Definitely a simple sweet, warm and cosy read, but unfortunately fell a bit flat for me. It didn't grip or hold me and felt the plot just sort of fell flat

Although The Baby Dragon Cafe is sweet and cozy with beautiful world building, it doesn't really go anywhere. It was a little bit TOO sweet and dragged in parts. Not bad, but I wasn't gripped.

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

3.5 stars

This book was every bit as cosy as the title suggests. The plot was cute, the romance was cute. I loved the little references to South Asian culture. My only problem was everything felt a little flat.

Saphira opens up a baby dragon cafe after her nani-ma dies and leave her some money. Her nanny-ma is the last member of her family, leaving Saphira all alone. While this was mentioned several times, I think the emotions weren’t fully explored. I can understand why the author might have shied away from this, because I think it would have negated the ‘cosy’ part of the cosy fantasy genre, but I also think delving deeper into those emotions would have strengthened the romance more.

I was also not quite sure where this world was set. Originally, I thought it was a completely made up world that resembled ours but was not ours. But then the author mentioned Pride and Prejudice and that threw me a little. There was also someone who went to school to study mythology, but mythical beings are literally part of the world, so what were they actually studying?

If you are looking for a cosy book that will make you smile, this will certainly fit the bill, but if you want something with a bit more substance, you might be a little disappointed.

Lovely idea for a cozy autumnal read! I adore coffee shops, I adore dragons and I adore a little town romance. The cover is also very fitting so overall a very marketable book for sure.
Saphira felt really fleshed out, she felt like a friend. I loved her dream for the cafe, her memories about her grandma and the little moments of culture. The friendship between Saphira and Lavinia was so wholesome too. It definitely gave me a relaxing reading experience - think blankets and candles.
I wasn’t as sold on Aiden or the romantic connection. I think he maybe just wasn’t as bold in my mind. His lack of connection with Sparky also meant it took a while really to warm to him.
Besides been cozy, there’s not a lot of plot - which is fine it you love a more vibey book (which is popular atm). No stakes, not even a rumble of trouble. Everything breezes by like capturing a few months of someone’s life.
It’s a cute story, just not my personal go to type of read. I needed a little more pace, something to keep me reading. Maybe more baby dragon antics too? Hehe

An absolutely scrumptious tale of love, friendship and believing in yourself - with dragons of course.
I raced through The Baby Dragon Cafe and I can't wait for the next two novels in the series. I look forward to returning to the joyful, positive world of Saphira, Aiden (not forgetting the adorable Sparky) and their friends.

When we first meet Saphira, she is welcoming, happy go lucky gal who is living her dream of owning a baby dragon cafe. However, money is tight and she doesn't know how she will make her dream work after trying to fix everything the rambunctious baby dragons break, or start on fire. When she meets Aiden, the local gardener and his pet baby dragon, sparks fly. Literally. His dragon Sparky is disobedient and he doesn't want to admit to his family that he needs help. When he asks Sephira to train his dragon he realizes he is in trouble of losing his heart to her, and maybe his dragon since he loves Saphira more than him. This story was adorable and cozy!

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3.5⭐, a solid cozy romantasy. This is a short, easy to consume, feel-good small town romance with a thin layer of fantasy draped overtop. The characters were lovable and unique, with Saphira and Aiden being hopelessly down bad for each other. There was definitely love and lust at first sight, and the rest of the book is spent using the baby dragon as an excuse to push their romance forward. The way that Aiden's baby dragon, Sparky, was used as a plot pusher, somewhat upset me, because I never really felt like he was his own character, more like a dog in one of those Hallmark movies used for cutesy appeal. In fact, all of the dragons in this world feel like dogs, and as a cat person, it just wasn't for me. The cafe itself falls into the background pretty quickly and feels homey and warm but ultimately not as important as the relationship between Saphira and Aiden. I do think that lovers of Legends and Lattes will enjoy this, but it is more romance than fantasy, and way more horny than I was expecting. Looking forward to seeing the second book come out!

