What do you think?
Rate this book
Not Your Valentine
Helen Tsang is tired of the pitying looks. From her parents, her friends, and even the bubble tea shop guy, who recognized her from the video. Almost one year ago, some loser couldn’t mind their own damn business and filmed an unsuspecting Helen's very public break-up during what was supposed to be a romantic Valentine’s Day dinner. A video of her ex-boyfriend saying, "It's not me, it's you. You're holding me back" went viral.
Desperate to give everyone something else to talk about and with Valentine’s Day approaching once again, she asks her long-time friend Taylor Li to be her fake boyfriend, just to prove that she's moved on and hasn’t sworn off love. (Spoiler alert: She's totally sworn off love.) Taylor is the perfect option—single for once, and for some godforsaken reason, he loves Valentine’s Day.
But Helen didn't expect was how easy it would be to get Taylor on board, fitting right into the boyfriend-shaped hole in her life. All she wanted was a couple sickeningly sweet dates to fill her social feeds, not corny text messages of silly heart-shaped cakes, and bouquets of flowers that harbor hidden meanings. Wanting to be around his sunshine attitude and delicious forearms all the time? That definitely wasn't expected.
With February 14 quickly approaching, it's getting increasingly difficult to ignore her feelings, especially when she starts wishing it wasn’t all an act.
Oh God. What has she done?
Desperate to give everyone something else to talk about and with Valentine’s Day approaching once again, she asks her long-time friend Taylor Li to be her fake boyfriend, just to prove that she's moved on and hasn’t sworn off love. (Spoiler alert: She's totally sworn off love.) Taylor is the perfect option—single for once, and for some godforsaken reason, he loves Valentine’s Day.
But Helen didn't expect was how easy it would be to get Taylor on board, fitting right into the boyfriend-shaped hole in her life. All she wanted was a couple sickeningly sweet dates to fill her social feeds, not corny text messages of silly heart-shaped cakes, and bouquets of flowers that harbor hidden meanings. Wanting to be around his sunshine attitude and delicious forearms all the time? That definitely wasn't expected.
With February 14 quickly approaching, it's getting increasingly difficult to ignore her feelings, especially when she starts wishing it wasn’t all an act.
Oh God. What has she done?
136 pages, ebook
First published January 24, 2023
15 people are currently reading
1158 people want to read
About the author
Jackie Lau
39 books871 followersJackie Lau decided she wanted to be a writer when she was in grade two, sometime between writing “The Heart That Got Lost” and “The Land of Shapes.” She later studied engineering and worked as a geophysicist before turning to writing romance novels.
Jackie lives in Toronto with her husband, and despite living in Canada her whole life, she hates winter. When she’s not writing, she enjoys cooking, hiking, eating too much gelato, and reading on the balcony when it’s raining.
Jackie lives in Toronto with her husband, and despite living in Canada her whole life, she hates winter. When she’s not writing, she enjoys cooking, hiking, eating too much gelato, and reading on the balcony when it’s raining.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 461 reviews
February 9, 2023
Plot- 1.5/5🌟
Spice- 2/5🌶️
It started off okay, but soon lost my interest. For a book that's only 136 pages long, I had such a hard time finishing it.
✔️ Grumpy x sunshine
✔️ Fake dating
✔️ Friends to lovers
Helen, our FMC has stopped dating after her ex dumped her and the video went viral on social media. With no plans to date and Valentine's right around the corner, she turns to her friend Taylor, our MMC and then it's the usual fake dating to real love scenario.
The blurb seemed nice, the cover is super cute but somehow the book lacked character. It was bland. There was humour but the way it was presented by the author came across as absolutely dull. And don't even get me started on the weird obsession with charcuterie chalet. There were multiple times I wanted to dnf it.
I don't think this author is for me. For such a short book, it sucked the life out of me.
eARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Spice- 2/5🌶️
It started off okay, but soon lost my interest. For a book that's only 136 pages long, I had such a hard time finishing it.
✔️ Grumpy x sunshine
✔️ Fake dating
✔️ Friends to lovers
Helen, our FMC has stopped dating after her ex dumped her and the video went viral on social media. With no plans to date and Valentine's right around the corner, she turns to her friend Taylor, our MMC and then it's the usual fake dating to real love scenario.
The blurb seemed nice, the cover is super cute but somehow the book lacked character. It was bland. There was humour but the way it was presented by the author came across as absolutely dull. And don't even get me started on the weird obsession with charcuterie chalet. There were multiple times I wanted to dnf it.
I don't think this author is for me. For such a short book, it sucked the life out of me.
eARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Read
January 25, 2023A sweet fake dating romance. Helen is a fairly reserved and undramatic person who was horribly humiliated when her boyfriend's public dumping of her last Valentine's Day was recorded and went viral. She's now fed up of being harassed to start dating again so she asks her friend to be a fake boyfriend to get her though the period, and we all know where *that* leads.
[Pause] Has anyone done a book where the fake dating guy becomes, like, a creepy stalker villain and the actual hero has to rescue the heroine or similar?
Anyway. This is a lively, zippy read with a heroine who is satisfyingly herself: she is not exuberant, she doesn't like putting her life on SM, she smiles when she's pleased rather than to please other people, and the hero loves all that. Also, the hero is 5'5 and the heroine loves that he's not neck-breakingly tall for her! A really warm, satisfying shorter read, thoroughly enjoyable.
[Pause] Has anyone done a book where the fake dating guy becomes, like, a creepy stalker villain and the actual hero has to rescue the heroine or similar?
Anyway. This is a lively, zippy read with a heroine who is satisfyingly herself: she is not exuberant, she doesn't like putting her life on SM, she smiles when she's pleased rather than to please other people, and the hero loves all that. Also, the hero is 5'5 and the heroine loves that he's not neck-breakingly tall for her! A really warm, satisfying shorter read, thoroughly enjoyable.
February 12, 2023
2⭐
First of all, I want to thank the author and NetGalley for providing me an arc of this book. I really wanted to enjoy this since it was a very short book about valentines day but, for some reason, this book didn't really fit with me.
