Lisa Lin

This really seemed to be everything I wanted in a book. Especially one that was released shortly before the Lunar New Year. It had a second-chance romance between two Asian characters, took place in California (both San Francisco and LA, where I have family and friends), and in Sunset Park in Brooklyn, NY, which was near my old stomping grounds. The cover is so pretty. I couldn't wait to dive in.

I loved a lot of things about this book. I related to Cecily and her wish to start over (cause show more who doesn't, when it's new years?). Both her and Jeffrey's strained relationships with their family, which I could relate to all too well. Their moms sounds a lot like mine, and their feelings of never feeling good enough for their parents hit a little too close to home. Nonetheless, I am glad to see myself represented in this book, and am excited for a new Asian voice in romance. I enjoyed the family dynamics very, very much and would have liked to read more of this.

However, I wasn't sold on Jeffrey, or the romance. Jeffrey didn't seem like a good partner to me and I honestly couldn't see what Cecily saw in him, and I honestly thought she deserved better. I didn't feel any chemistry between the two, either. They also get together relatively quickly and I never really felt like they were in any danger of not being together.

*****SPOILERS






He's content to just coast along and then lovebomb Cecily when she's upset or when the third-act breakup happens. He negs her, makes fun of what she likes, and I really, really don't like when people don't understand the word 'no' and it's seen as romantic that they keep trying. She gets into his hobbies (watching the movies he likes), but he doesn't bother to get into any of hers, or complains and acts like she owes him when he does something she likes. Also, why does he keep using his sister to get to Cecily? Seems like that's all she's there for. He gives me the ick.









END SPOILERS*****

Also, the narrative was a little strange. We get multiple hot-and-heavy descriptive sex scenes close to the start of the book, but the rest of this book is very chaste and fade-to-black. I think this would have worked better as a family saga than a romance.

I'm not sure that I'll check out book #2 just yet...I didn't feel interested enough in Rachel or Luke's characters to read about them. But, it might just surprise me! show less

This really seemed to be everything I wanted in a book. Especially one that was released shortly before the Lunar New Year. It had a second-chance romance between two Asian characters, took place in California (both San Francisco and LA, where I have family and friends), and in Sunset Park in Brooklyn, NY, which was near my old stomping grounds. The cover is so pretty. I couldn't wait to dive in.

I loved a lot of things about this book. I related to Cecily and her wish to start over (cause show more who doesn't, when it's new years?). Both her and Jeffrey's strained relationships with their family, which I could relate to all too well. Their moms sounds a lot like mine, and their feelings of never feeling good enough for their parents hit a little too close to home. Nonetheless, I am glad to see myself represented in this book, and am excited for a new Asian voice in romance. I enjoyed the family dynamics very, very much and would have liked to read more of this.

However, I wasn't sold on Jeffrey, or the romance. Jeffrey didn't seem like a good partner to me and I honestly couldn't see what Cecily saw in him, and I honestly thought she deserved better. I didn't feel any chemistry between the two, either. They also get together relatively quickly and I never really felt like they were in any danger of not being together.

*****SPOILERS






He's content to just coast along and then lovebomb Cecily when she's upset or when the third-act breakup happens. He negs her, makes fun of what she likes, and I really, really don't like when people don't understand the word 'no' and it's seen as romantic that they keep trying. She gets into his hobbies (watching the movies he likes), but he doesn't bother to get into any of hers, or complains and acts like she owes him when he does something she likes. Also, why does he keep using his sister to get to Cecily? Seems like that's all she's there for. He gives me the ick.









END SPOILERS*****

Also, the narrative was a little strange. We get multiple hot-and-heavy descriptive sex scenes close to the start of the book, but the rest of this book is very chaste and fade-to-black. I think this would have worked better as a family saga than a romance.

I'm not sure that I'll check out book #2 just yet...I didn't feel interested enough in Rachel or Luke's characters to read about them. But, it might just surprise me! show less

The Rachel Experiment by Lisa Lin
From Sunset Park, With Love series #2. Contemporary romance. Own voice / Asian. Can be read as a stand-alone.
Rachel Bai is a financial analyst and uniquely suited for the job. She is good with numbers and lacking in social skills. After meeting attorney Luke Trudeau for an out-of-character night of passion, she contracts with him to exchange a business plan for him, with him teaching her to better manage social engagement. Her new job is on the line. She show more needs to manage a team and without Luke, she feels she will fail.

🎧 I listened to an audiobook version narrated by Kat Riley. There were distinct voices for Rachel and Luke, the latter with an accent of a southern drawl and twang. The performance has the two play off each other with attraction and determination and hints of humor. I found the best speed for this was 1.4 which about my usual at the moment. The added family for both sides lends itself to their nationalities, and regional norms with drama and support no matter the differences.

I admired Rachel for making up her mind to learn to socialize and be a success as her job. She learns and changes her behavior even when setbacks left her discouraged. Her trying to math her way into riding a mechanical bull is adorable.

I received a copy of this from NetGalley and Dreamscape Media. show less

The Year of Cecily by Lisa Lin
From Sunset Park, With Love series #1. Contemporary romance. Own voices.
Cecily Chang makes New Year’s resolutions to reboot her life. It will be the year of Cecily. She will spend the holidays with her family and vows to remain calm. There is a reason she moved from one coast to the other after all.
Jeffrey Lee regrets how he ended things with Cecily and being back home for the holidays is the perfect time to reconnect. It’s fate, right? They are both back show more home in New York for the holidays and can get to know each other again.

Romance with a lot of family drama that Cecily and Jeffrey must accept as “family” and get through.
There is a lesson here for both of them.
After overhearing a conversation, Cecily is gobsmacked. She has been so annoyed with her mother’s constant complaining but she can now look at it from a different perspective. She can allow for a bit of grace and acknowledge that her mother only wants the best for her.

Cecile’s self thoughts and a short conversation with her father.
Stupid emotional feelings. She was better with facts.
“What are you eating”
“My feelings” she’d always been able to tell her father anything.

Enjoyable. I’d define it as “becoming an adult” but not everyone gets there. It takes skill to look at things from a different perspective and I love that Cecily and Jeffrey were able to do that. show less