A Taste For Love by Jennifer Yen Book Review

“Nothing makes my heart race like a guy who knows how to bake. Except maybe a hot guy who knows how to bake.”

(pg. 308)

About

Author: Jennifer Yen

Genre: Young Adult Contemporary Romance

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Synopsis

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.

Review

Spoilers Contained Below

To the boba lovers,

Gosh, did this book make me laugh and scream in anger 🤪. It’s kind of like the feeling when you are drinking boba and you want the boba to come up the straw, but it doesn’t. Sucks.

Anyway, I quite liked Liza Yang. She was a very driven young woman who knew what she wanted to do when she grew up. I respected her passion and drive despite her mom’s antics. I also could relate to her love of baking! Gosh, if only I was a phenomenal baker 😅. I think I am a decent baker, but I wouldn’t say I would get five stars if I opened up a bakery. Maybe like two or three stars, if I am lucky. The thing about Liza that made me sad was how she felt the need to hide her passion from her mom because if Liza baked it would be like winning to the mom, or doing something the mom liked. As a teenage girl who had a controlling mom, of course, Liza didn’t want to do anything to please her mom. It’s called the rebellious streak. But I know all too well how despondent and alone it can feel to hide what you love. I think people who truly love and appreciate you, would make you feel comfortable to voice what you love. I think they would not make you feel ashamed.

So, let’s talk about Liza’s KOOKY mom 😂.

She was a piece of work, for sure. Not in a bad way, just a what-the-heck way.

As an Asian, I grew up with an Asian mom and Asian elders, and I can tell you the mom was on point 👌🏼. Truly, no matter what book I read about an Asian main character, most of the time the parents value education and a rich husband. I know this comes from a place of wanting the child to have a stable life, which is fine. But we live in a generation where people should do what they want to do even if it is not traditional. Liza going to culinary school wasn’t the traditional college route, but what I appreciated was how her mom and dad didn’t even question Liza when she said she wanted to go to culinary school. Some parents wouldn’t believe that culinary school counted as school, but I loved how Liza’s parents understood that culinary school was right for Liza because it was what she loved.

But besides that, the mom was highly controlling. She kept Liza in tight reins, which I felt came from love. But you know what they say about controlling parents, it makes the child want to act out more because they do not want to be controlled. I felt that is why Liza and her mom always butt heads—-they were always pushing and pulling based on what the other said or did not want to do. It was kind of sad how they had a game with each other of who won or lost an argument or battle. I’m sorry, but that didn’t seem healthy because both wanted to do whatever it took to win. And I didn’t think it was healthy for Liza to always be on edge, trying to outsmart her mom because she felt if she gave in, that would make the mom happy. And that would make the mom feel like Liza was being the “good Asian daughter.”

What also made me feel bad for Liza was how she would avoid going home. She didn’t like going home because her mom would be around to pressure her about her life choices or boys. That’s sad that her home didn’t even feel like a safe haven for her because she felt this constant pressure or confines of her mom.

But what made their relationship really complex was how the mom constantly set up Liza with Asian boys.

“James is just teasing me, Grace,” Ben answers, cheeks tinged pink. “Because I want to be a doctor one day.”

“A doctor?”

(pg. 54)

I swear, nothing turns on an Asian mom more than the words doctor. If you want to impress an Asian mom, just say you want to be a doctor 😅.

But in all seriousness, I would feel trapped and irritated if I was Liza too. I mean, her mom literally set her up with anyone Asian who was living and breathing. That sucks—-let Liza breathe. And honestly, Liza doesn’t need no man to be happy or successful and I do not like how everyone thinks that a person needs a partner to be happy. You can be totally happy by yourself and you can find someone along the way who adds to your happiness. But it felt like a lot of pressure when the mom kept pushing men at her. I don’t blame Liza for not wanting to date an Asian man when that would make it feel like her mom won.

But I couldn’t BELIEVE, I mean, I could believe, but I COULDN’T BELIEVE how the mom took her well known baking competition and made it a speed dating competition for Liza!!!! 😂 I’m so sorry! That’s IRKSOME! The mom really wanted Liza to have an Asian boyfriend that she would sacrifice this prized baking competition she host every year just so she could find Liza a hot Asian man 😆. THAT’S BONKERS! Honestly, I do not know why anyone did not cross check who the mom accepted into the baking completion. I mean, if I were watching the baking competition , I would wonder why girls were not in it. I don’t understand why the mom felt it was so important to choose cute guys for Liza when over half of the boys in the competition couldn’t even bake to save their life. I was cracking up!

