This one was incredibly sweet, but as other reviewers have noted, it reads incredibly young, pretty much middle grade, except the characters are adults and there's a chaste romance developing. In theory that should be fine, but I think the adults were too childish for my reading taste. Loved the baby dragons, though, of course.

[ 3.75 🌟 ]

First of all, the title is so cute (and so is the cover)! I'm very happy to say that THE BABY DRAGON CAFE *absolutely* delivered on the promise of a cozy story and a sweet romance. Qureshi also really knows how to write sweet romantic moments; I highlighted so many parts while reading! Plus, who doesn't love a book about dragons — especially when you know that the stakes won't get *too* high.

I thought the relationship between Saphira, Sparky, and Aiden was so sweet, and I absolutely loved any description about Saphira's cafe! I felt like these were the moments I was most enveloped in the story, if that makes sense. I could clearly picture the setting and the vibe, which is a testament to Qureshi's writing!

However, I was a bit disappointed that the majority of the writing style often fell flat for me. It felt like a lot of telling and a bit of info dumping/repeating, i.e. the MC would be working through an obstacle but then that obstacle and the explanation would be mentioned multiples times pretty close together. I'm also not positive that a third person POV was the best choice for THE BABY DRAGON CAFE — even though we get both Saphira and Aiden's perspectives, it, again, just felt like a lot of telling over showing. This could definitely be a me thing!

Regardless of some sticking points, I would recommend this book for anyone who wants a cute romance, a cozy setting, and — of course — dragons!

I’m a little late to the party but now that I’ve read this one, I’m glad that I got the opportunity to! Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced readers copy.

Baby dragons (draggos), coffee, tasty bakery treats, beautiful flowers, a natural and enchanting love connection… what more could I ask for?

Other than realising that I may actually be a baby dragon, with the tantrums and snack eating, I really liked this world I was thrown into! I found the descriptions of the scenery of the valley and the dragons were so consuming for me too.

I did find that the dithering of the feelings on both sides of the MC’s a little blah because I just wanted them to confess their feelings or kiss or something much sooner, but I did enjoy their journey.

Sparky is a gem and I need him in my life, but I’ll settle for my orange floofy cat instead!

Would recommend for anyone looking for some cozy vibes, small baby dragons causing trouble and a natural romantic connection.

The Baby Dragon Café by Aamna Qureshi is the cozy, whimsical read you never knew you needed, perfect for fans of Pumpkin Spice Café and Legends and Lattes. The story follows Saphira, an optimistic café owner who runs a quirky establishment catering to baby dragons and their humans. However, despite her good intentions, things aren't going as smoothly as she hoped—baby dragons are more destructive than she anticipated, and the cost of replacing charred furniture is burning a hole in her pocket.

The plot is charming, and while the setting is delightful and the baby dragons are absolutely adorable, the book sometimes feels a bit predictable. Saphira’s sunny disposition is endearing, but Aiden’s brooding nature leaves much to be desired in terms of character depth. The romance, while sweet, doesn’t quite hit the emotional highs one might expect, and the pacing occasionally lags in the middle.

That said, The Baby Dragon Café is a heartwarming and fun read, with just enough magical charm to keep you turning the pages. It’s perfect for anyone looking for a light, easygoing story with a touch of fantasy.

3,5 rating

This is the very definition of cosy fantasy. The little dragons were so cute and the romance came about so easily. The writing style seems a little ya, but this definitely helps to make if easy to read and understand. A great transitional read for any romance readers wanting to dip into a bit of fantasy.

This was really a cute cozy fantasy read, but the pacing could've been a little bit more faster. Great for those looking for a slow/medium modern romantasy book.

This is the 1st book I have read by A.T Qureshi and i liked it!

I saw the cover for this book and i had to immediately sign up! Although I stand by the saying never judge a book by its cover, this one matches perfectly!

This story is a cute and cozy slow burn romance with no spice which honestly was a refreshing change!

I really liked this book and recommend it to anyone looking for a cozy slow burn romance with no spice.

