First of all – I Love the dedication. It’s not often that a dedication can set the tone for a book, but Seraphina Chen’s heartfelt note at the beginning of "Wonderstruck" does just that, hinting at the warmth and charm to come.

The best way to describe this book is cute. It’s an absolute swoon-fest, a feel-good YA romance that left me with a smile that lasted long after I finished the last page. Tyler, the leading man, is the epitome of a cinnamon roll character. His sweet demeanor and unique flirtatious style make him utterly irresistible. Despite being the big man on campus, Tyler brings an unpretentious energy to the story, proving that sometimes, the quietest hearts hold the most fire.

Chen's strength lies in her character depth. The devil is indeed in the details, and this book is brimming with them. Serena and Tyler are crafted with such nuance and care that they leap off the page and into reality. Their interactions and growth feel authentic, making their romance even more endearing.

Speaking of character development, let’s not forget the side characters, who are nothing short of phenomenal. From the quintessential best friend who’s always there to offer support and sage advice, to the protective brother with a heart of gold, and the long-past nemesis who adds a touch of drama, each character enriches the story. Their presence enhances the main narrative, creating a vibrant, well-rounded world.

If you’re a fan of the cinnamon roll leading lad with a perfect “he falls first” trope and are looking for a feel-good high school romance sprinkled with some spectacular cheer drama, then "Wonderstruck" is definitely the book for you. Seraphina Chen’s latest is a delightful read that wraps you in its warmth and leaves you eagerly awaiting her next story.

Thanks to BookBuzz.net via NetGalley for the ARC.

I absolutely loved this book and read it completely in one sitting!! The way the relationship builds and he does everything he can to protect her is so cute!! I can’t wait to recommend it to my friends!!!

This was such a cute story! 🥹 I love the chemistry between Tyler and Serena. It was a quick read, ideal if you want to get out of a reading slump! I hope that Seraphina will write a book about Jared and Alli 🤭 You should read this if you’re looking for a brothers best friend, high school romance!

Thank you Netgalley and BookBuzz.net for this arc!

Book Review
Book Title-> Wonderstruck
Release date-> August 2024
Author-> Seraphina chen
Tropes-> Friends to lovers, Brother's best friend, bucket list, teen love story, high school romance, sunshine mmc × sunshine fmc, cheerleading FMC, dual POV, slowburn romance, she's his tutor

The book is good with a simple plot and beautiful scenes.

Serena Inthavong, the fmc joins high school after years of being home schooled. She decides to live her life for herself and makes a bucket list to complete before her school ends.

Tyler, the mmc decides to stay away from parties, love and relationships after his breakup. He is so hard on himself while trying to be the responsible son and best brother.
After serena and tyler meet for the first time, they both feel a pull that brings them close to each other no matter how hard they try to suppress their feelings. Tyler is the first one to realize his feelings and eventually serena admits her feelings too despite of her having abandonment issues. Ofcourse yes cause it would be almost impossible to not fall in love with the boy who helps her to tick every single wish from her bucket list.
Tyler is the perfect sunshine mmc and his nickname for Serena is cute.
But at some scenes i felt the description or placement a little odd. Like the lake scene where they start kissing and making out, it felt like a rush of things while reading. And there are few more scenes where i felt the same way. But considering this is authors debut novel, she did a very good job to bring the life to the story.
I enjoyed reading the book as i'm in search of simple plots with no high drama. I liked taylor swift references, they are cute.

Dear Author,
Congrats on your first book. The story, description, scenes, emotions are all very good. I'm definitely gonna add Tyler in to my book boyfriends list (like who wouldn't love a boy who listens to Taylor Swift). And the funny thing is i tried Thai green tea and i actually liked it. Hoping to read more books written by you in the future.
All the best.

If you're looking for a high school romance with a bit touch of sports romance, Brother's best friend tropes, grab this book and get in to the story.

Thank you NetGalley and BookBuzz for the book arc.

This book had be gripped from the first few pages the way not many other YA books have recently but honestly, Boba could do that to anyone.
The chemistry between these two was really interesting and I enjoyed the back and forth in emotions between the two of them.
Out main characters back and forth was something that I really had fun with, it was witty and funny. Emotionally when it needed to be, it really hit the heart strings in parts.

I think the one thing that really brought me out of it was specifically mentioning songs titles and artists, it kind of took me out of the groove a little.
But honestly, it was the only thing that really gave me that feeling within the book.