The mom’s plan really backfired when two competitors left the completion on the first day. Talk about a fail. This year was probably her worst year for her baking completion in terms of bakers. I could not. I also could NOT with how the mom made Liza a prize 😐. I’m sorry, but she put her daughter on a freaking flyer like she’s someone to be wanted and then she makes Liza a prize where the winner gets private baking sessions with her. WHAT THE FREAk. Honestly, the mom didn’t even explicitly ask Liza if she would give private baking sessions.

“I’m thinking of adding another incentive.”

“Like what?”

“Maybe . . . five private baking lessons for the winner.”

She stares at me intently. I’ve been subjected to many of her trademark looks, but I don’t recognize this one. It’s quite unsettling.

I shrug. “Sounds great.I’m sure whoever wins will love it.”

. . . Once everything’s cooled, Mom sends me out to bag the fresh pastries, but not before she shoots me another mysterious look.

I’m sure it’s nothing.”

(pg. 119)

OOOOH, it wasn’t nothing, Liza. I saw your mom’s wheels turning. That scheming son of a mother.

I would be livid if I was Liza. I would have raged to town and threw a fit. Liza should have raged to town and threw a fit. Liza is no one’s beach!

But alas, the baking competition went on. I found it soooo funny when we were introduced to the boys and one of the boys had a punk feel to it. The mom asked the boy what happened and the boy was like, “Oh, that picture was from years ago.” Serves the mom right for assuming. I also loved how this boy—gosh, I forgot his name—-baked a Harry Potter themed spider for one of the baking rounds because that’s all he knew how to do. I loved the creativity. And I loved how it irked the mom 😂. Oh, and don’t get me started on the dude, Edward, who made Liza’s face a cookie. I’m soooooo sorry! He didn’t even know her and yet he made her face a cookie?! 😆 That CREEPY AS HECK!!!! When I think the mom has surprised me enough, she keeps surprising me. Because how in the actual freak was it okay that she paid Edward to guzzy up to Liza so he could win. That’s so wrong and weird and gross. And I loved how Edward didn’t even like Liza, but he liked Sarah. Gosh, I was happy the mom’s plan was going to shiz! But I thought it was cute how Liza pulled Edward aside early on to talk to him about how she didn’t like him that way and he felt the same. I liked how they were able to keep an amicable relationship in the competition. I also liked how Liza took the fall for Edward so it seemed like her fault rather than his that Edward didn’t win over Liza. I loved that for them.

I also liked how Liza’s dad schemed with her to try to get rid of all the boys. Such a dad move 😂. Keep the boys away! I think the dad had good intentions and he just went along with what his wife did/wanted, because you know, happy wife, happy life. But I thought it was just funny how it became two against one at that point.

This competition, to be really honest, was a joke 😂.

But it wasn’t all that terrible, because you know what, Liza did find a man’s. No thanks to her mother.

Liza was going through a breakup in the beginning of the book because her sleazy boyfriend cheated on her with none other than a cheerleader. So, when trying to break up with him, he got mad. And then out popped a mysteriously, broody boy, James. James who had no class. I didn’t like how rude he was to Liza because first of all he tried to help Liza, so I don’t get why he was being mean to her. I also didn’t get why he was randomly in New York that one time when Liza visited her sister in New York. Seemed weird. What were the chances that when Liza was in New York, he would be too?

Anyway, I liked Ben and James. They seemed like good people despite James’ broodiness. I mean, James was a good guy and he had his sweet moments, but I didn’t feel like I really knew James or connected with his character. Something felt missing for me with him. But I liked him, I just would have liked to know more about him than the drama things. I would have liked to know him more as a person.

I liked Grace and Ben’s storyline. They were cute. I liked how they were shy about liking each other and then it bloomed into something really beautiful. Grace is such a sweet, tender heart who loves fiercely and I was happy she had someone who looked at her like the gem she was. I didn’t like how Ben broke up with Grace because of this whole misconception. That was a donkey move because if Ben liked Grace and trusted her, he should have just listened to his heart and talked to her rather than assuming everything. He should have just talked to her about what was going on rather than breaking her heart. I was honestly mad at Ben for taking my sweet gem and dropping her to pieces. I also didn’t like how James was the one to tell Ben to break it off. James? Last time I heard, he wasn’t in this relationship! I don’t know why he got a two sense 🙄. I understood why though—he was protecting Ben’s heart. I liked Ben, despite everything. He was a good guy.

