great job connecting Liza and her mother through baking especially since they don't really get along. There is a great appreciation for familial dynamics that Yen captures on page. This is also evident in the relationship that Liza shares with her sister. While she feels compared to her sister by her mother, Liza doesn't allow that to stop them from having a strong bond. When Liza makes the trip to go visit her sister, readers get the opportunity to see how much love exists between the two of them. It definitely is hard to see how hard Liza's mom is on her, but I also think that her mom wanted the best for her. I wouldn't necessarily go about it in the same way, but I think that's a difference in generational and cultural perspectives.
One thing that detracted from my enjoyment of the novel was the build up of the relationship between James and Liza. James is clearly "Darcy" so his character is supposed to be stand offish and hard to figure out; however, I had a difficult time connecting with their relationship as a whole. In some ways they felt more compatible as friends than two individuals who were developing a romantic relationships. In fact, by the end of the novel it felt slightly awkward seeing the outcome of the relationship. A lot of this seems to stem from the fact that this book has a lot of characters. At times it can be difficult to fully flesh out characters if there are too many involved in the story. If Yen would have tapered down on the amount of characters, I believe that Liza and James would have gotten the character development they needed in order to make their chemistry feel more believable.
Overall, I thought it was a really solid YA contemporary romance. Yen definitely developed a story that was reminiscent of Pride and Prejudice but was able to stand own it's own two feet with it's own voice. I'll be excited to see what Yen writes in the future.
A Taste for Love follows high schooler Liza Yang as she attempts to navigate familial expectations while trying to live a somewhat normal life where she isn't constantly compared to her sister. When she isn't off attempting to follow her own dreams and goals, Liza spends time helping her mom at their bakery, a passion that they share. If you're a foodie like me then you'll be completely absorbed into the various food descriptions. This isn't a book that I would read while hungry. Yen does a great job connecting Liza and her mother through baking especially since they don't really get along. There is a great appreciation for familial dynamics that Yen captures on page. This is also evident in the relationship that Liza shares with her sister. While she feels compared to her sister by her mother, Liza doesn't allow that to stop them from having a strong bond. When Liza makes the trip to go visit her sister, readers get the opportunity to see how much love exists between the two of them. It definitely is hard to see how hard Liza's mom is on her, but I also think that her mom wanted the best for her. I wouldn't necessarily go about it in the same way, but I think that's a difference in generational and cultural perspectives.
One thing that detracted from my enjoyment of the novel was the build up of the relationship between James and Liza. James is clearly "Darcy" so his character is supposed to be stand offish and hard to figure out; however, I had a difficult time connecting with their relationship as a whole. In some ways they felt more compatible as friends than two individuals who were developing a romantic relationships. In fact, by the end of the novel it felt slightly awkward seeing the outcome of the relationship. A lot of this seems to stem from the fact that this book has a lot of characters. At times it can be difficult to fully flesh out characters if there are too many involved in the story. If Yen would have tapered down on the amount of characters, I believe that Liza and James would have gotten the character development they needed in order to make their chemistry feel more believable.
Overall, I thought it was a really solid YA contemporary romance. Yen definitely developed a story that was reminiscent of Pride and Prejudice but was able to stand own it's own two feet with it's own voice. I'll be excited to see what Yen writes in the future.
April 22, 2021
3.5 adorable stars!
Well that was such a cute and fun P & P reimagining!
I thought the family dynamics were so engaging and entertaining! It's quite a big cast of characters but it didn't feel cluttered as can often happen with so many people in a story. I liked that some serious issues were addressed in the novel as it gave an added layer of depth to the story.
The only downside is that yet again I am left with more food cravings! Luckily I have an award winning Asian fusion bakery 15mins drive from my house. Oh well, needs must!
Well that was such a cute and fun P & P reimagining!
I thought the family dynamics were so engaging and entertaining! It's quite a big cast of characters but it didn't feel cluttered as can often happen with so many people in a story. I liked that some serious issues were addressed in the novel as it gave an added layer of depth to the story.
