Definitely a cute read! I don’t usually get into the high school romance stuff because I’m in my 30s but I really did enjoy this! It was well written and a quick read. I’ll definitely be reading more from this author! Thank you netgalley for the ARC copy!

I really really enjoyed this book! The tension was perfect it was a slow burn but not a boring slow burn things still happened. This was the perfect friends to lovers! I cried at the end!!! But honestly I loved how it still touched on important things like parent loss , parental abandonment etc ! Such a great book

- He calls her sunshine
- Bucket List
- He falls first, she falls harder
- Slow burn
- Asian rep
- Sunshine x Sunshine
- Brothers best friend
- Sports Romance (cheerleader x lacrosse player)
- Friends to lovers

"You scare me so much, Tyler. You weren't supposed to mean this much to me. I never wanted to find love, because of everything I've gone through. But here we are. I fell for you and I'm still falling for you."

"I like it when I make you laugh like that. Not when someone else does it."

"And there goes that laugh, the one I want to add to my favorite playlist and keep on repeat."

"You're not average, Serena. You're far more than average. You're out of this world."

If you want a cute, fluffy read with depth into it, then wonderstuck by seraphina chen. It's a clean teen romance and a easy read too.

This book made me laugh, cry, mad and smile. All of the feelings while reading.
I enjoyed this book a lot. I loved the diversity and learning more about Asian culture.
Serena the main character reminded me a lot of myself. She plays here life safe and is afraid to let people in for fear of getting hurt. We follow Serena as she goes to high school for the first time after being home schooled for a few years.

This book centers around Serena and Tyler, whose distinct journeys and intertwined paths create a compelling exploration of identity, love, and the unexpected twists life can bring. Chen’s writing effortlessly blends moments of introspection with bursts of energy, allowing each character to feel fully realized and relatable.

Serena, with her depth and resilience, navigates her world in a way that’s both inspiring and refreshingly human, while Tyler’s journey is equally engaging as he confronts his own challenges and aspirations. The dynamic between them is subtle yet potent, driving the story forward without relying on clichéd tropes.

What truly makes Wonderstruck stand out is its ability to capture the beauty in ordinary moments, inviting readers to pause and reflect on their own lives. The narrative pace is deliberate, creating an immersive atmosphere where every detail—no matter how small—feels significant.

If you’re drawn to character-centric stories that explore the complexities of life with warmth and authenticity, this novel is definitely worth your time.

Many thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for providing me with an ARC and allowing me to provide my honest review

Playing it safe was Serena Inthavong's default mode for years – her emotional armour against a world that had dealt her some hard knocks. But senior year at Skyline High is about to change all that. She's ready to tear up her own rulebook, though she's about to discover that real life rarely follows the neat plot points of those paperback romances gathering dust on her bookshelf.

Between an unexpected return to her old cheerleading squad (talk about opening old wounds) and navigating hallways more dramatic than a daytime soap opera, Serena's got her hands full. And then there's Tyler Westman – the kind of guy who made high school look effortless until reality came knocking his senior year.

Poor Tyler's juggling more balls than a circus performer: lacrosse practice, a sister who needs him, friendships threatening to slip through his fingers, and the dreaded college applications. Sure, he's got the golden boy thing down pat, but lately he's wondering if there's more to life than being everybody's favourite highlight reel.

When these two cross paths, it's like one of those perfect meet-cutes you'd roll your eyes at if you saw it in a movie. But here's the thing – sometimes life really does serve up those moments. As Serena tries to write her own story in the midst of teenage chaos, and Tyler discovers there's more to this girl than meets the eye, they might just help each other figure out that growing up isn't about following someone else's script.

From debut author Seraphina Chen comes a warm, witty tale that proves you're never too old to relate to the rollercoaster of first love and finding yourself. It's the kind of story that'll have you thinking, "Maybe high school wasn't so bad after all" – or at least grateful you're watching this drama unfold from a safe distance!

This was a cute romance, definitely your thing if you like a high school romance based around a shy girl x popular guy trope

Wonderstruck by Seraphina Chen is an enchanting debut that beautifully captures the magic of self-discovery and the power of chasing your dreams. With lyrical prose and a touch of whimsy, Chen weaves a heartfelt story that’s as inspiring as it is memorable. Perfect for readers seeking a tale full of wonder, heart, and a little bit of stardust.

Very cute read. It wasn’t really for me but I think that if you like the high school romance trope that you’ll actually love this book.

I enjoyed this. It was a fresh view on a kind of forced proximity, neighbors to lovers romance. I found that both characters headstrong development, but they also had a lot of growth that they did that fit the storyline. The Author was really good at creating characters that fit the ages that they're supposed to be. I enjoyed the found family on the way that the characters kind of grew into one another. And I hope to see more within this cast of characters.

This book really is more suited for those who are looking for a teen-romance story with no complications whatsoever. Obviously YA Novels, especially those set in high school, cannot be expected to be complicated in their storyline nor in the development of the characters. However, I personally was missing at least a bit depth to the characters personality and to their relationship. It just all felt a bit to monotone in the way they spoke, thought and behaved. I just could not shake the impression that the story was building and building but got nowhere in the end.
To sum it all up, it was a somewhat enjoyable book and is recommended by me to everyone who likes a High school romance novel with not much depth into it. If you however are looking for something with a bit more depth, character building and a more exciting storyline, then I would recommend to pick up something else.

