witchbuns

Lauren Kung Jessen, 2026. Four Stars.

Well-written and well-paced novel less about romance build up and more about early relationships and the work we do on ourselves to become good partners, as life hits you with different events to weather. So often we get Romance novels that build for two acts, fall in the third, and then give us a sweetened, sometimes hasty, epilogue. Kung Jessen’s story charts a different path where the characters find each other in chapter one, fight their attraction a little bit (timing, life events, sheer baggage) but then move forward and we see them form and forge through a new relationship.

Hazel is a very compelling FMC who has been extraordinarily devoted to her family after her mother’s death, and she confronts how that has affected her own desires and self-image. Total eldest daughter energy. Logan is the golden retriever, who is also devoted to others and always puts on a smile and happy face. He has to confront his optimism and understand how he can face realities. Both of them navigate a relationship to luck and the lottery, and it’s a lovely read, representing Hazel’s Chinese culture, discussing beliefs in folklore and energy, and serving us Logan as a strong ally at every opportunity.

I recommend this book because we see two people have honest conversations together and show vulnerability in their true feelings at the onset. We see them work to be honest with their families and support structures, and there’s a little sizzle between them throughout, while we hit larger themes at an elegant pacing. I love the occupations of the two characters – Hazel finds a new side job with vibrant coworkers, and Logan works in Theatre tech as lead carpenter. Highly recommend for romance readers in a slump. Very well done by Kung Jessen, please give us more.

Thank you to Lauren Kung Jessen and Forever Publishing for this ARC to review early.