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He's Not My Boyfriend
(Chin-Williams #2)
by
Now that her cousin has tied the knot, Iris Chin—structural engineer, party girl, and queen of kitchen disasters—is the last single grandchild. Her mother and grandmother are desperate to play matchmaker, though Iris doesn’t understand why. They had miserable marriages, and she doesn’t want to be like them. She enjoys her independence, thank you very much. One-night stands
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Kindle Edition, 205 pages
Published
November 20th 2018
by Jackie Lau Books
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Start your review of He's Not My Boyfriend (Chin-Williams, #2)
A very enjoyable romcom with party girl/structural engineer Iris picking up a guy for sex (no slut shaming here) then discovering they're on the same construction job. Meanwhile Alex is emotionally in knots about his mother's death and can't connect to family or friends. Iris No-strings would seem to be the last person to break him out of that disconnect, but in true romance style, here we are.
I really enjoyed this. Iris's family is suitably absurd and her filthy-romance-reading grandmother is ...more
I really enjoyed this. Iris's family is suitably absurd and her filthy-romance-reading grandmother is ...more
I liked this a lot, but the we can't be together conflict annoyed me. I also wish more time had been spent on the relationship between the hero and his father.
(I also can't remember much about this despite finishing it just a few days ago, which is why I am giving it three stars and not four.) ...more
(I also can't remember much about this despite finishing it just a few days ago, which is why I am giving it three stars and not four.) ...more
I’ll forever feel salty about the time I wasted on this drivel.
I liked this one, how Iris kept denying that she wasn't dating Alex, yet they pretty much were. As much as I liked Iris and Alex and their romance, Ngin Ngin, Iris's grandmother stole the show. I loved the talks that Ngin Ngin and Iris had and how she kept Iris on her toes. Almost as good were Alex and his father. Things started out so awkward, continued that way for most of the book, but their talk at the end of the book showed how much Alex's dad was hiding. The ending had me smiling, liked th
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Two sexy Chinese-Canadians have a much-needed one-night stand but fate and nosy relatives interfere to make it so much more. This was one of Jackie Lau's sexiest - first, Alex is described as hot as Simu Liu (nice, thank you) and Iris is unabashedly enjoying being single no matter how hot the guy:
Iris Chin did not have boyfriends, much to the disappointment of certain members of her family, but for a moment, she wondered what it would be like to have more than a short-lived physical relationsh...more
“You make me feel like I’m alive again.”
He’s Not My Boyfriend is another absolute winner from Jackie Lau. I adored this story and this couple—and remained heavily invested in what would happen to them, and their families, from the first page to the last.
Ms. Lau had a knack for finding the sweetest, deepest emotion with her words. And here, she finds it not just in Iris’ relationship with her (absolutely hilarious) Ngin Ngin, and her parents, but also in Alex’s struggling, changing relationship ...more
He’s Not My Boyfriend is another absolute winner from Jackie Lau. I adored this story and this couple—and remained heavily invested in what would happen to them, and their families, from the first page to the last.
Ms. Lau had a knack for finding the sweetest, deepest emotion with her words. And here, she finds it not just in Iris’ relationship with her (absolutely hilarious) Ngin Ngin, and her parents, but also in Alex’s struggling, changing relationship ...more
When I saw this book mentioned in a blog, the gorgeous cover caught my eye, and a great review sealed the deal. I'm always on the lookout for books that feature diversity, and both Iris Chin and Alex Kwong are of Chinese descent. And huge bonus: the author is Canadian and the story is set in Toronto!
The premise is not the most original, a one-night stand that slides into a romance, but the execution is very much above average. The setting and the characters feel entirely genuine, and like every ...more
The premise is not the most original, a one-night stand that slides into a romance, but the execution is very much above average. The setting and the characters feel entirely genuine, and like every ...more
I really liked this. As always, Jackie Lau somehow manages to balance good humor, fun romance dynamics, and layers of seriousness. Like, that's a lot of balls to juggle and to make coherent and to organize into a satisfying romantic arc, and I think she pulls it off every time.