Set in Starshine Valley, "The Baby Dragon Cafe" follows the cafe’s owner, Saphira, who is trying to keep her recently opened cafe afloat. Saphira’s cafe caters to baby dragons and their owners, but the baby dragons are rather destructive, so she’s had to dip into her savings more than expected for constant repairs. Enter Aiden and his baby dragon, Sparky, who is out of control but immediately takes to Saphira. Aiden is Sparky’s owner, but they don’t have a good relationship, and Aiden needs someone to train Sparky. Saphira seems like the ideal person for the job, and since she really needs the money, she agrees to do it. I really enjoyed learning more about these characters and following along with Sparky’s training. The writing is good, the author captures the main character’s emotions in a heartfelt way, and the storyline progresses at a good pace. The side characters are also very entertaining, and I’m glad to know this is just the first book in the series. I’ll definitely be on the lookout for the rest. If you’re looking for a lighthearted read and love baby dragons (I mean, who doesn’t?), this is the book for you.

This book was very cozy and sweet, but lacked a conflict. It is a good pallet cleanser, but I would have preferred a little more conflict. A good example of a little more conflict but keeping it cozy is the spellshop. I think that is the perfect cozy fantasy balance.

Unfortunately there was nothing original about this book at all. I was super excited for it however it was a let down. I internally cringed at the word “dragoos” in defence to dragons 😭😭

Thank you to Net Galley fro sending me a copy in exchange for a review.

The published version may have been edited to reflect how myself and others feel about this book.

I thought this was bland, the writing was very simplistic and the speech was wooden. There was a hint of chemistry between our main characters and the baby dragons were cute but overall it felt badly written with next to no plot. I will say that I liked the diversity but this doesn’t have much going for it.

I also hated the way the main character called baby dragons draggos.

I absolutely loved this little romantasy book.

I have not read much fantasy, so this was a really nice way into it.
I fell in love with Saphira and Aiden from the very start and I would move to Starshine Valley in a heartbeat.

Was a. beautifully written story.

I sat down to read this as Storm Eowyn was battering rain against my living room windows and my little girls were curled up on the sofa watching Disney films. This book is everything I love about the cosy fantasy subgenre. It was toothachingly sweet and wonderfully snuggly.

The Baby Dragon Cafe was bursting with happy vibes from the very first page. I could practically smell the pot of chai bubbling on the stove, the freshly baked cardamom and saffron buns, and the deeply rich notes of the dragon-roasted coffee swirling in the air.

Saphira is a beautifully written character bursting with light and Aiden, bless him, was an adorable little oddball. Their slow burning romance had me smiling from ear to ear and kicking my feet throughout. As for Sparky, well, I don't want to seem dramatic... but I would honestly die for him. Too much? Nah, completely justified.

The world is such a scary place right now and this book is the ultimate escape. It was such a lovely, immersive read that was over way too soon.

Baby Dragons? Check. A Cosy Cafe? Check. A Likeable Couple you root for? Check. Fun Side Characters who will get their books in the future? Check.

Look, there really isn't much to dislike about this. It really does what it sets out to do, write a cosy romantic fantasy, with cute baby dragons. It is very much Dream Harbor with dragons, and it ticks all the boxes for me. A. T. Qureshi's characters have their individual charm while dealing with their childhood traumas/insecurities, however, the miscommunication/'will they/won't they' doesn't outstay its welcome. Saphira and Aiden bring out the best in each other, inspiring one another to be brave, and advocating for themselves and what they forsee in their future. I particularly liked A. T. Qureshi's decision not to fall on the easy trope of having Aiden's wealthy family look down on Saphira. Instead, the insecurity was hers to battle, with his family being fully supportive of their relationship.

I will certainly be picking up more in this series.

I was immediately drawn in to this book by such a cute cover and the synopsis (baby dragons, cafe, romance) and thought this was such a cute, wholesome read. It was nice and refreshing to read a different romantic stance in a book where you could read the chemistry between Saphira and Aiden build but also see that they were very shy in opening up about their feelings but couldn't help being drawn to each other, which made it all the more tender and real, rather than just ravaging each other, which was nice and made their emotions seem more pure and genuine rather than based on lust.
The premise of the story was cute, and I could really paint a vivid picture in my mind of the cafe and the cute (but naughty) baby dragons that would frequent on the regular. Sparky was such a character and it was so cute seeing him bond with Saphira and also thaw out Aiden's reservations. There were also inclusions of difficult topics such as bereavement on both sides, and anxiety, which was tenderly addressed. Although I found at times any time there was an issue that came up, Saphira would brush it off quite quickly, but I also found that quite endearing for a change as like she says, life is too short to hold grudges, which is true, and if an issue is addressed then why hold it close and cause more unnecessary pain. I thought it was such a quaint read and I can't wait to read the next book.