The Plot
The book itself isn't that memorable and I can't remember one of their names but the beginning of the book did intrigue me! The fact that this was going to be fake dating was very interesting but only a day or two after they started, she fell in love with him with no explanation so I HATED the insta- love in this. I still can't accept that she "liked him" because from whatever I read, it was pure lust that she had, saying how the only thing she could imagine a few minutes after saying she "liked him" was sleeping with him and well... other things.
The Characters
Helen
I did not like Helen whatsoever. Her character was really flat to me and I feel like she "fell in love" with him only because she hadn't dated someone for a while and he was showing some signs of real affection 🤷♀️. I did enjoy the interactions with her family and friends but did not feel a connection with her.
Taylor
I feel like Taylor was so much better written than Helen. He was actually really sweet but I feel like he wasn't shown enough?? I don't exactly know what that's supposed to mean but I think he was meant to be written as this sweet guy who was a bit of a playboy but I only got the sweet guy part.
Honestly my favorite character was Helen's fish whom I also forgot the name of but he didn't speak and quietly judged her 😃👍
I feel like if the main characters were written a bit better and if the book was a bit longer for Helen to actually have more interactions with him, I would have really enjoyed it but how it's currently written, not so much.
Helen's fish whenever she talks to it:
The boba guy when Helen told him she was dating someone:
Anyway that's it lovelies xxx
First of all, I want to thank the author and NetGalley for providing me an arc of this book. I really wanted to enjoy this since it was a very short book about valentines day but, for some reason, this book didn't really fit with me.
The Plot
The book itself isn't that memorable and I can't remember one of their names but the beginning of the book did intrigue me! The fact that this was going to be fake dating was very interesting but only a day or two after they started, she fell in love with him with no explanation so I HATED the insta- love in this. I still can't accept that she "liked him" because from whatever I read, it was pure lust that she had, saying how the only thing she could imagine a few minutes after saying she "liked him" was sleeping with him and well... other things.
The Characters
Helen
I did not like Helen whatsoever. Her character was really flat to me and I feel like she "fell in love" with him only because she hadn't dated someone for a while and he was showing some signs of real affection 🤷♀️. I did enjoy the interactions with her family and friends but did not feel a connection with her.
Taylor
I feel like Taylor was so much better written than Helen. He was actually really sweet but I feel like he wasn't shown enough?? I don't exactly know what that's supposed to mean but I think he was meant to be written as this sweet guy who was a bit of a playboy but I only got the sweet guy part.
Honestly my favorite character was Helen's fish whom I also forgot the name of but he didn't speak and quietly judged her 😃👍
I feel like if the main characters were written a bit better and if the book was a bit longer for Helen to actually have more interactions with him, I would have really enjoyed it but how it's currently written, not so much.
Helen's fish whenever she talks to it:
The boba guy when Helen told him she was dating someone:
Anyway that's it lovelies xxx
January 13, 2023
This book was perfect but in my heart I feel like it’s not even close to being over? I just want to still be reading it??? Like I’ve been sitting here on my phone for ten minutes and every few seconds mid doom scroll I’m like wait I need to go keep reading Not Your Valentine and then I remember all over again that I finished it 😭
Ugh it was just so cute and funny!! The “I hate Valentine’s Day” thing can get old real fast for someone (me) who loves pink and sprinkles and glitter and things shaped like hearts, but I thought this concept was fresh, fun, and incredibly charming!!!
The hero was 5’5” and while he was still taller than the heroine, I loved how height was used in the book. Plus he had long hair and she pulled it a lil bit and 🥵 Taylor was the definition of a cinnamon roll in the streets and some hot cross buns in the sheets. The book had a few explicit sex scenes plus a hot masturbation/dildo scene from Helen’s POV.
Y’all idk this book kinda did a number on me I’m just staring at my ceiling listening to Crazier by Taylor Swift on a loop. I just loved the atmosphere of the food and the soups and the friends and the baking and the fake dating. It was just so cozy!!!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
I hope Kobo does an audiobook version bc I’d listen immediately!!!
Thanks so much to the publisher for an eARC via NetGalley! All opinions are honest and my own.
Ugh it was just so cute and funny!! The “I hate Valentine’s Day” thing can get old real fast for someone (me) who loves pink and sprinkles and glitter and things shaped like hearts, but I thought this concept was fresh, fun, and incredibly charming!!!
The hero was 5’5” and while he was still taller than the heroine, I loved how height was used in the book. Plus he had long hair and she pulled it a lil bit and 🥵 Taylor was the definition of a cinnamon roll in the streets and some hot cross buns in the sheets. The book had a few explicit sex scenes plus a hot masturbation/dildo scene from Helen’s POV.
Y’all idk this book kinda did a number on me I’m just staring at my ceiling listening to Crazier by Taylor Swift on a loop. I just loved the atmosphere of the food and the soups and the friends and the baking and the fake dating. It was just so cozy!!!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
I hope Kobo does an audiobook version bc I’d listen immediately!!!
Thanks so much to the publisher for an eARC via NetGalley! All opinions are honest and my own.
January 17, 2023
Jackie Lau's Asian-Canadian contemporary romances are perfect little bite-sized potato chip books. She engages with tried and true romance tropes with a little extra something. Not Your Valentine pairs high school buddies Helen and Taylor in a fake dating situation. Last year on Valentine's Day, Helen's boyfriend dumped her publicly. Worse, it was filmed by another restaurant-goer and posted online, and the clip went viral. She's TOTALLY over it, but because she's not dating, her friends and family are worried about her. Easy solution to this problem: get a fake boyfriend.
The romance is short and sweet. It's a sunshine/grump pairing, with chemist Helen as the hearts-and-sprinkles-hating grump and social worker Taylor as the ooey-gooey pining sunshine. The book is entirely from Helen's perspective, and Lau pulls off the "is he into me or isn't he?" tension perfectly. With set pieces around Lunar New Year and Valentine's Day, it's a real romance treat with a little spice.
This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novella.
The romance is short and sweet. It's a sunshine/grump pairing, with chemist Helen as the hearts-and-sprinkles-hating grump and social worker Taylor as the ooey-gooey pining sunshine. The book is entirely from Helen's perspective, and Lau pulls off the "is he into me or isn't he?" tension perfectly. With set pieces around Lunar New Year and Valentine's Day, it's a real romance treat with a little spice.
This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novella.