There is a lot of grieving and grief processing in this book: in particular, Alex's mother died eight months ago, shortly after being diagnosed with cancer. He's repressed his feelings a lot, and it's obvious he's been li ...more
There is a lot of grieving and grief processing in this book: in particular, Alex's mother died eight months ago, shortly after being diagnosed with cancer. He's repressed his feelings a lot, and it's obvious he's been li ...more
This was really cute and overall I liked it a lot. I really appreciate the way Lau handles women writing in male-dominated profession. She really nails the way you just . . . THINK about it.
But the conflict is one of those that feels just thrown in because you've gotta have a conflict! (view spoiler) ...more
But the conflict is one of those that feels just thrown in because you've gotta have a conflict! (view spoiler) ...more
After enduring another round of questions regarding her single-status during her beloved cousin's wedding (Natalie Chin-Williams from Not Another Family Wedding), Iris Chin is simply looking for a hot one-night stand.
She finds him at a local brew pub. Alex Kwong is hot hot hot, and he's also DTF.
Alex, despite agreeing to one night only, is still a bit stung when he finds Iris has disappeared the next morning. He can't get the beguiling, funny, and smart woman out of his mind, or it seems, out o ...more
She finds him at a local brew pub. Alex Kwong is hot hot hot, and he's also DTF.
Alex, despite agreeing to one night only, is still a bit stung when he finds Iris has disappeared the next morning. He can't get the beguiling, funny, and smart woman out of his mind, or it seems, out o ...more
This was cute and fun, but I didn't love how Alex kept making it seem like she magically fixed it and Iris's reason for calling things off was eye roll inducing to say the least. Still, an enjoyable way to spend an afternoon.
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Deciding I would spend 2019 reading the books written by the women I follow on twitter is one of the best decisions I’ve made in a while. I’ve yet to come across a dud. Jackie Lau’s He’s Not My Boyfriend, is available for $.99 through the end of April. You should jump on this opportunity.
Iris Chin is happily single and has no interest in being anything else. Her grandmother and mother are determined to find her a boyfriend. Alex Kwong is grieving the loss of his mother and struggling to establis ...more
Iris Chin is happily single and has no interest in being anything else. Her grandmother and mother are determined to find her a boyfriend. Alex Kwong is grieving the loss of his mother and struggling to establis ...more
Another solid book from Jackie Lau, who has become one of my go-to authors when I’m in a reading slump. While I expected to love Iris—and I did—what surprised me is how much I connected with Alex. This book has a grief arc with his character; he lost his mother to cancer less than a year before the book started and he’s still coping with it. As someone who lost my mother to cancer, this was hard to read, especially so close to Mother’s Day. But I thought this was explored so well in the book, es
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Jackie Lau writes romances that are so easy to read, you consume them in a day. At least that's what happened to me. Both the hero and heroine are prickly characters, and this romance is definitely a prickly one, but it had heart and steam and was wonderful. I particularly enjoyed the interactions with Iris' family. Her grandmother is THE BEST. Recommended.
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So much fun!
Stories with meddling grandmothers are great and this one is no exception. Iris and Alex are a lovely couple and their love story is heart warming even if it begins in an unusual way. A great story!
Stories with meddling grandmothers are great and this one is no exception. Iris and Alex are a lovely couple and their love story is heart warming even if it begins in an unusual way. A great story!
This book made me miss my grandmother so damn much. And I cried ugly tears. So instant 5 stars.
Nov 20, 2018
Lauren loves llamas
rated it
really liked it
Shelves:
arc,
hero-of-color,
read-in-2018,
contemporary,
romance,
yummy-food,
own-voices,
heroine-of-color,
asian-heroine,
asian-hero
Another Jackie Lau book, another hit out of the park. Like previous books, the title’s pretty accurate for what you get, and it’s a cozy read, though it doesn’t shy away from harder topic, in this case, the loss of a parent and the difficulty of being a woman in fields traditionally dominated by men. Also, lots of yummy food!