The only downside is that yet again I am left with more food cravings! Luckily I have an award winning Asian fusion bakery 15mins drive from my house. Oh well, needs must!
April 5, 2021
You can't just show me a book with a cute couple on it drinking Thai and taro bubble tea and expect me not to read it.
This book was like a Hallmark movie but in a book and for teens (although to be quite honest, I'm pretty sure I've seen a Hallmark movie with a similar premise of falling in love at a baking competition). It's so frickin cute. (also it's clean. there's some mild language but that's about it)
Liza was such a fun narrator. I loved her voice and style. I thought all the other characters were also characterized well, even the mom. The mom is infuriating, yes, but she's a tiger mom (and her arc was good anyhow). I wasn't a huuuuge fan of JamesxLiza, but mostly because I felt like it came out of nowhere. I know that if I met someone like James and had a similar first encounter, it would take months before I'd trust that person enough to like like them (especially because his rude behavior then and to the waiter was never really explained). They were cute once they got together, but I never understood the "getting together" step of it.
One thing I didn't like was the Grace-Sarah-Liza dynamic. Supposedly, all three are best friends, but most of the time it's just Grace and Liza getting together. There's one time when Sarah shows up and surprises Grace and Liza, and Sarah says something like, "I'm hurt you guys didn't invite me" and Liza thinks something like "we didn't invite you because we were worried you'd say something ignorant and offensive." I think if that was really Grace and Liza's concern, then they should try and teach Sarah about Taiwanese culture instead of just excluding her. Sarah was just a second-tier friend to them, and I didn't like how the three girls were being labeled as best friends.
This book made me so hungry. Whenever a type of food that I was unfamiliar was mentioned, I'd look it up. Looking at all the pictures of yummy food made my mouth water. Some things I was like, "Oooh I'm gonna have to get that next time I go to the Asian market."
A cute, lighthearted book about baking and falling in love. What else could you ask for?
This book was like a Hallmark movie but in a book and for teens (although to be quite honest, I'm pretty sure I've seen a Hallmark movie with a similar premise of falling in love at a baking competition). It's so frickin cute. (also it's clean. there's some mild language but that's about it)
Liza was such a fun narrator. I loved her voice and style. I thought all the other characters were also characterized well, even the mom. The mom is infuriating, yes, but she's a tiger mom (and her arc was good anyhow). I wasn't a huuuuge fan of JamesxLiza, but mostly because I felt like it came out of nowhere. I know that if I met someone like James and had a similar first encounter, it would take months before I'd trust that person enough to like like them (especially because his rude behavior then and to the waiter was never really explained). They were cute once they got together, but I never understood the "getting together" step of it.
One thing I didn't like was the Grace-Sarah-Liza dynamic. Supposedly, all three are best friends, but most of the time it's just Grace and Liza getting together. There's one time when Sarah shows up and surprises Grace and Liza, and Sarah says something like, "I'm hurt you guys didn't invite me" and Liza thinks something like "we didn't invite you because we were worried you'd say something ignorant and offensive." I think if that was really Grace and Liza's concern, then they should try and teach Sarah about Taiwanese culture instead of just excluding her. Sarah was just a second-tier friend to them, and I didn't like how the three girls were being labeled as best friends.
This book made me so hungry. Whenever a type of food that I was unfamiliar was mentioned, I'd look it up. Looking at all the pictures of yummy food made my mouth water. Some things I was like, "Oooh I'm gonna have to get that next time I go to the Asian market."
A cute, lighthearted book about baking and falling in love. What else could you ask for?
December 15, 2021
holiday season reading vlog https://youtu.be/7eorSR47d8c
April 1, 2021
Truly one of the cutest and most fun books I have read this year! Boys who bake, nods to Pride and Prejudice, a baking contest, female friendships, tol/smol pairing, and a smart, strong-willed and loyal main character?? I AM SO THERE
I would love to see a movie or miniseries adaptation tbh!
And definitely DON'T read this on a empty stomach, the food descriptions are too much 😭😭😭
Content warning: racism, restrictive eating, Harry Potter references (this was most likely written pre 2020 but I will include it)
I would love to see a movie or miniseries adaptation tbh!
