SUMMARY
Will it be a recipe for romance? Or a friendship up in flames?
Lavinia has it all. A loving family (complete with adorable pet baby dragon). A place at university training to be a magical animal vet. And a part-time job at the enchanting Baby Dragon Cafe. The only thing she doesn’t have is her one true love: Theo.
Theo is the local baker and her best friend. On paper, they’re perfect: he’s funny, she’s witty. He’s sweet, and she’s a little salty. That’s why they’ve been friends for as long as they can remember. They’ve never been without one another – and it’s clear to everyone that they’re meant to be.
Everyone except Theo. Because when Lavinia finally makes her move, he pulls away.
Lavinia is devastated. Has this friendship gone up in smoke? Or will Theo finally realise that he wants them to be more than friends?
The perfect dual POV, friends-to-lovers cozy fantasy, with HEA guaranteed!
Image and summary from Goodreads.
REVIEW
After absolutely loving The Baby Dragon Cafe last year, I was so excited to return to Starshine Valley. It had been a while since I’d visited this cosy little world, and listening to The Baby Dragon Bakery as an audiobook felt like catching up with old friends. Sometimes all you want is a cozy fantasy that’s full of warmth, community and adorable baby dragons which this book delivered.
I’d also spent my last few reads immersed in contemporary romances, so it was really refreshing to switch things up with a cosy fantasy. It still had romance at its heart, but the magical setting, charming small town atmosphere and of course the baby dragons made it feel like the perfect palate cleanser. It reminded me why I enjoy breaking up my reading with different genres every now and then.
One of my favourite things about this series is the setting. Starshine Valley is somewhere I’d happily spend far more time than the pages allow. It’s cosy without feeling overdone, magical without becoming complicated and full of characters who make the town feel alive. I found myself smiling whenever familiar places or faces appeared because you got to see more about the lives of other characters in Starshine Valley.
The audiobook was also such an enjoyable way to experience the story. I love listening to cosy fantasy and this one had such a comforting atmosphere that it made everyday moments feel a little more magical. It was one of those audiobooks that I looked forward to putting on each day because it was simply a lovely world to escape into.
I really enjoyed getting to know the new characters and I found myself rooting for them throughout the story. Their romance was sweet and there were plenty of heartwarming moments that fit perfectly with the cosy vibe of the book.
That said, I do think this one felt a little repetitive at times. There were several points where I felt like the same misunderstandings kept coming up and I found myself wanting the characters to simply sit down and have an honest conversation. A lot of the conflict came down to miscommunication, which is probably one of my least favourite romance tropes. There were moments where I just wanted to jump into the story and tell them, “Please… just talk to each other!”
Because of that, the middle of the book dragged slightly for me. I still enjoyed the overall story, but I think tightening up some of those repeated misunderstandings would have made the pacing feel stronger and the romance even more satisfying.
Even with those small criticisms, I genuinely had such a lovely time returning to this world. There’s something incredibly comforting about Aamna Qureshi’s writing. She creates the kind of stories that make you want to curl up under a blanket with a warm drink while listening about magical bakeries, friendly neighbours and baby dragons causing adorable chaos. Not every fantasy needs life or death stakes. Sometimes it’s enough to simply spend time in a world that makes you feel happy.
Overall, The Baby Dragon Bakery was another enjoyable visit to Starshine Valley. While I don’t think I loved it quite as much as The Baby Dragon Cafe, I was so glad to be back in this magical little community. It was cosy, heartwarming and exactly the change of pace I needed after reading several romances in a row.
This was an easy 4 star read for me. If you’re looking for a comforting cosy fantasy with loveable characters, tiny dragons and a story that feels like a warm hug, I’d definitely recommend giving this series a go. I’ll happily return to Starshine Valley again when The Baby Dragon Bookshop comes out.
-Rachelle
I’m on Instagram at @rachellesbookshelf