Af ...more
“Iris looked at her watch. It had taken seven minutes and thirty-two seconds from the time she’d entered her grandmother’s house for someone to mention her single status.”
Af ...more
This book gave me feminist whiplash. On one hand, it’s squarely feminist. She is an engineer instead of being in a pink collar job; she owns her sexuality and shuts down slut shaming; she’s not interested in coupling up for the sole sake of being a couple. Also, she acknowledges her immigrant grandmother’s marriage to a very traditional man was not great.
Plus, the heroine is allowed to be slightly unlikable while the hero yearns for her; he is careful about consent; and she’s slightly higher th ...more
Plus, the heroine is allowed to be slightly unlikable while the hero yearns for her; he is careful about consent; and she’s slightly higher th ...more
Prematurely disenchanted with relationships--be it committed dating or marriage--Iris Chin has sworn off anything more serious than a fling. But even though she meets Alex through her preferred channel of a fun night, she gets in deeper and deeper until she realises with dismay that they've built a relationship unintentionally.
After the death of his mother the previous year, Alex is struggling with the hole she left behind. Particularly when it comes to his relationship--of lack thereof--with hi ...more
After the death of his mother the previous year, Alex is struggling with the hole she left behind. Particularly when it comes to his relationship--of lack thereof--with hi ...more
***AVAILABLE TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 20***
Jackie Lau's best yet: more laughs, medium angst. He's Not My Boyfriend is totally irresistible.
Where her previous books have gone to forced proximity to get hero and heroine together, Jackie Lau's latest is straightforward: an initial meet in a craft beer bar turns into a one night stand. It ends up being more satisfying, not to mention complicated, than either Iris or Alex bargained for when their paths cross again -- at work.
Even more than the chemistry bet ...more
Jackie Lau's best yet: more laughs, medium angst. He's Not My Boyfriend is totally irresistible.
Where her previous books have gone to forced proximity to get hero and heroine together, Jackie Lau's latest is straightforward: an initial meet in a craft beer bar turns into a one night stand. It ends up being more satisfying, not to mention complicated, than either Iris or Alex bargained for when their paths cross again -- at work.
Even more than the chemistry bet ...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
Alex and Iris make a terrific couple in this heartwarming romance!
Iris is happy with her no-strings-attached lifestyle, not willing to risk repeating what she sees as the marital mistakes of her parents and grandparents. A one-night-stand with sexy Alex is just what she needs. But as much as he stirs so much more in her heart than anyone ever has, she still has to walk away for the sake of her independence.
Alex locked his heart away in a secure box after his mother died, and he's not going to ri ...more
Iris is happy with her no-strings-attached lifestyle, not willing to risk repeating what she sees as the marital mistakes of her parents and grandparents. A one-night-stand with sexy Alex is just what she needs. But as much as he stirs so much more in her heart than anyone ever has, she still has to walk away for the sake of her independence.
Alex locked his heart away in a secure box after his mother died, and he's not going to ri ...more
This story was just adorable. My favorite character was the grandmother, Ngin-Ngin; she was hilarious and I laughed out loud at some of the stuff she came out with. I also appreciated the emphasis on the different backgrounds of two Chinese-Canadian characters. Their families speak different languages/dialects, and their journeys to emigrate are not similar. (There's a line about someone describing "Asian food" and a character asking them what type of Asian food is their favorite, which gets con
...more
"He's Not My Boyfriend" holds a really special place in my heart because it is relatable, sexy, heartfelt, and funny. And both leads are Asian Canadian! There's a crochety grandma and the lead heroine is a woman in STEM. The book doesn't shy away from the tension and grief within immigrant families. Also, all the Asian food porn (which is an awesome theme throughout all of the author's books). This is a really enjoyable, fun read with some great depth!