Loved the writing style and pacing was okay, could use some finetuning but it wasn't anything to be concerned about to be honest.

Tropes:
- coming of age
- dual pov
- cheerleader x lacrosse player
- slow burn
- he falls first
- asian representation

This book was a cute summer romance read! The chemistry between Tyler and Serena was on point! It felt very YA but there is a spice scene that did kinda come out of nowhere and felt like it didn’t fit.

Tropes:
•he falls first
•friends to lovers
•dual povs
•brother’s best friend
•lacrosse player x cheerleader

Things I liked-
I think Seraphina did a good job touching on deeper feelings and anxiety in this book! I think it’s important to show that the characters in the books we read are just like us and not everyone is rainbows and butterflies.

Tyler was always there for Serena and kept her calm and grounded. I love him calling her sunshine and seeing the beauty in what Serena considered her flaws.

I loved the chemistry and slow build up between Tyler and Serena’s relationship as well. That even though Serena was trying to push her feelings away Tyler was there waiting for her.

Wonderstruck is a refreshing take on high school romance that blends the excitement of senior year with personal growth and unexpected twists. Serena Inthavong, who’s determined to break free from her old, safe routines, finds herself navigating a chaotic high school world and a return to cheerleading. Tyler Westman, juggling responsibilities and seeking something real, is drawn to Serena’s vibrant spirit. The book captures the essence of teenage struggles and romance in a way that feels genuine and relatable. I loved how it portrayed the complexity of growing up and finding oneself, making it a great read.

can i get a round of applause because seraphina chen served this book on the FINEST golden platter. imagine if 'high school musical' and 'to all the boys i've loved before' had an extremely successful child, that is this book in a nutshell. from the first page, i was HOOKED!! i didn't know how much i loved a good rom-com before this

the amount i smiled reading this is UNREAL omgggg!! facial muscles were fr working overtime.
the dialogue was soooo cute and i cannot wait to share my favourite quotes on release day which is August 2nd. thank you to 'Bookbuz.net' for providing me with this eARC. I NEED to buy a physical copy for my shelf so bad

even though i just finished this i'm going to have to add it to my 'to be read' AGAIN!! SERAPHINA GIRL, WHAT DID YOU PUT IN YOUR BOOK BECAUSE MY GOSH!! I can't wait to read her future work, (sis better drop Jarred and Allie's story next ) best believe i'm going to be first in the queue for EVERY next release. overall yes. I highly recommend you read this one!!

I already miss Serena and Tyler so muchhh. Tyler is such a green flag, from the get-go and it's adorableee how shy this golden boy gets when he's around his crush. Like I'm actually obsessed with them both. seeing serena flourish into the main character of her own story made me feel like a proud mum guys I could pick a high school romance to experience in real life it would be this one!! I do want to note that there are a lot of pop culture references which had me cackling as it was exactly my humour. however, this may not make sense if you aren't familiar with gen-z lingo. YOU guys have to read this, especially if you're a boba or Thai green latte enthusiast. personally i'm a boba girliee <33

I really wanted to like this, but I was not vibing with it. It felt so cheesy and like the author was trying way too hard to be relatable. I’m not sure if English is just maybe not the authors first language, but the wording and sentence structure was weird a lot of the time. I’m not usually picky about things that like, but it was very obvious and I just didn’t enjoy it.

I think the concept had potential but I think the author tried too hard.

Rating: 3/5
Genre: Romance

Read if you love the following tropes 📋:
- Friends to Lovers
- Brother's Best Friend
- Dual POV
- Cheerleader/Tutor x Lacrosse

Thank you NetGalley & Seraphina Chen for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Wonderstruck follows two high school seniors, Serena and Tyler, both navigating their own personal grief.

Serena, homeschooled for four years, decides to conquer her fears and attend Skyline High School for her senior year. Where she meets, Tyler Westman, Skyline High lacrosse player & Thai green tea lover!

In the first half of Wonderstruck, I truly enjoyed the chemistry between Serena and Tyler, as well as her friendship with Alli.

However, the second half of the book felt extremely repetitive, as if the same conversations were on loop.

The pace and smoothness of the story also stood out to me, as I felt the transitions between scenes were abrupt. The dialogue, with its modern-day references, had me cringing at times.

Regardless, I believe this is a good beginner book for anyone who wishes to read or escape the horrors of a reading slump.