This book's premise sounded really good. A cafe with baby dragons? yes, please! However, I decided to DNF as I found the writing style very simple and the storyline didn't hold my attention. The characters felt younger than they were, making them feel very simplistic. This book wasn't for me, but I understand many others love it.

I adored this book. Theres that dream inside so many women to own a cute cafe thats also a bookstore that also has magic and a garden and this dragon cafe scratched that metaphorical dream so good. I loved their romance and the author did such a good chance of keeping the tension so high without making it too much of a slow burn. She constantly gave us enough heat to keep me satisfied. Overall 5 stars.

This was absolutely the cutest thing ever! It was such an easy, cozy read—one of those delightful books you can curl up with and lose yourself in. I wish I could visit a baby dragon café! I could almost feel the swish of Saphira's skirts and hear the jingle of her bangles. I found myself wanting to play with Sparky in the dragon playground. And then there's the charmingly awkward Aiden! I'm eagerly anticipating book two!

I wanted to love this but i ended up having to dnf at 34%. I loved the idea of the book and was so excited to dive into it but everything was just falling short and I ended up skimming because I wasn’t invested in the story. But I can see why people would love this just wasn’t for me unfortunately

When Saphira opens up a cafe that welcomes baby dragons, she isn't expecting quite so many accidents. It turns out baby dragons can be a little troublesome. Baby dragons breathe fire, which ruins a lot more furniture! When Aiden, a local gardener, sees how great Saphira is with baby dragons, he asks her to train Sparky, his adorable but slightly naughty, baby dragon.

This was honestly the cutest, cosiest romantasy! I mean: cosy fantasy, romance, and baby dragons, what is not to love?! I absolutely flew through this one and read it in one day, I just didn't want to put it down.

I loved how the baby dragons basically get portrayed as toddlers! I also loved the romance aspect of this. It was a great addition to the already amazing plot line. I am so glad to see this is going to be a series, I am already desperate for the next book!

Go make your self a cup of tea and snuggle in to your cosy spot when reading this one because it is just so cute!

If you enjoyed Best Hex Ever or Pumpkin Spice Cafe but fancied something with baby dragons, low stakes and a really lovely romance plot, then you’ve got it! This was a really easy read and world felt so magical.

Saphira was so down to earth and relatable with her busy life and insecurities. And I really liked how the author scattered lots of little nods to her culture throughout too. The deserts sounded so lovely!

I perhaps would have liked the slow burn to burn slower, or for there to be a little more tension between Aiden and Saphira, but it was very much what was expecting. I also really liked that there was no spice in this. Sometimes I just want to read a cute romance without spice, and this was perfect!

Tropes:
• Grumpy x Sunshine
• One Bed
• Fake Relationship
• Small Town

The Baby Dragon Cafe is a super sweet, cosy, small town, romantic, light fantasy novel about baby dragons and a love story (no spice) between Saphira and Aiden. Saphira is the main female character who is sweet, kind and beautiful and she follows her dreams and opens up a gorgeous baby dragon cafe in Starshine Valley. Aiden is the main male character who is a grumpy gardener, quiet, awkward, closed off and from a privileged, rich background and the story continues with their relationship developing whilst training Aiden's baby dragon, called Sparky.

I enjoyed the South Asian references to yummy, delicious cakes, sweet desserts (gulab jamun) and hot drinks (karak chai) and the way the author described the cafe and brought it to life in this book. It was also very heartwarming the way the author described her relationship and memories with her grandmother (Nani-ma) and her relationship with her best friend Lavinia.

The Baby Dragon Café is a cute, fluffy, heartwarming, romantic, light fantasy novel with a HEA and will make your heart smile.
Thank you to Netgalley and Avon books UK for sending me the ARC.

Tropes:
• Grumpy Sunshine
• We pretend we're married
• Small town
• No spice

If you read the title of this book and think that it's pretty on the nose...you haven't seen anything yet.

There isn't much subversive or complex about the "Baby Dragon Café", but I doubt that there was ever meant to be.

I found it all to be too underdeveloped to create a solid experience. It's foundatiom reminds me more of the concept for a video game rather than an adult romance narrative.

