Review by Booklist Review
Lam makes her debut with this steamy, sex-positive romance. Trixie Nguyen left New Orleans after a terrible break-up. Her partner Andre ghosted her after two years with a Post-it note declaring she deserved better than him. Trixie is determined to succeed in DC, not only to convince her traditional Vietnamese family that selling sex toys is a legitimate career but also to repair their relationship. When she tells her friend Keisha that she'll do a pop-up event at her family restaurant, the last person she expects to see is Andre. Trixie and Andre agree to continue running pop-ups at his soul food restaurant, helping both of their businesses in the process. Neither can deny the physical zing they feel for each other, and soon the two start wondering why they ever split up. Though the sticky-note break-up seems hard to get over, Lam shows Andre's compassion for Trixie and his dedication to righting the wrongs he did to her. Readers will find Trixie's glowing view on self-pleasure and overall dedication to sexual education bold and refreshing.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Lam's choppy debut follows ex-lovers as they rediscover their blazing chemistry years after a messy breakup. Trixie Nguyen moves from New Orleans to Washington, D.C., for a fresh start as a sex toy sales rep after a fight with her parents over her nontraditional career goals. While coordinating a pop-up shop in Mama Hazel's, a soul food restaurant, she runs into Andre Walker, the ex who walked out on her two years ago with little explanation. Andre is shell-shocked to find a furious Trixie in the restaurant he owns with his sister. Though their reunion is tense, Trixie's event proves a successful way to bring in customers, so Andre offers her the chance to continue selling her products at Mama Hazel's, which has been struggling to stay afloat amid neighborhood gentrification. As their fiery passion reignites, Lam does a good job conjuring a sense of effortless intimacy between them. Less successful are the subplots about Trixie's work and family life, which feel forced and tangential. While the emphasis on Trixie's struggles to merge her Vietnamese and American identities is well handled, the impact her parents disapproval has on her life goes frustratingly underexplored. These hiccups make for a bumpy ride, but readers looking for sultry romance with a diverse cast will still find plenty to enjoy. Agent: Tara Gelsomino, One Track Literary. (May)
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Review by Library Journal Review
DEBUT Trixie Nguyen is making her own way in life by going against her traditional Vietnamese family and creating a sex-toy company. Everything is going well, but she can't forget the ex-boyfriend who dumped her via a sticky note. Andre, her ex, is carrying on his mother's legacy by working in his family's soul food restaurant. With pressures of his own, he has his reasons for leaving Trixie and not looking back. But when she shows up at his restaurant for a bachelorette party, their worlds collide again. VERDICT Lam's debut novel is an Own Voices delight filled with love, friendships, and sex positivity. Perfect for fans of Jasmine Guillory and Abby Jimenez, this sizzling tale is dynamic, funny, and relatable.--Jenny Kobiela-Mondor, Eckhart P.L., IN
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
A woman with entrepreneurial dreams reunites with the lover who broke her heart. Two years ago, in her hometown of New Orleans, Trixie Nguyen quit pharmacy school, which she'd chosen to please her traditional Vietnamese parents. Her boyfriend, Andre Walker, encouraged her to come clean with her family and pledged to support her no matter how they responded. The conversation was a disaster, her parents disowned her, and Andre dumped her shortly after. She's since relocated to Washington, D.C., and has a tightknit group of friends; she's also found a nontraditional career she loves: selling sex toys and helping people of all ages and genders have healthier, happier sex lives. Then she's shocked to discover Andre is one of the owners of the soul food restaurant where she's hosting a bachelorette party. Since his mother's death, Andre and his younger sister have been trying to keep their beloved family restaurant afloat despite the gentrification threatening the neighborhood. Trixie agrees to host a regular pop-up at the restaurant: The extra sales will help her win a company bonus, and the new customers might help keep his restaurant alive. Working together revives their romance, and Andre pledges not to make the same mistakes he did last time. Trixie can't resist Andre's charm or their strong physical attraction, but she's wary of trusting him again. Lam's debut is full of heat and heart. All of Trixie's sex toys are put to good use in smoking hot love scenes, but the novel also highlights the strong emotional connections Trixie and Andre have to family and community. Trixie and Andre are both likable, and the sometimes-wobbly characterization reads as a minor misstep from a debut author finding her footing. A sweet and sexy romance. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