February 5, 2024
I don't come across grumpy fmc/sunshine mmc often but when I come I love it so much!
February 18, 2024
3.5 Stars
Not Your Valentine was a cute contemporary romance featuring fake dating between friends.
Helen Tsang went viral last year when her boyfriend publicly broke up with her on Valentine's Day by saying "It's not me, it's you. You're holding me back". Since then she's received many pitying looks from her parents, her friends, and even the bubble tea shop guy. With Valentine's Day rapidly approaching, Helen is desperate to prove she's moved on so she convinces her long-time friend Taylor Li to be her fake boyfriend. But Helen didn't anticipate how right it would feel to be with Taylor and now she's in over her head with unexpected feelings.
The premise of Not Your Valentine sounded like a lot of fun so I was looking forward to picking this one up. Helen went through the ringer with her ex-boyfriend and despite saying she's moved on, no one really believes her because she hasn't dated since the incident. I will say that was one thing that annoyed me about this book, no one would take her word for it that she had moved on solely because she didn't want to date again. She can have moved on from what happened and still not want to date.
Fake dating is one of my favorite romance tropes so I really liked that aspect of Helen and Taylor's relationship. It was obvious from the start that Taylor wasn't faking with Helen and I'm surprised it took her so long to see it. The way Taylor teased Helen about various Valentine's Day traditions was fun as he was more of a romantic than she was. I will say I did get a bit annoyed at times with her being anti anything romantic. It got to the point it felt like she was being contrary just to be contrary and not for a real reason. The connection that formed between them was great and I liked that their friendship wasn't jeopardized. When their relationship progresses, the steamy scenes are very well done.
Overall Not Your Valentine was an enjoyable read and I would recommend it if you're looking for a quick contemporary romance.
**I received an advance copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.**
Not Your Valentine was a cute contemporary romance featuring fake dating between friends.
Helen Tsang went viral last year when her boyfriend publicly broke up with her on Valentine's Day by saying "It's not me, it's you. You're holding me back". Since then she's received many pitying looks from her parents, her friends, and even the bubble tea shop guy. With Valentine's Day rapidly approaching, Helen is desperate to prove she's moved on so she convinces her long-time friend Taylor Li to be her fake boyfriend. But Helen didn't anticipate how right it would feel to be with Taylor and now she's in over her head with unexpected feelings.
The premise of Not Your Valentine sounded like a lot of fun so I was looking forward to picking this one up. Helen went through the ringer with her ex-boyfriend and despite saying she's moved on, no one really believes her because she hasn't dated since the incident. I will say that was one thing that annoyed me about this book, no one would take her word for it that she had moved on solely because she didn't want to date again. She can have moved on from what happened and still not want to date.
Fake dating is one of my favorite romance tropes so I really liked that aspect of Helen and Taylor's relationship. It was obvious from the start that Taylor wasn't faking with Helen and I'm surprised it took her so long to see it. The way Taylor teased Helen about various Valentine's Day traditions was fun as he was more of a romantic than she was. I will say I did get a bit annoyed at times with her being anti anything romantic. It got to the point it felt like she was being contrary just to be contrary and not for a real reason. The connection that formed between them was great and I liked that their friendship wasn't jeopardized. When their relationship progresses, the steamy scenes are very well done.
Overall Not Your Valentine was an enjoyable read and I would recommend it if you're looking for a quick contemporary romance.
**I received an advance copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.**
January 20, 2023
What a cute book! Helen hates Valentine's Day, since her last boyfriend broke up with her on that day a year ago. The break up was recorded and the video went viral, devastating her even more.
So now that the holiday has come around again, she has sworn off love. But her friends and family are worried and encourage her to start dating again. But rather than actually finding a real boyfriend, Helen decides to ask her oldest friend Taylor to be her fake boyfriend, to keep everyone off her back. And it's safe. She'll never actually fall in love with Taylor, right?
This was a fun and quick read. While it didn't have quite the depth I was hoping for, I enjoyed the humor and romance.
Not Your Valentine will be released on January 24, 2o23.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Kobo Originals for sending me a free copy.
So now that the holiday has come around again, she has sworn off love. But her friends and family are worried and encourage her to start dating again. But rather than actually finding a real boyfriend, Helen decides to ask her oldest friend Taylor to be her fake boyfriend, to keep everyone off her back. And it's safe. She'll never actually fall in love with Taylor, right?
This was a fun and quick read. While it didn't have quite the depth I was hoping for, I enjoyed the humor and romance.
Not Your Valentine will be released on January 24, 2o23.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Kobo Originals for sending me a free copy.
October 27, 2025
2★
The FMC was full of dad jokes and honestly boring as hell. The MMC on the other hand spent the whole book acting like a love-sick puppy — probably because he never got his own point of view.
Also, the plot did not exist.
“But he doesn’t care for me the way I care for him.”
THE AUDACITY. BRO SPENT THE WHOLE BOOK WAGGLING HIS TAIL AROUND HER.
──────୨ৎ────
꩜Pre-read: Did all those bad ratings stop me? ABSOLUTELY NOT. I need to witness everything firsthand before coming to any conclusion. I’m going in blind—well, unless you count seeing all those one-stars. My expectations? You wish, I’m an optimist, but not a fool.
The FMC was full of dad jokes and honestly boring as hell. The MMC on the other hand spent the whole book acting like a love-sick puppy — probably because he never got his own point of view.
Also, the plot did not exist.
“But he doesn’t care for me the way I care for him.”
THE AUDACITY. BRO SPENT THE WHOLE BOOK WAGGLING HIS TAIL AROUND HER.
──────୨ৎ────
꩜Pre-read: Did all those bad ratings stop me? ABSOLUTELY NOT. I need to witness everything firsthand before coming to any conclusion. I’m going in blind—well, unless you count seeing all those one-stars. My expectations? You wish, I’m an optimist, but not a fool.
February 19, 2023
The blurb was promising but the execution fell flat tbh. I did not really like the insta-love between Helen & Taylor. While Taylor was really sweet and nice, I don't think I liked Helen as much as him. The characters felt superficial and I was struggling to form a connection with them. The beginning was engaging but as the story progressed, I was just dragging myself to finish it, ngl.