And definitely DON'T read this on a empty stomach, the food descriptions are too much 😭😭😭
Content warning: racism, restrictive eating, Harry Potter references (this was most likely written pre 2020 but I will include it)
January 31, 2021
4.5/5 ☆
This book was everything I needed right now. The rom-com feelings? Yup. The asian representation? Absolutely. THE FOOD? Oml yes I got so hungry while reading! This book had me laughing so many times.
The pacing was pretty good, and I was hooked on the story almost immediately. The book is kind of a loose re-telling of Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, so if you loved that book you'll definitely want to check this book out! The inclusion of food and almost-bachelorette competitions made me find this book hilarious and entertaining.
After reading some heavy books with tough themes, it felt amazing to read a cute rom-com. I really enjoyed it. I'll also mention that I've been feeling very (very, very) single these days, so I've been craving to read books with romance. And the romance in this book did not disappoint, as it came across as really cute and wholesome.
Moreover, I really did feel represented in this book, and also inspired by the growth of the main character, Liza. She felt really grounded, and I do believe many others can relate to her. I also hope she can be an inspiration for others. I'm so glad next generations of asian immigrants have the opportunity to see themselves represented in media and books.
So yeah, I really enjoyed this book. I definitely read it at the right time. And I wholeheartedly recommend this book to all of you, if you ever want a quick read with humour and romance.
Over and out. -Nora<3
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DISCLAIMER: I received a DRC from Penguin Random House via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
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AHHH i loved this one. It was so wholesome and cute.
Rtc!!
"It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a mother in possession of great wisdom must be in want--nay, in need--of a daughter who will listen."
This book was everything I needed right now. The rom-com feelings? Yup. The asian representation? Absolutely. THE FOOD? Oml yes I got so hungry while reading! This book had me laughing so many times.
The pacing was pretty good, and I was hooked on the story almost immediately. The book is kind of a loose re-telling of Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, so if you loved that book you'll definitely want to check this book out! The inclusion of food and almost-bachelorette competitions made me find this book hilarious and entertaining.
After reading some heavy books with tough themes, it felt amazing to read a cute rom-com. I really enjoyed it. I'll also mention that I've been feeling very (very, very) single these days, so I've been craving to read books with romance. And the romance in this book did not disappoint, as it came across as really cute and wholesome.
Moreover, I really did feel represented in this book, and also inspired by the growth of the main character, Liza. She felt really grounded, and I do believe many others can relate to her. I also hope she can be an inspiration for others. I'm so glad next generations of asian immigrants have the opportunity to see themselves represented in media and books.
So yeah, I really enjoyed this book. I definitely read it at the right time. And I wholeheartedly recommend this book to all of you, if you ever want a quick read with humour and romance.
Over and out. -Nora<3
------------
DISCLAIMER: I received a DRC from Penguin Random House via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
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AHHH i loved this one. It was so wholesome and cute.
Rtc!!
February 28, 2021
3.25/5 Stars
A Taste for Love is an adorable Pride and Prejudice retelling that revolves around a baking competition. I really enjoyed reading about Liza and how much she loves baking, it was very inspiring to see her so passionate about it. Also, this book made me so hungry you guys, they were always talking about delicious food!
Even though the plot was quite predictable from the start, it was still a cute and enjoyable contemporary YA book that I do recommend if you're a fan of baking and cute contemporaries.
A Taste for Love is an adorable Pride and Prejudice retelling that revolves around a baking competition. I really enjoyed reading about Liza and how much she loves baking, it was very inspiring to see her so passionate about it. Also, this book made me so hungry you guys, they were always talking about delicious food!
Even though the plot was quite predictable from the start, it was still a cute and enjoyable contemporary YA book that I do recommend if you're a fan of baking and cute contemporaries.
September 18, 2022
2.5⭐️
This book just didn’t hold my attention. I didn’t find myself caring a whole lot about the characters, the romance or the competition aspect. It was a fine book I just felt really disconnected from it. It was definitely cute and I could see others enjoying it more.