I thought it was weird when they entered the competition because I was like why did they need to help Liza out? But then I realized, oh, it was to save her from the other guys in the competition she might not want to be with. I liked how Ben and James were surprisingly good bakers. Who would have thought? Better than the bakers who were actually selected to be in the completion, if you ask me. I liked how Ben always put his best effort into his work. James sounded like a perfectionist with his baking. I wonder where he got his baking skills from.

Grace and Ben and Liza and James made cute double dates. I liked how they took a walk around the park, and James and Liza had this honest conversation.

“Broken hearts are unavoidable,” he says quietly. “Even when you do everything possible to protect yourself.”

(pg 190)

James was out there spitting poetry 😄.

“I haven’t met anyone worth risking my heart for.”

(pg. 191)

Oh, James, I’m pretty sure you have now 😆.

But, gosh he was well-spoken. I like a person who is honest with his/her/their emotions and who isn’t afraid to be vulnerable. Vulnerability is power. James seemed like a true romantic at heart. I loved that for Liza 💙.

The one thing I didn’t get for a while was why Ben and Grace had a tense relationship with Mrs. Lee (Mrs. Yang’s long time business enemy who was also a judge/sponsor of the competition this year). I also didn’t understand why they were mad at Nathan.

Nathan was Liza’s sister, Jeannie’s boyfriend.

Jeannie is your typical older sister—-she is friendly, encouraging, but Liza still had her disagreements with. When we first met Jeannie, I did find it concerning how Liza saw Jeannie wasn’t doing the best. Jeannie was very thin and pallid after being a model. That made my heart sad because no one should have to change themselves to fit this image of perfection. Perfection isn’t real. I know society is progressing where we have models of all shapes, sizes, and races/ethnicities, but gosh, we have a long way to go with this. A long way. Jeannie being a model was also a point of contention between Liza and her. Not in a huge, dramatic way, but in the way Liza thought Jeannie was the golden child because she was the model and she went off to New York to be successful—-everything her parent’s dreamed of. Jeannie also had lots of boyfriends. When you are a sibling, it is hard not to compare yourself to your siblings or put them on a pedestal that they have the better life or that they are loved more. That’s what Liza felt. Liza still loved her sister, she just felt like she couldn’t be her sister or live up to her prestigious life.

Jeannie was a good sister, though. I loved how Jeannie made time for Liza and took her to all these places. I also liked how Jeannie brought Liza to this special four-course meal place, then they had a talk about their love life. I love sister moments. Then we met Nathan. My first reaction to Nathan was, “Wow, what a decent and chivalrous guy.” He seemed so nice and I was even like, “Wow, I want a Jeannie and Nathan love story,” because how cute would that be.

I didn’t think anything of it when Nathan showed up at the competition because he said he would be out there for a shoot or school or something. So, that wasn’t suspicious.

But then the reason Ben and Grace broke up, made me question everything I said about Nathan. What did James mean Nathan and Grace kissed? I’m sorry that sleazy older dude did not kiss Grace. Heck, I didn’t believe it for a second because Grace was cheated on once and I do not think she would cheat on Ben.

Freaking Nathan was scum to me and I retracted every good thought I had of him. Who the freak was this guy?

Apparently, Nathan was Mrs. Lee’s son, which made absolutely zero sense to me. What do you mean he was the son?! That’s BONKERS. Small world. Nathan was a liar who just had a bone to pick with Ben and James because of a lie many years ago.

Honestly, I thought girls had drama. Boys got petty drama too.

Nathan, do yourself a favor and build a bridge and get over it!

Nathan borrowed Ben’s car, got drunk, and blamed Ben for it. They went through this whole unnecessary trial thing, where Ben was cleared and Nathan was not. So, Nathan had a DUI and now his modeling career was in the gutter because of his record, so that’s why he was angry at them. It’s not Ben and James’s fault that he got drunk and crashed a car. Nathan needed to own his mistake because he was the one who did it and just because Ben was innocent, as he should be, doesn’t mean Nathan deserved to be mad at Ben. Nathan should have been angry at himself.

Speaking of anger, Jeannie and Liza had a riff because Jeannie did not want to believe that Nathan kissed Grace—that Nathan was the bad guy. Honestly, Jeannie, sisters before misters. I felt Jeannie’s anger was understandable, though. She just didn’t want to believe Nathan was the bad guy so she took her hurt out on Liza. Very rude hurt. But that is natural for sisters. When they were mad at each other, they sort of touched on the jealousy they felt about how Jeannie had the perfect New York life and Liza had James. But I would have liked a more honest conversation later on between Jeannie and Liza because I think that would have helped them understand that they were both going through a lot and neither had the perfect life. I think it would have brought them closer.