The ARC copy of this book was provided to me by Netgalley in exchange of an honest review
The ARC copy of this book was provided to me by Netgalley in exchange of an honest review
February 14, 2024
It was cute and short.
February 8, 2023
4🌟🌟🌟🌟
📖Book 18/100
💫Genre: Contemporary Fiction/Rom-Com
📖ARC📖
This was such a fun rom-com read that even had me cracking up through the “spicy scenes” because Helen was a character indeed and loathes Valentine’s Day and for good reasons. Her inner dialogue was hilarious and made me lmao so much. I can relate so much with her walls being up and not being the mushy kind of person people except you to be. All the characters except for Charlie were awesome and added the sprinkle to this story. Fake dating trope with some spice, food, heartbreak, Lunar New Year, Valentine’s Day, family, and laughter made this one a unique story. Do not read this book on an empty stomach 😆 I loved all the food references from charcuterie chalets, wine, cake, cheese trays, pasta, rigatoni, hot chocolate with lots of mini marshmallows, and dark cocoa bars ummmmm yes please include all my faves in this book. I also loved Taylor, and my black hear made of ice wanted to squeeze him maternally and punch his mother too. Only reason I removed a star from this rating were the small grammar errors, and I felt it was a bit too predictable but don’t get me wrong I still loved this book. If you need a good pick-me up read, this will definitely have you laughing your socks off. Best part it’s been released as of January 24,2023 so run and get it y’all. I’m definitely reading more of Jackie Lau’s books!
💫Thank you NetGalley and Kobo Originals Publishing for this amazing and enjoyable read in exchange for an honest review.
#NetGalley #NotYourValentine
#bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookstagrammersunite
#bookreview #booktok #book #books #booksarelife #booksaremagical #bookrecommendations #bookrecommendation #bookclubforintroverts #booklovers #booklover #fictional #fiction #fictionbooks #booknerd #bookworm #bookworms #bibliophile #comtemporaryromance #bookboyfriend #netgalleyreviewer #netgalleyreader #arcreader #netgalleyarc
📖Book 18/100
💫Genre: Contemporary Fiction/Rom-Com
📖ARC📖
This was such a fun rom-com read that even had me cracking up through the “spicy scenes” because Helen was a character indeed and loathes Valentine’s Day and for good reasons. Her inner dialogue was hilarious and made me lmao so much. I can relate so much with her walls being up and not being the mushy kind of person people except you to be. All the characters except for Charlie were awesome and added the sprinkle to this story. Fake dating trope with some spice, food, heartbreak, Lunar New Year, Valentine’s Day, family, and laughter made this one a unique story. Do not read this book on an empty stomach 😆 I loved all the food references from charcuterie chalets, wine, cake, cheese trays, pasta, rigatoni, hot chocolate with lots of mini marshmallows, and dark cocoa bars ummmmm yes please include all my faves in this book. I also loved Taylor, and my black hear made of ice wanted to squeeze him maternally and punch his mother too. Only reason I removed a star from this rating were the small grammar errors, and I felt it was a bit too predictable but don’t get me wrong I still loved this book. If you need a good pick-me up read, this will definitely have you laughing your socks off. Best part it’s been released as of January 24,2023 so run and get it y’all. I’m definitely reading more of Jackie Lau’s books!
💫Thank you NetGalley and Kobo Originals Publishing for this amazing and enjoyable read in exchange for an honest review.
#NetGalley #NotYourValentine
#bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookstagrammersunite
#bookreview #booktok #book #books #booksarelife #booksaremagical #bookrecommendations #bookrecommendation #bookclubforintroverts #booklovers #booklover #fictional #fiction #fictionbooks #booknerd #bookworm #bookworms #bibliophile #comtemporaryromance #bookboyfriend #netgalleyreviewer #netgalleyreader #arcreader #netgalleyarc
January 20, 2023
This one was a sweet read. I like that the heroine was grumpy cuz yes more grumpy heroines in romance please and thanks. Also the hero was shorter than most heroes we see in books: he was 5'5 and had looong hair. He sounded pretty cute to me actually ;)
I love a good fake dating trope and we got this here. I will admit I did feel like it wasn't wowing me so much to begin with but it was cute. The heroine thoughts are alll over the place but this was relatable to me? Because I can definitely think a scenario to death lol.
The ending came together quite nicely with the heart cakes (both human and otherwise. this will only make sense when you read hhahha)
Overall, I think it you're looking for a quick, cute Valentine's rom read then this will work
I love a good fake dating trope and we got this here. I will admit I did feel like it wasn't wowing me so much to begin with but it was cute. The heroine thoughts are alll over the place but this was relatable to me? Because I can definitely think a scenario to death lol.
The ending came together quite nicely with the heart cakes (both human and otherwise. this will only make sense when you read hhahha)
Overall, I think it you're looking for a quick, cute Valentine's rom read then this will work
July 14, 2023
I love books that take place in areas I'm familiar wit.
Imagine my delight that this takes place in Toronto, a place I know well.
Taylor and the supporting characters are wonderful and added so much to this shorty of a book.
I didn't really care for Helen most of the time though.
There were moments when I really liked her, and others when I wanted to shake her and yell "what is wrong with you!".
The spice levels in here are off the charts without being too much for a short book, hard to do.
Very deceiving with that cutie of a cover.
Overall I would recommend it to anyone who likes romancey books.
Much love to NetGalley & Kobo Originals for my ARC.
Imagine my delight that this takes place in Toronto, a place I know well.
Taylor and the supporting characters are wonderful and added so much to this shorty of a book.
I didn't really care for Helen most of the time though.
There were moments when I really liked her, and others when I wanted to shake her and yell "what is wrong with you!".
The spice levels in here are off the charts without being too much for a short book, hard to do.
Very deceiving with that cutie of a cover.
Overall I would recommend it to anyone who likes romancey books.
Much love to NetGalley & Kobo Originals for my ARC.
January 25, 2023
Thank you, Netgalley for a Read Now copy of this delightful Kobo Original that was published today!
Helen Tsang is a lovable, malcontent grump who talks to her fish Lucifer more than other people, and likes nothing more than staying home to binge shows. She has a mug that says "fuck off". She is a mood. And she happens to have gone viral in her city the year before, for a disastrous public Valentine's Day breakup that someone livestreamed.
