Pre-order your copy here.A place where all Goodreads members can work together to improve the Goodreads book catalog. It’s filled with the perfect balance of emotion and humor, and one that readers will relish.Ĭafé Con Lychee releases on May 10. E allows Theo and Gabi the grace to be messy and make mistakes and learn from them, bringing two relatable characters to life. Each topic Lee hits receives thoughtful examination, often informed by different cultural backgrounds.

Lee’s voice is distinct and comes through in both eir writing in general and in Theo and Gabi. Lee’s decision to write with a dual POV makes it easy for readers to understand Theo and Gabi’s motivations and quickly connect with them.Īny reader who picks up Café Con Lychee will find something to love with it. Nothing about them felt rushed or forced. The growth of their relationship felt organic. Readers who seek out character-driven stories will be absorbed by Theo and Gabi. It’s always nice to see characters take responsibility for their actions, and Lee ensures that eir characters do just that. But Lee erased those worries as Theo and Gabi began to find mutual ground. His treatment towards Gabi didn’t sit right with me, and not everything he did or said felt justified. Like their parents, both boys are so focused on reasons to dislike each other that they fail to see how alike they are.Īdmittedly, I was a bit nervous about Theo early on. More specifically, Lee uses Theo and Gabi’s similarities to elevate their rivalry and guide them towards understanding. But Lee does an excellent job bringing readers’ attention to the appeal of the fusion café while also emphasizing how it’s acknowledged mediocrity is second to its novelty (and very Instagram friendly menu). Personally, I would patronize both shops in a heartbeat (and I think many readers will agree). With the emergence of the fusion café, they find themselves struggling to keep their businesses going. While the Moris run an Asian American shop and the Morenos a Puerto Rican one, both families face a common enemy.

Something I found especially intriguing about this book are the similarities Lee draws between the Moris and the Morenos - Theo and Gabi, primarily, but with threads stretched across the families. When a new fusion café opens and saps both businesses, Theo and Gabi realize their best chance to help their parents is to work together. Theo, meanwhile, is ready to leave town, but not before he knows his parents’ shop is financially sound. Gabi is trapped in the closet, with his parents’ shop as his future. Their parents run rival businesses, and Gabi’s skills on the soccer field leave something to be desired. Theo Mori and Gabi Moreno have always clashed with one another.

In Emery Lee’s upcoming new book, Café Con Lychee, e brings readers a rivalry (reluctantly) turned friendship worth savoring.

Emery lee cafe con lychee