This book just didn’t hold my attention. I didn’t find myself caring a whole lot about the characters, the romance or the competition aspect. It was a fine book I just felt really disconnected from it. It was definitely cute and I could see others enjoying it more.
September 14, 2021
It was cute and I loved getting a tour of Houston Asian Town—all the yummy food—but something bothered me about the pacing and writing style, I can’t quite put my finger on it, but it just wasn’t my favorite.
July 26, 2021
4.75 stars
I really enjoyed this!!
The food concept was amazing and made me hungry this whole book.
I took .25 stars because the MC was a little annoying and preppy.
I really enjoyed this!!
The food concept was amazing and made me hungry this whole book.
I took .25 stars because the MC was a little annoying and preppy.
July 12, 2021
3.75 / 5
i enjoyed this a lot more than i thought i would! i was just looking for a simple ya book to get me back into reading, and this did the trick and then some.
we meet liza, who’s a chinese american girl with a passion for baking and a meddlesome mother. their family owns a combined chinese bakery and restaurant that liza often helps out with. her mom wants her to have a suitable, chinese boyfriend and to go to college and pursue a stable career. liza doesn’t really want either of those things, constantly trying to rebel. the tension between them results in liza being appointed a judge at their annual baking contest, modeled after the great british baking show (which i love), but the catch comes in the form of her mother injecting possible boyfriend candidates into the contestant pool.
the baking contest wasn’t as much of the forefront as i thought it was would be, but this was an enjoyable story nonetheless. i loooved the food descriptions and all the references to asian and asian american culture. i would have loved to grow up in a chinese bakery 😭 i didn’t care for the romance as much, and the love interest was alright, but i will mention that this is a pride and prejudice retelling, which i didn’t know about beforehand. (it was evident from the very first page though, if you read the first line lol). i love the spin it takes on the original story, and i found the climax of all the conflicts very gripping. i read the last two hundred pages in a few hours… my complaints mostly lie in how surface-level all the characters seem, and some things they do didn’t make a lot of sense to me, but liza and her mother’s relationship definitely raised it up a notch. i thought it was similar to my experiences, though my chinese mom was never quite so controlling of me. there was also some casual bi rep, which i liked too!
this book definitely worked well for me because i’m a part of the target demographic 💀 liza and i would get along
i enjoyed this a lot more than i thought i would! i was just looking for a simple ya book to get me back into reading, and this did the trick and then some.
we meet liza, who’s a chinese american girl with a passion for baking and a meddlesome mother. their family owns a combined chinese bakery and restaurant that liza often helps out with. her mom wants her to have a suitable, chinese boyfriend and to go to college and pursue a stable career. liza doesn’t really want either of those things, constantly trying to rebel. the tension between them results in liza being appointed a judge at their annual baking contest, modeled after the great british baking show (which i love), but the catch comes in the form of her mother injecting possible boyfriend candidates into the contestant pool.
the baking contest wasn’t as much of the forefront as i thought it was would be, but this was an enjoyable story nonetheless. i loooved the food descriptions and all the references to asian and asian american culture. i would have loved to grow up in a chinese bakery 😭 i didn’t care for the romance as much, and the love interest was alright, but i will mention that this is a pride and prejudice retelling, which i didn’t know about beforehand. (it was evident from the very first page though, if you read the first line lol). i love the spin it takes on the original story, and i found the climax of all the conflicts very gripping. i read the last two hundred pages in a few hours… my complaints mostly lie in how surface-level all the characters seem, and some things they do didn’t make a lot of sense to me, but liza and her mother’s relationship definitely raised it up a notch. i thought it was similar to my experiences, though my chinese mom was never quite so controlling of me. there was also some casual bi rep, which i liked too!
this book definitely worked well for me because i’m a part of the target demographic 💀 liza and i would get along
December 22, 2021
what the heck this was the cutest book ever
- pride and prejudice vibes!
