Love, Lies and Cherry Pie by Jackie Lau ~ a Review

by MK French

Writer and barista Emily Hung is tired of hearing about Mark Chan, the son of her parents’ friends. He's an engineer who thinks he’s too good for her, but Emily's mother is fixated on getting her married to Mark. There’s only one solution: convince Mark to be in a fake relationship with her long enough to put an end to her mom’s meddling. He reluctantly agrees, but it forces them closer together. Maybe he's not so bad...

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

May 2024; Atria/Emily Bestler Books; 978-1668030769
audio, ebook, print (352 pages); romantic comedy

The cute chapter headings are hilarious in their own right and add to the fun and playful nature of this rom-com. Of course, Emily is tired of her matchmaking mama and hearing about her newest attempt to fix her up. She and Mark didn't exactly hit it off at her youngest sister's wedding, but her parents are friends with his parents. She decides a fake relationship will get their parents off her back, but it really doesn't. She gets to know Mark after all, and the fake dating becomes real. Emily is unsure of herself and her role in her family and feels that she can't measure up to the standard her parents would want. Mark isn't the stiff man that Emily assumed he was, and he has his own insecurities as well. Of course, the lies are revealed and their plan falls apart.

We have our happily ever after, and I loved the commentary on publishing, writing, and family expectations in the East Asian community. It felt so very real, and I was glad to see that both Emily and Mark had supportive families and genuinely good friends and family to help them through.

Buy Love, Lies and Cherry Pie at Amazon

If you missed it you can also check out Susan's review of Love, Lies and Cherry Pie.

Born and raised in New York City, M.K. French started writing stories when very young, dreaming of different worlds and places to visit. She always had an interest in folklore, fairy tales, and the macabre, which has definitely influenced her work. She currently lives in the Midwest with her husband, three young children, and a golden retriever. 

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