Book review 📚
Wonderstruck by Seraphina Chen
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I can’t even explain how good this book is for a debut novel! Wow. This has honestly become one of my favourite romance books. This is the kind of cute and cosy romance you want to read, that’s CLEAN. Loved it.

There were so many moments where I was giggling away to myself, mostly from certain interactions (you’ll figure that out when you read it). But there are just so many laugh worthy moments, even the stupid ones – I was still laughing.

Characters – I have 1 favourite, Aunt Lina. My life, I laughed so many times over Aunt Lina and her comments. But in general, there were some definite moments of cringy teens, but that’s what you need to remember, they are teens who still attend school. There are so many relatable moments, so many “truths” to the things happening and overall it just felt like someone’s story.

I think this would be a perfect YA book, even if you aren’t YA, its still very enjoyable and a nice change from my usual reads.

This cute high school romance totally captivated me! And that doesn't happen very often.
It’s about a boy who falls in love first, and the chemistry between the two is just amazing. The story is light and has the perfect pacing—I couldn't put it down! And hey, I really had a strong craving for Thai tea; this book made me super curious, so I think I’ll have to get some tomorrow.

What I particularly liked was that while there’s a lot of focus on romance, the individual experiences of the characters are also really well portrayed. That adds real depth to the story.

I love "Sunshine x Sunshine," and it was perfectly done here—without being too much. Reading it was so much fun; the writing style was excellent, and the plot was really easy to follow.

I would like to sincerely thank Netgalley and the author for providing me with an e-ARC of this book.

This book is a delightful high school sweetheart romance where he falls first, and the chemistry between the two leads is absolutely electric. The story is fluffy with just the right pacing, making it an easy, enjoyable read. I must admit, it had me craving Thai tea like nobody’s business!

While the romance is at the forefront, the author does a commendable job of exploring each character’s individual experiences, adding depth to their personalities. As a fan of sunshine x sunshine pairings, I was thrilled to see this dynamic play out, and it was done to perfection—sunny without being overwhelming.

The writing is compelling, and the plot is engaging yet effortlessly digestible. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and found it to be a charming and satisfying romance.

I like the relationship between the characters and I loved the nickname. It was a cutesy YA book and it gave just that.

love love loved this book Serena and Tyler are so cute!! Like man knew what he wanted and got it, he's such a green flag I love how they helped each other out with their own struggles the slow burn with the friends to lovers is gonna get me everytime and y'all know i love when the couples have nicknames especially cute ones 😩

I was literally giggling and crying (her mommy issues go crazy)
I just wanna give her a hug, she deserves the world!
Tyler is everything (going on my book bf list)
I adored this book and characters in it and I can't wait for you guys to read it

˚₊‧ ୨୧ ‧₊˚𝗔𝗥𝗖 𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗜𝗘𝗪⋅˚₊‧ ୨୧ ‧₊˚

📚 Wonderstruck @seraphinaxchen
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

Thanks to @netgalley , the publishers and the author for this amazing ARC❤️

My review 💌

I have so many good things to say about this book! This book completely captured my heart from the very beginning. The story follows the journey of Serena and Tyler, and let me tell you, they are absolutely adorable! 🥹
I typically don't jot down notes while reading, but I found myself unable to resist documenting all the heartwarming moments in this book. There are just so many cutesy moments that I couldn't help but save for future reference.

I admit that the beginning of the story felt a bit like a typical Wattpad narrative written by a teenager. However, as the plot unfolded and the characters developed, I found myself more and more engrossed in their world. Tyler, in particular, stole my heart. His gestures of affection towards Serena, like going out of his way to see her at her shop and calling her "SUNSHINE," simply made me swoon ✨ this tenderness and sincerity made me root for their love story even more.

Overall, Wonderstruck is a delightful read for anyone who enjoys a heartwarming romance with endearing characters. Seraphina Chen's writing style beautifully captures the essence of young love and the excitement of new beginnings. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a touching and sweet love story that will leave them feeling warm and fuzzy inside.

This book was absolutely lovely, and such a quick read because it was that good! The young love romance gave me all the cozy vibes. Kudos to the author!

*4.5

This was really cute. They both felt an instant connection when he came into the boba shop and I loved it. Neither one of them was looking for a relationship but it just happened. I'm assuming that Jared and Alli will get a book and I'm excited for that.

I received an arc through netgalley.

This book could've been so much more 😫😫
It was a nice premise and all, but you can see and know that it's a debut.
Like I know it's not easy at all to write a book in general, but some have a better shot at it with the resources they have access to, like a good editor and proof readers.

But that's to say, it was a nice, light book. I liked the relationship between Tyler and Serena, it was cute and a tad refreshing (if I ignore the cringey moments sprinkled around the book, and also the fact that her first time was in a very sus location -anywhere would've been better that where they chose to do it-).
I love the portrayal of grief and how it's very different from person to person. No one can go through a traumatic event and come out perfect from it. So the struggles Serena is going through are completely valid, and honestly I applaud her efforts.
Tyler was exactly what his nickname says about him. He's a Golden Boy. Disregarding the fact that it was insta love from his side, the way he stayed with Serena regardless of her past and recent traumas is something a lot of people should learn from. Because a lot would leave you if they as much as see a small traumatic part of your past.
Tyler and Serena are quite literally made for each other ❤️

All in all, it was not a bad book, but it was also not very good. I'm sure the author's next book is gonna be better and I'll keep a lookout for it!