Jackie Lau

A jaded woman falls for her sunshine neighbor in this cozy Christmas romance. Nora Blackburn is suspicious of everything she sees and hears. Is it fake? Is someone trying to scam her? God, it's exhausting, but she can't let down her guard again. She's tired of Christmas cheer as well. It's never been her favorite holiday, and this year, she'll have to spend it alone for the first time. Besides, Everett Sun, who lives across the hall, has more than enough Christmas spirit for both of them. When she sees an image of an elaborate snow sculpture in a Toronto park, she assumes it's AI-generated. But when more pictures of the sculpture-and others-pop up, she realizes it's real. She encounters Everett when she goes to see it in person, and together, they visit the other sculptures. Nora didn't expect to ever fall for anyone again, and she's startled by the feelings she's developing for her neighbor. Why does she find his flannel shirt and irrepressible smile so alluring? But as the city tries to solve the mystery of the whimsical sculptures, strange things begin happening with Everett, and she doesn't know if she can trust him...

The “masterful, inspiring, and full of heart” (Ali Hazelwood, New York Times bestselling author) Jackie Lau returns with a thoroughly unique love story about a woman reliving the same Friday over and over again—and the intriguing man who can’t quite remember her. Noelle Tom really shouldn’t have eaten those dumplings at the night market. But the old woman at the stall said they’d give her what she needed most, and what Noelle desperately needed after another long workweek was food. Except now she’s reliving the same Friday. Every morning her alarm goes off at 6:45, and the Wordle answer is always “happy.” Worst of all, any work she does at her job as an engineer? It’s erased when she wakes up. Monday might never come in this workaholic’s nightmare. Noelle has no idea how being trapped in a time loop is the “thing she needed most,” and a trip to the food stall doesn’t help…because there’s no sign of it. Then she meets good-looking Cam, who appears in multiple places on her Friday. While the brewery owner seems to have no memory of their encounters, there are signs he might be the key to getting un-stuck. But Noelle can’t figure out how, even when she steps outside of her comfort zone and lives a little. As she grows attached to him, she becomes more worried that she’ll never escape the loop and he’ll never recall her name. And if she does ever get out, can they be together in the “real” world?

Evan Mok is getting married, much to his family's surprise.Early in the pandemic, my longtime friend Jane Yin and I made a pact: if we were both single on her thirty-third birthday, we'd get engaged and plan a simple wedding. We were lonely, envious of people who weren't isolated in apartments by themselves.More than three years have passed, and I'm ready. Even if I'm outgoing and optimistic on the outside, I've given up on romantic love, and it'll be nice to build a life with my friend. With both of our savings, we can actually afford a house. Jane also longs to be part of a family, and I can give her that. It sounds convenient and comfortable, but we won't have a physical relationship.It turns out that married life is just what I want it to be. We buy a place in the suburbs and eat dinner together every day. Neither of us is attracted to the other, except...Oh hell. I'm definitely starting to wish I could share a bed with Jane, and my feelings are much more complicated than I expected. Unfortunately, I doubt my serious, perfect wife feels the same way, and I don't want to screw up this marriage of convenience by revealing the truth.But it's getting harder and harder to hide my desire.

Amber Wong has landed her dream job at the Stratford Festival, and life is looking good. Sure, she hasn't had sex in so long that her condoms have expired, but she'll just pick up some new ones, along with discounted Christmas chocolate, at the grocery store.And that's where she runs into Dr. Sebastian Lam, the son of her parents' close friends, whom she hasn't seen in years. He's moved back to Ontario, newly single, and... Oh my God. He's really hot.The attraction is mutual and no-strings-attached sex is the perfect arrangement for both of them, since Amber has sworn off dating after a string of terrible boyfriends.But what if their families find out they're spending time together and start interfering in their lives? That would be a disaster.Even worse? If they develop feelings for each other, given a relationship is the last thing Amber wants right now...

After his family's matchmaking extravaganza at Thanksgiving, high school teacher Zach Wong is terrified of what his parents might do for Chinese New Year. Surely they'll try to set him up yet again, especially now that his older brothers are in relationships. Zach, however, has no interest in dating, not since his fianc e left him.The solution? Find a fake girlfriend to avoid his parents' matchmaking.Jo MacGregor, the town dentist, is the obvious choice. They both live in Mosquito Bay and have been friends for years, ever since they bonded over broken engagements. A few kisses and dates around town, and everyone will believe they're in a relationship. No problem.Except their fake relationship is starting to feel more and more real...