James and Liza were also not speaking to each other because Ben and Grace broke up. I found it funny how Ben set them up at the boba place to get them to talk. I found it cute how when Liza stormed out, James followed her and made sure she had water and everything. Even when mad, James’s gentle heart took over. I also thought it was interesting when he had his little medical moment with Liza after she stormed out 😏.

What I loved afterwards was how Ben and Grace made up and how happy they were. I loved them 💙. Now that is the love story I want to read.

I also liked Liza and James’s love because it was a slow burn, but a cute burn. A very humble burn. I thought it was funny how the mom knew James was the one.

“No. I really like James.”

There’s another long pause before she nods.

“Good. Then his mom and I approve.”

“You talked to his mom?”

. . . “I do pay attention, Liza. Especially when it comes to the people my daughters spend time with.”

(pg. 289)

Don’t doubt a mother’s intuition or observance.

Gosh, the mom approved. Just what Liza needed, her approval 😂.

I also couldn’t stop cackling when Liza baked something and then James was like “Marry me” (pg. 299). The mom’s dream. I thought the mom was going to choke on her pastry 🤪.

I love love.

Going back to the completion, the competition is obviously going down. They were finishing it much sooner because more competitors were leaving and things were going awry. No one knew why disasters were happening on set, specifically related to Ben and James. But I loved how they schemed to catch Nathan like the rat he was. Do not mess with James and Ben or the Yangs. What a whiny baby, though when he was caught. Sounded right for someone who didn’t know how to own up to his mistakes. Good riddance to him. Jeannie could do so much better. I felt bad for Jeannie, though. She really liked Nathan, but he wasn’t who he said he was. But I am glad that Liza and her were going to be okay and that she trusted her sister in the end. I told you, sisters before misters.

Speaking of sisters, I loved the friendship between Liza and Grace. I thought it was cute how they would always get boba together. I loved how when Liza needed to get out of the date with the creep Reuben at the beginning of the book, she called Grace and they feigned this whole homework excuse that the mom bought. Liza knew how to push her mom’s buttons and work around her schemes 😂. But I found it funny how the mom was starting to catch on to how Liza would always say she had a homework thing or a group project. The mom wasn’t dumb.

I also liked how Liza was there for Grace after her and Ben broke up. I loved how Grace’s mom just let Liza in the house and didn’t say anything about it because Grace’s mom knew Grace needed her best friend. Liza listened to her, and I loved when she said:

“No one has the right to take what hasn’t been freely given.”

(pg. 142)

Abso-freaking-lutley. No one can take anything from you if you do not give or offer it. And I just wanted to RAGE on Nathan for trying to kiss Grace like the freaking creep he was because that wasn’t for him to do. That was disgusting and unwarranted and it was plain right harassment. I could not stand that. I also just do not understand why he would even kiss Grace. Was he so desperate to shake things up? Or was he just emotionally not there? I didn’t like him. It’s going to be a no from me.

The one thing I feel like we didn’t get with Grace and Liza was who won the bet and would get free boba for a year! 😁 I honestly think Grace won the bet. I think it would have been a nice full circle moment to go back to that bet they made early on in the book because it would have tied the boba theme well.

Sarah was an interesting friend. I didn’t really like her in the beginning because she was racially insensitive and acted like a rude puppy dog because she thought she was all culturally inclusive when she wasn’t. No wonder Grace and Liza didn’t like hanging out with her. I just felt like her comments were rude. I know she probably didn’t mean it as rude, but it does not matter what a person’s intent is if it still hurts someone. Yes, Sarah did not know better or know what she was saying hurt, but she should have been kinder and thoughtful about her comments. I think we live an interesting space to talk about microaggressions or how people make insensitive comments like Sarah did. But I think it’s not about hating on the person or being outright mean to them. I think it’s about trying to have an open and honest conversation where one says, “This is how I feel . . .” and try to say how what the person said was rude or racially insensitive. I liked the way Liza went about talking to Sarah because Liza wasn’t mean to Sarah, but she just wanted her to understand. I also liked how Sarah wanted to be better because she recognized her fault. That is what it is all about. We make mistakes as people and we say the wrong things sometimes. We are human. Please do not harp on someone negatively if they slip up once. Politely correct them and use I statements. If it happens continuously, then have a conversation about how you feel. People will not react well to a conversation if they feel accused or on the defensive. But we need to have conversations for change.