- enemies to lovers vibes (not enemies necessarily, but def hate to love)
- i hate everyone but you
- brooding boy with a heart of gold
- big incorporation of taiwanese/chinese culture! especially through food
- i loved the realistic way family relationships were portrayed, and the evolution in liza's relationship with her mother (character development!!!)
- liza and james are 11/10 beyond cute please let me have a relationship like theirs
- the FOOD. hello. hi. so much food and baking and there was a whole great British bake-off inspired competition but only with asian-inspired recipes !!! best thing ever
- loved how grace (aka liza's bff) also had her own love story and that's beyond cute
- we love the commentary on career choices & indecision
this book make me 1. feel so seen 2. swoon like no other
cw: disordered eating (possibly triggering comments about food/calories)
- pride and prejudice vibes!
- enemies to lovers vibes (not enemies necessarily, but def hate to love)
- i hate everyone but you
- brooding boy with a heart of gold
- big incorporation of taiwanese/chinese culture! especially through food
- i loved the realistic way family relationships were portrayed, and the evolution in liza's relationship with her mother (character development!!!)
- liza and james are 11/10 beyond cute please let me have a relationship like theirs
- the FOOD. hello. hi. so much food and baking and there was a whole great British bake-off inspired competition but only with asian-inspired recipes !!! best thing ever
- loved how grace (aka liza's bff) also had her own love story and that's beyond cute
- we love the commentary on career choices & indecision
this book make me 1. feel so seen 2. swoon like no other
cw: disordered eating (possibly triggering comments about food/calories)
February 18, 2021
Young Adult Contemporary Romance : ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
CW : Microaggression
Love me ANY Pride & Made me so hungry!! (Now I want all the Boba and Buns. Yummmm.)
I really loved this one. Every character was utilized and had purpose. As well as being fleshed out and thoughtful to the story. Our couple was so sweet and genuine and Liza's family was A lovely look into more traditional Asian values. A great read.
#LNYREADATHON2021
CW : Microaggression
Love me ANY Pride & Made me so hungry!! (Now I want all the Boba and Buns. Yummmm.)
I really loved this one. Every character was utilized and had purpose. As well as being fleshed out and thoughtful to the story. Our couple was so sweet and genuine and Liza's family was A lovely look into more traditional Asian values. A great read.
#LNYREADATHON2021
July 3, 2021
4 stars!
Review to come here, and on https://sunnysidereviews.wordpress.com/.
Review to come here, and on https://sunnysidereviews.wordpress.com/.
August 12, 2021
While this book isn't awful in itself, it does represent some of the problems I've noticed when reading Asian YA, especially other novels like American Panda and Frankly in Love. Which is sad, since all I want is to read about characters that have the same experiences as me and that I can relate with, and instead all I'm left with is a bitter taste in my mouth.
The best way to put it would be to say that the depiction of Asian cultures is watered down. Made palatable for white tastebuds. Now, I'm not saying that the authors made racial/cultural issues into sunshine and rainbows. Quite the opposite, in fact. The authors seem keen to stick a label on everything. THIS is a neglectful parent. THIS is emotional abuse. Now you understand Asian families!
Race is a significant aspect of our identities and influences who we are. However, that doesn't mean it needs to be mentioned in EVERY single page. It's the equivalent of getting smacked in the face with a limp noodle. When Asian authors remained fixated in showcasing diversity instead of actually developing the characters and complex issues, it only reinforces the idea that we are defined by our race rather than our individual selves (which is hugely problematic).
Also , let us not forget this romantic gem:
I'm swooning. No, wait, I just threw up.
The best way to put it would be to say that the depiction of Asian cultures is watered down. Made palatable for white tastebuds. Now, I'm not saying that the authors made racial/cultural issues into sunshine and rainbows. Quite the opposite, in fact. The authors seem keen to stick a label on everything. THIS is a neglectful parent. THIS is emotional abuse. Now you understand Asian families!
Race is a significant aspect of our identities and influences who we are. However, that doesn't mean it needs to be mentioned in EVERY single page. It's the equivalent of getting smacked in the face with a limp noodle. When Asian authors remained fixated in showcasing diversity instead of actually developing the characters and complex issues, it only reinforces the idea that we are defined by our race rather than our individual selves (which is hugely problematic).