Jackie Lau, author of the “full of heart” (Ali Hazelwood, New York Times bestselling author) The Stand-Up Groomsman, returns with a charming rom-com about a young woman’s desperate attempts to fend off her meddling mother…only to find that maybe mother does know best. Mark Chan this. Mark Chan that. Writer and barista Emily Hung is tired of hearing about the great Mark Chan, the son of her parents’ friends. You’d think he single-handedly stopped climate change and ended child poverty from the way her mother raves about him. But in reality, he’s just a boring, sweater-vest-wearing engineer, and when they’re forced together at Emily’s sister’s wedding, it’s obvious he thinks he’s too good for her. But now that Emily is her family’s last single daughter, her mother is fixated on getting her married and she has her sights on Mark. There’s only one solution, clearly: convince Mark to be in a fake relationship with her long enough to put an end to her mom’s meddling. He reluctantly agrees. Unfortunately, lying isn’t enough. Family friends keep popping up at their supposed dates—including a bubble tea shop and cake-decorating class—so they’ll have to spend more time together to make their relationship look real. With each fake date, though, Emily realizes that Mark’s not quite what she assumed and maybe that argyle sweater isn’t so ugly after all…

Jackie Lau, author of the "full of heart" (Ali Hazelwood, New York Times bestselling author) The Stand-Up Groomsman, returns with a charming rom-com about a young woman's desperate attempts to fend off her meddling mother...only to find that maybe mother does know best. Mark Chan this. Mark Chan that. Writer and barista Emily Hung is tired of hearing about the great Mark Chan, the son of her parents' friends. You'd think he single-handedly stopped climate change and ended child poverty from the way her mother raves about him. But in reality, he's just a boring, sweater-vest-wearing engineer, and when they're forced together at Emily's sister's wedding, it's obvious he thinks he's too good for her. But now that Emily is her family's last single daughter, her mother is fixated on getting her married and she has her sights on Mark. There's only one solution, clearly: convince Mark to be in a fake relationship with her long enough to put an end to her mom's meddling. He reluctantly agrees. Unfortunately, lying isn't enough. Family friends keep popping up at their supposed dates--including a bubble tea shop and cake-decorating class--so they'll have to spend more time together to make their relationship look real. With each fake date, though, Emily realizes that Mark's not quite what she assumed and maybe that argyle sweater isn't so ugly after all...

Max Mok has four weddings to attend this year...When I meet Kim Sung at a friend's wedding, I don't make the first move. God, no. But she's delightful and gorgeous, and she asks me to dance. Later, we head to her hotel room and...Okay, I admit it doesn't go well. She might be all about one-night stands, but I'm not used to having them.That should be the end of it. I can forget about her or, more likely, obsess about it whenever I can't sleep.But then I see her at a second wedding. Apparently, she's a family friend of my cousins. All three of them are getting married this summer, so she'll be at the next two weddings as well, along with her parents.Kim is even more beautiful than last time, and I really want the chance to prove I'm not a complete disaster in bed. I also want to take her on an actual date, but she has no interest in dating anyone.More than anything, though, I need to avoid her because I'm too embarrassed to hold a conversation, and my brothers have found out about my unfortunate one-night stand.Oh, no. She's coming this way. What do I do?

When electrical engineer and depressed plushie enthusiast Rose Pang decides to go out alone one evening, she certainly doesn't expect to meet easygoing landscaper Cal. They spend an enjoyable night together, and the next day, romance is on her mind. Cal promises to text...but he never does. Hurt, Rose tries her best to forget about him.But several months later, in a terrible twist of fate, Rose discovers that her new roommate, Caleb Dempsey, is actually her former one-night stand. He claims he lost her number when his phone got run over. Rose isn't buying his lies, and Cal offers to find another place to live as soon as he can.After a few weeks, however, she starts to like having Cal as a roommate-he does all his chores, plus he's a fun and calming presence-but she swears nothing will happen between them. Except her feelings for him grow as they spend more time together.Can she risk giving him another chance, especially when her mental health is a little fragile? If it goes badly, she'll also lose a great roommate. Maybe it would be safer to try dating someone new...