A year later, under pressure from friends, family, and even her local bubble tea vendor, she snaps and says she has a boyfriend again - her oldest friend, Taylor Li. Now to get him to agree to fake-date her, and dodge real feelings along the way...
I loved this. It was charming, cozy, and filled with Lau's signature love language - Toronto's food scene. This story had me craving beef noodle soup at nine in the morning. Helen's gradual crescendo to "Oh No, I've Caught Feelings" was very cute to read. Her thirst for Taylor's forearms was relatable. The story even tackled racial fetishes and how they had harmed our two main characters. The narrative cherry on top that I really appreciated was that one of the steamier scenes involved solo female masturbation, still a rare beast on-page in romance novels that I come across. Many kudos to Lau.
I just really enjoyed this, as I usually do Jackie Lau's work. And that cover is so cute! A perfect contemporary pick-me-up.
Helen Tsang is a lovable, malcontent grump who talks to her fish Lucifer more than other people, and likes nothing more than staying home to binge shows. She has a mug that says "fuck off". She is a mood. And she happens to have gone viral in her city the year before, for a disastrous public Valentine's Day breakup that someone livestreamed.
A year later, under pressure from friends, family, and even her local bubble tea vendor, she snaps and says she has a boyfriend again - her oldest friend, Taylor Li. Now to get him to agree to fake-date her, and dodge real feelings along the way...
I loved this. It was charming, cozy, and filled with Lau's signature love language - Toronto's food scene. This story had me craving beef noodle soup at nine in the morning. Helen's gradual crescendo to "Oh No, I've Caught Feelings" was very cute to read. Her thirst for Taylor's forearms was relatable. The story even tackled racial fetishes and how they had harmed our two main characters. The narrative cherry on top that I really appreciated was that one of the steamier scenes involved solo female masturbation, still a rare beast on-page in romance novels that I come across. Many kudos to Lau.
I just really enjoyed this, as I usually do Jackie Lau's work. And that cover is so cute! A perfect contemporary pick-me-up.
January 15, 2023
Jackie Lau knows how to write a grumpy female character/cinnamon roll male character. I think this book took a while to get started, Helen and Taylor's hea was so worth it. The last half of this book reminded me so much of why I love friends to lovers. Taylor gets Helen and doesn't try to change her and vice versa. Oh and the weekend in the cabin 🥵 miss maam said she was sore from getting sexed up really good. I also think Jackie Lau really does a good job of discussing discrimination within and towards the Asian community and confronts fetishism head-on. We get that here from a male perspective and how it impacted his self-esteem and motivations to date. She also snuck in something unexpected about Helen's insecurity about a certain body part that I thought was quite interesting.
CN: dating anxiety, online bullying, breakup, fetishism, divorce, body insecurity
I received an e-arc via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
CN: dating anxiety, online bullying, breakup, fetishism, divorce, body insecurity
I received an e-arc via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
January 16, 2023
I really enjoyed this grump/sunshine short story. I was totally in the mood for a cinnamon roll hero and Taylor hit the spot. I just loved how he loved our unconventional heroine, Helen, and the fake dating trope is totally a favorite of mine.
I really appreciated the progression of their relationship and feelings toward each other. This is a solo POV, so we could only guess how Taylor was feeling but Helen was hilarious. Bowling shoes and human hearts, there was so much quirky fun!
Even though it was a short story, I didn’t feel slighted on character development or the romance. We definitely got to see that they were attracted to each other!!
Overall, a quick fun holiday read with some real emotion and characters you totally root for!
I requested an early reader copy from NetGalley and Kobo books.
I really appreciated the progression of their relationship and feelings toward each other. This is a solo POV, so we could only guess how Taylor was feeling but Helen was hilarious. Bowling shoes and human hearts, there was so much quirky fun!
Even though it was a short story, I didn’t feel slighted on character development or the romance. We definitely got to see that they were attracted to each other!!
Overall, a quick fun holiday read with some real emotion and characters you totally root for!
I requested an early reader copy from NetGalley and Kobo books.
January 30, 2023
Helen lives in Toronto and is dreading Valentine’s Day. Last year her boyfriend broke up with on the holiday while someone live streaming. It went viral and she hasn’t been on a date since. Now to get everyone including her mother to stop being concerned for her she decides to ask an old high school friend to be her fake boyfriend. This is a typical kind of set up and there is nothing wrong with it but there isn’t anything fun about it either. Usually in fake dating the focus is on convincing others you’re together. Instead here they actually date and she puts out things on social media. He does meet her family and her friends but he gets along with everyone so there is no risk to the ruse. About the only question is how long till she realizes she has feelings for Taylor. This is a novella (136 pages) and does have some heat and nice conversations. But I found the tone kind of moody and not fun or playful. Thank you to NetGalley and Kobo Originals for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
January 15, 2023
I love Jackie Lau's books and this latest was no exception!! A grumpy/sunshine, friends to lovers, fake dating, anti-Valentine's day romance featuring two Asian Canadian MCs that had me laughing and swooning in equal parts as Helen tries to make her friends and family happy by pretending she has a new boyfriend. Especially after her Valentine's day breakup went viral last year, leaving her staunchly anti-romance and VERY much anti-all things hearts and flowers and Valentine's day. But her high school friend Taylor slowly has her changing her mind as she finds herself growing more and more attached. Much thanks to NetGalley and the author for an early digital copy of this new novella that makes a perfect Valentine's Day read!
January 14, 2023
"I can't help but kiss him. I feel him smile broadly against my lips, and then he's kissing me back. Gentle and slow, but building in intensity. His mouth is warm compared to the cold around us. My body liquefies, and he holds me close so I don't collapse on the ground. No, I'm staying right here..."
This is sweet perfection, the exact book you're going to want to have with you this Valentine's Day as you curl up with some chocolate and wine.
The premise of the book is simple. Helen's family and friends are worried about the fact that she doesn't have a boyfriend. What could possibly be better than pretending she does have one until after Valentine's Day blows over? Luckily she has the perfect candidate in mind-- her friend Taylor, who she totally has no romantic feelings for-- until she does :)
I blew through this book in a few hours during which I most definitely should have been doing other things-- I could not put it down.
