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    Gloria Chao’s When You Wish Upon a Lantern is joyful YA romance

    1
    By Jessica on February 21, 2023 Asian American and Pacific Islanders, YA review, young adult
    When you wish upon a lanternWHEN YOU WISH UPON A LANTERN, by Gloria Chao, Viking Books for Young Readers, Feb. 14, 2023, Hardcover, $18.99 (young adult)

    Two teens set out to grant other people’s wishes in When You Wish Upon a Lantern, by Gloria Chao.

    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 changing futures threaten to tear them apart again, can they find a way to make their own wishes come true? —Synopsis provided by Viking Books for Young Readers

    Feuding family love stories have been around for a long time — Romeo and Juliet, anyone? So, to make a story stand out in this genre, authors have to find something unique. In the case of When You Wish Upon a Lantern, it’s secretly granting wishes.

    It’s a premise that not only works, but feels believable and achievable.

    Author Gloria Chao’s writing has an almost cinematic feel to it. You can practically see the lanterns floating across the screen. And the book’s beautiful cover truly helps set the tone.

    At the center of the story are Liya and Kai. The pair are well-developed and play well against each other. And while supporting characters are a bit rough, Liya and Kai come across as genuinely kind people. You’d think that would leave the story flat, but instead, it’s refreshing.

    There’s a kind of innocence to When You Wish Upon a Lantern that will appeal to readers who are looking for a “chaste” romance. It’s gentle and sweet, and Liya and Kai are charming.

    When You Wish Upon a Lantern is an assuming read that’s light and well-paced. It’s a joy to read.

     

    Copyright © 2023 Cracking the Cover. Unless otherwise noted, all books — digital and physical — have been provided by publishers in exchange for honest and unbiased reviews. All thoughts and opinions are those of the reviewer.

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    Jessica
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    Jessica Harrison is the main reviewer behind Cracking the Cover. Prior to creating Cracking the Cover, Jessica worked as the in-house book critic for the Deseret News, a daily newspaper in Salt Lake City. Jessica also worked as a copy editor and general features writer for the paper. Following that, Jessica spent two years with an international company as a social media specialist. She is currently a freelance writer/editor. She is passionate about reading and giving people the tools to make informed decisions in their own book choices.

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    1 Comment

    1. Kim Aippersbach on February 26, 2023 10:04 pm

      Love the whole idea behind this! And what a gorgeous cover!

      Reply

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