Also , let us not forget this romantic gem:
"His breath, hot like the steam from a freshly baked bao..."
I'm swooning. No, wait, I just threw up.
February 3, 2021
Cute although certainly not any To All the Boys I've Loved Before
April 17, 2021
3.75/5
these young adults out here really be making me feel some type of way: ✨soft✨ plus when the entire storyline is a modern day retelling of pride & prejudice— Ms. Yen, you got yourself an audience.
these young adults out here really be making me feel some type of way: ✨soft✨ plus when the entire storyline is a modern day retelling of pride & prejudice— Ms. Yen, you got yourself an audience.
December 8, 2021
You really never can go wrong with Pride and Prejudice retellings, especially ones with an all-Asian cast 😍. Liza and James were so effing cute omg. I'm so excited to read Gigi's story in Love, Decoded next!
November 18, 2022
“It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a mother in possession of great wisdom, must be in want-nay, in need-of a daughter who will listen.”
I had no idea I was in for a Pride & Prejudice retelling until I opened the book and read the first line - anyone who has read Austen's work would recognise it. But I actually think calling this a retelling is a disservice to both the original and A Taste of Love. The latter clearly has Austen-vibes sprinkled throughout but it is much more it's own story, especially the characters. I think inspired by is much more appropriate for this one.
A Taste for Love caught me by surprise. I was expecting a fun romcom - and it was - but I enjoyed it a lot more than I was anticipating. Although I really enjoyed the romance, I liked that there was also a big focus on Liza's aspirations and relationship with her family. Her mother's antics to try and set her up with an Asia boy are alarming and hilarious in equal measure. Good on Liza for deliberately dating boys that don't match her mother's check list. It makes it all the more interesting when she does start to fall for an Asian boy who ticks all the right boxes.
I really liked James - he does have some Darcy-vibes but I would like to think he is a tad more readable in a cute way. He may start off as being rude and gruff, but I think as a reader it's easy to see that a lot of what he says and does is out of not knowing how to show Liza that he likes her. Liza doesn't pick up on the gestures that give it away, but as a reader I found him perfectly adorable. One of my few complaints about this book is when Liza's friend points out that James reminder her of Darcy. I think James can perfectly hold his own - he was already giving off the right vibes and spelling it out felt a bit too much in your face.
At some point in the middle of the book, I was getting a little weary. While I did enjoy the baking element, the actual baking competition is a bit repetitive. It was also at that point that I felt that quite a few characters had been introduced and that most of them were just too nice and I didn't see their purpose for being in the story at all. But read on, I think all characters were well placed and there were a few more surprises for the last part of the book. Albeit I will say that it was pretty plot-convenient how some characters happened to know each other.
I loved the cultural aspect of this book. I think a lot of book lovers will find themselves at least a little reflected in Eliza who loves to read and rambles on about various fandoms and bookish things. But in addition to her bookish side, I loved seeing the references to Chinese dramas, actors, singers and places. There were a lot of I-know-just-what-you-are-talking about moments for me which is rare in books so that definitely gives this book a bonus. I will also fully agree with Liza that bubble tea (I can't get used to the word boba tea) is one of the best things, especially when feeling down. However, I will not agree that durian is to be avoided at all costs - I love durian, ok?
Moving on to the cover and still on the bubble tea subject: they look disgustingly artificial. Real tea and real milk for mine, please! I generally like the cover but neither character looks much as I had imagined them. Another bit of useless information: even though I bought a brand new copy of this book, it's quite battered looking. When my son was old enough to crawl around and grab things and eventually discovered my bookshelf, it was always - without fail - this book that he took off the shelf. Even if I put it on a different shelf, he'd always make a bee-line for it. Make of that what you will - I'm a little sad about the condition of the book but on the other hand it'll forever be linked to a fun little story.
It's a fun and well-rounded read, the pacing was good and I'm keen to read more of Jennifer Yen's books. It probably won't be long before I snag a copy of Love, Decoded.