Also, Jackie Lau is a self-publishing fiend ...more
Also, Jackie Lau is a self-publishing fiend ...more
I LOVED this I really really did. Jackie Lau writes Toronto so well it makes me horribly homesick — this is a compliment! Plus she writes issues that are just so real, so I’m hit in the feels and not just the romantic ones. Between misunderstood introversion (grumpy fake boyfriend), depression (mr hot shot ceo), and being childless by choice (not another family wedding) she knocks out books about intense stuff in a light hearted funny way. I belly laughed twice during this book.
I’m knocking off ...more
I’m knocking off ...more
Great story about love & family
Thank you for writing this story. It had all the right elements. The bonus was that the main characters as well as some of the it friends were multi-ethnic. Love and family are universal themes. I'm excited that more books are being written that show this experience in the lives of people from different backgrounds. Ngin ngin is hilarious ! I've read all the other books by this author. I liked this one , "Grumpy Fake Boyfriend" about and the short story " One bed f ...more
Thank you for writing this story. It had all the right elements. The bonus was that the main characters as well as some of the it friends were multi-ethnic. Love and family are universal themes. I'm excited that more books are being written that show this experience in the lives of people from different backgrounds. Ngin ngin is hilarious ! I've read all the other books by this author. I liked this one , "Grumpy Fake Boyfriend" about and the short story " One bed f ...more
(3.5, rounding up.) This is a pretty low-conflict short contemporary romance, but I enjoyed it -especially the bingo-qualifying sassy grandma and her Kindle full of erotic romance. I was worried Alex was going to be an asshole at first, but that passed quickly. This was refreshingly non-slut-shamey - they meet as a bar hookup and no one ever judges either one of them for that. I wish there were a little more conflict and/or this was a bit longer, because it's just about 200 pages and I wanted to
...more
I've actually read this earlier this year but forgot to mark it down until now, LOL.
Iris and Alex are my babies, I adore them and their banter. It's also mentioned that Alex is "as hot as Simu Liu" which is A+++ in my book. My favourite thing about Jackie Lau's books is how she writes family. She excels in writing aunties and uncles and grandparents, and Iris's Ngin Ngin remains the best character, hahah.
E-ARC is received thanks to the wonderful author. ...more
Iris and Alex are my babies, I adore them and their banter. It's also mentioned that Alex is "as hot as Simu Liu" which is A+++ in my book. My favourite thing about Jackie Lau's books is how she writes family. She excels in writing aunties and uncles and grandparents, and Iris's Ngin Ngin remains the best character, hahah.
E-ARC is received thanks to the wonderful author. ...more
I had a bad dream last night, and ended up reading this novel instead of going back to sleep.
Iris was a wonderful character, and so was Alex, but Iris' grandma stole the show. This novel has a lot of complicated family relationships, and I absolutely loved that about it. In a genre with a zillion orphans and estranged parents, a really nuanced portrayal of the ways a loving family can make you crazy? It's a breath of fresh air. I really liked it. ...more
Iris was a wonderful character, and so was Alex, but Iris' grandma stole the show. This novel has a lot of complicated family relationships, and I absolutely loved that about it. In a genre with a zillion orphans and estranged parents, a really nuanced portrayal of the ways a loving family can make you crazy? It's a breath of fresh air. I really liked it. ...more
This book was an interesting premise - an engineer has a one-night stand with her construction contractor - but I thought the themes of the book were hammered in a little too forcefully. Being a woman in stem is tough, and women should be able to live their lives how they want. I did love the relationship between Iris and Ngin Ngin. Overall this wasn't my favorite Lau book, but it was still a good time.
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Jackie Lau decided she wanted to be a writer when she was in grade two, sometime between writing “The Heart That Got Lost” and “The Land of Shapes.” She later studied engineering and worked as a geophysicist before turning to writing romance novels.
Jackie lives in Toronto with her husband, and despite living in Canada her whole life, she hates winter. When she’s not writing, she enjoys cooking, hi ...more
Jackie lives in Toronto with her husband, and despite living in Canada her whole life, she hates winter. When she’s not writing, she enjoys cooking, hi ...more
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