Thank you NetGalley!!
Release date: August 2nd, 2024

Serena meets Tyler at work when he orders a Thai green tea, which happens to be Serena’s favorite drink as well. Then BOOM *instant chemistry* They keep meeting and…

This was a fun, lighthearted read but it also had some serious themes in it, like parent loss and bullying. I liked Serena and Tyler a lot! Even so, I really didn't have a lot of feelings for this book. It just wasn't what I was looking for. While Serena had vulnerable moments, Tyler didn't have any and I didn't feel as connected to him as I should have. Also, the spice scene was completely random and unnecessary, especially with them being 18. This would be a good book to read if you are looking for a happy palette cleanser, although not an amazing 5-star read. It was really fun and I enjoyed the vibe! I would recommend it as a back-to-school read :)

One of the things I really liked about this book was the fact that first it has both perspectives and I love a book with that.. But to be honest and yes I did liked Serena perspective but I did prefer Tyler, but I also think that miscommunication can screw things and I know they were still growing up but still they should have talked more

Simply cute, with a surprising amount of character nuance and description. Very easy read, and easily absorbing, but fairly lightweight.

Oh and I beg all authors of this genre to stop name dropping Taylor Swift - we get it!!

Hold onto your hearts, folks! 💖 Wonderstruck is the high school romance you didn’t know you needed. Serena is ready to shake up her senior year and ditch her old, safe ways, and Tyler? He’s juggling school, lacrosse, and life’s mess while craving something real. When these two collide, sparks fly! This book is all about finding your place and someone who gets you. If you’re looking for a sweet, fun, and totally relatable read that’ll make you feel all the feels, grab this one ASAP! 📚✨

3.5⭐️

"I’m tired of not being the main character in my own story"

Firstly, I want to thank NetGalley and Seraphina Chen for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This is such a cute book, really easy and digestible to read.

The story follows Serena and Tyler as they navigate the challenges of their final year of high school, including self-discovery, personal growth, and the development of a sweet and endearing relationship.

I really liked the characters as individuals. I could identify with many of their experiences and emotions, which enhanced my connection to the story and made it more enjoyable.

I was worried it was going to be an insta-love story, but it wasn't! While there was indeed an undeniable attraction between the characters since their first meeting, the development of their story was written in a genuine and tender way, where they actually took time to get to know each other, building a relationship based on trust and care. Honestly, I don't have a single bad thing to say about their relationship.💓

However, there's one thing I found odd, and that was the +18 scene. In my opinion, it shouldn't have been in the book. It was unnecessary and a bit random.

Also, I noticed some instances of repetition throughout the book. Regardless, I think it's a good book! 🫶🏽The story is charming and engaging, and I couldn't put it down.

Okay this was a cute read. It took me some time to really get invested but I really enjoyed both Serena and Tyler’s conversations but I’d often feel like putting the book down. I mean, I did just read a psychological thriller, so maybe it’s the stark contrast between both genres that made me feel this way, since I usually have no problem with my romances. I especially loved reading from Tyler’s perspective and seeing how he was pretty much hooked on her straight away from their first meeting. Reading something like this where, the guy’s feelings or attraction to the fmc is quite clear straight away feels like a breath of fresh air 🤭

Rating: 3.75

I loved the character development of the Darling Devils and I can;'t wait to get more in the other brothers book. As it the case with most 3rd act breakups I wish the characters had just communicated.

I had mixed feelings about this one. Overall I liked it. But there were certain parts that didn't come across... right, I guess. I know I'm no longer the target audience here, but is this really how teenagers are now? I thought Tyler was too possessive at times. I wish we'd gotten slightly less romance and a bit more focus on the platonic relationships (friends and family).
The chemistry between the leads was great, it drew me in immediately. But then certain stylistic choices took me out of the story...

Wow this was so cute! I loved the Taylor Swift references, and the ease with which the Author wove her songs throughout this story. It felt like I was reading a Taylor Swift song come to life. I really enjoyed the banter between these two characters and would definitely recommend this to fans of Better than the movies by Lynn Painter. I give it a 4.25 stars overall.

I loved this so much. Such a perfect, easy to read high school romance with minimal spice. I loved the fact that Tyler was the definition of a perfect boyfriend despite Serena’s issues. I loved that they communicated the majority of the time and always found their way back to each other. The characters were just so perfect and I thought it was written so well and was so easy to read. I didn’t think I would enjoy it as much but once I got through the first couple of chapters I couldn’t put it down, it was so sweet.