March 27, 2021
Want to see more bookish things from me? Check out my Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfer...
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review*
3.5/5 Stars
Liza Yang is deemed perfect by her classmates. Her mother thinks otherwise. Compared to her older sister, Liza is argumentative and rebellious, always pushing back on her mother's traditional views, especially when it comes to dating a nice Asian boy. The one thing they bond over is baking. Liza agrees to help her mother with the annual baking competition. She is surprised, and more than a little angry when she arrives the first day only to realize that every contestant is a young Asian American boy her mother has handpicked as a possible suitor.
This was an enemies to lovers story, that I thought was really cute! I had no idea that it was a Pride and Prejudice retelling, but after discovering this I can definitely see the parallels. I really liked the main character, she was very likeable and fun to get to know. I wish there was more of a focus on the actual baking competition, rather than the drama in the multiple relationships. The competition is one of the main things in the book, but doesn't actually begin until halfway through the book. I was definitely a bigger fan of the friendship and sister bonds, rather than the romance. I liked the exploration of the mother/daughter relationship. The plot was definitely predictable, but it was still a lot of fun.
Overall, a cute read, with a great main character.
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review*
3.5/5 Stars
Liza Yang is deemed perfect by her classmates. Her mother thinks otherwise. Compared to her older sister, Liza is argumentative and rebellious, always pushing back on her mother's traditional views, especially when it comes to dating a nice Asian boy. The one thing they bond over is baking. Liza agrees to help her mother with the annual baking competition. She is surprised, and more than a little angry when she arrives the first day only to realize that every contestant is a young Asian American boy her mother has handpicked as a possible suitor.
This was an enemies to lovers story, that I thought was really cute! I had no idea that it was a Pride and Prejudice retelling, but after discovering this I can definitely see the parallels. I really liked the main character, she was very likeable and fun to get to know. I wish there was more of a focus on the actual baking competition, rather than the drama in the multiple relationships. The competition is one of the main things in the book, but doesn't actually begin until halfway through the book. I was definitely a bigger fan of the friendship and sister bonds, rather than the romance. I liked the exploration of the mother/daughter relationship. The plot was definitely predictable, but it was still a lot of fun.
Overall, a cute read, with a great main character.
May 3, 2021
3.75 stars
Super cute and a fun read from beginning to end! Full video review/blog coming soon ❤️🥟
EDIT: My video review is now live!
Eating Baozi Buns (包子) and Reading A Taste for Love
https://youtu.be/vyPZXAAC0ts
Super cute and a fun read from beginning to end! Full video review/blog coming soon ❤️🥟
EDIT: My video review is now live!
Eating Baozi Buns (包子) and Reading A Taste for Love
https://youtu.be/vyPZXAAC0ts
Want to read
June 21, 2020June 21, 2020: This just got announced and as if I wasn't already so happy to see an Asian-American book, I'm FREAKING OUT with joy at this idea because I'm so sure my mom would someday make me enter a competition where everyone are just potential & ideal husbands according to her, LOL.
January 14, 2021
read on my blog
rep: ownvoices Taiwanese-American protagonist, love interest, and side characters; bisexual Taiwanese-American side character
**I received an ARC from a giveaway from the publisher (thank you, Penguin Teen!). These are my honest opinions, and in no way was I compensated for this review.**
After first hearing about this book when it was announced, I grew even more excited to read this book after reading a sample, especially for the setting! And it did not disappoint. A Taste for Love was an adorable contemporary with a fun plot and a cute romance.
For the past few years, Liza has been fending off her mother’s attempts to set her up with a “good match.” Then she agrees to help judge her mom’s annual junior baking competition in an attempt to convince her parents that she’s serious about wanting to pursue baking as a career; however, there, she realizes that all of the contestants are potential matches that her mom picked. One of them is James, a boy she met a few months ago and whom she keeps crossing paths with because her friend starts dating his cousin.
I will say that the baking competition plot doesn’t start till about halfway throught the book, but this is a short book so that wasn’t necessarily a pitfall. The first half is more dedicated to building up Liza’s relationships with her parents, particularly her mom, and her sister. We also see Liza and her friend Grace meeting and hanging out more with James and his cousin Ben.