Cozy reads still need to have some substance, and those moments in this book were just too few and far between. I liked Saphira and I wanted to see so much more of her and more moments of her culture tied into the coziness of the book but the dragon-owning world and the Café environment are like oil and water to me. They never blend in a satisfying way and much like the supposedly cozy Starshine Valley are too separated for my liking.

I absolutely loved this story, it was different, quirky and not too much spice. Saphira and Aiden are perfect together and let's not forget little Sparky. I need to visit this cafe and get a baby dragon of my own

What a fun cozy fantasy! I haven’t read much in this genre, but really enjoyed this!

Always looking for fun books on the cleaner side to recommend to the appropriate audience, and this will fit that bill nicely.

Thank you to the publisher and author for allowing me to read this via NetGalley.

4.0/5.0

The Baby Dragon Cafe is such a delightful concept for a book! From the very first page, I was enchanted by the idea of a cosy cafe where dragons and their humans gather—a perfect blend of warmth, magic, and heart.

Saphira is an absolute gem of a character. She’s kind-hearted, passionate, and genuinely cares about everyone around her. It’s easy to become invested in her journey, and I found myself fully supporting her dreams for the cafe. In fact, I could have happily spent the entire book just reading about her daily interactions with the regulars and their dragons! Her love for both the cafe and the community is so palpable, and it’s clear how much of her heart and soul she’s poured into making it a special place.

Aiden, on the other hand, is the quintessential grumpy male love interest, though, like any well-written character, there’s far more to him than meets the eye. Beneath his brooding exterior lies a man struggling with grief after the death of his brother, and his attempts to care for Sparky, an unruly baby dragon, make for some heartfelt (and often hilarious) moments. Watching Aiden slowly open up as he forms a connection with Saphira and Sparky is a truly touching journey, and I found myself rooting for him every step of the way.

Saphira, Aiden, and Sparky make such a wonderful trio. Their growing bond is heartwarming and full of tender moments that had me smiling and even wiping away a few happy tears. Sparky, with his puppy-like antics and undeniable intelligence, is an absolute scene-stealer. His interactions with Saphira were some of my favourite moments in the book—he’s both chaotic and endearing, a perfect fit for their world.

The small-town setting adds so much charm to the story. The tight-knit community, the local businesses, and the sense of belonging all contribute to the cosy, feel-good atmosphere of the book. I also loved the colourful cast of side characters, each with their own quirks and stories. I’m already looking forward to seeing more of them in future books!

While we only get a glimpse of the broader world in The Baby Dragon Cafe, I’m hopeful that future instalments will explore other villages in the valley that are hinted at in this book. There’s so much more to discover, and I’ll definitely be following along to see where the story goes next!

In short, The Baby Dragon Cafe is a heartwarming, magical read that will leave you smiling, and I can’t wait for the next book in the series!

Thank you to Avon books and Netgalley for the eARC of this book.

This was an absolute cozy delight. If you’re a fan of cozy reads, make sure to add this to your TBR because it is peak cozy with adorable baby dragons. Also, when I say cozy, I mean COZY. It’s so cozy the stakes are almost nonexistent. I loved the whole premise of towns built around families that had dragons and being able to bring the baby dragons with you everywhere regardless of the havoc they create. I adored the bond that formed between Saphira and Sparky during their training sessions. I’m not going to lie, I was more invested in their relationship than the one between Saphira and Aiden. That’s not to say I didn’t enjoy their relationship because I did, but there was something so pure about the bond between Saphira and Sparky. I did enjoy how Qureshi developed the relationship between Saphira and Aiden so organically. It took spending time with each other for their relationship to evolve from employer/employee to friends to lovers. I also really enjoyed the time on the mountain going through the various rights of passage between dragons and riders. I’m so excited to see there will be more books set in this world, and I can’t wait to read the next one.

This wasn't something I'd usually read but I found myself enjoying it very much.
The characters are sweet and there is something very simple and intriguing about it, a very easy read.
I could almost taste Saphira's sweet treats and teas.
Cute cosy romance with added baby dragons.
5 stars if you love cosy romance I'm looking forward to the sequel