A TASTE FOR LOVE

High school senior Liza Yang is used to her mother’s matchmaking schemes, but her latest strategy takes the cake.

Liza is flattered when her mother invites her to be a judge for the annual Yin and Yang Bakery and Restaurant’s Junior Baking Competition, which began as a way to promote her parents’ business. However, her happiness turns into frustration when she discovers her mother’s ulterior motive: She’s handpicking contestants in order to find a nice Asian boy for Liza. The only upside is that Liza is certain she can rule out two of the contestants as suitors. Easygoing Ben Chan is dating Liza’s best friend, Grace, and handsome but reserved James Wong, his cousin, left a poor impression on Liza at their first meeting. When James takes the lead in the competition and reveals an unexpectedly thoughtful side, Liza finds herself reconsidering her opinion of him. This is a story that highlights love not only through the romance storyline, but also in the push-pull dynamic between immigrant parents and their children, moments of sisterly banter and bonding, and bubble tea shared between best friends. Mouthwatering descriptions of steamed buns, matcha cookies, and other treats sprinkled throughout the novel will have readers searching for the nearest Asian bakery. Main characters are Taiwanese American.

Scrumptious.