The competition was fun! I usually hate books that are centered around cooking or baking because I just cannot stand long descriptions of food. However, this book avoided that and I actually liked the food descriptions.
I also really liked the characters; Liza is headstrong and stubborn, and I really related to her relationship with her mom. Grace is supportive, and I really liked her scenes. At first, James came fof as rude but you gradually come to see that he’s more of a Darcy character. I also loved that we got to see a lot of Liza’s parents, which is fairly unusual in contemporary YA.
The romance was cute! I think the book vaguely follows Pride & Prejudice, so it has dislike-to-love, mostly because Liza thinks James is stuck-up at first. Also, she knows that he pretty much exactly fulfills her mom’s requirements for a “good” boy to date, so she refuses to like him more. But naturally, they grow to know each other more.
A Taste for Love was an adorable contemporary filled with descriptions of pastries that will leave your mouth watering. I liked the characters, and the romance was so cute. If you like Pride & Prejudice retellings and/or To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, I definitely recommend A Taste for Love.
other review:
this was so cute omg! very cute and I loved the setting and the characters
also I usually hate books that overly describe food (idk I just cannot stand when descriptions of food go on and on) but this book managed to avoid that
original review:
ahhh I just finished a sampler of this and it was so good!! I can’t wait to actually read it🤧 hate-to-love romance plus her mom meddles by trying to set her up with random Asian-American guys
rep: ownvoices Taiwanese-American protagonist, love interest, and side characters; bisexual Taiwanese-American side character
**I received an ARC from a giveaway from the publisher (thank you, Penguin Teen!). These are my honest opinions, and in no way was I compensated for this review.**
After first hearing about this book when it was announced, I grew even more excited to read this book after reading a sample, especially for the setting! And it did not disappoint. A Taste for Love was an adorable contemporary with a fun plot and a cute romance.
For the past few years, Liza has been fending off her mother’s attempts to set her up with a “good match.” Then she agrees to help judge her mom’s annual junior baking competition in an attempt to convince her parents that she’s serious about wanting to pursue baking as a career; however, there, she realizes that all of the contestants are potential matches that her mom picked. One of them is James, a boy she met a few months ago and whom she keeps crossing paths with because her friend starts dating his cousin.
I will say that the baking competition plot doesn’t start till about halfway throught the book, but this is a short book so that wasn’t necessarily a pitfall. The first half is more dedicated to building up Liza’s relationships with her parents, particularly her mom, and her sister. We also see Liza and her friend Grace meeting and hanging out more with James and his cousin Ben.
The competition was fun! I usually hate books that are centered around cooking or baking because I just cannot stand long descriptions of food. However, this book avoided that and I actually liked the food descriptions.
I also really liked the characters; Liza is headstrong and stubborn, and I really related to her relationship with her mom. Grace is supportive, and I really liked her scenes. At first, James came fof as rude but you gradually come to see that he’s more of a Darcy character. I also loved that we got to see a lot of Liza’s parents, which is fairly unusual in contemporary YA.
The romance was cute! I think the book vaguely follows Pride & Prejudice, so it has dislike-to-love, mostly because Liza thinks James is stuck-up at first. Also, she knows that he pretty much exactly fulfills her mom’s requirements for a “good” boy to date, so she refuses to like him more. But naturally, they grow to know each other more.
A Taste for Love was an adorable contemporary filled with descriptions of pastries that will leave your mouth watering. I liked the characters, and the romance was so cute. If you like Pride & Prejudice retellings and/or To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, I definitely recommend A Taste for Love.
other review:
this was so cute omg! very cute and I loved the setting and the characters
also I usually hate books that overly describe food (idk I just cannot stand when descriptions of food go on and on) but this book managed to avoid that
original review:
ahhh I just finished a sampler of this and it was so good!! I can’t wait to actually read it🤧 hate-to-love romance plus her mom meddles by trying to set her up with random Asian-American guys
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