I received an ARC of CAFE CON LYCHEE in exchange for an honest review.

After receiving an ARC of Emery Lee’s debut novel, MEET CUTE DIARY, and absolutely falling in love with it, CAFE CON LYCHEE quickly became one of my most anticipated reads of 2022. A closeted Puerto Rican boy struggling to openly be himself whilst also attempting to save his parents’ local restaurant from closing? I was sold. I am happy to say that this book has exceeded all of my expectations! CAFE CON LYCHEE can be summed up into two words: downright sweet. Yes, the pun was intended. There is something about Emery Lee’s writing style that is just so enjoyable to read! Not only do the books always hook you from the start, but they’re also always fun and fast-paced.

As a queer Boricua, the rep in this book meant so much to me. Seeing Gabi work through his own internalized biases, and the pressure from those closest to him, hit very close to home. I adored seeing him grow and learn throughout this book. Yes, it’s amazing seeing him fall for a boy, but I think it’s also amazing to see Gabi fall in love with himself. It’s not often that a character comes around that I want to protect with my entire being, but Gabi Moreno is one of those characters. I know he is going to do so much good to young queer Latine boys who read about him!

Honestly, all of the characters are wonderfully developed. Our other perspective is from Theo Mori, the son of an Asian rival restaurant. Theo is a character that broke my heart. I can resonate with the pain he feels regarding his family. He is yet another character whom I want to wrap in a hug and protect from the world. The work Emery Lee is doing- to show queer boys of color being complex human beings capable of anger, fear, hope, love, apprehension, doubt, excitement, joy, etc- is work I cannot begin to express my appreciation for. After living decades witnessing POC being portrayed as caricatures, Emery Lee is a refreshing voice in the writing world. All of e’s characters- including the amazing, and amazingly awful, side characters- are written with such a focused voice. 

All of this to say, you should read this book. If you’re a foodie, a queer POC, a lover of angst, or just a fan of YA books, CAFE CON LYCHEE is definitely worth a read!

(I usually put CWs at the end of my reviews but unfortunately lost the list I made whilst reading.)