“It’s like Chryssy’s whole cursed love life has been leading up to this moment. But all it takes is one kiss—and a whole lot of unexpected chemistry—to land both of them in hot water . . .”
Yin Yang Love Song, Lauren Kung Jessen
This book follows two incredibly hard-working adults, trying to protect their family’s legacies. Chrysanthemum lives and works with her auntines at their healing retreat center, focusing on healing people’s broken hearts. Vin is one-half of a famous cello duo with his brother, Leo. They’re booked and busy, with a huge new tour about to start, but Leo is heartbroken and has fully given up.
When Chyrssy and Vin meet, there’s an instant spark, but they both know nothing can come of it. Every woman in Chryssy’s family has been cursed with a life of break-ups, and Vin’s whole brand is based around him being a heart-breaker. But that’s a perfect pairing for a fake relationship. At least, that’s what they tell themselves.
I really enjoyed this book, especially Chryssy and the aunties’ retreat that features traditional Chinese medicine. In almost every chapter, Chryssy was sharing information about a different traditional Chinese medicine practice, and explaining the reasoning behind it. Her bright and warm personality shone off the pages, and did most of the heavy lifting in this story.
Vin Chao was the big hurdle in this book. Here’s what’s important about Vin: he was a cello prodigy and is still a phenomenal cello player. He’s also he and his brother’s business manager, and is work obsessed. That’s really it. His reserved personality didn’t come with any hidden sides, just the burden of living out his parents’ dreams. Any chemistry he had with Chryssy seemed more friendly than romantic.
The plot was also slower than many romances, but I enjoyed the change in pace. I appreciated the side plots with Leo’s heartbreak healing and the mystery of the Hua family curse, even when they took away from the romance plot. The dynamic of the aunties cracked me up, and I enjoyed that both of Chryssy’s and Vin’s parents were also featured.
Overall, this was a fun read that felt cozy and inviting. Was it the best love story ever? No, but it was sweet all the same, and definitely had me rooting for their relationship the whole time. I think this is a great option for someone who’s looking to branch into or out of romance, since the romance elements are secondary to the story as a whole. Also, reading this will make you want to drink tea while listening to a cello playlist, so be prepared!
Thanks to Netgalley, Forever, and Hachette audio for the free advanced book & audiobook in exchange for an honest review!
Read with Fern 
Leave a comment