Book 936: Café con Lychee – Emery Lee

What another wonderful juxtaposition from Dream Boy with so much light and happiness and just pure wholesome queer joy, I’ve really been putting myself through an emotional rollercoaster these last couple of weeks. Seriously, emotional whiplash is not fun and thankfully I can work from home where tearing up on my lunch break is totally acceptable.

I requested a copy of Café con Lychee because 1) I love lychee, like seriously on everything and lychee candy is the best—I say “LIE-chee” not “LEE-chee”; 2) to BIPOC protagonists which YA Lit is a lot better about than MM Romance; and 3) New England.*

Lee’s book, as I said above, is so wholesome and adorable that I couldn’t help but love it. It’s a total Romeo and Juliet enemy families/enemies to lovers trope and I am here for it, especially as one is closeted and comes out in a big way with the most ADORABLE prom-posal. Theo, an out half-Chinese, half -Japanese, popular athletic jock type, is desperate to help his parents save their struggling business because his uncle is a dick, and Gabriel, a deeply closeted Puerto Rican American who wants to please everyone and be the perfect son, who’s parents want to sell their business because it makes financial sense, team up together to take on a new fusion place.

I’m not sure how long I stand there before Meli finally twines her arm in mine and whisks me away from the hollow stares. And part of me wants to go back, swoop in, and channel some of that Keiynan Lonsdale Swag as I lay out some super-suave explanation that makes all the guys forgive my blunder. Or maybe I’d just out myself. Probably the second one. (Chapter 2: Gabi)

I struggled a little bit with Theo’s character, think Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix and just how annoying Harry got, and you kind of get where Theo is. He’s very self-centered and thinks EVERYONE is out to get him for EVERYTHING. Gabi wedges his way in so awkwardly and I freakin’ loved him. He’s not good at anything but school and dance, both in opposition to his dad’s (and subsequently mom’s) expectations of machismo. I loved the scenes with Theo and his older brother because they helped Theo grow up and wish his brother would’ve been in it more but it wouldn’t have worked out the way it did if he was.

Hatred isn’t just in the things a person says. It’s in the way they stay silent when someone else spews hate, the way they nod along or entertain the ideas at all. (Chapter 27: Gabi)

Their idea works, but of course, implodes when they have a fight and Gabi gets overwhelmed and their secret scheme is discovered. Gabi takes the fall, which is never acknowledged and felt like a bit of a plot hole for me, but it spurs Gabi on to realize he doesn’t want to hide anymore and that if he wants to be with Theo and just be happy he’ll have to come out to everyone.

My favorite scene by far was when Gabi goes to pick Theo up for the homecoming. It just was so adorable and well written and the emotions of both Theo and Gabi were well done. I could feel Theo’s dread and secret love of it, and Gabi’s awe and open adoration of Theo’s parents for making it special. And then when Gabi’s parents ask to see the photos a few days later, ACTUAL TEARS. I won’t spoil the ending, because it was just so perfectly cute and cherry on top that it was the only way it could end and exactly what I needed.

When I was a kid, my parents were everything—my heroes, my role models. But now they’re just the people keeping my prison doors locked.

Or maybe they’re both, and that’s what makes thing so hard. (Chapter 18: Gabi)

Lee’s decision to have only a couple of kisses and near kisses I think made the book so much better than if Theo and Gabi would’ve started hooking up right away. Don’t get me wrong, there are places for that and it works for many authors, but keeping this one so wholesome and pure just gives you something to keep hoping for after you finish the novel and that they do have a happily ever after and not just a happy for now.

Recommendation: This was a freakin’ adorable and wholesome novel that I just wanted to live in it. It took me a while to get on board with Theo’s character, but as soon as he pulled his head out of his ass and realized how adorkable Gabi was I was sold. Lee did a wonderful job of writing both sets of parents and the different coming out stories. I could’ve done without some of the drama of Gabi’s friends but I see why it was there and how it moved the story forward. I’m definitely going to go back and read Lee’s debut, Meet Cute Diary because it’s a fake-boyfriends story AND has a trans protagonist, which is a bonus as I’m really trying to diversify my YA Lit protagonists.

*I received a copy of Café con Lychee via NetGalley in return for my honest opinion. No goods or money were exchanged.

Opening Line: “They say your life flashes before your eyes just before you die, but let me make something perfectly clear—whoever’s in charge of that clip better not include a single fucking shot of Gabriel Moreno or I’m pressing charges.”

Closing Line: “Well, I guess I can’t even remember why I was so eager to get out of Vermont when everyone I love is right here.” (Whited out to avoid spoilers, highlight to read.)