Helen's narrative voice is HILARIOUS. She's the kind of person who thinks one heart emoji is excessive, that non-anatomically correct hearts are bizarre, and that it's important to have enough time alone to be cranky. She's also not above fantasizing about Taylor wearing nothing but bowling shoes. But beneath her quirkiness and pessimism, she's a smart, funny, kind, and interesting person who deserves everything good that the book ultimately gives her. As a bonus her mother is hilarious too-- the kind of meddling mom who is too pure hearted in her intentions to be truly annoyed with.
When the romance finally comes it is the sweetest thing in the world. And when the sex comes it's incredibly sexy too. I loved how Lau described their first kiss-- I felt myself melting right along with them. And I appreciated how naturally the relationship flowed and developed-- in this trope you know what's coming, but the execution here was seamless and had me smiling along every step of the way.
Even though the book is light and funny and fluffy, I absolutely loved that the characters also opened up to one another about serious topics, particularly race and micro aggressions. You truly could feel that there was substance in their relationship and way more between them than fluff and sex.
While my rating would have been the same either way, I also adore how Lau describes Toronto. I've never been there but she made me wish I could go. Her love for the city and the little things that make it beautiful really came through the page.
I recommend this to absolutely anyone who enjoys contemporary romance with some humor thrown in, as long as you can stomach the fake relationship trope. But actually, give it a chance even if you can't stomach the fake relationship trope-- Lau might just be the person to change your mind.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This is sweet perfection, the exact book you're going to want to have with you this Valentine's Day as you curl up with some chocolate and wine.
The premise of the book is simple. Helen's family and friends are worried about the fact that she doesn't have a boyfriend. What could possibly be better than pretending she does have one until after Valentine's Day blows over? Luckily she has the perfect candidate in mind-- her friend Taylor, who she totally has no romantic feelings for-- until she does :)
I blew through this book in a few hours during which I most definitely should have been doing other things-- I could not put it down.
Helen's narrative voice is HILARIOUS. She's the kind of person who thinks one heart emoji is excessive, that non-anatomically correct hearts are bizarre, and that it's important to have enough time alone to be cranky. She's also not above fantasizing about Taylor wearing nothing but bowling shoes. But beneath her quirkiness and pessimism, she's a smart, funny, kind, and interesting person who deserves everything good that the book ultimately gives her. As a bonus her mother is hilarious too-- the kind of meddling mom who is too pure hearted in her intentions to be truly annoyed with.
When the romance finally comes it is the sweetest thing in the world. And when the sex comes it's incredibly sexy too. I loved how Lau described their first kiss-- I felt myself melting right along with them. And I appreciated how naturally the relationship flowed and developed-- in this trope you know what's coming, but the execution here was seamless and had me smiling along every step of the way.
Even though the book is light and funny and fluffy, I absolutely loved that the characters also opened up to one another about serious topics, particularly race and micro aggressions. You truly could feel that there was substance in their relationship and way more between them than fluff and sex.
While my rating would have been the same either way, I also adore how Lau describes Toronto. I've never been there but she made me wish I could go. Her love for the city and the little things that make it beautiful really came through the page.
I recommend this to absolutely anyone who enjoys contemporary romance with some humor thrown in, as long as you can stomach the fake relationship trope. But actually, give it a chance even if you can't stomach the fake relationship trope-- Lau might just be the person to change your mind.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
February 6, 2023
This book is a sweet, sexy, quick read! Perfect to read with Valentine’s Day just around the corner!
Helen’s last Valentine’s Day was not a good one - her boyfriend broke up with her saying “it was her, not him”…to make it even worse, it was all recorded and posted online! It’s almost a year later and it is still haunting her. People still look at her like she is broken and honestly, she is. She won't allow herself to get in another relationship because she is afraid it will happen again.
When she agrees to dinner with her childhood friend, she comes up with a great plan to end those looks that she has gotten all year. She decides to ask Taylor to be her “fake” boyfriend until after Valentine’s Day to prove that she still believes in love. But her plan backfired and not only did she start looking at Taylor differently but herself too!
I don’t really read a lot of books with the female MC being the grump so it took me some time to like Helen but as she started to change the more I started to understand her grumpiness and liked her. I was smitten with Taylor from the beginning. It was great that he never pushed or tried to change her(like her ex)! I loved how he treated her like a “real” girlfriend from the start. How sweet was it that he remembered that she loved hot chocolate with tons of mini marshmallows!?!
This book is told in a single POV but I can’t help thinking it would have been even better as a dual. I would have loved to read Taylor’s thoughts throughout this whole experience. It always bothers me when a guy has to shame a woman and take away her self-esteem. It was so good to see Helen reclaim that and to realize that she too is lovable.
Thank you to NetGalley, Kobo Originals and Jackie Lau for the Advanced Readers Copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!
Helen’s last Valentine’s Day was not a good one - her boyfriend broke up with her saying “it was her, not him”…to make it even worse, it was all recorded and posted online! It’s almost a year later and it is still haunting her. People still look at her like she is broken and honestly, she is. She won't allow herself to get in another relationship because she is afraid it will happen again.
When she agrees to dinner with her childhood friend, she comes up with a great plan to end those looks that she has gotten all year. She decides to ask Taylor to be her “fake” boyfriend until after Valentine’s Day to prove that she still believes in love. But her plan backfired and not only did she start looking at Taylor differently but herself too!
I don’t really read a lot of books with the female MC being the grump so it took me some time to like Helen but as she started to change the more I started to understand her grumpiness and liked her. I was smitten with Taylor from the beginning. It was great that he never pushed or tried to change her(like her ex)! I loved how he treated her like a “real” girlfriend from the start. How sweet was it that he remembered that she loved hot chocolate with tons of mini marshmallows!?!
This book is told in a single POV but I can’t help thinking it would have been even better as a dual. I would have loved to read Taylor’s thoughts throughout this whole experience. It always bothers me when a guy has to shame a woman and take away her self-esteem. It was so good to see Helen reclaim that and to realize that she too is lovable.
Thank you to NetGalley, Kobo Originals and Jackie Lau for the Advanced Readers Copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!
January 27, 2023
A sweet and sexy friends to lovers/ fake relationship trope romance with the author's trademark flair for adding delicious food into the mix!