“I will. I promise. I really want to learn more about Asian culture.” She pauses and shakes her head. “I mean, cultures. Plural.”

“That’s definitely a good start.”

(pg. 308)

It’s always a good start to ask questions to friends, but do not rely on them to be the expert or know it all about a culture. Do your own research to learn and be better.

Change starts when we begin to want to change. I was happy for Sarah. She wasn’t a bad person, not at all.

I also would have liked if we had more resolution with Liza and the mom. We had a few conversations here and there about how controlling the mom was, but I would have liked another heart-to-heart moment about why the mom was hard on her with boys or on cultural things like always telling Liza to have fair skin or something like that. I felt like these were things they also needed to work on. But I guess, baby steps.

“A heart can be broken in a lot of ways. I don’t have to feel exactly the same to sympathize.”

(pg. 258)

I felt like Liza was talking about her mom here. Her mom always broke her heart without knowing it. Because Liza loved her mom, but part of her was hurt that her mom constantly set her up with boys, that her mom never listened to what she wanted, or that her mom controlled her too much.

The mom came from good intuition, but again, if good intention gets lost, we end up hurting the person we did not even mean to hurt.

“Because I’m preparing you for the road ahead. Jeannie sticks to what she knows, but you like to dream big. That means life is going to be harder for you. You have to learn to take the falls and get right back up.”

“It doesn’t mean you have to do the shoving.”

I slap a hand over my mouth. I didn’t mean to say that out loud. Mom stares hard at me then, but she nods.

“Okay, I’ll try. But only if you promise to listen to me more.”

(pg. 259)

But I liked how the mom thought the best of Liza, I just didn’t think the mom knew how to communicate her love and care for Liza. Personally, in my Asian family, it can be hard to tell someone you love them. We do things all the time that may show we love someone, but sometimes hearing it means a lot more (depending on your love language, of course). So, I understood the mom. It wasn’t easy for her to express her love, but she loved Liza in her own way. I was happy they were starting to heal.

With the mom, I also liked how she found a more mature relationship with Mrs. Lee. The mom couldn’t stand if Mrs. Lee even just walked in the room, but they grew on each other. I think doing the competition together was good for them because they worked as a team.

“It’s nice to see the competition has turned them from enemies to friendly competitors over the last week.”

(pg. 312)

In the end, Edward won the competition, but didn’t really care for the baking lessons. So, good for Liza because she was already taken.

The end with James was kind of surprising 😆.

I didn’t know James was that flirty and suave. LET’S GO JAMES!

“To think I was so determined to paint him the villain I nearly overlooked all the pieces that didn’t fit.”

(pg. 322)

Honestly, James reminds me of myself. In some ways. James is an introvert around people at first, but when he trusts someone and feels comfortable with him, his true self comes out. But it made sense why James was rude in the beginning or kind of quiet—-he wasn’t comfortable with the people around him yet. Once he was, he was happy.

I felt like at the end of the book, we were just starting to know the real James. Gosh, I wanted to know more!

He was really feeling confident to be a shirtless baker in the kitchen. Lucky for him, no one walked in during that little show. Gosh, I could only imagine if the mom or dad walked in. He was going to get it!

They were cute together, albeit I would have loved to know them more as this Liza and confident James couple.

Things I was still curious about at the end of the book was did Mrs. Yang ever get her recipe book back? 🤪 I’m sorry sorry, it just seemed like she lost it one moment and it never returned. I think Nathan took it or something. What happened to Nathan? What happened to Jeannie, and was she going to start a new career path? What about Edward and Sarah? I would love to see their love story. Heck, let’s see all the boys in the competition love stories. Let’s start with spider cookie dude 😂. Oh, and I wonder if Liza will go to culinary school. Most likely because her parents didn’t say no. I liked how Liza’s dream was to write a cookbook. That’s a pretty cool dream.

Anyway, what was your favorite part of the book? Least favorite part? Anything I mentioned that you want to discuss more about?  What’s your favorite boba flavor? Let me know below in the comments as I love hearing from you all 💕

I hope you have a beautiful day whenever and wherever you might be reading this 😊.

And as always, with love,

Rating

3.77 Full Bloom Flowers

Characters: A range of people to relate to and love 💙

Plot: I enjoyed the baking aspect, friendship, and drama. Lots of laughs on the mom’s side, though.

Writing: Easy to read on the days you are drinking boba under the sun.

Romance: Sweet, but would have loved to read more about Liza and James when they were being their truest selves.