A cozy fantasy romance by a PoC author, invloving a pet cafe? This book has so much potential, but I think it fell flat in a few different ways.

1. This was not a fantasy novel. This was a contemporary book with dragons instead of dogs. This wouldn't have been a problem if it had not been pushed as a fantasy.

2. She is the most beautiful girl in town. Also an orphan. She'll never have a dragon of her own. He's the sexiest bachlor, but also a recluse. He has a baby dragon that he's a dick to. But also it's the most important thing he owns. Obviously, it's insta-love and after knowing each other for ten minutes he pays her a ridiculous amount of money to train his dragon. Which she doesn't know how to do, but it somehow great at,

3. The writing style is VERY juvenile. There are so many exclimation points and phrases like "He's sooooooo cute!". It felt like I was reading junior high fanfiction.

I know a lot of people are really excited about this book, but I think a lot of them are going to be disapointed. There's already a sequel planned, so hopefully the author and editors work together to make what is essentially a good idea, into a good point. Fingers crossed.

I like the concept of the book. Unfortunately, it was my cup of tea. I thought this seemed like a young adult book not an adult fiction.

I received Baby Dragon Cafe from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The premise of this book had me excited—an adorable cafe with dragons, a bit of romance, and a cozy fantasy vibe. I was expecting something along the lines of Legends and Lattes, where the focus would be on running a cafe with magical creatures and maybe a sprinkle of romance. Unfortunately, this book didn’t quite meet those expectations. These are the things I didn’t jive with:

- Insta-love: From the moment he sees her, he’s head over heels, and she’s instantly gushing about how attractive he is.

- Does he even like her? Their first interaction goes something like this: she’s baby-talking to the dragon, and he’s thinking, “I don’t like baby-talk... but I do when she does it.” Make it make sense.

- "Draggos": Seriously, just call them dragons. The attempt at a quirky name just feels unnecessary.

- Plot conveniences galore: Oh no, her espresso machine breaks and it costs $3000 to replace! He shows up and offers $2000 plus $500 a week to train his dragon. How convenient! It’s a good thing he’s desperate to be away from his dragon.

- Not the book’s fault, but...this isn’t a cozy fantasy/romance. It’s a contemporary romance. They’re driving cars and walking dogs... oops, I mean dragons. This didn’t feel like a magical world at all. I was expecting more Legends and Lattes with a focus on running a cafe with dragons, but instead, I got a romance where he brings his dragon with him on a date.

This book was one I couldn’t wait to read, just the title alone grabbed my attention. And the cover is just so cute! The story was cute all the way through with no real tense moments so was really enjoyable and easy to read. I’d say this book was low fantasy, meaning that there wasn’t loads of mythical creatures or different languages or realms to understand. So I’d say even readers who aren’t into fantasy would enjoy this book. I’d also say I’d love to have my own baby dragon, especially cause of how the author described them with all their various emotions. This was a slow burn romance which fit perfectly for the story. The only thing I’d say is maybe it needed a bit more excitement but otherwise it was a really good book. I give it a 4 out of 5 stars.

"The Baby Dragon Cafe" is a cozy rom-com with a twist of fantasy. Saphira runs a Baby Dragon Cafe, using funds left her by her beloved late grandmother. It's been her dream for so long, and since she's not from a Drakkon family is the only way she's able to interact with dragons. But while her heart is in the right place, her business sense needs some work, and the cafe is barely keeping it's adorable head above water. When Aiden Stirling arrives, he's like a miracle. He hires her to train his baby draggo, Sparky, who is feisty but affectionate, and desperately in need of some guidance. Aiden hadn't trained Sparky himself because he wanted to protect the baby from the dangers of dragon racing - the very sport that claimed the life of Aiden's younger brother. In denial and frightened, Aiden decides to let Saphira in, desperate but hopeful that she can help them. What neither expect is the love that grows between them, and as Sparky grows Saphira and Aiden must decide what they truly mean to each other - and what they'd be willing to do to keep Sparky safe.

I didn't enjoy this book as much as I hoped. The worldbuilding felt lazy, the characters were shallow and immature, and the romance was more insta-lust, which is not my personal preference. Sparky himself was my favorite part of the story - he was so sweet and cuddly, and following his training and growing up was the most engaging plot point. If you're a fan of lighthearted urban fantasy, or want a low-stakes cute animal story, this might be for you!