Helen got dumped by her boyfriend on Valentine's Day in a scene that was unfortunately public and went viral. Now her friends and family are worried that she isn't getting back into the dating scene fast enough and to get them off her back she's asked her longtime friend Taylor if he'll be her pretend boyfriend for a few months, at least until after the next Valentine's day is over and then they can break up and go back to being friends.
But Taylor is such a sweet and caring guy and treats Helen so well that as they spend time together it dawns on her that she could see herself in an actual relationship with Taylor. I particularly loved that Taylor would tease Helen with heart shaped desserts, knowing she would roll her eyes at them. It's a slow burn romance that leads to some sexy scenes in the second half and the eventual satisfying happy ending.
A copy of this story was provided by the author via NetGalley.
Helen got dumped by her boyfriend on Valentine's Day in a scene that was unfortunately public and went viral. Now her friends and family are worried that she isn't getting back into the dating scene fast enough and to get them off her back she's asked her longtime friend Taylor if he'll be her pretend boyfriend for a few months, at least until after the next Valentine's day is over and then they can break up and go back to being friends.
But Taylor is such a sweet and caring guy and treats Helen so well that as they spend time together it dawns on her that she could see herself in an actual relationship with Taylor. I particularly loved that Taylor would tease Helen with heart shaped desserts, knowing she would roll her eyes at them. It's a slow burn romance that leads to some sexy scenes in the second half and the eventual satisfying happy ending.
A copy of this story was provided by the author via NetGalley.
January 26, 2023
Helen is totally anti Valentine’s Day after last year’s debacle where she got dumped in a very public way and it then when viral. Since then her family and friends have been on her case to get back out there again and find someone but she’s not interested in dating after her last relationship. So she comes up with a plan to ask her longtime friend Taylor to be her fake boyfriend in order to get them all off her back and then after a few weeks they can end the relationship and go back to being just friends. Of course, in the meantime, they both catch feelings for each other and now they have to figure out what to do about it and where to go from here. There’s lots of steam packed into this short story and it was fun and easy read. .
Thanks to Kobo Originals and NetGalley for this eArc in exchange for my review.
Thanks to Kobo Originals and NetGalley for this eArc in exchange for my review.
February 10, 2023
This was a cute & super quick read with a sprinkle of spice making it perfect for valentines day. I loved the Toronto setting and all the references it made me happy to see places I’ve been to in a book.
The plot was pretty standard and predictable but I love the fake dating trope especially when it’s friends to lovers. Helen is a grumpy chemist and Taylor is a social worker ball of sunshine pining for his friend it’s just so adorable. They’re Asian- Canadian so I loved seeing the rep and also them talking about their struggles. The food was yum I want her moms famous wanton soup gah but some parts were cringe and I found it hard to connect with Helen.
Taylor is a short king standing at 5’5 like we rarely see short men in rom coms I loved that! Overall, I had a fun time reading this.
Thank you netgalley for the Earc!!
The plot was pretty standard and predictable but I love the fake dating trope especially when it’s friends to lovers. Helen is a grumpy chemist and Taylor is a social worker ball of sunshine pining for his friend it’s just so adorable. They’re Asian- Canadian so I loved seeing the rep and also them talking about their struggles. The food was yum I want her moms famous wanton soup gah but some parts were cringe and I found it hard to connect with Helen.
Taylor is a short king standing at 5’5 like we rarely see short men in rom coms I loved that! Overall, I had a fun time reading this.
Thank you netgalley for the Earc!!
April 7, 2023
It was short and sweet, and just what I needed to get that more excited for Valentines day! I was grateful to get a copy through net gallery. I devoured this in a couple days, and adored the main character immensely. I completely understood her idea on love, and being hurt. Her idea was out there, but so excited that this friend's to lovers romance got spicy and adorable. She kept denying her feelings, but you could completely see past them. Throughout, you constantly wanted her to just blurt out how she was feeling towards Taylor. In all honesty, I wish this novel was a tad longer but I'm also believe that it gave quite the punch in a short time span. It was beautiful, and I wish it will come out as a physical copy so I can buy a copy.
January 6, 2024
Special shout-out to NetGalley for the ARC!!!
Okay let’s get into it! Helen is totally anti valentine’s day because of her unfortunate breakup last year that went viral! Ever since then she has sworn off dating, but her friends and family just can’t seem to stop hounding her about getting back out there. So, she decides to tell everyone her long term best guy friend and her are dating! It was a quick read and fun, but the story lost my interest a bit due to how predictable it came to be.
spoiler alert: She falls for her best friend lol.
Thanks for the opportunity to read this copy early and if you’re looking for a cute fast paced read for valentine’s check this one out!
Okay let’s get into it! Helen is totally anti valentine’s day because of her unfortunate breakup last year that went viral! Ever since then she has sworn off dating, but her friends and family just can’t seem to stop hounding her about getting back out there. So, she decides to tell everyone her long term best guy friend and her are dating! It was a quick read and fun, but the story lost my interest a bit due to how predictable it came to be.
spoiler alert: She falls for her best friend lol.
Thanks for the opportunity to read this copy early and if you’re looking for a cute fast paced read for valentine’s check this one out!
February 8, 2023
4 stars
Not Your Valentine was a short and sweet story of Helen getting over her distaste for romance with her long-time friend Taylor (by getting into a fake relationship with him). The world-building was great, the details in Helen's life made me feel like I was living it. I found the descriptions in the book, in general, pretty intricate, from Helen's friends and family to her feelings. Helen's mom was easily my favourite character in the book. She was a mix of being an oddball and intelligent, making her an enjoyable character to read. Like her mom, Helen had the endearing oddball energy, where she lived in her own world of strange dreams and even stranger imagination, yet she was realistic enough to not drift off to her fantasies.
The two things I did not like about the book were; one, Taylor was really sparse in the book. As in Taylor as a person. He was pretty much everywhere as Helen's fake boyfriend, but his personality was not showcased apart from his role as the said fake boyfriend. The second thing that seemed lacking was the plot. The book was just jumping from one (fake) date to another. Everything revolved around the fake relationship, so much so that there wasn't much about Helen's personal life apart from the romancing bit. But I'm willing to not be too upset about it since this was a short book.