A bridesmaid and groomsman put their differences aside to get their friends down the aisle in this opposites-attract steamy romantic comedy. They say to never meet your heroes, but when Vivian Liao's roommate gets engaged to her favorite actor's costar, she has no choice but to come face-to-face with Melvin Lee again. He's just as funny and handsome as he is on-screen...but thinks she is a snob and a sellout. It's none of his business how she chooses to live her life, no matter how charismatic he is. Mel is used to charming audiences as an actor and stand-up comedian but can't connect to Vivian. She's a smart, talented artist--which is why he thinks she's wasting her life as a corporate finance drone. The only thing uniting them is their goal for the wedding to go off without a hitch. As they collaborate on wedding cake and karaoke parties, Mel realizes he might have seriously misjudged this bridesmaid, while Vivian discovers the best man might just be as dazzling off-screen as he is on. With the wedding underway, maybe more than one happily ever after is in the future.

I don't need a date. I need to focus on finding a new apartment and finally writing another novel.But as the last single Fong brother, I'm expected to participate in a bachelor auction to benefit my family's charity. When there's a frenzied bidding war, Brian Poon, my younger brother's ex-best friend, puts an end to the chaos by bidding an eye-watering amount for a Valentine's date with me.Brian used to be a notorious partier, but his life isn't as wild now that his father has cut him off. We have a good time eating and drinking together, and when he finds out about my apartment situation, he offers me his spare room.Once I move in, Brian surprises me by baking me cookies and making it his mission to get me writing again. Soon, I'm working on a new book and getting closer to my roommate, a man who has never had a relationship and is all about casual sex-the opposite of me.He also used to be in love with my brother. I wonder if he still is...

Thirty-four and divorced, Sierra Wu is a constant disappointment to her family. They approved of her former career as an engineer but were horrified when she quit to run a small greeting card store.So, the last thing she expected in her not-so-spectacular life was being swept off her feet by Colton Sanders. Yes, that Colton Sanders, the billionaire. They've been together for a year, and despite his reputation with women, it's going well.There's only one tiny problem: Jake Tong.A former friend and employee of Colton, the irritatingly handsome Jake tells Sierra to break up with Colton for her own good. She refuses, of course. Why should she trust Jake?But as she continues to bump into Jake in awkward situations, the attraction between them grows, and she starts wondering if he's right about Colton...

Friendly neighbors can have their benefits...Nicole Louie-Edwards enjoys the nightlife and bringing men back to her apartment, although lately, she's gotten tired of the chase. Her quiet new neighbor, David Cho, isn't her type, but after they get trapped in an elevator together on her birthday, she develops a friendship with the kind geology professor.Then, blushing, he tells her that he can hear her having sex but tries not to listen. Except it's clear he'd like to, and she's surprisingly turned on. They embark on a friends-with-benefits arrangement hotter than any she's had before. She didn't expect him to be so naughty between the sheets.David becomes a bigger part of her life outside of the bedroom, too, bringing her desserts and going viral on TikTok with her grandmother, but she can't imagine he wants to be her boyfriend, and it's not like she wants that, either. She's convinced she'd lose her identity in a relationship, like she did ten years ago.Yet she can't help getting more and more attached to the professor next door...

A baker provides the sweetest escape for an actor in this charming romantic comedy. Actor Ryan Kwok is back in Toronto after the promotional tour for his latest film, a rom-com that is getting less-than-stellar reviews. After years of constant work and the sudden death of his mother, Ryan is taking some much-needed time off. But as he tries to be supportive to his family, he struggles with his loss and doesn't know how to talk to his dad--who now trolls him on Twitter instead of meeting him for dim sum. Innovative baker Lindsay McLeod meets Ryan when he knocks over two dozen specialty donuts at her bakery. Their relationship is off to a messy start, but there's no denying their immediate attraction. When Ryan signs up for a celebrity episode of Baking Fail, he asks Lindsay to teach him how to bake and she agrees. As Lindsay and Ryan spend time together, bonding over grief and bubble tea, it starts to feel like they're cooking up something sweeter than cupcakes in the kitchen.

Four holiday romance novellas about the Wong siblings (1) A Match Made for Thanksgiving(2) A Second Chance Road Trip for Christmas(3) A Fake Girlfriend for Chinese New Year(4) A Big Surprise for Valentine's Day