When You Wish Upon A Lantern is a cute best friend to lovers YA novel that involves two best teens granting wishes for the ones they love, whilst trying to understand the slow burning romance they have for each other.
For all my readers that loved Disney’s Tangled (*cue the floating lanterns scene*), mixed in with elements of Asian culture, delicious bakery food, and a dash of Romeo and Juliet family drama, this is one you will be sure to enjoy!
Liya and Kai have been best friends for a very long time, but a messy misunderstanding occurs between them. After Kai asks Liya to be his girlfriend, she throws up her bubble tea all over him and their relationship has been awkward ever since.
However, Liya comes to find out that that her family’s store has been struggling to keep up with rent and might be going out of business, so she takes it upon herself to start her late grandmothers tradition; granting people’s written lantern wishes. With a big job on her plate, Liya enlists help from Kai while rebuilding their relationship once again. But will the family drama between their families be the dealbreaker that keeps them apart for good, or will they find their way to navigate through it?
This book has its ups and downs, but was an enjoyable read for the most part. I thought that the misunderstanding between Kai and Liya was going to be a lot bigger, awkward, and negatively taken. However, come to find out it was more of silly mess was a bit of a let-down, but this is understandable between two teenagers. Something else I wished was different was Kai and Liya’s developing relationship because the both of them were always their feelings in their head, and not actually talking to each other. I think it would’ve done well if they had been more straightforward with how they felt because it felt like they were in this repetitive routine of going about their job granting wishes, and not actually talking about their personal situation together.
Some plot elements that I found enjoyable were elements of Chinese-Taiwanese family culture, immigration of Liya’s grandmother to build a new life in America, and the Asian community built into their town were very heartfelt not just for the main characters, but for the readers. As for the setting and worldbuilding, Chao does a nice job of writing scenes that are vivid and full of colour. Even the cover of the book is beautiful, and this is how I imagined the lanterns floating over the lake. It was also pretty easy to visualise most of the locations Liya and Kai were at, and especially all the bakery goodies Kai was making.
Something I think that was also important to address is how Chao really gives perspective on how toxic traits can exist among parents, siblings, and other people outside your family you might know. I thought this was refreshing to read because I think it’s a way of insuring readers they are not alone in how they feel, even in the most negative of situations.
Overall, this book has its magical touches, romance, and wholesome feel to it! Given this is a YA book, expect young adult tendencies, miscommunications, and experiences because it definitely gave off that energy!
When You Wish Upon A Lantern is available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore.
Will you be picking up When You Wish Upon A Lantern? Tell us in the comments below!
Synopsis | Goodreads
Acclaimed author Gloria Chao creates real-world magic in this luminous romance about teens who devote themselves to granting other people’s wishes, but are too afraid to let themselves have their own hearts’ desires—each other.
Liya and Kai had been best friends since they were little kids, but all that changed when a humiliating incident sparked The Biggest Misunderstanding Of All Time—and they haven’t spoken since.
Then Liya discovers her family’s wishing lantern store is struggling, and she decides to resume a tradition she had with her beloved late grandmother: secretly fulfilling the wishes people write on the lanterns they send into the sky. It may boost sales and save the store, but she can’t do it alone . . . and Kai is the only one who cares enough to help.
While working on their covert missions, Liya and Kai rekindle their friendship—and maybe more. But when their feuding families and their changing futures threaten to tear them apart again, can they find a way to make their own wishes come true?