Thank you Netgalley and Kobo Originals for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Not Your Valentine was a short and sweet story of Helen getting over her distaste for romance with her long-time friend Taylor (by getting into a fake relationship with him). The world-building was great, the details in Helen's life made me feel like I was living it. I found the descriptions in the book, in general, pretty intricate, from Helen's friends and family to her feelings. Helen's mom was easily my favourite character in the book. She was a mix of being an oddball and intelligent, making her an enjoyable character to read. Like her mom, Helen had the endearing oddball energy, where she lived in her own world of strange dreams and even stranger imagination, yet she was realistic enough to not drift off to her fantasies.
The two things I did not like about the book were; one, Taylor was really sparse in the book. As in Taylor as a person. He was pretty much everywhere as Helen's fake boyfriend, but his personality was not showcased apart from his role as the said fake boyfriend. The second thing that seemed lacking was the plot. The book was just jumping from one (fake) date to another. Everything revolved around the fake relationship, so much so that there wasn't much about Helen's personal life apart from the romancing bit. But I'm willing to not be too upset about it since this was a short book.
Thank you Netgalley and Kobo Originals for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
January 15, 2024
Quick Summary: A forget me not romance
My Review: Not Your Valentine by Jackie Lau is a lighthearted, standalone rom-com. It's a quick read that is surprisingly robust.
About the Book: After a particularly brutal Valentine's Day break up goes viral, Helen Tsang decides to go into a dating hibernation period. Only her girlfriends, her family, and Taylor Li, her closest male friend, can breach her self-imposed fortress of solitude. When she opts to begin fake dating her long-time confidant, she soon realizes that charcuterie, chocolate, marshmallows, and flowers cannot hold a candle to a heart shaped I Love You.
My Final Say: This story was a pleasant surprise type of read. The leads were so easy to like and relate to. They each had a unique backstory that made them endearing. It felt good to cheer for them. I wanted them to make it.
Other: Readers who enjoy stories where the underdogs get the love they deserve will adore this light, spicy gem.
Rating: 3.5/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: A
Status/Level: 🍬🌶
Appreciation is extended to the author, to the publisher (Kobo Originals), and to NetGalley, who provided access to a digital ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for granting me the opportunity to share my thoughts and opinions on this novel.
My Review: Not Your Valentine by Jackie Lau is a lighthearted, standalone rom-com. It's a quick read that is surprisingly robust.
About the Book: After a particularly brutal Valentine's Day break up goes viral, Helen Tsang decides to go into a dating hibernation period. Only her girlfriends, her family, and Taylor Li, her closest male friend, can breach her self-imposed fortress of solitude. When she opts to begin fake dating her long-time confidant, she soon realizes that charcuterie, chocolate, marshmallows, and flowers cannot hold a candle to a heart shaped I Love You.
My Final Say: This story was a pleasant surprise type of read. The leads were so easy to like and relate to. They each had a unique backstory that made them endearing. It felt good to cheer for them. I wanted them to make it.
Other: Readers who enjoy stories where the underdogs get the love they deserve will adore this light, spicy gem.
Rating: 3.5/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: A
Status/Level: 🍬🌶
Appreciation is extended to the author, to the publisher (Kobo Originals), and to NetGalley, who provided access to a digital ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for granting me the opportunity to share my thoughts and opinions on this novel.
January 25, 2023
The heroine is tired of the pitying looks that everyone is giving her due to her ex-boyfriend breaking up with her in a very public way that made her infamous in social media. With the approaching first-year anniversary of the breakup, the heroine decided to have a fake romantic relationship with her friend, the hero. As the two began to fake date, their relationship changes. Will the heroine let herself be open to love with the hero or will she close herself away from ever falling in love again?
This Jackie Lau story is entertaining and delightful to read. It's short and sweet, told from the heroine's perspective. This contemporary romance features friends-to-lovers between a grumpy heroine and the sunshine hero. I liked the support that the heroine got from family and friends. I also enjoyed reading the sexy scenes between the hero and the heroine. I would have liked to have the hero's perspective, but it didn't detract from my enjoyment of the book. Overall, I recommend this Jackie Lau book.
**Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy. All opinions and thoughts in the review are my own.**
This Jackie Lau story is entertaining and delightful to read. It's short and sweet, told from the heroine's perspective. This contemporary romance features friends-to-lovers between a grumpy heroine and the sunshine hero. I liked the support that the heroine got from family and friends. I also enjoyed reading the sexy scenes between the hero and the heroine. I would have liked to have the hero's perspective, but it didn't detract from my enjoyment of the book. Overall, I recommend this Jackie Lau book.
**Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy. All opinions and thoughts in the review are my own.**
February 8, 2023
I really thought I‘d love this book. I usually love fake dating but it felt too predictable and cliché for some reason.
I also didn’t expect there to be so much sex and thoughts about sex and dreams about sex.
For me personally it was a little too much and especially a little too soon in their fake relationship?
I loved the addition of Lunar New Year and anti-valentine’s day. The book made me buy cheesecake at one point and all the food talk made it more fun than I thought.
I didn’t really enjoy Helen as a character. She was whiny and some things were just cringe for me like this whole obsession about heart shaped things.
I don’t particularly like valentine’s day, but hearts and pink are not exclusively for that one day.
Taylor however was great. Sweet, sensitive and loyal. I would have loved to see his pov as well and get a deeper understanding of him but he seemed so genuine and I loved it.
This book sadly was a miss for me but I will try another book by this author.
Thanks to Netgalley for this arc in exchange of an honest review!
I also didn’t expect there to be so much sex and thoughts about sex and dreams about sex.
For me personally it was a little too much and especially a little too soon in their fake relationship?
I loved the addition of Lunar New Year and anti-valentine’s day. The book made me buy cheesecake at one point and all the food talk made it more fun than I thought.
I didn’t really enjoy Helen as a character. She was whiny and some things were just cringe for me like this whole obsession about heart shaped things.
I don’t particularly like valentine’s day, but hearts and pink are not exclusively for that one day.
Taylor however was great. Sweet, sensitive and loyal. I would have loved to see his pov as well and get a deeper understanding of him but he seemed so genuine and I loved it.
This book sadly was a miss for me but I will try another book by this author.
Thanks to Netgalley for this arc in exchange of an honest review!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 461 reviews